D&D – game 2 (Mediaeval English background)

The Game Room
161

Aciryas, Cullen and Hans are all going to the Old Plough.
(A Temple Acolyte promises Hans that Jack will be informed where to find Hans.)

Gawain hurries to give Edith the message about Detecting Evil on Sir Guy, while Cadogan, Marian, Erjg, Hulgfar, Salazar and Crumlin move out the room separately . The Scrying follows Crumlin.
Cullen makes a SPELLCRAFT roll and says “This thing targets one person, who must be ‘known’ or ‘familiar’ to the user. Crumlin, have you travelled much?”
Crumlin replies “Only to Uppingham - my duties with the Forest Shrine, you know.”
Cullen concludes “Therefore a resident of Oakham (or at least Rutland) is involved in this defilement.”

Edith rushes into the room, casts Light on the Scrying (which promptly vanishes) and says an unladylike word. She continues “How dare they! In the Temple!”
She reminds everyone they are meeting after lunch and hurries out again.

Simon and his three friends waiting outside are delighted to see Cullen and politely follow him.

The party make it through the gathering Market Day crowds to The Old Plough.
It is a well-constructed building, with a painted sign outside. Inside there is cheerful chatter and a large lunchtime crowd.

Simon opines to Cullen “Bad time o’day, Sire. No chance of a table. Mind you, me and the lads don’t mind standing. :slight_smile: I suggest either wine or mead for you folk - we will quench our thirst with ale.”
He rattles off the prices with confidence:

  • Beer = 5 copper
  • Ale = 1 silver (i.e. 10 copper)
  • Mead = 5 silver (i.e. 50 copper)
  • wine = 10 silver (i.e. 100 copper)
  • best wine = 1 gold (i.e. 20 silver or 200 copper)

Marian is already looking nervously at the crowd.
A minstrel (armed with a lute) is chatting to the barman. As the party enter, he casually looks at them, then suddenly snaps to attention.

He barks out “Lieutenant Gawain, Sir! A’Dale, Sir, Alan A’Dale of the Nottingham Militia. You remember, Sir - the goblin village?”

The pub goes completely quiet and necks are craned to see who this celebrity is…

162

Ergj perks up a bit at the notion of war stories – enough to keep him from going straight to the bar, anyway.

163

Hulgfar goes straight to the bar.

164

Take a look about the place for Fundin, order myself some mead, half an ear on yonder merryman with the lute.

165

I order 5 ales for myself and Simon’s friends. I ask, “What I can get you?” to Cadogan & Marian.

166

“Oh, an ale, certainly.”

"Marian, if we’re to get you elected, we’re going to need a plan not just to discredit your enemies but to convince people that you will make a good sheriff as well. Do you have any ideas? Anything you can bring to the town beyond preventing the mines?

167

Aciryas looks around for Fundin so he can introduce Hans.

168

… but I was giving Paladud and LittlePlasticNinja a chance to come back in.
Since it would be good to get those players back, I’ll do a summary of the situation up to now, then move it on tomorrow whatever happens.
Thanks to AppleCiders for covering for LittlePlasticNinja – if she’s not back tomorrow, please keep posting for Cadogan! (I’ll do the same for Gawain.)
The charming County of Rutland has two powerful authorities:

  • Sir Guy Gisbourne is Lord of the Manor and resides at his Castle in Oakham. He maintains order in the towns and hamlets with his large disciplined force of troops. (He also owns most of the land and all of the mines)
  • Edith Weston is the High Priestess at the Temple of Heindall, Oakham. She looks after the spiritual needs of the community, although she fully respects the local Druids.

The other senior figures are:

  • Marian, the leading Rutland Druid, who lives in the forests and manages them well
  • Baron Thorgunby Wheldrake, a Noble from Nottingham who sponsors the events at the Rutland County Fayre.

Currently there is an election due for Sheriff of Rutland. This is an important post and ranks with the other powerful authorities. (All adults can vote.)
Edith Weston is in charge of the election. Sir Guy cannot stand as a candidate, because of already being the Lord of the Manor. (Instead he appears to be supporting Cuthbert ‘Curly’ Brown, a porter in Gisbourne‘s Castle.)
There are two other candidates, Marian and Crumlin.
Marian is supported by Cullen (a Druid visiting Rutland Water) and Cadogan (the local Ranger who discreetly patrols Rutland). She is clearly very nervous about meeting and speaking to the electorate.
Crumlin is an Acolyte at the Church of Heimdall, Oakham. He is a caring, popular and well-spoken cleric and is in charge of the Heimdall Shrine. He is supported by Aciryas (Oakham Temple Curate), Salazar (MU friend of Aciryas), Gawain (Paladin from the Nottingham Heimdall Temple), Hans (Gawain’s gnomish Squire), Erjg (Lizardman Warrior from Portsmouth) and Hulgfar (Ocean Barbarian, also from Portsmouth).
Both these candidates seem concerned that Sir Guy Gisbourne is trying to takeover Rutland. They have had a brief meeting, where Gawain discovered Sir Guy registered as Evil. After Sir Guy left, someone attempted to scry Crumlin.

