"And God's Peace upon you and your family" Sir Abloc replies as he enters the shop. He slowly walks around the shop inspecting the craftsman's tools and works.

"I commissioned an altar piece from you yet to my surprise I am told by the abbot that you have not even begun on it. I am sure you can imagine my surprise and disappointment? So I come here to enquire what is happening, because surely there must be a good explanation."

Sir Abloc takes a deep breath to calm himself before turning to face the man.

The craftsman is rather taken aback.  "Not started?  I finished it and sent it to the abbot two weeks ago," he exclaims.  He goes over to a ledger, runs a finger down the age and announces, "the courier's name was Eurig.  Paid 2d, twelve days ago."

The ledger does indicate this as well as similar information on all of the craftsman's other orders.  Although some of the couriers seem to be used repeatedly, this is the only entry with this courier.

"Eurig you say?" as Sir Abloc inspects the ledger confirming the craftsman's story. "I need to know what the man looks like, if you know where he is from and who he sees."

Sir Abloc dont know if the courier is to blame or if he has been killed by bandits and the altar piece stolen. But whatever he can find out about the courier can help him solve the mystery.

"And tell everyone that the person that has clues that leds me to Eurig and the altar piece will be rewarded."

The craftsman has little information to impart.  He had never used this courier before but the ones he frequently used were off on other errands, likely related to the upcoming summer campaign.

Sir Abloc has little luck locating additional information on his own.

Sir Abloc, rolled 15 using 1d20.  Intrigue.

However, word of a reward kindles some interest and he is provided with the following tips:

"The man had a pox-marked face and a patron overheard him saying he was heading toward Arthurshall (South West of where you are.  On Game Map Group 3 it is in the Yellow County/Hundred to the west of you straight south of Camelford and just above The Moars)," the inn keeper states.  It was in his inn that the man was approached about making the delivery.

"I last saw him about 10 days ago, heading west out of town," a farmer offers.

A shopkeeper states, "he was supposed to be delivering a book for me to Tintagel."  (That is north and west along the coast.  On Game Map Group 3, it is on the coast in your hundred/county on the border of the yellow one to the west.)

Sir Abloc curse his luck when he realize the clues seems to head in opposite directions. With no further clues he says a silent prayer to God, apologizing in advance of what Sir Abloc may do to the thieving courier, and then make South towards Arthurshall with all haste. On his way he inquire if any of the locals (priests, innkeepers, farmers) has seen a man with a pox-marked face carrying with him an altar piece.

It appears that Sir Abloc's luck is not all bad.  Although he does not get much useful information, several people he passes saw someone fitting the description heading south or west (depending on the road he is on at the time) toward Arthurhall.  No one specifically noticed an alter piece.

Sir Abloc, rolled 19 using 1d20.  Intrigue.

Sir Abloc try to determine when the witnesses saw the courier pass them. Then he push his horse on towards Arthurshall. The man with the pox-marked face must not get away.

[insert theme music from Dick Turpin]

It has been some time since the man passed this way.  Maybe a week to ten days?  The witnesses are not exactly sure and can't be more specific.

Arriving in Arthurshall, Sir Abloc finds it is a small town.  There is a mill, church, two taverns, an inn, a market, although it is not open currently, and various shops and houses.  Sir Abloc guesses that a couple hundred people live here.

Sir Abloc plan is to ask around at the two taverns and the inn. The pox-marked thief must have needed a place to stay and lay low. He allows his squire Wigan to go to the market when it opens and ask around while making whatever purchases are needed. And while Wigan is away to the market Sir Abloc plans to visit the local church. An altar piece is expensive and the thief will want to sell it and Sir Abloc expects that even if it may come as a surprise to some then not all holy men are as holy as they should be.

So while politely asking the good priest if he has seen a pox-marked man Sir Abloc innocently inspects the altar.

Neither Sir Abloc nor his squire find out any useful information from their inquiries.

At the church, the priest is rather busy and does not have much time for a wandering knight.  As to seeing a pox-marked man, "I see many such, a sure sign of God's displeasure at the current state of faith among men."

Looking over at the alter, Sir Abloc sees an alter piece very much resembling what he ordered.  But then, perhaps they are just currently in style, or the church here ordered a very similar one from the same craftsman in another county?


Sir Abloc, rolled 6 using 1d20.  Intrigue.
Squire, rolled 13 using 1d20.  Intrigue.
Sir Abloc, rolled 16 using 1d20.  Courtesy.
Sir Abloc, rolled 16 using 1d20.  Awareness.

"The world today is one of little faith, Father" Sir Abloc replies. "Men are greedy and cruel and steal and murder. Which is why it is more important than ever that we do not forget God" he continues while turning to the altar.

"I admire your altar, Father. It inspires faith in a man's soul. Especially that piece - Saint Mary Magdalene and the Seven Demons is it not?" he says and points at the altarpiece resembling the one that he is searching for. "Is that a new addition to the altar."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:29, Tue 19 Oct 2021.

