Sign Conversation with Malkaer and Zak
Vel frowns at Mal's attempt at bluffing, and replies in sign to both...
"Let me be clear, I only care if you belong to a Noble House of Kev'ronn. I don't care if you are from a noble house from any other Drow city because they are not a concern to us in Kev'ronn. It is a yes or no question without a feeble attempt at bluffing, Lord Illuvinar or Mr. Illuvinar?"
Malkaer's eyes narrowed. He wanted to pull his blade out and plunge it into Velkyn's open mouth. But isn't that what got him in trouble in the first place? He took a deep breath. That wasn't like him. It was the blade, trying to exert it's influence over him. Putting on his best courtly smile and a bow, he replied
When your eyes narrowed, you could have swore Vel's eyes flashed red with magical power.
Vel bows from the neck but still keeping his eyes on Malkaer,
"Thank you Lord for clarifying that. With your actions and your verbiage or sign, I can tell you are not from here but you are royalty or wealthy none-the-less and I will treat you as such since that is how I would also like to be treated ... Lord"
He courtesy bows once more, then looks at Zak.
Regardless ir or not sensing the Priest motives, Vel holds his ground before moving to the study, "Priest of Balserius, you still have not told us what our reward will be."
Malkaer momentarily stiffened. He had to remind himself that he was from a foreign city, one fairly far away. Nobody would care about him. He was an outsider. A nobody. He resolved to try and act the part better.
While Malkaer contemplates in front of Velkyn, Velkyn does his own with a frown of punishment, "Darn it Velkyn, you know swordsmen of your kin can fillet the meat from your bone! Be more careful in your vocal and sign verbiage, you are no meat shield! Just because he may rot in jail, you are not going to enjoy it! Oh hell, I would probably haunt him."
Velkyn laughs to himself and then looks at Zak for an answer while waiting for the Priest to proclaim a bounty. and walking towards the study. He begins to sign again,
"What about you Lord, what Noble House of Kev'ronn are you from?"
"The rewards of course, we do not have much to offer, but we can spare a thousand gold for each of you, or you Mary take an item from the donation room, that is all we have to offer though, anything to get the Father back," He bows his head.
"This donation room, what might be inside of it? It would not do to make a promise without knowing the full details of payment first."
He looks at the Priest of Balserius, and replies in common, "The gold sounds fair, and the item could be, but is that both dead or alive, or just alive. Of course, I will not kill him for that is bad for business and a good life in many ways. If he is pompous and annoying, the worse I would do is gag him with Mr. Goroglak's unclean under garment. In addition, if we are successful at ending the disappearances and finding Father Dawnsinger, alive or dead not by our hand, I want you to proclaim that House Millitharn is the most Noble House of all of Kev'ronn at City Council? Is that something the temple can do for House Millitharn?"
”I should definitely learn their sign language soon if I want to find this elf Farnan and get out of the city alive. Otherwise they might talk about cutting my throat and I wouldn't understand it."
Zulan doesn't seem to be interested in the reward. He walks to the door the priest pointed at to open it and to have a look at the room.
"The donation room is a room that only Father Dawnsinger is allowed to open, but I assure you that anything in there would be well worth your time, as for the matter of his recovery we would prefer if he was alive, though if he is dead by the time you find him... You shall still recieve a reward," He seems to be a little depressed as he talks about the Father possibly being dead, "Please hurry every second we waste is one that he could be dead!"
@Zulan You look in and see a week kept office.
"Hey, I need my under-whatsits. Don't be using them as a gag." Goroglak responds with some irritation. He thought they were referring to the clothes that went on before the rest of your clothes. It was an interesting concept. The Bogstump tribe had nothing similar, so it had been a new experience.
"That sounds good to me. Let's go take a look at the study," Goroglak says to the priest before following the fiery-looking guy to the door and looking in through his legs.
Velkyn stops and bows to the priest, "I understand that we must hurry to insure Father Dawnsinger is alive, I do want to bring Father Dawnsinger home, I want to bring the missing Drow home, and the treasure is nice, but some things are worth more than treasure which is not a proclamation of giving up my share, but the Temple must let the good people of Kev'ronn know that it was House Millitharn behind the ending of the disappearances and the Father's return because they both heavily on the people's minds for different reasons, and House Millitharn must be recognized as the House that lifted their minds. Priest, do you understand my concern and request?"
As the Drow named Velkyn tries to strut around the room as if he owns it and dictating terms on this or that and demanding answers from those that he does not know, Zaknador just watches. He does not answer does not look at him, he just looks around the room
With a strong voice filled with condemnation directed at Velkyn as if the answer is plain for all to see. Very slowly he answers.
.....E'Ilansani....
His eyes look long and hard into the Velkyn. The red glow of his eyes slowly brightening as if an intense surge of power is rising inside him.
Zaknador looks over at the Human for a few moments and then looks away.
