1. Pharmacy
- [Linkletter] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 37: Shift 3: Hour 5
During his time at Gwynedd, Doc learns that there is a close link between Company Town and Industry Park with many in both communities coming to the Pharmacy for their medical needs, but there is a sharp cultural and economic divide at the ferry. The people of Old Town seldom venture into Company Town and the fishermen from the Landings virtually never do. As a result, the wealthier residents of Company Town and Industry Park are over-served and the poorer residents of Old Town and the Landings are under-served by Heath Care. One result is that 'Ladies' are over medicated for their 'nerves' while Fishermen loose fingers to infections that should have healed.
3. Bank
- [Josephine] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 37: Shift 3: Hour 6
While at the Bank, you learned that Mr Studley's old home had been repossessed by the bank some time ago and was up for sale if anyone was interested [The House (#2) in Company Town across the street from the Pharmacy (#1).]
5. House
6. Andovan Drygoods
- [Josephine] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 3: Hour 0:30
"Merik. Merik!" shouted Irene.
"Over here. Coming Ma." came a response from a distant corner, followed by rapid footsteps and the appearance of a 12 year old boy.
[snip]
"Yes, you can go back to what you were doing." said Irene. "just don't let your father catch you." she whispered with a shake of her head. "That boy will either grow up to be a criminal or a politician." she said to Jo. "He is always up to some mischief."
[snip]
Leaning close Irene whispered "It cost 2000 credits and Mr. Studley still owes 1600 credits on it, but after 2 years, I just want it sold so for 1300 credits it is all yours." - [Josephine] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 40: Shift 3: Hour 7:30
Jo arrived at the General Store but found the owner reluctant to get involved with anything related to the Grogg and Tankard. "Way I hear it, if trouble be comin’ home to roost at the Tankard … well, it’s a trouble of their own makin’. Can’t lay in the woods an’ not get ticks. Can’t welcome naer-do-wells and not attract trouble." - [Linkletter] Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 2: Shift 2: Hour 8:50
While Doc (Samuel) was purchasing the writing box and blank journals, the lady at Andovan Drygoods (#6) began casually chatting about the Empty House (#2). The current news was that the bank (#3) had formally foreclosed on the abandoned property and would be auctioning it off. Edwin was expected to bid on it, and if no one bid against him, Edwin would purchase another property for practically nothing. "You know he raised Gretchin’s rent on the Wine shop?" she said "Fortunately we own our building and have no intention of selling. It is a nice home if you are interested in establishing a home port." - [Linkletter] Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 2: Shift 2: Hour 1:00
Linkletter asked about the timing of the auction and Irene replied that Bank had been waiting two years for Mr Studley to return and start making payments on his loan. "So they want to sell as fast as possible, but all of this trouble with the Grogg and Tankard forced them to wait until after the Town Hall vote to hold an auction. I heard that they were going to hold the auction on Day 7, the day after the Town Hall vote."
The conversation between Linkletter and Irene had moved on to Mr. Studley. "An odd fellow, he was." said Irene. "Always so secretive. There was some that say he was a pirate, but I don’t think that’s the right of it. He was odd, but he never seemed the sort to enjoy hurting people." She offered Samuel a biscuit (cookie) from a tin by the counter. "Now others claimed he was some sort of inventor … a wealthy recluse. Now I can’t speak about whether he was wealthy or not, but he was good with his hands and always buying small parts for some project or other."
Irene finished complaining about Andovan’s Dry Goods being robbed twice and explaining that was why her husband now patrolled the place armed. The conversation moved on to Gretchen. "Now Gretchen hasn’t been robbed, but small wonder that with those two monsters guarding her stock. I ran into her at the bank two days before last and she said that by next cycle she would have enough to buy her shop from Edwin. So good for you, said I. You’ve worked hard to make the Green Grape a thriving business, said I. You deserve to own it, said I. So that will be one bit of good news among all of this gloom about crime and Gottard." - [Josephine] Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 2: Shift 2: Hour 1:00
While Irene was talking with Linkletter, Jo wandered aisles to kill time. She heard a faint noise from a far corner and saw a boy through two aisles of stacked crates. He seemed to be responsible for the peculiar noise. Watching from the next aisle over, Jo observed him throwing a small pocket knife at an old crate. The boy she recognized as Irene’s teenage son, but there was something both peculiar and familiar about the way he was throwing the pocketknife. Josephine just couldn’t place her finger on what it was.
