Cain and Zorden return to the warehouse interior which is now being torn apart, in an orderly fashion, by a few of the town guard. One of the guards, a middle-aged Kellid woman with dark eyes and black hair starting to grey, looks to the pair and their offered assistance skeptically, offering on a terse, "Sergeant Barla; bring me anything you find."

Four guards are at work in the larger storage room of the warehouse, prying open crates to take inventory but coming up empty. Literally. It seems all the various crates are merely for show, but still the guards methodically unstack them, pry them open to be sure, then move them aside.

One guard is at work in Garmen's office with a handful of crates and barrels already pried open. Most of these are empty save for a few to store spare leather armor and a rope for ropefist recruits. The guard is currently in the process of methodically pulling out books from a short shelf near the eastern wall, scanning through them, then piling them up atop the shelf. In the center of the room is a table used for dining, surrounded by mismatched chairs and topped by a willow basket, mismatched dishes and cutlery, and stale food from a meal hours ago. Cain recognizes most of the dishes as coming from The Copper Coin and a few others from the other establishments around town.

Beside the northern wall is what seems to be Garmen's office desk. The chair is thrown aside, from when Garmen first caught Cain breaking in, and a number of drawers have been pulled out and sifted through already by the guard--their contents an array of odds and ends such as blank papers, ink and inkpen, spare nails, loose copper and silver coins, small boxes of tindertwigs and toothpicks, an old oil can, and shoe polish and stained rags. But as Cain moves the drawers and their contents about, the sense of some missing space peaks his half-elven scoundrel senses. With some extra attention and blind fumbling, he manages to unlatch and pull out a drawer hidden within a drawer. That smaller drawer contains within it a slender, unlabeled, leather-bound book. Within the pages of the book Garmen seemed to keep an informal collection of ledgers, notes, and simple contracts.

Most entries provide too little information to interpret and others seem particularly unremarkable, but of the entries which may be of use:
5 copper a day to Iven Lesky for care of Thunder Ranger. -Iven Lesky, Garmen Ulreth
Silverdisk Hall, 197, 199, 208, 205, 267, 243, 248, 251, 259, 242, 243, 254, 241, 233
2 copper a day to Kannum Tannog for services. -Kannum, Garmen Ulreth
Wrennie Dalrorn, Tragshi, Daggermark, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100
50 Silverdisk now, 50 later, for services and men. -Meyanda, Garmen Ulreth
3 Silver a day to Kelaria Ironclaw to guard warehouse. -X, Garmen Ulreth

Zorden watched the guards ransack what was appearing to, disappointingly, be a very empty warehouse.

"I wonder if this place was entirely set up for show, or if he was stockpiling containers to have available in case there was a mas exodus from Torch."  Zorden speculated out loud.  If it was indeed just a façade, it was a very odd one to present.


When Cain unearthed the ledger book Zorden joined him to look over his shoulder as Cain leafed through the pages.

"Do you know these names or places?"  Zorden asked Cain.  "I recognize a few.  Coin to the stable, maybe worth sending someone to see if the horse is still there.  Coin to a farmer, not sure what 'services' Garmen may have been buying there.  The matron of the Merrymaid, though I don't know if this 'Tragshi' is another person, or what a Daggermark may refer to.  Likewise this 'Meyanda' for 'services and men'.  Someone else in town?"

"Hmm. No idea who Meyanda is, but Trashgi is someone I had hoped to forget. She is the Guildmistress of the Daggermark Poisoners' Guild. Looks like Garmen has some dangerous friends. Not sure what kind of dealings they had, but I doubt it was anything good."

"Maybe Wrennie could tell us more, since she is listed along side Trashgi? Or should we head for the stables first? I still think Garmen is already long gone, but who knows, maybe he is stupid enough to still hang around."

He closes the book and after considering what to do with it for a moment, decides to hand it out to the sergeant after all, not seeing the worth in keeping it further and so risk cheesing off the guards even more.

OOC: I'll leave it to Zorden to stop Cain if he wants to hold on to the book.

"The stables will be an easy one to cross of the list.  Either the horse is gone, or it's still there and we'll have to let the guard know do they can figure out if they think Garmen might come back for it."  Zorden figured.

