The First Sacrifice (RP)

Continued from The Other Baron.

There are men on the road, and the going is slow if you try to avoid them.

Near the inn you overhear a clump of men talking. "Yes, its true. They have captured one of them at the inn. He was not at the baron's but was skulking around asking after is co-conspirators."

You can bypass these men and make it to the inn if you want.

What do you do?

Roald gives Albert and Norbert a meaningful glance. When they are out of the men's hearing range he says:
'' Did you hear that? Maybe Daryl came looking for us. ''

Upon arriving at the inn Roald stops and tries to look through the filthy windows, he just wants an idea of how many people are inside and what they will be facing if it comes to a fight.

- Roald -

Through the window you see a scrawny and dirty boy in his underwear. He is tied to a chair and it looks like the bonds are the only thing preventing him from falling from it and slumping to the floor.

His head is bowed and you can't see his face, but, from the build, he does not look like anyone you recognise...

In the room is the bartender behind the bar and looking unhappy, and some rough looking men.

What do you do?

- Albert -

With your general knowledge of such places and what you saw last night you can guess where they kitchens are and won't have any problem getting to the back door. If you enter and aren't prevented by the occupants, you have the best chance of navigating your way through to behind the bar.

What do you do?

- Albert -

The back door is not well maintained, and the hinges creak slightly as it swings shut. Unbeknownst to you the barkeep lifts his head looking in your direction and the nervous men glance in his direction distrustfully.

What do you do?

"I guess it was just the wind." The barkeep says, shrugging and going back to gloomily polishing clean glasses with a dirty rag.

The barkeep lets out a small startled sound, and the others look over at him curiously.

"I guess I had better check it out?" He suggests.

"Make us some breakfast while you are in there." On of the ruffians calls. He then mutters something under his breath to his companion who nods in agreement.

Albert can hear this. Those outside may be able to see this.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

There is a loud crunch and the man falls to the ground screaming in pain and clutching his knee. He pleads for help from his friends... and they turn to you in surprise as you lie on the floor --the kneecapped guy having fallen on you-- and deliver kicks aimed at your body.

Tough as you are, you still only have a moment before they get their rhythm and start to deliver their boots to you head and face.

What do you do?

- Albert -

"I don't like it." The barkeep tells you. "I think I know the boy's family. But most of those men are also regular customers. Everyone is behaving strangely, while they often like a good punch-up, this business of tying a kid to a chair and... Well, it's just not right."

He looks you in the eye. "I don't know what you guys did... or didn't do. I don't trust that informant character. How do we avoid bloodshed?" You know the bar-tenders' common desire to keep any petty-violence from escalating to where the watch or the healers need to be called for.

What do you propose?

The barkeep is relieved that Albert handed him a rolling pin rather than a cleaver, this and the fact that Albert himself is wielding a broom rather than a sword finally convinces him whose side he would rather be on. The side of those who harm the local young men, or of those who appear to be trying to save them despite how they have been treated by the locals.

He steps out right behind Albert, patting the rolling pin on his free palm --an image all the regulars know means he is being serious. "OK. That's enough, now." He says in a quiet voice that nonetheless carries to everyone in the room. "Untie the boy and we will say no more about it. Ya?"

The men in the room --startled by the arrival of 'adventurers' much better armed than themselves-- and already feeling a little embarrassed at how the situation had devolved, hold up their hands and hang their heads in defeat.

"Sorry." They mutter.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"Norbert?" The boy asks groggily. "Its me, Daryl. How bad is it? You can tell me." He asks raising his hand to his face in the assumption that there is something wrong there causing you to not recognise him when instead it is the lack armour --and the surprisingly scrawny physique that was under it-- that probably fooled you.

He seems exhausted and his voice is scratchy from dry mouth and throat.

The man you kneecapped is still writing on the floor the clutching his leg. His companions look too nervous to go over and help him.

What do you do?

