Farmer Kalvin outside the Sheriff's office

"There are twenty of you and you're all angry and armed. Of course he tried to run," Arjay countered. "Now, back down a bit. We're going to get to the bottom of this, and we're going to make sure we're not making a mistake." He looked at the guard. "Get in there and get his 'boys' out of there. I'll search his things, and they can watch me do it, but I don't want any tampering done. Now..." He looked at the man they'd chased down. "What do you have to say for yourself?" He didn't speak any more kindly with the man than he had the farmers. Whether he had to keep them in line or not, whether they operated differently or not, he wanted it to be clear that he was on the farmer's side on this.

The guard goes and gathers the two teenagers out of the abandoned building. "They were about to search the man's 'nest' *said with disgust* when I stopped 'em. They thought better of it when I warned 'em about the Cowsbane. One touch and you can die!" the last part is said more to the boys father then anyone else.

The man on the ground has a good size bump on his head and is out cold. Breathing but not reacting. The crowd backs up a bit but still seems on the edge of violence.

"Hey now! Listen to the Sheriff! He's the one who figured out about the Cowsbane!" Kal shouts from close to Arjay. The crowd settles a bit more but still look angry, but your confident they won't break while you or the guard are watching them.

Arjay looked back to the crowd. "He's out cold. We'll take him back to town, and when he wakes up we'll confront him with whatever is found in his nest. I'll conduct a search, and I'll make sure he's placed under guard until he's questioned so that nothing else can happen." He'd look down at the man, then back up at the people. "This all reflects badly on him. Thankfully, this is Shadowdale. If there's one town that can pull together and not let things fall apart because of a tragedy like this, it's our town." He'd look at the guard and tell him to fetch a few people to drag the man back to town and keep him locked up until he wakes up and can talk.

The towns folk close ranks. "With all due respect Sheriff you can search the place now, but we're not about to let the man be dragged off only to be set free later at someone's whim. I am willing to stand here and wait..got nothing better to do as my cattle are all dead." Kal deadpans. The others nod along slowly and quite falls over the group. The guard looks back and forth from the farmers to the sheriff clearly wanting to support the sheriff, but not will to go against the farmers.

((At this point, may I please get a description of the man they've brained?))

"All right, let's stand and wait, then," Arjay said. "I'll see what's in there."

He would, of course, with the assurances that the farmers would wait, go in to search the man's nest. With gloves on.

The farmers wait outside with the guard while one of them joins Arjay in searching the house. He also has work gloves and is there incase some surprise is waiting for any trespassers. In short order Arjay finds a small sack with cowsbane root and a bag of ground up dust. The farmer hands the sheriff a symbol of Bane he found in the man's bed.

Arjay would take all three and looked them over, frowning slightly. "Why would he keep these," he thought out loud, seemingly bouncing the idea off of the farmer. "If I'm a Zhent agent, and I've poisoned a good number of the cows, why would I keep the poison on me. Much less something incriminating like that symbol." He looked up at the farmer to see if he had any ideas.

The farmer scratches his head "well only Kal's cattle have died. Maybe not enough powder has been spread? Only a few of the farms have been affected." He shrugs "no one outside would have that" points to the symbol in Arjay's hand "maybe he's just stupid?"

The man waits for Arjay.

"Only Kal's cattle died so far, others are sick," Arjay pointed out. "Whatever happened, once cattle started dying, there'd be a scene like this... so he's either stupid or else something worse is going on here."

"Either way, that's enough for me."

He'd walk out, then get the guard to help him drag the man to his feet. "Back to town with him. I'm arresting this man on suspicion of poisoning livestock. He's going to be held until trial."

As he walks out of the house the other man yells "The sheriff found proof and a symbol of Bane!" At which point the crowd becomes very hostile.

Quote :

He'd walk out, then get the guard to help him drag the man to his feet. "Back to town with him. I'm arresting this man on suspicion of poisoning livestock. He's going to be held until trial."

A number of farmers would stand in his way, "sorry Sheriff we can't let you do that." Kal says. The guard drops the begger and steps back.

"Really," Arjay said, coolly at first, but gaining heat. "So is that what you want. Fine. Then let's string him up right here. And then tomorrow when even more of your livestock is dying because we didn't find whoever else he's working with? THEN who will you blame!" He moved up between the people and the beggar, glaring daggers at the 'guard'.

The guard shrugs, "I'm not drawn a weapon on my kin Sheriff. My parents and brother are here so I will not." he just backs away as things begin to get heated.

