"You will have better luck at the Lucky Ranch at this hour," Qayne comments. "The museum is closed at 4 and they're like clockwork when it comes to timing. It won't open again until 8 on the dot tomorrow morning."
We know the code for the ranch right? They are obligated to let those who speak it pass? The only drawback i see is if they get suspicious and alert the 'guards' of the other stashes.
"It's not known," Qayne confirms. "It was by accident that I came to know about the Lucky Ranch. Of course, it is a widely known conspiracy that the Masons created secret chambers, but no civilians had managed to successfully find one, mostly because the lack of record and history concerning the code word. It is a closely guarded secret by the owner of the building above the secret chamber that is only known to them and the Masons. To the owner, the room they are hiding is the only one in existence. It was my understanding that the room under my shop was the only one in Mantagard until I found the one under the ranch. I planned to find the other of there are any, but then my business fell through hard times and I have to prioritize my business first."
Cob jumps down from the edge of the table where he's been looking at the map.
"Well it sounds like the Lucky Ranch it is then," Cob says then looks over at Qayne. "If we find more stashes we'll let you know as a thank you for your help."
"Well, give my regards to the Fallswind when you see them," Qayne says. He moves back toward the shelves momentarily and brings back two bottles, one of Crimson Cider and one of Qayne Mead. "You've tasted the Blood Wine. It won't be complete if you haven't tasted the other two of our specialties. Now, give that Masons hell for me."
The walk to the Lucky Ranch takes quite a while. The place is far from the city's center, closer to the northeastern edge of Mantagard. The stone pavement slowly turns to gravel and the building becomes sparser, replaced with swathes of farmlands and fenced pasture fields. The sun is almost setting when you arrive at the ranch.
You find the Lucky Ranch easily. It is a small cottage surrounded by large barns, silos, and a vast fenced field. You can see horses and unicorns running around the field. Several pegasi fly in a circuit around the ranch complex. A couple of ranch hands are finishing the day by opening the paddocks and barns in preparation for herding the horses, unicorns, and pegasi in.
Sitting at the front porch of the cottage is an elderly gnome. He has a sitar on his lap and a weirdly satisfying tune is playing out of the sitar without him strumming it. The tune stops when he notices your approach. He squints a bit, focusing mainly on Eremoz's large form, before turning toward the door of the cottage.
"Honey!" He yells. "There's a cat person like you coming!"
"How many times have I told you that our subspecies is called Tabaxi!" A growling voice answers from within the cottage. "I'ma claw your ass and gouge your eyes if I don't love you so much, you ignoramus!"
"Love you too, honey! But, seriously, I think your long-lost brother is here."
Coming out of the house you see a beastfolk with a feline feature. Her fur is salt and pepper, showing her age, but her stride is still firm and strong. She is wearing riding attire and seems to be preparing to go out. Her eyes are a slitted green orb that narrows when she looks at the gnome but softens after a while.
"Not my brother," she says when she looks at Eremoz, "but why didn't you invite them in? Where are your manners? One hundred years old and you still don't have any manners. Get them a drink or something while I deal with your horses."
"Yes, captain my captain!" The gnome says and salutes with a fond smile. He looks at the group and motions you to come inside. "Well, guests, come on in. What can the Fallswind family and the Lucky Ranch can do for you this fine evening?"
Cob picks up the tune from the sitar and hums it as the group approaches the ranch, he even uses his fingers on his fiddle to try to catch the song before it fades too quickly. Cob then opens his mouth to answer the gnome but catches himself before he does. He really wasn't paying enough attention earlier to know what this code was the rest were talking about. Instead he just says.
"It's very peaceful out here," Cob says then gestures to the pegasi and unicorns. "Are these all yours?"
He then wonders if these are the ancestors of the pegasi they've encountered before, or would it be will encounter in the future?
"It was," Mr. Fallswind says. "Not so much the last couple of months. We've lost 5 unicorns and 3 pegasi in the past two months. They were taken by something. That's why my wife and the other ranch hands are herding them back to the barns and paddocks every evening. We used to just let them roam free all the time. So far, apart from the missing 8, we've lost none. Either our increased security is working or whoever or whatever did it has had enough with just the 8."
