The group makes the northern gates to Lepidstadt, some time before the moon rises. River mist, murky and chill, conjeals around the walls.
Two halberdiers in studded leather and iron bowl helmets guard the gate.
nitey nite!
"Very nice to meet you both, Ragnvaldr. I too serve Pharasma, though perhaps not in such a muscular fashion. It seems like we are to be companions, at least as far as Lepistadt. And Leik, you are a fascinating ... ah ... person. We must talk. After I've had a bath." Alinya gestures at her mud- and blood-stained dress with a grimace of distaste.
Edwin nods as the worg lopes away.
"Indeed. Smart enough to learn a lesson is also smart enough to hold a grudge, unfortunately. Ah well, Pray for the former, prepare for the latter. That's my motto. One of them, at any rate."
After gratefully bathing in the golden glow of Rholf's channeled healing energies, he sings a quiet song, the musical notes forming bright blue wisps of healing energies that land lightly on the worst of his wounds.
Afterwords he looks much better, physically, although he obviously agrees with Alinya about the current condition of his clothing.
"Again, a pleasure to meet you both. And a most timely meeting it was." he greets the newcomers as they prepare to move to Lepidstadt.
"My name is Drood. Edwin Drood."
"I am Leik. "
"I am Leik. "
"A pleasure to meet you Mr,... I apologize. Do I address you as a male, or female?" Edwin asks unashamedly, inspecting the newcomer's carapace and making observations on any decorations.
"We are asexual creatures. However, I am accustomed to being addressed as a male due to me being a warrior, though in truth I am neither male or female."
"Most interesting. An advanced form of Insectovore. As opposed to humanoid. Tell me Leik, how do your folk keep records and history? Do you perchance tell,... stories?" Edwin's eyes light up at the possibility of an entirely new source of material.
"yes, our people primarily pass stories along down the generations. some people do write things down, but it is mostly our storytellers who keep our history."
Kafka.....heh heh.
The group makes the northern gates to Lepidstadt, some time before the moon rises. River mist, murky and chill, conjeals around the walls.
Two halberdiers in studded leather and iron bowl helmets guard the gate.
"Let us through, you lunkheads!" Alinya demands, "Can't you see we need to get back to our inn, urgently?" The wizard is in an imperious mood, and not keen to see sloth in the city guard.
"Oi. Wot's 'at thing, en?"
one of the guards points at Leik with his 'alberd.
"Have you seen any more of my kind come through here? Much smaller even than I. They might have been stowed as cargo. How thoroughly do you inspect passers-by?"
They look at eachother inquisitively.
"There's,......more.....of them....."
"More than you know, but less than there used to be. You see, many of our children were captured and brought in this direction. I seek to get them back and return them to where they belong, several days away from here. If you could be so kind as to let me conduct my preliminary investigation, it would be much appreciated, warrior."
"....It's....talking to us....."
"wot is it?"
"It might be dangersome. I never seen a roach that big."
"What are you lot about, bringin this thing here?"
"I assure you I am no danger. I am unarmed."
"This 'roach' is a warrior who has proven himself alongside us in battle. Unless you seek to besmirch my honor as an Ulfen shieldsman, I suggest you grant our party entry. We have wounded in need of aid and I have a powerful thirst in need of quenching," Ragnvaldr crosses his arms atop his horse, staring balefully at the guards. Gesturing to the rear of his horse, where a stack of bloody worg pelts are piled high, he addresses the guards again.
"We ran afoul of some worgs in the countryside. Their pelts should be most attractive to your merchants here."
Edwin hums, gathering his concentration. He can actually see the notes as he creates them, shimmering in the air, slowly floating towards the two guards. As they reach the guards he begins to speak, slowly and steadily at first, slowly building up both speed and intensity as he goes on.
"Gentlemen! Be careful how you address the new ambassador! I assure you, this magnificent and Intelligent being is merely the newest of the wonders we have to tell you of!" Edwin begins.
