Notice: This thread follows from msg #458 in Chapter 1 - Part 1.

---

It continued to snow softly. Unlike the surrounding hills and the lake, it seemed the town was mostly spared from the cruel winds Auril stirred. But it was still dark, and it still snowed. And it was colder than the worst winters Moyrah could ever recall.

Aside from a few fishermen who refused to acknowledge The Frostmaiden had it out for them – or foolishly braved her – there were few who stayed out. Though even if the trouble with The Lake Monster hadn't been, it wasn't uncommon for the docks to empty at this hour. Most would had gone to be with their families or frolic in The Flag, unless they were dissuaded by the Trolls. She passed Joar, a willowy man who had lost his dog some Tendays prior, carrying home a drill. Even without his dog, he was still dogged, Trolls be damned. A man had to fish! Though not everyone who’d been out on the frozen lake would have registered something was wrong. The Trolls had made quite the uproar, but they had been stopped well before they could reach the docks.

Joar sneered at her.*

Rapid footsteps sounded behind her. "Moyrah!" It was Vegord's voice. He was in only his shirt, halfway buttoned, and the door to his tavern swung open in the chilling breeze. The short and rotund man stumbled as he tried to catch up with Moyrah and fell to one knee in the snow. He quickly righted himself, not bothering to brush off his trousers. There wasn't any time. "They've gone to your hut! They've gone to your hut, Moyrah! With torches!"

---

*Give me a Perception check, DC 11.

Edit: Inconsequential, but I weaved in the Trolls. They should at least get a mention.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:37, Tue 27 July 2021.

"no. No. NO....." After shocking Vegord's words, Moyrah gasped for air and shrieked so loud that the whole Targos could hear her. Animal instincts which were hibernating deep inside of her, buried beneath all of the focus and control that she has managed to muster, has stirred up once again, and now with her harpoon in her hand, she will refuse to be abused once again. The adrenaline rush caused Moyrah's senses to heighten, and with never sharper awareness she rushed towards her home, to defend whatever ruins are left to defend.

---

22:48, Today: Moyrah the Mutt rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  Perception.

---

Moyrah's Perception check [22]: There were precisely four sets of fresh footprints, all leading from the Three Flags in the direction of Moyrah's hut.

There was no number of foes that would have stopped Moyrah from defending the only thing she got left. The very thought of the physical fragments of memory of her father going up in flame made the blood rush through her veins at the speed of the light. Confidently and with purpose, she continued her path, ready for any conflict that may ensue.

Gam and his goons stood beside Moyrah's home with torches blazing. Despite her strong legs, they had such a lead on her that it was nigh impossible to arrive before them. "Mutt!" Gam turned around. He looked worse for wear, like he hadn't gotten much sleep, and snot clung to a nose reddened by booze and cold air. "Ya get what's coming to ya!" He stepped up to the foundation and put his torch to the base of the wood wall. Part of the problem with everything being so damn cold all the time was that the air sucked up all the moisture, rendering most things drier than The Great Sand Sea. And while the snowfall helped to serve as a blanket that could hinder the spread when melted, the dryness didn't bode well for a place like Targos, a town consisting of tightly packed wooden buildings and rickety docks. Over the course of history, fire had decimated it several times over, and underneath the current iteration lay the ashes of previous ones. You'd think they'd learn. Fortunately, Moyrah's hut was so removed from the other buildings that there was no concern of it developing into an uncontrolled, cataclysmic inferno. Only Herve's boathouse was in the immediate vicinity.

After holding the torch against the planks for a moment, Gam simply dropped it to the ground. The fire had taken easily, developing into a small flame secluded in the corner that could easily spiral out of control if not quenched in its infancy. "You should'a been more appreciative! I paid up! Let everyone know that I, Gam, paid up!" he spread out his arms. The rest of the complicit arsonists – Birger, Orm and Njal – were content with letting Gam speak for them. They'd never been the brightest of the bunch, and definitely some of the most antagonistic. There had always been a certain correlation there. "Shouldn't 'ave slammed that door in my face, should ya!?"

---

Free posting for the time being. If Moyrah opens with an Attack we'll roll initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:58, Fri 09 July 2021.

"You paid up, you paid up. Just...just... STOP this..." The tiredness, the rage, the fear all stirred within Moyrah simultaneously, and once the comprehension of these emotions became too much to bear, Moyrah began wailing, tears streaming down her face. while still going towards her hut. "I beg you, please, please just put an end to this. We have gotten rid of the beast, you can all fish now, you can earn it all back. I promise! There is no need for this" , in moments like these very few people wouldn't be consumed by desperation, her home was all she has, all she is, and without it, what would she be.

