"Seems to me that your in a bit of a grey area, as the announcement was only made this morning. However if you still have any, I'd ask that you turn it over as soon as possible. Other than that, I'd like to hear more about this gang. If we can't clean up our own backyard, what hope to we have for the rest of the city." Etherian's voice is clam and gentle. He didn't think the dragons blood was a major thing. More so as she had come forward about it. However gang activity was something he felt more pressed about.

When the Chief Constable brought in the manacles, Jack picked up one of the smaller sets. The two larger sets had their purposes, but they were much more awkward to carry around as well as being heavier. "Thank you for seeing to these, sir," he said to the older man-at-arms. To Jack's way of thinking, the fact that Bors Oftwain had actually considered his request and had gone out of his way to do something about it was a good sign -- and deserved a "Thank you" which was, after all, free.

~~Now if I can just get him to let me ditch this ridiculous tabard and go under-cover when I need to,~~ he thought to himself.

Jack recognized Mira Thane, although he would have had difficulty putting a name to the woman's face. He himself had never had occasion to visit her, but he knew people who had. And the herbalist had a good reputation among the people whom Jack knew on the streets, which told him something.

"A smash and grab gang, it sounds like," he offered in response to what she had told them thus far.

"Tell us anything that you can about these people that will aid us in catching them, Mistress Mira," he requested of the herbalist. ~~Well, depending upon how the Chief Constable will allow us to operate, it may be that we will just need to catch one of them and he -- or she -- will give up the others in return for better treatment. Hells, for that matter, I might even be able to get the one whom we catch put out on the streets again, to act as an informant.~~

"For example, have you noticed any sort of a pattern to their raids? Do they usually come at a certain time of day or night, or are they mayhap tied to deliveries of new goods?"

"And how do they come and go -- which streets do they use, for example? Do they always use the same street or streets, or do they vary their routes? Do they ever come and go by watercraft?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:21, Mon 08 Mar 2021.

Khay's eyes glitter at the idea of chasing a quick-stepping group of Thieves across the harbour market. He drops the manacles disdainfully in the box, then re-cinches his belt.

Assessing the need to get out and do something in at least Khay in time to head off any crazy plan with one a bit more considered Andrea addresses those gathered.  ”Why don't Khay and I go out and see if we can spot some of these thieves, it will give us a good victory early on, and one the people are going to appreciate.  Some of you keep processing what Mira has to tell us, and perhaps send someone over to collect any Dragons Blood not yet turned in for processing.  We can decide what to do with it and the paperwork later.”

Jack nodded to the flame-haired woman who had previously given her name as Andrea.  "Good luck," he said.

~~This reminds me of something else that we need -- signal whistles,  so that we can communicate with each other when we are separated -- and mayhap mirrors, so that we can signal each other silently, using the sunlight . . . well, leastways when we are operating in the daytime.~~

~~Better not press my luck with the Chief Constable, I am thinking. I need to check out the market when I am over in that direction, see what I can come up with.~~

Kovani listened intently as the herbalist discussed the problems in the Harbour Market. As he did so he looked over the manacles, then decided upon one of the larger sets and attached them to his belt.

As some of the Constables seemed to have the situation with the woman in hand he looked at the others who remained. "Well. we have our orders from Sergeant Oftwain, time to announce our presence to the locals. I am going to see this Brother Marnely he mentioned and make our introductions, as well as dropping in on some of the other guilds and businesses along the way, make ourselves visible to the people, so to speak. Would anyone like to accompany me?"

He shifted his gear into place and looked from person to person, seeing who would volunteer first.

OOC
- I assume Bors is a Sergeant, please feel free to correct if I have gotten it wrong.
- Also, unless specified otherwise, I think a two-person patrol should suffice for general patrols except when we are anticipating trouble.

Its not like it was usually Arty's thing to disappear for stretches of time but it might seem that way to some of the others given that his first day on the job he left most of his stuff by his bed, at least somewhat arrayed in an almost orderly fashion, and vanished. The early risers might have got a quick greeting and an excuse of looking for the loo or some such. The next time he was seen was out on the street as the crier did his thing. After that though he didn't rejoin the group until they were wrapping up conversation with the herbalist. Just in time to hear Kovani's offer of anyone accompanying him.

