Well, there it is: Bredon.

It's grown since Neide was last here...

The time has come to get supplies...

"Well, you're the only one who's been here before..." Ondreya says to Neide. "What do you think? Do we go in by night, or would that seem too suspicious? Could we maybe stay at an inn, or does that seem too risky?"

"We really could use some work, honestly," says Kerran. "We aren't exactly wealthy..."

"I guess we have no option but to stay at the inn...", Neide replied, "If we plan on actually staying here for some time. Yes, we'll get noticed - but that will happen also if we camp out of town. And that'll look even more suspicious..."

She eyed her companions thoughtfully.

"The question is, how long you think we should stay here? Do we need only to buy provisions, or is Kerran right in that we should earn some money?"

"I'd say 'it depends,'" said Aden. "I think we should go in and sort of get a feel of how comfortable they are with strangers right now."

"Yes, let's remember that the blessed spring of Bredon attracts a fair amount of visitors, hoping to improve their health from drinking the water, whether or not they are devout," added Kerran. "They're used to unannounced people coming from afar, so used to it that I wouldn't think they would greatly question most newcomers' reasons for visiting..."

"True", Neide agreed, "That said, we are a somewhat uncommon gathering of travellers. Two foreigners, a priest of Veles and a soldier of Alara... Questions might be asked for the reason we are travelling together. We better be prepared for that..."

She looked toward the town.

"It's not like we have any choice, though. We need those provisions, after all..."

"...What do you suggest...?" Ondreya asked.

Neide rubbed her neck thoughtfully.

"How about we present ourselves as pilgrims? Or... Aden and Ondreya might say they are ones. And me and Kerran could be their guides..."

She furrowed her brow.

"I guess it might work, if we don't plan on staying here for too long..."

"Ah! Yes! Converts!" Kerran says excitedly. "Newly-minted converts to Veles! Yes, I like that... The blessed spring is honored by followers of Veles and the church of Noric, after all...! Shall we head on into town...? Or are there any other parts of our story to get straight...?"

Neide nodded her head approvingly.

"It all sounds good", she said, "Aden and Ondreya are converts - and I could be assigned as your protector. Do you think it makes sense?"

"It does to me... shall we head in now...?"

"Yes", Neide nodded, "And let's try not to look suspicious or on edge... we're supposed to be peaceful pilgrims after all."

That said, she headed toward the town - hoping their story really would be believed by the people of Bredon...

The story was believed by the innkeeper... In fact, he believed it all too well. "We don't have an actual temple or outpost or whatever you followers of Alara call 'em," the man said, which Neide already knew, but she didn't interrupt, "but that's maybe good, because it means you can be neutral, ma'am. We could sure use some help in this town... I'll give you your rooms for 50% off-- and I'll throw meals in for free-- if you'll promise to go over to the Temple of Veles and talk to them about... the troubles that've been going on lately..."

Kerran gives Neide a look that says that he badly wants to investigate...

Aden give Neide a look that says that he badly wants those discounts...

Having caught the look of both of her companions, Neide nodded at the innkeeper.

"Of course", she said, "I'll look into it. Can you tell me more about the... troubles? What is going on, exactly?"

"Well, there've been--" He stops suddenly. "...I'm really not comfortable saying, here..." he says, glancing about at the several people having lunch in the inn's common room. He'd already been speaking quietly, but now he speaks even more quietly: "You never know but that they might be listening..."

Neide couldn't help giving the innkeeper a puzzled glance. What was going on here..?

"I...see", she replied, "Maybe... you could show us to our rooms, then? We'd like to see what you have to offer before paying..."

"I... need to stay at the front desk... Ingrid! Come show these people to their rooms, and see if they meet their approval..."

A blonde 17-year-old serving maid comes and shows you to some rooms. "So, you'll be needing two rooms...?" Ingrid asks...

OOC: I actually thought the innkeeper would take this opportunity to sneak away for a moment and talk to Neide's crew privately... :) But let's roll with what is happening. :)

Neide followed the maid to the guest rooms.

"Yes, that would be best", she replied to the question, "Do you have two free rooms at the moment?"

"Oh sure, these are free... I mean they aren't free, but they're, um, no one is using them yet, so you could..." Ingrid smiles happily, having successfully gotten past the danger of confusing herself...

"Good", Neide replied, "We'll be taking two rooms, then. I trust each of them can accomodate two guests, right?"

As she talked to the maid, she recalled her childhood - one she spent in an inn not unlike this one. It felt like it happened so long ago, almost in another life...

Ingrid's response broke Neide out of her reverie. "Yes, that's right ma'am-- si-- um, yer soldier-ship," Ingrid curtseys anxiously.

"Good", Neide replied to the maid, "Show us to the rooms, then. Me and my companions would like to take a short rest. Oh - and how much do the rooms cost, actually?"

She hoped the price wouldn't be too high...

"Um, I know it's 22 coins per week, so that's 44 for the two rooms, and that includes the basic meals, which is soup and bread and water, but that's for a week, so divide that, um..."

While Ingrid tries to do math, Aden gives Neide a look that says It's pretty fair, but we could really use the discount...

Neide gave a nod back to Aden, then turned back to Ingrid.

"It's all right", she said, not waiting for the girl to finish counting, "We'll be taking the rooms. Which ones would that be?"

She waited for the girl to show the rooms to them.

"Oh, this one, and this one here, right next to each other!" Ingrid smiles.

Neide nodded again, both at Ingrid and at her thoughts.

"Two rooms next to each other", she pondered, "Good. We won't get separated if trouble comes here..."

"I see", she said to Ingrid, "Let us in, then. As I said, me and my companions would like to rest for a moment. We've been long on the road..."

"Yes ma'am..." says Ingrid, a little uncertainly.

Kerran steps forward. "This will pay for both rooms for today and tonight..." he says, giving Ingrid some coins.

Ingrid brightens. "Yessir! Let us know if you need anything...!" she said.

She opens the rooms, and gives one key to Kerran and one to Neide. You are free to rest, or to drop of some of your heavier belongings, if you wish...

Neide took the key from Ingrid, then unlocked one of the rooms. She walked inside - but, as she did so, she turned around to see if the maid was going away.

When they were alone, Neide motioned for her companions to join her inside the room. Once there, she looked around - then, she asked:

"So... what now? I'd really like to take a moment to rest. Then, I think we should look around the town for the supplies we need. And we might want to visit the temple of Veles and see what this trouble we heard about was..."

Ingrid walks off right away, to get back to whatever other duties she has.

"I'm fine with a short rest... but I'm eager to go to the temple of Veles," says Kerran. "Any chance we could do that before shopping...?"

"I don't see why not...", Neide agreed, "I wonder what this whole matter is about. We might want to be careful, though... that inkeeper really seemed worried about somebody listening in..."

She turned to Ondreya and Aden.

"And what do you think?"

Aden shrugged. "Sounds to me like-- at the very least-- somebody's afraid of spies or something. I got the impression that the innkeeper doesn't really seem to understand what's going on himself... But I think whatever the trouble is, he thinks it's coming from within the town itself, since he thinks that we, as outsiders, are trustworthy...?"

"I think it has something to do with Veles, and that's why he trusts us?" said Ondreya. "No idea what's going on, though."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:57, Sat 27 July 2019.

Neide shook her head, admitting her confusion.

"I don't know what to think, either", she said, "As Aden said, it seems that the trouble, whatever it might be, is coming from inside the town... or it has, at least, *infiltrated* the town. But what might it be and what's the connection to the temple of Veles - I have no idea..."

She sighed.

"I suggest we rest for a while and then go to the temple. We'll decide what to do next afterwards. Agreed?"

"Sure," says Aden, and everyone nods.

The party, in their two rooms, rests for a while... It feels good to lay down on a real bed again...

When she felt she rested enough, Neide checked on the rest of her companions. After she made sure everyone also didn't need any more rest, she proposed they head out to the temple of Veles...

OOC: My ideas is that Neide rests for about two hours. Of course, the other party members might need more rest, so feel free to make the rest last longer...

At the temple of Veles, you are all warmly greeted by Father Einar. "Greetings to you all, pilgrims... is there anything I can do for you today...?"

"Well...", Neide replied cautiously, the situation being rather unclear for her, "We were advised that it'd be helpful for the town if we... talked to you about... the recent troubles. Would you happen to know what these might be..?"

She eyed Kerran, inviting him to join in.

"Ah. Yes. The recent troubles. Indeed. And I can see why they thought you might talk to me." Father Einar sighs. "Someone is making trouble," he continues. "Mild arson. Petty thieving. Destruction of property. This would be bad, but it would be a job for law enforcement. And it is. But... It's being blamed on those who follow Veles."

Kerran looks shocked.

"The blame is understandable," Father Einar continues, "because followers of Veles are being framed for it. The symbol of Veles' monolith is being marked on doors, on walls, next to the crimes. The crimes are always against people who honor Noric. People in Bredon have always felt that the holy spring was placed here by either Veles or Noric, but I don't think that the feeling that the other side is wrong has ever before resulted in anything but a very friendly rivalry. This, though, has split the town. We followers of Veles are being framed. Followers of Noric feel persecuted-- because they clearly are being persecuted, though by whom, I know not, I swear... If this goes on much longer, the town's ideological split will turn to violence, to say the least... And everyone's touchy, meaning questioning anyone is taken as tantamount to an accusation, and so the people have turned against law enforcement as well, for not being able to stop it..."