The crowd is quickly deteriorating back into an angry mob. "HANG HIM!" "KILL THE SCUM!" "TEACH THOSE DAMN ZHENTS NOT TO COMEBACK!" and other insults are being tossed around. "YOU HEARD THE SHERIFF STRING HIM UP!"

"Oh for gods sake, they can find a beggar but can't detect sarcasm..." Arjay sang out a strident note to call down the winds to blow the farmers back from the scene.

// Post deleted

ADM Specters wrote:

Those in the Mayor's office may have heard about the dead calf the farmer brought into town, but nothing about the posioning yet as the messenger goes to the Church first.

//having toons that have not been part of this RP suddenly showing up can interrupt the RP and actions of those envoled. How a player RPs difficult situations with no clear easy answer helps in development of the toon and server plots. Please refrain from jumping in. I strongly encourage the Mayor's office to RP discovering about the poisoning and how to aid the farmers after Arjay has finished.

The farmers are blown back from the begger. Which seems to only further irritate them. Soon the farmers are yelling about how the Sheriff used magic against them to protect a Banite from justice. Some of the farmers grip thier makeshift weapons closely and try to stand against the winds.

"You won't get away with this ELF!" one man yells.

The guard rushes over to help a man and woman up from the ground, leaving Arjay to deal with the matter alone.

"Oh, I won't?" Arjay asked. "Get away with what? Letting you go home to your wives and children without becoming murderers today? Making sure that when justice is carried out, it's complete and certain?" He pointed at the man. "This is what separates Shadowdale from the Zhentarim, we don't kill people just because we're angry!"

The group of farmers seem to have lost any sense of reason anymore they are an angry mob out for revenge against the man they blame for thier troubles. They seem likely to attack any who stand it thier way.

*Jarrin, having come back to get a list of what each farmer was needing from his next trade trip, sees the situation going south and tries to lend a hand the only way he knows how...with his smooth talking.*

Folks...what in the halls is goin on here? You all gettin all riled up and wantin ta kill some shmuck cuz he had a buncha stuff in his hidey-hole what instantly says he's a Banite? Really? How many of these folks round here you all know...I mean KNOW...ta be Zhent sporters? You...*points to one family he helped Tonan evacuate*...pointed out certain folks as untrustworthy fore we got yer kids outta town. And you...*points to another such*...you got a pretty good idea who is not zactly on the level with folks.

*He looks around the mob of lunatics hell bent on a lynching with a frown*

I didn't risk gettin strung up by them bloody Zhents ta help you folks out just ta see ya all turn inta some sorta nutter group what lets some charleton what can easily plant stuff in a fella's bed turn ya gainst each other. Yer bloody Dalelanders! Not some easy ta fool city folk like me. Yer better'n that. Yer more a community that that.

*He lets those words sink in a bit before continueing.*

You all voted Glamerie in as your mayor. Makes sense seein how she has been with ya through all this crap and hells and is onea ya. So makes sense ya trust her. So why ya now castin doubt on them what she has appointed ta help keep the peace?

*Points to the beaten man on the ground*

You folks just beat a fella near ta death on a suspicion of bein guilty. And ya just took some evidence that was so easy ta find it took mere minutes ta locate as the gods' proof of his guilt. What ifn the actual culprit placed this sorta stuff in your bedrooms? Or the rooms of yer kin? Easy ta do ifn ya knows where ta plant it and how ta get in. You gonna be neatin on yer neighbors and kin next time? Or ya gonna let the Sheriff here do his bloody job and investigate this mess?

*Again looks over the crowd*

Worst case...ya gotta wait a few days ta see a hangin. Best case...Sheriff finds the real poisoners and ya don't have ta live the rest of yer lives knowin ya hanged a innocent fella. Either way...ifn he's in a cell, poisonin should stop ifn it was him.

*Still holding his list of what each family had asked for earlier, Jarrin just stands there looking somewhat disappointed in the people he was trying to help.*

EDIT: Maxed out Diplomacy skill and a Bluff of over 60 if any of that helps at all

Arjay, not seeing any other choice, slips some of his bardic magic into his voice as he speaks again. ((fascinate, DC is 1d20+80)) "This is something you WILL regret. STOP NOW, and go back to your farms!" He wouldn't of course, count on this to stop them for long, grabbing the hand of the beggar and casting an invisibility sphere so he can get him out of there.

Arjay's bardic music works at giving the mob pause long enought for him to grab the begger and disappear from sight. The Mob goes significatly worse when this happens but can not locate Arjay or thier focus for thier rage. Instead they procced to tear down the place the begger was living...

//this ends this part of the story. I will reward those who participated when I catch them IG. Messnegers reach the Church and Mayor's Office telling them of the poisoning of the cattle. Please start new threads dealing with curing the cattle ( [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ) and another for the Mayor's office with the loss of almost 1000 lbs of feed close to the end of winter.