He does not look at the construct. His attention to the Goblin is brief at best.
He turns towards the other Drow and looks at him for a few moments, his eyes falling on the blade, then back at the owner and then around the room again.
A Kobold could tell a better lie
Zaknador's voice is calm and ordered...
When...we are successful..we all will get the rewards...we are deserved and all will benefit from the word of...our deeds.
Not even bothering to wait for an answer or reply, Zaknador turns to the young priest.
I accept your offer of compensation for the investigation into the disappearance of Father Dawnsinger. I also am here on another matter...one that I will speak to you in private. First let us see what is in the office.
Zaknador walks into the place where Father Dawnsinger was last seen.
Velkyn stops and bows to the priest, "I understand that we must hurry to insure Father Dawnsinger is alive, I do want to bring Father Dawnsinger home, I want to bring the missing Drow home, and the treasure is nice, but some things are worth more than treasure which is not a proclamation of giving up my share, but the Temple must let the good people of Kev'ronn know that it was House Millitharn behind the ending of the disappearances and the Father's return because they both heavily on the people's minds for different reasons, and House Millitharn must be recognized as the House that lifted their minds. Priest, do you understand my concern and request?"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+11
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that your house gets the recognition,"
With a strong voice filled with condemnation directed at Velkyn as if the answer is plain for all to see. Very slowly he answers.
.....E'Ilansani....
His eyes look long and hard into the Velkyn. The red glow of his eyes slowly brightening as if an intense surge of power is rising inside him.
Velkyn returns an etiquette bow with eyes still on Zak, playing the Kev'ronn noble game. In addition Vel's eyes flash red instead of glow, tapping into magic through other means, "Lord E'Ilansani, let us not destroy the temple or injure our colleagues in an arcane spat. I believe our employer, our colleagues, nor the city guard would appreciate it?!" Velkyn indirectly continues to influence the Priest through his means of Diplomacy.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that your house gets the recognition,"
Velkyn neck bows in respect to his wishes, "I thank you Priest of Balserius, I accept your offer. And Sir, do you want me to keep calling you Priest of Balserius or do you have proper forename and surname you wish me to call you by?"
also am here on another matter...one that I will speak to you in private. First let us see what is in the office.
Velkyn's eyes focus on Zak regarding the private meeting, however he will act upon that later so not to degrade the diplomacy he has already built up with the priest and for other reasons as well. He enters the study with everyone else, but keeping one eye on Zak.
Since Drow Detect Magic is constant, I will role for Kn.Arcana as well;
Velkyn returns a etiquette bow with eyes still on Zak, playing the Kev'ronn noble game. In addition Vel's eyes flash red instead of glow, tapping into magic through other means, "Lord E'Ilansani, let us not destroy the temple or injure our colleagues in an arcane spat. I believe our employer, our colleagues, nor the city guard would appreciate it?" Velkyn continues to influence the Priest through his means of Diplomacy.
Returning the bow in an exaggerated tone, he speaks
But of course Millitharn, we would not want to see such a situation to occur. That would be an unfortunate accident and you would not want to bring that glory to the most Noble House of all of Kev'ronn. and as he speaks he is signing That might put a damper on your plans for the temple's Mithral Dragon. The shame that would come to your house if such an blatant disrespect for the law would come to light...now if some thing should ever happen to the dragon...well that would bring lots of attention to your house...more so than anything a lonely priest could ever say to the council....you never know who is watching and keeping track...magically or otherwise.A smile appears on his face.
Zaknador continues to scan the room.
And this, he decided, was why he always looked down on Kev'ronn. In his homeland, you could just kill (or have killed) uppity crow. A good sword blow silenced not only insubordination now, but it did so in the future as well. But here, there were laws. Malkaer watched Velkyn to see how he would respond to this blatant threat.
Velkyn looks at Zak like he is crazy and remains calm in his Common Diplomatic reply to Zak, "Lord E'Ilansani, what plans do I have for the Mithral Dragon since it is not in my possession, belongs to me or my house? Since you are now speaking about it, it is you who wants to steal it since you are trying to form some focus of guilt upon me or my house. It is YOU that the Priest of Balserius should be watching."
He calmly neck bows while watching him with normal greeting expression.
He looks at the Priest, "Priest of Balserius, I would watch this man? He speaks like a crazy man. He will most certainly cast a spell on you during his private meeting with you hence why my affairs have been public. You probably don't want to have this private meeting after all? He will certainly take advantage of you. In addition, the private meeting will waste further time from maybe finding Father Dawnsinger alive and we don't want to find him dead, do we? And now he wastes further time by adding false accusations."
The smile continues to grow as he senses the next mistake this upstart has made. He raises a finger, wagging it back and forth.
tsk, tsk, tsk....a typical Millitharn. Cornered with the truth they scurry like rats trying desperately to place blame solely on anyone else. Trying vainly to lift themselves above their humble origins.
He shakes his head with a smile still there...
