Another peasant in line approaches Sim while looking and clapping at Adrasteia: "Show your rump to the City Watch and you's a friend of mine... hahahaha."
He continues, shoving the rude villager out of the way: "You come for the scarecrow then? We's even better friends now then!" He coughs a gargled, surely infected piece of his lung out, "Don't mind that..."
"It started at harvest time, when summer’s leaves all turned brown-dead. This eerie scarecrow came to life and loomed over our empty fields. Just there... standing and watching. Its head is made of a sackcloth hood, I tells you, and every time it appears, death visits someone's hovel."
Answer to Adrasteia's question in the lore box bellow.
LORE BOX (UNDERCLIFF)
The latest ward (in 1479 DR) formed at the base of the eastern cliffs. It was connected to the rest of the city through subterranean tunnels. Villagers and peasant live here and they make a lively primary as laborers in the many agricultural fields to the east of Waterdeep. Over the years, very little has been recorded regarding the history of this ward in particular. The scholarly tomes do not usually focus on the lives of peasants.
"Yep, I saws it. It was at the barley field down the road." He points to the east. "Staring and old Vikram's hut at night."
Another peasant joins the conversation: "No no... It wented down south a couple nights ago. It was ridin' a hay horse, and it had a rottin' pumpkin head, not a sack head, ya fool!"
Concerned that these laborers' conflicting stories can't offer reliable information, I excuse myself and enter the nearest farm supply store and look for the proprietor.
Are there other villagers around who we haven't spoken to yet? If not, I follow Sim into looking for someone more reliable--although they may have not seen my theatrics.
There are 7 people in the line waiting for their porridge. One of them is the one who spit near Sim. She does not want to listen to any of you "city rats." Another 2 are having an argument over which direction the scarecrow went and what exactly its head was made out of. The other 4 are simply watching and waiting for now.
Mokiakia asks the next question, to which one of the waiting peasants/laborers responds: "Oh, I can answer that one... I saw that monster no more than two nights ago. It was covered with a threadbare blanket and had no head at all! It was running through the northern fields." He says, pointing north.
Frustrated by a third conflicting account, Sim goes into one of the farming supply stores across the street. Surely enough, a lanky old human woman is sitting behind the counter. This seems to be a seed supply store judging by the many large burlap sacks full of various types of colorful grain and seeds, each sack containing a wooden scoop in it. "Oh... hello there darling... Need any seeds?"
Mokiakia and Adrasteia stay outside, potentially trying to decipher the different stories and/or talk to other laborers.
I explain to the shopkeep that my friends and I are here to investigate the mysterious scarecrow we've heard has been haunting the fields. "It seems there are lots of rumors circulating...any chance you've seen this creature firsthand, or know someone who has?"
No, the clerk would not have seen Adrasteia's antics from her sitting position inside the store.
"Yes, yes..." the old lady answers Sim. "Everyone likes to claim they've seen it. But I am no fool. I stay inside most of the time, as should you. By the way, the sunflower seeds from last harvest are specially delicious. You can eat them by the handful, did you know that, young one?"
"They sound great, how much for a few ounces? Who has the most credible report about the scarecrow from among the stories you have heard? Do you know where we can find them?"
"No one here is credible, darling." She answers pointing to a sign that reads "SUNFLOWER SEEDS: 2 silver pieces per handfull."
"If you really want to see this scarecrow, I suggest you camp out in the field. It may take a while, but sooner or later you'll start looking like easy prey. It'll come out then." She frowns: "Y'all have a death wish, is that it?"
I agree, and purchase my own handful of seeds to snack on while we wait. It's only afternoon now, so I guess we have some time to come up with a plan on how to deal with the scarecrow, if we can find it...
"Mokiakia, do you have any spells that might help us trap the scarecrow?"
I remember that I have my talking doll. I can set it up 5 feet away from us and tell it to say, "Jinkies! Are you my mother?" and then we can...jump out from our hiding place and attack?
The store owner collects 2 silver pieces from each of you who are purchasing seeds and the group makes their way outside while planning.
Let me know when you are ready and what exactly is the plan. As things stand, the plan is to go out on a field away from the community and set camp; use the talking doll as bait instead of yourselves; jump on the cluless scarecrow.
I listen intently and ask about the history of the area to see if I can glean any information. History Check: 16
Another peasant in line approaches Sim while looking and clapping at Adrasteia: "Show your rump to the City Watch and you's a friend of mine... hahahaha."
He continues, shoving the rude villager out of the way: "You come for the scarecrow then? We's even better friends now then!" He coughs a gargled, surely infected piece of his lung out, "Don't mind that..."
