"Thief?  You are the one who has stolen two lives and a Rose's ticket. If this was an ambush, why bother with that second part and why question you at all?" Griswold turned his eyes on Eli in frustration, then sighed.  He proceeded to finger the amulet around his neck and curse, "By Hades, Eli.  Do you want me to fail my trial today?  Fine.  You deal with him." Then to the gnome again: "I was required," he flashed the medallion, "to have called the Ashen Order immediately.  I've already risked everything by giving you even a moment to explain." He raised his voice to the entire room, making sure that everyone assembled heard it, "And now that you have spoken you have exposed everyone here to your...influence.  The Ashen Order are merciless.  They will not stop their interrogations with you now.  They will want to...intimately question the entire tavern."  He cast a glance around the room, to check that his words were sinking in and, hopefully, dissuading anyone from calling the guard.

Sheathing his weapon, Griswold knelt, picked up the small cat and muttered, "it was a very impressive entrance, wasn't it?  Yes it was.  Yes it was." in a strange voice to the little animal as he made a fuss of it.

09:38, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Intimidation on the tavern - this wont go well..

"Settle down everyone!" Kharash thundered as he stepped in with raised hands. His larger golden scales were standing up, and by straightening his back he made himself look even larger and more imposing than he already was. He turned in his place, staring down the other patrons, making sure both his amulet and shield bearing the symbol of the Eyes of Yggdrasil were visible to all. "There is no need to spoil a day like this by calling in the Ashen Order. Return to your drinks, take another plate of that delicious food, and let the Eyes of Yggdrasil take care of this!"

Completing his turn he looked at Griswold and the newly appeared gnome. "You two. Outside. Now."

Away from the curious eyes of the other people, he continued. "I don't know what's happened, but I doubt it was on purpose." He looked at the gnome, and gestured with one hand to Griswold. "This man is a squire, not a thief. Even if he was a thief, I doubt there'd be any so stupid to try the thing you accused him of. With the amount of officials present at this festival, this would be the last place to try out those sort of shenanigans." He paused for a moment, while he looked at the gnome. "The same can be said for you. Even if you are responsible for what happened, I don't think it's on purpose."

"You're free to call the Ashen Order, though I don't think it'd spell much good for you. I'm sure you are aware the cards are stacked against you here, and the Ashen would gladly take in another mage to justify their cause." Kharash stood up straight. "Why don't you join us." It was more a command than a question. "You'll be under my charge, while we figure out what happened.. Unless you are guilty," he added with squinted eyes.

As the tavern reacts to the sudden, and flashy, appearance of the gnome, it would seem that few are keenly interested in it. A few are too drunk to really notice anything besides the magic itself, others are now eyeing you much more closely. A curious reaction is the noblewoman that greeted you placing a hand to stop the ogre guard from interfering. [Secret to Brother Sul, Eli Reiner: You can barely hear her words as she speaks. "This is an interesting and unexpected way for him." The ogre nods and replies in a rough voice. "It should have been more natural and less direct. They will suspect something."]

Wrenn listened to the dragonborn's words, not wanting to find as much credit as he did in the logic. Wrenn knew that he had a tendency to jump to conclusions when he thought someone might be trying to cheat him.



"One man already threatens my life twice over, and refuses to listen to any explanation other than a false confession. He's twice my height, with a sword as long as I am tall, and I'm going to defend myself with what? A knife!? A mage I may be, but my talents lie in information and discovery, not combat. What have I got to lose? My life? The one he's already threatened to take?"



Did he dare trust a dragonborn? Half his scales were red, the rest gold. Did that mean he was descended from evil, goodness, or a mix of both? "On your honor? Very well, I throw myself at your mercy, and accept your protection."

Wrenn saw the patrons looking on, but there was nothing he could do about the current situation at even one table, much less the whole room.

Griswold continued to play with the cat he held, then looked between Wrenn, Kharash and the their audience.  He sighed and shook his head.  "So many witnesses to report my failure to alert the Ashen Order.  So goes my knighthood, I suppose.  Before I even had a chance to try..."  A moment of sadness crossed his face.  He then he looked up at the gnome and grinned.  "Well what's done is done. For now, at least, I am still a squire on his trial until I hear different.  Let's start over.  Griswold Ortmann, at your service."  He bowed deeply.  "Please accept my heartfelt apologies for any earlier disservice.  I was shocked by the sudden disappearance of two of our number.  I still am.  So let us, together, unravel this conundrum and hopefully find them safe and sound."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Fri 03 Mar 2017.

"Very well, Griswold Ortmann, I accept your apology. To share with you the fullness of my name would take the rest of the evening and you've indicated that you have things to be about, so I shall share only my Firsts which are Wrenn Muernig, previously of the Traveling Tinkers Caravan. I will lend what aid I can in discovering the truth behind what happened to your friends, and indeed to myself. It seems near impossible for the two events not to be related given the timing, but I swear to you upon whatever you deem holy that I had nothing to do with it. Or if it I did, it was not intentional, as I have no idea what caused me to be here."

