This site is an online accumulation of the Post Reports for my current ongoing D&D Campaign - for anyone who might be interested in reading them.

Monday, December 30, 2019

Meet 103, Adv 6, 11/16/19

This was a meeting about expectations and how it doesn't always work out. Thon is a new player at our table and I am sure he had a certain idea about his family, but I was able to approach it from the side during a big LARP session and he had a chance to see the half-orc view of things here and how his character fits into it - from his history to his place in it today.

The same was for the Falser Confectionary. These are murdering gnome magic user assassins who we KNOW killed 7 people, and yet they have a factory where they make candy and are well liked and also free other gnomes from a crushing Theocracy from their ancestral homelands.

Again, its how things are assumed and how they turn out.

Write up follows:

Before we went to sleep, Darius wanted to talk about the plan for tomorrow a bit more. The thought went that we would need to get out of Stivil pretty quick upon completion, but we’d be in 2 different sections of the town. Half of us would be at the Falser’s Confectionary trying to steal the logs, and the other half would be at some restaurant talking to the Falsers with Shim.

His thought went that we should have 1 or better yet, 2, sleds and horses available to get us out. If the Falsers find out we were in their locale stealing from them, we’d be killed. And there was too much chance to have half the group “waiting around” for the other half to finish up their efforts and rejoin them.

So the plan for the next day was Darius to go and find Rhygar Halfman, hopefully at Cod Smithson’s place (where the two girls, Abarin and Gersy should have been taken after we freed them from Ixitch). From there he’d get the young half-orc to go with him and purchase two sleds and horses where they could practice, make sure they can handle them, and then situate them outside of town for a fast getaway. Darius would drive one, and Rhygar the other.

So the group was in agreement and we finally crashed. It was Deathmonth the 12th when we woke up to blue skies and cold air. In the eating room of the Unshackled Wolf we ate a hearty breakfast before we were going to break up for the day. Thon had written to his family earlier but had not gotten a response yet, so wanted to go and see if his mother was home (not his father). Shim offered to go with the half-orc.

Darius, Eoghan, and Barb were going to go and try to find Rhygar and Cods, and according to the waitress, the militia and watch lead, Captain Arsin, would be the best place to go and look – he could be found at the Armory and Militia Office on Empire Way just south of the Arena. Shim composed a letter to the Falsers asking them to meet him at 6 PM tonight at the Bread and Lake, an upscale restaurant in the Westhome district. Brading and Thalin were going to wait here in case a response came. And the group split up.

The party walked together until they arrive at Captain Arsin where Thon and Shim continued going. They passed into Leeward and then down First Tusk Avenue. The quality of homes dropped significantly and the place had a general unpleasant smell to it. Eventually they turned north and came around to Felt’s Road where Thon came to stop in front of his family home that he had not seen for over a year and a half.

It was a squat stone building like others in the area, the roof was a highly pitched thatched roof. An outhouse and semi-attached ramshackle shed attached by a breezeway completed the picture; the yard was small and was mostly mud and weeds but fresh herbs were growing in the many window boxes. With Shim at his side for support, Thon knocked on the door.

His elder brother by 4 years, Teclan, met him with a sneer and some snide remarks. After an awkward meeting, his mother Melwyn and sister Tarya came out, hugging the long missing Thon, and welcomed him inside. The place was simple, clean, yet still poor – especially to Thon’s more worldly eyes. He inquired about his father, learning the elder half-orc was in the shed and rather angry. Tarya had gotten word of Thon’s visit but being unable to read, didn’t get the note deciphered until last night and didn’t inform her parents until this morning a short while ago – hence the excitement.

Before he could get too deep into where he had been, his father Treeve Tarison came in. The meeting was…tense and stilted. Treeve never forgave his son for leaving, even though he told him to get out. His mother had missed him terribly and was worried about him, especially since his younger sister had passed on some 4 years ago from a bad sickness – it was rough seeing him go.

