Le Carinval

[PsicrystalAffinity]

The two of you find yourselves standing in front of the town hall in St. Avril. The night is cold, but not unpleasant. The air still, and smells of the cool pine forest surrounding the town, and the gentle aroma of the night fires keeping the towns citizens warm in the homes. Inside the town hall is a closed meeting of the council of twelve, St Avril's governing body. The light from the windows leaves a hunting glow on the moist snowy streets.

“We can’t pay his taxes, he asks too much!” You hear from inside. the council is discuss Baron Bacil’s latest demands for ‘taxes’. The self-proclaimed baron is nothing more then a bully with a sizable small army at his beck and call. Rumor has it that he set up shop in an abandoned wizard's tower not far outside of town. The only problem is that no-one is exactly sure where said tower is.

Looking through the window, the town's mayor, Jean Lavalle, is visibly nervous. He slowly turns the badge of office of the sheriff's department in his hands. The red stained metal denotes the unfortunate end of its previous owner.

“Mr. Bottes, you said you would find some adventures for us…Without them we are lost.”

“And indeed your Honour, I have found them. They are waiting right outside the door!”

Upon re-examining your letters, you notice that there is no mention of bandits, nor adventuring. It only mentions tea and a business proposition.

“Show them in for goodness sake, we haven’t much time!” cries the mayor in excitement.

 

[confused_child]

I step into the room and scan each of the twelve faces. Then the room its self, and ask "Where is the Tea?"

 

[Rhiannon Star]

Rhiannon crosses the threshhold into the building quietly, glad that her companion has preceded her and drawn attention from those assembled. She searches Monsieur Bottes face in particular, seeking clues as to the reason for his deception.

 

[Rhiannon Star]

error disregard

 

[PsicrystalAffinity]

The room is large, 30ft, by 60. At the far end is a large fire crackling gentlely in the fire place against the wall. Above that is the town crest a mix of both families' coats of arms from the twons two founders. Behind it are two flags with their poles crossed. One depicting a tree sillouetted infront of the setting sun, for the elven nations. The other is the royal griffon of the human empire on red silk. On a table off to the side are the refreshments. A pot of green tea, a jug of water, and some bicuits. The walls are white, and on each of them is hanging a painting of the towns previouse mayors. There is a door on either of the two side walls, and stairs leading up on both the left and right side of the far wall. The smell the large wood fire premeates the room.

The council has a surprised look on their faces, when they see you suddenly enter. The conversations ends immediately. Mr Lavell deftly motions you toward the refreshemnt table, in repsonse to your question about the tea.

Mr. Bottes has a sheepish grin on his face, but remains silent.

Councillor Smith, a fat human merchant with oily hair, breaks the silence by crying out angrely, "We wouldn't need to hire adventurers, if the elves would get off their lazy arses, and send in some troops to protect their own bords once in a while!"

To witch Councillor Gaspa, a tall thin elf with with preicing eyes, responds, "Lazy elves? what of the human armies, you are so proud to boast of? Where are they? In this our time of troubles?"

The two quickly degress into a shouting match about politics, and recent disputes between the elven kindoms and the human empire, involving trade, logging rights, and highway taxes.

 

[Rhiannon Star]

Rhiannon pauses, listening to the two men as she thoughtfully munches on a biscuit and warms her hands with the teacup. She waits for them to wind down a bit, musing that they seem to be having a familiar argument. Once there is a pause in the conversation, she opens her mouth to insert quietly, "What do you gentlemen propose we actually do?"

 

[confused_child]

After downing a cup of tea as though it were water, I sip a second slowly. I too listen to the two men bicker. There logic escapes me as it is obvious that no one has come to help them this far. Feeling pity for there faith in the races that have abandoned them I want to help, despite the trickery. As I examine the room I become painfully aware that Rhiannon and myself are the only females. In the last town the mayor had been unkind do to this fact. He went to such extent as to open doors for us and try and took my dagger. I begin playing with my hair and close my jacket even though it is quite warm in here. I am taller than anyone else in the room as I usually am bother Eric at the school called me “six feet and six inches” so I punched him in the nose. I still ware the dark black clothing that my brother monks provided me, and picked up a long cloak at the first town that had snow. A man in the corner is looking at me odd, I assume do to my hair that matches the snow, or my eyes that match my hair, it makes no difference it’s the same look I always get. Rhiannon will do the talking and I will make sure she is safe, that was the deal and it has worked well so far.

 

[PsicrystalAffinity]

Jean looks meets your gaze with a pained look. He still rubs the badge with his thumb. Swallowing, “The Barron has demanded that we pay him the amount 4,000gp crowns. Because of the recent trade disputes between human and elf our revenues are down. We can barely afford to pay for food this coming winter, and will have to rely on the forest.” He pauses for a moment, and then continues

“Barron Baccill has threatened to use this town to restock his army unless we comply with his demands.”

Looking down at the badge one more time, a tear falls from his eye. The room is completely silent now save the gentle crackling of the fire.

“Sheriff Gormery went after him a month ago. His corpse delivered this, and the note demanding higher taxes.”

 

[Rhiannon Star]

Rhiannon considers the mayor's words carefully, trying to formulate some sort of plan. She wonders if negotiations or a political play with one of his rivals are even possible. Finally she decides that the best form of preparation is to know the enemy and prepare for as many eventualities as possible. The questions spill out one after another: "What do you know of his army? Do you have any skilled guards or huntsmen remaining? Has anyone met the Baron? Is there information on his family history in a library? How does he deliver his ultimatums, and how would he collect the money if you had it?"

 

[confused_child]

All I needed to know was, how many and what kind of weapons. Rhiannon sure enough had asked for me. It was clearly against the common laws for a Barron to charge more than the villagers were able to pay. Therefore the Barron and his armies were wicked and these people needed protecting. If Rhiannon could come up with a plan so I didn’t have to fight them all it would be nice, she would tell me how her mind was working when we got to the lodgings for the night. I remain silent and behind her for now.