---

Should I roll persuasion?

Astre was able to get an aerial overview of the situation. Moyrah, alone, stood facing four men with flaming torches. Once he'd gained enough elevation he tucked his wings, caught tailwind, and shot through the air. Behind him, the doors of The Luskan Arms swung open.

---

"It's too late, Mutt!" Gam spat. "You can cry all you want. In the end, the world rights itself! The world is just, Mutt! Hah!"

The three men looked uncomfortable to varying degrees. As if they'd regretted coming along. "Gam . . . is this really necessary?" Njal spoke up. "I mean . . . burning her house down? I thought we were just gonna sca-"

"Shut it! It's done!" Gam quickly reached out and stole his torch away, then held it to the hut. The fire was already catching, but he held the second torch there still. Apparently, it wasn't done enough – better to light the kindlewood at several ends. "And now she gets to watch it all burn." The fire continued to take as Gam lit another spot. He twisted his toothless mouth into a sadistic grin.

Orm cleared his throat and went to kick some snow onto the fire. "Maybe we can . . ."

Gam grabbed his collar to yank him back and Orm fell on his arse. "I said shut it! Or The Bitch Mother take ya!"

---

Moyrah's Perception check [19]: Birger, Njal, and Orm aren't sure this was all that good an idea after all.

It'll be only Moyrah for a couple more posts.

Moyrah began running towards Gam fixated on the torch in his hand, and the flames enveloping her hut. "Just stop him please, it doesn't have to end like this. This is all I have left." Moyrah's tears froze immediately upon the impact with the snow-covered floor, catching the shine of the moonlight as they escape the hood covering her face. "I will return your money Gam, I promise, just put an end to this!". Moyrah will try running past Gam towards the point he lit and start tossing snows on top of the growing fire, if he tries restraining her or holding her back, Moyrah will shove or push him away.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:22, Sat 10 July 2021.

Gam grew furious as Moyrah moved past him in an attempt to extinguish the budding fire. "Like yer pa, ya just don't know when to stop, do ya?" He attempted to grab her by the wrist.

---

Initiative Order:

• Gam [14]
• Moyrah [7]
• Birger, Orm, and Njal [3]

Notes:
Moyrah will be taking a Readied Action (shoving Gam) at the top of Gam's turn, after which he will take the rest of his turn.

Birger, Orm, and Njal appear neutrally disposed to the conflict. They hang back, outside of Moyrah's and Gam's reach (meaning they will not provoke Opportunity Attacks if they forego Disengaging).

We'll do theater of the mind for this battle. It's small in scale, so assume that you're within melee range of enemies unless stated otherwise.

Moyrah continued her trajectory towards the flames, and Gam found himself in her way "Let me go! It's been enough", she didn't intend to do anything to hurt the man, but after he tried grabbing her by the arm, she showed the toothless drunk back in retaliation. But if he continues his hostile behavior, the teeth will not be the only thing that he will be missing. She has been through far too much tonight, and if Gam continues antagonizing her, the weapons can easily get drawn.

Once the burning part of her house was within arm's reach, Moyrah manically began tossing snow onto the open flames. However, no matter how much snow she tried tossing, it either wasn't enough or the process itself wasn't correct.

---

Readied action: Shove Gam, in hopes of making him prone
19:51, Today: Moyrah the Mutt rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Athletics (str) for shoving Gam.
Move: She will continue going towards the flame
Action: Try to extinguish the fire with snow
00:18, Today: Moyrah the Mutt rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  extinguishing the first fire.


This message was last edited by the player at 23:22, Sun 11 July 2021.

Njal, Birger, and Orm stood frozen, aghast at the unfolding of the situation. "I want no part of this." Birger eventually said. He took a few steps backward, after which he turned around and dashed. Njal and Orm concurred and followed.

"Cowards!" Gam bellowed after them, drops of spittle flying from the corner of his mouth and wetting his unkempt stubble. He'd gotten up and brushed off the snow from elbows and knees. He spun his gaze to Moyrah. "Mutt! You, me! Man against boar!" Raising his fists he continued, "Fists! I don't need The Barge!" The man was barely standing, dazed from the shove and the booze coursing through him.

