The Two Barons (RP)

Continued from The wind in her hair

The past few days have been hard on you all. Did you lie in and catch up on some rest this morning? --there is no time pressure to deal with the 'barons', but the innkeeper will have had to work to keep people from waking you earlier, and the locals --still as exited to see you this morning as they were yesterday-- were all waiting to share their opinions on how you should approach your task.

Breakfast was good, and plentiful, and the innkeeper has packed you lunch. After your recent bout of dehydration, it would not be surprising if you found yourselves carrying a bit more water than you really need.

The 'guard' bows low as she lets you out the gate --maybe hoping for a gratuity for the service-- and the morning (if it is still 'morning') is nice and warm. You are sure Ahsa would be gushing about its "beauty" or somesuch, but she was still abed if you checked.

As you approach the forest's edge (hopefully without traumatic memories) you spot a group of people on the road. You can identify the tall form of Daryl by his armour and helem --all now gleaming in the sunlight, and smelling strongly of polish.

Daryl's companions are: --you may be surprised to discover-- the mayor's son, carrying what you guess is his father's hunting crossbow and dagger; a smaller, quiet boy wearing ill-fitting leathers and a leather helmet, who appears to be constantly trying to hide behind Theuderic (Jr.); and two older men, armed only with pitchforks.

What do you do?

"Er... well." Daryl says sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck before remembering his role and dropping to one knee before the heroes. "I needed to find the scriptures to get 3 of the virtues of battle: --know you men--" He sates, motioning to the people with him. "--know your ... er... enemy... um... opposition... um, you in this case?... um... so I predicted you would be coming this way and set up here in your path--" He sounds rather proud of that. "--and know yourself--"

He takes a deep breath at this last one. "I know I can't actually read, so I had to also find someone who could read the scriptures to me. I called upon the aid of Theo," me motions to Theuderic, "but we needed help with some of it and... Phil? was it?" He enquires from the small figure behind 'Theo'. "Would only translate if we promised to bring him with us."

Daryl is almost quivering with pride at what he has accomplished in the hours since you assigned him his quest.

- Norbert -

How did you fall in with this group? Did they need your help with any of the quest?
You don't think you know Phil. But what can you tell us about the other two older men in the group? Did they come with you, or try to talk you out of- or into- coming yourself?

How do you introduce yourself, or did Daryl introduce you? (Narrate it as much as you like.)

"Yes sir!" Daryl says standing to attention and putting on his helmet.

Theo's bodyguards look uncomfortable and unsure about their job. The dog especially makes them nervous, and they seem to be struggling to decide how they can both stay far away from the dog and still 'protect' their charge from it.

Phil reaches out a tentative hand to the dog, making Theo look quite worried.

Norbert: How does your dog respond to Phil? Why is that unusual?

Phil seems very enamoured by the dog, and would have very much wanted to play with her if not for Theo's protectively restraining hand and warning shake of his head.

"What's her name?" Phil asks in a small, but high and clear voice?

Daryl sets off, his long legs carrying him at a pace that the older or shorter of you might find hard to maintain.

"What? Oh!" Daryl says looking around apparently realising for the first time how big he's gotten.

"Oh, er, yes." He agrees. "Of course. But... if we want to get there and back before dark..." He sounds worried about being out of the village at night.

- Norbert -

"I was never allowed. But I always wanted a pet   dog." Phil says, though there is the slightest of pauses that suggest he was maybe indicating a desire for a 'pet' and specified 'dog' only to appease you.

- Roald -

Daryl swells with pride at your comment about his intimidating armour, but his sweaty face does turn pale under his helmet at your question.

"It's just... you know. You hear stories about 'things'." He admits. "But I know they are just stories to scare little children into being good." It does not sound at all like he 'knows' that, but your joking attitude does not allow his ego to admit otherwise.

You can his see mind working at your question about sword use, but he apparently settles upon honesty (there is 'virtue' in honesty and honest assessment). "I have never used it." He admits, hanging his head. "My father will be so angry when he finds I have taken it." There is a pleading note to his voice, as if to say 'please don't send me back home as anything other than a hero'.

