A request of the mayor

Hookworth, a warm autumn breeze lifts the leaves from the garden.  Light streams on the grass from out of the two-storey house that holds the Knights of Eriador. Inside the fireplace has been set alight and Beongarn, madelief and Oronir have gathered to listen to Oronir`s report.

“…and thus we succeeded to free Dr Haspulto of Bree from the bandits. But we witnessed a most peculiar thing. Some bandits, those shouting orders, wore red stone necklaces. When they fell in battle the stone glowed slightly on its own and burst in a thousand tiny shards. I brought some of these shards with me in a pouch and gave them to Leothross to examine.”

Oronir takes a sip of his strong ale before continuing, “We brought the doctor back save and sound though. That was, at the time the task at hand. I returned from Bree yesterday because a captain of the watch called for our help again. We have been helpful to Bree on more than one occasion and the mayor had a “special” request.”

“The whole kidnapping incident was strange. Especially because there was no reason to kidnap the doctor unless for the ransom money. The bandit activity in the countryside has been escalating recently as well and perhaps it is linked", said cpt Athrodmir

Beongarn nods, “Quite true.”

“Dr Haspulto may be hiding something in his house? The mayor asks us if we can be of any assistance here. He knows we are no investigators nr burglars but If there is dirt under the mattress he wants it found.”, oronir finishes.  

Beongarn clears his throat after hearing this last request, “Or perhaps he hopes to claim the property if the good doctor has something to hide. I do not feel much for this request and we should think this through before acting on it.” 

A plan in the making

Bree tavern

It was a chill windy night in Bree. Anglarean had met up with Madelief and Neremnes in a private room. Food was simple but wonderfully warm. They sat back, enjoying their after dinner drinks and talking softly, lest one overhears, about what they can do or set in motion to find out of there is dirt on the doctor or not.

The young Neremnes quit slurping her ale quite so loudly and swiped the last bit of meat off her plate. She ate it in bites as she waited for someone to say something.

“Did anyone find anything on the doctor?" Madelief whispered, and glanced at the door to check that no one was around.

Anglaraen stared at the fire, leaving her food almost untouched. She seemed deeply concentrated on the puzzle, and spoke nothing of it for the time being. The room fell silent again.

“I can go to the house of the doctor and look around. I can make myself unseen if I want. But for in the house we need a plan to look around.” Madelief spoke again.

Neremnes slid her mug across the table. "I can go along and help if you need. We can cover more ground with the two of us." Her thick sailor’s accent whispered back.

“A lookout is always nice, but I think you are too big to be not seen, don't you agree?”

Neremnes raised a brow. "In comparison to anyone else? And who will suspect a kid?" She leant back against her chair with a huff. "Look at it this way - If I'm looking out, it doesn't matter who sees me. I'm just a kid, so people will think I'm either lost or just wandering. Even if I am found inside the house anyone catching me will dismiss it as childish mischief." Neremnes grabbed another mug of ale and slurped away at it, breaking the silence of the others.

“You are right, I still think too much of hobbit villages where everyone knows everyone.” Madelief said.

“Exactly. I've been in Bree for a few weeks, so no one knows me anyway.”

Anglaraen eyed Neremnes. "Or they could call the militia to arrest a robber, and then the mayor will have to find a way to free you from his own jail. And this would put him in a difficult position.”

Neremnes tipped her head left and right. "Perhaps... But if I haven't taken anything, how can they arrest me? I might be looking for the library, perhaps, and I got directions mixed up?"

Anglaraen shook her head. "I wouldn't like to break in the doctor's house, even if all this... situation, is very odd. I think it would be better if Madelief went in alone; as far as I know she is quite used to hiding herself.”

Neremnes fell silent. Madelief rose from her chair to close the door, which had creaked open with the drafts flowing down the hall.

Anglaraen looked worriedly at the door while tapping her fingers on the table. "Is this place safe to discuss such matters?" She sighed, dismissing the matter, “What do you think?

“I can look in the house. If he opens the door I can sneak in, but we need a distraction that isn't strange around his house. So we need to watch the house for a few days and see if he has any routines.” Madelief suggested.

Neremnes grinned. "I think of all the places in Bree to discuss such a matter, the Pony is our worst bet."

“I can agree on that.” Madelief nodded.

Anglaraen looked at the door again. "I agree with both of you, staying here to chat whispering could look suspicious…" then pauses for a few seconds "Let's make some noise like we were enjoying our private party.” She concluded with a smile, and then raised her mug, “Cheers!”

Neremnes broke into a wide grin and slammed her mug on the table. "Cheers!" She took a good swig of ale.

Madelief sung a bit, and Neremnes caught on. While the girl made some noise, Madelief and Anglaraen discussed the next move.

“But what do you think?” Madelief leant in, still humming a bit of the song Neremnes sung. “Is it a good idea to observe the house for a few days and make a plan to go in?”

