The Contact (RP)

Continued from The Two Barons

---

You awake in the middle of the night to find Olaf sneaking away from his house into the storm. You might well assume he is going to meet his contact, but if that is not the case it is even more reason to be suspicious.

Who noticed Olaf and woke the others? (PC? NPC? Something else?)
Do you confront him now?
Do you try to follow him, unnoticed?
What do you think he is up to, and do you take any precautions?

What do you do?

Roald is still half awake when he hears a sound. It doesn't come from outside. He opens his eyes but lies still and tries to discover the sound's origin.
It's the dog
He sees Norbert's contour and waits for what's about to happen.

"Why would he go out in this weather at this time?" Norbert whispers back. "Maybe he needs help. ... I am going after him."

Norbert waits for Olaf to get a bit down the road, pulls his cloak over his head and is off in the rain. The dog is right on his heels.

Despite the wind and rain, it is not hard to follow Olaf's lantern through the cultivated forest around his house. He seems to be following a footpath that looks relatively new, but well-used.

On the western horizon ahead of you, the moon illuminates the clouds from behind, providing some light, but also blinding you a bit to the surroundings in other directions... expect for the brief flashes when lightning brings everything into stark relief.

How far ahead to you let Olaf get? If he leaves the path suddenly or extinguishes his lantern for some reason it might be hard to find him again. But if you follow too close and he notices you sneaking after him while he is sneaking out, it will almost definitely further damage your already tenuous relationship.

What do you do?

Roald too follows Norbert outside.
The raging winds make it hard for him to talk to the others.
'' Norbert, do you think your dog could follow his scent in this weather? That way we don't have to follow very close''

- Norbert -

You almost miss it when Olaf leaves the path and turns into the denser woods surrounding you, but a flash of lightning creates glowing orbs from the eyes of an owl who watches you as you pass, your attention drawn to the side at the last moment, you see Olaf's lantern as he pushes his way through the undergrowth.

It will be much harder to follow quietly through that, and you could have sworn this path was leading to the contact so it is strange he is suddenly veering off it...

Something you, yourself, said earlier nags at you: If he is going out to meet his contact... in a storm, in the middle of the night, after he just returned from seeing his contact a few hours ago... How was that arranged? Why would the contact know to be there at this time? You are fairly sure there are no houses in this part of the forest.

From out of the dark-after-the-lightning the owl watches you as you make up your minds what to do.

What do you do? Do you follow after Olaf or scout around to see what is happening and maybe find a quieter route?

"I'm with Albert on this one, heard too many stories about people getting separated in bad weather. Man I hope he isn't just going for a pee..."

Roald pulls on his collar and pushes on through the bushes.

how did we even get into this mess? ...

in the distance he sees what he thinks is Olaf's lantern, he gives Norbert a pat on the shoulder and points in that diretion.

" I think I so a light over there."

"I'm with Albert on this one, heard too many stories about people getting separated in bad weather. Man I hope he isn't just going for a pee..."

Roald pulls on his collar and pushes on through the bushes.

how did we even get into this mess? ...

in the distance he sees what he thinks is Olaf's lantern, he gives Norbert a pat on the shoulder and points in that diretion.

" I think I saw a light over there."

A flash of lightning blinds you again, and a squall of rain wipes away the scent trail for the dog, and you are left floundering around hoping you are still going in the correct direction. Then the dog stops, and its hackles raise a moment before you would otherwise have stepped into the clearing. In the center of the clearing stands a solitary oak tree. You seem to have stumbled off the path, but also to have gotten here ahead of Olaf, for you see him just now forcing his way out of the foliage partway round the circle and making his way noisily towards the tree... and towards the figure of a man you see leaning casually against the tree holding what looks like a large leaf above his head to ward off the rain.

You could move closer if you wanted to assure yourselves of overhearing what is being said, but you can suspect Olaf's voice will carry to where you are. Moving round in the surrounding trees and bushes will be difficult --you have been doing it for the past few minutes. There is clear ground between you and the oak tree meeting place, from your position you could try to sneak to the opposite side of the wide trunk, unless they walked around it you might be able to stay hidden there, but you would be completely exposed if they did look that way.

