Company of the Random Encounter ('complete' 14 Nov 2004)
- Thread starter Capellan
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Capellan
Explorer
"Something's Cooking" and "The Ettin's Riddle" (WotC Free Adventures) - Part 1
Back in Amberdale, Elspeth and Ming Li sat together at a table in the inn. Both women were enjoying a peaceful breakfast: something that could be difficult to do while Twinkle was in town.
"Are you going to be in town today?" the ranger asks, looking up for a moment from her half-empty plate, "Or are you heading back to the caves for more meditation?"
The monk sets her knife down neatly before answering,
"My studies at the cave are complete, for now. I have learned several new techniques, and must now put them into practice, so that I may perfect their use."
"Great. You'll have to show them to me, sometime." Elspeth's distracted tone belies her apparent interest, "Listen, I need to go over to visit that wizard, this morning -"
"What wizard?" Macwood hurls himself into a chair on the opposite side of the table. The chair rocks alarmingly under this treatment, but the halfling does not seem to notice: his attention is firmly fixed on the two plates of food a waitress has just placed in front of him.
Elspeth pauses, clearly contemplating the option of ignoring the bard, who seems to have lost interest in the conversation in any case, but Briar chooses that moment to arrive, carrying another two plates. He puts one in front of his own seat, and one in front of Macwood.
"Morning." He greets the two women, "Anything going on?"
Elspeth nods,
" I have to go over to see that wizard - the one who lives with the cook -"
"Excuse me," another voice breaks into the conversation, causing the ranger to mutter an oath under her breath, "Could I interrupt you for a moment?"
"Why not, everyone else has."
The newcomer is an attractive redhead. She wears fine clothes and a gaudy cloak, though currently she has that pulled close around her, and is hunched forward somewhat furtively, as if trying - badly - not to be seen.
"Thank you." The woman immediately takes a seat and turns away from the ranger to face Briar and Macwood, "You see, I'm in a little trouble." Her hand drops lightly onto Briar's, "And I was hoping that you big, strong men could help me."
Elspeth nearly chokes on her mug of ale. Ming Li, perhaps fortunate not to be eating at that moment, merely raises an eyebrow. If they notice the reaction of their female colleagues, neither Briar nor Macwood gives any sign.
"Well, it's always a pleasure to help a pretty lady -" Briar begins.
"She wuth talkin' to me!" Macwood interjects, through a mouthful of scrambled eggs.
"What kind of 'trouble'?" Ming Li interjects, "And how did you get into it?"
The woman blinks, evidently put off stride by the monk's brusque interruption,
"My name is Marble McCray -" she smiles winsomely.
"We've met." Ming Li answers flatly, "The night the cockroaches attacked the inn."
"We did?" Marble offers a deliberately blank look, "I'm afraid I don't remember you - just these two fine young men." On the other side of the table, the 'fine young men' make claw shapes with their hands as they emit hissing and spitting noises. A glance from the monk silences them both.
"What kind of trouble, and how did you get into it?" she repeats.
"Well," Marble visibly collects her thoughts, "as you know, I am a dealer in 'special goods'. Things that are valuable or hard to find. Recently, I accepted a commission to sell an item on someone else's behalf. It was a standard deal; I found them a buyer, they paid me a commission; but afterwards, I found out that the item was stolen property. And the original owner really wants it back: in a 'hand it over or die screaming' kind of way."
"Then why not purchase it back and return it?" Ming Li asks, reasonably.
"Because I don't know where the buyer went. And even if I did, I don't have the money." Marble answers, testily. "I only got a commission on the deal. The seller got the bulk of the gold, and he's dead. Bounty hunters got him. They very nearly got me."
"Bounty hunters?" Briar's head snaps up, "Who are they?"
"I don't know." Marble shrugs, "And I don't want to find out. Look, I don't have much money, but I can give you ten gold each if you'll protect me from the hunters. Is it a deal?"
Back in Amberdale, Elspeth and Ming Li sat together at a table in the inn. Both women were enjoying a peaceful breakfast: something that could be difficult to do while Twinkle was in town.
"Are you going to be in town today?" the ranger asks, looking up for a moment from her half-empty plate, "Or are you heading back to the caves for more meditation?"
The monk sets her knife down neatly before answering,
"My studies at the cave are complete, for now. I have learned several new techniques, and must now put them into practice, so that I may perfect their use."
"Great. You'll have to show them to me, sometime." Elspeth's distracted tone belies her apparent interest, "Listen, I need to go over to visit that wizard, this morning -"
"What wizard?" Macwood hurls himself into a chair on the opposite side of the table. The chair rocks alarmingly under this treatment, but the halfling does not seem to notice: his attention is firmly fixed on the two plates of food a waitress has just placed in front of him.
Elspeth pauses, clearly contemplating the option of ignoring the bard, who seems to have lost interest in the conversation in any case, but Briar chooses that moment to arrive, carrying another two plates. He puts one in front of his own seat, and one in front of Macwood.
"Morning." He greets the two women, "Anything going on?"
Elspeth nods,
" I have to go over to see that wizard - the one who lives with the cook -"
"Excuse me," another voice breaks into the conversation, causing the ranger to mutter an oath under her breath, "Could I interrupt you for a moment?"
"Why not, everyone else has."
The newcomer is an attractive redhead. She wears fine clothes and a gaudy cloak, though currently she has that pulled close around her, and is hunched forward somewhat furtively, as if trying - badly - not to be seen.
"Thank you." The woman immediately takes a seat and turns away from the ranger to face Briar and Macwood, "You see, I'm in a little trouble." Her hand drops lightly onto Briar's, "And I was hoping that you big, strong men could help me."
Elspeth nearly chokes on her mug of ale. Ming Li, perhaps fortunate not to be eating at that moment, merely raises an eyebrow. If they notice the reaction of their female colleagues, neither Briar nor Macwood gives any sign.
"Well, it's always a pleasure to help a pretty lady -" Briar begins.
"She wuth talkin' to me!" Macwood interjects, through a mouthful of scrambled eggs.
"What kind of 'trouble'?" Ming Li interjects, "And how did you get into it?"
The woman blinks, evidently put off stride by the monk's brusque interruption,
"My name is Marble McCray -" she smiles winsomely.
"We've met." Ming Li answers flatly, "The night the cockroaches attacked the inn."
"We did?" Marble offers a deliberately blank look, "I'm afraid I don't remember you - just these two fine young men." On the other side of the table, the 'fine young men' make claw shapes with their hands as they emit hissing and spitting noises. A glance from the monk silences them both.
"What kind of trouble, and how did you get into it?" she repeats.
