Jannot the Tanner (final post)

[AStott]

Having moved to a new city, and not yet having joined or formed a roleplaying group, I at last began a one-on-one campaign with a friend of mine who was part of my gaming group in high-school. Thanks to some people like Piratecat and Sagiro, I''d recently learned some good techniques about running a long term campaign, and was anxious to give these new theories a try. A PBEM campaign was too slow moving for a real long term (in game terms, not real terms) campaign, so I decided to run a weekly campaign via ICQ chat.

We've been playing once a week for nearly four months now (although we have missed a few weeks here and there). Based off some positive reactions from some other people (one of whom is not a roleplayer) who decided to read the modified chat logs, I decided that perhaps some of you would enjoy reading along as things progress.

I do have a web site, which contains all of the information posted here, plus other useful (?) information about the world (of my own creation), and other bits and pieces that may be of interest to someone (surely). http://www.xmission.com/~abatish/pbem/jannot/index.html

As far as the player is concerned, the adventure is "systemless". In my opinion, this is optimal, because he is free to focus on the roleplaying, not the rules.

The log files contain text sent from two user names. I (the DM) am "Kheldar". My friend, the only player, is "Kent" who plays the character Jannot. Kent does not visit these boards, but I may convince him that it's worth his time to register and browse this thread (at least) if people end up posting comments of any interest.

Comments and speculation are (of course) welcome, particular since the campaign is ongoing, and may provide me with some interesting ideas for what may lie ahead.

Next: Details on the background story for Jannot.

 

[AStott]

This is the background story written by Kent. He's such a wonderful player. I didn't even ask him, but he purposely provided all sorts of nice hooks for me to use.

The Early Years of Tera Jannot Flynn

Tera Flynn and his wife Penna had a nice life. Two beautiful children, Megan and Jannot, Megan 3 years older than her little brother. Penna was a midwife and well respected among her neighbors. Tera was a successful Tanner, in business with his best friend, almost a brother really, Thom Handolen. Their only worries of the day were whether the rains would force them to take in the hides while they still stank and how to get the children cleaned up from playing before supper.

Then, came that one, dark, harvest time. Some people say that there was a caravan from the south that brought foulness with it. Others told that they saw a man, feverish, get off of a trading vessel and meander through the town like a drunkard. Whether any of them were true the sickness came. It would start with a sick stomach. Then a man wouldn't be able to hold his dinner for a day. It was followed by a fever that burned for half a day with a heat like that from a forge. Then a delerium that lasted only hours in the strongest of men... and then a quiet but sudden death.

Panic raced through the city. People locked themselves in their homes out of fear... and it likely saved many of them. However, Penna was a midwife and was one of the many people that were considered competent healers at the time and was looked to for help at the beginning. This was how she was among the first people who contracted the plague... and brought it home to her family out of ignorance.

Thom wasn't married and didn't have as nice a home as the Flynn's, and as such didn't live as far into the city. As luck would have it, as it were, Jannot and Thom were fishing a bit that day before dinner time. The sicknesses had just started the day before and though Thom was a bit worried, he didn't really fear much about it. As they made their way back that evening toward Thom's home, the city guards were announcing throughout their patrols, that seemed particularly heavy, that people should remain in their homes for safety. It seemed that it was at this point that Jannot saw what was actually happening around him: people scurrying around each other with their belongings held close, avoiding contact with others as carefully as possible. People casting cautious and fearful glances to each other where the day before there was polite, if not friendly conversation about the coming harvest.

As they made their way toward Thom's house, Thom told Jannot that he needed to stay at his place that night. Jannot asked why he couldn't go home, but Thom just forced a smile and told him that they were going to not work the next day and go fishing some more instead. Jannot was a little scared, about the people acting strange outside and about not going home to his family, but his excitement about fishing the next day held stronger in his mind.

After that Jannot's memory seems to cloud. The next day there were fires in the street that he could see from the window at the front of Thoms house. They produced thick black smoke and an awful smell that he would recognize for the rest of his life as burning flesh. That next day Thom tried to explain what was happening outside but that just made Jannot upset and scared. He really missed his family. Especially his sister.

In just two more days, three in total, the smoke had cleared. Some unfortunate people had cleaned the piles of smouldering... whatever it was out of the streets. Jannot's memory of the walk back outside and to his families home that morning is still very clear, but the things about mortality and life and the love of friends and family that a crying Thom was trying to tell him fell on mostly deaf ears.

It was then that he seemed to notice birds for the first time. Whenever something would disturb a bird, it would just fly away to somewhere it could be peaceful again. He wished he were a bird...

Thankfully, when Thom and Jannot arrived at the Tannery, the only sign of disturbance was a large soot-blackened area in the road half a block down from the shop... and a note. It was a letter from Jannot's father. It told of the love that the three of them had for Thom and Jannot and how if they were both still alive that Jannot was to be raised by Thom and Thom was to take over the business. It also stated how the business was to be sold or maintained if one or both of Thom or Jannot had not survived.

Jannot still has that last letter of love from his father. It's in a leather binding, in a small box, in his bedroom. He hasn't looked at it in years.

Jannot was well taken care of. After the plague, He stayed quiet, to himself. Nothing like the playful and cheery little boy he once was. Afraid to leave the home, and whatever memories he still had of his family, he became a recluse. The only person that he'd speak with willingly until he was 13 was Thom. Instead of playing outside with other children Jannot would just sit inside and stare out the window for birds. He'd do it for hours.

By age 10, Thom had given up on the idea that Jannot would get over his fears of the outside, or whatever it was that kept him in and forced him into some schooling. Even so, Jannot would still seek seclusion - in books. Jannot was smart enough, but didn't put any effort into school work, so Thom gave that up after a few more years and had Jannot help him out in the Tannery.

Jannot would still seclude himself, but now it was in his work. He became a very good tanner after a while and growing into a man, became full partner in the business that his father had started with his best friend. It was in the tannery That Jannot learned to communicate again, although only little by little, with other people, his customers.

Regardless of the success of the business and Jannot's personal progress, he still remained something of a recluse. He would speak to customers only when Thom wasn't there to do it for him. His neighbors all worried and thought highly of him, succeeding through such a tragedy, yet he'd never involve himself in a conversation with them unless cornered.

There were festivals each year, in the spring and after harvest. Each year Thom would try to ply Jannot into going to the festivals with tales of wild food, wonderful drink and beautiful women. Jannot never went. Though attractive and approached by the occaisional woman who would come by to have leather work done, Jannot just never was able to open himself like that to another person.

He and Thom still run the Tannery and go fishing together from time to time, but Thom is approaching 60 and is doing less leather work and more paper work these days.

Next time... Some questions are answered in character.

 

[AStott]

Before we began the game, I e-mailed a number of questions to Kent hoping to help him develop Jannot's character a little more.

Q&A About Jannot

Q: What's his favorite time of day?

A: Jannot enjoys the end of the day. After the work of the day is finished, Thom having retired to his room for the evening, the tools having all been put away, The rest of the shops along the avenue closing up for the day... Peace. The noise of the day fades away and quiet peace settles into it's place. The soothing sounds of night birds and insects often draw him outside at night and sometimes he'll spend part of the evening out under a tree or perhaps just the stars, trying to soak-in as much of the peace he can.

Q: What was his favorite book?

A: Jannots favorite book was one that he found at the dockside being sold by a poor couple with an infant that were trying to raise money for a trip back to their home, quite a long way around almost to the other side of the sea... He was generous in his payment. It tells of a very strange, unique instance in history, though Jannot hasn't been able to determine if it is fictional or factual, of a rare joint military operation between the elves and the dwarves that commenced a seige on a human settlement that was long and bitter, but eventually the elves and dwarves prevailed, killing every single one of the humans. The book is missing a small portion of the beginning so much of the detail of the cause of the seige and the location were lost, however, there is great detail on the tactics and efforts of the elves and dwarves to counter incredible, almost unnatural feats of strength, speed and endurance of the humans.

Q: If he was to fall in love with a woman, what would she be like?

A: Jannot was almost swayed once by a girl, when he was in his late teens. She was quiet, respectful and very sweet. for some reason though, his interest in her waned and the relationship went nowhere. He thinks that if he finds another woman, like her that he'd be happy and peaceful...

Occaisionally, though, Jannot will wake with a start in the night having dreamt of a daring, dangerous, seductive, exciting woman who after fighting off evil men and monsters with her saber and knives draws a bead on Jannot with her bow, and with a sensual tongue brushing her smiling lips, looses an arrow and strikes him in the heart... sometimes the monsters and the evil men change, but it always ends the same, with him as her true target.

He likes that dream.

Q: Does he have any dreams for the future?

A: Jannot thinks very little about the future outside of business considerations. He figures, like Thom, he'll grow old laboring at the career he's chosen and eventaully have to sell the business...

Q: Has he ever thought about traveling?

A: Jannot has always wanted to travel to the exotic cities of the elves and the mountain homes of the dwarves. Perhaps even try to figure out where that mystery city is that he's only read about... if it exists at all.

Q: How does he react to children?

A: Jannot is very reserved around children, but he harbors great concern for them. If there's a child that appears upset or suffering he'll instinctively want to help, but he's afraid to get involved, he doesn't want to expose himself to many things around him in the city. Perhaps his reticence is really a fear of THIS city, but he hasn't really thought much about that particular subject directly.

Q: Who is his role model?

A: He looks up to Thom, since he's really the only person that he's spent extensive time with outside of dealing with customers and the fellows he buys pelts and skins from. He has always had an acute awareness that Thom was not a relative of any kind, and that Thom could have turned Jannot over to a church to care for. Thom took on a responsibility that he didn't have to and has accepted Jannot in a way that made Jannot know that there was no regretting the decision. Taking care fo a business and a child was no easy task for Thom. It especially made it difficult for Thom in regards to women. He eventually gave up on them until recently. After all, Jannot is a man now and Thom is doing less of the leatherwork now and has a bit more free time.

Next time... A Strange Sign

 

[AStott]

Session 1: A Strange Sign

<Kent> Let's get this show on the road. WHat day of the week is it?
<Kent> DO I have any jobs to do today that require extra special care?
<Kheldar> Oh, hmm... I need time of month... uh.... mid-summer. Oh... mid-week. Say wednesday.
<Kent> Doh.
<Kheldar> And... we start things off with you waking up in the morning...
<Kent> Fantastic. What's the weather look like outside today?
<Kheldar> Hot, hot hot.
<Kent> Hm.
<Kent> Good for drying pelts.
<Kent> He'll start off the day by putting on a modicum of clothing and see if Thom is in the shop yet.
<Kheldar> Ok, is the shop attached to where you live/sleep, or what?
<Kent> The home is attached but there is no door between the two. you have to exit the home to enter the shop.
<Kheldar> Ah, got it.
<Kent> They share a load bearing wall.
<Kheldar> All right then. You throw on some clothing, and head out the door of your home.
<Kent> Do I have any standing orders for customers that need to be addressed?
<Kheldar> You stop in the open door by an odd sight on the ground in front of you.
<Kheldar> All thoughts of standing orders vanish from your mind.
<Kent> oh no.
<Kheldar> You see three dead birds lying on the ground.
<Kheldar> They are in a perfect line, two of them 2 feet apart, and the third about 3 feet away.
<Kheldar> They seem to be a relatively common sea-bird.
<Kheldar> You don't see anything obviously wrong with them that might have caused their death.
<Kent> Jannot crouches down and examines the birds closer...
<Kent> Jannot has a brief flash back to his child-hood and does a fast scan of the rest of the yard.
<Kheldar> Nothing seems out of order. Please explain your flash-back...
<Kent> _plague-ridden people dying ... no apparent cause... Jannot calls to the shop hoping that Thom is in there. He does this as he approaches the shop.
<Kheldar> ah, got it.
<Kheldar> So, is Thom usually in the shop when you get up in the morning?
<Kent> Depends, did I wake up early or late in the morning?
<Kheldar> You woke up at a fairly normal time for you.
<Kent> The shop is usually open and running around two hours, somethines 3, after dawn
<Kent> So I have an hour and a half until the shop opens... Thom will usually get there about half an hour before opening - to help prepare for the day, so He'd likely not be there yet.
<Kheldar> Good enough.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> You don't hear any response from the shop.
<Kent> Jannot makes his way through the shop.
<Kent> Barring anything oput of the ordinary, he'll make his way through to the store front and into the street.
<Kheldar> Everything seems in order.
<Kheldar> The street is pretty much empty (fairly normal for this time of day).
<Kent> Jannot looks around to see if there are any birds flying that are normally active in the morning.
<Kheldar> You do see a couple birds across the street fighting over some kind of scrap.
<Kent> "Hm. Wierd."
<Kent> Jannot makes his way back through the shop, grabbing a stout pair of leather gloves along his way back to the house.
<Kheldar> Right. Continue.
<Kent> Putting the gloves on, Jannot marks the placement of each bird with an outline in the dirt and then scoops them up to dispose of... in the normal manner that trash is disposed of.
<Kent> OK.
<Kheldar> Right. You notice again as you scoop them up how odd it seems for them to be in a straight line.
<Kent> Yeah, that's why I marked their placement... After putting the birds on the ... trash heap ... in the ... alley(?)
<Kheldar> Sure, sounds about right.
<Kent> He goes back and looks around the area of the dead birds.
<Kent> Were the birds lined up in a line that pointed to the door?
<Kheldar> No, pointing just slightly to the right of the door.
<Kent> Jannot checks to see if there's anything along the line ... checks out where it points too... still has the gloves on
<Kheldar> Nothing there but the wall of your house.
<Kent> ... and in the other direction?
<Kheldar> Just... across the street/alley. Nothing stands out in that direction either... Oh, wait, So...
<Kheldar> Ok, let's see... So, the other end of the "line" of birds just points off across the alley. Doesn't seem to point at anything specific.
<Kent> "Wow, how strange." Jannot mutters as he returns tthe leather gloves to the shop.
<Kent> Returning into his home, he'll make himself some breakfast.
<Kheldar> Right. Anything in particular you're thinking about?
<Kent> Well, after opening the shop and Thom arrives, he'll make a point of mentioning it then. Could it have been perhaps a message from someone?
<Kheldar> Ok then.
<Kent> Are there any neighborhood hoodlums?
<Kheldar> Some younger kids, but it seems unlikely they'd be up before dawn. There are some toughs/theives and such, but you can't think of any kind of motive for something like this.
<Kent> True, but the birds could have been there in the night...
<Kent> Did Jannot notice wether the birds bodies were already rigid/stiff?
<Kheldar> Oh... They seemed to be.
<Kent> Okay. Breakfast. Eggs nd ham if appropriate.
<Kheldar> Right. So you have breakfast, and then head back over to the shop about a half hour before starting/opening time.
<Kent> correct. Thom should arrive sometime soon.
<Kent> Um. hold on a sec.
<Kent> I haev a question. I was thinking about wether Thom would actually be living WITH Jannot in the house.
<Kheldar> Ah, good question. He used to live behind the shop, but since he and his wife started having some kids... The place just wasn't big enough. So... he rents it to you.
<Kheldar> Sure, he's been married for a while now.
<Kent> Oh. I didn't know he was married... By the way, the house is Jannot's, Not Thoms.
<Kheldar> Ok, ok. That's right, it was your father's house.
<Kent> There you go... I'd imagine that until Jannot was an adult that Thom and Jannot would have lived together in the house, ubt finally wanting his privacy back... Thom gets his own place - perhaps then finding the time to garner female affections.
<Kheldar> Yup.
<Kent> Right. Heading over to the shop to prepare for the day
<Kheldar> So anyway, about a half hour before the shop opens you head over. Thom has not yet arrived.
<Kheldar> You go ahead with your usual morning preparations, and at last, Thom shows, hurrying in the door and getting right to work.
<Kent> "Good morning Thom. Sleep well?"
<Kheldar> He grumbles something back at you. Something that ends with "...damn kids"
<Kent> Jannot chuckles, "And you keep trying to get me involved with a woman."
<Kheldar> "It's not the woman that's the problem"
<Kent> Are there any standing orders that need to be worked today?
<Kheldar> Yes, there usually are most days.
<Kheldar> Right. No mention of the issue to Thom?
<Kent> Good. Barring any interruptions, Jannot begins his Tanning ... or leatherworking...
<Kent> "Oh, by the way, Thom. Something strange happened this morning."
<Kheldar> "Oh yeah?"
<Kent> Jannot turns to the old fellow, "Yeah, on my way out to the shop this morning I found 3 dead birds lined up all neat in a row... right outside the house door."
<Kheldar> All of a sudden, you realize something.
<Kheldar> You seem to recall reading a book back just a couple weeks ago...
<Kent> <Oh NOW I recall...>
<Kheldar> The book was mentioning some famous people in history, and it had a single verse of a prophecy that was used as an example of something.
<Kent> oh great... Tai Chi?
<Kheldar> You didn't pay much attention at the time, but you recall it saying something about... Three birds on the ground. Not worded exactly like that, but that was the gist of it.
<Kent> Hm. Jannot tries to recall which book that it was and will look it up during lunch break.
<Kheldar> It was one you had borrowed from a good customer of yours.
<Kent> Does that customer have any work that they are waiting for me to finish?
<Kheldar> He comes in about once a week or so. He was in yesterday unfortunately, so he won't be back for nearly a week.
<Kent> So, after I describe the occurance to Thom... anything?
<Kheldar> Anything what?
<Kent> Did Thom react? or have anything to say about it?
<Kheldar> Oh, right.
<Kheldar> "Huh... Strange coincidence."
<Kent> ...brilliant. "And even more strange was that they didn't appear to have been killed in any obvious way."
<Kent> "Don't know what to think about it."
<Kheldar> Thom's brow wrinkles up as he ponders this...
<Kheldar> "Eeyup, that's pretty strange."
<Kent> Going back to the daily processes Jannot says, "Hey, keep your eyes open when talking to the customers today."
<Kheldar> "Yes, of course. You be careful too. If someone is hanging around that house of yours, they may be up to no good..."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Yeah, I'll be careful."
<Kent> Jannot briefly thinks about crafting himself a set of hard leather armor... but that much leather is hard to set aside for just himself.
<Kheldar> True, true...
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Well, the morning goes by swiftly with nothing out of the ordinary, and it's soon time to break for lunch.
<Kent> Does Jannot still have that book?
<Kent> Of course.
<Kheldar> Nope, you'd finished it and returned it.
<Kent> How far is it to this customers place?
<Kheldar> Oh, probably only about a 15 minute walk, maybe 20 minutes.
<Kheldar> He lives in a slightly more upscale place than you. You've gathered that he's a reseller of sorts.
<Kent> Jannot makes lunch for him and Thom back in the house.
<Kent> ok... To Thom: "I'm gonna take a little walk. I should be back in about an hour or less. Can you hold the place down till then?":
<Kheldar> "All right. I'll keep things running. No problem."
<Kent> "Thanks." After finishing the lunch, He'll head on over.
<Kheldar> Good enough. You reach the guy's house easily enough. Like you, he has a combination shop/home with the home on the top floor. He makes various clothing from the hides he buys from you.
<Kent> Ah. I enter the shop.
<Kheldar> You hunt around and find him quickly enough. His name is ... uh... dang it, had a name. Lyle.
<Kent> He he he... Matthias Rondel. Oh. Ok.
<Kent> "Excuse me, Lyle. Hello."
<Kheldar> "Jannot, good to see you. What brings you up this way?"
<Kent> "I hate to bother you, but I was wondering if I could borrow that book again."
<Kheldar> He puts down the thick needle he is using on some leather and stands up.
<Kheldar> "Certainly. What's up?"
<Kent> "Oh, nothing. I was just trying to remember something I recall in the book. Something about a prophecy... and three birds."
<Kheldar> "Hmmm, I don't remember that one. Give me a second."
<Kheldar> He calls to another man in the shop who is stacking some things, and tells him that he'll be right back.
<Kheldar> Then he leaves the room.
<Kent> Jannot looks around the shop - determining just how good of work this fellow produces. Good. So is he a competitor? I'm one of his suppliers then. Remember my skill are in leatherworking... Ok, ok.
<Kheldar> Actually, it seems like he does a pretty quality job. He works both with furs and bare leather, and the stuff really looks pretty nice.
<Kheldar> No, You are the raw producer of the goods he uses to make what he sells.
<Kheldar> Yup, your skills are there, but that category covers a rather broad range.
<Kent> Jannot waits...
<Kheldar> Lyle soon comes back carrying the book. He hands it to you. "You can keep it for a couple days if you like. I don't mind."
<Kent> "Thanks a lot Lyle. Sorry to bother you."
<Kheldar> "No problem. I'm just about finished with the book you loaned me... Strange book. But interesting."
<Kent> Jannot smiles, "Well, that's the way I like them. It's an escape fromthe boring every-day."
<Kheldar> "I hear you..."
<Kent> With another thanks-you, Jannot makes his way out.
<Kheldar> ...and back home.
<Kent> yep Along the walk back home, Jannot tries to browse through the book and find that reference.
<Kheldar> You do actually manage to find the section again. The direct quote (as translated from the original by the author) goes like this:
<Kheldar> Three wings together
<Kheldar> from sea to air to earth
<Kheldar> death returns to the fish city
<Kheldar> searching for the father's sons.
<Kent> Okay. That doesn't sound too good...
<Kent> Jannot is VERY troubled.
<Kent> He finishes his walk back - running.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Upon arrival at the shop, He immediately check to see if there are any customers...
<Kheldar> Nothing that Thom can't handle, just one person.
<Kent> Jannot, somewhat IMPATIENTLY, but quietly waits until Thom finishes with the customer.
<Kheldar> Thom was talking to the person, but seeing your apparent agitation, finishes quickly and sends the man on his way.
<Kheldar> "What's wrong, Jannot?"
<Kent> Can Thom read? I think he can since he does the paperwork...so,
<Kheldar> Nope.
<Kheldar> Yup, most of that is tally marks in columns...
<Kheldar> No real reading.
<Kheldar> Literacy is not a common skill.
<Kent> grr.... "Thom, there's something VERY wrong."
<Kheldar> "What do you mean?"
<Kent> Jannot opoints to the passage in the book, but then reads it to Thom...
<Kheldar> "It could be a coincidence. How old is that book anyway?"
<Kent> good question, what are the origins of the book?
<Kheldar> Well, the book itself is probably 40 or 50 years old. The passage being quoted is supposedly from about 80 years before that...
<Kent> "I don't know, over a hundred year's I'd say, but Death! returning to the fathers sons!?"
<Kheldar> "Well, I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean, but death has been here many times before, and this is not the only "fish-city" around..."
<Kent> Jannot stops and thinks about that. He's right. There could be other sities that this refers to. And it was 3 birds, not three wings...
<Kheldar> Of course, prophecy always tends to be a little... obscure...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Maybe you're right. I'll just try to calm down a little bit."
<Kent> "But you understand why this bothered my, don't you?"
<Kheldar> "I suppose. I really wouldn't worry to much about it though. What can you do anyway?"
<Kent> "I don't know." But Jannot is actually thinking about tying to find the source of this book. perhaps the author or the original that the author quoted.
<Kheldar> Right, the book you have right now does make a point that the quoted text is only part of a slightly longer prophecy. The rest was omitted, as it was only being used to make a particular point about trends of the day.
<Kent> Jannot decides to think on it more later, and goes into the house, placing the book on the kitchen table - to be returned to at dinner-0time.
<Kheldar> Good enough.
<Kent> Jannot tries tro focus on the rest of the days' work.
<Kent> ...and okay. The day passes?
<Kheldar> There's nothing else worth mentioning during the rest of the day...
<Kent> and after closing up the shop Jannot invites Thom to have dinner with him - if he can tear himself from his 'loving' family
<Kheldar> Thom ponders. "You still worried about those birds?"
<Kent> Jannot hangs his head, "Well, yeah, Kind of."
<Kheldar> Thom grins. "I know you too well, boy. Sure, I'll stay for the evening."
<Kheldar> Thom helps as needed...
<Kent> Jannot smiles, "Thanks, Thom." Jannot puts togetther a good dinner - "You can go let your family know what you're up to while I'm making dinner..."
<Kheldar> "Naw, they'll just figure I'm working late. No big deal."
<Kent> "Yeah, you're a real hard-working old guy..." Jannot chuckles.
<Kheldar> Thom lightly punches you in the arm and grins, "Watch your mouth boy!"
<Kent> "Yeah, yeah."
<Kent> And so dinner ensues.
<Kheldar> As you sit down to eat, Thom asks, "So, tell me what's on your mind..."
<Kent> Putting down his fork, or chopsticks, or whatever "Well, that passage says that death returns fromt eh sea to the air to the ground... Well, there was that story way back that that - gulp - plague, originated from some sick guy that came in on a ship.
<Kheldar> (fork)
<Kent> "Well, the birds were sea-birds."
<Kheldar> "It seems to me, Jannot, that your thinking would point more strongly to this... "prophecy" talking about that plague."
<Kheldar> "You know me. I'm a practical man. It's best to just take what life gives you and deal with it. You can't worry yourself too much about what lies ahead."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Well, in that case, would you happen to know any... less-practical people that might know about this sort of thing?"
<Kheldar> He sighs.
<Kheldar> "Well..." He stops, eats for a bit, then looks up at you.
<Kheldar> "I'll tell you what, if it would make you feel better, you can take the day off tomorrow and run up to the library and do some poking around. I can handle things by myself for a day."
<Kent> "Well, I wouldn't want to slough off the work to you... but I do think that I wouldn't be able to get this off my mind."
<Kheldar> "That's kind of what I figured. We'll bost be better served by you taking care of this."
<Kent> "I'll take you up on that offer. Thanks, again Thom. It's nice to have you here for dinner again. It's... been a while."
<Kheldar> "It certainly has at that. Seems so easy for me to get caught up with things at home or work." He shrugs.
<Kent> "Well, the room you used to use is still open." Jannot smiles.
<Kheldar> He clears his throat. "Seems to me you should be looking for someone to help start filling those rooms..."
<Kent> "Oh gees...Well, maybe the mystery woman will be in the library tomorrow." Jannnot says eating a bit more.
<Kheldar> He grins.
<Kent> After cleaning up after dinner, before going to bed, Jannot will check out the 'grounds'.
<Kheldar> You take a look around, both inside and out, but nothing seems out of the ordinary.
<Kent> Are there the sounds of night birds? They're so calming.
<Kheldar> Yes, there are some. You can see a few birds drifting in the cool air, a red sky behind them.
<Kent> "Red sky at night... sailors delight... where did I read that..." as he makes heis way to bed.
<Kent>
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> So, morning dawns, and your up , ready for the day... ?
<Kent> Jannot wakes having been reassured by Thom the night before feeling a little foolish about making a special trip to the library just because he's afraid of a more-than-likely unrelated prophecy froma mad-man.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot goes about making breakfast for the both of them... and if Thom isn't up yet - proceeds to pound a little on his room door.
<Kheldar> Wait, wait wait. Get ahold of yourself man. Thom went home after dinner. Sorry to disappoint...
<Kent> WHAT?
<Kheldar> Can't expect him to completely abandon his family.
<Kheldar> Sorry about the misunderstanding.
<Kent> Oh. I suppose I misunderstood... Ahem. Okay. after making breakfast and eating it, Jannot will go to set up the shop for business for the day.
<Kheldar> Right then. Today Thom comes in at about his usual time. He seems gald to see you. "Sleep well?"
<Kent> Jannot smiles, "Yeah, I slept pretty good. You?"
<Kheldar> "Oh... Not bad I suppose."
<Kheldar> "You still planning on heading to the library?"
<Kent> "Yeah, I'd better. Just to get it out of my mind for once and for all."
<Kheldar> He nods. "Don't forget to take some money with you. I think they charge you...
<Kent> Oh. I see. Hm. "Okay, thanks for the reminder THOM."
<Kent> And after helping Thom finish opening up the shop and preparing for the day, Jannot will make his way back into the house to grab some coin.
<Kheldar> "1 silver piece just to get in and look. Lots more if you want to borrow something."
<Kheldar> You've got... oh about 20 silver in disposable cash right now.
<Kent> Recall his 'comfortable wealth'
<Kent> Especially since he has a nice business going.
<Kheldar> Oh yeah, hang on... make that about 40 silver in disposable cash.
<Kheldar> Or about 4 gold.
<Kheldar> ...400 bronze... 4000 copper...
<Kent> Okay. He'll grab about 5 silver of random coins.
<Kheldar> For comparison, lunch might cost you about 1 bronze...
<Kent> conversion?oh, oh, ok.
<Kheldar> 10s all the way across, gold -> silver -> bronze -> copper -> tin.
<Kent> okay... um, he takes with him...3 silver, 18 bronze, 12 coppper and 3 tin.
<Kheldar> Oh, actually, lunch might cost about 1 copper.. my bad.
<Kent> oooh. That makes the library rather expensive!
<Kheldar> Yup, very true.
<Kent> Knock two of those silver.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> And off Jannot goes.
<Kent> While he walks, he again ponders getting a donkeyt... he ofcourse brings the borrowed book with him.
<Kheldar> Of course.
<Kheldar> You've seen donkeys sell for close to 3 gold or so...
<Kent> Does Jannot notice anything out of the ordinary during his somewhat uncomfortable walk through throngs of people?
<Kent> Exactly.
<Kheldar> Hmm... nothing seems odd. You don't like the crowds, but it's something you can endure.
<Kheldar> The library is up in the nicer district of the city. You feel a little out of place, but then again you aren't exactly from a slum yourself.
<Kheldar> Yes, but tanners aren't exactly the top of the business heap.
<Kent> Why? He's a successful busienss man.Yeah, true.
<Kheldar> After all, tanning shops don't exactly smell good, which means they don't tend to be in the nice sections of town.
<Kent> okay - approaching the linbrary. I'm going to assume he's been her e anumber of times before...
<Kheldar> Sure. Sounds reasonable.
<Kent> ...? and he enters the library...
<Kheldar> You entry the library, paying the fee at the entrance.
<Kheldar> As always, you stop and take a look around, amazed (as you are each time) at the stacks and stacks of books.
<Kent> Is there going to be any trouble with the dfact that he has a book with him? and he'll want to leave with that book?
<Kheldar> Ah, good question. When you enter, the book's description is noted. You will of course be searched when you leave the library to make sure you are not taking out anything you haven't payed to borrow.
<Kent> good enough.
<Kent> Is there a refernce person?
<Kheldar> Most certainly. There are a couple men at desk whose job is to help people who need assistance finding things.
<Kent> Jannot makes his way to the nearest one - if he's unoccupied.
<Kheldar> He is a skinny man, with graying hair that kind of sticks out at random. He's currently looking over a list of some kind, but he looks up as you approach.
<Kheldar> "You need some help?" He asks in a friendly tone.
<Kent> "Yes,' Jannot says as he approaches. He places the book on the counter. "I'm trying to determine the origin of a prophecy that's quoted in here..." and Jannot points it out to him.
<Kheldar> The man looks the passage over, then flips back a page or two in the book and studies some of the context...
<Kheldar> "hmmm... It appears that the author is referencing a work by an elven mystic."
<Kent> "Oh."
<Kheldar> "One by the name of ... Llauron Mistover."
<Kent> <nice>
<Kheldar> "He died... I believe it was around 60 years ago."
<Kent> "Would you have the original work that this author was quoting?"
<Kent> Jannot smiles. "Certainly."
<Kheldar> "I can certainly look. Would you follow me?" He gets up from his desk and heads for a section of the library.
<Kheldar> The man looks through a number of books, and at last pulls out a thin book and gently places it on a nearby desk.
<Kent> By the way, since Jannot is particulkarly interested in elven and dwarven histories, has he heard of this particular 'mystic' before?
<Kheldar> Strangely enough, the little colored cubes say "MOST DEFINITELY"... (4)
<Kent> HA HA Ha ha ha... excellent.
<Kheldar> The name sounds familiar. You've heard him mentioned before. He was a grey elf who spent little time with elves, but instead lived in human cities, or spent time on his own.
<Kent> cool.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> The librarian gently truns some of the pages in the book, looking through it. Then he puts it back on the shelf and this time takes down a scroll. He opens this on the table and scans through it.
<Kent> Oh. A scoll. <grrr...>
<Kheldar> "Ah, here we go. Llauron was a grey elf. He spent a lot of time with humans as I recall."
<Kent> "Yes, I am familiar with him."
<Kheldar> "Ah, good. Unfortunately, we don't have a translation of this work, but I can show it to you."
<Kheldar> He points out a particular section...

