Citadel of the Iron Crown - Burglars in Mirkwood

[Dlsharrock]

Events unfold in time.
The camp soon becomes a hive of twilight activity as word quickly spreads of the burglary and the three escapees. Aerec returns to the camp just as Ulfang and Aurvandil are deciding what to do with their unconscious quarry...

"You do that," replies Baran, teeth tight, not looking. "In the meanwhile, make yourself useful and get -umph - I mean - grab some men and check the rest of the camp. We may have rustlers about!"

His blue gaze finds the eyes of the other two in turn, "Gell, you get us some rope, fast. Belfalor, young Aerec just shot through the woods, he'll need your help."

Gellion nods urgently "yes foreman Baran!" then dashes back the way he came.

Belfalor stops near the Dwarf and stares toward the treeline.

"Go!" The dwarf insists.

"The horsemaster returns, without triumph" Belfalor says simply, indicating, with a nod of his head, Aerec emerging from the forest.

Granthan bristles visibly as he stalks nearer; his double chin wobbling with indignation, cheeks and browline flushing red. But as he nears, his scowl melts away to be replaced by a look of bewilderment. A wave of his hand and a curt command sends several loggers dashing back to their tents for weapons and lamps. Granthan remains, eyes bulging as he surveys the thief lying prostrate beneath the Dwarf. "What unnatural thing is this? The shadows of Mirkwood conspiring to take form? Walking among us, the colour of night no less!"

When Aerec approaches Granthan's scowl returns, "and you" he points, "if you dare leave your duties again you'll pay for it with this season's wage, maybe next season's too!" There's a sideways nature to the fat man's admonishment. He stares, but his eyes flick away from Aerec as though nervous of the other's obvious strength and potential.

Belfalor catches Aerec's eye and shakes his head, silent yet eloquent: 'take my advice lad - don't react.'

Meanwhile the captured thief continues to sob and beg for his life.

 

[renau1g]

Looking at the assistance that the other Men are providing he'll yell out to one of the individuals milling about "Go and grab us some rope, we need to bind the little thief's hands and feet, so they don't try anything."

 

[Binder Fred]

Belfalor stops near the Dwarf and stares toward the treeline.
"Go, go, GO!" The dwarf insists.
"The horsemaster returns, without triumph" Belfalor says simply, indicating, with a nod of his head, Aerec emerging from the forest.

"Ah," admits the foredwarf, "so he does."

With a scowl and the stance of a man ready to be challenged, Aerec emerges from the woods. "The others got away, I'm sorry to say. I think there were three more of them, but they were so small and fast that I can't even swear to that," he says to Baran and the others. He then notices the dwarf sitting on one of the burglars. "What do they look like when they're held still?" he asks.

Baran shows him, though "still" is not a word he'd have used.

"Good run, lad," he shoots as an aside, "Beat *me* by quite a few bowshots. Hold QUIET!" That last downwards : it's getting barren hard to speak over the din coming from the thief's seemingly small mouth.

And from the other sides comes an even bigger mouth.

Granthan bristles visibly as he stalks nearer; his double chin wobbling with indignation, cheeks and browline flushing red. But as he nears, his scowl melts away to be replaced by a look of bewilderment. A wave of his hand and a curt command sends several loggers dashing back to their tents for weapons and lamps. Granthan remains, eyes bulging as he surveys the thief lying prostrate beneath the Dwarf. "What unnatural thing is this? The shadows of Mirkwood conspiring to take form? Walking among us, the colour of night no less!"

"Very little walking, Gran" happily grouses the dwarf, now that things are once more under control, "mostly dashing, and wriggling, and savaging properties not their own."
Meanwhile the captured thief continues to sob and beg for his life, and so Baran squeezes closer, muscles bunching : "Quieter, I said," this time gentler, close in the ear. "Later. Later is the time for talk."