Daryl blushes at being called 'sir' --and without the shining armour it is even more ridiculous than before. He does not appear injured --beyond scrapes and bruises-- but appears starved and dehydrated, as though he has not eaten since you last saw him.

You may need to get some food and drink in him before you can get answers.

"We though you had the girl." One of the men says, confused. "And I don't know nothing about no 'sacerfice'." His companions look as clueless as he is.

"It's true." The bartender says as he places a mug of water and some soup before Daryl. "Sip it slowly." he says to the boy before continuing. "The baron only said you had kidnapped the mayor's daughter, and then left to check up on his own girl. I don't think that fella said anything a sacrifice... but I did not hear their conversation." He is hasty to add.

"I did not see any girl." Daryl says after a moment of quiet drinking. "There was just Theo and Phil and me, but they separated us and Theo helped me get away. They messed up his leg, and he refused to leave Phil. But Theo said I should come find you. That you would know what to do."

What do you do?

"'m not hurt." Daryl mumbles through a mouthful of soup.

---

The barkeep looks scandalised that you would imply that he would call the baron a 'fella'. "No... the fella the baron sometimes meets with. He brings news from... around. I think he is a spy or something? He does not live around here."

Your request for a description is met with general agreement: "He is a jolly fella. Always seems to be smiling. Anyone know how he gets here?" --a general shaking of heads. "Strange. He is not exactly 'spry'. A bit, um, large around the middle if you know what I mean." The barkeep says, which is a bit rich coming form him, with his sedentary belly-fat. "He just seems to turn up and then vanish into the night. Always at night. The baron turns up and he is here."

---

"Look mate. No hard feelings, yeah." One of the men says to Albert. Indicating Daryl he explains: "He said he was with you. We was just doing what the baron said. Apparently you were there? You where amongst the last people to see the girl? You dined with the mayor and his daughter just before she vanished?"

Again that same pattern of words. Technically true, but not quite.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"Uh? Maybe he... ? ... Um... We had not thought of that." The group's speaker admits when you make your point about Daryl openly saying he was with you.

"I'm trying to say sorry, OK." This group seem to be fairly convince you are not all bad, but they also don't know what is going on, and are naturally suspicious of strangers.

The man laying on the floor clutching his knee does not look that apologetic nor understanding. "You broke my knee!" He interjects as a counterpoint, but the rest pay him no heed.

What do you do?

The men (bartender included) scratch their heads, unsure.

"I think I may have heard mention of him being 'the son of Nick'? But I don't know any Nick around these parts." One posits with a shrug accompanied by general nodding.

"I don't know about the girl." Daryl says. "But we need to rescue Theo and Phil. Maybe those crazy..." He ducks his head apologetically as though he was about to use a bad word and was worried his mother would slap him for it. "... um... people have her too?"

- Roald -

"The crazy people who kidnapped me and Theo and Phil?" Daryl answers in a hesitant tone. He has been trying to tell you about his experience, but with the dry throat and hunger, and the general confusion and shouting in the room he does not think he has done a good job. "Or is it Theo, Phil, and I?" He asks, worried that his grammar might be the cause of confusion rather than this being the first time he actually said the word 'kidnap' --and you suspect he only used that particular word because it was being tossed around by everyone else. "I don't know if they are 'crazy'." He explains out of politeness. "I don't want to talk out of turn. But they were scary.

"They took us in the forest and held us in the forest... Um... In a cage in the forest." He adds to be helpful.

"What? No. We don't know who these people are. We don't know who you are. We don't know anything." The spokesman says and you suspect this is the truth... especially that last sentence.

"Yes! We must!" Daryl agrees when Albert mentions going to save Theo and Phil. "I am ready." He stands, but then wobbles a bit and needs to sit down again. "Er... I will be ready... in a minute?"

What do you do?

Daryl's answer is drowned out by the men clamouring to do their explaining, as demanded.

The gist of which is: "We do know the boss... er... 'baron', of course. Our orders were to get you. He came here claiming to be with you. So we got him." They seem to feel this wraps up their involvement neatly.

