"Where can we find your guards? Have you had problems with bandits, or these particular bandits before? I accept your employ.
Scodi seemed perplexed. "I thought I said that Isabella knew where the guards could be found. Did I forget to tell you that? Oh, and I've never had a caravan robbed before. Shoplifters and such, sometimes the city guard even catches them, though the only ones we've caught here are the ones we've caught and turned over to 'em. But no, never had a caravan robbed...hope it's the last time."
Having bid the others farewell, Quarion, Joru, and Eanos head to the east gate and survey the area. They'll probably search along the main caravan route, looking for fresh tracks off the beaten trail.
"Do you expect any more valuable shipments soon? The best path to finding these bandits may be to lure them out with bait."
Scodi shook his head crisply. "No, most of my stocks are fine. I'll need to replace that Orianna, of course, but I was hoping to see if you were successful in getting it back before I undertook the expense of acquiring another wagonload."
How bulky is the shipment that they stole from you? May we be looking for many crates? Wagons?
"There were three wagonloads in all", Scodi replied confidently. "But there were 20 small, iron-bound casks in one wagon that were worth more than all the rest of the goods put together. Those were the ones that held the Orianna."
"Isabella I presume? Scodi said you knew where his guards were staying. . ."
Isabella nodded. "That's right. They're staying at the Bottle and Cork. Would you like me to show you the way? I'll have to ask if Scodi can spare me for a little bit."
Having bid the others farewell, Quarion, Joru, and Eanos head to the east gate and survey the area. They'll probably search along the main caravan route, looking for fresh tracks off the beaten trail.
The three crossed the city, as it was only a few extra levels down to the bottom of the massive pit that is Fallon. The city streets were winding and confusing for the three, but despite several wrong turns they were able to navigate by gauging their progress against the position of the towering walls of the pit. Soon, they crossed the city and started climbing a staircase on the other side. After several stops to rest, they emerged above the city and turned for a brief glimpse before leaving. The sight was staggering, as the gigantic waterfall to their left poured into the city's harbor. As if on cue, a towering blast of water rose from the harbor, climbing up, up to the the height of the lake above, taking a vessel with it. They gaped at the spectacle of the ship "sailing" off the geyser and into the lake, safely navigating away from the waterfall that would surely carry the frail craft to it's doom.
An ornate gate appeared ahead, carved with figures whose meaning eluded the three, but were likely key individuals from the city's past. Beyond lay a road like any other, stretching off to the east. Passers-by of every description passed through the gate: farmers with fresh produce, peasants lugging recently purchased goods, a caravan loaded with some sort of indistinct bundles.
The road lay before them, awaiting only their footsteps.
"Please. We would like to speak with them to find out more about the attack."
Scodi assented on the grounds that it wouldn't take long (and bid Isabella not to tarry). The Bottle and Cork was near to Scodi's shop, and Isabella deposited the investigators there, after asking for and receiving assurances that they could find their way back to Scodi's shop if they needed. Indeed, such a task would have been frighteningly difficult without a guide or map had not the Bottle and Cork not been merely two levels down and between the stairway they had descended and the next to the north.
The three guards were in the common room, and after a few moments of inquiry, the pair located them and introduced themselves. The guards were chagrined to have failed in their duty, but seemed willing to talk. They also seemed eager to prove to Scodi that they weren't incompetant, and feared that they might not get a chance to prove it.
Quarion stands at the gate, taking in their present surroundings and storing it in his mental map. Without a word, he moves forward on the trail. As the group walks, he looks for trees, forests, diverging paths, rocky outcrops, anything in which anyone could hide.
OOC: Could we get a general picture of the road? ie: Through a forest, a plain, many forks, no forks, etc.
OOC: Could we get a general picture of the road? ie: Through a forest, a plain, many forks, no forks, etc.
OoC: Rolling hills, mostly. Patches of trees, sometimes near the road, usually not. Occasional rocky outcrops (really, just big half-buried boulders), of course the road doesn't go right over any of them.
With thanks and a bow, Alden takes his leave from Isabella and goes to speak to the guardsmen. He sits down with them at a table in the common room and begins to speak. Normally quiet and unobtrusive, he has become very businesslike, laying out the situation for the guards.