The initial fire, first, a small, black, smoking spot, was now starting to build. No matter how much snow Moyrah shoveled onto it, that smoke was tenacious, insisting on returning through each kick and handful. Orange, flickering flames started forming. The longer it was allowed to live, the harder it would be to kill. And not only that, there was the second plank Gam had lit to contend with.

A fist struck Moyrah's back. Gam didn't wait for Moyrah to accept his challenge. To the half-orc's hardened back muscles it barely registered, and Gam likely hurt his wrist more than he hurt Moyrah.

Astre remained ahead of the others, and was close enough to get an accurate understanding of what was going on.

---

Gam Unarmed Attack against Moyrah [16]: HIT. Moyrah takes 1 Bludgeoning Damage.

Initiative Order:

• Gam [14]
• > Moyrah [7]
• Birger, Orm, and Njal [3]
• Astre[—]

Notes:
Birger, Orm, and Njal remove themselves from combat.

The DCs to extinguish the fires increase to 14 and 16.

After Moyrah's turn (who would otherwise now act on the bottom of the initiative order), Astre is close enough to engage. I put his initiative last for the time being. He'll be moved to Mallory's turn once she shows up and initiative is rolled (normally, he'd always roll his own initiative, but he's lumped in with Mallory to smooth out the posting order.)He'll have to expend his 40 feet of movement to Moyrah and Gam. He is close enough to Mallory to telepathically communicate.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:44, Fri 16 July 2021.

"I am warning you Gam, you will only end up hurting yourself! This is a promise, not a warning" Unphased by Gam's attempts at hurting her, Moyrah continued hurriedly shoving snow on the ever-growing flames, trying to focus on the one lighted a bit earlier. But it seems as if she may have arrived too late. Seeing the futility of her actions, she headed inside of her home to salvage what can be salvaged.

---

Action: Extinguishing the bigger fire 15:35, Today: Moyrah the Mutt rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  extinguishing first fire.
Move: Moyrah will try moving inside of her home to try to find her scrolls, tell me if there are any obstacles, debris that needs to be cleared.
Free action: Open the door
Bye bye home

If he so wished, Rhydd could easily overtake Mallory. The rest had lagged behind, including Torgrim and Farwalker, and were a couple of paces behind. Though the Goliath, with her long legs, wouldn't have trouble keeping pace.

Three fishermen passed from the direction they were headed in, two bearing torches. "Head to your homes! If Master Naerth gets whiff of this . . ." they spoke amongst themselves in the distance.

---

Notes: We're playing somewhat fast and loose. If I had thought to include Gam's goons in my earlier posts, I would have. For now, operate on the assumption that they're more than 30 feet apart from the source of the conflict, but I'll let you choose whether or not you wish to interact with them. If you stop to talk (or whatever) you can't close the distance to Gam or the hut, but anything ranged can still interact with either.

What ensues is Mallory's writing that she sent me.

---

---

DM: Nice try, but I'm going to count that as Survival :)

---

Unfortunately, Astre's help did nothing but draw attention to himself. The fires were starting to climb to an intensity where nothing short of a flood could extinguish them. He did manage to scoop some snow onto Gam's scalp, however, much to the man’s annoyance.

Instead of channeling that annoyance at the winged cat which he had no hope of catching, Gam once again lashed out at Moyrah. "Running away from a challenge? I should've expected as much from a filthy, wart-riddled, mud-rolling, unholy swine! You belong in the pigsty! As did your father!" Gam bellowed after Moyrah, animated and furious. He transitioned to laughing maniacally with arms held wide. "The world's gone mad! They've even appointed a cross-breed as Spokesman in Termalaine! Don't you understand? You're the ones who brought Auril's wrath to the Ten-Towns! She's here to right things! Your pig-fucking father got what he deserved for bringing you back to Targos, and so will the rest!" The belligerent little man's voice grew quieter to Moyrah as the flames began to roar. Black smoke was rising and started to build up between the gables.

Everything was where she'd left it. If any more burglars had crept in while she was gone they hadn't taken anything in plain view. Most importantly, her copies of her father's etchings were still there — save for the one that had gone missing.

---

Initiative Order:

• > Rhydd [15]
• Gam [14]
• Farwalker [11]
• Torgrim [8]
• Mallory and Astre [7, wins tiebreaker with Moyrah due to having a higher Dex score]
• Moyrah [7]
• Birger, Orm, and Njal [3]

Notes: Gam is just slinging insults as a free action. For what you're aware, he hasn't noticed your characters approach. And as stated previously, I assumed you all tagged along.

