Soul Spawn
Gamer
Night Born Nad-Adez Konkor
Posts: 183
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Post by Soul Spawn on Jun 28, 2008 6:27:37 GMT
I stare at Corwyn and release his sleeve, then turns and head towards Dirac.
"Dirac. We must press on. Find the wood burner, quickly. Find out what he knows and report back. Then we move on the baron. Go."
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Post by Dirac Sil on Jun 28, 2008 7:13:22 GMT
Dirac gives Soul Spawn a look, though whether it is to do with being ordered around, to do with Corwyn's potential actions, or to do with the apparently sane actions of one he thought a bloodthirsty fool he does not disclose.
He nods his head and walks across to Greeban, smiling wanly and speaking quietly.
"Good morning. Incase you had not noticed, my new paymaster is...special. Paranoid certainly. He thinks the pilgrim's ailment is proof someone tried to kill him." Dirac rolls his eyes. "I made the mistake of sketching in the strange goings on. Now he thinks all the riders were here for him." Dirac shakes his head. "Seriously - any word of work, give it to your man in Nahsor." Ddirac sighs. "I thought if I could get Gumder or Flamber - probably Gumber, more reliable - to talk to my paymaster to prove the riders were nothing to do with him, it might calm him enough to get him to leave here."
Dirac looks back to Corwyn. "Whatever crimes in business have driven him to mad, I hope the shrine calms him down." Drac looks back to Greeban. "Where can I find Gumber just now? More importantly, is there anythng I could give him for the inconvenience?"
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Post by Slavemaster on Jun 28, 2008 15:06:44 GMT
Greeban nods to Dirac and throws a quick glance in Corwyn's direction.
"Ah. I see. Well, you can't make a lot of money without making a lot of enemies, eh? I highly doubt anyone here is after your man - none of the lads I've talked to recognise him, at least - but weell, if it can make him happy, and means some gold for you, so why not? Gumders has his piles up at the Hangman's Oak, along with some other colliers. It's about two miles along the track north-west, you can see where it starts, it's right by the Tibbin's pigsty and..."
He gives you some more directions, involving such landmarks as 'mossy boulder' and 'lover's willow', which Dirac pays careful attention too. Greeban then leans forward and lowers his voice.
"Now, the colliers are not what you might call the most sociable characters - it's not good for your mind, spending the nights out in the woods watching the piles - but ol' Gumders is really one of the meaner ones. Chances are that he will come up with a real whopper of a story, involving headless horsemen and assassins prowling the woods, if he thinks it might give your fancy paymaster a good scare. So I suggest you take along something to make him a bit more friendly towards you."
He grins and picks up a clay jug from under the counter.
"Last years Kicker, the apples were really good then, as I recall. Only two lune, because it's you. Ol' man Gumders will be your best friend after the first sip, and at least a distant aquaintance to any posh nobleman or merchant after the third, promise!"
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Post by Dirac Sil on Jun 28, 2008 15:38:41 GMT
"If I must go two miles out to sooth my paymaster, I think 4 Lune more appropriate for such a vintage," whispers Dirac in return, gesturing to the counter where Dirac's shrinking purse is still secured and winking. At least while Dirac will be compensated, he can try and generate a reputation for generosity.
Dirac goes back to the group, to 'report' to his paymaster, though in reality to see if the group will willingly leave now to see the collier.
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Soul Spawn
Gamer
Night Born Nad-Adez Konkor
Posts: 183
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Post by Soul Spawn on Jun 28, 2008 15:56:39 GMT
"Very good, Dirac. Myself and Hawks Bane will accompany you."
Turning to the sorcerer, I say, "Corwyn, are you coming?"
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Post by Michael of Eshnar on Jun 28, 2008 17:42:00 GMT
"I have little else to do, and it is by no means assured that Taden won't keep quiet, so I'm happy to come with you." The mage plucks at his robe's sleeves fastidiously and then joins the rest of the group.
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Post by Slavemaster on Jun 28, 2008 19:46:28 GMT
It is still a couple of hours before noon as you set out on the small path Greeban pointed out to you. It is hardly wide enough to be called a path; nearest to the village it is a sunken road which last nights rain has filled with muddy water, and then it winds its way up to higher ground in the forest, where it becomes a narrow track. You carefully negotiate your way past fallen trees and mud-filled holes, ducking for low branches while Dirac keeps careful lookout for the landmarks Greeban mentioned.
The mere two miles takes you almost an hour, and the mosquitoes have multiplied since the rain and swarm around you. It is hot and humid in the air, but soon patches of burnt ground and a few stubs where trees have been cut down shows you are on the right track.
At last the path broadens and between two high trees you can see a clearing with three large clay-covered wood piles of the sort the charcoal burners use. You seem to have found the place.
