Heroica RPG - Quest#154: Confidence Game

[Yzalirk]

"I can understand we have to protect the gold but stones..?  Why stones?  And do you suspect any group or organization to be behind the attacks?  I understand you see it as an 'inside job' but they most likely are used to gather intelligence relating to your caravans.  Surely we are dealing with professionals, no?"  Addok-Zo gives Mr. Tweed a look, as if there is more to the story he is not telling.

[Mencot]

13 hours ago, Flipz said:

"And who will be with us?"  The unasked question--'And will they really be with us?'--hangs heavy upon the air.  "If there is a tri...tray...vahnrksk with us who acts against us, how will we know which one it is?"  Zanna looks around for the Blanton.  "And does the Blanton know our plan?"

"That is why I hired you heroes! These bandits have taken out the best of my men, so that is why I need something more than just guts and that is why I sent Blanton to get the best of what Heroica has to offer...

6 hours ago, Goliath said:

"I can understand we have to protect the gold but stones..?  Why stones?  And do you suspect any group or organization to be behind the attacks?  I understand you see it as an 'inside job' but they most likely are used to gather intelligence relating to your caravans.  Surely we are dealing with professionals, no?"  Addok-Zo gives Mr. Tweed a look, as if there is more to the story he is not telling.

But after these comments Tweed gets a feeling these two ain´t the most cunning the Heroica has to offer. He answer them strictly.

"What I just told you about the transport and the gold, is just between the four of us."

"The stones are part of the decay vagon, and the "decoy chests" are filled with stones to represent the weight of a real goldchest."

Before he can continue there is  three knocks on the door.

"Finally! What is it?"

There is two more fast knocks on the door and one slow.

"Good, come on in."

Door opens and three persons walk in through the door, Blanton, a woman in a black dress and a sleek looking man wearing a blue outfit with a gold crown on it. The man closes the door behind him and locks it.

"Hello again heroes."

"Now we are all here and we can start. Blanton, you know already.

This is my daughter Samantha Tweed." He points at the young woman.

"And this is John Alburn, one of my close friends and Hinckwell representative.

The woman walks next to Mr Tweed. Alburn stays on the others side keeping an eye on the heroes all the time.

The young woman looks really uncomfortable in her dress and she tries to adjust it,

"Father, is this necessary that I wear this horrible thing all day long. You know I hate this acting like a lady..."

"Samantha! We have gone through this a hundred times, that is not how a young lady is suppose to behave. Prim and proper. What would your mother had said if she would see you behave like this infront of our guests." Addressing to the heroes at the same time.

The young woman turns to the heroes, "So these are the adventures of Heroica, intresting. Nice to meet you, I have always been fasinated by your organization."

"Sam..."

"What father, you were a adventurer when you were young. The world has changed, a woman can also be a hero."

The man from Hinckwell speaks up,

"The world is changing yes but lets get to the point. Heroes, you know why you are here, there is a problem and with your help we will need to fix it."

"Yes. Heroes, you asked if we were suspicious of some band or organization of bandits." Mr Tweed opens a drawer in his bureau and takes out a pouch and a small silver pin falls out from it into his hand.

"This pin was found after the previous raid. It is clear that it belongs to these criminals called the Wolfgang. I have heard they are trying to show of a more civilized appearence and lay off the criminal ways but this is pretty serious proof. Taking in consideration that the raids are well planed and finished, it is no local thugs."

"The rumor that the wolf followers has cracked down on crime is just pure speculations. They are dangerous criminals and a huge treat to welfare and future of Eubric and the rest of Olegia. And all of them should be brought to justice."

Tweed hands the pin to Blanton that he can pass it around to the heroes.

 

Edited October 1, 2016 by Mencot

[Yzalirk]

"And by justice you mean dead."  Addok-Zo laughs.  "Let's get to work, shall we?"

[Waterbrick Down]

Boris bows in greeting to the new comers. "Sir. Mam."

18 hours ago, Mencot said:

The man from Hinckwell speaks up,

"The world is changing yes but lets get to the point. Heroes, you know why you are here, there is a problem and with your help we will need to fix it."

"Changing, yes, but perhaps not always for the best." Boris inspects the pin, "Seems somewhat convenient that a trinket such as this would have been lost." The vampire looks up to the group. "Don't get me wrong, the Wolfgang certainly have their issues, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was planted as some sort of distraction."

"Mr. Tweed, who and how was this pin discovered?"

[Mencot]

5 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said:

Boris bows in greeting to the new comers. "Sir. Mam."

"Changing, yes, but perhaps not always for the best." Boris inspects the pin, "Seems somewhat convenient that a trinket such as this would have been lost." The vampire looks up to the group. "Don't get me wrong, the Wolfgang certainly have their issues, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was planted as some sort of distraction."

"Mr. Tweed, who and how was this pin discovered?"

