To Cadogan, “Sounds like I will be buying lots of beer today.”
Nods to Marian, “My Lady.” After a pause and to hang back briefly, “If you wish to be elected Sheriff, I think the actual voters will need to see and hear you. Who actually has the vote?”
You notice Simon has a broad smile on his face. 
Marian looks embarrassed. :o
She is dreading going into Oakham and also admits she doesn’t know who can vote. She just knows that Gisbourne must be stopped.
Hulgfar looks over at Ergj says, “It appears that this is to busy of a place to get any real work done, but the contest will finish later.”
He then heads over to the offered food, and begins to eat and drink heartily.
I catch up to Simon, “Simon, what can you tell me of the upcoming election for Sheriff? Who votes in this election?”
I assume we are walking to the temple as we discuss.
Simon (as he says, luckily for you) is an expert in these matters. 
He says that it’s a wonderful thing in Rutland. It used to be that only nobles decided who ran things. Later citizens (freemen who owned property) could vote. But Edith Weston, the High Priestess, has said that now everyone who is old enough should help decide things.
So there will be voting in all the towns and villages. The High Priestess herself will travel and count the votes personally. (Simon adds that she will have to eat a lot of food, because everybody likes her. 
)
Simon says that everybody knows that Sir Guy Gisbourne (the Lord of the Manor) wants to be Sheriff. But nobody can hold both posts at the same time - that’s the law.
Simon adds that he’s building up a really big thirst…
You arrive in Oakham, noticing that there are guards at the gates (wearing a mailed fist symbol). However they are letting in everyone and content themselves with staring at you.
You soon reach the Temple…
Hulgfar and Ergj, happily eating the Temple food, notice a strange group arriving at the Temple.
It consists of:
“Cadogan, do you have contacts at the temple that can help us with the election bid?”
(Just to sum up the current situation)
Temple of Heimdall, Oakham
In a side room, just off the entrance hall, Crumlin is offering refreshment to Hulgfar, **Ergj ** and Salazar.
Just outside the doorway, Aciryas is talking to Gawain. Next to them is Hans, who is talking to young Jack Baker.
Cullen and Cadogan have just arrived at the Temple (with Simon and three other peasants). Marian is a little way behind.
(I’m happy to give Gawain, Cadogan and Aciryas more time to say what they want to do. But it’s not critical, so I’ll move it along if I don’t hear from them.
N.B. If anyone would like a reserve to play their character for a little while, I’m certain Appleciders would oblige!
Given that everyone has now effectively met up, you can reread the thread and assume your character knows everything that’s been said in public.
The only conversation that I think was confidential is between Hans and Jack…)
Give me a little bit of time to catch up on the thread and get the whole story in my head and I should have no problem keeping up until the weekend. If anything crucial starts to happen over the weekend (when my computer will be in transit to the new apartment) I am more than happy to let someone else make decisions for my character for those couple of days. I should be back full strength by Monday.
Ok, I am set
Aciryas fills Gwain in on the full backstory of what is happening and takes him to Crumlin for a formal introduction.
Crumlin happily invites Gawain and his squire Hans inside to meet Hulgfar, Ergj and Salazar.
Recognising that Gawain (like Aciryas) has a Temple Warhorse, Crumlin asks Jack Baker to take both horses to the nearby stables and make sure they are given top treatment.
(Crumlin also recognises that Cadogan is riding a Temple Warhorse, but he hasn’t been introduced to him yet…)
I am on hold waiting for Cadogan to make introductions I believe.
I do formally wave hello and bow to the others at the gate, “Pardon, but my friend here is a member of your temple. Perhaps something can be done for his horse?”
[Yes, that’s correct.
As Little Plastic Ninja is busy, she has kindly agreed that Cadogan can be temporarily subbed. I’ll start…]
Cadogan also attracts the attention of Aciryas and Crumlin. He identifies himself as a Ranger on Rutland patrol for the Temple (they greet him) and also introduces his new acquaintance Cullen (who has travelled far to see the Rutland Water Kestrels).
Crumlin gets Jack Baker to take all three Temple Warhorses to the stables (he offers to include Hans’ pony in this) and then invites the newcomers to join him.
Marian discreetly comes up and Crumlin bows and invites her for refreshment as well.
It turns out they know each other because Crumlin is responsible for the Heimdall Shrine on the forest track between Oakham and Uppingham and Marian practically lives in the forests.
(So now the whole party are together in the Temple.)
Although everyone in the room outranks him, Crumlin is still confident and particularly thanks those who have come to help him and Aciryas.
He explains that there is a forthcoming election for Sheriff of Rutland and that the distinguished Druid Marian (Marian blushes :o ) and himself are two of the candidates.
There is a third candidate and also the person in charge of proceedings is the High Priestess of the Temple, Edith Weston.
Crumlin says that the High Priestess is keen to explain the proceedings to the candidates and their supporters. He invites everyone to relax while he sees if the High Priestess (and the third candidate) are available…
Erjg listens to Crumlin, quietly nibbling on refreshments. He says quietly to Hulfgar, “What is it that he needs of soldiers like us? I have no skills in such matters of politics.”
Cadogan (who knows her) offers to tell the High Priestess of the gathering, so Crumlin nips out to get the third candidate…
Crumlin soon returns with a bald, elderly male human. Acting as the man’s escort are six troopers (all wearing the mailed fist symbol).
Crumlin introduces the man as Ceorl Cuthbert Brown.
Cuthbert stammers “Honoured citizens … please call me ‘Curly’ … everyone does.”
Erjg makes an ALERTNESS roll - and notices Jack Baker trying to inconspicously overhear the conversation.
Next a tall male human wearing Chain with a longsword strides into the room, followed by another six guards. His shield carries the emblem of a mailed fist.
Crumlin, Aciryas, Marian and Curly all stand up.
The guards already in the room snap to attention.
Gawain makes an ETIQUETTE roll and stands up.
Hulgfar makes an ETIQUETTE roll and stands up.
The rest of the party catch on and rise too.
The man speaks “Oh, be seated. Can’t stand on ceremony, can we?”
He glares expectantly around the room, apparently thinking he’s been witty. The guards all obediently laugh in unison.
The man continues, nodding in her direction “Druid Marian.”
Marian acknowledges and returns the nod “I have the pleasure of introducing the Lord of the Manor of Rutland, Sir Guy Gisbourne.”
**Cullen ** follows the protocol but mainly eyes up the potential enemy.
Hulgfar gives Erjg a quick subtle look, uses his eyes to gesture towards the newly entered guards, and silently moves into an attentive position behind Crumlin.
As Paladud is busy, he has kindly agreed that Gawain can be temporarily subbed.
I’ll do that for a bit…
(N.B. if any readers of this thread want to have a go at Gawain :eek: , please e-mail me, or post in the set-up thread.)
Appleciders has kindly agreed to run Cadogan for a couple of days.
Thanks to him for standing by patiently. 