Galadar's page

As Knotty comes in, I greet him and fill him in on what has been said thus far...

"So. No volunteers to covertly unshoe a mule?"

"I have some smithing experience...but the wargs of the Urglin don't require shoeing, generally. My skills were more 'martially' oriented." he adds with a toothy grin.

"We don't need a shoe put on, we need one taken off," I say with good humor.

"The smithy is it? I seem to recall seeing guards there. I think we should be able to have some work for him. Is there anyone here good with animals? I seem to recall one of my mules having a loose shoe and I would like someone to make sure that it is so."

Galadar wrote:

"Now Hru, don't be scaring the lad."

heard a little Klyndak creeping in there :D

You have to imagine Galadar with a sometimes cultured piccadilly accent, not a scottish brogue. ;)

Once in the inn, I confess that I failed to spot the suggestive plant anywhere.

"Anyone else have luck?"

"Good lad," I say with a quizzical raise of the eyebrows towards Hru. And with that, we will head back to the inn to compare notes with the others in the privacy of our quarters.

Hru, I realize suddenly, means well but has a lot to learn about tone and posture when trying to be friendly.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

"Now Hru, don't be scaring the lad."

"He means well young man. An excellent bodyguard but his manners are a little rough. Go ahead and answer his question."

As I walk, I point out to Hru fairly obvious interesting sites, acting just a little bit like a tourist interested in a new place.

I presume we will finish a circuit of the town and then head back to the inn to gather intelligence and compare notes.

Untrained Knowledge Check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Maximum allowed is a 10 so thats a 10.

"I seemed to have missed something, we're looking for a plant?" he suddenly shifts gears.

"Correct," I say as I head towards the one street I haven't yet been down.

Once out of doors, I quietly suggest that Hru accompany me along Dusk street and that the other two retrace the parts of town I have already examined, seeing if they can spot any sign of the plant we are looking for.

I watch the barkeeper depart bemusedly and then apologizing to the guardsmen once more, I say to Hru, "You're going to have your pay docked on my next haul if you keep this up."

"Maybe some fresh air would be good for us."

Galadar wrote:

"Now, gentlemen," I say hurriedly, not quite sure of what is happening, "I am sure this is all some sort of misunderstanding. Hru, what have you been doing? Can we be paying for these gentlemen's drinks?"

Diplomacy: 1d20+9

"You won't be buying anyone's drinks!" says an angry Ben Willhuff.

"The drinks are on the house then?" I ask, pretending to be pleasantly surprised. "Why thank you!"

"Now, gentlemen," I say hurriedly, not quite sure of what is happening, "I am sure this is all some sort of misunderstanding. Hru, what have you been doing? Can we be paying for these gentlemen's drinks?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

That's right Hru. Start a fight with the disguised guardsmen... :P

I head back into the tavern to check on my "men".

"Alright lads!" I say cheerfully but casually, seeing them in the common room, "Its a beautiful day out there. Don't let your muscles atrophy with drink. Get out. See the town."

When I can do so quietly and unobtrusively, I let them know that I could not find the sign for our contacts and we need to do so as quickly as possible.

Marking the alchemist shop as a potential place to shop in later, I continue further on down the street, exploring the town.

Galadar wrote:

"I thought it was a funeral home," I say to the guilty looking man I asked. With a friendly smile, I continue on, wondering what sorts of herbs would make a man look so furtive.

hehehe. You continue up Dawn Lane?

Yes.

"I thought it was a funeral home," I say to the guilty looking man I asked. With a friendly smile, I continue on, wondering what sorts of herbs would make a man look so furtive.

Intrigued by the signless building with the black candle, I approach it tentatively, wondering whether it is a store or a funeral home. I look around for someone to ask as to the nature of the place.

Having looked at the horses to my hearts content, I move on down the street.

I'll stop and check out the horses, or at least make a decent enough pretense to checking them out, and then move on down the road.

Perception: (1d20+8=13)

If I make it all the way up and down the streets without spotting anything, I guess I'll take ten.

A bit startled by signs of devil worship (I had taken the general to be using hyperbole) I move on down the street, still searching for signs of the rumored rebel alliance.

I approach the halfling in front of the store with a hearty wave and a smile.

"Thank you for the recomendation concerning the tavern. It looks like it will be just perfect for the few days I will be staying in yout fair town. Any suggestions for sights to see while I take my semi-daily constitutional?"

My plan, following a brief chat with Tucket, will be to walk the length of this street, turn to the right and then circle back down dawn lane.

After seeing to my room, I leave Mannfred and Hru to spy things out in the common room and head out into the village to get a lay of the land and look for possible informants.

Benn Willhuff seems surprisingly unimpressed by Galadar's more than required payment of a platinum coin. He looks at the coin, then looks at Galadar and says quietly, "No grifting either. Not without giving me a cut."

