Way back in the 80s I played a play-by-mail game called Duelmasters - it was all about running gladiators in an arena.  I played it for years and then in college I gave it up for lack of funds.  Then in the early 2000s or so I decided to look up that game and see if it was still around - it was!  (And still is - I still the play the game, now called Duel 2 - 95% of the people that played it got hooked in the 80s when, like me, they were in junior high.)  At one point someone on that game's website suggested that a group of Duelmasters managers should do a play-by-post D&D game.  I love D&D but hadn't been able to play tabletop in many years so I jumped at the chance. One of those other managers scouted out some possible sites to host our game and found the Red Dragon Inn.  It looked good and so we tried it out.  That game, sadly, fizzled, but I had found a new home.  That Play-by-mail game is the reason I have the "D2" tacked on to the end of my name here at the inn - the name Nomad was apparently already taken.  Hammer is the only other member of that gaming group that joined other games here at the inn.  

I will have to look up when I first started here at the inn, but it has now been a long time and I have been in many different games.  I hate it when they die, but I have enjoyed all of them while they lasted!

Upon further review it looks like I first came to this site in 2008.  Yep, I found a new home.  

Dane is stille in!

     The group moves across the bridge and starts up the path on the other side. The path on the far side is much the same as on this side – a semi paved path that has seen a lot of traffic over the years, but little of it recently. About 150 feet from the end of the bridge the path hits the first switchback, taking a sharp curve to the left and starting up at a moderate angle and headed towards another switchback 200 feet or so further on.
     In front of the group is a little hut – it is made of stone and is not very large, about 15’ on a side. The only entrance is a doorway on the front, an opening that doesn’t appear to have ever had an actual door. There is no sign of habitation around the hut or even an indication of recent movement. A look inside confirms this belief. The building is empty with only leaves and dust piling up in the corners. But while the building is empty of anything but dirt it looks solid and should provide shelter.
     The group takes shelter and settles in for a long rest. Each takes a share at guard duty as the moon rises and the stars come out on a clear night. Things are quiet for the first part of the night. But around midnight while Galydan is on guard he hears noise outside. A group of something is coming down the path and headed towards the bridge. They didn’t seem to be making any attempt to be quiet which made hearing them easy. Yet they were not loud enough for him to hear exactly who or what they were. As he hears them Galydan believes they are on the next path up the ridge.

(If the newcomers are one path up and coming down as Galydan believes that means that they have 200’ to go before they reach the next switchback. At that point they will be another 200’ from the hut you are in but will have a clear view of the entrance. The moon is bright and the night fairly well lit. You likely have less than a minute before they round that corner. The land around the hut and the path back to the bridge is covered with rubble and brush. More dense trees and brush are about 50’ away. You are a bit above the level of the river, but not much as the land levels out quickly.)

Fixer listened to the others outline their respective plans and even as Bloodbank recommended he put his mask back on he took it out and put it back in place.  He took a deep breath and shrugged his shoulders.

"This isn't my area - either going in straight up or contacting the cult.  I'm more than willing to let Charlie ply his trade.  We have to go in at some point - and soon - that isn't negotiable.  But if he can make that move easier I am all for it.  But we are not rich in time."  He looked up and down the street.  "Do we really want to keep standing here across from the door?  We don't exactly fit in this neighborhood.  Whether its the cult or the maid who spots us, that doesn't seem good.  Where do we sit while Charlie works his magic?  I wouldn't mind getting out of this rain, but I really want to get out of sight.  Makes me nervous."  

And for your birthday we give you . . . . a renewed and vital Trilogy!  

Hey, actually I think that is your gift to all of us!

But seriously, happy birthday.  

Fixer listened to Casino outline his plan and groaned a bit on the inside.  Being part of the trio to go inside pretty much meant putting his arse on the line again.  But what else was he supposed to do?    He really didn't have any great ideas and this sort of raid was much more in Casino's experience then in his.  He thought about the possibilies and came up with no better option.  Going in with a full group of 7 gave them maximum firepower, but also maximum noticability.  And it would be hard to claim they were innocent of bad intent.  So this was stealthy, but weak.  

