PROLOGUE: Rockton Heights

[ybn1197]

Rockton Heights, 10:00 pm

As you step into the kitchen, you notice the lamps are lit, yet the room is empty of patrons. You enter politely, searching for the proprietor. Moments later, a woman of West African descent emerges from a door at the back of the dining hall.

“Running a bit late, aren’t we?” she says with a thick Mali accent. "At this hour, all I have left is some chicken soup and hard biscuits."

Brynner

Steps inside, careful to wipe his boots and tips his hat to the proprietor.

"Ma'am. Late? Blame the stagecoach if you will though Bode recommends your stewpots and fayre. Chicken broth is fine if that is all you have."

He will take a seat by any hearth and wait patiently until served, looking around at the kitchen mess hall wondering whether lack of patrons means all are fed and housed. He had expected a throng of miners and prospectors working coming in after late shifts.

As he is served, he will ask Ma Renfroe about the locals and the locale and if she ever buys in hunted deer and bushmeats. Does she know of any hunters in town?

Buck will follow Brynner into the kitchen, tipping his hat as well to woman. Buck will nod his head as Brynner asks for the soup and biscuits, realizing beggars can't be choosers this late at night. He takes a seat across from Brynner at the hearth and looks around at the quiet interior. "A place like this, you'd think there would be more people; regardless of the hour." he says in a low voice as if there were others to hear.

[Straither]

Brynner

he says in a low voice as if there were others to hear.

"Maybe there are some still here. Ghosts. Restless spirits haunting the place."
He jests, whispering to Buck.

"Put another log on the fire, just in case."

Just in case of what he doesn't actually know, but he recognises Buck speaks what he had thought himself.

[Norjax]

Rockton Heights, 10:00 pm

Anche' Rhodes, slightly offended, responds to Carter, “Stable? You’ll want to ask Brock over at the K-Rack Corral.”



After signing the reception book, Zebedee thanks the young man behind the counter and asks about a reading area and the latest edition of the Lore.

“Much obliged,” the man nods, accepting the coin. “We get Lore of the Plains about a week after publication. There’s a fresh copy on the table over there in the lounge.”

"As for mystical pursuits," he adds, “There’s a small Chancel of the One next to the town hall.”

OOC: Town map updated.



Seeing Brynner take the courtesy to wipe his boots, the woman gives him an approving glance.



“Stewpots are served at midday,” she says. “Name’s Sassoma, but folks call me ‘Ma Renfroe.’ J.W. Manchester started it, said I reminded him of his Grandma Renfroe, and the name stuck.”

She turns to Brynner and adds, “This is a small mining town, run at the behest of Boss Herzog. He and J.W. Manchester staked their claim here and own the mining rights. Business was good until that incident up in the fresh hole. Folks don’t like to talk about it much, but get one drunk enough, and they’ll tell you tales of haunted hills and restless spirits.”

“If you’ve got fresh game to spare, I’ll take it. Jeb Bose is the one who hunts the mountain valleys around here.”

With a warm smile at Buck, she heads off to fetch him some late-night grub.



“Jarn Valdarsen, owner, op-rator,” The bartender responds to Elijah. “What zee your ‘poison’?”



Huck scans the interior of Happenings. He’s seen worse in cities back East. The patrons appear nondescript, town folk types.

“Indeed,” Jarn smiles at Huck. “Riginally from Yoring in the Danemark.”

The customers keep to themselves, though a table of three occasionally glances your way, chuckling among themselves.

Actions?

Action Details:

Characters:

Adversaries:

Brynner
Carter Stone
Huck L. Berry
Elijah Wolf
Zebedee Goldrush
Buck Saylor

[cybersavant]

Rockton Heights, 10:00 pm
Anche' Rhodes, slightly offended, responds to Carter, “Stable? You’ll want to ask Brock over at the K-Rack Corral.”

Carter Stone "Thank you." He turns and heads out to find the stable and ask there about staying the night.

[Rex]

Elijah

"Bourbon if you have any, otherwise whisky is fine."

Elijah scans the room, looking over those there to get a feel for them.

[Stirling]

Zebedee Goldrush

Will read the paper, making a few notes in the book and perhaps when no one looks, tear out any advertising for Mystic related needs or any alchemist adverts where he might source various compounds for mixing into 'inspirational & magnificent' (but merely placebo effect) potions and lotions.

Any other folk unlucky enough to sit near, he will try to engage in conversation, especially over their ailments and needs, offering to source a 'cure-all' for them; at the right price of course.

[OGRE MAGE]

Huck

"Well, I dont know of Yoring, but my folks were from Danemark too. Small world, so they say."

He looks to the table with the 3 chucklers.

"Say friend, what's the story with those three over there? Ain't sure I like that tone, if ye understand me."

[ybn1197]

When Ma Renfroe returns, Buck says, Thank you kindly ma'am. If this tastes as good as it smells it's a meal well worth waiting on." He'll take a bite and then kindly asks, "What do you think happened up there, ma'am? Boss Herzog is huntin' for people willin' to look into it. I'm not sayin' I expect him to not shoot straight with us but I'm sure he won't give us all the details."