<Response Thief? Would a Handle Animal roll help? He'll take 10 on it if so.>

When Aerec approaches Granthan's scowl returns, "and you" he points, "if you dare leave your duties again you'll pay for it with this season's wage, maybe next season's too!" There's a sideways nature to the fat man's admonishment. He stares, but his eyes flick away from Aerec as though nervous of the other's obvious strength and potential.
Belfalor catches Aerec's eye and shakes his head, silent yet eloquent: 'take my advice lad - don't react.'

Baran just looks, interrested. If he had a hand free, he'd have scratched his ear.

Looking at the assistance that the other Men are providing he'll yell out to one of the individuals milling about "Go and grab us some rope, we need to bind the little thief's hands and feet, so they don't try anything."

"Van, you watching the perimeter from up there?"

<Response Aurvandil?>

Binder Fred, venturing out again tomorrow for a ten day so expect slower posting. Do my best though (and I haven't been that quick so far anyway .

 

[Dlsharrock]

[SBLOCK=Shayuri OOC]Shay, now would be a good time for Aranel to arrive and join the group[/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Binder_Fred OOC]Fred, do your best to post when you can. A 10 day silence from Baran would probably be disastrous for the game at this point, but don't feel pressured [/SBLOCK]
Baran may make a Diplomacy check in an effort to charm/compell his prisoner into a less agitated mood. Handle Animal isn't appropriate.
Ropes are soon forthcoming and the two thieves are bound. Given the sheer number of hands now gathering around the two fallen burglars this is no difficult feat. The onus is left to Ulfang and Baran to do the actual tying (since they requested the rope it is handed to them while others subdue - or hold down for the sake of safety - the burglars).

[SBLOCK=Baran & Ulfang]Baran and Ulfang, pls make a Use Rope check +10[/SBLOCK]
Once the thieves are bound

A cursory search of the two thieves will reveal the following:
Conscious thief:
Half-torn parchment belonging to a certain dwarf and stuffed inside the thief's tunic (congratulations Binder_Fred! )
Two darts wrapped in brown leather, itself tied with a leather thong, and sheathed in the thief's belt.
A sap, tucked in the belt.
Visible clothing: black tunic with hood, belted at the waist (a simple black leather belt) and embroidered about the hem and sleeves with a grey pattern. Tight black stockings on the legs and curly toed shoes with soft, padded soles.

Unconscious thief:
Curved dagger with wooden hilt and leather scabbard tucked in belt (equiv. Kukri)
Identical clothing to the other thief.
She wears make-up of some sort; red lipstick and white powder which makes her face look very pale. On her head is scribed some kind of black rune.

 

[renau1g]

Ulfang gladly takes the rope and begins tying up the unconscious stranger, although he is no expert in either rope tying or people binding. He will slide the dagger-type weapon into his belt and look closer at the rune on the creatures head. Ulfang has no experience with runes or mystical writings and wonders if that elf-maiden is around, as she might know more about this.

[sblock=Roll] Use Rope (1d20+12=17) [/sblock]

 

[Dlsharrock]

[SBLOCK=Renau1g OOC]Could you give me a list of Ulfang's skills. The character sheet on Myth Weaver seems to have vanished. I copied all your details to a Notepad file, but under skills I cleverly put 'see www.myth-weavers.com/sheets/view.phd?id=50123'. No rush, just for my records, Thanks[/SBLOCK]
Ulfang ties the rope and appraises the knots as being pretty good, even if he does say so himself.

Quite a crowd has gathered around Ulfang and Aurvandil by this point.

The tall, gangly youth named Gellion rubs a hand across his mouth and stares wide-eyed at the girl on the floor. "Is... is she... dead?". His questioning eyes slide over Ulfang (pretty much a stranger to the youngster), and alight instead on Aurvandil the knight, with whom Gellion has had passing conversations in the past.

 

[Shayuri]

There is a rustle in the bushes; little more than what would be caused by a light breeze. When it passes, Aranel is standing just inside the circle of light from the torches brought by the Men from the camp. Her dark eyes flick over most of the Men, dismissing them, but linger on Baran and Ulfang and their captives.

