The common room of the Turnip is full, but not over crowded.  The food and beer is flowing and the fire is comforting.


The adventures' table is being served a hearty stew with a spicy broth and large chunks of tender vegetables and bits of meat.  Falis, Konrad, Vera and Zorbon have need to plan their next goals.


Archonia hears from any she asks that the Blue Turnip is the place to find leads and companions.  If there were magic users in town, that's likely where they would be.

Zorbon sops up the last of his bowl of stew with a delicious piece of bread he received from the bakery earlier. He shares the long loaf with his companions, thinking to himself that he won't take the baker up on his offer of free bread very often.

"Here's what the notices all said before we left." He holds the note that Nick had taken from the board.


Eli is looking for someone to investigate his missing sheep.

The mayor is looking for someone to look into reports of goblins taking up residence

An abandoned watch tower has been located along an unused path.


"We cleared out the goblins, so what's next?"

The notice board also had reports of:

bandits holed up nearby

an abandoned estate that had been discovered in the swamps.

OOC: Thank you.  :)

 Falis contemplates the offers.  And her stew.  And her ale and/or spirts she's ordered.  "Bandits are always trouble, and their activity, though I be reaching, could be related to that of the goblins in some way.  'Estate', however, implies riches to be had..." She also contemplates and consumes her fare, which brings a rare smile to her otherwise unmoving face.  Then, she pauses.  "Hey, wait, wasn't there talk before we set out to begin with of securing the tower for ourselves?"

 Falis may or may not be two sheets... of metal... to the wind.

Having been directed to the Blue Turnip, Ärchönia enters the establishment. She looked at the clientele, and thought that it certainly lived up to its name, which was a marvelous thing, for certain definitions of marvelous. There was a group of adventurers, but she did not see a mage or elf within, despite what she had been lead to believe. But if they wee a group, then it was likely that they had such a member, and they were simply not present, or they were in need of one. In either event, it made sense to approach them, and thus- she did.

"Hello travelers! The Amaranthine Doxy has come from Haven, having found none. Shall we have common experiences?" While she addressed the table as whole, of the four, she directed most of her body language to Falis as she spoke.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:16, Sat 03 Apr 2021.

 Falis beholds the strange mage, and swallows her drink before speaking. "Well met!  We were just discussing our next course of action.  I call myself Falis." She looks from companion to companion, as if to say, "Well?  What do you say to the nice mgical lady?".  As she does this, she awkwardly drags an empty chair by herself for the strange mage to sit in.

Zorbon stands as he speaks, "And I'm Zorbon, Cleric of Moe. Pleasure to meet you." He grabs at the chair Falis is dragging and helps her get it in place for the newcomer.

Ärchönia gave no motion to reach for the chair as they worked it in place, but no indication if that was because it was something she expected, or because she did not want to seem ungracious.

Once in place, she sits, and also introduces herself with a waving hand gesture. "Ärchönia Ælflæd, the Amaranthine Doxy, at your acquaintance. It is most marvelous meeting." She looks them over face after face, memorizing what they look like now.

"What sort of plans have been made? There is a certain someone who is to be sought, but it can be set aside for the nonce. Particularly if the plans you envision suggest excitement."

Vera looked on quietly. She nodded her head to the newcomer.

Konrad introduces himself as the magic lady sits, "Names Konrad, nice to meet you; you'll share a drink with us, yes?"  He pours her a goblet of wine regardless of her answer.

In reply to Konrad (msg # 11):

Vera accepted the glass with a curt smile. However she took no drink from of it. "What type of armor do you don? I hope to use my muscles as a metallurger who sells enchanted armor."

Ärchönia would have taken the wine Konrad poured, but the stocky woman snatched it away. Perhaps they are playing a game? Or an initiation? In either case, she did not take offense, as games were essential to stave off eternal ennui. So, she would thank him just so. "It is a pleasure to meet such distinguished shades. How perfectly your lines are presented! How genial your generosity!"

Vera also started to speak of armor, a conversation Ärchönia did not join in. Armor was of little interest to her, after all, so the woman must have been speaking to others on this.

