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A note lays pinned to the front door of the Seahorse mansion. A bloody hand print has been smeared below the text.

Authorities of trolls bane,

In our possession we have one, Timothy Puddlefoot.
For those who care about this small halfling you will be somewhat displeased
to learn that he has been beaten to a shadow of his former self
and had the unfortunate experiance of becoming our prisoner.

In terms you will understand, his condition will remain this way, tortured in unimaginable ways and fed only the smallest rations untill our demands have been met to a standard that we see fit, over time his rations will cease.
Otherwise you can be sure that no-one will ever see this snivling little halfling again.

Though ofcourse surprised not, would we be, if such a government lets another innocent die for reasons they could have prevented. Perhaps an example will be made, perhaps not.

150 silvers for the halfling or he looses his head, let your response be known, for we have many eyes, we will be sure to keep in touch..

~The Shield.

We dunno him, why should we care?
~Seras Darkmarch

A hooded individual approaches the origional post, and looking cauitious around him attaches one similar to it, then running off into the night.

We have Magnus Magnol, He has also recieved similar treatment to that of Timothy,
perhaps now you will take us seriously.

The ransom has been raised to 300 silver for both individuals,
though hasty we are not, care for one, care for another it matters not to us. Nor does the lives of these innocents. In your hands there life lays
co-operate and you can prevent the spill of the blood of innocents.

We will be waiting.

~The Shield

I am not part of the town in anyway but I will gladly lend you 600 silvers for the lives of these two men, since no reply from our Governor or any other official seems forthcoming.

Julius Rothman

An envoy arrives from northern direction, pinning a note underneath the parchmets. In elegant script there stands written:

These words are directed at the one who refers to himself
as "The Shield":

As my messenger carried to my ears, you hold Magnus Magnol
captive. For his own good, I shall abstain from uttering what I
feel like, but it might be of your interest that it is one of our
brethren you extended your claws for, thus you will be required
to treat with us.

Before we even put into consideration to pay you off for your
shameful business, we insist on getting a glimpse upon our
captured citizen to make sure whether Magnus is still alive
and unharmed. Therefore I'd suggest we arrange a meeting,
where one of our envoys shall attend to peer upon mister
Magnol's condition, before we proceed with our negotiations.

Needless to mention that bringing harm to him will be re-
tliated with vengeance, so we ask for your reason as you
ask for ours.

~Gryphius Messerzunge~
Deputy Leader of Varshikar

Where can the money be paid to?

~W.E~

A note is scribbled underneath :

Don't dare to harm Magnus or the Halfling *Shield*, or I send you to the foul creatures back where you come from.

Aleytys Lamar
Militia / Varshikar

Juliana walks in front of the Seahorse on her way to the depot, dried blood is still on her armor from her latest trip to the graveyard with "Elf" and she carries two poison serinjah in their sheaths as she spies the bloody hand print. Upon reading the note her swords partially come out of their sheaths in a quick reflex as she whispers


You will be sorry if you harm Magnus

My oh my......I ask you 'the shield'. Where has the creativity gone?

the note remains unsigned

The note is scribbled with quite spidery handwriting

You can keep the halfing, but release what is remaining of the cripple.

The note is unsigned.

We ARE in Malas after all...

~No signature~

A Raven glides through the air toward varshikar, and as it approaches circles the air above the marketplace, then letting a piece of raw pig skin fall to the ground. A note is attached.

It has come to our attention that more concern is shown towards one, Mr Magnol, therefore any harm toward him shall be kept to a minimum, for now..

We suggest that you consider somewhat longer Gryphius Messerzunge, for you see, you are in no position to be making such decisions and will not be seeing these prisoners until the ransom has been paid , though of course if in words bringing you such relief you can trust they are still alive.

assuming you do pay this ransom the prisoners shall be set free immediately, considering it is both, you wish to be freed. Though it will not be I, in which you will be meeting with. I shall be sending one of my minions to meet with you, or a representative as you so choose, to collect this ransom. come alone, and unarmed, or the prisoners shall be beaten at your response.

Time and place to be arranged following your reply.
I trust you will do the right thing.

~The Shield

Gryphius picks up the note as he spots it during his midday walkabout, and tension seizes his body and his mind as he reads through the reply. He closes his eyes, reconsidering his options - none of them seem not to be flawed by horrendous costs or grave dangers for the captives. Still, he feels like he's commited to send a reply. On yet another parchment, he hastily writes down his response:


To "The Shield",

we received your conditions and will consider them. Until our meeting will
take place, though, you could at least show a slight bit of accomodation and
establish contact between me and one of your minions, so we can cease that
public to-and-fro.

Furthermore, my answer is yes: The halfling shall be freed also. For the
ransom for both of them will sum up to a considerable amount of silver,
I'll need some time to allocate the money. You shall hear from me once
I am ready for the exchange.

~Gryphius Messerzunge~
Deputy Leader of Varshikar


Having finished writing, he rolls up the piece of parchment, motioning his envoy to him, handing over the rolled parchment to the young lad.»Bring it down to Troll's Bane, chap. Attach it to the same place as before - and be on your guard. We don't want to get 'you' kidnapped either, do we?« Reluctantly, the young envoy stands there, gazing down at the parchment, then up to Gryphius again: »Sir, ye won't allow Varshikar ta be blackmailed, will ye?« Nibbling on his lip ring, Gryphius just stands there, gazing over the sands of Kumdah, before he motions to the envoy to depart: »Hurry, chap: Time's a factor... and don't call me "sir", i told you.«

So the envoy departs, leaving behind the bard in deep concern. »Oh, Maggie: Where are you when i need you so 'dearly'?«

I would greatly appreciate it if the halfling is freed, or if I could at least meet with him. I suggest that you grant me the meeting. As you know I have the possibility to expose you, and would have done so already if that was my intention.

The Shade

Don't dare to harm the halfling...and i also wish to take a meeting to him, and anyharm to him will lead to no pay....
-LT

One more time, a young envoy - wearing a scarf to cover up a nasty skin rash - arrives from northern direction, attaching a note beneath the last one, shaking his head against its content. »I don't believe he'll be doing it. Tha is a... downright disgrace! Not onlay that, he even wants 'me' ta do his work. Pox on that bard!« he mutters into his scarf as he turns back from the board, reaching underneath the scarf to scratch himself. »And tha bloody skin rash... I'll never get close ta that cursed pet weasel he carries about again!«


To "The Shield",

the full amount of the ransom has been collected, and I
shall send Baxley, my loyal, young messenger, to deliver
it. He will be alone and unarmed, though he wouldn't be
much of a threat either, if he wielded a sword.

Two things: Firstly, he will expect the captives to be
within visibility range before he hands over the ranson.
You may search the vicinity around him to make sure that
none of our allies linger in the closer area, but this
is a point we insist on.

Secondly: He'll be carrying a portal book, which he will
make use of if he senses that you attempt to double-cross
him. At the other side of the portal, there will be armed
forces waiting for his arrival, so don't even think about
persecuting him and the hostages, once they're deliverd.

These precausions should be acceptable to you. I suggest
the transaction to take place in the 9th hour of Malas 12*,
at a location of your choice. Now that we made our commit-
ments, we trust you to treat your captives rather like
guests than like cattle. There's no longer any point in
bringing suffering upon Magnus and Timothy.

We expect your swift response, for we wish to get it over
with as soon as possible.

~Gryphius Messerzunge~
Deputy Leader of Varshikar


*(( Friday, 8:30 pm GMT+1 ))

This parchment has been ripped off.

We all know who you are.


Brer Beothach, the astral bard