(Casual D&D) A Game of Trust

[Guilt Puppy]

There already was a road that brought us here, but we wish to build no other.

(If it wasn't clear, you were going through wild brush for more than half of the trip -- again, I'm sure Fendric understands this, as he isn't dependent on my unclear descriptions )

It takes some time, even with a careful and eloquent coaxing on Fendric's part (and some good help on the part of the Heironeans) to get the halfling to understand your presence -- you gather from his protests that he's worried Bethel is going to use the road to start levying proper taxes against the riverfolk, and even when he seems to realize that it's not your intention, he's still insistent on making it clear just why that would be such a bad thing.

"So, Brother Fendric," he says finally, huffing, "now that that's cleared up, what's this you say about a prisoner? A cleric?"

In the interim, quite a crowd has gathered, some up on the hill with you, others watching from across the river.

 

[Uriel]

Niccolo brightens at the sight of the halfling 'Finally, some folk of proper size. Hullo my good fellow, as my friend says, we are no builders of roads.
We merely seek the unfortunate who is Fendric's brother in cloth.
Wondering if these folk could properly appreciate the performing arts, and even more so if there were any halfling lasses[ about, Niccolo dismounts and begins to stretch his legs.

 

[dpdx]

[Sorry, I missed that, but even better!]

[Gather Information check: 13 +4 = 17]

Fendric, after carefully explaining that the current road barely brought his group not even half this far, explains the cause for their presence in the halfling community.

"Yes, our current mission, may the Gods Protect Us in completing it: The captain of Bethel's City Guard, Father Milos Premule, has been abducted following some recent upheaval in the capital, and we have reason to believe his captors, who we suspect are cultists of the Foe of All Good, brought him north, into the forests. Many of us were under his charge, as cleric guardsmen of Bethel, and we are here to rescue him.

Moreover, the source of this upheaval is still at large, and possibly in league with the cultists, or whoever the captors may be. His name is Sir Thedoric, and he was formerly a Knight of the Greater Kingdom, until he presumably fell. He's been sowing discontent in the hearts of many communities to the south, and I fear that it may have happened in Bethel at the time Father Premule has taken.

So, through sheer providence or dumb luck, whichever you prefer, we find ourselves here, in your community on the way to the forest. We appreciate your understanding. I might as well ask - is there anyone in need of healing? Would anyone like to hear a performance from Niccolo, our renowned bard? And finally, does anyone have any incense?"

 

[Uriel]

At Fendric's mention of incense, Noccoli makesa show of sniffing under his arms and grinning. He was a bit ripe after the ride, but still...

 

[dpdx]

"It's for an augury, you silly man!" Fendric shoots back to Niccolo, laughing.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Osbourne doesn't have much comment on the subject of Thedoric -- "No one's been sowing discontent here"...

As far as Premule is concerned, Lucian fills them in on a few more details, and a general consensus is that no one's come up-river recently: You left only a day after, and likely a much shorter trip, as the Heironeans know, and Nurthk can attest to from experience, transporting a prisoner through wildlands is very difficult, and risky, so they likely took one of the roads down to the coast, and then caught the river at the delta.

"Not to mention," Osbourne adds, "the trip upriver's slow -- with humans in the boat, at least one of whom won't be paddling, probably not much faster than horseback."

When you mention healing, and Niccolo, a young blonde halfling from the crowd responds. "No big injuries I've heard of, but I'm sure we'd love to hear a tune from Niccolo -- too bad he can't do a duet with--" Then his eyes light, and he turns, yelling across river. "Hey Biddle!" then turns back, "you healingfolk are good at fighting deadfolk, right?" Then, turning around: "Biddle! Hurry up!"

A chubby middle-aged halfling is already halfway across the bridge, chugging along at the best pace he can seem to manage.

The crowd turns to watch, and wave him on. Suddenly, a young curly-haired woman turns back: "I have some incense!"

 

[Uriel]

Looking from one of these halfligs to another, Niccolo waits to see what it is that they wish of him, or what they wish to share...

OoC:Still scanning the crowd for halfling babes

 

[dpdx]

Fendric works extra hard at keeping track of the conversation, as fast as it goes between a village full of the wee folk.

"You healingfolk are good at fighting deadfolk, right?"

Fendric nods quickly, smiling, to indicate in the affirmative. "Why, is there an undead problem you'd like us to deal with?"

"I have some incense!"

"Wonderful! What might I trade you for it?"

Once the crowd's attention is turned to Biddle, Fendric moves closer to Niccolo. "I need your help. The extent of my familiarity with the land is that map that Aerda drew us to help with our deliveries of letters from Exantrius. Before I approach the Heironians, perhaps we should figure out a direction, even if it's just", Fendric indicates the river, "downstream."

 

[Guilt Puppy]

"Why, is there an undead problem you'd like us to deal with?"

Biddle arrives, nodding and puffing in response to your question.

"Yeah! Oh yeah! Caught one, or it caught me sort of, then I caught it. I was coming back from Zimmy's one night, and saw this big thing nosing around Emmalee's chicken-house, and at first I didn't know what it was so I started hollering and threw some stones at it. When it turned around I was just 'woah! ugly face!' and it started chasing me, chased me right into my house. Slammed the front door and it went right through, and my house was all drafty for days when we were getting it fixed, which wasn't so bad cause it helped air the smell. So it was chasing me, but I tricked it! I ran into my music room, and then ducked back through its legs and locked it in. That one it couldn't just break through, cause I made it extra big and sound-proof so my wife Gilly couldn't yell at me while I was practicing. The lock's extra strong too, ever since Jack thought it would be funny to fill all my horns with slow-cheese."

"And Harvest Festival's in a week," adds a young man to the right, "and it's just not Harvest without Biddle playing."

"Thank you, Jack," Biddle adds, with a note of sarcasm. "But it's true, all my instruments are in there and I can't get at 'em, not to mention the smell's got Gilly staying with her brother."

"And the banging?"

"Oh, the banging stopped."

"Maybe it's dead, maybe it suffocated."

"It's dead already, it can't suffocate." He turns to Fendric -- "Can dead things suffocate?"

The group stops chirping, and looks to Fendric, waiting for an answer.

 

[dpdx]

Fendric had been getting himself used to the pace of halfling conversation, and its twists and turns, and so when his time came, he was ready. He used his Temple homilies and beatifics to pace his conversation; some found it long-winded, but those who knew better would realize it gave him time to think in mid-sentence.

"Undead do not breathe, and thus cannot suffocate, may Pelor destroy them All anyway. However, some undead cannot tolerate the light of day, so if your music room has a window, it's possible that the Light may have vanquished him come next morning, the Radiant Light be Praised. It is more likely, however, that if it could not get out of your music room, Biddle, that instead it merely stayed there, rotting and stinking, Pelor Save Us All.

You did good to think of us, kind sirs. I believe we can rid you of this problem, The Holy Brilliance Willing. However, it begs a question - do you have no clerics of your own?"