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The company finished their morning repast and followed Grimbeorn towards the council hall. The wooden plank streets were coated in a hoary frost that was disturbed only by fire ash and lake sand to aid in footing. The activity and will of the party filled them with inner warmth and caused them to shirk the morning air. So almost unnoticed they came head long towards the party of the Master of Lake Town.

"Hail Master of the Lake" spoke Gimbeorn too loud for the hour.

The party stopped and some among them gripped their swords before the party saw clearly the tall form of the scion of the Beornings.

"Hail Wolfslayer, you find me out of doors in the frost of morning when I thought to find you among the council in better surroundings."

Hathcyn spoke next, "Lord, better and warmer places are sure at hand. But evil has been done here, and the peoples of men have been blamed for it. The men west of the wood are accused of doing and the men of the lake accused for allowing. Neither of these claims are true."

Grimbeorn waved his hand and the man fell silent.

"I ask your warrant for my people to seek out the cause of last night's troubles."

"Is this a topic for the early morning and the open street?"

"No Master of the Lake, but the council tires me, and much speech is made on easy issues. My companions, who are known to you, only seek to solve this issue, and if found accuse those who are guilty. Will you give them your warrant to search and follow the trail where it may go within the confines of the town?"
 

"My warrant," the master merchant responds, "may not be... er... in this case, entirely... er... mine to give." 

Looking flustered, the Master waves his entourage along, and the small procession begins to move down the street again.  "Come, come!" he calls.  At the Town Hall, he surprises the assembled dignitaries by proceeding straight past them to the small council chamber, saying "a moment only, my lords, and then the business of the day may begin!" 

Once the door is shut and only the Fellowship and a handful of guards remain in his company, the Master lets the carefully-maintained mien of confidence and optimism fall.  "You know not all that you ask of me," he says. "I have given my word to those who have come for the Council, and others who are yet to speak, that I will keep certain secrets to myself.  I cannot grant you what you ask until I am satisfied that I shall suffer no dishonour by doing so, for who will come to trade in the market pool if it is known that the Master of the Town is an oathbreaker?"


:ooc: Right!  We're into an Encounter here.  No need for introduction rolls as he's already wildly aware who you are, but I'll do Insight rolls:

Arbogast


Esgalwen


Grimbeorn


Hathcyn


Laeral

 :ooc: and this is where the party learns about the rules of acquisition.... (-D

:ooc: That's a bonus for for everyone except Grimbeorn and Laeral (who gets two). 

 :ooc: after that introduction I am also tapping my Wary trait.

"Master... I fail to see how giving us leave to seek out those that brought minions of the Darkness to your town would lead you to be an oathbreaker?  If anything, not allowing the investigation could cover up those who do harm to those in your charge and those that came for the Council. It may even encourage further attacks."  Grimbeorn is truly bewildered with the reticence and genuinely wants to understand. The man before him is not made of the same stuff as the one that abandoned his folk following the fall of the dragon, he was for all he could tell a decent man.

:ooc: Righto - given that you're asking probing questions to try to understand his motivations, I'll treat this as another Insight roll:

:ooc: A nice Great success (I've noted the AP and updated the sheet in Dropbox), and two successes to your running total for the Encounter. 

Results to follow - I have to go and cook dinner in a minute. 

Though he would never judge himself a cunning crafter of words, Grimbeorn has come to be a wise judge of the minds of Men.  Through tiny signs that others would miss, he sees many things about the Master: anxiety that he might be seen as a poor host by the great and mighty, weariness from efforts already expended and the thought of more to come, trepidation at the thought of breaking a promise made to some personage of note... and beneath it all, a great curiosity - a desire to know some secret thing. 

Someone here has charged him to conceal something significant, the son of Beorn realises.  Something so significant that the Master has no idea what it may be, save that it is something precious.

"Master," Arbogast says, offering a short bow, "we see the responsibilities you bear, and the plight in which they place you.  We come before you bearing similar burdens: Grimbeorn as the speaker for his folk, Hathcyn as his sworm hearth-man, Esgalwen as a guardian of her lord and lady."  He diplomatically leaves the uncertain positions of himself and Laeral unspoken. 

"Each of us has pledged a troth to lords or kin far from here, to serve their cause in the Council and its surrounding business.  But such a pledge need not be held to above good sense!  All who have ever spoken on another's behalf know that they best do so when they may forgo some valuable thing in return for something greater, and what could be greater for the interests of Lake-Town than peace in the North, and goodwill between the Free Peoples?"


