Xondros remains unconscious as you search the building and pore over the papers. A banging is heard on the front door, which then opens.
A thin, wiry-looking guy in leather stands in the doorway. Kei recognizes him as Kreb Shinker, the slippery manager of the Empty Net across the street. Behind him stands a handful of scruffy-looking folks, a few warily holding weapons but others holding only mugs full of liquor. Peri and Gerrard have never stepped foot in the Empty Net, but they recall Qivys' tale of winning a barfight there once. Kei has spent the night there a couple of times, in the filthy dormitory he keeps under the bar. Kei knows Shinker to be a shady but sometimes useful contact and informant with his fingers in a lot of pies.
"What's going on here? Why are you trussin' up Xondros? You tryin' to rob the place?" he demands, angrily.
Peri has never met this man, but he's been to dozens of wharfside dives and the worst are always run by someone like this. He knows the best way to deal with them is to avoid them altogether; you have to look like you're no easy mark, but also like you're not going to start any trouble. Once they've singled you out, however, the only response is an equal and opposite amount of aggression. "Oh good, the neighborhood watch woke up! Yeah, we decided to walk in the front door, in broad daylight, and rob a place just down the road from the Guard!" he sneers. He crosses to the front door and stabs a finger into the man's belly. "I told those two gob-shite drunkards to fetch Farbern, not to stumble into the nearest watering hole to spread stories to every last lowlife in town! Now somebody GO GET FARBERN! Tell 'im Xondros conjured up some nasty demon, and once again the Hoolwatch Ventures Company had to clean it up before they burned down the town!"
((Peri will take the dodge action just in case this joker tries to swing at him to save face in front of his hangers-on.))
Overhearing Peri's tale from another room Kei comes rushing out. "I found the summoning circle. My guess is that's where she.....oh, Kreb, Shinker. Glad you're both here." He pushes forward and grabs Kreb's shoulder. "Come look at this" he escorts him to the room with the foul smell and circle on the floor. "I think Xondros had a deal go wrong. Summoned some foul creature, that we despatched in that main room." More quietly he whispers "Trust me that's what went down" he slips 2 platinum into Kreb's hand in a faux shake.
Walking forward to Peri with his hands away from his weapons but holding quite a few papers (some of which are slightly singed), Gerrard says, "Yes, indeed, Master Fenwader has the right of it. As you saw, the fiery...." when he is interrupted by Kei's swift entrance. As Master Kei sweeps one of the men away to show him the summoning circle, Gerrard shrugs and holds his place, saying, "Really, should I go get the captain, or does one of you fine, upstanding citizens want to?"
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Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Shinker visibly cools off after palming the coins. "No, no, no need t' get Farbern involved here. Prob'ly just a misunderstanding, right? Xondros here might be a little prickly, an' have some, uh, well, downright scary guests, but y'know she's th' biggest buyer of fish in this town, right? She puts food on th' tables of every single fisher in this town! We can't be trussin' her up and havin' Farbern execute her or something. Think of the children! Without Xondros buyin' in th' quantities she does, we'd soon be living in th' bogs like animals! Why don't you leave her to us – we'll straighten this right out, like a mediation, right? Make sure she squares with you, whatever she did wrong. But if we get Farbern involved, he's likely to have the whole lot of us executed in the name of the King, right?" He laughs and nods at his own argument.
Too far away to hear Kei’s whispered conversation in the other room, Gerrard mulls the options…
”If she is imprisoned or executed for attacking us, a vital source of revenue for the town is eliminated, and now the minions of Iuz have two deaths to avenge. On the other hand, if she escapes with little to no consequences, Iuz’s forces will see us as weak and a well-connected foe will have the time and resources to plot her revenge,” thinks Gerrard, no longer completely sure that calling for Farbern is the absolute best plan…Getting the authorities involved in Seaton hadn’t worked all that well, after all, and now his noble family has closed off the inns of his hometown from him…
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Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
The deal seemingly done, Kei saunters back in a step behind Kreb (or Shinker if you prefer DM's version). He winks at Peri but avoids Gerrard's gaze to allow for some plausible deniability for the noble. Best not get him involved in the shady side of this stinking place.
