.
Melisaria orders dinner for everyone including the Herald. She gives a quick prayer of thanks to Mishakal before the repast. During the dinner she smiles approvingly at her new companions and tries to engage with each in conversation:
To Ahelcot:"Tell me, sir, how you came to be traveling with this knight and what brings you to the gods-forsaken place?".
To Gareth:"By appearances and actions, I mark you as a Knight of Solamnia. What brings on of your kind to the deserts of the world? Aren't you far from home?"
To Cassim: "Tell us about your history? How did you come to be in the market the other day?"
To Anshim, she just smiles and nods knowing he is looking out for her even in moments of relative safety.
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Well, m'lady, I'm not proud to say this but my work here is picking pockets.. Jobs are hard to come by for people born in the slums, and I may not be proud but its kept me alive. I saw you all be so brave and I thought.. Well if I come with you maybe I can redeem myself a little in the eyes of the gods..
Ahelcot listens to Cassim's reply and could feel a pang of sympathy for the young man's plight. Even in Solamnia many men he saw were in the same situation, having to take drastic measures to survive.
He blushed slightly as the pretty lady addressed him; he had always been rather shy around women. Still her easy going attitude did wonders for putting him at ease. "I elected to travel with Gareth as he would need my..." he lifts back his cloak exposing his belt on which hung a spell component pouch, "talents. As you can imagine, we do not wish to advertise our presence here, nor our reason for being sent here." He apologized, "It is safer this way."
(OOC: It looks to me like you want to go see the Blackbird. So tell me who is going to meet him and who is staying behind. There is actually mechanics listed in the module for meeting with him, so who actually decides to go on this trip will give modifiers on any negotiations you do. I will allow Cassim make a Knowledge Local to have an idea of who the Blackbird might be partial to and who he'll be unfriendly with.)
To Cassim:"My friend, you are on the path to redemption assuredly. Follow your heart and take the path of honor. One's former deeds to do not have to predict one's future choices. May the Goddess guide your thoughts," she says, gently squeezing his hand.
To Ahelcot, she says arching an eyebrow,"I see there is more to you than first meets the eye. A wizard is a very rare thing in the world these days. Your secrets are your own and we shall not attempt to pry them from you, but friends may help each other in unexpected ways. I am grateful for your assistance in recovering these elven relics even though you may have no immediate concern in the matter. Before our paths separate, we may well be able to assist you as well.
Garth bows slightly to Melisaria. Aye, but I am just a squire. I am here on official business of the knights. After the meeting with the Blackbird, we need to meet someone for a delivery.
(Ooc: Cassim, you know with that roll that the Blackbird respects people of martial prowess. Being a Half-Ogre he might actually be more friendly with the Minotaur than most. He may get along with Garth so long as he does not expose his affiliation to the knights. You can't speculate his opinions of Clerics and Wizards, as you don't know everything about the Blackbird. As for Cassim himself, he's at least on reasonable terms with the blackbird.)
To speed things along, those who are going to meet with the Blackbird head off to the Wounded Crow tavern after spending a few hours at the Five Dragon inn. Outside that the crowd has been dispersed although the streets still have bloodstains here and there from the brawl that broke out a few scant hours ago. Going inside the Wounded Crow you meet with Basima, the barmaid who offered to help you get in contact with the Blackbird. After stating you wish a meeting, she heads off and comes back a few minutes later and says, "Yes, the Blackbird has time to meet with you now. Please follow me."
She leads you down a winding path of halls to one of the back rooms. She knocks and the door is opened by a burly looking Khurish thug who looks at her and nods and opens the door. Inside is a plain looking room containing nothing but a table with some chairs. Sitting at the head of the table is a large 7 foot tall man dressed in a nice black suit of Khur design. He's grossly fat, well muscled and has pasty looking with a ruddy skin tone like an Ogre. He wears his black hair in a pony tail, wears a taqiyah on his head and has an eye patch over his left eye. He has a massive mug of ale on the table and near his chair keg.
He gives the group a solid look and speaks with a booming voice, "I heard from my colleges that you wished to meet with me. If you have business, by all means take a seat and we will discuss it." He gestures to some chairs laid out around the table.
Gareth moves over so Cassim can address the Ogre. He has hidden any sign of his allegiance to the Solamnic Knights. His sleeves are rolled up revealing his muscular arms. He stares at the gentleman awaiting to be introduced by Cassim.
Unlike Gareth, Ahelcot believes his presence is not helpful to the groups posture. He instead stays in the background, but does keep his eyes and ears open.
Cassim gives his case to the Blackbird and he listens intently to his words.
Modifiers to the diplomacy check:
Ranger Class: +0
Minotaur: +10
Fighter (Garth passes a a fighter as he hides his affiliation): +10
Human: +0
Rogue: +0
Human: +0
Cassim gets a +5 circumstance bonus though for having worked with the Blackbird and paid his dues.
As the Elf and Wizard aren't with the group during the meeting, no minuses.
Total bonus to diplomacy: +25 (Mods) + 18 (Roll) = 43
Reaction: Helpful
The Blackbird gives the group a look, sizing everyone up in the group and scrutinizing your intentions. He then nods approvingly and then responds to the question.