"What are the odds that the Reef Alt-Cult are in on the whole Jace thing?  I don't know much about the cults.  I'm guessing it just happens to be in their building, but if we go all 'blunt truth' with them they will now know.  If their in on it, that is a problem.  If they aren't, they likely are going to want some sort of cut in on the action.  That might be out action.  Or, if we are lucky, we might make it in on the kidnappers action."  He shook his head knowing he didn't really know what to suggest.  "Just something to keep in mind if we meet them.  This is not my area.  I don't have any better ideas."

He took off his mask and tucked in his bag.  "I guess we go in."  He turned and grinned at Echo.  "Come on sweetheart.  Lets go be lovey-dovey.  Think it'll make the big guy jealous when he suggested it?"  He winked at her and added, "once more into the breach . . ."

I might be interested.  However, I know I won't have a ton of time to figure out rules or anything.  I'm hesitatnt to take on a new system.  But I could.  

Fixer nodded as Echo spoke about playing it smart.  

"I'm for the smart play.  We have an address.  For Vegas and for Jace, we need speed."

There really wasn't much more to add, he had already said his piece.  He was ready to move and getting itchy.  But they did need to pick up Ghalan as they moved.  More bodies.  That was always good.

             After leaving the pasture behind the group moved off into the wood to begin their quest for the missing Molkin twins.  The first phase of the quest passed quickly when they found themselves confronted by the Hreusen River.  (About the size of the Red in Fargo) There was some debate as to which way to go, with the only certainty being that going back to the village would not accomplish much.  They must either cross the river and begin their assault on the ridge itself or follow the path down stream towards the bridge rumor suggested lay about a day’s march in that direction. 

               In an attempt to get more information Galydan summoned his familiar and sent it into the air to scout around.  There wasn’t much to see – just a lot of trees, a ridge, a river and a path.  The bird could provide little to guide them.  Deciding that the goblins were more likely to have followed the path and use the bridge the group headed off along the river with the small ranger in the lead.  Loradove put all of her tracking skills to use, but there was little to learn from the road.  At one time many years in the past the road had been paved with the result that today the many paving stones were uneven and surrounded by bits of grass that poked up amongst the stones.  But there were still enough of the stones that there was little on the road that could take a print.  The path clearly had seen use – but not just once.  Numerous feet had travelled this way.  It was hardly a highway, but clearly humanoids – likely human hunters and woodsmen and who-knew what else, horses and even wild animals had passed this way in the preceding months and years.  It was impossible to tell what was most recent. 

               She also kept her eye on the edges of the road looking for evidence of  . . . anything, really.  But what she found was . . . nothing, really.  On the right-hand side that bordered the woods there were occasionally animal paths that went into the woods, but never any clear tracks.  On the left the river flowed – sometimes as close as a few feet from the road and at other times as far as 50 feet.  Here also a few animal paths went down to the river, but the only tracks were for animals that seemed natural. 

               Towards evening the group saw a wolf in the woods that seemed to trail them for a little while, but eventually gave up.  That was the only living thing they saw on their trek besides plants and birds.  Near sundown they found the bridge.  The bridge is a large, utilitarian stone arch over the river.  It is wide enough to hold two carts abreast and the stones is worn smooth and shows wheel grooves worn into it down the middle.  Low stone rails are along each side.  Statues once adorned the four corners, but only one remains and it is in very poor condition.  It is a large predatory bird sitting atop a helmet with beak and eyes stretched towards the heavens. 

               On the other side of the bridge the road connects to a timeworn paved path leading up towards what the locals had called Fromkin’s Pass.  The path seems to have been made for cart traffic and moves up the ridge in a series of switchbacks.  At each turn in the path there is a small stone hut.  (At least it looks like there is one at each turn, a few of the turns are not visible behind brush, trees and piles of stone.)  At the top of the ridge you can see a large crumbling tower overlooking the pass. 