Instead, she focused more of her attention back on Falis, as she was the one who had talked of future plans. Perhaps their interests dovetailed.

In reply to Vera (msg # 12):

Konrad is stunned for a moment, not quite sure what just happened.  However, he quickly changes gears and has a lovely little conversation with Vera about the merits and demerits of chainmail.  Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, it turns into a brief yet somehow longwinded monologue about the history of his peoples' metal-crafting traditions.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:10, Thu 11 Mar 2021.

In reply to Konrad (msg # 14):

"Interesting... maybe someday I will visit this place?" As quickly as she held on to his words Vera looked onto the party. A place where they hold such reverie to crafting armor would be perfect for me to use my arcane power to create armor.

"Well, since the person who mentioned that has since passed on, perhaps it wasn't the wisest notion?" He pushed a piece of his bread toward Archonia with a smile.

"A death? How enticingly morbid! So perhaps that is all the more reason to do so, to honor their memory, until they come back. It would also make it easier for them to find you again." She waited to see if Vera pulled the bread away, if not she would reach for it herself.

"Tower living delightful," she added with a wistful tone, before saying with more enthusiasm, "Such things to be collected and stored. How marvelous! No doubt the previous owners had such a collection to behold! How can one pass such a thing up?" If she had it in hand, she would nibble on the bread in a careful fashion, eating in a circular fashion.

The massive woman ripped a morsel of bread away and devoured it. She pushed the remaining bread to the center of the table. "Maybe we could fortify the Tower with henchman? Or men at arms after we have secured more gold."

As the party talks, and very fat dwarf waddles to the table, carrying a pitcher in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.  His beard is immaculately groomed, the braids tight, and precise with small copper clips.   His eye is blackened and he has a sizable welt on his head.    He sets both on the table and shoves them into the middle.  "I be Thorak Copperwell.  A merchant of sorts, traveling here and there to sell." he says.  "I hope that drink will buy pardon for the interruption.   I talked to the sheriff, and I ain't getting the results I want.  I was robbed, and left fer dead.  They took me wagon, ponies and all.  An' I want it back." he adds, clenching his fist.   "If ya get me goods and wagon back, I'll give ya..." he pauses, as if its hard to say.  "...On..two hunnered gold.  The sheriff says he has a good idea where the bandits are holed up, but ain't went after them yet."

 Falis lets the others speak while the alcohol that kept passing through her mouth made its way through the rest of her system, followed by bites of stew-dipped bread.  To Zorbon, she nods.  But then, to Ärchönia she also nods.  "Never done tower living, before... did house living, slave quarters living..." She curls her lip at that memory.  "...inn living.  Tower living might be a nice experience.  Nice change of pace." She then points to Vera.  "Aye, yes!  We could fortify it with those!  I'd gladly set aside more than a few coppers for that.  Gods, I wish I could be two places at once, though... there's bound to be riches in that manor but the tower sounds like a better long-term investment."

 Then, a dwarf named Thorak speaks to the gathered adventurers.  She looks back and forth at her companions and Ärchönia, as if to say, "And then there's that...".

Ärchönia smiled brightly at Falis as she spoke. "What a marvelous scowl! What a noble sneer! Such a life must have been unmissably pleasantly unpleasant!" While she had not heard of the manor before now, having come to the table slightly late, she voiced no objection to it, nor to the request of the dwarf. All three sounded as if they would be a delightful romp.

Instead, she suggested, "Sadly, the Amaranthine Doxy has not the power here to send you to two places. But if gold is needed to man the tower, then perhaps first starting with the request of this funny little man will bring the coin needed."

"He is no man... oh no he is a dwarf." Vera nodded to the dwarven male. Unexpectedly a Nnuck nnuck escaped her mouth.

"My dwarvish friend, why don't you have a seat and drink with us?  I'll be honest, you look as if you could use wine more than us."

"Not a man? So it is true- that you are carved and brought to life rather than born? Magnificent! A whole race of little golems! Do they carve you anatomically correct, or is there no need for such detail? Is that why the men and women are so similar?" Her face and tone clearly indicated that she actually believed this was a possibility, rather than a deliberate insult to the dwarf or a play off of Vera's joke.

