Chapter 2: On the Road to Dimwater

[Mant72]

A Meeting Beneath a Gibbet

Late morning finds you traveling through pastoral scenes of rolling hills and lush meadows filled with grazing sheep and cattle. Dust rises lazily from the hooves of your horses as you plod along the dirt road on your way out of Silington. The sky overhead is filled with billowy clouds that seem to abstractly mirror the sheep grazing far below.

Homesteads and farms become less and less frequent the further you travel along, and it is now late afternoon. A few miles along the main road out of town, you come upon a crossroads.

To one side of the road is an old, rusty cage hanging from a gibbet that appears to be holding a small man, or possibly a halfling. He is quite alive, although he looks rather worse for wear.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg SteelyBeard stops sand looks at the cage and the being inside "So what'd that one do? to get locked up in there?" the dwarf says briefly pointing at the halfling like person in the cage the dwarf then leans against the main post of the structure holding the cage.

[Inferno]

Phineas T. Codswallop, halfling:

The cage's prisoner was either a halfling or what, in ungenerous company, might be called a human midget. But there was nothing small about his clothes, his voice, or his mighty mustache.

The brightly festooned man seemed to have come directly from a job as a circus ringmaster. From within his cage, he boomed with bombastic glee:
"Ladies and gentlefolk! Children! Of! All! Ages!
"Step right up! And prepare yourselves to tremble before astounding, incomprehensible and death-defying acts of escape-ology that will challenge your very notions of reality itself!
"Who'll be first? Don't be shy! One thin silver piece is the humble price for your utter amazement, astonishment and delight! Guaranteed! Or your money back!"

[Grognardsw]

Aric, barbarian



"Do you need help little man, or propose to free yourself for our entertainment?"

[Storm11]

Hex

The prestigidator moves forwards and waves. "A fellow hin is it. In a cage, oh my no no no we can't be having that. Muscles, if he can't get out on his own would you break open that cage. My people don't do well in captivity so they don't indeedy!" he says to Aric playfully

He pulls his long blonde topknot over his back and clears his throat.

"Hal there good sir. Be you needing assistance? What got you into the cave in the first place?"he says in halfling to the prisoner.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg cracks his knuckles and leans all the more on the post. "Well if he can't get out I guess I'll just have to show my skills with the locks."

[coil23]

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

Osprey patiently waits for the show to begin but does not offer a silver.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg "You're crazy if you think we're gonna pay yah. Lets make a bit of fun outta it though. Lets you and me race to see who can pick the lock first what do ya say?" the dwarf says with a grin.

[jdluna]

Luna stares in awe muttering under his breath something about cages being the correct place for cuckoos

[Inferno]

Phineas T. Codswallop, halfling:

The larger-than-life little person winks at his fellow halfling, and says to the gathering crowd, "Have none of you but a single coin of silver to witness the bewildering?! The stupefying?! The incredible?! Silington must be rougher than I thought!"

Kragg "You're crazy if you think we're gonna pay yah. Lets make a bit of fun outta it though. Lets you and me race to see who can pick the lock first what do ya say?" the dwarf says with a grin.

The halfling breaks character for a moment to deal with this heckler. "Sir, this lock has been used to justly incarcerate cutthroat, bloodthirsty prisoners in the spice mines of Bissel! It's singlehandedly safeguarded the vast treasure repositories at the City State of the one true Emperor of the World! It's nobly defended the chastity of the Eldest Princess of Greyhawk for years, despite her 11 suitors and 2 lecherous uncles!
"The notion that you, a mere dwarf, could pick such a lock is absolutely, totally and, in all other ways, inconceivable!"

[coil23]

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

That bit of bombast was worth a silver. Stepping forward, he hands the halfling a silver piece.

Speaking under his breath, Although I might ascribe my bewilderment to a different cause.

[ravenn4544]

Brother Wil is thinking why would the verbose creature in the cage would wait for a silver today versus his freedom yesterday. How curious the priorities of our culture in that the pursuit of wealth is some how a measure of personnel accomplishment.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg "Lets test them words hairfoot." the Dwarf takes out his lock pick tools and gives it a try providing he can reach.