"It started at harvest time, when summer’s leaves all turned brown-dead. This eerie scarecrow came to life and loomed over our empty fields. Just there... standing and watching. Its head is made of a sackcloth hood, I tells you, and every time it appears, death visits someone's hovel."
Answer to Adrasteia's question in the lore box bellow.
LORE BOX (UNDERCLIFF)
The latest ward (in 1479 DR) formed at the base of the eastern cliffs. It was connected to the rest of the city through subterranean tunnels. Villagers and peasant live here and they make a lively primary as laborers in the many agricultural fields to the east of Waterdeep. Over the years, very little has been recorded regarding the history of this ward in particular. The scholarly tomes do not usually focus on the lives of peasants.
"Indeed, I have no love for the watch. Do you know where the scarecrow was last seen, my friend?"
"Yep, I saws it. It was at the barley field down the road." He points to the east. "Staring and old Vikram's hut at night."
Another peasant joins the conversation: "No no... It wented down south a couple nights ago. It was ridin' a hay horse, and it had a rottin' pumpkin head, not a sack head, ya fool!"
They start arguing. A few slaps are thrown.
Amused by my companions, I clap at Adra's trick to earn the farmer's favor. Then, I said "when did you see the scarecrow?"
Concerned that these laborers' conflicting stories can't offer reliable information, I excuse myself and enter the nearest farm supply store and look for the proprietor.
Are there other villagers around who we haven't spoken to yet? If not, I follow Sim into looking for someone more reliable--although they may have not seen my theatrics.
There are 7 people in the line waiting for their porridge. One of them is the one who spit near Sim. She does not want to listen to any of you "city rats." Another 2 are having an argument over which direction the scarecrow went and what exactly its head was made out of. The other 4 are simply watching and waiting for now.
Mokiakia asks the next question, to which one of the waiting peasants/laborers responds: "Oh, I can answer that one... I saw that monster no more than two nights ago. It was covered with a threadbare blanket and had no head at all! It was running through the northern fields." He says, pointing north.
Frustrated by a third conflicting account, Sim goes into one of the farming supply stores across the street. Surely enough, a lanky old human woman is sitting behind the counter. This seems to be a seed supply store judging by the many large burlap sacks full of various types of colorful grain and seeds, each sack containing a wooden scoop in it. "Oh... hello there darling... Need any seeds?"
Mokiakia and Adrasteia stay outside, potentially trying to decipher the different stories and/or talk to other laborers.
Discerning that there is not much to be found out from the farmers I've spoken with, I make my way over to where Sim has gone.
Would this clerk have seen me moon the city watch?
I explain to the shopkeep that my friends and I are here to investigate the mysterious scarecrow we've heard has been haunting the fields. "It seems there are lots of rumors circulating...any chance you've seen this creature firsthand, or know someone who has?"
No, the clerk would not have seen Adrasteia's antics from her sitting position inside the store.
"Yes, yes..." the old lady answers Sim. "Everyone likes to claim they've seen it. But I am no fool. I stay inside most of the time, as should you. By the way, the sunflower seeds from last harvest are specially delicious. You can eat them by the handful, did you know that, young one?"
"They sound great, how much for a few ounces? Who has the most credible report about the scarecrow from among the stories you have heard? Do you know where we can find them?"
"No one here is credible, darling." She answers pointing to a sign that reads "SUNFLOWER SEEDS: 2 silver pieces per handfull."
"If you really want to see this scarecrow, I suggest you camp out in the field. It may take a while, but sooner or later you'll start looking like easy prey. It'll come out then." She frowns: "Y'all have a death wish, is that it?"
"I'll take one handful of seeds, please. Thank you for your advice, friend."
"Sim and Mok, I suggest we make our way into a field away from the community."
I agree, and purchase my own handful of seeds to snack on while we wait. It's only afternoon now, so I guess we have some time to come up with a plan on how to deal with the scarecrow, if we can find it...
"Mokiakia, do you have any spells that might help us trap the scarecrow?"
I remember that I have my talking doll. I can set it up 5 feet away from us and tell it to say, "Jinkies! Are you my mother?" and then we can...jump out from our hiding place and attack?
The store owner collects 2 silver pieces from each of you who are purchasing seeds and the group makes their way outside while planning.
Let me know when you are ready and what exactly is the plan. As things stand, the plan is to go out on a field away from the community and set camp; use the talking doll as bait instead of yourselves; jump on the cluless scarecrow.
I bought seeds and deducted the money from my inventory.
I think that our plan is as you mentioned. Are we all agreed?
It's not the greatest plan, but I can't think of anything better...I'll go scout for a good location near the edge of the fields. Investigation: 18
@Sim: Can you try re-rolling that investigation check, please?