               It took you most of the day to reach the bridge.  It is now about 30 minutes before sundown.  The ridge is not small and the path has numerous switchbacks – you would guess it would take you 3-4 hours to reach the top of the pass.  If your understanding of local geography is correct, the path will then descend down the other side of the ridge, although not as far down as the river on this side.  Over the ridge should lay a great plains, home to numerous nomadic tribes, considered “uncivilized” by the locals. 

Fixer watched as Casino made plans to run off and fetch his friend.  He admired his loyalty, but feared that it was misplaced.  Still, he was surprised by the display put on by Echo.  But it might have saved the big man's life.

"Crap.  Anybody really know what the hell we got oursevles into?  I don't.  And I don't think I can remember that many bodies.  What happened in that hospital when there was a shootout?  Might it be that?"  He looked at Casino for a second and then shook his head.  "It doesn't matter at the moment.  We have three tasks we need to hit real fast and really efficiently.  1. Save the kid.  2.  Save Vegas.  3.  Deal with this neo-corp mess."  He glanced at Casino as he finished.  "Not necessarily in that order."  

"Casino, am I right that you are still hot for heading after Vegas?  I'll help with that at some point - I admire your loyalty and we are all in some sort of mess here.  But not yet, I don't think.  If you go, start by just scouting things out.  Try and find out where they are and figure out a plan.  But if you want my advice, don't go in yet.  Wait for the rest of us.  I can't stop you if you want to play John Wayne, but your odds go up with backup."  He looked around at the rest of the group.  "Meanwhile, while Casino and maybe Echo are figuring out how to tackle that problem we need to solve another one - the kid.  I say we high tail it after that boy - and try to make contact with Starlight one the way.  I wish I had confidence we haven't been left out to dry, but maybe.  Maybe she's got something on our side.  Maybe team two will be useful and not just more pressure up our arse.  Lets find the kid, make contact with Starlight and then return to find out what Casino has found."

The Fixer looked around to see what the others thought.  It seemed everything had gone to hell in a handbasket and he hadn't even realized they were being taken for a ride.  He knew a lot of words his grandmother got angry when he said and they were all running through his head at this moment.  "We got a time crunch every which way on this gig right now.  Time for us all to saddle up and ride or whatever the proper John Wayne western cliche is."

As the group prepared to do whatever tasks it had decided upon he looked again at Casino.  "I'm not going to echo Echo's plea, but none of us want you to walk into a trap.  We will get there if you can figure out what to do once we do."

As the group looked around the pasture, Loradove moved along the edge looking for small animals.  It only took a few minutes before she spotted a couple of squirrels chasing each other along the fence line.  Moving closer she cast Speak with Animals on the bigger one.  The animal stopped running when the spell hit and looked at her, tilting its head curiously.  Loradove spoke quietly, unusual for her, and tried to find out if the animals had seen anything of interest lately. 

               Their answers were difficult to decipher.  She wanted to ask about the disappearance of the twins, but they didn’t seem to understand the question.  It was a shame the Molkin twins had not been hiding nuts when they disappeared as it appeared that squirrel memories didn’t seem to reach that far back unless nuts were involved.  More recently there were images of cows and people looking around, but not much else.  The one thing that did catch her attention was a very vague recollection of a small and unpleasant creature creeping around the edge of the field very recently – probably last night.  The impression made her want to guess goblin, but she could not be sure. 

(The above was based what was implied in the post about what you would ask the creature.  If you wish to inquire anything more specific please do so.  Also, the actual disappearance of the twins is much too long ago for a clear memory – the spell suggests a 24 hour limit.)

               Galydon thought about the missing twins, Anthony and Allan.  He didn’t know much beyond their names and approximate ages – 23.  Looking around the field didn’t add much.  Soon Ghiberti was moving off into the woods and Galydon was forced to ask one last question of the sheriffs assistant before following.  Was there anything else Erhardt could tell them?  “Not really.  You now know about as much as I do about this.  Whoever took them is likely out there somewhere, although if those boys are still alive it will be a miracle.  But those responsible are probably over there somewhere,” he nodded his head indicating the dark ridge that rose to the East.  “That’s a guess anyway.  I guess they could be in the woods as well.  Goblins, probably, from those tracks.”  He sighed as Ghiberti moved off.  “If I can help in any way, let me know.  But for now it is probably a blind search and there is a lot of ride out there.”  Not hearing much new Galydon moved off quickly to follow the Tortle.