This is also a new round, so the DC to extinguish the fire climbs to 16 and 18 respectively. When they both get to 20 I'll merge them into the higher DC, so two rounds from now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:17, Tue 20 July 2021.

Rhydd took the scene in with a glance . . . the flames licking at Moyrah's hut, the Half-Orc doing what she could to put the fire out, and scrawny little Human who was trying to interfere.

Since he was carrying his bow, it took only an instant for him to nock an arrow and put it into the ground close to the townsman's foot.

"Stand down, or I'll hurt you with the next one," he snarled at the Human.

Out of the side of his mouth, he asked Lady Mallory "You got some magicks that'll help with the fire?"

---

OOC:

Free Action: Speak.

Action: Rhydd will shoot an arrow into the ground close to Gam's foot.

Notes: I didn't make an Attack roll, since it seemed to me that Rhydd would not have any trouble hitting the ground, and I don't like to offend the Dice Gods by wasting their time with unnecessary rolls. But if you'd like for me to make a roll, just let me know, Bears.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:51, Wed 21 July 2021.

Gam had been too slow to realize more had shown up to partake in the party, but once the arrow struck near his boot he jumped. Perhaps it had been an effective scare tactic in most circumstances, but the bellicose, blustering man was too roused on booze and his own hype to be intimidated. "Hah! More half-wits in league with half-wits!" he yelled. His eyes, furrowed and perverse, flickered in the flames as he unsheathed his flaying knife. He slowly began circling in the snow, keeping the knife poised like an amateurish duelist would hold a rapier. "Have at it! I'll take the lot o' ya! Gam does not run!"

---

Rhydd's Intimidation to scare away Gam [3]: Rhydd fails to scare Gam away because the man is too stupid to run.

Initiative Order:

• Rhydd [15]
• Gam [14]
• > Farwalker [11]
• Torgrim [8]
• Mallory and Astre [7, wins tiebreaker with Moyrah due to having a higher Dex score]
• Moyrah [7]
• Birger, Orm, and Njal [3]

Notes: Gam will for all intents and purposes remain where he stands. And to reiterate, he's about 30 feet away from everyone.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:25, Thu 22 July 2021.

She hadn't really been expecting a fire. That wasn't too serious. Hopefully. With a quick tug of the two ropes tying her chest to her pack, she waited for it to fall off and thump into the snow. At least she didn't keep it locked, that would just waste time. Undoing the latch and upending it's contents, she used the chest as something of a makeshift bucket to get a clump of snow and dump it on the fire.

Retying the damn thing back on later was going to be a pain. She could never quite remember how those knots went. And she didn't have the priestesses around to help. Maybe Moyrah would know.

Today: Farwalker rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Fire-be-gone!

Seeing the fire, Torgrim promptly ignored Gam's drunken ramblings and rushed to a nearby snowbank. After grabbing what he could with both arms, he ran to the burning hut and chucked the flurry into the inferno. It would be of little use, as what little had not already melted before he got there would evaporate in the air before it could do anything to lessen the fire.

OOC: Survival: 5 using 1d20+1

Being out in the awful cold was bad enough, but running full-tilt in it was even worse.  It said much of Mallory's lack of relative constitution that she left the Inn first yet arrived last of the bunch with a heaving gasp aching through her lungs.  There was no time to rest though.  A passing word from Astre through her thoughts updated her on the situation; to her horror, Moyrah had gone inside!

"You got some magicks that'll help with the fire?"

"I just hope it's enough..." she panted out as her gloved hands were brought to the fore.  Outstretched and reaching; with a sudden grasp at empty air and a yank back in gesture, a portion of the flame climbing up the crackling walls abruptly inverted and imploded in on itself with a dull WHUMPH! of smoke and air rushing into the suddenly empty space.  Again and again the noble reached out to remotely rip away the fire in a constant fight against its surging rise, dotting mystical implosions throughout the blaze that diminished its intensity.

Astre, meanwhile, looped around once more for a second pass.  He'd screwed up his first effort, but mistakes weren't meant to be made twice!  Caution was thrown to the smoke-and-snow-filled wind as he tucked his wings and shot down for the angle of the roof in an even steeper dive bomb.  It was only at the last possible second that he flared out his wings as his impact, momentum, and opened wingspan alike gathered a wave of resting snow to come crashing down in a smothering blanket onto the fires below.

