Chapter 1 ~ A Journey Begins

[jcftao]

One of the boys looks sheepishly at the others and digs his toe in the dirt, "Yes mam, we know the shrubber..."

Another little grubby fellow pipes up, "It was Frick, that done put a goose egg on his head, he did!"

Frick looks back harshly at the little feller, "Shut your hole, or else I'll do you the same." He looks up at the elf, "we wuz just havin' a little fun..."

[mythictom]

"We would like his cart and horse back," Moonglimmer demands gently, barely suppressing a chuckle.

" Now. " The elf-maid tries to invoke all the matronly presence she witnessed during her time in Rumpstone and directs her gaze firmly on the boy named Frick, the likely ringleader of these little scamps.

[jcftao]

"Well...we can't give the cart back," Frick replies.

The grubby little fellow next to him says, "Yes, ma'm. We done sold it!"

Try as Moonglimmer may, she can't get any more out of the young'uns.

The group notices that a couple men are looking out the window of the Lion and Lamb.

[merias]

"Clearly these boys did not act on their own, let us see who is so interested in us," Erwin says. He'll enter the tavern and take a look around.

[jcftao]

Erwin walks through the door of the Lion and Lamb tavern. I use the word tavern loosely here, for it is a dingy and dark, thatched roof shambles. A couple crude tables on one side and on the other some moldy looking barrels and kegs sit stacked haphazardly.

Erwin walks past two men he doesn't recognize. They stare at him and then return to looking out the windows. In the tavern are six more men, five of them Erwin recognizes as local villagers. The other man is dressed in leather armor. A black oaken club lies on the table among the clay cups.

The men are in various degrees of drunkeness and some snicker when Erwin walks in.

The man in leather armor looks at Erwin up and down with an appraising eye, "Well, well! Sit down, good sir! Barkeep! Get our friend a drink on me!" He kicks out a stool next to him and the others shift over to make some room.

Actions?

[Son_of_Sod]

Roger begins to speak to the two kids in an unnervingly calm manner.
Oh the naive youth, so blissfully ignorant of the moralistic structures that separate us, man, from the mere animals... he continues his lecture (though mostly speaking to himself) as he searches for a large rock, one that ideally matches the size of Frick's head.

[jcftao]

Frick watches the shrubber with interest as he wanders around the front of the Lion and Lamb.

Roger picks up a couple stones and weighs them, one in each hand, all the while looking at Frick.

The other boys look at Frick and tense up.

Actions?

Does Roger find a suitable rock? d6=5. Yes, he does!

[mythictom]

Moonglimmer is conflicted. Is it right and honorable to allow Roger to stone young Frick? Frick is on the path to Chaos, to be sure. Perhaps a good thumping will right the boy to the path of Order? Or not. Let it be on Roger's knotted head to decide.

The onlookers in the shack concern the e!f more. She decides to use her keen elfin perception to scan the village and for others watching the interaction here at the Lion and Lamb.

OOC: Moonglimmer stays put, but looks around for either an ambush or an unruly mob.

[jcftao]

Moonglimmer doesn't see anyone else with hostile intentions in the village. There are a few villagers moving here and there and farmers doing their chores, but only the children on the porch and the two men staring out the windows seem to be focused on the group.

[Son_of_Sod]

Roger, after selecting the heavier of the two rocks, walks up to Frick.
Now my boy, perhaps you would be so kind as to tell us who you sold my horse and cart to.
Roger seems to be ready to use that rock if he hears an answer he doesn't like.