<Kent> ... "Hmm. are there any other passages or works by the same fellow?"
<Kheldar> "This whole scroll has many things which he said. This particular passage here was a single prophecy he made. The rest were made at other times."
<Kent> "Do you have a piece of parchment and a quill so I can copy this?"
<Kheldar> "I do, though I will have to charge you for that..." He seems apologetic.
<Kent> "Why? will you make the copy for me?"
<Kheldar> "No, but we don't run a charity here. We can also copy it for you, although we charge for those services as well."
<Kent> Jannot sighs, "Fine. What does it cost?"
<Kheldar> "Seven bronze per sheet of parchment, nine for the higher quality paper."
<Kent> "7 BRONZE!"
<Kheldar> [GM This is not an unreasonable price.]
<Kent> Oh. well, it sounded expensive, compared to food...Yeah, right. Okay.
<Kheldar> [GM Yes it is expensive, but then it's not like you have tons of other things you spend your money on. A good book could easily cost 10 or more gold."
<Kent> OUCH....
<Kent> Jannot reluctantly pulls out the 7 bronze.
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> [Good thing you brought some extra cash...]
<Kent> Yeah, I was afraid I might want to actually borrow a book... NOT LIKELY!
<Kheldar> Right, the man leaves you to your copying. The parchment of course has the library's mark in the upper corner so that you can take it with you when you leave.
<Kent> So, Jannot goes and makes a careful copy of the transcript.Oh. Okay...
<Kent> odd, but whatever.
<Kent> After copying the passage I return the scroll to the fellow.
<Kheldar> Right. "Is there anything else you need help with?"
<Kent> "Well, I was wondering if there was anyone that might be familiar with these types of prophecies..."
<Kheldar> "A sage you mean?"
<Kent> "Sure, I guess. Or perhaps do you know of any Elves that would be willing to translate this?"
<Kheldar> "I can certainly find you someone who would be willing to translate for you. He doesn't work free of course..."
<Kent> "Well, is he an elf?"
<Kheldar> "Actually no, but he does specialize in languages of many kinds. The library employs his services on occasion."
<Kent> "Oaky. So, how do I find this gentleman?"
<Kheldar> The librarian explains to you how to find the man. It's not too far from the library.
<Kent> Jannot thanks the fellow and goes on his way. How long did the library trip take?
<Kheldar> Oh, I'd say it's late morning by now. The walk to the library took the most time.
<Kent> Good. Not lunch time yet.
<Kent> Well, Jannot screws up his self control and prepares to meet yet another stranger...
<Kheldar> Ok. You follow the directions, and soon find a... Well, kind of just a small awning covering an area with a couple tables and books. The man apparently sets up out on the street during the day.
<Kent> THat's different.
<Kheldar> It's summer after all, nice to get at least a little breeze rather than being cooped up inside.
<Kent> True.
<Kent> Jannot approaches the fellow.

<Kent> ok. That reminds me, my wife needs to call a friend about working on a group project...
<Kheldar> So what, you want to break here, or keep playing, or what?
<Kent> Well, Lets break hee and maybe I can get back online in a short while.
<Kent> Yeah. This is fun!
<Kheldar> Ok, that's fine. We've made some decent progress... Hope you're finding things... interesting.
<Kent> Oh yeah.
<Kent> Of course it COULD be a wild... seagull- chase.
<Kheldar> By the way, how does Jannot feel about prophecy in general. Is it usually a wild scam, or is it really true.
<Kent> I really hadn't thought about it. He's not particularly religious...but the plague was always mysterious... and he's read plenty about other prophecies before... Yeah, I'd say he has considerable doubt about them in general, but this one seemed so pointed that he just COULDN'T ignore it.
<Kheldar> So, he's open minded then...
<Kheldar> So, another question, what would his current interpretation be of what he's seen so far?
<Kent> Hm. Well, He's thinking that likely this has nothing to do with him directly... and likely nothing to do directly with the city even... but there's a little smudge of fear still there.
<Kheldar> Interesting, and what about the specifics, any thoughts on the sea/air/earth thing or on what father's sons means?
<Kent> Well, that';s the POINTED part of the prophecy that wouldseem to fit. That's the part that causes him fear.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> I mean the birds... he supposes... could be - carriers...
<Kheldar> Of course, as Thom might say, "All males are their father's son..."
<Kent> yeah, there's that.

Next time... The Prophecy Revealed

 

[AStott]

So, a quick question for anyone reading. Was the previous post too long? Should I break them up into shorter posts, or are things ok as they are?

 

[AStott]

Session 2: The Prophecy Revealed

<Kheldar> Ok, let's see. You had just found the little ... covered area where this sage conducts his business.
<Kent> Yeah... that's the tichet.Sage?
<Kent> Sage??
<Kheldar> Yes, a sage of sorts. An expert in languages.
<Kent> <grin> Ok. Fair enough.
<Kent> Does the fellow have any other customers?
<Kheldar> Not at this point. He is eating an apple and reading a book. He is an older man, definitely human.
<Kent> Ok. Jannot takes a deep breath, "...okay, he's just another normal, ordinary fellow... Hello there sir."
<Kheldar> He looks up. "Good day to you sir. Can I be of assistance?"
<Kent> Jannot steps up closer to the 'pavillion' and hands him the paper that he copied from the scroll. "Yes, Can you givee me an accurate, word-for-word translation of this?"
<Kheldar> "Hmmm..." He looks it over.
<Kheldar> "I certainly can. I will charge you one silver for a translation and additional background information. I can also answer any related questions you might have."
<Kheldar> (Or 10 bronze as the case might be...)
<Kent> Ahem... "Well, then, I guess okay." Jannot fishes out a silver, but before handing it over he asks, "Oh, will that be a written translation?"
<Kheldar> "I can write it for you. Will the back of this parchment do?" He gestures to the back of the copy you handed him.
<Kent> "That would be very good." Jannot hands the coin(s) over.
<Kheldar> "Ok then." He tucks the money away. "This language is an old form of Kayesh" (That's the language you speak).
<Kent> He he he.,..
<Kent> "Hm. I thought that this was Elvish."
<Kheldar> "No, but there are some similarities. Old Kayesh is actually a branch form of elvish."
<Kheldar> I would guess that this was written...
<Kheldar> perhaps a couple hundred years ago.
<Kheldar> "Or at least it uses a form of the language that dates to around that time."
<Kent> "Oh. Okay. That's interesting."
<Kheldar> "It appears to be a poem of sorts. It's written with a particular style that indicates something like that."
<Kheldar> "It reads something like the following:"
<Kheldar> He speaks slowly as he writes on the back of the parchment, flipping back and forth to look again at the front.
<Kheldar> "Three... birds perhaps together
<Kheldar> from sea to air to ground... or land perhaps.
<Kheldar> death comes back to the fish city
<Kheldar> hunting for the sons of the fathers.
<Kent> Jannot tries to hide an internal 'YIKES!'
<Kheldar> Endless blue plains (like with grass, you know)
<Kheldar> contain ... or hold hidden power
<Kheldar> complete surrounding... yes, surrounding reveals
<Kheldar> darkness or blackness perhaps seeks the way
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> son of skin crafter
<Kheldar> once kept hidden
<Kheldar> burns ... perhaps sears is better... away dark clouds
<Kheldar> brings the... arrival of the ring.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot's jaw tries to drop, but he contains it... barely.
<Kheldar> "It's an odd passage."
<Kent> "Yeah, I'll say it is..." Jannot says quietly.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannoit clears his throat. "So, do you know of it's origins?"
<Kheldar> No, it doesn't sound familiar to me. I'm guessing though that what you've given me is not complete.
<Kheldar> It seems... well fragmentary at best. As of course you can tell.
<Kent> Jannot tells the man that he came from the Library and tells him who the reference librarian told him about the author.
<Kheldar> "Ah... hmm... I suppose it could be Llauron. It would fit in about right."
<Kent> "Do you know of any other passages of this sort from the same author?"
<Kheldar> "I'm afraid not. I haven't really studied much of the mystics and prophets."
<Kent> "Do you know of someone else that might know more about this sort of... thing?"
<Kheldar> He sighs as he thinks for a bit.
<Kent> ...trail of crumbs...
<Kheldar> "Well, not in this city. You might find some..." he sniffs. "crackpots around here that like to collect this sort of thing, but I certainly wouldn't trust such a source."
<Kheldar> "If this were something I were investigating, I should probably look to Freehold for further information."
<Kent> <Question to the GM:>Freehold. I've heard that name before...
<Kheldar> [Freehold would be the "capitol" of this "empire".]
<Kheldar> [Freehold is probably a week or two of travel]
<Kent> "There isn't anyone closer that you would trust?"
<Kheldar> He scratches his head and thinks.
<Kheldar> "Unfortunately not. prophecies from a few hundred years ago are just not popular subjects... I can't say I'm surprised."
<Kheldar> "I could certainly take this up as an advanced research case if you'd like me to. I have contacts in Freehold and other places that could obtain some information for me... for you that is."
<Kent> "Well, how much would that sort of thing cost?"
<Kheldar> "Well, it wouldn't be cheap. It would depend of course on what I could find and how much effort it took. I wouldn't consider undertaking such a task for less than 5 silver."
<Kent> "I'll have to think about that. How long do you think it might take for such an undertaking?"
<Kheldar> Well, it would take at least three weeks before I could start getting anything. That's just to send someone to Freehold and hear back from them.
<Kheldar> Unless of course this was urgent, then we could make arrangements for a fast courier.
<Kheldar> You are certainly welcome.
<Kent> "Hm. Perhaps this is getting a bit out of hand... You know, Thank you for your help. Are you always here during the work week?"
<Kheldar> Yes, this is my regular spot. There a good friend of mine across the way who sells apples you know.
<Kent> "Um, Ok. Thanks." What time of the day is it again?
<Kheldar> I believe it's a little before noon.
<Kent> Good. "I suppose it's almost time for a mid-day meal."
<Kent> "Thanks again. If I have any other questions I may come calling again."
<Kheldar> Oh good. Have a pleasant day.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot begins backing away from the fellow, "Yeah, thanks. You too." He turns and goes to by an apple.
<Kent> that's buy buy an apple.
<Kheldar> Ok, 7 copper, no problem.
<Kheldar> Leaving you with 1 bronze, 5 copper and 3 tin...
<Kent> 7 copper?! I guess that's reasonable.
<Kheldar> It is a good apple anyway...
<Kent> "Boy..." Jannot mutters to himself, "Expensive morning. Curiosity is going to impoverish me..."
<Kheldar> Besides, fruit isn't always cheap...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Well, Jannot takes his apple core and his translated ... poem and heads back to the shop.
<Kent> "So, slow day?"
<Kheldar> Ok. When you get back, the shop is empty except for Thom. He is working on a hide.
<Kheldar> "Oh, not too bad. How about you. Has you mind been put at ease?"
<Kent> "Well, " he says coming up closer to Thom, "yes and no."
<Kheldar> Thom puts down his work. "Tell me..."
<Kent> Check this out. I found a more complete version of the passage I remembered from that book. I copied it down from the library scroll and had another fellow translate it..." handing the parchment to Thom.
<Kheldar> [Remember, he can't read...]
<Kent> DOH!
<Kent> Jannot reads it.
<Kent> aloud..
<Kheldar> Thom seems to start a little at the part about skin crafter...
<Kheldar> "That's... curious."
<Kent> "Yeah, kinda hitting the nail a bit squarely..."
<Kent> Jannot sighs. "So, What do you think? The guy that translated the original said that he wouldn't trust anyone local to know more detail about the author or the origins of this... poem."
<Kheldar> "Calling it a poem now, are you?"
<Kheldar> "Hmm.."
<Kent> "Well, that's what he called it." Jannot smiles. "Makes it seem a bit less... threatening, I suppose."
<Kheldar> Thom grins... a little. "Well, it certainly sounds somewhat... disturbing. You're almost starting to convince me there is something to this."
<Kent> "Oh man! I forgot! I forgot to ask the man if he knew the reference to the 'fish city'."
<Kheldar> "Hmmm...
<Kheldar> "Well, if this really is a true prophecy, what can we do about it?"
<Kent> "Well, I don't know. I don't think I've ever really thought about ... prophecies... and fate... and that sort of thing."
<Kheldar> Thom nods his head in agreement.
<Kheldar> "You don't think it's talking about another plague of some kind, do you?"
<Kent> "I mean, I have a life! I have a shop to run... " nodding to Thom "with great help of course..."
<Kent> That's what I thought at first... "
<Kheldar> "At first?"
<Kent> Well, I don't know what to think now."
<Kheldar> certainly
<Kent> <let me re-read some things...> Jannot picks up the parchment and reads it again...
<Kent> <You know, I never though you'd use my little story for such a ... complete 'in'>
<Kheldar> [Which story?]
<Kheldar> [Actually, I learned about your story after I'd already come up with a good chunk of the plot...]
<Kheldar> [You just handed me some convenient... tools]
<Kent> <Character background... plague... > Hm. Yeah. That's it.
<Kent> Jannot still reading the parchment again...
<Kent> "Well, then there's this following portion that reads like an... like a way to... I dunno, fix the situation."
<Kheldar> Thom scratches his head. "Perhaps... although I don't really see a connection between some ring and ... well... fixing a possible plague..."
<Kent> "Jannot tosses the parchment to a convenient work table... "I don't either."
<Kent> He shakes his head.
<Kent> Well, is there something more productive I could do around the shop?"
<Kheldar> "Sure, you can work on the orders over there..."
<Kent> Jannot nodds his head. Goes to change into his work clothes to clear his head... working on hides.
<Kheldar> Right... sounds fine. Any of his thoughts you'd like to share?
<Kent> No. Nothing really coming into focus. It's just kind of... flooring, that I... or well anyone for that matter, could be wrapped up in some such thing... I'll just... work for a while.
<Kheldar> You change and make your way back to the shop. You work for a bit, and pretty soon, Thom speaks up...
<Kheldar> "You don't suppose we should... well tell someone?"
<Kheldar> "I mean, if something bad is going to happen..."
<Kent> Jannot looks up from his work... "Who'd we tell, the magistrate? The captain of the guard? And what would we say?..." Jannot pauses..."We really don't know that this is really anything at all."
<Kheldar> "I suppose...
<Kheldar> "I don't know."
<Kent> "...but, I suppose that it would be foolish to ignore a ... warning... if that's what this is."
<Kheldar> Thom stops for a bit... "...a warning, eh? You know, it kind of seems a little less real now that I stop and think about it. Why on earth would someone a couple hundred years ago try to warn us, even of a plague."
<Kheldar> "Maybe this isn't anything after all..."
<Kent> Jannot chuckles... "Why does a person write down the words of a seemingly crazy person and call it a prophecy?" Jannot smiles.
<Kheldar> "More than a little mad themselves I'm thinking."
<Kent> Jannot laughs as he returns to his work. "Yeah, most likely."...though Jannot isn't entirely convinced.
<Kheldar> Thom seems a little more settled, having thought things through in his own way.
<Kent> Unless Thom brings it up, Jannot will wait until Thom's gone for the evening to talk through this to himself.
<Kheldar> Ok. The rest of the day passes by in what seems to be an eternity. At last, the customers are gone and Thom wishes you well before heading home.
<Kent> "You have a good night Thom. Hey, you keep your eyes and ears open, ok?"
<Kheldar> He grins. "I'll do that."
<Kheldar> right
<Kent> Jannot nodds and finishes closing up the shop and doing the paperwork.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> ... "sure would be nice if I had a ... companion..." he mutters to himself. Well, not that kind of companion...
<Kheldar> [and Thom isn't? ]
<Kent>
<Kheldar> [ahhhh...]
<Kent> Jannot finishes closing and goes to clean up for the evening and eat soemthing for dinner.
<Kheldar> Ok then.
<Kent> Time passes...
<Kheldar> Anything else this evening then?
<Kheldar> No companion?
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Um... He'll just ... eat... and ... re read that portion of that book that he borrowed... and Oh no... no, no, no... He'd never resort to that...He can barely talk to strangers... that would be ENTIRELY out of the question...
<Kheldar> Thought not.
<Kent> So... he re-reads that portion of that book ... then the poem... and then... repeat.
<Kheldar> Right. The translations are slightly different on the part you have to compare. Kind of makes you wonder how accurate either one is.
<Kent> Yeahj. I noticed that myself...
<Kheldar> But... Well, there it is. You ponder it until late into the night, and... at last weary...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> ... and try not to forget to blow out the light before falling to sleep.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> You are startled awake the next morning by a irregular thumping against the wall of the house.
<Kent> ... "Huh... " Jannot pulls on pants, shoes and a shirt quickly. "Hello?" He calls out... what time is it ... abouts?
<Kheldar> It sounds like something is hitting the wall.
<Kheldar> It's light outside, possible not too much before you'd normally wake.
<Kent> Which wall? Near the door?
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kent> Jannot approaches the door..."Hello? Is someone there?"
<Kheldar> You can vaguely hear what could be the voices of children...
<Kent> Children... Do I have a window?
<Kheldar> Certainly.
<Kent> Jannot opens a window and peers ... carefully... out.
<Kheldar> A rock narrowly misses the window. It seems there are a half -dozen kids throwing rocks at the wall of your house.
<Kent> Jannot looks at the kids... are they horsing around? ngry?
<Kheldar> Certainly looks like. They're laughing.
<Kent> "Hey, get away from there! You want me to call the guard?"
<Kheldar> They spot you and go scampering off down the alley.
<Kent> Jannot closes the window... "how bizarre..." He'll open the door... carefully... and checks around to see if anything is broken.
<Kheldar> [I'm guess you have a bird feeder of sorts?]
<Kheldar> Or at least a place where you put seed for bird?
<Kent> Bird feeder... well, how about... a ... um... small water fountain.
<Kent> Sure. I'll toss seeds below the fountain from time to time.
<Kheldar> You don't spy anything broken, but you do spot something over in the... bird bath.
<Kent> HTere you go.
<Kent> Jannot casts another glance to the wall of the house to see where the rocks were hitting for damage... before checking out the birdbath.
<Kheldar> There are some marks in the whitewashing...
<Kheldar> As you approach the bird bath, you realize that there is a dead bird in it. It is a night-time bird.
<Kheldar> You spot another on the ground just beyond.
<Kent> A night bird... and another? Jannot doesn't touch them... and looks around... for a third.
<Kheldar> You don't spot one.
<Kent> Have there been any instances before with these kids?
<Kheldar> Oh, every now and then they like to get into mischief.
<Kent> Jannot looks the birds over... were they obviously killed?
<Kheldar> Nope.
<Kheldar> Although... they kind of smell bad... Like they've already been dead a few days.
<Kent> Oh... OH.... oh... "Flaming kids..." Jannot goes to the shop to get those gloves again.
<Kheldar> ok
<Kheldar> uh... The first bird you pick up... is not all stiff. It can't have been dead all that long...
<Kent> He'll grab the two birds and toss them onto the trash heap... with the gloves on, he feels like looking a bit closer at the bird.
<Kheldar> You don't notice anything, other than a foul odor.
<Kent> Jannot notes the bad smell and tosses the birds on the trash heap.
<Kheldar> right
<Kent> ... and then thinks that this might be a small piece of a larger picture...
<Kent> Jannot takes his gloves off in the shop and then goes out front to see if there are any city guards within sight.
<Kheldar> Not at the moment, no.
<Kent> are there any other... dead birds laying around?
<Kheldar> Nope
<Kent> "Hmm..." What about the other birds Jannot tossed on the heap yesterday?
<Kheldar> You go back and check. They're still there.
<Kent> Have they been picked over any by ... rats or carrion birds?
<Kheldar> Hmmm, good question... and the answer is...
<Kent>
<Kheldar> I'm trying to decide what would be normal... I'm not sure...
<Kent> Okay I get the idea... nothing odd to report.
<Kheldar> Uh... you aren't surpirsed by whether or not they've been picked over.
<Kent> <chuckle> good enough.
<Kent> I guess there are limits to the AMOUNT o freality there can be... and wether Jannot would know anything about it anyway...
<Kent> Jannot chalks it all up to haveing a monster of a wierd week and proceeds back into the house to have breakfast.
<Kheldar> Right
<Kheldar> Then head for the shop?
<Kent> yeah... eat... get dressed to work... open the shop...
<Kheldar> Right. Thom comes in at his usual time. He seems in good spirits.
<Kheldar> Good morning, young one.
<Kent> "Hey there, old timer. How goes the morning?"
<Kheldar> "It goes well. I've got a good feeling about business today."
<Kent> "Yeah? no pains in the old knees telling you about rain?"
<Kheldar> He grins. "I never get pains in my knees. I'm as stout as I was twenty years ago."
<Kheldar> "You're looking a little ragged. Not much sleep last night?"
<Kent> "Yeah, you're probably right. You could probably run me into the ground... and lift a horse... and eat a horse... after drinking that horse under the table..."
<Kent> Laughing...
<Kheldar> He smirks.
<Kent> "Well, I was woken a little early... Those fool kids were throwing rocks at my side wall this morning... and it looks like they put a couple of dead birds in my bird bath... the little monsters..."
<Kheldar> "Sounds like a personal problem to me..."
<Kheldar> "Did they line them all up for you?
<Kent> Jannot grumbles a little. "Yeah, personal enough to make me think about putting up a fence around the back and the side of the property...
<Kheldar> He stops to see how you'll react.
<Kent> Jannot smirks. "There were only two... so, sure they were in a line."
<Kheldar> He grins.
<Kent> Jannot lets it fall and tries to get into the daily routine... though he will keep his eye open toward the front of the business watching for a city guard.
<Kheldar> You eventually see a patrol of four go by.
<Kent> Do we have a customer at the moment?
<Kheldar> Nope.
<Kent> "Excuse me for a moment Thom..." Jannot mussters as he makes his way out front. "Ho, there! Guards?"
<Kheldar> You recognize them. They're the regular morning patrol.
<Kheldar> "Good morning Jannot. How's business?"
<Kent> ok... I had a little of a disturbance this morning... " and Jannot goes on to describe the children tossing stones... and placing the dead birds in his yard...
<Kheldar> "Trouble?
<Kheldar> "Those kids again, eh? Well, we'll stop by and talk to their moms about that! Can't have kids disturbing good business men..."
<Kheldar> He grins good naturedly.
<Kheldar> Knowing him though, you know he'll take the time to pay a brief visit.
<Kent> "Yes, quite so/" Jannot says, a little shy yet... "Oh, and one other thing..."
<Kent> Yesterday I found three other dead birds in my yard... all lined up in a row."
<Kheldar> "Kids..." He rolls his eyes.
<Kent> "You haven't had many other dead birds turning up around the city have you?"
<Kheldar> "Oh... I don't know. I never really pay attention to them myself. They're just scavengers. Flying rats... you know."
<Kent> "Yeah, sure. Also, one last question. Have you ever heard of a place called the 'Fish City'?"
<Kheldar> "Fish city?" He looks at the other men...
<Kent> Jannot forces an uncomfortable chuckle... "Yeah... heard of it?"
<Kheldar> "I'm afraid not."
<Kent> "Okay then. Thanks for the help."
<Kheldar> "Yeah, you have a good day.'
<Kent> Jannot backs away, "Yeah, you too."
<Kent> Turns back to the shop... "making a rediculous fool of yourself..." he mutters.
<Kent> Ahem...
<Kheldar> The guards head on their way and you go back in the shop.
<Kheldar> Thom is just getting out a batch of furs the recently came in. They need working.
<Kent> Jannot returns to his work. "Hope those kids get a good talking to by their mothers..."
<Kheldar> Thom grins.
<Kheldar> You are working your way through the skins, stretching them out tight across drying racks and the like, when you happen across one with a marking that catches your eye. It's kind of like a burn mark or a brand. Except that it's on the inside of the skin.
<Kent> Marking...
<Kent> Hm. wild animals wouldn't have a brand.
<Kent> HHHMMMmmm....
<Kheldar> It's a kind of oval shape with a ... kind of asterix shaped mark inside near one end.
<Kent> Hm. I'll grab a pair of shears and cut the piece of hide out to place aside...
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> "Yeah?
<Kent> "Hey Thom, "Jannot says walking over with the piece of hide..."You ever seen this before?
<Kheldar> He takes a look at it... "On the inside, eh? It's got to be some... I don't know a tool or something left a mark...
<Kent> clears his throat. "Yeah, strange, eh?"
<Kheldar> "What is it with you and strange things lately?"
<Kheldar> Thom shuts up.
<Kent> "...well, I am the son of the skin crafter, right?" and extremely uncomfortable feeling comes over Jannot.
<Kent> "I have to check this out."
<Kheldar> Thom sighs. "Ok, go ahead."
<Kent> Jannot sits down and holds his head in his hands...
<Kent> "Thom... is something going on here or am I crazy?"
<Kheldar> Thom shrugs... "Maybe life sometimes throws strange things at you all in a row...
<Kent> "Yeah... ever toss wierd things to you?"
<Kent> "... in a row?"
<Kheldar> Yeah, sometimes.
<Kent> Jannot stands back up, stuffing the hide portion in his pocket (assuming there arte pockets) and says, "I'm going to fish some of this by lunch and then I'll go check this out. Can you hold down the place again?"
<Kheldar> "Yeah, sure, that's not a problem."
<Kent> "Thanks, Thom. I don't know what I'd do with out you..." Claps Thom on his shoulder as he returns to feverishly finish his work before lunch time.
<Kheldar> Good enough. Lunch time is here before you know it.
<Kent> Jannot looks up from his work... "Gotta go change and then... to the Library I guess."
<Kheldar> Going to grab some more change?
<Kent> Yeah. Probably a little more today.
<Kheldar> How much you want to take?
<Kent> well, how much did it cost to check out a book?
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Umm.... most likely more than you want to spend...
<Kent> Well, I was just using that amount as a guage.
<Kent> I'd guess that I'd want about twice what I had before.
<Kheldar> Ah... I don't recall mentioning a price to borrow, but it'd be steep.
<Kent> You did...
<Kheldar> Ok, so 4 silver then perhaps.
<Kent> or at least an estimate.
<Kent> okay. 4 silver... but make it 2 silver... 10 bronze... balh, blah, blah.
<Kheldar> Got it.
<Kent> Jannot throws together something to eat... changes clothes, grabs his ... money purse and heads for the library... or that helpful translator, whichever is closer.
<Kheldar> Right. which one?
<Kheldar> The translator is closer.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Well, then Jannot is off... to see the wizard, the wonderful ... err... nevermind
<Kent> customers>?
<Kheldar> Ok. You get down to where the sage... sits. He's there, just handing over a small package of something in exchange for a small purse.
<Kent> Jannot waits until that customer is finished and walking away.
<Kheldar> The man thanks him and leaves. The sage looks around and spies you. He waves you over.
<Kent> Jannot nodds... and comes over. "Hello again. I have a question for you.
<Kheldar> "Certainly.
<Kent> Jannot pulls out the portion of hide.
<Kent> Have you seen anything like this?
<Kheldar> He looks it over. "I can't say that I have."
<Kheldar> "Do you want me to look into it?"
<Kent> Jannot takes the hide back. "No, but thanks anyway. Oh, have you ever heard of a place called the 'Fish City'?"
<Kheldar> "The Fish City?
<Kent> "Yeah, it's in the translation you gave me yesterday..."
<Kheldar> "Yes, I recall... I suspect that it is not an actualy name for any particular city, but rather a.. colorful reference. I would suspect any city along the coast."
<Kent> "Hm. So, no particular city then... Okay. One other thing: Have you noticed any dead birds around recently?"
<Kheldar> He seems a little surprised by your question. "Well...
<Kheldar> "...come to think of it, I really haven't seen many birds lately.
<Kent> Oh no...
<Kent> Jannot looks away to hide a feeling on anxiety. "Ok. Well, thanks then."
<Kheldar> "Have you decided whether or not you'd like me to look further into the matter of the text you showed me yesterday?
<Kent> "Um... well, what are the up-front charges?"
<Kheldar> he ponders...
<Kent> thinking pretty hard there...
<Kheldar> "Oh, I'd probably need five silver up front. Refundable of course if you cut things short before I spend that much on expenses. Mostly refundable that is."
<Kent> "Well, I'll habve to think about it."
<Kheldar> "Good day!" he calls
<Kent> Jannot turns away and makes his way toward the Library, "Thanks!" He calls over his shoulder... a bit preocupied.
<Kheldar> Right...
<Kheldar> So, the library... a 1 silver entry fee...
<Kent> Yeah...
<Kheldar> You enter the library...
<Kent> Jannot makes his way to the reference desk.
<Kheldar> Right. You are again greeted and asked if you need help.
<Kent> Has Jannot seen this symbol before? (Heraldry)
<Kheldar> No, it doesn't look familiar.
<Kent> ok
<Kheldar> It's not a standard heraldric symbol.
<Kent> okay
<Kent> "I found this strange symbol on... well, I found it. Do you recognize it?"
<Kheldar> The librarian gives you a funny look, but examines the mark (without taking the hide, after all, it's not actually completely cured).
<Kent> <oh yeah>
<Kheldar> "It doesn't look familiar to me"
<Kent> "So you have no idea what it is?"
<Kheldar> "I can't say that I do."
<Kent> Jannot mutters a quiet explicative... strange for him to do. "Thank you. one other question, Have you any knowledge of the reference to a 'Fish City'?"
<Kheldar> "Certainly..
<Kheldar> "I should guess that it could refer to a mythical underwater city populated entirely by talking fishes. There is a child's tale collection that I've seen that mentions it.
<Kheldar> [GM:
<Kent> Jannot sighs... hanging his head.
<Kent> [not funny.... well okay, maybe a little, but not much.]
<Kheldar> [hey, I'm laughing]
<Kent> Nothing else?
<Kheldar> He thinks for a minute. "I'm afraid not."
<Kheldar> "Would you like to see the book?"
<Kent> "Well, unless it's translated, it won't do me any good..."
<Kheldar> "Translated? It written in Kayesh..."
<Kent> "Yeah, isn't it in Keyish?"
<Kent> "Old Kayesh?"
<Kheldar> [The other scrap was in old kayesh, you speak modern kayesh]
<Kent> right
<Kent> um... "Yeah, please get that for me."
<Kheldar> Ok, he heads off with you in tow and finds a small bound book. It appears to have been a noble-man's story book for kids. It has various tales in it.
<Kent> Is that the same boomk as two days prior?
<Kheldar> Nope, your borrowed book is a history book. The other was a scroll.
<Kent> ritght.
<Kent> k
<Kheldar> So... There doesn't seem to be anything about the book that catches your attention.
<Kent> "Okay then. Have you seen any symbols SIMILAR to this one in any of your research?"
<Kheldar> He looks at it again. "Well, not in my research, but it kind of looks a little like an egg... you know, hatching?"
<Kent> Jannot looks at it again... "Huh. I guess it does, doesn't it... Thanks."
<Kheldar> He shrugs.
<Kent> Jannot makes his way out of the library.
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> Ok. And home?
<Kent> No. Not yet.Jannot thinks for a second. How far is it to go to the fellow that he bought the hides from?
<Kheldar> The ones from this morning?
<Kent> If that's the load that this portion came from... yes.
<Kheldar> Right. You have no idea. They were brought in fresh from out of town. You don't know the guy.
<Kent> Well, did I meet the fellow on the docks? did he bring them by himself?
<Kheldar> Actually, these were most like brought by someone who bought them from trappers.
<Kent> Hm. What sort of hide was it? Bear, elk, deer?
<Kheldar> Considering the fact that they weren't cured yet, they probably didn't come in by boat.
<Kent>
<Kent> okay.
<Kheldar> They're... yes, elk/deer. Utility, not decoration hides.
<Kent> Well, in that case... in my travels about the city, have I )Jannot) seen any ...'mystics' set up shop?
<Kheldar> heh... Sure. You can pretty easily find a couple. There are fortune tellers in dark corners, and madmen on the street of the Gods (both inside and outside the churches in some people opinions).
<Kheldar> It's not to hard to find one... Now... a reputable one? That's a slightly different story. It's not exactly a reputable business if you get my drift.
<Kent> Wow... the Street of the Gods... interesting. Like the Panmtheon?
<Kheldar> Not so much that as just a rather long street which traditionally tends to get temples built on it.
<Kent> Like the French Quarter? ... the Zealot Corner?
<Kheldar> Yes, something like that...
<Kent> Wow... Hmm. Jannot thinks hard about going there...
<Kheldar> The churches aren't clustered, they're spread out along the length of the street.
<Kent> Which church would be most suited to pophecies and the like?
<Kheldar> So, like george washington way rather than the las vegas strip.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Hmm... an interesting question...
<Kheldar> You know, this might require a little advanced planning on my part. Perhaps this is a good stopping place... Can you tell me what you might have in mind?
<Kheldar> If it wasn't here, I was going to call a halt probably shortly after you got home...
<Kent> Well, I guess it depends on whether the churches are like churches of today, or more like convents or monasteries...
<Kheldar> ah... There are some that are more monastic, but in a city they bigger churches are much more... friendly to the populace if you get my drift.
<Kent> I think I do... though I'm not certain.
<Kheldar> I can get you a religion summary by next time we play...
<Kent> Sounds good.