---

Mallory
Mallory casts "Prestidigitation" to reduce the fire's DC by 2.

Astre
Survival Check to extinguish what he can, and takes to the air once more for a third attempt if necessary.
Mallory Bonheur rolled 19 using 1d20+1

Through combined effort the fire was miraculously smothered, leaving behind charred spots of blackened wood. A moment passed, and it seemed its blaze had not just been delayed — it had fallen dead completely.

Inside, Moyrah was aware to the development. The crackling ceased and smoke stopped rising. But one stray, stubborn ember found its way inside and fluttered toward the stack of parchments.

---

Notes: Intervening briefly for narration; your characters can be reasonably sure the fires have gone out.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 00:41, Mon 26 July 2021.

Rhydd was actually a little surprised when the fire flickered out. To his eye, at the point when the newcomers had arrived, the blaze had looked to be too far along for the hut to be saved.

But there was still the matter of the fool with the blade. Rhydd did not know who he was, but he figured that Moyrah probably did. He also figured that he had started the fire that had nearly consumed Moyrah's living quarters.

Raising his voice in the hopes that the Half-Orc could hear him, he called out "Hoi, Moyrah!"

"You want me to kill this lackwit out here for you?"

Once the fire dyed down, and the voices of the group of newcomers were heard from the outside, Moyrah regained her composure slightly. Still shaken, she rushed to pull the parchments away from the single falling ember. With the papers tucked away safely, slipped into the hidden pocket on the lining of her vest, she made her way into the cold, leaning onto her harpoon like a crutch.

The very sight of Gam infuriated her. His fragile ego almost cost Moyrah her life, and he will need to face the consequences of his actions. As if she was under some sort of spell all out of a sudden, Moyrah studied herself and started heading towards Rhydd and Gam. "We will take him to Skath, so he can explain himself. If they don't punish him after he has done tonight, I might have to do it myself.". As soon as Gam was in her vicinity, Moyrah will lunge at the assailant, trying to subdue him into an armlock.

---

I rolled athletics just in case, If another check is needed I will reroll.
00:57, Today: Moyrah the Mutt rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  grappling gam check.

The ember landed on the table and faded.

Gam had flailed wildly with his knife, but had struck only the after image of the fire brigade. He seethed and ground his none-missing teeth, none too happy they chose to completely ignore him. In the next moment the fire had gone out and Moyrah exited, furious. The small man took a step back then dropped his knife. "Come on, now. Is there any reason to get so angry? We can head back to The Flags, talk things-" When Moyrah jumped him, Gam desperately tried to duck away, a maneuver that only netted him a faceful of snow. Once Moyrah had wrested his arm into a twist there was no getting away. The man shrieked in pain. He was neither light nor small, but fat fared worse than muscle. "Let me go, boar! You think Skath and the Speaker will side with you?!" he screamed and kicked. "Hah! They've come to drive away the plague, to banish the curse! I'm simply making life a little easier on them!"

---

Moyrah's (Athletics) [19] attempt to Grapple Gam (Acrobatics) [0]: Yeah.

OOC: I'm considering Gam (mostly) dealt with. No need to continue combat. Fire at will.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:15, Mon 26 July 2021.

With the last of the fires having snuffed and nothing but white smoke left to disappear amid the snowy winds, Mallory heaved a relived sigh... and offered a few more extinguishing pulses of magic just to be on the safe side.  Astre, meanwhile, leaped from the edge of the rooftop to glide gracefully around his companion and land daintily along the welcoming arm she extended for him.

"It's not every day I see such dashing heroics from you.  Have you truly grown so fond of her?" she joked softly while the Tressym draped himself across her shoulders like a living shawl.

"Mrrr~p."

"Quite right."

Then there was the matter of Gam to deal with.  His howling brought about a look of outright disgust from the young noble as she stepped to rejoin the others in wrestling him under control.  "Mister Maldhon, Mister Torgrim?  If you'd be so kind as to bind this lout and gag his bile?"  From out her pack of meager supplies came a tightly coiled bundle of rough hempen rope; more than enough to seize and silence a man securely, but in no way gently.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:48, Mon 26 July 2021.

By way of a response to Lady Mallory's suggestion, Rhydd put the arrow that he had nocked back in its quiver and leaned his bow against one of the walls of the half-Orc's hut.