The priest seems to warm to Sir Abloc at the compliment.  Looking over he replies, "yes, very new.  In fact only a week old.  For some time we have been hoping to get something to better exemplify our congregation's faith but the cost simply did not justify the expense.  However, a merchant who leads our choir came across a deal on that one from a traveler and I agreed that it was perfect and at such a price.  God does work in mysterious ways sometimes."

Sir Abloc, rolled 10 using 1d20.  Courtesy.

Sir Abloc takes a check in Courtesy.

"Indeed He does, Father. Indeed He does" Sir Abloc mutters and sighs. "I will need to speak to the merchant that leads your choir. You see ... the merchant will say he bought that altarpiece from a traveler with a pox-marked face. And I know that because the craftsman that made it employed a courier with a pox-marked face to bring the altarpiece to the knight that commisioned it. And that knight .. is me."

"And if what has happened has happened the way I have just explained to you, Father, then I fear we have all been tricked by a thief with a pox-marked face."

"Please, Father, there is no need to worry. Let us all sit down and discuss what to do. I have no desire to deprive your beautiful church with such a beautiful piece of work. But I am keen to find the thief if possible and make sure justice will be done. And I will hate for the good people living on my land to be denied the pleasure of a beautiful altar that will inspire faith in their souls."

Sir Abloc can almost see his new-found wealth drain away at an alarming rate.

"Let us, the merchant, you Father and I, sit down and talk about this. I hope to find clues to where to find the thief and I want to know how much the thief made you pay for that piece of work."

The priest is quite troubled by your tale, although perhaps not completely willing to blindly trust the word of a stranger, even if that stranger is a knight.  However, there seems to be a way of verifying the proffered information and so he sends a boy off to locate the merchant and bring him over.

It takes some time for the merchant to arrive.  When he does, the priest asks some rather pointed questions about the origin of the alter piece.  Although the merchant is a little vague with his answers at first, the priest continues to dig until he uncovers the whole story.

The merchant explains that one of his buyers alerted him that a man, who matches Sir Abloc's rough description of the courier, was trying to sell an alter piece.  He met the man and negotiated a good price and brought the piece to the priest.  It seems obvious to Sir Abloc that the merchant was well aware that the piece was stolen, although he does not actually admit this.  It seems equally likely that such knowledge was used to drive the price down further.  Sir Abloc also guesses that the merchant over-stated the price he paid for the piece and pocketed the difference.

Sir Abloc listens to the men explain what happened and from time to time force himself to smile. He sort of understand why the merchant did what he did - a chance to make himself look good, perhaps to make himself feel good. The good Father should have been a bit more curious as to why a random traveller shows up with a piece of religious art, but Sir Abloc suppose the Father closed his eyes for the obvious so he could make his church more inviting and inspiring to his flock. He doesnt really blame any of them but he is beginning to understanding that he may never ever find the thief and bring him to justice.

When they are done explaining Sir Abloc sits quietly and contemplates what to do. Never a Solomon he hate these sort of things. War is just so much simpler - ride and dont fall off your horse. Peace is just so much more .. complicated.

"First of all thank you both for being so honest. I can not force you to do anything but here is my suggestion and if you are not in agreement with my suggestion then we can go to the Lord of these lands and ask him to decide what to do.

First of all you, merchant, should not have bought the alter piece at all. You should have wondered why a random traveller by some miracle show up with an alter piece he is willing to sell. But I will not blame you if you pay back the good Father whatever he paid you for the alter piece." Sir Abloc doesnt say that he guess the merchant initially made money on the deal. He just smiles to the merchant to let the man know it is better to pay back the money to the Church than be exposed as a liar.

"At the same time this beautiful church should not house an alter piece stolen from it's rightful owner. It would taint it forever and if people found out they would start to gossip. And how would that gossip possibly inspire the good people of this town to be better people?" Sir Abloc smiles kindly to the priest. "So I will take back the alter piece, good Father, and in exchange the good merchant and I will within a year each donate half and have an alter piece commissioned to this church. And you, good Father, will say mass for my late father Sir Kenyr."

He looks at them both and stops smiling before he adds a "Are we in agreement?"

The priest narrows his eyes slightly at this.  However, with a calculating gaze he acquiesces.  Afterall, he will get what he originally wanted at no cost to him . . . or the church . . . of course.

The merchant, however, splutters at this proposal.  However, he seems very much to be trapped by his own greed.  So after a moment he proposes, "very well, but if one of us were to locate the thief and recover the funds used to pay for the piece, then I think it only fair that that money instead be used to cover the cost of the new decoration."

Sir Abloc suspects that the merchant may have some idea where to find the courier or at least resources that would assist in the capture.

"You know where he is dont you, Merchant?" Sir Abloc leans across the table with a barely hidden angry glare. "I want that thief and I will let noone and nothing stand in my way. That altar piece is mine. I commissioned it. I paid for it. For all that is Right I can just walk into that church right now and claim what is rightfully mine! Instead I am sitting here trying to help you two gain the altar piece that your town lack so much that you, Merchant, decided to buy a stolen piece of art and so that you, Father, could .. inspire .. the locals and pretend that God works in mysterious ways.