"Brother Marnely eh? Yeh I see good reason for going out to make a good first impression on them folks around." The irony of a good first impression seemed to be lost on him. "Why don' I come witya. Kovani, right? Ooh shackles. Those could come in handy." He scooped a pair up, sauntered upstairs to grab some of his things and then came back down to stand at the door as if he was the waiting on someone who had been holding him up and not the other way around. All the while he wore his big nonchalant grin.

Khay buckles his short scabbard onto his back, snatches up his staff and pack, and joins Andrea.

"It's funny what she said about people trusting barbers," he says conversationally. "I've never been to a barber. When my hair needed clipping one of my Brothers or Sisters would do it for me, and I've always shaved myself."

Jack’s questions lead into areas the herbalist has no answers for.

“Patterns?  When we’re not looking.  Streets?  I think they come across the rooftops from the side streets, not from the front, the front is too obvious, too many people there and too easy to be seen at night... but that's my thoughts, and I'm not a professional thief catcher."

She can explain a little more about the Harbor Market, though...

"You see, when Pomton first started, this was the main gate, and it was a plaza leading out to the harbor.  It... well the town outgrew its fortifications very fast, they were becoming obsolete as fast as they got built.  We still have that wall, though.  So when the plaza's function changed, it became Crown land and was leased out to bring in merchants... um... like us.. I think they were hoping for a richer class, though.  So the shops were built, enclosing the plaza on three sides, all the shop fronts face in to the plaza, we have our personal doors facing out to the streets.  Pretty nice arrangement!  Except what we call the Back Row, they have to use doors on the front only because the backs are up against Old Town buildings.  A little inconvenient, but they get an extra story."

Those going to investigate the market should go to the new thread:  The Case of the Harbor Market Thieves


Mira doesn't join the group going to the Harbor Market.  They don't need a guide, it's across the street.  Instead, she makes herself comfortable in the best seat she can find.

"So what do you make of the whole Dragon Blood thing?" she asks.  "It's really a strange thing to suddenly get all law-enforcey about.  How many people in this city might even have something like that?  It's not like you go to your neighbor and ask, 'Hi, Mrs. Turnpaddle, might I borrow a spoonful of Dragon's Blood?"  The way I see it, anyone with any of that falls into one of three categories.  Traders, trying to unload the stuff.  People doing alchemy and maybe possibly including those in related disciplines... and people who have suddenly come into unexpected possession."

She takes a brief look towards the market.

"You know.. the local thieves are a menace and you'll make a lot of friends among us Harbor Market merchants if you can stop them.  But there's another mystery around and it feels much more.. well more something.  Like if you were a mystery connoisseur, this would be a bottle  of fine vintage Elven meadow wine.  Why did the Viceroy make that edict?  What's on his mind?"


 

This message was deleted by the player at 02:32, Tue 09 Mar 2021.

In reply to Arthur Dagonet (msg # 54):

Kovani nodded at Arty and as soon as the other fellow was ready he headed out the door, intent on finding this Brother Marnely.

OOC - anyone else with us or are you six off to the market?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:29, Tue 09 Mar 2021.

This Brother Marnely guy sounded creepy, and Hedge didn't particularly care for finding him, "I'm going to lend that lot a hand. Cheers mates, good luck t'you."

Clearly Mira had more concern over the Dragons Blood than the gang that seemed to trouble the ward. Etherian wanted to delve a bit more into her motives so didn't bother to join the others. "I'm afraid that I don't understand the use of Dragons Blood as well as you. Could you enlighten me on it more. Perhaps then I could understand why your so concerned with it being declared illegal. I wouldn't think it an easy thing to acquire, and thus the uses wouldn't be widely available. But then I'm not an expert in such things." Etherian liked to allow people to explain things and give details on their own before he asked more direct questions. He had found in the past people like to tell more than they should if left to their own telling.