               Ghiberti didn’t wait around for much.  He moved off into the woods to begin the search.  It was still early and they could cover a lot of ground before night.  He didn’t race, but moved along deliberately.  Those who had left earlier had not appeared to be in a huge rush.  They didn’t appear to be running.  He thought he saw goblin boots in the tracks, but after a week even that was hard.  The deputy thought he had.  Tracks of the twins?  There was no way of knowing.  But someone had gone this way.

               Ghiberti’s movement quickly took him to the end of anything resembling a trail to follow.  He stood staring around at the trees for a moment and then continued in the direction of the ridge – the direction the trail had seemed to be heading.  It wasn’t long before he popped out of the woods and onto a wide path – what had once been a road.  He had come to the river and it completely blocked his path.  The road was much like what they had followed through the Barren Woods on their way into town.  It was wide enough to easily carry a cart and was hard packed but had some plants growing up through it.  There were only a few feet separating the road from the river beyond it.  And across the river the ridge quickly rose up.  A person could travel on the other side of the river, assuming they could get across, but it would be a difficult passage thick with vegetation and rugged terrain that varied dramatically. 

               Ghiberti looked to the left – just around a bend he would quickly find himself back in Botkinburg.   Looking to the right – the path continued to parallel the river, disappearing around a bend as the river meandered as river do.  He thought he remembered hearing that there were a couple of bridges that way, although at least a day’s walk away.  Ahead lay the river and behind the woods.  It was time to make a decision. 

(A map was emailed to you to give a sense of the region.  I will also need to know a marching order and any other information you wish me to know about how you are travelling.) 

Things were moving again.  Fixer just wanted to breath deep and start running.  There was so much to do and so little time.  And he wasn't even exactly sure what to do and where to begin, but something needed doing.  There were 3 names and addresses on that list.  But now things were also a bit out of his area of expertise.

"Regoup?  Yeah, good idea.  We got  couple we need to look for here and hopefully some transport coming.  Lets look for the local team and get out of this alley and away from the goods."   Fixer glanced at Casino.  "You know where best to find Vegas and Glahn?"  He was ready to move.

Welcome!  The Inn is a good place with good people and an Eol. Ok, he seems to be good people also, but there is that towel thing . . . .

Fixer heard Casinos plan and was ok with it, but still thought the sewer might be wiser.  "We can leave it with this guy, but he has seen us.  Assuming the company comes looking for it he can tell them a bit about us.  Not a lot, but a bit.  If it disappears somewhere - down the sewer or into the crowd, I guess, they are less likely to get any intel on us.  I'd vote sewers - they aren't going to want to go down there any more then we do."  Pausing a moment he added, "And grumpy as he might be, we'd be bringing them down for sure on the old guys head.  Might be doin' that anyway if they come to this drain, but it seems less likely."

He wouldn't push for it, but he thought the sewers were best.   But best was to move and move quickly.  "Three people?  Were any of them the woman Jace seemed to be seen talking to a lot?  That was the one person who seemed interested in getting close to him.  I'd start there, otherwise lets hit the one closest to this location and get moving."

As the group made a decision and started out Fixer couldn't help feeling the rush.  "Like sands through the hourglass, these are the days of Jace's life," the thought seemed to float through his mind.  He couldn't place where the trite saying came from and it certainly wasn't poetic, but it did express the need for speed.  

As Loradove bounced in and out the front door and others in the group asked about the timing of a visit to Mrs. Molkin a young woman approached the group while untying an apron.  She seemed to have heard your various questions and provided the answer.  “I don’t think she would mind a visit.  Any visit would do the poor woman good, but someone who might search for her sons would be welcome even when the moon is high.”  She put her apron over the back of a chair at Ortolf’s table.  “I’m Elaida and I was told you would like to be brought to her place.  I’d be happy to do so.”

