Ori’s eyes sparkle brightly to see the running pack of wolves. Quickly, she waves her crossbow, milking a putrid looking mushroom on its side and making an alluring smell of skunk spoor to draw the wolves’ attention.
Ori's manufactured stench starts to drift around, but quickly dissipates in the whirlwind of activity. A couple of wolves seem to notice for a moment, but turn back to their original activity of snapping and growling at the townspeople. When she begins to howl at them all she gets is the word "flee" and with all that is going on, it is, at the moment, hard to tell whether that is their plan of action, or one of them telling her to flee. You catch some of the wolves chasing people around corners and between buildings though.
Jadziahad been expecting another fight, but when she realizes Ori is communicating with the wolves, she relaxes slightly and waits for her input. "What's happening, Ori? If they’re not attacking, then what are they trying to do?" She glances at Duncan, taking in his warning. Is the mining operation so extensive that it's even disrupting the forest?
The air genasi looks around, staying alert for any new threats. (Perception: 11)
"There are two possibilities here. They might be fleeing something as I suspected, but seeing how they are acting, with their growling and snapping at the townsfolk. That doesn't feel like normal fleeing behaviour. They would want to save themselves but they seem trying to make the townsfolk flee too. I suspect Kerrigan has something to do with these wolves. I don't mean that she sent them to be a scare tactic but that is a possibility. They could still be fleeing something larger if so, Kerrigan could be the reason they are also trying to help the town."
As if on cue, a moment later Kerrigan comes running from between a couple of buildings down the street and starts shooing the wolves off away from a few people. It becomes clear after another minute maybe that the wolves are scattering back toward the treeline outside of town. Once things settle down again Kerrigan spies you all and approaches.
She pulls out a rough, black, dired-out ear of corn from her component pouch. "All of it is like this. All of it tastes of corruption. A foul stench. This isn't natural. Show them this--who could doubt the mine is responsible? The beasts of this land will revolt until the usurpers here recognize the stain they've left on the landscape will only be removed with blood. There is nothing I can do to stop them. You must convince the sheep who dwell here to combat the wolves who their wool or else a more violent revolt will take place. I'm sorry for the heavy-handed metaphor, but what I speak is plain truth: the natural world was here long before this town. And it will reclaim what it has lost."
Duncan looks around to make sure no one is in earshot, and quietly speaks to Kerrigan"I want you to know that no matter your answer, I fully agree with you that the mine should close. But so that I know what exactly I am dealing with, did you encourage those wolves to chase people, and did you do anything with that corn or are those events entirely out of your control? Once again I would like to stress that this does not change my opinion of you or of the mine, it is purely so I know what I need to be aware of for my own safety, and that of my group here. I swear to you, if you are responsible in any way for any part of this, I will not tell anyone else"
Jadzia can't help but chuckle when Ori howls at her, and she keeps watching as the witch speaks—or rather, howls along with them—wondering what they're all saying. But when Kerrigan appears, her focus shifts immediately to the druid.
The bard takes the foul ear of corn in her hands, wrinkling her nose in disgust, then says, "Unfortunately, people tend to be blind to what they don't want to see. I have no doubt they'll refuse to link this to the mine. Or they'll claim you corrupted the corn yourself. We can try to make them see reason, of course, but I have a feeling we’re going to need bigger proof than this."
Jadzia tilts her head toward Duncan and adds, "He suggested we pretend to be allied with the miners so we can gain access to the mine and investigate. We might need to say we're looking for evidence against your words, Kerrigan."
The blue-skinned woman pauses and glances around. She's not sure having wolves scare the townsfolk will help the cause, but she doesn't say anything. Duncan had already been straightforward enough in asking the druid if the wolves were her doing.
(Does Kerrigan flinch, even a little, at the suggestion that she could be the one behind the corn? Insight check: 11)
Kerrigan seems unfazed by the questioning. "I heard the howls and ran back to help."She says as she looks at Duncan. "I always encourage nature to take its course, but I don't want the people here to suffer at the hands of nature anymore than you do. The mine is a curse as far as I'm concerned. I've given you evidence, do with it what you will. If that isn't enough evidence for them I don't know what would. Something is in the groundwater turning the crops bad. It can only come from the mine as far as I know. I'll be in the forest nearby if you need more again for some reason." Kerrigan then turns and starts walking off again.
