Post by hubertbartels on Mar 19, 2017 14:36:44 GMT -5
(Aerwyn reporting)
Back at the Trembly Inn, the next day, we began to make inquiries. Our first stop was the reeve, Dame
Bronwyn where we brought her up to date on our findings and asked to see the local tax records. It was in a large book with cramped handwriting. I (Aerwyn) spoke up and said that I would go through the records and try and find out the true sizes of Dame Griselda’s herds.
The others asked about the losses from the king’s tax herds. Taken were 30 cows, 60 to 120 sheep and
about 30 goats out of 100 cows, 300 sheep and 100 goats. The others were scattered but later rounded up again.
Saphie and Wolfram went off to talk to the healers at the hospitalry outside of town – there were a few questions we forgot to ask yesterday. They spoke to Brother Adelpias who answered that Caiden did receive magical healing for his infection and that several other people came in with other small injuries at roughly the same time. Records showed that they all came from Dame Griselda’s estates.
Back at the reeve, I finished up my assessment of the tax records. Returning, Wolfram looked over my numbers and mentioned that Dame Griselda would probably be spreading the wealth around – there would no way that she could hide the missing animals in her herds without her neighbors finding out.
So, the herds were being moved quickly to market, either towards Midmeadow or up towards the Theocracy of the Pale. And they were being moved quietly. Saphie and Wolfram went out again to make inquiries – starting with the caravansary where merchants and their wagons stopped while in town.
A merchant and his guards mentioned an odd thing while they were travelling to Trembly. They saw a large mixed herd of animals being moved south. The drovers were keeping the herd well off the road.
The next morning, we set out southwards. At the mile marker that the merchant mentioned, we found a large number of hoof prints and fresh dung in a pasture. Trailing the herd, we continued to travel southwards, avoiding the roads and houses. It took all day. We made a quick camp that evening and continued trailing the herd the next day.
The route taken by the drovers and the herd continued southwards but started to curve. Around noon, the route seemed to head towards Motte Severan.
The ruined castle seemed to have a great view over the landscape, so we began to use the copses of trees to take cover as we approached. Then we discovered an old campsite. From the look of the debris and layout, Thabo said that it was probably made by orcs. When the campfire was lit, the light would be easily been seen from the castle ruins. Could the brigands be trading with orcs?
We decided to wait for nightfall and light the fire. Hiding in the surrounding woods, we saw two men in heavy leather armor come down to investigate. Saphie charmed one – the other yelled, “Ned, it’s a setup!”, before shooting his crossbow. More men appeared out of the woods, firing crossbows. I dropped a fog cloud on them, forcing them to come at us with swords.
When the fight was over, we tied up the survivors and brought one around to question him. He told us that he takes orders from Gregor and Gregor takes his orders from the Grey Fox. He didn’t know who the Grey Fox was but Gregor might.
Gregor was supposed to be in Motte Severan. We decided to clear out the ruins, Circling around the castle, we entered the ruined gatehouse. Inside the courtyard, we could hear the nervous bleating of sheep and goats. There was light inside the castle keep and two men in the courtyard. They were yelling at two more men standing on the walls. We started our way across the courtyard, using the herd to hide our movement. Then we noticed two more brigands standing on the gatehouse, over our heads.
Returning to the gatehouse, we climbed the stairs up to the roof. The two brigands on the roof were ready for us but Wolfram and Thabo took them down quickly. Saphie cast an illusion of wolf howls to make the herd restless and to cover the noise of fighting.
Down in the castle courtyard, Gregor and two more brigands stepped onto the stairs leading from the courtyard to the keep. We returned to the ground and moved through the sheep to take on the three. Arrows began to land among us, fired by the brigands on the walls. We rushed up to the base of the steps. Gregor’s bodyguards were no match for Thabo and Wolfram and quickly went down. Gregor dropped his sword. The brigands in the courtyard and the ones on the wall turned to flee.
While Duncan and Saphie started to secure our prisoner, Wolfram, Thabo, and I started after the escaping brigands. At the base of the steps, Gregor quickly drew a dagger and stabbed Saphie. I turned back when I heard the yelling.
Wolfram and Thabo were about to enter the gatehouse when Gregor made his move. Wolfram sprinted back to the prisoner but by that time, Duncan and Saphie had dropped Gregor. I had just arrived at the base of the steps when four orcs stepped into courtyard from the top of the steps.
