Val, they're weird! They obviously know each other extremely well to be able to almost finish each other's sentences. They seem to have a strange way of relating to the world (or maybe they have trouble "relating" to the world at all). You don't sense any ill intent or hidden agenda, though. They're definitely deferential to Sir Tristan. They appear to want to be helpful to you. While their mannerisms, conversational style, and social awkwardness is off-putting, you don't see it as harmful. If the deal was that they were going to accompany you, you'd probably be more suspicious, or at least watchful of them.
By the way, this is the first time you've had any contact with them. When you worked with Sir Tristan before, you didn't meet or even see them.
"Finesse weapons, I see." Val comments back while looking at the advisors. "That's more of Evy's wheelhouse. I bet you are quite handy with magic too, like my cousin is, though I know a spell or two as well. She'd likely enjoy discussing some of it with you once we are back from the hunt. Given we have not met before, I am sure magic dabblers like the four of us can discuss a bit here and there and get to know each other better." Val looks at Evy, hoping she gets his meaning.
Turning to their host: "Sir Tristan, the only additional thing I can think of would be to talk to the other survivors, the villagers your guard mentioned. Is such a village far away from the castle?"
Evy literally scratches her head, wondering what Val is up to. He's never the one to make a plan and think ahead, but this idea of talking to the villagers seems pretty sound.
She turns to Sir Tristan as well. "That's well thought, cousin. We should like to hear first-hand what they saw."
Neither advisor verbally or physically responds to Val's friendliness concerning magic use. After Sir Tristan prompts them, however, they speak up about possible locations for eye-witness reports.
OK, so I'm not going to take the time to describe the layout of Sir Tristan's domain because it's really not necessary at all. Suffice it to say you head out to question some eye witnesses taking the route which will get you from place to place the quickest.
The first location is in the small village near the castle. The market was the location of the attack, and the farrier's son was killed. You ask around, and while the farrier was nowhere near the market when the attack happened, the casualty's friend, Jud, saw the attack. Jud works at his father's merchant shop.
You walk into the small, dimly-lit shop and are immediately greeted by the musty smell of rotten fruit. Flies buzz around the barrels and crates lining the walls. A small counter sits in one corner. Sitting behind the counter is a middle-aged human. He smiles at you and walks around the counter. About halfway to you, his face lights up. "Well, you're those tiefling cousins, aren't you? What a pleasure. What can I get you? Lettuce? Potatoes? I just got in a crate of apples," he says, trying to sound enticing.
"Jud." Val says with none of the courtly charisma he showed during the audience with the lord. "You can get us Jud. We'd like to ask the kid a couple questions about the monster who attacked the village."
He is not being rude or trying to sound especially intimidating. He is just being direct.
Evy makes a face when she first comes in, blowing air out of her nose. “Oh, no thanks,” she starts, but then Val gets down to business, and Evy waits for the man’s reaction.
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ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
"Jud," Val says with none of the courtly charisma he showed during the audience with the lord.
The man halts and scowls.
"You can get us Jud. We'd like to ask the kid a couple questions about the monster who attacked the village."
The man's face relaxes and opens up. "Oh," he replies. His eyes dart to the side, but then back to the cousins. He makes a little "I'm sorry" face and shrugs. "Jud's had a rough time with this. That Terrin kid was his friend," he continues. "Jud's not really talking to anybody about it. I don't blame him. I understand it was pretty gruesome. I mean, from what I understand, he didn't really see it happen, just what was left as the creature ran away."
Evy smiles and steps up next to Val. "What my cousin meant was that Jud could really help us with anything he remembers, even if he didn't see the attack itself. We know it's hard, but if he could do it for Terrin, it would mean a lot to us, to Terrin's family, and maybe to anyone who won't get hurt if we stop the creature. He'd like to help us make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else, right? Is Jud your boy?"
Persuasion: 23
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ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Val, there is a door the direction the man's eyes darted.
The man looks intrigued following Evy's addition. "Oh," he says, beginning to smile. "You're hunting the creature?" He nods, looking impressed. "I had heard you two were something else. Let me go find Jud. Hopefully he'll be up to talking." He turns toward the interior door, but then walks over to a barrel and takes out two apples. Returning to the cousins, he holds them out, one to each. "While you wait." He scowls a little. "They aren't as good as they used to be. The apples tasted better before the creature arrived. I'm sure the monster’s lair must be in the apple orchards to the north." He scowls. "Fowling up the earth and turning the fruit." He shakes his head and then disappears through the door.
Evy takes the apple gingerly with two fingers then puts it down as soon as the man's back is turned, surreptitiously wiping her hands on her pants. She turns to Val as he peers at the apple he is still holding. "I know some magical creatures, like dragons, can affect the land around their lair. I wonder if this thing does the same? It might make it easier to figure out where the lair is."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Val tries to get a reading on the advisors.
-> Insight check: 16
Val, they're weird! They obviously know each other extremely well to be able to almost finish each other's sentences. They seem to have a strange way of relating to the world (or maybe they have trouble "relating" to the world at all). You don't sense any ill intent or hidden agenda, though. They're definitely deferential to Sir Tristan. They appear to want to be helpful to you. While their mannerisms, conversational style, and social awkwardness is off-putting, you don't see it as harmful. If the deal was that they were going to accompany you, you'd probably be more suspicious, or at least watchful of them.