Neide raised her eyebrows, as she heard the priest's tale. It sounded surprising - the followers of Noric and Veles fighting? Could it really be the case? If so, it'd be unusual... And if not, then - who could be framing the followers of Veles and why?

"For how long has this been going on?", she asked, "Can you remember when it all began?"

"It's been a little less than a month now..."

"A month...", Neide mused, "And how many of such did take place? Was there a mark of Veles always left at the spot of the crimes?"

"There's been six crimes," frowns Father Einar, "and yes, every time."

"I see", Neide nodded, "Now, Father... I'm sorry for asking this, but - are you certain it is *not* the doing of one the Veles worshippers? I'm not accusing anyone and I agree your people could well be framed here. But it might also be a case of some misguided person really committing such crimes in the names of Veles..."

As Neide spoke, her tone was respectful and cautious. She certainly didn't want to alienate Father Einar... or Kerran, for that matter.

Father Einar takes a deep breath... then lets it out slowly. "Certain? Certain? How certain is anything? How certain can a man be, when he goes to bed at night, that he'll wake up in the morning? Reasonably certain... but if he's absolutely certain about it every night, he'll still be wrong about it some day, no matter how certain he is of it when he goes to bed. What do any of us know for certain, in this world? I knew a man who, 20 years ago, was certain that the gods don't really exist. And I knew a woman who was equally certain that they do exist. Today, there is no man I know who is more certain that they do exist than that man, and no woman more certain than that same woman that they don't."

Another long breath. "But I believe... that none of my parishioners is responsible. I'm almost as certain of that as I am that I will wake up tomorrow morning. Maybe I'm wrong about the first belief. But then again, maybe I'll turn out to be wrong about the second, too. But for now... I believe both. Strongly."

Neide nodded, pondering on the priest's words.

"If so, then...", she asked, "... do you have any suspicions as to who might be behind it? I imagine you know the townspeople well, so - is there anyone here that would be the enemy of the followers of Veles?"

Father Einar sighs again. "In my personal opinion? I know the people of Bredon, all of them. They've never done anything remotely like this before, and I don't see why they would. Most people who say they follow Noric aren't willing to harm anyone else over their faith. Other things, but not their faith. I think it's being done by outsiders. But... outsiders come to Bredon all the time. We're a popular place, more than ever these days, especially for the upper classes. Saying that I don't think it's any of our resident citizens still leaves many possibilities..."

"So... an outsider, then", Neide said, "It's not much, but maybe if this trail was followed... Have you noticed any stranger then, lately, that would look suspicious to you? Or someone unusual?"

"Bah. All outsiders seem somewhat unusual to those who have lived in Bredon long, and that goes double for the eccentric wealthy who come and visit. But most of them seem harmless, as well... I don't know at whom to best point an accusing finger... And if the constable and his men don't-- and they clearly don't-- then I certainly don't either..."

"Alright", Neide nodded, "Thank you for explaining the situation to us, Father."

She gave the priest a serious look.

"We're just pilgrims, Father - but we'll be keeping our eyes open. If we happen to see anything that could help with all this trouble, you may be certain that we'll act on that."

She gave the priest her farewells, then led her companions out of the temple.

"So...", she asked, "... what do you think of all of this?"

"I'm convinced that it's a frame," said Kerran.

"...I wonder if we could get a reward if we put a stop to this...?" Aden mused.

"...I don't care who's doing it," said Ondreya. "What matters is how to stop it. ...I have some ideas... but I wish I knew what the local constable was already doing... Say, wait, could the constable or one of his men be behind it?" she added, undermining her own statement that it didn't matter to her who was doing it. "It would be the perfect cover for such activity..."

"I could go to the town's constable and ask about it", Neide observed, "I am... or, at least, I can still pretend to be... a soldier of Alara. Soldiers of Alara are tasked with upholding justice, so I don't think it'd be seen as strange, if I went to the constable and demanded some explanation..."

"That's brilliant! I honestly hadn't thought of that!" said Aden. He pauses. "...Of course, there's the risk that they've already been warned to be on the lookout for a runaway Alaran woman... but we took that risk just by coming here and showing ourselves, and no one's pointed and shouted 'hey, that must be them!' yet, so..."

"We can always break you out, if they arrest you or something..." says Ondreya...
This message was last edited by the player at 16:22, Sat 24 Aug 2019.

"Again?", Neide smirked, "Now that would be humiliating..."

She tilted her head slightly.

"I say we try this. I don't think the risk is that big - and if we manage to help out with this trouble, it'd be good for both us and the town..."

"So... the plan is for you, by yourself, to approach one of the constables and talk to them...?"

"Not necessarily by myself", Neide replied, "I think you could come with me to lend some weight to my questions. But yes, that'd my plan... Do you think it's no good?"

As she spoke, her tone of voice wasn't confrontational - she was honestly open to Kerran's objections.

"I will come if you want... but my thought was that it sounds like the constabulary has already had enough badgering for results from both the followers of Veles and Noric... they may not be glad to see me..."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:39, Wed 28 Aug 2019.

Neide pouted her lips slightly.

"That might be right...", she agreed, "I'll go alone, then. We'll see what the constables know... or care to share"

She furrowed her brow, struck by a sudden idea.

"But what if the constables are involved in all of this? Wouldn't approaching them tip them off that we're looking at the matter? Maybe it'd be better to talk to some locals first... like our innkeeper, for once?"

"Sure, let's go do that, then," shrugs Aden.


Soon you are back in front of the innkeeper.

"Hullo, hullo, folks..." He lowers his voice to a stage whisper. "Did you, ah... talk to... that fellow...?"

"Yes", Neide replied to the innkeeper, keeping her voice low, "Can we talk somewhere more... private? Could you come to my room in a moment?"

The innkeeper swallows, hard. "...J-j-j-just me...? And you...?"

"You and *all of us*", Neide said, "Please come to my room discreetly in a moment..."

She motioned for her friends to follow her, then headed upstairs to her room.

"Oh, well, er, all right then..." He follows you to the room in question.

After the innkeeper arrived to the room, Neide approached him.

"All right", she said, keeping her voice low, "We visited the temple of Veles and we learned of... the trouble. What can *you* tell us about these happenings..?"

"...What? Er, nothing much... I mean, they're obviously done by one or more deranged followers of Noric to frame those of us who follow Veles..."

"Hmm", Neide nodded, "And do you have any suspicions who exactly might be doing this? Also, what can you tell me about the constables - do you think they are trustworthy? Or could they be involved in all of this?"

"It's funny that you asked me that... I think it's obviously one of us, because it's someone who knows the town... since the people doing it never attack the wrong people, and strangers in the town wouldn't know who to attack, would they? How would they know?"



"Hmph! I wouldn't have thought so before, but right now I definitely think they could be involved. I think they're covering up for someone... Which is particularly frightening, because it makes me wonder if the temple of Noric doesn't know who's behind it all..."

"It's a serious accusation...", Neide observed, "Is there any specific reason you think the constables might be hiding something?"

"Oh! Oh, it's not an accusation... I don't have any proof... except that, well, shouldn't they have caught someone by now, or-- or be doing something...?"

"And you think they aren't doing anything?", Neide inquired, "You didn't heard of them talking to people, trying to get to the bottom of things? This is an honest question - we're trying to decide whom we can trust in this whole matter"

She looked at the innkeeper seriously.

"We are willing to try helping you. But, as you understand, we have to move carefully. The person or people behind these crimes might be dangerous, also toward us..."

"Bah... sure, they talked a lot at first, and they talk to people after each new crime, but what comes of it? Nothing! Not even an arrest!"




"Oh, sure, sure... but you're an Alaran, right? You're a soldier! What do you ever have to be afraid of, eh...?"

"I'm but *one* soldier, though...", Neide couldn't help chuckling, "It's not like I could defend myself against a crowd of bandits... or a sneaky assasin".

She gave the innkeeper a nod.

"Thank you everything you told us...", she said, "As I said, we'll try to get to the bottom of this. I can't promise anything, though... we're just pilgrims, after all."

She saw the innkeeper to the door. Then, she turned to her companions.

"So...", she asked, "... what do you think? If you ask me, it doesn't seem to me like the constables are suspect in any way..."

"I think we can take the innkeeper's views as representative of everyone else in town," said Aden, "but I also agree that there's nothing that particularly points to the constables being in on anything. Sounds more like everyone's just angry with them for not being able to put a stop to it..."

Neide nodded.

"That's my impression, too", she said, "Of course, we might be wrong, but - so far - it seems to me that there'd be no harm in me approaching the constables to talk."

She eyed her companions.

"So, are we all agreed regarding this plan? If so, I'll go and try to talk to the constables' commander now..."

They all seem agreed, so Neide heads to the gaol, where the constabulary are located.

When she walks in, the officer on duty is reading over some paperwork, frowning. He looks up when Neide comes in, then does a double-take-- her Alaran armor clearly gets his attention. He stands up. "Yes, er, what can I do for you?"

As Neide walked toward the gaol, she couldn't help feeling anxious. What if Bredon's guards learned of her desertion somehow? She might be walking straight into another prison cell... Still, she managed to push her worries out of her mind - and, when she entered the gaol, she tried to present a stern and confident face to the guards.