As Kerrigan leaves, Tug leans into your group again, "Hmm, thank you for your assistance there. We need to get this resolved as quickly as possible though. I have a few thoughts on how to do that, but I'll let you help decide which course of action to take." He takes a breath before continuing. "We can hold a town meeting--tomorrow--just need to convince Mutterall to come and hear what we have to say. Spend tomorrow convincing people to come argue for closing the mine and speak for themselves when the time comes. Or, we can have a closed door meeting with the elders, more private, and alert them to what we know...and decide if we need to send Mutterall on his way. Or, lastly, we could...ask Mutterall to leave. Without a meeting. Well, you could. I'm not intimidating, but you all seem like you might be. You could confront him at the mine tomorrow. Run him out of here."
Jadziarummages through her backpack, looking for a piece of cloth — a handkerchief, perhaps — to wrap the corn before storing it, so it doesn't spoil the rest of her belongings. She glances up and replies to Kerrigan, "Well contact you with any developments we uncover."
When Tug lays out the possible courses of action, the bard considers the options carefully. "I think I prefer the second one. It seems wiser to convince a few key people first so they might help us sway the rest. When could we meet with the elders? If we can speak with them today, we might still be able to hold a town meeting tomorrow. I imagine that would go much better with their support behind us."
Duncan is not convinced by Kerrigan's answer. She didn't deny her involvement with the wolves. Especially because the wolves were not actively trying to hurt someone so people wouldn't have been "suffering at the hands of nature". But he lets it slide for now. "While I agree with Jadzia, I also think that no matter what the elders say, Mutterall will not listen to them anymore. He wants to mine, so mine he will, regardless of permission"
“Mutterall won’t listen to the Elders. He won’t listen to the people. He’s a miner! And as well I know, you can’t mine if you aren’t willing to dig your heels in! I think we need to go to the mine! After we make sure the Elders approve.”
”They made me promise to consult them before I helped the town, ever since before I left and met you folks.”
Tug nods at you all with a grim look. "A reasonable course of action, I agree. I will find the others and meet you in the town hall tonight. I suggest you spend the rest of the day gathering whatever further evidence you can: personal examples from our residents, more rotten crops, or, if you are feeling, um, exceptionally bold, signs of trouble in the mine, though you might have to get by Mutterall and his crew. Whatever you can do though will help I'm sure, and thank you. See you tonight." Tug leaves you all to find the other elders and for you to decide what you want to do.
So you decide to head to the mine, perhaps waiting on the other options for the time being. As you approach the mine, you quickly see Mutterall, no less than 43 miners led by a burly looking foreman, all standing outside the mine entrance. It seems they are intent on keeping people from getting into the mine.
"Let's see how this goes," the genasi murmurs to herself as they spot not only Mutterall, but a sizeable group of miners keeping guard at the entrance to the mine. Remembering Duncan's suggestion — to appear supportive of the mine and dismissive of Kerrigan — she draws a steadying breath and strides forward, wearing an expression of goodwill and easy camaraderie.
"Master Mutterall!" she calls out, smiling brightly. "I see you and your men are standing guard — and doing a fine job of it, considering the nonsense Kerrigan's been spreading around town. Honestly, to think the mine could be the cause of all these strange happenings? Absurd. Doesn't that druid see that this mine is what keeps the town alive? Jobs, trade, stability — it's the lifeblood of the community!"
She steps in closer, elbowing him lightly with a playful grin. "I suppose you're worried she might convince folks otherwise, huh? Here's a thought. Why not let us in? We're not minefolk, true, but we're certainly no friends of Kerrigan either. If we go in and take a look around, we can come back with real proof that there's nothing wrong. People might trust a neutral voice more than one with a stake in either side."
As she speaks, Jadzia folds her hands behind her back and straightens her posture, letting the humor fade just enough to show she's being serious. Then she glances toward her companions, wordlessly inviting them to step forward and lend their voices to the cause.
Ori’s eyes sparkle brightly to see the running pack of wolves. Quickly, she waves her crossbow, milking a putrid looking mushroom on its side and making an alluring smell of skunk spoor to draw the wolves’ attention.
She then points the empty crossbow at her mouth and presses the trigger and startles back. She howls. ”What are you handsome wolves doing, tell me, is it fun or is it fearsome?.”
((I really did worry that I’d waste the magic initiate Druid feat spell. I’m so glad it’s come in handy)).
Ori's manufactured stench starts to drift around, but quickly dissipates in the whirlwind of activity. A couple of wolves seem to notice for a moment, but turn back to their original activity of snapping and growling at the townspeople. When she begins to howl at them all she gets is the word "flee" and with all that is going on, it is, at the moment, hard to tell whether that is their plan of action, or one of them telling her to flee. You catch some of the wolves chasing people around corners and between buildings though.