Shim was accorded respect and was confused with being a gnome from the Candy Factory, a fact he tried to correct but had little traction being able to do so. The conversation did get to his experiences and there was dismay that he had spent time with the Firvinir Orcs, or as Teclan referred them, Grubbers – not real Randari Orcs. Melwyn was concerned there was a pregnant girl, and then really wanted there to be a pregnant girl. Thon tried to downplay the situation and even offer money (crowns and nobles) which at first irritated Treeve. Doesn’t he work hard? Is this blood money? Did he kill someone to get this money?

Thon got the family to understand he’s doing a good thing right now trying to solve an orcish problem (and learned the here, where Scratch was first created 4 months ago, is NOT a problem for anyone local as no one knows about it at all!) and promised to come home or write more often. Treeve and his son did hug and the father reiterated his words about don’t come back, but he also rescinded them immediately. Thon was surprised to learn that his father actually worked for Loring! As did his mother and sister and brother!

Loring was a bottom feeder who sends orcs to their death fighting rabid wolves and bears? Um, no. Not according to the family – Loring actually is a pretty decent boss, runs the gladiator contracts pretty tightly, and always tries to get the best return for any orc fighting for him as well as a rapid resolution of his contract. Um…ok. Did not see that coming. The two of them left after much hugs and catching up, promising to be in touch before moving on and returning to the Unshackled Wolf.

As for Darius, Barb, and Eoghan, they managed to get a meeting with Captain Arsin who was coy about identifying anyone in town, assuming the party of three were some sort of bounty hunters. However when Darius said he was looking for Cods Smithson and the conversation turned to the others that might have come home to him, the Captain’s attitude changed completely. Apparently Abarin, Gersy, and Rhygar’s return 5 days ago had made some headway amongst the townsfolk and the story of their escape and liberators was spoken of with great admiration.

Darius and Barb seriously tried to downplay it and begged the Captain to just let it go, they were just doing what was right. Arsin led the three of them through the Trades to Smith Street where a collective of tradesmen were doing their work. In front of a nondescript forge where a half-orc smith was working an anvil and another one, the younger Rhygar, was working the bellows, The Captain announced to Cods to come out and upon seeing Darius, Rhygar ran out and met the fighter with a fierce hug and much back slapping.

Cods came out and pumped everyone’s hand firmly, referring to them as lord (Darius downplayed it) and promising them 100 nobles he had saved up from various jobs as thanks. It was returned and Darius wanted to get off the street as other smiths were out as well, also showing their admiration and thanks to the trio for saving their companion’s daughter and friends.

The Captain left us to our devices and we went with Cods to his home behind the Trades where Abarin and Gersy were outside needle pointing. On seeing the group, the two young women raced out and also added their hugs and tears, this time on Barb’s chest and waist. We did get off the street and inside the simple home where Rhygar caught the group up to what’s been going on and then ceremoniously returning the Cat Pillow to Darius as he promised he would.

We talked for a while, the two women pledging themselves to Barb as ladies in waiting for a period of 3 years but Barb was able to defer this by getting Abarin to admit she would wait here with Gersy until the dwarven girl is finally mentally sound – THAT was her current charge. Rhygar? He was a different matter and pledged himself right then and there to Darius who accepted the young half-orc with reservation. He gave him the layout for tonight and the need for horses and sleds. Rhygar who had been here for 5 days did let the group know that of the 4 procurers for the Arena games, it was word on the street that the Six Pickers and its headman, Tudar, would be the best choice as his animals were typically of the highest caliber.

So we gave the girls our love and thanks, told them we’d see them another time, and then made our way with Rhygar to Leeward section of town and 6-Pickers.

We talked with Tudar, and older male in his early 60’s, and his 2nd a 40’s year old name Vorod. Eventually we did settle on two Clydesdale nags and a pair of 4 person sleds that can be refitted to carts again in the spring (the pair of wheels were stored under the body of each cart). It cost us some coin, but the feeling was it would come in very handy as we expected to get much use out of them on a going forward.