"You can take me to your commander", she replied to the officer who greeted her, "There is a matter I'd like to discuss..."

The officer gives Neide a look like I'm a little surprised, and yet I guess I really shouldn't be, huh and he leads Neide upstairs to an office. He knocks on the door.

"S'open..." comes a gruff voice from inside.

The officer opens the door. "Uh, chief, there's an Alaran right here who wants to see you."

The chief has half a second of a groan that is suddenly cut off. "Thank you, Aldo, show 'em in."

Aldo leaves Neide at the doorway, after sort of gesturing her to go ahead and enter...

Neide entered the chief constable's room and gave the man a welcoming nod.

"Thank you for seeing me", she said, "I came to the town today escorting a small group of pilgrims and I've learnt of some matters that, I think, require my attention as a soldier of our Goddess. Could you and I speak in private..?"

OOC: Hmmm, what would be the proper way of addressing this character? What is his official title: Chief Constable?

"Yes." He hesitated for a moment, and then got up, walked over, and shut the door behind her (apparently the hesitation had been when he thought about telling her to do it, and then decided he'd better do it himself).




(Sure, go with that)

Neide waited for the officer to close the door, then turned to him and spoke:

"Chief constable, I visited the temple of Veles and I learned of the... recent happening in this town. The crimes supposedly committed by someone worshipping Veles... This is a serious matter. I'd like to ask: what are you and your men doing about it? From what I've heard, the tensions are growing high in Bredon because of these crimes..."

(Resist biting your head off roll: 09:40, Today: The GM rolled 9 using 2d6 ((4,5)). Mostly/partially successful.)

"--Now listen here, you-- Where do you ge--" The chief lowers the finger he was suddenly pointing at Neide, and visibly restrains himself, almost shuddering with the effort. "...I apologize," he says next, in a much more civil tone. "Please understand, that I deal with citizens every day who ask me exactly that question, in pretty much the exact same wording you used, and it's..." He sighs. "What we are doing is exactly what you might expect we would be doing. We patrol every night. Some of us move around, and some of us stake out likely trouble spots. We catch no one. Wherever we are, the perpetrator or perpetrators are always somewhere else, hiding, or acting-- and when they act, we arrive too late to do anything but put out any fires that may have been started. During the day, we ask any questions we can think of that might be useful, which at this point only serves to stir up more resentment. Do you have any suggestions, miss...?" He trails off, clearly leaving a space for Neide to offer her name (or a name, anyway) if she feels like doing so.

"Neide", the former Alaran soldier introduced herself, "And please, don't take me the wrong way: it's not my intention to accuse you or your men of negligence. I'm simply trying to learn more of what's going on..."

As she spoke, her tone was calm and forthcoming. Somehow, that constable seemed to be an honest man to Neide...

"And no, I don't have any suggestions... But please tell me: do you have any suspicions as to whom might be behind all of this?"

"Honestly, no. I don't see what motive anyone from Bredon would have-- because if it was anyone who lives here, why now? Why not last year, or three years ago, or five? And if it's a person or persons from out of town... then... how do they know never to hit citizens of the wrong faith? It feels like someone who really knows these people... So... What does it mean? Why would anyone from out of town do this? What's to gain? It doesn't make sense... Unless it's just to make everyone really frustrated with me and my men, in which case it's working great, but what's the larger goal? What does it achieve, if it's not about religious zealotry among two faiths that don't usually have a problem with each other...?"

"I agree that all of this is strange", Neide agreed, "So, you don't think that it could be bigotry... a hateful member of one of the two faiths? I agree that would be unusual, but..."

"Well, I mean, we can't rule it out, but..." He sighs. "It doesn't feel right to me, but I guess that doesn't matter right now as much as what they hope to achieve by doing this...? And THAT doesn't matter as much as... how do we catch them?"

"And these might the two important questions...", Neide agreed, "But what are the answers? You said you and your men kept patrolling the town - and yet, you didn't manage to even see whoever is doing all this. I guess we could stick to doing this - hopefully, we'd catch a suspect one day. On the other hand, we can try thinking whom the possible suspects might be - by looking at what they might be willing to achieve."

She gave the Chief Constable a slightly sad look.

"I am *not* saying one of these methods is the right one... I'm not trying to play the smart one here. This case *is* hard to deal with..."

"Um. ...I... I don't know, maybe fresh eyes and ears might help. Personally, I've over-thought every possible suspect to the point that I'm getting nowhere trying to play one-sided mindgames with whoever-it-is. If the motive is genuine religious zealotry, I guess it could be practically anyone. But I don't like saying 'someone's doing it because they're out of their mind.' It feels like a cheap excuse for something that seems so well-organized. But what other motive is there? That someone wants to get me fired? Because if that's the plan, I'd say there's less than a month to go, if I'm lucky. But that idea also just feels like me feeling sorry for myself, not something I should really take seriously as someone's motive."

"I don't think it's a plot against you or any of the constables, either...", Neide said, "It would be a really roundabout way of getting at you, if that was the case. No, this is something else... something bigger, I fear. Some attempt at stirring real unrest in the town, maybe?"

She frowned.

"Can you think of anyone who would benefit from a riot or any other kind of chaos in Bredon..?"

"I... N... No... not yet. But that doesn't mean it's not the case. What's been happening would be perfect for someone new coming in and taking over. Maybe Easterners...? Nah... we're much too far from the border. And Bredon doesn't have any military importance, anyway. No, what it has is money. Someone else taking over the town could really start funneling a lot of money into their pockets... and that's a motive I can understand. That feels right. I don't know who's behind it, but that's got to be it. I'll bet this has all been a set-up for someone who hasn't revealed themselves yet. So... the next question... or so it seems to me... is... how do I get them to reveal themselves? And how do I pin this on them? I've been so focused on the town... maybe the real perpetrators are in the woods nearby...? The woods are thick to the northwest... And I haven't searched for anyone camping up there... Why would I? But..." The chief constable is excited. He looks at Neide gratefully. "...Say, ah, Neide, is it...? Are you alone? Are there more Alarans with you? And whether you're alone or not, might I interest you in helping with this? Outside of my own men, you're the person I trust most right now... And you might be ahead of the list of a few of them, honestly...?"

"You can trust me", Neide assured the Chief Constable, "And yes, I'd be interested in helping you. There are no other Alaran soldiers with me - but the pilgrims I'm travelling with would be happy to help, too. They are all quite capable people..."

She tilted her head thoughtfully.

"So... you say there's this place in the forest you think might be worthy of looking into..?"

"Yeah, Greenhill, it's called. It's a spot, oh, less than two miles to the northwest. Used to be a popular little camping site, until there was a wolf attack one year, then everyone sort of soured on it. But there's a stream nearby for water, yet the Greenhill itself it nice and dry, plenty of firewood around, quiet and secluded..."

Neide nodded slightly.

"I can go there with my companions", she said, "We'll investigate the place and see whether anyone's hiding there. Any other place you'd like us to check?"

"Nothing I can think of right n--" He pauses. "No, not right now. Let's see if there's anyone at Greentop first... But listen, whomever this is, he, or they, are professional-level good. Don't take any chances, please. Feel free to go, spy, and if you see anyone remotely sinister or dangerous-looking, carefully get away and come right back and tell me."

"Understood", Neide said, "All right, then - I shall be going... unless you have any other ideas?"

She gave the Chief Constable a thoughtful look.

"You seem to have something else on your mind..."

(Hmm... CHA roll, please...)

22:52, Today: Neide rolled 3 using 2d6-1

(Oops. Neide gets 1 new xp but takes -1 forward.)

The Chief Constable looks like he's about to answer, then he gets a sort of (Suspicious? Anxious? Worried? It's hard to say) look on his face. "No... no, never mind that just now... I'd rather keep that thought close to my vest for the moment..."

"... all right, then", Neide replied, after a momentary pause, "I'll gather my companions and leave for the Greentop. I'll see when we get back"

She gave the officer a farewell nod, then headed back to the tavern.

"Understood-- I'll be waiting eagerly to hear what, if anything, you find. But stay safe-- if you can keep it just a scouting mission, then do keep it just a scouting mission... I'll be happiest if you go, find a problem, and come back here and tell me without anyone seeing you..."

"Of course", Neide assured the constable as she was leaving, "We'll try to keep away from trouble, if we find any at all..."

OOC: If the Chief Constable has nothing else to say, Neide will go back to the tavern and report everything she learned to her friends.

"Say! You did well!" exclaims Kerran. "Shall we get ready to go now, or...?" He's obviously eager to investigate what he sees as this frame-job against the local followers of Veles...

Ondreya and Aden both look at Neide for her response. They're both clearly less champing-at-the-bit than is Kerran, but seem to have no objections of their own against leaving any time Neide says...

"I'd prefer to eat something first", Neide admitted, "We didn't have a solid meal today yet. So, let's have dinner - then, we can leave. Does this sounds like a good plan?"

She looked over her companions, inviting them to offer their opinions.

"Sure," said Aden. "Why start adventuring and then get hungry? I presume we'll just eat here...?"

"Of course", Neide agreed, "If I remember it right, meals are free for those that pay for the rooms anyway"

OOC: Feel free to move the story forward :)

"My thinking exactly," said Aden. "You might be right at home in the Isles, with us thrifty Westerners..."


After an adequate, filling (but not too heavy) meal, the colleagues return to the woods around Bredon... but this time to the northeast, instead of the south...