"If you think Wrennie would be open to such an inquiry, we can go there after that.  Though I don't know her other than her name and association with the Merrymaid, and honeyed words have never been my strong suit if she's at all reluctant."


Zorden doesn't object to handing the book over, but he does pause Cain long enough for two copies of the information they'd found to be transcribed onto other paper for reference later.

"Sound like a plan. Let's do the stables first and then see what we can get from Wrennie."

Once Zorden finishes copying the entries, Cain hands the book over to the sergeant before he and Zorden leave for the stables. "Ah, sergeant, you'd probably want to take a look at this. Looks like Garmens's ledger to me."

OOC: Should we tell the guards about the stables now, or do we go there alone? There is a small chance we could run into Garmen there.

"According to that book, Garmen was paying the stable to look after a horse.  We figure he might have went for it on his way out, so we're going to go have a look.  Might confirm if he's still in Torch or not.  Do you want to send any of your people in case the horse is still there?"  Zorden asked the guard officer when Cain handed over the ledger.

Sergeant Barla raises her eyebrows as the pair present their find, briefly looking behind the two towards the guard still shuffling through books in the office with a single, quizzical eyebrow raised. The poor man shrugs a half-hearted apology which leads to the sergeant chuckling before addressing Zorden and Cain as she flips through the journal, "That's a good find! Not sure what to make of any of this, but it'd be worth drumming up anyone listed in it for information." She looks over her shoulder briefly at the mention of the stables, but answers as she turns back, "Councilor Kyte sent Guardsman Tronek to the stables as soon as Ulreth fled. By now word's spread and everyone should be mobilized, shutting down the entrance to town and the stables." She shrugs and offers, "But maybe knowing for sure Ulreth has a horse stabled there, and the horse's name, would help the men there?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:50, Thu 29 Feb.

"Right, well we'll see if we can find, uh, Tronek, and pass on what we know and see what there is to find out."  Zorden informed the Sergeant, figuring a bit of over information couldn't hurt given the thin ice they were on with the council.

"Alright, let's go do that first, and we can see about asking some questions later." Cain agrees, ready to move on.

Sergeant Barla nods her goodbye to the pair and adds, "We'll finish up here, then post a few to keep an eye on the place before joining the manhunt."

The two head south down the Torch roads, passing the Temple of Brigh and the Town Hall and circling around Black Hill and Crowfeather Lake, before heading west towards Torch's entrance, past Jhestine Imierin's Tempting Tonics, to where multiple roads converge in a large, open area flanked by Inkrit Kollisun's General Store and Iven Lesky’s Livery Stable. At this time of day, with the sun going to rest over the horizon, there is a good deal of traffic as the few still trying to ply their trades in the city head out to their cheaper homes outside Torch's raised plateau. But tonight that traffic is slowed somewhat by an increased guard presence--many of whom seem to have been drummed up from sleep or recovery to help out. One man with a leg in a splint sits on a stool at one of the joining roads and two men still rubbing sleep from their eyes briefly question everyone leaving while two more open or uncover up anything big enough to hide a man.

As the pair approach the stable, a familiar face--the Gaurdsman Tronek sent here by Kyte--comes out meet them. "Coming to check up? Iven claims he hasn't seen Mr. Ulreth today, but he does stable his horse--a nice, strong one he got off some fool who came to town and lost everything at Silverdisk. Says Ulreth pays him regularly to keep the horse, but only takes it out every few weeks. Waste of a good horse." Tronek shakes his head at the last bit,
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:50, Fri 01 Mar.

"Huh. That's just what we've come here to tell you about, figured Garmen would want that horse if he really made a run for it. But maybe he's just gone to ground somewhere instead."

Cain turns to Zorden. "Want to check out what we can learn from Wrennie now? Or maybe we should try to rejoin the rest of the party instead. If Garmen really is still around, they may need our help."

"We can go to the Merrymaid if you think Wrennie will talk to us."  Zorden answered after a moment of consideration.

