While on the way to the meeting I disassemble my weapons: my musket, Peggy Sue, and my flintlock, Irma. I clean them, making sure everything moves smooth and sexy; in case I have a big date. After everything is put back together, I move on to sharpening Deloris, my bayonet.
Almost a week had past since you gave the ring to the bartender. Continuing being on the run you took whatever odd jobs you could and stayed as incognito as you could. While waiting for this "benefactor" to send the carriage you had found yourself in a small fishing hamlet. Helping the locals in whatever way you could they paid you in food and lodging, never asking any questions of your past. The locals seemed to had taken an immediate liking to you and welcomed you as their own. It was after helping them haul a small load of trout that day that the carriage had come. It was in the dead of night that you first were awoken by the sounds of horses neighing and the halt of a carriWhat you see when aiming your flintlock is a scarred and grizzled man, not unlike the one who delivered the letter. The man stares at you, unflinching with a pistol in his face and states, matter-of-factually, "Tis my master who sent us. We have no relations with the Dominion, nor with any country as a matter of fact. My master is very interested in meeting you. Now, you can come with us to meet with your benefactor, or you can keep running. I'll drag you to him in chains if I have to, seeing as desperate men will do desperate things...but my master has told me not too. You can ask him all the questions you want once you meet up with him in Trivarde."age. After a few tense moments there came a pounding at the hut door.
"Edward Jameson?" You hear a grizzled voice call out from outside.
Edward was panicking, to put it lightly. In his time being incognito, he never gave his real name given the risk that somebody would recognize it. But now, there was a sense of urgency. For all he knows, it could be someone from the Northern Dominion that somehow tracked him down. His days on the run were numbered, he knew that much.
Not sure what may come of this, Edward grabbed his flintlock pistol, slowly walking towards the door. When he was able to reach the handle, he stopped for a few seconds before swiftly opening the door, flintlock aimed at whoever was on the other side. "Who are you...?"
What you see when aiming your flintlock is a scarred and grizzled man, not unlike the one who delivered the letter. The man stares at you, unflinching with a pistol in his face and states, matter-of-factually, "Tis my master who sent us. We have no relations with the Dominion, nor with any country as a matter of fact. My master is very interested in meeting you. Now, you can come with us to meet with your benefactor, or you can keep running. I'll drag you to him in chains if I have to, seeing as desperate men will do desperate things...but my master has told me not too. You can ask him all the questions you want once you meet up with him in Trivarde."
Upon entering the building you find the place a poor excuse to be considered a pub. With a dirt floor and bits of hay to serve as cushions, patrons are as rowdy as ever. Patches of dirt become puddles of mud by the sloshed around mugs of alcohol are thrown about in the merry-making. A series of clucks from the chicken (after furiously pecking away hands trying to grab said chicken) it looks to you and asks you what do you want to do to pass the time?
Camillia sits in a chair in the inn, one from which she can observe anyone entering the room, and most of those inside it. She adjusts her gear, checking that her longbow is over a shoulder, her shortswords are by her sides, and her cloak is fastened with a broach she found that fateful night
After scanning the room and getting to your position on the chair what you see is just an ordinary day at the inn. Three hours have passed in silence until you had noticed a group enter the inn ushering into silence. Five individuals, all wearing black greatcoats and hats, arrive and head towards your direction. Three peel away mingling with the locals, but still close enough to support the two approaching you should things go awry. What looks to be the leader quickly turns around and tosses a coin purse to the innkeeper while tipping his tricorne hat. The man pulls up a chair, with his compatriot following, the both sitting across from you. Taking his hat off and placing it next to him you see a well-kept man with a maintained black goatee. The figure next to him still keeps their hat on, but you also see a cowl covering their lower face preventing any kind of identification. You do notice however the feminine features of this individual. The man leans back with a slight grin and says, "Sorry we're late"
Curious of the conversation about me being the subject. I sit in a position so that I can hear and read-lips (ie Observant). I order water and bread to not bring suspicion.
Ordering your bread and water you soon take up a position to easily peek into their conversation. With the combination of hearing and lip reading you gather these bits of their conversation;
"Looks just like what the stories say...."
