Meanwhile, outside, Nelly had settled down in the grass near the entrance, staring at the door. The guards around barely bothered her.
Instead, she used her impressive intellect to consider several scenarios. Would she be able to break the Door using Brute Force?
Jump over the Wall? How many guardsman would she need to stack to overcome the obstacle?
Kazador stood there, like a statue with his arms crossed. It was best for the others to take the lead talking to the human lord. This was not within his area of expertise, let alone his skill set. So he listened, and watched the human lord closely.
Aral inclines forward, bowing slightly, to each of you as you are introduced. He raises an eyebrow when Fyrtor plainly states his objective. Then he turns to Mel and listens intently to her description of their activities. As she finishes her impassioned speech, you see a slight shine in the Count's eyes. He sits slowly when she finishes, clearly holding some heavy weight on his shoulders. "Can I help you? I certainly wish to. I was aware of some of these machinations in His Highness' court and have put a stop to one or two of them of my own. But my influence is unwelcome and I have fallen out of favor." He sighs heavily. "But I knew King Stephen when he was just a boy. I served as Regent after the death of his father. The young king and I were very close and he respected my views." He shakes his head sadly. "Unfortunately, he wished to assert his independence when he came of age. Many whispered that I was the true ruler of Iustia. He could not stand these rumors. He began listening to his young friends, fools who aggrandized themselves by any means." He falls silent for several breaths.
Then he looks up. "But I believe that the foundations of Stephen's upbringing, put in place by his parents and reinforced during his education, still exist. If the King sees how destructive his course of action is and how false these so-called friends are, I believe he may change his ways. It will take great subtlety and skill to expose these truths. And he cannot hear such a correction from me. So I ask you, can you help me?"
Kazador and Turion detect nothing but sincerity from the Count.
Nelly believes she could simply break down the door, though it may take a few tries.
"We are here to prevent a war if at all possible. You have the knowledge and political accumen we need, we have skills and relative anonymity." Fyrtor pauses and extends a hand. "Would you accept the service of a Smithson again? I will do whatever I can to stop a war from destroying the land and people I love. What do we need to do?"
Mel nods. "None of us are from Iustia, and we are not familiar with the inner workings of its politics. If you can give us direction -- avenues to pursue our goal by -- then we will gladly help you."
"You should know, sir, that I am a citizen of the Concordat. Though they regard me as a traitor these days, for my part in thwarting their schemes. I go disguised so as to attract less attention."
"The task you suggest is a monumental one - and one that may be impossible to accomplish. Making him see the destructive nature of the events he set in motion, in time to prevent things from moving on their own momentum, with nobody - not even a king - in a position to stop them anymore. This is worsened by the knowledge that war IS a destructive force. He will expect glory AND horror. To open his eyes to see the true nature of what he is steering towards...I doubt he could be swayed by strangers.", Túrion speaks up, slowly, weighing his words.
"That leaves showing the falseness of his friends...whom we know almost nothing about. If they are simply blinded, as he is, and misguided in their councils, then there may be little to find that could change the way he sees them, or cause him to re-consider their advisory nature. I sincerely hope when you speak of their falsehood, your words are based on something we can use, ideas on where to start looking into these friends of his - because time is a luxury."
Leaning back against the wall, he shrugs:"Also, I would like to point out that I am here as a private individual. Avinoax does not support or condone my actions, or, in fact, even know about them. While there are many who would love to see the Concordat brought low, I feel there is little to gain from replacing the puma in your front yard with a mountain lion that has no opposition to worry about."
Mel looks at Kazador, wondering what he will say.
Kazador shrugged. ”Me? What?” He looked around uneasily. ”Where honor takes me I’ll go. But...this isn’t my craft.”
Turning to the Count, he said ”The name is Kazador.” He almost used his surname, but it caught in his throat. Instead, he continued ”I am of noble blood. One of the few of my people left. The Concordat saw to that through their betrayal. There is a grudge, aye. But more important is making sure that this doesn’t happen to any other innocents. Regardless of race or nationality. Any assistance, even be it just names and information on who to trust and whom not to, would be greatly appreciated.”