"Yeah, mediation. As far as square" he now looks to Gerrard "I think we're about right Lord Feldren, wouldn't you agree?" He hopes Gerrard let's the issue drop and doesn't push for taking things directly to the authorities.
Standing in the doorway to block any more lookie-loos, Peri cocks an eyebrow at the two men looking thoroughly pleased with themselves. Kei actually thinks we'll go for this! "I'm more than fine not bringin' the authorities into this. But there's no way she's walkin' outta here a free woman. I have some questions for her, then she's got a date with a noose, whether it's Farbern's or ours. What you need to understand is that your best customer, be it for fish or somethin' else you were dealin', is already dead. That's a loss, but you're the first to know, which is also an opportunity. So if you wanna keep this all hushed up while you make the most of your exclusive knowledge, you can be sure no one will hear of it from us."
Listening to Kei and Peri, Gerrard is somehow not surprised that they do not see eye to eye on this. His thoughts go back to the crew of the Soul of Winter, and he considers how they might wish to see justice done.
”The guard will be alerted whether we wish it or not if the tavern patrons crowd around her shop like a mob,” says Gerrard, looking at Kreb. “Get things back to normal and then come talk with us. Oh, and send a message to Brother Fiercehammer to come join us if he will. This concerns him as well—he should be at the Whicker Goat.”
Considering sending a message to Boko as well, he considers she is likely unavailable, so he says nothing further until they are settled in for a discussion—though he hopes of Dwal arrives he can make sense of the foreign language on the documents.
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Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Kreb holds up his hands and turns. "Fine, fine. Kill her if you want. Ain't my business. She was right mean, anyway. I'm just sayin' that ye' might want to go into th' fish exportin' business, 'cause there's going to be some angry fishers with too much stock an' not enough buyers. Y'know what I mean?"
He makes a signal to his motley group of onlookers to turn around. "Leave us outta this. And - just a suggestion, now - leave Farbern outta this, too. We'll keep our mouths shut." He winks at Kei.
Peri watches Shinker go warily. When they're alone again he closes the door. "That was pretty smooth. You two musta done business together before. And Lord Feldren, am I sensin' some moral flexibility? No, don't get me wrong; I didn't mean any insult. I admire your strong sense of right and wrong. It's just the world makes it hard to distinguish 'em sometimes."
Flipping a platinum piece to Kreb, Gerrard adds as the man leaves, “Dwal Fiercehammer at the Wicker Goat—tell him that Gerrard would like him to come here.”
Once the man leaves and the door is shut, Gerrard says to Peri and Kei, “I may not be the wisest of us all, but I am of two minds about this. If Xondros is just being a vengeful sister involved after the fact, I am inclined to punish her but not have her executed—perhaps extract some assurances of nonaggression from her and all her fellow Iuz allies in addition to other compensation.”
His expression hardens as he adds, “If she participated or enabled her brother’s attack on us and the crew of the Soul of Winter, I say we turn her in to the guard and have her executed for her crimes, but I would be open to hearing Brother Fiercehammer’s opinion and that of the surviving bosun from the Soul of Winter.”
”I’d feel better if we had some independent proof either way,” he adds with frustration, looking at the indecipherable papers.
Peri watches Shinker go warily. When they're alone again he closes the door. "That was pretty smooth. You two musta done business together before. And Lord Feldren, am I sensin' some moral flexibility? No, don't get me wrong; I didn't mean any insult. I admire your strong sense of right and wrong. It's just the world makes it hard to distinguish 'em sometimes."
Gerrard:
”Consider it more legal flexibility than moral. I learned in Seaton that invoking the law and the whims of the nobility that undergird it is not always the best path. If she was involved in sinking the Soul of Winter, though, I see no way other than having her face justice at the hands of the law,” replies Gerrard.
OOC: If the message is already on the way to Dwal, Gerrard will stay and help search. If not, he will volunteer to go see to it personally.