Your promise of lessons brightens his mood a lot. "You just 'stick them with the pointy bit'." He asserts, drawing the sword and showing you that he at least knows which end that is.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

Theo looks on nervously at first as Phil delightedly scratches and and pats the dog and explains. "Daddy..." He starts to say then blushes and starts again. "Father would not have them in the house." Phil shrugs.

- Roald -

Daryl stops and takes off his metal helmet. His hair is plastered to his head and his face if very red and sweaty.

"Is this working right?" He asks, mopping face and trying to fan some air into his armour.

Phil looks crestfallen as the dog darts off to the right.

"Oh! That's a relief!" Daryl exclaims to Roald. "I was worried that I was just a wimp. It was sooo cold last night, and I hoped that that armour would now keep me cool today but it is like an oven in here!"

Reluctantly putting his helmet back on, Daryl looks around to get his bearings. "We are almost there." He declares, this statement --and his others-- confirmed by nods from the other locals. "Just after that ugly clump of trees --as kids we used to always pretend they were demons, and dare each other to run past them--" he admits sheepishly, "...after that we will be in Childebert" (he pronouces it chill-der-bert) "fields and can see their 'castle'." (You can literally hear the scoffing inverted commas around 'castle').

...

The 'evil trees' of childhood-fancy look like nothing more than that. You round the bend past them, and the forest opens up to fields that look like they have not been tended for some years. Shoulder high stalks of wheat surround you in irregular patterns, and the din of birds erupting before you is enough to make anyone jump (Phil clings to Theo's arm, panting in shock).

The wheat has grown over the road as well, and Daryl bravely draws his sword and starts slashing his way through --though that is not strictly speaking 'necessary' as it is not that thick on the road that you can't push past.

Far away over the waving heads of wheat you see a rough fortification --similar to that of the village-- around a manor house that looks like, at one time, it was rather impressive by local standards.

Travel via the overgrown road will no be much faster than cutting though the field, and takes you on a long loop round to the baron. Neglected as the fields are, you can guess the baron might not care too much if you took a 'short-cut'.

What do you do?

"They are supposed to offer succor to travellers." Theo offers, but he sounds dubious. "Not sure how you would persuade him to listen to you, though."

"Do you think so?" Theo ask in response to Albert's last. "My father has not spoken to his brother in... well, not ever that I have seen. And we are not allowed even mention him in our house. Family feuds run deep."

"Recently? I think they've been more concerned about preventing us from trading with the Chlodomers." Theo guesses.

"But how long does it take for this sort of overgrowth?" He asks the group, he, himself, not knowing much about farming or anything outside the village. Anyone with any experience with wheat would be able to guess that this is a lot more than one season's growth --unless someone was deliberately spreading seed onto the road. "We got some wagons from them last autumn."

Norbert: Even over the noise of the road clearing activities and the clanking of Daryl's armour and his laboured breathing, you --with the help of your dog-- hear the sounds of people moving up ahead, and can warn your companions.

From the crest of a hill you can see the baron's palisade again and, now that you are closer, you also spy a militia of what look like farmers forming up as though to assault the fortifications. They are armed with typical-seeming farmers' improvised weapons, and don't appear to know what they are doing.

You can suspect that they have, surprisingly, gone unnoticed by the baron's people so far, or is it that the baron does not think them a threat worth any attention?

It looks like whatever action they are planning/hoping for is imminent, and they are all on edge. Startling them may be a bad idea.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

While clanking 'knights' like Daryl would find it impossible to sneak up on the group ahead, you can be fairly confident that your skills are well up to the task. You would need to ask the two newcomers whether they posses such skills, and the two bodyguards are unlikely to want to leave Theo --though they look like they might be moderately capable of some such things (in a general 'farmerly' way)-- and Theo is a pampered 'city-noble' and quite out of his comfort zone in these 'wilds'. Phil looks small and quick, and his movements when playing with your dog indicated some ability, he is probably your best bet, but seems to be 'attached' to Theo and may not be willing to venture out.