"Yea, I know Pegrin. He's been operating in the Pashin region for a few months now, doing the normal bandit stuff, robbing travelers and fencing his ill gotton gains to the local merchants for profit. Also heard word that he has a share of goods looted from the Elven lands. Not really big news though as lots of folks these days are profting off of the elven misery."
He gives a look to the minotaur and says, "I heard the Minotaurs are making the biggest profit taking from the elves everything of worth. Puts a hell of a lot of money in their coffers methinks." He chuckles a bit to himself takes a swig of ale and then continues.
"As for Pegrin himself, he's a deserter of the Dark Knights and they ain't too happy about it. They've got a small reward out on him, but with all the s**+e going on in Pashin, dealing with him is far from a priority for the Dark Knights. Still being an ex-dark knight he's a pretty tough warrior, one ya shoulden't take lightly if you're itching to pick a fight with him."
"As for Pegrin gang, it's not too impressive. Word has it he's got a group of eight Nerekarian thugs working under him. He's also got a right hand man, a half-breed elf named Derg. Derg must have made a good impression if he's the second in command. I also know that he's hired on a Sorcerer to his group. I'm guessing he's just there to help with any magical s!## that the gang might encounter."
"Whatever the case, Pegrin has been smart to keep out of my business. He restricts his operations to outside the town, his men only coming from time to sell their stuff off in the Market or the Bazaar. What beef do you guys have with Pegrin and his men?"
"Hmmmph. Not good." Anshim says, snorting at Blackbird's men. "Stole mine." He sits down, allowing Cashim to finish telling the tale.
The Blackbird thinks and with a smirk says, "I think we can make a deal. If you and your fellows think they've got the muscle to take down Pegrin, then I've got no reason to stop you. I could even point you in the right direction of his camp if you're so interested. There is something I want in return however. The Dark Knights are offering a reward for Pegrin. If I got my hands on him I could get some clout with the Dark Knights if some of my fellows were to bring him in. In exchange for this information I want Pegrin brought to me alive. If he's dead, bring me his head and pay the difference of the reward. Either way works for me."
Anshim snorts but says nothing, looking over at Cassim to see if he accepts the deal.
Melisaria worries about her friends who have gone off in search of the Blackbird and have yet to return. "I expected them back by now. I wonder what is delaying them?". She whispers a soft prayer to Mishakal to bring them back safely and with the correct information to locate Pegrin and his gang.
Once she finishes she sits with the Herald and Ahlecot and watches and waits.
Ahelcot spends most of his time talking quietly with the Herald trying to glean any useful pieces of information from the living legend. While he knows getting such tidbits will not be easy, it is still easier than trying to make small talk with the Qualinesti elvish female...at least not without his tongue tripping all over himself.
Anshim nods as he stands up. He too has no need for great treasures.
Gareth follows Anshim's lead and gets up ready to depart. He has no words for the Blackbird.
The Blackbird gives a toothy smile, "Glad we could make a deal Cassim. Here is the information you're looking for. The camp is to the Southwest of Pashin, in a clearing not to far into the Silvenesti forest. There is a small clearing in the wood where they've made their lair. Should be no more than half a day's travel from the town. I'll draw you a quick map just so you'll know where you're going. I hope you've got more men than ya got here though. I don't see you taking down Pegrin with just yourself and the two other men ya got here."
With that he takes out some parchment and draws you a simple map, putting some notes on some geographical markings that will show you're on the right track to find the camp. He then gives the parchment to Cassim.
"Remember the deal when you head out there. Whatever ya find at the camp is yours but Pegrin is mine. Got it?"
Seeing that their meeting is over, Anshim snorts gruffly and moves toward the door.
After making the deal the meeting group heads back to the inn. The rest of the group during the meeting with the Blackbird conversed a bit more with the Hearld, receiving a few more stories of Krynn's History before the man tired from the day retires to his bedroom to get some rest.
Everyone arrives back at the inn without incident. You now have time to discuss plans among you the when and where of seeking out Pegrin and deal with him and his gang.
After waiting anxiously for her friends arrival, Melisaria is quite impatient as they relate their tale of the meeting with Blackbird. "Tell me at once what you've find out about Pegrin. Do we know the location of his hideout? What else did the Blackbird tell you?".
She pats Anshim on the arm gently as her old friend returns to her side.
He has a lair in the woods about a half day's travel from here. It will probably be heavily defended. As for the Blackbird...I hate having to deal with him. He is the worst kind of scum. Gareth spits on the floor obviously unhappy that he had to deal with a crime lord to help his companions.
Ahelcot listens to the tale told by Cassim and Gareth. He thinks for a moment before responding, "While this Blackbird shows himself to have few scruples, I do not see any reason for him to betray us to either Pegrin or the Dark Knights. Still..." He looks meaningfully at Gareth, "If scum like him is willing to turn over this bandit to the Knights, then he could very well do the same to us. I suggest caution here."
Gareth nods in agreement. Wise words as usual my friend.
"It is well and good to proceed with caution. But proceed we must in order to stop this trade in Elven relics. I trust you have some good directions to this place? Are we provisioned with all necessary gear to undertake such an adventure?"
Anshim grunts, perhaps laughing, at the conversation. "Strong enough.".
Ahelcot looks over his pack noting the lack of rations in there. "Well, other than being low on provisions, I would say we are ready to move out, right Gareth?"
Aye. Cassim can you lead us?