Fyrtor nods, and turns back to the Count. "I think we are all in agreement. We have the same desires, now we must turn to discussing what should be done."
Aral nods gravely as you speak, listening to you each in turn. "I will gladly work with you, whatever nation you hail from. We are all private individuals seeking to stem the tide. As for direction, yes I can give that. Let me tell you of the King's most influential advisors. Count Brendan Harcourt hails from a family of shipping magnates. He has invested particularly heavily in the shipping industry of the Bishopric of Helm and rumor has it he has illegally manipulated his investments in the past. Further, I have heard from my sources that he calls fervently, almost desperately, for machinations that will bring Helm under Iustian hegemony. I find this... suggestive." He pauses for you to ask questions or make remarks then proceeds
"Viscount Alain Turick is one of Stephen's closest friends. They have known each other since childhood. Turick is well-known to hate elves, though I do not know why. Despite this, he has uncharacteristically advocated for an alliance with Avinoax, the sole voice advancing such a plan."
"Baron Jonathan Cust also holds a place in Stephen's inner circle. His family made their fortune manufacturing weapons, earning a title of nobility for services to the Crown in the River War. I do not have concrete information on him but he has gained significant wealth in the past years, perhaps too much, and I have little trust for large scale arms dealers."
"The last and most powerful advocate of war is Duke Roger Beaumont. 'Duke' is a rarely-used title in Iustia but Stephen elevated him to this rank for his services. Beaumont has an uncanny knowledge of what is happening in the Concordat and has used this to help Stephen make certain favorable political moves, winning him great esteem with the young king. I would be most curious to know how Beaumont obtains his information. All of these men are wealthy and they and their estates will be guarded by some of Iustia's elite warriors. I recommend extreme caution, especially in Beaumont's case."
You sense that he trusts you but not completely. He probably isn't telling you all of his plans and secrets just yet, waiting to work with you somewhat first.
Fyrtor listens intently, but there seem to be so many leads. "So where should we start?"
"And what of Lady Elise of Feldnost?" Mel inquires. "Rumor has it that King Stephen courts her. Where does she stand on matters of war and peace?"
Aral nods. "That is indeed a fascinating question. I do not know the answer as Lady Elise tends to keep her political opinions quite private. But I do believe they will hold some influence over his highness."
"Are any of these people working together?" Mel asks. "Clearly they all have interests of their own; but are they all operating independently, or are some of them in cahoots?"
The count nods "Yes I do believe some of them are working together. The only one of those four who hasn't been visiting the others more frequently than I would consider normal is the Viscount. But they all certainly see each other with sufficient frequency, for example during hunting trips with the King."
"Do any of them seem discontent? If we could target one of them that is likely to turn on the others then maybe we can learn more about the inner workings of the group."
Aral rubs his chin thoughtfully. "An interesting idea. They seem to be quite content with their positions of power and the direction our nation is heading. It serves their purposes quite well. But most of these men seek only their own advancement and have no true loyalty to each other."
"If the Viscount is less tied to the others let's start with him. His behavior sounds like it is the most odd and he has a long personal connection to the king. I would guess he is the most likely to become an ally if we can approach him correctly."
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Mel pulls out her journal and jots down notes on the information Count Aral has given them thus far. She taps the pen against her lips, thinking. "I have a theory," she says, then stops with a wry smile. "Or rather, let's say a hypothesis, because my track record on theories is not great. In any case: Baron Cust is an arms dealer who recently came into a lot of money. That suggests a large sale of arms. To whom? And for what purpose?"
"Meanwhile, Count Harcourt is a shipping magnate who does a lot of business with the Bishopric, and for some reason he is pushing very hard for seizing control of the Bishopric. Could he have sent those weapons somewhere? The Bishopric, perhaps?"
"And Duke Beaumont apparently has excellent intelligence on happenings in the Concordat, and is a masterful politician."