"That can be true but it is the biggest lead we have. It was found by one of our guards pretty close to the location where the last raid had happened. They told us that they had followed some trail into the nearby forest but they had lost the trail and nothing else was found than this and green dark green cloth stuck in some brushwood.

5 hours ago, Goliath said:

 "Let's get to work, shall we?"

"Like your enthusiasm but we will have to wait until dawn, it would be suicide to go out now."

Edited October 2, 2016 by Mencot

[Mencot]

There was some discussion and planning for a few hours wherefrom the heroes were mostly quiet. 

"We will finish up here planning, you can go get some sleep. I have made arrangements that you can sleep at the servants quarters, it is the hallway just down the stairs to the right from the main door.

Good night heroes."

Everybody wishes them goodnight and the heroes leave the room.

There was also a small feast with acrobats and some food in the atrium after the meeting. The heroes had already gone to bed, so they missed out on that but it was just a "filler scene" and maybe it was for the best because waking up in the morning could had been difficult with all the free booze.

Edited October 3, 2016 by Mencot

[Flipz]

Zanna rests in her bedroll, eager to face the challenge of the new day.

[Mencot]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Heroes wake up relaxed in the morning after good nights sleep, after a small breakfast that had been laid out for them in the servants quarter they get up to the main part of the house. There they meet up with the Hinckwell solider John Alburn and they find out that everything has been planned and taken care of.

"Good morning heroes, the four of us will be going with the first gold transport and they have already been loaded at the stables. So lets move out there, won`t we?

Edited October 3, 2016 by Mencot

[Flipz]

Zanna nods, but then frowns.  "Forgive my bad Common, but I thought we would be five?  We were told it would be the three of us from the tribe of Heroica, and two others.  Did I hear wrong?"

[Waterbrick Down]

Boris stretches, doing his best to avoid the morning light peeking over the walls of the city. "And what of the second transport?"

[Yzalirk]

Addok-Zo stretches, cracking his back and neck.  "Yeah... ready."

[Mencot]

8 hours ago, Flipz said:

Zanna nods, but then frowns.  "Forgive my bad Common, but I thought we would be five?  We were told it would be the three of us from the tribe of Heroica, and two others.  Did I hear wrong?"

"We talked about it last night after you had left and we agreed that it would be better that I take the position with you on the cart instead of two of Tweeds guards. And put the best of them on the other vagon.

But we will meet up with Mr Tweed at the stables and he can tell you more about it."

6 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said:

Boris stretches, doing his best to avoid the morning light peeking over the walls of the city. "And what of the second transport?"

"Blanton should be on the other vagon... if he can get up this morning, he had pretty much to drink last night. Haven´t seen him ever drink and I don´t think he could hold his liquor pretty well. However I didn´t think that he was the best option for the job because he can´t fight and he is bit of a coward."

Edited October 4, 2016 by Mencot

[Flipz]

18 minutes ago, Mencot said:

"We talked about it last night after you had left and we agreed that it would be better that I take the position with you on the cart instead of two of Tweeds guards. But we will meet up with Mr Tweed at the stables and he can tell you more about it."

"Blanton should be on the other vagon... if he can get up this morning, he had pretty much to drink last night. Haven´t seen him ever drink and I don´t think he could hold his liquor pretty well. However I didn´t think that he was the best option for the job because he can´t fight and he is bit of a coward."

"That is strange.  On the way here, the Blanton killed a demon the rest of us almost could not hit.  I do not know if he can be called a khrnksh as you say, but he can fight well."  Zanna glares at the Alburn, not bothering to disguise her flagrant suspicion of the man.

[Waterbrick Down]

10 hours ago, Mencot said:

"Blanton should be on the other vagon... if he can get up this morning, he had pretty much to drink last night. Haven´t seen him ever drink and I don´t think he could hold his liquor pretty well. However I didn´t think that he was the best option for the job because he can´t fight and he is bit of a coward."

"What makes you say that friend? We had the fortune of traveling up here with him, are you aware of something that we aren't?"

[Mencot]

9 hours ago, Flipz said:

"That is strange.  On the way here, the Blanton killed a demon the rest of us almost could not hit.  I do not know if he can be called a khrnksh as you say, but he can fight well."  Zanna glares at the Alburn, not bothering to disguise her flagrant suspicion of the man.

 

1 hour ago, Waterbrick Down said:

"What makes you say that friend? We had the fortune of traveling up here with him, are you aware of something that we aren't?"

Alburn gives the heroes a puzzled look.

"What do you mean? William told us about your journey to Luosh yesterday and that you fought bravely against an overwhelming opponent. But he did not mention that he helped out at all. He is a good fellow and erudite but he is well know for not to stretch one finger for heavy chores or anything else that seems like hard work. Odd thing this you be saying..."

The heroes finally reach the stables and the last chest of gold was about to be lifted up on the vagon. Mr Tweed was overseeing the work and instructing the workers as the party approched.