What do you do?

Phil crouches down to snuggle with the dog. "Be careful." He says tentatively to Norbert.

- Albert -

"What?! Why would they be?" Theo asks, surprised by the question, and clearly never having considered it till now.

He hops slightly to see above the waving heads of wheat and confirm. "Aren't those guys facing the wrong way if they are the baron's guards? They are focused inward on the manor house, not outward towards us."

- Norbert -

You have a passing familiarity with most of the residents of this area. Even at this distance you probably recognise some/most of the people forming up below as local farmers, not that that helps at all towards answering your question about what they are doing.

• Who among that group stands out to you, and why?
• Who are you surprised to see down there?
• Who do you think might be the leader, and do you think speaking to them might be a good or bad idea?

- Albert -

Theo bounces up again to take a look. "Bows and hoes?" He replies. "So... no?" He puts forward the idea that these are not real weapons, but bar brawls have taught you that anything can be a weapon in the right hands, and a stick with metal on the end is a scary thing to face.

"Me!?" Theo squeaks, his voice breaking from nerves and making him blush. "Oh, er. Yeah." He declares trying to sound confident as he remembers who he is and what his father would say in such a situation.

There is a bit of jostling for position as Daryl --looking exhausted-- drops back in relief, only to have Theo look confusedly at the cut wheat behind and the standing wheat in front. Theo's hunting knife will not do much good clearing the way. His farmer-bodyguards shake their heads in silent scorn at all this cutting. They have just been pushing through the standing stalks and letting their ward walk the cut path.

You can continue the tiring work of cutting the path, or spread the lesser effort and have everyone just push through, or maybe you can go back to cutting right at the end to make more noise and create a more impressive entrance for the village's mayor's son. However you do it, it is easy enough to make enough noise to make it clear you are not sneaking up on anyone. Given that they are apparently trying to go unnoticed by the baron, too much noise from you could spoil their plan, or make them angry that you risked doing so.

"What? Really?" Theo asks in response to Norbert's declaration. He sounds like this is very much a surprise to him, but assumes that the shepherd knows more than he.

Before there is time to question things further, the two bodyguards part the wheat and Theo finds himself face to face with the 'farmers resistance' for the first time. There is an exclamation of surprise, and someone shouts: "It's the mayor's whelp! Get him!" before Christian --resorting to using his bigger brother to squish dissent-- shushes everyone. "See!" He proclaims. "I told you all we had 'a man inside'." He strides forward and embraces a startled looking Theo. "Welcome brother, to The Resistance! Your help so far has been invaluable. But I am glad you have decided to join us in person."

Theo looks a bit confused by all this, but does not contradict these burly men and speaks words of general acknowledgement. He is enjoying being the center of attention, and has sort of stolen your thunder.

What do you do?

"I have no idea what they are talking about." Theo answer Albert quietly out of the corner of his mouth while trying to maintain a comradely smile with the farmers who are all shaking him by the hand. "I don't know these people ... except as names on a page."

His desperation to not let them hear this suggests he is being truthful to you, at least you can't see any real way he could continue to bluff you that is he is not involved nor why he would feel the need to after the reception he just got. It does not look like you will have an easy time getting a private conversation with him, though his 'bodyguards' appear well acquainted with most of the farmers here, and are happily greeting people by name and have definitely let their guard down.

What do you do?

"Ah, yes. The mercenaries your father hired." Olaf says to Theo as he greets the newcomers. "I didn't expect to see them here with us, but I suppose it makes sense under the circumstances."

Theo nods, doing his best to pretend he knows what is going on, mainly just agreeing with everything everyone says.

"We have been watching ever since the news came, and no one has left the 'castle'." Olaf states. "We were just about to go in and get her." He informs Theo. "And we are real glad to have professional fighters to show us how it is done." There might be the slightest hint of scorn in that last part, by reputation Olaf feels he always knows better than most how to do anything.