"Here's my hypothesis: Duke Beaumont got word of the Concordat operations that were intended to let them move troops into the Bishopric. He decided to turn those plans against them. He found some agents in the Bishopric, and arranged for a large shipment of weapons and supplies to them: enough to arm a rebellion. Cust supplied the weapons, making a tidy profit in the process. Harcourt shipped them. Once the Concordat made their move, Beaumont's agents would assassinate the Bishop and blame the Concordat for it. Then they would reveal that the Concordat was responsible for the raids they were ostensibly saving the Bishopric from, and use the tide of anger from the citizens to raise a rebellion against the elven invaders, arming them with the weapons."
"Even with good weapons, a rebellion of farmers and craftsmen against crack elven troops would most likely fail. But that's the point: as the elves advanced on Helm, lo! The noble forces of Iustia land and charge to the rescue of their fellows in the Bishopric. The war has been kicked off. The Bishopric forces have whittled down the elven opposition a bit, and the Bishopric citizens most likely to resist Iustian rule die in the process. At that point, integrating the Bishopric into Iustia would be comparatively easy; at best, Helm might voluntarily ask to join the kingdom, which is ever so much tidier than conquest. None of it happened on Iustian soil, and now Iustia has a lovely staging area from which to press the attack on the Concordat. Iustia comes out of it looking like heroes, with some new lands added to the kingdom as a bonus."
Mel looks like she wants to spit, but out of deference to the Count's lovely furnishings, opts to content herself with a grimace.
"But it didn't work out that way -- because Brookside didn't fall, and the elven forces never moved in. Now there's a pile of weapons sitting somewhere in the Bishopric, and a bunch of agents who lack a convenient bogeyman to rebel against. Beaumont is fine -- it sounds as though he made sure to work through cutouts, making it hard to trace any blame back to him. Baron Cust is doing fine; all he did was sell some weapons, and didn't ask too many questions about where they were going or for whom. He's got a pile of shiny new coins, and has not even done anything illegal."
"But Count Harcourt -- he's in trouble. If it becomes known that he shipped a bunch of weapons to the Bishopric under false documents, the Bishopric would immediately ban him from conducting business there, and probably seize all his business assets. He stands to lose a lot. He could be ruined. So he's pushing for some other way to get the Bishopric into Iustia. If he can make that happen, then all that goes away. I wonder if he funded Tyron Alabaster's piracy ploy?"
"This is all conjecture," Mel finishes. "It fits the facts as we know them, but that doesn't mean it's right. And it doesn't account for everything. Viscount Turick is definitely the odd one out. It's puzzling that he would advocate for an alliance with people he is known to hate, and I am at a loss to explain how that would fit with the scenario I've laid out."
"But we could start addressing it by finding out the answers to some questions."
"First: Where did Baron Cust's influx of wealth come from? There must be people who know this. His bank might have records with information, for example. Warehouse workers who moved crates around, if it was indeed an arms sale. For that matter, the craftsmen who made the weapons would know what they've been making lately. We might be able to gather a fair bit of information indirectly."
"Second: What trouble is Count Harcourt in that makes him so eager to absorb the Bishopric? It's a pity Brolin chose to remain in Helm, he knows Bishopric shipping in and out. He might be able to point us in a useful direction. I would love to be able to ask him -- or one of our other contacts in Helm," she says, delicately referring to the Bishop without naming him. "Túrion, are you capable of sending a message that far? If Harcourt's business in the Bishopric is in trouble, we can probably find out things from that end."
"Third: How does Duke Beaumont get his intelligence on the Concordat? This one is more difficult; whatever or whoever it is that's getting this information to him, I've no doubt that that secret is closely guarded."
"Fourth: what is Viscount Turick playing at? In that case, I suspect we have an in -- we have an actual Avinoan with us. Perhaps Túrion and I could present ourselves to him as a highly unofficial delegation from Avinoax, and indicate that we wish to explore the idea of an Avinoax-Iustia alliance. Kazador and Fyrtor can be presented as local bodyguards we hired. It's risky, but we might be able to get him to just tell us what he's up to."