Next time... Plague

 

[AStott]

Session 3: Plague

<Kheldar> So, you want to know about religion in this setting?
<Kent> Yeah, that'd be good.
<Kheldar> Ok, I'll present things from a neutral point of view. Jannot will have to decide for himself where he stands.
<Kent> Yous need to learn mes about 'ligion.
<Kheldar> There are many, many gods.
<Kent> Oh.
<Kheldar> They can be generally divided into two basic categories.
<Kheldar> One category is called by their worshipers the Old Gods or the True Gods. Others call them the Powerless.
<Kent> Interesting...
<Kheldar> The other category is not exactly named by their followers, but their detractors call them... errr... new gods or false gods? hmmm... not sure about that part.
<Kent> Yeah.
<Kent> usurpers?
<Kheldar> Here's the key difference... The powerless or the old gods never seem to work obvious miracles. Their followers claim that their power comes out as the actions they take themselves. Detractors... well... obviously these gods are not real if they show no signs of power.
<Kheldar> All the other gods... The non-Powerless... have a tendancy to grant their followers powers of different kinds. These gods are much more numerous than the powerless. They have more of a tendancy to have local followers rather than global followers. They tend to have areas of specialty.
<Kheldar> Got the basic drift of things?
<Kent> uh huh... Hm. Gotch ya. Sure. It's pretty straight forward. However... what are the local gods? which are the most popular and...
<Kheldar> Oh, yes, the followers of the Old Gods believe that all the "new gods" are actually demons of some kind which ensnare people.
<Kent> RIGHT...
<Kheldar> As far as the most common, the New Gods easily have more followers. People are attracted to obvious power. For some reason though, the followers of the Old Gods just refuse to die out.
<Kent> I hear yiou there. Locally.
<Kent> Right, but I'm talkiong about where Jannot lives.
<Kheldar> In the area where you live, the biggest church would be... hmm...
<Kent> Both new and old.
<Kheldar> A new god who supposedly founded the city. He has particular powers with the ocean.
<Kent> Oh. THat's interesting. And does he have a symbol of some sort? or idol?
<Kheldar> oh... say... his symbol would be a sailing vessel on a blue background.
<Kent> FISH? doh...
<Kent> Nonterasu
<Kheldar> The largest old god following (and this is generally true, not just locally) is ... (been having troubles thinking of a name, so this might be considered not set in stone)... Az. He is supposedly the god who created the world.
<Kent> Az. That's all you could come up with?
<Kheldar> Think about the spelling for a second...
<Kent> Yeah, I get it.
<Kent> OKay. Your woerld.
<Kheldar> Hey, if you have suggestions, let me know...
<Kent> Well, I like interesting names of moderate complexity... but who's to say that a god would have the same naming convention as a mear mortal.
<Kheldar> Yes, and I'm a horrible namer...
<Kheldar> Or with old gods, who's to say that the name wasn't provided by the worshippers. It wouldn't be like an old god to tell anyone his name... or even speak to anyone...
<Kent> Hm... true.
<Kent> Okay, okay. Az it Is.
<Kent> Hm. So there isn't one in particular that tends to have the most ... mystics... involved?
<Kheldar> So, in answer to your question at the end of last session, there is no god of prophecy. Most of the prophets (at least the good ones) were followers of various old gods.
<Kent> Oh. I see.
<Kheldar> Some of the new gods have prophets but their success... varies.
<Kent> I completely follow.
<Kent> he he he..
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> Probably, depending of course on exactly what you're after.
<Kent> Okay. So, I'd most likely be looking for an old god church for something related to an 'older' prophecy.'
<Kheldar> If you want something more than a human answer, odds are that you'll need to find a new god...
<Kent> Um... Hm.
<Kent> Hm. Oh, I get your drift. What about elves?
<Kheldar> What about them?
<Kent> Are there any around? Hm.
<Kheldar> Ah... There are a couple small communities of grey elves. You've never been in that area of the city, but you've heard they keep it ... a lot more green.
<Kent> Hm. Do the elves tend to keep to themselves? Do you see them around the marketplace? Opening shops?
<Kheldar> It's not so much that they keep to themselves as it is that humans don't tend to treat them well (at least in cities).
<Kent> Hm.
<Kheldar> This is partly due to the fact that elves feel somewhat out of place in human cities, being more used to much more open cities.
<Kent> Good enough. Do the elves have a religion or god?
<Kheldar> Elves are pretty much as diverse as humanity, although there is more of a tendancy to follow the old gods.
<Kent> Hm. I write a lot...How far is that part of the city?
<Kheldar> It's probably more or less about the same distance as your shop/home, but off in a different direction.
<Kent> Recall Jannot is near the Library having just spoken... wait... or did he already decide to go to church street?
<Kheldar> You're still near the library.
<Kent> good.
<Kent> Lets see. It's almost noon, right?
<Kheldar> I believe that's correct.
<Kent> ... just had an apple... Yeah? Oh. Um... do you have that portion posted?Hm.
<Kheldar> No, that was last visit.
<Kheldar> Yup, it's up. So is the modified prophecy page.
<Kent> gr8.
<Kent> Okay, well, in that case, Jannot will head off in the direction of the elves communities.
<Kheldar> Ok.
<Kent> ...great. Now I have to meet another race...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot suppresses a shiver.
<Kheldar> So, you are able to get directions which get you near where some elves live.
<Kheldar> You begin to see a few elves here and there on the street, and you start seeing a few houses that have been built in (what you assume) is an elvish style.
<Kheldar> They tend to be fairly open, built to let in the air and light.
<Kheldar> Anything in particular you're looking for?
<Kent> Are there shops per se?
<Kheldar> Yes, there are shops. Things such as food shops, to... well, a variety of things.
<Kent> Well, since Jannot hasn't had anything to eat since breakfast, (and it's likely after noon by now, yes?) He'll go to the second food shop he sees.
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> ... as long as it's not too busy...
<Kheldar> Ok. It's a small shop selling various makings for meals.
<Kent> So... it's ala carte?
<Kheldar> Well... it's not exactly a place to eat. Is that more lke what you're looking for?
<Kent> Ah, yeah, if there's a place to eat rather than a place to buy food-stuffs, that's what he's looking for.
<Kheldar> There certainly is. It will certainly cater more to elvish-style food of course.
<Kent> He he... I'm aware...
<Kheldar> Ok then, you find a place to eat, and head inside.
<Kent>
<Kent> Is it busy?
<Kheldar> Let's see...
<Kheldar> It's a little past the normal lunch crowd.
<Kheldar> It's not too busy because most people have already eaten their noon meal.
<Kent> great. Wait do you mean that it's later than most people eat and there are as such fewer people?
<Kent> right. Um... Jannot checks out the place. Do you just sit and some one comes out or do you approach a bar?
<Kheldar> Yes, have a seat and ... apparently an elf maid will ask what you'd like.
<Kent> ooohh... elf maidens... ahem. Never mind.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot picks a table that's as by-itself as possible and has a seat.
<Kent> Right.
<Kheldar> All of the few patrons are elves. You draw a couple curious looks, but you find a seat at a table off to the side.
<Kent> Jannot is feeling uneasy... but tries to summon up the courage to stay and eat something.
<Kheldar> Soon after you are seated, you are approached by an amazingly thin elvish ... well, girl. She wears an apron, and she asks you in somewhat halting Kayesh if she can get you something to eat.
<Kent> .. ha ha ha...
<Kent> Jannot tries to speak clearly.
<Kent> "Yes. What do you have to eat?"
<Kheldar> She looks a little helpless as she says a couple things you don't understand. Then she explains, "We make plant food cooked in ... sweet juice."
<Kheldar> "Also..
<Kent> He he... Jannot looks at her and smiles. "That sounds good. what is the cost?"
<Kheldar> She smiles.
<Kheldar> "Ok. you pay ... fifteen tin?"
<Kent> Is that reasonable?
<Kheldar> That's a little on the expensive side for lunch, but not way out there. Remember you paid 7 copper for an apple...
<Kent> Oh. Then that's pretty cheap comapred to a stupid apple.
<Kheldar> Of course, fruit tends to be expensive...
<Kent> Okay, he tenders up 15 tin.
<Kheldar> She takes you money and leaves, presumably to prepare the food.
<Kent> Is there something to drink?
<Kheldar> Some of the others are drinking something from mugs.
<Kheldar> One elf drinks something, probably wine from a ... goblet.
<Kent> Hm. Well, I'm a little unsure. Do people here drink the water? I know that some places no-one actually drinks water.
<Kheldar> Hmmm... good point. Most likely not, unless you live on the very inland side of the city.
<Kheldar> Usually an alcoholic beverage that's been fairly heavily watered down.
<Kent> So, a light beverage in the middle of the day would be considered ... how about mulled cider? What types of beverages does Jannot believe that elves might drink? Hm. Okay. food for thought.
<Kheldar> ...or drink...
<Kheldar> Yeah, that'd be reasonable.
<Kheldar> You have no idea, although you've read that they do like fine wines.
<Kent> Jannot waits ... somewhat patiently and looks around, trying to observe... whatever.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> ...since he's never been in this area before... He's always wanted to visit an elven city...
<Kheldar> The place is actually kind of nice, once you get past the slightly alien feel. Some of place just feels a little strange, like it's not quite stable.
<Kent> Really.
<Kheldar> But, it there is lots of light coming into the room from outside, and a slight breeze.
<Kent> Sounds rather pleasant.
<Kheldar> The elves have pretty much ignored you, and have returned to their conversations.
<Kheldar> Yes, most (probably two thirds) of the traffic is elvish.
<Kent> Are there other elves gcoming and going out in the street? Okay. So there are a healthy number of humans out on the road as well.
<Kheldar> yes.
<Kent> k
<Kent> What other shops are visible from here?
<Kheldar> Across the road is a furniture maker (apparently).
<Kheldar> You spy a couple other shops whose purpose is not apparent to you.
<Kheldar> You also see... a candle/lamp shop.
<Kent> Hm. Okay.Jannot checks his watch, noting the time and gives Thom a call on his Cell to chekck on the business...DOH!
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> The girl soon comes back with a plate of food and a mug which she places in front of you. "Enjoy."
<Kent> "Jannot thanks the girl and waits for her to retreat before he starts intot he food...
<Kheldar> The food is.. interesting. It has a flavor that's definitely unique to you. It's not bad though. There is obviously some fish mixed in. The drink is a real lite slightly fruity drink of some kind.
<Kent> ok. Sounds like a nice place to have lunch. Is the food a soup? a mash? sandwich?Stir-fry>?
<Kheldar> No, it's more like... kind of a stir-fry.
<Kent> yeah. great.
<Kent> Jannot is really enjoying his first foray into the elvish side of the city...
<Kheldar>
<Kent>
<Kheldar> What next then?
<Kheldar> She does come back out when your nearly finished to ask if you'd like anything else.
<Kent> Well, if the girl comes out to refill his drink then when he leaves he'll leave 2 tin, otherwise 1 tin. Are the other elves that were dining there still there?
<Kent> "Yes, some more of this... juice?"
<Kheldar> Most of the other elves have left, although one or two others have come in. So, there are perhaps 3 or so others in the place now.
<Kent> Was there any particular ...custom that Jannot may have observed after eating?"
<Kheldar> None that you noticed.
<Kent> ok.
<Kheldar> right. where to?
<Kent> After finishing the juice, Jannot will leave. If he notices a human passing by that doesn't look too pre-occupied, he'll try to ask them a question.
<Kheldar> Ok, you spot a man who seems to be making his slow way down the street. He's not poor, not rich...
<Kent> okay. Jannot approaches the man. "Excuse me, could I ask you a question?"
<Kheldar> "I might be able to..."
<Kent> "Oaky... Um. I was wanting to have a translation of an elvish poem done. Would you have any ideas as to where I might start?"
<Kheldar> The man thinks for a moment...
<Kheldar> "I suppose you could try the Falling Leaf. It's a small elvish book shop not far from here."
<Kheldar> "Certainly"
<Kheldar> He gives you directions. It's not far at all.
<Kent> "Great. Thank you very much sir. Where might that be?"
<Kent> Jannot thanks the man again and is off. 'whew. talking to a stranger int he street. Tomorrow I'll be dancing in a bar...'
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot makes his way to this elvish book store.
<Kheldar> You find the place fairly easily, and enter.
<Kent> Is it as open as the restaurant was... are there a lot of customers?
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kheldar> Well, it's interesting, the place is set up with a number of comfortable chairs and some tables. There are some elves sitting here and there reading.
<Kheldar> Not many though.
<Kent> He he he... elvish B&N. Sipping a hot, thick, aromatic beverage...
<Kheldar> Yes, something like that...
<Kheldar> a dark beverage...
<Kent> he he he... okay. Is there an obvious desk or whatnot?
<Kheldar> Yes, there is. There are actually few bookshelves on the walls in the main room. Apparently most of the books are kept "in back".
<Kent> Good enough. Jannot approaches that elf.
<Kheldar> There is an older elf sitting on a stool behind a counter. Knowing the lifespan of elves, he must be... truely old.
<Kent> Hm. Maybe he'll have first hand knowledge of this other elf-prophet...
<Kent> Jannot walks up to the counter.
<Kheldar> "Can I help you, young one?"
<Kent> So is his Kayish pretty good?
<Kheldar> It's actually fairly good.
<Kent> "Yes, thank you." Jannot takes out the copy of the poem that he made and hands it to the elf. "Do you recognize this?"
<Kheldar> He looks it over, then sets it on the counter. "It's written in elvish script, but the tongue is an old form of your Kayesh.
<Kheldar> "I do not recognize where it comes from.
<Kent> Jannot tells him what the librarian told him about the author of that book quoting that other author...
<Kheldar> Ah, Llauron Mistover, is it? That's a sad story.
<Kent> "That's what I was told."
<Kent> "Why is his story a sad one?"
<Kheldar> He looks around to see if any of his customers need anything. Apparently satisfied, he gestures to a stool on your side of the counter.
<Kheldar> "Sit."
<Kent> Jannot looks over,; takes the que and sits.
<Kheldar> "Llauron was once a noble in an elf city far west of here."
<Kent> ...far west...
<Kheldar> "He was powerful in the ways of the tree and earth."
<Kheldar> "He had... a wife, and children. He seemed content."
<Kheldar> "Something changed though, many years before you were born. He seemed to think that the elves were ignorant of some vast wrong which they were living daily."
<Kent> Jannot nodds.
<Kheldar> "He was convinced that his city was doomed, and so he traveled east, eventually reaching these human lands.
<Kheldar> "He left is kin and his friends, travelling alone."
<Kheldar> "He saw you humans as a young race that could be molded, and he made it his.. ...life quest you might say, to prevent what he saw as a great evil that was yet to come."
<Kheldar> "Many of us think he became... tainted by humans ways and human thoughts. He died alone."
<Kent> "So, this passage here that I have, it's considered... what? A sad poem? a rambling of a mad man? ... a pro[phecy?"
<Kheldar> "I would call it an undying example of his folly."
<Kent> "Was there ever any more descriptive example of what he feared was coming?"
<Kheldar> "He talked many times about the things that he feared and fled. I'm sure that his words have been writing down."
<Kent> Jannot nodds and pulls out the scrap of hide that has that symbol on it. "Have you ever seen this before?"
<Kheldar> The elf pulls back slightly from the hide, but looks at the symbol. "I can't say that I recognize it."
<Kent> --afraid of that--
<Kent> Jannot puts it back in his pouch.... better make a drawing of it for next time...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> "Another question. Are there any elves that had the same fears that Llauron had?"
<Kheldar> The old elf shakes his head. "None."
<Kent> --great--
<Kheldar>
<Kent> "Do you know if you have any books here that would have his writings?"
<Kheldar> "None from after he left his home."
<Kent> --crapa-roonie--
<Kent> "Oaky, so, could you translate that passage that I gave you?"
<Kheldar> He takes a look down at the copy again and begins to speak...
<Kheldar> Three wings together
<Kheldar> from sea to air to earth.
<Kheldar> Death returns to the fish city,
<Kheldar> searching for the father's sons.
<Kheldar> Endless blue plains
<Kheldar> hold hidden power.
<Kheldar> Complete encirclement reveals.
<Kheldar> Darkness seeks the way.
<Kheldar> Son of skin crafter,
<Kheldar> once kept hidden,
<Kheldar> burns away dark clouds,
<Kheldar> brings the coming of the ring.
<Kent> "And there are no other ... goodness I don't know what to call it, prophecies that are similar to it?"
<Kheldar> "I'm afraid I wouldn't know. As I said, I'm sure that many things he said were written down."
<Kheldar> "Humans tend to be... so... short-sighted."
<Kent> Jannot raises himself up. "Short sighted?" he says quietly. Jannot motions the follow to move in closer.
<Kheldar> He looks at you some sadly, remaining where he is at.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Stubborn. Jannot stands and leans a little closer in so he can speak quietly to the fellow.
<Kheldar> He waits to hear your "words of wisdom"...
<Kent> Oh. That's what he thinks is coming.
<Kent> "The reason I am here is that I read a fragment of this passage about a week ago. Then 2 days ago I wake up in the morniing to find..." Jannot looks around to see if there are other elves that might be close enough to hear.
<Kheldar> None seem to be near.
<Kent> "... 3 dead birds in a straight line in my yard. Dead from no apparent wound. I remember this passage and look it up. Well, guess what?"
<Kent> Jannot waits.
<Kheldar> He looks at you patiently.
<Kent> "... I'm a tanner because that's what my father was. recall 'son of the skin crafter' and I say was because in that plague XX years back, my father died. Yeah, remember the part where it says 'death -- hold on-- comes back to the fish city hunting for the sons of the fathers?"
<Kheldar> --25 years--
<Kheldar> He continues listening patiently.
<Kent> "Is that all coincidence?"
<Kheldar> "Humans know nothing of the infinity of life. You believe that you are the center of everything around you. By the time you learn this, your time has already passed."
<Kheldar> [GM: evil grin]
<Kent> Jannot sighs. "So you put no value in this... prophecy?"
<Kheldar> "He left the ways and life of the elves for a false vision. I believe he was... misled."
<Kent> -- false vision --
<Kent> Oh. Hm.
<Kent> "Did he ever tell where he thought that this vision of his came from?"
<Kheldar> "I speak of a life vision.
<Kent> Jannot sighs. "Of course."
<Kheldar> He waves a hand, somewhat... frustrated, "Not a vision from some false God, but a misled life quest. He misunderstand the times he lived in."
<Kent> "Befiore he left his family behind and his friends and life of influence... Was there anything else going on of import?"
<Kheldar> He shakes his head. "Nothing that lasts long enough to be counted."
<Kent> -- what's THAT mean--
<Kheldar>
<Kent> --dude this is like pulling teeth...--
<Kheldar> --this is like reading some kind of prophecy...--
<Kheldar> --it's just so hard to explain things properly to humans...--
<Kent> "Do you happen to know what God he followed, if any, before his falling away?"