What do you do?

- Roald -

As you enter the clearing there is a distinctively different smell --and it is not just the mud you smeared on your face. The fresh, piney scent gives way to a more earthy aroma, and you have to step over a ring of mushrooms halfway to the oak tree.

At that exact moment a flash of lightning illuminates the mushroom ring stark white, and you could swear Olaf's contact was looking directly at you --the whites of his eyes and teeth showing in a huge grin is startling-- but their conversation continues without interruption (nor even any boom of thunder to accompany that lightning).

"The mayor's daughter went missing late last night." You hear Nixon saying. (Or, you assume this is 'Nixon'.)

"What? I know that." Olaf says impatiently.

But Nixon continues as though he did not hear: "They say Clodomere's second youngest son had his eye on her all year."

"Yes, yes. I get that. I thought you meant the other baron, don't rub it in." Olaf tries to steer the conversation. "I want to know about these phony heroes you told me about." He demands.

"Oh, they were there." Nixon continues calmly. "They where amongst the last people to see the girl. They dined with the mayor and his daughter just before she vanished."

"Wait! What? You did not tell me that!" Olaf exclaims angrily.

---

It is very convenient that all these details are being mentioned just as you get in position to overhear them.

How hidden are you? Olaf's lantern has probably spoiled his night vision, but a single beam from that, or another flash of lightning could easily give you away.

What do you do?

- Roald -

You find you had to get right up close to the tree before you could hear the spoke words over the wind and rain. But the two men don't seem to have noticed you. The further from the tree you are the less they need to move before parallax reveals you, but if they walk around the tree nothing will hide you in an open clearing anyway.

Watching the men you don't think they will pose much of danger in a fight, but Olaf's temper may get the better of him forcing you into one and maybe hurting him --which would disappoint Olga (do you want to risk that?:).

While you can't be completely sure, you were able to see Olaf quite well over the course of the trip here, he was in the middle of a pool of light from his lantern. He did carry that same woodsman's axe/hatchet at the baron assault, though you did not see him actually use it as a weapon, he relied mainly on bluster.

Nixon does not look at all formidable. 'Rotund' and 'jolly' would the words that come to mind if you were asked to describe him. Frankly you are surprised he would be out here at night, alone, with no obvious weapons.

"I only just found out." Nixon answers Olaf defensively, though how that timing makes sense you can't imagine.

Olaf looks unhappy, but before he can ask more questions there is a noise as though something large is charging through the underbrush over where Norbert sent the dog, and Olaf spins around in fright, takes a step back and trips. As he falls his hand holding the lantern goes through the glass and the lantern goes out, leaving the clearing in darkness.

You can hear Olaf scrabbling around on the ground, maybe trying to get the lantern relit, but, after a moment or two you hear muttered swearing.

"Nixon. Give me a hand." Olaf whispers, trying not to be heard by the 'beast' in the dark. "Nixon?" There is no reply.

---

Distracted as Olaf is, and blind after the lantern, it would be trivial for Roald to withdraw.

Do any of you think you know the way back? In the dark? Without Olaf and his lantern to guide you? The moon will set in less than half an hour, and it took longer than that to get here.

What do you do?

"Nixon?" Olaf says again. "Have you got a light? Bring that umbrella over here. I have cut my hand up nicely... Nixon?"

But there is no answer. After one more try Olaf gives up. "I hope you got eaten, you bastard." He calls before you hear him pushing his way out though the bushes... in your direction which you are pretty sure is not the way he came in.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"Who's that! Oh, its you." Olaf says, his fear letting up a bit as he recognises you and dismisses you as a danger. "Be careful, there is something out there. I hope it is not drawn to blood." In the darkness you can see that he is holding one hand with the other.

"Do you have a light?" He asks, as though you would be walking around without one if you had one. The dashing rain makes an unprotected torch impossible.

What do you do?

