The Two Barons (RP)

- Norbert -

"My...? father...? What do you mean?" Phil says defensively, once more withdrawing into himself and clutching at his jacket, and looking around for Theo for protection.

You remember that it is Theo's father who is the mayor, and that the mayor only has one son, but your question seems to have shaken Phil more than a simple mistake should have.

What do you do?

"Oh, yes, of course. Good idea." Christian says when Roald suggest leaving a lookout to report on the baron's arrival. He calls out to two farmers who have not completely wandered away. "These heroes have a job for you." He tells them --you have noticed that Christian does not have a lot of authority in the resistance, and tends to make use of passing around other people's ideas and authority.

When you tell the farmers what you need they grumble a bit ("How long do we need to stay here?" being the top of the pile) but comply willingly enough --farmers are accustomed to such 'watch' jobs --especially those with sheep, Norbert will know.

"Any of the resistance would be proud to put you up for the night." Christian declares, returning to Roald's other enquiry. Implied in that is that he, too, would be proud, but you get the feeling that he --and possibly most-- would rather someone else got the duty of being thusly proud. You could choose to stay with anyone here and they will agree.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"Oh, yes. Theo's dad." Phil says, but it sounds like like he does not fully believe you. "Let me tell you a secret." Phil says, maybe as a ploy to get change the subject --from though from what, you can not be sure. "Theo's father had nothing to do with any of this. He does not know about this 'resistance' and has not been helping them... but neither does Theo... I am not sure why they think Theo is involved, but that does suggest there is a spy in the mayor's ranks."

He drops his voice even further. "He does not know that we ... that Theo... left town. Theo allowed those farmers... where have they gotten to, anyway?" You notice that the bodyguards seem to have forgotten that they were not just here to meet with their resistance buddies, and they have wandered off when the other farmers dispersed --though you still heard Gerard protesting against Helga when you left. "... They just assumed, and then Theo let them believe that the mayor was hiring them, but he paid out of his pocket-money."

"I think I have seen your bothers when they come to town." Phil answers your other question dreamily. He almost says something more but then blushes and pretends to be looking around for Theo or the missing bodyguards and is relieved when you turn to Albert.

"What!" Phil says defensively at Norbert's raised eyebrow. "I was there for that part." Which only excuses the bit about the bodyguards not all the assurances about the baron or Theo.

As the group reforms around Roald, you can reassess your party. In addition to the three adventurers you still have Daryl, Theo and Phil. "Where did the protection get to?" Phil asks Theo nervously. "We don't need them anymore." Theo says dismissively, we was worried about the group before but, now that he has met the 'heroes' he seems to trust them. Phil nods and smiles in agreement. There is no mention of who the baron will feel about them abandoning their post.

Christian looks concerned about these numbers... or was it the word 'meal'. "The ... six ... of you?" He asks, counting on his fingers. "We can go to Olaf's." He decides. "Olga can cook.". He seems much happier now that that responsibility is lifted from him. "And we can wait for Olaf."

Four kids --aged between three and eight-- are playing a noisy game in the yard, but they break off to stare at the adventurers --Dylan in his shining armour being a particular point of excitement-- as you arrive at Olaf's house. Christian looks nervous as he tentatively knocks on the kitchen door, hat in hand.

Olga turns out to be a large woman, her red face smeared with the flour that coats her hands up to the elbows. "What do you want?" She demands of Christian uncharitably, glaring at the rest of the group.

"These are Olaf's friends." Christian lies. "Great adventurers and allies of The Resistance. They need food and a place to sleep tonight." He explains. "And you know I can't feed them."

She glares at him some more, it does not look like being friends of Olaf --nor aiding the Resistance-- inclines Olga towards your favour, but the need for food makes her face soften. "I suppose they better come in." She says grudgingly. "Where is that no-good husband of mine?" She demands, but does not really pay too much attention to Christian's story. "Stop gawking!" She shouts at the kids halfway though his answer about going to see his contact. "And go wash up for dinner."

The kids make their way to a pump in the yard and biggest struggles to get it moving. If any of you want to wash up as well, or just want to help with the pump, you can do so before going in.

---

The table is a bit crowded with all of you --a light rain has started, else Olga would have set up on the table in the yard-- and the kids are forced to share stools --unless you are brave enough to let them sit on your laps, like Dylan did-- and you are just wondering where Olaf will sit if he returns when you hear his loud voice in the yard outside:

"... wrong < swearword > baron! How could we get the wrong < swearword > baron!" He sounds angry, and Christian looks worried about what comes next.

What do you do?

At the pump, Phil is keen to get clean again --the trip into the attic has left its mark-- but again, anyone watching might notice an abnormal amount of care over his clothes --ill-fitting and unimpressive as they are. He is also very careful not to remove his leather hat while washing his face. Phil laughs delightedly at Roald's 'assaults' on Norbert... until the clothes start coming off, when he turns away and heads quickly into the house. Theo follows.

Daryl needs a little help getting the gauntlets off his hands so he can wash up and eat, but soon there are kids running around wearing them and his helmet and wielding willow switch swords at each other till there are tears --despite Norbert's efforts.

Olga is a bit suspicious of Albert's offer at first, but grudgingly accepts and tasks him with bulking up the existing stew --and wondering if his duties extended to cleaning up after-- while she adds another loaf of bread to the oven. "It will be a bit flat." She apologises to no one in particular. "It really should rest until tomorrow morning before baking. But you young bucks have good teeth." And, indeed, the flat dense loaf is delicious if eaten while still warm before it gets hard.

The eight-year-old who 'saved Roald's life' straightens Dylan's helmet which is slipping off his head and squeezes proudly onto a shared-stool instead of climbing back onto Dylan's lap. So Dylan can finally get to eating properly, though it is still awkward as his armour restricts his range of movement.

---

When Olaf barges through the door --shaking rain from his beard and hair-- he looks more surprised to see his brother at his kitchen table than he does to find the rest of you strangers. But he rallies quickly enough. "It's the other baron!" He declares without any greeting. "The Clodo-one. Nixon said 'the baron', why did we all just assume it was this one instead of the one way over on the other side of the valley?" He ask, easily shifting the blame for this assumption from his shoulders alone. "Not sure what we can do about that." He says, and again the apology seems to be directed Theo's way.

"Budge up." He grunts, sweeping a gaggle of kids off a stool, plonking down tiredly, and reaching for bread, stew, and ale.

What do you do?

- Albert -

"What girl's this, then?" Olga asks as you work. She does not appear to know anything about this, and you get the impression she may frown upon some of the ideas you guys had about what was happening.