"Careful, men with the chest, don´t drop it. Good good and then the last one next to it."

"Ah heroes and John, you are here. Good, all is ready for you to set out towards Eubric. I believe John told you of the arrangements, you three and John will be transporting to first vagon and then my elitguard and Blanton will be on the other... has anyone heard anything back from William yet this morning?

One of the guards near to him speak out,

"No sir. Nothing yet."

"He seemed to have a bit too much to drink last night but I think he managed to find back to his own room."

"Alright, lets give him another half hour to clear his head, it doesn´t delay the first transport."

Mr Tweed turns his attention to the heroes,

"There will not be enough room for all four of you and the chests on the vagon, so two of you will have to go by riding. Has anyone of you any experience of riding a horse?

[Yzalirk]

"Never.  I have been on an airship many times before but never a horse."

[Mencot]

6 hours ago, Goliath said:

"Never.  I have been on an airship many times before but never a horse."

"Hmm, I guess you didn´t have many horses from where you come from. Alright, how both the two of you then?" Tweed looks on Zanna and Boris.

[Waterbrick Down]

"Can't say I ever had much opportunity, living most of my life in Eubric. Always found it easier to ride in the carriage if needed."

[Mencot]

"Okay, I guess you will have to somehow manage then being all of you on the vagon. It won't be a comfort ride, one of you will sit next to John but the other two will have to sit on the chests." 

 

Edited October 5, 2016 by Mencot

[Flipz]

2 hours ago, Mencot said:

"Hmm, I guess you didn´t have many horses from where you come from. Alright, how both the two of you then?" Tweed looks on Zanna and Boris.

"What are these 'horr-sez' you speak of?  Do they have a hard...ah...flesh-cover...and many legs?  I used to ride such mounts in Kalma, but they seem not common here.  If your 'horr-sez' are mounts, I can ride them."

[Mencot]

3 hours ago, Flipz said:

"What are these 'horr-sez' you speak of?  Do they have a hard...ah...flesh-cover...and many legs?  I used to ride such mounts in Kalma, but they seem not common here.  If your 'horr-sez' are mounts, I can ride them."

Tweed points at the horses being prepared for the trip.

"That is a horse and what you will be riding,  pure-breed stallion and the finest horses around. Your full of surprises Zannaqim, good."

"Alright, you will be riding next to the transport and John, Boris,and Addok goes on vagon. Addok you can go on the vagonback with the gold, from there you can be on the look out for ambushs with your handcannon."

" You all ready to head out?"

Alburn gets up on the vagon and picks up the reins.

"Okay, lets go."

Edited October 5, 2016 by Mencot

[Waterbrick Down]

13 hours ago, Mencot said:

"Okay, I guess you will have to somehow manage then being all of you on the vagon. It won't be a comfort ride, one of you will sit next to John but the other two will have to sit on the chests." 

"Now let's be clear, I wouldn't say I'm against riding, it's simply I don't have a lot of experience." The vampire watches as the horses are led out from the stable. Boris gently approaches one of the stallions, holding his hand out gingerly toward one of the beast's muzzles.

[Mencot]

17 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said:

"Now let's be clear, I wouldn't say I'm against riding, it's simply I don't have a lot of experience." The vampire watches as the horses are led out from the stable. Boris gently approaches one of the stallions, holding his hand out gingerly toward one of the beast's muzzles.

As he gets close to the horse and holds out his hand towards it´s head, the horse backs away and is wary at first sight of the vampire. But then it gets moves back to Boris to see what he wants.

"If you will be unsure of yourself, the horse will sence it and you will be a danger to everybody. And also if I let you ride it, you will be a danger to the mission because you will not be alert if you will have to concentrate how keep yourself on the horse. But if you mean that you are a quick learner, be my guest and get upp on the horse and show us who is the boss."

 

[Yzalirk]

Addok-Zo speaks to the horse, trying to calm it down.  "The pale scruffy one won't hurt ya, not on my watch."

Then he speaks to Boris.  "Just... try not to be so... vampire."  He cracks a disgusting smile to help indicate that Boris should be gentle with the creature.

Finally, he speaks to Mister Tweed.  "Yeah, all ready.  Hopefully the horse will trust Boris.  If not, he can just hop on the uhhhh... whatever the hell this thing is.  A cart?"

[Mencot]

21 minutes ago, Goliath said:

Finally, he speaks to Mister Tweed.  "Yeah, all ready.  Hopefully the horse will trust Boris.  If not, he can just hop on the uhhhh... whatever the hell this thing is.  A cart?"

"Cart? It is a wagon." Mr Tweed spells it out slow and articulating, "W A G O N."

"Alright, before you leave."

He opens a box an takes att three black cloaks and hands them to the heroes.

"Here, put these on, if you are gonna act as Tweed guards, you better look like ones."