It is after sunset. The Sturgeon is tied to the dock on the eastern bank and its men’s faces are lit by a campfire under the Stone Bridge nearby. In the hamlet of Veszprem, laughter and singing can be heard through the open windows of a tavern, above the door of which a sign sways in the breeze depicting a head of garlic over the carved and painted word “Aniko’s.”
Within the tavern, Marcos, Shay, Rastrin, Harold, Miss Samitha and Captain Dorka have had rooms arranged for the night before settling into the common room where, after a meal of beef goulash, the proprietor, Aniko — grandson of the tavern’s founder — stands at your table in a clean apron, answering questions.
“Aye, I seen em, and I reported it to the Shield Dame when she come through a tenday ago.
“‘Twas almost three tendays past. I was on a journey south to Red Larch on the Larch Path when I passed the Miramar delegation about twenty miles south of the bridge. They were heading north. It was heavily raining, so I didn’t see the group was sizeable till they were upon me. Men and women on horseback, some knights from Waterdeep, a dwarven carriage, an elf lady riding without a saddle, and three nobles with their retainers by the look of ‘em.
“The report of them crossin’ the Stone Bridge? Well, I was halfway to Red Larch by the time that er… happened. But the Shield Dame took that report from Eann over there.”
He points with his chin to a large man with a creamy brown, pockmarked complexion well into his cups and holding court at the bar.
After eating the hearty meal at the inn, Rastrin finds himself yet again feeling awkward as the boat crew socialize with one another with both laughter and alcohol flowing freely. Though alcohol was a great way to form a bond of friendship with others, Rastrin refrained from taking any. He didn't want to cause a scene so soon after narrowly joining the expedition. Besides, he could always socialize later on in the journey. Right now, he was more focused on finally figuring out what he could actually do with his talents. That seemed much more important than getting drunk with a bunch of strangers. Besides, he still needed a bit more time to acclimate to everything before he could consider himself anything remotely near social and friendly.
He was about to excuse himself from the table to go find a secluded place to do some experimenting with his abilities when his ears pick up on the conversation with one of the serving lads. Any information about that missing caravan was bound to be helpful. With that, he lingers at the table, eager to hear the ensuing conversation. He didn't dare speak up yet as he felt it was not his place to take place in such important events. He would need some time getting to know everyone and earn trust before he felt comfortable partaking fully in all of the expedition's events.
While Aniko speaks, Shay takes the opportunity to pull out her pen and two way notebook to share the information with whomever was in possession of the twin book back in Yartar. Rude as it is to write at the table, she knows that it makes the most sense for her to do so while everything was fresh and unable to be remembered incorrectly.
"We're at a small tavern and are learning that the Miramar delegation was heading North while on the Larch Path nearly three tendays ago. All members were accounted for including Teresiel.
It’s not known if they also passed across the Stone Bridge as well, though another patron called Eann that reported to the Shield Dame might soon provide further details. This is all for now, I’ll offer updates as they come, or later in the night.”
Finishing her note, Shay watches as the letters quickly fade from left to right, the ink changing from fresh black color to a faded gray as the short message is sent. She knows it’s appearing in real time inside of the other notebook, looking on with intrigue until it’s properly finished. Shay closes the book and puts everything back into her bag, wondering how long it would be until she gets anything back from either Anya or Norrin.
At Aniko’s gesture, she turns where Eann sits at the bar and a thought hits her. Her eyes drift to Marcos and she rushes to speak up before talking herself out of it. “Excuse me. Wouldn’t it be better to see the Shield Dame’s report from that night directly? Several days have gone by since he saw the convoy, in my experience people tend to get details mixed up in that time. He could think he saw them cross the Stone Bridge, but was mixing up this group with another that crossed around the same time in actuality. It was raining after all, yes?”
She hesitates, hoping she didn’t come across as impolite so early into the journey and looks between her table mates, lingering on Marcos and Miss Samitha. “What do you all think?”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Harold
Harold sits at the table, eating his food and listening to those around him. After taking his first bite, the man's face sours a bit before he pulls out a small pouch and sprinkles some spices into the stew. The next few bites are much more pleasurable to the merchant and a small smile spreads across his face. Upon hearing that the man at the nearby table may have more information on where the caravan went, Harold sizes the figure up before slowly standing up. "Well... I think if that man over there knows more information... then we should ask him. The longer we wait the more time he has to finish his drink..." The merchant says with a grin.
After dusting himself off and placing a coin on the table, he makes his ways towards Eann. "Hello, My name is Harold Goldweaver. May I sit down?" The merchant says with a smile and small nod. "you see... I seem to have lost some of my friends... they were part of a caravan that passed through here recently. I was hoping you might be able to help me out?" Harold takes a seat near the man, regardless or whether or not he is invited to sit. Once he sits down, Harold places his gloved hands on the table and interlocks his fingers. After long couple seconds, he leans closer to the man, and whispers to Eann. "My friends and I represent some very important individuals... Powerful individuals that stand to lose a lot of money if that caravan and it's contents are not recovered..."
Harolds eyes narrow as he sizes up the man. while leaning a little farther across the table, he scratches his beard in such a way to reveal the long scar running a long his neck. "Those powerful... organizations... are capable of both punishing those that cross them... and also rewarding those that help them. So my friend, are you willing to help me?" Harold is now whispering to the point where only he and Eann can hear over the commotion in the tavern.
