Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 8 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]

The whole town was a buzz of activity. Everyone was talking about the big meeting at the Manor (#52) to be held at 4 Bells on Shift 2. The Council would meet to discuss the crime situation and vote whether to revoke the Land Grant of Gottard Huss, closing the Grogg and Tankard and expelling him from the community. Everyone would be there both to learn his fate and in hope of getting answers to the crime spree.



Jacques Bonnet, Remy Hernandez, (Studley House #2)

Jacques and Remy persuaded Andre (gun) and Gaspard (club) to join you in robbing the bank with Caela (thief). Caela seemed quite amused to watch the whole thing play out. You returned to your house to rest and wait for your companions to return, but by the start of the new shift, they had not returned.

The House (#2) was less than 200 feet from the Bank (#3) with a clear and unobstructed view to watch your target. It was still open for business with a slow trickle of customers in and out.



Mercutio Routledge, Samuel Linkletter, Josephine Baxter-Smith (Foundry #28)

Logan Howard was resting in the family apartments above the Foundry (#28) with the Doctors taking turns looking in on the patient.

Logan Junior had returned home with Gwen, both had been out shopping, and were shocked to discover that Logan had been attacked. They were grateful for your aid and Gwen was able to identify all of the items except for two pieces. They had been taken from Logan or her jewelry box in the ransacked apartment.

Terrified to be alone in case they came back, the three of you agreed to remain there for the time being. She fed you and cleaned up as best she could … mostly to give her hands and mind something to do other than think about the situation.

“I like Gottard well enough” whispered Logan senior during a brief waking spell “but maybe the Tankard is making town too dangerous.”

[Urson]

Josephine
With respect, sir- it is not the tavern that is at fault, but unsavory people who make the town unsafe. A strong Shore patrol- err, police force- is what is wanted here.

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 1 Bell [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Mercutio Routledge, Samuel Linkletter, Josephine Baxter-Smith (Foundry #28)

Josephine: “A strong Shore patrol- err, police force- is what is wanted here.”

Logan Howard: “I thought the same, and said as much. Now I can’t say I’m still so sure. We have a good force, well good enough until recently. Perhaps the tankard does attract too rough a crowd for a peaceful town. I like Gottard well enough, but what if my wife and son had been home when they came. I’m not sure I can afford to take that sort of chance.”

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 2 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Mercutio Routledge, Samuel Linkletter, Josephine Baxter-Smith (Foundry #28)

Gwen Howard prepared a large breakfast for everyone and sent Logan Jr out for some supplies to replace items that were broken. She was determined to return her home to normalcy as quickly as possible. The streets were busier than usual as people seemed to travel from shop to shop and linger in small groups to talk.

(10 hours until the vote)

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 2 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Jacques Bonnet, Remy Hernandez, (Studley House #2)

The Pharmacy (#1) and Bank (#3) both closed early as people could be seen gathering near the Hotel (#8) and Tavern (7c) in small fluid groups to share the latest rumors and gossip.

(10 hours until the vote)

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 3 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Mercutio Routledge, Samuel Linkletter, Josephine Baxter-Smith (Foundry #28)

Word of the attack had slowly begun to spread and Gabriel Martin from the Machine Shop (#26) next door stopped by to ask how Logan was doing and if Gwen or the boy needed anything.

"Did he get a good look at ‘em?" Gabriel asked softly "Any idea who they were?"
Although a soft-spoken man, Jo knew Gabriel well enough that whoever did this would likely not survive some old-fashioned justice if he located them before the Town Guard. Industry Park had its own ideas about how to deal with anyone that threatened its interdependent businesses or close knit “Owner’s Association”.

(9 hours until the vote)

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 3 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Jacques Bonnet, Remy Hernandez, (Studley House #2)

Town Guard had taken to patrolling the main boardwalk and infrequently made it as far as the Pharmacy. Most of their time and attention was directed at the crowds near the Tavern (7c) that had become louder in their arguments and occasionally broke into fistfights. The Guards quickly broke up the fights and briefly scattered the crowds, but new groups soon assembled to continue arguing about the upcoming vote.

"What about now?" whispered Caela, a twinkle of mischief in her eye as the Frenchmen perked up to see if it was time to rob the bank. "The tunnel should be finished and the other killer should not be there yet." Caela chuckled, "If we time it right, we could get the money and he could get caught committing the robbery later while we have a perfect alibi."

Caela smiled innocently at Remy and his sword "It was just a thought."

(9 hours until the vote)

[Urson]

Jo
Please, Mr. Martin. The culprit will be found and taken care of by the Law. Home-made Justice will only cause more trouble.
Jo lets a touch of Mom Voice shine through in what she says, hoping to discourage any ideas of a lynching party.

[Monsieur Rose]

Jacques

He smiles and checks the time. "Patience, friend. I'd like to discuss things with my companions. At the very least they know about the bank and we could bump into each other to catastrophic effect."

