This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ullingtin pulls a barstool over to the table and easily scampers atop it, using it’s extra height to make him look like an equal at the table instead of a child in an oversized chair.
He smiles and nods politely to Loretta as she places the food and wine before him. His lack of charisma is not from a dearth of charm or social graces but to the obvious disregard for cleanliness. His ruddy complexion is smeared with faint grime and the creases in his face and grubby hands are dark with soil and dirt. He is a gnome who thinks absolutely nothing of scampering in the mud and underbrush to search for herbs or fungus, and thinks even less of washing afterwards. His scent varies, from the almost pleasant petrichor of soil under a summer rain to the more pungent scents of mildew and decay that accompany his wet trousers stuffed with old vegetation.
“The Ozubbins can be found all over the northern parts of the Sword Coast. I have siblings stretching from Neverwinter to Mithral Hall. Personally I keep a small burrow just on the northern edge of the Evermoors. Good foraging, if you can avoid the trolls,” he says between popping morsels of food into his mouth. He doesn’t use utensils, and as a result his fingers become somewhat cleaner...
”Takes a keen eye to discern the difference between a Death Cap and a Straw Mushroom, and it’s even harder just to find Drow’s Tears, let alone determine which is poison and which benign... I guess my investigation skills can’t be too bad, or I wouldn’t be sitting here!” Ullingtin chuckles at his own joke awkwardly before continuing, “speaking of not too bad, this food is quite tasty. Did you make it yourself Loretta, or does the inn have a cook?”
Ullingtin uses his openess and questions to gauge the woman’s reactions and intent.
Grady nods along as Loretta answers their questions.
"Fair enough, thank you for the food. The wine is good as well." He takes a sip from the chalice.
"I don't remember my parents- I've been an orphan since I can remember. The orphanage crest was a heart, hence my name, Heartcrest. When I was old enough I set out from the orphanage and ended up on a pilgrimage- a personal quest for justice. I eventually pledged my oath and have been trying to help people ever since. I'm hoping to help out your townspeople- you seem kind. Any help or information would be greatly appreciated and it would aid us in finding these missing men. Is there anything you noticed around here that changed before the disappearances? What do you know of this traveller who went missing? And finally, is it possible to examine his room and possesions? There could be a clue in his belongings."
Grady asks this with smooth, kind words. He looks at loretta and engages her, hoping if he spoke true it would convince her that they were there to help her and her people- appealing to her good side for some extra help or information.
"Why...thank you, yes, my nephew makes the food. Ain't much good for much else, but he can make a good meal."
Loretta sits slack-jawed, staring at Ullington as he "dines" and converses, before finally registering Grady's questions.
"I...yes, of course.", she says, eventually breaking away from the staring, "Nothing has changed in this village in years, I'm afraid. Certainly nothing out of the ordinary in recent weeks. Veren, was the foreigner's name I think. Got to talk with him a lot the first night he was here. He was...quite interested in the local girls. Last I saw him was three days ago, 'round noon, when he asked about a bath. I pointed him to the stream, and he never returned. At first I assumed he skipped his tab, but once I went to clean his room I saw all of his belongings were still there in one piece. Might not have thought anything of it without Jacob and Torick going missing, but two and two adds up, you know? If you ask me, the men were eaten by a witch! There's a rumor 'round these parts that one lives in the eastern forest that devours men. No one's ever put much stock into it but me 'til now."
She nods enthusiastically when Grady asks about examining the traveler's room. "Once you've spoken with Joen and you're ready to hit the sack, come find me, I'll give you a key to his room when I give you yours. Take as much time as you'd like in there."
She seems a nice enough sort. Shek'lok and Ullington are confident that she isn't hiding anything. It clearly seems that she enjoys talking.
The door to the inn opens and the chatter stops for a moment as a tall, strong, bald human man in his 50s enters with a stern look on his face. The chatter in the inn resumes, and he strides over your way. He is dressed modestly, and carries a sword that he sheathes at his hip as he enters. He nods at Loretta, who excuses herself and heads to the back of the inn.
Extending his hand in greeting, he says "My name is Joen Rim. I'm the Elder of Dormay...we're grateful to have you here. I wanted to meet you personally before I patrol for the night. If there is any way I can help, please let me know. Finding these missing men is of utmost importance to me."
"As the Elder the safety of visitors to our village is partially my responsibility. It's been so long since any have come to see the cleansing house as it is...imagine if we start to have a reputation for people disappearing while they're here.", Joen answers.
Ullingtin has been listening as he eats, quietly filing away the words of Loretta and Joen. The nephew, the witch rumors, the favored town girls, all potential clues to be investigated.
As the Elder finishes his sentence, Ullingtin finishes his drink, setting down the tankard a wee bit hard due to its weight.
