Trouble in the morning

[tomcat]

Fengel awoke early and had gone down to the stables. He had a bit of a twinge right behind his eyes, effects from the thick ale that he had partaken the night before, and figured a morning ride would do him well. His companions had discussed staying another night in the town; it would be at least seventeen days to Rivendell so everyone wished to have one more night of a normal rest.

The Éothraim pulled the bridle strap tight and seated the bit in the mouth of his horse. He then turned to grab the saddle when he heard the commotion - a woman was crying out in the town, just outside of the Inn's grounds. The warrior quickly grabbed up his few things and ran to see what the commotion was.

Upon reaching the King's Rest's gates, Fengel saw a growing crowd all circling a man and woman; the woman was frantic and she cried as she called out, "She's gone! She's gone! Something came in the night and took her!"

The crowd continued to grow and Fengel saw that his friends had also come to see the commotion; they stood on the opposite side of the gathering. He began to work his way around as a couple of townsfolk worked to calm the woman.

[Wiseman]

Seriand stood at the edge of the crowd, listening and looking around for clues as to what may have taken the aforementioned "her" and which way it headed, but he did not inquire into the issue.  His place would be by the side of his new companions, but he would let them deal with their own....kind.

OOC: Not sure which would be the appropriate skill to use here but...

Track: +8
or
Search: +4
Either way the roll is (before the modifiers of course):
Roll(2d6)+0: 2,6,+0 Total:8

[sdrotar]

Dirnhael looked around for a constable, but saw none.
"Where is the constable?", Dirnhael asked to the gathering throng.

He quickly looked to his companions, and then softly approached the frantic couple.

"What has happened here?", he asked with open arms. "Who has been 'taken'? By whom?"

He assumed the couple's child - a daughter - was missing, but he hoped the answer about her abductor was a "whom"... rather then a "what".

[tomcat]

As if the Dúnadan's thoughts had been heard, a man came running up, a slight bit winded. Dirnhael took measure of the man and saw that he was rather well fit and looked like he could manage most problems a small town like this may encounter. The question was whether or not this was one of those problems.

The apparent constable looked at the man and woman whom everyone was surrounding and then to Dirnhael, a questioning look was in his eyes in regards to both.

"What is the problem Conner?" and then to Dirnhael, "Who might you be?"

Not waiting for Dirnhael to respond, the man who the constable had referred to as Conner spoke, "Del... we woke up this morning and she was gone! Our little Erin! Someone came in the night and took her right out of her window!"

"You sure she just didn't go a wanderin'?" asked the constable. "You know how your little girl likes to explore. Mayhaps she went off with that brother of yours Sara?"

That was when the woman started to cry again, "No," she answered. "Her room was all a'torn! Whoever took her seemed like they were a'lookin' for something."

OOC: Shawn W. - you can't see any evidence of the girl because you guys are in the center of town. She disappeared fromher home which is in town, but a ways away.

Shawn D., I am going to make a Renown roll here. It will only be important if Dirnhael replies as to who he and his companions are:

TN is 17 (between Region and Realm)
Modifiers: Renown modifier +1, Recognition Mod +2, Wits +1
Roll(2d6)+4: 4,5,+4 Total:13 FAILED

[Palandil]

Fengel made his way over beside Dirnhael, and listened closely to what was being said.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Durgil steps forward.  "Sir, I am a soldier of the King's Army; (OOC: I assume that the armor he wears bears some emblem confirming this) these men are with me on an errand for the crown.  We are just passing through, though will offer our assistance if you require it."

Debate (Oratory) - (5+1)+3+2=11

[Stefan]

Nain continued preparing Jethro for the morning ride.  He talked a little while he worked,  Jethro took is all in stride.

"Humans make such a ruckas. Not like the hammer and stone of the mines back home.  It sure will be nice to get to Kazad'dum to visit with my cousins and finally get another good ale."

About that time Fengel runs off.

"It looks like we're about to become involved."

Once the saddle is on he begins loading his saddle bags.  Let the humans figure out their commotion and he would be ready what ever might come.

[tomcat]

Durgil steps forward.  "Sir, I am a soldier of the King's Army; (OOC: I assume that the armor he wears bears some emblem confirming this) these men are with me on an errand for the crown.  We are just passing through, though will offer our assistance if you require it."

Debate (Oratory) - (5+1)+3+2=11

Del, the constable, turned to Durgil and saw the heraldry on his garb to be that of the King's army and visual relief could be seen on the man's face. It was as if he had been overwhelmed by this problem, and how to handle it, but now he had support to help see it done.

"A King's man, or men," he said gesturing to the others, "and their assistance would definitely be welcome. Come Conner, let's get your wife into the Inn for a cup of tea to calm her, and all the rest of you people go on now about your own business. If there is anything that we need, we will find you."