<Kheldar> The elf looks at you with a somewhat curious look on his face, as if finding the question unique and interesting. "Why no, I don't."
<Kent> "Is that something that might be recorded in writings about him before his 'falling away'?"
<Kent> -- I'll get it one way or the other... whatever 'it' is...--
<Kheldar> "Most likely not. His reputation before was limited to some small works of poetry he wrote. As for afterwords... anyone could guess."
<Kent> "When and how did he die?"
<Kheldar> "He died alone in the wilderness,"
<Kent> ... or so they were told...
<Kheldar> --true--
<Kent>
<Kent> "What wilderness?"
<Kheldar> "Somewhere here in the human lands. He never returned to the elvish cities."
<Kent> "Well..." Jannot thinks for a bit. "Who would have been the most interested in his exploits after he travelled this way?" -- other than pesky tanners --
<Kheldar> "You humans have many who are drawn to those without wisdom."
<Kheldar> "Many of you believe that theirs will be the last life lived."
<Kent> [chuckle]
<Kent> "I don't follow..."
<Kheldar> "The world does not end with you, young one. Life continues."
<Kent> "I'm fully aware that the rest of the world will continue when I'm long gone... As I said before, I've been acquainted with death for most of my life."
<Kheldar> "Not all share this view."
<Kent> Jannot is getting frustrated. "Do you know what I'm trying to determine here?"
<Kheldar> --dang elves--
<Kheldar> "what would that be?
<Kent> "No, have you been understanding why I'm persuing this line of question?"
<Kheldar> "I believe I do, and I have tried to correct you. You are stubborn."
<Kheldar> --lol oh the irony---
<Kent> Jannot hangs his head... "As are you." He raises his head and smiles. "We have that in common I suppose."
<Kheldar> "If you say so."
<Kent> --ha ha ha...--
<Kheldar>
<Kent> "Thank you for the help."
<Kheldar> "It was a pleasure to speak with you."
<Kent> Jannot gathers up his parchment.
<Kent> Jannot looks at the fellow to determine if he was being sarcastic.
<Kheldar> He seems sincere.
<Kent> really?
<Kent> Jannot smiles and nods to him and departs back for home.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> You arrive home late afternoon... There is kind of an uncomfortable feel in the air, like... before a storm or something. Nothing you can put a finger on.
<Kent> Oh great.
<Kent> The shop is still open I gather.
<Kheldar> Not open for business, but Thom is apparently still there tidying up.
<Kheldar> "A long day for you?"
<Kent> Jannot approaches Thom. "Elves make a good lunch, but don't try to get information out of one..."
<Kheldar> Thom gives a big belly laugh. "That's a good proverb."
<Kent> Jannot chuckles... "Maybe I should write it down."
<Kheldar> "Kind of a slow day today..."
<Kent> "Yeah. I went to the library and that translator again and neither one had either heard of the 'Fish City' --dang. forgot to ask the elf.--
<Kheldar> Thom grins, "And would you have cared for the answer?"
<Kent> Jannot looks at him. "Good question. I don't know. You know that patch of hide?" he says pulling the stinking thing out of his pouch. "No one recognised the symbol on it either."
<Kheldar> He nods.
<Kent> This day was a whole and complete waste."
<Kheldar> "It could just be one of the trappers is leaving a mark to try and make himself remembered."
<Kent> "Congratulations to his success."
<Kheldar> "Well, as I said, today was kind of slow, so you probably would have had a boring day around here anyway."
<Kent> "Anything out of the ordinary?"
<Kheldar> He shakes his head.
<Kent> -- is it friday?
<Kheldar> I believe that's correct.
<Kent> "Well, I suppose that we'll just need a little less pelts tomorrow when I go to the docks."
<Kheldar> "You have plans?"
<Kent> --I believe that that is the normal order of things. I figured that Saturdays he went to the docks to check out the hides that came in on ships - perhaps out-of-area pelts for more exotic/specific requests. I think I mentioned it when you asked about his schedule before.
<Kheldar> --ah, I see, sounds reasonable, other than the fact that most hides don't come in on ships. You tend to deal with turning raw pelts into usable leather...--
<Kheldar> --But, come to think of it, the docks are an ok place for raw pelts that came in overland to be sold anyway...--
<Kheldar> --sure--
<Kent> -- plus he likes to see what sorts of people and things make their way through the dock area.
<Kent> I believe that his normal schedule consists on Saturdays of first half of the day at the docks and the resst of the day shuffling inventory and working on special projects.
<Kheldar> --sounds fine--
<Kent> "Nah, just the normal. Picking up pelts and whatnot. Do you want to satay here at the shop tomorrow or come with?"
<Kheldar> "Oh... I'll come with you I guess..."
<Kent> "Great. If we finish early, maybe we can actually get some fishing in?"
<Kheldar> He brightens. "That sounds like a great idea."
<Kent> Jannot smiles and nodds. "Then it's a plan. Tell your wife that you'll be working extra long tomorrow..." Jannot chuckles.
<Kheldar> He grins... "Naw, she'd welcome some fresh fish I'm thinking."
<Kent> Jannot nods again ad goes about finishing up normal daily sorts of tasks.
<Kheldar> Right, Thom is soon done with his tasks. He bids you farewell and heads for home.
<Kent> Jannot tidies up shop and then finishes any paperwork. Dinner and bed sound welcome after a long day of walking around the city...
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> --GM is enjoying the heck out of this adventure by the way...
<Kent> dinner... Yeah. It's going pretty good I think... but it's off to a definitely different sort of start than I'm accustomed to...
<Kheldar> --That's the problem with a single player campaign, to say nothing of one where the main character is a tanner by trade, not an adventurer...--
<Kent> He he he... always willing to provide you a challenge.
<Kheldar> Right back at ya.
<Kent> yeah...
<Kheldar> Ok, then dinner and bed.
<Kent> yeah. He's a bit beat.
<Kent> ..' and I didn't even get the chance to go to those churches yet...'
<Kheldar> You wake up the next morning feeling quite refreshed. The sun is shining in, and it just feels like a nice day.
<Kent> Excellent.
<Kent> Jannot goes and gets dressed and grabs asomething for breakfast. No kids throwing rocks at the side of the house this morning... that's nice.
<Kheldar> Not today, it's quiet outside.
<Kent> ... quiet?
<Kheldar> No kids running around throwing rocks = nice and quiet.
<Kent> Good. Any birds of note out in the yard?
<Kheldar> Nope, not today.
<Kent> Jannod nodds to himself and smiles. Perhaps he's feeling a little re-assured today.
<Kent> AFter eating he gets his wagon ready and goes to check a local stable if he can rent a donkey for half the day (a normal, regular thing - weekly since he doesn't have a beast himself)
<Kheldar> Oh, yes, of course. Let's say that you have a weekly thing set up already. The stable boy gets the donkey for you without problems.
<Kent> Great. Taking the familiar animal back to the shop Jannot ties it up to a post ... somewhere, ad straps it intot he wagon...
<Kheldar> Right. Thom should show up soon.
<Kent> Yup.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot enjoys a small piece of quiet morning waiting for Thom. Just in case, Jannot stuffs his chuck of smelly pelt... isn';t there soemthing he can do about that...
<Kheldar> Not exactly, although you could probably trace a copy of the symbol on something...
<Kent> Hm. Oh yeah... Jannot scribbles a copy of the symbol onto the parchment.
<Kheldar> Right. Anything else you're taking with you today?
<Kent> ... and tosses the smelly piece of pelt into the shop on a work table. ...'make a rats purse out of it or something...'
<Kent>
<Kent> Now, a question about trade for a business man. Is he going to have money with himself to purchase the pelts?
<Kent> right
<Kheldar> Ah... Most of any purchasing done in bulk by businesses is done via letters of credit and such.
<Kent> ...and that is done how?
<Kent> okay.
<Kheldar> You have a regular... essentially a bank, although not quite so... formal as that, that handles your transactions.
<Kent> So, a signet ring or stamp or something on paper can denote the transaction?
<Kheldar> You have a ... note of credit which indicates to someone how large a draft you're allowed to make.
<Kent> ...ok...
<Kheldar> You make out a transaction paper and the person redeems it there, or trades to others.
<Kent> Ok. So is there some kind of official that is present there to draw up the transaction papers?
<Kheldar> No, they're relatively informal, although of course, they do bear a business seal which you purchased with the shop license.
<Kent> Ok. So... I bring along a bunch of parchment upon which to draft these transactions?
<Kheldar> yes.
<Kent> ... and these parchments... already have my business seal on them?
<Kheldar> You've probably already written some up, short of the amount and stamp and such.
<Kent> Ok. So I'll insert the amount and after, seal /stamp it. OKAY. Good enough.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> Usually one of you will hold the drafts and the other the stamp, just in case of a pickpocket, they don't steal both at once.
<Kent> Right.
<Kent> Well, another nice little detail ironed out for the story books...
<Kheldar>
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Thom still hasn't showed up yet though while we were discussing...
<Kheldar> ....
<Kent> ... when should he have arrived?
<Kheldar> Well, about a quarter bell (15 minutes) ago.
<Kent> Well, that could just be his wife and kids giving him trouble...
<Kheldar> True...
<Kent> ... Though Jannot begins to worry. He pulls the donkey out to the front of the business where He would be able to see Thom as he arrived.
<Kheldar> Right... you wait another quarter bell.
<Kheldar> No Thom.
<Kent> Jannot checks his voicemail...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> no. Jannot get a bit agitaated. How far is Thoms home from here?
<Kheldar> I don't think it's too far, maybe ... less than a half bell I guess.
<Kent> Are there any birds?
<Kheldar> You look around and don't see any right now.
<Kent> --is it a wagon that lets the rider ... ride while directing the donkey?
<Kheldar> No, you don't need anything quite that big. You'd walk beside it. More of a cart than a waagon.
<Kent> Ok. JKannot leads the donkey and cart fromt he house and business (after locking up) and heads to Thom's home... (I'm not liking this...)
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> [you kill off Thom and there'll be hell to pay...]
<Kheldar> --who me?--
<Kent> [grumble]
<Kheldar> You uneasy feeling increases as you travel, there seems to be less traffic on the road...
<Kent> Oh crap.
<Kent> Jannot starts to jog...
<Kheldar> The donkey protests.
<Kent> So?
<Kheldar> You know how donkeys are...
<Kent> ...grr...
<Kent> Jannot makes his way as fast as he is able...
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> You finally reach Thom's place.
<Kent> Oh crap.. Oh crap.. Oh crap..
<Kent> Jannot approaches and knocks on the door... trying to compose himself.
<Kheldar> You wait for a bit... There is no answer.
<Kent> Oh no.
<Kent> Any other traffic on the road that normally should be there?
<Kheldar> There are some people, but definitely less than normal.
<Kent> Is it a holiday that I rforgot?
<Kheldar> You think for a bit... Ah! It's April fo... err... no, that's right. Guess not.
<Kent> DOH!! I'm GONNA CRAWL RIGHT THROUGH THE PHONE LINE...
<Kheldar>
<Kent>
<Kent> laughing?
<Kheldar> --of course--
<Kheldar> But there's still no holiday..
<Kent> -- man I outta...--
<Kent> How's the weather?
<Kheldar> --what!?--
<Kheldar> It's a rather nice morning. Clear, fairly cool for the season.
<Kent> cool...
<Kent> Jannot heads back to the shop.
<Kheldar> Of course for summer, that still means pretty warm, but...
<Kent> 90 instead of a hundred...
<Kheldar> Something like that.
<Kheldar> Of course you're pretty used to the hot weather...
<Kent> ...since he grew up there...
<Kheldar> yup
<Kent> back at the homestead...
<Kheldar> Yes, you arrive back at the shop.
<Kent> Is there anyone around?
<Kheldar> Some people, some of the regular traffic apparently. People who are out don't seem to feel anything is wrong.
<Kent> Jannot ties up the donkey in the back of the shop and gets it soemthing to drink... rain water or something.
<Kheldar> Right, ok.
<Kent> and then goes back to Thoms place.
<Kheldar> Ok, you leave the donkey and cart and head back to Thom's.
<Kent> yup.
<Kent> Knocking on door... stiffly...
<Kheldar> You wait a bit, still no answer.
<Kent> Jannot calls in to the house for Thom and his wife.
<Kheldar> ...
<Kent> Tries the door.
<Kheldar> It's locked.
<Kent> What kind of neighborhood is this?
<Kheldar> Did Thom have a spare key, and did you give you it and/or tell you where he hid it?
<Kheldar> Only if you think it's appropriate for him, you know him better than me...
<Kent> Why sure... of course he did... Well, let me think. Thom may have told Jannot where an hidden key would be but he wouldn't have given a key to Jannot.
<Kheldar> Sounds good to me.
<Kent> ...checking for key... under old pot next to doorstep.
<Kheldar> Got it, it's still there.
<Kent> ...entering Thoms abode...
<Kheldar> You unlock the door, and open it... As you do, a ... nasty smell wafts out into your face.
<Kent> WHAT?
<Kent> Are all the windows closed?
<Kheldar> Yup.
<Kent> ...one night... that's not enough time...
<Kent> ...not that.
<Kheldar> Kind of like... kind of reminds you of... Almost but not quite smells like... that bird.
<Kent> Really? Oh crap.
<Kent> Jannot gets out. and gets a big clear breath of air.
<Kheldar> Sure.
<Kent> How big/complicated is his home? Jannot's likely been inside it before.
<Kheldar> It's not big, a two story deal, but one floor is smaller than your house. All together both floors are a little larger than yours.
<Kent> After taking a gulp of air Janno holds his breath and runs inside through the family room and into the kitchen area.
<Kheldar> You don't spot anything, although you think you can hear something faint from upstairs.
<Kent> ...oh no.
<Kent> Jannot opens the kitchen window and sticks his head through it to get another whiff of fresh air.
<Kheldar> Check.
<Kent> HT 13
<Kheldar>
<Kent> WHat? were you wanting ME to roll?
<Kheldar> Hey, I've got your stats right here. Maybe I'm rolling, maybe I'm not...
<Kent> Hm... Well, the protagonist ... well I won't complete that sentence.
<Kheldar> --GM rolls some dice--
<Kent> urk.
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> And, what do you do next?
<Kent> and? did Jannot get the window open? Did he get a whiff of cleaner air?
<Kheldar> Oh, yes, you got the window open, nice deep breath of fresh air.
<Kent> and another deep breath and he opens another window when he finds one... gets another whiff of fresh air and bolts up the stairs.
<Kheldar> right.
<Kheldar> As you head up the stairs, it occurs to you that the sounds kind of sound like a little boy kind of crying.
<Kent> ...groan... oh no...
<Kheldar> The first two rooms are where the three kids sleep, the last at the end if Thom and his wife's room.
<Kent> Whichever is closest. That one gets opened.
<Kheldar> Right, inside that room is a small bed where the oldest girl lies, apparently asleep.
<Kheldar> ...getting short of breath...
<Kent> Sadness grips Jannots chest but he makes for the window first.
<Kent> .,..window...
<Kheldar> Window goes open.
<Kent> ...fresh air...
<Kent> Jannot reluctantly pulls his head back into the room... and checks the girl for breath.
<Kheldar> She does seem to be breathing, although faster than normal, as if she's been running.
<Kent> .... fever.,.. He's afraid to touch her directly... Getting another breath of air he runs to the next room, repeating the procedure.
<Kheldar> Right, this room has another small bed with the younger girl, she's only about 5. She also seems sleeping, also a makeshift crib with their youngest boy. He is awake and fussing.
<Kent> ...window open... breath...
<Kheldar> Right, window open.
<Kent> Is the girl breathing?
<Kheldar> ...checking... she doesn't seem to be...
<Kent> DOH... Jannot clamps his hand over his mouth and nose to contain his breath as a huge pang of sadness hits him. He runs out of the room to Thoms room.
<Kheldar> You haul open the door. Thom and his wife are in the bed. He seems to be moving somewhat.
<Kent> --enter big sad farewell scene...--
<Kheldar> --what makes you say that...
<Kent> YOU"RE EVIL
<Kheldar> --So much for non-dark adventures... }:>
<Kent> <:[
<Kent> Jannot rushes over to Thom's wife to check if she's breathing.
<Kheldar> She seems to be, although again, she's breathing hard.
<Kheldar> Thom moans.
<Kent> Jannot runs around the bed to open the window and get a breath and then slackens. and goes to Thoms side.
<Kent> Jannot tries to rouse Thom... though he's careful to only jostle Thom through the blankets.
<Kheldar> Thom's eyes come open. They're somewhat bloodshot.
<Kheldar> "Jannot... I seem to have eaten something bad..." He moans again.
<Kent> Jannot looks over Thom gathering himself. "Old man, you're not looking too good at that. I guess you should have had that fish at that Elvish place with me."
<Kheldar> Thom grins weakly...
<Kent> "Did you get the fever?"
<Kheldar> He puts the back of his hand to his forehead, "Yeah, I'm a ... little warm."
<Kheldar> "I'm... I'm thinking you'll.. have to handle the docks... today."
<Kent> Jannot shakes away tears from his eyes... "Old man, you have to tell me. When did you start feeling bad?"
<Kheldar> His eyes seem to droop a little before he snaps them back open again, focusing on you.
<Kheldar> "Well, I didn't feel so good when I went to bed. Aaron (his son) didn't feel so well earlier in the evening..."
<Kent> "...and did you have trouble keeping your food down?"
<Kheldar> "No... not particularly..."
<Kheldar> He chuckles weakly, "At least no more than usual..."
<Kent> "Um. Can I get you anything?"
<Kheldar> He kind of groans and closes his eyes. "Wake up Ayla and tell her to get going on breakfast..."
<Kent> --nice--
<Kent> Jannot takes the opportunity to check his wife again.
<Kheldar> Still in about the same condition.
<Kent> He tries to rouse her.
<Kheldar> She lets out a brief moan, but doesn't open her eyes.
<Kent> Jannot makes his way back around to Thom, "It's come back again Thom."
<Kheldar> He opens his eyes, "eh?... Who's that?"
<Kent> "Never mind. I was going to take you out and show you how to fish today too..."
<Kheldar> --sorry, I mean-- "eh?... Who has?"
<Kent> --just assumed he was a little delirious.
<Kheldar> --no, he doesn't seem to be--
<Kheldar> "I know damn well how to fish, Jannot... Who's come back?"
<Kent> "I'm afraid that your wife and kids are all in the same shape as you. All sick."
<Kheldar> There is a long pause...
<Kheldar> He closes his eyes and moans again...
<Kent> "Thom, what do I do?"
<Kheldar> "What about you, boy? ... How do you feel?"
<Kent> ..."Until I got her I thought today was going to be perfect... I feel fine... I guess."
<Kheldar> Thom seems to sigh, and whispers something under his breath.
<Kheldar> "Get out boy... Get out of the city before they lock the gates... You weren't old enough last time to realize it boy... Just... Just get out."
<Kent> Jannot stands up. Starts crying over his old friend. "I'll always remember you old man."
<Kheldar> "Don't worry about me boy, I got sick last time too.
<Kent> ...really?
<Kheldar> He growls, "I got better then."
<Kheldar> You were what, 5 years old at the time... you have no idea.
<Kent> "Okay. I'll go. But where will I go? What do I do about the shop?"
<Kheldar> "Just... Lock the shop up... Either it'll matter or ... it won't."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "I'll be back Thom. one way or another."
<Kheldar> Thom groans again and kind of curls up a little.
<Kheldar> "Go, boy."
<Kent> Jannot takes that as his que to leave... quickly. "Get better Thom!" He shouts as he runs from the house and ... tries not to tear up as he makes his way back to his house.
<Kheldar> You hear back, faintly, "Make me proud, boy..."
<Kheldar> }:>
<Kheldar> As you head back towards your house, you notice a single thread of smoke off in another section of the city.
<Kent> ...fantastic.