If the possibility arises, Roald will distance himself from Norbert and after a while starts shouting ''Norbert''.
Pretending to be searching for him

- Norbert -

"'Scream'? No..." Olaf replies, trying to make his voice deeper as you continue. "Stay!? Here!?" He exclaims, then lowers his volume and looks around nervously. "There is something dangerous out there in the dark." He reminds you. "And anyway, I don't like this place. It gives me the willies."

He will need some convincing to stay here for the night. You get the feeling he is overconfident in his ability to walk home --which you are pretty sure is actually not in this direction, given how you came in-- and that challenging his 'manly, outdoors skills' might not go over well.

What do you do?

- Roald -

That 'strange sound from behind you' sounded awfully like someone saying something --a word or two-- but you don't recognise the voice and there is no one there.

What did it say? Why does that try to cast doubt on any trust you have for Norbert?

"You're here too?" Olaf says, starting to look suspicious again as Roald appears. "What are you doing out here? How did you find me?" He demands.

Olaf looks ready to be more than a bit angry himself, but is moved by your apparent concern for his wellbeing.

"Yes, let's get out of the rain." He agrees. "I am going home," he points in what you pretty sure is the wrong direction, "you are welcome to my barn till it blows over." That last part is a definite improvement since you would not have been at all surprised if he had rescinded that offer.

What do you do?

"Tree?!" Olaf says sounding a bit panicked at Albert's mention --maybe thinking you are referring to the location of his clandestine meeting.

Then he rallies and tries to deflect suspicion. "Why is everybody suddenly so worried about the rain?" He demands. "It was raining when you left the barn, but now suddenly it is a problem when we are going back?" His teeth are chattering a little from the cold, so there is some clear logic to the idea, but he is still scared of the monster out in the dark, even if he does not feel comfortable mentioning that now that there are four men standing around.

"I'm going home." He says, then as he stumbles over a root. "Where's that damn path! It should be just over there."

What do you do?

"The path? It's just over there." Olaf says confidently, trying to push his way through thick bushes one-handed.

Olaf stops and stares at Norbert for a moment, then turns to the other two. "Is he mad?" He as quietly, sounding genuinely concerned rather than accusatory. "I told him there was something big and dangerous out there in the dark." He shrugs and turns back towards 'home'. "I always said shepherds spend too much time outside, the brains leak out into the sky."

True to his word, he starts moving towards his presumed path --at first forgetting and reaching with injured hand, and filling the night with swearing. "Do what you want." He says, sounding angry again, unless it is the pain. "I have beer at home.".

Nothing you have said has persuaded him to stay out here in the rain all night. He is confident there is a path up ahead. What does Fate say?

"Ah, there it is." Olaf declares a moment later. "Come on, this way."

"Path!" Olaf shouts, waving his hand and getting annoyed. "What do you call this?" There is indeed what could be a path stretching to the left and right.

He looks at Albert suspiciously. "Why are you people all trying to stop me from going home?" He asks.

- Albert -

Olaf seems a bit mollified by your excuse of 'personal weakness', and is prepared to wait a few moments for the others to catch up if they want.

"What? No. I just heard it right now, before..." He slows to think. "...before it attacked me and knocked me over. That's how I cut my hand." He explains.

Olaf grunts in acknowledgement, then squints left and right down the path. Neither direction heads towards where you think his home is, but paths are know to meander. After no time at all Olaf turns left and starts walking as quickly as the dark and slippery path allows.

The moon has set while you talked, and the sky is a uniform grey. At least the rain has stopped. Those of you who have spent much time outdoors know that, if the cloud cover lifts, the temperature will drop precipitously, and, as the famous saying goes: "it is always coldest right before the dawn". If you can't get dry before then, you may be in danger.

But, if Olaf is right, a warm barn lays in wait at the end of his path...

---

"It should be just around that corner." Olaf say --not for the first time-- after more than an hour of walking.

Even with the added slowness due to the lack of light you should have been getting close, or at least have recognised something from your trip here. But did anyone think to look behind them on the way out? Each landmark looks different from the other side. Turning around now does not help much since you might have just missed something that would have been recognisable.

Olaf's mood has not improved. Does anyone feel like returning to the topic of stopping? It might be just around that corner.