Fyrtor stares astonished as Mel finishes her analysis. "You put all of that together just from what the Count told us?! Mel you have a bright future in politics if you ever decide to follow that path. That's incredible insight."
Mel smiles wryly. "Don't put too much weight on my conjectures," she says. "As mentioned, I've been wrong before. At one point, I suspected the shaman Halak of orchestrating the attack on Brookside, when in fact he had been duped by my own people. I am good at building castles in the air. Sometimes that's all they are: air."
"Well, whether or not you are right only time can tell. I still think that the Viscount should be our first target, and that fits well with your assessment."
Aral raises an eyebrow at how Mel connects the information. "Indeed, I am not are whether to be impressed or confused. Only time will tell. But certainly, you will need to investigate further. Each of these men has a house in the city and a country estate so you have choices as to where to begin observing, listening, and looking for opportunities."
"It is summer now," Mel remarks. "And that would strike me as the time to retreat to a country estate if you have one. Large cities tend to get rather smelly in the summer heat. Not to mention a higher incidence of disease."
"If that holds true, then Viscount Turick is likely at his estate now. If we are going to present ourselves as a clandestine Avinoan delegation seeking to sound him out on a potential alliance, that would be the place to do it -- fewer curious eyes than in the heart of the city. Túrion, what do you think? If we take that approach, it would place you in the lead role as our only actual Avinoan."
Aral nods. "That may be wise, though I recommend you keep your profile as low as possible. You will likely need one or more aliases each."
"Do you have any resources that could help use create convincing aliases, papers or goods that would be convincing to someone who might ask questions? We've tried to avoid people as much as possible so far, but when we've had to explain our presence we've been claiming that Turion is traveling to Bannerhold to work as a tutor and we are his guards. It's a good enough story for the average passerby, but it won't bear deeper scrutiny."
Mel quirks a smile. "Incidentally, I don't suppose you'd be interested in commissioning a hunting bow? There; I told the truth."
At the Count's puzzled glance, she adds "On the way here we met a man going from Elen to Bannerhold. He mentioned he hoped to find work with the New Model as a scribe, and asked after our business. I told him that I was a bowyer, which is true, and planned to pitch you on the idea of commissioning a new hunting bow. I had not previously thought of doing that, but resolved to do so; and now I have. As for the rest of us, he seemed satisfied when I told him that the rest of us similarly hoped to find work with you -- without specifying exactly what sort of work."
"Which neatly demonstrates that I prefer cover stories involving as little actual lying as possible. The more elaborate the lie, the more there is to keep track of, and the greater the chance of discovery."
"Fyrtor is correct, however -- we need better covers explaining our presence and purpose in Iustia. Anything you can do to assist with that would be most helpful."
She raises a finger and scratches the back of her neck, flushing a little. "Um, Túrion's wolf is going to be ... difficult to explain. She's rather ... large."
Túrion was impressed with Mel's connection of the dots. It made perfect sense - a similar thought had occured to him, but he lacked inside into the Bishoprics inner workings and recent events.
"I believe your analysis to hold some truth. But regardless of the extent that you managed to uncover their scheming, the Viscount sounds like our best option to go for first. I am not very good at lying, but I would very much welcome any sort of arrangement that strenghtens my homelands defensive position, as long as the long-term outlook is neutral. We are somewhat isolationist so my position should make sense. If we manage to avoid a war by a carefully balanced network of alliances that ends up punishing whoever makes a first move, I'm fine with that."
"As for Nelly, yes, I am aware - she will stick out, but our identities will be under scrutiny regardless. Racially diverse groups as ours are few, and if they talk with each other, they may find they have been dealing with the same group. We may want to use alternate aliases for actual investigations, footwork, and dealing with other people - but may want to stick to one set of identities while dealing with the lordlings, as long as possible. If they do cross-check, it would give us some authenticity, as opposed to them becoming suspicious of us and warning the others."
