Part 2a: The Village Contingent: Pig-napping Most Foul!

[zebediah]

Maybe Helga can do something about the fish, perhaps even this tea can help. If this madness spreads around the village I don't think we will manage to keep it in check the way we just did.

Does Jonas see Helga anywhere nearby?

[Pulpatoon]

Does Jonas see Helga anywhere nearby?

Helga is still making the rounds, slapping people with hot goop, even though everyone in the vicinity has had a dose. She seems to be enjoying free reign to smack her neighbors.

The Reeve calls her over and asks if she can do anything about the fish.

"Awr, what thiy git is a taint inna flish. 'Tain't no waving'em away. Eet'im, an' yew'll git taint. Biry'em, an' yir crops'll git taint. Throw'im inna witer, and Smithwild'll get taint.Yew'll wanna burn 'im. Ginna be a godawful stink." She hefts her pot. "An' yew'll be wanting morra m'tea."

The Reeve calls over a few of the men who have been working crowd control, and tells them to begin burning the fish. There is a brief, reflexive resistance to burning a fortune, but the downsides of this catch are readily apparent to all. Next, the Reeve commissions Helga to turn one of the great pots in the village square over to production of her "tea." "Enough to anoint ever citizen in town, and in the lumber camp, too."

Looking at the two of you, the Reeve says, "Need I remind you of my instructions of last night? The investigation is my preview. I'll question Sal, should Sal be in any shape to be questioned. I'm sure the two of you will be kept plenty busy collecting the ingredients for Helga's stewpot."

[zebediah]

The Reeve calls over a few of the men who have been working crowd control, and tells them to begin burning the fish. There is a brief, reflexive resistance to burning a fortune, but the downsides of this catch are readily apparent to all. Next, the Reeve commissions Helga to turn one of the great pots in the village square over to production of her "tea." "Enough to anoint ever citizen in town, and in the lumber camp, too."

Looking at the two of you, the Reeve says, "Need I remind you of my instructions of last night? The investigation is my preview. I'll question Sal, should Sal be in any shape to be questioned. I'm sure the two of you will be kept plenty busy collecting the ingredients for Helga's stewpot."

Worry not sir, we don't intend to do any investigation ourselves and if we happen to come across any information that might be relevant we will inform you as promptly as possible.

Jonas then goes over to Helga Anything else we can do here?

[KingOfCowards]

Disheartened by the Reeve's harsh words, Simon will return to assist Helga in seeing to the townspeople or helping with her next batch of tea.

[Pulpatoon]

Tatter Helga: "Inh? Will, I'll nid whistl'n thirn, an' lits if it. Cirtloads if th' stiff. An' don' lit the sip run. C'llict it all up. An' viylits. An' ghos'leef. An' Yewfiriby. Yew biys kin git all tha'? Oh, an' take th' pig, an' kip 'im outta tribble, inh?"

Jonas: With your knowledge of herbs, you recognize that she is asking for whistling thorn, violets, angelica, and euphoribia.

[zebediah]

We know where we can get the thorns, do we know if any of the other are available within village limits?

[Pulpatoon]

We know where we can get the thorns, do we know if any of the other are available within village limits?

The violets can be found in town—there are plenty growing along the edges of the village green. The others are, as far as you know, only to be found in fields outside of the village.

[zebediah]

Tatter Helga: "Inh? Will, I'll nid whistl'n thirn, an' lits if it. Cirtloads if th' stiff. An' don' lit the sip run. C'llict it all up. An' viylits. An' ghos'leef. An' Yewfiriby. Yew biys kin git all tha'? Oh, an' take th' pig, an' kip 'im outta tribble, inh?"

Jonas: With your knowledge of herbs, you recognize that she is asking for whistling thorn, violets, angelica, and euphoribia.

The Millers have some thorn in their place, violets can also be found whithin the village. Simon, let's get as much as we can of those and bring it back here to Helga. Hopefully we can meet our friends before we go looking for the other herbs.

Jonas will get the largest basket he can find and then will go straight to the Miller's place, taking some of Helga's tea with him. He will tell the Millers what just happened at the river, explain that they need some of the whistling thorn and ask if he can take some from the bushes they have. He will, of course, also offer them the tea, asking them to use it to protect themselves from the evil spirits.

[KingOfCowards]

Simon will travel with Jonas, who knows more about herbalism than he does. But, he'll do his best to help out

[Pulpatoon]

Arriving at the Millers, you are greeted by Ernt himself, who looks much worse than last you saw him. Whatever he has is worse than a hangover. Looking at the two of you with a large wicker basket, he slurs, "Y'here f'r yer pay? Y'won't need that t' carry it in. Three nailheads, was it?" He begins fumbling around in his clothes, looking for a coin pocket.

Anybody want to make an INT check? Plus any bonuses for observation.

[KingOfCowards]

Simon
INT check: [1d20] = 5

[zebediah]

PbP Forum code: [1d20] = 12

[Pulpatoon]

Simon:

The Miller looks ill, but he also looks beaten up, and he didn't look this way when last you saw him. There appear to be fingernail scratches on his neck, right at his collar. Also, as he stares at you through heavy-lidded, feverish eyes, he idly scratches his chest in a distinct circular motion, as though drawing a circle across his entire torso.

Jonas:

Poor Miller. He looks terrible. You had a flu like this once. All you wanted to do was crawl under a rock and die.

Miller: "I don't got it on me. Come back t'marra."

He closes the door without another word.

[KingOfCowards]

As soon as the door closes, Simon speaks to Jonas about what he noticed, "Something wrong with the Miller. That's for sure. He's been in some sort of scuffle by the looks of the scratch marks on his neck, and he weren't near this bad when we left 'im this morning. He was also scratching at his chest like something itching him. I think whoever put those scars on Sal got to him too. When everyone was down by the river."

I think we should hang out and see if Mrs. Miller is home. It would be good to know if whoever is doing this got to her as well.

[zebediah]

This keeps getting more complicated... Yeah, let's have a look around and try to catch sight of mrs Miller. In the meantime we can get some whistling thorn.

Jonas lets a bit of the tea drop to the ground in front of the door and on the fake pretext of cleaning he spreads the small pool to cover the width of the door passage, rubbing some tea on the door itself as he finishes Oh, how clumsy I am.

Then if they see no sign of the Miller's wife in their current position Jonas will walk over to the whistling thorn bushes, look at their condition and will collect it following Helga's instructions.

[Pulpatoon]

INT check to look for wifesign, please.

[KingOfCowards]

Simon
INT check: [1d20] = 12

[zebediah]

[1d20] = 1

[Pulpatoon]

Simon sees no evidence of anything, but Jonas notices that, having observed Mrs. Miller's routine over the past few days, she is usually outside, working in the garden at this point. Also, There is no sign of the daughters working in the mill, and Mr. Miller himself does not seem to be engaged in the mill.

[zebediah]

Hey, this is odd... Where are the lady and the girls? They are usually around here doing stuff. Let's check the mill!

Jonas will first have a look at the thorn bushes, just to check if they have been messed with, and then move over to the mill.

If another roll is needed here it goes:

[1d20] = 9