You can see several farmers are carrying jars of oil along with their torches and pitchforks. They look about ready to move out and enact their plan.

What do you do?

"Kidnapping is dirty business." One of the older farmers says to Theo with a sad shake of his head. "But they are 'nobles', so what can you do?"

"We are hoping so." Olaf replies to Roald's suggestion that the heroes may come in handy.

"No time to go through it again." He exclaims. "The river-side force are launching their attack." You can hear sounds of a banging from the other side of the compound. "EVERYBODY MOVE!" He shouts to the farmers around you as he rushes off to lead the charge.

As the mass surges towards the gate Christian tries to answer the other questions, motioning with his hands to illustrate: "There is the main manor house on this side. We will be coming in from its back-side, but need to pass the scullery and servants quarters before we get there. We think most of the guards live on the other side, and hopefully Brendan's attack keeps their focus there. We should outnumber the guards by at least three-to-one, but they have proper weapons, so we will need your help." He is talking mainly to Roald and Daryl with their swords and armour.

"We don't know where she is, but we will keep going till we find her." This last bit seems to be addressed to Theo for some reason.

By this time the farmers have pulled the gate off its hinges --enough to get through-- but one of them is on the ground, groaning with a crossbow bolt sticking from his leg. You can faintly hear a guard above the gate shouting for help, but these shouts continue, suggesting they have not been heard yet over the commotion on the other side.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"That sounds like the sort of thing he would say." The injured farmer smiles and pats your hand after you have pulled the shaft from his leg. He looks slightly surprised to see you here as he did not think you were with the resistance, but also does not count you as one of the 'heroes' everyone is talking about --the burden of being around people who probably knew you when you were a kid.

"Yes. I can manage." He says limping away, his hoe under one arm as a crutch and his other hand clutching his pants to stop them from falling all the way down. He looks more relieved to be getting out of the fight than upset about the bloody leg, these farmers are tough people, but few have seen real violence.

You can hear the guard above preparing another shot.

What do you do?

The courtyard is filled with scared looking workers --men, women, and children-- all going about their daily routine before being invaded. There appears to be no opposition between you and the manor house, the back door stands open, held that way by a butter churn.

The farmer looks confused as he answers Albert. "Is this a test?" He asks. "You are leading this... sir?"

Something prickles the backs of the adventurers minds. Something here is not what it seems.

What do you do?

"You planned all this?" Daryl says, sounding impressed since you only get here yesterday.

"Yes sir!" The farmers say to Albert, snapping off what they think is a salute and falling in behind Roald and Norbert as though waiting for one of you to lead the way (you are reminded that Olaf said they 'don't know where she is', and indeed, you can hear Olaf in the background, shouting at a poor, confused- and apologetic looking man up to his elbows in soapy water).

Daryl is literally vibrating with excitement at the promise of Raynor... anything, and looking around for a sign or miracle. One of Theo's guards had wandered off with his friends, and looks annoyed and resentful when he is called back and reminded of his duties, but Theo is happy to stick with Albert and keen to figure out what is happening and why the resistance seem to have accepted him as one of them.

What do you do?

"What!? Why!?" Phil exclaims, his voice going very high and he actually hugs himself out of nervousness at being picked on.

"It's OK." Theo says, trying to sound reassuring. "He didn't mean anything. Just that you might be able to help. Go on, you'll be fine if Albert says so." Phil reluctantly shrugs --or just hunches his shoulders, it is hard to tell with his arms wrapped around his torsos so-- but follows quietly with the departing group.

Theo seems very surprised by Albert's suggestion that this father has anything to do with anything out here. "I doubt it." He says hesitantly. "He has never paid any attention to anything outside the village, and it's even worse since he put the stupid wall up." He considers things for a long while before saying. "Though he has been talking about the lack of provisions coming in... But the first I heard about a 'plan' was last night when he hired you. I suppose he could have had dealings with 'the resistance', but I never heard of it till today, and I don't actually think he knows about it.