Josephine stared at the boy. The way he held the knife folded in his palm and with a single quick flick of the arm, the blade was unfolded and heading towards the crate. [thunk] The point of the blade stuck into the side of the box. The boy retrieved the blade, folded it, carefully placed it in his hand and threw it again. Jo was certain that she had seen that somewhere before.
Suddenly, Josephine remembered where she knew that throw from. It was years ago and she was visiting a large city. There was a crowd. A man in a dark coat flicked a blade just like that … it sailed through the crowd and struck a man in the back. Nobody saw where it came from because there was nothing to see from above the elbows. Just a crowd walking and a knife from nowhere. Jo tried to tell someone, but your shipmates told you "We don’t get involved in Underworld business." - [Josephine] Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 2: Shift 2: Hour 1:05
You're a promising young man- do you plan to ship out with the Navy? Or are you more the Merchantman type? said Jo.
"Jo? That’s an odd name fer a girl." said the boy with more casual curiosity than malice in his tone. While he was suspicious at first, he seemed to quickly decide that Jo was not a threat. "Neither." he sighed. "Ma wants me to get an education in business so I can run the place and Pa thinks that I can learn everything that I need right here on the job." He looked down at his feet and kicked at the floor. "Me, I just want to run off and have some adventures like …" He abruptly stopped mid-sentence. "Just some adventures." - [Josephine] Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 2: Shift 2: Hour 1:10
Do you have any theories about what's happening? Or juicy rumors? said Jo.
The boy snorted derisively. "If you want theories and rumors you should just talk to all the grownups in town. They are all just full of opinions and all of ‘em equally wrong." Merik, the boy, had a sour look on his face. "You know they blamed me for everything when the trouble started! Guilty until proved innocent … that’s their way. Heck, I know fer a fact that ain’t nobody at Gottard’s responsible fer it." His voice dropped to a whisper "but I can’t talk about it." He glanced nervously at his parents and tried to change the subject.
7b. Tailor
7c. 'Broken Rudder' Tavern
- [Linkletter] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 3: Hour 0:25
While studying the coin, you overheard three local men talking at another table ...
“I'm telling you, O'Biergin himself is in on it.” said the first man to the second man.
“Who's in on what?” said a third man as he sat down with a cold ale to join the two men at the table. “Who are we talking about today?”
“Lord O'Biergin.” said the second man.
“What about him?” said the third man.
“Brian here thinks he's behind the crimes.” said the second man.
“That's daft.” said the third man. “His Lordship has more money than anyone ... except maybe old Belsey.”
“Not behind it,” said the first man. “but in on it! Think about it. How could this crime wave go on for so long with nobody getting caught unless some silver was trading hands to look the other way.”
“You're drunk, Brian Idle.” said the third man.
“Maybe I am, but I still say them what haves are the ones that make sure they get their piece of the pie.” said the first man.
All three men agreed with that and drank a toast to “A piece of the pie.” ... all three men laughed.
- [Ignatz] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 37: Shift 3: Hour 8
Upon returning to Gwynedd, Ignatz arrived at the Gwynedd Hotel in Company Town and felt uncomfortable about the way Edwin Belsey both spoke to Becky and leered at her. So Ignatz checked out of the Hotel to take a room at … the quiet Hearthfire Inn in Old Town.
10. Boat Supplies
11. Wine & Spirits
- [Routledge] Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 1: Shift 2: Hour 2:45
Mercutio felt infinitely more like himself after a good breakfast. He had enjoyed the polite social gatherings, formal tea with the ladies and gentlemanly card games at the Gwynedd Hotel, but after a week of talk about the crime wave, the need to expel the rough folk attracted by the Grogg and Tankard, and whispered stories about the exciting music and gambling at the Grogg and Tankard ... Mercutio decided that it was time to see this exciting “den of thieves” for himself. Of course prudence required one not go unprepared, so you were wearing your Surgical Arm and had your Derringer tucked safely in a coat pocket.
