Chapter Two: The Hippocampus on the Cracked Lintel

Felor could find a spot by the pond from which he could see the crown house, maybe 3-4 rounds away.

Who wants to inquire about the crown?

The innkeeper pours Zangua a drink with one hand while handing her baby off to one of the older children, back from their skiff expedition on the pond. "That's the Tuell house," she says. "Carpenters. Jeb and Little Jeb rebuilt most of this place after the last fifty-year flood." She raps her knuckles on the bar. "But Little Jeb died of a fall two summers ago, it's just Jeb and his widow daughter now. The symbol? That's his builder's mark, isn't it? That's what I always took it for." She shrugs. "What's your interest, anyway?"

Somebody pipes up behind you. "Gort Law was fixing his cart wheel outside the holy house this afternoon. You should ask him! Jeb Tuell's got the shakes now, he's not much good for real work these days." Zangua turns to see the speaker, a lanky man with shaggy blond hair and a nose that looks like it's been broken a few times.

The innkeeper tilts her head back and forth, as if to signal that the question of whether Gort Law or Jeb Tuell is a better choice for wagon wheel repair is not a matter on which she is going to render an opinion. "This isn't the Hazard tradesmans' district, fella. There's no 'open for business.' You can knock on Jeb's door, and he'll decide if he feels like dealing with you or not." She chuckles, and so do a few of the other patrons who've been listening in on your conversation.

The inn did not have any obvious symbolic markings on its door.

You have about an hour til dusk at this point.

The plan so far: Zangua and Mordred approach the house, Felor is nearby fishing in the pond, Shamush, Vad, and Leth are stationed at an undetermined location nearby, or possibly at the inn.

We need to determine if anyone wants to make alterations to that plan, and if not, clarify where Shamush/Vad/Leth will be positioned. Also, does Zangua or anyone else have any other questions for the innkeeper or other villagers?

The innkeeper gives Zangua a bemused look. "No more trouble than the sort that always find common folk, stranger. Things are fine here. If you don't like how we are, you're welcome to drag your wagon down to Headlee."

Felor, that's 5 silver for just the rod or 1 gold if you want bait, hooks, extra line, etc. You can fake-fish with just the rod but if you're going Method here, give me a Survival roll to see if you catch anything.

After about twenty minutes of fishing Felor feels a tug on his line and pulls in a seven-inch bullhead.

Let's have Shamush join Mordred and Zangua, and the others can wait with Felor to "see if he's caught anything". The three of us can hold out for a few rounds if need be.

The old "anything biting?" routine, eh? Love it! Let's do it.

Are you knocking on the door immediately, or just waiting by the house?