Daryl has already mentioned that Theo helped him escape, but Theo's leg was hurt and anyway he refused to leave Phil there, possibly in a separate cage. He tries to repeat this in amongst theirs.

- Albert -

"Conquer thi... oooh!" The injured man starts to say defiantly, but the the effort causes him to lose some of that defiance. "OK, father. Do what you can." He says, allowing you to approach and lay on hands. He sounds sightly both-hopeful-and-doubtful that he will get to see real gods in action.

What do you do?

- Albert -

Albert's patient's scoff turns into a wide-eyed, draw-out "Wow!" as the healing power of faith flows though him. He stands up and dances a jig to the amazement of his companions. "I have not been able to do that for year!" He exclaims. "Not since that ox sat on me while I was proposing to Helena!" His friends nod in agreement, they all know this sad tale and he has always walked with a bit of a limp.

This miraculous display has gained you a lot of favour. "We will come help you." They say, and: "Yes! I want grand stories for my grandbabies!"

What do you do?

"Hurt?!" The man is all smiles as he replies to Norbert. "I have never been better. You did me a favour, you did!" He strides around the room like the cock of the roost.

---

Daryl hesitates before answering, he appears to be trying to catch up with all that is being said. "Theo? Not bad, really. Standing and walking is sore, but there is not much blood. I think that might have been more of an excuse to not leave Phil? They seem... very close."

He is still processing, but eventually his mind catches up with the ears. "Wait?! Did you say 'the mayor's daughter'? You mean Theuphilda? She's the 'kidnapped girl'? I think I am glad we did not know that before. Theo would be so worried. What did the mayor say?"

"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?

"We don't know anything about children. Just the girl who we don't even know is there. And this young man who claims to be with you and to have been out in the forest when the women said we men were not allowed." The speaker points out.

"And who said anything about murder?" He objects. "For all we know there may be a very reasonable reason they were taken?" Even he does not really believe this, but they are grasping for straws.

"Only you are suddenly talking about 'murder'. And we only have your word for it. But we know our wives." His buddies nod in agreement with him, they are not easily going to cross their wives or risk making their wives cross.

What do you do?

"My wife wouldn't be caught dead out in the forest." The speaker declares indignantly. "I stopped asking 'why' with these new ideas that have awoken these days. Ask the wrong, ignorant, question or seem not be supportive and everything gets... canceled."

Heaping more shame on them does not appear to be working. And even the talk of 'loot' does little more than make them more resentful of the whole arrangement.

Daryl is still weak, but ready to go.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

The barkeep is surprised, but looks very relieved that you are being so understanding about the whole situation.

"Good luck to you, young adventurer. You do your family proud." There is a chance he knows your family, thought that is slightly surprising all the way over this side of the world. "I really hope you are victorious."

"I'll be OK." Daryl tells Albert before heading off to use the facilities before the trip and thus giving you time to talk privately about your unexpected money situation. He sounds tired, but able to manage if you don't set too hard a pace.

''yes, a feast would be nice. But I think we might want to add something substantial, there's plenty of coins anyway. Maybe we can arrange for the healer to get more herbs and potions, that would benefit all!''
If you know someone we can trust, we can give some of the money to start organizing the feast, if not we'll have to do it when we come back. Speaking of coming back... Time to hit the road.''

- Albert -

It turns out his name is 'Neil', but everyone calls him 'Limpy' --which may have to change now... or not? out of irony?

Limpy thinks carefully about your question. "Well... Aside from myself, of course... It really depends on what you are wanting to trust them with. Some you wouldn't trust with your wife, some you wouldn't trust with your sheep. Y'know?"

After getting as much detail as you want to provide her settles on: "I suppose the most generally trusted man is probably Barky." He indicates the innkeeper.

---

Norbert: Do you know anyone you would put forward as a more trustworthy character, instead?

- Roald -

"Everyone?" Barky enquires. "You mean also those over on that side of the valley? And even those who live in the village?"