“Cleansing house,” he asks, “what is that?” A sly smirk dancing across the corners of his grubby face hinting he was aware of the irony of his question.
"The cleansing house was built along the stream by the first priest in our village, Father Merris. The room inside was made for people to wash away their sins...I'm not religious myself, but I can direct you to Father Ertis for more specifics if you're interested. Some of the villagers still use the cleansing house, especially the older folk. Used to be a lot of visitors from outside of Dormay would come to use it, but its legend has been quickly forgotten, it seems."
"Like I said, I'm not much of a religious man myself so I've never seen much use init.", Joen answers, "As for Father Merris, he's long dead, son. We've always had just one priest in Dormay - Father Merris was replaced by Father Cassius, who was replaced after he passed last year by Father Ertis. At this hour I'm sure he's asleep, but he's as worried as I am about the missing folk, so if you head up to the church after the morning mass, I'm sure he'll be more than willing to answer your questions."
As Joen walked in Dearg instinctivly sat up a bit straighter and calmed his facial features. These were tiny movement that would escape most notice.
"Elder Joen could you tell us of the legend of this cleansing house? I grew up rather remotely away from these parts and have no inkling of it. And while we are on the note of legends and myths, are there any other stories that use the surrounding area as a backdrop? Even stories and legends have some truth to their claim if you care to look closely or far enough back."
The first question comes out sounding like a student asking a teacher but quickly changes back to a natural inquisitive tone.
"Other than the fact that it supposedly cleanses someone of their sin, I don't know too much about the religious aspects. Head up to the church in the morning and Father Ertis can give you all the details." Father Ertis says with a scratch of the head.
"It's been a pleasure, gentlemen. Your food, drink and lodging is paid for while you're here on this request. Please let me know if there is anything else you need."
With that, Joen gives a small bow and exits the inn, drawing his sword and he steps out to begin his patrolling.
"Why yes, I think I'd quite enjoy the company tonight, do join me." Joen says to Shek'lok as Grady heads over to Loretta. She hands him two keys. "This here's the key to your room upstairs, third door to the left. Bed should be made and curtain drawn for you, holler if there's anything else you need. This one's for the foreigner's room, it's right across from yours. Do tell me if you find anything", she says with a wink, "The gossiping barmaid in me can't stand the suspense."
OOC: What are Ullington, Dearg and Zanthin doing? Patrolling with Joen and Shek'lok, investigating the foreigner's room with Grady, retiring for the night, or something else entirely?
Dearg rises smoothly from the table. "Joen, with your permission I would like to patrol on my own for a time before I retire for the evening. Please let your guardsman know, I would hate for them to wake you in the middle of the night for 'a wandering elf' they've found. I will try my best not to startle them or lead them astray."
I would like to circle the woodline of the village and look for anything out of the ordinary such as strange or consistant tracks, paths, or structures. I would like to use my Mask of the Wild trait to perform this check while hidden.
OOC: 40 hours with no response from Zanthin, I'll assume he is retiring for the night then.
"They will be made aware", Joen thanks Dearg. During his patrolling with Shek'lok, he opens up a bit, explaining that he views himself as a shepherd of the small village, and that the disappearances are very troubling for him. "To be honest, I have a sinking feeling that the problem is somehow related to my cowardice. Almost all of the men in Dormay are veterans, brave men who have faced the enemy in battle and lived. I never fought in the war, myself..." He looks down, turning his sword over. Throughout the patrol, he never sheathes it.
Dearg's patrol is much more uneventful, the stealthy monk slipping unseen through the fog and shadows, not even drawing attention from the animals freely roaming the village. The forest at the edge of town seems entirely undisturbed; if someone or something has entered it within recent weeks they covered their tracks impossibly well.
Meanwhile, Grady and Ullington open the door to the foreigner's room after assurances from Loretta that everything is as he left it, untouched by the inn's owners. The room is small and clean. The bed is made, and atop it sits a traveling bag. The only other furnishing is a small desk in the corner, with a writing quill and ink that sit beside a large sheet of paper.
Dearg Persuasion w/ Help: higher of 7 or 20
OOC: It's not taking the -1 for some reason but it's a nat 20 regardless. Will follow up on that after the responses to Loretta's questions.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Great rolls yeah! :) hope they keep coming! Elementary... loved that :) .
Insight on Loretta: 13
Investigation on Loretta: 20
He wants to try to ascerns her intentions asking questions and to pick up any details about her that couyld help him give more information about her.
It’s not that he doesn’t trust her ( he doesn’t trust anyone in the twon at this point) it’s just what he does with everyone.
Shek’lok keeps quiet letting the others carry the conversation and taking mental notes of everything.
PbP Character: A few ;)
Ullingtin pulls a barstool over to the table and easily scampers atop it, using it’s extra height to make him look like an equal at the table instead of a child in an oversized chair.
