Disguise or stealth seem our best options, I'm no actor, I'd do better at the latter. But I'm open to suggestions for the best way to begin, He explains
The cardinal gave us these circlets so that we may move around among the common folk. This will be no in an out mission. We need to set up in the city and study the fortifications. We will disguise ourselves and move in as an adventuring group. We have the gold to secure a room. Lets enter the town at morning and do just that. We keep a low profile. Nothing comes before the mission. Agreed?
"I see it as one long hung, Drogan. You'll find I can be very patient when I have to be on a hunt," He nods.
That type of company is ilegal in these lands my boy, but soon enough you will have your feel. Perhaps you can find a nice slave girl once we bring this place to its knees. Now let us be off shall we?
When the others don their magical disguises, so does Randu.
The night still tightly clutches the land quelling what light it can as you make you way towards Aldencross and the Watchwall. It is a fairly easy track along the shore of the lake. After walking perhaps a mile you hear the sound of hoofs on the ground. Shortly after you see two silhouettes approaching you, they move directly as if something or someone guides them towards you. Once close enough you recognise Tiadora in her guise of a noble woman, dressed in the diaphanous white gown she wore when you first visited the cardinal. She halts her horse a few yards away from you, "Greetings members of the Nessian knot, I bring you the newest member of your knot."
Vex is also dressed in fine clothing. Her face veiled, piercing green eyes look at you from behind her veil. She gets off and makes a very formal bow.
"Greetings. I am called Vex." her voice is soft and very melodious
"I am Randu , and I will reclaim my due, if you can aid us in our current mission, it aids me in that as well, and I welcome you," He nods gravely, though he is pleased by the bow "You appear court trained. What skills do you bring ?"
She gives him sly smile
"My skills? I have a way with words, also, I do believe i can dance rather well. And i have a way to sway the minds of those who listen and watch"
Randu actually chuckles, he always preferred hunting lands and dispensing his own form of justice to many other aspects of courtly life, but he'd be a fool to deny the skills she mentions will be useful, "Your talent for making others dance will be very useful indeed I think before all is said and done."
"i will use my skills, and do what i can to aid you in this great...Quest"
She grins.
Drogan looks to the lady as she dismounts and bow's then to Tiadora.
All is in accord then. She has signed the contract? If so she will be welcome.
He then looks to the girl.
I am Drogan, I am the living vessel of our Dark Lord. Your sacrafice is a worthy one and we welcome you to our knot. The quiet one is Erodin. We now go into the city of Aldencross. All there are our enemies. Our mission is to open the gates to the savege goblin army that approaches. We will make use our your guile and persuasive abilities. Tiadora if there is nothing else we leave you now as we need every moment we can get to make the mission a success. He nods and turns to keep walking toward the town.
If you have any other questions now is the time Vex.
She nods then shakes her head
"No questions on the mission. I have been informed"
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"Our beloved Cardinal has informed her as he has you and she has indeed signed the same contract," Tiadora smiles an continues: "I trust I can report that you are progressing as planned?"
"Sails make excellent kindling," Randu answers to Tiadora's question
"Very well, I shall leave you to your obligations," Tiadora answers. "Keep the horse, she says before she turns her own around and rides into the night leaving you to your own devices.
Very well now that the babysitter is gone. Vex follow us. Since you are up to date. Lets be on our way now.
Drogan heads off to the town disguised as a human warrior.
Randu takes the horse, looks it over, and mounts it for a slow and easy pace as they make their way
Day 0
Continuing north along the shore towards the watchtower of Balentyne and the small town of Aldencross you move unhindered and uninterrupted. After two miles a dark begins to raise, closing in you see it is the watchtower, bridging the River Tyburn. At the foot of the rocks lies a dark Aldencross awaiting you arrival. Once you come closer you see movement, a light breaks the darkness swinging slowly left and right.
Vex will alter her looks. Just to that of a human version, eye color different and hair color different. And obviously no scar/brand
Drogan speaks softly,
Probably a sentury. Be on good behavior. We do nothing to jepordize the mission.
The group continues to approach the tower.
