Dec 2, 2024 3:43 pm
The hunt is on for Clerebold's donkey! Dedge and Mariel form one search party, while Dezd, Delvane, and Wormwick form another. Who will find the creature first?!?
Chapter 2: To Catch a Donkey
Dec 2, 2024 8:08 pm
OOC:
You could roll a Persuasion check to represent your character going from place to place and asking people for clues. Alternatively, you can roleplay your interviews with NPCs. Usually I try to reward good RP with automatic success. It doesn't always work that way, but I try to incentivize RP as much as possible.
Dec 3, 2024 4:58 am
"We should probably begin asking with where the donkey was last scene and kind of figure things out from there." Mariel says, "If the donkey truly is magical perhaps I can do something to track it."
Mariel heads towards the wreck and starts asking about to see if anyone saw the donkey run off or if it really did magically just go POOF!
Mariel heads towards the wreck and starts asking about to see if anyone saw the donkey run off or if it really did magically just go POOF!
Dec 3, 2024 5:51 am
Dedge and Mariel speak to several witnesses in the market square. They say the donkey was last seen hitched to a goblin. Apparently, the donkey was gambled away during a card game at some tavern called The Stumbling Boar.
Dec 3, 2024 12:09 pm
"And, is there a reward for finding this donkey?" Dezd wasn't willing to commit to time and effort for another thank you with nothing further. A spell casting donkey was a handsome prize and finding it could prove difficult.
Dezd still didn't completely believe in a teleporting donkey. On the other hand, he didn't completely disbelieve. There were wonders aplenty in this strange and amazing world and he had seen but a grain of dust in the endless desert of existence.
He continued to check the area for signs the donkey had been untied and led off. Examining the post to see if there were traces of the rope left, examining the ground for signs that someone had wrapped the donkey's feet and taken it away. Something to get a hint or direction.
If that didn't give him a start, he would have to question his companion about her activities that led her to having the donkey in the first place.
Dezd still didn't completely believe in a teleporting donkey. On the other hand, he didn't completely disbelieve. There were wonders aplenty in this strange and amazing world and he had seen but a grain of dust in the endless desert of existence.
He continued to check the area for signs the donkey had been untied and led off. Examining the post to see if there were traces of the rope left, examining the ground for signs that someone had wrapped the donkey's feet and taken it away. Something to get a hint or direction.
If that didn't give him a start, he would have to question his companion about her activities that led her to having the donkey in the first place.
Dec 3, 2024 12:41 pm
Dezd can find no other trace of the missing donkey.
Clerebold offers 400 GP for the donkey's return. The news is beginning to spread. More search parties are forming; soon everyone will be looking for the beast.
Clerebold offers 400 GP for the donkey's return. The news is beginning to spread. More search parties are forming; soon everyone will be looking for the beast.
OOC:
Just to recap, we've established three locations within the city limits. There's the market square, where Dedge and Mariel are currently looking for clues; the tattoo shop, where Delvane, Dezd, and Wormwick are standing outside; and The Stumbling Boar, a tavern where some of last night's antics took place.Dec 3, 2024 9:05 pm
"I see nothing here Mistress Delvane, it looks like we have reached an impasse. If you wish to hunt this donkey for the reward, you will have to give us some clue. How did you get hold of the beast? Please, go into detail, small details can illuminate far more than one might think."
Dec 4, 2024 12:05 am
"Soo... I don't know if you’ll believe me, but..."
I try to hide my face using the brim of my hat and say in a low voice, only loud enough for Dezd to hear.
"Apparently, I was drunk last night and woke up next to this donkey. Then he started coming along with me and Wormwick during this trip to know what happened last night, and we became friends! But I think the fight scared him."
"Maybe we can search around the Inn, that's the last place we visit together"
I try to hide my face using the brim of my hat and say in a low voice, only loud enough for Dezd to hear.
"Apparently, I was drunk last night and woke up next to this donkey. Then he started coming along with me and Wormwick during this trip to know what happened last night, and we became friends! But I think the fight scared him."
