Session 2: [Sat Apr 29 20:55:03 CDT 2000]

RECAP

[Mike]: It is late October. Chilly and colorful but not yet snowing. (MORE)

[Mike]: Baerstolwef and Robhammed have come to the town of Barlow. They are staying at an inn called Jake's Dog. MORE

[Mike]: The people of Barlow are scared. Some killer or monster has killed nineteen townsfolk over the last three or four weeks. Mostly children, but also some adults. Those who claim to have seen it think it is a giant bear or wolf. What is left of the victims often has great chunks of flesh ripped away. The priests at the bar mentioned a Collatovin the Scribe who claims the thing walked upright and wore flame around its head like a halo. MORE

[Mike]: The Barlow Trade Council is offering a bounty of 280 crowns to anyone who can produce the killer, dead or alive. MORE

[Mike]: The attacks usually come from the north side of town. Many years ago, an old witch named Bethyaga lived on that side of town. Some people suspect she had something to do with this, but she has not been seen in 20 years, and no one has ever found her home. MORE

[Rob]: yes and we wanted 500

[Mike]: After the conversations in the bar, Baer and Rob went back to the forest for their stuff and retired for the night. MORE

[Mike]: It is now morning. You are both waking up to dawn just breaking. There is the smell of fresh cooking from downstairs.

[Mike]: Game on. SCENE 4

[Baer]: We want to go to the North side of town and let me see if I can track around for Bethyaga's Hut.

[Mike]: Rob?

[Baer]: Since the attacks happen during the day- there's not much for us to do until nightfall.

[Rob]: I agree

[Mike]: Cool.

[Mike]: You guys are gathering your equipment (the weapons were supposed to be checked with the innkeeper, but you snuck them in).

[Mike]: You head downstairs, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

[Mike]: I slim armored man stops you guys at the front door.

[Baer]: We bristle and make it known we don't want trouble.

[Mike]: He is short and slim. Wearing spotless chainmail. He openly wears a longsword on his side. Baer bristles. Its obvious the little dwarf doesn't want trouble.

[Rob]: I say we talk to him

[Rob]: what do you think Baer

[Baer]: You go, big guy-- you're a little better looking

[Mike]: He speaks in a slow smooth voice. He's almost effeminate in his manner: "Pardon me, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to look through your things."

[Rob]: I approach the worrier ............good day Baer says, "That will not be happening, sir."

[Rob]: why?

[Mike]: "I'm afraid it is quite necessary." MORE

[Mike]: "Allow me to introduce myself--I'm Sheriff Flinn, also with the Blue Gauntlet." MORE

[Mike]: [[You have both heard of the Blue Gauntlet before. A loosely organized group of Paladins worshipping Torm the Defender.]] MORE

[Mike]: "You may or may not know, but our little town has had a bit of trouble recently." MORE

[Mike]: "So I just need to look through your stuff and ask a few questions."

[Rob]: I stop him ....ask your questions

[Mike]: Sheriff Flinn is a very attractive man. Smooth and persuasive.

[Mike]: "When did the two of you arrive in Barlow?" Baer asks, "With what authority do you search us?" Baer pulls aside her cloak to reveal her sword and warhammer are at the ready.

[Rob]: Why should I believe your the law what proof do you have

[Mike]: MORE

[Mike]: Flinn takes a step back at this open display of hostility. MORE

[Baer]: ooops

[Rob]: we arrived not long ago ....why the questions

[Mike]: He smiles warmly. MORE

[Mike]: "Listen friends. I am pretty much all there is of law around here, and so I'm sure you understand that we're all a little on edge." MORE

[Rob]: We are interested in the bounty for the beast

[Mike]: "I don't think the two of you are capable of the atrocities I've seen, but I can't take chances. You understand."

[Mike]: "Ah yes--the bounty--you two wouldn't be the first to try."

[Rob]: who is holds the bounty? Baer says in a calmer voice, "Sir, while I respect your authority, understand that you will not be allowed to search my belongings."

[Mike]: "Tell you what. You two let me take care of my business first, and then we can answer questions."

[Mike]: "Ma'am--your weaponry appears to be orcish or goblin workmanship. Forgive me if that piques my interest."

[Rob]: I don't think that will happen to day SIR! Baer says, "What piques your interest is of the least importance to me, Sir. I just arrived in town last night and I will not let some local barbarian rummage through my affects with his sticky fingers."

[Mike]: His look hardens. "This will be the last time I ask. Set down your weapons and open your bags for me, or you will be in clear violation of Barlow law."

[Mike]: His hand has not yet moved for his sword.

[Rob]: what are you looking for! Baer says, "As you wish." MORE

[Baer]: She pulls out her sword and warhammer and holds them defensively. She says, "The only thing you will see is the sharp end of these, friend." Baer says, "Let us pass."

[Rob]: I stand between Baer and the man Look there is no reason to start something neither of us want to finish ...tell me what your looking for and maybe we can help?

[Mike]: Sheriff Flinn says, "As a sworn officer of the law for the principality of Barlow, I hereby give you due notice that you are wanted for failure to comply with an officer in the course of his duty."