Edwin begins by telling the guards of their assistance into the investigations of the events surrounding the capture of 'The Beast'. (leaving out details, making them want to hear more!) He recounts their run in with both the manticore and alligator, (making the alligator sound more like a baby dragon) and continues through their meeting with the worgs.
"So you see gentlemen, we have returned, with both answers and more questions, members in need of healing, and new allies! I'm sure you will allow us to re-enter and seek assistance for both our injured, and our newest ambassador?" He smiles, his subtle magic encouraging the guards to believe that it would do great things for their careers to assist these adventurers.
Larissa speaks up, "We have been performing investigations on behalf of Barrister Gustav Kaple. One of our number was stricken," she gestures at the comatose paladin, "while valiantly defending us from dead-that-walk. These two," referring to Leik and Ragnvaldr, "came to our aid when we were beset by much more lively four-legged beasts. As we returned to the city. Please, we really need to reach a healer. And," with a glance at the visibly irate noblewoman, "our accommodations at the inn."
Rholf smiles amiably at the guards...
"This 'roach' is a warrior who has proven himself alongside us in battle. Unless you seek to besmirch my honor as an Ulfen shieldsman, I suggest you grant our party entry. We have wounded in need of aid and I have a powerful thirst in need of quenching," Ragnvaldr crosses his arms atop his horse, staring balefully at the guards. Gesturing to the rear of his horse, where a stack of bloody worg pelts are piled high, he addresses the guards again.
"We ran afoul of some worgs in the countryside. Their pelts should be most attractive to your merchants here."
They both sneer at you.
"Oi, wouldn't wont ti bismirch you there, sport!"
"You watch yourself there, bucko...."
Edwin hums, gathering his concentration. He can actually see the notes as he creates them, shimmering in the air, slowly floating towards the two guards. As they reach the guards he begins to speak, slowly and steadily at first, slowly building up both speed and intensity as he goes on.
"Gentlemen! Be careful how you address the new ambassador! I assure you, this magnificent and Intelligent being is merely the newest of the wonders we have to tell you of!" Edwin begins.
1d20+9
Edwin begins by telling the guards of their assistance into the investigations of the events surrounding the capture of 'The Beast'. (leaving out details, making them want to hear more!) He recounts their run in with both the manticore and alligator, (making the alligator sound more like a baby dragon) and continues through their meeting with the worgs.
"So you see gentlemen, we have returned, with both answers and more questions, members in need of healing, and new allies! I'm sure you will allow us to re-enter and seek assistance for both our injured, and our newest ambassador?" He smiles, his subtle magic encouraging the guards to believe that it would do great things for their careers to assist these adventurers.
1d20+10
"Ambassador, is it? Righto,......er......well, you guys check out; I'd definitely throw a cloak over the ambassador; he'll cause a stir or a riot maybe. I don't much condone or even appreciate riots, then."
Larissa speaks up, "We have been performing investigations on behalf of Barrister Gustav Kaple. One of our number was stricken," she gestures at the comatose paladin, "while valiantly defending us from dead-that-walk. These two," referring to Leik and Ragnvaldr, "came to our aid when we were beset by much more lively four-legged beasts. As we returned to the city. Please, we really need to reach a healer. And," with a glance at the visibly irate noblewoman, "our accommodations at the inn."
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 11
"Allright; get brave Castiel in then. But for Pharasma's sake, cover your cockroach ambassador up!!!"
Rholf smiles amiably at the guards...
One of them kinda wiggles his eyebrows at Rholf. The other one sneers at him; he looks self conscious now.
Leik will pull his cloak's hood over his head.
"At last, sweet reason!" Alinya sweeps past the guards and into the city. Passing, she pauses and then digs in a pouch. "For your trouble,"
She hands the two guards a platinum piece each.
Edwin nods politely and murmurs words of gratitude as they pass into the city. He shakes his head ruefully at Alinya's gift to the two guards.