"Are you saying you did not set this up? What are we doing here? What is going on? Who is 'the girl'? I don't want anything to do with any kidnapping, and I won't threaten a girl." He declares stubbornly.

"Oh, good. I hoped so." Theo sounds a lot happier with the idea of rescuing a kidnapped girl than the other way round. You can see his mind wander off, thinking about the many rewards and if the girl is cute, and he has to be nudged back to the topic at hand. "No... I haven't heard about anyone going missing." He concedes still pondering who it could be.

The two guards were hanging about out of earshot to give you some privacy. They look startled by Albert's question and not sure how to answer. "We was hired this morning. The young master comes to us, says we will get paid if we keep him and his friend safe on a day trip. Times are hard, you understand, there is no work since we was put off our land." He indicates the unmaintained fields out there to prove his point. "We did not know we was coming to 'The Resistance' or that they was here, but we are mighty proud to be serving the young master if he is our 'man in the mayors camp' Chris keeps talking about. That's all I can say about that."

- Roald -

It takes but a moment for the farmers to reach the top floor, you can hear them clomping up the stairs over the sound of Olaf's shouting from the front room of the ground floor, it does not seem like Olaf is getting the answers he wants and he keeps shouting "where is she?!"

You can see your 'strike force' struggling to open the balcony doors to tell you it is safe to come up.

What do you do?

"Let's split up into two teams to search the house. Daryl and Norbert can come with me to search the ground floor. The others can join our two allies and search the upper levels. We will meet up in the room where Olaf is now."
Roald doesn't wait for approval and starts walking towards the house at a high pace.
He doesn't look back to see if they follow, of course he does hear Daryl.

This leadership thing is new to him and he's not sure if he's doing it the right way.

You got this Roald, believe in yourself!

With Daryl's clinking and clanking behind him as a reminder of his clumsyness with the armour, he starts doubting his decision of taking him inside the house.

I hope he learned something along the road, This is not a good time to have another back to watch. Norbert seems able enough though...

- Norbert -

As instructed, Phil has been following close to you. He looks a lot more comfortable once inside the house, and also looks quite accustomed to such finery. It takes him a few moments to realise what you are doing, then he exclaims excitedly.

"Oh! I get it! I have read about this sort of thing." He then drags you all through the house, pulling and twisting on candle-holders knobs, and looking for bookshelves --absent on the ground floor-- in an attempt to find a secret door.

Eventually you find yourselves back at the entry to the cellar. "That's disappointing." Phil says at the failure to find another way down.

If you stuck with Phil during his search you will have gained some trust and would look a lot happier than when he was ordered to leave Theo's company. Either way he follows you down into the wine cellar (which also contains cheese).

You can see from the stairs that this area is as large as the house, so if there is any secret underground area it would need to be outside the buildings perimeter. The earth and stone walls sport no doors leading anywhere out from here, the only way up is the stairs back to the pantry and kitchen.

What do you do?

- Roald -

Eventually your search leads you to the front room where Olaf has stormed out and is now shouting at the gate. The front gate seems more sturdy than the one you came through and he is trying to make himself be heard over the continued noise of farmers trying to tear it down. "Stop it. Go around the back. It is done. Stop it." He yells to no avail. The three guards have stopped attacking and are hurling catcalls down at the mob outside, ignoring Olaf and his bluster.

What do you do?

- Albert -

"Well, ya." The farmer replies. "We are Resistance. Right smart of the young master to hire us." He adds, though the pride in his voice is slightly blunted by a possible internal-accusation that Theo knew they were members, and did not mention they were coming here.

"Spoke with Olaf... day before yesterday?" He postulates. "None of this was planned at that time, so I don't know." He says, shrugging dismissively as though unconcerned about not knowing such plans.

Theo says nothing, but shares an increasingly desperate look with you at the continued insistence that he knew about all this. His attention seems to have shifted to the events in the house, and when not actively engaged, he bites his lip anxiously.

