The group begins to walk towards the Alderleaf’s, on the other side of town. You move through the small town’s roads as the town starts to come alive as more shops start to open up for the day. Soon, you come up to the farm, a small home with with a wide expanse of crops behind it. Off to the side you see a small barn with a wooden shack beside it. As you begin to approach the home, a small Halfling child runs up to you. He looks at the armor and weapons being carried by your group, and says “Hi! Hi! Are you guys adventurers? I want to become an adventurer, but my mommy says I’m not old enough. Can you make me an adventurer?”
Serwa visibly cringes, and recoils at the sight of the child, stepping back and shoving Aster, Tomora and Xianon forward a bit. "I don't like kids," Serwa says flatly, in a quiet tone. "Make it go away."
Your mother is right, Benny. The world is big and dangerous any you are just a small boy. There are heros everywhere, especially on the farm fields. Go and help your father and be his hero.
“My name is Carp, not Benny!” He says to Aster, and then his saddens a bit at the comment about his father. “Mommy said that Daddy is off on an adventure, and that’s why he’s been gone. That’s why I want to be an adventurer, to be just like him, and then I could fight the big mean bandits that came!” He says, brightening again when he speaks of his adventuring dreams.
Xianon crouches down to the boy's level. It doesn't take much crouching. "There are a lot of people who want to do great things, youngling," the monk says, "but few who want to do the great work required. Are you willing to work hard, not for yourself, but for others?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Hearing the child mention bandits, Tomora looks up at the hill with the old manor on top. She takes a moment to examine the hill, the manor, and the surrounding area, looking for anything that might be useful to infiltrating the base. Perception:19
Serwa mouths to the others, “This - kid’s - dad - is - probably - Dead.” She crosses her arms, and stares off at the farm, a distant animal, anything but the child that makes her uncomfortable, all the more so because she is making an effort not to say what comes to mind regarding her opinion on his father’s fate.
"You know, Carp," the elf adds conspiratorially, "Some adventurers work by finding things out. They know important things, and tell others who can do something about it. Do you think you could be an adventurer like that?"
"Yeah, I'm willing to work hard to help others, and I'm super brave!" He leans in to whisper in your ear, Xianon "Don't tell my mom, because she doesn't like me going near that big building, but I was adventuring around that house, and I saw some of those bandits coming out of a tunnel! I'm super good, though, and I hid in a bush until they left so they never knew I was there." He leans back out and puts his finger to his mouth in the 'shh' symbol, smiling.
The elf's eyes glimmer. He thinks back on the fight by the Sleeping Giant. Six Redbrands...no bows that he can recall. The boy should be safe. "Can you show us?" he asks the boy. "I'll be we could sneak right up!"
The elf's eyes glimmer. He thinks back on the fight by the Sleeping Giant. Six Redbrands...no bows that he can recall. The boy should be safe. "Can you show us?" he asks the boy. "I'll be we could sneak right up!"
Serwa seems eager to be away from the child, so she speaks for the first time since his approach. "Sneaking? I love sneaking. Nothing like sneaking in heavy armor to get the heart racing. Let's go get the drop on them. We should be hurry before they strengthen their guard. Time is of the essence."
It's obvious to her allies she just wants an excuse to put some distance between her and the child.
ooc: i obviously didnt know the kids name. That was not intended to be a guess. I think with asters history with the town and family he would have known.
“Don’t even joke about that,” Serwa says deadpan. “I’ve seen high ranking Paladins terrified of a cockroach. Everyone has their thing. Kids creep me out. I’m never sure if I should treat them like a pet, or a person, and they have all this youthful energy and curiosity and stuff - it’s awful. I prefer the company of old timers. They have better stories, they usually know how to play chess, and they don’t think they’re immortal, and that death is some ephemeral concept - they know its real. Give me a jaded veteran any day, over their plucky grandkids. Lily... a friend of mine, used to give me s*** for how bad I was with kids. If the bandits want to use tiny people shields, then we’ve got a problem. I think we will probably be OK.”
“I can’t go with you right now because my mom wants me to help her in the fields soon, but I can tell you where it is!” He points a little ways to the right of the large manor, in the woods surrounding it. “Around there a tree fell, and the tunnel has a door covered in moss nearby. That’s where I saw the big ugly guys come out of.“ You hear someone calling for Carp from behind the house, and a look of panic on Carp’s face. “I gotta go, but good luck! Feel free to come back whenever!” he says, waving goodbye as he runs back towards the fields.
(Not sure if Tresendar manor has yet been described, but if not) Looking to where Carp pointed, you get a good look at the manor as well. It’s surprisingly large for the small town, more a castle than a house, and looks long abandoned. It is very dilapidated, with vines crawling up the walls and holes left in the wood as it has crumbled away. It is on the east edge of town, on a low hillside amid woods and thickets.
Serwa waits until the child leaves, then says, "Do you want to go talk to some adults at the manor first? Or just head straight to that tunnel? I think we should speak to the grown ups first, personally."
„Try to solve the problem without violence first, you mean? I‘d be a fan of that. If they dont want to listen they can always just die. And now i‘d be happy to help them do that.
ooc: does aster know any of the redbrands from earlier when he lived in phandalin? Either personally or just by looks?
OOC: For the GM, for clarification/reminder, I thought this manor was where local contacts were who may have observed Redbrand activity. If it was the actual suspected Redbrand lair, Serwa would not have suggested "talking to the adults" there, but just heading to the tunnel entrance. I may have mixed up the information on the role of the manor visit.
