The Other Baron (RP)

- Albert -

There is no one in view right outside the door. It is shameful of them to have abandoned their friend, but you don't get the impression they are coming back. But you also doubt the rest of them will have gone too far

You did not get the impression that they needed to force their way into the baron's home, it seemed like they were welcomed and among friends. Norbert may end up facing whoever remains on his own if you let him go out there alone.

What do you do?

- Roald -

While you know you are not guilty... or at least that you meant no harm, it might be becoming apparent to you that your actions have left a trail of suspicion that could all add up to your looking very guilty in the eyes of the locals. Something in the precise words used rings a bell and if you could just decipher it and follow through on it, you and your party may be able to get your feet under you for the first time since arriving in this valley.

- Albert -

Your prisoner flinches away as the dog passes, then shuffles backwards, trying to move away from you as you approach. He seems genuinely scared of you guys and your reputation.

"M m my name? Le..." He cuts himself off. "Why do you want to know my name?" He demands suspiciously... or is it superstitiously? There are all sorts of superstitions about names.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

The yard outside is full of men, they all eye you warily as you make your way to the kitchen. They are not obviously following you, but you feel surrounded.

The cook, who was none too friendly last night... (and is the one who saw you 'trying to lure a girl away'... could Marisella be the baron's daughter your prisoner was talking about?)... picks up a large ladle and glares at you. "You are not welcome here." She says.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

The angry men in yard are clustered around your route. They have not taken overt action, but you can not be confident they will just let you return.

What do you do?

- Albert -

"I knew it." The dude-guy exclaims. "You want my name so you can work MAGIC against me!"

He pulls away but can not get very far.

What do you do?

- Albert -

"Help!?" Your prisoner exclaims, clutching his knee. "You guys have helped quite enough, thank you! I will just walk it off" You doubt he will walk any time soon, but he does not trust you enough to allow you do anything for him. (Why would he?)

What do you do?

- Roald -

Everything in the valley seems to have been set up to keep you and your party on the backfoot. Something has been messing with these people for a while and your presence here seems to have escalated things somehow.

The mayor seemed caught up in his petty politics and power-plays in the village, from what Theo (the mayor's son) said he has never left the village, nor shown any interest in seeing the surroundings for himself.

How did 'the resistance' know about the kidnap? Why did they assume you were there to help them? OK, on that last on it may be your fault for leading them to believe that, but they seemed primed to accept you as ringleaders. Theo seemed very surprised that his father would have anything to do with any of that or those people.

You did not get to meet the far-away baron, but have heard rumours that there are some sort of family relations between him and this one. People who are not dealing directly with them tend to get them confused with each other and their behaviour and attitude is pretty similar.

Theo also let slip that there was a feud of some sort between his own father and his father's brother. And there was definite tension with Olaf and Christian, but that may have been mostly Olga? Olaf implied that he was not welcome over this side of the valley, and that may have had a 'family' feel to it, but you can't know for sure.

There are patterns and symmetries here. But you don't have all the facts.

The words your prisoner used ring a bell, you are sure you have heard them before... Yes, it was tense and stressful, and rainy and thundery, and you were trying to hide, but those might be the exact same words Nixon said to Olaf at that lone oak tree in the ring of mushrooms in the middle of the night. [ref] And how on earth did he arrange that meeting?

Albert's (or is it Raynor's) miracle turned the tide there, but you get the feeling that, had things not gone that way, Olaf would have suspected you of the kidnap. Maybe it is good you got out of town before the mayor got hold of you, his ear may have similarly poisoned against you.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

With an angry muttering the men in the yard par and make way for you to pass through. Not one of them is willing to be the first to attack you and your dog, but you get the strong feeling that any of them would be the second. You are atop a powder-keg.