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Ptolus: Midwood - "The Dark Waters of Moss Pond"
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<blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3909708" data-attributes="member: 11760"><p>The guards at the wall are surprised when the Gentlemen Delvers ride in, and there's a brief argument as to who will tell the bailiff, before a heavy middle-aged guard rushes off to Schultheis House.</p><p></p><p>After ascertaining that the adventurers do not need immediate medical aid, a lower-ranking guard escorts the Gentlemen Delvers to the bailiff's house, tying the horse up outside the gate. He clearly recognizes Manfred Richter's horse, but pointedly says nothing, and helps carry in the dead body of the town's constable.</p><p></p><p>Arabelle Schultheis stands up in surprise when the dead body is brought into her study and laid on a divan. Her face pale, lips almost invisible, she gestures for the senior guard to leave her, although the younger guard remains inside the door after it closes.</p><p></p><p>"Please," she says, avoiding wringing the scroll in her hands with a visible conscious effort. Her hair is pulled back into a severe bun and she looks exhausted. She appears even paler than normal due to the plain dress she wears. "Sit, gentlemen, and explain to me why Blackberry Ridge's constable has returned to us in this state."</p><p></p><p>"Answers," Katadid says simply, handing Richter's journal to the bailiff.</p><p></p><p>"Young sir, this book is gibberish. A cipher, I believe?"</p><p></p><p>Katadid, startled that he's forgotten that the bailiff couldn't read it, nods.</p><p></p><p>"If this book is as important as you say, I would request that you transcribe the relevant passages. There is a desk with paper, ink and quills in the corner." She stretches out a finger toward the desk. "In the interim, perhaps one of your companions could explain."</p><p></p><p>"My beautiful lady and inspiration, I am sorry to bring foul news with good," Tock begins, striking a pose. "We have brought back much treasure, some of it surely the stolen items you mentioned. But your constable was engaged in a conspiracy against you. He was furious at your appointment and used his dark magics to steal and to recruit a dwarven werebadger to help him with his misdeeds. His goal was to kill you, and though I am loath to take human life, I am more loath to let beauty be harmed. We faced many travails in the cavern, and without the help of my combat advisor Rod Cmelak, my fellow soldier, and my intelligence maven, we'd be lost."</p><p></p><p>Bailiff Schultheis looks sadly on the body of her constable and nods.</p><p></p><p>"I am not surprised, although I did hope my suspicions were wrong." She looks up, taking in Katadid scribbling away furiously and the battered form of Ragglus. "And what of your other companions? They look as though they faced dangers as well.</p><p></p><p>"Badgers. Fish. Ants. Pseudodragons. Goblins. An octopus saved my life," Katadid mutters as he transcribes. "You may want to address the well. There's quite the complex down there. Also, there's altar to Kran."</p><p></p><p>Arabelle stands, walking over to Katadid, leaning a hand on his shoulder as she reads what he's writing.</p><p></p><p>"The goblins have always been our enemy, even when other communities viewed them as mere merchants. Still, my father will rest easier, knowing the one truly responsible for his death has been brought to justice, albeit a rough sort with a sword instead of a headsman's axe."</p><p></p><p>"A spear, actually," Ragglus corrects her.</p><p></p><p>"A spear, then."</p><p></p><p>She turns to Tock, touching him lightly on the forearm.</p><p></p><p>"And did you recover all that Richter had stolen from us?"</p><p></p><p>"I can only hope so, my lady." He presents the accumulated loot. "This, along with the stuff we had lifted out early on, is everything we found."</p><p></p><p>She smiles, moving away from Tock.</p><p></p><p>"Well, I'm afraid there won't be any reward," Bailiff Arabelle Schultheis says, "At least, not the sort you were expecting."</p><p></p><p>Her eyes meet Tock's, and he realizes that she's not quite so unworldly as Manfred Richter had thought.</p><p></p><p>"Our constable was away today when the Sheriff of Southerly's courier arrived with these."</p><p></p><p>She passes the scroll in her hand to Tock, who unrolls it to discover it's actually three scrolls, each of them a wanted poster.</p><p></p><p>The first is for Tock Chandler, wanted dead or alive, "for arson, assault on an imperial official, major destruction of property and disturbing the peace." The price on Tock's head is 2,900 gold pieces.</p><p></p><p>The second is for Renraw Kem, wanted dead or alive, for "crimes against the empire and assault on an imperial official." The price on his head is 2,500 gold pieces.</p><p></p><p>The last is for Katadid Leach, wanted alive for questioning, "in connection with assault on an imperial official." His bounty is a comparatively mild 100 gold pieces.