Hans’s eyes snap wide open. “What, young Jack? Yes, I’ve met him. Bit cheeky, but bright. What’s happened to him? Kidnapped, how?”
The Baker respectfully introduces himself as Jimmy.
He takes a few seconds to gather his composure, then says
"Jack always says we have to remember exactly what happened and report accurately. I have found that useful in my baking, actually.
So Jack came back to the bakery a little while ago and said he’d met a gnome who could help him. He said it was all good, because you, Acolyte Crumlin, were involved.
Well I needed to ask the Miller about a flour delivery, so I told Jack to nip up there. He said he’d hurry because ‘the game was afoot’, whatever that meant.
The next thing I know a sling bullet knocks open one of my shutters. The cheek of it!
And then (he purses his lips, trying to be precise) I looked out the window and heard a whisper in my ear. But there was nobody there!
The voice said (more lip pursing) Listen carefully. Your son Jack is a prisoner. Take the sling bullet to Acolyte Crumlin right now and give it to him. If he doesn’t take it, Jack will be EATEN. Then there was some laughter before it all went quiet.
(Jimmy gulps) Please, Sirs - help my son!"
He holds out a sling bullet to Crumlin.
Forgive me for sounding all doom and gloomy, but this sounds like a setup to ambush good Crumlin. Might I suggest that we tackle this from several angles at once.
First lets see if the sling bullet is magical, then we need a team to investigate the disappearance itself. We might have an invisible foe.
I cast Detect Magic, I check the sling bullet, the baker and the entire room.
Acolyte Crumlin, what can you tell us of young Jack?
Cadogan, I believe we may have need of your tracking skills. Is there anyone else that could help on this?
Salazar brings his gaze down from the ceiling.
“Master Jimmy, those are the … exact words … the voice said … in your ear?”
Spellcraft check on how the message might have been delivered?
Yes I have thought of the possibility that there was an Invisible thief standing next to Jimmy.
[COLOR=Blue]Detect Magic reveals one spell per round for 10 rounds (a negative counts as a one round action), giving spell level and type of caster. So, for example, Invisibility would register as a 2nd MU.
Identify can then be cast on each spell effect. This spell is 1st level for all Casters (Cleric / Druid / MU / Illusionist) and identifies one spell per caster level. (It requires no material components and has no other conditions.)[/COLOR]
Cullen casts Detect Magic. He learns:
- there is a 2nd level MU spell on the sling bullet
- there are no spells on Jimmy Baker (he mutters he has no magic)
- there are no unexpected spells in the room (Cullen checks in all directions. Note there is still the 1st level Cleric spell Light on the ceiling, where Edith cast it earlier)
- there are no spells on Crumlin (he tells you he has no magic items)
Crumlin says he can get and use an Clerical Identify Scroll (1st level) from the Temple, provided it is for the cause of Good and not personal profit.
He asks if he can have someone associated with the Temple (or the cause of Good) to vouch for him needing the Scroll.
Jimmy thinks carefully (like his son taught him).
“I’m sure that was exactly what was said. The only thing I can add is that the laughter sounded like there were several people trying not to make too much noise.”
Hearing Cullen talk of tracking, Jimmy adds “It’s always a bit messy round my bakery - the flour gets everywhere you know. Wouldn’t that help?”
Salazar makes a SPELLCRAFT roll.
He says the communication could have been the spell Message. The caster needed only be able to see Jimmy (he could have been up to180 feet away), and the laughter could have come from people standing next to the caster.
Crumlin sympathetically asks Jimmy for help. “We need to tell these Good folk anything about Jack that might help us find him. Be strong.”
Together the two describe the Baker family. Jack is the oldest son. Sadly Mrs. Baker passed away when John (younger brother) was born.
Jack has taken on responsibility from an early age, both looking after his brother and working several part-time jobs in Oakham. He is alert, perceptive, agile and thoughtful. He likes to investigate people and what they do. He might be over-confident…
“For what it’s worth, I’ll give my skills with tracking for your son.”
“I’ll be glad to help. Little blighter tried to bean me with an apple. I like that in a boy - shows spirit.” 
Crumlin tells Jimmy to put the sling bullet in a temple box for now.
He repeats that he can get and use an Clerical Identify Scroll (1st level) from the Temple, provided it is for the cause of Good and not personal profit.
He needs someone associated with the Temple (or the cause of Good) to vouch for him needing the Scroll.
Marian says she will find the foresters and warn them to vote against Sir Guy. She’ll come back for the County Fayre tomorrow.