"It's cold, and wet." Olaf says, rubbing his hands and arms to 'warm' them. He stops to watch Roald gather wood, but his expression is dubious. You get the impression that unless you are able to get a fire going Olaf will decide against staying, but the fact that he even stopped means he probably also thinks you are lost --though he is not admitting it yet.

Norbert's clever kindling catches fire and smoke billows from the pile. The driest twigs and small branches catch, but there is very little wood that has not been wet by the heavy rains, in order to dry out enough wood for later you will need to stack it around the fire, stealing much of the heat it generates.

Until you can get to using that dried wood there is a lot of smoke and Olaf grunts disapprovingly as he states at the campsite that has been made. It is not yet pleasant and the wind seems to blow the smoke right at anyone who tries to come near.

Given time this could be quite cheery, but right now it is just more miserable.

What do you do?

- Albert -

You can see Olaf's first instinct to say 'it's nothing' warring with his pain, but he grudgingly agrees. "It's nothing much." He says stoically as he shows you his hand. "It's mostly gone numb now anyway."

It should be easy to light a torch from the fire if you want enough light to see properly --though your lack of actual training means you might not actually need to see at all to do what you do.

The water running down and dripping off his elbow is tinted dark with blood, the wet has stopped the wound from clotting and it is still slowly oozing blood. The glass of his lantern cut into the webbing between his thumb and the rest of his hand, across his palm and down to his wrist.

What do you do?

Fate brittle as glass...

- Albert -

It looks like the rain and the blood have washed out any glass and soot from the lantern. Olaf flinches at your poking around, but takes it like a man.

There does not appear to be any impediment to your healing.

- Albert -

Olaf grumbles a bit at the mention of religiousity, and does not join in the recitation. His eyes go wide as Raynor's fire infuses his hand. "Warm!" He says wonderingly.

He holds his hand out for everyone to see as he opens and closes it without pain. He still has a gash on his hand, but, in this dim light, anyone could be mistaken into thinking it was a week old.

"Thanks... I suppose... He says grudgingly, not meeting your eye.

The fire is just enough to take the worst of the chill off and dry your clothes enough that you don't freeze, but no one gets any sleep --what with needing to keep it fed and shuffling around to avoid the smoke, and, as soon as it is light enough, everyone is keen to get moving.

"Where the heck are we?" Olaf exclaims as you crest a hill and see your surroundings. "We must have gotten turned around in the night." He says, placing blame on everyone and ignoring the fact that he was the one leading the way.

Norbert: You are fairly sure you recognise the area, and that you are a lot closer to the village than to Olaf's house. Hungry and cold as everyone is, it would not be hard to make the case for going to town to get a bite and warm up on your way there. Or, with the village's position as a landmark, Olaf should have no trouble finding home either.

What do you do?

"Clearing?!" Olaf exclaims in surpris before trying to change the subject. "No, no. I know where we are." He says desperately looking around to get his bearings. "Oh, yes. This is Magraken's land. We can follow that stream to the bridge and then the road leads almost past the village --" he peers of into the distance, "--you can see the smoke on the horizon over there, how people can live in that, I don't just know."

He looks down at his hand. "I had forgotten all about it." He admits, sounding impressed and a bit interested. "'Ray nor', you say? I never thought to follow a 'healing' god, but that was..." He is at a loss for words.

"I really should get back to the missus." Olaf says, though the mention of all those sorts of hot things --along with those not mentioned-- are clearly tempting him and you don't think it would take much to persuade him otherwise. He can now claim to his wife that he 'tried to talk you out of it'.

"Hmm..." Olaf mutters at the mention of your going into the house he threw you out of, then he looks down at his hand and seems to have a change of heart. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. If Olga says its OK, and so long as you don't make a mess."

Whatever you guys decide, it does not look like Olaf will argue.

The village is not exactly on this path, you will need to detour a little bit to get there.

At the mention of Olga, Olaf looks worried, and his mind is clearly whirring as he tries to come up with excuses to give her. He is dragging his feet a little, so it takes nearly two hours to get home.

