Scene Setup: Thelonius and Frack visit Tukoa's stable.
Chaos Factor: 5

22:15, Today: DM rolled 4 using 1d10.  Roll to modify scene. Interrupt scene!!!
22:19, Today: DM rolled 31 using 1d100.  Event focus. Introduce a new NPC.
23:13, Today: DM rolled 68 using 1d100.  Event meaning: action. Carelessness.
23:13, Today: DM rolled 39 using 1d100.  Event meaning: subject. News.

Carelessness of news.
The stablemaster reveals a secret?
Some rando on the street reveals (incorrectly) that there IS a price on Galthar's head?
Rumors: the mud is poisonous?
        someone has found the mouth of smoke?
        the druids are planning to take over the city?
        Aurooem is alive?
        Some dignitary is coming to Tukoa? Yes. Word is out that the Duke of Redstone is coming to Tukoa. Maybe that's why Goldhelm is here? To be honest, we don't even know if this is true of false, but it's at least a rumor... and it was supposed to be a secret!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:42, Mon 11 July 2022.

Frack and Thelonius followed the main road in town to the stable. There was a large pasture behind a fairly well kept wooden fence. The stable itself was wooden with a thatched roof. In front of that, a small, weathered stone building sat, presumably the home of the stablemaster.

As they approached, they spotted an awkward man tending to one of the horses in the stable. He nodded to the approaching travelers, but continued to tend to the horse.

Frack eyed the man in the stable, trying to establish whether he was friend or foe. This was something he had learned after years in the city. Some were outwardly hostile to goblins. Many more were passively disdainful. A small percentage were willing to accept them. The trick was trying to distinguish between the latter two groups.

Unable to get a clear read, he urged Thelonius to take the lead this time. "Go on, Thelonius. I can't tell if this guy is a goblin-hater or not. Probably best if you do the talking."

The monk nodded his companion and, once he had reached a reasonable distance, spoke with the man behind the horse. "Greetings," he stammered. "We are new to Tukoa and wonder if there might be a place for us to stay here."

23:03, Today: Thelonius rolled 13 using 1d20-1.  Persuasion on the guy in the stable.
23:03, Today: Thelonius rolled 28 using 1d100.  Chaos.

This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Mon 11 July 2022.

The stable man eyed the duo and swallowed. As he did, his gigantic adam's apple bobbed up and back down. "You with the Duke?"

DC 12 history roll to know who he is talking about.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:14, Mon 11 July 2022.

Thelonius stared at the awkward man, uncertain who the Duke even was.

23:11, Today: Thelonius rolled 4 using 2d20+1, dropping the highest dice only with rolls of 3,11.  History. Who is the Duke (disadvantage due to far traveler)?
23:12, Today: Thelonius rolled 87 using 1d100.  Chaos.

"The Duke of Redstone? Has he even heard of this place? I mean, no offense, but this is pretty far off the beaten path."

23:13, Today: Frack the Faithful rolled 18 using 1d20-1.  History. Who is the Duke?
23:13, Today: Frack the Faithful rolled 87 using 1d100.  Chaos.

The awkward man swallowed again, his adam's apple almost mesmerizing Frack as he did. "We may be off the beaten path, but that don't mean the Duke's not coming. Mayor Kothar said it himself to Master Paris. I heard 'em talking about it last night. Duke uh Redstone's coming and he'll probably keep his prized stallion right here."

He nodded triumphantly, but still somehow awkwardly.

For a moment, Frack considered bending the truth slightly to imply that he and Thelonius were indeed with the Duke. He knew, however, that Pholtus would not appreciate such deviousness and therefore admitted the truth. "We are not, as it were, with the Duke."

He thought for just a second before continuing. "However, my friend here is himself a traveler from a far away place. He journeys from a distant land and is an ambassador of sorts. That is to say a representative of that far away land. Consider the respect one like the Duke will have for a stable keeper such as yourself who provides hospitality to so noble a dignitary."

Unsure of exactly what Frack was doing, Thelonius stood silently, adding somewhat to his mysterious presence. He tilted his head inquisitively at the stable man as if to ask, "Well? What say you?"

Will aid Frack in his attempt to persuade the stable man..

The stable man swallowed again. "Did you try the Weary Traveler? They gots beds."

Frack pressed on, sensing the awkward man was favoring them. "We did. However we found that the inn was not to our liking. We prefer the open air provided by a stable such as this. And we are not freeloaders. I, by the light of Pholtus, am a man of honor. I can offer a silver coin for our place."  He removed a silver coin from his backpack and held it out to the stable man.

22:16, Today: Frack the Faithful rolled 20 using 2d20+4, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 16,7.  Persuasion on the guy in the stable (Thelonius lending aid).
22:19, Today: Frack the Faithful rolled 81 using 1d100.  Chaos.

This message was last edited by the player at 03:34, Tue 12 July 2022.

The stable man was conflicted by Frack's proposal until he saw the silver coin, at which point he made up his mind rather quickly. "I suppose we gots room. Ain't like the Duke'll be here today anyway."

He took the coin and pointed to a stable in the corner. "Take that one. You'll be outta' the way when Master Paris comes."

Frack reshouldered his pack and hauled it to the end stable, dropping it with a huff. "Well, at least we have somewhere to sleep now. It's not bad. I've slept in worse." He rearranged his things while thinking out loud. "And who knows, maybe we'll be stable mates with the Duke of Redstone's prize stallion, although it's hard to believe he would make the journey all the way to this little village."

Thelonius followed Frack to their place and watched as the goblin paladin unpacked. "Why do you suppose he would travel so far?"

"Who knows? Maybe he's looking for the same golden goose you are!"

End of scene 3:

Characters: Add Barniss, the stablehand with big adam's apple,  Stable Master Paris, and the Duke of Redstone.
Close thread: Find a place to sleep.
New Threads: none
New Chaos: The scene was controlled by the characters. They left without a confrontation, so 5 - 1 = 4.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:00, Tue 02 Aug 2022.