Randu has lightened his hair and eye color as well, and the hue of his armor and gear is different, mostly to throw off anyone from recognizing him. He keeps the horse pace slow
Nesting upon a small rock formation The Watchtower Balentyne is so much more. Improving upon the natural fortification of the chasm cut into the rock by river Tyburn Balentyne consists of fortifications on either side. A rather large keep with a single tower in the north east corner guards this riverbank. Walking along the edge of Aldencross, the sentries hail you: "Halt who goes there!" the light is focussed in your direction and they continue to close in.
She calls out in a very swaying voice
"We are travelers, I am an entertainer, we simply seek refuge in the town."
good Vex, let see how the new blood handles things. I gorw weary of talking to these Mitran fools.
Drogan stops with the others and awaits the guards to get closer. He stands with his arms folded anoyed that they have been halted at this late/early hour.
Randu lets Vex do the talking as well. She's better trained for it if he's guessing right
"It is quiet late to be arriving miss," the older of the two guards point out, his bodylanguage indicate that he doesn't trust you yet.
"We were in a fight, some people attacked me when i tried to leave. If it were not for my companions, i would not have made it this far"
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Good sir, I am a humble warrior. I aspire to one day be a mitran knight if the light would lead me on that path. I am no soldier yet but is it such a custom to stop every traveler on the road? This is not the way of Mitra... Should you not be welcoming us to your town and helping us find a refuge from the harshness of the road. Pleas sir our feat and eye's grow weary. Would you be so kind to show us a place to stay?
Drogan cast a quick look of disapproval at Vex.
"Talk is cheap," the older of the two mumbles while the younger intervenes on your behalf. "Now lets get you settled for the night. The Lord's Dalliance is the only inn with room for travellers. We'll have to wake Bellam though," he says leading you away from the watchtower and into the city.
Randu makes a note of the faces, and trots the horse in. He's amused by Drogan's story. You can't say it's not bold. As for Vex, he has no doubt that the younger guard is distracted by her favorably, alas, the older man is stubborn.
I was worried we'd have to kill the older fellow. Almost too cautious to live.
Thank you young man. We do appologize for our late arrival and will compensate Bellam for the trouble. You serve mitra well.
Ah the lies I have to tell these fools is making me sick. My only relief is that they will all die shortly to the horde of the Fire Axe.
keeping a few paces as distance the older ends the small procession through the sleeping town. You come to a stop in front of one of the larger timber framed houses a two storage building. The younger one knock hard on the wooden door. "Bellam. Bellam wake up I bring you customers," a few minuets passes and a sleepy barkeep open the door. A somewhat larger man in his late thirties early forties steps a side allowing you entrance. He nods to the two watchmen as they take of. "What can I tempt you with good Sirs, a bed perhaps?" he offers.
Yes sir beds we could use a good sleep to take the weary of the road away. Four rooms please. We will settle up at breakfast or now whatever you like.
Drogan enters and awaits the barkeep to show them to there rooms.
"A bed would be welcome indeed," Randu says, "We've had a long trip."
"I do not have much coin. Maybe i can dance to earn keep?" she says with a knowing smile
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"It is the slow season, so four rooms I can manage," Bellam says continuing: "Alas miss I don't take on dancers, perhaps you could find a soldier to sponsor you. I will however as the night is upon us give you credit and not turn you away to night." He gestures to a staircase in the back of the common room and leads the way with a candle lit to illuminate your path. "Please follow me," he says.
Drogan follows giving the man a couple coins for his trouble.
We plan on staying a bit. If you could run us a tab I will settle up for all of us.
He goes into the shown room and beds down for the night. Zull will go out and survey the city and the keep. Counting the number of guards on the walls and taking notice of how active or how quiet the town and the guards are. About an hour worth before returning to rest himself. He can report in the morning. Obviously he will be invisible :)
She thanks Drogan, by what ever name he wishes and the innkeeper before she goes to bed
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"A tap it is then," Bellam replies more than happy to be able to get back to sleep. He takes you to four smaller rooms each with a bed a small table and a battered wardrobe. The bed might leave something to be desired for but it is better than the Frosthammer's hard deck.
Day 1
The sun once again raises over Talingarde and the town of Aldencross. Slowly awakening the sounds of animals and men alike can be heard and steadily increases in intensity.
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Randu rises just a bit after the sun does, his life has been one of privilege, yes, but it has also been one of discipline. He knows he must talk to the others, but in case they are not up yet, he heads down stairs to see if breakfast of some sort is possible.