Noting that Moyrah had the townsman's hands under control but that the fellow was still yelling nonsense, Rhydd pulled an old rag that he used to wipe down the wood of his bow out of his belt pouch and used it to gag the man.

"There. That's better already," the huntsman muttered.

"Just a moment, before we gag him, I need one more answer..." By motioning her hand in front of Rhydd, Moyrah hoped to delay his actions just a tiny bit. "Were you, or were you also behind breaking into my house earlier, answer me now!" Moyrah clenched her grip on the man further and applied pressure in hopes of loosening his lips a bit more. She doubted that Gam was behind this as he doesn't strike her as a type capable of such a stealthy and detail-oriented approach, but it doesn't hurt to try.

---

Sorry for posting this now, if it is too late since Rhydd already tied the man up I can adjust my post, so he can nod or hum back while we are on the way to the authorities. I will roll intimidation also just in case.
11:37, Today: Moyrah the Mutt rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Gam Intimidation.

"Mmh, mmh! Ptt!" Gam spat as the rag came out momentarily. The ropes were tight and rough, chafing his wrists. A small coin pouch, the very same he had handed Moyrah earlier judging by the contents, hung underneath his coat from one belt loop, along with a pin for picking locks. "'Course I did! What's a beast to do with coin?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:12, Tue 27 July 2021.

While the others bound up Gam, Mallory dipped low to sweep up his discarded knife and give it a look of consideration.  It was an ungainly thing to her (or perhaps just seemed so in her inexperienced grasp) and was promptly tucked in at the small of her back alongside her own field knife for safe-keeping.

"'Course I did! What's a beast to do with coin?"

The brute's continued insistence on using precious opportunities to speak on nothing but hateful venom brought a deep scowl across the noble's features, even as she spared Moyrah a knowing glance.  It surely must've been someone else who'd pilfered her papers... though the notion of there being a thieving opportunist who just happened to slip in at the right moment didn't quite sit well with her.  "I daresay feats such as these rarely rise unprovoked by men of your caliber." she remarked, wondering if he even understood he'd been dealt an insult.  As she shuffled about through Gam's coat to snatch various obvious items that hung visible, Astre leaned lower down her arm to sniff and ferociously hiss at Gam with bared fangs.  "Who put you up to this?"

---

Emptying Gam's pockets and searching for anything he might have hidden on his person; Mallory is just grabbing things that Astre tells her are there, so using Astre's Perception check for the process.

Perception
Mallory Bonheur rolled 20 using 1d20+5
This message was last edited by the player at 17:44, Tue 27 July 2021.

Twisting the hands of the poor man further, Moyrah added to miss Mallory's inquiry. "Where is the paper, what did you do with it? Tell me now!" The tone of Moyrah's voice became tenser and tenser with each evasive reply and insult coming from Gam's mouth. Trying to find a reason, why a man of Gam's interests, would be interested in parchment with such contents seemed an impossibly hard task to undertake.

"Anything?" Moyrah gesticulated with a nod in Mallory's direction, hoping that she had, by now, found anything, which could help bring to light additional clandestine connections.

"Who put you up to this?"

"Why, none but the Gods themselves!" Gam pepped, eagerly talking before he was gagged once more. "It is my opinion that they recognized said 'caliber' and refused to let it go to waste." He grinned his toothless grin. "Or perhaps it was our new Captain, wanting to weed out the naysayers? But I only took what was mine. I didn't take no stinking papers. Keep them for all I care, or let them be reduced to ash."

---

Mallory's (but really Astre's) Perception to search Gam's person [20]: Aside from the repossessed coin pouch, the man had nothing on him but pocket lint and an empty waterskin reeking strongly.

Searching Gam's person was by no means a pleasant task and Mallory hastened to cleanse her hands with a surge of Prestidigitating magic the moment she'd finished.  Nothing more to be found than a satchel of coin, a cheap lock pick, and an exhausted skin of liquid courage that was surely fueling his indignation despite the situation he was in.  Mallory offered Moyrah a sympathetic look and a shake of her head; there was nothing of true worth to be recovered.  She handed the coin pouch over to Moyrah all the same though while she tucked the pick up into her hair just behind her ear for safe-keeping.