We all met back up @ the Unshackled Wolf and bided our time. The Falser gnomes agreed to the meeting and Thalin began work on his Invisibility spells. Eoghan did make a side visit to his old farm where his wife and child had died, but it was long abandoned and a friendly neighbor didn’t make the place appealing to anyone to move back in (not recognizing Eoghan as his former neighbor).

By 5:30 we split up – Darius earlier had parked his sled west beyond the sight of Westhome while Rhygar situated himself and the wolf south and east of the Trades and the walls of Stivil and waited there. Shim Brading and Thalin when off to the Bread and Lake where they got a table and waited. Darius meanwhile with Barb, Thon, and Eoghan, all invisible, walked the streets, actually passing the two gnomes and their big half-ogre Fryld, as they went off to meet the rest of their friends!

Show time.

Entering the Falser Confectionary, leading the invisible line with hand to shoulder, Darius took a look around the room and made his way to the east side. There were only 8 half orcs/half ogres working the selling floor and one half-orc at the checkout table across the room. The curtain blocking the left door was still in place, but now was a bit pulled aside.

And the door behind it was only 2’ wide and 5’ tall. Perfect from gnomes, not so much for anyone else. Barb and Eoghan were going to straddle either side of the door and slowly pull the curtain away from the wall. This would give the illusion that straight on all was good, but only if you were looking at it at an angle, would see the unnatural shape.

Thon had fingered his lockpicks and withdrew 2 getting ready for the diversion. It was going well as they pulled the curtain back except Eoghan was too close to the nearest display table and was inadvertently pushing it “away” with the back of his thigh. Which had Darius strike into action.

By falling into a display of liquor hard candies and spilling over 300 of the rounded sugary snacks across the floor with an associated “Oh, my god! I am SOOO Sorry!” Various customers and sales floor employees were looking over, all eyes locked on the mess when Darius staggered to his feet, “slipped” on some candy, and plowed headfirst into another display table of sour fruits sugar balls, dropping another 300 plus candies onto the floor. “Oh! Oh! Oh my God!”

Yeah, that was a distraction.

Thon got behind the curtain and stuck the picks in, twisting left and right, catching the tumblers but the ends of the prongs falling free again and again. Um…shit.

Darius was helped up with some good natured “It’s alright, these things happen,” when he noticed the group still had NOT gotten into the door. So he lunged forward and twisted, free arm upsetting a table full of sarsaparilla candies and adding them to the mess growing amidst the floor. A nearby half ogre, helped Darius to stop flailing about by grabbing him from behind and holding him tight while the chaos was being contained.

Thon was muttering curses as the damned picks continued to slip off the ends of the tumblers, bouncing out and off again and again. The sweat on his brow was falling free from his forehead and nose, dripping visibly to the floor and making a wet stain. Barb and Eoghan were getting very concerned standing in one place and waiting…

Darius was helped to his feet and his leg spasmed out, sending at least 30 candies to fly like pin balls across the room and towards the checkout table. The half-orc there gave the half-ogre holding him a nod and nudge towards the door and Darius was firmly guided/manhandled in that direction…

And then Thon got the door open with a successful twist. In no time the three of them entered the narrow and short door, hunched over and twisting to gain entrance, the curtain falling flat in place and then the door closing behind them…

Darius seeing the curtain go flat relaxed and allowed himself to be led outside. The half-ogre, Hrelf, figured that Darius was from another candy factory and was here to cause trouble. He should never come back again. Darius tried to hand Hrelf some nobles and said he was here from Mr. Silver and this should just be forgotten.

Forgotten? Hrelf wasn’t going to forget this and was going to tell the Falsers about Darius and the Mr. Silver Candy Company. Darius just nodded and said, that was probably for the best and was let go, eventually making his way out of town and back to the sled and horse.

As for the other three, there were in a room with a 5 ½’ tall ceiling, a nice great room with gnome sized furnishing, a harpsichord, couches, hanging lights, long hall with two side rooms and ending a double door at the end of carpeted hall.