"Well," Marble visibly collects her thoughts, "as you know, I am a dealer in 'special goods'. Things that are valuable or hard to find. Recently, I accepted a commission to sell an item on someone else's behalf. It was a standard deal; I found them a buyer, they paid me a commission; but afterwards, I found out that the item was stolen property. And the original owner really wants it back: in a 'hand it over or die screaming' kind of way."
"Then why not purchase it back and return it?" Ming Li asks, reasonably.
"Because I don't know where the buyer went. And even if I did, I don't have the money." Marble answers, testily. "I only got a commission on the deal. The seller got the bulk of the gold, and he's dead. Bounty hunters got him. They very nearly got me."
"Bounty hunters?" Briar's head snaps up, "Who are they?"
"I don't know." Marble shrugs, "And I don't want to find out. Look, I don't have much money, but I can give you ten gold each if you'll protect me from the hunters. Is it a deal?"
Capellan
Explorer
"Something's Cooking" and "The Ettin's Riddle" (WotC Free Adventures) - Part 2
Now that the all-important subject of money has been broached, the group take a moment to confer.
"Ten gold?" Elspeth gripes, "What does she think this is, killing a few kobolds in a ruin?"
Ming Li folds her arms.
"As far as I am concerned, her dishonesty has brought her this trouble, and it is no concern of ours. Especially as I believe she continues to be dishonest - this time with us."
"She said she wasn't aware the item was stolen until after the sale." Macwood points out.
The monk snorts,
"I do not believe her. If you do, you are a bigger fool than you are a glutton."
"Oh, I'm not as big an anything as I am a glutton." The Halfling appears completely untroubled by Ming Li's less-than-veiled insult. "There is a small chance it's the truth, though."
"Very small." The monk concedes, grudgingly.
"I think we should help her." Briar contributes, though he doesn't look convinced of his own words. A worried frown has replaced his usually cheerful expression, "Some of these bounty hunters are vicious ... it wouldn’t be right to leave anyone unprotected from them. Even someone who was lying to us."
Ming Li looks unconvinced, but Elspeth shrugs,
"Ten gold is something, at least." She reasons, "Not much, but something. I say we ask for half up front, and tell her that for the price, we'll only guard her for two days. If she wants more than that, she'll need to find more money."
The suggestion meets with a reluctant mutter of agreement from the others. It is clear that they don't really trust what they've been told - and that they resent being asked to risk their skins for so little reward - but ten gold is ten gold, and this is the Company of the Random Encounter.
They four adventurers return to the table, where Marble waits nervously,
"For ten gold, we'll protect you for two days." Elspeth says bluntly, "And we want half up front. Ming Li insisted." This false accusation brings a momentary look of irritation to the monk's face, but she smothers it quickly.
"Very well, I guess that's okay." Marble reaches for her belt pouch, then stops as Ming Li raises a hand to forestall her.
"Additionally," she stresses the word, "We require information. We need to know what the item was that you sold, and what it was worth. Also, who are these bounty hunters? Have you seen them? A description would assist us in guarding you."
"There were three of them." Marble answers only the last question, "A man and a woman; both human - and a half-orc. I think the woman was in charge. She had dark hair and wore black leather armour."
"You're sure about the half-orc?" Briar looks pale, "He wasn't just ugly?"
"He had tusks." Marble sticks her thumbs at the corners of her mouth to demonstrate, then opens her belt pouch, "Here's your gold: five each, and five more in two days."
Ming Li opens her mouth - probably to repeat her unanswered questions - but Elspeth, grabbing the coins, speaks first.
"Great. Consider us hired. Now, I need to head over to the other side of town to pick up some things. The others are coming with me. If you want protection, you'll have to come with us."
The elf's announcement earns her glares from both Marble and Ming Li, but she blithely ignores them all, heading out of the inn without so much as a backward glance.
Briar shrugs,
"We'd better follow. The other questions can wait."
Neither woman looks happy with that prospect, but Elspeth's departure doesn't leave them much choice. They trail after the ranger, Marble remaining on the opposite side of the group from Ming Li.
Elspeth's business is with the wizard Andalyn, who had been hired by the Padre to arrange the identification of the magical earrings the Company had acquired in one of their earliest adventures. The Padre - never known for his trusting nature - had tasked Elspeth to retrieve the earring from the wizard before he left for Duvik's Pass. Best not to let the wizard keep them too long, he argued, lest she start to get ideas about their ownership.
"Have you met this wizard?" Briar calls after Elspeth, who turns and pauses to wait for them. She shakes her head in answer,
"No. All I know is she is the wife of Gendrew."
"The chef?" Macwood's face brightens, "Excellent, I'm feeling a bit peckish. And look -" he points at smoke emerging from the chimney of Gendrew and Andalyn's home, "- he has something cooking."
Ming Li frowns,
"From the smell, it would be more accurate to say he has something burning."
"Burning?!" the Halfling gives a gasp of horror, and rushes frantically toward the building, a wail of despair on his lips.
"You know, it is rather strange that Gendrew would let food burn ..." Briar remarks, "Something may actually be wrong."
Within moments, the three adventurers are hot on the halfling's heels, leaving Marble standing alone in the street.
"Hey!" she calls plaintively, "Remember me? The person you're supposed to be protecting?"
Now that the all-important subject of money has been broached, the group take a moment to confer.
"Ten gold?" Elspeth gripes, "What does she think this is, killing a few kobolds in a ruin?"
Ming Li folds her arms.
"As far as I am concerned, her dishonesty has brought her this trouble, and it is no concern of ours. Especially as I believe she continues to be dishonest - this time with us."
"She said she wasn't aware the item was stolen until after the sale." Macwood points out.
The monk snorts,
"I do not believe her. If you do, you are a bigger fool than you are a glutton."
"Oh, I'm not as big an anything as I am a glutton." The Halfling appears completely untroubled by Ming Li's less-than-veiled insult. "There is a small chance it's the truth, though."
"Very small." The monk concedes, grudgingly.
"I think we should help her." Briar contributes, though he doesn't look convinced of his own words. A worried frown has replaced his usually cheerful expression, "Some of these bounty hunters are vicious ... it wouldn’t be right to leave anyone unprotected from them. Even someone who was lying to us."
Ming Li looks unconvinced, but Elspeth shrugs,
"Ten gold is something, at least." She reasons, "Not much, but something. I say we ask for half up front, and tell her that for the price, we'll only guard her for two days. If she wants more than that, she'll need to find more money."
The suggestion meets with a reluctant mutter of agreement from the others. It is clear that they don't really trust what they've been told - and that they resent being asked to risk their skins for so little reward - but ten gold is ten gold, and this is the Company of the Random Encounter.
They four adventurers return to the table, where Marble waits nervously,
"For ten gold, we'll protect you for two days." Elspeth says bluntly, "And we want half up front. Ming Li insisted." This false accusation brings a momentary look of irritation to the monk's face, but she smothers it quickly.