"I'm not entirely familiar with the frontier justice of these parts, sir, though I daresay your implicating the good name of Captain Skath in your burglary, arson, assault, and attempted murder will not endear you to his good graces.  We'll just have to address the other three cohorts who lost their nerve; they'll surely be eager to speak and ensure you shoulder all the blame for this mayhem."  For all her empathy and efforts at peace, there was a distinct edge in Mallory's tone as she laid such a scolding on Gam.  Dark eyes narrowed bitterly his way as she leaned in nearer for a hushed word before he was gagged again; just at her shoulder Astre's own eyes glared and glowed in equal malice, lit by the perpetual flame of her lantern.  "You are a pathetic wretch and I wish only that you reflect on your choices, that you may repent and become a better man.  But if your actions tonight have earned you the hangman's noose, don't expect me to come flying to the rescue as I did before."

---

Astre - Helping Out
Mallory
Intimidation w/Advantage
Mallory Bonheur rolled 17 using 1d20+1
This message was last edited by the player at 07:56, Wed 28 July 2021.

Gam stayed silent as he was escorted because he had no other choice, being gagged and bound. Though he kept his brows furrowed in simmering frustration and eyes perked, he still managed to stumble on nearly every stray rock and curb. Almost deliberately so, it would seem, in aspiration to be the greatest nuisance possible.

The guards' management at the gate had become more orderly since Astre's last visit. They'd loosed the winch so the portcullis could be lowered, but only after hammering the battered grille back into a semblance of its former shape. Though still the gate remained partly open. A troupe of four rangers — Alma and Niels among them — had readied a flock of Axe Beaks and looked geared for expedition. Niels stood at the side of his steed, holding its reins as he conversed with Skath. Occasionally, the large birds banged their wedge-shaped beaks on the ground. Alma and Niels had great control of theirs, while the two other rangers struggled to keep the impatient animals from pacing and spinning.

The captain noticed the approaching band of Troll-slayers and grumbled, appearing to be in no better of a mood than he'd been in earlier that day. He wrapped up his conference with Niels, who promptly rode out alongside his fellow rangers. And then, finally, with two guards at the remains of the flanking towers to watch for their return, the gate shut behind them. Skath turned to the new arrivals. "Unless you've got hammer and nail at the ready, I suggest you go back whence you came. You've intervened enough for one day," he said, eying Gam from where he stood. "But it seems you're here to provide me with more trouble. Who is this?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:00, Sat 31 July 2021.

The stubborn insistence Gam had in making himself a nuisance the entire trip was of no concern to Mallory.  If he wished to bludgeon his own feet just to prove a point, he'd surely accomplish little more than shortening Rhydd's patience and getting far rougher handling as a result.  The question of diminished patience, however, was a lot more pressing when it came to Captain Skath.

"I'd certainly agree we'd be much better off retiring to the Inn, but local unrest demanded otherwise of us, Captain." she gestured to the bound drunkard.  "Soon after our earlier parting, we discovered that this man and a gaggle of accomplices set fire to Miss Moyrah's home - a crime fomented in hate for her and her father, personally.  We extinguished the fires, all while this idiot was screaming slurs and obscenities, attacking us with a knife, and claiming both you and the gods themselves encouraged his mayhem.  He also confessed to burgling Miss Moyrah's home before setting it ablaze as well."

To that point, Mallory produced the knife she'd taken from Gam prior and offered it over hilt-first to Skath.  Her other hand, meanwhile, gave a twirl of her fingers to conjure an illusory image of Gam's accomplices - Birger, Orm, and Njal - stood in her palm to show him.  "These three accompanied him in the initial assault, but lost their nerve and abandoned him before the worst of it.  There were many witnesses to the attack as well, so I'm certain you'll have no trouble finding support for our claims."  the noblewoman gave Gam another disgusted glower.  "This cretin is a menace; had the fires spread, he very well could have set half of Targos to flame just for the sake of his bigotry."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:15, Sat 31 July 2021.

Gam squirmed in his bonds, trying to heft himself in front of the Captain. Skath stood with his arms folded and tail swishing as Mallory provided an explanation of the man's crimes, all the while staring at him with orange eyes that matched the noblewoman's own detestation. And when he looked toward Moyrah they showed nothing but sympathy for her plight. He took a step closer to loom over Gam. "A petty arsonist and a bigot . . . what a miserable existence. This town is filled with too many of your kind. I had other matters to attend, but I think they can be set aside momentarily. For you, my pitiful friend, are in for a very long night indeed." Instead of calling for a guard to assume his reins, Skath went to do so personally, and, for the first time over tonight's events, Gam's obstinacy gave way for genuine regret. It seemed to dawn on him that he had concocted for himself a perfect storm.

