(009) Return to Ket

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
"So, do we go up to the gate and bang on it for attention, or find somewhere to shelter out here for the night?" Olaf asks.

If he spies the barn he will point at it and say, "How about there?"

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

"I wonder if there be an other way into town we could try", asks Padrig.

"I know another way," grunts Victor, "But it ain't pretty," he spits unhappily.

"But surely prettier than catching a chill in the rain," Anwyn speculates.

"Well," explains Victor with a growl, "The town sewers drain out under the walls, into the river on the other side of town," he gestures vaguely into the darkness beyond Ket. "I've heard it said that a keen Man could crawl up those pipes and work his way beneath them walls..."

There is a long pause as everyone digests this while patter of constant rain continues.

"Like I said, it ain't pretty," concludes Victor, and spits.

"We probably can't get our loot in that way." Olaf says, "And I am not for leaving it outside all night."

"Will the gates be guarded on the inside?" Olaf asks the others, "Will they have guards patrolling? Just how high is that wall anyway?"

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Outside

Olaf surveys the walls of Ket in the gathering gloom.

They are a good stone fortification, perhaps twice the height of a Man all round with a catwalk atop. The gate house is half as high again with a sheltered watch fire burning atop the tower to either side. There a few watchmen standing by the warmth of these watch fires, but as Olaf watches the day shift Men seem to be retiring from duty to be replaced by the night shift -- and these appear to be Goblins! Those will have better night vision for one thing.

They do not seem to be too worried about patrolling the wall perimeter -- at least not in the rain.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Dieter and Caine trudge off across the muddy fields in the rain. Whatever crop it is that these farmers are growing does not yet appear to be yielding much of anything at the moment -- perhaps these fields are laying fallow?

The barn is perhaps four score yards off, and another score of yards from a farm house that appear to be occupied.

Soaked, muddy, cold and tired from a long days march, Dieter reaches the barn thankfully and pulls the tall, wooden door open enough to enter.

Inside smells strongly of animals, but is thankfully warmed by the crowd of cows who look at Dieter enquiringly, but don't otherwise make any fuss. There is a ladder climbing to a loft above the animals which holds an ample supply of loose and bundled hey -- there perfect place to rest for the night.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Inside

"Well good Sirs," bumbles the proprietor to Flewellen and Mads, "Oi am Alfred, and a room an a hot meal oi kin certainly do you fer three silver shillings apiece," he bobs along as he talks and guides both Men to a short, narrow stair beyond which is a corridor above the common room. There are two narrow doors on either side of the corridor.

"Here we are," Alfed announces, opening the first door of the left to reveal a small, but sound room containing two bunks. "It's simple but homey, good Sirs, but I'm sure you'll find it to yer liking," he says.

"Now, would ye like yer meals sent up? Or will ye take them in the common room?"

[waysoftheearth]

coffee wrote:
Up to the hayloft Dieter goes. There's no better place for sleeping, outside of an inn. (Or is that inside of an out? Dieter doesn't know and it too tired to care.)

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

Outside

Olaf surveys the walls of Ket in the gathering gloom.

They are a good stone fortification, perhaps twice the height of a Man all round with a catwalk atop. The gate house is half as high again with a sheltered watch fire burning atop the tower to either side. There a few watchmen standing by the warmth of these watch fires, but as Olaf watches the day shift Men seem to be retiring from duty to be replaced by the night shift -- and these appear to be Goblins! Those will have better night vision for one thing.

They do not seem to be too worried about patrolling the wall perimeter -- at least not in the rain.

Olaf scratches his ear, "Let's see what luck Dieter had with the barn. If that doesn't work, we might have to try scaling the city walls."

Having said that he follows in Dieter's steps toward the barn...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Outside

Olaf, Victor, Ulric, Taines, Anwyn and Padrig all follow after Dieter and Caine and make their way to the barn and at last get out of the rain.

With all eight of you inside you outnumber the cows, who now seem a little nervous. A couple of them make their anxiety clear by lowing and adding to the rural aroma, but eventually they settle down, as do you.

The hayloft is full to capacity, but more comfortable by far than any night you spent at the ruined tower. You chew on a few handfuls of dry rations that you have remaining, only wondering what delicious hot foods Flewellen and Mads might be enjoying at some warm tavern in the township, and then lie back for some well deserved rest. Pretty soon the pitter-patter of continuing rain lulls you into a well deserved sleep...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Inside

Gustave, your adventure begins... now.

It is a rainy winters evening in the frontier town Ket. You are in the common room of a rustic inn known as "Plow and Furrow". It is modestly full of local farmers, shepherds and animal hands, so the conversation is none too enchanting -- mostly going around in circles over the winter woes of farmers, and some rumoured butchering of the local soldiery which has the Snorks (the local term for upcoming class of Goblin citizenry) kicking up a stink.

However, the rooms are cheap, there are no Snorks about, and the food is unusually good -- due in no small part to their getting the best produce of the farming folk hereabouts.

You were about to retire to your tiny room for the evening when a couple of interesting looking fellows come in. Wet through, they must be travelers, or a merchant and his hired muscle, perhaps.

Either way, by the mud and grit on them they look to have been out and about. Mayhap they have some news to tell...

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

Outside

Olaf, Victor, Ulric, Taines, Anwyn and Padrig all follow after Dieter and Caine and make their way to the barn and at last get out of the rain.

With all eight of you inside you outnumber the cows, who now seem a little nervous. A couple of them make their anxiety clear by lowing and adding to the rural aroma, but eventually they settle down, as do you.

The hayloft is full to capacity, but more comfortable by far than any night you spent at the ruined tower. You chew on a few handfuls of dry rations that you have remaining, only wondering what delicious hot foods Flewellen and Mads might be enjoying at some warm tavern in the township, and then lie back for some well deserved rest. Pretty soon the pitter-patter of continuing rain lulls you into a well deserved sleep...

Before everyone falls asleep Olaf says to the group, "Do you think we should post a guard through the night here?"