Jadzia had been expecting another fight, but when she realizes Ori is communicating with the wolves, she relaxes slightly and waits for her input. "What's happening, Ori? If they’re not attacking, then what are they trying to do?" She glances at Duncan, taking in his warning. Is the mining operation so extensive that it's even disrupting the forest?
The air genasi looks around, staying alert for any new threats. (Perception: 11)
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
Cramaris has already drawn crossbows and was about to shoot wolves, but hears from Duncan that they flee from bigger threat.
"What do we do now: go to the edge of town wolves are fleeing from or wait here?"
Ori howls at Jadzia for a moment. “Sorry. Sorry,” she says. Coughing to clear her throat. “They say ‘Flee’, and they seem scared of something.”
She howls at the nearest wolf. ”What are you fleeing, fine-pelt? I, the indefatigable Witch of the Woods will turn it over and send it to its maker.”. Ori frowns. ”Witch of the Woods. No not Witch, Witch! I am a Witch of the Woods.”
”Hmm,” Ori says, “I’m not sure I know the word for Druid in Wolf.”
"There are two possibilities here. They might be fleeing something as I suspected, but seeing how they are acting, with their growling and snapping at the townsfolk. That doesn't feel like normal fleeing behaviour. They would want to save themselves but they seem trying to make the townsfolk flee too. I suspect Kerrigan has something to do with these wolves. I don't mean that she sent them to be a scare tactic but that is a possibility. They could still be fleeing something larger if so, Kerrigan could be the reason they are also trying to help the town."
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
As if on cue, a moment later Kerrigan comes running from between a couple of buildings down the street and starts shooing the wolves off away from a few people. It becomes clear after another minute maybe that the wolves are scattering back toward the treeline outside of town. Once things settle down again Kerrigan spies you all and approaches.
She pulls out a rough, black, dired-out ear of corn from her component pouch. "All of it is like this. All of it tastes of corruption. A foul stench. This isn't natural. Show them this--who could doubt the mine is responsible? The beasts of this land will revolt until the usurpers here recognize the stain they've left on the landscape will only be removed with blood. There is nothing I can do to stop them. You must convince the sheep who dwell here to combat the wolves who their wool or else a more violent revolt will take place. I'm sorry for the heavy-handed metaphor, but what I speak is plain truth: the natural world was here long before this town. And it will reclaim what it has lost."
Duncan looks around to make sure no one is in earshot, and quietly speaks to Kerrigan "I want you to know that no matter your answer, I fully agree with you that the mine should close. But so that I know what exactly I am dealing with, did you encourage those wolves to chase people, and did you do anything with that corn or are those events entirely out of your control? Once again I would like to stress that this does not change my opinion of you or of the mine, it is purely so I know what I need to be aware of for my own safety, and that of my group here. I swear to you, if you are responsible in any way for any part of this, I will not tell anyone else"
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Jadzia can't help but chuckle when Ori howls at her, and she keeps watching as the witch speaks—or rather, howls along with them—wondering what they're all saying. But when Kerrigan appears, her focus shifts immediately to the druid.
The bard takes the foul ear of corn in her hands, wrinkling her nose in disgust, then says, "Unfortunately, people tend to be blind to what they don't want to see. I have no doubt they'll refuse to link this to the mine. Or they'll claim you corrupted the corn yourself. We can try to make them see reason, of course, but I have a feeling we’re going to need bigger proof than this."
Jadzia tilts her head toward Duncan and adds, "He suggested we pretend to be allied with the miners so we can gain access to the mine and investigate. We might need to say we're looking for evidence against your words, Kerrigan."
The blue-skinned woman pauses and glances around. She's not sure having wolves scare the townsfolk will help the cause, but she doesn't say anything. Duncan had already been straightforward enough in asking the druid if the wolves were her doing.
(Does Kerrigan flinch, even a little, at the suggestion that she could be the one behind the corn? Insight check: 11)
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
Kerrigan seems unfazed by the questioning. "I heard the howls and ran back to help." She says as she looks at Duncan. "I always encourage nature to take its course, but I don't want the people here to suffer at the hands of nature anymore than you do. The mine is a curse as far as I'm concerned. I've given you evidence, do with it what you will. If that isn't enough evidence for them I don't know what would. Something is in the groundwater turning the crops bad. It can only come from the mine as far as I know. I'll be in the forest nearby if you need more again for some reason." Kerrigan then turns and starts walking off again.