<Kheldar> ...and, I think we'll stop there for the day... }:>
<Kent> you sure that you don't want to press on just a bit until he gets out of the city?
<Kheldar> yup, I'm sure.
<Kent> ...fine.
<Kheldar> heh<p><Kheldar> Made some good progress this time...
<Kheldar> (I'm so evil)
<Kent> Oh yeah. Now that old codger of an elf will see who was self-centered...
<Kheldar> oh, you poor young one, so much to learn...
<Kent> blah, blah, blah.
<Kheldar> lol
<Kent> Well, I guess that that's one way to get a reclusive tanner out of a city...
<Kheldar> eeeeyup.
<Kent> THanks for the ride, it was fun.
<Kent> Time to go home now.
<Kheldar> Sorry, this ride's just starting...
<Kheldar> Yeesh, and you never figured out that symbol...
<Kent> I'm sure it'll come up again...
<Kheldar> What, would you do thing differently?
<Kheldar> Although..... Just curious, is Jannot thinking he'd do anything different?
<Kent> No. Not really.
<Kent> So... that symbol. I didn't need to know what it was did I?
<Kheldar> Heh... Like I'd tell you if you did...
<Kent> Like I said. I'm sure it'll come up again.
<Kent> But sheesh, starting a plague just to get me out of town...
<Kheldar> You have no idea... After all, I think the prophecy was talking about just a little more than just a plague...
<Kent> Yeah, I suppose I don't.
<Kent> we'll see won't we...
<Kheldar> Hopefully you'll live to see...
<Kent> If it's going to make a decent book... he'll HAVE to live. >
<Kheldar> Unless his quest gets carried on by someone else...
<Kent> PUHLEEZE.
<Kheldar> By the way, what does Jannot think, did Thom really get sick last time, or is he just trying to make Jannot feel better?
<Kent> realistically, It was 25 years ago. If Thom HAD indeed gotten mildly sick and recovered, so many other things were going on that Jannot wouldn't have likely noticed... Children are VERY Self-centered.
<Kheldar> Yup, but what does Jannot think happened?
<Kent> However... I as the player... it was a put on.
<Kheldar> hmmm...
<Kent> Jannot thinks that Thom was likely telling the truth.
<Kent>
<Kent> ...you killed Thom... and his KIDS!
<Kheldar> Heh... You know, I was talking with my wife and also another friend here about whether or not to do that... They actually agreed with me about doing that...
<Kent> Oh boy.
<Kent> Well, It'd make a better movie that way.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> right... <use the force, luke>
<Kent> uh huh.
<Kent> make me proud... sheesh.
<Kheldar> lol
<Kent> how's that song go...
<Kent> You're no good, you're no good, you're no good, baby you're NO GOOD!
<Kheldar> I just couldn't resist. I almost didn't say it, but...
<Kent> Sure. Yeah, I understand.
<Kheldar> Hey, that's my job as GM, got to provide a reason for you to go on and be a hero and stuff, even if it's only a hero in the small ways...
<Kent> Man. I think you're getting sappy with age...
<Kheldar> Understand what I mean about pacing though? I wasn't sure when to have the plague hit, I wanted to wait until you were... in the right state. I also wanted to leave open the possibility for you to prevent it.
<Kent> Ah. well, I figured that if it were going to hit that there's be perhaps a day's leeway on it. Of course that'd only work if I weren't the FIRST TO GET HIT.
<Kheldar> Yes, you could have prevented it, but knowing Jannot, I doubt he'd have done the things required to prevent it.
<Kent> ... oh. I see. So, now it's MY FAULT BECAUSE I DIDN'T INCINERATE THOSE BIRDS?
<Kheldar>
<Kent> He he... of course.
<Kheldar> I'll tell you something up front about this campaign. I happen to know what's going on (of course), and I know the plans that various people have. I don't have a plot line in mind. Instead, I know what people plan to do. You will be able to effect the world around you. I don't have to worry about you derailing the plot, because my plans aren't rigid like that...
<Kent> I see.
<Kheldar> That kind of concept works much better for a longer term adventure than having a strict plot.
<Kheldar> Heh...
<Kent> Hm. You know I can't stop thnking what to do now!? Okay, get out of town... easy enough... on foot... no weapons... no friends...
<Kheldar> Well, you'll have a week to think about it.
<Kheldar> On foot, or on foot with a donkey and cart... that's the real question...
<Kent> He he he... well, they can always charge it to my account...
<Kheldar> I'll be really interested to see what happens with that...
<Kheldar> lol
<Kent> he he... Um. speaking about that bank. Is it possible to actually make a withdrawal from it?
<Kheldar> Certainly. Do you want to take the time?
<Kent> So... There's more money for me to get my hands on other than the immediately disposable income...
<Kent> How long does it take?
<Kheldar> Well, counting the time to get there and back... it could easily take 3 bells or so... Assuming there's no line...
<Kent> less than an hour... already started burning...
<Kheldar> Err... one bell is one hour.
<Kent> Hey, you said before that one bell was a quarter hour.
<Kheldar> quarter bell is 15 minutes.
<Kent> Oh.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> I missed that.
<Kheldar> doh!
<Kent> Um... I guess that that means that It's around ...10:30 now?
<Kheldar> something like that, yes.
<Kent> hm.</p>

Next time... Escape from Zuqar

 

[AStott]

Session 4: Escape from Zuqar

<Kent> So, hm... I'm thinking about whether Jannot might feel comfortable taking his little fishing boat to travel by as opposed to the mule and cart...
<Kheldar> ah, good thinking...
<Kent> Yup
<Kheldar> As I recall, you'd just left Thom's place, and was headed home, realizing there was some smoke coming up from another part of the city.
<Kent> ...uh huh... bad sign. Um. Jannot's been to the dock area any number of times. Would it possibly be that there are - entrepreneural juveniles might be around to perform small tasks\?
<Kheldar> Oh certainly, no city is without them.
<Kent> Great.
<Kent> Um another question, Jannots little fishing boat... is it just tied to dock somewhere? Dry-dock?
<Kheldar> Hmm... Probably not, you'd have to rent dock space. It's probably drawn up on the beach like other small fishing boats.
<Kent> So... what would that ararangement be? monthly fee?
<Kheldar> Naw, no fee for a spot on the beach...
<Kent> Perfect.
<Kent> So, if I wanted to load a few things into the dingy then I'd probvably need to put it in the water and pull it in to a dock to get the cart close...
<Kheldar> Depends on how much you load in. If we're talking a few hundred pounds of stuff, no problem, just throw it in a shove off.
<Kent> Yeah. good point.
<Kent> Well, decisions ...
<Kent> Jannot makes his way directly back to his shop/home.
<Kheldar> Right. Still no signs of panic on the streets.
<Kent> Can I assume that he has a large sack for junk?
<Kheldar> Sure.
<Kent> ok
<Kent> He'll toss in ... 2 changes of clothing... his spare working boots.
<Kent> ... um, He'll put all his spare money in a pouch.
<Kheldar> right
<Kent> ... What about something to wrap food in?
<Kheldar> Uh... ziploc?
<Kent> He he... handy... gallon sized?
<Kheldar> Food (other than specially prepared) doesn't tend to last long. Just throw it in something.
<Kent> No. Um. how about some... right, just a day or two, but he can fish.
<Kheldar> we'll call it two.
<Kent> So, pouch for money.
<Kent> ...sack for clothes and extra boots.
<Kent> ... and one more small bag for food.
<Kent> Fishing gear...
<Kheldar> What about the... business seal and blank draft notes you'd been carrying with you?
<Kent> Well, exactly how secure would the home be?
<Kheldar> Against someone determined, or a fire... not at all... Such is life.
<Kent> well, In that case, the drafts are useless without my seal, correct? Well, I'll take my seal with me and put the drafts under the bed... except for a couple... in the sack of clothes.
<Kheldar> ok
<Kent> Fishing gear...How much money could I scrounge fromt he house?
<Kheldar> You've got... about 3 and a half gold. A pretty tidy sum.
<Kent> Hm. pretty good. How much does a seedy motel cost to stay in?
<Kheldar> 1 copper for a night for a seedy hotel.
<Kheldar> Obviously the translated prophecy (with the symbol drawn on it)... what about the leather scrap and what about the borrowed book where you first found the prophecy?
<Kent> Jannot is FULLY planning on returning to town right after the mess is over... so, he'll hold on to the book, and the tranltion... and the (by now very smelly) scrap of hide.I don't know. Is the hide starting to dry out by now?
<Kheldar> Well, it's in ok shape, just not exactly something that most people would sleep with...
<Kent> How large is this patch anyway? 4-5 inch square?
<Kheldar> perhaps about 4" by 4" square
<Kent> right
<Kent> Okay.well, what about the shop? Can I close it up pretty tigh?
<Kheldar> You can lock it up, draw the blinds, etc.
<Kent> Hm. Any tols expecially valuable in the shop? (tools)Oh yeah, a utility knife might be handy. and one to fillet the fish.
<Kheldar> Hmm... Not particularly so.
<Kheldar> right, good.
<Kent> do they both have ...scabbards? That's the word I was looking for.good.
<Kheldar> ... sheaths, not scabs.
<Kheldar> well... oh, who cares, sure.
<Kent>
<Kent> Okay. that's about it. Jannot loads up the cart (not too heavy I'd guess)
<Kheldar> No problem, it's not to heavy, you could manage it carrying by yourself, but it's a little bulky, what with the fishing gear.
<Kheldar> Good enough, you toss it in the cart, lock up the house and shop...
<Kent> Good.Right. The fishing gear might be a pain in the long run. But I'll hold on to it... Lock up the place nice and tight... and ... do I have a writing instrument?
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kent> On the front door of the shop and the door in back (to the house) Jannot writes:
<Kent> "Out of the city for a few days. Will return soon. " and whatever passes for a signature.
<Kheldar> Ok.
<Kent> By now, I've been out front loading the cart for a little bit right?
<Kheldar> Yes. It's been perhaps 30 minutes of collecting stuff, taking care of things...
<Kent> k. Traffic?
<Kheldar> Looks like there is still no sense of alarm among people. You can still see smoke over yonder though.
<Kent> Great.
<Kent> Okay. Weather still clear?
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kent> To the docks?
<Kheldar> All right.
<Kheldar> You begin to make your way towards the docks. As you travel, you start seeing a change in the behavior of people.
<Kent> Straight to the dingy..,.
<Kheldar> You start seeing more people in a hurry, and you see some who have apparently packed some things up (like you).
<Kent> I try not to make eye contact and go quickly as I can on my way.
<Kheldar> heh... life as normal?
<Kheldar>
<Kent> yup.
<Kheldar> You catch a couple comments from people passing and talking to each other. Some speculation about what's happening, apparently a few people who've figured things out.
<Kent> Uh huh. anything relating to the source?
<Kheldar> Nothing at all.
<Kheldar> You are... hmm... one moment...
<Kent> okay... Boy. that dingy had better still be there.
<Kent> Man. you took Thom, don't take away the dingy...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> I WILL squirm right through this phone line...
<Kheldar> Ok, so this city is walled all the way around to the shore on either side. There are areas that have quite a few docks, but also areas of beach that is still within the walls. In some cases, poorer houses go right down onto the beach (shacks).
<Kent> Fine.
<Kent> Okay, what bad thing is coming. you always explain a lot before something bad happens...
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Just making sure you remember that I told you there is a wall...
<Kent> Uh huh... as long as the wall stops at the water...
<Kheldar> You are beginning to get down near the beach, and you spot a group of a dozen or so guards hurrying past. They seem to be headed for the docks.
<Kent> good... away from my boat.
<Kent> ...hurrying along...
<Kheldar> ...h...u...r...r...y...i...n...g...
<Kheldar> By the time you reach the beach, there are definitely a number of people scurrying around. There are already a number of people who have apparently had the same idea as you, and some small boats are already out in the water.
<Kent>
<Kent> okay... so the fishing near shore is no good today...
<Kheldar> Heh... definitely not.
<Kent> I'm hoping that there's an oar with the dingy...
<Kheldar> You boat is still chained in it's spot (the city provides some ... rings attached to boulders to give people a place to chain up so no one runs off with their boat).
<Kent> Chained?...[sigh] okay.
<Kheldar> sigh?
<Kent> Do I have a key?
<Kheldar> Of course you do. You keep it with your fishing stuff.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Thanks for the... [chuckle] you just wanted to get a rise out of me...
<Kheldar> Actually, I just wanted a good reason why people would feel ok leaving their boats on the beach with shacks nearby...
<Kheldar> (look ma! firewood!)
<Kent> Good enough.
<Kent> Okay. loading the boat.
<Kheldar> As you are loading, you notice that there are a couple ships leaving the docks, even though it's deifnitely not high tide.
<Kheldar> Certainly appears so.
<Kent> Hm. Word's out. Glad I didn't sleep on it... Though. I almost did. I almost decided to stick with the shop and just lock up tight... tough it out.
<Kheldar> Would have been interesting.
<Kheldar> Not too late, want to change your mind?
<Kent> Hope it's still there when I get back...
<Kheldar> }:>
<Kent> are there any street - entrepreneurs around?
<Kheldar> Nope, not at this point.
<Kent> Were there any further up from the shore?
<Kheldar> Yes, some, although, it seems that some people have started to panic, and people are starting to try and get away or stay out of the way.
<Kent> Oh great. Well, I'm going to just assume that the mule is branded and will eventually be returned .
<Kheldar> Hmm, good point, yes it is branded.
<Kheldar> won't fit in the boat...
<Kent> ... and my cart... good old trusty cart... will be helping some unfortunate soul cart away bodies in a few days...
<Kheldar> How generous of you.
<Kent> Yeah.
<Kent> quite...
<Kent> Is there an oar in the dingy?
<Kheldar> Uh... actually, that's part of your fishing gear.
<Kent> perfect
<Kheldar> Shove off then?
<Kheldar> There is some shouting and commotion a little up the beach. You can't see yet what's going on.
<Kent> Yep. Jannot is getting rather nervous... filling up with a generous portion fo fear, actually, enough to almost put out of his mind that he's shoving off from his long time home to ... return ?
<Kent> Good enough. Shoving off...; paddling out as fast as possible. straight out from shore.
<Kheldar> Right, as you get out a little, it looks like there are a number of guards making their way down the beach, they're pushing people away from the boats apparently.
<Kent> Yeah. Gee I wonder why...
<Kent> speeding off...
<Kheldar> As you can guess, there are some complaints.
<Kent> yeah. If there are two oars, Jannot can watch as he paddles, if only one, then only an occaisional glance.
<Kheldar> You head out into the bay, along with a few others.
<Kheldar> It looks also like one of the city's guard boats has put out and is moving to block some of the merchant vessels.
<Kent> OH NO!
<Kent> Am I on the north or south portion of the city? I mean you were talking about a wall and such. I figured it was close.
<Kheldar> You are closer to...
<Kheldar> Ok, with the way the bay is... the water-side of the city is the south part. You are closer to the eastern edge of the city. Of course, that direction, you have to head out around a little point before you cut around and start heading north of the city. Make sense?
<Kent> Um... since Jannot has Area knowledge of the shoreline from fishing so much is there any chance I could get a ... better concept of the lay-of-the-land?
<Kheldar> What exactly are you looking for?
<Kent> well, okay. how far is it south to the other side of the bay?
<Kheldar> Ah...It's actualy about 4 miles or so.
<Kent> I'm sure that he's gone that way before... away from the main part of the city... better fishing.
<Kent> okay. what's that area like?
<Kheldar> Well, good portions of it are cleared for farmland.
<Kent> Make comfortable camping I suppose.
<Kheldar> Sure...
<Kheldar> Until you get plowed under...
<Kent> well, in that case I'll make for the populated, un-named town to the south.
<Kheldar> Ok, guess I'll need to name it sometime then.
<Kheldar> Yeah. Other than that, nothing of great interest.
<Kheldar> Well, there have been some border tensions with the kingdom to the south.
<Kent> ...sleep under the dingy... How about news. Have I ever heard anything about this area to the south? Not that far south. So, there should be nothing out of the ordinary at this other town?
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> Jannot's heading there. What direction is the current?
<Kent> Wind?
<Kheldar> I doubt we need to worry too much about wind/current.
<Kent> ... Jannot wishes he had grabebd a few more books other than just that one...
<Kheldar> You make it across to the far side of the bay. You aren't bothered by the guard boat.
<Kent> how long did that take?
<Kheldar> Well, that's a good question, I'm looking for the answer...
<Kent> 2nauts?
<Kheldar> Ok, more or less about 6 miles per hour
<Kent> wow, 6.
<Kheldar> more or less.
<Kheldar> Of course... hmm... that's probably about as fast as you can go, but you probably can't keep that up long.
<Kent> right. that seems right.
<Kheldar> So, probably 4 mph, and again, you aren't used to rowing for more than an hour at a time.
<Kheldar> You can probably row for a couple hours before having to break.
<Kheldar> Good enough?
<Kent> so... 3-4? Okay then. an hour and I'm at the other side. Okay. now, when I broke from shore, there were other craft with me... are they still?
<Kheldar> Only a couple. Most went around the point and headed north.
<Kheldar> Of the few who came your direction, all except one pulled in on the south beath of the bay.
<Kheldar> The other boat has an older man in it though, and he's going slower than you.
<Kent> so, are there people visible on shore from. say, 100 yards out?
<Kheldar> Yes. Looks like the people in the other boats were just using it as a way to leave town. They appear to plan on walking.
<Kent> Oh. how many?
<Kheldar> Just a couple dozen perhaps.
<Kent> Hm. Jannot will proceed down the coast a couple hundred yards out.
<Kheldar> Right. You do tend to pass little fishing villages ever few miles (we're talking no more than 50 people or so).
<Kent> ... jannot tears up remembering fishing with Thom here and there...
<Kent>
<Kent> after another hour. Jannot will rest his arms and shoulders and take a lunch break.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> Continue after lunch?
<Kent> ...so, anything going on in the fishing villages?
<Kheldar> Nothing of any big note. You pass some fishing boats of course. Most look at you a little curiously, but give a friendly wave and return to their work.
<Kent> Nice. Jannot's feeling abit less anxious. Just try to keep thinking about this as a fishing trip.
<Kent> Yeah, continue on after resting a bit.
<Kheldar> After lunch, you move on a bit. The villages have started becoming lest frequent. After another hour or so, you're starting to get fairly sore. Three hours of rowing is quite a bit for a tanner...
<Kent> Then again most of the cleaning of the hides and stretching is done by hand...
<Kent> But sure. what is it, 2 points of fatigue per hour?
<Kent>
<Kheldar> You're tired.
<Kent> Heh, heh...
<Kheldar> You have actually been able to spot the main south road coming in sight of the beach now and then.
<Kent> Yeah. I'd guess that it's 3 in the afternoon?
<Kheldar> Yes, about that.
<Kent> Um. if I drift... will the current bear me south, north, in r out?
<Kent> When's high tide?
<Kheldar> Actually... hmm...
<Kheldar> uh...
<Kheldar> well..
<Kent> That's when I'd want to go in.
<Kheldar> I'd say it's probably best if you let out an anchor or pull up on shore. It's never wise to let the boat drift.
<Kent> Yeah, but I'm talking about resting for an hour or two and continuing.
<Kent> If Jannot stops rowing... what direction will the boat drift?
<Kheldar> Oh... probably... southish.
<Kent> and... is tide coming in or going out?
<Kheldar> You're just a little past high tide.
<Kent> Oh. so it's going out then.
<Kent> okay. yeah, good time to anchor and rest.
<Kent> potty break...
<Kent> Ever pee'd off the side of a boat?
<Kheldar> Not personally.
<Kheldar> But don't pee into the wind...
<Kent> he he...
<Kent> So, anyways, when is the NEXT high tide going to be?
<Kheldar> I don't know. This evening sometime.
<Kent> okay. He doesn't want to waste daylight, so, he'll - restfully - row south, rather slowly, not exterting much.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> Is that pretty much the plan until you reach... the unnamed town?
<Kent> right.
<Kent> yes.
<Kheldar> And pull in at the evening high tide and sleep under the boat?
<Kent> There you go. Now you've got the picture.
<Kent>
<Kent> people do that all the time with canoes when taking weekend or week-long river trips.
<Kent> okay, so is that feasible?
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> Half second...
<Kent> Time travels slowly in your realm...
<Kheldar> Ok, the trip is fairly peaceful and uneventful. Fishing is reasonably good, and you catch enough to keep yourself fed.
<Kent> Ah. good. So is this a 4 day tri[p then?
<Kheldar> Very close. It'll take you about 5 days.
<Kent> okay. Jannot gets smelly and good at rowing.
<Kheldar> Yes, very true.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> You suspect that you could have made better time walking, but...
<Kent> now, as to what to do after arriving... Jannot's glad to have avoided people...
<Kent> Trandless
<Kheldar> At last you catch sight of ... Kastor.
<Kheldar> It's a non-walled town.
<Kent> ooh.
<Kent> How populated is it?
<Kheldar> Oh, probably around 5,000 people or so, at least so you've heard.
<Kheldar> It tends to have a reasonably high number of transients for a town it's size, mostly because it's a favored stopping point for travelers between Zuqar and Ilan.
<Kent> How convenient. Then there should be ample - motels.
<Kheldar> Definitely. Inns abound.
<Kent> Question. Was the lock/chain on the boat mine or was that attached to the boulder?Yeah. great.
<Kheldar> answer
<Kheldar> The lock and chain were yours.
<Kent> Oakay. Um. Are there similar public beach areas?
<Kheldar> As far as you can tell, no. Of course, it's easy to find a spot outside the city.
<Kent> hey...
<Kent> No, Jannot will approach the city along the shoreline and look for a similarly secure area to stow his dingy.