Kharash's scales flattened against his scin as he relaxed. He was glad that both Griswold and the gnome seemed to see the other's side, and were willing to work to solving this. Like Griswold, he also offered the gnome his name, "Kharash," and a scaled hand with only four fingers, each with a claw-like nail at the end.

Leaning in a bit, and with a softer voice he says "It seems this magic trick could've been the work of the organizers. Our hostess was keen on letting us solve this on our own. Could this be part of the riddle?" He looks at the gnome. "Seems a bit mean to do that without letting you know. You didn't plan this with them, right?" He asks while he gives a small nod towards the hostess and the ogre.

Wren took the massive hand offered to him, grasping the thumb-claw to best allow a proper handshake given the size discrepancy.

Wrenn shook his head, "I assure you, I don't even know what this is, much less a plan for it. This Rose ticket, stub-thing? No idea what it is, what it's for, or what it represents. These organizers you speak of? No idea beyond the hint you just gave me. I don't know anything about the riddle either, through I'm certainly willing to lend a hand there if you'd care to share it with me."

"Well, I'm sure you've heard of the Maypole festival. That's where you are right now, a long way from Last Haven. It lasts for three days with a large tournament on the last day. Additionally, there is a small competition that groups can partake in," Kharash nodded at the ticket Wrenn was holding. "It involves solving some riddles, of which the first one was to find the other participants with the same ticket number, and meet in one of the inns. That's where we are now, while we are waiting for the next tasks to be announced. The reward at the end is to meet one of the four Roses."

Kharash then retells the riddle. "If you've got a mind for riddles, that'd be much appreciated. Were it not for Griswold's knowledge of the local history we'd have had a hard time getting past the first step. The rest of us were pretty clueless."

"It sounds more like a rhyme than a riddle. Not much in the way of word play. Testing your mind rather than your heart could mean making a choice based on logic rather than emotion. Exercising skill could be literally skill with physical exercise - in which case you better pray they don't expect me to do it - and the last part could be any number of things, though the words seem to indicate a possible battle of some sort with the mention of steel and glory."

Wrenn shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, and tilted his head to either side eliciting a string of popping sounds both direction, "That's all that comes to mind from simply considering the words at face value. If it is truly a riddle, then more analysis is in order. If they're going to announce tasks, as you said, then I tend to think it's more likely to be a simple rhyme to tease your imagination."

"If the rest is just a rhyme, the better. For now at least, we're just awaiting to hear of the next task." Kharash glanced at the inn. "We should probably head back inside to hear it. They're also offering plenty of good food and drinks - should help a bit in recovering from this shocking event."

Griswold sauntered back into the inn behind the others, grinning broadly.  He waved at everyone, winked at the hostess, then sat down with the rest of the group.  Plonking the cat onto the table, he called for: "one milk please!"

Putting the sudden appearance of the gnome to that species perchance for mischief, or perhaps a game being played by the organizers of this strange carnival, Sul had regained his composure and now stood with his powerful arms folded over broad chest, stroking his chin with a hand and trying to think of a solution to the riddle

This was not really his forte, but it seemed they were well and truly stuck. As he pondered, he gazed at the noblewoman wondering if she had any answers...

---

ooc:Rolling a Wisdom Check: 22
Trying to discern anything about the riddle using pure wisdom

Wrenn took a seat, running over the words to the riddle in his mind. His thoughts kept jumping around, so he decided to pull out some items from his bag to busy his hands. He laid out his tinkering tools before him, various instruments of metal and wood, and turned them about to investigate their condition and such.

He spoke the words to the riddle aloud, then whispered them to himself over and over as he sought to gain any insight into their meaning.

---

I rolled both History (8) and general Intelligence (22), if either of those is applicable.
10:04, Today: Wrenn Muernig rolled 8,22 using d20+6,d20+4.  Riddle: History, Intelligence.

[private to dm: One of the items he pulled out was his wand, and after whispering the riddle to himself a couple of times he lowered his voice just a touch more and instead whispered a message. (Trying to be sneaky about casting a spell.)

Casting Message, directed at the noblewoman. "Good day, my Lady. Might I beg your opinion concerning this riddle?"]

Kharash looked with interest at the various tools Wrenn had produced in front of him on the table. "So eh.. Wrenn, what is it that you do for a living?"

As you return to the table to discuss the riddle and resume partaking of drink and food, you notice that the tavern has returned to a somewhat state of normalcy. You all do find it strange that none have come to investigate Wrenn or the group, but mostly it seems to have passed into memory.

[Private to Brother Sul: Thinking upon the riddle, you determine that in days past riddles were littered more with flowery words but rarely held the directness that this seems to contain. You do know for certain that the words warning of death  for careless participants is not to be taken lightly. Each task, whatever they are, carries the penalty of death for failure.]