With that she turned and headed towards the door apparently assuming you would follow.  Lora bounced up and down a few times and the rest of the group quickly followed.  As you walk out you could hear the deputy and Ortolf continue to discuss the quality of sludge as well as various villagers discussing pumpkins and faeries.  

Elaida quickly led you south a bit, away from the village.  The town wasn’t very large so within what would have qualified as ‘blocks’ in a town that had such things you found yourself approaching a small cottage.  It seemed decently maintained and not much different from 10 others you had already passed.  Although it was nighttime now there was enough of a moon that you could easily see the outline of a modest sized barn behind the house and some fencing around the back yard.  The young waitress stopped before reaching the door to point out where the fields lay, “You can see the barn in back, behind that a path leads out towards the Southern pastures.  It isn’t much.  A cow path is all.  It is out that way that the Twins disappeared.  Not far, but out of sight of town.”  She looked at the house and added, “There is a light on, so she seems to be at home.  Lets see if she wants company after all.”  She smiled at you as she approached the door. 

A quick knock on the door brought a middle-aged woman to the door.  “Oh, Elaida, what brings you here?”  The introductions were brief.  It seemed this woman was not Mrs. Molkin, but rather her friend Lianne Furstag who was visiting to keep her spirits up.  You were quickly ushered inside where you saw the mother sitting at the table with a couple of glasses and a tea pot on the table.  Elaida quickly offered an introduction of your group, she didn’t give names as she apparently didn’t know them, but she did say you were interested in finding her sons.  The woman was clearly exhausted but the offer of aid brought her to her feet.  She seemed startled by your appearance (a variety of non-local races) but quickly thanked all of you for the offer. 

You were all offered tea and seats as much as her house could accommodate it.  (Which mean the tortle and dragonborn found nothing appropriate.)  Her story contained little new information.  Her sons had gone out in the evening to bring in the cattle just as they had done hundreds of times before.  But this time they didn’t return.  They were good lads and they always came home.  Even from the tavern there was rarely any concern about there whereabouts.  But this time they were just gone.  And the cows in the field – they would never have left them unattended.  The family needed those cows.  At this point she broke down a bit adding that “what she needed were her sons not the cows!”

(There isn’t much new information here.  You are welcome to ask specific questions if you want.  While she doesn’t seem to know much your presence seems to offer her hope.  She offers to seel some of the cows to find money to pay you if you can find her sons.  I’m including a brief description of the field below under the assumption that in the morning you would check it out.)

In the morning the group went to the barn at the Molkin house and were personally introduced to the 6 cows that were the last to see the now-missing Twins.  They had little to say about the situation as they were brought out to the pasture by a neighbor boy (Aston Browning) who was helping out.  You followed them down the path to the site of the mystery.  It was only a few hundred yards to a large field that was fenced in with the standard simple wooden fencing you have seen throughout the village.  After two weeks there was little to see as the cows had trampled the field.  As you looked around Erhardt arrived on the scene and described what he had seen earlier.  “Not much really.  No blood.  No sign of violence at all.  Nothing but cows and a noticeable absence of twins.”  He led you over to the fence on the South edge of the field.  “On the other side of this fence there was some ground where the plants were trod down a bit.  If you look you can see that the plants are still a bit down.  We have only had a light rain since then so you might see a couple of small prints in there.” 

In fact, when you climb the fence and look a bit the footprints are barely discernable after two weeks, but you can tell that a couple of prints had been there.  If you had to guess, the maker of those prints would have stood a little under 5’ tall.  Small, but not tiny.  Erhardt continued as you examined the ground, “I’ve done a bit of tracking and I was able to follow the path about 100’ or so into the woods.  But then the ground gets rocky and there is little ground vegetation on their path to take marks.  The path just ended.  They did seem to be taking pains to leave no trail.  And they were good at it.”  He shrugged as he stood up from where he had been squatting to look at the tracks again.  “Honestly, I don’t know what to tell you.  I’d bet goblins and they are out there somewhere.  But where?  Just heading to the Ridge and looking around doesn’t seem very focused, but it may be all you can do.  We haven’t had the man-power to mount any exploration of the woods to find them.  I don’t know what hope there is for the Twins at this point, but even information on where to find the goblins would be valuable.  Cleaning them out even more so.”