Harold takes advantage of a moment when the group around Eann bursts into laughter at something the large man says. One of the group surrounding him finishes his drink and places the empty stein on the bar, belches, and curtly announces, “Yuh, ‘m off.” Another slaps Eann’s back and lets himself out back toward the latrine. The last, a younger man, seeing Harold approach and perhaps receiving a cold glare from the merchant, turns away and gives his full focus to finishing off his goulash.
Harold stands at the bar next to Eann, who at first is all smiles, his eyes quite glazed with drink. It takes a long moment for Harold’s tone to filter through, and Eann's expression then shifts from a racy grin to a petulant stone face.
“Ya mean that there delomayshun?,” he asks, in a voice that carries farther than good manners require, his breath like an open barrel of ale. “Delegation? Sure, yeah, no need to get all up in me grid about it, ‘Arold. I told the Shield Filly what I saw an’ I’ll tell yiz too, an’ anyone else.”
He finishes his ale, plants the stein upon the bar with a thunk and calls over Aniko – or tries to. Aniko simply makes a motion across his throat, in a friendly but unbending way. Eann frowns, clears his throat, and suddenly notices that the younger man has also excused himself and that he, Eann, is now alone at the bar with Harold.
“I’m a cattle drover, so that rain… kept things slow fer a while. That afternoon, I had to meself, and I were right here outside in front o the place when I looks up t' the bridge and seen 'em. Two score, a whole bunch. Riders, some on foot, crossing the bridge, quick, from yonder west bank to here. ‘Twas the same day Aniko left – I know 'cuz Klara were at the bar, not Aniko, and she only cover fer him when he travels.”
Aniko has now made his way behind the bar, rinsing the steins left by Eann’s crew and listening to the conversation. He nods at what Eann says and picks up where Eann leaves off.
“Yep, that’s when she’s at the bar. I like my little domain here and keep it to myself. A knight and his castle, not to be parted,” he smiles. But his eyes flash between Eann, whose demeanor has transformed so quickly, and Harold, and he continues to stand behind the bar facing the pair.
Shay or Marcus might notice to one side that an old man seems to have overheard Eann, and, shaking his head while looking at the floor, is throwing on his coat and preparing to leave.
Shocking Shay completely with his bold approach, Harold goes to the bar and engages in a quiet conversation with Eann, which from her vantage point appears to be slowly getting more and more intense as it carries on. Unable to make out what either man is saying over the general buzz of patrons surrounding them, Shay’s attention drifts off to various bystanders milling about. She takes quick notice of a shifty looking older man not too far from Harold and Eann after her second sweep through, his eyes downcast and head shaking back and forth as he makes to leave in a big rush. Getting a strange feeling from the way he holds himself, she acts on complete impulse and gets up from the table to intercept him, fearing he might have overheard something that resulted in his attempt at a hasty exit.
“Pardon me sir, but this is an urgent matter. We’re searching for the missing group of Miramar delegates that passed through here nearly three tendays ago. Would you happen to have any type of information relating to this by any chance?” She can sense more than a few eyes on them, but focuses on keeping her own on him.
“Anything at all can help, even if it might seem insignificant.” Shay goes for a less tense posture and only hopes she’s doing a decent job of not making this older man feel cornered by her while she waits for a response.
Eavesdropping on Harold’s conversation turned not be very informative in Rastrin’s opinion. They might have a new lead involving a woman named Klara, but that seemed about it.
He’s again about to excuse himself, but that’s when Shay stands and hurries over to a rather shifty-looking man. Rastrin shifts his attention over to them, and he prepares himself walk over to offer support if it looked like Shay needed a little bit of extra help.
“Pardon me sir, but this is an urgent matter. We’re searching for the missing group of Miramar delegates that passed through here nearly three tendays ago. Would you happen to have any type of information relating to this by any chance?”
The man has just begun to limp toward the door when Shay approaches him, and he barely slows down. He stops when she speaks to him, looking only at the floor, then glances warily at Eann, observing the cattle drover still in conversation with Harold and Aniko. He shakes his head again, but can’t seem to keep his glance from shifting to Shay. The half-elf notes that his countenance is intelligent, though his complexion is quite wan, and he is old – his skin almost like papier mache hanging on his bones, and his knees pop as he walks - or limps rather, favoring one leg although managing without a cane.
Something about his glance tells Shay that he knows something, something which he may indeed tell her. He continues outside, though he seems to be open to her following. Just outside the tavern, where a warmly glowing lantern hangs over the door, he stops, waiting.
“Anything at all can help, even if it might seem insignificant.”
“I don't like to gainsay a man, even one who is in his cups. An' Eann, he's fine mostly but doesn't know himself when he gets angry." He pauses for a moment, then seems to make up his mind.
"Look. There,” he says, "first of all," and he points up to the moonlit grey stripe of the Stone Bridge, which crosses in the near distance at an angle. “What do you see on the bridge? That’s right. Nothing. Because you can’t see the top of the bridge from this spot, hardly at all. Yes, if someone’s crossing you can see that there’s something there. But no details…”
He is right. And this is the very spot where Eann says he stood when he witness the passing delegation. The old man toothlessly chews his lip for a long moment.
