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[Lichtenhart]

"By Darien's Holy Shield!What happened here?" Danmor rushes forward to see how much blood there is and if it seems that a body was dragged somewhere.

Can I roll some heal check to know if that's human blood and if that's the case, if it was a lethal wound?

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Just as he was about to pry the lid off a crate with his dagger, Jack hears Danmor's cry. He steps up and peers over the shoulders of the priest and the rogue to get a look. "Hrmm... Blood," he considers, "How fresh is it?" He reaches down to touch a drop with his finger.

It's just a few drops of blood, correct? Jack is checking to see whether the blood has dried, or if it is still wet.

 

[Mark]

Arthael's suggestion to Ponulia is met with acquiescence. She frowns, almost to a pout, but nods her head. "Of course, you are right. I'm not of any help to you here and if he turns up at home, I should be there or we'd not know of it. Thank you all for helping me and please bring any news as soon as you find it out."

With that she leaves and the adventurers can go about their search unhindered by concerns of her looking over their shoulders.

Danmor's pondering of using his healing skill to determine the origin of the blood is driven from his mind as not a likely venture, though it does pop into his head that some sort of divination would be more appropriate to the task. His light lends to the work of the others as they examine the signs before them more closely.

The blood, of which there are only a few drops, is not so fresh as to be wet and proves to be tacky to Haggerty's touch. It might be a few hours old, which would coincide with the last known time that the chandler had been seen. It is not a welcome sign at all.

Arim's closer look at the dust on the floor shows a heel of a boot, pointed toward the crate, but the toe would have to have been placed under where the large crate now rests. It must have been moved at some time since the footfall left its mark.

Crow leans in on Arthael's shoulder and replaces a strand of hair that has fallen down into the mage's eyes, tucking it back into its proper place on his head. It is at this time that his hand, brushing across the barrel's obscured mark, removes some of the soot. His knowledge of brewing comes in handy and he can discern enough of the emblem to account for the brand. It is surely that of Lymoor, of Resolvent Refreshments, a brewer in Upper Jalston. It also bears the significance of being his special ale made solely for the House of Quontellin, the powerful merchant. What it might be doing in this supposedly unused warehouse, gathering dust, is truly a mystery.

 

[reapersaurus]

Arim's closer look at the dust on the floor shows a heel of a boot, pointed toward the crate, but the toe would have to have been placed under where the large crate now rests. It must have been moved at some time since the footfall left its mark.

"Hmmmm....." Arim thinks.
He looks at the portion of the wall that the crate is in front of.
Did someone move the crate here to block access to something?

 

[Jack Haggerty]

"Something happened here," Jack deduces, "And not too long ago. See? The blood hasn't dried yet. What'd you find there, Shady" Jack looks into the dust, as Arim points out the half-footprint beneath the crate.

"Let's get this crate moved aside," the guardsman decides. "There must be another way out of this room, and I'd wager it under that crate." Sheathing his sword, and slinging his shield, Jack puts his shoulder to the crate to shove it out of the way.

 

[reapersaurus]

What'd you find there, Shady?

"I'd really appreciate it if you didn't call me that, Jack.

Could you just use 'Arim', please?

Shade was a nickname that I used when I was anticipating to ingratiate myself in with a thieve's guild, to better make my mark and stand out.

But I'm not looking to do that anymore.
I don't want to take advantage of people when the opportunity provides : I want to help people, and maybe make a difference by what good I can do, not just by amassing a reputation.

Unless that's a reputation for being good at helping eligible young women out of tight spots like your friend there....

So let's see what secrets this crate is hiding."

Arim lends his back to the moving of the crate.

 

[turtle]

This is some mighty fine ale to be wasting away in a 'deserted' warehouse... looks as though it is straight from Lymoor's brewery over in Upper Jalston, the Resolvent Refreshments if I recall.

It is no ordinary grog or swill for the masses. This was made for the House of Quontellin. Anyone have any ideas as to why it would be here?