Come now little Millitharn...you tilt when you should withdraw. The continued verbal assault on my person is laughable as you are beneath me and of no concern. Remember young one that everyone is watching and some are even recording what they see......and hear
The church of Balserius and I have a business contract. You are not seriously attempting to verbally break a lawful contract between two party's to further the needs and ambitions of your mercantile house, are you? A misunderstanding then...hmmm.
check mate
Turning his back deliberately on the Velkyn as if daring him to attack him. Zaknador continues to scan the room as he feels this discussion is over.
He turns to the priest of Balserius knowing that his dealings with the church go way back and will continue in the future.
I will meet with you as we have done in the past, when would be a good time for you.
Malkaer kept his face as stone as he watched, though the urge to sigh was great. Back home rivals always acted as if though they were old friends, while both knew that assassins had already been hired. Here, the drow seemed to be much more overt in their threats, hiding behind the 'law.' Which meant to him that this city's ruling caste were powerful indeed, if their nobles were reduced to this kind of squabbling. It was a comfort though. It meant that even with a pair of local nobles within this group, the chances of him being killed in his sleep were low.
He did his best to judge whether or not Zknador was telling teh truth about having a contract with the church.
Deciding that they would get nowhere fast with this bickering, Malkaer interjected:
"Well then! We can all agree on one thing. We agree to work for the church of Balserius. My good priest, what can you tell us of the drow you had mentioned earlier, and what information is there to know about the priest who has gone missing?"
Velkyn calmly yawns at Zak's words and continues to search for Father Dawnsinger's disappearance since that is more important than a Noble spat or that is the gesture Velkyn is giving. "Aye Lord Malkaer, I have already agreed in public and don't need a private meeting to waste time while Father Dawnsinger's life is at stake." Velkyn looks over to Zak and back.
"The Drow that came, I do not remember much of them, other than that they wished to speak with Father Dawnsinger, That is all I can recall."
You see many small magical trinkets nothing they does more than produce light or small effects like that, bit as you look around you see a scuff mark on the ground by the bookcase.
Zulan walks around in the office and searches for something suspicious.
Goroglak also searches the room, crawling into small spaces that the bigger creatures would find challenging.
Since the priest doesn't seem a bit interested in Drow politics, Velkyn moves to the spot where the struggle was, "There was a struggle directly right here, Mr Goro, please search here while I use Detect Magic." Vel looks up catching Malkaer's sign and replies,
"They may not be dead since we don't see blood here but yes, the (2) drow may have been the ones to carry the Father Priest off but there still isn't enough evidence to place the focus of guilt on them but I would agree they are suspects."
After Detect Magic catches something or does not, Vel looks at the Priest, "You said you don't remember much about the (2) Drow but do remember anything else besides they were drow?"
Velkyn walks to be standing next to the scuff marks near the book case, "I mean Mr. Goroglak search here next to the book shelf. The scuff marks are not necessarily a sign of struggle either. The book shelf could be one of those secret door book shelves we read in books?"
"Okay. I'll see if I can find anything." Goroglak walks over to the bookcase and begins searching around it, listening and, occasionally for some reason, sniffing.
Other then the stuff from before and the PC's magic items, there is nothing of magic.
As Goroglak listens next to the book care, he can hear the faint rushing off wind.
Goroglak tilts his head, listening to the sound of rushing wind. "Hey, I hear wind next to this bookcase. Since this should be a wall, that doesn't make much sense, unless there's a space behind the wall. I'm gonna look for a secret door. Anyone wanna help?"
"Interesting..."
Goroglak you find no way in, but Malkaer you saunter over and pull on one book and the shelf slides back.
"Good find Mr. Goroglak and Lord Malkaer and like I said, "Just like the reading books."" Vel looks at the priest, "Have you seen this before? If so, you know where it leads?"
the priest is not in the room with you
"Well then...master goblin." With a slight smirk he continued "after you."
Goroglak looks through the opening and then looks at Malkaer before saying, "Hey, you found how to open the secret door. Shouldn't you go first since you're better at noticing things?"
Goroglak looks through the opening and then looks at Malkaer before saying, "Hey, you found how to open the secret door. Shouldn't you go first since you're better at noticing things?"
Make a perception check.
Vel looks around for the priest and notices he is missing, then shrugs.
When Goroglak turns around to look into the passage way, Vel sends a quick smile to Malkaer for sending the goblin first but before Goroglak could look back for assurance or rebuttal.
Zaknador takes a very quick look back from where they came, looking to see where the young man has wondered off to.
"Me, go first? Oh goblin humor will never cease to amaze me! Go on now. If a goblin isn't of use as a scout, then what use is it? Go and prove your worth, little one."
Goroglak you post down the dark doorway and see a staircase and drawn across a step is a very thin wire, almost invisible.
Zaknador you find him praying in front is the mithral statue. His lips moving in an unspoken prayer.