Back at the Trembly Inn, the next day, we began to make inquiries. Our first stop was the reeve, Dame
Bronwyn where we brought her up to date on our findings and asked to see the local tax records. It was in a large book with cramped handwriting. I (Aerwyn) spoke up and said that I would go through the records and try and find out the true sizes of Dame Griselda’s herds.
The others asked about the losses from the king’s tax herds. Taken were 30 cows, 60 to 120 sheep and
about 30 goats out of 100 cows, 300 sheep and 100 goats. The others were scattered but later rounded up again.
Saphie and Wolfram went off to talk to the healers at the hospitalry outside of town – there were a few questions we forgot to ask yesterday. They spoke to Brother Adelpias who answered that Caiden did receive magical healing for his infection and that several other people came in with other small injuries at roughly the same time. Records showed that they all came from Dame Griselda’s estates.
Back at the reeve, I finished up my assessment of the tax records. Returning, Wolfram looked over my numbers and mentioned that Dame Griselda would probably be spreading the wealth around – there would no way that she could hide the missing animals in her herds without her neighbors finding out.
So, the herds were being moved quickly to market, either towards Midmeadow or up towards the Theocracy of the Pale. And they were being moved quietly. Saphie and Wolfram went out again to make inquiries – starting with the caravansary where merchants and their wagons stopped while in town.
A merchant and his guards mentioned an odd thing while they were travelling to Trembly. They saw a large mixed herd of animals being moved south. The drovers were keeping the herd well off the road.
The next morning, we set out southwards. At the mile marker that the merchant mentioned, we found a large number of hoof prints and fresh dung in a pasture. Trailing the herd, we continued to travel southwards, avoiding the roads and houses. It took all day. We made a quick camp that evening and continued trailing the herd the next day.
The route taken by the drovers and the herd continued southwards but started to curve. Around noon, the route seemed to head towards Motte Severan.
The ruined castle seemed to have a great view over the landscape, so we began to use the copses of trees to take cover as we approached. Then we discovered an old campsite. From the look of the debris and layout, Thabo said that it was probably made by orcs. When the campfire was lit, the light would be easily been seen from the castle ruins. Could the brigands be trading with orcs?
We decided to wait for nightfall and light the fire. Hiding in the surrounding woods, we saw two men in heavy leather armor come down to investigate. Saphie charmed one – the other yelled, “Ned, it’s a setup!”, before shooting his crossbow. More men appeared out of the woods, firing crossbows. I dropped a fog cloud on them, forcing them to come at us with swords.
When the fight was over, we tied up the survivors and brought one around to question him. He told us that he takes orders from Gregor and Gregor takes his orders from the Grey Fox. He didn’t know who the Grey Fox was but Gregor might.
Gregor was supposed to be in Motte Severan. We decided to clear out the ruins, Circling around the castle, we entered the ruined gatehouse. Inside the courtyard, we could hear the nervous bleating of sheep and goats. There was light inside the castle keep and two men in the courtyard. They were yelling at two more men standing on the walls. We started our way across the courtyard, using the herd to hide our movement. Then we noticed two more brigands standing on the gatehouse, over our heads.
Returning to the gatehouse, we climbed the stairs up to the roof. The two brigands on the roof were ready for us but Wolfram and Thabo took them down quickly. Saphie cast an illusion of wolf howls to make the herd restless and to cover the noise of fighting.
Down in the castle courtyard, Gregor and two more brigands stepped onto the stairs leading from the courtyard to the keep. We returned to the ground and moved through the sheep to take on the three. Arrows began to land among us, fired by the brigands on the walls. We rushed up to the base of the steps. Gregor’s bodyguards were no match for Thabo and Wolfram and quickly went down. Gregor dropped his sword. The brigands in the courtyard and the ones on the wall turned to flee.
While Duncan and Saphie started to secure our prisoner, Wolfram, Thabo, and I started after the escaping brigands. At the base of the steps, Gregor quickly drew a dagger and stabbed Saphie. I turned back when I heard the yelling.
Wolfram and Thabo were about to enter the gatehouse when Gregor made his move. Wolfram sprinted back to the prisoner but by that time, Duncan and Saphie had dropped Gregor. I had just arrived at the base of the steps when four orcs stepped into courtyard from the top of the steps.