PROLOGUE: Rockton Heights

[Rex]

Elijah Wolf

"Could we see a map of the claim that they were mining as well as get a count of how many miners were there and names if possible?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Huck seems impressed by the logical questions from Elijah, ready to hear them answered.

He looks to the pair of gunslingers.

"Shadows moving around the camp of their own accord? That don't sound right to me. What do you fellas recon would cause such a thing?"

[Stirling]

Zebedee Goldrush

sorry for lateness , I was busy pre Easter.

Zebedee Goldrush: 14 Charisma vs check [1d20]=12

The mystic takes a seat, making a belated introduction. "As you can assess, my colleagues are exemplary in their fields. We come as a raw outfit as it were but I assure you Mr Herzog that you will find us more than able to solve these mysteries.

Shadows, may the light of truth and justice shine brightly and expose any wicked deeds."

He assumes the ranger and gunslinger more than able to peruse maps and weigh the men. So he will instead concentrate on the 'what's in it for me?' angle and ask what sort of business arrangements is Herzog looking for.

How will he pay us, what is the rate, can he supply horses, wagon, what timescale is the search and rescue committed to?

Numerous questions of course. Is there a contract or we shake in his word.

[Straither]

Brynner

"I am surprised such stalwart men are fearful of shadows or whispers. Such are child's play tomfoolery." he expressed some doubt about how dangerous it might be. He looks to the two men to give their testimony.

"Will you show us the way to this camp?"

Shadows and whispers to cause fear sounds like an area the Mystics might be more familiar with. Witchcraft and the supernatural.

[Norjax]

Rockton Heights, 8:00 am

Elijah Wolf
"Could we see a map of the claim that they were mining as well as get a count of how many miners were there and names if possible?"

“You may see the map, but you can’t have it. I will provide a list of names including my nephew, Sam Manchester, who is the supervisor of the operation.”

“They just started this new strike! Damn sure looked like a good vein of copper! A nice and easy drift mine!”

OOC: A drift mine has horizontal access and is above the water table.

Huck He looks to the pair of gunslingers.
"Shadows moving around the camp of their own accord? That don't sound right to me. What do you fellas recon would cause such a thing?"

One of the dour men responds to Huck’s inquiry, “Ain’t that why you answered the want ad? We don’t have time to fuck around in the wilderness, chasing Fungal Spawn.”

OOC: Fungal Spawn are a rumored explanation for all things ‘supernatural’ in these lands. A manifestation of an immense colony of fungi spread all over the Barbarossa Mountains and its foothills.

Zebedee Goldrush
"As you can assess, my colleagues are exemplary in their fields. We come as a raw outfit as it were but I assure you Mr Herzog that you will find us more than able to solve these mysteries.

Shadows, may the light of truth and justice shine brightly and expose any wicked deeds."

How will he pay us, what is the rate, can he supply horses, wagon, what timescale is the search and rescue committed to?

“As I have stated, courage to confront anything out of the ordinary is lacking in this town. So, I’ve been forced to seek outside help from anyone to investigate. It’s $50 each, $10 in advance. I have a formal contract written up and ready to sign.”

“The mine is a half-day’s journey by horse. How you get there is your own business. I’d like you to start immediately; too much time has passed since the incident.”

Brynner
"I am surprised such stalwart men are fearful of shadows or whispers. Such are child's play tomfoolery." he expressed some doubt about how dangerous it might be. He looks to the two men to give their testimony.

"Will you show us the way to this camp?"

“Can’t you read a damn map? The trail leading to the mine is clearly marked, we aren’t babysitters.”

Boss Herzog shoots a glance at his two retainers, they relax their postures and back off.

Actions?

Action Details:

Characters:

Adversaries:

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

[Rex]

Elijah Wolf

"Works for me."

He will look over the map and try to commit it to memory.

[cybersavant]

Carter Stone steps forward to sign the contract. "Don't suppose ya have any horses or a wagon ta spare, eh?"

[ybn1197]

Buck will sign the contract as well but he wants to an extra quick look at the gunslingers. Do they seem to always be this surly or does it appear they are trying to hide something?

[OGRE MAGE]

Huck chuckles.

"Fungal Spawn, eh? Well, lets just hope it's something so innocuous."

With his hunger pangs getting worse by the minute, Huck seems almost eager to sign the paper and get his 10 bucks so he can eat something better than table scraps for a change.

"I agree that a few horses and maybe a wagon or cart would be much appreciated for a job such as this. If you don't have any to spare around here, perhaps you can direct us to someone who would?"

[Stirling]

Zebedee Goldrush

Zebedee Goldrush: 14 Charisma vs check [1d20]=2

I have a formal contract written up and ready to sign.

I will look at the contract, giving a few "Oohs" and "Aaahs" over any small print and clauses.

"My colleagues are keen to help and we have the necessary wherewithal to see the job done."

"When the miners failed to make their weekly supply run

"We should take those supplies too. Supposing we can return your lost men to the site, the supplies will mean that the work does not tarry and fall behind schedule."

“They just started this new strike! Damn sure looked like a good vein of copper! A nice and easy drift mine!”

"An unworked and abandoned claim will not stay so for too long. Hijackers will easily come sit on the land and, ... as you may be aware, possession can equal nine tenths of the law, especially in these frontier settlements, even if your gunslingers carry a heavy threat to impose your ten percent.

This search for the lost miners could easily become a total salvage operation to keep the motherlode ore in your hands.

I would like to add an amendment to your contract. If the mine is truly abandoned and we need sit on the claim to safeguard your stakeholding, then we should also stake a partial share in its continuation. Can we settle for 8% of future profits?"

He tries to hustle and smooth talk Boss Herzog, figuring he will baulk at the suggestion but reconcile to a smaller percentage deal.

[Straither]

Brynner

One of the dour men responds to Huck’s inquiry, “Ain’t that why you answered the want ad? We don’t have time to fuck around in the wilderness, chasing Fungal Spawn.”

Brynner finds their response that they 'don't have time' to be quite odd. They went to the camp as a matter of great importance but now such a task seems trivial to them. Either they actually are afraid by what they saw and heard or they are engaged in a greater task, more important than finding the missing nephew.

Which leads me to some extra 'detective' work, if this Nephew is the heir to Herzog's business, then a rival stealing him away to boost their own inheritances might not be too far fetched an idea. That also might be an avenue to pursue in understanding the mystery?

I sent a scout to check on them.

"Where can we find this scout? I would like to question him myself if that is okay with you, Mr Herzog, Mr Goldrush?

Perhaps your men here can bring him in for questioning before we leave?"

I address the question to both men as I would like to substantiate the idea that Zebedee Goldrush is negotiating on behalf of the party and taking responsibility for organising the mission. So being 'our leader' I ask his permission also.

And I framed my question to get the two goons to go fetch the scout as a way to see if Boss Herzog actually has them with him at all times, like gunslinging bodyguards. If they don't go, it may give evidence to any suspicion that Herzog himself is being targeted?

I am trying to think beyond bandits or creatures happened upon the mining crew by chance and did them in, a random disappearance, but that it was all planned and something else is going on.

[Stirling]

Zebedee Goldrush

"Where can we find this scout? I would like to question him myself if that is okay with you, Mr Herzog, Mr Goldrush?"

He will nod to affirm to the suggestion, adding his own advocacy to the request.

"Mr Brynner is a fine frontiersman, very knowledgeable and well read by all accounts, a scholar of nature and survival. Let not his fur skinned appearance deceive you on that account Boss Herzog. As are all these men present with me today, experts in their crafts and fields of work."

He blags the team up, hoping that it sways Herzog to contemplate our share investment in the mine's success.