"Very well, I guess that's okay." Marble reaches for her belt pouch, then stops as Ming Li raises a hand to forestall her.
"Additionally," she stresses the word, "We require information. We need to know what the item was that you sold, and what it was worth. Also, who are these bounty hunters? Have you seen them? A description would assist us in guarding you."
"There were three of them." Marble answers only the last question, "A man and a woman; both human - and a half-orc. I think the woman was in charge. She had dark hair and wore black leather armour."
"You're sure about the half-orc?" Briar looks pale, "He wasn't just ugly?"
"He had tusks." Marble sticks her thumbs at the corners of her mouth to demonstrate, then opens her belt pouch, "Here's your gold: five each, and five more in two days."
Ming Li opens her mouth - probably to repeat her unanswered questions - but Elspeth, grabbing the coins, speaks first.
"Great. Consider us hired. Now, I need to head over to the other side of town to pick up some things. The others are coming with me. If you want protection, you'll have to come with us."
The elf's announcement earns her glares from both Marble and Ming Li, but she blithely ignores them all, heading out of the inn without so much as a backward glance.
Briar shrugs,
"We'd better follow. The other questions can wait."
Neither woman looks happy with that prospect, but Elspeth's departure doesn't leave them much choice. They trail after the ranger, Marble remaining on the opposite side of the group from Ming Li.
Elspeth's business is with the wizard Andalyn, who had been hired by the Padre to arrange the identification of the magical earrings the Company had acquired in one of their earliest adventures. The Padre - never known for his trusting nature - had tasked Elspeth to retrieve the earring from the wizard before he left for Duvik's Pass. Best not to let the wizard keep them too long, he argued, lest she start to get ideas about their ownership.
"Have you met this wizard?" Briar calls after Elspeth, who turns and pauses to wait for them. She shakes her head in answer,
"No. All I know is she is the wife of Gendrew."
"The chef?" Macwood's face brightens, "Excellent, I'm feeling a bit peckish. And look -" he points at smoke emerging from the chimney of Gendrew and Andalyn's home, "- he has something cooking."
Ming Li frowns,
"From the smell, it would be more accurate to say he has something burning."
"Burning?!" the Halfling gives a gasp of horror, and rushes frantically toward the building, a wail of despair on his lips.
"You know, it is rather strange that Gendrew would let food burn ..." Briar remarks, "Something may actually be wrong."
Within moments, the three adventurers are hot on the halfling's heels, leaving Marble standing alone in the street.
"Hey!" she calls plaintively, "Remember me? The person you're supposed to be protecting?"
Capellan
Explorer
"Something's Cooking" and "The Ettin's Riddle" (WotC Free Adventures) - Part 3
Ignoring the protests of their supposed charge, the adventurers rush through the front door of the cottage. Except Macwood, who instead rushes around to the back of the building, because that's where the kitchen is.
"Is anyone here?" Ming Li calls as the group moves into the front hall. There is no answer, and the adventurers fan out into the different rooms of the cottage's lower storey, looking for any signs of Gendrew or his wife. Everything appears normal in the hall, the sitting room and the dining chamber.
The kitchen, however, is in a shambles. Pots and pans lie scattered on the floor, and a huge tub of batter seems to have been hurled against one wall, spattering much of the area with the sticky substance. Macwood, who is in the first to arrive in the room, picks up one of the shattered fragments of bowl and licks a little of the batter off his finger.
"I think this was going to be cornbread." He looks mournfully at the remains.
"Interesting." Ming Li's statement makes Macwood brighten, until he realises that her attention is elsewhere, and she is not replying to him remark. The monk points, "See that chair, wedged under the doorknob? It appears that someone has been trapped in there."
The others - except the halfling - approach the door, Briar going so far as to press his ear to the wood and listen for sounds, but even soft calls to whoever - or whatever - is on the other side elicit no response.
"Oh, very interesting." Macwood sniffs, picking up another fragment of pot and beginning to scoop up the sticky remains of the batter. "There's an entire tray of cremated muffins in the oven, and you lot are messing around with a door."
"You're supposed to be protecting me, remember?" Marble whines from the back door, where she is lurking half-in, half-out of the room. "Not finding some cook. I paid you."
"Be quiet." Elspeth doesn't even turn to face the trader, "Or we'll give you back the money and leave you to look after yourself."
Marble quiets, a sulky expression on her face.
"The most logical explanation is that a robber broke in, beat Gendrew unconscious, then locked him in this other room while robbing the place." Ming Li, "And the cook has not responded to our calls because he is still unconscious."
"Yes. Very logical." Briar nods, then draws his sword and sighs, "So ... shall we see what's actually there?"
There are nods of consensus, and a general drawing of weapons. Despite her earlier analysis, Ming Li is not less quick to ready her staff than the others are to draw their blades. Logical or not, she has been an adventurer long enough to know that the action is prudent.
Taking a deep breath, the monk moves forward, and puts her hand on the chair. After glancing around to make sure the others are prepared - and that Marble is well out of the way - she pushes the chair aside and twists the handle on the door.
Whatever they expected to find in the room, it is unlikely that any of the adventurers envisioned the creature that this action reveals: standing in the middle of a thoroughly wrecked pantry is a humanoid construct made of tin-plate, with kettle-like spouts on it shoulders. Standing nearly seven feet tall, the bizarre creation has a bulbous, tea-pot like torso and peculiarly elongated arms, each of which ends in a large, almost club-like fist. Despite its physical resemblance to a number of kitchen utensils, it is clear that the thing would never be able to handle such implements itself: it is built for less subtle purposes than tea and refreshments.
A fact that it immediately proves by lunging toward Ming Li, fists raised in readiness to smash her to the ground.
Ignoring the protests of their supposed charge, the adventurers rush through the front door of the cottage. Except Macwood, who instead rushes around to the back of the building, because that's where the kitchen is.
"Is anyone here?" Ming Li calls as the group moves into the front hall. There is no answer, and the adventurers fan out into the different rooms of the cottage's lower storey, looking for any signs of Gendrew or his wife. Everything appears normal in the hall, the sitting room and the dining chamber.
The kitchen, however, is in a shambles. Pots and pans lie scattered on the floor, and a huge tub of batter seems to have been hurled against one wall, spattering much of the area with the sticky substance. Macwood, who is in the first to arrive in the room, picks up one of the shattered fragments of bowl and licks a little of the batter off his finger.
"I think this was going to be cornbread." He looks mournfully at the remains.
"Interesting." Ming Li's statement makes Macwood brighten, until he realises that her attention is elsewhere, and she is not replying to him remark. The monk points, "See that chair, wedged under the doorknob? It appears that someone has been trapped in there."
The others - except the halfling - approach the door, Briar going so far as to press his ear to the wood and listen for sounds, but even soft calls to whoever - or whatever - is on the other side elicit no response.
"Oh, very interesting." Macwood sniffs, picking up another fragment of pot and beginning to scoop up the sticky remains of the batter. "There's an entire tray of cremated muffins in the oven, and you lot are messing around with a door."
"You're supposed to be protecting me, remember?" Marble whines from the back door, where she is lurking half-in, half-out of the room. "Not finding some cook. I paid you."
"Be quiet." Elspeth doesn't even turn to face the trader, "Or we'll give you back the money and leave you to look after yourself."
Marble quiets, a sulky expression on her face.
"The most logical explanation is that a robber broke in, beat Gendrew unconscious, then locked him in this other room while robbing the place." Ming Li, "And the cook has not responded to our calls because he is still unconscious."
"Yes. Very logical." Briar nods, then draws his sword and sighs, "So ... shall we see what's actually there?"
There are nods of consensus, and a general drawing of weapons. Despite her earlier analysis, Ming Li is not less quick to ready her staff than the others are to draw their blades. Logical or not, she has been an adventurer long enough to know that the action is prudent.
Taking a deep breath, the monk moves forward, and puts her hand on the chair. After glancing around to make sure the others are prepared - and that Marble is well out of the way - she pushes the chair aside and twists the handle on the door.
Whatever they expected to find in the room, it is unlikely that any of the adventurers envisioned the creature that this action reveals: standing in the middle of a thoroughly wrecked pantry is a humanoid construct made of tin-plate, with kettle-like spouts on it shoulders. Standing nearly seven feet tall, the bizarre creation has a bulbous, tea-pot like torso and peculiarly elongated arms, each of which ends in a large, almost club-like fist. Despite its physical resemblance to a number of kitchen utensils, it is clear that the thing would never be able to handle such implements itself: it is built for less subtle purposes than tea and refreshments.
A fact that it immediately proves by lunging toward Ming Li, fists raised in readiness to smash her to the ground.
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Capellan
Explorer
"Something's Cooking" and "The Ettin's Riddle" (WotC Free Adventures) - Part 4
The construct's fist slams into the monk's side, causing her to stumble backwards. Though undignified, this stumble saves her from further harm, as the creature's over fist swings through empty air.
Ming Li recovers quickly, slamming her staff into the golem's body. The metal dents noticeably, but the creature surges forward, unimpaired. The monk retreats from the doorway, allowing the golem to emerge - and more importantly, giving her companions a chance to get in on the fight.
As they move forward to do so, however, an aperture slides open in the golem's bulbous head. A moment later, it exhales a blast of scalding steam from this opening, aiming the jet squarely at Ming Li. The monk is not to be caught out again so soon, however: she drops to one knee, allowing the blast to pass harmlessly overhead, before driving the tip of her staff into the construct's knee.
The blow twists the golem slightly, causing it to wobble unsteadily, but it drives its clawed toes into the stone flagstones, improving its purchase, and sweeps both of its arms in wide arcs. One of the blows clips Elspeth as she moves in to attack, but the ranger grits her teeth and slashes at the construct's shoulder joint. Her sword skitters off the heavy metal joint, but the force of her blow is merely deflected, continuing on to strike the golem's chest. The creature's thin metal "skin" tears as the sharp blade cuts through it, and a gout of steam spurts from the gash, scalding Elspeth's hand.
The ranger curses, dropping her sword in surprise and pain.
"Use blunt weapons." Ming Li drives her staff into the creature again, knocking it back a step, "They don't tear the skin."
Briar ignores the advice, striking with his sword. Another tear opens in the creature's skin, but the rogue's speed and agility lets him slip clear of the worst of the steam.
Macwood, unable to get within arms reach of the creature due to the congestion of the combat, looks around for some way to contribute to the fight. His eye falls on a ceramic bowl, half-filled with flour, and he speaks a few arcane words, gesturing as he does so. The bowl lifts into the air and flies toward the golem's head. It seems as if it is about to strike home, but then at the last moment, the construct shifts its position, and the bowl shatters against the wall, causing clouds of flour to drift over the fighters.
The construct swings an arm, the blow slamming Briar into the wall, but the adventurers strike back even harder, both Elspeth and Ming Li driving in blows on the golem's torso. By now, the once smooth sphere is a mess of dents and tears, with steam pouring slowly out of the many holes. The golem's movements are slower and jerkier, as if the loss of pressure is reducing its capability to move and fight: and then suddenly there is a noisy grinding of gears and it freezes completely, its mechanisms ruined by the damage inflicted by the adventurers.
Elspeth wipes a hand across her forehead, inadvertently streaking her face with flour.
"What the heck is that thing?" she asks.
Marble, who has spent the entire fight cowering behind the kitchen table, doesn't seem interested in such details:
"I hired you to protect me from bounty hunters!" she screeches, petulantly, "And you choose to do so by taking me to a melee with a crazed golem! What do you plan for tonight? Dinner with a vampire?"
"The offer to return your gold is still open." Ming Li reminds her softly. Marble closes her mouth with a snap.
"Well, if anyone was around, that little squabble should have brought them running." Briar remarks, poking at the remains of the golem. He frowns, suddenly, "Hey - there's a small hole in this thing."
"There are lots of holes in it." Elsepth observes with satisfaction, "Most of them quite large."
"Yeah, but this one's down near the leg joint." Briar points, "I don't think any of us hit it near here. And this is just a pin-prick. I'm not sure what could have caused it."
"Maybe whoever locked it in there managed to damage it, first." Elspeth shrugs, evidently having little interest in such mysteries. "We've searched everywhere down here, so let's check and see if there's anyone upstairs."
No-one has any objections to this plan (well, Marble might, but she wisely does not voice them), so the group take the stairs to the upper storey, emerging at one end of a small, L-shaped hallway. They can see only one doorway off this hall, though presumably there will be at least one more around the corner.
Quietly moving up to this opening - for the door itself stands open - Briar peers into the room beyond. A look of surprise flickers across his face, and then he turns back toward the others,
"We've found Gendrew." He reports.
"Is he okay?" Macwood scuttles forward to see, with Ming Li and Elspeth just behind. Reaching the doorway, the Halfling makes a sound of concern, for it is readily apparent that the man is most certainly not okay. Though the shallow rise and fall of his chest suggests he is alive, the cook is bloodied and bound, lying unconscious on his own bed.
The construct's fist slams into the monk's side, causing her to stumble backwards. Though undignified, this stumble saves her from further harm, as the creature's over fist swings through empty air.
Ming Li recovers quickly, slamming her staff into the golem's body. The metal dents noticeably, but the creature surges forward, unimpaired. The monk retreats from the doorway, allowing the golem to emerge - and more importantly, giving her companions a chance to get in on the fight.
As they move forward to do so, however, an aperture slides open in the golem's bulbous head. A moment later, it exhales a blast of scalding steam from this opening, aiming the jet squarely at Ming Li. The monk is not to be caught out again so soon, however: she drops to one knee, allowing the blast to pass harmlessly overhead, before driving the tip of her staff into the construct's knee.
The blow twists the golem slightly, causing it to wobble unsteadily, but it drives its clawed toes into the stone flagstones, improving its purchase, and sweeps both of its arms in wide arcs. One of the blows clips Elspeth as she moves in to attack, but the ranger grits her teeth and slashes at the construct's shoulder joint. Her sword skitters off the heavy metal joint, but the force of her blow is merely deflected, continuing on to strike the golem's chest. The creature's thin metal "skin" tears as the sharp blade cuts through it, and a gout of steam spurts from the gash, scalding Elspeth's hand.
The ranger curses, dropping her sword in surprise and pain.
"Use blunt weapons." Ming Li drives her staff into the creature again, knocking it back a step, "They don't tear the skin."
Briar ignores the advice, striking with his sword. Another tear opens in the creature's skin, but the rogue's speed and agility lets him slip clear of the worst of the steam.
Macwood, unable to get within arms reach of the creature due to the congestion of the combat, looks around for some way to contribute to the fight. His eye falls on a ceramic bowl, half-filled with flour, and he speaks a few arcane words, gesturing as he does so. The bowl lifts into the air and flies toward the golem's head. It seems as if it is about to strike home, but then at the last moment, the construct shifts its position, and the bowl shatters against the wall, causing clouds of flour to drift over the fighters.
The construct swings an arm, the blow slamming Briar into the wall, but the adventurers strike back even harder, both Elspeth and Ming Li driving in blows on the golem's torso. By now, the once smooth sphere is a mess of dents and tears, with steam pouring slowly out of the many holes. The golem's movements are slower and jerkier, as if the loss of pressure is reducing its capability to move and fight: and then suddenly there is a noisy grinding of gears and it freezes completely, its mechanisms ruined by the damage inflicted by the adventurers.
Elspeth wipes a hand across her forehead, inadvertently streaking her face with flour.
"What the heck is that thing?" she asks.
Marble, who has spent the entire fight cowering behind the kitchen table, doesn't seem interested in such details:
"I hired you to protect me from bounty hunters!" she screeches, petulantly, "And you choose to do so by taking me to a melee with a crazed golem! What do you plan for tonight? Dinner with a vampire?"
"The offer to return your gold is still open." Ming Li reminds her softly. Marble closes her mouth with a snap.
"Well, if anyone was around, that little squabble should have brought them running." Briar remarks, poking at the remains of the golem. He frowns, suddenly, "Hey - there's a small hole in this thing."
"There are lots of holes in it." Elsepth observes with satisfaction, "Most of them quite large."
"Yeah, but this one's down near the leg joint." Briar points, "I don't think any of us hit it near here. And this is just a pin-prick. I'm not sure what could have caused it."
"Maybe whoever locked it in there managed to damage it, first." Elspeth shrugs, evidently having little interest in such mysteries. "We've searched everywhere down here, so let's check and see if there's anyone upstairs."
No-one has any objections to this plan (well, Marble might, but she wisely does not voice them), so the group take the stairs to the upper storey, emerging at one end of a small, L-shaped hallway. They can see only one doorway off this hall, though presumably there will be at least one more around the corner.
Quietly moving up to this opening - for the door itself stands open - Briar peers into the room beyond. A look of surprise flickers across his face, and then he turns back toward the others,
"We've found Gendrew." He reports.
"Is he okay?" Macwood scuttles forward to see, with Ming Li and Elspeth just behind. Reaching the doorway, the Halfling makes a sound of concern, for it is readily apparent that the man is most certainly not okay. Though the shallow rise and fall of his chest suggests he is alive, the cook is bloodied and bound, lying unconscious on his own bed.
Capellan
Explorer
"Something's Cooking" and "The Ettin's Riddle" (WotC Free Adventures) - Part 5
Macwood quickly hurries to the cook's aid, clearly upset by the indignities suffered by such a master of the culinary arts. The others, more cautious - or perhaps just less fixated on food - hang back, watching out for signs of whoever might have done this.
Suddenly, a small figure blinks in existence, just above and behind the Halfling bard. It is grey in colour, with leathery skin and bat-like wings. Cackling gleefully in a high-pitched voice, it jabs its barbed tail into Macwood's shoulder.
Macwood staggers as his companions shout belated warnings. The wound he has suffered is only a pin prick, but it burns fiercely, and a wave of dizziness sweeps over him.
"Watch out ... for ... tail!" he croaks, slumping against the wall, "Poison!"
Ming Li steps into the room, jabbing at the still cackling creature with her staff. The ironbound weapon collects solidly, but the impact does nothing more than knock their winged enemy backwards a few inches. It cackles again, a slender finger sliding into its oversized nose as it does so, rummaging inside the nostril for ammunition, which it proceeds to flick derisively at the monk.
Briar and Elspeth join what rapidly proves to be an embarrassing battle for the adventurers. Their enemy, though barely a foot in height, appears completely immune to their blows. Every futile attempt to harm it meets with more laughter, accompanied now by profanity-laced abuse, and a steady barrage of unsavoury secretions. Only rarely does the creature bother to attack with its tail, flittering brazenly amongst the adventurers to stab them with the poison-laced barb. Within a minute, all four of the companions have been wounded, the poison leaving them dizzy and clumsy, fingers and feet trembling uncontrollably.
"I'm an idiot!" Briar suddenly claps a hand to his head.
"You can say that again, fatso." The nasty little beast snickers, and waves its bony rump in his direction.
The young rogue answers with actions, not words, drawing from his belt the dagger he discovered in the sewers. The blade gleams slightly in the ill-lit room.
"What's that, then?" the creature titters, "Planning to trim my toe-nails with that paring knife, sonny?"
Briar smiles, and stabs.
The blade - the enchanted blade - slides easily through the creature's flesh. Black blood flows as the vile little beast squeals in pain and fury. Colourful - and anatomically impossible - abuse spews from its lips, and it suddenly blinks out of sight. Moments later, a shuttered window in the hallway bangs open, and the torrent of obscenities fades in volume.
"I think it's gone." Briar slips the dagger back into his belt, fingers trembling slightly from the poison in his bloodstream. "Cowardly little runt."