“My place not far from the entry to the bridge on this bank. Up there.” He points to a spot perhaps a quarter mile away, up the slope and toward the bridge entry, marked by a pair of large tall lanterns.
“Someone pass over the bridge, I see ‘em, most days, if I’m home. And that day, the day of rain when Aniko decide to take his fool trip to Red Larch. I was home that day. I saw who passed. And what.” He waits a moment, and Rastrin now perhaps exits the tavern, finding Shay. The man notes the dragonborn with a frown, but continues his tale.
“First off, they not come from the west. They passin’ the other direction, from east to west. And they weren’t horses that group were riding. I don’t know what them creatures were, but not horses. And the people? They was all wearing the garb of plain folks or something like it. Just more… all alike, like costumes in a procession. But nothin’ bright. Leathers in drab colors. Nay, no fineries like city folks from Waterdeep. I lived there – Waterdeep – fer many years. I know. They was… something different. And the delegation? A dwarf in a carriage, nobles, an elf ridin’ bareback?" He looks Shay straight in the eye.
"They never crossed the Stone Bridge. I woulda known.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Harold sits back a little bit, looking the man up and down as he considers his words. As the old man makes for the door, harolds eyes dart that direction and he makes note of both Shay and Rastrin following behind. He gives them a small nod in approval even if they don't actually see it before looking towards the man. "And you are SURE you saw them cross the bridge... no doubt in your mind? And you have told me EVERYTHING that might be useful in locating the missing caravan..." He asks locking eyes with Eann and then looking to Aniko. He sits silently as he tries his hardest to stare into their souls... allowing them to think long and hard before answering.
My passive insight and passive perceptions are both 20 in case it matters... insight 13
As Shay and the stranger move to the outside, Rastrin rises to his feet abruptly and begins heading for the door after apologizing to the people at his table for leaving so soon. After weaving through the crowded room, he finally makes it outside just in time to pick up on the latter part of the older man’s story to Shay.
Even though he heard only part of the conversation, it only took him a bit to infer what he had missed out on. It wasn’t too hard considering the topic of conversation of late.
He feels awkward just standing there next to the two as they converse, but he doesn’t have much to offer at the moment, so instead, he simply folds his arms, leans against the doorframe and listens. Maybe his presence would help Shay seem a bit more persuasive to the man she was questioning. A little bit of extra backup never hurt anyone, right?
The strange old man avoids making direct eye contact with her as he speaks, looking off in one direction or another, even after Rastrin comes out. However, he steadily locks his gaze with her own while finishing what he has to say.
“They never crossed the Stone Bridge. I woulda known.”
Shay takes a moment to process what she’s been told. She sifts through her confusion about just what the group of supposed commoners were riding on as well as the man’s reaction to it, the new details that came in not matching their former information, and most importantly, what that means for their search for more answers.
She hurriedly thanks the man for his help before turning to where Rastrin still stood near the tavern doorway, expression tense. “We should tell the others about this. I think Marcos would really like to know.”
The man’s — Eann’s — eyes, widen and his posture shrivels under Harold’s insistence. Aniko, at the bar, frowns, a line forming on his brow and he seems ready to intervene, yet something — not fear, but perhaps a form of curiosity — keeps his lips pressed firmly together, and he, too, waits for Eann to respond, which, after a tense moment of silence, he does.
“I already told yuz what I seen,” he grumbles, petulantly. “Some folks might pull hot air from their belly an’ try t’ make things seem diff’rent from what they be. But what I sez is what ‘appen.”
The man who’d been at the bar before but left for the latrine now returns, jauntily, slapping Eann on the back.
“Ha ha! I keep thinkin’ about what ye said, Eann, ‘But he wasn’t such a good lookin’ steer!!!,’ Hahahaha!! I ain’t heard nothin so funny since… er…,” the returnee notices the change in the air, Eann’s posture, and looks back and forth between him, Harold, and Marcos.
“Now…. now, just a minute,” he stutters, suddenly himself shrunken but also emboldened, “Eann done that thing long ago, and he already paid his price, an… ye ain’t here to take him in again are ya??”
Aniko shakes his head and answers, “No, no, Béla, it’s not that. Now. Unless Mr. Goldweaver here has any more questions, maybe it’s time you walk Eann home Béla. He’s not looking well and he already drank his fill.”
This last remark is pointed at Harold. No one moves, as all three seem to be enthralled by Harold’s menacing air, and they seem to await his acquiescence.
By this time, the tavern, which is not large, has mostly emptied out.
Marcos and Miss Samitha, who had been discussing logistics in regards to the Yartarin guardsmen, now look up, having sensed the tension at the bar.
At this moment, Shay and Rastrin reenter the tavern.
As Rastrin and Shay start to head back into the tavern, he mentions quietly to his companion, “Maybe it would be a good idea to check out the bridge? We might be able to find some tracks or some clues or something. You’re good at that kind of thing, right? Tracking and…”
He trails off, noticing the tense atmosphere of the tavern. Something had happened, but he wasn’t quite sure what. They had only been outside for a moment. What could have possibly happened in that short amount of time?
