following the footprints (dmjk) Wednesday November 27th, 2002 7:08:31 PM
The footprints seem to be all around the house, but there is to much grass and rocky dirt in the outlying areas for you to pick up much. Perhaps a week ago there would have been more to go on, but now, most signs of passage are gone.
Rond does determine that the prints were made by more than one person or thing. They look to have been made by three or four people.
The trip to the other farm is short as it is merely across the road. Elmo's house is in considerably different shape. On approaching, you immediately notice that the door has been smashed in, and there are numerous booted footprints around the outside of the house. Most of them track back and forth across one another. You quickly surmise that they are the tracks of the town guard. Perhaps you could isolate another bare footprint, but it would take some work.
Bill Troublefinder Thursday November 28th, 2002 4:51:44 AM
"Actually, we hobbits generally go barefoot, even in winter." He looks down at his shoe-clad feet, frowning. He wiggles his toes in this boots of frisking and frolicking. No, rather, striding and springing. Bill takes his boots off and places them in his knapsack. He eases on to the grass. "Ahhhh. Much better."
As the party crosses to Elmo's house, he takes some time to examine the bootprints and footprints. "Rond, isn't this your speciality? Looking at footprints? Figure out anything? Find toejam?"
Bill looks through the smashed door into the house. Gingerly, he steps across the threshold, looking upwards just before he transfers his weight to the forward foot. If his entry is otherwise unremarkable, he pulls out a sunrod, strikes it once to allow it to generate light, and takes a look around.
------ [OOC: P.S.: My rambling post of yesterday died aborning, as my internet connection burped.]
Renik d20+12=26 d20+4=5 Thursday November 28th, 2002 7:24:29 AM
Drawing both blades, Renik joins his halfling companion as he enters the building, alert for danger (Spot 26). He signals his companions if all is clear, then moves into the house, giving it a perfunctory once over (Search 5).
Draax Thursday November 28th, 2002 9:43:41 AM
Draax draws his sword, but wait outside the house as the others start their investigation. He scans the surrounding area with his eyes looking for any uninvited guests.
Rond d20=3 Thursday November 28th, 2002 11:34:13 AM
Rond continues to look through all the footprints in order to try to make sense of any information he can get. (track=3 aaahhgg) ;)
"So far all I can gather is that it was more than one being. But I'm a little rusty at this, since we've been in the city for so long." Stopping for a second when Bill comments about toejam Rond mischieviously looks over to Bill and comments, "No, no toejam. Even though it might make for an interesting kind of pie."
Searching (DMJK) Friday November 29th, 2002 9:23:03 AM
Rond finds an indentation that was probably made by some bare toes, lending credence to the idea that whoever or whatever was at Edmund's is also the thing that was at Elmo's. But that's about it. There are simply too many bootprints.
Those investigating the house find that the door is half ripped off the hinges. The furniture in the main room, namely a dining table and chairs as well as some more comfortable chairs neat the fire, is toppled. It looks like Elmo had laid out his dinner on the table, and nobody ever cleaned it up. There are flies buzzing all over the table now. Bill, keenly notices that the dinner did not include pie, rather some simple bread and some moldy stuff in a bowl that was probably a stew. Elmo's dinner cup is on the floor. A wine stain is nearby. Clearly some sort of struggle that interrupted Elmo's dinner took place.
The other rooms of Elmo's farm seem orderly and well kept. Apparently the struggle did not spread past the main room. There is also no sign that Elmo managed to pack any of his belongings before his departure.
As he stands outside, Draax notices Elmo's barn. He hears some sort of noises inside.
Draax Friday November 29th, 2002 10:50:58 AM
Draax steps into the house and silently waves his hands until he gets someone's attention. He points at the barn and indicates that there is someone or something inside. When he is sure that they understand the meaning that he was trying to convey, he will start moving towards the barn. He circles the barn once looking for visible exits before moving to take a look inside.
Renik d20+15=28 d20+8=13 d20+25=29 Friday November 29th, 2002 11:08:37 AM
Moving with incedible stealth (Move Silent 28) the rogue leaves the farmhouse and moves towards the barn, his swords drawn. As he reaches the barn he attempts to peer inside without letting himself be seen (Spot 13, Hide 29).
Hobbes Friday November 29th, 2002 2:33:33 PM
Hobbes guides Bradbury from his post at the front gate and slowly trots in a wide circle around the barn area, going the opposite way of Draax. He especially looks at the back of the barn, checking for other entrances. He will remain there, creeping forward and waiting to see what will happen. Also ready to speed his horse around to the front or into the barn (through any possible openings) or after any fleeing creatures if need be.
Bill Troublefinder d20+3=19 d20+5=15 Saturday November 30th, 2002 5:39:36 AM
"He forget to have pie that night," is Bill's only verbal comment inside the house. He mentally maps out the rest of the house as they search the otherwise neat abode.
