Gregor learns that Lady Phaulkon resides at Phaulkonmere, a walled villa in the Southern Ward. Though Lady Phaulkon herself is said to be reclusive and to rarely receive visitors, one of the local farmers, a tenant of Lady Phaulkon's, suggests that party ask for Melannor Fellbranch, her groundskeeper and major domo.
It is late afternoon by the time the party arrive at the gates of Phaulkonmere, a walled compound located one block south of Kolat Towers, in the Southern Ward. Asking at the gate for Melannor Fellbranch, they are kept waiting some quarter of an hour in a shady portico before they are joined by a middle-aged half-elf man, plainly dressed but bearing some air of authority. He greets the party, welcomes them to Phaulkonmere, and asks how he may be of assistance.
It is late afternoon by the time the party arrive at the gates of Phaulkonmere, a walled compound located one block south of Kolat Towers, in the Southern Ward. Asking at the gate for Melannor Fellbranch, they are kept waiting some quarter of an hour in a shady portico before they are joined by a middle-aged half-elf man, plainly dressed but bearing some air of authority. He greets the party, welcomes them to Phaulkonmere, and asks how he may be of assistance.
"Hello good sir, my name is Irma Gerd. I am a paladin here with my companions. Together we are, "The Merry Bunch of Waterdeep. " We're here to help with the "scarecrow" issue.
Fellbranch takes the lot of you in, his expression serenely neutral.
“Your attention to this matter is certainly appreciated,” he says. “A number of my lady’s farmland tenants have reported, over the past couple of tendays, sightings of what they describe as a ‘living scarecrow’ in their fields. Livestock have been indiscriminately slaughtered, and at least one tenant claims he was personally attacked - and he bears the marks to prove it. Our people fear for their livelihoods, if not their lives. The Watch have taken a shamefully laggardly approach to investigation - matters outside the walls interest them little, especially as nobody has actually died yet. My lady and I were hoping that, hm, freelance assistance would move more quickly than more...official channels.”
With a blank - though not unfriendly - expression, Falshen puts in, "I think I may speak for our group when I say we would be delighted to assist in this matter. Have you a map and adequate reports to describe in detail where each attack took place? Or, if not such knowledge, the name and location of the man who was attacked? Any suggestion of where we should begin searching for this creature would greatly aid our endeavor as well as our speed."
Melannor describes the layout of the farmland being worked by his Lady’s tenants, an area of about 250 acres being cultivated by eight households, spread across eight strips of land encircling a woody commons. Seven of the eight households have reported sightings of the deranged mannikin, and six have lost livestock. The families’ names are Skot, Prescod, Repina, Bass, Sottak, Motley, Tully, and Falls. Young Jan Motley, the twenty-something middle son of the Motleys, was the only one to personally encounter the thing up close, and was badly wounded on one arm. All the other sightings have been from a distance, and descriptions are vague. All the sightings have taken place around dusk or shortly after, in the early hours of the night. Only the Sottaks have not seen the “scarecrow.”
"It seems that we'll be forced to pick our battles," Gregor says quietly to his companions, "I'm still in favor of going after our serial killer first, since we know that there have been casualties, but this could turn nasty quickly."
"It seems that we'll be forced to pick our battles," Gregor says quietly to his companions, "I'm still in favor of going after our serial killer first, since we know that there have been casualties, but this could turn nasty quickly."
Irma nods, "I do agree about the serial killer casualties and at the same time I don't want to leave this matter unattended to. How we do we feel about splitting up? I'd like to join the serial killer quest because it will allow me to finish the mission the paladin order has given me as well."
Chewing his lip, Falshen nods. "I think it's fair to say that both cases present - if unequally - the potential for life-threatening danger. Splitting up may be the most responsible means by which to handle these issues. As a scarecrow seems to present the lesser danger, let's devote the larger team to the serial killer: three will stalk the killer while two hunt for the scarecrow." Turning to take in Akai and Ian, he asks, "Have either of you a preference?"
Ian says "I would prefer to stay in the city because I have some things to do during the day. So the serial killer mission suits me. Otherwise, I do not have an opinion."
Akai grumbles to himself at the current prospects. "Hrm, working in sunlight never favorable for kobolds... but defeating enemies brings Akai more fame... and man of straw would burn easy..." His ambition gets the better of him as he replies to Falshen, "Very well! Akai will lend his flame against scarecrow! Then go to stop killer of men! Burn two bats with one flame!"
Irma nods in agreement, "Let's be on our way. " Turning to face the Fellbranch, "Sir we will return once we have dealt with this matter. Akai is a capable warrior and can handle himself until we return."