"I hope such positive reinforcement does not encourage them to solicit 'gifts' from others entering the city. I am all for tipping for good service, but one should not seek gratuity for merely performing one's job." He says to Alina. Not chiding, his tone suggests that he has a grudge against persons taking tips, or as he mutters, 'bribes'.
""Welcome to Lepidstadt, Leik and Ragnvaldr!" He says cheerfully enough, considering the circumstances.
"Come along, let us get you a room for the night, and take care of our fellow." He glances worridly at their companion on the stretcher.
"Let us avoid the area where they have assembled the burning man. Most of the crowds will be there - and most of those that would take offense because Liek is different." There's an unusually bitter note in her tone at this last remark.
She looks around. "Would that I knew the city better. How can we get to our Inn from here?"
"This way should be quickest I believe." Edwin replied without pause.
He glanced at the others.
"I took the liberty of memorizing the layout of streets as much as possible when we first arrived. While I by no means have every alley memorized, yet, I am fairly certain that I can find a major thoroughfare that will get us to our inn without passing the Burning Man."
"What is the burning man for?"
"They seek to use it to execute someone accused of terrible crimes. I am - we are not convinced that he did these things."
"This way should be quickest I believe." Edwin replied without pause.
He glanced at the others."I took the liberty of memorizing the layout of streets as much as possible when we first arrived. While I by no means have every alley memorized, yet, I am fairly certain that I can find a major thoroughfare that will get us to our inn without passing the Burning Man."
1d20+9
You're able to figure out how to get there.
Just need a disguise check for Leik; aid another checks are also acceptable.
maybe with a bonus for covering my body with a cloak
There's a group of drunken rowdies; might see the dromite.
"Perhaps a distraction is in order. Master Drood?"
"Perhaps a distraction is in order. Master Drood?"
"Yes, I too often forget that I'm a human torch..." Rholf chuckles as he heads off toward the drunks at a bit of an jaunt, causing the flames that constantly leap up from his hair to whip and dance...
"Hello gents!" he calls to them all, waving... "Any of you fine fellows happen to have seen a great big lass about? She's, oh, about so tall..." Rholf gestures to indicate someone approximately a head and a half taller than himself... "She's wearing naught but feathers and a few rings, has fire-red hair, and was trying to get me to round up some lads to oil her... armor... I had hoped that she and I could discuss some of the finer points hair care, but... Is it hot out here, or is it just me?"
Rholf continues to ramble in an amiable way, and if the situation looks as thought it might get out of hand, he quickly says "Hey, can I buy you chaps a drink for your time?"
"Perhaps a distraction is in order. Master Drood?"
Edwin chuckles softly as Rholf intercepts the group of rowdies.
"Indeed Ms Larissa. Just a moment, You want to time these things just so,..." He pauses a breath more, then waves the others to assist the dromite to pass unnoticed as he steps forward to stand next to Rholf.
"Come along Mister Kyle, You knows yew cain't find dat red haired ladee! Sides, Why woud'ja still WANT tew afteh the slap she gaves yeh?"
Edwin turns to the youths, "She's real enuff', But she slapped him so hard I think he lost half his whiskey out 'is ears! An' she must be a magiker, cuz she said his head would look liahk dis until he got his Lee-bee-do unner control. Ah don' know whut dat iz, But Master Kyle aint gots no bees!"
All teh while, he watches the faces of the youths, to make certain he is holding their attention, and not looking around at the others.
"I'll be sure and tell if I sees her," one of the lushes say; they seem to be enrapt by Edwin's story; enough so that the little roach man can cruise by without anybody noticing his clickety toes under the hiding cape or whatever.
You guys make the inn, if you want to.
There's a bored barmaid, playing solitaire, waiting for the evening's drinking to get underway; most folks are carousing out of doors it would seem.
"What does your ring tell you about the young ones now?"
Leik will focus on the ring to get a line of bearing to the poor, captured younglings
It draws southeast.
"Well-played, Edwin." Rholf says as they extricate themselves from the group.