Do you believe in fate? [PC: Firebug]

[Game Master]

The Inn wasn't as busy as the Griffin this time a day but the food smelled good. The group took a table with window seating overlooking Garrottens main road and Castle Garrotten. Gaul ordered a pint of mead, and whatever was fresh. Reeks ordered roast boar after seeing another patron sampling it. The boar smelled spicy to Firebug with a hint of hickory underneath. He ordered his usual dwarven ale in a half pint mug. Siff ordered bread and cheese with a couple raw carrots grown outback. She sipped at a glass of local red wine to calm herself after her sermon.

[sfliegel]

The meal past in silence, all seemed more interested in their food then in conversation. Once everyone finished their meals, Firebug broke the silence, "I've been thinking about what Kursaville had said, and I think we will have to reenlist the support of Halfhelm."

Siff was wiping her mouth with a brightly colored patterened napkin but paused as Firebug spoke, "you don't mean that you want to back into those tunnels, do you?"

"Aye lad, excellent idea. We can find that troll. I like it. Bet we can get him talking faster then Gaul here could down a day old river rat." Reeks puffed out his chest as he kicked Gauls' chair.

Gaul was picking meat out of his teeth with a piece of bone and smiled as everyone turned to look at him, "What, Gaul like river rat."

"I figure that if we can find and interrogate him, we can still turn him in to Kursaville to stand trial for his involvement in the smuggeling. We first need to find this Silverbeard fellow. We then need to check our supplies, then make for Halfhelm's. I pray he will be availble to help us out. Otherwise we will have to rely on Reeks and Silverbeard to navigate us through those tunnels. What say the rest of you?" Firebug leaned forward, resting both elbows on the table, "Does anyone else have a suggestion?"

[Game Master]

Meanwhile;


The Bounty Hunter known only as Silverbeard settled his affairs at the Inn for a nights stay plus the option to pay day by day if needed. He walked into the Constables office to look at the wanted posters. There were about twenty in all ranging from some local bandit king who's reward kept going up to Ogre chiefs like that Slayer fellow to ahh there he was. Poignard, thief and murderer. Silverbeard looked around but no one had noticed him yet. He took a closer look at the poster of his prey. It looked new and unwrinkled unlike the warn battered replica in his satchel. The poster was tacked up with a single pin and there were no other holes. Probably just dropped off by a red rider not more then a couple days ago. Perfect he thought to himself. It didn't appear that any of the constables or the deputies had taken any interest in Poignard. That was a sure fire message that they also had no idea that he was currently holding up somewhere in this very town. With no one watching Silverbeard removed the pin and reposted the picture of Poignard directly under another wanted poster. There. That will buy me some time. he mused. He could have removed it all together but Silverbeard liked challenges. He just needed a head start.

It's hard to say if Silverbeard would later regret or feel blessed that he took the time to muse over his quickchange because it was at that precise moment that Lord Kursaville saw him there and gave him the news of Firebug's request for assistance.

"I'm busy." the gruff dwarf replied.

Lord Kursaville raised an eyebrow. "I believe sir dwarf that under the law 1348c that any registered Bounty Hunter must render his or her services to any local Constabulary in the Timiro Kingdom if requested as long as the Hunter is appropriately compensated. Is that not correct or did you want your license revoked in Timiro?

Silverbeard sneered at Kursaville. "Damn lawmen. Fine. Where can I find this Mystic you call Firebug."

"One of my deputies reported to me that they are having lunch at the Inn."

" An orc, dwarf, a human priestess and the mystic. I could find them blindfolded." Silverbeard began stomping out of the office building. "If this interferes with my Hunt Kursaville we're gonna have a problem. Understand me?"

"You may thank me later Silverbeard. You may find the Mystic a valuable tool in your searchings." Kursaville trilled as the dwarf left. The door closed behind him and Kursaville turned to go back to his desk. Ritage stood silently behind him with arms folded. "Was that wise? Sending a pissed off dwarven hunter to have forced dealings with our best consultant?" Ritage looked ready to give Kursaville a sound thrashing but the Lord just smiled and looked over his shoulder at the door and beyond. "Who? Firebug? Trust me Constable. They are going to get along just smashingly."

[sfliegel]

Silverbeard grumbled to himself as he stomped toward the Inn,"no mystic 'as ever been a use to me." He kicked a large rock that he found laying in the road as if to stress his point. As the Inn came into view Silverbeard paused, "what if this group knew about Poignard? Could that be who they needed help finding. That damned constable!"

As he reached the door to the Inn, Silverbeard peeked inside. As the dinning area was nearly empty, there was no mistaking the group that Kursaville described was right inside. They seemed to chatting softly to themselves and were preparing to leave their table. The smells that drifted through the doorway reminded Silverbeard that it had been sometime since he had last eaten.