The group begins to walk towards the Alderleaf’s, on the other side of town. You move through the small town’s roads as the town starts to come alive as more shops start to open up for the day. Soon, you come up to the farm, a small home with with a wide expanse of crops behind it. Off to the side you see a small barn with a wooden shack beside it. As you begin to approach the home, a small Halfling child runs up to you. He looks at the armor and weapons being carried by your group, and says “Hi! Hi! Are you guys adventurers? I want to become an adventurer, but my mommy says I’m not old enough. Can you make me an adventurer?”
Serwa visibly cringes, and recoils at the sight of the child, stepping back and shoving Aster, Tomora and Xianon forward a bit. "I don't like kids," Serwa says flatly, in a quiet tone. "Make it go away."
Your mother is right, Benny. The world is big and dangerous any you are just a small boy. There are heros everywhere, especially on the farm fields. Go and help your father and be his hero.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
“My name is Carp, not Benny!” He says to Aster, and then his saddens a bit at the comment about his father. “Mommy said that Daddy is off on an adventure, and that’s why he’s been gone. That’s why I want to be an adventurer, to be just like him, and then I could fight the big mean bandits that came!” He says, brightening again when he speaks of his adventuring dreams.
Xianon Lathalas
Xianon crouches down to the boy's level. It doesn't take much crouching. "There are a lot of people who want to do great things, youngling," the monk says, "but few who want to do the great work required. Are you willing to work hard, not for yourself, but for others?"
Hearing the child mention bandits, Tomora looks up at the hill with the old manor on top. She takes a moment to examine the hill, the manor, and the surrounding area, looking for anything that might be useful to infiltrating the base. Perception:19
Serwa mouths to the others, “This - kid’s - dad - is - probably - Dead.” She crosses her arms, and stares off at the farm, a distant animal, anything but the child that makes her uncomfortable, all the more so because she is making an effort not to say what comes to mind regarding her opinion on his father’s fate.
Xianon Lathalas
"You know, Carp," the elf adds conspiratorially, "Some adventurers work by finding things out. They know important things, and tell others who can do something about it. Do you think you could be an adventurer like that?"
"Yeah, I'm willing to work hard to help others, and I'm super brave!" He leans in to whisper in your ear, Xianon "Don't tell my mom, because she doesn't like me going near that big building, but I was adventuring around that house, and I saw some of those bandits coming out of a tunnel! I'm super good, though, and I hid in a bush until they left so they never knew I was there." He leans back out and puts his finger to his mouth in the 'shh' symbol, smiling.
Serwa awkwardly keeps her distance during the conversation, but she does take note of the mention of the tunnel which could be used by bandits.
Xianon Lathalas
The elf's eyes glimmer. He thinks back on the fight by the Sleeping Giant. Six Redbrands...no bows that he can recall. The boy should be safe. "Can you show us?" he asks the boy. "I'll be we could sneak right up!"
Serwa seems eager to be away from the child, so she speaks for the first time since his approach. "Sneaking? I love sneaking. Nothing like sneaking in heavy armor to get the heart racing. Let's go get the drop on them. We should be hurry before they strengthen their guard. Time is of the essence."
It's obvious to her allies she just wants an excuse to put some distance between her and the child.
ooc: i obviously didnt know the kids name. That was not intended to be a guess. I think with asters history with the town and family he would have known.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Xianon Lathalas
The elf's eyes glint mischievously. "Oh, my fearless leader," he teases, "I hope the bandits have no children with them; you'll be completely undone."
“Don’t even joke about that,” Serwa says deadpan. “I’ve seen high ranking Paladins terrified of a cockroach. Everyone has their thing. Kids creep me out. I’m never sure if I should treat them like a pet, or a person, and they have all this youthful energy and curiosity and stuff - it’s awful. I prefer the company of old timers. They have better stories, they usually know how to play chess, and they don’t think they’re immortal, and that death is some ephemeral concept - they know its real. Give me a jaded veteran any day, over their plucky grandkids. Lily... a friend of mine, used to give me s*** for how bad I was with kids. If the bandits want to use tiny people shields, then we’ve got a problem. I think we will probably be OK.”
“I can’t go with you right now because my mom wants me to help her in the fields soon, but I can tell you where it is!” He points a little ways to the right of the large manor, in the woods surrounding it. “Around there a tree fell, and the tunnel has a door covered in moss nearby. That’s where I saw the big ugly guys come out of.“ You hear someone calling for Carp from behind the house, and a look of panic on Carp’s face. “I gotta go, but good luck! Feel free to come back whenever!” he says, waving goodbye as he runs back towards the fields.
(Not sure if Tresendar manor has yet been described, but if not) Looking to where Carp pointed, you get a good look at the manor as well. It’s surprisingly large for the small town, more a castle than a house, and looks long abandoned. It is very dilapidated, with vines crawling up the walls and holes left in the wood as it has crumbled away. It is on the east edge of town, on a low hillside amid woods and thickets.
Serwa waits until the child leaves, then says, "Do you want to go talk to some adults at the manor first? Or just head straight to that tunnel? I think we should speak to the grown ups first, personally."
„Try to solve the problem without violence first, you mean? I‘d be a fan of that. If they dont want to listen they can always just die. And now i‘d be happy to help them do that.
ooc: does aster know any of the redbrands from earlier when he lived in phandalin? Either personally or just by looks?
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
OOC: For the GM, for clarification/reminder, I thought this manor was where local contacts were who may have observed Redbrand activity. If it was the actual suspected Redbrand lair, Serwa would not have suggested "talking to the adults" there, but just heading to the tunnel entrance. I may have mixed up the information on the role of the manor visit.
(This manor is the suspected Redbrand lair. You may have recognized a few, Aster, but nobody you were close to, just know of them by looks.)