The baron's servants are standing around watching you, trying to seem like they are giving you privacy, but also doing their best to learn what is going on with these people who have invaded their home.

What do you do?

- Albert -

"Helga, over there is married to my wife's brother." The talkative guard admits. "But we don't talk to that side of the family, so I wouldn't say 'friend'."

- Albert -

"I'll do my best, but no promises." The bodyguard-farmer grumbles as he slouches off to talk to the estranged in-law's in-law.

- Roald -

Your minions report back, though you already sorta know their answer, they have not been nearly long enough to be any sort of thorough. "No sign of Childebert." They say, but they look surprised and sheepish at the rest. "The closest? Under the... curtains? Er... no."

- Norbert -

Phil's nervousness at going with you seems to have morphed into excitement. They really seem to be enjoying sticking close to you as you conduct this search and chatter away happily on any topic you choose till you get to your last question.

"A Princess?" He exclaims excitedly. "You think they have captured a princess?" He thinks for a moment before answering. "You don't keep princesses in a dungeon, you keep them high up. But I did not see a tower. If they want her to be comfortable --she is a princess after all-- I would assume she is upstairs, in one of the bedrooms..." The talk of someone keeping a princess locked in their bedroom seems to conjure up distressing thoughts in Phil's innocent mind and they tug on your sleeve. "We must go up there and save her from that!"

What do you do?

Phil presses close to Norbert in nervous anticipation as the hatch cracks silently open.

Dust cascades down upon Roald and Daryl, and there is a heavy layer on top of the hatch making it hard to lift and suggesting it has not been used in many years. It is possible the current family do not know about this --hidden away as it is-- and only Roald's superior deduction abilities brought it to light.

There is a soft scratching sound from above, as thought something small is disturbed by the movement of the hatch.

"Please don't let it be rats" Phil whispers.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

The first thing you see as you eyes adjust is a small, colourful, forest bird, sitting on a box and watching you with its head cocked to one side. The dust under your hand is crunchy with old bird droppings --some of them surely too large for such a small variety of bird, but do you know that sort of thing?

From what you can tell from here, the rest of the attic appears to be filled with old furniture, chairs pilled on a table, some coffers, and a pile of old kitchenware behind you within reach of the hatch.

What do you do?

"I have never left the village." Theo admits --possibly making Albert worry about the mayor's willingness to agree that he go out with this group now. "Looks like a house though?" He postulates, not seeing anything special about the fanciness here, even though it is --or was-- more ostentatious than his father's house.

Theo definitely already noticed Phil and his eyes track their movement protectively to make sure the other boy is OK. He visibly relaxes at what he sees, and a tension that was not apparent till now drains from him

Upstairs, Phil giggles uncontrollably at Norbert's antics --and at Roald's annoyance as well-- then even more as Daryl scrabbles to both bow an apology and light the candle at the same time.

Norbert: There is a lit candle available below, within easy reach, if you want it.

- Norbert -

Your spoken words cause the little bird to flee in a hurry, fluttering into a shaft of light and squeezing out through the gap.

Phil takes a step forward, but then hesitates when he sees your face. It looks like he is torn between the desire to join you up there and the not wanting to get his clothes dirty... which does not make a lot of sense for those clothes --which look kinda like cast-offs and have seen better days-- but is consistent with Phil's otherwise rather clean and neat appearance. Theo steps forward, clearly offering to help, but whether that is an offer to help Phil ascend or to take his place is unclear.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

Ignoring the Roald-ladder, Theo boosts Phil up to take your hands and you easily lift him into the dark and confined space. You have to press close together to move around or pass each other in the narrow spaces, and you can feel the heat of Phil's blushing at the contact, but he does not say anything.

Another candle is lit and both are passed up so you can look around more easily.

The roof slants above your heads, so there is only the center section where you can stand erect. There are boards placed across the beams, and you don't know if it is safe to step on the ceiling between them.