Jarrin arrives just as the mob finishes burning the old house to the ground and there are many seething in anger at the events. Talks go around about teaching the beggers a lesson. Two Farmers try to calm the mob down, Kalvin Urban and Gregory Masterson . However most are very upset with the Sheriff's actions. Many name calling is tossed about.

*As soon as she is notified, Julia leaves her office and goes to collect some samples of "cowsbane" and starts to work in an alchemical antidote. Meanwhile, until new supplies of feed don't reach Town, she offers to every farmer who wish the "Favor of the Goddes" to duplicate and purify the remaining stock.*

The moment word of poisonings finally reaches Myth Drannor, Cleo orders all the grain stores at the Lathander Farms checked and double-checked, by gloved and warded people, in case it's a more far-ranging plot. Presuming the grain is fine, a portion of reserves is shipped to Shadowdale.

(( Please ignore the subsequent paragraphs. Apparently, SD doesn't need grain, after all, due to the "ic rp" referred to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] by Greenboy3.  I guess it didn't need it last time, either, though it was requested by Julia. ))

Since this is the second time this year that some surplus has been sent, great care is taken to be helpful, but without depleting Myth Drannor's food supply.

The shipment is sent to the attention of the Dawnspire's Emissary to Shadowdale, Imesah Qireb, and High Harvestmistress Julia.

(( DM please decide the timing of all of this. Also, it's up to you whether rumors of the near-riot reach Myth Drannor or the Dawnspire and what those rumors might entail.))

BedlamX wrote:

*Jarrin, having come back to get a list of what each farmer was needing from his next trade trip, sees the situation going south and tries to lend a hand the only way he knows how...with his smooth talking.*

Folks...what in the halls is goin on here? You all gettin all riled up and wantin ta kill some shmuck cuz he had a buncha stuff in his hidey-hole what instantly says he's a Banite? Really? How many of these folks round here you all know...I mean KNOW...ta be Zhent sporters? You...*points to one family he helped Tonan evacuate*...pointed out certain folks as untrustworthy fore we got yer kids outta town. And you...*points to another such*...you got a pretty good idea who is not zactly on the level with folks.

*He looks around the mob of lunatics hell bent on a lynching with a frown*

I didn't risk gettin strung up by them bloody Zhents ta help you folks out just ta see ya all turn inta some sorta nutter group what lets some charleton what can easily plant stuff in a fella's bed turn ya gainst each other. Yer bloody Dalelanders! Not some easy ta fool city folk like me. Yer better'n that. Yer more a community that that.

*He lets those words sink in a bit before continueing.*

You all voted Glamerie in as your mayor. Makes sense seein how she has been with ya through all this crap and hells and is onea ya. So makes sense ya trust her. So why ya now castin doubt on them what she has appointed ta help keep the peace?

*Points to the beaten man on the ground*

You folks just beat a fella near ta death on a suspicion of bein guilty. And ya just took some evidence that was so easy ta find it took mere minutes ta locate as the gods' proof of his guilt. What ifn the actual culprit placed this sorta stuff in your bedrooms? Or the rooms of yer kin? Easy ta do ifn ya knows where ta plant it and how ta get in. You gonna be neatin on yer neighbors and kin next time? Or ya gonna let the Sheriff here do his bloody job and investigate this mess?

*Again looks over the crowd*

Worst case...ya gotta wait a few days ta see a hangin. Best case...Sheriff finds the real poisoners and ya don't have ta live the rest of yer lives knowin ya hanged a innocent fella. Either way...ifn he's in a cell, poisonin should stop ifn it was him.

*Still holding his list of what each family had asked for earlier, Jarrin just stands there looking somewhat disappointed in the people he was trying to help.*

EDIT: Maxed out Diplomacy skill and a Bluff of over 60 if any of that helps at all

The group having for the most part worked the anger out of themselves look around at each other and what they had done. A number of them looked both shocked and ashamed of thier actions. One elder man steps up and seems to speak for the group.

"Aye, Your right. It's just with all the pain we've endured..the thought of finnally getting my hands on one of them monsters." Shakes his head "I buried my daughter and a few of my grandchildren these last few years. Young ones that should have grown strong and proud. My neighbor's kids were taken by that Priestess of thiers and never seen again. But as ye said..we almost became just as bad as them. Just wanted to feel justice."

The group quitely disperses, except for Kal's wife. When most are gone she walks upto Jarrin "Ye make sure that bastard hangs...Long and slowly." There is clearly hatred in her eyes as she stares at him then walks away angrly.