[Private to Wrenn Muernig: The noblewoman looks at you and makes a gesture for you to pay more attention to your group, but does give a smile that makes you think she thought the trick clever. As you ponder the riddle, you are able to discern a few things. With the first test, you have found your feet at the start of an adventure. Your logic holds that each test is designed around the theme of a full adventure.
Task 1- Find a group to adventure with
Task 2- Prepare for an adventure {logic puzzle is likely}
Task 3- Use skill to evade and disable obstacles
Task 4- Find a way to get back home in one peice ]

Wrenn smiled at the noblewoman and bowed his head slightly before turning his attention back to Kharash as he put his tools away once more, "Hmm? Oh, I'm a tinker. I make various contraptions capable of moving around, producing fire or music, repairing metal objects that have broken or spit, and sculpting and casting small works of art. Working with my hands allows me to think more clearly."

"This riddle speaks of four parts. Four parts of an adventure, it seems to me."

"First, you find yourself a group of like-minded individuals. Which you've done.
Second, you prepare for the adventure; in this case it seems a logic puzzle may be our means of "preparation".
Third, we go on said adventure, which requires us to defeat obstacles and avoid danger.
Fourth, we must return home safely."

Stroking his chin Sul hummed to himself for a moment, listening to the others and then saying, "Yes, Wrenn seems to have the gist of it. I also believe this is a serious matter, not a mere game as it might seem. The penalty for failure, should we elect to participate, would be death for the foolish and unprepared. We should not embark on this quest lightly."

Turning his neck towards the noble woman he added, "We need more information, rather than vague riddles and word games. Tell us what you want more clearly if you wish us to take action."

"If you're good with these things, you might be able to find out how this works," Kharash held up the ticket with their group's number, "there's supposed to be some way to activate the tickets to they can be communicated through."

"I doubt this thing would put our lives in danger. This is a harvest festival, not a gladiator pit," Kharash added.

"The tickets allow communication over a distance? Well that's something I happen to know a thing or two about."

[private to dm: Not sure which would be more applicable, in this case. Figuring out the magic or the functionality to turn it on. Happy to roll something different, if you'd rather.

21:02, Today: Wrenn Muernig rolled 9,20 using d20+4,d20+6.  Tickets: Arcana, Investigation.]

It is easy enough for you to all put your heads together and figure out that each ticket has a small rune on it that is identical to each other ticket in a lot. Depressing the rune activates a sort of magic trigger and the tickets begin to broadcast the ambient noise. Due to them being close to each other, a squeal of feedback can be heard.

Shortly after, the noblewoman, flanked by the ogre, assumes a spot at the front of the tavern. She raises her hands for quiet and when there are a few that do not cooperate, the ogre bellows for quiet in a voice that seems big even for him. Smiling, the noblewoman smiles and resumes. "My name is Lady Inara and I would like to congratulate you all for making it past the first task. For your trouble, you each will get a reward of twenty five gold pieces, to be collected from my companion. To say that it is not a bribe would be a lie. From now on, this contest, for that is what it is, will test the very limits of your body, mind, and spirit. There is a reason behind this, but if you do not have absolute conviction, seek entertainment and adventure elsewhere," Lady Inara finished to a eruption of shouts and cheers.

Curiously enough, two groups besides yourselves seem to be a cut above the bystanders that lucked into the tavern meeting. One group is composed of a stern looking human with greying hair and beard, a massive half-orc man, a slight female elf, and a sly looking goblin. The other has five members consisting of a hobgoblin male, a pair of female half-elf twins, an ogre that is not quite as big as his counter part, and a venerable looking bugbear.

A few of the patrons start to leave, collecting small purses with gold. All that is left is a line of people waiting for gold and the three groups including yourself. What do you do?

Kharash raised one eyebrow. "I don't mind the free gold, it can always come in handy. But why? There's a clear prize for winning this contest, to get to meet one of the Four, and all the people here were attracted by just that. Why hand out another incentive?" He was talking to no one in particular, perhaps only to clear his thoughts. Turning to the group, he continues. "So, what do you feel like? I would like to see this through to the end."

"In a game of riddles, everything is a clue. I say we go get our 'free gold' and give it a little inspection. If there's nothing on it, we may need the weight of it later, or some similar use."

Finally the noblewoman spoke Sul thought, but though she gave more information she was yet vague at the same time, inviting as many questions as she had answered.

Sul also  noted the strange characters remaining, making up disparate groups apart from their own small company. it was startling, the priest had never seen so many non-humans together in one place before, but then again he hardly ever left the monastery where he had been raised and trained.

As he pondered Sul absently  pressed down onto the rune on his ticket to produce the ambient noise again, enjoying doing it for some reason. Sul hoped it would not become a habit, assuming they would be able to keep their tickets.

"I have been tested in body, mind and spirit since a young age my lady, such trials are old friends to me by now." Brother Sul finally spoke, staring at the Lady Inara as he did so. "I already accepted this contest when I came here, seeking the answer to the riddle of these tickets. It only makes sense to follow on from here, and see where this path will lead."

He did not make a move to collect the gold, not yet. After all he would not be collecting his gold and leaving like others had done.

Griswold thumped the table and laughed.  "Of course we're staying!" Then, as his grin waned slightly, he cast a wondering glance towards this Lady Inara.  Trying to recall anything he'd heard about her.

21:47, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  History - the Lady Inara?