(Hmmm... roll Insightful, please...)

OOC: Wait, Insightful? I might have a brain fart, but what is that?

Hmmm. To keep us moving, I'll roll 2d6:

23:14, Today: Neide rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,1.

Please use this to progress the story - then, please explain me what did I just roll :)

HA HA HA that's my fault-- got my terminology mixed up with how it is in multiple other games I play.

What I should have said, for this game, is: Wisdom check.

Neide has no Wisdom modifier, good nor bad (currently-- the next time she levels up, maybe you'll choose to give her a good one... or maybe you'll put it somewhere else), so your roll is simply 7: In other words, just barely not a failure//a barely-qualified partial success...
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:28, Wed 20 Nov 2019.

As Neide's group is moving deep into the woods, the path heads uphill for a little bit...

At the crest of the hill, coming the other way, are four men, armed with crossbows and swords.

Neide was paying just enough attention that the men didn't get the drop on them-- on the other hand, the same could be said for the men. Both groups saw one another at the same time-- and surprised one another.

And then, the first of two very important things is said: One man says to the man next to him, in a not-quiet-enough stage whisper: "Arno? Should we kill 'em?"

In about two seconds, things happen very, very quickly.

Arno has about a third of a second of extreme annoyance that the speaker was not only too loud, but notes that Neide's group obviously heard the man's words.

Then, there's a full second of sizing up the group: A priest of Veles, an Easterner, a Westerner, and-- an Alaran soldier?!? Neide can see Arno thinking.

Neide, meanwhile, is sizing up Arno and his men-- they're casually-dressed, like they're meant to be hunters out looking for deer, but they're too well-armed, and they also feel like veteran soldiers, not sportsmen. The appraising looks all four are giving Neide's group, practically screaming Let's see, who's the biggest threat, and how shall I take 'em down are also a bit of a giveaway.

Arno draws his sword. "...Yeah," he replies aloud to the original question.

Neide can attack first. Will she attack:

--Arno, in front?

--His friend who doesn't know how to whisper, who's most likely to attack Kerran next, since they're kinda facing each other?

--The guy on Arno's left, who's most likely to attack Aden, since they're kinda facing each other?

--Or try to go for the guy in the back who's got about a second more before he aims his crossbow?

OOC: OK, two questions:

1. Which of these guys is closest to Neide? Is it Arno?

2. How hard would it be for Neide to get to the guy with the crossbow?

1. Yes.

2. (Looks at Neide's DEX score) ...kinda hard.

OOC: Okay, I'll be going for Arno, then.

"We'll see about that!", Neide spat back at Arno. Then, she pulled out her sword and charged the apparent leader of the group...

"Watch out for the crossbows!", she managed to shout at her companions - then, she hacked at Arno.

23:49, Today: Neide rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,1.

Hm. What now?

(GM rolls some dice)

Kerran took a cut on his arm from the man in front of him-- no telling yet how bad it was or wasn't (except that so far his arm was still attached).

Aden's blade cut his opponent, but he got cut too.

Based on the strange words behind Neide, it sounded like Ondreya was about to cast a spell, like she had during their first meeting, but the crossbowman fired a bolt at Ondreya, and the words (Eastern words? Magic words? Probably the latter) were suddenly interrupted, though at least Ondreya hadn't cried out in pain. (But would she, even...?)

As for Neide, it was a bit like Aden's situation-- she stabbed Arno in his leg, deeply, but she also took damage.

(Neide's armor protects her somewhat, but she still takes 1 point of damage.

But where does Neide take the damage? And of what sort? A cut? A stab? A blow to the head...? Something else...?

And does she stick to Arno, or try to trade partners with someone? The crossbowman's started reloading...)

OOC: Questions!

1. Do I get to decide where Neide got cut?
2. Is it still not quite possible for Neide to get to the crossbow guy?

(1. Yes. Or if she got stabbed instead, or damaged in some other way.

2. It is now slightly easier than before, because the guys who were formerly on either side of Arno are now busy with other people.

To put it another way: Oh, it was POSSIBLE before. It just wasn't gonna be EASY. It would still now not be easy, yet would now be slightly less hard than previously.)

OOC: Let's say Neide got a cut into her elbow...

How far is the crossbow guy from Arno? Would it be possible just to push Arno into this guy to distract him from firing?

(Close enough that you can give it a shot!

If I was asked 2 months ago or 2 months from now or in a slightly different situation, but right now for this situation I'm gonna say roll STR to try that.)

As the fight broke out and the first blood... the blood of Neide's friends and Neide herself... was spilled, the female Alaran cursed loudly.

"Damn it!"

Then, she tried pushing Arno at the man holding the crossbow, holding to deal with two threats at the same time...

OOC: 01:58, Today: Neide rolled 11 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,4.  Pushing Arno.

Success! Arno knocked into the man with the crossbow, and they both fell to the ground.

Meanwhile:
--Aden managed to avoid getting hurt further by doing well on defense
--Kerran actually managed to whack his opponent in the head with his (Kerran's) staff, dazing the man for a moment, and
--Ondreya cast a spell at Aden's foe-- crossbow bolts fired out of nowhere and struck the man. He fell to the dirt of the path, his breathing very laborious...

"Hah!", Neide exclaimed, satisfied to see Arno and the crossbow-wielding man fall to the ground. Then, she jumped toward Arno, hacking with her sword at him again...

22:33, Today: Neide rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,4.

Does Neide get any bonus thanks to Arno being prone?

(Depends. Is she trying to hit him anywhere at all (legs, ankles would be easiest), or aiming for a particular spot (eye, neck, heart, etc)?

(The way you've described it, it sounds like she'll be happy to settle for any damage...?))

OOC: Hmmm. No, she doesn't aim for any place in particular. Just a general attack, the same as before.

(08:39, Today: The GM, on behalf of Neide, rolled 3 using 1d8 ((3)).)

Neide slashes at Arno, but it hits his legs, and specifically hits bone more than soft tissue. He's bleeding, and hurting, but not much.

On the other hand, he's still down, and Neide's still up.

Ondreya produces a knife and moves to help Aden with his opponent-- and is slightly nonplussed when Aden gets lucky and stabs the man in the chest, a mortal blow.

She sort of changes direction when Kerran gets stabbed, himself, by the sword of his opponent.

Kerran staggers backward in pain. Ondreya, apparently feeling there's no time to cast a new spell, jumps in front of him. "Don't fear retribution from Veles for trying to kill one of his priests, eh? Well come on and learn how a woman of Ossau deals with killers like you."

The man is flustered enough by her words to hesitate for a moment before attacking her.


Arno and the crossbowman are still prone.

Aden's fellow has scant seconds to live, but in the meantime he's grabbed Aden's arm, keeping Aden from doing anything.

Will Neide help Ondreya and Kerran, or keep the pressure on Arno and the guy he fell on top of?

OOC: Let's keep the pressure!

Can I make some sort of focused strike? Something to make sure Arno gets hit rather solidly?

(Yes, roll your Dex.

The effects will be more dramatic no matter what happens. 10+ more damaging, 6- will backfire worse, 7-9 probably both.)

OOC: ... okay, on the second thought, maybe I'll just stick to ordinary hacking...

As Neide's strike slightly missed its target and ended up just wounding Arno's leg, the Alaran soldier cursed loudly. Then, she immediately slashed at Arno again...

22:40, Today: Neide rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,3.

Again, Arno takes a little damage, but his life certainly isn't in danger yet.

(GM rolls dice... Tsk, tsk, bad luck for Arno.)

Arno tries to ROLL away from Neide, sideways... but the crossbowman tries the same sort of thing, and they just stay tangled up together.

(GM rolls more dice)

Meanwhile, Ondreya gets stabbed by her assailent, but she stabs him, too. Kerran and Aden quickly rush to her, and manage to knock her stabber/stabbee out.

(Leaving Arno and his friend... Aden or Kerran will probably help Neide soon, but right at this moment they're busy helping Ondreya...)

"Aah!", Neide shouted furiously. She slashed at Arno once more...

OOC: 23:02, Today: Neide rolled 5 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,1.

Arno, his sword still drawn, managed to parry Neide's attack, and an instant later he was on his feet.

(GM rolls dice)

The crossbowman got to his feet, too, but was slower about it, and so didn't have time to attack yet.

Arno, on the other hand, attacked Neide--

--NO! It wasn't really an attack, it was just a feint to throw her off-guard! He grabbed the crossbow and quiver of bolts from the ground, and he started running off into the woods.

The (former) crossbowman is so surprised by this, that although he does the same (running off toward the woods), he would be much easier to catch if Neide wanted to try...

(Will Neide attempt to give chase (DEX?))

"Oh no, you don't..!", Neide spat, as Arno and the crossbowman started running away.

With the crossbowman being closer, she jumped after him, hoping to stop him from disappearing into the woods...

OOC: 23:32, Today: Neide rolled 5 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,1.  Chase!

(Fail! Neide gets one new XP...)

Arno quickly passes from sight amongst the trees and other foliage...

And Neide nearly turns her foot on a rock during her pursuit of the other man, and it slows her to the point that she loses ground-- the gap between them grows to more than a dozen feet...

But (unlike Arno) the man she's chasing isn't quite out of sight yet...

But should Neide continue pursuit?