</p><p></p><p>The sketches of each of the fugitives, while not perfect, are still clearly identifiable as the Gentlemen Delvers. Their attempts to change their appearances would likely fool some who read the signs, but Tock and Renraw know in an instant that they will be recognized sooner, rather than later, should they spend much time in a place where bulletins like these are posted.</p><p></p><p>"No one but myself and my brother," the bailiff indicates the young guard still in the room, who is making no overt hostile advances, but who is conspicuously armed and vigilant, "Has seen these as of yet, but I cannot keep them from being posted for long. The sheriff has friends among the guards here, and word will get back to him if I keep these to myself.</p><p></p><p>"But we can pretend that I did not break the seal immediately, as I was so distraught over the revelations regarding our constable. If the fugitives were to trade their reward for four swift horses and be gone before the sheriff's man were to finish his bath at the Dented Coin, no one could blame me or be the wiser. And as you did not tell me where you were headed, I will be unable to help the sheriff and any bounty hunter seeking to put more than 5,000 Imperials into his purse."</p><p></p><p>She moves behind a broad table, well away from the armed and dangerous fugitives.</p><p></p><p>"As I said, I know this is not the reward you were expecting. But four swift horses, a head start and a bailiff ignoring her duty to her duke and emperor is a substantial reward indeed, from where I stand. I trust you will agree."</p><p></p><p>"Arabelle," Tock says, speaking quickly, "Forgive my boldness at use of your given name. It is reward enough that you do not immediately leap to conclusions based on our tragic circumstances. To go further only places you deeper in my heart. Tock Chandler will not soon forget your kindness and generosity, and your fair nature will inspire many a song that will reach this town some day. I wish time would permit more, I wish circumstances would permit more, but the memory of your beauty will keep me warm on my dangerous journey. You will be with me always.</p><p></p><p>"Gentlemen, it's time to go."</p><p></p><p>"We would turn back and face the music, as it were, as lawful citizens should, would that we could," Renraw announces, puffing out his narrow chest. "There is a far more pressing matter awaiting us in, er, our final destination, another grave injustice, such as your town's, that will not be righted if not for us. And, of course, our freedom allows us to help others in need, as well. I will proudly wear this scar I received in my duel with foul Richter. Farewell to you all!"</p><p></p><p>"I killed that feller for you," Ragglus says, tapping his stained spear. "Me and Midwood is square; I ain't done nothing. Seeing as that, I'd appreciate taking the dead feller's armor. Might be it'd serve me well, since I'm supposing you're lumping me in with this lot. The following days and nights are bound to be trying, I expect."</p><p></p><p>"You certainly may take the spoils off our former constable, except that which spells out his involvement in my father's murder and the thefts. I hope never to see them again." The bailiff considers Ragglus, pity showing in her expression. "The Vast Codex is clear on the matter of aiding and abetting criminals, however. You and I are both criminals in the eyes of the law, and no mistake. It would be better for both of us if you were to get out of the duchy as quickly as possible so that mortal agencies never find out. We will have enough to answer for when we meet Lothian some day, I suspect."</p><p></p><p>"Your name won't escape my lips if Lothian comes calling, looking for answers," Ragglus grins as he begins to strip the armor from the deceased constable. "You have my word, one villain to another."</p><p></p><p>Sighing as he hefts the armor, Ragglus bobs his head slightly in farewell, moving to exit and catch up the others.</p><p></p><p>As the group runs out of Schultheis House, they find the bailiff has the four horses already picked out. They're waiting, along with tack and bridle and saddlebags with bedrolls and a week's worth of food and water.</p><p></p><p>Kat hastily loads his gear onto a grey spotted mare and waits for the other Delvers to make ready to depart. After a moment, Kat beckons to the stable boy. He whispers something and hands a folded piece of paper to him.</p><p></p><p>The sun has just begun to set behind the Hotash Mountains as the Gentlemen Delvers mount their new horses. Conscious that, in the Dented Coin, the Sheriff of Southerly's man will be finishing his bath at any moment and wondering why the wanted posters are not up, they spur the horses and race out of town in a cloud of dust, little richer and very conscious that they will be breaking their streak of sleeping on cavern floors with a bed of hard ground this evening.