<Kheldar> It looks like most smaller boats have a docking area that's enclosed by wooden floats and ropes.
<Kheldar> There's a man at the entrace to the area, keeping an eye out on things.
<Kent> No other areas then?
<Kheldar> There are a couple that are like that.
<Kheldar> Looks like this town gains it's income off services...
<Kheldar> If you get my drift.
<Kent> Ah. Hm. How unfortunate... for me. Were there any areas outside the town's immidiate area that it appeared that the boat could be chained to a tree or something?
<Kheldar> Yes, you could definitely find something. About how far out of town?
<Kent> Not far. as close as possible. Is the towns boundary well defined? lie could a couple hundred yards make a difference?
<Kheldar> Not really. It's more a matter of farmland taking over. Most houses cluster near the main road.
<Kent> Well, I don't want to put my boat on private property...
<Kent> so... no undeveloped area relatively near?
<Kheldar> Right, got it. There was a decent spot back about a half mile.
<Kheldar> right.
<Kent> too far... hm. maybe not. maybe. Jannot will paddle up to a fellow standing watch over the penned-in boats.
<Kent> Does the fellow do anything as I approach?
<Kheldar> He hails you as you approach. "Looking to dock your boat?"
<Kheldar> "Cheapest spot, right here!"
<Kent> Jannot swallows a bit, "Yeah, what's the cost?"
<Kheldar> "A copper a night, five copper a week."
<Kent> ...of course...
<Kent> ... that's the same as a cheap motel...
<Kheldar> --a copper is a convenient amount...--
<Kent> after some obvious internal arguing, Jannot says, "6 tin."
<Kent> --true.
<Kent> --I take that back.
<Kent> "A copper sounds..."pause "reasonable."
<Kheldar> "Of course it is. " He says cheerfully.
<Kheldar> He gestures for you to head in. "They'll take your money there at the shack onshore. Don't be late with payments." He grins.
<Kent> uih huh.
<Kent> Jannot nods and paddles in. Is there a place to disembark?
<Kheldar> There are a couple rickety looking docks, but looks like those are just for unloading. Everyone else is pulled up on shore.
<Kent> So, it would apparently be appropriate for Jannot to pull in to shore?
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kent> okay. He makes his way in to shore and pulls up. Is there anything for him to chain up to?
<Kheldar> Sure. You secure your boat appropriately.
<Kent> great.
<Kent> Oh. another question. Are there public baths? or are baths done in... tubs?
<Kheldar> private.
<Kheldar> tubs.
<Kent> So... after securing a place for the night... water will be provided, I'd assume... whereever?
<Kheldar> Probably you can get yourself a bath at the inn.
<Kheldar> At least if you pick a decent inn. Not so sure about your... cheap one.
<Kent> right... Yeah.
<Kent> Well, we'll see. Jannot mqakes his way to the shack.
<Kheldar> Of course they tend to charge... It's a pain to get the tub filled, eh?
<Kent> What?
<Kent> What about the rain barrel in back?
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Who wants to bathe in cold water...
<Kent> Right.
<Kent> Shack
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> You're greeted by a snaggle toothed man chewing on a wad of something.
<Kent> heh...
<Kheldar> He quotes the same price at you as the other man did.
<Kent> oh yeah, I meant to have Jannot separate most of his money...
<Kheldar> "How long you want?" He asks.
<Kent> "Jannot looks up. "Just one night I think. I'll know more tomorrow."
<Kheldar> "Right, one copper."
<Kent> --so you going to let Jannot have separated his money? grr... Jannot walks a little ways back from the little shop and pulls a copper out of his money pouch, trying not to jingle it.
<Kheldar> hmm... nope, guess you'll have to do it later.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> .. returning he hands over the copper.
<Kheldar> Hmm... wait... thinking...
<Kent> ... that's usually bad.
<Kheldar> Ok, he hands you a... small chunk of wood (just an inch or so across). It has some odd little shapes on it. "Bring that when you come back."
<Kent> "What is it?" Jannot asks, looking the little chunk over.
<Kheldar> "'s so I know you left your boat with us."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. and puts the chunk of wood in his sack.
<Kent> Are there any inn's within view?
<Kheldar> Yes, a few. With names like theirs, they probably tend to cater to sailors.
<Kent> uhh... okay. Jannot makes his way down the main road and tries to locate a half-way decent looking inn.
<Kheldar> Ok. It's about midday when you find a nice looking place. It looks like it's been kept up reasonably well. It's not on the main trade road, but just a little off it.
<Kent> Hopefully Jannot doesn't smell too bad...
<Kheldar> Smell like the sea, you do.
<Kent> Jannot makes his way inside.
<Kheldar> There's a somewhat surprising number of people taking lunch in the main room of the inn.
<Kent> Hm. people. okay. It's not the end of the world... So many people together ... shows that their healthy. Yeah, that's it.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Is there a counter?
<Kheldar> There is a counter/bar.
<Kheldar> Looks like that's where you'd go to get a room.
<Kent> Is there a concierge?
<Kheldar> Sorry, no.
<Kent> Hm. Jannot walks up to the counter.
<Kheldar> "Just a moment," the barkeep calls to you. He finishes filling a couple mugs, then hands them to a pretty young gal who carries them off.
<Kent> Hm...
<Kheldar> He wipes his hands on his apron and comes over to you.
<Kheldar> He's a somewhat fat man, with a rather large nose. "What'll you have?"
<Kent> "Well, do you have any rooms available?"
<Kheldar> "I certainly do. Are you just staying the night?"
<Kent> "What is the price?" Jannot says politely.
<Kheldar> "Only two copper for you, sir."
<Kent> ... just for me...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> "Does that include dinner or breakfast?"
<Kheldar> "No, I'm afraid not, but your welcome to be served here."
<Kent> Jannot looks around the place. Lots of people... how's the food look?
<Kheldar> Well, people seem to be enjoying it, if that's any indication. Perhaps that's why there are so many here...
<Kent> Okay. back to the Barkeep: "What's the price for a dinner?"
<Kheldar> "Well, that'll depend on what you get, but most people spend around a dozen tin"
<Kent> ...wow, more than a copper just for a meal...
<Kent> "Okay, what about baths?"
<Kheldar> "Just a copper. We've got a couple nice cedar tubs..."
<Kent> ...man! another copper?
<Kheldar> --heh---
<Kheldar> --eh... you've got lots of money--
<Kent> Thinking...
<Kent> ...but no-one else needs to know that...
<Kheldar> heh... good point.
<Kent> Jannot says "I'll give you 2 copper for the room if you include the bath."
<Kheldar> He turns as someone apparently calls out to him. He gestures to a pitcher at the end of the bar, then turns back to you.
<Kheldar> "Eh? Oh, sure. That sounds just fine."
<Kent> ...huh. that was easier than I thought. merchant skill?
<Kheldar> --curse those dice--
<Kent> "Thanks, I'll take it."
<Kent> Oh. swell.
<Kheldar> Not exactly. Reaction rolls do get modified by merchant skill, but only by a couple points. Merchant tends to be better for identifying things.
<Kheldar> prices and such.
<Kent> ...I recall using it as a bartering tool...
<Kheldar> Yup, way back in another campaign?
<Kent> uh huh.
<Kheldar> Yeah... Read your GURPS book, that's not the way it's supposed to work...
<Kent> okay. I accept that.
<Kent> So, Jannot pulls 2 copper out, trying to not show the coins inside... or jingle the pouch.
<Kheldar> Right. He fishes out a ring of keys, pulls one off and hands it to you, taking your money.
<Kent> "Thanks. Where will I go to get the bath?"
<Kheldar> "Head down the hallway. Your's is the fourth room on the left, right across from the stairs."
<Kheldar> "You want the bath now?
<Kent> "In a little bit, after un-packing."
<Kheldar> "Ok, I'll send a gal for you in about a half a bell. That sound about righht?'
<Kent> "That would be fine. Thank you."
<Kheldar> "Enjoy your stay." He turns back to his work.
<Kent> Jannot makes his way directly to his room, trying to avoid walking through too many people to get there.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> The room is cozy. A little small, at least compared to what you're used to.
<Kheldar> But, it's clean at least.
<Kent> Yeah. The master bedroom of a house made for a couple with two children...
<Kent> Is there a window?
<Kheldar> hmm... Nope, sorry.
<Kent> wow, dark in there at night, eh?
<Kheldar> Is that a good thing?
<Kent> lantern?
<Kheldar> There is a candle holder on a small table next to the bed.
<Kent> well, it's always nice to be able to listen to the birds in the evening.
<Kent> and the door... does it latch well?
<Kheldar> Oh yes, it seems to.
<Kent> okay then. He'll latch the door and unload his things after lighting the candle.
<Kheldar> Oh, hmm.. didn't think about it from that angle.
<Kheldar> So... There are some ... well, half-foot tall slits up at the top of the wall that let in some light. Apparently the view is not worth seeing.
<Kent> They don't let in rain... and bugs do they?
<Kheldar> They're most likely sheltered by a roof of some kind.
<Kheldar> Ok.
<Kent> He'll want to separate most of his money. The vast majority of it he'll want to stuff into one of his boots in the sack, and hold it in place with a shirt.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> The boots and one set of clothes remain in the sack. the moneyt pouch should now have in it...2 bronze 4 copper and 11 tin.
<Kent> It'll be the decoy if someone steals it.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> Is there a drawer, table, chair, bed? in the room?
<Kheldar> Small table, a chair, and a bed.
<Kent> Does the room door lock from the outside as well as the inside?
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kheldar> Well, it has a keyhole on the outside.
<Kent> right
<Kheldar> A latch on the inside.
<Kent> good enough. I guess the sack and the rest of his things go in the corner.
<Kheldar> OK.
<Kheldar> Then rest for a bit until the bath is ready?
<Kent> ...and he'll pull out that book. Something to read while waiting for the girl to arrive.
<Kheldar> Man, if this trip takes too long, you'll have that thing memorized...
<Kheldar> Heh...
<Kent> Well, maybe that's a good thing. Too bad I don't have that book about the human city attacked by the elves and dwarves...
<Kent> He answers the door. "Yes?"
<Kheldar> After a bit, there is a light knock on the door. "Your bath, sir.."
<Kent> He opens the door.
<Kheldar> A young girl (perhaps mid-teens) stands there. "Let me show you the bath room, sir."
<Kent> "Fine. Let me grab my things." and Jannot picks up a change of clothes and his money pouch, locks the door and says, "Lets go."
<Kheldar> She takes you to a small room. Inside are some partitioned areas. One of which holds a cedar tub with steaming hot water. She points out a towel and a chunk of soap, then smiles at you and runs off.
<Kent> Is there anyone else there?
<Kheldar> Nope, doesn't sound like it.
<Kheldar> There's a bench.
<Kent> Great. Is there a chair or bench or something?
<Kent> Okay, so this partition makes it like a private bath?
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kent> Cool. He undresses and slips slowly into the hot water.
<Kheldar> Let me tell you, with your muscles as sore as they are... The bath just feels incredible.
<Kent> Heh, heh.
<Kheldar> You relax for quite some time, even snoozing a bit before cleaning up and getting out.
<Kent> Hey, he'd be careful of that.
<Kheldar> Ok, ok. Relaxing with your eyes closed.
<Kent> hmm...
<Kheldar> (but ears open)
<Kheldar>
<Kent> ok.
<Kent> Jannot thinks about his smelly clothes. could he wash them in his bath water?
<Kheldar> Certainly.
<Kent> Is that... normal?
<Kheldar> It wouldn't be unreasonable. It would save you the 3 tin laundry bill...
<Kent> okay. He'll do that. Wringing them out as much as possible.
<Kent> he he...
<Kent> plus the water's hot enough that the clothes should dry relatively shortly.
<Kheldar> depends on how long you plan on soaking before doing the clothes...
<Kent> true. He'll soak for, well, the plan was less than half a bell, but, it turns out to be closer to 3/4 a bell.
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> So, the water is defniitely cooling down.
<Kheldar> Does he do any thinking about what is next for him?
<Kent> Yeah. Next. He'll walk around the town and see if any news has come from Zuqar.
<Kent> He's not an idiot though. No mentioning of a plague...
<Kheldar> Sure.
<Kent> He'll skip lunch and wait for dinner.
<Kheldar> Ok.
<Kheldar> After finishing the bath, and cleaning the clothes. He dries off, dresses, heads back to his room and hangs the wet clothes up on some pegs on the wall.
<Kent> Oh. How convenient. So no other patrons came into the bath house while I was there?
<Kheldar> Nope. It's very early afternoon still.
<Kent> Great.So, back in the room.everything in its place?
<Kheldar> Yup, seems like no one has disturbed the place.
<Kent> Good. Feeling a little more relaxed now... bath and all. After dressing and everything He heads out into the town. Would it seem appropriate to bring his utility knife?
<Kheldar> That wouldn't be unreasonable.
<Kent> Good. does his clothes happen to include a belt?
<Kheldar> Sure.
<Kent> Of course it does... he's a tanner.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> He he... okay, belt holding both knife and money pouch. What's the weather like?
<Kent> dry?
<Kheldar> Hot. A few clouds. Not parched. It rained a little the other day.
<Kent> okay. Is there a marketplace in this town?
<Kheldar> Certainly. Actually large sections of the main trade road (running from Zuqar to Ilan) have been taken over as market area. Kind of a long thin market area.
<Kent> Oaky, any... heralds?
<Kent> fell free to say no...
<Kheldar> Yeah, there are a few.
<Kent> oh. nice.
<Kheldar> That's a common method of advertising, etc.
<Kent> Jannot will make his way, down the road, now dress clean and not smelling so bad, to find a herald.
<Kheldar> Right, you find one easily enough, his voice ringing out over the crowd as he reads from a small bundle of parchment.
<Kent> Anything interesting?
<Kheldar> Naw, it seems pretty local in nature.
<Kent> are there a lot of people around listening to him?
<Kheldar> Just a couple, everyone else seems to pretty much ignore him...
<Kheldar> --just call him Bill... or that's Mr. Board to you...
<Kent> - right.
<Kent> "Say, any news from Zuqar?"
<Kheldar> He stops between messages and turns to you. Well, nothing official, but there's something going on up there."
<Kent> Jannot has a revelation and pulls out a tin, tossing it to him. "Any details?"
<Kheldar> He grins. "Well, not a lot I'm afraid. I've heard some talk about no one being able to get in or out of there. I'm not sure what that means, but it can't be good."
<Kent> Jannot nodds to the fellow and makes his way along the road further, to find the next herald.
<Kheldar> --repeat performance?
<Kent> Uh... Yeah. Something of the like.
<Kheldar> You spend a couple more tin, but are unable to find much of anything in the way of details. Seems like the city was probably shut up shortly after you left (duh). There has been smoke sighted by people passing by, and the official word is that there are ...
<Kent> ..uh huh...
<Kheldar> hmm... wait...
<Kent> He he... sure. I'll wait.
<Kheldar> Ok, the official word is that there was an uprising by elves, and that's being taken care of. No visitors until things are sorted out.
<Kent> Hm. Blaming it on elves... wierd.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> How about this. How long is the road through town? Meaning how long of a walk is it to the edge of town, to the north?
<Kheldar> Ah... Oh... From where you're at, maybe...a quarter bell.
<Kheldar> yeah
<Kent> quarter bell... 15 minutes... that's not far.
<Kent> okay. I'll walk there.
<Kheldar> note: all times a distances subject to review by the board of deciding how realistic things actually are...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> oh... I see. he he... small print.
<Kheldar> uh huh
<Kent> right. edge of town...
<Kheldar> Yes. The town kind of starts becoming more rural in nature. Anything you're looking for?
<Kent> well, kind of looking for 'the first place a person traveling from Zuqar' would stop.
<Kheldar> Ah... The first inn? Tavern?
<Kent> yes.
<Kheldar> Ok, you find a place. The Welcome Change. It's a tavern/restaurant.
<Kent> Welcome Change?
<Kent> Huh. okay. Jannot enters
<Kheldar> Let's see, it's about... mid-afternoonish I guess.
<Kent> right
<Kheldar> There are a few people there. Mostly some people cleaning and perparing for the dinner "rush".
<Kent> Jannot will approach the bar.
<Kheldar> There are one pair of people, apparently travellers. A man and a woman.
<Kent> How do they look? (without staring)
<Kheldar> They are pretty much keeping to themselves. Not looking around much, talking quitely.
<Kent> Hm.
<Kent> okay. Barkeep?
<Kheldar> A man notices you approach the bar. He's a little younger than you. He hops over the bar (so that he's now behind it), and approaches you. "Can I help you, stranger?"
<Kent> Goodness, lively.
<Kent> "Yes... I was wondering how business has been coming from Zuqar."
<Kent> "...and I'd like something light to drink."
<Kheldar> He smiles, somewhat lazily.
<Kheldar> "Certainly." He fills you a mug of cider (looks like). "Business is decent. Most people coming through now are not from Zuqar of course. No one travelling from there right now."
<Kheldar> He hands you the mug.
<Kent> Jannot has a few swallows of the cider and then asks, "Heard anything from that way?"
<Kheldar> (taking a tin in payment from you)
<Kent> sure...
<Kheldar> "Something about elves attacking the city I believe. If that's true, it's a little frightening to be sure. Seems like Zuqar is a long way from elven lands."
<Kent> after a few more swallows, Jannot says, "Well, I doubt elves would cause trouble like that." pause, "It's probably something else."
<Kheldar> "Oh? You have a theory?"
<Kheldar> He grabs a cloth and begins... conveniently wiping glasses.
<Kent> Jannot reconsiders the conversation. "Nah, it's just that I've seen the elves in that city and they don't seem the warring type."
<Kheldar> "Huh... Maybe it was other elves... From the west or something."
<Kent> Jannot nodds, another swallow, "Yeah, I suppose it could be at that."
<Kheldar> "Where you from?
<Kent> ...Jannot thinks to himself are there any cities north of there that he knows of?
<Kheldar> Big cities, or towns?
<Kheldar> There's Miraj, further up the coast.
<Kent> Shershel will do.
<Kent> "shershel, originally."
<Kheldar> "Did you just get here?
<Kent> Jannot nodds, taking another swallow, "In a round about way."
<Kheldar> "Oh, so you must have just passed by Zuqar recently. What did you see?"
<Kent> "Everything was normal before I left, but I took my time getting here."
<Kheldar> "Ah" He nods, knowingly.
<Kent> Jannot thanks the fellow and finishes his drink... so he can leave propmtly.
<Kheldar> Ok
<Kent> Are those two people still there?
<Kheldar> Yes, they are. Looks like they are taking their own sweet time.
<Kent> Hm. Hm...
<Kent> Jannot finishes his drink and leaves the place.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> Obviously none of the locals have really heard much.
<Kheldar> Kind of makes sense, none of the refugees would want it to be known that they might be carriers...
<Kent> Yeah... perhaps it's the best... Jannot makes his way back to the inn, taking a round-about path, to see more of the town before returning.
<Kheldar> Right, so, the place seems pretty... well... underwhelming to you. Zuqar really is a much bigger city. There isn't much in the way of sights. Lots of trading places and the like though.
<Kent> Okay. What about churches?
<Kheldar> You spot a few. They tend to be much smaller (chapels) than what you're used to seeing.
<Kent> Okay, in the afternoon, would there be people in them?
<Kheldar> Probably none would be having services, but there will certainly be priests of some kind.
<Kent> Which churches/gods seem to be popular here?
<Kheldar> The founding god of Zuqar is actually fairly popular here. Also, a god of business and travel seems to be fairly prominent. Those are the two biggies.
<Kent> Jannot was never one to put much stock into the 'gods' but maybe there's something to be figured out yet. He'll enter the church for the god of Zuqar.
<Kheldar> --got to think of some good godly names...
<Kent> No temples to Az here?
<Kheldar> Nope.
<Kent> Hm.
<Kheldar> Not that you saw.
<Kheldar> There are one or two people quietly praying in the pews.
<Kheldar> Also, a priest waits off to the side, apparently for aid to those who need it.
<Kent> Convenient. Jannot approaches him... is there some customary... ritual?
<Kheldar> Would you know?
<Kent> Well, Jannot's probably been in the church once or trwice, Thom trying to figure him out early...
<Kheldar> True. Probably enough to know ... hmm..
<Kheldar> No ritual, not for something like this.
<Kent> No... required contributions?
<Kheldar> Ah... only as you feel... led.
<Kent> Right.
<Kent> Approach the priest...
<Kheldar> He turns as you approach, wait for you to speak.
<Kent> "Yes, um, I was wondering if I could ask you for some information."
<Kheldar> "Please, ask. I will answer if I can."
<Kent> Jannot tries to recall the prophecy, since he didn't bring it with him. "Do you know anything about ... prophecies and the like?"
<Kheldar> true
<Kheldar> "There are many prophecies. Few ever come true. Are you a son of Zuqar?"
<Kent> ... "a son of Zuqar?"
<Kheldar> He smiles. "What brings you to my church?"
<Kheldar> --Son of Zuqar would usually imply something about having or at least desiring to live in/around Zuqar. Usually worshippers of this god refer to themselves as such.
<Kent> "Um, there's a prophecy that I recently came into knowledhge of It goes something like this: three wings (and by the way, I'm doing this from memory, not looking it up)
<Kent> from sea to earth...no, from sea to air to earth... That's how it starts. Have you heard it?"
<Kheldar> He thinks for a bit. "It is not familiar to me."
<Kent> How long will you be here this evening?
<Kheldar> I will be here through the evening service"
<Kheldar> -- This is usually one bell after sunset.
<Kent> How far is this place from my ... inn? not far I'd guess since it's only 15 minutes to the edge of town.
<Kheldar> Yeah, not far.
<Kent> "I'll return with the full prophecy in a little bit."
<Kheldar> "Very well."
<Kent> Jannot makes his way back to the inn.