"There's enough guards out and on alert that I think if there's any trouble there will be plenty of help at hand, and I assume they're mostly finding things out like we are, so it makes more sense to try and cover as much ground as we can.  If Garmen is still hiding out in Torch, potentially figuring out where sooner is better."

"Well, we can try talking to her at least. I fear I may not be the best person for the job, though. Not really a people person like Morin is."

OOC: Got a couple points in bluff, but that's it when it comes to Cain's social skills. I don't suppose Zorden is better at talking?

"Well, if we think she knows something but won't tell you, we can always find the others and send Morin to wheedle it out of her."  Zorden replied.


ooc: No, quite the opposite.

Seeing the stables and entrance to town well secured, the pair head north for a short stroll passing between the General Store and the Foundry Tavern to arrive at the intersection flanked by The Copper Coin and The Marrymaid. Both establishments are picking up in business, with some bardic act drawing a little attention at the tavern and the music of a piano carrying out from the bordello.

As they step inside, Zorden and Cain are greeted by an array of activities: groups huddled over tables engaged in hushed discussions, couples lost in private worlds, attractive ladies and a few men offering company to lonely individuals seeking respite from their daily toils--either simple companionship for the price of a few over-priced drinks or more intimate dealings as they retreat to one of the establishment's several rooms--and even some women in a veiled corner dancing and disrobing for coin. The air is a mix of perfume and spiced aromas from the kitchen, hinting at the culinary delights available. The patrons are a diverse mix, though they represent the merchants and travellers who can afford finer entertainment than the tavern across the street. There's a sense of underlying tension, a palpable energy that suggests that while the Marrymaid is a haven, it's also suffering in the absence of the Torch.

Wrennie Dalrorn, the half-elf proprietor, moves gracefully from table to table. Her demeanor is welcoming, and she shares a word or a smile with her guests, ensuring that everyone feels at home. Rumor has it she is the illegitimate daughter of an elven prince from Kyonin and a high priestess of Calistria

Cain does his best to ignore distractions as he heads to intercept the proprietor. While not a complete stranger to this place, he is not really a regular either - his vices simply lay in other directions. "Madam Dalrorn? Might we trouble you for a moment of your time? We are helping the guards in an investigation of a certain individual and your name has come up, among others. It's surely nothing, but we still need to follow up on all possible leads."

OOC: The way Cain figures it, large sums of gold were exchanged between someone here. He is just not sure between whom and in what direction.

Zorden took a few quick glances around as they entered.  He hadn't been in Torch long enough to have ever visited the Merrymaid before.

As Cain zeroed in on the woman listed in the ledger, Zorden hung back slightly to let his companion do the talking.

Wrennie, who was already on her way to greet the new guests, smiles brightly as she recognizes the pair and answers in mock flirtation, "Oh, you can have all of my time you need, handsome! You boys are the ones who rescued Councilor Baine from the Hill and are going to save our little town, aren't you? I've seen you comin' and goin' from the Foundry; We all owe you so much!" She leans in and adds, "And I think some of the girls would be happy to help you fine boys relax after a stressful day of bein' heroes ... just don't go braggin' about it!" The young madame nods her head towards a small group of unoccupied ladies who have started to size up and smiles at the pair before considering Cain's words in full and finishing, "But I don't know what I'd have to do with any of the cave business?"

"As I said, it's likely nothing, but we still need to ask you a couple of questions." Cain makes a show of consulting the notes Zorden copied from the ledger. "May we inquire on what is your connection to one Garmen Ulreth?"

"Ulreth? Just business. Referrals and whatnot. He likes to have some girls at the Silverdisk to keep any winners gambling longer, or to cover a traveller's stay here." She narrows her eyes a bit and tilts her head as she asks in return, "Why? How'd he cross your path?"

Zorden gave a polite nod to Wrennie when she acknowledged and recognized them.  He did the same when he couldn't help but follow her gaze towards the group of women.  Zorden kept the nod brief to try and show a measure of gratitude for the attention but did his best to avoid encouraging it in any way, and very deliberately did not smile.

He turned his attention back towards Cain and the conversation at hand doing his best to follow along while trying to be as unobtrusive as possible.