</p><p></p><p>They ride south toward Kem. As the world turns dark around them, they can see that the land before them grows less and less green as they ride toward a wasteland so devastated by magic, it has not recovered thousands of years later.</p><p></p><p>The Gentlemen Delvers can almost feel the eyes of the Imperial army and bounty hunters on their backs as they gallop into the deepening night.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Whizbang Dustyboots, post: 3909708, member: 11760"] The guards at the wall are surprised when the Gentlemen Delvers ride in, and there's a brief argument as to who will tell the bailiff, before a heavy middle-aged guard rushes off to Schultheis House. After ascertaining that the adventurers do not need immediate medical aid, a lower-ranking guard escorts the Gentlemen Delvers to the bailiff's house, tying the horse up outside the gate. He clearly recognizes Manfred Richter's horse, but pointedly says nothing, and helps carry in the dead body of the town's constable. Arabelle Schultheis stands up in surprise when the dead body is brought into her study and laid on a divan. Her face pale, lips almost invisible, she gestures for the senior guard to leave her, although the younger guard remains inside the door after it closes. "Please," she says, avoiding wringing the scroll in her hands with a visible conscious effort. Her hair is pulled back into a severe bun and she looks exhausted. She appears even paler than normal due to the plain dress she wears. "Sit, gentlemen, and explain to me why Blackberry Ridge's constable has returned to us in this state." "Answers," Katadid says simply, handing Richter's journal to the bailiff. "Young sir, this book is gibberish. A cipher, I believe?" Katadid, startled that he's forgotten that the bailiff couldn't read it, nods. "If this book is as important as you say, I would request that you transcribe the relevant passages. There is a desk with paper, ink and quills in the corner." She stretches out a finger toward the desk. "In the interim, perhaps one of your companions could explain." "My beautiful lady and inspiration, I am sorry to bring foul news with good," Tock begins, striking a pose. "We have brought back much treasure, some of it surely the stolen items you mentioned. But your constable was engaged in a conspiracy against you. He was furious at your appointment and used his dark magics to steal and to recruit a dwarven werebadger to help him with his misdeeds. His goal was to kill you, and though I am loath to take human life, I am more loath to let beauty be harmed. We faced many travails in the cavern, and without the help of my combat advisor Rod Cmelak, my fellow soldier, and my intelligence maven, we'd be lost." Bailiff Schultheis looks sadly on the body of her constable and nods. "I am not surprised, although I did hope my suspicions were wrong." She looks up, taking in Katadid scribbling away furiously and the battered form of Ragglus. "And what of your other companions? They look as though they faced dangers as well. "Badgers. Fish. Ants. Pseudodragons. Goblins. An octopus saved my life," Katadid mutters as he transcribes. "You may want to address the well. There's quite the complex down there. Also, there's altar to Kran." Arabelle stands, walking over to Katadid, leaning a hand on his shoulder as she reads what he's writing. "The goblins have always been our enemy, even when other communities viewed them as mere merchants. Still, my father will rest easier, knowing the one truly responsible for his death has been brought to justice, albeit a rough sort with a sword instead of a headsman's axe." "A spear, actually," Ragglus corrects her. "A spear, then." She turns to Tock, touching him lightly on the forearm. "And did you recover all that Richter had stolen from us?" "I can only hope so, my lady." He presents the accumulated loot. "This, along with the stuff we had lifted out early on, is everything we found." She smiles, moving away from Tock. "Well, I'm afraid there won't be any reward," Bailiff Arabelle Schultheis says, "At least, not the sort you were expecting." Her eyes meet Tock's, and he realizes that she's not quite so unworldly as Manfred Richter had thought. "Our constable was away today when the Sheriff of Southerly's courier arrived with these." She passes the scroll in her hand to Tock, who unrolls it to discover it's actually three scrolls, each of them a wanted poster. The first is for Tock Chandler, wanted dead or alive, "for arson, assault on an imperial official, major destruction of property and disturbing the peace." The price on Tock's head is 2,900 gold pieces. The second is for Renraw Kem, wanted dead or alive, for "crimes against the empire and assault on an imperial official." The price on his head is 2,500 gold pieces. The last is for Katadid Leach, wanted alive for questioning, "in connection with assault on an imperial official." His bounty is a comparatively mild 100 gold pieces. The sketches of each of the fugitives, while not perfect, are still clearly identifiable as the Gentlemen Delvers. Their attempts to