Following his thoughts, he continues:"We can actually use the plot you suggested as a basis for that...that Avinoax wants to prepare for the worst - as the Concordat made moves on us. We have few minerals, and use mostly leathers, bows, and weaponry made mostly of wood, importing the metal needed. Arranging for a large shipment of weaponry to be sent would require contact to Harcourt and Cust as well. And if we learn that Beaumont has insights into the Concordats actions, there's a good reason to contact him as well, to learn of any invasion plans. We could keep the same cover up for all of our official interactions with them. What do you think?"
Kazador idly ran his fingers threw his beard, feeling quite lost. Even when he had a title and a bloodline to boast of he didn’t have a head for politics. And this was far more complex and cutthroat than anything he had ever experienced before. As the others talked of schemes and cover stories, he just hoped that he wouldn’t screw things up.
Count Aral rubs his beard then nods to Fyrtor and Mel "Well I suppose I could supply you with a couple of things to help you blend in. There are others I work with who have needs but I can spare either this" he pulls out a thin wooden rod six inches long "or these." He places a small leather satchel on the table. Inside are a necklace of clear glass beads and a circle of black cloth.
"Well, those will be useful," Mel says once the function of the objects has been explained. "Nelly can wear that necklace and hop in the portable hole and take a nap any time we need her out of sight for a bit."
"So, it sounds as though our first order of business is to pay a visit to Viscount Turick. The plan is to present ourselves as a delegation from Avinoax, plus a couple of local bodyguards. Our objective is to find out why he wants an alliance with Avinoax despite his dislike for elves. Let's keep it simple for now: we're interested in hearing his pitch for an alliance, want to know what Iustia can offer Avinoax, and what he hopes to gain from it. Once we've heard what he has to say, we tell him we need to confer with our superiors in Avinoax, and will be back in touch, then we get out."
"It would be great if we can use him to gain access to the others, but let's not push that too early. We don't have enough information about what's going on just yet. If we try to get too fancy, I bet you everything will fall apart."
Thinking aloud, she goes on. "We need to know where Turick is currently located. Count Aral, do you know where we should look for him? Is he more likely to be at his estate or in Bannerhold?"
"It would be best if we don't just show up on his doorstep and say 'Hi, we're from Avinoax, care to have a chat?' I think we should send him a message first, to open up contact. He's a lot more likely to buy our story if he's expecting visitors. Maybe something like this ..."
She tears a bit of paper out of her journal and jots down a note:
To the Honorable Viscount Alain Turick, greetings. Word has reached Avinoax that you seek an alliance. This is not without interest. Iustia and Avinoax share a common foe in the Concordat. Should you wish to discuss the idea in greater detail, simply designate a neutral space, and a delegation will be dispatched to meet with you.
You may leave your response at DROP POINT GOES HERE.
"... and we leave it unsigned. Getting it to him may be as simple as mailing it to him. Then we just need to watch the drop point and retrieve his response when it's given -- naturally being careful that we are not observed as we do so."
"What do you all think?"
Aral nods and hands over to Turion the small leather satchel containing the items Mel mentions. When she asks about Turick's location, he nods "He is likely to be wherever the king is as Turick is a constant friend. Thus he will be in Bannerhold at present. As for a drop point, any of the inns along the way to Bannerhold may serve well, as long as whoever picks up any return letters can avoid being followed."
Túrion accepts the satchel, thanking Aral for them, then looks at what Mel is doing: "I am not certain that would be the best approach. Notes can be tracked, those delivering it trailed. We, Avinoax, are known to the world, but that this is my first journey abroad despite my desire to learn all I can should speak volumes about how isolated we are. Beyond the port cities and their sanctioned trade, most people will never have seen a foreigner - or non-elf - in their lifes..."
He reads the note, then sighs: "No, I think we should neither show up on his doorstep, nor message him. The two of us should find him, and confront him alone. With magics and your skills, that should be quite doable."
He ponders the options some more: "Don't misunderstand, we can have a civil talk at the fireplace, sipping tea and exchanging pleasantries. But we would not seek contact openly. Avinoax would likely use magic that is beyond me to enter his dreams and instruct him to signal in a certain way that he does desire contact, then seek him out at a time of our choosing - something he will be informed about. The reason being so that if something does not work out, if a mutually beneficial conclusion cannot be reached, there is no implication of any sorts, and our involvement in what is happening cannot be proven."