So .. NO .. I want my thief and I want him now! Noone steals from me and what money he has gained from you, dear Merchant, will be mine. To compensate me for having to pursue the thief across the land and not be home tending to the needs of my land and my peasants. Be glad I dont take this to the Lord of these lands because he will surely not be as forgiving as I am.

Are. We. Clear?" he adds while staring at the merchant and priest.

The Priest's eyes go wide and the merchant blanches, cowed.  While the priest is a leader within the religious community, and the merchant far more wealthy than Sir Abloc, Sir Abloc is a knight and thus a member of the nobility, even if a rather lowly one.

The merchant retreats a bit in his seat, at least as much as he can.  "Well I, you know, maybe I could figure out where he is I don't know exactly, but perhaps we can get lucky if we check the Lion and Crescent, it is the sort of place that caters to such people, at least so I have heard, I wouldn't know personally, of course," he stammers.

"You and I will visit the Lion and Crescent then and find the thief. And you will point him out to me and help me. And you better pray that we find him there." Sir Abloc replies with something resembling a smile.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:51, Thu 28 Oct 2021.

Sir Abloc follows the merchant to the slightly seedier part of town and enters the Lion and Crescent.  Although it is still relatively early, Sir Abloc immediately notices a pox-marked individual by the bar buying a round of drinks for those few present, who all toast his generosity.  The man seems immensely pleased with himself.  The merchant indicates the man.

"THIEF!" Sir Abloc cries out and grabs the man by the neck and (attempts) to throw him to the ground.

"You!" he yells and points at a boy. "Go and fetch the guards before I skin the barstard and nails his hide to the wall!"

He then turns his attention to the man on the floor "You stole something that belongs to me and I do not like that ... "

Sir Abloc waits for the guards to arrive and explains what has happened. He then hands him over to the guards so that Justice can be done.

---

OOC: Basically I havnt got the faintest idea about Pendragon-medieval Justice but I imagine the Lord of the land will pass judgement on the thief and that Sir Abloc cant just string him up just because he is angry.

It takes the faux-courier a bit too long to focus on the incoming danger through a thick alcohol-haze.  Even were he normally capable of fending off Sir Abloc, in his current state, the man is only barely capable of standing, and instead remains slumped on the floor.

It is not long before the guards appear and accept the word of a knight as to what occurred.  They haul the man off, recovering £2 in money he earned through the sale of merchandise that 'fell off various wagons' and that he had not gotten a chance to drink . . . yet.

Sir Abloc is glad it is finally over and returns to the priest dragging the merchant along with him. Once there he recovers his altarpiece and donates £1 to the church while making the merchant promise to donate another £3 ... and make a promise to the priest to return within a year to see how their altarpiece looks, while hinting that it better be there and not by accident having disappeared.

Once that is settles he returns as quickly as possible to his lands glad to put as much distance as possible between him and the town that he has named Shite.

Winter 506 AD

Experience 1

Sir Abloc rolled 11 using 1d20.  Awareness @ 9 (Raise)
Sir Abloc rolled 3 using 1d20.  Courtesy @ 14 (No Raise)
Sir Abloc rolled 3 using 1d20.  Battle @ 10 (No Raise)
Sir Abloc rolled 19 using 1d20.  Hunting @ 12 (Raise)
Sir Abloc rolled 19 using 1d20.  Horsemanship @ 15 (Raise)
Sir Abloc rolled 18 using 1d20.  Intrigue @ 3 (Raise)
Sir Abloc rolled 3 using 1d20.  Lance @ 11 (No Raise)
Sir Abloc rolled 8 using 1d20.  Sword @ 16 (No Raise)

Marriage

Nothing; still aiming for Lady Gwendolyn.

Glory

Events

+10 Killing a Wolf at the Hunt
+10 Participating in Boar Hunt
+250 Surviving the Siege
+5 Giant Weasel Hunt
+20 Giant Rat Slaying
+10 Hunting with Prince Marc

Skills

Horsemanship +16

Improvements

+4 Religious Altarpiece

Total: +321

Experience 2

Squire Wigan - Raise First Aid +1

Sir Abloc rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  New Skill Points

Latin +2
Stewardship +2
Compose +1

Income

Sir Abloc rolled 11 using 1d20.  Stewardship (Nefydd) @ 12 (Success)

Clethor Fief Income £6+£1=£7

Maintenance

£9 (Rich Knight)
£2 (Herd of Sheep)

Improvements

Hire (Steward) (£1)
Logging (£1}
Dove Cote (£5)

Family Event Winter 506

Sir Abloc's cousin was accused of adultery.

Sir Abloc, rolled 20 using 1d20.  Family Event - Scandal
Sir Abloc, rolled 20 using 1d20.  Family member - Cousin
Sir Abloc, rolled 5 using 1d20.  Scandal - Accusations of adultery
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:32, Sat 12 Mar 2022.