Storm Lord's Wrath - RP Thread

Tor is happy to be on the move as soon as possible. "The sooner we hit the road, the sooner we get to Leilon. Assuming no more walking dead. Or bloody zombies."

When you set out the temperature is brisk, but the clear sky and rising sun promises to bring the first spring warmth.

Please everyone give me a perception check for the ride.

Oloven: 19
Tyrel: 11

Excitement at the prospect of drawing to the end of their journey has Siegfried’s toes tapping as he steers the cart southward.  Perception:  23

Ace Perception: 12

It's a good, clear day. Should make it easier to see what's coming, although it could also mean anything down the road will see us too. Got to stay vigilant.

Perception: 24

The day passes rather uneventfully, the day does warm up some, but there's still a slight chill to the air thanks to the chill breeze off the coast.

Around mid-afternoon a little over a mile away from Leilon, you come upon roughly fifty people standing in a clearing just off the High Road, where the forest to the northeast and the swampland to the southwest give way to grassland for a bit on each side of the road. The beginnings of gardens or larger fields of crops are half-dug here.

The people mill about in a panic. Some shake in fear, others shout in anger, and in the center of it all an enraged dwarf waves her arms and tries to get those around her to listen. A bored-looking human in a chain shirt and shield decorated with the sigil of Neverwinter stands next to the dwarf. He finally bangs his spear against his shield to quiet the tumult, though you're too far away to hear anything being said.

Oloven recognizes his sister amidst the people, doing her best to corral a group of unruly children, many of whom appear to be playing in the grass. These are the people of Leilon, though what they're doing out here is anyone's guess. 

Let me know if you're approaching normally, and I'll tell you what you hear as you approach. If you're doing anything differently, let me know that as well.

Tor sighs. Why can things never be simple? Although it is tempting to wade in and exercise a little authority, he decides instead to wait at the edge of the group, arms crossed, listening carefully to the group, and to the two at the centre who seem to be in charge. How can he know how to act if he doesn't know what's going on?

As you get closer you can hear more of what's going on. The dwarf has climbed up on the back of a wagon to be heard by the townsfolk. From her gravely voice and irritable demeanor, you recognize Grizzelda Copperwraught, who the settlers call “the Growler,” but never within earshot of her. You haven't yet met her yourself, but she was personally hired by Lord Neverember to oversee the rebuilding of the structures that will comprise the new town. She is as close to a mayor as the town has. While the town council--consisting of the Growler, Merrygold Brightshine, a halfling priest of Lathander, and Valdi Estapaar, a half-elf overseeing the fishing industry that is supposed to support the town as it is built--can overrule her, she is technically the leader. Standing next to Grizzelda is Sergeant Hazz Yorrum. Yorrum is in charge of the Neverwinter soldiers who protect the settlers while the town is being built. He is slight and grey-haired. 

The Growler is berating the townsfolk for being such an unruly mob as they evacuated town. She calls out a few individuals by name, shaming them in front of the group. She asks a question you can't hear, but you hear a woman dressed in laborer's clothes, with a grey dust on her clothes and hands say that she "saw something strange happening in the water out on the swampland, past the marsh islands, but then she picked up her tools and ran as the soldiers ordered her to evacuate." A man, dressed similarly, also with grey dirt and clay caked on his hands claims to have "heard some of the returning fishing-folk, who were still out on their skiffs in the marshland, shouting in panic." Others nod and "harrumph" to indicate they heard this as well.

At this point, Oloven's sister, who's been wrangling the children shouts, "May the gods forgive me! We are missing two of the children. Smithwell and Burnice aren't here! They were right behind me as we left town." This pronouncement sends the collected townsfolk into a panic again, forcing the guard Yorrum to put spear to shield to quiet the crowd. Merrygold insists that they must immediately go back to town to retrieve the children, consequences be damned. The Growler insists that they stay right here until one of the soldiers from the town comes to tell them that it is safe. Until then, no one is going anywhere. Valdi seems unsure what to do, as no one here (except Sgt. Yorrum) is much of a fighter.

"Tor," Brother Siegfried leans over from Barley's saddle, "Let us offer to go collect the children.  Its an opportunity to introduce ourselves while making a positive first impression."