(What do you want to do now?  You are welcome to ask more questions – of Mrs. Molkin, in Ortolf’s House of Sludge or anywhere else in town you want to.  There may be some information to be found, but you will not find a solution that tells you exactly where to go.   At some point you will need to start investigating the ridge.  I wouldn’t normally be so straightforward and would let you wander around town and roll-play, but that could take months in a post-format.  If/when you do decide to head out of town I will need to know marching order and if there is anything you want to get before you go.)

Thanks.  The site is bookmarked now!  

And rolls have been made.

I posted for Fixer and just had him make some of the comments I think Casino might usually make, but I wanted to post.  But now I think I need to make a roll for Fixer to see if he is persuasive enough.  But I can't find the site that we were using.  I would swear I put it in favorites, but it isn't there.  What is that site again?  

Fixer was glad they had another plan of action.  As humorous as it might have been to watch the ladies try going down into the sewer, it did not look like it would be very successful and they were running out of time.  As they approached the makeshift shelter and were confronted by its resident Fixer decided to just keep going and not wait for Casino to speak for the group. 

"Just ‘cause I don’t live in no fancy conapt don’t mean I can’t defend myself. Roll on, ‘less you want some new holes t’ breathe through.”

"Fair enough," Fixer said as he came to a halt.  "I don't need any more holes and I don't think my companions do either.  We do, however, need a place to work quietly for a very brief period of time.  This place may not be fancy as you said, but we would like to rent it from you for an hour.  No holes needed for anyone.  We will give you a few credits and you just go for a walk for a while.  Easy money.  Easy money and nobody gets holes.  What do you say?"  At this Fixer holds up a few credits.  

(OOC:  I have no idea exactly how much would be needed.  Fixer would take his best guess and then add a couple more.  He wants this to work and doesn't want the guy getting hurt.  What follows assumes the offer is accepted.  If it isn't just ignore it.)

With the resident(s) of the shelter on their way down the alley and out of site those on technology duty disappeared into the shelter.  He turned to Casino.  "Back on homeless guard duty I guess."  With that he headed back up the alley a bit looking for a place where he could find a little cover and conceal himself in a way that made him look like a napping homeless person.  As he did so he addressed his fellow homeless, "When they are done we still need to ditch that stuff.   The sewer below may work.  It looked deep and if we could find even a semi-intact box it might float 1/2 a block or more away from the entrance. The further the better."

(OOC:  As noted Fixer will conceal himself amidst the alley.  n he is looking for something he can sort of hide behind which would give him some protection - from sight or shots in a fight.  But mostly he wants to blend in as a homeless person.)

Dane listened carefully to the responses that the poor woman offered to his questions.  He tried to find a good balance between giving her space and sympathy and getting the information needed.  He was a bit annoyed when one of the women suggested he was pushing too hard.  He was truly trying to offer as much sympathy as he could, but this woman was in a crisis and while curling up in a ball and crying might feel good it would not help Millae at all.  When Velalin insisted that she wanted to keep talking and help as much as possible Dane was not surprised, but was still impressed.  True character was shown in how one handled a crisis, and for this woman this siutation was a crisis.  And despite her brief collapse in the street, she was standing tall and strong.  Lords might think the common folk were weak, but this woman was proof that was not so.  

Dane listened to her speak in response to Cho'Ra's inquiry.  A whitecloak?  Dane did not like whitecloaks and was not pleased to know that they were in town.  He would not be surprised at all if those arrogant buffons were at the heart of this matter.  But he had no proof of this, so he needed to be careful and not let his biases lead him astray.  As the discussion continued, he sought opportunities to ask further questions.