"Grifting? As in a scheme? My good man, I think one of us misunderstands the other. I am giving you this coin with the understanding that it should cover our expenses while we are here and at the end of our stay, if I am satisfied, you can keep whatever is left and if I am not, I shall expect to recieve my change. The only profit I expect to make this trip is already in the hands of my business partner Gaskar who I expect might be along shortly to seek a room for himself. In short, my business is already done and I anticipate spending the next few days taking in the sights of this charming community."

I give him my most winningest merchant smile and then proceed to make sure the room I am given is suitable.

"Sound's good. I'll take a room for myself and two more for my men. Also the wagon can be parked in the yard but if you can have someone take the gear in it to our rooms, I would be obliged. We will likely be in town for a few days, resting from our recent journey."

I hand over a platinum coin.

"Greetings good sir on a right fine day," I say cheerfully to the barkeep at the door of the inn, "Would you know if there are rooms available for myself and perhaps a few of my guardsmen? Also, is there a place in town for the keeping of a wagon?"

"Sure thing. Is it okay if I check out the lodge place?"

"By all means, but make sure to check back in case there is... that is, in case I have work for you."

I say much more softly, "We might find out more if we split up after getting our rooms, each of us checking into a different part of the town. Remember to be discreet. We don't know whom we can trust."

"I agree," I say somewhat authoritatively, still pretending to the 'merchant boss' of our little caravan. "Why don't we get our rooms and then if you guys want some free time we can take in the sights, the flora and fauna of this town, so to speak."

As we head towards the tavern with my now mostly empty wagon, I try to keep my eyes open, especially to determine whether there are signs of a lot of military men or guardsmen in the streets or whether it looks fairly normal in regards to the activities. I'll also be looking for any signs of the plant that was our signal.

I also take the time to ask the halfling store owner, "Which inn would you recommend while I am in town. I prefer good dining and good beds, though perhaps some of my guardsmen might prefer cheaper."

As the wagons are being unloaded, I step up next to Gaskar and ask, "How long are you staying in town? It might be safer for you to clear out before we make too much noise. And if you manage to take off with all the money before I get my share, it might give me an excuse to see the Baron if I need one.

I advise Manfred from entering town as a half-orc. Two half-orcs might make the guards too suspicious if one of them dissapears later. Just look like yourself, but in cheaper armor is my advice.

When the guards ask as to our identities, I volunteer from my seat on my own wagon, "New business partner. Gaskar had a bigger load this trip and was too cheap to buy his own wagon. These lot are my regular guards. The name is Galadar."

I take 10 on Profession (merchant) to look and act like a merchant for a total of 20. I'm dressed in regular traveling clothes for the trip, albeit wearing my gold ring to look slightly successful.

"I think we should get a feel for whats going on in the Baron's town before making deep plans," I suggest to Hru.

As we are on our way to a town, I'm ready to go as is.

While the wagons are being loaded, I want to ask around and see what information I can find on the situation we are heading into...

Diplomacy (Gather Information): (1d20+9=29)

I will take rolling a natural 20 for my first dice roll for this adventure as a good sign. :)

Galadar wrote:

"I have a wagon and two mules."

"Oh, well. Try to keep up," says Gaskar competitively.

"It won't be a problem I am sure," I say politely, "They're decent enough animals. I will need something to carry in it. Perhaps some produce or baskets of clothing?"

"I have a wagon and two mules."

"Gaskar, what are you carrying and how many wagons do you have. If you do not mind another, I have a wagon of my own. Perhaps we can fill it with some baskets of clothing or some such. General, I take it we need to leave as soon as possible?"

"With respect, Milord, but why exactly did you invite me and Hru to this mission? This seems more suited to less obviously military personnel."

"Nonsense," I say, "You'll just need a little bit of unpolishing and you'll make a great looking mercenary. If things get rough, a couple of strong arms never hurts to have along."

"That seems acceptable to me," I say, "How soon do we need to leave?"

"Well, I think I can accept the mission," I say to the General, "But I do need to know - do we have an expense account? In case bribes need to be paid, food needs eaten or we desire to sleep in a bed."

"Are there any specific contacts we should be trying to reach once we're there? Also, if there is war brewing, is the Baron going to be suspicious of visitors to his little domain?"

"A priest of Gorum," I say, my smile getting bigger, "Either you have a very interesting mission for us General or you were really desperate for volunteers."

I nod pleasantly to the half elven woman and then ask, "How many are you expecting General?"

At the door of the tent I look around the interior and flash a friendly smile around, "Gentlemen."

"Greetings sir," I say to the General. Knowing that it is a general that we are meeting, I have dressed in my best clothes and I take a moment to make sure that my cuffs are straight before stepping fully into the tent.

"Galadar Groltian reporting for duty. What can I be doing for my country today?"

I fight for Andoran! For freedom. For justice. Though the pay isn't always bad either.

I am born!

Or I was born. On the snowy slopes of Andoran in the late summer, around midnight while the sun was high in the sky.

Trained in the finer points of commerce, I strive to prove myself a gentleman and a scholar. But alas, it is not my destiny to rest easy by the fire with a book in one hand and a fine port in the other. For my love of country has compelled me to volunteer time and again to seek out those who hate freedom and bring them to justice.