Did...did the Green mantled woman say "gentlemen?" On top of a polite question? Hold on. The goat hadn't hit him in the head, and the vaquero was reasonably sure he'd remember if he knocked his head on the ground... Well, worked for him.

"One lassoing coming up," the vaquero replied to her question. The herder wasn't an animal, but a twist and a knot and he was securely hog-tied. Well, yeah there were other knots—one to let him walk with dignity for instance—but Gabatim was a tad angry about recent events—even if the herder arguably had not started it (and also arguably not been involved, being soundly unconscious at the time).

"And let us not ask just why, but how he did so? I'd expect one so talented with familiars to take up other, non-thief work. Then there's the question of where the gems went—I assume he ate the bread." The vaquero allowed himself a wry smile, that of course no one would see. "And I must ask him what he feeds the rat and the goat," Gabatim was already sizing the two fallen beasts up for the right pots. "Gotta know what's in my medium rare goat and rat cuts." At the looks of the group he added. "I'll share!"

Whistler watched Gabatim work, and when the human was done, the Kenku crouched down to examine his work. Although he would have liked to boast at being the best at tying people up, this was decent- heck, it was a lot better than decent. Standing up, he shot the vaquero a thumbs up. This would hold for a long time.

When his friend suggested cooking the animals, he growled. It was not a friendly sound. Shaking his head, he picked up the dead rat and dug a deep-ish grave (for a rat, at least) with his claws, before burying the poor animal.

He glanced at the elf and the Centaur. He had mostly been communicating with Gabatim- it would no doubt pay to become reasonably familiar with them both. Using a claw to write in the dirt, he scrawled out a short, to the point message- These were familiars. Loyal. Smart. Honorable qualities, for Kenku or animal. Like a thieves' guild. Mess up anyone who tries to hurt your brothers. Anyone have a shovel for the goat?

edited 11th Aug '17 7:02:16 PM by Cwest5538

Berth, Hut

Fyterion watched the others tie the goat herder up before going over to the two dead animals not buried, kneeling down and speaking a silent prayer to Mannad - one of the many nature deities - for the animals. As he was finished he stood up and shook his head as he saw the question on the ground - although he kinda liked the attitude of the Kenku, silently bowing his head to him in acknowledgement. "I could try to dig a grave with my hindquarters but that's all I can offer."

As the adventurers talked -and prepared to bury the animals- they heard a moan.

"...ooohh... what... happened...?"

The goatherder had awakened.

"Wait! Why am I tied!?" he suddenly gasped. Then after seeing the "carnage" around him, he shouted "D-don't hurt me! I'll do anything you say!''

Gabatim sighed. "First, we don't intend to hurt you. Technically, we still haven't met." He deliberately avoided glancing at the green-mantled woman. "Second, have you anything to say about your companions? And perhaps have you some means to bury them? We are laying them to rest here after all." Sure, keeping a prisoner afraid and off balance was one questioning method, but the vaquero certainly did not play that one this time.

Whistler had loudly reminded him that the dead animals were members of their own herd. Ahh...memories sucked sometimes. Then again, one did not waste prizes where he came from... But here...come to think of it, they might coax more out of the herder by prodding him about his time with his late companions than a straight interrogation.

edited 11th Aug '17 8:35:28 PM by CenturyEye

"Questions first, burial later," Mialee said to the goat-herder. "I had to spend half the night in a closet filled with bread because of you!"

Berth, Hut

Fyterion stayed silent for this part, he was no interrogator by a long shot, instead he went over to the already buried rat, muttering the same prayer he spoke already for the other animals.

At the vaquero's words, the herder looked sadly at his dead animals. "...You can find a shovel in my hut." he responded.

The elf's attitude snapped him out of his funk. "...My name is Pedro" he began. "Look, I'm just a poor herder. I had a very bad year. I only had the one goat left. With literally no money, I didn't know what to do."

