Rising Unrest [IC]

[Reverandboo]

[Catela] "I agree Magdar, a swift execution would be best, but this one," he motions to Thomas with the heel of his glaive, "invoked the right for trial. This...Assembly must have a way of dealing with disagreements and such?" Tavish glances over at Hakon and Helga, " At least in an official capacity?"

[ludomastro]

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Please go ahead and roll for Brindlglib's attempt to gain information.  He can use Impress, Influence, Gather Information or other skill checks (with explanation).  I'll post the response based on your plan.

[Catodon]

Brindlgilb smiles a James. [Quietly in Catela] “Give me a little while and I’ll find out, how’s about I tell you over breakfast tomorrow?” Then without waiting for an answer he turns and wander’s off whistling.
The gnome seems to spend the rest of the day enjoying himself rather than asking questions or ferreting out clues, Brindlglib takes time to tell the tale of facing down the bandits placing sublte emphasis on his bravery in facing the (relatively huge) bandit leader, preventing the theft of the hamlet’s savings and healing Rebecca. He tells his tale to children, the word spreads, he tells the towns folk who gather curiously in the main-street, and finally he tells the tale by the tavern fire that evening. Each time he takes time to chat and answer questions.

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With apologies to Chaucer.
Impress (Influence): three rolls take 20 on each. Telling the tale takes 20 minutes each time but the result is 26. Brindlglib spends an hour telling tales but the story reaches almost the whole village. Ever the self promoter the gnome is trying to get into the village’s good books. This is pretty much exactly what he does every time he comes to a new town but this time he has the advantage of a ripping yarn.
Please adjust the next roll for disposition effects.
Also as with every other town his pointed ears are listening to the villagers’ responses, to their chatter between themselves after the tale, and sifting questions for clues. He watches their posture and who talks to who. The children and drunks are usually the best sources of unguarded clues. The little genius puts together hundreds of tiny snippets of observation to discover what is hidden.
Could you roll for me when invisible castle comes back on line?
Investigate (Canvas) 2d6 hours. 1d20+4
And an action die too please.

[ludomastro]

After hearing Brindlglib's story, the folk seem more resolute and some even seem happier.  The news that their life savings has been deposited and that they now have their proof of ownership has some overjoyed.  Added to that, the injured are being treated by the village healer - an herb woman of some reknown.  In all, the folk of Fulton's Find seem glad to have some good news.  They declare a pary (over Hakon's objections) and with Rebeca in attendance - despite warnings from the village healer - a good time is had by all.  Hakon even apologizes to Magdar, though he is deep in his cups when he does it.

Magdar challenges all comers to a drinking contest.  A few take him up on his offer but after the third large man falls unconcious, they leave Magdar to his own drinks.

Even the village children attend and dance their hearts out.  As they fall asleep one by one their mothers and fathers carry them off to bed.

The next morning, everyone rises and begins the day.  Many have hangovers but Magdar is seen drinking a watery brew he claims cures them.  It must work because he is drilling some of the young men (and a few yound women) with spears and axes.

Breakfast is available for those who want to purchase it (though Brindlglib's is free) and a poridge is free for those who want to fix the inn's roof or paint her walls.

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@ Catodon
Brindlglib gets a whopping 26 on his Gather Information check!
I'm adding a variable +5 to +10 for disposition.  So, he basically gets everything of consequence.  I'll put it in spoiler tabs so that you can opt to share or not with the rest of the group.

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Gnolls have started attacking the surrounding farms.  There are rumors of even more agressive things that have driven them from their ancestral grounds.  Also, bandit ativity has been increasing.  The Council (specifically Hakon) doesn't want word to get out that the gnolls are preying on their folk because if the town is seen as weak then gnolls won't be their only problem.  There are

unsubstantiated rumors of darker things as well.  One story recounts a flying shadow that looked like a fat bat with a long tail. There are also stories of more ancient creatures in the woods.