As you were strolling past the store that sold Wine and Spirits and about to turn the corner on the raised walkway that served as main street, a great blow landed across your back and you found yourself falling from the walk to the beach below. Your chest ached and you struggled to inhale. Your ears rang and your vision was blurred. The cane had flown from your hand in the fall and you struggled to shake off the confusion and stand.
As your mind began to clear, you inhaled deeply and realized that someone had clubbed you from behind. The pain in your scapula told you that the harness and brace for the arm had absorbed a great deal of the impact and spread a blow to the back of the head across most of your shoulders and back. Still the blow had done real damage. As you staggered to your feet and slowly felt the stunning confusion begin to lift, you became aware of the approach of two figures in dark cloaks.
Thought you hit ‘em?
Ma oui. I did hit him.
Not hard enough. Again, n’est-ce pah? Or do I need to do it myself?
Not my fault. C’est mecanique.
Then hit him again, only harder.
I thought we were just supposed to rob them?
C’est la guerre.
Through only slightly disoriented double vision, you see a form cautiously approaching with something raised in his hands to strike you. The source of the second voice remained in the shadows at some distance.
13. House
14. Leather Goods
15. Tanner/Ranch
- [All] Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 2: Shift 3: Hour 8:20
The last stall, in the NE corner, contained several small covered barrels. Also in the stall was a wheelbarrow leaning against a wall and covering a pick and a shovel. The stains on the wheelbarrow were not from soils found near the surface. They were from soils found deep underground.
An examination of the floor revealed wheelbarrow tracks led from the Goat Stall out the main door. Cracking the main door to peek outside, you see nobody around. The door appears to open onto a pasture full of animals.
17. House
18. Pilot Boathouse
19. Grogg and Tankard Hotel
- [Diana] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 37: Shift 3: Hour 7
The 'house' seemed on the up and up and the players were a mixed bag from amateurs out to have fun to skilled professionals able to memorize every card played. Cheating was rare, but some tried and the large bouncer or owner invited them to leave without their money (and occasionally without a tooth). - [Linkletter & others] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 38: Shift 2
Doc has heard very little about the crime wave from inside the Grogg and Tankard. Just the general talk that there seems to be more burglaries and muggings going on lately. In Company Town, outside the Grogg and Tankard, there are whispers everywhere about the latest incident. It seems as if a robbery or a mugging has become a daily event. Most people seem reluctant to speak about it too much. The one notable exception is Jim, the town drunk, who is more than happy to share his opinion that it is all because of the Grogg and Tankard being a magnet for thieves and things will not get back to normal until you eliminate the rat's nest. There have been three attacks and two burglaries in town in the 3 days you have been here, but none at the Grogg and Tankard.
What you notice after a few days at the 'Tankard' is that the German owner runs a fairly tight establishment that caters mostly to the lower end of the social spectrum. It is rowdy and loud, but security and the owner quickly deal with anyone that starts to get too out of control. There is a large room at the Tankard where those with no money and those too drunk to find their way home can sleep for free. There are single rooms on one side of the great central hall (upstairs) where several young ladies seem to be practicing the world’s oldest profession. There are also single occupancy rooms, double occupancy rooms, suites and a great suite available for rent (without companionship). There are two guests, Frenchmen, staying in one of the rooms that seem off. They have done and said nothing wrong, but some unknown "streetwise" sense just doesn't quite feel right about those two.
There was an amusing story that you heard around town claiming that the man living behind the Grogg and Tankard is really a 'merman' ... that's why he never talks to people and spends all of his time repairing boats. - [All] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 40: Shift 3: Hour 6:40
A man lies passed out a short distance from the burning building. The first men on the scene dragged him away from the fire, but smelling the reek of beer from his clothes left him to sleep it off without paying him any further attention.
"Plenty of time to hang the dummy tomorrow." whispered one man with a scowl.
You observe that all of the staff and some of the residents of the Grogg and Tankard are fighting the fire, along with Lord Baldry and the town guard … but most of the townspeople are conspicuously absent or are just standing and watching from a safe distance. - [Jacques & Remy] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 40: Shift 3: Hour 7:30
Lord Baldwin acknowledges Jacques support of Remy "I believe you about your friend’s skill, and his report would not surprise me. I suspect that someone has been causing trouble for my friend Gottard and means to drive him out of town. Unfortunately, I will need better evidence than suspicious footprints if I am to find those responsible and protect Gottard from the town vote." He smiled and shook your hands "Thank you for your assistance. If you see or hear anything else, let me know."