"Where do we start." Phil asks breathlessly, then, as his foot crushed the small bones of a what was probably a rat, he exclaims: "Eeww!"

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"Ooh! It's heavy." Phil exclaims as you both lift a box down to get easier access and to see beyond.

Phil is more interested in the rest of the attic --while it is not as romantic as a tower, it is the 'highest room' so should contain the 'princess'. A little careful squeezing and his lithe form easily makes it past the barrier of furniture to the other side, after which he has to reach back for you to relight the candle dropped on its head during the squeeze, but then he is disappointed.

"There is nothing here." He wails. "Just more junk. Look: this pile has fallen all over the roof," (technically 'ceiling' not 'roof' but Phil is not technically minded like that:).

Peering through the gaps you can see all the way to the edges by the light that comes in through the gaps in the roof tiles.You can make out the shape of the house below reflected above. The angles of the roof cut into the 'attic' at the corners, and chimneys extend stone fingers up through the space.

There is no sign that anyone has been up here in a long time. The layer of dust looks undisturbed by anything larger than rats and birds... and Phil if you don't speak up in time.

The heavy box turns out to be filled with paper --which people forget is heavier than the wood it it made of. It will take ages to go through all of them, but there appear to be books in one, and hand written papers in another, and old, moth-eaten clothes in another, nothing at all in another one, and so on. Not always as neatly divided. You would guess this is the accumulated clutter of generations.

What are you looking for? Maybe the others will have guidance if you keep them informed of what you are finding.

- Albert -

It is not at all hard to locate your as-to-now-unidentified guard. There are raised voice from the scullery, a man --your guard you think-- and a woman shouting at each other angrily. You get snatches of the 'conversation' as you approach, and it boils down to: "How dare you Gerard..." (she pronounces the name such that it really does sound like 'Guard', so maybe you would have had more success than you thought?) "... attack our house and then demand answers...".

It does not sound like he has had any luck reconnecting with his extended family, and that is not likely to be an avenue towards answers.

"I really want to know who they are looking for, and why." Theo says determinedly. "There is something going on, and they keep looking at me like they expect me to know something."

"It's obviously a captured princess." Phil declares exasperatedly with only his head is visible, hanging out of the ceiling hatch. He has to scrabble to catch his leather hat/helmet as it almost slips from his upside-down head. Doing so, he almost falls, striking his shoulder on the edge of the hole and whimpering in pain.

Theo accepts a lowered Phil and then helps Norbert get down.

You all can still hear Olaf's shouting over by the --now open-- front gate. It does not sound like he is happy with the way things are going.

What do you do?

- Albert -

"GAH!" You hear Olaf bellow as he throws his hands up in the air in exasperation and storms off down the road. The nearby resistance members look at each other and shrug --as if to say "well, that's Olaf for you"-- and then start to break off into groups and wander away as well now that the excitement is over.

Pretty soon you might find yourselves alone in a house whose gate you broke down and attacked.

What do you do?

"Um... I really don't think he has anything to do with this." Theo answers Roald hesitantly. "It just does not fit. Not that anything here makes sense."

You get the impression he does not want to go home right now, that he does not want the adventure to be over yet. Phil does not say anything but you get the impression he also does not want to go back to town, and he steps closer to Norbert --ready to follow whatever he says-- though still hovering between Theo and the shepherd. Theo's guards seem to have forgotten why they are here and wandered off with their resistance friends.

Daryl looks exhausted and drained, but he also looks disappointed that there was not more to this adventure.

- Norbert -

If you check you will see Olaf storming off on his own. Are there any members of the resistance that you think are worth talking to before they disperse? Maybe his brother can help explain what on earth Olaf was trying to do?

As you get to the yard you see Christian finishing up a conversation with Wes and Will ("So you're just going to steal the baron's booze and then get drunk in his backyard!?" to their reply of: "Baron's no here, is he."), giving up on them, and hurrying out the back gate to catch up with the last few farmers.

Wes and Will look talkative. Norbert knows that Christian can be a bit tight lipped unless approached right.