Mr. Fallswind guides you to a sitting room and disappears to the kitchen for a moment before returning with a large pot of coffee and some glasses. The interior of the cottage is quite rustic and simplistic. There is a lot of paraphernalia that signifies the age of the owner and whoever else lived there. You can see shelves of old books with topics ranging from animal husbandry and construction to myths and folktales.
"The name is Sabe Fallswind," he says. "I first built this ranch when I was but a strapping 20 years old gnome with only 4 horses. That was more than 80 years ago. I've branched to unicorns and pegasi since then as they're more lucrative, especially to the Militarum and City Guards. Hardier too compared to normal workhorses or warhorses."
Eremoz, as you look around, you notice that on one of the shelves is a familiar symbol. The symbol itself, five claw marks bisected by three wavy lines, is etched on the gemstone of a weathered pendant. Besides the pendant, you can see a few other trinkets with strange but familiar runes on them.
“You have an enviable ranch, Mr Fallswind. It is a shame about the missing animals though. At least you seem to have the problem under control”, Drexon says shaking his head sadly.
”Out of interest, were there any tracks or signs of what took them? You said something, as opposed to someone, you see”.
“Ah”, he adds when he notices the coffee, “We should have mentioned earlier, we are green tea drinkers. Although we do sometimes drink coffee, who doesn’t, but we had one earlier at the Clover Club”.
"That's the confusing part," Sabe says, "we're not quite sure if it's a man, a beast, or any other creature. There are just too many tracks to count around the area. I think this is the work of a group. It's either that or we have ourselves another man-beast-creature monstrosity on the loose."
Sabe scrunched his nose and pours the coffee to those who want it. "Eh, special requesters," he comments. "Drink up first and I'll take you to the cellar. It's just behind the cottage." He pours himself a glass of coffee and quickly gulps it down despite the steam coming from it.
Eremoz, when you call Mrs. Fallswind, she has already walked away with a couple of ranch hands to the field. From a distance, you see her form shake and a shadow of herself appears beside her, helping her wrangle some horses that were a little bit difficult to herd.
"That's her family heirloom," Sabe comments when he notices Eremoz's question. "Hey, tell me something. You're a cat person, right? Are you also a practitioner like my lovely Gethsemane?" He continues in a whisper that is definitely staged for dramatization. "You know, rune makers. People who use runes to do things. If you are, can you put some everlasting rune on my pipe? My dear Geth took mine away. Said I'm too old to smoke."
Drexon looks to the others, wondering if they had come to the same conclusion he had. These are likely the same Pegasi that they saw that were mutilated and being ridden by the employees of the Residuum. Well, hired by Saget Brunn anyway. Was it Saget Brunn that stole the Pegasi? Not something he wanted to discuss here.
"My thanks", he says and pours a coffee of his own, warming his hands on it more than drinking.
"Another man-beast-monstrosity! There was a previous man-beast-monstrosity?", he asks leaning in to better hear.
Dvark chuckles and steps next to Eremoz glancing around the ranch house.
Perception: 6
Dvark glances at the pipe and says "I used to breath forge smoke for a living and I've seen what it can do to a your lungs. Maybe just listen to the Mrs this time."
“You are correct. I am a Leonin. A distant cousin of your wife’s Tabaxi.” He listens to the man’s request. “You have a keen eye. I do work with runes, but I am only starting to learn. I’m afraid I won’t be much help to you.”
"Well, there's always one or two man-beast-creature monstrosities running around at any given time," Sabe says to Drexon. "We're living in the realm of queens and heroes and kings and dragons, you know. It's bound to happen sometime. Wizard experiment that went wrong, nature's attempt at warning us, ancient threats waking up, there's always a reason however fantastical and absurd. Usually, the rangers dealt with it quite promptly. I think the last time it was a heartbroken gorgon seeking revenge by turning himself into a half-basilisk and killing his ex-partner's family. The one that takes the unicorns and pegasi is stumping even them, but so far there have been no more vanishing unicorns and pegasi."