[Linkletter] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 40: Shift 3: Hour 7:30
His eyes were slightly unequally dilated, suggesting a head trauma and a possible concussion. The back of his head had a small but growing lump and a bruise. Not taught in Medical School, but Doc recognized the mark from his streetwise Soc 3 background as coming from a “sap” … a small leather bag filled with lead shot used by back-alley muggers to quickly render a victim unconscious. While his clothes and hair were wet with beer, his breath did not smell of alcohol. - [Josephine] Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 40: Shift 3: Hour 7:40
Jo returned from settling up at the General store and passed unnoticed through the crowd gathered to watch and discuss the fire.
"Like I said. Nothing but trouble ever comes from Hass’ den of thieves." said a raspy voice from the crowd.
A woman responded "They do attract a rough crowd and it is no longer safe to walk the streets alone. "
The raspy voice cut through several that spoke at once "It wasn’t bad ‘nuff when ya’ had to lock yerself in yer home to feel safe, but now those cutthroats are threatening to burn you alive even in your home! They gotta go, I say."
Arguments broke out among the crowd, but fear held the greater numbers than charity. - [Josephine & Linkletter] Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 1: Shift 1: Hour 8:40
Gottard Hass explains that Urs is more than an employee. Like many of the people that work at the Grogg and Tankard, he is a good friend and closer to family. "It was one thing when they attacked my reputation and my business financially, but now they are harming and perhaps even trying to kill my friends … my family."
He goes on to explain that he cannot investigate this matter without arousing suspicions and drawing unwanted attention. Therefore, he is asking that you, as outsiders, make inquiries about town and attempt to discover who is behind this scheme to drive Gottard and his friends from Gwenydd.
"I have postponed the vote at the Town Hall as long as I can. They will vote on the morning of Day 6 whether to revoke my license in Gwenydd and force my friends and I to move elsewhere. If we cannot identify who is behind this by then, they will have won." Gottard smiled "In exchange for your troubles, I propose a business offer. I will pay you this …" Gottard dumped 500 Gold 50 credit pieces onto the table [Cr 25,000] "… if you can discover who is behind this. And double if you can find actual proof, like will stand up in a court." - [Linkletter to All] Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 1: Shift 1: Hour 1:30
Doc quickly performed a brief examination of Urs’ throat and discovered a congenital birth defect that left him without functioning vocal cords. As a scholar, Doc was aware of the existence of sign language used by deaf communities, even Plato had written about it. Unfortunately, you were also aware that each “school” had its own unique language.
Urs was reluctant to communicate at first and simply wanted to leave, but assurances from Gottard eventually convinced him to tolerate you. Upon discovering that you could sign, Urs became significantly more friendly towards Doc and visibly relaxed. Clearly this was not someone that got along well with most people.
Late Shift 2 (8-12 hours ago), Urs was helping ‘L-o-g-a-n’ install new rigging on his small catboat. The boy got a new sail from his father and wanted to replace the old, worn out sail. The boy left about 2 bells (6 hours ago) to join his family for Holiday Celebration.
[Gottard explained that Logan was Logan Howard Junior, the 16 year old son of Logan Howard who operates the Foundry (#28) in Company Town. Logan (Jr) and Rolland are two local boys that work with Urs repairing boats to earn a little extra money. Urs is very good at woodcraft and “practically lives in the water.”]
After the boy left, Urs went back to work on the abandoned boat that he was rebuilding. He was carving the details on a replacement section of railing when someone hit him from behind … real hard. His head still hurts.
[From conversation and observation, Doc estimates Urs to be (C7Bxx3) … INT and EDU are hard to judge speaking different languages … so someone had to hit him VERY hard to render Urs unconscious. Likely a fatal blow for a lesser man.]
Urs never saw them clear. When he started to come to, everything was real blurry. He saw two people moving. One poured something on him and the other said something. He couldn’t understand the words. Urs thinks it might have been in French.
Urs says that his head hurts and asks if you have something to help him sleep and feel better. Someone responded that Urs had to stay awake, and Doc educated them about the latest information from an article in the Medical Journal before giving Urs something to ease the pain and help him sleep.