Chapter 1: A Peaceable Kingdom

[Ed]

Oss returns the whisper in his mind, "You'll not accuse me of not using my mind! I am NOT the one who mentioned any survivors or even the wreck in the first place, you dolt! Blame the other half-elf and the woman if you're upset about those facts being revealed, not me. I've no plans to lead him back to the wreckage and never gave sign that I would, did I? Now, back off and let me try and salvage this or at least blame me for something I've done!"

Oss looks to the half-orc. "I'm afraid my friend," he says motioning to Goran, "is mistaken about the survivors. He is a hopeful one, I think. We tried to lend aid to some other bodies we found, but in truth could do nothing. I was hoping, if it was not too much trouble that you would help us in honoring the dead tonight with a small ceremony here on your farm as is traditional with us Aundair folk."

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Oss gets a 12 on his bluff and 10 on his diplomacy

[Lara]

Tears start to roll down Pellorien's cheek. She raises a hand to her face to catch them.

[Jeff]

Vars looks between the faces of the group, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. At Oss's words, he shakes his head. "I...I understand."

When Pellorien begins to cry, he sighs heavily. "Come this way," he says and points further down the fence, where you can see a narrow opening. He starts to walk that way.

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Oss is forced to feign a coughing fit (perhaps as a consequence of the crash) to step away for a moment from Vars to send his whispered words back to Kal. The Message spell requires actual whispers, not telepathy, so when you're talking to someone else t the same time, they'd otherwise be able to see/hear it.

Vars's opposing Sense Motive check to Oss's Bluff check was a 5.

[Darren]

"Well done. Perhaps you are smarter than you seem. If we are thinking alike, then we should both keep an eye on the rest of this group. They're liable to get us all killed..."

Kalarian hangs back, allowing the rest of the group to go ahead of him and walking at the back.

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If Tangat is willing, Kalarian would like for him to run ahead of the rest of the group to continue tracking the gnome. Kal hopes that the half-orc will not be suspicious of a dog running somewhat playfully through a field, and if he is, Kal will be happy to go after Tangat...with apologies, of course.

[Jeff]

Vars directs your group to an opening in the gate, and leads you along a narrow path through the field of wheat. Tangat trots at his master's feet, then veers off, disappearing into the wheat field, unnoticed by the half-orc.

As you walk, you pass beneath one of the scarecrows—a large figure in rags stuffed with hay and bound at the joints with tin strips, it has an almost soldierlike appearance, and even wears a cracked metal bucket for a helmet and holding a crude wooden sword that's tied into its hand.

You soon reach a four-way intersection, and Vars leads the group down the left-hand path. Grafth, who was unable to follow the gnome's trail when it disappeared into the wheat (because he's walking with the rest of the group), spots it again—emerging from the wheat, passing onto the path, then disappearing again. The gnome's trail seems to lead directly toward the barn that Vars is leading the party.

"Almost there," he grunts to you all. "You can rest in the barn until I talk to the owners, right. Will you be needin' food? I'll bring water. Listen...if...if you can offer any payment, then I know the Sovereigns brought you to us. I don't ask for myself, but the Halmers—I know they can use it. They're good folk. Lost their two sons in the war. Ain't been easy since."

Tangat emerges from the wheat and rejoins Kal. He appears to have found the gnome's trail as well and is happy that they're headed the right direction anyway.

"Eh?" Vars says, then looks over his shoulder. "He tame?"

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Per Lara's request, here's a crude map I threw together. Hope this helps!

North is up, etc. On their way toward this farm, the party could see other farms in the distance. Another half-mile, perhaps, to the next closest one. This map is not quite to scale, and it doesn't show everything: There's smaller sheds and such around the Halmers' estate. The wheat fields within the fence seem more cultivated than the fields beyond, but it looks like some of other fields beyond the fence are still associated with this farm. And if the gnome's trail moves beyond the barn, you can't tell that yet, either.

All in all, the area is pretty remote, and the land isn't entirely flat so you can't see everything for miles. This was clearly the closest property to the rail line.

[Darren]

"Indeed, he is," Kalarian says, giving Tangat a scratch behind the ears. He moves up closer to Vars. "The best companion I've ever had, in fact. His name is Tangat, and I can assure you he is very pleased to meet you."

Kalarian reaches into his pouch and pulls out a gold piece. "We appreciate your offer for assistance, and apologize for any trouble we may have already caused you. I'm sure you have a lot of work to do to tend these fields, and I'm sorry we disrupted that work. Please, accept this on behalf of my companions and myself. I lost many friends in the war, as well, and I understand the pain the...Halmers?...must be feeling." He presses the piece of gold into Vars' hand. Seemingly genuinely interested, he asks, "These are very unique looking scarecrows. Is their design modeled after anything in particular?"