"This whitecloak she was seeing.  What is his name?  Does he know of Millae's situation?  You have given the impression that he might be involved, or that this relationship might be a reason why Millae was accused.  Why?  And do you have any idea what has brought whitecloaks to this town?  Are they here often?"

"The Lord's son died?"  Dane had trouble feeling too badly for a lord, but apparetly some were good people and if this young man had been one it was a shame he had suffered and been lost.  "Is there a reason his death would be linked to Millae's trial?  Is it more than just the Lord being in a black mood?  Is it just that the Aes Sedai was trying to heal him?"  

"Velalin, you seem to understand what you just said.  Did Millae in some way seem to know that the Aes Sedai would not be calling for her today?  In any other way did she seem to know what had happened? Was she prone to fainting?"

After the innkeeper came to the table and threatened the group Dane watched them go with a curious expression.  "Mistress Velalin, do you know the innkeeper well?  Did he know Millae?"  The innkeeper's reaction was interesting.  It seemed obvious that his reaction was more than casual in nature.  What did he know?

(OOC:  When things at the table settle down Dane will seek an opportunity to speak with the innkeeper.  This could be handeled either as part of this post or I can write a separate one later.)  He will ask questions ike the following:

*How long have you known Mistress Vilalin and Millae?    I'd love to help out, but I don't know the people in this town.  I'm new here.  You seem sure about this young woman.  If the authorities are so sure, what makes you so sure they are wrong?  Are they often wrong?"

*"What's up with the whitecloaks?  What brings them here?  Are they here frequently?  How'd Millae meet one, they aren't usually real frienldy."

"Any idea who we would need to talk to about Millae's case?  Mistress Vilalin has been impressive - staying strong and telling what she can.  But we need to know why the guard thinks the girl was involved.  Do you know who we would talk to about such things?  

Just so everyone knows - the intent of Dane's questions wasn't to shoot them at her rapid fire like a machine gun.  But I also didn't want to write 20 pages trying to get the questions out.  So it was just a list of questions that would be asked over the course of the evening.so that the DM would have some material to work with.  

Fixer watched Echo and Blossom try and fail to go down into the sewers.  The smell was truly awful and he was glad he had been assigned homesless duty.  That sewer was nasty!

Bloodbank came to the rescue with his offer of making masks for the sewer.  Fixer did his best to avoid grinning.  With or without Fixer's improvised masks, he was glad he was not beign asked to go down.  He wondered if the masks would work.

"I don't know if the masks will work, but what about those shelters over there."  He nodded his head in the direction of the boxes and things forming a shelter in the alley for some wrecks unfortuante enough to have no better shelter.  "For just a few credits I'm sure the residents could be persuaded to vacate and we would at least have a hidden location in which to work.  It isn't perfect, but the smell will at least be tolerable."

(OOC:  The above comment is based on the assumption that the homeless shelters are significant enough that 2 or 3 people would be concealed within them under the tarps, blankets and cardboard.  If they wouldn't actually provide concelament, forget the above comment.) 

Wow.  That is both great news and a real challenge.  My thoughts are with you.  Stay strong.

I havne't had time to look for a bit - are we waiting on anything in particular right now?  

Over my time here at the Inn I have generally prided myself at keeping up-to-date on all of my games and posting quickly.  I never want to be the person who slows things down and in general I think I've been fairly successful at that.  But I am going to have to ask for your forgiveness over the next week or two as I expect to be particularly slow at posting.  I know, it is an almost unforgivable sin, but I think I may have come up with a valid excuse.  Not only is it the holiday season, but on the 28th i'm getting married.   Yep, married.  Under the circumstances I hope you will understand if posting isn't a huge priority for a bit.  Rest assured, the Nomad shall return.  

For those who don't know, both my soon-to-be bride and I are 47 years old. I had previously been married for 20 years, but in 2011 my wife was diagnosed with ALS, an awful disease.  She passed away 4 years ago.  Virginia was actually her best friend and things have worked out very unexpectedly, but very nicely.  Life is quite good right now.  

Do we have a set time for the chat thing yet?  I'm probably not around tonight.