"My name is Alden, and this is Dae. Master Scodi has hired us to look into the theft of his shipment to hopefully recover his goods and to prevent any further attacks. I need you to remember the events as clearly as possible for me. If your information is detailed enough to help us, I'll be sure to let Scodi know how you aided the investigation. I need to know exactly what you remember of the attack, and also any events leading up until the attack. Anything out of the ordinary on your journey, any one strange on the road, anyone you spoke to regarding the shipment."
He leans back in his chair with a glance to Dae to see if the elf has anything to add.
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
Quarion nods at Joru's push forward. To Eanos he says, "Yes, I think we should stay off the road for now. Let us keep it to our left, we can climb some of these hills for a better vantage point. When we return, we can travel along the other side. That should give us a broad survey of the area." As they're walking, Quarion whistles sharply every now and then. The note seems almost as if it came from a bird native to the area. After a few such calls, Garma can be seen racing through the gentle valleys towards the three scouts. When the elf and wolf are reunited, Quarion just places a hand on Garma's head, not saying a word. Understanding the silent request, Garma stays nearby at Quarion's heel.
OOC: Not sure if any checks are required for that, a nature check for emulating a native bird, or calling Garma from a long distance?
"I need to know exactly what you remember of the attack, and also any events leading up until the attack. Anything out of the ordinary on your journey, any one strange on the road, anyone you spoke to regarding the shipment."
The men looked at each other, then one began to speak:
"Well, there were two of them. We'd stoped in Rosehurst not half an hour earlier to water the mules. It was a completely ordinary day, just like any other on the road, nothing suspicious like. I was driving the lead wagon, and one just jumped out from behind this big rock beside the road. He said, 'Halt! You're surrounded!', and I saw another one beside me, back between my wagon and Kathrick's. Don't know where he came from, but there were some bushes back there, so he was probably hiding in them. He said we were surrounded, but I only saw those two. He says, 'Surrender peacefully, and you won't be harmed!' Well, I told him no, and to get out of the way. Then they started to draw weapons, and I remember my eyelids getting real heavy, and that was it. Next thing I know, I came to by the side of the road, and there was Kathrick and Goddar all laid out just like I was. No wagons, no mules, no nothing.
That's it. It was a pretty boring trip up to that point...I don't remember anyone unusual before that, do you, Goddar? And we never talk about what we've got, we're not fools, and if anyone ever prys, we just tell 'em we trade in flavorings for ale, nothing fancy. Though I don't remember anyone being too nosy this trip."
Kathrick and Goddar agreed with the man's story, differing only on minor details.
"Let us keep it to our left, we can climb some of these hills for a better vantage point."
The trio meandered from hilltop to hilltop as they left the pit of Fallon behind. Traffic was heavy at first, but thinned somewhat as they got out of the city.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rae ArdGaoth
As they're walking, Quarion whistles sharply every now and then.
OOC: Not sure if any checks are required for that, a nature check for emulating a native bird, or calling Garma from a long distance?
OoC: Well, we don't need to know how good a job he does at emulating the bird to determine whether the animal comes to him. Let's just say that his furry friend is with him now.
Alden rubs his chin thoughtfully as he considers the guards' stories.
"So, it sounds like they used magic on you instead of steel, but they left you alive. You are lucky, not all bandits are so generous with life."
As he speaks, Alden's hand drifts subconciously from his chin to caress the scars on the side of his face. After a second, he snatches his hand away and places it on the table.
"So you only saw two men? With perhaps a third to work magic upon you. And if you had stopped for water recently, they would have known you were coming, and had time to get a short distance ahead of you on the road. A scout or runner perhaps in Rosehurst, to report to the others. A small, but efficient set-up.
From the sounds of it, taking wagons and mules and all, they weren't targeting Scodi's goods intentionally, just out to get everything they could. They might not even know what they have.
Thank you, gentlemen I believe I have some ideas to work from here."
He waits for a while to see if Dae has anything to ask the guards, or contribute on the subject of magic.
ooc
Haven't seen a post from Test since the game restarted, but he's been around. So I guess I'll just wait for him for a bit.
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
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