[Mike]: "Please lay down your weapons, and accompany me to the courthouse."

[Rob]: Okay I see that we have had a miss understanding and you may search her stuff Baer keeps her weapons down, and lays out her bag of goods.

[Baer]: Hello?

[Mike]: Sheriff Flinn grimaces and seems to debate with himself for a moment.

[Rob]: And what will you be looking for sir?

[Mike]: Finally, he slowly pulls out his sword, and warily pokes at the equipment presented.

[Mike]: He mumbles, "I'll know what I'm looking for when I see it."

[Mike]: After a moment, he puts his sword back.

[Mike]: "Thank you."

[Rob]: I stair at him ....Well? Baer gathers up her stuff and indignantly walks past Officer Percy, er, Flinn.

[Rob]: and I follow

[Mike]: "Now may I ask about your..." but he is cut off as the two of you brush past him.

[Baer]: We go North.

[Mike]: You hurry off, and Sheriff Flinn chooses not to follow.

[Mike]: The town proper is not big at all, and it soon gives way to smallish farms.

[Baer]: My crossbow is loaded with a bolt and held in one hand once we get out of town. My sword and warhammer are at my side.

[Rob]: what do you suggest Baer

[Mike]: The farms have mixed vegetable and staple crops (probably for personal use), and larger fields of beans and wheat (for trade).

[Mike]: The farms stop where the foothills and forest begin.

[Mike]: You are still just beyond the edge of town, but can easily see the forest from here.

[Baer]: Well, I assume the hills and forest is where we want, but maybe we should stop and talk to any farmers we see in the field. I'll stay quiet

[Mike]: OK--the first farm you come to on the northernmost edge of town...

[Mike]: It's still not long after daybreak, and two young human girls (maybe 10 to 15) are driving a dozen skinny cows from a pen.

[Mike]: You can see an older man and a boy out walking the fields of this same farm.

[Rob]: we approach the man and young boy

[Baer]: You do the talking Rob

[Mike]: As you approach, the man and boy look obviously very nervous...

[Mike]: They whisper to each other, and the man sends the boy running for the house...

[Baer]: Yes

[Mike]: The boy doesn't want to go, but obeys the man.

[Rob]: Good day sir. Might we ask you a few questions?

[Mike]: The man starts working faster at the ground he was digging and acts as if he doesn't hear you.

[Mike]: You are about 30 feet off now--just at the end of a row.

[Rob]: We are hopping to rid the town of the beast and need to know all we can to do this great service for you

[Hank]: Ask about the witch's hut.

[Mike]: He doesn't look up, but says, "Damn rope roots. Now's the only time to get 'em or they'll choke the whole field next year."

[Rob]: what do you know about the witches hut?......I hope this questions will be short and quick

[Mike]: Finally, he pulls up a thick twisted weed-root that does look very much like a rope. MORE

[Mike]: He looks nervously at you and says, "What exactly do you need?"

[Rob]: I 'm looking for the witch's hut and was told you could lead me to it

(Baer whispered to Mike): I'm not sure what the hell a biz-nitches is, but it just sounds good.

[Mike]: He wipes sweat from his neck despite the cold air. "Then you were misled. No one has ever found the old witch's lair." Baer asks, "Where is it rumored to be, old man?"

[Mike]: He waves vaguely to the forest and mountains to the north. "In there I suppose. That's where she always came from."

[Rob]: so you have see her Baer says, "Can you be more specific, sir. We mean no harm or danger. Indeed, we are here to try to protect this poor village."

[Mike]: The man answers Rob's question...

[Rob]: and the answer?

[Mike]: "Of course I saw her. She came into town twice a month."

[Mike]: "She usually bought wheat from my pa."

[Rob]: when was the last time you saw her?

[Mike]: "I was just a boy the last time she came through." Baer asks, "From which direction?"

[Mike]: Again, he waves to the north. "She normally came in from the road that leads to the mountain pass."

[Baer]: I think we've got what we need.

[Mike]: Looking in the direction of the man's hand, you can see the mountain pass trail. It is the same one the two of you came into town on.

[Rob]: did you ever speak with the witch?

[Mike]: "Oh many times. She would sit in the yard with my ma, while pa got her things ready." MORE

[Mike]: "She was always very good to us kids." MORE

[Rob]: what sort of things did she say?

[Mike]: "She'd play games and make little lights that would dance and run about." MORE

[Mike]: "And she always had thick molasses toffee candies. As kids we never saw what scared the grown-ups so much." Baer asks, "Why did she stop coming around?"

[Mike]: "But pa said she always paid a fair price and was never short."

[Mike]: "Don't know exactly. Just one month she never came around again."

[Baer]: "No one went looking for her?"

[Mike]: "Most people say the devil she got her power from finally came to collect."

[Mike]: "Pa thinks she just finally died of old age in her bed."

[Baer]: Lets go north.

[Rob]: yes

[Mike]: The man looks toward his house where the first boy stands with a woman and an older boy. He waves to them, and they relax.

[Mike]: The man sees that the conversation is over and goes back to his weeding.

Continue to CHAPTER 4