At the mention of hunters, the relaxed expression on Adeline's face turned stony. She listened to the others talk and raised an eyebrow at the mention of warrants, unable to contain a little smirk at these mortals and their written contracts. "My name is Adeline of Gullach Weir." She nodded greeting to the Lord as if somehow his equal and flicked a curious glance over the others, but spoke only to Jonas. "Hunters rare leave their prey alive and I see no reason to extend them the same courtesy, but if that's the deal for a hundred apiece, paid in gold, then I'm sure my talents might be of use." It was a deal struck as far as she was concerned and naught more need be said.

The young woman turned then to address the motley crew of mercenaries gathered around the nobleman. Her gaze fell on the green-skinned Elf. [Language unknown: "Ec tic bemen itint ta lica Lin, isme'atth. Tesamo iouatedinwit."] she said with a respectful bow. Turning to Gerard, she leaned in close and sniffed, frowning. Then took a longer smell and her brow furrowed deeper. "You don't smell like others, Human. Are you...a gardener?" she guessed, stepping back out of his personal space and fixing him with intense eyes.

OOC: Is anyone present wearing or carrying a significant amount of iron or steel? Anything larger or with more metal than, say, a longsword?

"I'm confident we can convince them to give up on any plans they have to cause mayhem here tonight or otherwise. I'm ready to see the jailer, perhaps he can lend us some manacles? I have no experience hunting men, so I'm no in the habit of carrying such things but I do have some rope should he not have any available to us."

The others had already covered all the other questions Malcolm had so he mostly listened and nodded. He was glad nobody seemed eager to go off to kill these hunters, so far at least.

OOC: Adeline, Malcolm has a chain shirt armor I suspect has quite a bit of steel in it, it would be clearly visible underneath his cloak.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:58, Tue 21 Dec 2021.

Tornan started to ask a question, but Gerard seemed to beat him to it.  Nodding approvingly, he muttered to himself, "Good question...  good... thinking...". He considered again for another moment, but the rest seemed to beat him to every point before he could quite get there. He started to look a bit frustrated, with himself, but very approving of the way these strangers think it through.  The best that he can manage to add, helpfully, is, "Oh!  I have rope as well.  So.  Very prepared.  With rope.  If needed..."

OOC: Oddly, the dwarf is very lightly metaled.  No armor.  Axes and javelins
This message was last edited by the player at 14:42, Tue 21 Dec 2021.

"I'd like to help, too, if you'll have me," Qamar speaks up from behind the others. "Where can we find this jailer?"

Qamar wears no armor. She has two daggers on her belt. There are several metal tools in her backpack, but they aren't visible from the outside.

She cocked her head to one side a moment as she looked towards Adeline. [Language unknown: "We ma thueenenc ei tr Diho notounain ou i outun hi sti ecati na ne eeletoas"] She said with a smile to Adeline. [Language unknown: "At a n Prehouany Riwa. N redte an fo ndemi wilic ateentshe ie urriwe ngsa iththuith, p rimaha stromo wa ck."] Then she offered Adeline a small bow. [Language unknown: "M m Ndbefiniro Loremi."]

[OOC: Theira doesn't have much in the way of metal on her yet. That will change when she hits 2nd level and can wield her larger blade and wear light armor.]

"Ah...hmmm..."  Gerard reacted with reserved bewilderment when for the second time an exotic woman invaded his personal space.  This time for a deep sniff.  "Gardener is as appropriate a title as any other,"  he responded, "I enjoy tending my plants and mixing my herbs."

Reaching into a pouch at his side, Gerard retrieved a small flower which had begun to wilt.  Bringing it close to his face he let a breath out over the flower; which immediately recovered into a bright, full bloom.  "See?  They tend to like me as well.  We have a good relationship."  He offered the flower to Adeline.

"Okay, I have to say that was very cool." She said with a small nod. "Best thing I can do beyond my spells is my Fey Step." She said with a simple nod.