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Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The trio continues to sift through the papers and items in Xondros' home and offices. Xondros herself remains unconscious. Kosrus remains dead.
New Investigation/Perception checks (Peri and Kei have already done one round, Peri mostly for magic): Peri Perception:17 Kei Perception: 12 Gerrard Investigation: 18
Xondros had a large collection of creepy jewelry, although little of any value. Peri finds no other magic, although it seems possible that something had been recently performed in that chalk circle in the back room. Amongst the papers on her cluttered desk in the main meeting room, Kei spots a name written in common on the inside cover of a small leather journal otherwise filled with the unknown script: "Periwinkle Fenwader".
A small knock is heard at the front door. Opening it reveals a small, dirty boy. He gives a small bow. He says, “Dwal Fiercehammer is not at th' Wicker Goat. Boss says nobody of that name has checked in." He waits around for a tip.
Flipping the boy a gold coin, Gerrard sighs and nods, then heads back into the building.
Standing watch over Xondros as she remains unconscious, Gerrard says, ”Unless someone has another way to contact Brother Fiercehammer or Mistress Boko, it looks like we are on our own here. I can watch for her to awaken if you guys want to keep searching.”
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Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
As if on cue, Xondros awakens with a start, shouting and straining against her bonds. She looks confused and angry, looking around wildly before settling a gaze of daggers upon Gerrard. "What have you done?" she growls.
"Hey there! You came around awful quick! I'd apologize for knockin' you out like that, but it'd be lyin'. What was that thing wearin' the tiefling skin? It nearly burned down the whole shop when we killed it!"He leans against the wall with an air of nonchalance, but has his spear handy just in case she starts to cast a spell. He'll let the others handle the questioning.
”I assume you are asking about after you went unconscious, Xondros, as I expect you remember accusing us of killing your brother and attacking with, may I say, the worst case of halitosis I have ever had the misfortune of experiencing,” replies Gerrard.
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Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
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Xondros remains unconscious as you search the building and pore over the papers. A banging is heard on the front door, which then opens.
A thin, wiry-looking guy in leather stands in the doorway. Kei recognizes him as Kreb Shinker, the slippery manager of the Empty Net across the street. Behind him stands a handful of scruffy-looking folks, a few warily holding weapons but others holding only mugs full of liquor. Peri and Gerrard have never stepped foot in the Empty Net, but they recall Qivys' tale of winning a barfight there once. Kei has spent the night there a couple of times, in the filthy dormitory he keeps under the bar. Kei knows Shinker to be a shady but sometimes useful contact and informant with his fingers in a lot of pies.
"What's going on here? Why are you trussin' up Xondros? You tryin' to rob the place?" he demands, angrily.
Peri:
Peri has never met this man, but he's been to dozens of wharfside dives and the worst are always run by someone like this. He knows the best way to deal with them is to avoid them altogether; you have to look like you're no easy mark, but also like you're not going to start any trouble. Once they've singled you out, however, the only response is an equal and opposite amount of aggression. "Oh good, the neighborhood watch woke up! Yeah, we decided to walk in the front door, in broad daylight, and rob a place just down the road from the Guard!" he sneers. He crosses to the front door and stabs a finger into the man's belly. "I told those two gob-shite drunkards to fetch Farbern, not to stumble into the nearest watering hole to spread stories to every last lowlife in town! Now somebody GO GET FARBERN! Tell 'im Xondros conjured up some nasty demon, and once again the Hoolwatch Ventures Company had to clean it up before they burned down the town!"
((Peri will take the dodge action just in case this joker tries to swing at him to save face in front of his hangers-on.))
Kei
Overhearing Peri's tale from another room Kei comes rushing out. "I found the summoning circle. My guess is that's where she.....oh, Kreb, Shinker. Glad you're both here." He pushes forward and grabs Kreb's shoulder. "Come look at this" he escorts him to the room with the foul smell and circle on the floor. "I think Xondros had a deal go wrong. Summoned some foul creature, that we despatched in that main room." More quietly he whispers "Trust me that's what went down" he slips 2 platinum into Kreb's hand in a faux shake.