"One day, a rat got into my hut. But- I felt sorry for it. It was starving. I decided to share some crumbs with it."

"I soon found out that, if I rewarded it with crumbs, I could teach it tricks. Eventually, I got it to learn how to open latches, and sent it to bring bread over for us to share."

"Then one night, a raven showed up, perhaps following the crumb trail. I also shared some bread with it. One evening- to my surprise- it showed up with a gem on its beak!"

"I had heard stories of how ravens steal shiny things for their nests, but I didn't believe them- until then" he continued. "I also realized the gem it was bringing me could only belong to the Mayor's wife- but they're such egotistical people. If you ask me, they had it coming" he snorted with disgust. "I also taught the raven how to open latches, so it could keep stealing gems until I felt I had enough to sell for a worthwhile price. I was about to leave town- when you people showed up." (scowls)

edited 11th Aug '17 9:09:17 PM by Sijo

"You could teach a rat and a raven to open latches among other tricks, and you go on to become a petty thief? The goat alone would have given daily pieces or milk." Gabatim avoided sneering at the goat-herder, if only because he was digging a grave for two rather clever animals—and no one would see the sneer anyway.
"You know what I would be doing if I still had my old herd? Do you recall what "trade" is? Or yet, goat-herding?" the vaquero spat, again unseen, spittle only staining the mask, envy and further regret at not subduing the goat properly resurfacing. He had had his own "bad years." And after one in particular had no herd to help in anything—least of all thievery.

And the "goat-herder" did know of trade come to think of it... "But the Raven lives yet," Gabatim continued, gambling that this information would not be too damaging. "On the way to this town's dispenser of justice, allow me to remind you how to support a trade with one, if it follows you again. And if you intend on taking advantage of that, your part is to help recover the jewels. There will be some other way to repay the baker."

edited 12th Aug '17 11:07:59 AM by CenturyEye

The herder either had no response to Gabatim's arguments, or chose not to give any.

He did however, look relieved to know that at least one of his pets had survived. He also seemed intrigued by the vaquero's offer.

"The jewelry is all in the sack" he stated flatly.

Whistler couldn't help but nod along when Pedro began to speak. He had heard of many scenarios like his, and he was rather sympathetic. Not to mention the mayor and his wife weren't exactly nice people. Like he'd already thought, they were exactly the kind of people he'd have robbed back in his own criminal days.

Taking out a piece of parchment, he began to write as the vaquero chewed the herder out. The Kenku was thinking. Justice was often a farce in towns such as this. The man had dared rob the Mayor and his wife, so he would pay.

Even though the death of his animal friends was likely enough punishment for him.

Tapping Gabatim on the shoulder, he handed over a new note. I saw we take the jewels, and let him go. I'll pay for the bread he stole. This man's story is one I have heard before. His animals are dead; that is no doubt enough punishment. We need only catch the thief and return the jewels, no? If we return said jewels and let him go, our duty will be fulfilled. He has not done anything terrible- stealing from the Baker is the only thing he's done I truly dissaprove of, and I shall make reparations for that.

Writing down something else, he handed it to the tied up herder, making sure the man could read it.

If we set you free, you should head north to Ivendraw, my hometown. It is rather large, but you should find work there. Look for the local Thieves' Guild and mention that Whistler sent you. Whether or not you want to continue thievery is up to you- they shall provide for you, as they owe me a favor. Working for them could bring profit or despair. Tell no one I have offered you this.

With that, after the man was done reading it, Whistler took away the note.

"While you may truly turn your life around, it is not us who you have wronged," Mialee added to the goat herder. "There are a baker, a mayor, and a housewife who you have wronged. While I'm sure the mayor's wife is as terrible as you've all made her out to be, I doubt that the mayor was getting to enjoy life having to put up with henpecking over lost jewelry. And the baker has his livelihood to consider. Don't apologize to any of us, apologize to them."

