[QUOTE=glee]
Once again there is a pause in the conversation, although the peasants in the pub are careful not to stare directly at either of the two Warriors at the bar.
A voice at the back of the pub calls out “You’re not from around here, are you Sir?”
[/QUOTE]
Without looking inthe direction of the voice Hulgfar says"No, It is true I am new to these lands"
Is this the part where we hear chairs scraping back, see glasses being turned upside down, and notice some of the wiser souls putting on their hats and heading for the door? 
[QUOTE=Malacandra]
Is this the part where we hear chairs scraping back, see glasses being turned upside down, and notice some of the wiser souls putting on their hats and heading for the door? 
[/QUOTE]
Hey, if Cadogan isn’t already in the back room, he’ll pause in the hallway, cross his arms, and watch the action. And scrupulously avoid involvement.
[QUOTE=wolfman]
Without looking inthe direction of the voice Hulgfar says"No, It is true I am new to these lands"
[/QUOTE]
“Thought so”, says the voice. “Still your coin’s good, innit!”
(Raucous laughter - apparently this is Oakham peasant wit in action)
[QUOTE=Malacandra]
Is this the part where we hear chairs scraping back, see glasses being turned upside down, and notice some of the wiser souls putting on their hats and heading for the door?
[/quote]
Some chairs do scrape back … but it’s only so their occupants can head for the bar to get a refill. Market Day beings a powerful thirst with it…
Cadogan realises there’s nothing to watch and enters the private room.
[QUOTE=glee]
Some chairs do scrape back … but it’s only so their occupants can head for the bar to get a refill. Market Day beings a powerful thirst with it…
[/QUOTE]
Ah well. A bar-room brawl isn’t necessarily a bad thing when your fist is naturally at the same height as the average man’s groin.
On with the business. Are there any openings at the mine currently? If the pay’s good I might give it a crack for a while.
[QUOTE=Malacandra]
On with the business. Are there any openings at the mine currently? If the pay’s good I might give it a crack for a while.
[/QUOTE]
Fundin says there are always openings, because of accidents (very few, but any mining has its dangers), early retirements (the work is hard) and other recent job choices (looking after Rutland Water Kestrels, selling Burley-on-the-Hill Cider). The pay is all right (for a peasant), but you have long hours and are making Gisbourne money. And you have to show your Mine Pass every time you go in, or you get fined.
He tells you that working as a Squire (especially for a decent chap like Lieutenant Gawain) is a far better life.
[QUOTE=wolfman]
Without looking inthe direction of the voice Hulgfar says"No, It is true I am new to these lands"
[/QUOTE]
After taking a measured drink of his ale and pause, he continues" Is there anything in particular that a man of these lands would be knowing?"
[QUOTE=wolfman]
After taking a measured drink of his ale and pause, he continues" Is there anything in particular that a man of these lands would be knowing?"
[/QUOTE]
There is a pause in response and a hurried whispered conference before the voice replies “Errr . . there’s a lot to know. But wisdom comes at a price. And that price can be measured in … pints.”
Simon, looking slightly put out, whispers to Hulgfar “Hey! I’m cheaper than that lot! Most of them haven’t been out of the Old Plough for years, let alone out of Oakham.”
[QUOTE=glee]
Cadogan realises there’s nothing to watch and enters the private room.
[/QUOTE]
Damn. I was hopeful. Ah, well.
[QUOTE=glee]
Gawain, Alan A’Dale, Marian, Cadogan, Cullen, Aciryas and Crumlin move to the private room.
Gawain asks the barman to let his Squire (he discreetly indicates Hans) into the room when Hans wishes. The barman immediately nods.
The private room is simply furnished, with wooden benches and a table, but is perfectly clean.
Crumlin thinks a moment, then says “Can anyone stick this on the ceiling? We want to keep our discussions strictly private.”
He produces a pebble with Continual Light precast on it.
