This village (Westwind) and the much larger city on the other side of the island (Stormside) are the only settlements of any note on this island. The rest of the shoreline is dotted with fisheries that are only manned by a few men or women at a time except during harvest periods.
What Josef tells you:
Prior to today, there had been rumors of trouble of some sort at these fisheries, but no hard evidence. After all, it’s not uncommon for the folks who work at them to be the sorts who enjoy living in a reclusive manner. In the cold light of hindsight, it seems obvious that there must have been something to these rumors after all. Who knows how many fisheries have been attacked? There are dozens scattered up and down the coastline for miles in both directions from Westwind.
“I am by trade a poet and philosopher, though you sharp-eyed rogues may have observed as well that I am also a man-at-arms. This I do own, though I am no warrior. When I wade into a tavern, I don’t look for a fight. I look for exits. The neighborhood thug at your typical public house will have the presence of mind, once he realizes you’re talking about him, to set one of his lummox friends to block the front door. Rarely ever the kitchen door. Nor do they give a thought to the width of the windows, or how readily they may be opened if shuttered against the weather. I do. The permeability of windows is a fascination of mine. By the way, how far inland have these fish men ever been seen to go?”
Rinzo has a plan, not for battle, but for moving the townsfolk to a temporary redoubt while they await rescue. But he doesn’t want to give a speech until he’s sounded out his new companions. He will circulate and converse somberly with whomever seems to what little comfort words can offer, but to his fellow newcomers he offers this plan, and would hear what they will say of it:
Instead of setting them up to fight, let us find a place away from this shore, whatever the island provides – caves, hills, woods, and have them bring provisions and keep themselves concealed. If anyone can tell him how swiftly we can hope to cross these woods, and whether they are dangerous enough to need every man-at-arms among us to make the crossing, though surely any number we leave behind will be too few.
Furthermore, before he announces such a plan, he needs to know who will back him up, and what he should tell people to do because actually convincing people of things is the only part where he actually knows what the hell he’s doing.
So, can we have people offer what their own characters recommend, and assume that these arose in the discrete conversations Rinzo is running around trying to insinuate himself into?This is as opposed to actually dealing with the logistics of specifically writing out the dialogue in spoken order. Or, it may be that we can simply discuss the matter at Josef’s table.
Hualdor, Dwarf Fighter (Sailor Background) has finished fiddling around with his stuff. “I’m all for helping these fisher-folk, but I’m with the Orc fellow here–we need to find out where these creatures came from if there’s any hope of ending the danger to the town.”
Nothing in the rules really suggests this, but I’d offer that Hualdor’s background as a sailor could be of some use in figuring out where the fish creatures boated in from, maybe his knowledge of currents and winds etc. Just a suggestion, in case it’s relevant and acceptable within the rules.
It might be relevant, except you’re pretty sure you saw these monsters emerging from the water itself. There were no signs of Sahugain boats. Those that fled also left in the same manner.
For my part, I just realized that I called this village Westwind, but in the first post I called it Blue Waters. We’ll stick with Blue Waters and pretend that I hadn’t contradicted myself.[/spoiler]
Morath did make his roll about the Sahugain, I believe, so here is what you know:
Sahugain are amphibious, evil fish-men who delight in raiding and murder. Many centuries ago, they were the primary enemy of the fledgling Empire of Rhye, and after several generations of vicious fighting they were driven far from here, to outlying islands and reefs far from the direct control of the Imperial Navy.
This all stirs vague memories as Morath tells you these things. It’s common knowledge, but the sort that children learn and then forget. Perhaps, further from civilization, men still do battle with these evil creatures. But here, so close to the Imperial Seat, their presence is not merely troubling: it is unprecedented.
Hukthak groans. “Of course. They’re fish-men. Why would they keep their lair where folk like us could breathe? I’m afraid I have no gills. So…” He scratches his head. “I do have a fair bit of experience when it comes to crossing rugged terrain. I reckon I could speed up our passage at least a little bit, and the return trip would be faster, assuming they have a boat that can carry us.”