doghead
thotd
The first few months of in the employment of the Chancellor are fairly mundane. The Chancellor did, during the brief meeting that you all had with him after being employed, say that it wouldn't be all high adventure and excitement. Some of you fret at the lack of excitement, others find sufficient satisfaction in their work to keep them happy.
One day as evening approaches, you are all directed to see the Chancellor's steward. Once you are all gathered together, he explains why.
Just over a year ago the Baron's daughter was married to the son of the Margrave of Bessen, one of the most powerful men in the Duchy. Among the wedding gifts were a number of potions of surprising quality from one of the local knights.
After the wedding the Chancellor decided that it would be a sensible precaution to stock up on supplies of potions, and approached the knight about his supplier.
The knight had presented the potions as from the exotic Island of Sha'lor, and they were indeed presented in exotic little bottles. But the bottles were the only things that had come from Sha'lor. The potions themselves were bought from one of the villages near the knight estate. The maker of the potions was a hedge mage who lived in the woods a little out of the village. The vendor, however, was the owner of the local tavern, who handled the sales.
So the Chancellor arranged to have someone visit the village, and an agreement to supply some potions was struck. That was about six weeks ago. A couple of days ago, the Chancellor learnt that the maker of the potions had not been seen for several weeks. Now the mage was not to be something of a recluse, but the tavern owner admitted to being concerned. A couple of visits had been made to the mage's home in the woods, but it was unoccupied each time, and there had been no response to the note left pinned to the door.
And so you have been gathered together. A wagon is heading out to the village tomorrow to collect the annual tithe of grain from the harvest. You will travel with the wagon. Nominally, your roll will be to act as guards. Although the region is generally fairly quiet, banditry is not unknown and some form of protection is not unwarranted. But once at the village, you are to look into the matter of the missing mage. You will have two days before the wagon is due to return to town with its load.
Before finishing the Steward gives you a little advice of his own. "Keep your eyes and ears open. The Chancellor is a keen observer of the people, how they are feeling, what they are thinking." Here he glances over at Jaan, who as most of you know has spent the last few months on the road in one capacity or another.
"And behave. The Chancellor has no patience for self-styled 'Adventurers' who create a ruckus and stir up trouble. If you do discover foul play or misdeeds or some form, inform the appropriate authorities if you can. Although you are working for the Chancellor, you are not the law. Use you discretion."
After he answers any questions, the Steward hands each of you a small pouch of coins, enough for meals and accommodation for a few days with a bit extra to be used for 'miscellaneous expenses'. With that you are dismissed.
The wagon departs shortly after sunrise the next morning. The journey to the village is uneventful and as afternoon fades you find yourself approaching the village past the outlying houses. The village itself is fairly small, only a dozen buildings laid out around a square straddling the road. The largest building is the tavern. There is also the ubiquitous blacksmith's forge, village hall and a small mill set alongside a small stream. More surprisingly there is also a small store and what appears to be curio shop.
The arrival of the wagon draws a small crowd. The visit was expected. By the time the wagon has been parked, the bullocks been unhitched, rubbed down, fed and watered it is getting dark. You are informed that rooms should have been prepared for you at the tavern. "And there had better be some hot food ready, or I shall be unhappy", grumbles the clerk as he heads for the tavern. 'Even more unhappy' would probably have been more accurate. The clerk is not the most enthusiastic of travellers, although his young scribe has been cheerful enough.
The lower floor of the tavern is a moderately-lit common room. While not extravagant it seems fairly clean and comfortable. Directly to your right is a bar with a man wearing an apron standing behind it cleaning a glass with a towel. He has an upturned nose and a long scar running from his forehead across his nose and down his jaw. He looks at you wordlessly as you enter, but nods in greeting. There are several tables laid out in a haphazard manner and there are several people in the common room. Helping out is young woman. In the rear right back corner of the room is a staircase leading up.
One day as evening approaches, you are all directed to see the Chancellor's steward. Once you are all gathered together, he explains why.
Just over a year ago the Baron's daughter was married to the son of the Margrave of Bessen, one of the most powerful men in the Duchy. Among the wedding gifts were a number of potions of surprising quality from one of the local knights.
After the wedding the Chancellor decided that it would be a sensible precaution to stock up on supplies of potions, and approached the knight about his supplier.
The knight had presented the potions as from the exotic Island of Sha'lor, and they were indeed presented in exotic little bottles. But the bottles were the only things that had come from Sha'lor. The potions themselves were bought from one of the villages near the knight estate. The maker of the potions was a hedge mage who lived in the woods a little out of the village. The vendor, however, was the owner of the local tavern, who handled the sales.
So the Chancellor arranged to have someone visit the village, and an agreement to supply some potions was struck. That was about six weeks ago. A couple of days ago, the Chancellor learnt that the maker of the potions had not been seen for several weeks. Now the mage was not to be something of a recluse, but the tavern owner admitted to being concerned. A couple of visits had been made to the mage's home in the woods, but it was unoccupied each time, and there had been no response to the note left pinned to the door.
And so you have been gathered together. A wagon is heading out to the village tomorrow to collect the annual tithe of grain from the harvest. You will travel with the wagon. Nominally, your roll will be to act as guards. Although the region is generally fairly quiet, banditry is not unknown and some form of protection is not unwarranted. But once at the village, you are to look into the matter of the missing mage. You will have two days before the wagon is due to return to town with its load.
Before finishing the Steward gives you a little advice of his own. "Keep your eyes and ears open. The Chancellor is a keen observer of the people, how they are feeling, what they are thinking." Here he glances over at Jaan, who as most of you know has spent the last few months on the road in one capacity or another.
"And behave. The Chancellor has no patience for self-styled 'Adventurers' who create a ruckus and stir up trouble. If you do discover foul play or misdeeds or some form, inform the appropriate authorities if you can. Although you are working for the Chancellor, you are not the law. Use you discretion."
After he answers any questions, the Steward hands each of you a small pouch of coins, enough for meals and accommodation for a few days with a bit extra to be used for 'miscellaneous expenses'. With that you are dismissed.
The wagon departs shortly after sunrise the next morning. The journey to the village is uneventful and as afternoon fades you find yourself approaching the village past the outlying houses. The village itself is fairly small, only a dozen buildings laid out around a square straddling the road. The largest building is the tavern. There is also the ubiquitous blacksmith's forge, village hall and a small mill set alongside a small stream. More surprisingly there is also a small store and what appears to be curio shop.
The arrival of the wagon draws a small crowd. The visit was expected. By the time the wagon has been parked, the bullocks been unhitched, rubbed down, fed and watered it is getting dark. You are informed that rooms should have been prepared for you at the tavern. "And there had better be some hot food ready, or I shall be unhappy", grumbles the clerk as he heads for the tavern. 'Even more unhappy' would probably have been more accurate. The clerk is not the most enthusiastic of travellers, although his young scribe has been cheerful enough.
The lower floor of the tavern is a moderately-lit common room. While not extravagant it seems fairly clean and comfortable. Directly to your right is a bar with a man wearing an apron standing behind it cleaning a glass with a towel. He has an upturned nose and a long scar running from his forehead across his nose and down his jaw. He looks at you wordlessly as you enter, but nods in greeting. There are several tables laid out in a haphazard manner and there are several people in the common room. Helping out is young woman. In the rear right back corner of the room is a staircase leading up.
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