[Straither]

Brynner

The ranger makes itself comfortable and scribbles down the name of Jeb Bose on a drinks table mat, stuffing it into a pocket for reference.

He has a cane with him. Actually a long thin bone carved into a 'peace pipe'. Figuring lack of patrons to protest, he will stuff it with fragrant tobacco and light it up, offering a drag to Buck.

"So tell me your story again Buck. Hoping to make a killing out here. Figuratively of course." He wonders about his travel companions and if they can gel as a posse to trace these lost miners. Best to keep gunslingers on your side he thinks.

[Norjax]

Rockton Heights, 10:00 pm

Carter makes his way to the corral, hoping the proprietor offers service at this hour.



The bartender offers Elijah some fine Kentsylvania Bourbon for 25 cents a shot. “Single or double?” Jarn asks.



The mystic spots the three men at the table chuckling to themselves while looking in his and Huck’s direction.



Zebeedee pages through the Lore, finding an advert for the nearest Mystic compounds out of a place in Fort Kenworthy.

The lobby is empty, so he browses the Lore in peaceful silence.



“H-j-o-r-r-i-n-g,” Jarn responds to Huck. “Perhaps your volks consider us Nort Yout-land-ers coastal Norvegians?”



He the offers his opinion concerning the three men.

“Dey tinks you here to help Boss Hair-zok find his missing men up in that “haunted” mine. Volks here tinks his nephew ran off with Manchester’s dottir and dey took dee crew wit dem.”



Ma smiles with an expression of gratitude, then answers Buck.



“Some claim the Trogs got them. Dig deep enough and you’ll find their artifacts and probably living specimens. Boss is obsessed with finding Trog relics to make a name for himself. He’s been forcing workers to dig in unstable areas, leading to deadly cave-ins. After all his crew chiefs walked out, he brought in his nephew from a profitable excavation to take charge. No one has seen them since. That was four weeks ago.”



Brynner strikes up a conversation with Buck, hoping a full stomach makes him more sociable.

Actions?

Action Details:

Characters:

Adversaries:

Brynner
Carter Stone
Huck L. Berry
Elijah Wolf
Zebedee Goldrush
Buck Saylor

[Rex]

Elijah

"Why a double of course."

After the comment about Boss' nephew, Elijah notes the information for later use.

[cybersavant]

Carter Stone Knocks on the door to see if anyone is inside.

[Norjax]

Jarn pours Elijah the double shot of Barrel Mark Golden Reserve.

OOC: -$0.50



Carter raps on the door and then notices a small wood sign hanging on the doorknob.

It reads “Gone to Happenings”.

[Rex]

Elijah

Sheet updated.

[Straither]

Brynner

Wonders if any of the old 'crew chiefs' are still in town. Might be profitable to hear their experiences.

"So these missing men. They are thought to be missing underground. I thought lost in the woods or held by some bandits or renegades." he asks Ma Renfroe.

[OGRE MAGE]

Huck watches as Elijah gets a drink for himself, shaking his head slowly.

He decides to drop the family ruse and ask something else.

"Ran off with Manchester's daughter, huh? You don't say? And who could I talk to around here who might know more about that situation?"

[cybersavant]

Carter raps on the door and then notices a small wood sign hanging on the doorknob.
It reads “Gone to Happenings”.[/b]

Carter Stone looks around, then settles in to sit against the wall beside the door to wait.

[ybn1197]

Brynner
"So these missing men. They are thought to be missing underground. I thought lost in the woods or held by some bandits or renegades." he asks Ma Renfroe.

Buck
"And the men who worked for Boss beforehand, are they still around in town? I would like to know what they saw down in the mines."

[Stirling]

The lobby is empty, so he browses the Lore in peaceful silence.

Zebedee Goldrush

It looks as though the evening draws to a close. He takes the key to his room, bidding receptionist a "Good night".

He spends a couple of midnight hours to read through his notes, missives and mystic research.

[Norjax]

Rockton Heights, 10:00 pm

Brynner
"So these missing men. They are thought to be missing underground. I thought lost in the woods or held by some bandits or renegades." he asks Ma Renfroe.

“No one knows," Ma replies to Brynner. “They were in the fresh dig and never returned. When Boss sent a group to investigate, they came back terrified and claimed the area was haunted.”

Huck
"Ran off with Manchester's daughter, huh? You don't say? And who could I talk to around here who might know more about that situation?"

“Well, Brock is over tere,” Jarn answers Huck. “He used to have relations wit Manchester’s dottir, Keli.”

Sitting in the corner, playing a solo dice game, sits a young, long-haired man wearing a derby hat. This is Brock Rapp, the owner of the K-Rack Corral.



Carter drops his pack and sits back against the wall, taking in the fresh, quite surrounds of this mountain town.

Buck
"And the men who worked for Boss beforehand, are they still around in town? I would like to know what they saw down in the mines."

“You could check in the miner’s encampment on the north edge of town,” Ma offers. "Those who haven't left for Sullivan's Charge should still be there."



Zebedee retires for the evening, partaking in cerebral pursuits before going to bed.

Actions?

Action Details:

Characters:

Adversaries:

Brynner
Carter Stone
Huck L. Berry
Elijah Wolf
Zebedee Goldrush
Buck Saylor