Walking through the door Silverbeard noticed the dwarf and how he bore a striking resemblance to a painting that his mother had hanging over the fireplace. It was his great-great-great uncle Reekens "Stonehammer" Silverbeard. Mother would tell him stories of home Reekens defended their ancestrial family mines from an invading army of dark dwarves, fighting with only his magical stone forging hammer. She told him all sorts of such tales but he later would laugh them off as children's stories, but here now is the spitting image of Reekens. "This should be interesting," said Silverbeard to himself as he moved into the bar room.

He marched right up to their table, "good day to you, Constable Kursaville informed me that you were in need of assistance in locating someone. They call me Silverbeard and you must be the mystic Firebug." Silverbeard pointed a thick finger at Firebug, then looked around the table, "may I join you so we can talk?"

Firebug was a little stunned by Silverbeard's sudden appearance and could only nod his head and motion with his hand for Silverbeard to join them at the table. Silverbeard moved to an empty seat beside Gaul but when he realized that he was beside the orc he gave Gaul a sneer then pushed the chair closer to Siff before sitting down.

"As I said, I find people, that is why the Constable asked that I help you. In all honesty I'm only passing though town as I am on another case. My time is very valuable, so let's cut to the chase. How can I help you?"

The group exchanged glances to one another then back to Silverbeard. Each took a moment and introduced themselves. When it was Reeks turn, Silverbeard nearly fell out of his chair when he heard his full name. "When this is over, we might need to speak lineage Reeks."

"As you said Master Dwarf, let us cut to the chase," Firebug began, "there is a troll roaming loose in the mines of the Dwarf Halfhelm. This troll is on the run from a battle we had earlier. He is mostly likely well armed and scared, a dangerous combination. It is also very likely that he has some valuable information that will need to be removed before he will be able to visit the great beyond, if you catch me meaning?" Firebug took down the last swallow from his mug, "provided we can get Halfhelm's permisison to explore his mines yet again, do you think you could find this troll for us?"

Silverbeard motioned to the server, "I'll have what he is having," pointing to Reeks, "and pint of stout dwarven ale." As she hurried away he turned back to Firebug and combed his fingers though his silvery beard, "as I also said, my time is very valuable, but as a favor for the constable I'll forget my usual fees. However, a dwarf has to eat so in exchange for my services I ask only for room and board as well as an equal share to any treasure we might find along the way. Have we a deal then mystic?"

Firebug didn't like the idea of a moochie dwarf, especially since he had never seen this guy in action. On the other hand this guy was dropped in their laps with the ability to find people. Besides it was only lunch. Firebug stood and extended his arm to Silverbeard, "I believe we do indeed Silverbeard. I look forward to seeing you in action."

As the server returned with Silverbeard's food Firebug motioned to her, "this gentlemen's meal is on me as is another round for the rest of us." The server hurried back with the next round of drinks. Firebug held his mug up to the rest of the table, "a toast then, to Silverbeard, to the both of them then."

"To Silverbeards?," said the rest of the table.

[Game Master]

Silverbeard ordered his food and the discussion turned to the plan. Reeks was currently hashing out the details over his second ale. "Halfhelm knows Siff and Firebug the best so you two should go see him while Gaul and I go fetch the supplies." He mused out loud while stroking his beard and eying the newcomer. "So, Silverbeard what do you suggest I buy in order to capture a twelve foot tall, ugly,mean spirited, half starved Troll who's probably armed to the teeth?"

[sfliegel]

"lunch," responded Silverbeard inbetween mouthfuls. He downed a large swallow of his ale then wiped his mouth on his sleeve, "if this thing is hungry and roaming around mine shafts, I'd wager it will come to the food. I'd also suggest chain and locks as it most likely could break through rope." Silverbeard shoveled in another mouthful.

"Lunch?! You expect me to feed this thing? I told you that this thing is mostly well armed. it would rather eat us I'm sure." Reeks roared in response.

Silverbeard pulled a greasy piece of fat from his teeth with his thick fingers, "the meat should be rubbed down with sleeping herbs. Surely Androsia would have something to lace the food with to put even a troll down long enough to bind him with the chains." He took another loud gulp of his ale.

"That's a pretty good idea, simple and we could use it to set up traps as well. Reeks, take Gaul and gather some chain and locks. See if you can get some meat from the butcher. Probably the older the better. Siff and I will pay a visit to Androsia and see what she has that could do the job. I guess we'll collect you after your meal Silverbeard?" Firebug said staring at Silverbeard.