He looks to Mel: "I know the Concordat employs methods that are similarily underhanded, but I suppose you could say that is the way of our kind...of course, if he is with the king, that makes things harder. It would certainly help if something came up that required his attention at his own Estate. A diversion, by Kazador and Fyrtor, maybe? Something we can easily clear up after we contacted him? Or, of course, the letter...he may not be too familiar with our customs, despite advocating an alliance, after all..."
"Hmmm, I'm not sure. Causing problems on his estate isn't likely to make him a friend, and we really need an ally in him if possible. We might be able to coerce him by threat, but a willing ally is much preferred. What did you have in mind for a diversion Turion?"
"Hmm," Mel says. "If I recall my basic arcane theory correctly, there are some comparatively simple spells that can be used for moving objects around. What was it ..."
"... oh yes, 'Apport Object' I believe they call it. I recall thinking of that and wishing we had it when we had to drop that keg of black powder base of that orcish barricade. Having to place it manually was rather nerve-wracking, invisibility or no."
"Túrion, if we could procure suitable learning materials for that spell, could you learn it? If so, we could use it to deposit a note directly into his pocket as he strolls past, while under cover ourselves; and also, if we direct him to write his response on the back of the same sheet of paper and put it in a public place, we could retrieve it without actually approaching the drop point."
”Ye say they’ve likely never seen a son of stone before? That’ll make me all the conspicuous.” Kazador said. ”I’d avoid stirring trouble. Sounds like it’d make me a local celebrity, and that doesn’t help us. Wouldn’t it be easiest to find a legit way of speaking with him? Something that would engender trust? Being all underhanded...if someone came to me through trickery I for one wouldn’t trust ‘em.”
"I agree, I'd like to have a straighfoward conversation, man to man as it were, but we have to be wise about this. He's not likely to agree to a simple request and once we are known we will be marked. I don't know that we can simply speak with him, at least not until we have some reason to expect he'll side with us.
This is a battle, just a different sort, a war of words and ideas, and unfortunately likely knives in the dark. Just like in a normal battle when vastly outnumbered as we are you have to keep from being caught. In our case I think that means we will have to work in the shadows.
Count sir, are any of these men particularly religious? What gods to they follow? Depending on who they worship perhaps we can remind them of their obligations."
Count Aral responds to Turion "Well he is likely to spend much of his days with the king but he will return to his Bannerhold house most nights."
To Kazador, he explains "Well most Iustians have seen a dwarf before in their life. Revanites travel away from their home to trade fairly often. Your race will be noticeable but not necessarily remarkable. I do recommend you all craft detailed false identities for yourselves, at least one each, with corresponding disguises."
To Fyrtor, he nods "Most Iustians, such as myself, worship Abadar and Erastil, in some combination. There are several, however, who praise Psomeira. In the past, such worship was considered to be more a historical homage. Now, however, many followers of Psomeira have risen to places of influence. I suspect some of these men may praise Psomeira, but regardless I cannot distinguish selfish motives from religious ones from this distance."
Túrion turns to Fyrtor to explain in more detail: "Oh, I was not talking about causing trouble. Even showing up at the doorstep and pretending to wish to talk over a non-existant trade proposal could work. In this setting, you would be the hired hands. Tools. With the task to lure him away from the king, and your purpose fulfilled when we make contact and explain the nature of the rouse. The supposed trade talks could then act as front for our own talks, and finish without result when we are done."
Turning to Kazador, Túrion shakes his head: "I don't know about the Iustians, they do have a Dwarven Autonomy Region, after all. I meant that in my homeland, Avinoax, there will be many who never saw a non-elf in their lives, if you passed through there, you would definitely draw a cloud of children staring. But in friendly curiosity, not animosity - otherwise you would never have reached the inner lands." He smiles slightly. "They would wonder as much about you as about the reason you were allowed to be there. But it seems you can avoid that spotlight, at least for the time being"
Turning to Mel, he nods:"I could learn any spell you throw at me - I am reasonably certain of that. I simply would prefer not leaving evidence of any sort. But I suppose we may need to compromise on that."
