The innkeeper is shifty, attempting to get around Genesh. Once he realizes he's been trapped, he abandons the cart full of crystals and dashes randomly into the dead wood.
(7:40)
Irena, Aishela, Olwer and Elisha are 1/3 of the way to Genesh's location (at 7:35)
Genesh watched in irritation as the shifty innkeeper starts to dash off as the tortle thought to himself, why do they always insist on running. Before he gets too far Genesh fires off a Fire Bolt over the innkeeper's head as a warning shot (not wanting or trying to hit him) as he called out, "don't make me chase you, come on back. I don't want to hurt you, I just want to get to the bottom of things." Genesh had no intention of chasing him down, he didn't want risk losing the cart of crystals by running after him but if he could scare him into giving up so much the better...
The fire bolt sails into the ground near the innkeeper, stopping him cold. You've not run far and the crystals are still within sight. He walks back over to the area where the cart is and sits down. He explains his version of things. He explains it as a brief and mistakenly intense relationship with a married woman. She agreed that the man was poor but didn't want to break it off, instead telling the innkeeper their tryst was over. The night of the bar incident, the innkeeper asked the guard captain to check on the house specifically because he accidentally spread the rumor that she was unfaithful in an angry rant, and knew he was an alcoholic. When he came back to the bar later that night, all the inn keeper tried to do was avoid being stabbed, but then the fight broke out and everything burned down.
The gems were just how elves paid him to do business over the years. They are distrustful, but able to be won over, and the gems they pay in actually coalesce like water in a lake but as larger and larger gemstones till a certain size. He has 10 very large ones, considered a small fortune to the right person. about right for the lifetime earnings of a middle age tavern worker if he's been exchanging his money for gems. Such a plan would be wise in a forest ruled by elves.
(7:50)
The story finishes just as: Irena, Aishela, Olwer and Elisha walk up with the guard and captain they caught stumbling around the first 10 feet of the forest.
As the innkeeper finishes his tale Genesh notes the arrival of Irena, Aishela, Olwer, and Elisha as they walk-up with a guard and guard captain at which point the tortle says to the innkeeper, "alright then from the top, tell them what you just told me so we can try to sort this whole thing out." Genesh rather everyone hears it straight from the horse's mouth instead of him filling them in. The tortle making sure the innkeeper having time to catch his breath doesn't seek to embellish or change his story without Genesh catching it to reflect on any alternations from what the innkeeper said previously.
Genesh looked at the innkeeper, "see it wasn't that hard, was it... so why didn't you just explain all this to the guardsmen in the first place and make it easier for all involved? So what happened to the other guy, did you accidentally kill him and then in fear dispose of the body, or if alive do you have any idea where he has gone? And the woman? Why did you run away from us with this load of gemstones... were you afraid we were going to rob you and take them or was it something or someone else you were running away from? And where exactly were you running to? You just need to be honest with us, and come clean... tell us all you know and everything will be alright, you have nothing to fear, at least from us."The tortle explain calmly and rationally as he asked his questions trying his best so that the innkeeper would see Genesh and the others just wanted to get to the bottom of things.
He explains that it is not common knowledge that he was carrying on with the woman. He also believes the fire is separate from both his affair and the fight and that the two would have fought regardless because of the third man. He does not know where any of the other three are.
Finally he explains that yes, he did think someone was going to rob him. He found tools installed at the location to do just that last night. (The block and tackle near the iron crates)
Then 5 random people just walked up the next day and started: lying, casting magic, and-actually one of them did lift the cart cover so yeah he thought he had good reason to run.
Genesh listened patiently and politely as the innkeeper answered his questions and explained himself. The tortle calmly nodded, "yes, I can well understand your trepidation, a perfectly reasonable response and I do wish to sincerely apologize to you for my companions' overzealous actions but no real harm was intended I am sure. I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about from us in regard to theft or seeking to harm you without reasonable cause. We are merely attempting to get to the bottom of things. If you have reason to suspect that fire was separate from both your affair and the fight what leads you to this assumption? Do you have any suspicions who might have set up block and tackle, who might have sought to rob you? Who exactly was aware that you possed those very valuable gemstones? Does the town have any usual suspects... unscrupulous types that are the first to be questioned when something comes up missing?"Tortle at all times remained polite and nonthreatening, very matter of fact and business-like in his questioning, not seeking to judge or blame the innkeeper or anything...