Open Locks (35%) [1d100] = 70
Gotta love when the roller likes to make a me look bad

[Inferno]

Phineas T. Codswallop, halfling:

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user
Stepping forward, he hands the halfling a silver piece.

The loudmouthed lilliputian takes the silver from between the bars, bites it, smiles, and tucks it into a pocket. "Thank you, sir! You're possessed of a discerning eye and a generous spirit! It's a pleasure to know you!"

Kragg
"Lets test them words hairfoot." the Dwarf takes out his lock pick tools and gives it a try providing he can reach.

"Sir, please! You'll only embarrass yourself! No! Stop. don't. ...get back."

When it seems that the dwarf can't pick the lock, the halfling rolls his eyes, sighs, and then starts up again: "You see?! I told you! Unpickable! And not only that! Impregnable! Indestructable! Nothing can damage this well-crafted bolt of adamant!" he shouts to all the world.

Then, just to the dwarf, "You, sir! Just try to hammer it off! With that stone! That one, right there! It can't be done! This lock will withstand all blows, no matter how mighty!"

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg "You really like to toy with me don't you hairfoot?" cracking his knuckles once more the dwarf tries to defy the "showman" in a cage. Instead of grabbing the rock indicated the dwarf grabs something else .... walking back over to the "burly one" "Hey Aric! I bet you and me can't push over this post holding the cage but lets give it a try anyways it'll be fun." walking back to the main post the dwarf gives it a good push testing it then really puts his shoulder into it. "You know this adds to the entertainment hairfoot."

Str 15 [1d20] = 11 unless it is a different roll for this check Mant or do you want an bend/lift check instead?

[Mant72]

The dwarf leans his shoulder against the wooden post and pushes with all his might as the iron cage containing the halfling rocks and teeters precariously on its rusty chain.

Kragg's face turns from a light crimson to a deep shade of purple as he strains and grunts, sweat breaking out upon his brow, but nothing happens...

until...

With a tremendous snapping noise, both the gibbet and cage topple, crashing to the ground with the halfling still enclosed within. The cage snaps off from its chain and barrel rolls down the road for about ten yards until coming to a complete stop, unceremoniously spilling the halfling out into the dust.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg "Ha! Told yah I could open the lock!" the dwarf yells as he chases the caged Halfling then when the cage stops offers a hand to help the wee one up out of the dust and dirt.

[Grognardsw]

Aric laughs at the sight of the little man's antics.

"Come jester! We need such humor to lighten up the dark place we are going!"

[Inferno]

Phineas T. Codswallop, halfling:

Kragg "Ha! Told yah I could open the lock!" the dwarf yells as he chases the caged Halfling then when the cage stops offers a hand to help the wee one up out of the dust and dirt.

The free halfling took the proffered hand with gratitude and stood. "Congratulations! And thank you, kind sir!"

He brushed the dust from his jacket and smoothed out his mighty mustache. Then he faced the audience, bowed dramatically and announced, "That concludes this morning's performance! Escape artistry using only the power of speech! I thank you!"

The halfling looked up and down the road, and then back at this wandering troop of adventurers. Travelling with an armed retinue of roustabouts and strong men might be just the thing, until he was far from this place and in the clear. He approached the one that looked like the leader, “Allow me to introduce myself! Phineas T. Codswallop, impresario of the incogitable, at your service! I'm a persuasive, perspicacious self-starter who's always happy to lend a hand, currently in the market for a supplementary venture!"

He licked his diminutive palm, wiped down his cowlick, and held his hand out to shake with any and all comers, "Pleased to make your esteemed acquaintances, I'm sure!"

The big, shirtless one spoke and Phineas replied, "Dark place? Just where are you boys going?"

[ravenn4544]

Brother Wil observes the frivolity and comments, "Sir, I do believe you owe that sliver piece to Kragg for freeing you, eh?"