And four gnomes in decent clothing all staring at the door they just entered from and closed, in the process of dusting and wiping down the room. Fuck…we weren’t alone. They asked if Malted or Uke were here, no answer. We quietly made our way through the room while the gnomes talked about most likely they were here and were invisible. Was it a game? Why were they doing this? Is this a test?

We made our way down the hall, shoulder to hand. To the right was a kitchen where two gnomes were cooking and preparing a lot of food and pastries on the really nice overs and counters. And to the left was a dining room where 20 could sit, and 10 were there now, all gnomes, 6 of which were kids.

No slaves, no slave collars, no one looked beaten or messed up, no one was in rags. This was NOT was we expected to find. It was almost…familial.

There was some questioning if we, (the gnomes) were here, and some answering from the great room that maybe. Ugh. Fuck. The end of the hall was a double door and getting closer Barb was able to tell through the Ravenstone that each door had a wizardmark upon it- the left was an “M” the right was a “U”. The thought was we had seen no office or bedroom – so it was most likely behind here. And before the gnomes started figuring out where we were, we wanted to get in.

So Thon once again took out his picks and worked the lock on the “U” side, opening the lock. He turned the knob. Slowly. Pushed the door. It was dark in there and he pushed it a bit more when some candles flared to life inside and there was a chime like a cascading hard noise, and a spectral voice said, “Welcome home, Master Uke. Would you like a beverage?”

Which got every gnome in the place to come out and look around, looking down the hall and seeing…nothing – just the partially open door.

Gimme a damned break.

We all shoved ourselves inside and shut the door carefully as young gnomes were clamoring from the other side, “Master Uke? Master Uke?” We ignored everything and stood there, hearts hammering as the conversation meandered about on the other side with one of the gnomes saying, “Well, Master, if you want, there’s a brandy waiting for you when you’re ready.”

Gods, we were so boned.

We were again in a small ceilinged room, two large poster beds, tables, chairs, desks, curtains, shelves, knickknacks – obviously where the Falser brothers did their work and slept. We looked over the obvious large desk and although there were lots of books about their legitimate candy business, there were also at least 4 slim tomes that were about Sir Gregor Oslterson and deliveries to, from, and about the Demesne.

We agreed to take them and the disembodied voice said, “Master Uke, it sounds like you have guests, shall I fetch some snacks for all of them?” Fuck fuck fuck magic shit just SHUT UP… After a while, it grew quiet again. We swept all the books into Thon’s backpack, went shoulder to hand line up again, and went back to the door.

No more screwing around, we opened the door and again that damned chime went off and the voice said, “Farewell Master Uke, have a wonderful day!” And a bunch of 2’ tall or less gnome kids boiled out of the kitchen and ran down the hall towards our invisible selves. We grabbed the mug of brandy outside the door, dumped it over, and stayed to the sides as we dodged kids and gnomes milling about and others going, “I told you there were here. Master Uke?”

In the great room we wasted no time, opened the door and marched out quick to the selling floor and damn the curtains and who might see us. As we tried to dodge our way around the room, Barb was inadvertently clotheslined by a half-orc and a 7’ tall lollipop, the barbarian hitting the ground with a strangled gurgle. We felt around to locate her, helped her up and ran out of the place while the half-orc was talking to other half orcs about how something’s been weird today and he is sure he hit someone but no kid was hurt.

Out in the street we made it south and east to the wall and then relaxed the invisibility spell, going visible as we huffed through the cold night air to Darius waiting for us along with the sled. We showed him the backpack full of books, got on the sled, and drove away for the long ride back to Durcent Province.

As for Shim and his contingent, they got to the Bread and Lake early, procured a table near the back, and took to ordering some food and drink. He then asked Brading and Thalin if during the meal, they might want to get up and walk away as he had some private information to share with the Falser brothers about his time leaving the Nightwoods. Walk away? Why? Private. But, we’re all friends. Yeah, but it’s private to me – and maybe the Falsers might want it to be private as well.