Gerrard:
Walking forward to Peri with his hands away from his weapons but holding quite a few papers (some of which are slightly singed), Gerrard says, "Yes, indeed, Master Fenwader has the right of it. As you saw, the fiery...." when he is interrupted by Kei's swift entrance. As Master Kei sweeps one of the men away to show him the summoning circle, Gerrard shrugs and holds his place, saying, "Really, should I go get the captain, or does one of you fine, upstanding citizens want to?"
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Shinker visibly cools off after palming the coins. "No, no, no need t' get Farbern involved here. Prob'ly just a misunderstanding, right? Xondros here might be a little prickly, an' have some, uh, well, downright scary guests, but y'know she's th' biggest buyer of fish in this town, right? She puts food on th' tables of every single fisher in this town! We can't be trussin' her up and havin' Farbern execute her or something. Think of the children! Without Xondros buyin' in th' quantities she does, we'd soon be living in th' bogs like animals! Why don't you leave her to us – we'll straighten this right out, like a mediation, right? Make sure she squares with you, whatever she did wrong. But if we get Farbern involved, he's likely to have the whole lot of us executed in the name of the King, right?" He laughs and nods at his own argument.
Gerrard:
Too far away to hear Kei’s whispered conversation in the other room, Gerrard mulls the options…
”If she is imprisoned or executed for attacking us, a vital source of revenue for the town is eliminated, and now the minions of Iuz have two deaths to avenge. On the other hand, if she escapes with little to no consequences, Iuz’s forces will see us as weak and a well-connected foe will have the time and resources to plot her revenge,” thinks Gerrard, no longer completely sure that calling for Farbern is the absolute best plan…Getting the authorities involved in Seaton hadn’t worked all that well, after all, and now his noble family has closed off the inns of his hometown from him…
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Kei
The deal seemingly done, Kei saunters back in a step behind Kreb (or Shinker if you prefer DM's version). He winks at Peri but avoids Gerrard's gaze to allow for some plausible deniability for the noble. Best not get him involved in the shady side of this stinking place.
"Yeah, mediation. As far as square" he now looks to Gerrard "I think we're about right Lord Feldren, wouldn't you agree?" He hopes Gerrard let's the issue drop and doesn't push for taking things directly to the authorities.
Peri:
Standing in the doorway to block any more lookie-loos, Peri cocks an eyebrow at the two men looking thoroughly pleased with themselves. Kei actually thinks we'll go for this! "I'm more than fine not bringin' the authorities into this. But there's no way she's walkin' outta here a free woman. I have some questions for her, then she's got a date with a noose, whether it's Farbern's or ours. What you need to understand is that your best customer, be it for fish or somethin' else you were dealin', is already dead. That's a loss, but you're the first to know, which is also an opportunity. So if you wanna keep this all hushed up while you make the most of your exclusive knowledge, you can be sure no one will hear of it from us."
Gerrard:
Listening to Kei and Peri, Gerrard is somehow not surprised that they do not see eye to eye on this. His thoughts go back to the crew of the Soul of Winter, and he considers how they might wish to see justice done.
”The guard will be alerted whether we wish it or not if the tavern patrons crowd around her shop like a mob,” says Gerrard, looking at Kreb. “Get things back to normal and then come talk with us. Oh, and send a message to Brother Fiercehammer to come join us if he will. This concerns him as well—he should be at the Whicker Goat.”
Considering sending a message to Boko as well, he considers she is likely unavailable, so he says nothing further until they are settled in for a discussion—though he hopes of Dwal arrives he can make sense of the foreign language on the documents.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Kreb holds up his hands and turns. "Fine, fine. Kill her if you want. Ain't my business. She was right mean, anyway. I'm just sayin' that ye' might want to go into th' fish exportin' business, 'cause there's going to be some angry fishers with too much stock an' not enough buyers. Y'know what I mean?"
He makes a signal to his motley group of onlookers to turn around. "Leave us outta this. And - just a suggestion, now - leave Farbern outta this, too. We'll keep our mouths shut." He winks at Kei.