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As he's talking to Vars, Kalarian is suggesting to Tangat that he run ahead to the barn and check things out.

[Josh]

Grafth also moves toward the barn, still feigning a limp, but managing to move slightly ahead of the group. He grips the simple brass "pommel" that adorns the end of his shortspear, which he uses as a walking stick.


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As they head toward the barn, he tests the air, searching for the scent of the gnome.

[Ed]

Oss nods as the half-orc speaks. "I know, friend. It would be my honor, let alone my duty, to help my fellow farmers in need."

Oss digs out five gold pieces and gives them to the half-orc.

"We need to rest, that's for sure, but after that, I'd be glad to help with any of the farmwork if there's something needs doin' and believe me, I know on a farm there's always something that needs doin'!" he says with a chuckle.

[Darren]

Seeing Oss give money to the half-orc, and noting the multiple gold coins, Kalarian rolls his eyes.

[Jeff]

Grafth tests the air, and smells...wheat. Not yet ready for harvest. And a very slight trace of the gnome's scent. He definitely passed this way.

Vars half turns to accept the gold coins. His prominent orcish brows—normally intimidating among his kind—soften. "Thanks," he says, and you notice he closes his fist on all six coins without pocketing them. "This will help."

At Kal's question, Vars shrugs. "Made 'em myself. Just wanted to be different, I guess. The birds have learned to stay away from soldiers. Sometimes brings in curious scavengers, but they just fly off again anyway."

At Oss's words, he nods. "The Halmers only have their daughter left. On a farm...you know, that ain't enough. Her husband moved in, but they're off in Fairhaven now to sell what they can. The boy's hers. Me, I'm the hired help." He tries to smile, but he still seems sobered by "Job doesn't pay that well, but the people are good. Honest. The Host knows, that's worth ten times more."

He says nothing about Oss's offer to help out with farmwork.

Without even facing the group, he says, "I am wondering why you all look like your ready for war. Can you tell me who you people are? Names would be a good start."

[Ed]

Oss shakes his head with a muted chuckle. "Where is my head, cousin? Jeesh! I'm Ref, from up northern Aundair. With the crash and all, I hadn't really caught the names of any of these folks yet."

Oss glances down at his crossbow (his only visible weapon) and shrugs. "I've been out in the bush a bit before hoppin' on the Rail. I gotta hunt with somethin', don't I? In fact, I'd be glad to peg a few of them birds botherin' your crops."

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Oss gets a 9 on this bluff check...jeesh.

[Darren]

"My name is Myron," Kalarian says, following Oss' lead but needing no real prompting to not give his real name. "As I mentioned, I was a soldier during the war, and like so many of my comrades, I simply haven't figured out where to go, yet. It seems that the world is simply done with us, now that our use has passed." He pauses for a moment. "That money should go a long way towards feeding the family. I'm no farmer, but to my eye, it doesn't look like these fields are doing so badly."

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Bluff check is 17.

[Josh]

The shifter looks up at Vars. "I'm Grafth," he says, "I typically travel alone and by foot- but for some foolish reason I decided on the Rail today. Guess I know better now."

[Jeff]

Tangat bounds off into the wheat again. Vars only gives him a glance, seeming unconcerned. The half-orc merely nods his head when Grafth, Oss, and Kal give their names. He doesn't seem to expect the entire group to answer.

The path turns sharply to the right, and the rest of the barn comes fully into view. You approach what is probably the back door to the barn, where Tangat already sits, tail wagging. Vars produces a large key from his pocket. He reaches for the handle, and finds the door slightly ajar. “Hrm. Thought I locked it.”

He pockets the key and turns around to face the group. “Go on in. I need to talk with the Halmers. We’ll bring you some food and water soon. Take some rest. There’s plenty of places to sit and lay. Y’know, hay and all. I’ll be back soon.” He raises his fist, which still has the coins. “Thanks again.” He heads away toward the house, leaving you standing together before the barn's back door.

Grafth sees the gnome’s trail end at the door. Tangat woofs at the door and paws at the ground. He looks back expectantly to Kal.

[Josh]

Grafth stands at the front of the door, nodding as Vars departs.

As soon as he is out of earshot, the shifter leans into the group and mutters, "The gnome's trail ends at this door- it would be wise to prepare, and enter quickly!"

[Darren]

"Mmmmm," Kalarian chuckles. "I have a plan. Watch!"

Kalarian walks up to the slightly open door and mutters a few arcane words as he quickly turns his eyes away. The inside of the barn is suddenly lit up by a bright flash. Kalarian shoulders the door open as he draws his longsword.

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Kalarian is casting Flare inside of the barn, then drawing his sword and entering. If casting Flare caused us to enter combat rounds, then he will cast Flare and then draw and enter as soon as possible.