The tortle thought for a moment and followed up, "and you mentioned that the woman's husband was poor but she didn't want to break it off. Is it possible her affections were a means to get closer to you in order to help her husband steal your gemstones? Do those two have any friends or family in town they are close to? And out of curiosity, with the Elves being so distrustful in general just how specifically were you able to win them over? Who is your main contact among the Elves, where can he or she be found and can you tell us a little about this contact if we need to speak to them."
He explains that it is not common knowledge that he was carrying on with the woman. He also believes the fire is separate from both his affair and the fight and that the two would have fought regardless because of the third man. He does not know where any of the other three are.
Finally he explains that yes, he did think someone was going to rob him. He found tools installed at the location to do just that last night. (The block and tackle near the iron crates)
Then 5 random people just walked up the next day and started: lying, casting magic, and-actually one of them did lift the cart cover so yeah he thought he had good reason to run.
While attention of the gathering is largely focused on the tavernkeeper, Olwer steps behind a tree for partial concealment.
He points a finger at the man (where the man cannot see him, and preferably where nobody else will notice, either).
message cantrip, in his most sinister whisper
deception skill roll to hide that this message comes from him
10
"They are digging up the cellar, fool. Soon they will find what you buried and you will hang."
The innkeeper responds to Genesh. He says that the fire happened while both he and the other man were focused on either each other or the third. There was nothing in the building that could have started the fire. He doesn't know who set up the block and tackle but doesn't really care. (It was Aishela, she was going to investigate it but that was before some stuff happened and everyone just kinda forgot about it)
He energizes when you suggest that someone knew about the gemstones. He insists that he thought someone was just trying to rob a guy down on his luck, but if someone knew they were there and tried to actively break into steal them he'd like to get involved in an investigation as well, as they might follow him to the harbor. He firmly suggests that even the poorest, most low down, unscrupulous gentlemen (heavily suggesting the guy south of town living with the woman) would not steal from someone else living in the village.
The remaining questions go unanswered. He's in quiet a huff about you suggesting someone actively planned to rob him and that's why they burned down the tavern.
He explodes into anger when he immediately determines Olwer is whispering magic messages to him about “what's hidden in the cellar.” He screams to the guards that Olwer wants to hang him for nothing.
Elisha can see the innkeeper is telling the truth.
"Hang you? You are a self-admitted liar and adulterer. Is the latter a hanging offense in this jurisdiction? If it isn't, then what else should you be hanged for, I have to ask? "
The bard stares hard at the tavern-keeper.
"It's not as if you stand formally accused of arson or anything to do with the disappearance of your lover's husband.. Yet you seem ready to flee from these honest local guards, whom you ought to trust. Curious."
Genesh just shakes his head and looks at the guard captain, "perhaps with all the complications concerning recent events it might be better if you use your authority to impound the cart and the gemstones and see to it that anyone who witnessed or in any way directly involved in the events of the night of the fire not be permitted to leave town until everything is cleared. Too many people have run off and disappeared, we don't want to add to it."The tortle suggested trying to be diplomatic... and fair...
(8:15) It is at this point, the guards let the innkeeper leave.
To them, the man's had his business burned down and nearly robbed twice. They aren't a big fan of Olwer casting magic on him in front of them either, but they really just want to know who burned the tavern down, and its pretty clear he didn't do it. They do not believe it was the innkeeper, investor, or the third man.
It might be the woman though, and they've got her locked up in the cell back in town.
The innkeeper's jaw stiffens a bit and it looks like he might actually cry. Visible sadness and pain draw over his face, and he briefly remarks that, “There's no situation that should involve such measures.”He leaves in the direction of the river, and the guards prevent you from stopping him for at least 5 minutes, then depart back to town.
(8:20)
The innkeeper has a 5 minute head start towards the River (2 Hrs. 45 Min. Away)
The Guards start walking towards the Town (15 Min. Away)
Genesh remains silent as the innkeeper continues with a headstart towards the river, and then later also remaining silent watches as the guards start walking to return to town. Genesh remains and looks to his companions, "there is no doubt in my mind the innkeeper is up to something that is not on the up and up, I am just not sure if it relates to the fire at the inn we came to investigate. Shall return to town then to continue our investigation or follow the innkeeper? I have no real preference one way or another."
Elisha will say: "The innkeeper is telling the truth I feel. My vote would be to go back to town. It would be nice to talk to the woman they have locked up, but I doubt they let us."
Genesh will look at Elisha and nod, "I'm all for heading back to town, we can try to talk to the woman if they don't let us then we can dig around more at the what's left of the burnt-out inn or follow up on other things in town."
"The man is friends with the guard captain and owns the tavern now being rebuilt. Good luck getting him in trouble for anything without proof, which we haven't got. Maybe even with..."
Olwer shrugs,
"I'm interested in finding the woman's missing husband and the other missing persons. It seems to me the Wood Elves hereabouts might know about who has passed through their woods, and so we ought to go and speak with them. But I'll cooperate with whatever plan the rest of you settle upon."
The tortle turned to Olwer, "yes, you could be right about the guard captain protecting and not allowing anything to come of any accusations regarding the innkeeper. I also agree that there is merit in questioning the Wood Elves about those who have gone missing. I am very curious about the innkeeper... he seems to have a lot of friends... including the elves... a very popular fellow and I would like to very much much know what kind of business dealings that he had going with the Wood Elves. For a small out of the way town, there seems to be a lot going on beneath the surface."
Genesh looked at the others for their input so they could decide where they were headed next...
You've all arrived back in town. The guards are at their post, and the construction workers are still working on the new tavern. The basements filled up, and all the old build material that couldn't be salvaged has been removed.
At the Guard post, they both agree to let you speak with the woman.
Walking inside, you find her some what uncooperative, not even turning to face you. She does however seems willing to answer your questions, responding with an affirmative head nod when asked directly if she wouldn't mind answering some things to clear it up.
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(7:36)
The innkeeper is shifty, attempting to get around Genesh. Once he realizes he's been trapped, he abandons the cart full of crystals and dashes randomly into the dead wood.
(7:40)
Irena, Aishela, Olwer and Elisha are 1/3 of the way to Genesh's location (at 7:35)
Genesh watched in irritation as the shifty innkeeper starts to dash off as the tortle thought to himself, why do they always insist on running. Before he gets too far Genesh fires off a Fire Bolt over the innkeeper's head as a warning shot (not wanting or trying to hit him) as he called out, "don't make me chase you, come on back. I don't want to hurt you, I just want to get to the bottom of things." Genesh had no intention of chasing him down, he didn't want risk losing the cart of crystals by running after him but if he could scare him into giving up so much the better...
(7:37)
The fire bolt sails into the ground near the innkeeper, stopping him cold. You've not run far and the crystals are still within sight. He walks back over to the area where the cart is and sits down. He explains his version of things. He explains it as a brief and mistakenly intense relationship with a married woman. She agreed that the man was poor but didn't want to break it off, instead telling the innkeeper their tryst was over. The night of the bar incident, the innkeeper asked the guard captain to check on the house specifically because he accidentally spread the rumor that she was unfaithful in an angry rant, and knew he was an alcoholic. When he came back to the bar later that night, all the inn keeper tried to do was avoid being stabbed, but then the fight broke out and everything burned down.
The gems were just how elves paid him to do business over the years. They are distrustful, but able to be won over, and the gems they pay in actually coalesce like water in a lake but as larger and larger gemstones till a certain size. He has 10 very large ones, considered a small fortune to the right person. about right for the lifetime earnings of a middle age tavern worker if he's been exchanging his money for gems. Such a plan would be wise in a forest ruled by elves.
(7:50)
The story finishes just as: Irena, Aishela, Olwer and Elisha walk up with the guard and captain they caught stumbling around the first 10 feet of the forest.
As the innkeeper finishes his tale Genesh notes the arrival of Irena, Aishela, Olwer, and Elisha as they walk-up with a guard and guard captain at which point the tortle says to the innkeeper, "alright then from the top, tell them what you just told me so we can try to sort this whole thing out." Genesh rather everyone hears it straight from the horse's mouth instead of him filling them in. The tortle making sure the innkeeper having time to catch his breath doesn't seek to embellish or change his story without Genesh catching it to reflect on any alternations from what the innkeeper said previously.
(8:00)
The innkeeper finishes updating everyone and reliably transfers the same story.
Genesh looked at the innkeeper, "see it wasn't that hard, was it... so why didn't you just explain all this to the guardsmen in the first place and make it easier for all involved? So what happened to the other guy, did you accidentally kill him and then in fear dispose of the body, or if alive do you have any idea where he has gone? And the woman? Why did you run away from us with this load of gemstones... were you afraid we were going to rob you and take them or was it something or someone else you were running away from? And where exactly were you running to? You just need to be honest with us, and come clean... tell us all you know and everything will be alright, you have nothing to fear, at least from us." The tortle explain calmly and rationally as he asked his questions trying his best so that the innkeeper would see Genesh and the others just wanted to get to the bottom of things.
He explains that it is not common knowledge that he was carrying on with the woman. He also believes the fire is separate from both his affair and the fight and that the two would have fought regardless because of the third man. He does not know where any of the other three are.
Finally he explains that yes, he did think someone was going to rob him. He found tools installed at the location to do just that last night. (The block and tackle near the iron crates)
Then 5 random people just walked up the next day and started: lying, casting magic, and-actually one of them did lift the cart cover so yeah he thought he had good reason to run.
Genesh listened patiently and politely as the innkeeper answered his questions and explained himself. The tortle calmly nodded, "yes, I can well understand your trepidation, a perfectly reasonable response and I do wish to sincerely apologize to you for my companions' overzealous actions but no real harm was intended I am sure. I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about from us in regard to theft or seeking to harm you without reasonable cause. We are merely attempting to get to the bottom of things. If you have reason to suspect that fire was separate from both your affair and the fight what leads you to this assumption? Do you have any suspicions who might have set up block and tackle, who might have sought to rob you? Who exactly was aware that you possed those very valuable gemstones? Does the town have any usual suspects... unscrupulous types that are the first to be questioned when something comes up missing?" Tortle at all times remained polite and nonthreatening, very matter of fact and business-like in his questioning, not seeking to judge or blame the innkeeper or anything...
The tortle thought for a moment and followed up, "and you mentioned that the woman's husband was poor but she didn't want to break it off. Is it possible her affections were a means to get closer to you in order to help her husband steal your gemstones? Do those two have any friends or family in town they are close to? And out of curiosity, with the Elves being so distrustful in general just how specifically were you able to win them over? Who is your main contact among the Elves, where can he or she be found and can you tell us a little about this contact if we need to speak to them."
While attention of the gathering is largely focused on the tavernkeeper, Olwer steps behind a tree for partial concealment.
He points a finger at the man (where the man cannot see him, and preferably where nobody else will notice, either).
message cantrip, in his most sinister whisper
deception skill roll to hide that this message comes from him
10
"They are digging up the cellar, fool. Soon they will find what you buried and you will hang."
Elisha would like to insight check the tavern keeper to see if he is finally telling the truth
insight: 5
The innkeeper responds to Genesh. He says that the fire happened while both he and the other man were focused on either each other or the third. There was nothing in the building that could have started the fire. He doesn't know who set up the block and tackle but doesn't really care. (It was Aishela, she was going to investigate it but that was before some stuff happened and everyone just kinda forgot about it)
He energizes when you suggest that someone knew about the gemstones. He insists that he thought someone was just trying to rob a guy down on his luck, but if someone knew they were there and tried to actively break into steal them he'd like to get involved in an investigation as well, as they might follow him to the harbor. He firmly suggests that even the poorest, most low down, unscrupulous gentlemen (heavily suggesting the guy south of town living with the woman) would not steal from someone else living in the village.
