The First Sacrifice (RP)

"We had your stuff when they took us." Daryl says. "We thought we would meet you at the village, and didn't want you... er... to have to carry them." You suspect he edited out something about 'older gentlemen' in that pause.

"We woke and you were gone." Daryl explains. "But all your stuff was still there. Phil had a crazy idea that you were 'taken by fairies' or something." He looks apologetic at the naivety of his younger companions, and makes it clear he does not believe in such silliness.

"Olga gave us breakfast. And then we were talking about going to town to see if we could find you, but we did not know which way from there, and her friend was going that way and agreed to show us the way, so we took your stuff --we did not want the kids scratching in it, finding a weapon, and getting hurt--" He is quick to explain that they had no intention if stealing you things, and to imply that they had not scratched inside.

"... Then... I can not remember what happened next. We woke up in cages in the woods, Theo tried to get out and they jabbed him in the leg and took Phil away... and seemed to forget about us. I got out and came to find you." He looks disappointed and worried. "Did I do wrong by leaving them there?"

What do you say?

"Umm..." Daryl says, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I think so? I was a bit focused on where I was going and did not pay as much attention to where I was coming from as I should have." He admits. "But I should be able to recognise the place where I found the village road, and it was not too far into the woods from there?"

There is a distressing amount of question-mark in his statement. But, if he can get you into the general vicinity, the dog may be able to follow his trail. At least it has not rained (yet) since they went missing.

What do you do?

Daryl stands, still a bit shaky, but is game to continue and rescue his friends. "I can go right now." He says with more confidence than is actually warranted.

You know that he will be a liability, exhausted as he is now, but also that time is ticking and anything may be happening to those people being held captive. If the girl is not with Theo and Phil, you also only have a day and a bit to find her before she is slated to be sacrificed.

The local men reiterate their willingness to follow you to glory.
This group has been impressed by your handling of the situation and your working of miracles, but they aren't many. You might be able to get them to convince more people to join you, but it is also possible any talking they do with their friends may sway them back away from your side. As you have seen, they are not very committed or dependable.

What do you do?

- Roald -

You only have a meager number of small coins in your coin-purse --enough to by some drinks and food for everyone, but not much more.

Your hand brushes across the almost-forgotten pouch Ahsa gave back in the village what feel like ages ago. It feels heavy for its size. As you open it you see the glint of gold. It is full of gold coins.

Gold has its own power. Do you take them out and count them in front of these recently-strangers? Do you hide them again? Or make an excuse to find some private time to go away and count your hoard?

- Roald -

Birds chirp in the surrounding trees, and somewhere an ox lows mournfully, but no one unexpected followed you out.

Inside the pouch are 50 gold coins. At the normal value of 20 Silver for a gold that is 1000 silver.

What is the most money you have ever possessed? What is the most money you have ever seen in one place before?

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"I don't know where my stuff is. It --and our and your packs-- was gone when we woke up." He looks embarrassed. "We can only be grateful they did not take away our clothes?"

Daryl starts to hold up two handfuls of fingers but the hesitates at your specific wording. "Do you mean 'men'?" He asks his voice dropping in embarrassment or thought, and you can see his mind working in the background. "I don't think I actually saw any 'men'... No, it was just a dozen or so women... Yes, I am pretty sure I only saw women and it was definitely only women that stabbed Theo in the leg with a knife and dragged him back to the cage."

He looks at you pleadingly for you to explain this, or at least tell him that you believe him.

What do you do?

Daryl listens to what you guys are saying. "Aunty Nicki? Yes, she showed us the way to town." He agrees. "I don't know what happened to her after we were taken. I did not see her again. I think ... I don't remember if she left before that... I can't remember how we ended up in the cage."

His musing are interrupted by the other men. They have been trying to listen in on your conversation this gender-revelation has caused some concern. "Wait. There are women there?" The speaker says looking embarrassed. "Er, sorry. My wife said I am not allowed to go into the forest for the next few days. If there are women there they might mention to her that I was there... and I can't have that. Not at my time of life."

All the other men, the bartender included, nod in agreement, they look relieved that someone has said something, like they are only now learning that it is not only them that is being henpecked by their wife.

Only the recipient of the miracle-healing, stands with you. "You all are coward." He says to the others, but they just look at him with pity, shaking their heads.

What do you do?