At that point Malted and Uke Falser arrived along with the half-ogre Fryld. We all sat down to eat and the conversation meandered only a little bit while Shim was laying the ground work that he wanted to work with them to help free potential other gnomes.

It was at this point that whatever preconceived notions Shim had about the Falsers were slowly chipped away. They had been smuggled out some 12 years ago, shortly after the Theocrat came to power. It was easier then but still expensive. The Theocrat is not a forgiving gnome and his Defenders will often snag entire families and bring them back for re-education.

As for sending Thalin or Brading away, the Falsers felt no need as they would not send Fryld away. Too many gnome issues are shrouded and they need to be shone to the light or the Theocrat will continue to hold sway.

To gnomes it’s a big thing to leave the Nightwoods as it is their ancestral home, as far back as history goes, the gnomes had lived there. But when the Theocrat, in the guise of religious fascism, takes power and solidifies it, even the most ardent believer can’t make the case to stay.

Fryld was one of the half-ogres working with the Centaurs on smuggling gnomes free – and the Falsers took a liking to the half-ogre, especially once they learned he was a natural and untrained sorcerer. Once far away from the Nightwoods they set up shop here in Stivil at a defunct factory and rebuilt it to their needs. Since then they’ve been funding the freedom of various gnomes and their families – to the tune of 136 to date freed. They have a 15 year contract, food and board is provided free as well as education and a marketable skill here. They are free to leave or stay, but the Falsers feel an attachment to every one of them and consider them family.

As for Shim he did let know that he was a novitiate in the Arcane Academy and about 5 years or so ago, after a blistering tirade against the Theocrat to the wrong people, he was approached by smugglers who had been paid to get him free of Nightwoods. Following was a 3 week ordeal of smuggling inside tunnels, boxes, bolt hole to bolt hole, making his way out of the Nightwoods and terrified of being caught at any moment. In the clear thinking that follows, Shim realizes that if his unknown benefactors hadn’t smuggled him out when they did, a week or two tops later he’d have been snatched off the streets and taken away for reeducation and maybe even death.

The Falsers seemed honest and earnest, and they were truthful in their dealings. They have a vaunted interest in half-orcs, orcs, and half-ogres because they respect them and their dedication to clan and family. It’s a bit gnomish in their way of thinking and honor is an important part of most orc’s lives. As for gnomes? Too many humans just discount gnomes as…what? Friendly forest folk? Retarded elves?

Unnecessary?

They did talk about Rargitild of the Green Hills, a friend of their who died due to an alembic imbalance while working on some alchemical mixture. And they did admit that they did “contract” work for an odious human who was looking to fuck over the locals just so his son can get a good job. So…human.

The meal was an eye opener for everyone and it was around 8:30 when Shim and company ended the conversation and wished the Falsers the best. He’d be in touch in the next couple of days about working with them and getting someone out (or so he said). From there they left without haste and made their way eventually beyond the walls and to Rhygar who was waiting for them. They loaded up on the sled and turned to the south and east, their horse pushing forward on their long trip to Durcent Province.

Friday, December 27, 2019

Meet 102, Adv 6, 11/9/19

The group had a chance to visit Stivil.

There are some towns in my world that will be important and I put the extra effort into them, and Stivil is one of them. I hope they get a chance to come back soon.

Write up follows:

The group crashed, falling asleep by 6:30 in the morning and not awakening until about 4 in the afternoon on Deathmonth the 11th. And as Darius was concerned about – it was Marketday in Stivil – the same day as Arena Day.

The Coliseum takes up the center of Stivil, with roughly ¼ of its outer northeast seating long ago destroyed during the Dwarven/Randari conflict, but still capable of giving a place to 15,000 howling fans. We were in the Unshackled Wolf, a nice establishment in Eastview. Talking to Thon and Eoghan, we got the lay of the land so to speak (Lords District to the North, “Top” at the Northeast, Eastview (upperclass) to the east, the Trades (industrial and guild area) to the southeast and south, Leeward (lowerclass section) to the south and southwest, Westhome (middle class) to the west, and Merchant’s Blocks to the north west (commercial)).