Berth, Hut

Fyterion kept silent for the time being, it was true that the man had wronged people, yet the death of his companions truly was enough punishment. So without a clear opinion what course of action to take the Centaur shrugged. "What do we do then?"

edited 12th Aug '17 9:57:33 PM by Sergey_Smirnov

Gabatim considered the note carefully. He'd seen several like it in his old days, but even then he was the sheriff, and, as always, an itinerant lawman. True, it was everyone's place to right wrongs, but this community deserved the first say. It was their livelihood, and which of them had any reason to trust the vaquero in this judgement. And the town had yet to forfeit the benefit of the doubt of dispensing justice in any case. Sure, the mayor's person and property got particular protection and retribution, but that was, well that was the life. Gabatim had seen so many justices, and could apply any if he himself were arbitrary and had no interest in actual justice.

"I cannot join that plan," the vaquero stated flatly to Whistler. "We come. We catch. We release. We move on. We do not know how it leaves this place. What they learn. Whether the victims are restored... The green woman with the blasting tendency said it best: Apologies (and retribution) are owed unto the locals. The town should decide what to do with him." The vaquero glanced at the note in his hand again. The death of the animals should have been punishment for his attack upon the group, not his earlier crime, but the goat-herder had not ordered them into the fight—being quite unconscious at the time. Still, he led them there through his ill deeds.
"I've heard this story myself—mind you its only his story. And I know his tale well, minus retaining any herd at all. The death of his followers weighs on me, because I know what he has lost, but we don't owe his retribution. I give a kindness on how to move forward, and I will join your recommendation, but the town best decides how he pays. Let them take the death of his followers and his "bad year" into consideration."

Umm, never mind {{Amnesia dust!}}

edited 13th Aug '17 6:02:16 PM by Sijo

"Well, I'm of the opinion that we ought to go knock on the Mayor's door and get our compensation this instant," Mialee commented.

Whistler sighed. He would have much preferred to have let the man go free- minus his jewels, of course- but settling on merely making sure he got a fair trial would have to do. He nodded at his friend, whistling in affirmation.

As for what to do right now, the elf suggested going to the mayor immediately. On one hand, it would no doubt annoy the man. On the other.... well, actually, that was a pretty good reason to do so.

"Agreed," the Kenku mimicked gruffly, featuring at the hog-tied human. Gabatim or the centaur would probably carry him, since they were most likely the strongest.

The herder seemed disappointed that he was not let go, but resigned himself. He got up when prodded and offered no resistance as he was led to the Mayor's house.

"Who goes there!?" a guard shouted, upon noticing the approaching figures in the dark.

After explaining themselves, a guard went inside while another kept watch on the group. A few minutes later, the Mayor, emerged from the house. It was obvious he had had been woken up, and was not happy about it.

"Why didn't you wait until morning?" he grumbled. "My wife was pretty annoyed to be wakened at this hour! Anyway. Is this the thief?"

The herder merely stared at the mayor.

"Eh, just toss him in the galley" the Mayor told a guard, who proceeded to take the prisoner away. "The gems?"

[[Assuming they are provided.]] "Indeed. Good job. Here is your reward." [[Handles over 2000 copper pieces.]] "Ask the baker for his part. Oh and, If you stay in town, I might have more work for you soon."

And he went back inside.

edited 14th Aug '17 1:10:30 PM by Sijo

"If she's annoyed she could have been separated from her precious jewels another five hours!" Mialee said before the mayor slammed the door shut.

"That solves that, then," she added, grabbing the coin bag the mayor had handed over and taking out a quarter of it, before handing it to whoever wanted it next. "That's 500 pieces for each of us. Any of you planning on taking up the Mayor on his subsequent jobs? I have a feeling the violence in this town has only begun, and I could use a few young boys like you to to get attacked by goats so I don't damage my complexion."

The mayor had just said "Eh, just toss him in the galley." Huh. "Thank you sir!" Gabatim made sure to add in his best outdoors voice after the mayor had closed the door.