She hears the sounds of footsteps behind her-- presumably Aden or Kerran, probably Aden-- but if she looks back, she'll lose her quarry...
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:10, Thu 12 Dec 2019.

Her mind set on capturing the escaping man and getting some explanations, Neide ignored the footsteps and kept giving chase...

OOC: I assume another roll is in order?

23:29, Today: Neide rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,5.  Chase continued.

Putting on a burst of speed (and eye-foot coordination), Neide closed the gap between herself and the man in front of her... and... grabbed the back of his clothing--

There! She'd yanked on his clothing, and pulled him to the ground (again), and managed not to fall herself!

The man started to get up...

Here came those running sounds from behind, again... Neide sure hoped that was Aden... but did she dare glance behind her to make sure...?

Neide felt she ought the check who was behind her - but she just couldn't let the man get away!

With all her strength, she pushed the man to the ground - and, at the same time, she tried glancing back to see who was running toward her...

(Hmm... do an STR check.)

OOC: Here we go!

22:34, Today: Neide rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,3.

Neide shoved the man to the ground once more.

A quick glance behind her and-- (it certainly would be exciting at this point if it was Arno running up behind Neide, wouldn't it? But, alas for the suspense, it was not.) It was Aden...

"Need help?" Aden asked, his eyes moving constantly around, watching for Arno (or anyone else). "Or shall I just watch your back? Or something else...?"

"Help me out here, please", Neide said, still holding the captured man firmly at the ground, "We can't let this scoundrel here get away... Do you have something we might tie him down?"

She waited for Aden to help her secure the captive, then started walking him back to where the fight had taken place.

Aden has enough rope on him to tightly tie the captive man's wrists together, and the three start returning to the spot on the path where they left Kerran and Ondreya. The spot is soon reached... Ondreya looks much better than she did when Neide left, presumably due to a successful clerical healing prayer...

"Look what we've caught", Neide said with a smirk, prodding the captive in front of her.

She looked over her friends.

"How are you all feeling?"

"Much better," says Ondreya, "now that our colleague has healed me up..." She still looks a bit shaky, but only from an emotional standpoint.

"Good to hear that", Neide nodded, then turned to the priest, "And you, Kerran?"

As she spoke, she was careful not to let her prisoner slip away.

The prisoner seems beaten, defeated. He's just standing there.

"I'll be all right, but what next?" Kerran asks.

"Well, we have a prisoner", Neide said, "I say we ask him what exactly he and his friends were doing here and why they attacked us."

She looked around.

"I propose we get away from here first, though", she added, "The one they called Arno got away. He might return with reinforcements..."

"Sounds good enough for me, let's go," agrees Kerran, and you all head back toward Bredon...

(Wis check, please, Neide...)

OOC: Here we go!

22:57, Today: Neide rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,4.  Wisdom.

... aaaaand I guess we got into trouble again...

(Neide gets 1 new xp... but...)

From the side of the trail, a crossbow bolt comes flying out of the bushes and hits the prisoner right in the heart.

Oh, so that's why Arno grabbed the crossbow and bolts when he ran.

"I can't heal him!" says Kerran. "I used that prayer up until after I rest and get it back again...!"

At those words, there's the sound of running from back behind the same bushes... Arno, taking off, and one can't even see where he's headed...

The prisoner is dying, fast...

"Damn it!", Neide cursed, then kneeled next to the dying captive.

"Who are you working for?!?", she shouted at him "Speak!"

(Oooops-- for THAT, you're gonna have to do a CHR roll...)

18:09, Today: Neide rolled 5 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 3,3.  Charisma.

(Neide is pwned by the dice, but at least she gets 1 new xp...)

The man grimaces in pain, but also in hatred. "...Why... should I... tell... you...?!"

He dies.

"No! No!", Neide shouted at the deceased man.

She bit her lip in anger. There went their one chance of getting a proper explanation for what was going on...

"Keep watch, would you?", she quickly asked her friends, "Let me look over this guy - maybe we'll learn something that way..."

Hastily, she started examining the man's clothes and possessions...

(INT check, please...)

21:39, Today: Neide rolled 13 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,6.  Intelligence.

Searching the man's clothes, Neide finds:

--Money, in the form of 30 coins!

--a pair of goggles. "I knew a blacksmith who wore ones like those once..." observes Kerran, looking over the Neide's shoulder. They weren't on the dead man's face, but in a padded leather pouch tied to his belt.

--A sort of hard-leather kit that has a small red potion, and a bottle whose symbology seems to suggest it's antivenom-- or is it an antidote for poison? "They're not the same thing, you know," says Kerran.

--Some sort of small clockwork device! It's got a needle, and a dial, but right now the needle is all the way to the left, not moving.

--a little black (or so dark brown that time and sweat have made it practically black) leatherbound journal with half the pages (all in the front) torn out! But, the now-first-two pages do have writing on them. The first page reads:

PASSWORD: SWORDFISH

The second page reads:

ENEMIES WHO'LL GET THEIRS SOMEDAY

--Arno: thinks he's so smart

--The tall man: he's not paying us enough for this stupid plan

--Bertie: wouldn't stop making stupid jokes about my getting yelled at by the witch

--The witch: for being a tease, and for making toad-related threats

--Bredon: already in progress

--Ingrid: she's not ever going to pay that loan back

--Veles followers: stupid holier-than-thou bastards can suck it

The rest of the pages are blank.

Neide thumbed through the diary with her brow furrowed. There wasn't much in there... and yet, it all comfirmed the fears that there was some sort of conspiracy going - a conspiracy targeted against Bredon. The notes in the diary were just pieces of the puzzle - and yet, what they suggested was worrying.

"We need to take this back to the Chief Constable", Neide decided, "Maybe he'll be able to provide some advice what all of this could mean"

OOC: If nobody in the group objects, Neide will lead the back to Bredon.

Neide and the party return to Bredon.

"So, ah," Aden says when you get back, "should we three wait at the inn again, while you go...?"

Neide considered the answer for a moment before replying.

"I think it'd be best we all went to the Chief Constable this time", she said, then, "With Arno having escaped, the people behind the plot will probably be informed that we are all acting together. No reason to conceal it anymore, I guess..."

"Wasn't thinking so much about 'Neide has three people helping her,'" Aden replies quietly. "Was thinking more about 'Be on the lookout for a Westerner, an Eastern woman, a cleric of Veles, and a woman in Alaran armor,'" he said. "Just because we haven't seen any Alarans in town doesn't mean that word to watch for people of our description hasn't been left. But... I have to admit, you're probably right. Maybe it would be best for us to not only stick together, but get this over with. That way, even if the constable has heard about our description-- which I'm not saying he has-- and even if he did send word we were here-- which I'm not saying he would, especially if we're helping him with his current problem-- but even if he did... we could get out of here and back to sneaking through the woods before any Alarans could show up to check it out." Aden sighed. "I guess I've talked myself into it. If you're ready, let's go... before anything else happens..."

Neide considered Aden's objections quietly for a moment.

"I raise a good point", she replied, then, "But I feel that the risk of us not sticking together outweighs the risk of us being recognized. I think the people behind this conspiracy are a more immediate threat to us than any tidings the constables here might've received from Trevisi... I say we all go and report to the Chief Constable. But if all of you think differently, I'll follow your lead..."

She looked at Kerran and Ondreya, inviting them to weigh in.

Kerran looks at Ondreya... they seem of one accord. "No, let's all go," says Kerran.

Soon, Neide is back at the constables' building.

The constable on duty at the front desk is quite surprised to see a Westerner and an Easterner with Neide. He is, particularly, not impressed by Aden... "Er... Wait here, if it's all right. I'll go tell the chief you're here," he says.

It crosses Neide's mind that the man did escort her up last time, but that he isn't as willing to let all four of them head up this time, at least not unannounced... he at least wants his chief's permission first.

(Give 'im some lip about his distrustful attitude? Or let 'im go announce the party?)

OOC: Maybe I could *punch* him in the lip..? ;) Ah, maybe better not.

Neide didn't comment on the constable's attitude. She could imagine him being surprised to see her come in with three strangers, two of them foreigners. Also, the Chief Constable could've been occupied...

"Please do so", she just said to the guard, "We'll be waiting here."

The tone of her voice, while reasonable polite, suggested they weren't going to leave until they talked to the Chief Constable...

The man comes down soon with the Chief Constable. He gives his chief a look that says See? Just like I said...!

The Chief Constable looks the party over slowly, his mind clearly working. "I..." he says with equal lack of hurry, "...I take it that these are your colleagues in investigation...?" he asks. It's clear that he was ready to believe that Neide had captured them as being the cause of all the troubles in Bredon, but that his examination of the party's body language and ease around each other suggested more strongly that that wasn't the case...

"Yes, they are with me", Neide said, "Could we speak in private? There are matters that need to be discussed..."

"Privately, just the two of us? Or privately, just the five of us...?"

"*Five* of us", Neide replied, "Me and my companions are all in this together"

She motioned toward the Chief Constable's office with her head.

"Shall we..?"

"...Maybe it would be better not to have them standing around where people walking by can see them..." mutters the Chief Constable, and he leads the party up the stairs, but with considerable apprehension...

Neide noticed the Chief Constable's apprehension, but she decided not to comment on it. There were more pressing matters to be dealt with...

When the five of them were in the Chief Constable's office, Neide made sure the door were closed, then turned to the officer.