Shay listens curiously as Rastrin throws out an idea of going to the bridge and searching around for clues as they reenter the tavern, not having the heart to tell him that tracking was never a strong suit of hers. She’s drumming up a reply when they walk into a very intense silence that appears to be originating from the men at the bar. Harold looks to have Aniko, Eann, and another third man locked in a hard stare that neither of them seem prepared to break any time soon.
Glancing at the table they’d been at, Shay notices that Miss Samitha and Marcos are also looking in their direction as well. The tension currently in the air is almost thick enough to see. She steals a glance at Rastrin and gestures over to the table in hopes that he’ll join her. Approaching the two, Shay takes her previous seat and turns to Marcos. “We were coming here because we had more information to tell you about, but it looks like we missed something.”
Harold looks the man up and down as he strokes his beard. After an excruciating few seconds, Harold smiles and stands up. "OK, thank you for your help. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated." He says with a small nod. He then tosses a coin on to the table. "your drinks on me." before turning towards Shay and Rastrin. He walks over to the two of them and shakes his head. "Don't believe our friend Eann over there. He may have seen something cross the bridge, but I don't believe for a second it was our caravan... damned drunk." Harold grumbles before looking to his companions. "What about you two... you find out anything useful?"
Eann’s eye lights up at the sight of the gold piece Harold leaves on the bar, but he turns away, and in short order, his friend, Béla, walks with him to the door, though not offering an arm to lean on, but rather just keeping an eye on the cattle drover, and the two are gone.
Aniko collects the gold piece, holding it up and watching the lamplight play off of it for a moment before responding to Harold’s summary of Eann’s character. He says, rather woodenly, “His wife of thirty years was killed in the floods. Many are having a hard time nowadays.” The tavern owner doesn’t seem to expect a response, but continues cleaning behind the bar.
“Not to be believed, eh?,” Marcus asks Harold from his seat at the table. “That’s bad news. It was his report that brought us here to begin with. A few days in the stockade might convince him to speak with truth next time to the Shield Dames of Yartar. Shay, you have new information? From the old man you spoke to?”
Rastrin trails behind Shay and takes a seat as she suggested. As conversation ensues between Harold, Marcus, and Harold, he once again can't do much besides sit there and awkwardly listen. It wasn't his place to take charge of the conversation, and yet, because of his decision to follow Shay, he was still involved in it. As he sits in on the conversation, he starts absentmindedly fiddling with the orangish shard of glass he wears on a chain around his neck while his mind begins to wander. The strange group wearing drab clothes and riding strange beasts probably wasn't the most important thing happening in the area, but he supposed that anything out of the ordinary might be worth looking into at least a little bit. As his mind wanders, he begins humming to himself without realizing it, one of his habits he participated in often.
Even though she had originally held doubts about Eann’s story, it seemed wrong to feel any positivity about being proven right in a case such as this. She watches as he leaves the bar and heads presumably back to his own home, likely thinking he’d helped in some form. Shay turns to Marcos at his question, partially aware of Rastrin’s fidgeting beside her, but focus honed in on the task at hand.
“The old man told us that there was no way Eann could’ve seen the delegation on the Stone Bridge from here, the distance was too wide to make out any discernible features. He also saw a party coming from Westwood that wore common clothing and rode on the backs of…unidentifiable creatures.” She offers a small shrug if he gives her a questioning glance. “None of our people were among this strange group from the sound of it, they had no commonalities whatsoever. So I fear we’re left even more in the dark than when we began.” Beside her, Rastrin begins humming a gentle tune, a distracted expression on his face.
‘I’ll have to ask his thoughts on this later, he seems unsure of what to do.’ Shay thinks to herself and faces to the River Master once again, curious as to his next move.
“Then…,” Marcus says, a tone of annoyance in his voice, “the last time they were seen was on the Larch Road, by Aniko. The trail grows colder with every passing hour…”
He looks to Miss Samitha, pausing for a moment, and then asking a question whose answer, you intuit, he already knows.
“Miss Samitha. What next?”
“Mister Varixx,” she replies crisply and without pause. “They were last seen on the Larch Road heading north. They were not seen crossing the Stone Bridge. We must confirm that we can find no sign of their passage ourselves. If we do not, then we cross to the west bank of the Dessarin and continue our search there, on the Larch Road. If we find no signs, turn south onto the Larch Road until we hit the spot where Aniko saw them. The first order of business is to discover their trail."
Marcus seems satisfied at this. “Fine. It’s been a long day, and searching the road with only the moonlight to guide us will not be in our favor. At dawn, we rise and cross to the Dessarin's western bank. For now, it is time to rest.” The last statement was directed at Rastrin, Harold, and Shay who all notice, however, that Marcus seems to possess as much energy at this moment as he did when the Sturgeon set forth.
"We've all lost loved ones" Harold replies to Aniko rather coldly without turning to look at her. When Marcos suggest the stockades, Harold interjects. "Although I think Eann is wrong, I don't think he is trying to deceive anyone... just too far gone in his drink to be trustworthy." The merchant than listens to his companions, taking in the new information as they prepare for their next steps.