Eventually he notes Draax's signal (Spot 19) from without, so joins in the inspection of the barn. Near the structure, he pauses to listen (15).
He checks around for various entry points to the edifice. If there is a higher entry point, such as an upper window or other such opening, the diminutive fellow will fly up to it. If he does not, however, discern such, he looks to settle for ground entries.
Rond Saturday November 30th, 2002 9:27:54 AM
Rond feels sad for Elmo in that he was disturbed in the middle of his meal. He determines that once the group is done with their investigation that they should probably clean up the mail at least, so the house isn't that bad off.
Feng Saturday November 30th, 2002 12:10:56 PM
Feng stands in the back, weapon ready. He can do many things, but move like a rogue isn't one of them.
Arien Monday December 2nd, 2002 1:43:17 PM
Arien stands back next to Feng. Arien can move quietly but he works best from the back where he can get a better view of his targets.
The Barn! - DMJK Monday December 2nd, 2002 5:02:03 PM
The culprits making the noise in the barn are quickly discovered. Elmo's horses seem to want out. They have been locked up for a week. Their food is gone.
[jk ooc] Monday December 2nd, 2002 5:06:10 PM
[We'll be in combat soon, I need a char sheet from everyone by week's end or your char dies in the fight.]
Draax Monday December 2nd, 2002 7:21:47 PM
Draax leads the horse from the barn and let them gaze on the land. He takes some of the feed from his horse's saddlebag to share with the animals. If there is a well or stream near by he will see that they get water also. "I wonder why the town guards did not see to the horses when the realized that Elmo was gone. I do not remember the guards being so incompetent that they would leave the animals on their own, I wonder if they even checked the barn."
Draax mumbles to himself as he take some time to brush the horses down. Finding it hard to believe about the insensitivity of the town's guards.
[jk ooc] Tuesday December 3rd, 2002 12:06:11 AM
[renik's char sheet was received first, he gets 200xp. Right now. Who's next?]
Bill Troublefinder Tuesday December 3rd, 2002 5:12:03 AM
"Nice horseys. Hungry horseys." Bill makes sure he stays away from the hoofs, and is glad that big people like Draax and Feng and Rond and Hobbes know what they're about with horses.
He spends some time examining the barn, just in case there are some useful clues about. What are we overlooking?
Renik d20+5=17 Tuesday December 3rd, 2002 8:56:14 AM
The rogue spits into the hay and sheaths his swords, his heart pounding though he does not show it. "Well, false alarm my friends. Let's see these beasts fed and watered, and give the house a proper examination."
The rogue heads back inside and gives the interior of the building a thorough examination (Search 17).
DMJK Tuesday December 3rd, 2002 4:52:10 PM
The horses calm down easily enough and are quite happy to graze on the grass outside the barn. Draax sees no sign to believe anything other thatn that the town guards are incompetent.
Back inside the house, Renik snoops around and notices that the inside of Elmo's spilled dinner cup contains a crusty white substance. Suspecting poison or something dreadful, he investigates and sees that it is dried up milk. This causes some initial confusion about the wine stain on the floor that was near the cup, but it is quickly solved when the thief realizes that it is not a wine stain but rather a small pool of blood. Something bad has indeed happened to Elmo.
Bill tries to think of something that could have been overlooked and comes up with nothing. He deduces that the answers will be found in the cemetery.... or not at all.
Bill Troublefinder Tuesday December 3rd, 2002 7:12:15 PM
Once Renik discovers the misidentification of the stain on the floor, Bill ponders for a bit.
"Okay, guys, what say we head to the graveyard? It's not too far away. Ronderiadshal, maybe you can stick to the front, before we walk all over any footprints. My cousins and I got in trouble one time for playing games around the tombstones. 'Where's your reverence for the dead?' they asked us. I think it was Salawee, Borbo's father's sister's daughter, who said somethin' about supposin' to be reverent for the gods, but what's this about reverence for dead people, who can't do anything anymore? Boy, did she get in trouble."
If all are willing, Bill heads on over to the cemetery. Almost there, he stops for a moment, and decides to put his boots back on. "Dang feet got too tender tucked in these boots so long. City life makes ya soft."
Draax Tuesday December 3rd, 2002 11:27:20 PM
Seeing that the horses can graze and take care of themselves for awhile, Draax decides that the horses can remain on the farm while the party goes to the cemetery. They can pick the horse up before they return to town. He feels a little more comfortable visiting the graveyard during the day instead of at night.
"Sounds good to me Bill, I guess the cemetry is our only other option."
Draax heads towards the cemetery with the others.
Rond Wednesday December 4th, 2002 4:43:19 AM
"That would indeed be a good thing, to be in the lead checking out footprints." Rond looks the horses over to check their general health and such, along with count how many there are. Rond is considering whether the group might benefit from using the horses until we figure out what happened to the owner. Thinking about the horses, they might be able to find their owner somehow.
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