Your damp clothes cling to your bodies in unpleasant ways --though they are now a little cleaner-- and you are all tired, from the stress of adventure and the mostly-sleepless night, when you arrive at Olaf's. Well before you see the farmstead you can hear his children screaming and shouting, Olaf's proud smile indicates that this is normal, and you soon crest a hill and see them running around the garden, whacking each other with sticks that are probably meant to be swords.

There is no sign of your companions that you left here, though how they could still be sleeping with all that racket, you can't tell.

There is a small tendril of smoke from the chimney, so Olga is presumably making food. Olaf's stomach growls loudly as he strides towards the kitchen door.

What do you do?

Albert, Neither your friends nor your stuff is in the barn. There are obvious signs that people slept there, but no sign of any struggle or sudden leaving.

One of the kids --your would guess about four years old-- runs over and brandishes a stick-sword at you. "Aunty Nicki took your friends away after breakfast." They say. "Now FIGHT ME!"

---

Back in the kitchen, Olaf stammers excuses --blaming you guys-- but Olga merely shakes her head in exasperation and ignores him.

"Your friends went back to town a little while ago." She says with a note of disapproval in her voice.


"I did not know you were coming back." She says, presumably talking to you and not to her husband. "Or I would have kept breakfast for you. There is bread and honey and apples." She adds, though you notice that the honey pot is getting empty and there are not many apples left in the pantry. An unwashed pot that contained porridge --presumably breakfast-- has been scraped clean of food.

- Albert -

"We are not allowed to talk about that." The kid says gravely... not that that seems to deter them, though and they carry on talking. "Stephan followed them one night and says they 'dance around in the altogether'. But I don't know where 'the altogether' is. Why's your sword so small?"

- Albert -

"I thought you were a hero." The child says accusingly. "Aren't you always doing sword-fights?" That is the only bit they have been emulating.

- Roald -

"What?" Olaf sounds surprised that you claim not to be hungry, but he does not argue. "More for me I guess." He shrugs. If he is aware of the food shortage, he does not show it.

When you ask for a place to take a nap he grudgingly agrees. "Yeah, OK." He says. "I will take a nap myself if I can get a moment's quiet."

You bunk down in the hay again for a nap. It is hard to get to sleep with the noise of the kids' continuous battles outside, and your dreams are invaded by the clash of arms. Eventually your dreams quiet for a while:

You are talking happily with Nixon, his large belly wobbles as he laughs along with whatever you are saying; nothing could go wrong with his jollity around... but then --in typical dream logic-- you are somewhere else, the rain dripping from the trees is warm... and red, the light of the full moon making it appear black; Nixon is still laughing, but something has changed in his demeanour... and his appearance. You struggle to focus on what is different and decide it is the antlers growing from his head... and the blood running from his too-wide mirthful-grin and oversharp-teeth.

The Nixon-apparition raises an axe and brings it down on your head...


The sound of Olaf's axe outside wakes you. He is splitting firewood. You are sure you had a strange dream, but all the details slip away...

- Norbert -

"Oh, you guys are still here?" Olaf says, not sounding surprised or upset.


"Sure, if you want." He dismisses the talk about his injury, he hands over the axe, wipes his sweating face with a rag and walks away to get a drink of water from the other side of the yard. There is a very large pile of wood waiting to be split, it is more than you could ever finish. How much of it do you get through?

- Albert -

• What time is it? You arrived sometime mid-morning. How long did you sleep for?

Olaf has wondered over to the pump --leaving Norbert to split wood. He shows a new level of respect for you as he pumps clean water for your ablutions.

What do you do?

- Roald -

"Sure...?" Olaf says hesitantly, it does not sound like is all that enthused about the effort of going hunting (it might occur to you that Norbert seemed quite competent with outdoorsy stuff). "We can decide after eating." He suggests --possibly hoping you will have forgotten on a full stomach.

"There is food inside." He declares, again sounding unconcerned about the situation and looking well fed.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"Says who?" Olaf asks belligerently. It is not clear if your words are a challenge and make him more likely to go hunting or make him worried that you feel yourself some sort of 'enforcer' looking for an admision. You know the barons are very erratic about such rules, mostly ignoring them but sometimes enforcing them ... to death.