By the way, this is the first time you've had any contact with them. When you worked with Sir Tristan before, you didn't meet or even see them.
Evy taps her foot as Val contemplates.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
"Finesse weapons, I see." Val comments back while looking at the advisors. "That's more of Evy's wheelhouse. I bet you are quite handy with magic too, like my cousin is, though I know a spell or two as well. She'd likely enjoy discussing some of it with you once we are back from the hunt. Given we have not met before, I am sure magic dabblers like the four of us can discuss a bit here and there and get to know each other better." Val looks at Evy, hoping she gets his meaning.
Turning to their host: "Sir Tristan, the only additional thing I can think of would be to talk to the other survivors, the villagers your guard mentioned. Is such a village far away from the castle?"
Evy literally scratches her head, wondering what Val is up to. He's never the one to make a plan and think ahead, but this idea of talking to the villagers seems pretty sound.
She turns to Sir Tristan as well. "That's well thought, cousin. We should like to hear first-hand what they saw."
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
"Thank you," Val's attention shifts to his cousin. "Some of your smarts are rubbing off on me, it seems."
Neither advisor verbally or physically responds to Val's friendliness concerning magic use. After Sir Tristan prompts them, however, they speak up about possible locations for eye-witness reports.
Are you ready to head out?
Evy is ready, yes. She is uncomfortable under the scrutiny of the inscrutable twins.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
Val thanks them for the details on potential eye-witnesses' locations and signals that he is ready to go.
OK, so I'm not going to take the time to describe the layout of Sir Tristan's domain because it's really not necessary at all. Suffice it to say you head out to question some eye witnesses taking the route which will get you from place to place the quickest.
The first location is in the small village near the castle. The market was the location of the attack, and the farrier's son was killed. You ask around, and while the farrier was nowhere near the market when the attack happened, the casualty's friend, Jud, saw the attack. Jud works at his father's merchant shop.
You walk into the small, dimly-lit shop and are immediately greeted by the musty smell of rotten fruit. Flies buzz around the barrels and crates lining the walls. A small counter sits in one corner. Sitting behind the counter is a middle-aged human. He smiles at you and walks around the counter. About halfway to you, his face lights up. "Well, you're those tiefling cousins, aren't you? What a pleasure. What can I get you? Lettuce? Potatoes? I just got in a crate of apples," he says, trying to sound enticing.
"Jud." Val says with none of the courtly charisma he showed during the audience with the lord. "You can get us Jud. We'd like to ask the kid a couple questions about the monster who attacked the village."
He is not being rude or trying to sound especially intimidating. He is just being direct.
Evy makes a face when she first comes in, blowing air out of her nose. “Oh, no thanks,” she starts, but then Val gets down to business, and Evy waits for the man’s reaction.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
"Jud," Val says with none of the courtly charisma he showed during the audience with the lord.
The man halts and scowls.
"You can get us Jud. We'd like to ask the kid a couple questions about the monster who attacked the village."
The man's face relaxes and opens up. "Oh," he replies. His eyes dart to the side, but then back to the cousins. He makes a little "I'm sorry" face and shrugs. "Jud's had a rough time with this. That Terrin kid was his friend," he continues. "Jud's not really talking to anybody about it. I don't blame him. I understand it was pretty gruesome. I mean, from what I understand, he didn't really see it happen, just what was left as the creature ran away."
Evy smiles and steps up next to Val. "What my cousin meant was that Jud could really help us with anything he remembers, even if he didn't see the attack itself. We know it's hard, but if he could do it for Terrin, it would mean a lot to us, to Terrin's family, and maybe to anyone who won't get hurt if we stop the creature. He'd like to help us make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else, right? Is Jud your boy?"
Persuasion: 23
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
As Evy takes over, Val looks in the direction the merchant briefly spied.
-> Perception: 10
Val, there is a door the direction the man's eyes darted.
The man looks intrigued following Evy's addition. "Oh," he says, beginning to smile. "You're hunting the creature?" He nods, looking impressed. "I had heard you two were something else. Let me go find Jud. Hopefully he'll be up to talking." He turns toward the interior door, but then walks over to a barrel and takes out two apples. Returning to the cousins, he holds them out, one to each. "While you wait." He scowls a little. "They aren't as good as they used to be. The apples tasted better before the creature arrived. I'm sure the monster’s lair must be in the apple orchards to the north." He scowls. "Fowling up the earth and turning the fruit." He shakes his head and then disappears through the door.
"Well, that's quite the insightful observation." Val grabs an apple. "Thank you."
He then gives the apple a good look, trying to examine if it looks any different from what a typical apple should look like.
-> Nature check ? 8
Evy takes the apple gingerly with two fingers then puts it down as soon as the man's back is turned, surreptitiously wiping her hands on her pants. She turns to Val as he peers at the apple he is still holding. "I know some magical creatures, like dragons, can affect the land around their lair. I wonder if this thing does the same? It might make it easier to figure out where the lair is."
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
Val, the apple looks normal.
Are either of you apple eaters?
OOC > I am an apple eater, yes.
Evy does not have a lot of experience with apples. Red or green is about what she knows.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me