"We went to Greentop, just as you asked us to", she said, "It seems your suspicions were right: we did run into some strange men there. And they tried to kill us on sight..."

Neide tells the Chief Constable what happened.

(I presume she leaves out nothing, telling him all details of the dead guy's little notebook, too...?)

OOC: Yes, of course. She tells him of the ambush, she shows him the notebook, she mentions that one of the men was called Arno. Basically, she tells him everything they experienced.

(Just making sure.)

"Ugggggghhhh," says the Chief Constable, sinking into his office chair when the tale is done.

He starts to speak... and doesn't.

He starts again... and doesn't.

Finally, the third time he opens his mouth, sound comes out. "I've never heard of this Arno. I have no idea who the witch is, nor Bertie, nor Ingrid. I'll send a well-armed group of my men straight away to look at the dead man's body-- if it's still where you left it when they get there-- but it wouldn't surprise me at all if they, nor I, have ever laid eyes upon him in our lives. I don't know what the hell any of this means... except for one thing I do know. The richest and most powerful man in Bredon is a fellow named Rollo, Rollo Festin... and he's a thin beanpole of a man, about six foot six."

The Chief Constable groans. "He'd fit PERFECTLY on this, and there's no WAY he's not the tall man referred to, and other than being a tall man, I have NOTHING to pin on him, and he's smooth as an icy road in the Northlands, and I'll never spook him into betraying his involvement in this. If Rollo Festin were to murder a man in broad daylight at noon with a dagger, and the next day I brought him the bloody dagger, a witness who saw him do it, and a mage who'd swear that his magic said that the dagger was last used by Rollo, Rollo wouldn't twitch a single muscle, he'd come up with reasonable explanations and alibis ON THE SPOT, and he'd tell me to get out of his house and I'd have lost my job before the day was over. I absolutely believe he's in back of all this, and it almost makes it worse to know it. ...But at least it's a place to start, so thank you..."

He blinks, then gets up and walks to a large filing cabinet and slides the top drawer out all the way and starts to reach inside, but pauses. "...I need a drink before I explain the next part of what I'm thinking-- you lot want anything?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:44, Fri 14 Feb 2020.

"No, thank you", Neide replied. Nevertheless, she waited politely for the constables' commander to pour himself a drink. It was clear the man was overwhelmed by what he just learned.

"It seems to me...", Neide spoke up again, when the Chief Constable's attention turned to her again, "... that this plot seems to be aimed both at the worshippers of Veles and the town of Bredon itself. But, if this Rollo Festin is behind it, then... what's his goal? What would a rich man gain from causing trouble for the town he lives in?"

"Nothing, from the crimes themselves. That's the beauty of it. He doesn't benefit directly at all. But oh, something like between four and five years ago now, Rollo floated an idea to cut the constables' budget by more than half, as an experiment toward seeing if maybe we could be gotten rid of all together. The main thing we were for was for locking up drunks and discouraging shoplifting and pickpockets, he maintained. Oh, we're the town militia, too, but he predicted that the East probably wouldn't be invading again in our lifetime-- well, his lifetime, at least-- and Bredon isn't all that near the eastern border, and what's Sefonia got a standing army for, anyway, if not to protect us from invasion? No, he wanted to privatize law enforcement and city defense-- get just a few professional mercenaries in to serve the town's needs, instead."

"Well, the town council was leery of that, so the idea died in committee, or didn't even get that far. Hardly any residents of Bredon even heard that it was an idea that got tossed around for a little while, although a friend of mine on the council told me about it privately. And then the holy spring got to be popular amongst the rich crowd, so people valued me and my men more than ever. But now, we look like incompetents who can't catch vandals who may or may not be crazy religious zealots. Whereas it took a cleric, a mage, an Alaran, and... a swordsman of whatever your doubtless-impressive talents might be," he said in a nod to Aden-- Aden acknowledged the recognition with a little bow that edged on sarcasm-- "to stop four men, and one of them killed the prisoner you captured, and got away with it. That speaks to me that this Arno is a serious professional, which fits the rest of this business. Honestly, if I and three of my men tried to fight you four? In earnest? I'd like to think I'd give someone a nasty wound for their trouble, but I'd expect you'd kill us all, and all four of you walk away to live another day, and that's not me being modest about my own capabilities, nor those of my men."

"I think Rollo's hired exactly the kind of mercenaries he wanted to hire, to set Bredon up to welcome them in and give them my jobs. And then he'd basically have Bredon's law enforcement in his pocket, and from there he could do anything-- raise taxes, add tariffs or levies, make a mint. And that, colleagues, is very much Rollo Festin's style."

As she listened to Chief Constable's theory, Neide clenched her fists in anger. Festin's scheme - assuming it was real - was really sneaky and utterly self-serving...

"Damn... that does sound plausible", she admitted, "If you're right, this Festin bastard needs to be stopped. The question is, how do we do this?"

She eyed the officer.

"Maybe we go to Festin's home, throw him into a cell and make him confess? Or check his house for evidence? If you say he's behind all this, then let's end it here and now..."

"No, no, we have laws about that sort of thing. Festin's gots allies on the city council, anyway. And checking his home for evidence probably won't work either. He's much smarter than the dead man who wrote in this little black journal. Let me think for a second."

The chief constable knocks back a shot of whatever spirit he's poured, then pours another. That one, he sips slowly. His eyes linger over each other person in the room... and comes to rest on Ondreya.

"Years ago, when I was just a boy... one of you shut that door, would you? And make sure no one's out in the hall."

Kerran does so, then returns to where he'd been standing, next to Ondreya.

"Thank you." The chief constable's voice is lower, now, quieter. "Years ago, when I was just a boy... I was... seven, perhaps. There was trouble with a mage. He had an old house out east of Bredon, and it became aware that he started to dabble in the wrong kinds of magics. Some adventurers came along and put a stop to it. They said he'd gone mad. But the house still stands."

Another sip. "Well, when we had trouble catching these vandals, I had a theory that someone new had taken up residence out there. I sent a man out to check on it. He came back and said that there was nothing, the place was completely deserted. After a while, I sent two men out to check, one more time. They came back and said the same thing, that the place was completely deserted. I asked them, was there no sign of anyone having been there? They both said the same thing-- no, the place was completely deserted. They were absolutely sure of it."

Another sip. "But this little black book has me thinking. If I sent men out to Greenhill now, I bet they'll find signs-- barely-- of someone having camped there recently. But that's what it's for, camping, so that would prove nothing. But now that this journal says there's a witch somewhere? ...I have a new theory. My men kept saying the same thing, the same phrase: 'completely deserted.' Each of them said it at least a couple of times. And they were so sure... I even entertained the idea that the first man had been bought off, until I sent the other two. But what if the place isn't deserted? What if witchcraft just put that idea-- those words-- in their heads? What if they only thought they looked around and didn't find anything...? Witchcraft, I've heard, can confuse the mind... like make men think they've searched a place when they haven't... or making men think that there are no vandals in sight, when there are vandals right in front of them that they're not seeing..."

Neide raised an eyebrow thoughtfully.

"Now, that's an idea...", she commented, "It doesn't sound impossible to me... But - Ondreya, what do you think?"

She turned to the female mage.

"Have you heard of magic that could do something like this? And would a witch be interested in some other mage's past living place?"

Ondreya shrugs. "We have witches in Ossau. What is said about witchcraft there is apparently what is said about it here. As for the place... I can't say without seeing the place, but in Ossau, witches are always said to prefer out-of-the-way spots to make their homes, and it sounds like this qualifies, so... If you're asking me if I think it's worth looking into? Yes, I think it's worth looking into."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Sat 07 Mar 2020.

"So that's where we should go next", Neide nodded, "I see a problem, though: if the witch is capable of manipulating the minds of others, then how do we protect ourselves from her? We need to be sure we won't have any spell put on our thoughts... especially as the witch might not want just to let us go back to spread falsehoods. We've already caused enough trouble for the conspiracy..."

"When we get there, I can ask Veles for guidance," said Kerran. "If Veles says we should go in and investigate instead of go back..."

"I've got a Detect Magic spell that might help..." says Ondreya.

But it is Aden who speaks with the most confidence. "We know about witches in the isles," he says. "Trust me-- when we get there, if witchcraft is being used, I can help."

"Alright then", Neide rubbed her neck with her hand, "It's settled, I think? The journal mentioned a witch that is connected to the conspiracy, the witch might be hiding in that old house... let's go and see what's happening there. Unless anyone else has some other idea..?"

Everyone looks at one another. "Feels like the only question right now is, do we go right now, later today, or first thing in the morning?" said Aden. Kerran and Ondreya nodded at his words.

"I say we go as soon as possible", Neide said, "The more we linger, the more time we give the conspiracy to react to us discovering them. If everybody is feeling ready, I say we go now"

OOC: The question is - what about meals? Shouldn't we be getting hungry? Not sure how much time passed since the party last ate anything?

"Er, tell you what... Let's buy ourselves a meal, and then go immediately afterward...?" Kerran suggests.

The Chief Constable reaches into his deck, and brings out a small bag with a drawstring. He tosses it to Neide. From the weight, feel, and sound it makes when caught, the bag obviously contains coins. "Lunch is on me," he says.

Neide seemed to weigh the bag in her hand for a brief moment, then pocketed it.

"All right", she nodded, "Let us go. Lunch first, then we go check the wizard's home."

