Having arrived at the pub late missing the announcements Griff wondered what the hubbub was about until he spoke to one of the patrons.  By all accounts two adventure leads had been presented.  Disease discovery, or treasure recovery.

He quickly avoided the group of people with overt displays of holy symbols, they weren't likely to be his groove and moved over to the others milling about with no great direction.  He made eye contact and nodded to one slightly taller than the rest.

"You in the treasure recovery business?" he asks Amalfy.

In reply, Amalfy said "Yes, that is the plan at least. The reward is a weird one though, a house for us to share. Not sure that buys many mugs of ale, but what can I say? Maybe I can rent my room out."

"Yeah it is a little weird.  Mind you, there's nothing to say the whole place couldn't be rented out, or set up as a business.  Perhaps there's something in that.

I'm Griff," he says extending his fist.

A fist was something new to Amalfy, who usually shook hands, but followed suited and extended his fist, uncertain if to expect a bump, a tab or some other foreign greeting gesture.

"Well met Griff, my name is Alamfy, Amalfy Scroggins."

Griff was clearly quite young, and pretty enough to be working in some of the finer houses of ill-repute, but something in his eyes, and his aged scale armor implied that he did not. Heck, he might not even know that kind of labor existed. He wondered if he was some farmers son, but didn't feel the need to press him on the matter.

"Welcome, this here," he said with a gesture, "is Akira, so far our de facto leader I guess. And this is Ponder." he didn't introduce any of the others.

Griff does bump fists with Amalfy echoing his sentiment "Well met."

When introduced to Akira he touches his forehead briefly saying "Mam."  as if he were tipping a none existent cap to her.  To Ponder he nods his head up and gives him a greeting in elven before slipping back into common.

"Yeah I'm not as human as most assume," he finishes with a smile and a shrug.

In reply to Morbid Woundcleanser (msg # 77):

The greasy-haired man, taken aback by the cleric's response, begins to reconsider his insulting remark. He senses the underlying tone of threat in her words and realizes that his initial confidence may have landed him in an unfavorable situation. Suddenly, the man's bravado wavers, and he starts searching for an exit strategy to avoid further conflict.

His eyes dart around the room, looking for an opportunity to defuse the tension. He subtly shifts his stance, attempting to distance himself from the cleric and the impending consequences of his insult. The man's expression reveals a mixture of discomfort and uncertainty as he contemplates his next move.

"Ah, well, perhaps I spoke out of turn," he stammers, his voice lacking the previous cockiness. "No need for any blessings, I suppose. Just a little jest between strangers, eh? Let's not make a fuss about it."

Morbid nods, accepting the apology. "I see you are wiser than you were a moment ago. Apology accepted."

Once done, she heads over to the man who had tried to speak to her earlier.

"Left me high and dry there, but you look like a man that knows his way around a weapon. I'm here looking for daring adventure. How about you?" she asks Griff.

Akira seems startled by the thought of being the leader of, well, anything.  She does bow politely to Griff, however.

In reply to Rytel Phorza (msg # 82):

"I am sadly light on details, but I do wish to find out. We need to find out more about what's going on. There's too many variables."

Hmm...

"Let us, then, determine what is going on so we can get to work."

But they probably won't determine that here...

"Perhaps we should pay a visit to the temples to sort out what's wrong and how we can help."

In reply to Morbid Woundcleanser (msg # 89):

Griff has a slightly surprised look on his face when he gets the bow from Akira.  He glances to Amalfy and Ponder obviously a little unsure how to take it.  Just then he is saved from having to find the words to fill in the gap as Morbid turns up talking to him.

Not sure how she figured he had left her in the lurch when she'd ignored him he doesn't bother about it, especially since something about him made her think he looked capable with a sword.

"I'd be happy earning a little coin, and maybe something to pump the adrenalin," he agrees with a shrug and smile.

"I'm Griff, and this here is Akira," he says holding out his hand to the slight lady with the staff, "Amalfy, and Ponder wasn't it?" he says as if he was pondering to himself whether he'd caught Ponders name correctly.

"Akira is organising this group," he announces, "I think.  This is.... ummm, sorry what's your name?"

Rytel listened as he looked around the room but didn't see what he was looking for.

Looking back to Calgarvin and Luthien, a smile crossed his face.

"What if we make an announcement that we are looking for a few people to assist in matters of the churches.   The reward by of jobs that involve money and making a name for yourself in the city will be in the future, but for now it is doing good for all as a reward.   What do you two think?  We have an assembled group of adventuring types here.  Surely we will get one or two interested.  Would be the type of people we want to join us."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:48, Thu 11 May 2023.

"Seems reasonable. I was originally planning on investigating the rash of thefts, but I heard the illness was also occurring, and decided to avert my attention that way. There are probably enough people here to do both at once."

Going back to the table where he'd been conferring with those who wish to investigate the thefts....

"...I have decided to investigate the disease first. If any would like to switch quests, feel free to join me."

Seeing as no-one other than Ponder had taken him on, Vanomir decided to introduce himself to Amalfy, Griff and the woman (Morbid).