Sabe pours himself another glass and drinks it a little bit slower this time. You do begin to wonder whether the upbeat nature of the man is due to excessive coffee consumption or just his natural disposition.
"Eh, Gethsemane is all talk," he says to Dvark. "I'm not even smoking tobacco. It's all herbal. Her cousin, Tabaxi cousin, gave it to me some years back. Better scent and aftertaste. She just doesn't want to taste it when she kisses me because she's allergic to lemon for some reason and her cousin is petty that way. It's not a severe allergy, thank goodness. My Gethsemane's hair just turns whiter when she consumes lemon."
"You should learn more," Sabe says to Eremoz. "But, I don't think what my wife knows will be the same as what you know." He examines Eremoz and focuses on the boots where a rune has been etched. "I can just see the difference in the runes that you both use. Yours is more jagged. Giants? Or Draconic maybe? The wife's trade is beastfolk runes. It has a lot more free-flowing scripts. However, it's not as permanent as Giants or Draconic runes."
"These certainly are strange times we live in", Drexon says with a chuckle at his own joke. They certainly had lived in multiple times recently, all of which were strange.
"Perhaps we could take a look for you? Our skills are varied and we like a good mystery", he says helpfully.
He looks to the other's.
"Assuming everyone else is as interested as I am", he adds.
“I work primarily in Giant, but I’m always looking to learn more. Perhaps when I have some free time I could learn a bit from her. If she would be amenable to that.” He gives Sabe a hopeful look.
Hearing Drexon’s prompt Eremoz turns to him. “We do have a timeframe to stick to, but a quick look couldn’t hurt.”
Dvark tries to signal to Drexon to mind link with him and projects "this could be where that crew got their nightmares. Might have some dirt on the elf if nothing else."
"You will have better luck at the Lucky Ranch at this hour," Qayne comments. "The museum is closed at 4 and they're like clockwork when it comes to timing. It won't open again until 8 on the dot tomorrow morning."
We know the code for the ranch right? They are obligated to let those who speak it pass? The only drawback i see is if they get suspicious and alert the 'guards' of the other stashes.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
"It sounds like guards of one stash are not aware of the other stashes, Qayne only found out by accident", Drexon says looking at Qayne to confirm.
"It's not known," Qayne confirms. "It was by accident that I came to know about the Lucky Ranch. Of course, it is a widely known conspiracy that the Masons created secret chambers, but no civilians had managed to successfully find one, mostly because the lack of record and history concerning the code word. It is a closely guarded secret by the owner of the building above the secret chamber that is only known to them and the Masons. To the owner, the room they are hiding is the only one in existence. It was my understanding that the room under my shop was the only one in Mantagard until I found the one under the ranch. I planned to find the other of there are any, but then my business fell through hard times and I have to prioritize my business first."
Cob jumps down from the edge of the table where he's been looking at the map.
"Well it sounds like the Lucky Ranch it is then," Cob says then looks over at Qayne. "If we find more stashes we'll let you know as a thank you for your help."
He hoists his small pack on to his back.
"Well, give my regards to the Fallswind when you see them," Qayne says. He moves back toward the shelves momentarily and brings back two bottles, one of Crimson Cider and one of Qayne Mead. "You've tasted the Blood Wine. It won't be complete if you haven't tasted the other two of our specialties. Now, give that Masons hell for me."
The walk to the Lucky Ranch takes quite a while. The place is far from the city's center, closer to the northeastern edge of Mantagard. The stone pavement slowly turns to gravel and the building becomes sparser, replaced with swathes of farmlands and fenced pasture fields. The sun is almost setting when you arrive at the ranch.
You find the Lucky Ranch easily. It is a small cottage surrounded by large barns, silos, and a vast fenced field. You can see horses and unicorns running around the field. Several pegasi fly in a circuit around the ranch complex. A couple of ranch hands are finishing the day by opening the paddocks and barns in preparation for herding the horses, unicorns, and pegasi in.
Sitting at the front porch of the cottage is an elderly gnome. He has a sitar on his lap and a weirdly satisfying tune is playing out of the sitar without him strumming it. The tune stops when he notices your approach. He squints a bit, focusing mainly on Eremoz's large form, before turning toward the door of the cottage.