"No, no you twit, he looks like nothing like the stories!"
"I agree with Sam, he doesn't look to have any kind of goods! Just twigs and leaves...."
"And that's why he is the merchant!! Dresses like an elf, so he must be peddling elvish trinkets!"
While you are cleaning your weapons the grizzled man chuckles
"He don't have much of a name. Prefers it that way. The years i've worked for that man and even I don't know his name! hehe His work, payment, and brutal honesty is genuine. Tends to refer himself as the 'distant relation to the venerable Blackhall family'. Tis how he is"
"Hmm, they don't seem like a bad group. Should I introduce myself? Worse case they will simply leave the bar without any trouble." I began to approach them, friendly, and say, "Do you have any business with a simple outsider like myself?"
Edward eased up for a moment, raising his flintlock to the air, no longer having a need to aim it at the man. However, he was still suspicious through and through. The only thing going through his mind is, "Can this messenger be trusted?" Edward was relatively good at telling if someone was lying. This man seemed honest on the surface, especially since he had a similar look to whoever gave him that letter. So it couldn't be a coincidence that there would be more people like him around. But there's always something to hide. Safe to say, Edward was reluctant to comply.
"I shall retrieve my belongings and we can be on our way. A moment, if you will." He then closed the door, getting himself dressed and the like before opening the door once again. "Lead the way."
"Hmm, they don't seem like a bad group. Should I introduce myself? Worse case they will simply leave the bar without any trouble." I began to approach them, friendly, and say, "Do you have any business with a simple outsider like myself?"
The three of them quiet down and glance quickly at you before staring holes in their empty cups. A young-faced lad, the one called Sam, looks towards you and nervously says "No mister, we don't have any problems...just..we don't have any money for your trinkets..nor do we want to be bewitched!.."
An older man calms down Sam with a gesture before turning to you, a half-toothless mouth shown prominently; "We don't mean no trouble mister..we just haven't seen your type before....and if you are the merchant please leave us be...we're just poor craftsman"
Edward eased up for a moment, raising his flintlock to the air, no longer having a need to aim it at the man. However, he was still suspicious through and through. The only thing going through his mind is, "Can this messenger be trusted?" Edward was relatively good at telling if someone was lying. This man seemed honest on the surface, especially since he had a similar look to whoever gave him that letter. So it couldn't be a coincidence that there would be more people like him around. But there's always something to hide. Safe to say, Edward was reluctant to comply.
"I shall retrieve my belongings and we can be on our way. A moment, if you will." He then closed the door, getting himself dressed and the like before opening the door once again. "Lead the way."
After retrieving your belongings you follow the man outside. You see three other people dressed similarly as the man in front of you. One nods towards your direction to the man in front of you. in which he returns the gesture back. One person hops to the driver's bench while another takes their place beside them. The man opens the carriage door for you while gesturing for you to enter. The last individual readies his musket and hitches on the back of the carriage. A sense of suspicion creeps in the back of your mind, which the man in front seemed to read.
"While these extra men were needed in case you proved to be...troublesome..they have a much different purpose.." the man says before scanning the countryside behind you before continuing "There are bloodthirsty beasts that tend to roam these parts...and to call them vampires, of any sort, is to give respect for these vile creatures. The more of us, the less likely they are to attack...so they say. Which is why we should be on our way soon.."
"Golly, it's just like back home! Hey, barkeep, y'all done got you any of th' good stuff?"
The barkeep looks at you questioningly before scoffing.
"The good stuff? I got quite a few here for ya" he says before providing nine bottles, each with a different name. "Or did you have something..particular in mind?" he says with a toothy grin.
Cognac Shake, Demonic Ravenous Broad, Foul Autumn Traitor, High Narrow Pharmacist, Island Purgatory, Stale Four, Mystic Minor, Brilliant Scream, Mead Silence
(The names on each bottle, in case one was curious)
Camilia scans the people in greatcoats, and asks "Late for what?"