Adelines face lit up like a small girls at the sight of the revitalised flower. "Gardener indeed, master human." she said without a trace irony as she took the flower with a smile. "I've known few outside the Fey with such grace as you possess. Please allow me to repay your gift in kind." Twitching aside he cloak, she popped the cap of her waterskin and drew forth a small sphere of water with naught but a wave of her hand. The globe of water suspended itself in the air spinning like a river eddy, then slowly froze petal by petal into the shape of a glistening flower resembling the one Gerard had given her. She held it out for Gerard, smiling. "The magic only lasts so long" she sighed, looking away wistfully. "But I have given it some small permanence for you to enjoy."

She turned to Theirastra [Language unknown: "T nanancle m ut na Itlest t itos Ersardrut. La metin ter ruttedard n asble heivel wi pro en utetst pl Ties, erawitvir Era O m vorwhiera whtic."] She tilted her head in imitation of her counterpart as she paused [Language unknown: "Ndmen O ho ek n."] The statement was genuine, but delivered entirely deadpan.

It was only then that Adeline really paid any attention to the others gathered. The look she shot at Malcom was mixed trepidation and disgust writ plain on her face and she physically took a step back from him, her gaze ever flickering to the iron shirt he wore. Her curious glances at the others held no such emotion, but she forewent further introductions in lieu of advancing their mission here as she waited for Lord Jonas' response to Qamar's question.

"I called them 'hunters,'" Lord Jonas sighs. "But I was being generous. They're poachers. There are six of them. They were imprisoned for poaching, kidnapping, and causing mischief.

"You should find Shick at the jail, inside Durrcan Keep," he says, motioning behind him. "Tell him I sent you and that I'll have official warrants sent over shortly. Thank you. I pray that you can find them before they cause any further damage."

"I'll cherish it for the entirety of its short existence,"  Gerard said upon accepting the crystalized ice flower.  He returned his attention to the local lord as a further explanation of the sought-after criminals was given.

"Poaching and Kidnapping?"  Gerard blinked, then continued, "Sound like some dangerous types then.  And we can expect them have knives and bows they are willing to use as well."  He nodded, "To the jail then; we'll find Shick and see what we can do to help your men wrangle these desperate criminals."

With a farewell wave to Lord Jonas, Gerard went into the keep to make his way to the jail.

Tornan had watched the small displays of magic with rapt and suddenly silent attention.  His eyes were fixed on hands and fingers as they wove the magical patterns.  Almost the way a starving man might look on a pot of stew...  His own fingers flexed and traced patterns absently along with...to no useful effect.  When he realized what he was doing, he snapped himself out of it and looked away brushing a hand through his beard.  He muttered along absently, trying to seem like he'd been paying closer attention to the lord and his job, "Yes...  yes...  Escaped jailers...  Talk to the hunters...  Hurrumph...hmm...."  As Gerard headed off, Tornan hefted his axe and set off to follow along to...um...  The jail.  Yes.  That's it.  The jail.

Qamar nods and adjusts her hood, then follows Gerard and the others to talk to the jailer.

When the would-be-heroes arrive at the jail, they find a tall, grizzled human in his seventies scolding a young guard. When he spots them, he casts a reprimanding glare at the guard, then turns and barks, "Who are you? Can't you see I'm busy here?"

As they move on in search of the gaoler, Adeline nods a polite parting to Lord Jonas. She hummed a little refrain at the sight of the man she presumed was Shick and gave him an enigmatic smile in return for his curt bark. "We are sent by the lordling Jonas. He sends warrants for poachers and hunters to meet us here, as he sends us to you for answers to questions." She gives him a little bow. "I am Adeline, if name must be given and here is Theirastra of the Wyld and...well, I don't recall anyone else introducing themselves. To me at least. Let us presume to call them persons of unusual talent, then. Volunteering for tasks unknown is unusual enough, don't you think?" she winked and turned to look at her newfound companions, placing herself shoulder-to-shoulder with the jailer. "You, I presume, must be Shick." she said sidelong, her sea green eyes twinkling.