"You know that toss was not meant literally, yes?" the vaquero called after the steadily retreating guard. "Like say if someone had to 'hit you up' for a visit." Too bad he could not see the guards face, but then, the vaquero did not mean anything by that comparison. The goat-herder would be shown the galley, and Gabatim knew not what else. Didn't seem like this town had a magistrate. Gabatim had explained using ravens for trade on the way, but the herder was still without animals. The vaquero would visit, just once, perhaps with an offering of bread.

And this was a traveler's town. There wasn't much reason for him to leave without poking around to see if anyone could tell him where this deeded land was. The Green mantled woman's offer only helped settle the issue of finding a trade.
Wrapped in a green bull's eye as she was, the blaster-woman had no chance of nothing hitting her in dangerous work, but

"Aw, you flatter! And I'd love to work with such a reservoir of stinging, green energy," the vaquero replied, not mentioning that both the woman's mantle and her blasts were green. Or for that matter, that taking a blow to deflect harm from another was exactly what he did—pointlessly as it turns out. Got to work on that...

"I have no herd to lead from pasture to pasture, and all of your company in this town is most welcome, especially the guy with cool voice trick." Gabatim stuck his tongue out at Whistler, futile of course, as his mask never even moved. "You may all call me Gabatim, and I hope to get your names in turn." True he had no herd himself, but that was where his share was going, beyond the bare minimum of living. Hmm..., they might need to work out a collective lodging arrangement. First thing first though.

Turning back to the green mantled woman he added, "Fair warning though, too much time in the Sun would damage your complexion...I could teach you how to make a proper mask..."

edited 14th Aug '17 8:32:42 PM by CenturyEye

Berth, In Front of the Mayor's House

Fyterion watched as the herder got dragged away, he didn't particulary like the sound of 'Eh, just toss him in the galley', considering this sounded not like he would get a fair trial, but he couldn't change it anymore now. Instead he looked back towards the rest, taking his gold - way more than he ever had before, so that certainly was something "So, considering I haven't done so before yet, I am Fyterion, Druid by calling and messenger by trade." He paused, bowing his head to the rest.

The next morning, at The Wandering Star inn

After introducing themselves, the adventurers had returned to the inn, where they slept until now. They gathered together at a table and ordered breakfast [[Note: you can choose any (relatively cheap) food IF you want, it's not important. Bread and Cheese with Ale is typical.]] After a short conversation, they agreed to work together.

[[More to come. Meanwhile if you want your characters to use your new coppers to buy more equipment, everything except magic items is for sale in town.]]

edited 17th Aug '17 6:13:10 AM by Sijo

Mia groaned when she ate a piece of bread with cheese, and quickly drowned out the taste with the ale she had ordered. A quick Prestidigitation later, and both the bread and cheese were now much more tolerable when she took a second bite.

"So how long do you plan on staying in town for?" she asked the other adventurers.

Berth

Fyterion shrugged as he ate his own bread "Well, I planned to only stay until I could find another job, as said, I am a messenger." He shrugged "Admittingly I don't know what I should do with this much gold, maybe I'll stay for a bit longer and get some new equipment. If I'm lucky I might even be able to afford something custom made for me, after all Centaur clothes are rather hard to come by normally." Saying that the centaur laughed

After spending a piece and freshly laden with a new set of bolts, Gabatim could still use a drink. He could have had a goat as his prize after all. Not that he didn't realize it at the time, but it set in again after night had passed.

For now, he busied himself playing harmonica in the middle of a steady crowd of (not all drunk) patrons at the inn. The vaquero had already told the green mantled woman about his plans before he left. Find anyone who could point out where his deeded land was and build up a herd of his own for the day. In the meantime, stick around and keep taking on jobs.

Oh, and keep up practice. That goat thing happened after all, as he kept reminding himself. At some point he'd have to check on the goat-herder as well...