Barring any further conversation with Melannor, Ian will proceed with the others to begin prowling the Dock Ward area that evening to seek out the Serial Killer.
Investigation, with Advantage due to Ian's assistance.
23
Gregor learns that Lady Phaulkon resides at Phaulkonmere, a walled villa in the Southern Ward. Though Lady Phaulkon herself is said to be reclusive and to rarely receive visitors, one of the local farmers, a tenant of Lady Phaulkon's, suggests that party ask for Melannor Fellbranch, her groundskeeper and major domo.
Gregor advises that the group secures a meeting with the major domo.
Ian agrees to this course of action.
Irma agrees with the group.
Akai approves.
Day 5 - Fifth of Eleint - Tharsun
It is late afternoon by the time the party arrive at the gates of Phaulkonmere, a walled compound located one block south of Kolat Towers, in the Southern Ward. Asking at the gate for Melannor Fellbranch, they are kept waiting some quarter of an hour in a shady portico before they are joined by a middle-aged half-elf man, plainly dressed but bearing some air of authority. He greets the party, welcomes them to Phaulkonmere, and asks how he may be of assistance.
"Hello good sir, my name is Irma Gerd. I am a paladin here with my companions. Together we are, "The Merry Bunch of Waterdeep. " We're here to help with the "scarecrow" issue.
Could you tell us some more about this?"
Fellbranch takes the lot of you in, his expression serenely neutral.
“Your attention to this matter is certainly appreciated,” he says. “A number of my lady’s farmland tenants have reported, over the past couple of tendays, sightings of what they describe as a ‘living scarecrow’ in their fields. Livestock have been indiscriminately slaughtered, and at least one tenant claims he was personally attacked - and he bears the marks to prove it. Our people fear for their livelihoods, if not their lives. The Watch have taken a shamefully laggardly approach to investigation - matters outside the walls interest them little, especially as nobody has actually died yet. My lady and I were hoping that, hm, freelance assistance would move more quickly than more...official channels.”
With a blank - though not unfriendly - expression, Falshen puts in, "I think I may speak for our group when I say we would be delighted to assist in this matter. Have you a map and adequate reports to describe in detail where each attack took place? Or, if not such knowledge, the name and location of the man who was attacked? Any suggestion of where we should begin searching for this creature would greatly aid our endeavor as well as our speed."
Melannor describes the layout of the farmland being worked by his Lady’s tenants, an area of about 250 acres being cultivated by eight households, spread across eight strips of land encircling a woody commons. Seven of the eight households have reported sightings of the deranged mannikin, and six have lost livestock. The families’ names are Skot, Prescod, Repina, Bass, Sottak, Motley, Tully, and Falls. Young Jan Motley, the twenty-something middle son of the Motleys, was the only one to personally encounter the thing up close, and was badly wounded on one arm. All the other sightings have been from a distance, and descriptions are vague. All the sightings have taken place around dusk or shortly after, in the early hours of the night. Only the Sottaks have not seen the “scarecrow.”
"It seems that we'll be forced to pick our battles," Gregor says quietly to his companions, "I'm still in favor of going after our serial killer first, since we know that there have been casualties, but this could turn nasty quickly."
Irma nods, "I do agree about the serial killer casualties and at the same time I don't want to leave this matter unattended to. How we do we feel about splitting up? I'd like to join the serial killer quest because it will allow me to finish the mission the paladin order has given me as well."
Chewing his lip, Falshen nods. "I think it's fair to say that both cases present - if unequally - the potential for life-threatening danger. Splitting up may be the most responsible means by which to handle these issues. As a scarecrow seems to present the lesser danger, let's devote the larger team to the serial killer: three will stalk the killer while two hunt for the scarecrow." Turning to take in Akai and Ian, he asks, "Have either of you a preference?"
Ian says "I would prefer to stay in the city because I have some things to do during the day. So the serial killer mission suits me. Otherwise, I do not have an opinion."
Akai grumbles to himself at the current prospects. "Hrm, working in sunlight never favorable for kobolds... but defeating enemies brings Akai more fame... and man of straw would burn easy..." His ambition gets the better of him as he replies to Falshen, "Very well! Akai will lend his flame against scarecrow! Then go to stop killer of men! Burn two bats with one flame!"
Irma nods in agreement, "Let's be on our way. " Turning to face the Fellbranch, "Sir we will return once we have dealt with this matter. Akai is a capable warrior and can handle himself until we return."
Barring any further conversation with Melannor, Ian will proceed with the others to begin prowling the Dock Ward area that evening to seek out the Serial Killer.
OOC: I think we've all decided and, speaking for Akai and Falshen, we are ready to head out.