With the immediate danger averted, the group unties Gendrew, and Ming Li examines his condition. The cook is still unconscious, and his skin shows several small pockmarks - probably wounds inflicted by the flying creature. The monk shakes her head,
"I do not believe the injuries are life-threatening." She says at last, "But I have no suggestions for how to wake him. I think we may just need to wait for him to sleep off the poison."
"Will these help?" Briar has been rummaging in the wardrobe, and now pulls forth a small wooden chest. Flipping it open, he shows six potion vials to the others. All six are marked with their various enchantments, and the fourth is a healing draught.
"Do we want to use it on him?" Elspeth eyes the magical liquids with a mercenary eye. "Those are very valuable."
"They also belong to him. Or at the very least, his wife." Ming Li reminds the ranger, "It would be dishonest to take them."
"To the hells with honesty." Briar snorts, "It'd be dangerous, which is more important. His wife's a wizard, remember. I don't fancy having a wizard sore at me."
"Or a cook." Macwood adds, "He makes the most fantastic pies."
"We did just save her husband." Elspeth pouts, conceding the argument, "I think we're owed something for that. She'd better be grateful."
Macwood quickly hurries to the cook's aid, clearly upset by the indignities suffered by such a master of the culinary arts. The others, more cautious - or perhaps just less fixated on food - hang back, watching out for signs of whoever might have done this.
Suddenly, a small figure blinks in existence, just above and behind the Halfling bard. It is grey in colour, with leathery skin and bat-like wings. Cackling gleefully in a high-pitched voice, it jabs its barbed tail into Macwood's shoulder.
Macwood staggers as his companions shout belated warnings. The wound he has suffered is only a pin prick, but it burns fiercely, and a wave of dizziness sweeps over him.
"Watch out ... for ... tail!" he croaks, slumping against the wall, "Poison!"
Ming Li steps into the room, jabbing at the still cackling creature with her staff. The ironbound weapon collects solidly, but the impact does nothing more than knock their winged enemy backwards a few inches. It cackles again, a slender finger sliding into its oversized nose as it does so, rummaging inside the nostril for ammunition, which it proceeds to flick derisively at the monk.
Briar and Elspeth join what rapidly proves to be an embarrassing battle for the adventurers. Their enemy, though barely a foot in height, appears completely immune to their blows. Every futile attempt to harm it meets with more laughter, accompanied now by profanity-laced abuse, and a steady barrage of unsavoury secretions. Only rarely does the creature bother to attack with its tail, flittering brazenly amongst the adventurers to stab them with the poison-laced barb. Within a minute, all four of the companions have been wounded, the poison leaving them dizzy and clumsy, fingers and feet trembling uncontrollably.
"I'm an idiot!" Briar suddenly claps a hand to his head.
"You can say that again, fatso." The nasty little beast snickers, and waves its bony rump in his direction.
The young rogue answers with actions, not words, drawing from his belt the dagger he discovered in the sewers. The blade gleams slightly in the ill-lit room.
"What's that, then?" the creature titters, "Planning to trim my toe-nails with that paring knife, sonny?"
Briar smiles, and stabs.
The blade - the enchanted blade - slides easily through the creature's flesh. Black blood flows as the vile little beast squeals in pain and fury. Colourful - and anatomically impossible - abuse spews from its lips, and it suddenly blinks out of sight. Moments later, a shuttered window in the hallway bangs open, and the torrent of obscenities fades in volume.
"I think it's gone." Briar slips the dagger back into his belt, fingers trembling slightly from the poison in his bloodstream. "Cowardly little runt."
With the immediate danger averted, the group unties Gendrew, and Ming Li examines his condition. The cook is still unconscious, and his skin shows several small pockmarks - probably wounds inflicted by the flying creature. The monk shakes her head,
"I do not believe the injuries are life-threatening." She says at last, "But I have no suggestions for how to wake him. I think we may just need to wait for him to sleep off the poison."
"Will these help?" Briar has been rummaging in the wardrobe, and now pulls forth a small wooden chest. Flipping it open, he shows six potion vials to the others. All six are marked with their various enchantments, and the fourth is a healing draught.
"Do we want to use it on him?" Elspeth eyes the magical liquids with a mercenary eye. "Those are very valuable."
"They also belong to him. Or at the very least, his wife." Ming Li reminds the ranger, "It would be dishonest to take them."
"To the hells with honesty." Briar snorts, "It'd be dangerous, which is more important. His wife's a wizard, remember. I don't fancy having a wizard sore at me."
"Or a cook." Macwood adds, "He makes the most fantastic pies."
"We did just save her husband." Elspeth pouts, conceding the argument, "I think we're owed something for that. She'd better be grateful."
Capellan
Explorer
"Something's Cooking" and "The Ettin's Riddle" (WotC Free Adventures) - Part 6
Macwood administers the healing potion to Gendrew, dribbling the fluid slowly into the cook's mouth. Within moments, the man's bruises fade, and his breathing becomes slow and steady. A short while later, he slowly opens his eyes.
"What ..." he asks, sitting up. His face goes green for a moment, and he grabs at the bed post, breathing deeply as a wave of nausea subsides, "What happened?"
"We were going to ask the same thing." Elspeth notes sourly.
"We came to speak with your wife." Ming Li intercedes, taking a more tactful approach, "When we saw the state of your home, we became concerned. There was some sort of metal man in your pantry, and a flying creature in here with you. We drove it off."
"What happened to the golem?" Gendrew asks, wincing as he rubs one of his injuries.
"We were forced to destroy it." The monk's words cause the cook to wince again.
"A pity ... well, perhaps not." He shrugs to himself, "It was obviously not safe to use."
"This 'golem' belonged to you?" Ming Li's surprise is evident - as is the note of suspicion in her tone.
"Yes. After those poor boys were killed by the robbers - you remember, when the caravan was bringing the food for the festival? - my wife decided to build a guardian for the road. That golem was supposed to protect any future trade caravans."
"It seemed more interested in killing people than protecting them." Macwood notes. Gendrew nods glumly,
"You have the imp to thank for that." Seeing the blank looks of the adventurers, he elaborates, "The flying creature you mentioned. It was an imp. Andalyn and I had nearly finished the golem - in fact she'd just left to get the last magical reagents we would need - when that evil little beast turned up and attacked it. The golem was close to fully operational by then, but not all of the magical controls were in place. The attack drove it berserk - no doubt as the imp intended - and it attacked me."
"Then who locked the golem in the pantry?" Ming Li wants to know.
"Probably the imp." Gendrew shrugs, "Once the golem knocked me out, it would have wanted to get the construct out of the way, so it could get up to its mischief in peace." He glances around the room, "It looks like you arrived before it could do too much harm."
"Why was it here?" Briar wonders, "Do imps randomly drop by and attack you on a regular basis?"