Once you have convinced Barky that you genuinely do mean everyone when you say 'everyone' he looks scandalised, but also a little impressed. "Mad! Mad, you are!" He says, but with a smile.

It seems the 'divided feelings' so prevalent in this valley extend to even open-hearted people like Barky, but he has seen miracles today and seems willing to set his prejudices aside, even if just to see what else you guys can do.

"I knows Olaf." Barky admits. "His dad still lives closeby to here, though he can't get around so good anymore." He ponders for a moment. "We should be able to be back before tomorrow night. I will take a few lad who won't immediately start a fight when they get over there. We will put this money to good use. I think I know what this valley needs to bring it together."

- Albert -

The pouch of gold weighs heavily in your pocket... and on your conscience.

Daryl leads you away from the baron's place --which probably saves you from awkward conversations with the locals, but having Limpy with you would hopefully help smooth those over.

The pace is not fast, and Daryl keeps stopping to look around and apologise. "It all looks different in this direction." He explains. "And it was dark... or a bit dark."

After a few hours you stop for lunch. During that break Daryl perks up. "You know," he says. "I definitely remember that clump of trees. I think I saw them a little ways after I came onto the road? I can run over there and check, I am sure I will recognise them from the other side."

Daryl looks beat, the slow pace is also the result of him just not being able to move that fast. But the second good meal --also provided by Barky-- has energised everyone, him included.

What do you do?

Daryl might look slightly disappointed that his offer was accepted, but he dutifully stands and piles some cheese and figs on two large slices of bread.

A combination balancing the food and his fatigue means the pace is not fast, and it takes near on ten minutes for Daryl to get to the place he mentioned, before he can take a proper look around his exhaustion gets the better of him and he tumbles to the ground, spilling his mostly uneaten meal on the road if you don't catch him or it.

What do you do?

Daryl is unresponsive; pale, cold and clammy.

The others are probably finishing eating by now. It will take a minute or two for them run over after hearing Roald's shout.

Roald is clueless

''Daryl, Daryl , wake up. HEEEEELP HEEEEELP!''
what's taking them so long...
He slaps Daryl gently on his cheek to no avail.
Should he go back and get the others? Leave Daryl here by himself, harmless?
what would Albert do? He always knows what to do in situations like this.

Roald's eyes grow bigger.

'' please Raynor, I beg you, help my friend Daryl and I will become your follower.''

Having finished packing up the remains of the meal, Limpy runs up to the group, panting and out of breath --because, while he can run now, that does not miraculously make him fit. When he sees what is happening he falls to his knees in reverent wonder.

Daryl glows with an inner light and the rain steams off his body as he is healed and renewed.

The rain --unexpected from a god of fire-- brings refreshing comfort to all who feel it.

"I'm OK, Norbert." Daryl says, trying to sound stalwart he has been today before realising that he is OK for the first time in a while. "Wow! Really OK!" He exclaims looking up into Roald's face with adoration.

He has not been properly present for the previous miracles, so this not only new to him, but also being experienced 'first hand'.

"That's Raynor?" He ask, his voice full of wonder. "Wow!"

"Glorious, isn't it." Limpy agrees, fully understanding what the lad is going through.

Limpy looks around for this 'Neil' when Albert does the introductions, then remembers that that is himself, he is not used to people using his real name, always mocking him for his limp... which is now gone.

Another god? He ponders. He is not sure if it is alright for him to be interested, he thought next-to-nothing about the subject before this morning but now wonders what more there is to be gained from more gods. Albert --who was the one to heal him, and appears to be the head priest of this group of priests (Limpy assumes everyone here is a cleric, and Roald's recent miracle just confirms that)-- seems to be accepting of the stranger, so he gives a friendly wave.

Lots of strangers in the valley all of a sudden. He notes, not sure what that means, but hoping it can only bring improvement.

Daryl's eyes have not left Roald's face, and he pays no attention to the stranger.