The dwarf harrumphed quietly and leaned again on the haft of his axe as they stopped. He kept his voice low so as not to interrupt the process with the jailer, "Tornan...  I know I said it... Surely.  Right?  Yes....?"

"Eh? Yeah, I'm Shick," the older man says. "Lord Jonas sent you to find Grogan and his lackeys? I hope you're more competent than my guards..."

She smiled to Adeline. [Language unknown: "Si mianaiic i ndnd sihi."] She seemed genuinely pleased to meet this woman. [Language unknown: "Whe ut ad ncha ncetioany yinnteout, nach e sawhe ec eenom int redmo ven hatou. Ho ma one."]

@JAILOR

"I am Theirastra Nailo. I am sure you will find each of us more capable then a common guard in each of our own ways." She said calmly, with a small nod in greeting.

Malcolm took a quick glance at his clothes and armor half-thinking he had dirtied it with the looks the Adeline had given him. He gave it a brush and once-over and moved on.

He then took up a spot at Tornans side, leaning against a wall and responded to his mumbling with a smile, "You certainly did, but not all of us here were there at the time to listen. We should all probably introduce ourselves properly the next time we meet, if we do. There's no guarantee we will see each other after tonight after all."

He raised his voice and looked to the jailer now, "We need to know what they look like, drawings if you have them would be best but a description should do. Lord Jonas will send you warrants that we need as well, and if you have; manacles for each of them."

As Malcolm explains, Tornan actually looks relieved and nods his quiet thanks to the man.  He decides it best to stay quiet and wait for the jailer to provide all the necessaries so they could get on with the work.

"Good, good," Shick says. "I can get you some manacles and extra rope when the warrants arrive...

"Grogan is the leader of the poaching gang. He's an ugly fellow, massive in all proportions. Valorin's handsome and less hotheaded than Grogan. He's tall with black hair and green eyes. Then there's Tor; he's a short, miserable fellow, a wizard of some sort. You'd best be careful dealing with him. The other three, dammit, I can't remember their names... Well, they're rough-looking, burly woodsmen. They don't seem too bright. They'll most likely stick with Grogan and the others.

"I suspect they're all headed to the North Woods. That's where they operate out of."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:29, Mon 03 Jan 2022.

"Excuse me, Mister Shick," Qamar speaks up from the back of the group, the tip of her tail flicking slightly past the edge of her long, black cloak. "Do you know how these poachers escaped? Did they break themselves out? Or did they have help? And might there be other poachers in the woods that they could be meeting up with?"

Theira nodded Qamar's question. "Took the question right from my own lips." Then looked towards Shick waiting for an answer.

"And here I only expected some rowdies with skinning knives."  Gerard commented, "They sound like a rough bunch to deal with.  Especially with a wizard in their midst, no ordinary poacher there."

"What kind of support can we expect from the guard?  There must have been men dispatched to the North Wood already if you suspect that might be to where the convicts are escaping."

"Eh? It was negligence that let 'em escape," Shick replies, casting a quick, cold glance at the guard. "I don't know who else might be waitin' for 'em, though. And good luck convincin' Lord Jonas to send any guards out into the woods. We're already short as it is, what with the festival and all. Isn't that why he hired you?"

A page arrives with a scroll, which he hands to Shick. After looking it over, Shick nods and smiles. "Looks like it's official. Lord Jonas is payin' you a hundred gold per prisoner." He offers the warrant to Gerard. "I'll grab you six sets of shackles. Then you'd best get to it."

"I know a thing or two about the wilds but I'm no tracker. Anyone of you think you can track a group of poachers? They likely know that woods like a home." Malcolm adressed the whole group gathered now, by the looks of some of them he had already assumed the answer would be yes.

"Our best bet should be surprising them at night, if we can. I can see well in the dark and I think some of you can as well. That way we can catch a few of them asleep and convince the rest to never even reach for a weapon. I've talked down an angry bunch from a fight before and I've learned that showing that you're already carrying a bigger stick than they are really helps them see your point of things, catching them in camp seems like a good way to do that.

Anyone else have any ideas about how we're approaching this?"