:ooc: Arbogast is going to try some Persuading, seeing as nobody else is piping up. 

:ooc: That's another two successes (and no failures so far). 

"You speak sense," the Master says, and from the slight change in his demeanour it is plain to all that the instincts of the old merchant have taken over as he weighs one obligation against another in his mind.  "And were it any less fearful personage that I might offend, I might consider it worth the risk.  But alas!  I have heard of your efforts at the Toll House, and thank you for them, but you ask me to break an oath I have given to a wizard, and I would not draw the wrath of such upon my home for all the silver in the North! 


:ooc: The opportunity is still there for anyone else who wants to speak up.  Also, I've finally given the Master a face. 

With mention of a wizard, Esgalwen steps forward to if not contest the man's decision, as least sway it towards another.

"Wizard you say? What wizard and why might he demand an oath of you? We know of two - Radagast the Brown who resides in the Anduin Vale and Gandalf the Gray, who surely is familiar to you. Both of these wise men we hold as patrons, and both have served the folk of the wood for as long as I am aware.

"Are either of these two names the wizard that you mention? If so, then I can assure you that neither would take offense in our request. In fact, it was Gandalf that approached us prior to the onset of the Council to ask for our diligence during this time."

The Ranger did not wait for the man to reply, "If it is some other wizard that you speak, then he is a stranger to us - for I know of no other, save the tribal shamans that guide the Men of the Vale." There was one last name known to Esgalwen that she remembered from her younger days, of a wizard that had taken residence in the south, in an old Gondorian edifice called Isengard - but his name escaped her at the moment.

It was here that Esgalwen decided to apply a little pressure, as was her wont due to her own oaths made. "Master, please understand that our pursuits are for the benefit of all, but primarily for my liege-lord, King Bard. My sword has been sworn to him and his lady, and I will not see any possible threat unheeded. Your approval of our investigation is most appreciated, but I will see to the defense of my Lord... just as the Elves will see to the defense and safety of their own. I hope you will not stand between us."

:ooc: My Persuade roll - or maybe even an Awe roll to intimidate? Read it as you will, but both skills are the same. I will include my Advantage die at need...

TN -- Awe or Persuade 3d

 

:ooc: Well that is purdy! A :g: :%: success! Maybe?

What I do marvel at is that we have been in this Adventuring Phase since last year and this is the first damned test I have rolled that merits any kind of AP.

:ooc: Nice rolling, Doug.

EDIT: :csu:

The Master throws his hands into the air.  "Such is the lot of we merchants," he sighs, "to be forever between the desires of others!  I tell you truly, I know not which wizard may have set his eyes upon this Council, but I shall show you he who styles himself the wizard's man.  May you bring your questions to him and leave my name unsullied!" 

At his nod, the remaining guards open the door of the small council chamber, revealing the hall beyond almost full.  The Master points toward one man, swarthy of skin in the way of Men of the south but clad in bright green and with his hair intricately braided. 

"That is he," he says. "And now, if you please, I must attended to the businessof the hour.  Be about your investigation if such is your will.  I ask only that you keep quiet about it. Already there has been far more excitement beyond the walls of this hall than within them!"

Hathcyn eyed the man in the room.
"Is nothing ever easy..."

Well it appears the Master has given us his leave. As vague as it was it suits out purpose. Should we make for the toll house or the braided man?"

"I'm for the tollhouse, but I know the inquisitive nature of my companions is not so direct."

 :ooc: Is the Council reconvening now or is there time for Grimbeorn to confront the man?

:ooc: The Council members are gathering, but there's time to shirtfront him now, if that's what you want to do.  He's in the Town Hall, right where Grimbeorn's supposed to be. 

 :ooc: go get him boss. We'll be right behind you to beat feet if it goes south.

Now I KNOW they have some hinky shit in the tollhouse.

 :ooc: Well on we go...

Grimbeorn just shakes his head without another word to the Master.  With or without the others, he makes his way to this foreign man, fairly certain he hasn't met his kind before.  Refraining from a scene at this time, he stands off to the side, waiting patiently, albeit intensely given the weight of his presence, for the man to take notice.

Hathcyn strolls into the room and at an angle to the man and Grimbeorn warms himself by a brazier. He notes on the folk of the mountain and engages him in small talk while keeping an eye on Grimbeorn his lord.

Esgalwen follows the pair in and stands to the left, just behind Grimbeorn. The man and his appearance was none too strange to the Gondorian - more than once, she had seen his ilk prowling the lands of Ithilien. Like her, this mage was far from home.