She gave a farewell nod to the Chief Constable, then headed out.

OOC: Feel free to fast-forward through the lunch if nothing of importance is going to happen there. I don't think Neide has anything to discuss with her friends.

OOC: Moving back from the witch's house...

As they were walking back to Bredon, Neide pondered on everything she and her friends learned there. At last, the going-ons in the town became clear to her. The question was, how could they stop all of this..?

"Aden", she turned to her Westerner friend, as they were nearing the town, "You mentioned you might have a way of breaking the enchantment that protects Arno's men. So... what is it?"

"A chant... I don't have to do it very loudly, though..."

"Hmmm", Neide wondered, "And do you have to do it in a specific place? How does it work, exactly?"

"Place? No, just wherever I happen to be. I start chanting, and as long as I chant, I should be able to see anyone using that kind of witchcraft spell, even though the whole point is for no one to notice them. It won't be very clear-- like seeing someone by the light of a crescent moon-- but I should notice them anyway. If I'm louder, anyone else who hears the chant will see them, too-- but if I'm that loud, we may very likely scare off who we're trying to catch..."

"So, you chant and are able to see them", Neide nodded, "That means we'd need to patrol the town as you do so - because you need to be at the same place as they are to spot them. This could be a long night, then... Still, with some luck, we should be able find them"

As they talked, Bredon rooftops could be seen nearby.

"I wonder if we should inform the Chief Constable of our plan", Neide continued, "I think he's trustworthy - not sure of his men, though. Still, I think he should know... but what do you think?"

Kerran and Ondreya share your concerns, but lean toward informing the Chief Constable.

Aden leans away from doing so... he takes a dim view of Sefonian constabulary, in general.

"I say we go and meet Chief Constable, then", Neide decided, "What we've learned is too important to keep from him. Let's just make sure nobody will be listening to our conversation..."

OOC: I think it's all Neide has to discuss with her friends. If there's nothing they would like to discuss, let's have Neide and friends enter Bredon and head to Chief Constable's office.

Aden agrees to trust the judgement of his allies, and soon you arrive at the constables' offices-- the chief constable is in the doorway, as if waiting. He seems quite pleased to see the group of four. "...You four look like you've had a more interesting time than walking out of town, looking at an empty house, and walking back. What'd you find?"

"Interesting things", Neide replied, "Can we talk inside your office?"

Once they were inside, she asked her friends to keep watch at the door to make sure nobody was listening. Then, she relayed the happenings at the old house to the Constable.

"So that's it!" he says, excited. "Sorry you had so much trouble, but glad none of you were seriously injured-- and also, I'm sure you'll understand, glad that I didn't send you out there for nothing. So... I could keep talking, but... what do you see your next move as being...?"

This, it seems fairly clear, is a check to see if the party is still willing to help (not that he's not grateful for all they've done so far!)...

"We do have a plan", Neide admitted, "I'd prefer not to speak of the details - the less people know, the better. What I'd like to ask you is that you give the word to your men that they should not obstruct the actions of me and my firends. Don't tell them any specifics - just that you know there's an Alaran in town, along with a group of associates. And that you spoke with us and gave us the permission to go on our business. Could you do that?"

"Sure, I'll do that. Anything else I, or we, can do to help?"

"<GreenYou can be there, when we call out for aid</Green>", Neide gave a slightly wry smile, "If our plan works, we might need some help in actually corraling these thugs..."

She paused for moment, then added:

"With all due to respect to you and your men, I need to ask this: can you trust all of them? I wouldn't want to be stabbed in the back by some constable who happens to be in Rollo's pocket..."

"Where do you want us to be? Or... should we just be spread out through the town...?"




The chief constable paused. "...They say that every man has his price. I don't believe that's true... but even my disbelief must admit that most men have their price. Still..." He thinks. "...I wish I could tell you that I do trust them that much, but... I'd still watch my back if I were you. And I'm glad that you're wearing armor."

Neide nodded thoughtfully.

"I see", she replied, "We will be watching our backs, then. Let's hope that none of your men actually do, as you put it, have a price... As for where we'd like your men to be - spread around the town, as usual. I suppose you have some men on a night's watch - so, let them act as they normally do. Just make them know that, if we call for assistance, you want them to come and help us."

"Understood. We'll do what we normally do. But start shouting loud, and we'll all come-- me included.

...So far, nothing has ever happened until sundown..."

Neide nodded thoughtfully.

"I think that would be all, then", she said, "I appreciate that you're ready to help. Hopefully, our plan works and we put a stop to this whole mess..."

OOC: If the Chief Constable or Neide's friends have nothing to add, Neide will lead the crew out of the constables' headquarters.

(Yeah, go ahead and exit the constables' building...)

Their business with the Chief Constable concluded, Neide led her friends out of the constables' headquarters.

"All right, then", she said, "It seems we're all set. Do you think we have time for a quick meal, before we go looking for Arno's men?"

Ondreya looks at the sky. "N...no," she says. "Better do it now."

Aden agrees. "If you're hungry enough to be annoyed about it, that's better. We're fighting magic that dulls the mind and the senses. Better to be a little on edge, really..."

Neide raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Really?", she said, "All right then... Let's go. Let's get this thugs and be over with it..."

She turned to Aden.

"Where do we begin?", she asked, "This part is yours, my friend..."

Aden looks around, then starts walking.

The rest of the party follows.

He stops near a large tree that has an iron bench built around it for strollers to stop and rest... He lingers there... Mimes talking to Ondreya for a minute-- but there's no sound-- he's obviously just trying to look like he's talking... Then he walks into the nearby treeline of trunks and bushes.

Ondreya follows.

Then Kerran.

Then Neide.

The others haven't gone far-- they're crouched down in the bushes, watching the parts of the village that can be seen from the new vantage-point, which honestly is most of the village.

"Just wanted to make sure no one was watching," Aden explains. "So listen-- I'm about to start quietly chanting-- though not so quietly that you can't hear me, just quiet enough that no one else should. But my question is-- let's say we see the fellow who got away from us-- Arno. Should we rush him immediately? Or should we try to actually catch him in the act of obviously causing trouble?"

"We need to catch him in the act", Neide shook her head, "There can't be any doubt that this was the man who was behind all these crimes. If he catch him as soon as we see him, he'll just say it's mistake..."

She pouted her lips slightly in irritation.

"We need to catch him while he's actually doing something. With some onlookers around, hopefully. I know it might be tricky to pull off, but that's the only way we can pull this off..."

Aden nods. "All right. So we need to not only spot, but then also be patient and wait to catch in the act." He takes a deep breath. "Well. Are we ready to begin our watch...?"

(If so, roll WIS, Neide)

Neide gave Aden a nod of acknowledgement...

02:11, Today: Neide rolled 5 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,1.

Ah, crap! Arno slips away :\

Everyone watches for trouble...

When it comes, Neide misses it. "Fire!" someone shouts. "Fire!"

The thatched roof of a house is burning...

"There!" says Ondreya, pointing. (Aden, like her, has also jumped up and is pointing, he just didn't say "There!" because he's still chanting his chant.)

Two men are running away-- one is Arno.

In seconds, the two men will reach the treeline on the opposite side of the village... Better start running... (DEX roll, please...

Neide gets 1 new xp but oh no they're getting away now she has to actually run and try to catch them...)

"Damn it!", Neide cursed loudly, as she spotted the fire and the mercenaries running away. "We missed them!"

She launched into a sprint, hoping to catch up with Arno and the other man. They couldn't be allowed to get away!

01:57, Today: Neide rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,2.

Running fast, Neide caught up with the men just before they might have disappeared into the trees and natural cover.

On the other hand, Arno had apparently set up an ambush first just in case it was needed. A sword comes swinging out of nowhere (all right, from behind a large tree).

(Roll DEX to dodge or parry it!)

OOC: Dodging!

01:32, Today: Neide rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,3.

... and failing :P

(GM rolls dice: Neide takes 1 new point of damage (her armor stopped the other two).)

There are four of them, or if you prefer, Arno and three others.

Arno comes back-- it appears that he's going to attempt to finish Neide off before her compatriots get here (which should be mere seconds-- they were right behind her)...

(Your move! Attack Arno, attack the nearest guy who did the actual damage, or do something else... but if you back off//retreat, they'll probably start running again...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:01, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

Neide winced painfully, as the sword of one of Arno's thugs cut into her. She didn't let herself be deterred by it, though.

"Arno!", she shouted, "Give up! We know what you're doing here!"

She jumped at the mercenary leader and hacked with her sword at him...

01:41, Today: Neide rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 2,4.

(There may very likely be a counterattack afterward, but 7 to 9 is a hit-- roll 1d6 for damage done to Arno...)

23:44, Today: Neide rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3.

Arno takes the hit and grimaces briefly, but he counterattacks fast.

(GM rolls dice... Arno hits hard for 4 damage... Neide's armor absorbs 2. Neide takes 2 new damage.)

Neide hears fighting behind her-- the rest of her group must have caught up and be dealing with Arno's men... She probably doesn't have time to risk glancing back (or does she...?)

Not taking the risk of looking back, Neide pressed on and hacked at Arno again:

01:24, Today: Neide rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,5.

Hit?

(7-9 on an attack is a hit, but you should also expect a counter-attack attempt (or something else to go slightly wrong (unless you finish defeating them))

...So, roll for damage done to Arno...)