"He, uh, seems to have disappeared when the guards wanted to ask him some questions and at the moment we are looking for him. We have found a ledger of his, which mentioned your name, among others. And along side it was a list of substantial payments, as well as another, rather shady name. Care to tell to us what that is about?" Cain carefully observed Wrennie, trying to gauge how much she was lying to them.

17:25, Today: Cain rolled 16 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 12.  Sense Motive. – 16

OOC: Zorden can freely join in on the conversation, it's not like Cain is using his (basically non-existent) social skills anyway.

Wrennie furrows her brow in thought for a moment, but soon shrug, shakes her head, and answers with an impenetrable smile, "Well, like I said, we have business dealings. I wouldn't know anything about shady names he might keep in a ledger." She seems sincere in everything she says, but you also get the sense she could tell you she is the secret Queen of Torch and you might believe her--why would that smile or those eyes ever lie?

Cain makes one last try to get to the bottom of this. "Hmm. I take it then that you have not seen him lately or know where he might be hiding? And what kind of business dealings include 800 gold pieces and the chief poisoner of Daggermark? I am sorry I have to insist, but the guards have the ledger now and I am sure someone else will come by to ask those questions if we don't get any answers for them."

At them mention of Daggermark, Wrennie reaches out quickly to place a hand on Cain's forearm, gripping firmly to urge him to quiet rather than cause any pain. After looking around guardedly for anyone who might have heard, she insists simply, "Come with me." She quickly heads around the Marrymaid's bar, leading Cain by the arm if he allows, to a small office with a desk, a few chairs, and a shelf overflowing with sheer, silky, and frilly garments. She doesn't take a seat, but once Cain and Zorden are inside she closes the door--leaving it cracked slightly so her guests don't feel trapped--and explains, "Look, I don't know anything about a ledger or where Garmen is or where he might be, but Nirmala might; he fancies her and I've covered more than a few of his visits." She purses her lips and sighs through her nose, considering her next words before adding, "I have history in Daggermark, which I really don't want to follow me here. Garmen dug it up somehow and has been threatening to send word back unless ... well, I've been paying for his discretion." She looks the two over and implores them, "I'd be in great danger if the Poisoner's Guild found out where I am. I hope I can trust you to keep my secret?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:29, Mon 11 Mar.

"I... see." Cain wasn't sure what he expected, but this certainly wasn't it. "Something of a familiar story to me. Well, you have nothing to fear from us. I can make no guaranties about what Garmen could still do though, so let us know if he contacts you."

OOC: Makes sense from what little we have to go on. Assuming she is not lying, of course. But either way, it doesn't look like we will find anything useful here. Does Zorden have anything to add? If not, what should we do next, rejoin the rest of the party?

Zorden followed as Cain was insistently invited to relocate the conversation to somewhere more private.

After Wrennie said her piece, Zorden nodded in agreement with Cain's sentiment.

"If you could perhaps inquire of Miss Nirmala on our behalf, and let us or one of the guard officers know of any potentially useful information she might relay to you, that would be appreciated."  Zorden added.

ooc: I think we're ready to rendezvous with the others

OOC: Somehow I managed to completely miss the part about Nirmala in DM's post. Want to ask her some questions first, or should we just wrap it up here and move on?

ooc: Well Zorden asked Wrennie as he figured Nirmala might be more willing to share with her boss than two strangers (whether Wrennie will follow through to pass on that info is perhaps in question).  Especially if she thinks she'll benefit if Garmen gives everyone the slip.  However if Cain thinks he can convince her otherwise, feel free to point us off in that direction.

OOC: Nah, let's go with that. Off to see what the rest of the team is up?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Mon 11 Mar.

ooc: Assuming Wrennie agrees to our request, likely the way to go.

Gonna take the liberty to stretch this out a bit and keep you here. You've covered more time than the other group and it'd be an awkward reunion if you just popped in to their thread now.
"I appreciate that." Wrennie says sincerely, but soon asks, "What kind of trouble is Garmen in? It would be a load off my mind if he were no longer able to make his threats." Apparently motivated by the urge to help, the Madame pulls open the door slightly and calls out softly to the bartender not too far away, "Rolog! Could you have Nirmala join us for a few minutes? Give Mister ... Teshak? ... a few drinks for the inconvenience."