He smiles and nods politely to Loretta as she places the food and wine before him. His lack of charisma is not from a dearth of charm or social graces but to the obvious disregard for cleanliness. His ruddy complexion is smeared with faint grime and the creases in his face and grubby hands are dark with soil and dirt. He is a gnome who thinks absolutely nothing of scampering in the mud and underbrush to search for herbs or fungus, and thinks even less of washing afterwards. His scent varies, from the almost pleasant petrichor of soil under a summer rain to the more pungent scents of mildew and decay that accompany his wet trousers stuffed with old vegetation.
“The Ozubbins can be found all over the northern parts of the Sword Coast. I have siblings stretching from Neverwinter to Mithral Hall. Personally I keep a small burrow just on the northern edge of the Evermoors. Good foraging, if you can avoid the trolls,” he says between popping morsels of food into his mouth. He doesn’t use utensils, and as a result his fingers become somewhat cleaner...
”Takes a keen eye to discern the difference between a Death Cap and a Straw Mushroom, and it’s even harder just to find Drow’s Tears, let alone determine which is poison and which benign... I guess my investigation skills can’t be too bad, or I wouldn’t be sitting here!” Ullingtin chuckles at his own joke awkwardly before continuing, “speaking of not too bad, this food is quite tasty. Did you make it yourself Loretta, or does the inn have a cook?”
Ullingtin uses his openess and questions to gauge the woman’s reactions and intent.
Insight check: 8
Grady nods along as Loretta answers their questions.
"Fair enough, thank you for the food. The wine is good as well." He takes a sip from the chalice.
"I don't remember my parents- I've been an orphan since I can remember. The orphanage crest was a heart, hence my name, Heartcrest. When I was old enough I set out from the orphanage and ended up on a pilgrimage- a personal quest for justice. I eventually pledged my oath and have been trying to help people ever since. I'm hoping to help out your townspeople- you seem kind. Any help or information would be greatly appreciated and it would aid us in finding these missing men. Is there anything you noticed around here that changed before the disappearances? What do you know of this traveller who went missing? And finally, is it possible to examine his room and possesions? There could be a clue in his belongings."
Grady asks this with smooth, kind words. He looks at loretta and engages her, hoping if he spoke true it would convince her that they were there to help her and her people- appealing to her good side for some extra help or information.
"Why...thank you, yes, my nephew makes the food. Ain't much good for much else, but he can make a good meal."
Loretta sits slack-jawed, staring at Ullington as he "dines" and converses, before finally registering Grady's questions.
"I...yes, of course.", she says, eventually breaking away from the staring, "Nothing has changed in this village in years, I'm afraid. Certainly nothing out of the ordinary in recent weeks. Veren, was the foreigner's name I think. Got to talk with him a lot the first night he was here. He was...quite interested in the local girls. Last I saw him was three days ago, 'round noon, when he asked about a bath. I pointed him to the stream, and he never returned. At first I assumed he skipped his tab, but once I went to clean his room I saw all of his belongings were still there in one piece. Might not have thought anything of it without Jacob and Torick going missing, but two and two adds up, you know? If you ask me, the men were eaten by a witch! There's a rumor 'round these parts that one lives in the eastern forest that devours men. No one's ever put much stock into it but me 'til now."
She nods enthusiastically when Grady asks about examining the traveler's room. "Once you've spoken with Joen and you're ready to hit the sack, come find me, I'll give you a key to his room when I give you yours. Take as much time as you'd like in there."
She seems a nice enough sort. Shek'lok and Ullington are confident that she isn't hiding anything. It clearly seems that she enjoys talking.
The door to the inn opens and the chatter stops for a moment as a tall, strong, bald human man in his 50s enters with a stern look on his face. The chatter in the inn resumes, and he strides over your way. He is dressed modestly, and carries a sword that he sheathes at his hip as he enters. He nods at Loretta, who excuses herself and heads to the back of the inn.
Extending his hand in greeting, he says "My name is Joen Rim. I'm the Elder of Dormay...we're grateful to have you here. I wanted to meet you personally before I patrol for the night. If there is any way I can help, please let me know. Finding these missing men is of utmost importance to me."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
“ I can understand that finding your missing villagers is important to you but. Why do you care so much for a complete stranger?”
It’s the first time he talks since they entered the inn and he doesn’t greet or introduce himself. He just go bluntly to the question.
PbP Character: A few ;)
"As the Elder the safety of visitors to our village is partially my responsibility. It's been so long since any have come to see the cleansing house as it is...imagine if we start to have a reputation for people disappearing while they're here.", Joen answers.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Ullingtin has been listening as he eats, quietly filing away the words of Loretta and Joen. The nephew, the witch rumors, the favored town girls, all potential clues to be investigated.