[Reverandboo]

Tavish stays out of most of the merry making, taking to a table close to the door and back to a wall keeping a close eye on the various peoples coming and going and studying tells of the more affluent members of the town. Roughly every half hour he makes a trip to the prisoners to check on them, their guards and a quick sweep of the area.  He gets a fitful 5 hours of sleep and wakes up with the dawn. After a brisk morning stroll and about an hour of quiet meditation he joins Magdar and those he is training to get a little spear practice.

After a nice workout he retires to his tent with a fresh cup of the cook's coffee to freshen up and study for a while.

 

[jameswllorimer]

Ryar'Bett is impressed with the roguish gnome's efforts as his sits by the fire enjoying the warmth and the atmosphere of the party, savouring the happiness of the locals. He tries some of the local brew, but as with Madgar's ale before it, he finds the tastes of the Other's beer difficult to stomach and drinks only enough to be considered polite. As the party winds down, he savours the last of the heat from the fire, quietly speaks Clan-home prayer and wraps himself in a blanket for the night.

Rising early the next morning, he hears of the offer of a free breakfast. Stretching his still warming muscles, he grabs his rope to aid in the morning's work and sets to the lardlord's roof with a hungry energy. After an hour or so, he receives his porridge and he waits for the others of the caravan to emerge from their slumber.

[ludomastro]

As the early morning dawn gives way to the yellowing sun there is singing coming from temple.  It is quite good and makes the work on the roof pass that much faster.

Once the work and breakfast have concluded, Hakon emerges from a building near the center of the town.  He is trailed by six other people including his wife.  After a moment he asks the group to join him in the common room of the inn.

[Catela] "I won't mince words, seeing how the council voted."  He seems disquited by this revelation and glances over at his wife who merely smiles.  "The outlands from town have been attacked by gnolls.  At first it was only foodstuffs and supplies.  Recently though, they have carried off livestock.  Yesterday, before you all came to town, they carried off people for the first time.  We can't mine, farm or craft if we are all concerned with our loved ones going missing.  I can't offer you much but if you and yours would look into the why of it all, we would be appreciative.  That way we can go and get out loved ones back.  Magdar, I ... um ... ah ..."

"What my mutton-headed husband is trying to say, is that the council would like you, Magdar, to help train more people and oversee the construction of more permanent defenses.  As to the rest of you, we could use the help of men who are wise to the nature of the world and know how to get things done.  Given your efforts on behalf of the caravan, we know that you can do what needs to be done."

She and four other members of the town council smile knowingly while Hakon looks miserable.

[Catodon]

Flashback.

As his tale-telling in the tavern attracts enough people and the good news turns the gathering into a party the little gnome is quite pleased with himself. After hours of ‘working’ the villagers he has uncovered hidden situations and built a good rapport with the people here. Should be able to leverage this ground-work into a small commission, maybe that lighted watch-tower idea… he continues his musings as he chats to tavern goers and dances country jigs with the children. Exhausted he rewards himself a quick bite to eat and retires to his room

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5s deducted for common lodging, he insists on paying

.
The next morning he arrives to meet James for breakfast as agreed. The gnome tucks into a big serve of sausages, good salty bacon, a couple of scrambled eggs, and toast leaving some wondering

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can I call this a filling meal? +1 fort bonus.

. Brindlglib is smiling like the cat that got the cream. Seeing Ryar’brett eating porridge in exchange for chores only seems to re-enforce the gnome’s opinion of his own cleverness. Breakfast done Brindlglib removes the napkin protecting his smart waistcoat and quietly relates what he found out, pausing whenever a villager passes close
[catela] “By watching and listening carefully I have been able to piece together quite a bushel of news. There are some things people wont tell you if asked, even if you are a huge musclehead (you know the type), but if people are comfortable they let slip like chatterbirds. My first hint was that the children here call each other ‘stupid doghead’, big charming urchins that they are. Gnolls it seems have been driven this way by something worse. As well as the gnolls raiding farms, bandit activity is on the rise, perhaps the two are linked somehow. Anyways the council doesn’t want word to get out because other ‘unwanted elements’ might take it as a sign that the town can’t take care of its own.
As well as these problems there was the usual worries about ‘things’ in the woods, humans are always more suspicious than us forest folk you know, ancient spirits that kind of thing. One of these is a big overfed bat with a long tail. Still, might be worth scouting the woods maybe something does link the bandits and the gnolls.
Anyway, don’t be surprised if the council comes by and makes you an offer today, they need big tough heroes and some of us from the caravan look the part.”