[Ed]

Oss nods at the Deneith man and readies himself to move in behind him. He looks to the other half-elf and says, "Watch the door, warn us if the farmer returns."

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Oss will follow Kal into the barn to find the gnome.

[Jeremy]

Goran muses aloud:

"The birds have learned to stay away from soldiers". He repeats it again, a little quieter this time, but anyone in earshot can hear him.

"The birds...stay away...from the soldiers."

As he passes the half-orc farmer, he smiles in a friendly way and says "I'm Goran." and gives him a gold piece. "Glad to help out, these lands need more such hospitality as yours these days" he says, quietly and without portent. He stops and says quietly to Vers,

"I'm not prepared for any war, but that doesn't mean that war can't sometimes find us all, more's the pity. I mean to be ready for it when it does, that's all."

Goran then stands outside and begins scanning the countryside, trying to relax his thoughts and take in as much detail as he can, see if he can identify that one thing that has just seemed wrong ever since he collected his scattered wits after the crash. Content to leave the tracking of the gnome to Grafth, he focuses on the countryside as a whole.

---

Knowledge: Nature check, to see if all seems right in this countryside, or if something "unnatural" seems to be going on.

[Paul]

Cutter has been silent during the trip through the barn, wondering what it was about the half-orc that made him feel so uneasy. He is happy for a bit of action to take his mind off the feeling, however, so draws his blades and heads into the barn.

[Jeff]

Goran detects nothing truly amiss in the countryside around him, save perhaps the scar made by the crashed lightning rail coach and the loss of lives. The farmstead itself suggests nothing unnatural, though Goran's senses can only penetrate so far without the use of magic.

Kal's targets his spell within the dimness of the barn. A burst of bright light briefly illuminates the interior for a brief moment, though none are positioned to see much within with the door still ajar. Pellorien readily identifies Kal's spell as Flare.

Two seconds after the light of Kal's spell fades, a flickering burst of light appears accompanied by a sizzling sound. There is a flash of rainbow colors swirling through the air within the barn, though it dissipates the moment Kal opens the door, draws his sword, and steps within. Tangat moves in with him.

Oss and Pellorien both recognize the swirling colors of the second burst as the effects of a Color Spray spell (not Kal's doing), which they know can temporarily incapacitate (render unconscious, blind, or stun) all those caught within its grip.

When the scintillating light subsides Oss and Cutter stride into the barn behind Kal.

The interior of the barn is a wide rectangular space, large enough to admit the whole party and then some with ample room, filled with standard farming implements and a graveled dirt floor. The air smells strongly of animals (Grafth identifies cow, chicken, and goat) and straw. At the far end of the barn, perhaps fifty feet away, an open door on the right-hand wall presumably leads to the animal pens. Several windows admit the overcast daylight within.

A tall hayloft hangs overhead, fifteen feet in the air, and you can see bales piled neatly along its perimeter. Two sturdy ladders at either side of the loft are securely in place.

In a burst of loose hay, the gnome stands up from his hiding place in the loft. His three and a half foot frame visibly shivers, seemingly more from anxiety than cold. His face is wrinkled, but gnomes usually have lined, expressive faces that belie their age. He still wears his harness of tools above a leather vest, though some of the tools seem to have abandoned him in the explosion or in his flight. You see no sign of his hooked hammer, but he points a wooden wand carved with arcane symbols at your group and waves it erratically.

“It’s not my fault! It, it...it’s not! Leave me alone! Stay away from me!”

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Is Kal leaving his scythe behind in order to effectively wield his sword?

Oss's Spellcraft checks: 8 and 22
Pellorien's Spellcraft checks: 17 and 17
Kal's Spellcraft check: 7

[Darren]

Chuckling slightly, Kal puts his scythe down inside of the door and steps forward. "Easy, friend, easy. We're not blaming you...yet. We're not looking to hurt you, either. But we do have some questions, and we're guessing you have the answers. Now, why don't you put away your wand, and we'll put away our weapons, and we can all talk. Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if our hosts took note of our little light show, and I don't think they'd take too kindly to an armed conflict in their barn."

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Kalarian is beginning a Diplomacy check.

He'd also like Tangat to move off to the side, ready to spring on the gnome if he looks like he's going to attack.

[Jeff]

Since Kal spoke, the gnome redirects his wand straight at him. "Yes! Weapons down, all of you! Talk, talk...no fight!"

[Darren]

"Easy, friend. We will put our weapons down, but you've got to stop pointing that wand at us. Let's all put our weapons down at the same time, and then we'll all agree to talk, yes? I assure you, we just want to know what happened back on that train. I don't think you had anything to do with it. I think, like us, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We've all got trouble now, right? Let's stop fighting with eachother and start helping eachother. Can we do that? Please, put the wand down, and we'll put our weapons down." As a show of good faith, Kal lowers the point of his sword, although he does not return it to its sheath.