 Falis pretends to sulk at Ärchönia's admission of powerlessness when it came to cloning complex sentient individuals.  Then, she gapes at the mage's remarks about dwarves.  And dwarven genesis.  Similarities.

 "Yeh, I'll buy you a round," she offers to the dwarf.  Fumbling through her coin pouch, Falis produces some, well, coin, that she offers to a passing member of the service staff.  "Some of your strongest for the dwarf.  And a meal for him, too.  He's hard a hard past while."

In reply to Archonia (msg # 24):

Vera leered at the man, "who would have known we were blessed with a donkey of  a man."

The dwarf looks confused for a moment.  "I got a ma and pa, just like all the other dwarves I know."  He looks from person to person at the table, visibly unsure he approached the right table.

He starts to pull a chair out, then reconsiders, nodding to Faris, and waving off the server.  "I was just looking ta hire some mercenaries ta get my barrels back.  I don't need it bad enough ta suffer insults."  He turns and starts back towards the bar.

Zorbon gives the wiseguys a displeased glare for a moment and then rises to walk to the bar beside the dwarf.

"Forgive my uncouth friends, Mr. Copperwell, was it? Let me buy you some food and a drink and you can tell me if the sheriff told you where the bandits are." He leans down to whisper into the dwarf's ear over the din of the place.

 Falis leans over to Ärchönia and whispers in her ear.

"It seems the dwarf thought I were talking to him... but I was talking to this one." And Vera pointed at Archonia.

Archonia tittered at the comments and fellowship.


She whispered to Falis, then said in a normal, amused tone to all those at table, "Hopefully he will give us shrift for there was no intention of acting contumely. The Amaranthine Doxy would rather he share a common experience in our dream."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:17, Sat 03 Apr 2021.

Garret finds himself at the blue turnip, having been nursing the same beer for the last hour, at the risk of outstretching his coin purse.  He had seen people coming and going, and had been watching the interactions of a group of adventures with a curious way about them.  Of course, most adventures were of curious behavior.

He siezes a moments opportunity to rise from his chair and move across the room.  A cleric and a dwarf are engaged in some quiet conversation.

As Zorbon and Thorak speak, an attractive young man with slightly curly brown hair interrupts the conversation.  "Forgive the intrusion, master dwarf, I couldn't help but overhear your trouble." He begins.

ooc: This is Garett.   Garett, take it away...

With a warm smile Garett shifts his gaze slowly from person to person making sure to establish eye contact with each in turn. His bright brown eyes glisten in the light of the tavern as he holds his one precious mug of ale in his right hand. Once he has their attention he inclines his head and shoulders respectfully. "Gods grant ye good'en, ladies and gentlemen. I am Garett, of East-March. For what that is worth." He winks at the group as if inviting them to share in an obscure joke.

His banded mail shifts beneath his brown cloak as he moves his weight over to his left foot and cradles a well crafted pig-nosed bascinet with his left arm. His attention shifts back towards Thorak "As I said, Master Copperwell, please forgive my own blunt intrusion. I am newly arrived here and seeking the lay of the land. I couldn't help but overhear the prospect of battling the scourge of banditry in these environs. This intrigues me, along with the chance at earning honest coin, and I should like to offer my services in this endeavor, if you will have me."

There is a certain assurance in his mild baritone voice. That along with the clean nature of his unmarked features shows him the be a man of noble heritage. His gear is fine in form and function, but he also seems to have newly arrived in town for the dust of the road hasn't completely worked its way out of his boots and cloak.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:59, Wed 24 Mar 2021.

Ärchönia sees a new face has approached Zorbon and Thorak to talk. She cannot quite make out his words over the din, but his time sounds easy enough. Having just met the others already, she wondered if he was also part of their band. Pointing him out to Falis, she asked, "A compeer, or a competitor?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:18, Sat 03 Apr 2021.

The dwarf looks the man up and down, and smiles.  "Now we are talking.  Sit, man and I'll tell ya what I know.".  He offers Garett a chair with him and the cleric.