Anglaraen kept the beat of the song with her foot on the ground and drunk loudly. “We can check on the house for a few days before taking any action. And I think this job would be best suited for Nemmy.” She nodded at the girl dancing and singing around the room.

“That is a good idea.”

Neremnes finished her song with a ‘hey!’, and a long drink. She sat down, quite out of breath, and put a thumb up to indicate her enthusiasm.

Anglaraen smiled at the young girl, "You could pretend to be playing around, so you could keep an eye on the house, and I wouldn't be sad if you also actually play during that time." She gave the girl a wink.

Neremnes grinned widely. "Sounds like my kind of mission."

Anglaraen picked up a few logs of wood and threw them into the fireplace "It's getting colder, don't you think?"

“Just a bit.”

“Fall is coming.” Madelief remarked.

Anglaraen leant her hands towards the fire to catch the growing heat "Shadows are growing outside, let's keep a bright light here.”

“It could be good for our plan that it's is getting colder. We can hide our faces with hoods.” Madelief stood. “I see our plates are empty… I think I’ll fetch something from the barman, since supper is long due.” She took up a plate and exited the room as Neremnes leant against the mantelpiece, staying silent for a while.

Anglaraen leant her back on the wall while observing Neremnes with a faintly sad smile. The girl glanced up. She blinked. “Is there a problem?”

“No, no problems, Nemmy.”

Neremnes gave a half smile with her brow furrowed, turning her expression into a very questioning look. The other walked to the table and picked up her mug, taking a long sip. "I was just noticing you are growing very fast."

“Keep your secrets, then.” Neremnes dismissed the matter and turned her attention to Madelief as she brought in a large plate of bread and cheese. “Ooh!” She jumped forwards and swiped a bit of bread and cheese off the plate. “Thank you!” She chowed down on the food, oblivious to the plan for a few moments.

Madelief also took some food off the plate and ate hungrily. “Mm, that is good. I needed that.”

Anglaraen loudly placed her empty mug on the table, just in time to pick a slice of bread and a chunk of cheese before the other two. "It's agreed then. You, Neremnes will spy on the house for a few days to learn the doctor’s routine. When we have collected enough information, Madelief will try to sneak into the house.”

Neremnes looked up, mumbling through a mouthful of food. "Huh?" She swallowed. "Oh right, got it. Okay."

“As to me, I'd be too easily spotted, but I'll try to find a safe place nearby in case you need some kind of protection.”

Neremnes waved her hand. "I know! You could pretend to be my mother."

Anglaraen eyed Neremnes. "I am not that old, kid"

Neremnes ignored her, “And if I get into any trouble, you just say you were looking for me and 'dear me, sorry, she's such a trouble-maker', and drag me away with none being any the wiser. A fight, if it came to that, would attract too much attention.” She giggled. “No offence, of course. It was just a thought.”

"But I could be your older sister?"

“That could work!”

"So don't forget to bring your southern accent, and so will I.” Anglaraen grinned at her.

Neremnes distorted her face. "Yea, I can do that."

Hookworth

On the afternoon the next day Ramield, Athrodmir, Wulfston, Curithir and Oronir discussed how they could strengthen the plan of Amyilyn, Madelief, and Nem.

Athrodmir joined the table once more. Still feeling awkward that these unlawful acts are being considered, he reluctantly joins the conversation: “As a captain of the Bree militia, I know the Dr. as being reclusive and not that well-known. Being called on only when strange afflictions take effect. It will be difficult to make a plan.”

The group debated many possible angles to get into the house of the Doctor or getting the Doctor out of his house. One suggested a fake injury, though others voiced concerns that it would be dismissed immediately to more general physicians or that the ruse would be easily discovered. Then it was proposed they stage an attack outside the Doctor’s home, knowing he would be hard pressed should he refuse to help. Wulfston summed it up: “So, we can rig it as such that no-one sees the attack, but we rouse a lot of people from their beds to see the aftermath, further putting pressure on the doctor to help?”

Ramield crossed her arms. “I think what Oronir is saying is that we not stage the scene for people to see, but rather provide a witness that is credible in the eyes of the people: you Athrodmir. Like Wulfstan says, there need be no play.”

Athrodmir offered a plan to keep distractions and unnecessary complication out of the way: “If we go through with this course of action, I'll try and clear the streets as much as possible beforehand. Oronir, what are your thoughts on this?”

Oronir had other concerns, outside the act itself. “Well, I am concerned with our little hobbit friend. But staging the attack with only Ath as witness, but with enough noise to wake people, creating some realistic scene, then calling on the doctor at night, he would be drowsy. Is a good plan.”

Athrodmir pointed out, “Ah, another question we have yet to address: Who will be the victim, and the third party there to warn Madelief if Haspulto gets suspicious?”

Wulfston chimed in, 'I'm happy to be the victim; I'll barely notice another scar.'

The knights discussed the matter further but the plan has formed: There needed to be a victim with Athrodmir, a Sneak to get into the house, and a look out.