"I really did think they would be back by now. Most of the troublemakers are here with us, anyway. I don't believe they met any resistance."

He stands and moves to a table to draw up some plans. "This is the layout of the area and the bank. With tunnels. Is this close enough, Andre?"
"We enter here, at the entrance in the wine cellar. Head to the bank, empty it and get back here before the vote. We need to allow the other gang into the vault and trap them inside. Maybe collapsing the tunnel behind them? We attend the vote, expose their plan, and lead everyone to the bank. The money is gone, and they turn on their boss." He chuckles at the thought. "The sight of you three standing there empty-handed, facing him should prove disruptive. He may even go so far as to blurt out incriminating evidence."

"A timer! We set a charge to blow and collapse the tunnel just as the meeting is getting started. We rush in and exclaim that we just heard an explosion at the bank!" He moves and looks out the window. "Now where are they? Doc seems to know a bunch about mechanical things like that."

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 5 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Samuel Linkletter, Josephine Baxter-Smith (Foundry #28)

Jo extracted a reluctant pledge from Gabriel Martin to wait a few days and see what the authorities do before going off half-cocked. Everyone enjoyed several hours of calm.

That calm was shattered at 5 bells sharp. Rumors had gotten around and people with different parts of the story had compared notes. Multiple individuals had pieced together that Logan Howard had been attacked and nearly killed. That a Doctor had saved him. That his stolen goods had been recovered.

A large crowd of “concerned citizens” had gathered around the Foundry. If the goods had been recovered, then SOMEBODY knew who had taken them. After weeks of building up fear, there was a real danger from the now unpredictable crowd. Doctor Linkletter stayed to attend to his patient and Jo remained to attempt to maintain some control. It was agreed that Mercutio had better escape and warn the others that it was only a matter of time before this crowd came looking to hang somebody.

(7 hours until the vote)

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 5 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Jacques Bonnet, Remy Hernandez, Mercutio Routledge (Studley House #2)

Mercutio arrived at the door, breathless from running, at about half past 5 bells. He quickly explained that the Logan, the owner of the Foundry, was badly injured but would live. Then he pulled Jacques close and whispered the details about the forming mob and threats of vigilante justice. With the goods recovered and Jo, Linkletter and himself at the center of it … it was only a matter of time before they made there way to the house.

"I hope you have a plan." said Mercutio.

The Frenchmen stared oblivious, but Caela’s smile disappeared as reality and imagination sank in.

(7 hours until the vote)

[Urson]

Jo
Jo sees the muttering crowd and knows what it means. She takes a quick look around the foundry to try and find something she can use as a megaphone. Whether she finds something or not, she faces the crowd.

Everyone, please!! We are at a critical juncture right now! Yes, there has been trouble and violence, but this is why we MUST remain calm, and not let our emotions run wild. My friends and I are trying to find the FACTS- not react to the RUMORS! If you know anything important about the events of the last few days, please tell me! Otherwise, I can only ask that you remain calm and carry on with your day!

[Monsieur Rose]

Jacques

"Merde." Jacques paces around, trying to incorporate the new information.

"Well, we need to get these guys out of here. Look around, is there anything here to tie us to them?" Jacques frowns. "It's still his word against theirs and ours unless someone is caught in the act. Maybe we can use the mob to our advantage. We need to buy some time, though."

"Doc? Can you rig up some timer thing to cause an explosion? I'd like to be able to collapse the tunnel behind the bank robbers and do so safely."

"Let's go to the tunnel and hide there, maybe check to see if the bank has been breached yet."

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 7 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Samuel Linkletter, Josephine Baxter-Smith (Foundry #28)

Jo managed to calm the ‘mob’ down. Information from the crowd consisted of well-meaning hearsay of “some heard that someone else saw …” but little of useful substance. One thing was clear that there were many victims of crimes, both petty and violent, and the tale of each victim had been well circulated. The result was a clear mistrust of strangers and a heavy sense of fear permeating the population at large.

As the crowd eventually thinned, several townsfolk remained at the foundry. They were calm but curious and seemed determined to ask questions of Jo and Logan Howard.

"Did Logan see who hit him?" asked a tall man with bushy mustache.

"How soon can we speak to him for ourselves?" asked one man.

"He’s resting now, and will be for a while." replied Mrs Howard. "Said he didn’t see much. His eyes were blurry after the first blow. He remembers there were two of them kicking him as he lay on the floor." She withdrew upstairs, visibly shaken from talking about it, to check on her husband.

"Sorry Ma’am." replied the tall man.

A woman in a red bonnet addressed Jo "If you returned their stolen belongings, like people are saying, then you must know something about who took them. Why are you protecting them?" she said with formal curiosity and a slight mixture of confusion and accusation in her tone.