As the Elder finishes his sentence, Ullingtin finishes his drink, setting down the tankard a wee bit hard due to its weight.
“Cleansing house,” he asks, “what is that?” A sly smirk dancing across the corners of his grubby face hinting he was aware of the irony of his question.
"The cleansing house was built along the stream by the first priest in our village, Father Merris. The room inside was made for people to wash away their sins...I'm not religious myself, but I can direct you to Father Ertis for more specifics if you're interested. Some of the villagers still use the cleansing house, especially the older folk. Used to be a lot of visitors from outside of Dormay would come to use it, but its legend has been quickly forgotten, it seems."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"Have you used it yourself Joen? I would certainly like to talk to Merris, perhaps we can come with you on patrol and talk with him on the way?"
Grady finishes his meal before asking the questions and takes a big gulp of wine afterwards.
"Like I said, I'm not much of a religious man myself so I've never seen much use in it.", Joen answers, "As for Father Merris, he's long dead, son. We've always had just one priest in Dormay - Father Merris was replaced by Father Cassius, who was replaced after he passed last year by Father Ertis. At this hour I'm sure he's asleep, but he's as worried as I am about the missing folk, so if you head up to the church after the morning mass, I'm sure he'll be more than willing to answer your questions."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
As Joen walked in Dearg instinctivly sat up a bit straighter and calmed his facial features. These were tiny movement that would escape most notice.
"Elder Joen could you tell us of the legend of this cleansing house? I grew up rather remotely away from these parts and have no inkling of it. And while we are on the note of legends and myths, are there any other stories that use the surrounding area as a backdrop? Even stories and legends have some truth to their claim if you care to look closely or far enough back."
The first question comes out sounding like a student asking a teacher but quickly changes back to a natural inquisitive tone.
"Other than the fact that it supposedly cleanses someone of their sin, I don't know too much about the religious aspects. Head up to the church in the morning and Father Ertis can give you all the details." Father Ertis says with a scratch of the head.
"It's been a pleasure, gentlemen. Your food, drink and lodging is paid for while you're here on this request. Please let me know if there is anything else you need."
With that, Joen gives a small bow and exits the inn, drawing his sword and he steps out to begin his patrolling.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"Thank you Joen, we will do that."
Grady finishes his meal and heads over to Loretta.
"I'm ready to turn in miss Loretta, I would like to look at the missing man's belongings before I do please."
He gives her a faint, genuine, smile.
“Excuse me maese Joen” says the half elf “do you mind if I join you in your patrol?”
PbP Character: A few ;)
"Why yes, I think I'd quite enjoy the company tonight, do join me." Joen says to Shek'lok as Grady heads over to Loretta. She hands him two keys. "This here's the key to your room upstairs, third door to the left. Bed should be made and curtain drawn for you, holler if there's anything else you need. This one's for the foreigner's room, it's right across from yours. Do tell me if you find anything", she says with a wink, "The gossiping barmaid in me can't stand the suspense."
OOC: What are Ullington, Dearg and Zanthin doing? Patrolling with Joen and Shek'lok, investigating the foreigner's room with Grady, retiring for the night, or something else entirely?
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Ullingtin pops off the stool and lands with a soft thump of his tiny feet.
“I’ll go with you Grady, an extra set of eyes is sure to help in looking for clues.”
Dearg rises smoothly from the table. "Joen, with your permission I would like to patrol on my own for a time before I retire for the evening. Please let your guardsman know, I would hate for them to wake you in the middle of the night for 'a wandering elf' they've found. I will try my best not to startle them or lead them astray."
Perception: 18
Stealth: 20
OOC: 40 hours with no response from Zanthin, I'll assume he is retiring for the night then.
"They will be made aware", Joen thanks Dearg. During his patrolling with Shek'lok, he opens up a bit, explaining that he views himself as a shepherd of the small village, and that the disappearances are very troubling for him. "To be honest, I have a sinking feeling that the problem is somehow related to my cowardice. Almost all of the men in Dormay are veterans, brave men who have faced the enemy in battle and lived. I never fought in the war, myself..." He looks down, turning his sword over. Throughout the patrol, he never sheathes it.
Dearg's patrol is much more uneventful, the stealthy monk slipping unseen through the fog and shadows, not even drawing attention from the animals freely roaming the village. The forest at the edge of town seems entirely undisturbed; if someone or something has entered it within recent weeks they covered their tracks impossibly well.
Meanwhile, Grady and Ullington open the door to the foreigner's room after assurances from Loretta that everything is as he left it, untouched by the inn's owners. The room is small and clean. The bed is made, and atop it sits a traveling bag. The only other furnishing is a small desk in the corner, with a writing quill and ink that sit beside a large sheet of paper.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
“What does that have to do with the dissapearances? “ he says to Joen “And how do you know that the stranger was a war veteran?”
PbP Character: A few ;)