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##
It is after sunset. The Sturgeon is tied to the dock on the eastern bank and its men’s faces are lit by a campfire under the Stone Bridge nearby. In the hamlet of Veszprem, laughter and singing can be heard through the open windows of a tavern, above the door of which a sign sways in the breeze depicting a head of garlic over the carved and painted word “Aniko’s.”
Within the tavern, Marcos, Shay, Rastrin, Harold, Miss Samitha and Captain Dorka have had rooms arranged for the night before settling into the common room where, after a meal of beef goulash, the proprietor, Aniko — grandson of the tavern’s founder — stands at your table in a clean apron, answering questions.
“Aye, I seen em, and I reported it to the Shield Dame when she come through a tenday ago.
“‘Twas almost three tendays past. I was on a journey south to Red Larch on the Larch Path when I passed the Miramar delegation about twenty miles south of the bridge. They were heading north. It was heavily raining, so I didn’t see the group was sizeable till they were upon me. Men and women on horseback, some knights from Waterdeep, a dwarven carriage, an elf lady riding without a saddle, and three nobles with their retainers by the look of ‘em.
“The report of them crossin’ the Stone Bridge? Well, I was halfway to Red Larch by the time that er… happened. But the Shield Dame took that report from Eann over there.”
He points with his chin to a large man with a creamy brown, pockmarked complexion well into his cups and holding court at the bar.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
RASTRIN
After eating the hearty meal at the inn, Rastrin finds himself yet again feeling awkward as the boat crew socialize with one another with both laughter and alcohol flowing freely. Though alcohol was a great way to form a bond of friendship with others, Rastrin refrained from taking any. He didn't want to cause a scene so soon after narrowly joining the expedition. Besides, he could always socialize later on in the journey. Right now, he was more focused on finally figuring out what he could actually do with his talents. That seemed much more important than getting drunk with a bunch of strangers. Besides, he still needed a bit more time to acclimate to everything before he could consider himself anything remotely near social and friendly.
He was about to excuse himself from the table to go find a secluded place to do some experimenting with his abilities when his ears pick up on the conversation with one of the serving lads. Any information about that missing caravan was bound to be helpful. With that, he lingers at the table, eager to hear the ensuing conversation. He didn't dare speak up yet as he felt it was not his place to take place in such important events. He would need some time getting to know everyone and earn trust before he felt comfortable partaking fully in all of the expedition's events.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
SHAY
While Aniko speaks, Shay takes the opportunity to pull out her pen and two way notebook to share the information with whomever was in possession of the twin book back in Yartar. Rude as it is to write at the table, she knows that it makes the most sense for her to do so while everything was fresh and unable to be remembered incorrectly.
"We're at a small tavern and are learning that the Miramar delegation was heading North while on the Larch Path nearly three tendays ago. All members were accounted for including Teresiel.
It’s not known if they also passed across the Stone Bridge as well, though another patron called Eann that reported to the Shield Dame might soon provide further details. This is all for now, I’ll offer updates as they come, or later in the night.”
Finishing her note, Shay watches as the letters quickly fade from left to right, the ink changing from fresh black color to a faded gray as the short message is sent. She knows it’s appearing in real time inside of the other notebook, looking on with intrigue until it’s properly finished. Shay closes the book and puts everything back into her bag, wondering how long it would be until she gets anything back from either Anya or Norrin.
At Aniko’s gesture, she turns where Eann sits at the bar and a thought hits her. Her eyes drift to Marcos and she rushes to speak up before talking herself out of it. “Excuse me. Wouldn’t it be better to see the Shield Dame’s report from that night directly? Several days have gone by since he saw the convoy, in my experience people tend to get details mixed up in that time. He could think he saw them cross the Stone Bridge, but was mixing up this group with another that crossed around the same time in actuality. It was raining after all, yes?”
She hesitates, hoping she didn’t come across as impolite so early into the journey and looks between her table mates, lingering on Marcos and Miss Samitha. “What do you all think?”
Harold
Harold sits at the table, eating his food and listening to those around him. After taking his first bite, the man's face sours a bit before he pulls out a small pouch and sprinkles some spices into the stew. The next few bites are much more pleasurable to the merchant and a small smile spreads across his face. Upon hearing that the man at the nearby table may have more information on where the caravan went, Harold sizes the figure up before slowly standing up. "Well... I think if that man over there knows more information... then we should ask him. The longer we wait the more time he has to finish his drink..." The merchant says with a grin.
After dusting himself off and placing a coin on the table, he makes his ways towards Eann. "Hello, My name is Harold Goldweaver. May I sit down?" The merchant says with a smile and small nod. "you see... I seem to have lost some of my friends... they were part of a caravan that passed through here recently. I was hoping you might be able to help me out?" Harold takes a seat near the man, regardless or whether or not he is invited to sit. Once he sits down, Harold places his gloved hands on the table and interlocks his fingers. After long couple seconds, he leans closer to the man, and whispers to Eann. "My friends and I represent some very important individuals... Powerful individuals that stand to lose a lot of money if that caravan and it's contents are not recovered..."
Harolds eyes narrow as he sizes up the man. while leaning a little farther across the table, he scratches his beard in such a way to reveal the long scar running a long his neck. "Those powerful... organizations... are capable of both punishing those that cross them... and also rewarding those that help them. So my friend, are you willing to help me?" Harold is now whispering to the point where only he and Eann can hear over the commotion in the tavern.