The Count listens intently to the plans then nods "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"As we contemplate our options, plans, approaches, and ideas, a few more questions could come up. At the same time, we have little time to lose. I would ask that you either arrange for an hour of time before our departure, where we may ask final questions of you, or support us by sending a trustworthy aide of yours along - someone we will not get involved in our plans, but who could support us with insights and local knowledge if needed."
After a short pause, Túrion adds:"I suppose a trustworthy independent agent with insights into local politics would be even more valuable, for not being associated with you, but what are the chances you know of someone like that?"
Aral thinks and nods "Very well. One more gift." He unlocks a drawer from his desk and pulls out a small notebook. "Write in this. The words will fade away but then appear in its counterpart, which I have here." He taps his breast pocket. "I will do the same. I will attempt to write nothing which will incriminate you if the notebook is found. It will not appear magical to most means of detection but it may still occur. Please exercise the same caution for me."
"Now that is extremely useful," Mel says appreciatively. "Thank you very much for your assistance, Count Aral. I hope we can accomplish our goals, prevent this war, and help King Stephen find a better path."
"So I guess we're going to Bannerhold; we'll just have to decide how exactly to approach Viscount Turick along the way. Count, you know him, and we don't -- do you think it would be wiser to approach him openly, without deceit, or to conceal our intent?"
Just before they turn to go, another thought occurs to her. "Oh! Um ... it occurs to me that none of us know anything much about Bannerhold. Is there a particular part of town we should be going to in order to find discreet lodgings? And is there anything else about the city we should know? Local regulations or customs that aren't obvious that might trip us up? Things to do or avoid doing so as not to attract attention to ourselves?"
Kazador bowed. ”A man of honor no doubt. We’ll strive to live up to yer trust.” Kazador said.
To the Count, Fyrtor nods looking contemplative. "I see. I have great respect for those who follow Erastil. Either way we will have to get to know each of these men."
As the plan to leave and seek out the Viscount is finalized he adds his assent. "Yes, it is time to be moving. We can finalize our plans on the way. We do not know how long we have before war becomes inevitable. We must be swift as well as careful.
Thank you, Count sir. I wish we had more time, I'd like to get to know you more, and to learn more of my father's time in your service. Perhaps when this is all over we can meet again."
The count considers these last questions of Mel's and thinks to himself "Well the Viscount is somewhat hot-tempered. If you openly told him you thought his decisions were ill-advised without having established any relationship with him, I do not believe he would listen to you, even if you had a silver tongue."
As for Iustian customs, he shrugs somewhat "It is difficult to tell you what is different about my land as I have spent little time outside it. Follow the law or at least be discreet. Do not insult authority unless you are in very specific company. I can tell you little else but you may ask me about things as they arrive. I will check the notebook as often as I am able."
He nods and smiles to Fyrtor "It is an honor meeting Daryl's son. He was a fine man."
And with that, you leave Count Aral and begin traveling toward Bannerhold, as you travel, you try to finalize your plans.
You travel to Bannerhold with little incident, the roads leading naturally into the most populous city of the continent (read "known world"). You flow naturally into the city with the busy foot traffic. You see guardsmen wearing the red and gold of Iustia quite frequently but there are far too many people for them to systematically interrogate or inspect those coming to the great capital. Once there, it isn't hard to pick up or piece together a few pieces of information
There is a large hill known as the Rexuline that dominates the northern side of the city. Most of the great houses as well as the royal palace are located there.
There is a busy, mid-tier tavern around the corner known as the Thundering Lizard.
There aren't too many dwarves in the crowd so people look at you just a hair longer than they look at each other. The general attitude you sense from them is one of grudging respect.
"Up there," Mel nods ahead, sparkling a smile. "You can see the Rexuline. The palace is on top of that hill, and of course the estates of the nobility. Isn't it pretty!"