[/QUOTE]
Marian uses a Stone Shape to form a fixture for the pebble.
" So Marian, why did you wish to speak with us privately?"
[QUOTE=NAF1138]
" So Marian, why did you wish to speak with us privately?"
[/QUOTE]
Marian stammers "We have to stop Sir Guy. Surely he is backing Curly, but will use him as a cuckoo. It’s like …
(Marian gives a long rambling story about forest parasites, who takeover other things and suck the life out of them. She gets confused and repeats herself a couple of times, but finally makes her point.)
Crumlin says politely “Thank you, my lady. I agree that Curly Brown is just a puppet and thanks to Gawain, we know that Gisbourne has evil purposes.
But time is short. After lunch, we three candidates meet with High Priestess Edith Weston, have the election rules agreed and then the process begins. It will only take a few days.
Gisbourne, as Lord of the Manor has great influence throughout Rutland. Many will vote for him unless we can persuade them to vote for Goodness!”
(lunch is served at this point - there’s no charge, because Alan insists on paying for Gawain and his friends.)
Which is probably Hans’s cue to promise to catch up with Fundin later, and go to “attend to his Master” (stick his snout in the free trough, more like).
[QUOTE=Malacandra]
Which is probably Hans’s cue to promise to catch up with Fundin later, and go to “attend to his Master” (stick his snout in the free trough, more like).
[/QUOTE]
Fundin cheerfully bids Hans goodbye and says he’d love to chat again. 
[QUOTE=glee]
(lunch is served at this point - there’s no charge, because Alan insists on paying for Gawain and his friends.)
[/QUOTE]
No charge? Tuck an extra roll in my pocket 
Well, there’s not much to do until the election rules are declared, right? Maybe there’s a competition that Marian could do well in in the fair- that could make her popular.
Salazar looks up from a plate from which the food has been absent-mindedly cleaned.
"I’m sure that there must be … ways … of changing peoples attitudes. Find something that … they want and … give it to them
“Open-handed generosity… can go a long way towards … winning peoples affections. As I’m sure Sir Guy… will understand.”
[QUOTE=appleciders]
No charge? Tuck an extra roll in my pocket
Well, there’s not much to do until the election rules are declared, right? Maybe there’s a competition that Marian could do well in in the fair- that could make her popular.
[/QUOTE]
Gawain says the party could ask Alan for a ‘local opinion’. (Gawain vouches for Alan as they both served together in the Nottingham Milita.)
Marian has already discussed the Falconry event (she has one as an Animal Friend), but says the thought of all those spectators makes her shudder.
[QUOTE=MHaye]
Salazar looks up from a plate from which the food has been absent-mindedly cleaned.
"I’m sure that there must be … ways … of changing peoples attitudes. Find something that … they want and … give it to them
“Open-handed generosity… can go a long way towards … winning peoples affections. As I’m sure Sir Guy… will understand.”
[/QUOTE]
Crumlin agrees, but then adds “The trouble is I’m sure that Sir Guy and I have different definitions of ‘open-handed generosity’. I help the poor and he bribes them (sadly I can’t prove it).”
[QUOTE=glee]
Crumlin agrees, but then adds “The trouble is I’m sure that Sir Guy and I have different definitions of ‘open-handed generosity’. I help the poor and he bribes them (sadly I can’t prove it).”
[/QUOTE]
It’s alright Crumlin. We will find a way.
I don’t know what that way is, but we will find it.
[QUOTE=glee]
Crumlin agrees, but then adds “The trouble is I’m sure that Sir Guy and I have different definitions of ‘open-handed generosity’. I help the poor and he bribes them (sadly I can’t prove it).”
[/QUOTE]
"That may be so but I fear Lady Marian’s dislike of … public appearances … will cost her this election.
"Forgive my … plain speaking, my lady.
“Who among us can employ words with … eloquence … to sway the minds of those who must vote? Perhaps one such … can be found to speak on your … behalf?”