"Not all wizards share my wife's sense of ethics. One of her enemies probably dispatched it to cause trouble, and it just happened to arrive at a particularly opportune time for that. If you folks hadn't come along, there's no telling what it would have done. Thank you."
"You know what says thank you best of all?" Macwood asks brightly, "Cake!"
"Or gold." Elspeth mutters under her breath.
Gendrew laughs, then winces - apparently the laugh was not a wise idea,
"My wife will return in a few hours, at most." He says, "And I am sure she will be better equipped than I to offer you a reward. For now, however, I have a fine carrot cake downstairs - assuming it survived the imp's mischief, of course - and I am sure I can find a kettle for tea. Why don't you join me for a meal?"
The Company of the Random Encounter refuses no reward, no matter how meagre, and the group duly enjoys a pleasant breakfast of tea and cake, while waiting for Andalyn.
On her return, Andalyn repeats her husband's thanks, and also gifts the group with the remaining potions from the wooden chest, as reward for their assistance. She also returns the earrings she had been asked to have identified,
"Their function is to allow people to communicate." She explains, "If two people each wear one earring, and one of them whispers a message, the other will hear it, even at distances of several hundred feet."
Pocketing the earrings, the adventurers bid their farewells from the wizard and her husband, and discuss their plan of action. After a short conference, it is decided to hide Marble in Sirdros' room at the chapel of Pelor. The Sanctuary is the most secure building in town, and also the most private. This, coupled with the fact that it gets the petulant Marble out of their hair, recommends the chapel most highly as a hiding place in the eyes of the Company.
Adjourning to the inn, the four settle down at a table,
"A good start to the day." Macwood remarks, "Good food, a good fight, and some treasure. Plus, we've got that girl buttoned up nicely."
There are murmurs of agreement: it seems all four adventurers are more than content with their efforts for the morning.
Less than an hour later, they are far less content.
Macwood administers the healing potion to Gendrew, dribbling the fluid slowly into the cook's mouth. Within moments, the man's bruises fade, and his breathing becomes slow and steady. A short while later, he slowly opens his eyes.
"What ..." he asks, sitting up. His face goes green for a moment, and he grabs at the bed post, breathing deeply as a wave of nausea subsides, "What happened?"
"We were going to ask the same thing." Elspeth notes sourly.
"We came to speak with your wife." Ming Li intercedes, taking a more tactful approach, "When we saw the state of your home, we became concerned. There was some sort of metal man in your pantry, and a flying creature in here with you. We drove it off."
"What happened to the golem?" Gendrew asks, wincing as he rubs one of his injuries.
"We were forced to destroy it." The monk's words cause the cook to wince again.
"A pity ... well, perhaps not." He shrugs to himself, "It was obviously not safe to use."
"This 'golem' belonged to you?" Ming Li's surprise is evident - as is the note of suspicion in her tone.
"Yes. After those poor boys were killed by the robbers - you remember, when the caravan was bringing the food for the festival? - my wife decided to build a guardian for the road. That golem was supposed to protect any future trade caravans."
"It seemed more interested in killing people than protecting them." Macwood notes. Gendrew nods glumly,
"You have the imp to thank for that." Seeing the blank looks of the adventurers, he elaborates, "The flying creature you mentioned. It was an imp. Andalyn and I had nearly finished the golem - in fact she'd just left to get the last magical reagents we would need - when that evil little beast turned up and attacked it. The golem was close to fully operational by then, but not all of the magical controls were in place. The attack drove it berserk - no doubt as the imp intended - and it attacked me."
"Then who locked the golem in the pantry?" Ming Li wants to know.
"Probably the imp." Gendrew shrugs, "Once the golem knocked me out, it would have wanted to get the construct out of the way, so it could get up to its mischief in peace." He glances around the room, "It looks like you arrived before it could do too much harm."
"Why was it here?" Briar wonders, "Do imps randomly drop by and attack you on a regular basis?"
"Not all wizards share my wife's sense of ethics. One of her enemies probably dispatched it to cause trouble, and it just happened to arrive at a particularly opportune time for that. If you folks hadn't come along, there's no telling what it would have done. Thank you."
"You know what says thank you best of all?" Macwood asks brightly, "Cake!"
"Or gold." Elspeth mutters under her breath.
Gendrew laughs, then winces - apparently the laugh was not a wise idea,
"My wife will return in a few hours, at most." He says, "And I am sure she will be better equipped than I to offer you a reward. For now, however, I have a fine carrot cake downstairs - assuming it survived the imp's mischief, of course - and I am sure I can find a kettle for tea. Why don't you join me for a meal?"
The Company of the Random Encounter refuses no reward, no matter how meagre, and the group duly enjoys a pleasant breakfast of tea and cake, while waiting for Andalyn.
On her return, Andalyn repeats her husband's thanks, and also gifts the group with the remaining potions from the wooden chest, as reward for their assistance. She also returns the earrings she had been asked to have identified,
"Their function is to allow people to communicate." She explains, "If two people each wear one earring, and one of them whispers a message, the other will hear it, even at distances of several hundred feet."
Pocketing the earrings, the adventurers bid their farewells from the wizard and her husband, and discuss their plan of action. After a short conference, it is decided to hide Marble in Sirdros' room at the chapel of Pelor. The Sanctuary is the most secure building in town, and also the most private. This, coupled with the fact that it gets the petulant Marble out of their hair, recommends the chapel most highly as a hiding place in the eyes of the Company.
Adjourning to the inn, the four settle down at a table,
"A good start to the day." Macwood remarks, "Good food, a good fight, and some treasure. Plus, we've got that girl buttoned up nicely."
There are murmurs of agreement: it seems all four adventurers are more than content with their efforts for the morning.
Less than an hour later, they are far less content.
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Capellan
Explorer
"Something's Cooking" and "The Ettin's Riddle" (WotC Free Adventures) - Part 7
The bounty hunters stride into the inn, looking like they own the place. But then, given the equipment - some of it clearly magical - dripping off them, they could probably afford to buy it.
They are a grim-looking trio. Leading them is a woman, dressed in black leather armour. Her two companions are a sly-looking man with a sharp nose, and a burly half-orc, carrying a large sword. All three move with the fluidity of trained fighters, and when they settle at one of the tables, they do so in such a way that between them they can see every part of the room without moving.
Briar takes one look at the three hunters and blanches almost white, half-sliding under the table, he hunches so low in his chair. Fortunately for the young rogue, he is not alone in this reaction: certainly the bounty hunters don't seem to find anything unusual in his behaviour.
Ming Li, on the other hand, is clearly not intimidated. As soon as the hunters are settled at their table, she stands and walks slowly in their direction, giving them plenty of time to see her coming.