We discussed our options and plans for today. We wanted to go the Merchant’s Block and get some better cold weather gear and maybe some snowshoes. Then to the Trades to get a lay of the Falser candy maker place. We were told that most places were open till 7 and the Arena games go all day from 10 to 6. As for the Falsers? There was the local Falser Confectionary Factory – on Sweet Street in the Trades – and EVERYONE in town knows about it and them.

While our conversation with the patrons and serving women were going on, there was a young man in his early 20’s playing the harp and playing it…poorly. To stop him from playing people would buy him drinks and send them over to him. So we did the same, and he came over to thank us. Named Tholling, he was 22 and married, father of 2, was a senior stable hand who always thought he was destined for more, when an elven rider about 8 months ago let him know that he had nice strong graceful fingers – he should play the harp.

So he bought…leased…a small Celtic harp and has been trying to make ends meet doing so.

And Darius told him he was an unskilled hack and should quit.

What?

Serious, you have no skill, and no one is going to tell you this, but strange elven women tossing out comments to the stable hand is not a basis on changing your job and life. He then handed him a handful of coins and told him to go home and take care of his kids and try to get his job back because really dude, you just suck.

Tholling left, dejected, and the group looked at Darius who shrugged, saying he was helping the man out.

We left the Wolf and made our way along Empire Way until we got to Main Street and the Merchant’s Block which was situated near the remains of an interior wall that used to cordon off areas of Stivil before the Great War.

From here we wandered around until we stopped at a clothier and leatherworkers called Grandma’s, run by an elderly dwarven woman. She helped us outfit our clothes and get many of them fur lined or the like and the prices were fair. From there we made our way to an outfitter who provided us with snowshoes which we purchased as well along with some spare catgut to effect repairs.

It was after 6 so we went across town to the Trades and then down two smaller streets till we go to Sweet Street. The Falser Confection Factory took up the middle of the block of 6 larger buildings, the factory being almost 100’ wide and 60’ deep, 3 stories tall with two distinct chimneys at opposite sides of the building. There was an open field around the building fenced in with a copious lighting in the front and some teeter totters and slides on the south/left side for families and kids to play on.

We did not want Shim to go on, the gnome becoming more pensive as time has gone on. Only a few of us went in, the rest of us walked the area in order to get a feel for the layout of the place.

4 guards in the front, dressed in finery and fancy clothes, but big half-orc looking people. Inside the main hall was 30 x 50, and had sample and sales tables on the left and right, the checkout counter in the back of the hall manned by the Falser brothers also dressed in colorful candy looking garb. Everyone else here who was working was either an Orc, Half Orc, or Half Ogre – and there were 12 of them. There was a double door on the right hand side of the room and a curtained area on the left that Eoghan was convinced was blocking a door.

The place was busy, 50, 60, even 70 people wandering about sampling and buying hard candies. We did our best to fit in and bought an assortment as time went on, eventually getting to the Falsers where we paid and thanked the gnomes for the treats – then we left to find our friends outside.

As for them they walked the property without making it look they were walking the property. The back of the factory area was a mess of beaten snow as if paths were made, leading from a single door to the fields behind the Factory grounds, through a break in the interior Stivil walls and then lost in the streets of Leeward. There was no other doors in or out. There were NO windows either. Anywhere except the third floor and they were narrow 2’ tall, 4’ wide windows painted black and from their position were most likely at the TOP of the floor – not at all easy to get out of.

In fact the only other bit of interest was a 4’ wide, 6” tall grating set in the foundation of the property on the north/right side near the rain runoff gutter that was pitched the wrong way and was running into the grate and down into the basement of the factory. What?!

We shared the candy, ate some, and decided that we needed to get more information. It was after 7 and the place was still open but they were winding down operations. So we went in a second time, this time with Shim who made his own purchases and then being the last customers, went to the Falser brothers to talk.

