[Lakelands] Six For Adventure

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

OOC:

Here is what Horsom is doing:

A) If there is no consensus, Horsom will go to the meeting in disguise, as outlined previously.

B) If there is a majority consensus, Horsom goes along with that (exception, see item 4).

C) If there are proposals, but a tiebreaker is required, my vote is cast in the following order of preference:

1) Ride out as a group and hide nearby, in a location that allows us to see anyone coming or going from Kell's Reach, especially to the north, the site of last night's attack.

2) Riding out to the farmhouse.

3) Any other plan that involves us leaving the church, even if it means splitting the group up.

4) If the majority votes to wait in the church, Horsom proceeds with item A outlined above.

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

"If there is a spy at the gathering, and he or she leaves to alert the manticore (presuming it has no other means of alerting it), we should be alerted of this. What if Selanil sneaks out of the village and lies in wait, observing anyone who comes and goes from the town, especially in a rush, and especially if they move northward towards the site of last night's attack?"

"The other possibility is that Selanil investigates the area around the farmhouse alone, but that might be beyond foolhardy. Using his tracking skills, he could probably ascertain if the manticore was still there, but then again, the manticore might be able to ascertain that Selanil was close by."

"What do you think? Is this a good combination of our ideas? Selanil and Glom, anything to add?"

"Both of those ideas have merit, as far as I am concerned," Selanil replies. "Certainly both would also be somewhat dangerous but nothing that we do from here on out will be without danger. If I am to watch outside of town for anyone attempting to leave in a hurry, am I to follow that person without the rest of the group? Regardless, I am in favor of doing SOMETHING. Events are unfolding despite our best efforts to get a handle on them. We must act soon. Personally, despite the danger, it might be best to search the area around the farmhouse. In this case, the most direct method might prove the best one."

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

"Both of those ideas have merit, as far as I am concerned," Selanil replies. "Certainly both would also be somewhat dangerous but nothing that we do from here on out will be without danger. If I am to watch outside of town for anyone attempting to leave in a hurry, am I to follow that person without the rest of the group? Regardless, I am in favor of doing SOMETHING. Events are unfolding despite our best efforts to get a handle on them. We must act soon. Personally, despite the danger, it might be best to search the area around the farmhouse. In this case, the most direct method might prove the best one."

OOC: One vote for the farmhouse!

 

[Raven Crowking]

Maldordo maintains his meticulously wary watch upon the maliciously malificent miller.

OOG: Sorry, Sam. I can't turn to this yet.

RC

 

[Raven Crowking]

"Having said that, the villagers know that Brother Hengist and his assistants are staying with Amalric. What if I go, but in the company of Amalric, as Kregor suggests, and Hengist? I would be presented as one of Hengist's assistants. Amalric could use the opportunity to announce that we have left the village. In the meantime, Brother Tillo can hide our horses. There's no need to hide the cart, as that is the means that Hengist, Tillo, and Elidor arrived in town."

When this is mentioned to Brother Hengist (as I am sure it eventually will be), he points out that he came from Selby-by-the-Water with you. Although he is familiar with the area around Kell's Reach, he does not hail from there. If he was from the Church here, he points out, he would surely have stopped the miller during the winter.


RC

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

When this is mentioned to Brother Hengist (as I am sure it eventually will be), he points out that he came from Selby-by-the-Water with you. Although he is familiar with the area around Kell's Reach, he does not hail from there. If he was from the Church here, he points out, he would surely have stopped the miller during the winter.


RC

OOC: Okay.. I'm not sure why you think I think Hengist is from Kell's Reach.

 

[Raven Crowking]

OOC: Okay.. I'm not sure why you think I think Hengist is from Kell's Reach.

"Surely," says Brother Hengist, "you must realize that, to the people of this village, I am a member of your group."

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

"Surely," says Brother Hengist, "you must realize that, to the people of this village, I am a member of your group."

"I would think that the villagers would consider you just another representative of their Church, just as Amalric is. I'm sure that other members of the Church have visited Amalric in the past. The rest of us are obviously the hired mercenaries. If you feel that your presence at the gathering would uncover my subterfuge, though, I won't go."

OOC: I'll do whatever Selanil wants to do.

 

[wolfheart]

Dain comes in, mouth half full of biscuit.

"Ya know, It has occured to me that all the villagers will be at the mill today at noon. Eevn though it is daylight, that would be the perfect time for the beastie to swoop in and gorge itself again."

"I say we make a show of leaving the town, with the appearance of going back to Selby-by-the-water, and then leave the trail once we are out of sight of the village and circle back around as stealthily as possible. Maldordo can watch the meeting. If we do this, we must go now and with haste and much grumbling. Speak loudly about the church and orders. Once we have left and the villagers attention is focused on the mill, we should be able to sneak back in all the easier and find some vantage point to watch what transpires."

 

[Raven Crowking]

In the Church:


Brother Hengist pondered Dain's words...and shook his head. "I do not know," he said. "If the creature has some means of watching you, perhaps." Turning to Horsom, the unordained man smiled apologetically. "Please remember, Horsom, that these people are not so well traveled as you or I. Most have never gone so far as Selby, and it lies not a day's ride from their doorsteps. Be certain that everyone who so much as passes through is scrutinized and talked about for months after they have gone. Years, maybe. Generations, if their deeds are notable. Did you not all grumble about how much more interested the villagers were in you, than even this creature that plagues them, when you made rounds to interview potential witnesses? If they do not watch me as closely as you, be sure that my name has passed their lips."

Brother Tillo came in. "My lords," he said, "the sun nears its zenith. If you would go to the mill, you must go now."



In the Mill:



The miller let the cat into the mill. The post that linked the large, turning millwheel from the millpond to the grist wheels in the mill had been taken out, so that the interior was quiet. Indeed, this early in the year there would be nothing to grind. Later, though, the mill would employ local youths to ensure that there were enough hands to turn harvested grain into flour.

The outer walls of the mill were stone, with interior walls, floors, and beams of wood. Pulleys that could be connected to the turning millwheel made it possible to use the stream's power to lift heavy bags of grain to the second floor, where they would be sorted into hoppers and funneled down between the huge grinding stones. Large wooden double doors on one end of the mill allowed cartloads to be brought in and offloaded near the pulley-driven grain lift. These doors were closed at the moment. The miller brought Maldordo in by a side door.

At the moment, again, the mill seemed quiet. There were plenty of holes and chinks in the loose-fit rouch-carved stones of the mill's outer wall. Although it had probably been well-plastered once, it was easy to see where rats could get in -- and where Maldordo could get out, if need be.

"Well, here's a home for you, my Black Tom," said the miller, hunkering down once more with a grunt of pain. "I think that dwarf busted a rib." He scratched Maldordo again behind the ears. "There are some nasty rats in here. I hope you do better than the last cat I had in here, though I shall probably never know. Be kind to my sons. They'll be kind to you in return, if you just catch those rats." He rose with another grunt. "I wish you well, Black Tom."

Turning, he made to leave the mill.