Deception / persuasion 26
Harold takes advantage of a moment when the group around Eann bursts into laughter at something the large man says. One of the group surrounding him finishes his drink and places the empty stein on the bar, belches, and curtly announces, “Yuh, ‘m off.” Another slaps Eann’s back and lets himself out back toward the latrine. The last, a younger man, seeing Harold approach and perhaps receiving a cold glare from the merchant, turns away and gives his full focus to finishing off his goulash.
Harold stands at the bar next to Eann, who at first is all smiles, his eyes quite glazed with drink. It takes a long moment for Harold’s tone to filter through, and Eann's expression then shifts from a racy grin to a petulant stone face.
“Ya mean that there delomayshun?,” he asks, in a voice that carries farther than good manners require, his breath like an open barrel of ale. “Delegation? Sure, yeah, no need to get all up in me grid about it, ‘Arold. I told the Shield Filly what I saw an’ I’ll tell yiz too, an’ anyone else.”
He finishes his ale, plants the stein upon the bar with a thunk and calls over Aniko – or tries to. Aniko simply makes a motion across his throat, in a friendly but unbending way. Eann frowns, clears his throat, and suddenly notices that the younger man has also excused himself and that he, Eann, is now alone at the bar with Harold.
“I’m a cattle drover, so that rain… kept things slow fer a while. That afternoon, I had to meself, and I were right here outside in front o the place when I looks up t' the bridge and seen 'em. Two score, a whole bunch. Riders, some on foot, crossing the bridge, quick, from yonder west bank to here. ‘Twas the same day Aniko left – I know 'cuz Klara were at the bar, not Aniko, and she only cover fer him when he travels.”
Aniko has now made his way behind the bar, rinsing the steins left by Eann’s crew and listening to the conversation. He nods at what Eann says and picks up where Eann leaves off.
“Yep, that’s when she’s at the bar. I like my little domain here and keep it to myself. A knight and his castle, not to be parted,” he smiles. But his eyes flash between Eann, whose demeanor has transformed so quickly, and Harold, and he continues to stand behind the bar facing the pair.
Shay or Marcus might notice to one side that an old man seems to have overheard Eann, and, shaking his head while looking at the floor, is throwing on his coat and preparing to leave.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
SHAY
Shocking Shay completely with his bold approach, Harold goes to the bar and engages in a quiet conversation with Eann, which from her vantage point appears to be slowly getting more and more intense as it carries on. Unable to make out what either man is saying over the general buzz of patrons surrounding them, Shay’s attention drifts off to various bystanders milling about. She takes quick notice of a shifty looking older man not too far from Harold and Eann after her second sweep through, his eyes downcast and head shaking back and forth as he makes to leave in a big rush. Getting a strange feeling from the way he holds himself, she acts on complete impulse and gets up from the table to intercept him, fearing he might have overheard something that resulted in his attempt at a hasty exit.
“Pardon me sir, but this is an urgent matter. We’re searching for the missing group of Miramar delegates that passed through here nearly three tendays ago. Would you happen to have any type of information relating to this by any chance?” She can sense more than a few eyes on them, but focuses on keeping her own on him.
“Anything at all can help, even if it might seem insignificant.” Shay goes for a less tense posture and only hopes she’s doing a decent job of not making this older man feel cornered by her while she waits for a response.
RASTRIN
Eavesdropping on Harold’s conversation turned not be very informative in Rastrin’s opinion. They might have a new lead involving a woman named Klara, but that seemed about it.
He’s again about to excuse himself, but that’s when Shay stands and hurries over to a rather shifty-looking man. Rastrin shifts his attention over to them, and he prepares himself walk over to offer support if it looked like Shay needed a little bit of extra help.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
“Pardon me sir, but this is an urgent matter. We’re searching for the missing group of Miramar delegates that passed through here nearly three tendays ago. Would you happen to have any type of information relating to this by any chance?”
The man has just begun to limp toward the door when Shay approaches him, and he barely slows down. He stops when she speaks to him, looking only at the floor, then glances warily at Eann, observing the cattle drover still in conversation with Harold and Aniko. He shakes his head again, but can’t seem to keep his glance from shifting to Shay. The half-elf notes that his countenance is intelligent, though his complexion is quite wan, and he is old – his skin almost like papier mache hanging on his bones, and his knees pop as he walks - or limps rather, favoring one leg although managing without a cane.
Something about his glance tells Shay that he knows something, something which he may indeed tell her. He continues outside, though he seems to be open to her following. Just outside the tavern, where a warmly glowing lantern hangs over the door, he stops, waiting.
“Anything at all can help, even if it might seem insignificant.”
“I don't like to gainsay a man, even one who is in his cups. An' Eann, he's fine mostly but doesn't know himself when he gets angry." He pauses for a moment, then seems to make up his mind.
"Look. There,” he says, "first of all," and he points up to the moonlit grey stripe of the Stone Bridge, which crosses in the near distance at an angle. “What do you see on the bridge? That’s right. Nothing. Because you can’t see the top of the bridge from this spot, hardly at all. Yes, if someone’s crossing you can see that there’s something there. But no details…”
He is right. And this is the very spot where Eann says he stood when he witness the passing delegation. The old man toothlessly chews his lip for a long moment.