As Kerrigan leaves, Tug leans into your group again, "Hmm, thank you for your assistance there. We need to get this resolved as quickly as possible though. I have a few thoughts on how to do that, but I'll let you help decide which course of action to take." He takes a breath before continuing. "We can hold a town meeting--tomorrow--just need to convince Mutterall to come and hear what we have to say. Spend tomorrow convincing people to come argue for closing the mine and speak for themselves when the time comes. Or, we can have a closed door meeting with the elders, more private, and alert them to what we know...and decide if we need to send Mutterall on his way. Or, lastly, we could...ask Mutterall to leave. Without a meeting. Well, you could. I'm not intimidating, but you all seem like you might be. You could confront him at the mine tomorrow. Run him out of here."
Jadzia rummages through her backpack, looking for a piece of cloth — a handkerchief, perhaps — to wrap the corn before storing it, so it doesn't spoil the rest of her belongings. She glances up and replies to Kerrigan, "Well contact you with any developments we uncover."
When Tug lays out the possible courses of action, the bard considers the options carefully. "I think I prefer the second one. It seems wiser to convince a few key people first so they might help us sway the rest. When could we meet with the elders? If we can speak with them today, we might still be able to hold a town meeting tomorrow. I imagine that would go much better with their support behind us."
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
Duncan is not convinced by Kerrigan's answer. She didn't deny her involvement with the wolves. Especially because the wolves were not actively trying to hurt someone so people wouldn't have been "suffering at the hands of nature". But he lets it slide for now. "While I agree with Jadzia, I also think that no matter what the elders say, Mutterall will not listen to them anymore. He wants to mine, so mine he will, regardless of permission"
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
“Mutterall won’t listen to the Elders. He won’t listen to the people. He’s a miner! And as well I know, you can’t mine if you aren’t willing to dig your heels in! I think we need to go to the mine! After we make sure the Elders approve.”
”They made me promise to consult them before I helped the town, ever since before I left and met you folks.”
"We have to try meetings first, at least, to not appear like racketeers"
"Maybe, if it looks like everything and everybody are against mining and willing to act miners will finally be scared"
Tug nods at you all with a grim look. "A reasonable course of action, I agree. I will find the others and meet you in the town hall tonight. I suggest you spend the rest of the day gathering whatever further evidence you can: personal examples from our residents, more rotten crops, or, if you are feeling, um, exceptionally bold, signs of trouble in the mine, though you might have to get by Mutterall and his crew. Whatever you can do though will help I'm sure, and thank you. See you tonight." Tug leaves you all to find the other elders and for you to decide what you want to do.
(You can do all 3, or just some if you wish)
Jadzia stretches her arms. "Gotta say," the genasi begins, "I'm feeling daring today. Feel like paying a visit to the mine."
She plants her hands on her hips and glances at Ori, Cramaris, and Duncan. "Do you feel like digging?"
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
“Get me in the dark and the loamy, wet dirt. It’s where all the good secrets are.”
"Sure, we already know some things from asking and have some rotten crops so mine has more potential"
So you decide to head to the mine, perhaps waiting on the other options for the time being. As you approach the mine, you quickly see Mutterall, no less than 43 miners led by a burly looking foreman, all standing outside the mine entrance. It seems they are intent on keeping people from getting into the mine.
"Let's see how this goes," the genasi murmurs to herself as they spot not only Mutterall, but a sizeable group of miners keeping guard at the entrance to the mine. Remembering Duncan's suggestion — to appear supportive of the mine and dismissive of Kerrigan — she draws a steadying breath and strides forward, wearing an expression of goodwill and easy camaraderie.
"Master Mutterall!" she calls out, smiling brightly. "I see you and your men are standing guard — and doing a fine job of it, considering the nonsense Kerrigan's been spreading around town. Honestly, to think the mine could be the cause of all these strange happenings? Absurd. Doesn't that druid see that this mine is what keeps the town alive? Jobs, trade, stability — it's the lifeblood of the community!"
She steps in closer, elbowing him lightly with a playful grin. "I suppose you're worried she might convince folks otherwise, huh? Here's a thought. Why not let us in? We're not minefolk, true, but we're certainly no friends of Kerrigan either. If we go in and take a look around, we can come back with real proof that there's nothing wrong. People might trust a neutral voice more than one with a stake in either side."
As she speaks, Jadzia folds her hands behind her back and straightens her posture, letting the humor fade just enough to show she's being serious. Then she glances toward her companions, wordlessly inviting them to step forward and lend their voices to the cause.
Deception ... nat 1 ... /facepalm
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia