High River

[nubz]

2 Dice Rolls Larrin's Gather Info

It's early spring across the realm, though it's hard to compare this village to most. Elsewhere, people are enjoying the change in weather and endeavouring with honest toil with their crops and fields. Here, the snow is not yet melted in the shade of the thick trees, and little more than a small herb garden is to be found.

Little has changed over the winter, though that might be said for a longer span than that. The inn doubles as the barracks, the blacksmith spends more time with logging equipment and mending wagons than tools of war, and the local magic shop is filled with naught more than trinkets and superstition.
A simple village of hunters, trappers, and fishers has little need of platemail, and though the smith might be capable of crafting the sort of Greatsword that would never lose its edge, he'd never find time to do it between all the usual days' work. Still, nobody is lightly armed. In keeping with tradition, any person old enough to wield one has a shortsword at their belt, but for many it's just for the sense of security than a true show of competence. Many wear leathers, since the woods catch and tear cloth with indifference, but only a handful can afford metal to protect them - even this close to the Dwarven realm. Not that they make armour that would fit a normal person anyways.

As the day progresses, you each reflect upon what you have heard...

[nubz]

Jack Willowbough: (Result: horrible). The usual chit-chat, the winter was long and cold and cruel, bears will be coming out of hibernation and woe be to a traveller who crosses a path of a protective mother and her cub. Things you have known for years, and heard too many times to count, but that's the way of it with a small town. Nothing changes. Not always a bad thing, always coin to be had for scouting out the grazing pastures in the high meadows and guiding some of the local craftsman to one of the larger settlements to sell the wares they busied themselves making during the cold hours of winter.

Daraku: (Result: minor success). Baelon came by around lunch time, hungry and thirsty as he always is when you just sit down for a meal. He says nothing of the Raven he finally summoned to his aide, but you pride yourself on both your ability to recognize talent and impart wisdom. Dark circles under his eyes hint at what his mood does not; he's been working late into the night on something. Casual as you may, you steer the conversation towards it, but he was always better with words than you. Eventually, maybe to shed light on (or more likely change) the subject, he lets slide word that Baron von Samranth (cousin to the king and local reagent) is apparently going to be recruiting militia again. That would be the first time in three years, which either means the higher taxes are finally paying off or the poverty has caused unrest so the Baron wishes to dissuade the public from getting ornery with a show of force. That was about an hour ago, and he's long since returned to the stench of the tannery at the outskirts of the village to earn an honest coin.

Both: The local clergy have posted blessings in the name of Sila (Patron goddess of peace and quiet) in the name of the King's Moral advisor, High Priest Daeviss le Chaun, for the end of the winter storms and a bountiful summer to come. The local Sherriff is rumoured to be 'on guard' for bandits coming out of the grimy holes they crawled into, and a halfling caravan seems to have rolled into town claiming to sell fresh fruit from across the Southern Seas.

((OOC: Either decide your origins or I will roll for them when I have received a post from each of you.))

[Larrin]

((OOc: background and such in the character post response))

Jack smiles at everyone he meets, Its nice to be in the town when winter breaks and there are more people about. He heads over to the halfling caravan to look at the fruit. "I'm an elf!" he says to the little vendors as way of introduction, as if he's extremely proud of the fact, and eager to hear about them as well. He probably buys a piece of fruit for lunch, and listens eagerly to anything they say in return, but he's not terribly good at social nuances, so he really doesn't ask questions. "If you need help traveling, I'm a guide!" he says as he leaves. After eating the fruit he heads over to the inn to see if anyone needs him to go look at a field for them. By now he should have a reputation for eagerness to scout places, and occasionally forgetting to ask to be paid...

[Death Cobra]

3 Dice Rolls 3

There is a carnival in town? That means midgets...I mean halflings...Daraku, always interested in the nomadic little people, takes a stroll over to their vending stands. If there are good fruits for sale, he purchases a few. With how the weather has been it might be some time till any grow in the area.

Knowing the mischievous nature of halflings though, Daraku tries to make sure he isnt going to be lifted of anything. Daraku brings his familiar, Kua, along with him since there is not much else for the lazy thing to do. If there is no event with the caravan then he brings the fruit out to Baelon. A little bit of fruit while working helps keep the energy high.

[nubz]

Jack: The friendly people seem to take a liking to you, with casual conversation and simple chit-chat. You get mixed reviews asking the caravan if they need a guide; some among them ask what entertainment is available in the town (missing the cue for a woodland guide), others politely and offhandedly deny the offer, while a minority take offense (as if you were telling them you'd be willing to show them the road out of town). Among the townsfolk there are a few who ask if you'd be willing to hire on as a shepherd for the season instead of aimlessly wandering about expecting life to take care of itself, and others who legitimately want a hand. The most vocal of these is the Kellenburrow clan, who are less than kind by reputation though you have never had personal dealings turn sour. Others have said its their underhanded ways which led to their success, though there's also the good-humoured joke where Rolf Kellenburrow (the father) bred himself a workforce - what with his eighth son by his third wife being born this winter, and that's not to mention the eleven daughters. He'll have the money to pay, but is not as needing or deserving as some of the other townsfolk.

Daraku: ((Diplomacy fail, spot success, sense motive success)) You can spot a bad apple from an orchard away, be it persons or literal fruit. It's delicious, though they don't seem too fond of the way you examine the fruit with your big clumsy hands, and one goes so far as to tell you to buy a melon for bruising it. You're outnumbered but only a few would pose a threat, then again you're on home turf so you don't think they'll draw first blood... The one local guard seems half-asleep leaning against a hitching post; you can't recognize him with his helm over his eyes so aren't sure if he will take your side or if he's one of the ones who took a dislike to you. "Them's guy looks like trubble, f'y'ask me," were words you've heard enough times to almost be sick of simpleminded farmers.

[Death Cobra]

4 Dice Rolls Random 3

Daraku has no inclination of starting a fight. Halflings are for amusement; kinda like turtles, if they act up you just put them on their backs. Though since none around seem to be entertaining he sees if they plan on having any fun. While paying for the fruits hes taking, Daraku inquires if they will put on any attractions or any games while passing through.

"After all, if no one buys the bruised fruit, you can make a off with a few purses" he adds with a light laugh. No offense intended of course, the little guys are all known to pick pockets while 'customers' are distracted...

[Larrin]

Jack listens to the job offers, He's not interested in steady employment, and is kind enough not to take a job he'll forget about tomorrow. (If they think he should work for a living, they don't know Jack) The Kellenburrows seem to have the loudest voice, and that's good enough for Jack. "What do you need? I'm really good at scouting! I'm the best archer in the town!" He says eagerly, and hops from foot to foot waiting for the reply. He'll agree to almost anything if it sounds fun (fun meaning spending time outdoors, shooting things with a bow, not being a shepherd).

[nubz]

Daraku: You have, through a series of foibles, brought them from 'Neutral' to 'Unfriendly' to finally 'Hostile' by outright calling them thieves. As you see them reaching for their blades, you feel a wash come over you, almost tangible. At first, you find a cloud come over your mind, relaxing you. Then, before that can fully register you feel yourself unable to move.
Magic is definitely at play, but you did not see the source. A voice behind you says, "Do not think us fools, nor afraid of you. Tread lightly around us, or every step you take will be as a blind man stumbling through life." The ones circling you are looking at the speaker behind you, but you cannot turn your head to look.
A few more seconds go by, as they grudgingly disperse. By the time you can turn your head to look, there is no longer anyone behind you. Thoughts run through your head; ((Spellcraft: moderate failure, having not seen the spell being cast, bonus having been the target)) it felt like some sort of compulsive form of enchantments, first mood altering then a paralysis of sorts, but not knowing the source it is hard to tell anything more. Two spells, maybe two casters.
Whoever it was, they've now melted back into the crowd. Kau gives a vague description of a small fellow with an attitude, but once again his birdbrain has failed to register the important details.

[nubz]

Jack: They mention a valley northwest of town, on one of the old abandoned roads, which they say leads to their family's pastures. You think you know the area well enough to figure out where they mean, even if they are horribly vague in their description. Why waste breath on how long they've held the rights to those lands, or which ancestor inherited from whom, when they could be giving you details like landmarks to locate it? You get enough to determine that it'll be a few days each way, though much more than than it hard to tell.
Over a creek that may or may not have a washed-out bridge, up into the mountains which may or may not have a road (depending on avalanches or mudslides), and a valley which might still be full of snow... Still, never been there before so that much is worth the trip!
They give a vague mention of a reward, talk about which sons or cousins may or may not join you, each boasting at being a better climber or swimmer or faster runner or smarter or . . . then it seems to degrade into an argument as to who is the favourite son, and unless you can calm them down its unlikely you'll get any more valuable information out of them.

[Larrin]

Jack laughs at their sillyness. "I'll do it!" he says and heads out immediately. He checks his pack for warm furs in case there is still some snow, but he makes no other preparations and leaves quickly, unless his employers notice him leaving and send someone with him. He's fine on his own (i hope). he'll set out on the most direct route to the destination, though he'll spend most of his time walking amongst the trees next to the path, rather than on it. Once he gets far enough away from civilization he starts to pay more attention to tracks and animal sounds, making sure he's aware of what critters are abouts.