“My place not far from the entry to the bridge on this bank. Up there.” He points to a spot perhaps a quarter mile away, up the slope and toward the bridge entry, marked by a pair of large tall lanterns.
“Someone pass over the bridge, I see ‘em, most days, if I’m home. And that day, the day of rain when Aniko decide to take his fool trip to Red Larch. I was home that day. I saw who passed. And what.” He waits a moment, and Rastrin now perhaps exits the tavern, finding Shay. The man notes the dragonborn with a frown, but continues his tale.
“First off, they not come from the west. They passin’ the other direction, from east to west. And they weren’t horses that group were riding. I don’t know what them creatures were, but not horses. And the people? They was all wearing the garb of plain folks or something like it. Just more… all alike, like costumes in a procession. But nothin’ bright. Leathers in drab colors. Nay, no fineries like city folks from Waterdeep. I lived there – Waterdeep – fer many years. I know. They was… something different. And the delegation? A dwarf in a carriage, nobles, an elf ridin’ bareback?" He looks Shay straight in the eye.
"They never crossed the Stone Bridge. I woulda known.”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Harold sits back a little bit, looking the man up and down as he considers his words. As the old man makes for the door, harolds eyes dart that direction and he makes note of both Shay and Rastrin following behind. He gives them a small nod in approval even if they don't actually see it before looking towards the man. "And you are SURE you saw them cross the bridge... no doubt in your mind? And you have told me EVERYTHING that might be useful in locating the missing caravan..." He asks locking eyes with Eann and then looking to Aniko. He sits silently as he tries his hardest to stare into their souls... allowing them to think long and hard before answering.
My passive insight and passive perceptions are both 20 in case it matters...
insight 13
RASTRIN
As Shay and the stranger move to the outside, Rastrin rises to his feet abruptly and begins heading for the door after apologizing to the people at his table for leaving so soon. After weaving through the crowded room, he finally makes it outside just in time to pick up on the latter part of the older man’s story to Shay.
Even though he heard only part of the conversation, it only took him a bit to infer what he had missed out on. It wasn’t too hard considering the topic of conversation of late.
He feels awkward just standing there next to the two as they converse, but he doesn’t have much to offer at the moment, so instead, he simply folds his arms, leans against the doorframe and listens. Maybe his presence would help Shay seem a bit more persuasive to the man she was questioning. A little bit of extra backup never hurt anyone, right?
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
SHAY
The strange old man avoids making direct eye contact with her as he speaks, looking off in one direction or another, even after Rastrin comes out. However, he steadily locks his gaze with her own while finishing what he has to say.
“They never crossed the Stone Bridge. I woulda known.”
Shay takes a moment to process what she’s been told. She sifts through her confusion about just what the group of supposed commoners were riding on as well as the man’s reaction to it, the new details that came in not matching their former information, and most importantly, what that means for their search for more answers.
She hurriedly thanks the man for his help before turning to where Rastrin still stood near the tavern doorway, expression tense. “We should tell the others about this. I think Marcos would really like to know.”
HAROLD
The man’s — Eann’s — eyes, widen and his posture shrivels under Harold’s insistence. Aniko, at the bar, frowns, a line forming on his brow and he seems ready to intervene, yet something — not fear, but perhaps a form of curiosity — keeps his lips pressed firmly together, and he, too, waits for Eann to respond, which, after a tense moment of silence, he does.
“I already told yuz what I seen,” he grumbles, petulantly. “Some folks might pull hot air from their belly an’ try t’ make things seem diff’rent from what they be. But what I sez is what ‘appen.”
The man who’d been at the bar before but left for the latrine now returns, jauntily, slapping Eann on the back.
“Ha ha! I keep thinkin’ about what ye said, Eann, ‘But he wasn’t such a good lookin’ steer!!!,’ Hahahaha!! I ain’t heard nothin so funny since… er…,” the returnee notices the change in the air, Eann’s posture, and looks back and forth between him, Harold, and Marcos.
“Now…. now, just a minute,” he stutters, suddenly himself shrunken but also emboldened, “Eann done that thing long ago, and he already paid his price, an… ye ain’t here to take him in again are ya??”
Aniko shakes his head and answers, “No, no, Béla, it’s not that. Now. Unless Mr. Goldweaver here has any more questions, maybe it’s time you walk Eann home Béla. He’s not looking well and he already drank his fill.”
This last remark is pointed at Harold. No one moves, as all three seem to be enthralled by Harold’s menacing air, and they seem to await his acquiescence.
By this time, the tavern, which is not large, has mostly emptied out.
Marcos and Miss Samitha, who had been discussing logistics in regards to the Yartarin guardsmen, now look up, having sensed the tension at the bar.
At this moment, Shay and Rastrin reenter the tavern.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
RASTRIN
As Rastrin and Shay start to head back into the tavern, he mentions quietly to his companion, “Maybe it would be a good idea to check out the bridge? We might be able to find some tracks or some clues or something. You’re good at that kind of thing, right? Tracking and…”
He trails off, noticing the tense atmosphere of the tavern. Something had happened, but he wasn’t quite sure what. They had only been outside for a moment. What could have possibly happened in that short amount of time?