• Who do you talk to, and what do you ask?

- Roald -

Christian looks surprised and confused as you run up to him, it takes him a moment to remember who you are. It helps that Theo has rushed to follow you --he wants to know what Christian meant when he mentioned 'an inside man', but still does not want to give away that he does not know that he is not that man.

Christian slows to allow the other farmers to get a ways ahead before you catch up. "I do have to apologise for my brother. It was rude to just storm off like that." He says, glossing over the fact that he, himself, forgot about you guys and left without talking to you. "He does that when things don't go his way." He says as the extent of his apology.

"I guess his information was wrong this time?" He explains. "Usually his informant is reliable. But this was a bit rushed between last night and now, so things might have changed. Sorry." Again, this last word seems to be addressed to Theo, as though he had a personal stake in all this. "If we can get new information we will do our best, yeah. Anything for 'our man in the mayors house'," he says 'house' as though that word has gained a more literal meaning now. "And maybe we can gain the mayor's favour too, after this, yeah?"

- Roald -

"'Unfortunate'?"" Christian asks. "I don't know. It went a lot better than I expected. But I suppose it helped that the baron was not there. I do wish Olaf would have told us... assuming he knew and that was part of the plan?"

The resistance still seem to think you guys were involved in the planning of this and know more than they do.

"It was a pretty good plan. Distracting at the front and then coming in the back." He says in a way that sounds like he is complementing you. "I will remember that for next time."

"There are usually a few more guards. I assume Childebert took half of them with him, wherever he went." Christian turns again to Theo. "I guess he took her away, too. I am not sure what we can do about that. But you let us know if there is anything else we can do for you."

- 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.

The family stare at Albert, surprised by his sudden, out of the blue, outburst. Both Olaf and Christian try to interrupt at several points where they disagree, but Olga's restraining hand and warning look still them until the kids are removed and the shouting starts.

"Vigi..what?!" Olaf demands before both he and his brother laugh out loud at the mention of the mayor. "Why would that money-grubby, blowhard pig help us?" Olaf asks incredulously. "He does not care about our troubles." He looks to Theo who is forced to nod in agreement that his father does not.

There are other, jumbled objections: "What do you mean you 'had not heard of attack plans'? They were your plans. We were following you. Who wants peace? Who cares about the other baron! Who cares about what they think!" And devolving into the realisation: "You all lied to us!"

"Get out of my house!" Olaf bellows, and Christian does not seem inclined to argue or offer his place as an alternative. But Olga puts her foot down at breaking the hospitality she has offered. "You can't put them out in this." She indicates the storm that has sprung up outside as though to mirror the turmoil inside. Olaf grudgingly agrees that you can stay in the barn, but that he wants you gone by morning.

As the kitchen door slams behind you you can still hear Christian's demanding from Olaf: "I thought you said they were with us?! Were you told that or were you guessing again?!" The storm drowns out Olaf's mumbled answer, and it would take some effort on your part to hear more.

Dylan, Theo, and especially Phil, look miserable in the storm, and Dylan points the way to the barn.

What do you do?

Theo and Phil huddle together in a corner, shivering. It is not that cold, and you all are not that wet, but they appear unaccustomed to hardships of this nature. They don't complain and seem to be trying to follow the adventurers more stoic example.

"You thought my father was involved? With the resistance?" Theo asks incredulously. While you just admitted to lying to the resistance, and he knows he did exactly the same, there is a note in his voice that suggest he has just realised you were doing the same to him, and he does not much like being on the other side of that equation.

Daryl looks pretty miserable in his armour --which seems to have directed the water inside and then trapped it there-- but he also looks proud that he is withstanding the 'hardships of a campaign' so well --stories can warp a young man's brain. "Do we need to stand watch?" He asks. "In case those brothers try anything?" He sounds eager, though you can't tell if that for the prospect of 'standing guard', or the eagerness for some action if you are attacked, or a desire to learn more.

What do you do?

What fate awaits our adventurers.

Continues in The Contact