As you prepare to move out into the clearing, Soul Spawn notice something gleam just for a moment in the light, which turns out to be a very thin wire strung between the oaks at ankle height, almost concealed by the grass; someone appears to have set up a tripwire...
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Hawk's Bane
Seasoned Player
Harbinger of Evil who's leaking like a drippy tap
Posts: 107
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Post by Hawk's Bane on Jun 29, 2008 3:48:00 GMT
"What is it?", Hawk's Bane asked the other Hunter. He looked to where Soul Spawn was observing and he too saw the tripwire. "Someone set this, possible an alarm to warn when something or someone passes by here. We should be careful and mind our steps in case the whole area is covered with them."
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Post by Dirac Sil on Jun 29, 2008 5:36:11 GMT
"Or we could appear harmlessly inept. As long as the jug is seen first," says Dirac in retort.
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Post by Slavemaster on Jun 29, 2008 6:07:34 GMT
As Dirac pokes the tripwire with a stick, a jangling sound is heard further away, from what sounds like a bundle of bottles and random metal objects. The next second, hurried albeit somewhat shuffling steps are heard, and a shape emerges from behind the burning pile in the middle of the clearing. It seems to be an old man, wearing a heavy leather coat, black from the charcoal. You can't make out his face - it's just a mass of matted hair and beard of indeterminate colour, with a floppy black hat on top. He is brandishing an ancient crossbow.
"'ere, whoizzit? Who's there? What are you comin' here for? Ain't got no silver, haven't seen a coin since the ole baron snuffed it! You jus' turn round and go the same way you came, or I set the dogs on yez!"
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Post by Dirac Sil on Jun 29, 2008 8:31:29 GMT
"If coin has passed you by that long, then Greeban's finest Kicker from last year must surely have passed you by too!" Dirac shakes the jug, letting the sloshing sound register. "We're looking to know the road conditions out this way, from someone who knows what they are talking about."
Dirac makes a show of looking around. "Unless people steal wood during the daytime, would you be able to spare us some time and share a morning drink?"
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Post by Slavemaster on Jun 29, 2008 9:40:47 GMT
The sloshing of the Kicker immediately seem to appease the man, although it is difficult to tell since you can't see his face. But he relax a bit and lowers the crossbow.
"Steal the wood? Is that what you think I'm doin' guarding it from brigands? Hah! That's city folk for ya! Yez dunno anythin' about charcoal burnin' eh? I tell you, my watchin' those piles is the difference between a batch of finest charcoal and a big pile of useless ash. Ye know, if the fire gets out of hand, then..."
Here, he gets into a long rant about combustion, flues and how moist the clay needs to be, but he moves forward and snatches the jug, sniffing it.
"Weeell, ye seem ta be decent folk, for posh city slickers at any rate! Guess a drink won't hurt. Have a sit if ye absolutely must, the ground is yours for the choosin'." He lets out a hacking laugh and produces a blackened mug and pour himself a drink large enough to kill most men, and then sits down against a tree to closely watch the pile again.
"Now then, what did ye sez bring you all up here, then?"
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Post by Michael of Eshnar on Jun 29, 2008 13:58:57 GMT
"We're looking for information, old man," says Corwyn, in the most normal voice he can muster. "My factor here," he indicates Dirac, "has brought wine and gold for your pleasure and we invite you to take drink with us."
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Post by Slavemaster on Jun 29, 2008 17:07:53 GMT
Gumders appears to be staring into his mug as he considers Corwyn's words.
"Gold, sez ye? And wine too, for my 'plesh-oor' eh? And jez fer some 'information'? Well, fancy that. Seems ta me, any sort o' 'information' worth that much might very well be the kind o' information that can get a man hanged, or worse, if ye catch me drift..."
He takes a gulp from the mug and shudders a bit.
"Ah, the good stuff. Good for the stomach, it's been playin' up somethin' cruel lately, prob'ly them pink mushrooms I had in last weeks stew... But anyway... anyway... Seems ta me, there's been an awful lot of folk creeping around lately, askin' questions... Bodies floating up in the creek, tha' sorta fing."
He looks up at Corwyn, and there is just a hint of a beady eye between the strands of matted hair that suggests he is peering suspiciously at you.
"Dunno what yez folk are up to, or why such posh toffs like yerself suddenly wants to give ol' Gumders wine and gold, instead o' the usual floggin'... So, if yez want to know what I know, then what I, Gumders Collier, son o' Gribbins Collier, want ta know is: What's it yer up to, and why do yez want ta know? How much trouble will I get inta for talkin' ta yez? Will someone give me my last bath in the creek, jus' like that poor soldier boy?"
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Post by Michael of Eshnar on Jun 29, 2008 21:19:09 GMT
"If you want a flogging," says Corwyn, rolling his eyes, "that can be arranged. But no, as far as I am aware, nobody is likely to murder you for what we want to know. So, just drink up, there's a good fellow."
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