"Maybe we can search around the Inn, that's the last place we visit together"
Last edited December 4, 2024 12:10 am
Dec 4, 2024 12:23 am
Dezd tried to keep the skepticism out of his voice,
"As you will have it. Lead on to this Inn then."
"As you will have it. Lead on to this Inn then."
Last edited December 4, 2024 12:23 am
Dec 4, 2024 12:55 am
Delvane and Wormwick return to The Stumbling Boar, with Dezd and the Unseen Servant in tow. The sun begins to set as they retrace their steps.
Inside the inn, they find a welcoming scene. The barkeeper is busy serving drinks to the townsfolk, who are slowly starting to trickle in.
Two minstrels are in the corner. One of them is a satyr shaking a tambourine as though his life depended on it. Occasionally, he belts out a few lyrics. Beside him is a halfling with long, flowing blonde hair. She wears dark clothing and plays a bright red lute. She seems to be rather talented.
Not long after the party walks through the door, the two minstrels finish playing, and the halfling waves merrily to the party. She gestures for you to come and talk to her.
Inside the inn, they find a welcoming scene. The barkeeper is busy serving drinks to the townsfolk, who are slowly starting to trickle in.
Two minstrels are in the corner. One of them is a satyr shaking a tambourine as though his life depended on it. Occasionally, he belts out a few lyrics. Beside him is a halfling with long, flowing blonde hair. She wears dark clothing and plays a bright red lute. She seems to be rather talented.
Not long after the party walks through the door, the two minstrels finish playing, and the halfling waves merrily to the party. She gestures for you to come and talk to her.
Dec 4, 2024 1:07 am
I find this feeling of maybe having met them before strange, but I try to get closer to see what she have to say, trying to stay calm.
Dec 4, 2024 1:14 am
Dezd is extremely uncomfortable in an place that specializes in intoxicating beverages. While he had drunk alcohol when he was young and stupid, before his imprisonment, he had known too many stories of how other prisoners had ended up in prison. Alcohol and stupidity just seemed a natural mix.
At least the lutenist seemed good, he followed the witch toward where the duo had left the stage.
At least the lutenist seemed good, he followed the witch toward where the duo had left the stage.
Dec 4, 2024 4:17 am
I guess we head to the Stumbling Boar.
"Who gambles away a perfectly good donkey?" Mariel asks not really expecting an answer. "I mean what'd the donkey ever do to deserve that?"
"Who gambles away a perfectly good donkey?" Mariel asks not really expecting an answer. "I mean what'd the donkey ever do to deserve that?"
Dec 4, 2024 6:09 am
Mariel and Dedge enter The Stumbling Boar. They notice the blonde halfling chattering with a group of people. Two of them, a goblin and an elf, match the description of two of the vagrants who were responsible for all the mischief last night.
Meanwhile, the halfling introduces herself to the others.
"I'm Dee Wildcloak. We played cards last night," she says to Delvane and Wormwick. "Heh, you probably don't remember. You were definitely a bit on the drunk side. But you guys beat me, fair and square. That donkey was part of the bet.
"Yeah, I'll admit it. I stole the donkey from Clerebold. But have you guys actually met Clerebold? He can be kind of a pompous ass. So what if he knows a little magic? He's not the only one who does.
"You say you guys are trying to find the donkey? I might be able to help you with that. See, after I stole the donkey, I noticed that Clerebold was up to his usual experiments--the poor animal had some weird enchantments placed on him. I figured out how to summon the donkey by playing a specific tune on my lute.
"I'll play that tune for you guys, but it'll cost you. I have a favor that I need help with."
Meanwhile, the halfling introduces herself to the others.
"I'm Dee Wildcloak. We played cards last night," she says to Delvane and Wormwick. "Heh, you probably don't remember. You were definitely a bit on the drunk side. But you guys beat me, fair and square. That donkey was part of the bet.
"Yeah, I'll admit it. I stole the donkey from Clerebold. But have you guys actually met Clerebold? He can be kind of a pompous ass. So what if he knows a little magic? He's not the only one who does.