"Honey!" He yells. "There's a cat person like you coming!"
"How many times have I told you that our subspecies is called Tabaxi!" A growling voice answers from within the cottage. "I'ma claw your ass and gouge your eyes if I don't love you so much, you ignoramus!"
"Love you too, honey! But, seriously, I think your long-lost brother is here."
Coming out of the house you see a beastfolk with a feline feature. Her fur is salt and pepper, showing her age, but her stride is still firm and strong. She is wearing riding attire and seems to be preparing to go out. Her eyes are a slitted green orb that narrows when she looks at the gnome but softens after a while.
"Not my brother," she says when she looks at Eremoz, "but why didn't you invite them in? Where are your manners? One hundred years old and you still don't have any manners. Get them a drink or something while I deal with your horses."
"Yes, captain my captain!" The gnome says and salutes with a fond smile. He looks at the group and motions you to come inside. "Well, guests, come on in. What can the Fallswind family and the Lucky Ranch can do for you this fine evening?"
Cob picks up the tune from the sitar and hums it as the group approaches the ranch, he even uses his fingers on his fiddle to try to catch the song before it fades too quickly. Cob then opens his mouth to answer the gnome but catches himself before he does. He really wasn't paying enough attention earlier to know what this code was the rest were talking about. Instead he just says.
"It's very peaceful out here," Cob says then gestures to the pegasi and unicorns. "Are these all yours?"
He then wonders if these are the ancestors of the pegasi they've encountered before, or would it be will encounter in the future?
"It was," Mr. Fallswind says. "Not so much the last couple of months. We've lost 5 unicorns and 3 pegasi in the past two months. They were taken by something. That's why my wife and the other ranch hands are herding them back to the barns and paddocks every evening. We used to just let them roam free all the time. So far, apart from the missing 8, we've lost none. Either our increased security is working or whoever or whatever did it has had enough with just the 8."
Mr. Fallswind guides you to a sitting room and disappears to the kitchen for a moment before returning with a large pot of coffee and some glasses. The interior of the cottage is quite rustic and simplistic. There is a lot of paraphernalia that signifies the age of the owner and whoever else lived there. You can see shelves of old books with topics ranging from animal husbandry and construction to myths and folktales.
"The name is Sabe Fallswind," he says. "I first built this ranch when I was but a strapping 20 years old gnome with only 4 horses. That was more than 80 years ago. I've branched to unicorns and pegasi since then as they're more lucrative, especially to the Militarum and City Guards. Hardier too compared to normal workhorses or warhorses."
Eremoz, as you look around, you notice that on one of the shelves is a familiar symbol. The symbol itself, five claw marks bisected by three wavy lines, is etched on the gemstone of a weathered pendant. Besides the pendant, you can see a few other trinkets with strange but familiar runes on them.
“You have an enviable ranch, Mr Fallswind. It is a shame about the missing animals though. At least you seem to have the problem under control”, Drexon says shaking his head sadly.
”Out of interest, were there any tracks or signs of what took them? You said something, as opposed to someone, you see”.
“Ah”, he adds when he notices the coffee, “We should have mentioned earlier, we are green tea drinkers. Although we do sometimes drink coffee, who doesn’t, but we had one earlier at the Clover Club”.
Eremoz gives a polite wave as he enters. He stands quietly looking over the pendant and trinkets on the shelf.
Perception: 10
“Mrs. Fallswind, what can you tell me about this pendant?”
"That's the confusing part," Sabe says, "we're not quite sure if it's a man, a beast, or any other creature. There are just too many tracks to count around the area. I think this is the work of a group. It's either that or we have ourselves another man-beast-creature monstrosity on the loose."
Sabe scrunched his nose and pours the coffee to those who want it. "Eh, special requesters," he comments. "Drink up first and I'll take you to the cellar. It's just behind the cottage." He pours himself a glass of coffee and quickly gulps it down despite the steam coming from it.
Eremoz, when you call Mrs. Fallswind, she has already walked away with a couple of ranch hands to the field. From a distance, you see her form shake and a shadow of herself appears beside her, helping her wrangle some horses that were a little bit difficult to herd.