10:17, Today: Etherian rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  Persuasion.

In reply to Etherian (msg # 60):

Jack had smiled when Mistress Mira had suggested that the Constables should investigate why the Viceroy had had decreed that, all of a sudden, possessing Dragon Blood was illegal. Then she followed that up by wondering out loud what was on the Viceroy's mind.

But before he could tell her that their investigating the Viceroy sounded like a quick way to get the Constables disbanded and them possibly thrown into prison, Etherian spoke up and asked some questions about why Dragon Blood was so important to begin with.

"Aye, that might help us understand all this a bit better -- seein' as how we don't have your experience with such . . . ingredients," Jack added, nodding his head amiably.

---

OOC: Jack's intent is to aid Etherian's efforts, and give him Advantage on his Persuasion Check.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Wed 10 Mar 2021.

Accidentally had this in the other thread.  Sorry!


In the office, the Herbalist is still there.  She ponders the question about Dragon's blood.

Mira Kane takes a deep breath.  “Dragon’s Blood,” she says, as if to reintroduce the subject at hand.  “Where to start?”

She gives it a moment’s thought, and starts.  “Whenever you make something that’s true magic, whether it’s a magic sword or a potion that will protect you from fire, there’s a list of ingredients.  Most of those ingredients really have very little if any magic of their own.  Some thing’s might be good for you, some things might be toxic… but not real magic.  Take wine, for example.  Too much can kill you, so it can be a poison, sort of.  Some makes you happy, but is that really magic?  Or just a property of wine?

“There are some ingredients that supply the power to any magical recipe.  Like a wagon with a horse and driver, I guess.  The driver knows the direction, but the horse has all the power.  Jester’s Cap is a mushroom, and a little of that will… well it sort of acts like wine, but different… add some Dragon’s Blood, just a drop, to the recipe and you can get a powder that will have a room full of people laughing uncontrollably, and you don’t even have to tell them a joke.  So Dragon’s Blood is one of the Power ingredients. Jester's Cap just tells it where to go.  There are a other power sources, and they all share something in common, they are hard to come by.  Like the universe is working against us, making sure that these shortcuts aren’t too easy.  Maybe easy for the Elves, they seem to come by more of it than others… what the heck is liquid starlight, anyway?  But for Dragon’s Blood, obviously, you have to kill a Dragon.  And you’d have to be ready to collect the blood, and you’d have to know that some people will want to buy it.  So it’s not the sort of thing that’s a steady supply.  That’s part of what makes it valuable.

"Do you know what else is peculiar about Dragon’s blood?  If you ever talk to people who claim to know about Dragons, they’ll go on and on about the different kinds, and the flight patterns of a typical Blue and where a Black likes to make its lair… for a Herbalist or an Alchemist, the blood’s all the same.  I’ve never seen a recipe calling for a specific kind.  And the recipes can be very specific.  What kind of spoon to stir it with, whether you go clockwise or counter.  Anyone who ever calls that Widdershins is just trying too hard to impress you."

"So if I understand what you said. The blood is the power source and the intent of the user is what matters. Kind of an all purpose catalyst for the intended recipe. If that's true I can see a few reasons to want to restrict such an ingredient, though the lengths of acquiring it seem to out weigh the need for such restrictions. How much is generally needed for use? And how much would that sell for? Do you have an idea of how many merchants would carry it, or even deal strictly in it?" As Etherian listens and asks his follow up questions he makes some tea and offers the Herbalist and Jack both a cup.

Jack nodded when Etherian offered him some tea.

He scratched his chin-whiskers, and gave voice to his thoughts. "This discussion about Dragon's blood is all well an' good, an' the Viceroy's edict might seem curious, an' all that."

"But I'm havin' trouble understanding how it is that a couple of wet-behind-the-ears, feet-on-the-street Constables are supposed do anything that can impact the Viceroy's decision."

"You want to know a lot," the herbalist says.  She leans back in her commandeered chair.