"You were looking for more people to aid us." Daryl says. "But they are all too scared of their wives... Sorry old-timer, I did not mean to say you are better off without one, or anything." He hastily adds.

"Yeah. Me too." Daryl says when Roald speaks about his energy.

He looks around at the trees and the road for the firsts time since getting here. "Yes." He says. "I do recognise this place. It was just getting light when I got here." He thinks for a moment. "I had been on this road for hours, but it was dark and I was weak and dizzy. I am sure I will know the place where I come onto the road when we get there."

He looks apprehensive at Norbert's question. "Maybe?" He answers, but there is a lot of 'question' in that 'answer'. "I was just tying to get away, you see, not really thinking about planning for coming back."

Daryl does not know exactly where the camp is, so you guys will have to take responsibility for finding it once you leave the road, and will have to be careful when you approach, with his escape they may have more, or more alert, guards now.

---

Once you have assembled your things Daryl sets off down the road, now, once more, at a pace that may be challenging to maintain for some.

The sun is setting to the west and the moon has just peeked over the horizon to the east when he stops. "It was that way." He says, pointing off into the trees, which are casting long dark shadows and not looking at all welcoming. It is old-growth forest, here, and the ground is crisscrossed with fallen branches and rocks and rivulets. It will not be easy to move quietly. "I can't remember how far." Daryl apologises again. "But it felt like hours that I was flailing around in there, all the time with the back of my neck prickling in fear that they would come after me and take me back." He does not sound happy to be going back voluntarily, but the power of Raynor is still filling his veins.

What do you do?

Daryl looks towards the setting sun. "We might be able to get there before it is actually dark." He says, though he may be bargaining on more twilight penetrating the trees than is reasonable. The sun is not yet down, but if his assessment of 'hours' in the forest was correct, and even with him being much slower last time, you will be hard pressed to find the camp before it really is dark.

"I don't know if I will be able to sleep in the forest." Daryl says. "Not because I am scared." He quickly adds. "But because I am so filled with 'bravery' from Raynor's blessing."

Does Raynor bring bravery? Or is fear one the things he expects his followers to conquer? I.e. do you all feel 'brave' or is Daryl lying about why he would not be able to sleep?

Do you camp? If so, do you do it on/near the road, or in the forest?

The fire, in its pit, is not visible from the road. You still have some leftovers from the lunch Barky packed for you, but it is not really enough to satisfy.

---

As the other men make ready for sleep, Daryl keeps looking around nervously at the trees. He finds a seat near Olden --but facing the fire for comfort (and the damage to his night vision insulating him from the forest looming around him). He does not want to disturb the sleepers, but definitely looks like he wants to talk, even if just to pass the time.

Daryl has not thought to make himself a 'bed' and, if he is to take the last watch and head out early in the morning, should probably try sleep soon. But his current state of agitation possibly would not allow that.

---

The midsummer night is short, if you all take turns you only need to stand watch for an hour or so each, or two hours if you share the watch.

Roald finds comfort in the fire and in Olden's age.
That guy seems to know what he is doing
Soon he finds himself yawning. He cuts off some spruce branches and puts some moss on top , it makes for a soft and pleasant smelling bed.

'' wake me up when it's my turn to stand guard, sleep well everybody ''
Before his head touches his makeshift pillow he's asleep.

- Olden -

The dog has not lifted its head, so it was probably nothing, right? The woods are dark and scary --especially compared to your snug wayside refuge. It is either your imagination or not something physical or threatening for real. The dog would warn you if there danger, right?

You are replaced on your watch, but do you sleep?

Around midnight, and then about every hour from then until just before dawn, whoever is on watch duty or awake can hear the sound of drums in the distance. The dense trees make it hard to pinpoint the direction, but the drumming seems to be coming from where you think the camp is.

What, if anything, do you do?

Roald also hears the drums during his watch.
It's probably those witches preparing for a ritual.
He has a hard time falling back asleep afterwards.

Continues in The Sacrifice Camp...