Meanwhile Jimmy leads the party to his Bakery.
Fortunately it is off the main street, so Cadogan is able to have a good look around.
He takes only a few seconds to say that the flour outside the shuttered window is undisturbed, showing that nobody was standing there when Jimmy heard the whisper.
(Salazar looks at the line of sight to the window, nods and says it would be easy to send a message from the main street. He points to a likely alcove, which Cadogan investigates.)
Cadogan makes a TRACKING roll.
Cadogan reports “Four men stood here. Three were wearing the same boots - standard military issue. There are also wheel and horseshoe tracks - undoubtedly a horse-drawn wain.”
Cadogan makes a TRACKING roll.
He continues “The military men go with the wain, breaking into a run. They are headed out of town - that way.”
Crumlin interjects “That’s the Uppingham road. It leads through forest. My Heimdall Shrine is about half-way along the road.”
Cadogan fails a TRACKING roll.
He can’t say what happened to the fourth man.
Jimmy Baker asks his neighbour (Tom Butcher, a dwarf butcher) if anything interesting happened here recently.
Tom says “Well there was a scuffle between a couple of fit human blokes. Everyone stopped to look. Then it suddenly stopped, they seemed to make it up (because they were giggling in that alcove) and then they rushed off with a cart.
Weird.
Oh, and very soon after that, you came running out.”
Ergj says, “We should follow the tracks out of town for the military men without delay, and continue to track them. A boy would easily have been hidden away in the wain.”
Salazar scratches his head absently.
“While I am know to the temple here … perhaps the request for magical resources would best be made by Brother Aciryas?”
“I’m Sir Gawain’s squire. I’m sure he won’t mind if I drop his name - least, you can tell them that if I speak out of turn, Sir Gawain will have plenty to say about it!”.
Crumlin nods happily - mentioning either Curate Aciryas or Gawain will release the Identify scroll.
And the Temple’s on the way back to the Town Gate, where the Wain was presumably headed.
Cadogan says it’s useless to look for tracks on the main street (it being Market Day), but that once out of Oakham, there should be a good chance to spot the wheel tracks (especially if the Wain was loaded with a boy).
The party hurry back to the Temple, pick up the Scroll and Identify the spell on the sling bullet as Magic Mouth (when precise conditions are met, the spell speaks a message, then fades.)
The party bring the sling bullet in its little box along and soon arrive at the Town Gate. Crumlin asks if he should hold the bullet?
Cadogan starts looking for tracks outside the Town and asks everyone to stay back for a moment.
At this point, Hans hears the unmistakeable humming sound of ‘Gotta Pick a Pocket or Two’…
He whistles along, joining in on the chorus.
To Hans’ surprise, Jack Baker pops up from behind a pile of barrels.
Jack grins happily. “I see you brought the rest of the lads along.
You know I nipped off when you had your boring meeting - well I watched Gisbourne’s Castle and saw that Curly Brown washing a door, while the troops laughed at the so-called ‘Sheriff of Rutland’.
But nothing else happened, so I wandered over here.
I knew something was up when I saw the guards at the gate all move away a few minutes ago. They’re supposed to be on duty!
The very next thing I saw a Wain being driven hard (with three men on it) shoot through the gate, heading down the Uppingham road. They nearly ran a peasant over - and he said a few choice words … which I have learnt.”
Wait, I am confused. Crumlin, I thought this boy was kidnapped! What is going on?
Crumlin agrees with Aciryas.
He tells Jack solemnly “Listen carefully. Your father was told you were kidnapped and he got a sort of ransom demand. What is going on?!”
Jack looks puzzled. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
Crumlin takes a deep breath, opens the box and holds the sling bullet. Immediately the Magic Mouth goes off: “Crumlin, we have the Baker’s boy. Unless you drop out of the election, the boy will be DEVOURED. Tell that gnome to drop dead too!”
Jack turns white. “Was my brother with my Dad?
Because John looks like me - they must have taken him by mistake!”
Meanwhile Cadogan makes a TRACKING roll.
“I can clearly see the Wain tracks - so we can follow them on foot or on horse…”
I am willing to help in this rescue. Perhaps we can have some townspeople spread the word first and see if we can raise some extra help.
(Mainly, I would like the town to know that Crumlin is out to rescue a child, like a good Sheriff should and he has willing help.)
I quite agree. Crumlin we must help the boy, but not only because it will help you with the election. We must help because if we don’t uphold the law of god and man, if we do not take a stand for what is right and good, then who will?
I don’t know how much help I can be, but I will lend my aid in any way I can.