Peri:
Peri watches Shinker go warily. When they're alone again he closes the door. "That was pretty smooth. You two musta done business together before. And Lord Feldren, am I sensin' some moral flexibility? No, don't get me wrong; I didn't mean any insult. I admire your strong sense of right and wrong. It's just the world makes it hard to distinguish 'em sometimes."
Gerrard:
Flipping a platinum piece to Kreb, Gerrard adds as the man leaves, “Dwal Fiercehammer at the Wicker Goat—tell him that Gerrard would like him to come here.”
Once the man leaves and the door is shut, Gerrard says to Peri and Kei, “I may not be the wisest of us all, but I am of two minds about this. If Xondros is just being a vengeful sister involved after the fact, I am inclined to punish her but not have her executed—perhaps extract some assurances of nonaggression from her and all her fellow Iuz allies in addition to other compensation.”
His expression hardens as he adds, “If she participated or enabled her brother’s attack on us and the crew of the Soul of Winter, I say we turn her in to the guard and have her executed for her crimes, but I would be open to hearing Brother Fiercehammer’s opinion and that of the surviving bosun from the Soul of Winter.”
”I’d feel better if we had some independent proof either way,” he adds with frustration, looking at the indecipherable papers.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Gerrard:
”Consider it more legal flexibility than moral. I learned in Seaton that invoking the law and the whims of the nobility that undergird it is not always the best path. If she was involved in sinking the Soul of Winter, though, I see no way other than having her face justice at the hands of the law,” replies Gerrard.
OOC: If the message is already on the way to Dwal, Gerrard will stay and help search. If not, he will volunteer to go see to it personally.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
The trio continues to sift through the papers and items in Xondros' home and offices. Xondros herself remains unconscious. Kosrus remains dead.
New Investigation/Perception checks (Peri and Kei have already done one round, Peri mostly for magic):
Peri Perception: 17
Kei Perception: 12
Gerrard Investigation: 18
Xondros had a large collection of creepy jewelry, although little of any value.
Peri finds no other magic, although it seems possible that something had been recently performed in that chalk circle in the back room.
Amongst the papers on her cluttered desk in the main meeting room, Kei spots a name written in common on the inside cover of a small leather journal otherwise filled with the unknown script: "Periwinkle Fenwader".
A small knock is heard at the front door. Opening it reveals a small, dirty boy. He gives a small bow. He says, “Dwal Fiercehammer is not at th' Wicker Goat. Boss says nobody of that name has checked in." He waits around for a tip.
Gerrard:
”You spoke not Lankus himself and said Gerrard was looking for Dwal Fiercehammer, right?” responds Gerrard.
If the answer is yes, Gerrard tips him a gold piece. If it is not, he tips a silver piece and tells him a gold is his if he does exactly that.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
"Yeah," says the boy, flatly. "I saw Lankus. I told him somebody's lookin' for Dwal Fiercehammer downtown. He told me he ain't seen him."
Gerrard:
Flipping the boy a gold coin, Gerrard sighs and nods, then heads back into the building.
Standing watch over Xondros as she remains unconscious, Gerrard says, ”Unless someone has another way to contact Brother Fiercehammer or Mistress Boko, it looks like we are on our own here. I can watch for her to awaken if you guys want to keep searching.”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
As if on cue, Xondros awakens with a start, shouting and straining against her bonds. She looks confused and angry, looking around wildly before settling a gaze of daggers upon Gerrard. "What have you done?" she growls.
Peri:
"Hey there! You came around awful quick! I'd apologize for knockin' you out like that, but it'd be lyin'. What was that thing wearin' the tiefling skin? It nearly burned down the whole shop when we killed it!" He leans against the wall with an air of nonchalance, but has his spear handy just in case she starts to cast a spell. He'll let the others handle the questioning.
Gerrard:
”I assume you are asking about after you went unconscious, Xondros, as I expect you remember accusing us of killing your brother and attacking with, may I say, the worst case of halitosis I have ever had the misfortune of experiencing,” replies Gerrard.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"