"I am Vanomir. Well met, all of you. It looks like we are in the missing items finding business...if such a thing exists. A base of operations sounds ideal...better than having to use this abominable hole."

ooc: the group investigating the missing items...the investigation will largely be up to you to get started, in terms of where to start asking questions.  Adriel has made his announcement, when you are all ready to begin the investigation let me know where you might be going and I will create a thread.  If the group has any locals PM me and I will give you some of what your character may know about where to gather information.  As for the group and the disease, let me know where you are going and I will make a thread for it.  No rush on this scene, just letting you know how to proceed when ready

I was thinking we start at the scene of the crime, see if there are any clues there.

Turning to the Ranger, Akira bows and says, "Lady Eiluned, I wish you and your group luck and good fortune and between us I am sure we will find those responsible and return the items to their rightful owner."

Returning to her own group, she addresses Amalfy, "I was hoping to get more information about where the items were located.  Whatever the case, I think we need to rely on your expertise and knowledge at least at first to try to gather some leads."

Turning to the others, she says, "let us at least depart this place so that we may speak more easily."  With that she leads the way out the door.

"Give me 5 or so," Griff says to Amalfy as Akira leads off.  "I reckon a little more info from that Adriel geezer would help a lot before we shoot off.  You wanna come with?  You a local?"

He'll wait for Amalfy to reply (or anyone else) to indicate whether (s)he (they) want to join him speaking to Adriel before they leave the tavern if Adriel is still around.

OOC:  The scene of the crime is a good place to start, but getting a little more info re how it happened, or simply questioning the man about the burglary or what else has been going on might reveal a lot.  Someone to follow along would be great, Griff isn't dumb, but I'm playing the character and he is as young as adventurers get (in human years think about 16) so I'm gonna have to try and curtail my questioning to the thoughts of a lad of that age.

OOC: Agreed. Probably a good place to start.

In reply to Ponder (msg # 100):
ooc: probably unlikely that Lord Vandergathen allows you to nose around his private study, although Adriel would have the details of the actual theft.  Well, he might let you, but Adriel would try to discourage it.

And we would point out that he must not want his stuff back very badly not to less us explore the scene of the crime.

And I will join Griff in his questioning.

Adriel's brow furrowed with suspicion as he recounted the sequence of events that led to the theft. "Verily, it doth seem," he began, his voice tinged with skepticism, "that the thieves hath received aid from within. 'Tis like that a retainer or one close to Lord Vandergathen hath granted them entry or turned a blind eye to their presence. They must hath traversed the corridors of the manor with uncanny stealth, eluding the watchful eyes of the guards stationed there."

Pausing briefly to gather his thoughts, Adriel continued, "Once inside, they employed a set of lockpick tools to breach the defenses of Lord Vandergathen's private study. Their skill doth suggest a familiarity with such covert arts. 'Tis clear that this was no mere act of chance, but a meticulously plotted heist."

His gaze swept across the room, seeking signs of disbelief or recognition among his companions. "I doth fear that a traitor doth dwell amidst Lord Vandergathen's circle, though their true identity remaineth shrouded."

Eiluned's elven ears caught Adriel's words, and her countenance turned pensive. Stepping forth, her voice rang with caution as she addressed Adriel. "Should there be a turncoat amidst Lord Vandergathen's entourage, we must not only fret o'er the stolen wares. Nay, we must also entertain the notion that our every step may be observed, and the culprits we seek are aware of our quest."  If there was a traitor close to Lord Vandergathen, that same traitor could have informed the thieves that he was hiring adventurers to retrieve his items.

The Knight does take notice of the Ranger...

"If you wish...we could also use your aid...it is probable we're going to need to find some sort of herbal remedy for the illness we seek to cure, and you have more skill than most at finding things that can heal."

He has a druid with him already, but adding a Ranger as well should secure the wilderness aspect of herb hunting.

Griff scratched his head at Lord Vandergathen's assistance words, he wasn't use to such fancy speak.  He tries his best to lift his game when he manages to get to Adriel to have a word.  "Sir, there's a group of us willing to hunt out the thieves, but we have some questions and need a little aid.  Have the household staff been questioned in the presence of a priest or mage?  You know, one of them folks that can tell if they're lying."

OOC:  He'll wait for the response, but rather than draw this part out over days RL, I'll carry on to another topic close to his heart.   

"Also this house promised in reward, it's probably vacant now right?  Given that we'll be working on his lordship behalf and we have some lady folk with us without accommodation, would it be possible to use the place whilst we're on his lordships business?"  You'll know yourself that a man does better work if he ain't concerned with where he's going to lay his head at night."

He leans in to say a few extra words.

In reply to Griff (msg # 106):

Adriel's eyes flickered with a hint of annoyance as he responded to the inquiry. His voice carried an air of confidence tinged with impatience, expressed in the language of old. "Trouble not thyself with the misdeeds of the turncoat lurking within Lord Vandergathen's abode. Those servants who remain loyal to the Lord are attending to that matter. Your focus lies in the retrieval of the pilfered treasures."


A brief pause followed before Adriel continued, his voice firm and resolute. "Concerning the employment of Lord Vandergathen's house as a base of operations during your pursuit, it presents a challenge. Verily, there exist multiple bands of adventurers fervently pursuing the thieves' trail. The manor would be filled to the brim with souls seeking glory, and the walls would tremble under the weight of ambition. I fear it would be a task nigh impossible to find solitude or respite within those walls."