Arus leads the Sergeant up the slick path to Bessy Bussow’s alehouse, where lantern glow spills across wet stone and the air reeks of salt and gin. Behind them, John Carter keeps to the shadows near the cave mouth, unseen but close.
Bessy Bussow
You’ve brought company, have you? Mind the step, Sergeant, the cliff takes no prisoners.
The Sergeant pauses at the threshold, eyes moving from Bessy to Arus, then back toward the dark below. His hand stays near his sword, but his tone is less sharp than before.
The Sergeant
This is where your missing satchel went, is it? Then let us see whether your thief drinks here, or whether you’ve led me on a fool’s chase.
Bessy’s smile does not reach her eyes. She shifts one shoulder to block a view of the side path, while Carter remains hidden below, waiting for the least wrong word to send men running or keep them still.
Arus Gandon
The trail ends here. If I’m to prove who robbed me, we need only a quick look inside.
The Sergeant studies Arus, then gives a short nod toward the door. The ruse holds, for now, and the next step is clear, get the soldier inside before the cave below is tested by daylight or suspicion.
✓ Quest Accepted
Get the Sergeant inside the alehouse
“Does Bessy appear to understand the ruse and that I am secretly misleading the redcoats away from John Carter?”
NO (VeryLikely, rolled 90)
Bessy stares at Arus with a cold, unblinking intensity, her brow furrowed in genuine confusion rather than complicity. She clearly views the courier's tale as a dangerous, incomprehensible lie that threatens her livelihood.
“I will attempt to recruit Bessy into the ruse with subtle clues without revealing the truth to the Sergeant, saying, "Bessy, when you saw me leave earlier WITH MY OLD SATCHEL, did anyone suspicious soon leave after me? I must have been followed!"”
SUCCESS (Superb Deception, rolled +0)
Arus Gandon
Bessy, when you saw me leave with my old satchel, did anyone suspicious come after me? I must have been followed.
Bessy Bussow
Followed? No. But I did see a man with a coat too fine for the rocks, lingering where he had no business.
Her confusion shifts, not into trust, but into useful recall. She glances toward the Sergeant, then back to Arus, as if measuring how to shape the next lie without exposing the truth.
The Sergeant
A fine coat on the cliff path is worth a look, if this tale holds together.
The Sergeant
Point him out, woman. If he was prowling here, I want his name and his face.
Bessy gives a tight, almost offended nod and leans aside from the doorway, making room as if the question itself proves the robbery. The Sergeant’s suspicion softens into the familiar, practical patience of a man already half convinced.
He steps closer to the alehouse threshold, waiting for Bessy’s answer, while the dark cave mouth and John Carter’s watchful shadow remain behind them.
“I will continue the ruse asking Bessie, "That is a valuable clue! Bessy, did you see which way the suspicious stranger went?" When the Sergeant is looking away from me at Bessy, and she is looking at me, I will give her a quick, subtle wink to encourage her to play along.”
SUCCESS (Superb Deception, rolled -1)
Arus lets the Sergeant look to Bessy, then slips the question in soft as the surf, keeping his face open and harmless.
Arus Gandon
That is a valuable clue. Bessy, did you see which way the suspicious stranger went?
As the Sergeant studies the doorway, Arus flicks Bessy a quick, subtle wink, a silent plea to play along.
Bessy Bussow
She catches it at once, her mouth tightening with private amusement. If she wants this lie to live, she needs to feed it something useful.
Bessy Bussow
Down the rocks toward the quay, I think. He kept close to the wet stones, like he feared the light.
The Sergeant nods slowly, absorbing the answer with the grim satisfaction of a man whose suspicion has found somewhere to go. He takes a step through the threshold, one boot crossing into the alehouse shadow.
The Sergeant
Then we shall see whether your thief left a mark worth following. Show me inside, and we will settle this properly.
“Are all of the redcoats following the Sergeant inside?”
YES (Unlikely, rolled 19)
The Sergeant gestures sharply to the men waiting in the gloom, and one by one, the redcoats abandon their post on the path to crowd into the alehouse behind him.
The Sergeant
Keep your eyes sharp, lads. If this thief is still nearby, he will not escape us now. I am Sergeant Miller, and I intend to see this courier's property returned before the tide turns.
Arus Gandon
With the entire patrol inside, the path to the cave is completely unguarded.
“I follow the Sergeant and shake his hands as if out of profuse gratitude and say, "Bless you Sergeant... You are a true protector of the people!"”
YES (Likely, rolled 35)
Arus Gandon
Bless you Sergeant... You are a true protector of the people!
The Sergeant
It is my duty, lad. My name is Miller, and I have seen enough misery in these parts to know a man in need when I see one.
The Sergeant
He seems genuine enough, though this alehouse is a wretched place for a man of his supposed station.
“I will continue to enlist Bessie's help in trying to maintain the ruse and the diversion of the Redcoats by getting them drunk in the ale House, and loudly ask her, "Bessie, may you be so generous as to Grant me enough credit to buy these fine men of the King a round of gin on my good name in exchange for their faithful service to the subjects of the crown?"”
YES (Likely, rolled 44)
Arus Gandon
Bessy, may you be so generous as to grant me enough credit to buy these fine men of the King a round of gin on my good name in exchange for their faithful service to the subjects of the crown?
Bessy Bussow
Credit for the King's men? You have a bold tongue for a man who just lost his satchel, but for the sake of such loyal service, I suppose I can find a few bottles of the good stuff.
Bessy Bussow
He is playing a dangerous game with these redcoats, but if it keeps them from poking their noses into the cellar, I will play along.