(5 hours until the vote)

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 6 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Jacques Bonnet, Remy Hernandez, Mercutio Routledge (Studley House #2)

After a quick effort to hide any unwanted signs from the house, the group slipped out into the dark street to head towards the tunnel. As you passed Andovan Mercantile (#6), you could hear the mob making its way up the street checking on every building and searching the docks, boats and fields for anyone that might be hiding. The leading edge was already searching Buildings (#18), (#17) and (#16) with a line of people stretching across the footbridge to Industry Park. As the crowd made its way through town, it seemed to gain a few people at each building.

Clear that you would not make it to the Green Grape before the crowd, Andre (gunman) led you to the hidden entrance behind Building (#7). Voices from above and lots of men beating the bushes around the entrance. Lantern light entered a small crack in the cover and lit the ladder above you. The group waited quietly in the cold earthen tunnel for the mob to pass. Not a sound, not a breath, barely a heartbeat … as you heard men just outside the secret door. Fortunately, the searchers moved on.


Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 7 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Jacques Bonnet, Remy Hernandez, Mercutio Routledge (Studley House #2)

Mercutio finished assembling the device in the tunnel. Everyone could have wished the process was quieter, but Mercutio reminded you that these conditions were hardly ideal.

The Frenchmen verified that the tunnel to the bank had been completed and the bank floor was still intact.

Peaking out the top of the tunnel, all was quiet on the street above. The mob had left Company Town and were searching Industry Park for signs of the naer-do-well they sought to harm. Only a small cluster of burly men remained near the path to the Grogg and Tankard to keep an eye on Gottard and his clients.

It seemed a dangerous time to be French or German in this particular part of Britannia. Andre (gunman) informed Jacques that the third man was expected to meet them in the tunnel at 8 bells and wait for exactly 4 bells to rob the bank.

(5 hours until the vote)

[Urson]

Jo
I am sorry- you seem to be making an assumption. We found their belongings. We are still trying to determine exactly what happened.

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 8 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Samuel Linkletter, Josephine Baxter-Smith (Foundry #28)

" We are still trying to determine exactly what happened." Jo explained again to her polite but determined ‘inquisition’.

"But you can surely tell us where you FOUND the items?" repeated the tall man with bushy mustache for the third time, unsatisfied with Jo’s evasive answers. "Surely you can see, Miss, how that would provide the MEN of Gwynedd a place to begin a search to resolve this ugly matter."

While there was no malice in his tone, his condescension was palpable and Jo’s first instinct was to punch the man in the nose. But for the risk of re-injuring her healing arm ….

Raymond Howard, the 19-year-old eldest son of Logan Howard arrived to check on his parents and two younger brothers, Logan Jr (age 16) and Tergen (age 12). He had been listening to the conversation long enough to get the gist of what was being discussed.

"Excuse me ladies and Gentlemen." Raymond interrupted with a voice of authority, "but I think this is a conversation that the young Lady should probably continue with Lord Baldry himself." He drew back his coat far enough to expose his pendant and shield of office and the sawed-off shotgun at his hip. This was an “official request” to accompany one of the Lords Peace Officers to visit His Lordship and discuss what you might know with Lord Baldry himself.

Both the gun and chiming of Eight Bells abruptly cut off any objections that the small group might have had. Besides it was common knowledge that Raymond was a stickler for the rules once he made up his mind about something, so no amount of arguing would convince him to do anything different from what he had determined was “the right thing to do”. The small group just slowly began to make its way towards Baldry Manor where the discussion would begin in a couple of hours, followed by the big vote.

(4 hours until the vote)

[atpollard]

Cycle 1063 (Winter): Day 6: Shift 1: 8 Bells [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]
Jacques Bonnet, Remy Hernandez, Mercutio Routledge (Caves behind #7)

As eight bells rang out, everyone in Company Town began to amble towards Old Town and the Council Meeting to be held in Baldry Manor. The shops were all closed and the street was empty.

A lonely figure in a dark cloak slipped slowly and quietly from shadow to shadow. Nervously glancing around as it moved from the basement of the Hotel Gwynedd (#8), under the raised roadway, slipping up near the shuttered shops of Building (#7) and creeping low towards the secret entrance to the tunnel hidden behind the building.

"Here comes our third man." whispered Caela who was keeping watch from the tunnel entrance.

(4 hours until the vote)

[Urson]

Jo
Jo bristled at the tall man with his brushy moustache, ready to show him how things were handled on the Boiler Deck. When Raymond spoke up, she relaxed. Thank you, Constable.

[Monsieur Rose]

Jacques

Things were not going to plan, so he was nervous and forced to improvise. "Let him come, the three of us will be hiding further down the tunnel. Act as if all is well, then a few dozen yards in, subdue him. Alive."

"He must not see Remy, Doc, or I. Once he is subdued, blind him and bind him. Remember, we need a scapegoat." He nods at Caela. "We subdue him, take the bank, blow the tunnel with him inside providing this mob a suitable target."

Jacques moves deeper into the tunnel with Remy and Doc, stopping at a bend and hoping he can hear the meeting while being concealed. "This may not go well. Be prepared for betrayal."