Next time... Return to Zuqar

 

[AStott]

Session 5: Return to Zuqar

<Kheldar> I believe you were planning on returning to your inn to retrieve the prophecy so you could show it to the priest.
<Kent> So... where was I... Yup. that sounds familiar. Finally trying to get a religious insight on this... situation.
<Kent> ...To the inn.
<Kheldar> Right. You make your way back to the inn. Nothing of note occurs.
<Kent> Okay. book and prophecy paraphenalia retrieved... lock door ... back to church dude.
<Kheldar> Ok, you are soon back at the church. The priest you'd talked to is still there.
<Kent> Approaching the priest, Jannot says, "Okay, here was the passage I first read in the book..." and he hands it to the priest.
<Kheldar> "Please come with me." He leads you out of the sanctuary down a hall to a small room with a desk, a couple chairs and a bookshelf neatly lined with books.
<Kent> ... puzzled, Jannot follows.
<Kheldar> You gave him the book or the paper?
<Kent> If he accepted the book from me before having me follow him... then he has it.
<Kheldar> He sets the book on the desk, placing a hand on it. "We can speak here without needing to worry about disturbing those who come to pray."
<Kent> "Oh. I see. Thank you." he says.
<Kheldar> He looks down at the book and reads the passage which you have pointed out.
<Kent> ..."and having read that I was startled when... well... I'll get to that later."
<Kheldar> "Go on," he says, continuing to look through the couple of pages surrounding the one you've picked out in the book.
<Kent> Jannot takes a deep breath and continues pulling out the piece of hide.
<Kent> "Have you seen anything like this before?"
<Kent> ... and Jannot shows him the hide.
<Kheldar> He looks at it carefully. "I'm afraid it's not familiar to me. What does it have to do with this passage?"
<Kent> "I'm not sure that it's realted at all. I'm a tanner and that symbol there appeared on the inside of the hide and struck me as strange."
<Kheldar> He nods. "Very well, go on."
<Kent> Jannot considers telling the whole story or not... "If I tell you something, can you promise me that it'll stay between us?"
<Kheldar> "Unless you intend harm to Zuqar, you have my word."
<Kent> Jannot nodds and tells the man the story... of finding the birds... drawing the connection between the passage in the book and the rest of the complete prophecy.
<Kent> ... and that his father died along with the rest of his family in the plague of the past... but no mention of the plague present day.
<Kheldar> He thinks a bit. "So, how do you come to be here in Kastor?"
<Kent> [subtle, very subtle]
<Kheldar> --Did you show him the parchment with the translation?
<Kent> "Well, I'd rather not tell you that yet. What I need to know is if there is any way to ... determine if the prophecy is actually a prophecy or if it is just the ramblings of a mad man... or elf?"
<Kent> Yeah.
<Kheldar> He is quiet for a while, rereading the translation, and flipping through the book.
<Kheldar> --GM thinks...
<Kheldar> --So, tell me, what is Jannot's outlook on Qaran, that's the God of Zuqar.
<Kent> Hm. well, He's probably paid token homage once or twice... but nothing serious.
<Kheldar> --ok, wait a sec...
<Kent> ... but that would be the same as any of the new gods... However, he has a bit more respect... and perhaps a little fear regarding the 'Old gods'.
<Kheldar> --Right.
<Kheldar> Ok, after a bit of thought, the priest speaks at last. "The story you tell is a strange one, and I am inclined to believe as you do, that this is a true prophecy."
<Kent> Jannot hangs his head.
<Kheldar> "I would like you to ... reconsider telling me what brings you here."
<Kheldar> He seems very serious, as if he's... measuring you in some way.
<Kent> yikes... Jannot considers... fingers through hair... worried face... does this fellow seem like a decent guy? Trustworthy?
<Kheldar> He seems as you would expect a priest to be (at least one that follows a god of some integrity). He seems straightforward.
<Kent> ... Jannot nodds. "Okay. okay then. I'll tell you. Have you noticed any more people travelling this way from Zuqar?
<Kheldar> He nods. "There have been some refugees. Word is that elves have attacked the city." He looks at you, waiting for a response.
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "I heard that story too... but that's all it it. A story. That plague returned... and I along with amny others, fled. Since it took me 5 days to get here, I imagine that if I were ... infected it would have shown itself by now."
<Kent> Jannot waits for the priests reaction.
<Kheldar> Strangely [perhaps] enough, the priest does not seem startled by your news. Instead, he sighs heavily.
<Kent> Jannot now explains how his friend Thom was stricken... along with his family... perhaps a few tears... "but I am going to return. After all, when it struck 25 years ago, it was over-with after only a few days."
<Kheldar> "Qaran weeps with you..."
<Kent> "... thank you..."
<Kent> "What I'm afraid of, though, is that I'm directly involved in this... prophecy."
<Kheldar> He nods gravely. "I believe we should seek the guidance of Qaran. Do you desire this?"
<Kent> Jannot sighs. "Well, Qaran might know more of this than I would... Sure. Yes. I suppose I would."
<Kheldar> The priest makes a clear spot on the desk by shoving the book and paper aside.
<Kent> Jannot feels a bit... nervous.
<Kheldar> He then walks to the book shelf, and takes off on shelf a shallow bowl and a small pitcher.
<Kheldar> He brings these back to the desk and setting the bowl on the desk, pours about an inch of what appears to be water into the bowl.
<Kheldar> "Please," he says to you. "Focus on Qaran. Put your trust in him. He will answer."
<Kent> "Um, I''ve never done this before... how do I do that?"
<Kheldar> "I understand. Just trust. Believe that Qaran can help you. He responds to our faith."
<Kheldar> He dips a finger in the water and puts it in his mouth. Then he gestures for you to do the same.
<Kheldar> ...err... he just licks off his finger you know... he's not standing there with a finger hanging out...
<Kent> With a hesitation in the movement just before the water he does the same.
<Kheldar> The water seems to be sea water, judging by it's taste and saltiness.
<Kheldar> The priest closes his eyes and begins to mumble something you don't quite catch.
<Kent> Jannot begins to think to himself... hoping that it's what he's supposed to do... 'Qaran? if you're there, I need to knwo what is happening to me...'
<Kheldar> Your eye is suddenly caught by a very slight movement in the water.
<Kent> ...really? Jannot looks at the water...
<Kheldar> yup... and the priest is definitely not touching the desk.
<Kent> [how interesting ]
<Kheldar> The water in the bowl trembles slightly, but nothing more happens.
<Kent> Is the priest noticing this as well?
<Kheldar> He has his eyes closed.
<Kheldar> He groans somewhat and says, "Qaran is far from us. His sons have suffered and died."
<Kheldar> He continues mumbling.
<Kheldar> At last, he holds out his hands over the bowl. The water is now continually rippling, but only slightly.
<Kheldar> He stops mumbling and says clearly, "Qaran, tell us if this man bears a true prophecy."
<Kent> Jannot quickly thinks to himself.."Yeah, is this thing real?'
<Kheldar> After a second, the water suddenly begins to cloud, as if it was a section of sea where the silt has been stirred up.
<Kheldar> The priest gives a somewhat disappointed sigh, and then something odd happens.
<Kheldar> You see a dark spot appear at one point on the edge of the bowl. It quickly spreads, soon encompassing the entire edge of the bowl in a circle.
<Kent> are the priests eyes still closed?
<Kheldar> You look at the priest. His eyes are open, and he is about to say something, but this is happening so quickly.
<Kheldar> As the circle completes (only taking less than a second), suddenly the entire bowl bursts into flame. It is a dark, sooty flame that smokes and roils.
<Kent> "WHat is that?!" Jannot syas, resisting the urge to stand up.
<Kent> -- AAAH HA HA HA ha haha ha ha...
<Kheldar> The priest reaches for the bowl, and picks it up, apparently not noticing the flames.
<Kent> Jannot springs back away from the table.
<Kent> Jannot raises his voice, "Are you crazy!? The bowl in in flames!"
<Kheldar> "I'm afraid that Qaran denies the truth of your... ...well"
<Kheldar> He quirks one eyebrow and looks down at the bowl.
<Kheldar> The flames are now beginning to die.
<Kheldar> "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean..."
<Kent> There was a dark spot... t encircled the bowl and then the whole thing burst into flanmes and smoke!"
<Kheldar> --wait
<Kent> --oh crap.
<Kheldar> Half-way through describing what happened to the bowl, say.. about the point where you said "it encircled th..." You throat suddenly became extremely dry and parched. Your voice seems to give out, causing you to cough.
<Kent> Jannot backs away from the priest and the bowl...
<Kheldar> The priest looks at you with concern. "Are you ill?"
<Kent> clutching his throat and trying to talk.
<Kheldar> He backs away slightly.
<Kent> Oh great.
<Kheldar> You find your throat moistening again. You can probably speak.
<Kent> "I was just going to describe whgat I saw... and I think I was ... prevented!"
<Kheldar> He looks puzzled. "I assume that you saw as I did. Qaran darkened the bowl. It was a negative response to my question."
<Kent> "Oh it was more than that.
<Kheldar> stop
<Kheldar> Your throat starts to tighten again.
<Kent> " At which point did words stop?
<Kheldar> oh... just after "it was..."
<Kent> grr...
<Kheldar> --sorry to keep interupting... The hazards of ICQ...
<Kent> is there a writing utencil nearby? No, that was Jannot being frustrated...not me.
<Kheldar> By the way, the flames appear to have died out, although the water in the bowl is coated with a layer of soot/ash.
<Kent> Obviously the priest doesn't see it...
<Kheldar> Apparently not.
<Kent> Is there a writing utencil nearby?
<Kheldar> Yes, as a matter of fact, there is a quill pen next to an ink pot.
<Kheldar> Nearby is a neat pile of blank parchment.
<Kent> Jannot takes a different tack..."Have you ever been... physically guided by Qaran?"
<Kheldar> "At times, yes."
<Kent> "Were you ever prevented from speaking?"
<Kheldar> He appears faintly puzzled. "I can't say that I have. I'm here to bring others to worship Qaran, not prevent it."
<Kent> Jannot thinks, "Trying to describe what I saw, I was prevefnted from completing my description."
<Kheldar> stop
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> You voice dries out around... "what I saw..."
<Kent> W H Y!?!?!?!"
<Kheldar> lol
<Kent> ... I will foil you....
<Kheldar> He waits for you to finish you sentence, then seeing your distress... "Do you need something to drink?"
<Kent> Jannot Definitely shakes his head... and then remembers the salt-water... and then nodds yes.
<Kheldar> "Please wait just a moment." He set the bowl and pitcher back on the shelf, then leaves the room.
<Kent> Jannot approaches the bowl... and looks at it.
<Kheldar> It's a fairly plain bowl, apparently silv... err.. apparently... hmm... thinking..
<Kent> earthenware.
<Kheldar> Yes, earthenware, thank you.
<Kheldar> --salt water you know...
<Kheldar> The water in it is still coated with a layer of soot, and the edge of the bowl is blackened.
<Kent> uh huh... Jannot carefully touches the edge of the bowl to see if the soot comes off on his finger.
<Kheldar> Yes, it does. Underneath, the bowl appears unmarked.
<Kent> Does it smear on his pants from his finger?
<Kheldar> Yes, it does.
<Kent> Hm.
<Kent>
<Kent> He sits back down and waits for the priest to return
<Kent> [...with the town guard...]
<Kheldar> The priest comes back soon. He carries a goblet with ... apparently... water in it. He hands it to you.
<Kent> Water? Not wine?
<Kheldar> Oh... ok, it is faintly colored. Probably a heavily watered ale or some such.
<Kent> It's just that I thought that people never really drank the water.
<Kheldar> "I understand if you have never seen such a thing before that it might be surprising."
<Kent> Jannot nods... and tries to talk.
<Kheldar> You sem to be able to speak.
<Kent> "Thank you." and he accepts the .... drink.
<Kent> "Can you see this smudge on my pants?"
<Kheldar> He blinks. "Excuse me?" He looks briefly down where you are pointing.
<Kent> ...
<Kheldar> He doesn't appear to... or he's faking it for some reason.
<Kent>
<Kent> "So you see no smudge here?" pointing to the spot.
<Kheldar> He sighs. "I am afraid for you. I fear that the last week has perhaps taken a deep toll on you."
<Kheldar> "Trust in Qaran. He will heal you. This... prophecy is apparently nothing to worry about."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "What exactly did you see in the bowl?"
<Kheldar> "Qaran clouded the bowl. Nothing more."
<Kheldar> He's talking to you in a real... patient kind of voice, kind of like you might use with... oh... say ... a mentally handicapped person...
<Kent> Jannot decides not to drink of the ... drink.
<Kent> "Perhaps you were correct. I probably just didn't know what to expect to see."
<Kheldar> "Of course. I understand."
<Kheldar> "Do you have a place to stay?"
<Kent> [chuckle... like I'm going to tell the priest where the crazy guy is staying...]
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> "Oh good. Perhaps a good night's rest would do you good."
<Kent> "I am taken care of. Thank you." Jannot says politely while collecting his things.
<Kheldar> Right... as he seems to be doing.
<Kent> ... he's not holding on to anything of Jannot's is he?
<Kheldar> Nope.
<Kent> Good.
<Kent> "Listen. I appreciate your help this afternoon."
<Kheldar> He nods. "I hope... Well... I hope the best for you."
<Kent> Jannot nodds... he seems to do that a lot... "You were very helpful. I likely have nothing to worry about."
<Kent> " he says with a... well attempting a pleasant smile.
<Kent> --
<Kheldar> "Of course not. Please feel free to come back."
<Kent> yeah, right!] "Of course. Thank you." And with that Jannot moves to leave the rather confining room... you never told me if Jannot felt heat o smelled the smoke...
<Kent> right. fantastic.
<Kheldar> oh, right... uh... Yes, you could definitely feel the heat. The smoke had a rather oily taste.
<Kent> hm.
<Kheldar> Right, you are escorted back to the sanctuary, and the priest and you exchange a couple more meaningless farewells before you leave.
<Kent> Yeah, there you go...
<Kent> And Jannot makes a meandering way through the town on his way back to the inn.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> ... and checks to see if anyone is following him... a couple times...
<Kheldar> No one is following... that you can tell.
<Kent> right.
<Kent> okay. after going back and putting his stuff back in his room he takes out that chunk of wood that represented his dingy and goes to the ... cove.
<Kheldar> Where the boat is docked?
<Kheldar> It's starting to get near to sundown by the way...
<Kent> hm. okay. that's fine. He's not going far.
<Kheldar> Ok. You make your way to where you left the boat.
<Kent> It's only been about half a day right?
<Kent> ..came in... stowed the boat... got a room... bathed...
<Kheldar> Yeah, I think that's right.
<Kent> is the fellow in the shack still there?
<Kheldar> Yup, looks like.
<Kent> Jannot approaches the fellow.
<Kheldar> "What do you want?" He asks..
<Kent> I was wondering what time I'll need to be here in the morning to check out my dingy."
<Kheldar> "You be here before noon and we won't charge you another day."
<Kent> "Okay, can I check my boat real quick?"
<Kheldar> He picks at a healing scar on his cheek. "Yeah, go ahead."
<Kheldar> Yup. It seems untouched. (Along with the oars, which you left there).
<Kent> Jannot makes his way to his little boat. is it there? Really? I left those?
<Kheldar> I assumed you weren't lugging those around... kind of bulky.
<Kent> Jannot grabs the oars and any odds and ends and makes his way back to the inn... with a somewhat friendly wave to the shack fellow.
<Kheldar> Ok... just recall that you used a cart to get this stuff to your boat when you left Zuqar, might be an awkward trip tommorrow.
<Kent> Yeah... but you also said that it might be bulky, but I could have done it without the cart.
<Kheldar> Yes, true, and it is a shorter distance.
<Kent> "
<Kent> ok
<Kheldar> Just making sure you remember.
<Kent> Oh, I recall...
<Kheldar> He nods to your wave, and you make your way back to the inn.
<Kent> k.
<Kent> Well, I believe that dinner was included in my room cost...
<Kheldar> Oh yes, that's right...
<Kheldar> Wait... not true. Just the room and the bath came with the price. Sorry.
<Kent> after putting the oars in the room... I think that dinner would be welcome.
<Kheldar> You actually asked specifically about dinner.
<Kent> Oh. that's right. It was the bath. Sorry.
<Kheldar> no prob
<Kent> coming down from the room Jannot brings a little coin... the rest hidden.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> You order some food, which turns out to be quite good.
<Kent> ... and has dinner.,.. is there a table ? good.
<Kheldar> Oh err... yes, table and all.
<Kent> no, no. that's fine.
<Kheldar> ok
<Kent>
<Kent> excellent
<Kheldar> The eating area is once again fairly crowded, but you do manage to find a place to sit by yourself (as long as you don't take too long that is).
<Kent> right. after finishing... and paying ... he asks for something to drink that he can take back to his room.
<Kheldar> Right. You can take a mug of something back with you.
<Kent> good enough.
<Kent> What's the weather like tonight?
<Kheldar> Pretty warm and clear.
<Kent> Is there anywhere near that Jannot could sit outside and ... think?
<Kheldar> Sure. There's actually a stable along the side of the inn. In fact, it's up against the same wall as your room. There should be a place back there that's off the street and relatively quiet.
<Kent> okay. Jannot will go there. is there anyone around?
<Kheldar> The stable doors are shut, but there is some wood stacked up there and a chopping block. No one is around.
<Kent> Jannot gargles with the drink and spuits it out... "Flaming salt-water..."
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> Yes, your throat is still just a little sore.
<Kent> Jannot speaks aloud, but quietly, "The bowl burst into flames... and smoke roiled out of it..."
<Kent> and... anything preventing such action?
<Kheldar> Nope, no problems.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot shakes his head. If he returned to the priest the priest would probably have him committed to some crazy-farm...
<Kent> ...but there WAS something there... in the room... preventing him to speak...Jannot shakes his head again and has a seat. Jannot tries to enjoy the evening sky... and birds... with the rest of the drink.
<Kheldar> Yes, it is nice to see the birds.
<Kheldar> Nope, you haven't seen any dead ones around...
<Kent> well... that's nice to know.
<Kent> after relaxing somewhat and finishing the drink Jannot returns the mug inside at the bar and goes up to his room... to read and retire.
<Kheldar> Right. It's fairly dim in your room, but there is a candle still, and that provides some light for you to read for a bit.
<Kent> k
<Kent> after reading for a while Jannot blows out the candle and tries to think about gods... and prophecies... and what in the worlsd this could have to do with him... until he falls to sleep.
<Kheldar> You fall asleep surprisingly quickly, and wake the next morning quite refreshed.
<Kent> hm. that's good. hope it's early still. Jannot will get dressed and go down for breakfast.
<Kheldar> It is still fairly early. You are able to get some breakfast in relative solitude.
<Kent> okay. the weather is still good this day?
<Kheldar> Yup.
<Kent> Hm.
<Kent> Did Jannot see any shops on the road that would sell food for his return journey?
<Kheldar> Travel food?
<Kheldar> Certainly.
<Kheldar> True, although you did have a couple days food with you.
<Kent> yeah... but I guess he didn't nee dthem before... but perhaps the journey might take longer this time. something like that. Jannot purchases ... 10 meals of travel food somewhere. [and by the way - in the merchant skill description it is specifically mentioned as being used in haggling...]
<Kheldar> Against the current as I recall...
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Ok, you reach a... reasonable price of 1 copper for the lot.
<Kheldar> err...
<Kent> heh.
<Kheldar> That would be 1 bronze.
<Kent> oh.
<Kent> okay.
<Kent> And... Jannot gathers up his things - placing the travel rations in the large sack. and makes his bulky, difficult way back to his dingy.
<Kent> That was easier that I expected.
<Kheldar> Right. You return the piece of wood, pack up the boat, and make your way out of the enclosed area. The man standing at the exit area gives you a friendly wave.
<Kent> Hm.. Jannot returns the wave with a smile... and heads back to his shop...
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> The trip back is quite similar to the trip out.
<Kheldar> Fairly uneventful, it also takes five days, but it looks like you'll be arriving in the evening rather than late morning.
<Kent> okay. Right. as Jannot approaches, is it still light?
<Kheldar> Hard to believe that as you approach the city it's been exactly two weeks since you first spotted the dead birds...
<Kent> oh ... no.
<Kheldar> If I'm counting correctly...
<Kent> Yeah. I suppose ... wait. Yeah. I guess so.
<Kheldar> It's probably about one bell before nightfall as you approach the harbour area.
<Kent> Are there a - normal number of ships in harbor?
<Kheldar> Well... actually, no. There's quite a few less.
<Kheldar> And one of the city's patrol boats seems to be sailing in the bay, perhaps practice maneuvers or... something.
<Kent> Right. Actually, that's probably the smart way to go. Jannot approaches the patrol boat in his dingy.
<Kheldar> There is a shout as you begin to draw near, and the ship steers somewhat away from you. You can see a number of uniformed men on the deck. A number are up in the rigging. They do appear to be quite busy.
<Kheldar> Most likely doing drills of some sort.
<Kent> Hm. Jannot calls out, "Hey there? How goes the city?"
<Kheldar> You do not receive an answer.
<Kent> Huh. that's odd. Jannot waits and watches.
<Kheldar> The ship begins to pull away from you with its greater speed.
<Kent> Well, he's not chasing it... are there any other boats that are under weigh?.
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> Not at this point.
<Kent> Hm. Are there people visible on the docks or the shore?
<Kheldar> Yes, you can see some people visible on the docks, but the shoreline seems fairly deserted. In fact... it looks like a number of shacks and such down near the shoreline have been burned...
<Kent> uh huh.
<Kent> Hm. well, Jannot will actually approach the docks.
<Kheldar> Ok. As you near the docks, you spot some people loading a ship. Nothing out of the ordinary there. You also spot an unusual number of guards around.
<Kent> Jannot will pull close, but not all the way up to the dock.
<Kent> When he pulls close enough to not have to yell, he'll call out.
<Kheldar> ...he'll call out what?
<Kent> ... um..."Uh, hello there. How goes the city?"
<Kheldar> A couple people turn your way. Most return to their business, but a guard speaks up. "Are you looking for a place to secure your boat?"
<Kent> Jannot replies, "Yeah, sure. But the shoreline looks a little... worse for wear."
<Kent> Oh.
<Kheldar> You notice that the shoreline does not have its usual assortment of boats...
<Kheldar> "Yes" The guard says gravely.
<Kheldar> ... wait...
<Kent> okay...
<Kheldar> "They were burned during an elvish uprising."
<Kent> Jannot pauses... "Elves? That seems... unlikely. How did it happen?"
<Kheldar> "Who knows how it started." He shrugs. "Supposedly they'd been planning it for years."
<Kent> Jannot shakes his head. "I would have never expected that. They seemed so peaceful. Did you actually have to fight them yourself?"
<Kheldar> "Not me, but some friends of mine did. They said the fighting was fierce."
<Kent> "How strange. So, where cana fellow stow his boat? are the boulders still there to secure against?"
<Kheldar> "Oh, they're still there. Personally I'd suggest renting some dock space though. We'll keep your boat safe for you."
<Kent> Jannot's eyebrows go up. "Has there been a problem with boats on the shoreline?"
<Kheldar> He gives a somewhat nasty grin. "There's been a problem with anything left unattended."
<Kent> - oh great.
<Kent> Jannot nodds, unhappily. "What does dockspace cost for a little dingy these days?"
<Kheldar> He eyes your boat. "They'll probably charge you a half copper a night."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Anything else I should be wary of?"
<Kheldar> "Just stay out of trouble, and be careful... There may also be elves around still. You're supposed to report them to the watch if you see them."
<Kent> Wow... "Really? all right them. Thank you for the advice." and Jannot makes his way toward the dock office.
<Kheldar> Right. I don't feel any particular need to roleplay that.
<Kheldar> Just pay for a night, or for long term?
<Kent> okay. It's a big city. I figure that they are reputable and fairly routine in their pricing. 3 days.
<Kheldar> Yes. Very true.
<Kheldar> Right. Ok.
<Kent> so...
<Kheldar> Strangely, you don't spot the horse and cart around anywhere...
<Kent> okay. Jannot unloads his dingy and makes his way up familiar roads... past Thoms house.
<Kent> right.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Ok, one of the first things you notice is a LOT of damage around the city. There were apparently many fires and much looting.
<Kheldar> The next thing you notice is a... fairly large number of patrols.
<Kent> great. fantastic. Well, that's good.
<Kheldar> Oddly enough, they aren't quite wearing the same uniform you've seen before. It's mostly the same, but sports... a... [GM thinking] hmm... err...
<Kent> really?
<Kent> Jannot does have Heraldry...
<Kent>
<Kent> Heh... book smarts. WHat can you do...
<Kheldar> Ok, how about this, the right sleeve is black. Up to the shoulder hem. This includes tunic or (for those wearing armor), blacked leather or metal.
<Kheldar> You haven't come across anything similar in your readings.
<Kent> Hm. A sign of some sort... perhaps mourning?
<Kheldar> Could be.
<Kheldar> Seems convenient, as it's a relatively easy change to make.
<Kent> right. Okay. What about civilian presence?
<Kheldar> There is an air of... well furtiveness to people.
<Kheldar> There is little laughter in the streets, and little extra noise.
<Kheldar> You also notice that people tend to avoid the patrols as much as possible.
<Kent> I'd imagine not. Hm. Now that's odd.
<Kent> Jannot makes his way to Thom's home.
<Kheldar> The final thing you notice, as you're travelling the street is that up ahead there appears to be a blockade of some kind. There's a makeshift fence put up across the road, and a line of about a dozen or so people are waiting to get through.
<Kent> ...okay.
<Kheldar> There are guardsmen talking with each person, and one sitting at a crude table making tallies of some kind.
<Kent> Hm. well, okay then.
<Kent> Jannot makes his way...
<Kheldar> Stand in line or see if there's another street?
<Kent> No. The load is cumbersome, but He'll wait in line.
<Kheldar> As you get closer to the front of the line, you can hear a little of what's going on.
<Kheldar> The guards are asking just a couple simple questions... "Where do you live?" "What is you job?"
<Kent> Hm... Jannot was away ... trying to find... some specific skins... in the south...
<Kent> Looking for a new business contact... yeah.
<Kheldar> You are finally near the front of the line, when you realize that the man currently being questioned is also involved in the leather business.
<Kent> [so this is where he hears the bad news, eh?]
<Kent> Hm. what a coincidence.
<Kent> So... has Jannot dealt with him before?
<Kheldar> He deals with shipping... Sells to merchants picking up speculative trade and the like.
<Kheldar> Only once or twice. He's carrying a small travelling pack.
<Kent> And... would he debunk Jannot if he weere lying?
<Kheldar> Lying about what?
<Kent> being south because he was looking for specific skins or a trader that could provide such... an excuse for being out of town other than "Yeah I saw the plague coming and I scrammed..."
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> Ah, he most likely wouldn't know.
<Kheldar> The guards are just asking him the bit about what his job is...
<Kent> Ok. Good enough. Jannot listens to his questions and answers...
<Kheldar> He replies, "Oh, I sell leather to traders making their way up and down the coast. I just got back from meeting with some people up in Miraj about some business deals."
<Kheldar> You notice a glance pass between the guards.
<Kheldar> The one sitting at the table stands up.
<Kent> Oh... someone else knows the prophecy...
<Kent> And the guards were happy?
<Kheldar> No, definitely not happy. They started giving looks right at the beginning of the guy's answer.
<Kent> Damn.
<Kheldar> "I see." One guard says. "And, you live here?"
<Kheldar> "Well, I did," comes the answer. The man looks around a bit. "I don't know though, I may need a new place for business."
<Kheldar> The guards drawn their swords (there are about a half dozen guards here).
<Kheldar> The people in the line with you begin backing up...
<Kent> Oh crap...
<Kent> Jannot backs away...
<Kheldar> "I'm afraid you're going to have to... answer some other questions, sir. " Says the guard who has been giving the questions.
<Kheldar> The man looks frightened and uncertain. He's certainly not up to putting up a fight.
<Kent> Aw crap.
<Kheldar> With a minimum of hassle, two of the guards take the man by the arms and begin escorting him off down the street in the direction of the city center.
<Kent> Hm. new story.
<Kheldar> There are plenty of murmers from the line, but the guard gestures to the person in front of you. "Come now, you're next."
<Kent> Jannot turns to the person behind him and says, "What is that all about?"
<Kheldar> The man behind you shrugs. "Something to do with the elves I guess. Maybe they're looking for someone specific."
<Kent> Oh great. me and myu big freaking mouth...
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> "Are you new in town, then? They been doing this for a week or so..." the man behind you asks.
<Kent> 'Hi, I'm Thom... I'm visiting family...' Note, the single quotes denote internal thoughts. Sorry.
<Kheldar> --gotcha
<Kent> Yikes... Hm. Wel...
<Kent> dang.
<Kheldar> The man waits for an answer.
<Kent> "Oh, sorry, I was just thiinking that I left something in my boat. I'm just here to visit the family home..."
<Kheldar> "Ah... I hope they're still alive." He pats you on the back.
<Kent> "I think I'd better check my boat again, just in case." And Jannot slowly makes his way out of the line and walks back to the docks
<Kheldar> --GM raises an eyebrow...
<Kent> well, at least toward the docks.
<Kent> Darn it, but you just can't depend on those crazy role-players...
<Kent> ...except for the guards...
<Kheldar> Hmm... Ok, you make your way out of the line. Some people give you a funny look, but no one follows (especially not any guards).
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> There's only four of them now anyway...
<Kent> oh. okay. As he walks, Jannot thinks about... hm. four? Hm.Perhaps there might be a way around the barricade... So this barricade is pretty close to the docks then, eh? Not very far in to the city itself.
<Kheldar> Yes, there were six, but two left with the other man.
<Kheldar> It's not too far.
<Kent> So Thom's home would have been inside them?
<Kheldar> Apparently, yes.
<Kent> Hm. well, hm.
<Kent> Would it be out of Jannots way to find an alternate route to his family home?
<Kent> Like a parallel large road?
<Kheldar> Isn't that the definition of an alternate route?
<Kheldar> I guess the answer would be yes then.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> sure... So it would... well, who cares. Approaching the docks area Jannot will try an alternate main road...
<Kent> And how far does he get?
<Kheldar> Ok. You start down a different street. Fairly soon, up ahead you see another barricade. It's actually about a block further along than the other one was.
<Kent> ... okay... can he go down that connecting block and see where he ends up approaching the first roadway?
<Kheldar> Sure.
<Kheldar> You turn down the side street. It's... well, there are even fewer people in sight, although you do catch some movement back in among some rubble. Perhaps someone trying to stay out of sight.
<Kent> right... hm. Okay, hurrying along...
<Kheldar> The street is a little narrow here.
<Kheldar> At least narrow where the buildings haven't collapsed...
<Kent> Narrow? A slow-moving individual carrying a bunch of crap makes an attractive target.
<Kheldar> ...and yes, true, you feel definitely ... attractive.
<Kent> Collapsed?
<Kheldar> Oh yes, more of the damage your seen around. Probably burned and collapsed.
<Kent> Perhaps It's safer just to try to get past the guards with a story about being in town to visit the family home.
<Kheldar> So, turn around and go back then?
<Kheldar> That definitely appears to be the case.
<Kent> If it's more open and more likely to have guards, yes.
<Kent> Jannot may be somewhat naive at times, but he's not an idiot.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> So, I take up a place at the end of the line I was in before.
<Kheldar> Right. Ok. It looks like those two guards aren't back yet.
<Kent> Of course. How convenient.
<Kheldar> You finally reach the front of the line, and are beckoned forward by the guard.
<Kent> okay,. Jannot approaches.
<Kheldar> He eyes you. "Decided to come back, eh?"
<Kent> "Yeah. I thought I forgot a pack in my boat, but I was wrong."
<Kheldar> He pauses for a moment. "What's your name?"
<Kent> ... "Thom"
<Kheldar> You notice the man at the table scribbling away.
<Kheldar> "Where do you live?"
<Kent> Janot tries to keep his breathing even.
<Kent> "Kastor."
<Kheldar> "What do you do for a living there?"
<Kent> "Nothing right now, but I was most recently a fisherman."
<Kent>
<Kheldar> "And what is your business here in Zuqar?"
<Kent> "Well, I was wanting to visit the family..."
<Kheldar> "And where do they live?"
<Kent> Jannot describes the area near he tannery...
<Kheldar> The guard waits for the man behind him to finish writing.
<Kheldar> "AAAAAAAAAAAA
<Kheldar> --oops, slip of the finger there...
<Kent> whew... scared me there...
<Kheldar> lol
<Kheldar> "I don't suppose you know a man named... Gerard."
<Kheldar> If you recall correctly, that's the name of the guy they took away.
<Kent> "Gerard?"
<Kheldar> "Yes, Gerard."
<Kent> [ah] "Sorry, I don't think so."
<Kheldar> He gives you a long searching look.
<Kent> [great]
<Kheldar> "When is the last time you were in Zuqar?"
<Kent> "A couple months ago. Why? What has happened here? Did the elves really attack?"
<Kheldar> "Ask your family." He softens just a little. "If you find them.."
<Kheldar> "Very well. Stay out of trouble. If you see any elves in the city, you are to report them to the nearest patrol."
<Kheldar> "Good day."
<Kheldar> He gestures you through the barrier.
<Kent> "Okay. Thanks." and Jannot makes his way... calmly.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> ... or attemptedly so...

<Kheldar> Hmm, been about 3 hours... it's looking like a nice cliff-hanger stopping point again...
<Kheldar> By the way, a note about finding places you used to know... I've made a decision. Their fate (destroyed, looted, etc) will be determined by a dice roll when you first get there. It won't be decided by the plot, although it may be weighted according to location and various events that happened in the city. There will be no special treatment for specific locations.
<Kent> I'm very glad. Though I don't quite know what sort of odds I'll have...
<Kheldar> So, presumably next week, the fate of a couple places will lie in the fickle arms ... err... pips of a set of dice...
<Kheldar> Much fun.
<Kent> hm... frustrating priest...
<Kheldar> heh... not his fault. Honest.
<Kent> yeah, I suppose not... well, things are becoming clearer for Jannot at least.
<Kheldar> Oh? how so?
<Kent> well, he's never dealt with a deity before, but there was OBVIOUSLY something going on there... with the bowl and stuff...
<Kent> Yeah. I'd say to.
<Kheldar> Hmm... special attention, eh? Is that good or bad? :>
<Kent> well... I guess we'll have to see..

Next time... Saving Celeste

 

[AStott]