After her moment of assessment, her generous lips curve into a wry smile.

"Is it a custom of Men to discipline their children by asking Dwarfs to sit on them? If so, it is a wonder Men ever stray."

The smile fades then.

"But stray they do. What passes here?"

 

[Redclaw]

When Aerec approaches Granthan's scowl returns, "and you" he points, "if you dare leave your duties again you'll pay for it with this season's wage, maybe next season's too!" There's a sideways nature to the fat man's admonishment. He stares, but his eyes flick away from Aerec as though nervous of the other's obvious strength and potential.

Belfalor catches Aerec's eye and shakes his head, silent yet eloquent: 'take my advice lad - don't react.'

Aerec's back stiffens, and his unyielding eyes meet Granthan's, but he heeds Belfalor's unspoken warning and looks away, making sure to let his gaze linger just long enough to make it clear it's his choice. "I'm sorry. I heard a shout for help, and knew the horse would be fine," he replies to the big blowhard, not bothering to use Stumpy's name because he knew Granthan didn't even know the horses had names. "I would wager a week's wages against yours that he hasn't moved a step since I left. He's thoroughly cared for, and all that needs doing is putting his blanket on. I thought the matter of thieves in the camp more pressing." As he finishes, he lets his gaze sweep back in Granthan's direction, but pointedly looks over the fat man's head, somehow giving the appearance of avoiding a superior's gaze, but simultaneously showing his disdain.

 

[Dlsharrock]

[SBLOCK=Brethilost Logging Camp Map and PC Positions]

[/SBLOCK]

 

[Dlsharrock]

"I would wager a week's wages against yours that he hasn't moved a step since I left. He's thoroughly cared for, and all that needs doing is putting his blanket on. I thought the matter of thieves in the camp more pressing."

Granthan's eye twitches slightly "Oh, you did did you?! Well now, we'll soon see what... what... WILL SOMEBODY SHUT THAT CONFOUNDED DOG UP!"

"The lady of the woods," Belfalor suddenly says, jerking his clean-shaven chin toward the treeline where Aranel the Elf maiden has appeared. He physically grasps Granthan's wide shoulders and turns him in that direction.

Granthan's attention is suitably diverted, "gah. What does that leaf breeder want now?" He stalks off toward Aranel, Aerec temporarily forgotten.

"He is an ill tempered man," Belfalor puts a friendly arm around Aerec's shoulder when Granthan is gone, "I saw your quick feet young horsemaster. You were fast. Well done."

Belfalor then helps the dwarf and others pin down the burglar while Baran binds the squirming character with rope.

--

Aranel's sudden appearance causes a stir among the Men by the treeline. Several shrink back, eyeing her with deep suspicion. One or two even turn and walk back toward their tents. Gellion stays where he is, watching the Elf with obvious admiration.

[SBLOCK=Shayuri]Aranel knows of Gellion. He is a Man who is known to be in contact with Thalion, a Sindar Elf from Thranduil's court. Thalion was a healer and druid of the northern tribes, but he was captured by the Necromancer of Mirkwood and was absent for many long seasons. Upon his return he was changed and capricious. Many Elves feared him. Thalion chose to leave the court of Thranduil of his own volition, and is now known to live a wild existence in northern Mirkwood where he heals and cares for sick and injured animals. Spies of Thranduil have already identified Gellion as a friend of Thalion and say Thalion now visits the logging camp from time to time to heal injuries and treat illness.

Aranel also knows Grathan (and Baran, of course). She has less dealing with the Man than the Dwarf.

Granthan usually treats her like royalty, simpering and fussing around her and forever asking after the health of 'The King'. She's under no illusion that behind her back Granthan refers to her in derogatory terms. He's an obvious fake, and not just to Elven sensibilities.[/SBLOCK]