"That's her family heirloom," Sabe comments when he notices Eremoz's question. "Hey, tell me something. You're a cat person, right? Are you also a practitioner like my lovely Gethsemane?" He continues in a whisper that is definitely staged for dramatization. "You know, rune makers. People who use runes to do things. If you are, can you put some everlasting rune on my pipe? My dear Geth took mine away. Said I'm too old to smoke."
Drexon looks to the others, wondering if they had come to the same conclusion he had. These are likely the same Pegasi that they saw that were mutilated and being ridden by the employees of the Residuum. Well, hired by Saget Brunn anyway. Was it Saget Brunn that stole the Pegasi? Not something he wanted to discuss here.
"My thanks", he says and pours a coffee of his own, warming his hands on it more than drinking.
"Another man-beast-monstrosity! There was a previous man-beast-monstrosity?", he asks leaning in to better hear.
Dvark chuckles and steps next to Eremoz glancing around the ranch house.
Perception: 6
Dvark glances at the pipe and says "I used to breath forge smoke for a living and I've seen what it can do to a your lungs. Maybe just listen to the Mrs this time."
Persuasion:8
“You are correct. I am a Leonin. A distant cousin of your wife’s Tabaxi.” He listens to the man’s request. “You have a keen eye. I do work with runes, but I am only starting to learn. I’m afraid I won’t be much help to you.”
"Well, there's always one or two man-beast-creature monstrosities running around at any given time," Sabe says to Drexon. "We're living in the realm of queens and heroes and kings and dragons, you know. It's bound to happen sometime. Wizard experiment that went wrong, nature's attempt at warning us, ancient threats waking up, there's always a reason however fantastical and absurd. Usually, the rangers dealt with it quite promptly. I think the last time it was a heartbroken gorgon seeking revenge by turning himself into a half-basilisk and killing his ex-partner's family. The one that takes the unicorns and pegasi is stumping even them, but so far there have been no more vanishing unicorns and pegasi."
Sabe pours himself another glass and drinks it a little bit slower this time. You do begin to wonder whether the upbeat nature of the man is due to excessive coffee consumption or just his natural disposition.
"Eh, Gethsemane is all talk," he says to Dvark. "I'm not even smoking tobacco. It's all herbal. Her cousin, Tabaxi cousin, gave it to me some years back. Better scent and aftertaste. She just doesn't want to taste it when she kisses me because she's allergic to lemon for some reason and her cousin is petty that way. It's not a severe allergy, thank goodness. My Gethsemane's hair just turns whiter when she consumes lemon."
"You should learn more," Sabe says to Eremoz. "But, I don't think what my wife knows will be the same as what you know." He examines Eremoz and focuses on the boots where a rune has been etched. "I can just see the difference in the runes that you both use. Yours is more jagged. Giants? Or Draconic maybe? The wife's trade is beastfolk runes. It has a lot more free-flowing scripts. However, it's not as permanent as Giants or Draconic runes."
Cob watches the steeds being brought back in.
"Whoever did such things to the pegasi is a monster," Cob says quietly.
He drinks the coffee and gets ready to join their host as he leads them the underground mason's secret room.
"These certainly are strange times we live in", Drexon says with a chuckle at his own joke. They certainly had lived in multiple times recently, all of which were strange.
"Perhaps we could take a look for you? Our skills are varied and we like a good mystery", he says helpfully.
He looks to the other's.
"Assuming everyone else is as interested as I am", he adds.
“I work primarily in Giant, but I’m always looking to learn more. Perhaps when I have some free time I could learn a bit from her. If she would be amenable to that.” He gives Sabe a hopeful look.
Hearing Drexon’s prompt Eremoz turns to him. “We do have a timeframe to stick to, but a quick look couldn’t hurt.”
"three pegasus? When did this happen?"
Dvark tries to signal to Drexon to mind link with him and projects "this could be where that crew got their nightmares. Might have some dirt on the elf if nothing else."
Cob looks over and nods.
"You might want to increase security here," Cob says. "If whoever did this finds they're in need of more pegasi they'll be back."