change their appearances would likely fool some who read the signs, but Tock and Renraw know in an instant that they will be recognized sooner, rather than later, should they spend much time in a place where bulletins like these are posted. "No one but myself and my brother," the bailiff indicates the young guard still in the room, who is making no overt hostile advances, but who is conspicuously armed and vigilant, "Has seen these as of yet, but I cannot keep them from being posted for long. The sheriff has friends among the guards here, and word will get back to him if I keep these to myself. "But we can pretend that I did not break the seal immediately, as I was so distraught over the revelations regarding our constable. If the fugitives were to trade their reward for four swift horses and be gone before the sheriff's man were to finish his bath at the Dented Coin, no one could blame me or be the wiser. And as you did not tell me where you were headed, I will be unable to help the sheriff and any bounty hunter seeking to put more than 5,000 Imperials into his purse." She moves behind a broad table, well away from the armed and dangerous fugitives. "As I said, I know this is not the reward you were expecting. But four swift horses, a head start and a bailiff ignoring her duty to her duke and emperor is a substantial reward indeed, from where I stand. I trust you will agree." "Arabelle," Tock says, speaking quickly, "Forgive my boldness at use of your given name. It is reward enough that you do not immediately leap to conclusions based on our tragic circumstances. To go further only places you deeper in my heart. Tock Chandler will not soon forget your kindness and generosity, and your fair nature will inspire many a song that will reach this town some day. I wish time would permit more, I wish circumstances would permit more, but the memory of your beauty will keep me warm on my dangerous journey. You will be with me always. "Gentlemen, it's time to go." "We would turn back and face the music, as it were, as lawful citizens should, would that we could," Renraw announces, puffing out his narrow chest. "There is a far more pressing matter awaiting us in, er, our final destination, another grave injustice, such as your town's, that will not be righted if not for us. And, of course, our freedom allows us to help others in need, as well. I will proudly wear this scar I received in my duel with foul Richter. Farewell to you all!" "I killed that feller for you," Ragglus says, tapping his stained spear. "Me and Midwood is square; I ain't done nothing. Seeing as that, I'd appreciate taking the dead feller's armor. Might be it'd serve me well, since I'm supposing you're lumping me in with this lot. The following days and nights are bound to be trying, I expect." "You certainly may take the spoils off our former constable, except that which spells out his involvement in my father's murder and the thefts. I hope never to see them again." The bailiff considers Ragglus, pity showing in her expression. "The Vast Codex is clear on the matter of aiding and abetting criminals, however. You and I are both criminals in the eyes of the law, and no mistake. It would be better for both of us if you were to get out of the duchy as quickly as possible so that mortal agencies never find out. We will have enough to answer for when we meet Lothian some day, I suspect." "Your name won't escape my lips if Lothian comes calling, looking for answers," Ragglus grins as he begins to strip the armor from the deceased constable. "You have my word, one villain to another." Sighing as he hefts the armor, Ragglus bobs his head slightly in farewell, moving to exit and catch up the others. As the group runs out of Schultheis House, they find the bailiff has the four horses already picked out. They're waiting, along with tack and bridle and saddlebags with bedrolls and a week's worth of food and water. Kat hastily loads his gear onto a grey spotted mare and waits for the other Delvers to make ready to depart. After a moment, Kat beckons to the stable boy. He whispers something and hands a folded piece of paper to him. The sun has just begun to set behind the Hotash Mountains as the Gentlemen Delvers mount their new horses. Conscious that, in the Dented Coin, the Sheriff of Southerly's man will be finishing his bath at any moment and wondering why the wanted posters are not up, they spur the horses and race out of town in a cloud of dust, little richer and very conscious that they will be breaking their streak of sleeping on cavern floors with a bed of hard ground this evening. They ride south toward Kem. As the world turns dark around them, they can see that the land before them grows less and less green as they ride toward a wasteland so devastated by magic, it has not recovered thousands of years later. The Gentlemen Delvers can almost feel the eyes of the Imperial army and bounty hunters on their backs as they gallop into the deepening night. [/QUOTE]
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