Though her homeland and the lands to the south could call themselves friends, there was some familiarity with each others customs. Esgalwen made the proper gesture of introduction and spoke a word in the mage's native tongue in hopes that it would engage some conversation.

:ooc: I will invoke Esgalwen's Folk-lore trait and assume she knows a little bit of the introductory customs of the south lands - whether he be from Harad or the independent City of Umbar.

I will also give you a Courtesy roll. I am not sure if we still carry over our advantage die

TN -- courtesy 2d

:ooc: If we still have the advantage die, I will use it...

:ooc: Okay, that would be a 10 failure (unless my trait makes it an auto-success), or a 15 :%: success paired up with the trait... I will wait to learn what happens.

The dark-skinned man turns his head, his eyebrows raised at the sound of familiar speech in an unfamiliar place.  "Greetings to you, lady," he says in flawless Westron.  "And to you, Grimbeorn Alfscyld!  I had not thought to attract the attention of one such as you so soon in the day." 

Around the knot of the companions, the crowd in the hall continues to grow, the hubbub of voices rising slowly but steadily.  Upon the raised platform, Gildas of the Woodmen takes her seat, and Legolas appears from a back room surrounded by bodyguards. 

"What may I do for you?" the Southron asks. 

Quote from: tomcat on Feb 23, 2021, 10:48 AM:ooc: Okay, that would be a 10 failure (unless my trait makes it an auto-success), or a 15 :%: success paired up with the trait... I will wait to learn what happens.

:ooc: I'm happy enough to wave an auto-success through.  This won't be a full-on Encounter - just a quick roleplay moment. 

EDIT: And with that in mind, anyone should feel free to talk.  I can have Arbogast and/or Laeral step in, but I know from past experience that there are few things less thrilling than watching GM characters discuss things and advance the plot for you. 

Quote from: Eclecticon on Feb 23, 2021, 05:48 PMThe dark-skinned man turns his head, his eyebrows raised at the sound of familiar speech in an unfamiliar place.  "Greetings to you, lady," he says in flawless Westron.  "And to you, Grimbeorn Alfscyld!  I had not thought to attract the attention of one such as you so soon in the day." 
...
"What may I do for you?" the Southron asks. 

"And to you, but you have me at a disadvantage as I know you not," he replied brusquely.  "Regardless, I hear that you come in the stead of some wizard.  Pray tell, which one would that be and what business does he have here in the north of Rhovanion?"  Grimbeorn sets his steely gaze upon the man, determined to pierce his words and mind.

"Ah, of course, my manners fail me!  I am called Tafan, and I am here as a representative of Saruman the White, Lord of Isengard.  My lord has received word of the Council and has determined to mark so momentous an occasion with an appropriate gift: a great treasure wrested from the darkness beneath the hill of sorcery where dwelled the Necromancer in the dark years." 

 :ooc:  (-D  of course.....

Grimbeorn looks crosswise at the companions with him.  Dread comes over him at the mention and memories of southern Mirkwood.  "What is this gift you speak and how can anything under the sway of such great evil for so long not be corrupted and corrupt those that bear it?  And what business has Saruman here?  He is not known to us and best he name is only whispered here in passing, one who has no concern for us."

"You must understand," Arbogast says, "that our fellowship strives to protect Wilderland against the servants of the great enemy of the wizards." 

"Indeed you do," Tafan replies.  "I have heard much of your deeds from the Hobbit, Bandobras Bracegirdle, who is also Saruman's sworn hand, and thus are you all known to me," he says, "saving only yourself, my lady."  He finishes with a bow to Laeral.  "You have the confidence of my lord, and thus I will share the mind of Isengard with you.  Come, please, and let me provide at least some of the answers you seek." 

With that, he leaves the hall with a brisk and steady stride, making his way through the gathering crowds of Esgaroth's streets with the confidence of one born to town life.  "My lord," he says over his shoulder once the market is past and the bridges to the Elven Quarter comes into view, "has long been as a pillar to the kingdoms of Men beside the broad Anduin.  And though he has not the capacity to be the same to the young, and renewed, realms here in the north, there is no question in his mind of their value in the long struggle against he whose name I shall not utter here.  That there is already a wizard in residence, and another who comes and goes, you know already, and I need not trouble you with further explanation.  The White Wizard is to them as the wolf's-bane is to you," he says, jutting his dark-skinned chin at Hathcyn.  "He is their leader and their law-giver, and they will do in these new realms as he directs." 