"I will send to search for his accomplices," Skath continued and waved over a guardsman. "Fetch two other guards and man the docks. The gates are shut, so the only way for them to flee is by lake to Termalaine, Lonelywood or Bremen. None exit tonight, understood?" The guard nodded and headed to his newly designated post along with two other guardsmen after tapping them on the shoulder.

This message was deleted by the player at 10:13, Sun 01 Aug 2021.

"I didn't intend on bothering you with the burglary that happened earlier today, as I have seen the disarray that overcame the town after the troll attack. Adding an additional problem to your plate, insignificant in relation to the all-encompassing chaos, seemed like a bad idea. But thankfully, from what I can observe, it seems that everything is back under control?" Seeing the town's defenses slowly reclaiming their former stature was comforting, not like the wooden walls ever seemed that sturdy and secure, but they are definitely better than the bashed-in gate. "This thief stole my coin pouch, containing money, he had lost in a wager against me. There was some parchment that has also disappeared after his break-in, but he hasn't admitted to stealing it... yet. I would be incredibly grateful if you could get this information out of him as well, it's a pretty random item, and I am puzzled as to why anyone would be interested in it quite frankly."

Moyrah purposefully kept Vegord's name out of the conversation, the poor man has faced enough adversity for simply being in her presence. Exposing him to a potential vengeful act would break Moyrah's heart into pieces. "Even though he has warned me not to come to his tavern no more, I will need to find a way to repay him for this eventually"

"A thief as well? My, the list just goes on," Skath said, then smirked. "Do not fret — everything he knows, I will know."

~~Lady Mallory's got a way with words, no question about it,~~ Rhydd thought to himself as he listened to the noblewoman explain things to Skath. And Moyrah spoke up and added additional explanations and thoughts.

All of that was well and good, insofar as the huntsman was concerned. He was a man of few words to begin with, plus, he did not tolerate fools gladly. And he certainly counted Skath among the ranks of fools hereabouts -- in his estimation, the Tiefling was hard-pressed to find his own arse with both hands.

However, in this instance, it seems that the townsman's -- at some point during the tussle he had spoken his own name as "Gam" -- wrongdoings were so obvious that even Skath could not ignore them.

Skath made a show of giving orders that sounded as if he wanted Gam's accomplices hauled in as well.

~~Mayhap something good will come of Skath's efforts. Even a blind pig manages to find an acorn every now and again.~~
This message was last edited by the player at 18:08, Sun 01 Aug 2021.

"Thank you, Captain.  I wish you a productive evening and a well-deserved sleep, when you eventually come to it."  Whether it was merely a well-curated sense of manners or genuine respect for Skath's position that urged Mallory's demeanor was anyone's guess.  Once he had Gam properly in hand, she unbound the man and retrieved her rope; that stuff wasn't cheap, after all!  He'd be better suited in a pair of the jailer's iron manacles anyway.

"It would behoove the rest of us to follow the Captain's advice and retire for the evening.  I've certainly had my fill of this horrid day."  she shook her head in dismay and, rather than allow herself to mentally wander back over the horrors prior, focused a sympathetic gaze on Moyrah.  "Miss Moyrah, you should stay with us tonight as well.  We can inspect the damage to your home in the morning light but, for the time being, it would perhaps be safer if you were among friends."

"Have a good evening," Skath returned Mallory's pleasantry before he forcefully shoved Gam along to the barracks. "Go on, scum." The door slammed behind them.

---

Torgrim's Insight to learn of any secret underground passageways or weaknesses in Targos' defensive perimeter [19]: The keep on Caer-Dineval not accounted for, Targos was most fortified of any of the Ten-Towns. Perhaps only Bryn Shander overshadowed it with its rigorous patrol routine coupled with tall walls, though the militia there had much more wall to guard and thrice as many gates. Targos was built equally as sturdy, if not more so. If there were ever holes in the reinforced palisade they'd long since been barricaded and sealed by the previous speakers or captains. Since the gate had a penchant of being open during daylight-hours, a few coins to grease the guardsmen was the most effective strategy when it came to smuggling wares of dubious nature into Targos.

Nor were there any secret underground passageways that Torgrim knew of, as there were in Termalaine or Easthaven. The ground was simply too unprosperous and tough to dig in. He was reasonably sure that even Triglio, the one individual who's knowledge of Targosi on-goings and secrets ran deepest, got everything he needed through the gates.