Malted and Uke, were deferential to Shim, and their demeanor was one of respect for their fellow gnome. They talked of the Nightwoods and the spiriting of gnomes out of the Theocrat’s rule. Gnomes were brought eventually here were they worked for a bit (15 years) and then would have a marketable skill and the freedom to go where they wanted. The ended well and we left with more questions than answers and to Shim, a different outlook on the Falser Brothers.

We noted they shut the sliding factory doors in front of the Factory and then locked and pinned it from within – meaning we were not going to get in that way. How do they leave? When do they leave? Thon advised us that we should leave the Trades, go back to Leeward, and he felt he could guide us back to the large Wall separating the Trades from Leeward that had fallen to disrepair and had gaps in it.

So we took the walk and within 10 minutes made out way to the dark alleys and then clear garbage choked areas in the snow. From here we could faintly see the building and the back door was open, almost 8 figures were outside and smoking and talking. Some 5 to 10 minutes later the last one walked out and a large half-ogre along with a gnome stood there, the half-ogre held aloft a double bitted battle axe, looked around panning slowly, then nodded to the gnome and they shut the door. The others outside walked through the alley and then were lost in Leeward.

We had Thon sneak back to the Factory after some time and assured us the door was closed and locked and then checked out the grate. He let us know that he could faintly hear high pitched voices crying and some sounds of flesh striking flesh – but the grate only opened to a room barely 10 x 5 with a rivulet cut in the bottom of the wall where the water ran through.

Ok…We needed some information from the inside. The Falsers most likely lived here, there were other gnomes here working…indentured? What’s with all the half-orcs and the like? Aren’t the Falsers destabilizing the Durcent Province and effacing the sale of Scratch to the locals? We suspected the double door led to the factory while the single door behind the curtain led to the Falser’s private rooms.

As for the people that left, they most likely hit a local bar and Eoghan and Thon led the group to Shadowfall off Empire’s Way – and the closest drinking establishment for those coming through this way. Once here we looked around and Eogahn spotted Hrelf the half-ogre who had sold him some candy inside the Factory. Since he already had some conversation with him, the rest of the group held back while Eoghan went and had some conversation with the Half-ogre and his drinking companions.

It went…went.

Hrelf was with his friend Relf the Half-orc who still worked there, Rhelf the half-orc who was fired after 2 days of working there, and Luden, a friend who made a killing at betting at the arena today and was keeping everyone in their cups.

There was quite a long conversation but the Half-ogre inside is a bit intense, named Fryld and he uses the axe to help him “feel” if anyone is hiding nearby – visible or not. The Falsers have 40, 80, 200 (the number fluctuated) gnomes working there making candy including their kids and they were pretty cowed. There was an incident with poison where Relf was yelled out to “Don’t Touch My Poison” when he was helping move some apple candy at some point.

But Eoghan kept asking questions and finally Hrelf said that he’d set up a tour or meeting with the Falser Brothers tomorrow for Eoghan since Eoghan seemed real interested in the factory and he would let the gnomes know about all the questions being asked. Erghh.. yeah.

We hoped he would just be too plastered to remember too much and by quarter to 11, we got out of there and made our way back to the Unshackled Wolf. Safely in our room we divided the situation into two parts – we needed to get the Falser Brothers OUT of the factory and would need a conversation/.diversion to do so – and for that, Shim was very happy to lead that line of inquiry.

And we would need to sneak some people in invisibly to get through the curtained area and into the Falser Brother’s private area to find the log books for Lord Gregor Ostlerson. Thon was already a keen man with a set of picks so it was going to be him, Darius, and Barb – and we estimated a half hour, maybe 45 minutes tops to get in, look around, grab what we needed, and sneak out in such a way that we don’t attract the attention of the sales floor as well as got out before the Falser Brother’s meeting with Shim, Eoghan, Brading, and Thalin ended. So at 11:30 we were going to turn in and Shim would approach the Falser’s tomorrow to set up a meeting and hopefully, the game would be afoot.