"My thanks, Master Thorak." Garett takes the seat gladly and offers those around him a, hopefully disarming, smile. Then he turns his attention back to Thorak. His brown eyes hint at a keen mind applying itself to the problem at hand.

"Please, knowledge is like hardwood for a goodly fire upon a winter's eve. The more of it we have, the greater our chances of seeing the next dawn. What can you tell me about these bandits and their nefarious deeds? Details about how you believe them to be armed or armored would be most welcome." He takes a sip from his ale to wet his throat, then waits for Thorak to answer.

 "Hopefully a compeer soon to be..." Falis says to Ärchönia.  Her expression sours when she sees the dwarf seemingly approve of him.  "Betcha he said something nice to him in Dwarvish.  Or offered him food in it.  'Oh, warm forges and cold beers to ye and for ye, I am Garett.  What seems to be the trouble?'." She makes a face.  "Only other language I know's a pidgin of Giant dialects."

The dwarf relays his story.  "I'm was bringing a cartload of beer and spirits.  I hired a couple men to help me keep watch on the path to Helmsbreach.  It were mostly an uneventfully trip, they keep pretty good watch over things." he says, then reaches up to the knot on his head.  "We weren't too far out, when one of em clubbed me over the head, and pushed me out of the cart.  They musta took me fer dead, on account of the blood running down into my beard, cause they left me lying on the side of the road.  I woke up a bit later and walked the way into Helmsbreach.   The sheriff said its not the first report a wagons being waylaid by they own guards.  He thinks he knows about where the bandits be holed up."

He takes long drink.  "I was offering two hundred gold ta get group together ta go after them myself."

"Perhaps he finds him more attractive than he finds us," Ärchönia replied to Falis. "We must ask that one of the anatomical details later, since no answer was proffered before."

She took another nibble of bread, then added, "Elvish was the the Amaranthine Doxy's study. Their minds seemed so deliciously wicked and full of ways to spend eternity in joy."

 "Well, now, that'd hurt my feelings!" Falis laughs and then spoons up some more stew.  "Me, I just happened upon some lessons in Giant's speech while I was at the arena." She sucks on a piece of meat before chewing and then swallowing it.  "I'd rather have learned the tongue of a more pleasant people.  Perhaps someday..."

He nods his head as the dwarf explains what happened to him. Garett's eyes narrow with the description of the guard's treachery. Then, he smiles at the mention of gold. "That is a goodly sum you ore offering, Master Copperwell." His gaze changes to look towards the other adventurers gathered around the table. "It pains my heart to know such base villainy might go unpunished here when good hearts and stout arms might prevent it. If you'd have me I'd gladly join in this struggle to ensure that these Shem-sent ruffians will feel the error of their ways and be brought to Moe's Justice."

The dwarf nods.  "Aye, if you can get my goods back. I'll pay.  Might even give ya a nip." he says with a wink, as he leaves the men to plan.

NPC Zorbon says.  "I have some friends that may help." he leads Garett to a table with three women.  "Falis, Ärchönia & Vera" says pointing to each in turn.  "Garett." the cleric says, reciprocating the introduction.  "Master Copperwell will pay to get his goods back."

The cleric brings the newcomer over to their table and provides introductions. Despite being an absolute newcomer herself, or perhaps because of it, she is the first to respond. "Welcome Garett. Will you join us in our sanguinary undertaking?"

 Falis waves, nods, and grunts through her spoonful of stew at Garret.

Garett smiles and bows his head and shoulders as he is introduces to the three women. His eyes alight upon each of them in turn as he takes in their visible gear and general disposition towards him. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance Ärchönia, Falis, and Vera. Should you be amenable to my company I would like very much to join your august company in the completion of the task at hand. I feel it is my duty to attempt to my utmost to make this a safer place for all those who call it home."

He smiles at them once more. "May I sit so we can discuss the particulars of this quest and the villains most vile?"

 Falis swallows her spoonful very quickly, eager to accept any help, but feeling the hot mass moving down her throat far too slowly for her liking.  She coughs.  "Yes, by all means!  Sit with us.  I don't speak for the others at this table, but I always welcome another set of hands, especially ones so armoured and armed as yours.  There is strength in numbers, and while I am at least two... well, more never hurt anyone."