Arthael licks his lips...

If we have time we'll have to inspect this.... evidence... to discern its age of course....

Arthael steps back and watches the others push the crate...

If there is some entrance under the crate it may behoove us to proceed more quietly from here on out.



(turtlegoes to scan locus: jalston for lymoor and quontellin)

 

[Jack Haggerty]

"Shade was a nickname that I used when I was anticipating to ingratiate myself in with a thieve's guild, to better make my mark and stand out."

"Sure it was," he replies, leaning into the crate, "But Shady is a nickname the town guards use because your brother got hanged for breaking into the gemcutter's shop. You, coincidently, came into possession of enough money to purchase some rather un-shepherdlike items, and then tried to ingratiate yourself in with the thieves' guild.

"But at the moment, Arim, that's beside the point... So give me a hand with this crate."

 

[reapersaurus]

OOC: umm.. i REALLY don't think a town guardsman who had to have Arim pointed out in the first scene would have intimate knowledge of the de-Prey family's finances and purchases. If so, they would have had enough proof for a frontier town of guilt to string up Arim, as well. And Jack knows NOTHINGa bout Arim;s attempts to contact the thieve's guild, because _I_ don't know. I'm going on what Mark told us - that Arim doesn't know anyone in town, so I really doubt if Jack, a lowly guardsman, would have in-depth thieve's guild knowledge. Jack - I'm already working within incredibly limiting parameters for Arim's character here, and I'd appreciate it if you don't narrow them further. If he's going to be branded with a scarlet letter "T" (for thief), and have every enforcement-type know more about his past than I do, than the only logical thing for this NG rogue to do would be do something drastic to attempt to turn another leaf - maybe join the clergy, or LEAVE town. Thanks for listening.

"I agree, Arthael - this IS some mighty fine vintage to be tucked away in a 'deserted' warehouse.

I smell collusion here.
This apparently-stolen cask of fine drink points to either the owner of the warehouse, or the person who's had access to it."

 

[Mark]

OOC: umm.. i REALLY don't think a town guardsman who had to have Arim pointed out in the first scene would have intimate knowledge of the de-Prey family's finances and purchases. If so, they would have had enough proof for a frontier town of guilt to string up Arim, as well. And Jack knows NOTHINGa bout Arim;s attempts to contact the thieve's guild...

"I'd really appreciate it if you didn't call me that, Jack.

Could you just use 'Arim', please?

Shade was a nickname that I used when I was anticipating to ingratiate myself in with a thieve's guild, to better make my mark and stand out..."

OODM: Firstly, if a player needs to be reined in, it is the job of the DM, so please do not do this again.

Secondly, Jack knows enough to make the leap regarding what he has says, regardless of whether it is true, he knows it to be true, assumes it to be true, etc. Please deal with IC situation in an IC way.

Lastly, let's not forget, the details of how Arim's brother got the stolen items, how they came to Arim, and why he hasn't turned them in hasn't been revealed. I was saving those details for after I see how the character was being played. That, of course, has taken longer since we've had two players in that position. I like that you are on board with the idea that Arim is not a Thief, but I think you are approaching this as if he must be a thief and now has to repent. Assuming that he is a thief, rather than just a Rogue who has learned some skills from his older brother and not yet put them to use (for good, evil, law, or chaos) is one way to go with Arim. First level characters start with a clean slate. Arim has never yet actually stolen anything, picked any lock, or done anything personally to warrant the label of Thief. I'll give you a little more on the "wealth" in my next post so that it is more clear. Now that I see how it is that you would like to play the character, I'll color the story of how Arim wound up with the goods to suit that picture. I'm sure this can be cleared up, so let's not have anyone post (with the exception of Mario), IC or OOC until my next DM post. And please, no emails o this. I'l have no trouble crafting the story elements on my own and the handling of players by other players is not up for debate. Thanks.