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
SHAY
Shay listens curiously as Rastrin throws out an idea of going to the bridge and searching around for clues as they reenter the tavern, not having the heart to tell him that tracking was never a strong suit of hers. She’s drumming up a reply when they walk into a very intense silence that appears to be originating from the men at the bar. Harold looks to have Aniko, Eann, and another third man locked in a hard stare that neither of them seem prepared to break any time soon.
Glancing at the table they’d been at, Shay notices that Miss Samitha and Marcos are also looking in their direction as well. The tension currently in the air is almost thick enough to see. She steals a glance at Rastrin and gestures over to the table in hopes that he’ll join her. Approaching the two, Shay takes her previous seat and turns to Marcos. “We were coming here because we had more information to tell you about, but it looks like we missed something.”
Harold
Harold looks the man up and down as he strokes his beard. After an excruciating few seconds, Harold smiles and stands up. "OK, thank you for your help. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated." He says with a small nod. He then tosses a coin on to the table. "your drinks on me." before turning towards Shay and Rastrin. He walks over to the two of them and shakes his head. "Don't believe our friend Eann over there. He may have seen something cross the bridge, but I don't believe for a second it was our caravan... damned drunk." Harold grumbles before looking to his companions. "What about you two... you find out anything useful?"
Eann’s eye lights up at the sight of the gold piece Harold leaves on the bar, but he turns away, and in short order, his friend, Béla, walks with him to the door, though not offering an arm to lean on, but rather just keeping an eye on the cattle drover, and the two are gone.
Aniko collects the gold piece, holding it up and watching the lamplight play off of it for a moment before responding to Harold’s summary of Eann’s character. He says, rather woodenly, “His wife of thirty years was killed in the floods. Many are having a hard time nowadays.” The tavern owner doesn’t seem to expect a response, but continues cleaning behind the bar.
“Not to be believed, eh?,” Marcus asks Harold from his seat at the table. “That’s bad news. It was his report that brought us here to begin with. A few days in the stockade might convince him to speak with truth next time to the Shield Dames of Yartar. Shay, you have new information? From the old man you spoke to?”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
RASTRIN
Rastrin trails behind Shay and takes a seat as she suggested. As conversation ensues between Harold, Marcus, and Harold, he once again can't do much besides sit there and awkwardly listen. It wasn't his place to take charge of the conversation, and yet, because of his decision to follow Shay, he was still involved in it. As he sits in on the conversation, he starts absentmindedly fiddling with the orangish shard of glass he wears on a chain around his neck while his mind begins to wander. The strange group wearing drab clothes and riding strange beasts probably wasn't the most important thing happening in the area, but he supposed that anything out of the ordinary might be worth looking into at least a little bit. As his mind wanders, he begins humming to himself without realizing it, one of his habits he participated in often.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
SHAY
Even though she had originally held doubts about Eann’s story, it seemed wrong to feel any positivity about being proven right in a case such as this. She watches as he leaves the bar and heads presumably back to his own home, likely thinking he’d helped in some form. Shay turns to Marcos at his question, partially aware of Rastrin’s fidgeting beside her, but focus honed in on the task at hand.
“The old man told us that there was no way Eann could’ve seen the delegation on the Stone Bridge from here, the distance was too wide to make out any discernible features. He also saw a party coming from Westwood that wore common clothing and rode on the backs of…unidentifiable creatures.” She offers a small shrug if he gives her a questioning glance. “None of our people were among this strange group from the sound of it, they had no commonalities whatsoever. So I fear we’re left even more in the dark than when we began.” Beside her, Rastrin begins humming a gentle tune, a distracted expression on his face.
‘I’ll have to ask his thoughts on this later, he seems unsure of what to do.’ Shay thinks to herself and faces to the River Master once again, curious as to his next move.
“Then…,” Marcus says, a tone of annoyance in his voice, “the last time they were seen was on the Larch Road, by Aniko. The trail grows colder with every passing hour…”
He looks to Miss Samitha, pausing for a moment, and then asking a question whose answer, you intuit, he already knows.
“Miss Samitha. What next?”
“Mister Varixx,” she replies crisply and without pause. “They were last seen on the Larch Road heading north. They were not seen crossing the Stone Bridge. We must confirm that we can find no sign of their passage ourselves. If we do not, then we cross to the west bank of the Dessarin and continue our search there, on the Larch Road. If we find no signs, turn south onto the Larch Road until we hit the spot where Aniko saw them. The first order of business is to discover their trail."
Marcus seems satisfied at this. “Fine. It’s been a long day, and searching the road with only the moonlight to guide us will not be in our favor. At dawn, we rise and cross to the Dessarin's western bank. For now, it is time to rest.” The last statement was directed at Rastrin, Harold, and Shay who all notice, however, that Marcus seems to possess as much energy at this moment as he did when the Sturgeon set forth.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"We've all lost loved ones" Harold replies to Aniko rather coldly without turning to look at her. When Marcos suggest the stockades, Harold interjects. "Although I think Eann is wrong, I don't think he is trying to deceive anyone... just too far gone in his drink to be trustworthy." The merchant than listens to his companions, taking in the new information as they prepare for their next steps.