"I happen to be someone who knows a lot.  Not about everything, but about some things.  For someone with your job I would be a very good friend to have.  And.. can we base our understanding on that?  Can we be friends?  Just to be clear, though, I never said anything about changing the Viceroy's mind.  But it's like harvesting mandrake.. the little leaves on top are nothing.  It's the root down below.  I am really curious to know why he gave that order.  That's the part underground.  It means something important.  Maybe he's wrong.. maybe he's right, and figured he didn't have to share that with brand new constables.  Too new on the job to be trusted, right?  But friends trust each other."

In reply to The GM (msg # 65):

"Aye, I'm fine with being friends," Jack replied to Mistress Mira with a quick nod of his head.

"But I'm not sure that we can help you. As Constables, our job to enforce the law. And while I understand that you are curious about the Viceroy's edict regarding Dragon's Blood, I have not heard anything that rises to the level of breaking a law."

"Am I missing something, here? Has a law been broken? If so, please help me to understand."

"I'm pretty sure a law has been broken somewhere," Mira the herbalist says.  "My guess would be, a pretty big one.  Or, someone is expecting a big law to be broken in the very near future.  But I guess the problem you have now is that people aren't going to come running to bring you reports of broken laws.  They are going to have to learn that's what you are here for, and also, that it works.  Hopefully if you catch the Harbor Market robbers they'll start warming up to you, and that will make your job easier."

She stands up, and looks as if she is getting ready to leave.

"Of course, if you poke around, you might give things a stir and start things moving.  All kinds of things you can catch.  Did you see what came in today in the harbor?  Gnolls!  Gnolls, on a ship. Not a Gnoll ship, a Human ship, because Gnolls don't have ships and you know the Elves wouldn't dare.  So they booked passage on a ship.  Gods only know how that happened.  You know, Auxene doesn't have outland rules.  You don't assume something is an enemy just because it looks like one..."

She gives a puzzled look at Etherian.

"... but Gnolls are going to make it pretty hard for a lot of people to stick to our civilized ways.  It's like a glass perched on the end of a shelf, one little shake and you know it's going to shatter.  Gnolls!  Well, as for me, I'll stop by again, but I have a shop to run, and if I spend too much time here people are going to think all the wrong things about me."

Etherianseems to have gotten lost in his own thoughts for a moment, but comes back to as Mira starts to get up. He gives her a smile. "I'm sure you'll find us up to the task, and more than willing to gain the trust of the people. Would you care for an escort back?" Ethrains polite attitude seems to have shifted a little as his own thoughts crowd in.

"Aye, let's all walk over to the market," Jack chimed in. "One thing for certain, we won't be catching anyone here in the barracks -- and there's at least a chance that we can do some good out on the streets"

"With everything I've said, it would be best if I walked home alone and looking unhappy," Mara says.  "Best if people don't draw too many early conclusions and figure out that we're friends.  I... and therefore you.. stand to lose a lot of information that way. But we're neighbors, I won't be far away."

People who own shops here typically live there- she means that literally, you are neighbors.


 They can trot over to the market if they wish, however, just because the herbalist is the first one through their door that day does not mean she is the only one.

Constables are a novelty.. and this is the first day.

Etherian waits until Mara is gone before turning to Jack. "Interesting visit. What do you make of it?" It seemed Etherian had a few thoughts of his own, though he looked more as if her wanted to gather more information before making up his mind on anything.

In reply to Etherian (msg # 71):

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "I liked Mira, but I got no idea how to go about investigating who pulled the strings on the Viceroy's Edict about Dragon's blood. And even if we were to uncover some things that don't smell quite right, it seems to me that whoever is involved -- assuming that they are important enough to have the Viceroy's ear -- are way too big to be bothered by whatever a couple of wet-behind-the-ears come up with."

"I'm thinking that Mira's ideas on that Edict kinda sound like that old saying about "If wishes were horses . . ."

"I'd say that we oughtta head over to the market, or maybe go down to the docks to see what's going on with those Gnolls that she mentioned."