The remaining questions go unanswered. He's in quiet a huff about you suggesting someone actively planned to rob him and that's why they burned down the tavern.
He explodes into anger when he immediately determines Olwer is whispering magic messages to him about “what's hidden in the cellar.” He screams to the guards that Olwer wants to hang him for nothing.
Elisha can see the innkeeper is telling the truth.
Olwer shrugs,
"Hang you? You are a self-admitted liar and adulterer. Is the latter a hanging offense in this jurisdiction? If it isn't, then what else should you be hanged for, I have to ask? "
The bard stares hard at the tavern-keeper.
"It's not as if you stand formally accused of arson or anything to do with the disappearance of your lover's husband.. Yet you seem ready to flee from these honest local guards, whom you ought to trust. Curious."
Genesh just shakes his head and looks at the guard captain, "perhaps with all the complications concerning recent events it might be better if you use your authority to impound the cart and the gemstones and see to it that anyone who witnessed or in any way directly involved in the events of the night of the fire not be permitted to leave town until everything is cleared. Too many people have run off and disappeared, we don't want to add to it." The tortle suggested trying to be diplomatic... and fair...
(8:15)
It is at this point, the guards let the innkeeper leave.
To them, the man's had his business burned down and nearly robbed twice. They aren't a big fan of Olwer casting magic on him in front of them either, but they really just want to know who burned the tavern down, and its pretty clear he didn't do it. They do not believe it was the innkeeper, investor, or the third man.
It might be the woman though, and they've got her locked up in the cell back in town.
The innkeeper's jaw stiffens a bit and it looks like he might actually cry. Visible sadness and pain draw over his face, and he briefly remarks that, “There's no situation that should involve such measures.” He leaves in the direction of the river, and the guards prevent you from stopping him for at least 5 minutes, then depart back to town.
(8:20)
The innkeeper has a 5 minute head start towards the River (2 Hrs. 45 Min. Away)
The Guards start walking towards the Town (15 Min. Away)
Genesh remains silent as the innkeeper continues with a headstart towards the river, and then later also remaining silent watches as the guards start walking to return to town. Genesh remains and looks to his companions, "there is no doubt in my mind the innkeeper is up to something that is not on the up and up, I am just not sure if it relates to the fire at the inn we came to investigate. Shall return to town then to continue our investigation or follow the innkeeper? I have no real preference one way or another."
Elisha will say: "The innkeeper is telling the truth I feel. My vote would be to go back to town. It would be nice to talk to the woman they have locked up, but I doubt they let us."
Genesh will look at Elisha and nod, "I'm all for heading back to town, we can try to talk to the woman if they don't let us then we can dig around more at the what's left of the burnt-out inn or follow up on other things in town."
"The man is friends with the guard captain and owns the tavern now being rebuilt. Good luck getting him in trouble for anything without proof, which we haven't got. Maybe even with..."
Olwer shrugs,
"I'm interested in finding the woman's missing husband and the other missing persons. It seems to me the Wood Elves hereabouts might know about who has passed through their woods, and so we ought to go and speak with them. But I'll cooperate with whatever plan the rest of you settle upon."
The tortle turned to Olwer, "yes, you could be right about the guard captain protecting and not allowing anything to come of any accusations regarding the innkeeper. I also agree that there is merit in questioning the Wood Elves about those who have gone missing. I am very curious about the innkeeper... he seems to have a lot of friends... including the elves... a very popular fellow and I would like to very much much know what kind of business dealings that he had going with the Wood Elves. For a small out of the way town, there seems to be a lot going on beneath the surface."
Genesh looked at the others for their input so they could decide where they were headed next...
(8:35)
You've all arrived back in town. The guards are at their post, and the construction workers are still working on the new tavern. The basements filled up, and all the old build material that couldn't be salvaged has been removed.
At the Guard post, they both agree to let you speak with the woman.
Walking inside, you find her some what uncooperative, not even turning to face you. She does however seems willing to answer your questions, responding with an affirmative head nod when asked directly if she wouldn't mind answering some things to clear it up.