Bridges and timbered alleys alike pass beneath the company's feet as Tafan keeps up his pace, finding gaps in the crowd and passing, it seems, unchallenged by the silvan warriors who maintain a watchful eye on the streets of the Elven Quarter.  "My lord is of a mind," he says "to visit Wilderland, to gain his own knowledge of its strengths and its terrors, and to bestow more of his wisdom upon the Brown and Grey wizards." 

Reaching the Tollhouse, he nods to the guard on duty, who opens the stout portal with barely a word, clearly recognising Tafan.  Inside, the cessation of the lake-wind brings sudden warmth to chilled faces, and the dimness leaves all the company save Laeral momentarily blind.  By the time sight is fully restored, Tafan has moved to stand by a heavy wooden chest, richly-carved in a manner foreign to the eyes of Northmen.  Esgalwen, however, recognises at once the work of the craftsmen of Gondor. 

"Like all good guests," Tafan says, "my lord brings gifts with his coming, of which this is but the first, though I think it perhaps to be the greatest of the tokens of his esteem."  He lifts the lid, revealing a lining of deep blue silk, on which lie bones set out in good order. 

"Behold," Tafan says with a ceremonial flourish, "the bones of Thrain the Second." 

"Tafan, this is a marvel to behold, but why is it here on the Lake and not in the Halls of the Dwarves? Last night wraiths attempted to storm this building, no doubt this is what they sought. The question is why?"

Esgalwen spoke then, too, "And how do these bones come adorned so? Secured within a chest that is clearly built by the hands of Gondorian artisans."

With the question escaping her, the woman quietly came to her own answer and subtly shook her head at the foolishness. Fool! Of course this treasure is held in a chest of Gondorian make, for Saruman resides within an ancient fastness of Dunédain might.

She continued, "You say this treasure came from the Hill of Sorcery? So it was there that the son of Durin died."

The reply that followed her question was soft and none knew if it were a statement or question.

"Yes," Esgalwen then nodded her head at Hathcyn's words, "these bones should be delivered unto the Dwarves, at once. To hold them for any reason might be taken as an affront, even if presented as a gift."

In her last few years in Dale, the Ranger had learned well the spirit and temper of Dwarves.

 :ooc: LOL i am also happy to see the call back to Bandy meeting with Saruman and his accidental feeding his interest in the Shire. Great example of narrative supporting canon and filling in detail! 

"And so they shall be," Tafan replies, "for I shall present them to the Council, and announce my lord's coming, this morning.  No bitterness shall I suffer for their keeping until this day, though," he continues, swelling somewhat with second-hand self-righteousness, "for it was never the folk of Durin who dared the horror and darkness beneath that awful place to bring their slain kin home!" 

"As for why," Laeral speaks, her voice like a clear bell in the dim tollhouse, "it is of old legend, lost perhaps to Men save the long-yeared folk of Westernesse, that the greatest treasure of the Enemy was lost in Wilderland.  I see no reason why Saruman might have found it, nor why he would make a gift of it to the Council if he did, but perhaps the suspicion of the Enemy is such that he could not discount the chance if it were possible for him to seize it instead?" 

She spreads her hands.  "What think you?"

Quote from: Telcontar on Mar 01, 2021, 06:45 AM:ooc: LOL i am also happy to see the call back to Bandy meeting with Saruman and his accidental feeding his interest in the Shire. Great example of narrative supporting canon and filling in detail! 

:ooc: It's all about the little things.  ;)

Hathcyn was wary. He tried to think of what the gain might be for the Lord of Sunstead in this box of bones. There was no intrinsic value to them, if there was a great treasure here desired by the great shadow then what would the reward for the effort be? Why not keep it for himself, were they truly uncertain as to what the treasure was.

"Who knew this relic was here in the tollhouse? What is the proof that this is Thrane?"

Hathcyn will also look inside to see if the box contains anything else other than the cloth and the bones.

:ooc: I have a slight bit of confusion - was it directly inferred that Ceawin of Sunstead is involved in all we have seen thus far? I read back through the thread, but I cannot find the direct relation.

Or is this an assumption on our part?

 :ooc: i thought he hired the guys who dug up the bones and brought them into the city?

:ooc: Okay, that was it! Thanks, Tom. I knew that it was connected somehow, and your PC mentioning it kept making me think - How is this connected again? I should have read back a bit further.  ;D

Quote from: Telcontar on Mar 02, 2021, 04:00 AM"Who knew this relic was here in the tollhouse? What is the proof that this is Thrane?"