"Why? Oh, right. yes." Olaf says. "Do you think we can explain that we though he was the other baron?" It sounds like he has been trying not to think about this. "No one died, right?"

Roald overheard last night that the girl in question is apparently the mayor's daughter. But Olaf does not know that his secret meeting was overheard. Also in that overheard conversation was mention even more reasons for Olaf to distrust you all, but the events of last night --and significantly the miraculous healing-- have put such suspicions out if his mind... for now."Oh, yeah. Her." Olaf says. "The clodo-baron is way over on the other side of the valley." He complains. "There are farmers over there who don't really like me." He tries to sound like he is not care bothered by this fact. "So I really shouldn't go with. It would not help your situation at all."

"You going to see the baron?" Olaf confirms. "Good, good. Maybe don't mention me." He adds, possibly because of the whole mistake with the near baron, but also maybe for another reason related to his indication that 'people over there don't like him'.

He happily gives you directions, which --possibly irritatingly-- take you back along the path you just took to get here. This also means you are going fairly close to the village, though you doubt there will be time to go there and get to the baron today unless you are very quick about everything.

Olaf looks pleased with the pile of fire-wood. "You want to eat first?" He asks with all sorts of undertones (your refusal to eat before sleeping --while obviously hungry-- has left him intrigued by whether there are even more miracles at work with 'adventurers').

What do you do?

"Of course." Olaf says inviting you all back into his house.

Olaf did not seem concerned before about his food situation, but when you enter the kitchen you see that there is enough. There is a large ham, eggs, and an apple pie --though the number of apples in the pantry has not gone down-- in addition to a bit of the simple bread that was baked this morning. Pretty much enough to feed the family and the extra three guests.

What do you do?

A strained silence descends on the previously chattering household at the mention of 'Aunt Nicki'.

'Timmy' shrinks in guilty shame, and Olaf glares at Albert angrily. "I will not have that woman's named spoken in this house!" He declares.

Olga sighs at his posturing. "Was Nicki here?" She asks casually while cutting slices for everyone from the ham and manning the frying eggs at the same time --though you can hear the lie in her voice. "I did not see her." Olaf turns his disbelieving glare on her, though they flick suspiciously to the food.

'Timmy' says nothing, hoping his part in this will not be mentioned.

Clearly you have touched on a sore-point.

What do you do?

- Albert -

Both Olga and Timmy look at you thankfully. "Fat cow, more like it." Olaf says in a pretend-quiet voice that everyone hears but does not acknowledge. "Oh, yes. I know 'fat Micky'." Olaf agrees. "... but not from a tavern."

The fight seems to be over, but there is a brittle detente at the table. "Have some eggs, dear." Olga says, plonking plate before you. Despite the tense distraction she has cooked them to perfection.

- Albert -

"Nicki? She lives in the deep forests somewhere." Olga whispers to you as you help wash up. "But I don't understand why you are asking about her. I really have not seen her since last moon." She looks around furtively as though she has said more than she should. Olaf is not looking your way, but she still ducks her head and focuses on finishing the work.

Do you push her for details?

- Norbert -

Most of the kids enthusiastically join you. Olga tries to plead that they 'don't get too wet', but gives up good-naturally --knowing that that is a lost cause-- it is warm outside so they will dry off before bed.

'Timmy' is too scared of getting into trouble for talking out of turn again, and shrinks away when questioned. Seeing this, one of the older kids sighs and explains: "Daddy does not approve of Aunty Nicki. He says she is giving the other women 'ideas above their station'. She does not come around when daddy is here, else mommy and daddy end up fighting."

- Norbert -

The kids all giggle and hide their faces at the scandal of calling Nicki a 'witch'. "What makes you say her power only comes from words." The oldest asks barely stifling the giggles.

- Albert -

"Really?" Olaf asks, sounding eager and interested in what such a blessing might mean for his household.

Olga looks confused by this interaction and her husband's reaction to it. It is possible she is not pleased.

'' Let's get going! ''
Roald starts walking at a fast pace. But after a few steps he remembers Albert's condition and lets him dictate the pace.

Continues in The wind in her hair.