Question: do I roll 1d10 or 1d6 for damage? I usually roll 1d10, but the last time you asked me to roll 1d6. So, what is correct in this situation?

(PFFFFFFF. 1d10. My mistake. Tell you what, I'll roll you 1d14 this time to make up for it:

09:40, Today: The GM, on behalf of Neide, rolled 2 using 1d14 ((2)).

Oops!)

Neide hits, but Arno's leather armor protects him somewhat.

He attempts to retaliate...

(09:41, Today: The GM rolled 6 using 2d6+1 ((1,4)).)

And fails.

A bit disconcerted that the counter-attack failed, he tries a new attack:

(09:42, Today: The GM rolled 6 using 2d6 ((3,3)).)

Which also-- barely-- fails to harm Neide.

He's getting frustrated by how good Neide is-- she hopes that part of the frustration is also that her friends, behind her, are also doing well...

"Not so strong as you thought you were, Arno?", Neide mocked the mercenary with a wry smile.

She wanted to press on with attacking - but first, she risk a short glance behind to see what was happening to her friends...

(Hmmm... INT check, please...)

00:05, Today: Neide rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,5.

Hmmmmm...

From her quick glance, it looked like her allies were winning. Certainly one man was on the ground prone, and her three allies were all still standing...

Having checked that her friends seemed to be all right, Neide pressed her attack on Arno...

01:54, Today: Neide rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,4.

In case a damage roll is needed:

01:55, Today: Neide rolled 1 using 1d10 with rolls of 1.

Oh, come on!

Arno counter-attacks, but fails to further harm Neide as well, as she parries his counter-attack...

The sounds of battle continue behind Neide. "Hey, Neide! Want any help?" Aden calls...

"If you have a hand to spare..!", Neide shouted back at Aden, without even turning back. Then, she swinged her sword at Arno again...

OOC: Okay, something weird happened - I rolled and got *exactly* the same results as before. I assume it's the dice roller not working correctly... Therefore, I allowed myself to re-roll. Here are the results:

01:36, Today: Neide rolled 5 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,3.
01:36, Today: Neide rolled 4 using 1d10 with rolls of 4.

Not trying to cheat, but the chance of rolling exactly the same on three dice is extremely low, so I really think it's something about the browser cookies. Anyway, as you can see, I actually got worse results in that second attempt...

(Uh... wished you'd talked to me about it before rolling again... Uh...

Now I dunno what to do, because with the latest set, you shouldn't even have rolled to do damage... Uhhhhh...)

OOC: I'm sorry for causing confusion :\

If that helps, I have no problem with forfeiting that first set of rolls. Let's go with the second one (the one less advantageous for me) and let's just say Neide missed this turn. I expected as much, to be honest - I rolled for damage just in case I was confused about whether Arno took damage or not.

(Arno ripostes... Neide takes 1 point of damage (after her armor).

Neide gets 1 new xp.)

Suddenly, a small dead tree branch falls on Arno.

What... luck...?

"We're doing well over here," Ondreya calls. "Almost got them all..."

Ah ha. Magic assistance. Always welcome...

(Neide, you get a +1 on your next roll thanks to Ondreya...)

"Good!", Neide shouted back to Ondreya. Then, she turned to Arno.

"Still not willing to do the smart thing and give up..?", she grinned at him, as she swinged her sword at him again.

00:28, Today: Neide rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,2.
00:29, Today: Neide rolled 2 using 1d10 with rolls of 2.

Arno curses under his breath as he takes a little more damage through his leather armor.

Then, Aden casually walks up and points his sword at Arno, clearly ready to help.

Arno visibly grits his teeth, breathing hard. An Alaran soldier, not at all almost-dead, and a new swordsman, now outnumbering him, and...

"...What if I were to give up...?" Arno asks. "...What then...?"

Seeing that Arno wasn't attacking for the moment, Neide stayed her sword, too.

"Well...", she replied, cocking her head, "... if you gave up... and cooperated by naming people you were in league with... the Chief Constable would certainly appreciate it. I can't promise anything, but..."

She raised her sword just slightly.

"... it certainly looks like a better chance for you than fighting us to the death, isn't it?"

OOC: Any roll I need to make to convince Arno?

(Heck yeah try CHR please...)

01:34, Today: Neide rolled 6 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 2,5.

I hate CHR rolls...

"But I don't have to kill you. I just have to get away." Aden's sword moves in even closer toward the flesh of Arno's throat. "Not just this second, though. I just mean... whenever..."

"Sounds like someone needs more convincing," says Aden as Ondreya walks up.

Ondreya, though wearing her mask as usual, clearly turns slightly and looks at Neide.

Neide imagines that Ondreya is thinking about what sort of "convincing" Arno would be likely subjected to if the conversation were taking place in the East...

"Don't be stupid", Neide said to Arno, "You can see I am a soldier of Alara, can't you? You *must* know we don't treat criminals lightly."

She looked at Arno coldly.

"If you don't cooperate... I'll have no reason not to punish you as soon as possible. And as harshly as I see fit. You think of escaping at some point? Who says you will be in any shape to escape a day from now, after I serve the Goddess' justice on you..?"

Arno thinks... Frowns... "...How about you ask me all the questions you want, and I answer all of them honestly and completely, and then you let me go? You'd be keeping my weapons, too, of course. I'd promise to leave this region immediately-- or stick around for however long you want, whichever you prefer."

Aden snorts. He doesn't think much of this offer//series of offers at all.

Neide paused for a brief moment, flabbergasted, as she heard Arno's offer. Did he take negotiation lessons from Rowena? Rowena, at least, did make a solid point why she should be let go...

"Oh, for Goddess' sake", she replied, rolling her eyes, "Here's a counteroffer for you: you give up, we take you to the Chief Constable and you tell him everything you know. Then, after this whole mess is sorted out, the Chief Constable might considering being a little more lenient with you than you deserve. And I'll refrain from extracting the full measure of Goddess's justice on you. How about *that* deal, Arno?"

She was really beginning to lose patience for that man...

Arno thinks hard and fast, but he doesn't look like he likes what he's coming up with much. "...I think that's likely the best deal I'm likely to be offered anytime very soon. ...So... let's go."

Kerran steps up. "Checked the others... one will live, though I expect he'll be out for an hour or two. The others, nothing I could do..."

Neide sees a couple of constables... one spots Neide and her party, points, and then they both start to hurry over...

"Good choice", Neide nodded at Arno sternly, "Drop your sword and we'll go"

She turned to Kerran.

"Could you try restraining the one that's going to live?", she asked, "Tie him up with something or..? I wouldn't like him to get away once he wakes up"

When she spotted the constables, she motioned for them to come closer.

"Here", she said, "We could use your help..."

Soon Arno and the other fellow who's predicted to live are suitably restrained, and the situation as the party currently understands it is explained to the constables present, who are extremely impressed and pleased to have one or more fall guys (who aren't themselves) for the ongoing set of problems. "Come with us-- let's get these two-- and you-- back to headquarters. So you can talk to the chief, I mean. Incarceration, for these two guys."


(Sorry for delay... ready to start wrapping things up?)

"Of course", Neide agreed, "Let's put an end to this whole affair..."

She followed the guards back to the constables' headquarters.

OOC: I'm assuming the rest of the party follows Neide...

Arno is moved to a cell in the constabulary without further incident. Healers are called for for the other man. The bodies of Arno's slain men are moved into a different cell, so their bodies can be searched for evidence. First, though, the chief constable wants to be caught up.

In quiet whispers, where they can see Arno in his cell but not be overheard by anyone, the party explains what has recently occurred (letting Neide do most of the talking).

The chief constable rubs his hands together... but then stops. "...If I don't seem grateful for all you've done... Well, I am. But if I seem somber, it's because of the next step... News of this will probably be getting to Festin right now. I... wonder what he'll do...? ...What if he doesn't wait for the consequences that are inevitably coming to him...?" The chief thinks, frowning. "You've done exactly what you should have done... but I can't help but suddenly think about how backed into a corner Festin has become..."

"Well, that's true...", Neide admitted, "The question is: what do you think he could do now? We have Arno... do you think that Festin could have some other men in his employ that he could use to strike back? Or... maybe he'll try to escape?"

Her hand touched the hilt of her sword, as she continued:

"In any case, I think it'd a good idea to make our move now and bring Festin in. Before he has any chance of organizing his men or making an escape..."

"The first is certainly possible, but unlikely. Arno and his men were the best men he had up his sleeve. I can't imagine him abandoning all he's built up here and running... more likely he'll just try to have me assassinated, than to flee..."




"...If you'd said 'well, I'm happy my friends and I were able to help you so much, and now we have to go, good luck with everything,' I would have said 'thanks so very much for all you've done.' But if you're willing to go and help arrest him, then I eagerly accept. I think you've got some very good points about how a cornered man is capable of anything. I'll come too, of course. But... is right now good for you, or do you need some rest first?"

"No...", Neide shook her head, "There's no time to rest. We can't give Festin any time to do... whatever he might decide to do now."

She turned to the door.

"I say you gather your men... and we go to get Festin *now*."

"Delighted. Give me 10 minutes to prepare." He pauses. "Can I send anyone to get any of you anything?"

"Something to patch up our wounds, if it's possible", Neide gave a wry smile, "These are beginning to hurt a little..."

(CHR roll, please...)