Del than ushered Conner and his wife into the quiet common room of the King's Rest, gesturing for Durgil and his companions to follow. Once inside, they gathered about the family to get anymore information that could aid them in the finding of Erin.

OOC: I would like a bit of RP'ing here; ask your questions to probe for information, you can accompany the questions with a Test roll if you think it necessary, but for the most part the farmer and his wife would like to have their daughter back so they should be pretty forthcoming. I am only going to lead you guys based on the questions asked. So let's put those detective skills to use.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Upon arrival to the gentlefolks' home, the group was shown to the girls' room.  "Did you hear anything when she was taken?" inquired Durgil.  "Are there any tracks outside telling anything about the assailants?"

OOC: Durgil will attempt to spot and analyze anything found, searching for any clue that he could identify, especially if it/they was orc.

Observe (Spot) - (3+3)+3+2=11
Survival (Forest) - (4+4)+1+2=11
Lore: Race (Orc) - (6+1)+5+2=14

[tomcat]

Upon arrival to the gentlefolks' home, the group was shown to the girls' room.  "Did you hear anything when she was taken?" inquired Durgil.  "Are there any tracks outside telling anything about the assailants?"

OOC: Per GoB's post, you guys have made the walk from the King's Rest Inn to the small home of the Conner and Sara Abelman. It is a one story structure that sits at the base of the hill along a dirt road that winds upward towards the small hobbit homes of Bree. A small farm surrounds the home and the fields are not yet grown in with the early spring. Recent snow melts have made the ground muddy and roads are riven with wagon wheel tracks.

Inside the house is quaint (for a simple farming family); one main room with hearth, kitchen and living area and three rooms that extend back. Each room has a window covered by shutters and heavy woolen drapes.

Let me know who all is going to the house. I am getting impressions that some of the characters have no deisre to interfere unless asked. In either case, give me a post saying what your character is doing. Edrahil is assisting in the search.

IC: The Company dispersed troughout the small farm house searching for any clues that might reveal where little Erin had gotten off too. They started in her room. Durgil looked over the bed and saw that it was unmade, but the bed clothes did not appear to be in any greater disarray than a small child would cause. The window was open, shutters seemingly wrenched at their hinges and the drapes lay on the floor as if pulled down. The only other thing was a small box of wood, its lid thrown aside, and its items scattered on the floor. Amongst the items was a copper penny, an old wishbone, a fragment of cloth and some other things that held little value (to anyone other than a small girl).

[Wiseman]

Seriands followed his new companions to the meager house that the family of farmers lived in.  He kept a constant watch, and while most went inside he skirted the outside of the house, looking for the window that was used as an entrance point.  Once the elf was able to find that spot he started to look for signs of a struggle, a body being dragged away or most likely merely a set of large, adult footprints.

Search: Roll(2d6)+4: 5,3,+4 Total:12
Observe (Spot): +8: Roll(2d6)+8: 1,4,+8 Total:13

[Palandil]

Fengel walks over to the little wooden box, "Well it looks as though whoever it was, was searching for something.  Is it possible that Erin found something, or .... would she have taken something from someone?  Sara, Del mentioned your brother, maybe he and Erin found something while out exploring?  Can we speak with him?"

[tomcat]

Seriand's keen Elven eyes scanned the ground around the window that showed evidence of being forced. The earth was soft with mud and new shoots of grass. His trained eyes could see clearly the large, booted prints that tracked the ground although something was strange to the Elf - the impressions did not seem to be deep enough. It was as if the weight of the person who would have worn such a large size boot was not what is should be.

In the house, Conner looked up at Fengel's question, his face showed a scornful look. "That scoundrel? It would not surprise me that he had something to do with this. He is a drunkard... you'll probably find him at his favorite tavern, it's just down the road."

[Wiseman]

In a low tone, showing little or no emotion the elf spoke.  "We have tracks."  He pointed off in the direction that they went in and he prepared to start tracking the intruder...

ACTION: Speak and point for now.

[tomcat]

Edrahil replied to Conner, "This tavern, it is not the King's Rest that lies just down the road?"

To this the farmer shook his head, "No... the tavern which Olin patrons is a ratty little place, you won't miss it... it only has three walls." Conner finished his comment with a shake of his head and then turned to the constable, "Del, don't you think we should be out there lookin'? Shouldn't we gather some more folk and start searching the outskirts of Bree?"

"We'll get that started here in a few minutes Conner, but before we go a'raisin' other folks, we need to make sure that Erin ain't just a'wanderin'."

Edrahil looked to Seriand and then back to the constable, "It would seem, Del, that there is ample evidence that the little child is not just wandering. Seriand, perhaps you should begin to follow the discovered tracks to whatever destination they take you. I will go and talk to this Olin and see if he knows anything. What say you my friends?" The Elf gestured towards his remaining companions - Fengel, Durgil, and Dirnhael.

OOC: I am not sure if you are there Nain. If you are, you are included in the companions listed above.