It isn't long before a young Tian-Min woman softly pushes on the door to peak in and ask, "Yes, miss Wrennie? You needed me?"

"Nirmala! Please, come in and have a seat," Wrennie directs the girl and closes the door behind her as she enters before taking a seat beside her. "You've spent some time with Mr. Ulreth. I know it can be hard to separate business and affection, but the guard are looking for him and I need you to answer these mens' questions about him."

Nirmala's eyes go wide for a moment as she begins to protest, "But--"

"I need you to answer their questions," Wrennie stresses, and after a weighty pause Nirmala nods in acceptance and turns to look two the pair of adventurers.

"To be honest, we are not sure ourselves what Garmen was up to. That's what we are trying to find out. All we know is that he was in possession of something dangerous, possibly to the whole town. When the guards tried to ask him some questions, he disappeared." Cain shares what little they know with Wrennie, not seeing a reason not to do so.

When Nirmala arrived he asks her his question. "Eh, this may be a long shot, but I don't suppose you know anything of what Garmen has been up to lately? Specifically, what kind of business dealings and with whom he may have had? And where he could be now?"

"Locating where he may be staying may be a help in getting the torch relit."  Zorden added softly but earnestly, hoping that perhaps a chance to aid the common collective good of the town might help the young woman overcome whatever personal or professional reluctance she might be feeling regarding giving up such potentially confidential information.

Nirmala shakes her head at Cain and Zordens suggestions, explaining in her soft, accented voice, "No, he would not have anything to do with the torch. He can be selfish and..." she pauses a moment to think of the word before finishing, "underhanded? But he wouldn't do something that wicked." She looks hesitantly towards Wrennie for a moment before continuing, "We usually stay here, or sometimes he would take me for a picnic in the countryside. Otherwise he is always at the Silverdisk Hall. Or he has a warehouse near the Guildhouse. But, last week ... he treated me to a home-cooked meal at a place on Seven Tears road. I think it belongs to some of his friends ... the third house on the right after Seven Tears lane."

"Thank you for your candor. We will not take up more of your time." Cain nods and leaves the two women to confer with Zorden. "Only one new lead, I think. Want to see if anything is there? Or should we see what the rest of the party is up to first?"

OOC: Should we rejoin the rest of the party now? We could check out the new lead alone if they need more time. Could be risky though.

ooc: I'd generally be inclined to regroup before checking this other location.

If gameplay considerations require us to stay separated, then grabbing a guard officer and a few underlings would be a prudent move.

With no more questions to answer, Nirmala excuses herself to return to her business while Wrennie walks the pair to the Marrymaid's door. Before the two depart, the madame reiterates, "You boys are heroes to this town for braving those caves to turn on the torch, but if you can sort out this problem with Garmen, too, then I'll be doubly in your debt. Stay safe!" And with the final exchange of farewells, the pair head off up Silver Tears road towards Silverdisk Hall to see about regrouping with the others.

As the pair near, they find a young ropefist casually leaning against the wall outside the hall's front door, dressed in the common dirty leathers and linens of the bunch but wearing a notably clean and vibrant red fedora on his head. It is no surprise for Silverdisk Hall to have a bouncer, but the last time Cain and Zorden were here the man stood guard inside--probably preferring to do his work out of view of passersbys and guards. The man tips his hat in greeting to the pair, and any other passerby, as they near the establishment.

At the intersection the door faces, across from the Silverdisk, a pair of guards pretend to be standing guard as usual and to not be giving the establishment any extra attention.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:51, Fri 22 Mar.

As they moved towards the entrance Zorden couldn't help but wonder if the man's hat was a personal choice, or some sort of badge of station, either at the establishment or within the ropefists as an organization.

Either way he touched his brow in response to the man and made to enter to see if the rest of the group were still investigating inside or if some lead or another had taken them elsewhere.

Cain follows after Zorden, flicking a gold coin up in the air and catching it repeatedly. He gives the bouncer a nod in response to his greeting.