In the hours to come James and Brindlgib disseminate this information to the towns new defenders (the PCs (except the 'shadowy figure') and Magdar).

[Antilles]

James spent the evening looking for his contact, Zeke, but to no avail. Most seemed unconcerned, saying he often went on several-days long trips to fish, check traps, hunt a little, and he would probably be back in a day or two. However, more than a few of those he asked seemed concerned for the man, and seemed they were trying to convince themselves as much as James that Zeke would be back soon. Eventually he gave up trying to find out more, and joined the party. However, he was not in a festive mood, and sat at the edge, watching the people amuse themselves as he mulled over the recent developments.

Early to bed, early to rise, as James gets up in time to greet the sun. Afterwards he offers to help with the repairs, trying to focus on the tasks requiring heavy lifting. After the impromptu workout he heads back in and pays for a solid, filling breakfast for the next few days. He listens to what the gnome has discovered over breakfast with Brindlglib, and agrees to inform the others of the caravan before the Assembly formally makes a request.

After the Assembly has said their piece, James nods and replies positively to their request. [Catela] "Thank you for the kind words. Of course I'll do what I can to retrieve the missing people if possible, and persuade the gnolls to leave you alone by hook or by crook. Perhaps even discover why they've started attacking, as well. Do you know where they come from, where they might have set up camp, how many you think there are?"

[ludomastro]

A thin frail looking man in the council pipes up, [Catela] "There be an hundred of them!"
"They was not." said a woman next to a Hakon.

After a moment of arguing a withered old man with a scar down one eye says, "My vision ain't what it used to be, but I can tell you there were more then ten but less than two dozen of 'em.  I'd say twenty if you forced me to guess.  So far, they haven't been consistent with the direction of attack.  However, I'd say they were north of us.  Probably in the brushlands to the northeast or the edge of the old forest to the northwest.  Sorry, that's all this old tracker knows."

The rest of the council merely nods their heads.  The innkeeper speaks up.  "Be careful of the forest.  There are things ... older than gnolls there.  Were I a gnoll and one of the ancient things woke up?  I'd look for an easier life too."  It seems for a moment that the room darkens and a pall hangs over it.  After a nervous cough from Hakon things seem to return to normal.

[Catodon]

Brindlglib quietly rolls his eyes at the predictable human mention of things in the wood.

[jameswllorimer]

Ryar'Bett listens carefully to the council's offer and the mumblings and rumours of the rest of the gathered villagers

[Xhosra, quietly to himself] "I am far from my Clan-home, but my duty never wanes. Let me help these folk in their time of need." He inhales deeply and steps forward to interject.

[Catela] "If these gnolls move in the the numbers you speak of, I will be able to track them. My concern is these "things" in the forest. Are these just Otherswife-tales, or is there a hard fact amidst these rumours that we might proceed with."

[Catodon]

Brindlgib is listening to the exchange but also in thought perhaps it is better to let them have thier suspicions, if these warriors drive away the gnolls I might still be able to persuade the council to fund a beacon pole project.

[ludomastro]

After numerous statements, contradictions, arguments and counterarguemtns it becomes apparent that none of the townsfolk have any real idea of what is in the forest only what might be.  The only story that seems to bear any degree of believability is that there are folk living in the woods that seem to vanish when one is looking.

[Reverandboo]

Tavish accepts to go on an outings to scout or defend against the gnolls or anything else threatening the town, but in the mean time asks for volunteers to get some much needed work done around the town. He goes in and gets a small paperback book written in elvish of various large game trapping methods and asks Magdar his opinion on setting some up around the town in case of attack.

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Tactics check for setting up town defenses http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3195344/ [ /spoiler]