"What's she doing?" Briar hisses from the corner of his mouth, his lips barely moving. Elspeth shrugs, leaning back in her chair,
"I didn't think to ask her before she got up without a word and walked over there." The ranger mutters, "Stupid inscrutable monks. Why couldn't she have meditated on it?"
Unaware of her companions' concern, the monk bows her head in greeting to the three hunters,
"Good day, I am Ming Li." She begins, "May I ask your purpose here. You don't seem like farmers, who are the usual clientele of this establishment."
"We're looking for someone." The woman replies, "Girl named Marble McCray." She goes on to give a brief but surprisingly vivid description of the Company's employer. "Have you seen her?"
"I have not." Ming Li responds, her voice confident but her eyebrow giving an unconscious twitch at the unfamiliar experience of lying.
"Your loss, then - there's fifty gold in it for anyone who can tell us where she is." Either the hunter believes the lie, or her poker face is better than the monk's. In either case, Ming Li rapidly decides that initiating the conversation was a mistake. As soon as she is able, she makes her apologies and returns to her original table.
A whispered planning session follows, ensuring that if the bounty hunters were not already suspicious of the monk and her companions, they soon would be.
"One of us had better go warn Marble and act as a guard for her." Macwood suggests.
"Is that a good idea?" Elspeth frowns, "She'll probably panic."
The halfling shrugs, then remembers the unfriendly eyes in the room and turns the movement into a surprisingly convincing cough,
"Better she panics with one of us around than if she sees the hunters when she's alone." Is his opinion, "She's likely to run without one of us to stop her, and there goes the other half of our payment."
"On the other hand, it also means we wouldn't be in any further danger." The ranger muses. Seeing the looks she's getting, she rolls her eyes, "I'm just saying."
"Maybe if Ming Li hadn't tried to play Spy, you'd be right." Macwood gives the monk a glare, to which she seems oblivious.
"It is likely that they suspect I was lying." She agrees, in a matchless display of understatement.
"I'll tell Marble." Elspeth volunteers, "And make sure she doesn't go running off."
The others agree this is a good plan, and - after taking one of the whispering earrings - the ranger slips out of the door. Within moments, the male human bounty hunter also leaves, no doubt to shadow her. However, thanks to a warning from her companions who are still within the inn, and her superior knowledge of the town, Elspeth gives him the slip.
"These earrings are great." She enthuses, in a whisper. "Let me know if you come up with a plan. I'll stay with Marble."
"We should go as soon as we can." Macwood muses, "And we need some way of taking Marble with us, without the bounty hunters seeing her. Or at least, without her being recognised." He glances at the others, "Maybe we could disguise her, somehow?"
"Let's cut her hair and disguise her as a male." Briar suggests, "If you strap down the right bits and teach her to walk like a man, she'll never be recognised."
There is a long moment of silence after the rogue's strangely confident announcement. Then, very slowly, Macwood leans as far forward across the table as he can,
"Is there something you'd like to tell us, young lady?"
The bounty hunters stride into the inn, looking like they own the place. But then, given the equipment - some of it clearly magical - dripping off them, they could probably afford to buy it.
They are a grim-looking trio. Leading them is a woman, dressed in black leather armour. Her two companions are a sly-looking man with a sharp nose, and a burly half-orc, carrying a large sword. All three move with the fluidity of trained fighters, and when they settle at one of the tables, they do so in such a way that between them they can see every part of the room without moving.
Briar takes one look at the three hunters and blanches almost white, half-sliding under the table, he hunches so low in his chair. Fortunately for the young rogue, he is not alone in this reaction: certainly the bounty hunters don't seem to find anything unusual in his behaviour.
Ming Li, on the other hand, is clearly not intimidated. As soon as the hunters are settled at their table, she stands and walks slowly in their direction, giving them plenty of time to see her coming.
"What's she doing?" Briar hisses from the corner of his mouth, his lips barely moving. Elspeth shrugs, leaning back in her chair,
"I didn't think to ask her before she got up without a word and walked over there." The ranger mutters, "Stupid inscrutable monks. Why couldn't she have meditated on it?"
Unaware of her companions' concern, the monk bows her head in greeting to the three hunters,
"Good day, I am Ming Li." She begins, "May I ask your purpose here. You don't seem like farmers, who are the usual clientele of this establishment."
"We're looking for someone." The woman replies, "Girl named Marble McCray." She goes on to give a brief but surprisingly vivid description of the Company's employer. "Have you seen her?"
"I have not." Ming Li responds, her voice confident but her eyebrow giving an unconscious twitch at the unfamiliar experience of lying.
"Your loss, then - there's fifty gold in it for anyone who can tell us where she is." Either the hunter believes the lie, or her poker face is better than the monk's. In either case, Ming Li rapidly decides that initiating the conversation was a mistake. As soon as she is able, she makes her apologies and returns to her original table.
A whispered planning session follows, ensuring that if the bounty hunters were not already suspicious of the monk and her companions, they soon would be.
"One of us had better go warn Marble and act as a guard for her." Macwood suggests.
"Is that a good idea?" Elspeth frowns, "She'll probably panic."
The halfling shrugs, then remembers the unfriendly eyes in the room and turns the movement into a surprisingly convincing cough,
"Better she panics with one of us around than if she sees the hunters when she's alone." Is his opinion, "She's likely to run without one of us to stop her, and there goes the other half of our payment."
"On the other hand, it also means we wouldn't be in any further danger." The ranger muses. Seeing the looks she's getting, she rolls her eyes, "I'm just saying."
"Maybe if Ming Li hadn't tried to play Spy, you'd be right." Macwood gives the monk a glare, to which she seems oblivious.
"It is likely that they suspect I was lying." She agrees, in a matchless display of understatement.
"I'll tell Marble." Elspeth volunteers, "And make sure she doesn't go running off."
The others agree this is a good plan, and - after taking one of the whispering earrings - the ranger slips out of the door. Within moments, the male human bounty hunter also leaves, no doubt to shadow her. However, thanks to a warning from her companions who are still within the inn, and her superior knowledge of the town, Elspeth gives him the slip.
"These earrings are great." She enthuses, in a whisper. "Let me know if you come up with a plan. I'll stay with Marble."
"We should go as soon as we can." Macwood muses, "And we need some way of taking Marble with us, without the bounty hunters seeing her. Or at least, without her being recognised." He glances at the others, "Maybe we could disguise her, somehow?"
"Let's cut her hair and disguise her as a male." Briar suggests, "If you strap down the right bits and teach her to walk like a man, she'll never be recognised."
There is a long moment of silence after the rogue's strangely confident announcement. Then, very slowly, Macwood leans as far forward across the table as he can,
"Is there something you'd like to tell us, young lady?"
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