Along the way, Cullen has made friends with Simon Smith, a knowledgeable peasant from Upper Hambleton. He has told Cullen his ranking of the many events* at the Rutland Fayre tomorrow.
Hans has recruited Jack Baker, a sharp Oakham lad who shows promise, and is looking to meet one of the miners working for Sir Guy, the dwarf Fundin.

Currently the party are in one of Oakham’s pubs, the Old Plough. It is crowded because it is Market Day. The pub Minstrel has recognised Gawain…

  1. Oakham Morris Dancing troupe (best in the County!)
  2. Jousting event (I like the clash of lance on shield!)
  3. Falconry (those birds can really dive!)
  4. Singing (brings a tear to my eye!)
  5. Music (brings a tear to my eye!)
  6. Swordplay (I can’t watch in case there’s blood!)
  7. Archery (it’s hard to follow, but I cheer anyway)
  8. Entertainment (this varies from amazing to rubbish)
169

Ergj follows Hulfgar after a little while. He takes up an adjacent seat and orders a beer.

He says lowly, “I hope we will be on the road soon. My sword-arm aches for a good fight, and a mine full of orcs sounds a good a fight as any.”

170

Aciryas points out Fundin, who is sinking a pint of ale.

171

Best you speak with him before he get’s too drunk. Fundin likes to drink, but gets…incoherant…if he has had too much.

Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer a formal introduction?

172

Marian looks puzzled. “The mines are making a mess - they must be stopped.”
Whe asked for more details about being Sheriff, she hesitantly says “We must protect all animals and plants from unnecessary attack. Everyone must do something.”
Then she blushes and looks down at her drink.

Simon nudges Cullen and mutters “Thanks for the drink. Errr … I dunno if it’s my place to say so, but how is this pleasant lady going to stop Sir Guy’s chap?”

173

Off I go to improve my Charisma check with a large circumstance modifier by way of the ancient Gnomish blessing: “What cheer, old fellow! Have you room for another one in there?”. :smiley:

174

Are crossbows allowed in the archery contest? If so I’d like to enter, and see if I can’t build up a bit of a bankroll. Likewise, what sort of swords can I expect to see in a swordplay contest?

175

Listening to Aciryas introduce Hans to Fundin, Erjg realises the mines are manned by a mixture of dwarves, gnomes and humans - all working for Sir Guy.

176

glee - can I enter the singing contest? I think it would be good for Aciryas to spend a bit of time singing.

177

Fundin looks up, waves at Aciryas, then takes in the offer of a drink.

Hans makes a CHARISMA roll.

“Thankee kindly, young gnome. Have a seat and a chat.”

178

Cullen, “I do not know Sir. Getting elected might be beyond us. I think we need to learn more and somehow get the populace to notice her. You know her better than I. Would she do well in any of the competitions?”

“I think I will compete in the Falconry contest and maybe the Singing and Music contests.”

179

Aciryas makes a LOCAL HISTORY roll.
Combined with the helpful Simon, you can assume that the party now know everything there is to know about the Annual Fayre contests.
Ask away!

Crossbows are not usually seen in the Archery contest.
Folk round here like their bows and consider Crossbows to be a bit … ‘foreign’. (Mind you, people from Nottingham and Portsmouth - or anywhere outside Rutland - are considered ‘foreign’!)
However all tests of weapons and skill are enjoyable. The Host of the Fayre, Edith Weston, enforces the rules and has the right to add (or bar) any event…

Any sort of sword (and shield) may enter.
The contestants must strike to subdue (doing only 25% real damage) and Healing is ready as soon as the bout finishes (by KO or surrender).
Magic Weapons are allowed, but no spells may be cast on contestants at any time before or during the bouts.
Sir Guy Gisbourne has won this event for the last 8 years.

The singing contest always includes a large number of Clerical entrants. The Church teaches them all that proficiency, you know!
P.S. Any musical accompaniment is welcomed! The big crowd loves a sing-song…

And here’s a general description:

The contests are the highlight of the Fayre and attract practically everyone in Rutland who can come.
They are presided over by High Priestess Edith Weston.
Baron Thorgunby Wheldrake generously sponsors each event and there are magnificent prizes (and local fame!)

180

Marian literally turns white at the thought of going out in front of a large crowd.