Ärchönia agreed. "You may find your potation taken just as it is given, but the chairs will flow freely. So sit and collogue. Do you know these fiends?" It had been Garett and Zorbon who spoke with the dwarf, so perhaps they had been given some information that was denied the others at the table.

"Know them?" Garett shakes his head. "No, nor do I know much of them. The good merchant was knocked senseless fairly quickly so he didn't see much."

"However, I would be willing to hazard a guess that we may be dealing with more than two individuals, but potentially less than ten. Their leader is likely a careful person with a touch of knowledge and tactical cunning. We had best attempt some level of cleverness in our approach.

"I base this thought on the fact that they prey on merchants by hiring themselves out as guards. This suggests coordination beyond what just two average souls can manage without getting caught." Garett grins. "On the other hand, they are likely not overwhelming in number since they aren't openly ambushing the merchants instead of taking this long laborious rout."

"I myself have some skill with a blade. What skills do the rest of you bring to the table? Anyone skilled in tracking or ranged combat?"

 Falis speaks.  "Skill at tracking, I do not possess.  I more than make up for this with my skill at arms, and with my anatomical knowledge."

"Pleasures and magic are the stock in trade of the Amaranthine Doxy," she replied to Garett. "But while she might find it diversionary for the nonce, tracking is not her pleasure."

"Though I don't track very well, my skills with mace and sling are considerable, and, of course, I call on Moe in case one of us needs a healing boon."

Garett nods his head as he considers what everyone has said. Each in turn recieve a thoughtful nod as they explain what they are capable of. "In that case, perhaps subtlety won't be our strong suit. Shall we discuss strategy further? Or trust in Moe, and each other, and simply head out?"

"As the bread is about gone, the Amaranthine Doxy is ready to go elsewhere."

"A woman of action, I see." Garett stands up from his seat. He finishes his mug of ale in a few quick swallows, then sets the mug down upon the table. "I quite agree. Let us be off to see this sherriff and find out what they know about these bandits and their location. Then, we shall be off!" Suiting actions to words he starts to make his way out of the tavern towards where he thinks the Sheriff is located.

It doesn't take long for Archonia, Falis, Garett & Zorbon to make their way to the sheriff's office.   A halfling presents himself, "Timin Balderand, how can I help you?"

Ärchönia was more interested in the thrill of the experience, rather than the planning of said experience, and besides, the last time she spoke to a funny little men, he stormed off in anger. So she stepped back to let the others take the lead in the discussion with Timin, perhaps to add a question if it became necessary.

Zorbon waits as well, nodding to Garett as perhaps more talkative than the cleric feels right now.

Garett hesitates when Timin addresses them. Then, realizing that the others seemed to be waiting for him, he offers the man a welcoming smile. "Good morrow good Sheriff. I am Garett of East-March. My companions here are Archonia, Falis, and Zorbon. We are here on behalf of one Thorak Copperwell."

Garett pauses for a moment to see if the name rings any bells with the Sheriff. Then, he continues, "Master Copperwell tells us that you know the probably location of the villainous brigands who robbed him upon the road. If you can share what you know with us we shall strive our utmost to rid this benighted land of their foul presence once and for all." He strikes a dramatic pose. "For the glory of Moe!"

The halfling smiles. "Ah, yes.  I've been trying to get a posse together, but volunteers aren't forthcoming.   They have a reputation for being cruel and getting someone to cross them has been a challenge." he says, looking the party over.    "I have two men that could go with you, and show you where it is suspected they're hiding.  I would make you all deputies, of course."

"A wonderful game! We have roles!" Ärchönia interjects, clapping her hands in delight. "A classic tale!"

"Well then, no time like the present. We are ready to start."

"Agreed." Garett smiles, glad to see that the others seem as keen as he. "Let us be about this important business." He grins, "The guidance of your two men would be most welcome. Please, introduce us to them that we might speed our way into the unknown and oust these nefarious vermin who are a plague upon honest folk."