Ace, after hearing that there are children in trouble, turns to the rest of the party, and says "I suggest you find out about what is scaring the fishing-folk so much." He then makes himself welcome to the towns-folk. He gently rides his horse through the crowd of people, approaching Oloven's sister. Upon arrival, Ace dismounts, and asks, in the kindest tone you have heard him use the entire trip, "Hello there, would you point me and my companions," he gestures towards the rest of the group, "towards the last place you saw these two children."

"You beat me to it," Tor agrees with Sigi. "Not to mention it's my job. Okay Ace, we'll see the council, let us know what you find out about the children."

To Tyrel he says "No need for you to come with us Tyrel. We've got you this far, you should settle in with the townsfolk. But I hope we can count on you if Leilon needs your... particular abilities in the future."

To Oloven he gestures his head towards the woman exclaiming about the missing children "Oloven, that's your sister, right? The teacher? You should go to her, looks like she could use a familiar face."

He waves Sigi forward as Ace goes to Oloven's sister. "Come on."

Making his way over to the council, he introduces the group. "I'm Tor Baltas, new Reeve of Leilon, captain of the New Swords. This is Brother Siegfried Braun, and over there is Ace Greywind, both merchants but also members of the Swords under my command. It sounds like we have some sort of issue out by the marshes. What do we know?"

Brother Siegfried has adjusted his cloak of many fashions.  No longer a drab riding cloak, it is embroidered in cloth of gold and features the colors of Chauntea with small roses in the hemline.

He makes a polite bow to the counsel members when Tor introduces him and smiles broadly, but otherwise remains silent while he waits for an answer to Tor's questions.

Oloven and Ace approach Oloven's sister and the rest of the kids. His sister, who Oloven introduces as Dylan. She has taken up teaching the children of the families of Leilon, along with one of Merrygold's acolytes (a young human woman named Shonna). They have been given use of the Shrine of Lathander to use as their schoolhouse for now, until a proper school can be built. There are about 20 children ranging from 4 to 12 years old, mostly human, though there are a few half-elves and half-orcs as well. It appears to be a case of Dylan thought the missing children were with Shonna and Shonna thought they were with Dylan. They last saw the children at the Shrine of Lathander.

Brother Siegfried and Tor, meanwhile, talk to the town council. Both Merrygold and Vaadi appear open and friendly, welcoming you. Grizzelda looks ready to spit nails--you start to realize this may not be very far from her normal expression, though she seems particularly troubled. 

Sgt Yorrum leans on his spear and shrugs when you introduce yourself. "Well, that's convenient timin'!" he drawls with a look at Grizzelda. "I told ya's they was comin'." 

Grizzelda gives him a withering look, clearly fed up with him. Looking back to Tor, she says, "There was some kind of attack, we're still not sure what was happening. I can't get a straight answer from anyone, but some of the fishers starting yelling and running, then more. The town isn't in a place where it can defend itself properly, so we gathered up everyone we could to get them to safety. Yorrum here sent his soldiers to see what was going on, but they haven't returned yet."

To judge from Sgt Yorrum's attitude, Tor didn't hold out much hope that the soldiers would have achieved much. Soldiers under a weak command tended to act accordingly. Chances were that, if they had even gone to look, it would have been extremely brief. It did worry him that they hadn't yet returned though. 

"The three of us will go and investigate once we've found the missing children. Ace is getting more information about their last known whereabouts. Sergeant, how many of your soldiers should we be on the look out for?"

"Thank you very much for the information madam. Oloven, I'll leave you to your reunion."

He approaches the rest of the party: "The children's last known whereabouts were the Shrine of Lathander.."

"We shouldn't delay.  This may all yet be some misunderstanding or hysterical panic... but if there is an attack we should get to those children immediately."

Just as Brother Siegfried finishes speaking there's a commotion from further south. With the people there pushing to get away.

Strange knights bearing a lightning bolt symbol ride horses made of water. They're accompanied by a small wagon with a pair of archers, pulled by another of the water steeds.

Everyone roll initiative.

"What fresh hell is this?" Tor exclaims while drawing his longsword. "Protect the townsfolk!" He shouts out to Ace and Sigi, but also to anyone who may be inclined to listen.

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