[Josh]

Grafth looks sternly at the gnome. "You warned me... all of us, about that blast. In a way, you may have saved us. Why would we do you harm?"

He shows the gnome his palms, held low and slightly away from his body. "More than anything, we want to rest here, as you do. Let's talk."

[Jeremy]

Goran nods along with Kal and Grafth's words, deliberately keeping his hands away from his weapons, until suddenly a yawn strikes him. He lopes casually over to the left side of the barn and slumps against the wall, sliding gratefully down into the hay and warmth. His eyes closed, he speaks:

"Certainly you've naught to worry from me, friend. I don't think I could fight a butterfly just now. I haven't the strength. Let's sit, and rest, and speak. Surely we can help each other."

He pauses, talking into his chest as he probes the wound with his fingers. He winces a couple of times. Lifting his head again, he directs his gaze at Kal.

"I'd rather not kill any more people without at least speaking with them first."

With that, the half-elf leans his head back and appears to go to sleep.

[Jeff]

"Very good, very good," the gnome says nervously. He sits himself down near the edge of the loft, still looking down and still holding the wand. However, he keeps it pointed away, resting in his grasp on the wood. "Talk is good. Better to understand everything, no?" He chews his lips.

The loft is approximately fifteen feet off the ground, so even his dangling legs are out of reach.

"My name is Fenwolt. I'm a real person, not a monster, no. What happened is...is beyond...it's not what I....agreed to do. Sit, sit down everyone. We'll talk. Weapons away."

"My, six of you—and a dog to boot. I am quite delighted to see more folks doing well. I hope a number of you were all right. But I'm afraid...I'm afraid they'll come back. Please, don't report me. This was never meant to happen....not like...this."

[Darren]

Kalarian sheaths his longsword, and walks back towards the door to retrieve his scythe. He leans against it as if weary. His full attention is returned to the gnome. If he heard Goran's words, he did not acknowledge them. He waves for the rest of the group to come inside.

"I think some of them may have come back, already, but you don't have anything to fear from that particular group. So, Fenwolt, what did you agree to do, and who was it who betrayed you? I saw you arguing with those Deneith guards. Was it someone within House Deneith who set you up?"

Kalarian gives a quick signal to Tangat and throws a glance towards the open barn door.

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Kal's aware that the half-orc could come back at any minute, and then they'll have more explaining to do and probably a jumpy gnome on their hands. He's asking Tangat to go outside the barn and warn them if Vars, or anyone else, is coming.

[Jeff]

Note: The grid map below is experimental. It does not denote combat necessarily, merely intended to provide you a visual of where each character is. Please let me know what you think of this map in this thread here. I'm sure it'll evolve, but this is what I threw together today.

Obviously, the colored circles represent the PCs, including the first two letters of each character's name. The "T" is Tangat. In this case, the "Gn" is where the gnome is.

[Jeff]

"I don't....well....that is, they said...."

Fenwolt clenches and unclenches the wand. He seems rattled indeed, as if one moment he's about to spill everything and the next, blast your party with his wand and just be done with it.

This is quite unlike most gnomes you've met. The homeland of the gnomes is the nation of Zilargo*, which is renowned for its vast libraries, wonderous illusions, and other magical developments —such as the perfecting of elemental binding (that allows the lightning rail to run, or the Lyrandar airships to fly). The gnomes of Khorvaire use words to win their battles. During the Last War, they remained largely neutral, until supplying intelligence and elemental-bound weapons to Breland near its end. One thing every one knows about gnomes: they're smart, and they use information to accomplish what force of arms cannot.

Which is why Fenwolt is either unusual for a gnome or traumatized from recent events.

"If I, if..." Fenwolt waves the wand absently. Its crystalline tip flares with light, but it doesn't discharge. "If I talk....they'll kill my family. They promised me they would. They know, they know where they live. And...they'll kill me...."

He cocks his head. "Wait. They did try to kill me already. They betrayed me. Oh, Onatar**, what am I going to do?"

As if concluding a conversation with himself, he looks back down to Kal. "Deneith? Oh, gods, you're Deneith, aren't you!??"

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* Just east of Breland on the map of Khorvaire.
** Onatar is one of the gods of the Soverign Host, a deity of industry, fire, and the forge.

[Ed]

Oss sidles into the room with an easy smile. "Ho there, little friend. Let's all stay calm here. There are no official representatives of the Deneith folks in here. Isn't that right, buddy?" Oss says to Kal.

"Now then, let's have a seat here and see what the situation is. You're talking a mile a minute there little buddy, can you slow it down for a farmboy like me?" he says as he sits down, cross-legged against the wall.

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Would Oss know if it was odd for a gnome to rattle off a prayer to the Sovereign Host?

Only an 8 on the diplomacy roll this time around.