Session 6: Saving Celeste

<Kent> Jannot has passed the barricade.
<Kheldar> As I recall, you'd just passed a checkpoint of some kind... yes.
<Kheldar> Where to.
<Kent> Yeah. So. He'll head back in the general direction of the same path he took only 11 days earlier - only reverse... past Thom's home - on the way back to the shop...
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> Allright. You get near Thom's house. It seems to still be standing.
<Kent> okay.
<Kent> Are there any lights on?
<Kheldar> Nope.
<Kent> ... Jannot is hopeful... as he approaches are there any external signs of disturbance?
<Kheldar> Actually, the door is hanging off it's hinges, and the shutters are busted off the windows.
<Kent> ... It doesn't really matter, but out of curiosity did you roll THAT part?
<Kheldar> Of course.
<Kent> okay...
<Kent> Jannot is a bit distraught and catches himself before running inside. How dark is it outside?
<Kheldar> It's starting to get kind of dark. It was evening when you approached the docks.
<Kent> ok.
<Kent> Are there any people on the street?
<Kheldar> Not currently.
<Kent> Okay. Jannot will approach the house. There aren't any large scorch marks in the street are there?
<Kheldar> hmm... Nope.
<Kent> Okay, that would have been traumatic...Jannot looks around again to see if there are people watching him.
<Kent> [he's a little paranoid at this point]
<Kheldar> You don't spot anyone, although there are plenty of points where someone could be watching you from inside a building.
<Kent> Right... of course. Well, Jannot gulps down his fear and goes up to the door and knocks on the frame.
<Kheldar> There is silence from inside the house.
<Kent> So is the door off it's hinges or is it just hanging askew?
<Kheldar> It's still mostly attached by the bottom hinge, but it's tipped off on an angle into the house.
<Kent> Jannot calls quietly into the house - "Hello?"
<Kheldar> You listen for a moment, but there is no answer.
<Kent> Jannot worries a terrible amount and tragedy begins to sit heavily on him. He pushes the door open carefully, trying to not bust the last hinge.
<Kheldar> You carefully open up the door, tipping it back to lean against the wall.
<Kent> Is there any ambient light inside?
<Kheldar> Only a little. It's quite dark inside.
<Kent> Enough to make it through the house?
<Kheldar> Sure, you've been there enough to be somewhat familiar with it.
<Kheldar> What about your oars and fishing gear, etc?
<Kent> okay. Oh, it might be cumbersome, but I bring it inside with me. I'll set it on the kitchen table... if it's still there.
<Kheldar> Right. It's not... well...
<Kheldar> I guess you'd say it's kind of there. Just a little flattened is all. Looks like a bunch of people tore through the place and smashed up a bunch of stuff.
<Kent> great. Jannot begins to fear that he's not going to find anything here to lift his spirits... and places his things in the floor.
<Kheldar> As you approach the stairs...
<Kheldar> you notice a foul odor coming from upstairs.
<Kent> He then follows the same path he made two weeks ago... first to the childs room.
<Kent> - oh boy... Well, he tries to get a breath of air and make his way up.
<Kent> Yeah, right.
<Kheldar> Not the same kind of odor as last time, just more of a ... well... a something dead for a week kind of odor.
<Kheldar> You make your way up the stairs to the first room.
<Kent> ... and he pushes the door open, if it isn't already.
<Kheldar> Oh, it's open, half a second.
<Kheldar> This is the oldest girl's room. The room is kind of torn apart. You see a shape in the dimness under some torn blankets on the bed.
<Kent> So, the place is really tore apart... and I imagine smells something awful...
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kent> Jannot shakes his head resignedly... and goes to the next room.
<Kent> Wait.
<Kent> Wasn it this room or the next room that had the crying infant ?
<Kheldar> That was the next room.
<Kent> Right.
<Kent> on to the next room.
<Kheldar> The next room is the younger girl and the boy, the boy being the infant.
<Kent> Oh.
<Kheldar> Like the last room, this door stands open.
<Kheldar> The light coming in the window illuminates the face of the girl in her bed. She seems to be sleeping.
<Kent> And... really? and the infant?
<Kheldar> The crib is shoved up against one wall, it appears broken. You can't tell if the infant is inside.
<Kent> Against all hope, Jannot, from the doorway, calls out to the girl (.. whose name is... Cindi)
<Kheldar> There is no movement from the girl, and after a moment, you realize that she can't be alive. There is no movement at all from her breathing, and something about the way she's laying looks... unnatural.
<Kent> Great. This is turning out to be a killer party. Not the homecoming that Jannot had hoped for. Jannot thinks twice about proceeding into the master bedroom... but goes anyway.
<Kheldar> You enter the master bed room. You gaze goes first to the bed. Neither Thom nor his wife are in the bed.
<Kheldar> Instead, they have been tumbled out onto the floor. It's obvious that scavengers have been at them.
<Kent> Hm. Oh, fantastic.Scavenger people or scavenger animals?. Nice. Real nice.
<Kheldar> Um... no. animals.
<Kheldar> The rest of the room is a shambles.
<Kent> Well, Jannot thinks back, were there any hiding places for junk or goodies that Thom might have mentioned to Jannot?
<Kheldar> hmm... None that he mentioned to you.
<Kheldar> Good thought though.
<Kent> Jannot looks into the room. He's kind of surprised that he's not more upset. Here he is looking at the body of the nearly only father figure in his life and he's barely moved... Then Jannot thinks about it and realizes that this was what he figured he'd return to - if he were honest with himself.
<Kent> "Good bye Thom, " he mutters, "I'll catch you next time." and Jannot turns away to leave.
<Kheldar> You wander back through the quiet house.
<Kent> Um... Jannot gathers his things back up, realizing that if the place had been scavenged already that there would be no reason to spend any more time in this... tomb.
<Kheldar> Sound thinking.
<Kheldar> Are you prepared to head home then?
<Kent> SO, before exiting, Jannot will take a glance through the living room to capture a couple fond memories... if possible.
<Kent> And then look through the door outside to see if there is anyone on the street that would notice him exiting.
<Kheldar> The street is still empty.
<Kent> Okay then. Jannot takes his leave of this place... really wanting to be away from it at this point.
<Kheldar> You make your way down the street and towards the shop and your house.
<Kent> ... what sort of devestation is there around the area approaching the shop?
<Kheldar> The area is actually not too bad. As you first catch sight of the shop, your hope grows. The shop seems to be untouched.
<Kent> Hm. his hope has been dashed before... but at its sight his pace picks up a bit.
<Kheldar> You get closer and realize that something must have happened to the shop. The door is open just slightly.
<Kent> "Fantastic. Just what I need now..." Jannot mutters as he approaches the... was the shop door open or the house door open?
<Kent> "Damn...."
<Kheldar> The shop door. The house behind the shop appears to still be shut up.
<Kent> Jannot instead of going into the shop at this point decides to go around back and check out the house first.
<Kheldar> You head back around to the house. Other than the... birdbath knocked over, the outside of the house seems untouched. The door is even still locked.
<Kent> "Hm. Uncommon luck..." he mutters and moves to enter the house.
<Kheldar> --you're telling me...
<Kent> [ He he he...]
<Kent> Does the kitchen area (immediately inside the door) seem allright?
<Kheldar> You unlock the door and enter the house. It's (obviously) dark inside, but you don't see any signs of anyone having entered.
<Kent> GREAT!
<Kent> Jannot puts his things down and finds a candle to light.
<Kheldar> You find and light a candle. The light is immensely reassuring as you find yourself back in a familiar, untouched setting.
<Kent> Yeah. Incredibly... So, Jannot goes through the rest of the house.
<Kheldar> Everything seems to be in order.
<Kheldar> You do notice one thing though...
<Kheldar> You're checking out the room that is against the wall shared with the shop when you hear a kind of... <THUMP> from in the shop, and you think you can hear voices.
<Kent> ...oh you... Ah. HA! Exactly what I was trying to avoid...
<Kent> Oh..crap. more than one?
<Kheldar> Possibly.
<Kent> Jannot ... does he have a broom nearby ?
<Kheldar> Sure.
<Kent> Jannot grabs the broom and stepping on the head, snaps it off.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> Then... severely agitated, Jannot makes his way outside the back of the house with the stick... having blown out the candle and left it in the kitchen.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> the front door of the shop was open... is the back open as well?
<Kheldar> Just slightly.
<Kheldar> Oh, wait. The front door was open slightly. The back door is...
<Kheldar> Uh... the back door opens up back behind the house?
<Kent> Yeah
<Kheldar> Got it. It is close and doesn't seem to have been disturbed, so it's presumably locked still.
<Kent> Yeah, recall? there's a way to the shop from the back. How heavy is that bird bath?
<Kheldar> It's pretty heavy. Not something you could be swinging around.
<Kheldar> Sure. It probably weighs... oh... maybe a hundred pounds or so.
<Kent> Too heavy to pick up? Can He move it? Jannot quietly drops the broom stick and grabs the bird.. fountain and places it heavy/stable end down, blocking the back door.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> and waits... does he still hear the voices?
<Kheldar> Yes, it sounds like there is some kind of a struggle going on.
<Kent> Struggle? Hm. maybe they'll kill each other...
<Kheldar> You hear something knocked over.
<Kent> 'Darn it, that stuff is expensive...'
<Kheldar> was... you going to try and sell tanners equipment these days?
<Kent>
<Kent> Jannot takes his broom stick around to the front and listens behind the door.
<Kheldar> Actually, the door is now wide open, and there is some light coming from inside.
<Kent> Jannot looks to see if his note is still stuck to the door...
<Kheldar> Nope.
<Kent> Figures.
<Kent> Jannot peers inside.
<Kheldar> --GM still can't figure out why you left the note. Sounds to me like an open invitation to loot...
<Kent> [so that someone legitimately might not want to consider the property abandoned.]
<Kheldar> Guess it doesn't matter.
<Kent> [I dunno, wasn't really thinking clearly at the time... hustle and bustle you know]
<Kheldar> So, you take a peak inside. The light appears to be a lantern that's been left on one of the work tables. You're first struck by the fact that the place is a horrid mess.
<Kent> and?
<Kheldar> Then you notice a man standing near the back. He's holding a club and looking down at some thing out of your sight. You can still hear some struggling.
<Kent> Great, so...
<Kent> Oh boy. there's at least three then... No sign of a patrol?
<Kheldar> Nope.
<Kheldar> You actually only spotted one on your way from Thom's to here.
<Kent> Hm. Does the shop look a mess? or does it look looted?
<Kheldar> Absolutely. It looks looted.
<Kheldar> ...and a mess.
<Kent> crap.Hm.
<Kent> Hm... does the door open in or out?
<Kheldar> In.
<Kent> poo.
<Kent> How far from the doorway si that lasntern?
<Kheldar> You suddenly hear what sounds like a yell from a woman. Inside.
<Kent> GAAAH a Woman!
<Kent> How far away from the door is that lantern?
<Kheldar> It's probably... about 5 yards, but there is stuff in the way.
<Kent> Of course there is... Um... Jannot isn't a fighter, so... is there a neighbor that is a relatively fit male?
<Kheldar> Oh, there probably was.
<Kheldar> Oh, and the house has walls...
<Kent> oh, walls, ha ha. very funny...
<Kent>
<Kheldar>
<Kent> [chuckling...]
<Kheldar> There are no lights.
<Kent> Jannot runs to that neighbors house and wallops the door a couple times.
<Kheldar> There is no sound from inside.
<Kent> Crap... is there another?
<Kheldar> Sure, you can think of a couple
<Kent> ... Jannot runs to the next... any other people in sight?
<Kheldar> Of course, you can see a pile of rubble where one of their house's used to be.
<Kheldar> Nope, and now that you think of it, no lights either.
<Kent> "Flaming rot!"
<Kent> Jannot positions himself behind the door to the shop, takes a deep breath and yell as loud as he can,
<Kent> "{WATCH! WATCH, RAPE!" and prepares to whack the first guy that runs out the door.
<Kent> somewhere around chest height...
<Kent>
<Kheldar> You hear a couple curses inside, the after a moment, the light inside goes out.
<Kheldar> After a 10 second wait, nothing comes out.
<Kent> grr... Jannot hopes that the fellow with the club is first through the door...
<Kheldar> Continue waiting?
<Kent> ...after a few tense seconds Jannot repeats the yell.
<Kheldar> --GM rolls some dice
<Kent> ... and braces himself. (step and wait )
<Kheldar> There is another 10 second wait with no sounds from inside.
<Kent> Jannot takes another deep breath, and trying to make himself sound as ... burly as possible he says loudly, "I know you're still in there! Send out the woman and you can go!"
<Kent> .. and then he takes a step back from the door unless the nastyt fellow try to use her as a shield.
<Kheldar> There is a couple second pause, then...
<Kheldar> A shape leaps out of the doorway (yes, it's a little dark outside).
<Kent> Actually, Janot's reaction would first be to ... block. all-out defense.
<Kheldar> Even if he doesn't appear to have spotted you yet?
<Kent> Well, Jannot's really mostly interested in getting the guys out of his place... not causing damage.
<Kheldar> I see... half second...
<Kheldar> Time is temporarily paused while the GM is thinking.
<Kent> Is there reaction time involved here? Does Jannot know instantly that the figure is a man?
<Kheldar> It's definitely a man, apparently with a club.
<Kent> (Yes, I am wanting to do this combat a little more ... hands on)
<Kheldar> Ok, would your reaction change at all if I told you that... unexpectedly, you feel an unaccustomed rage welling up in you as soon as you spot the guy.
<Kheldar> And yes, this doesn't feel like your normal reaction to things, but it's there none-the-less.
<Kent> He he... there's that agitation I mentioned before... I did say step and wait... Yeah, Jannot wails on him.
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> Your swing connects with his chest, and knocks him back a step into the front wall of the shop. He growls and turns towards you.
<Kheldar> The rage is suddenly gone.
<Kent> Jannot is going to promptly change his emotion to fear and ... in fear all-out-attack is the strange reaction.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> [sorry, that's just what I think He'd do.]
<Kheldar> no problem, it's just not supported by the strange feeling now is all.
<Kent> Huh?
<Kent> Wait, what do you mean?
<Kheldar> Ok, so what I meant is that... hmm... It's almost like... [hunting for a way to explain]
<Kent> uh huh...
<Kent> ... like Jannots actions are being guided? Oh. Hm.
<Kheldar> It's almost like for a moment you were someone else looking over your own shoulder. You could see or feel this intense anger, but you knew it didn't feel normal. As soon as you attacked, that feeling left, to (most likely) be replace by an ... oh s@#& sensation.
<Kent> Gotchya. I think IU follow exactly. I'll stick with the all-out-fear attack.
<Kheldar> Your actions were not guided, but if you had to think about, you'd say your emotions were.
<Kheldar> Check. You flail wildly at the guy, but he ducks and stumbles out of the way. He hasn't quite managed to return the attack.
<Kent> Jannot takes the moment to stop and yell at the guy: "GET OUT OF MY SHOP!"
<Kheldar> The guy gathers himself slightly... then springs at you, swinging his club. It catches you in the arm with a rather strong blow, and then the guy is past you and running away.
<Kent> Oh. That's good. Jannot does all-out defense now, since he really doesn't know what he's doing.
<Kent> Kind of surprised, Jannot turns from watching the fellow run off and looks back to the doorway.
<Kheldar> It's your right arm, and it's feeling pretty numb right now. You can't seem to hold onto your broomstick very well.
<Kent> ok. poo.
<Kent> Jannot Gathers himself and waits. Are there still no other people on the street?
<Kheldar> No, the street is strangely quiet and empty.
<Kent> He waits a bit to see if the other fellow that he assumes was there leaves...
<Kheldar> It's quiet inside.
<Kent> Jannot tries to massage some of the numbness out of his arm...
<Kheldar> It's painful to the touch. You wonder if it might be broken...
<Kent> Fantastic... No sounds still?
<Kheldar> Nope, nothing.
<Kent> I assume that the fellow that left, didn't take his lantern... even though it"s out now.
<Kheldar> You didn't catch sight of a lantern
<Kent> Jannot approaches the door again and speaks loudly inside. "I know you're still in there... your friend bolted and ..." gulp... "Now it's your turn."
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> There is a sound of some faint scuffling, then you hear, "Back off man! I'll kill her!"
<Kent> Jannot shakes his head. "Are you a serious moron?"
<Kheldar> --lol
<Kheldar> "I mean it! I'm coming out!"
<Kheldar> It sounds like he might be approaching the door.
<Kent> Jannot backs away from the door.
<Kent> ... and gathers himself to try to look like he's not hurt.
<Kheldar> After a moment, you make out a shape in the door way. It appears that another man is coming out, he has a woman in front of him.
<Kent> Jannot says in a normal tone of voice, "Just let her go and you can leave."
<Kent> Jannot makes no move.
<Kheldar> --Where are you with respect to the door? How far away, and beside, or directly in front, or what?
<Kent> Uh, If you face the door, Jannot is standing about 8 feet from the door. to the left and out about 45 degrees.
<Kheldar> Got it.
<Kheldar> Suddenly, he shoves the woman directly at you and takes off running away from you.
<Kent> Jannot tries to catch the woman with only his left arm...
<Kheldar> You catch the woman before she falls.
<Kent> As the jerk runs off Jannot yells at him, "You letch! you deserve any punishment this world deals you!"
<Kent> ... couldn't think of anything else...
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> The woman begins to cry and kind of collapses against you.
<Kent> Jannot is a bit taken aback. "Um, miss? are you okay?" Jannot says quietly.
<Kheldar> She can't seem to catch her breath or stop crying.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot tries to guide her over to the doorway so he can close the stinking door... and lock it.
<Kheldar> No problem with that... at least up until you go to lock it. It locks like someone broke the lock kicking in the door.
<Kent> "Flaming stinky rot!" Jannot then tries to guide the woman around to the back of the house to go inside and tells her that that's what he's trying to do.
<Kheldar> She manages to calm down just a little.
<Kheldar> Yes, certainly.
<Kent> I imagine that the progress is a bit slow and Jannot asks, "So, who are you and how did you come to be in my shop?"
<Kheldar> She takes a couple deep breaths, than says quietly, "Celeste... I'm Celeste."
<Kheldar> Then suddenly, "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was your shop!"
<Kent> Does she look up? or try to stand away from Jannot?
<Kheldar> As she says the last, she pulls away somewhat.
<Kent> Jannot removes his supporting arm and lets her stand on her own... and looks her over.
<Kheldar> You can't see much in the dark, but she is still wearing all her clothing, so whatever might have happened... didn't.
<Kent> ... good enough. Jannot says, "My name is... Jannot. Would you like to come inside to gather yourself?"
<Kheldar> She visibly considers, then nods her head.
<Kent> Jannot leads her into the kitchen and lights the candle again... and a second and third candle... normal lighting.
<Kheldar> She stands in the middle of the kitchen, her arms wrapped around herself.
<Kheldar> After you light the candles, you look at her.
<Kent> Jannot finishes lighting the candles and sits at his kitchen table with a rather heavy sigh... "Please, have a seat."
<Kheldar> She is quite dirty, and her clothes are torn. It's obvious that not all of the damage was done tonight.
<Kheldar> She shifts a bit, then pulls a chair back a little from the table (across from you), and sits, perched on the edge.
<Kheldar> "Th... thanks." she says quietly.
<Kent> "I just got back into town.. " he chuckles, ".. and I get quite a reception. My best friend is dead... along with his family, and I cometo the rescue of a lady ... in my ransacked shop." Jannot pauses...
<Kent> "so, what was your last week like?"
<Kheldar> She winces somewhat, "I don't really want to talk about it."
<Kheldar> --The GM ponders getting his wife to stand in as a substitute roleplayer for the woman...
<Kent> hm. that'd be ... odd.
<Kheldar> --I'm not entirely sure I know how to roleplay this NPC, but I'll give it my best shot.
<Kent> He he...
<Kent> [you know you are the GM, you could just provide commentary.]
<Kheldar> heh... true, but it's not my style.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> half second...
<Kent> okay. I'll get something to drink...
<Kheldar> --hang on, I've got an advisor now... bringing her up to speed...
<Kent> Ah. fair enough.
<Kent> Recall, Jannot is a little shorter than average, but also more attractive than average.
<Kent> ... details.
<Kheldar> --almost there.
<Kent> ... oh and kinda shy... oddly enough. Got that fly-wheel up to optimal RPM yet?
<Kent>
<Kheldar> ok... So, she just said she doesn't want to talk about her week.
<Kent> okay, sticking to that... good enough. Jannot considers for a moment. He's lived in this city all his life... does he recognize her?"
<Kheldar> No, she doesn't seem familiar.
<Kent> "So, are you from this area?"
<Kheldar> "I... I'm just tired right now." She drops her head slightly.
<Kent> Jannot says, "Well, there are extra rooms here. If you like you can stay here, no problem..." Jannot mind spins... should he offer her clothes to change into? Food? does he still have food? does he have a bathing facility that she'd be able to use?...
<Kheldar> She looks up with an almost... pitiable look of relief on her face. "It would be nice to.. rest." She says quietly.
<Kheldar> Uh... you probably have wooden tub or something that you use for bathing. Of course, it'd take a while to heat up some water...
<Kent> ... Jannot calms down. "Sure. I'll give you this room up here..." Jannot would like to bathe himself as well... "This room used to be my sisters..."he trails off. and makes sure that the linens on the bed aren't stale... and there's a candle.
<Kheldar> She watches your preparations without a word until you are finished.
<Kent> This is VERY strange for Jannot, likely obvious to an observer...
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> Yeah, I figured.
<Kent> After he finishes, he steps back from the room. "Um, would you like to ... bath? I can prepare some water if you like." MAN! this is wierd...
<Kheldar> "In the morning," she says quitely. Then she looks around and heads into the room, shutting the door behind her... and latching it.
<Kent> Jannot stands there... for a few seconds... "Okay, well, I'll be down the hall if there's anything... well, whatever." and ne walks back down to the kitchen to check if he has any food that's not spoiled.
<Kheldar> You do find some bread and such that seems hard, but ok.
<Kent> Hm. The bad food Jannot will take the oppportunity to toss out onto the trash heap... which reminds him of the shop.
<Kent> Jannot takes a candle and goes back to the shop to check out the damage.
<Kheldar> You check around the place a little. You do find a perfectly serviceable lantern on the work table. It looks like any of the leather that was nearly prepared has been stolen. Some of the drying racks are broken up. There's a lot of stuff on the floor. There is surely some stuff that could be salvaged...
<Kent> well, any stuff that's broken beyond repair Jannot will also drag out to the trahs heap after lighting the lantern. When it's mostly clean, Jannot will return to the house and get some VERY well, deserved rest.
<Kheldar> It's getting a little late, and you are somewhat tired... There's a lot of mess, and it might be better left until the morning...
<Kheldar> No way you're getting it "mostly clean" tonight. It's a lot more work than that.
<Kent> Hm. well, Jannot looks at the front door latch then. Is there a way to bolt the door shut?
<Kheldar> Well, you could wedge it shut and then go out the back...
<Kent> Actually Jannot is using the back as the main thoroughfare... though I suppose I did forget to move the bird bath back to it's intended resting place.
<Kheldar> True.
<Kent> So... Okay. Jannot resigns himself to doing all of this tomorrow. He jams the front door of the shop shut and locking the back door, taking the lanterna and candle, returns to his kitchen. Puts out the lights... locks the house door... and ... and collapses in his bed.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> You are asleep almost immediately.
<Kent> very good.
<Kheldar> You awaken the next morning around what used to be your usual time. Strange how the familiar setting puts you so quickly back in your familiar routine.
<Kheldar> The city is quieter than you're used to, but there is definitely a little bit of the normal city noise outside.
<Kent> Heh. Hm. nice. And then the soreness of the travels and the stinky clothes jerk him back...
<Kent> Any other noises? of the female sort?
<Kheldar> Nope, it's quiet inside the house.
<Kent> Well, Jannot knows that he smells at this point... and for an odd reason he feels like he should smell, well, at least, not unpleasant, around a woman. So he makes his way downstairs and first thing is to get something to eat.
<Kheldar> Right. You still have some of your travel rations left over from your trip. You can also find a little bit of unspoiled food left.
<Kent> The second is to try to find water to wash up... good enough... and heat some water.
<Kheldar> You heat up some water and take a rather refreshing bath. By the end, there is still no sign of your guest stirring.
<Kheldar> Oh yes, your arm... It's very sore and swollen, but doesn't seem to be broken.
<Kent> Ah. Yes. forgot about that.
<Kent> Hm. Well, after putting on some clean clothes after bathing, Jannot will make his way up the stairs to the 'guest' bedroom and knock.
<Kent> ...knocking with the left hand.
<Kheldar> There is no response from inside.
<Kent> After a suitable pause, Jnnot knocks a little harder and calls out, "Celeste? are you in there?"
<Kheldar> You don't hear anything.
<Kent> Hm. Jannot now worries about the woman. He knocks quite hard and calls out loudly, "Celeste? are you okay?"
<Kheldar> You hear a stifled cry from inside the room and a thump. Then it's quiet for a moment.
<Kent> oh crap.
<Kheldar> You hear a weak, "hello?" It sounds like her.
<Kent> whew... he calls out a little quieter, "Are you okay in there?"
<Kheldar> "Yes... Who is it?"
<Kent> Jannot's eyebrows raise... "Um, It's Jannot, remember? I let you stay over ehere last night?"
<Kheldar> "Oh... What is it? ... Is something wrong?"
<Kent> "No, nothing is wrong, it's just that it's morning." pause. "I just finished a bath, if you want to use it now."
<Kheldar> "ok..."
<Kent> At this point Jannot is just uncomfortable with talking to a strange woman in his house about bathing and walks away, to get ready to start cleaning out the shop.
<Kheldar> So, you'll head back over to the shop?
<Kent> Yeah. after eating a bit.. to the shop. But Jannot will leave a plate and the bread and some rations on the kitchen table - if 'Celeste' decides to come down.
<Kheldar> Ok. You head back over to the shop. Man.. it almost hurts to see the mess. This will definitely take a lot of work to get cleaned up and back in order.
<Kent> Well, hauling the broken parts out of the shop is the first order of business... business... Hm. How much coin does Jannot have remaining?
<Kheldar> About 3 1/2 gold.
<Kent> Well, that's a tidy sum. more than enough to buy a broom... and food for the next few days,.
<Kheldar> Yeah.
<Kheldar> A broom... to replace the other one...
<Kent>
<Kent> So, after an early day of hauling broken pieces out of the shop... Jannot will be checking in on his guest before going into the market.
<Kheldar> Ok, actually after about an hour, you look over and see her standing in the door way to the shop.
<Kheldar> "Do... do you need some help?"
<Kent> Jannot looks over to her. Did she have a chance to clean up herself?
<Kheldar> She definitely got cleaned up a bit, and she's now wearing a pair of your pants and one of your shirts. She's... well... she's pretty nice looking.
<Kent> ... mmmm youwsers...
<Kent> "Uh... Um, yeah, actually if you want to help I could use it, take that piece of..." and Jannot directs her to aid in various ways.
<Kheldar> She notices your look, "Um.. I needed something to wear." She fingers the shirt.
<Kent> "Oh, well, " he pauses and looks back to his work. "it looks far better on you than it would on me." and Jannot blushes .. ][actually they are a dark-skinned people... um]
<Kheldar> She gives you a rather pleasant smile.
<Kheldar> Yes, true, but not that dark skinned.
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> So, the two of you start cleaning up the shop together. It's nice to have some help even if you guys don't really talk any.
<Kent> Jannot can't BELIEVE he said that.... [allocate that point toward buying off his reclusivity...]
<Kent> Approaching lunch time Jannot says, "I'm going to have to go to market to get some food... and a broom. Would you care to stay here or to accompany me?" Jannot has a hqard time looking directly at her while speaking... though he really does like looking at her.
<Kheldar> "Do you mind if I come?"
<Kent> Jannot smiles a little, uncomfortably, and says, "No, not at all."
<Kent> By the way, I know that Jannot was away for two weeks, but there didn' happen to be any old customers trying to stop by were there?
<Kheldar> No one came to the shop the whole morning.
<Kent> okay.
<Kheldar> Right, so you guys head off to the market. Anything in mind other than just the things you listed?
<Kent> Heh... actually, yes. If Jannot is going to need to replace/repair some equipment, He'll be wanting to draw up drafts eventually for those repairs - or pull some money out of the bank.
<Kheldar> --my wife is over here busting up laughing at the "heh" bit...
<Kheldar> --lol
<Kent> she has reason...
<Kheldar> -- ok, that's not what I meant by anything else. Now you guys both think I'm the one with the dirty mind...
<Kent> uh huh... you monger...
<Kheldar> --Don't make me kick my wife out of the room.
<Kent> So, along the way walking to the market, Jannot will ask, "So you never told me if you were from around here."
<Kheldar> "I ... used to live over that way."
<Kent> ... which way does she - indicate?
<Kheldar> She gestures over *that* direction.
<Kheldar> Apparently not too far away.
<Kent> "Really? That close? Did you ever come by my shop before... everything?"
<Kheldar> She shakes her head. "I didn't know where to go, and I needed a place to sleep..."
<Kent> Jannot takes great care, "No, don't worry. That's perfectly fine. No worries."
<Kent> "Do you have family or a home?"
<Kheldar> She gives a big sigh... "Not... well.. not anymore."
<Kent> Jannot kicks himself "You don't have to answer."
<Kent> ... boy this is a long walk...
<Kent> Jannot after a pause suggests, "You know, we should probably get you some more - uh - appropriate clothes to wear I'd think."
<Kheldar> ...You make pretty much small talk for the rest of the trip (unless there's anything else significant you have to talk about...)
<Kent> not really, unless she has a reaction to the suggestion of clothing.
<Kheldar> Oh, she agrees that some other clothing would be nice.
<Kent> fine. food and a broom and, clothes I suppose.
<Kheldar> She's able to help you find places to buy stuff. Things have changed a little. It almost seems like at least of the third of the population is just gone.
<Kent> Wow. Two weeks brings about significant changes?
<Kent> ...eep...
<Kheldar> You do see some smoke rising from different parts of the city. Celeste explains that they are burning bodies as they find them.
<Kent> "fantastic..."
<Kheldar> There's almost a feeling as if there's been a war around these parts.
<Kheldar> Prices for food are a little higher, but not too bad. It seems like the surrounding farm communities were not hit by the plague at all.
<Kheldar> Your "bill" comes to around 35 bronze. Most of that is some clothing for her...
<Kent> wow. sure.okay. something reasonable.
<Kheldar> You manage to find most everything you need.
<Kent> "Are there any parts of the city that weren't damaged?"
<Kheldar> "Well, I'm really not sure. I haven't really moved around much."
<Kheldar> Talking to some other people reveals that the damages are pretty wide spread. Supposedly there was even some kind of disturbances up in the keep at the center of the city.
<Kent> "Any city officials?"
<Kheldar> What do you mean by your question?
<Kent> Were ther eany city officials of note that were injured in the 'uprising'?"
<Kheldar> Ah... as a matter of fact...
<Kent> oooh.
<Kheldar> There are some rumours that the ... king (I guess he calls himself king, essentially he's the head of the city, but he is subordinate to the emperor) was killed.
<Kheldar> There have definitely been some political power shifts in the city, but no one knows much.
<Kheldar> It's very apparent that the city guard has been strengthened, and (at least during the day apparently) is a much more visible force in the city.
<Kent> ok.
<Kent> "Oh, and what is the symbolism of the black sleeve on the guards tunics?"
<Kheldar> There are various opinions on that subject. Most seem to think it's a sign of mourning. Others wonder if there is (or was) some kind of another faction of guards that was overthrown by those currently in power. Those who believe the second think there may have been some kind of a silent coup carried out while the city was beset by the plague.
<Kent> Hm. ... plague? Do people actually speak of the plague or do they speak of elves?
<Kheldar> Actually, there is some word of elves. For the most part it seems that official word connects the elves to the plague, but most people have so little contact with elves that it doesn't really seem like an... applicable issue.
<Kent> okay. So, no sign of elves on the street... since there's a bounty on them...
<Kheldar> No, none at all.
<Kent> Well, what time of day is it now?
<Kheldar> Oh, probably... a little before noon.
<Kent> Oh, I though that we took off at noon - quit cleaning the shop around lunch and then went to the market.
<Kheldar> Oh, that's right. So... a little after noon.
<Kent> okay... The latch on the front of the shop... was it simply wooden or metal?
<Kheldar> Sure, you can have someone come out and fix that.

<Kent> well, things have taken an interesting turn. I bet you were hoping that the dice would NOT provide Jannot with a familiar bed and shelter...
<Kheldar> Heh.. Well, I guess I'll say I was a little disappointed. But, it didn't turn out all bad I'd say.
<Kent> It all worked out for the bext I think... or at least for Jannot.
<Kent> Hope there's not a bounty out for Tanners...
<Kheldar> Heh, good point. Otherwise some notice might be taken of a certain tanner's shop getting cleaned up...
<Kheldar> Great session this time. I'll get everything posted pretty quick.
<Kent> yup. Oh, and Jannot is still thinking about the prophecy... and wehter to go to ask that librarian about things again... but perhaps that wouldn't be wise...
<Kheldar> Heh... That'd certainly require some thought on my part as to how he'd react...
<Kheldar> How about asking that elf instead?
<Kent> well, there's the librarian, the 'sage' and then the old crochety elf book-seller.
<Kheldar> "I'm not crochety, young one."
<Kent> yeah, Jannot'll just meander through the gutted elven part of the city and get picked up by the guard for questioning... I don't think so.

Next time... Settling In