Angered by the 2 arrow bolts lodged in its chest, the River Drake dives at Renli.
As it dives, Benzi & Jovlund come charging in:
Benzi's strike bounces off the beast's hide, while Jovlund lands a vicious wound. With it's mouth full of blood, the creature again takes to the sky, provoking attacks of opportunity from Benzi & Jovlund.
Benzi scores a hit, drawing blood, while Jovlund narrowly misses.
Actually that does make a difference.
As the Young Drake tries to take to the sky, Jovlund and Benzi cut it down.
While an applause goes up from the ship's crew, you each scan the water looking for signs of more trouble.
As your eyes shift to the shoreline, you all spot the glitter of gold and gems emanating from beneath a small mound of debris.
Throwing caution to the wind, Benzi leaps from the ship and swims over to the shoreline. Digging through the debris you find a small stash of gold nuggets and uncut garnets. Apparently this Drake was found of shiny things.
Following the river drake confrontation and resumption of the journey east, Passad and the envoys emerge from belowdecks.
Temel: "The Pathfinder Society continues to amaze me, and it seems to me increasingly prudent to enter into a business arrangement that would certainly be to our mutual benefit—particularly for those with an eye for spotting profit. Let me make my case simply: my trade network is growing and already blankets the Inner Sealike no other, and the dwarves cannot hope to compete with the prices I offer. Let us not forget that the Pathfinders have had many mutually profitable business dealings with me in the past. As a sign of good faith I offer you these Healing Potions”
He hands each of you a Blue Bottle (Potion of Cure Moderate).
Not to be out done, once Temel has finished, Metella approaches you: "Yes, Temel has his bejeweled fingers in many pies and can offer cheaper wares, but consider the advantages of a business relationship with my mercantile concern: our network is many centuries old, and the quality of our goods is unrivaled. Furthermore, an arrangement with a firm with such deep roots in the Five Kings Mountains would reinforce the military alliance the Society is already negotiating. As a token of our friendship, please accept these.”
She hands each of you a brown bottle. (Potion Bear's Endurance)
At dusk the ships rounds a bend and a small dock can be seen on the shoreline. The Captain announces that you have arrived at the Gray Revelation Inn and instructs the crew to drop anchor and prepare the row boat.
As you prepare to board the small craft, Temel informs you that he and the dwarves will wait for you aboard the ship, and that it would be best if you complete your business before dawn. Surprisingly Metella agrees.
As your ship heads for the dock, Amauhak calls out a warning: "I advise you to refrain from violence on Razmiri soil... if it can be helped."
Landing at the dock, you follow a stone path leading about 200 yards through some light tree cover to the villa. As you approach the building a sign above the wide wooden gates reads, “Welcome to the Gray Revelation Inn.” The gate leans open invitingly, and the smell of fresh flowers wafts on the cool breeze. All appearances suggest a very cozy establishment.
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Renli thanks both of them for their gracious gifts. "Temel, Metella, you both humble us with these gifts. We are in your debt, thank you. While the two of you do not see eye to eye, I ask that you leave your differences behind right now and work together - we are in dangerous lands, and conflict between the two of you could lead to all of our downfall. I would advise that you all stay here while my fellow Pathfinders and I ascertain the whereabouts of the other dwarves, and enact a rescue if necessary. Key your gang plank drawn up, if anyone comes asking, we are just inside seeking supplies to refit then launch back off."
As he disembarks, he chuckles at Bezni's words. [b]"While a violent rescue may be required, I would at least like to try and do it without bloodshed first. Let us start by determining if they are actually even here."
As they approach, Renli scans the courtyard and the exterior of the two buildings for any signs of a basement or lower levels, and any alternate entrances.
Renli, your argument works on the dwarves and, at least for now, they agree to work together.
Entering the courtyard:
The profusion of flowers planted around this lovely courtyard fills the air with an enchanting fragrance. An oaken door to the north is the obvious entrance to the inn, while south are the broad doors of a stable. Wooden gates allow egress to west and east, and a roofed well lies at the east end of the main court.
Inn Common Room:
Dark oaken tables, chairs and benches fill this comfortable, L-shaped common room, and the faint odors of tobacco and ale permeate the air. Narrow windows with panes of smoked glass along the north and south walls allow some light into this welcoming space.
An old matronly woman, clad in peasant clothing and an apron, sits at the centermost table of the room. Her voluminous white hair is piled atop her head and secured in a conservative bun. She wears a red scarf about her neck and has her head in a book.
"Rosh is that you -looking up- "Oh my, guests! Welcome, Welcome to the Gray Revalation Inn. Please come, sit down here by the hearth and warm up, I'll fetch you something to eat. Tonight we have a wonderful pheasant pie...Eugenia, Tarsi, we have guests.
She stands to great you, but then the sudden look of fear comes over her as she see's how heavily armed you are...
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Trusting in his luck and the blessings of Cayden in his revered house, Renli follows Bezni's lead, placing his longsword and shortbow by the door. He offers a subtle bow to the matron of the house. As he does, he attempts a cursory scan of the inn: exits, windows, fireplaces, any sign of other guests.
"Indeed m'lady, we are grateful for your hospitality. The road has been long, and our bellies are in need of nourishment. We are actually looking to catch up with a few traveling dwarven friends. I heard they may have passed this way recently?"
after a pause, she continues "Of course. My name is Addas Grymble, and I run this establishment with my 2 sisters. Please make yourselves at home. Dwarves you say, hmmm, no I'm afraid its been some time since we had any dwarven guests. It has been very quite around here lately, most of the local farmers and shepherds who frequent our common room are off to thronestep for the Accession Day ceremonies."
As she is speaking 2 other old women, enter from the kitchen area. The first, whom Addas introduces as Tarsi carries a large try of food (stew & bread) while the second named Eugenia carries 4 mugs of ale.
"A long road you say, come sit, we do enjoy a good tale. Tell us of were you are from."
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Renli smiles as he sits at the table, "A tale then? Why of course! I am Renli Rumblebelly, explorer, adventurer, romancer of women-" he throws them a wink, "and slayer of monsters! And these-" gesturing to Bezni, Jovlund, and Rukus, "are my most trusted of companions. In our time together we have traveled near and far, and accomplished a great many things. We recovered a relic from a forgotten age in the World's Edge Mountains, crossed blades with a master duelist atop a tower in Oppara, braved the storms of the Eye of Abendego, and most recently discovered a long-forgotten temple to Aroden on the Isle of Kortos. And that is what brings us to Razmiran."
"You see my companion here, Lotsafutrukus, is a devotee of Razmir and I have seen the divine gifts he has received first hand. In discovering the forgotten temple of Aroden, Lotsafutrukus reconsecrated it in the name of Razmir, who he told us is Aroden Reborn. The return of Aroden is a most great blessing on Golarion, and I humbly requested that Lotsafutrukus bring us north to Razmir so that we might see the land blessed to have Aroden Reborn for a ruler, with the hope that we might one day lay our eyes upon Himself and learn of his ways. And that, my ladies, is our tale."
Throughout the tale he will lift the tankard to his mouth to drink then abruptly start to speak again, never actually taking a drink. Likewise, he will happily accept a bowl of stew, and grab the spoon and lift it several times, but again become so animated in his story that he never actually takes a mouthful.
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Bezni will give the women a grin, and promptly help himself to some ale, plop down at one of the chairs and put his feat up on the table.
He is intentionally trying to appear "disarmed" and perhaps foolish rather than hostile. In reality Bezni is ready to quick draw a dagger and hurl it at the first sign of trouble.
To appear, calm, and not hostile