Hathcyn will also look inside to see if the box contains anything else other than the cloth and the bones.

Tafan's eyes grow thoughtful as he considers the Longspear's question.  "I told only the Master of the town," he answers after a moment, "and made him swear not to reveal the secret.  I saw afterward a serving woman across the hall, and did not think at the time that she had overheard us, for she made no change in her demeanour.  But unless the Master has broken his vow, I am mistaken, for clearly word has reached my lord's enemies!" 

As Hathcyn peers into the box, he adds "as to the provenance of these bones, I cannot be certain, for I accompanied my lord only as far as the gates of the black fortress before finding myself... unable to pass.  When he emerged, however, he was pale and unsteady, but bore these bones in a bag.  I took them from him myself and placed them in this box when we returned to Isengard.  Rarely did they leave my presence betwixt that day and this, save only when I left them in the presence of other servants of the White Wizard, in whom I place an absolute trust, and when I left the box here, in the trust of the Master." 

"Wizards."

"The dwarves will want to guard this themselves and move it quickly. Was not the power of that heal known as the Dead Magician? Perhaps he has sent the dead to reclaim the dead for some ill purpose. Either way I dont think they are safe to remain here."

"I am inclined to agree with you.  But I must stress that this is a gift from the White Wizard, not only to the King Under the Mountain (though he will obviously take charge of it) but to all the Free Peoples of the North.  I am bidden to present it with all due ceremony." 

He turns to Grimbeorn, and speaks with no small amount of relief.  "Grimbeorn son of Beorn, you and your companions clearly have the might necessary to defend these bones.  Might I impose upon you to do so while we bring them to the Council chamber?" 

:ooc: Paul - can I get a little player insight on this wizard? We see that he is a southron, but does that mean he is Dunlending or is he a Haradrim/Umbaran?

I just want to know so I can gauge Esgalwen's reaction to all of this - Gondor has never had good relations with the latter above, and trust would be short in its coming.

:ooc: I had a Dunlendingin mind when I started the scene, but I now think it works better if Tafan is from Umbar.  So let's go with that.

Grimbeorn likes this man even less as the conversation goes on but it was not even a hard decision to take on the charge given.  "Yes, I will take them in my care.  We have no need for further incident or desecration of others traditions.  Make the announcement first thing today, we cannot let this go on any further."

Hathcyn was pondering a plan already on how this should be achieved.

"Tafan, as my Lord commands we shall do. My I ask a boon of you as we take on this task? I understand you and your Lords desire to take all due credit and praise for this deed, and to the surprise of this gift. However, may we take at least one dwarf into our confidence? I ask only that if we be required to move or disturb the remains that it be one of Durin's Folk to do so or to supervise it being done. So no slight or insult be inadvertently brought upon us in the care and protection of this charge." 

"Indeed?" Tafan casts a sidelong look at the Gondorian casket and strokes his short beard.  "If such is your advice, then I, who am a stranger in these lands, would be foolish not to take it.  Might I suggest the Dwarf Balin?  I have heard that he enjoys the confidence of the King Under the Mountain, and that he travels widely across the North.  Perhaps he will be more inclined to view this mean gift with understanding, and not offence?" 

"This is a dwarf indeed! He is far above my station, Grimbeorn will have to speak to him. I do not doubt that the dwarves of Erebor will look kindly on this gift, I mean more so that one among them knows we took all care and reverence in the prote4ction of them. When are they to be presented?"


 :ooc: So guys my thought here is that a dwarf in on the gift will be helpful if we have to move the body. my thought here was that we actually send to parties out to the hall. one with the relic and another as a decoy to try and confuse our foes as to which one is the real body. 

:ooc: I'll hang on until tomorrow morning my time - if nobody has any objections to Tom's plan by then, I'll assume it's what you want to do. 

:ooc: I am good with it.

:ooc: Okay - new thread to follow. 

Through the discourse, Esgalwen stood silent - only nodding her head in approval of either Grimbeorn's or Hathcyn's decisions. It was not her intent to be rude to the man, but Gondor's history with the Corsairs of Umbar was not a good one, and trust was in short supply.

Still, she knew somewhat the reputation of the wizard of Isengard and that bridled her concerns, if only for now. The Ranger would follow the words of Gandalf and keep her steadfast watch. Esgalwen also decided to voice her concerns to her companions, but on this she would wait.

 :ooc: Agreed.  Grimbeorn will stay with the real casket though.