"You say you guys are trying to find the donkey? I might be able to help you with that. See, after I stole the donkey, I noticed that Clerebold was up to his usual experiments--the poor animal had some weird enchantments placed on him. I figured out how to summon the donkey by playing a specific tune on my lute.
"I'll play that tune for you guys, but it'll cost you. I have a favor that I need help with."
Dec 4, 2024 11:59 am
A new lead and a new song. Things were looking up. Now to see just how onerous the favor would be.
"And what is the favor Mistress Wildcloak? Remember that we have no investment here other than a possibility of a reward so there are limits on our willingness.
"And what is the favor Mistress Wildcloak? Remember that we have no investment here other than a possibility of a reward so there are limits on our willingness.
Dec 4, 2024 1:11 pm
Dee leans in closer.
"There's a warehouse building on the east side of town which was built on top of the ruins of the old city. Some parts of the ruins are easy to get to; others, not so much.
"I've been doing some research. There are legends about a musical instrument that disappeared generations ago. In the history books, they call it Valda's Harp. I believe that the harp went missing in the old ruins beneath the warehouse.
"There's a problem, though. I went looking for the harp in the old ruins. For some reason, the citizens of the old ruins don't want to stay dead. I found zombies. Lots of zombies. More than I could handle on my own.
"I need some adventurous types to go into the old ruins and find Valda's Harp for me. If you were to do that, I'd gladly help you find old Clerebold's donkey."
"There's a warehouse building on the east side of town which was built on top of the ruins of the old city. Some parts of the ruins are easy to get to; others, not so much.
"I've been doing some research. There are legends about a musical instrument that disappeared generations ago. In the history books, they call it Valda's Harp. I believe that the harp went missing in the old ruins beneath the warehouse.
"There's a problem, though. I went looking for the harp in the old ruins. For some reason, the citizens of the old ruins don't want to stay dead. I found zombies. Lots of zombies. More than I could handle on my own.
"I need some adventurous types to go into the old ruins and find Valda's Harp for me. If you were to do that, I'd gladly help you find old Clerebold's donkey."
Dec 4, 2024 1:22 pm
I talked to myself for a bit.
"So, basically, we need to deal with some dead guys, find a harp, and then we get our magical donkey and a reward? This day is becoming even stranger than I expected. I need to write this in my diary haha."
Then I turned to Wormwick and Dezd.
"If that's our only solution, I'm okay with it. What do you guys think?"
"So, basically, we need to deal with some dead guys, find a harp, and then we get our magical donkey and a reward? This day is becoming even stranger than I expected. I need to write this in my diary haha."
Then I turned to Wormwick and Dezd.
"If that's our only solution, I'm okay with it. What do you guys think?"
Dec 4, 2024 3:33 pm
"Wait, you had the donkey and got rid of it?" Mariel asks with a blink, "And you gambled it away?" She raises an eyebrow looking at Delvane, "How drunk were you? And madame, seriously you appear to be in no shape to be chasing donkey's and fighting zombies."
OOC:
I assume Delvane only has 1 hp at the moment.Dec 4, 2024 11:02 pm
I'm sorry, Mistress, but it would seem the order and the equities are all wrong in what you suggest. We have a loose donkey with a publicly offered reward that is in danger of being found, killed, or wandering further off so that all your clues become useless. You have a harp worth far more than the reward the Wizard has offered for the donkey buried in an ancient ruin that only you presumably have done enough research to know about and protected by enough zombies to give you pause.
The only reasonable way this works is if you help us find the donkey immediately before it all goes poof in a puff of fairy dust. Then, we can go after your prize which seems to be in a stable and relatively unchanging situation. The reward for us isn't enough to cause us to set up to leave town or risk damaging our reputation so you have little downside to helping us first. I'm afraid that's the only way it makes any sense at all.
The only reasonable way this works is if you help us find the donkey immediately before it all goes poof in a puff of fairy dust. Then, we can go after your prize which seems to be in a stable and relatively unchanging situation. The reward for us isn't enough to cause us to set up to leave town or risk damaging our reputation so you have little downside to helping us first. I'm afraid that's the only way it makes any sense at all.
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