"Sure that's fine." Said Silverbeard now focuing on his meal.

The rest of the group moved slowly out the door then slip up to gather their items. Once they were gone, "damn mystics, " said Silverbeard with a belch.

[Game Master]

Siff and Firebug reckoned that they should go to Androsia's before Halfhelm in case she didn't have what they needed. The elven alchemist was grinding a wiggling, sickly, yellowish plant with her mortar and pestle when they arrived.

"Hello you two. I'll be with you in a moment." She called out pleasantly. With three more good bashes the plant made a loud squish sound, quivered and seemed defeated enough so she could step away and give the explorers her attention. "What can I do for you today? Has Gaul poisoned himself? Those are some nasty concoctions he has been buying you know?" she asked while cleaning her hands with a rag tied to her belt.

[sfliegel]

"Brightest blessings upon you this beautiful day" Firebug said in his best elvish and he gave a bow of the head. "No Gaul is fine but we will remind him to be careful. The Priestess and I are actually here on two seperate matters. The first is that we have discovered a potion of sorts while we were in the catacombs under the city during that weapons smuggling afair. I was hoping that you might be able to identify. The second matter is connected to the first, in that there is a troll that was working with those smugglers and is now roaming those same tunnels. I believe that he may hold some valuable information, so we are looking for something powerful enough to put such a brute to sleep. Do you have anything that might help or know where we might find it?"

[Game Master]

Androsia takes the potion as well as the 100gc payment for identification. Unstopping the cork she sniffs it and quickly takes a sip. Swishing the liquid around in her mouth like a wine taster she spits the sample onto the dirt floor. "What you have here is a potion of shrinking. I'd wager it would reduce you in size to about six inches. Smaller if your a dwarf, halfling or gnome." Androsia re-corks the bottle and hands it back to the mystic and begins rummaging through her wares of the small shoppe.

"Now lets see. Troll trouble you say? Hmmm, I have some Basilisk's eye. It's a blood poison that will render your Troll quite paralyzed for...2 to 8 minutes. It has to be put on a blade or arrow tip though because it must draw blood. Could be dangerous." Androsia continues to sift through items and crates. "Oh here is something. Fansolin. Its a mind altering drug. Quite addictive I'm afraid but your troll will do almost anything you ask of him for an hour or four. He'll be under your control for the most part. He'll respond to commands like a good little soldier as long as it's not to out of the ordinary for a Troll that is. Its expensive though and you will need to get the troll to drink it. It can be diluted with quite a bit of water if that helps. Ohhhh I also have either of weakness. Pour it on a cloth get the beastie to breathe deep and he'll be a lot easier to handle. Any of those sound like they may do the trick? The blood poison will cost you 300 gold while both the Fansolin and Either will cost you an even thousand I'm afraid. Unless you want to work some of the cost off that is?" She smiles.

[sfliegel]

Firebug smiled sheepishly, "Well you do seem to know me pretty well. However, I was thinking more along the lines of something we could lace food with. Since we don't know exactly where this creature is, we were going to leave food to lure it out. Then the food being laced with something to either put it to sleep or to weaken it enough to take it into custody. Are you sure you can't think of anything else?"

[Game Master]

The Alchemist seemed to think on it for a bit while chewing her bottom lip. "Well....most ingestive concoctions are either lethal poisons or hallucinogenic. Neither is really what you want. Hmmm. I could mix up some Wharifin. I just got it in and I'd hate to sell it. I need it for a potion I was brewing." Androsia seemed to be at war with her self over the decision. she sighed. "It really could work for you. Sprinkled on food in powder form it will put a human or elf under for a good half hour. A double dose will put someone in a deep sleep for up to 18 hours. Of course this is a troll we're talking about right? You would probably have to use a minimum of two maybe even three doses on something that large. Oh and there is a chance he'll never wake up."

"How much?" This from Siff.

"Six hundred and fifty crowns per dose I'm afraid."

[sfliegel]

Firebug sratched his chin in thought, "well..., with the eye of basalisk, since this requires contact with the blood. I'm curious, if we would put barbs, bone or metal dipped in this, into the food and the troll would prick himself while eating, would it still work the same?"

[Game Master]

"Well....yes, I suppose. It would have to draw blood though. His stomach acids would neutralize the effects."

[sfliegel]

"Well I guess I'll take the blood poison. Somehow I don't think we will get this troll to hold still long enough to hold a towel to his mouth. I don't have much money and would appreciate being able to work off some of the expense. Unfortunately, such work would have to wait until after we catch this troll. You understand of course?"

[Game Master]

"Take your time. Whenever you have a spare day or so. I'll make a list of herbs I need. Can you pay me half and work off the other hundred and fifty?"