The man chuckles, "Your ride to Trivarde of course! We would have been here within the hour that innkeeper showed us the ring! Granted, we still had a contract to start and the Master would've preferred his messengers to be the ones who met you, buuut we happened to be nearby when you sent the signal. So, here we are!" The man says jovially, to the unspoken disappointment of his compatriot next to him. "Coincidences sure are funny, aren't they? Any questions you might have before we begin our journey?" The man says before procuring an apple from his coat and biting into it.
Edward felt that this was unnecessary, but said naught a word about it. Although, the thought of fanged bloodsuckers attacking the area worried him. He'd rather not let the people here be lambs to the slaughter. But really, what choice does he have?
With a quick sigh, he entered the carriage. He can only hope the people here will be safe without him around.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Something about the people, and the man's manner and remarks seems off to Camilia, compared to the previous mystery and secrecy. She nods at his words, asks and asks, "if you arn't messengers of 'Master' as you called him, then who are you?" while attempting to discern his motives.
OOC 17 for Insight
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Post under the same name at Giant in the Playground, and rarely here.
"Have no fear. I am not this "merchant" you speak of. I'm here for a letter-given quest." Showing them the letter. "I'm new to this type of settlements since I spent my years in the wilderness, from the cold tundra to the deepest Underdark." Saying with pride. "I was hoping you lot can act as my guide while im here. Also the name is Belto.... Belto Muck-Luck."
Hey everyone. Apologies for being a bad DM. Work and personal things overwhelmed me and I never got a chance to warn you guys ahead of time. If there is any interest in continuing this then i'll be able to post with more regularity. If not then I'll go ahead and take this thread down, or ask the moderators to do it. Hope everyone is doing ok
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
While on the way to the meeting I disassemble my weapons: my musket, Peggy Sue, and my flintlock, Irma. I clean them, making sure everything moves smooth and sexy; in case I have a big date. After everything is put back together, I move on to sharpening Deloris, my bayonet.
"Hmm, they don't seem like a bad group. Should I introduce myself? Worse case they will simply leave the bar without any trouble." I began to approach them, friendly, and say, "Do you have any business with a simple outsider like myself?"
Edward eased up for a moment, raising his flintlock to the air, no longer having a need to aim it at the man. However, he was still suspicious through and through. The only thing going through his mind is, "Can this messenger be trusted?" Edward was relatively good at telling if someone was lying. This man seemed honest on the surface, especially since he had a similar look to whoever gave him that letter. So it couldn't be a coincidence that there would be more people like him around. But there's always something to hide. Safe to say, Edward was reluctant to comply.
"I shall retrieve my belongings and we can be on our way. A moment, if you will." He then closed the door, getting himself dressed and the like before opening the door once again. "Lead the way."
"Golly, it's just like back home! Hey, barkeep, y'all done got you any of th' good stuff?"
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Camilia scans the people in greatcoats, and asks "Late for what?"
Post under the same name at Giant in the Playground, and rarely here.
When the coach arrives, I gather my things and follow my guide to meet his master.
Edward felt that this was unnecessary, but said naught a word about it. Although, the thought of fanged bloodsuckers attacking the area worried him. He'd rather not let the people here be lambs to the slaughter. But really, what choice does he have?
With a quick sigh, he entered the carriage. He can only hope the people here will be safe without him around.
Something about the people, and the man's manner and remarks seems off to Camilia, compared to the previous mystery and secrecy. She nods at his words, asks and asks, "if you arn't messengers of 'Master' as you called him, then who are you?" while attempting to discern his motives.
OOC 17 for Insight
Post under the same name at Giant in the Playground, and rarely here.
"Have no fear. I am not this "merchant" you speak of. I'm here for a letter-given quest." Showing them the letter. "I'm new to this type of settlements since I spent my years in the wilderness, from the cold tundra to the deepest Underdark." Saying with pride. "I was hoping you lot can act as my guide while im here. Also the name is Belto.... Belto Muck-Luck."
"Back home we make sum'n from apples--well, mostly apples--that'll blow your socks clean out of your head."
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Hey everyone. Apologies for being a bad DM. Work and personal things overwhelmed me and I never got a chance to warn you guys ahead of time. If there is any interest in continuing this then i'll be able to post with more regularity. If not then I'll go ahead and take this thread down, or ask the moderators to do it. Hope everyone is doing ok