"Well all that sounds good.. I going to need something crafted for me at some point. Something that can cover me in darkness.." He responds to Lil questions.. "Dhampir blood is indeed has the essence of necromancy in it, but some strains are more aligned to becoming powerful undead rather than making it.. Im well on my way to becoming a Vampire.."
Vlad will shift his form to appear as a knight before he heads into town.. "Im gonna go ask around about this Caer Bryr and any guardians that might exist there.."
After they move into town he'll do just that. Under the guise of an adventurer he'll ask around about denizens of the forest and see if he can find any mpas of the area..
Seth spent an hour carefully donning a new set of robes, and then with his fancy new Iron Circlet, he changed his appearance further. Suddenly the slightly off color robes he was wearing matched the Mitran faith perfectly. Across his breastplate, the symbol of Mitra was prominent, and even his tiefling features were underplayed. His red skin was less pronounced and his eyes no longer burned or glowed red, instead shining a pretty blue. The affect was, in some ways, subtle. In others it was quite dramatic. But as he left the boat, a passerby-er would be hard pressed to assume he was anything but a faithful follower of Mitra.
But just in case the priests in this city were smarter then they looked, he had made sure to cast a spell before leaving. Assured that his nature would be quite hard to see through, Seth would make his way to the local temple. Aware that he had a only a day before his meeting, he would still take his time, walking through the streets calmly and asking questions of those he saw about how the local temple and its members acted.
He went so far as to politely knock on the temple doors. To the one that answered, he would say, "Good day. I am Michael, and I come seeking aid of the local clergy. Is there anyone here I can speak too that might know of local myths and legends?"
It wasn't hard to tell that Seth was intrigued, and the nature of both his armor and his garb might reveal that he was more then just a regular traveling cleric. They might dub him an adventurer, but there was more to it, and Seth was ready with answers if any of them had questions.
Without any proper way to take Grumblejack to the forest, Argan will leave to buy and sell stuff. First, he wants to sell their stuff, which consists of several weapons and items found in Balentyne and the village. Then, the charlatan wants to acquire a Mithral Breastplate, hearing the gossip around town about the war. He uses his bland disguise called Gambit to do that, aiming to pass unnoticed.
At nightfall, he will tell the others that he will be moving the ship south of town, to take Grumblejack into the forest without too many people seeing him, so they could leave tomorrow after the meeting with the noble.
Vlad thanks the man for his time and then heads to the nicest tavern in town.. Once there he spends a few coin on drinks before purchasing a room under the alias of Jacob.. Afterwards he searches for a lady of the evening to keep him company for the night.
Before picking up a lady he'll head back to the boat to check in..
Argan searches through the streets and eventually makes his way to an armory, I were just gettin' ready to close up me shop, but I'll see what you got.
After checking in at the boat, where am impatient Grumblejack waits--Can Grumblejack leave the boat now?--he finds a beautiful woman, willing to spend the night with him in blissful ignorance.
As the priest speak with Seth, he smiles warmly, No. No bodies. No signs of them. It's been going on for as long as Farholde had been around.
Another man speaks up, Don't listen to him. Their just old commoner's tales. Listen, it's late. Do you have a place to stay tonight? We will always welcome another Mitran priest.
After long hours of love making, when the girl is finally spent, Vlad snap her neck while she sleeps. While the body is still warm he'll remove her head with his Mitran sword gorge on her blood. After he is saited he stows the head of the girl in his backpack and changes disguises and returns the boat to sleep. He leaves the room looking as if a maniac tore threw it.
Argan doesn't want to pay the extra price, so he comes with an excuse for it. "No no no, I can't sir! You see, I understand it's your equipment, and you put the price over your job, but I don't have the money to pay that extra! I want to go to war to fight the bugbears along with the Mitrans, but I will be decimated without some real protection! And I need something light, that would not hamper me so! Common man, help a fellow soldier here!"
Seeing that everyone in town is worried about the Bugbears, and that is likely to put some fear into the hearts of the local folk, Argan starts spreading a counter-rumor, seeking to ease the pain and fear in their hearts, that, of course, would take some credibility from the Mitran army and allow folks to have an excuse not to go to war.
"There is no bugbear army whatsoever! That's just an excuse from the army to gather more soldiers because they are in a pathetic situation now! It's a bluff!"
Seth smiles kindly and nods, "I do have a place, but I thank you for the offer, as well as indulging me my curiosity. May Mitra's blessing be upon you."
With that, Seth would return to the boat. He had gotten some information and had not pressed his luck. Perhaps after the meeting he could get more from the priests, maybe some info or even some magical aid, but until then Seth wasn't making any long term plans.
The woman--Vlad never recieved her name--lies dozing on the bed. She wakes just in time to allow a small gasp as her neck snaps. Someone later you walk out the door but no one seems to notice.
The shop owner looks Argan up and down, thinking fire a moment. Finally he nods, Aye, you cannot go out like that. Look. I can get it cheap from me brother. I be given it to you for 3,880 gp. But do no be telling anybody. He looks at Argan waiting for the man to agree, then completes the deal. Argan begins to wander the streets and as he listens to the rumors, tries to plant one of his own. He is unsure, but people seemed to be listening to him. Only time will tell.
Seth returns to the boat first. Not long after that Argan returns. Just as the boat is ready to set sail for the forest, Vlad arrives as well.
"Interesting evening.. There are apparently no maps of the area we intend to visit so i suppose we'll just be on a scouting mission for ourselves.."
Kharn shrugs.
"Well we can just go out and make a map of our own. It's not like that will be any harder than the keep."
You sail back a little way, doing Grumblejack off outside the city. Grumblejack will see the little 'uns in the forest, he says, a big smile splitting his face. Returning the boat to the dock, you sleep for the night.
Morning comes before long, the sun peaking over the ocean in the distance.
"Just don't get into trouble, Grumblejack. Try not to split anyone's head for now, ok? You can do a lot of that later, so just be a good boy and wait for us, all right?"
________________________
The charlatan updates everyone on what he did, which was basically related to treasure, but he also found out that the whole city knows about the bugbears helping them to destroy Balentyne.
Argan will go around the docks, investigating how much money he could gain if they sold their little boat, confident that they could just steal another one later.
Also, he wants to investigate how important is this Baron Vlademir to a good extent, trying to identify if the man is really valuable for them or not.
Vlad will hang out in the darkness of the cabin until the meeting time.
Argan walks through the town, talking to people. It seems the Baron is really important in this town. Everyone seems to know who he is and has a word or two about him. Argan is told that the Baron is a saint, and he's the only reason the town has an orphanage. He's told that the Baron's a recluse, hardly ever leaving his manor. The man is always out and about helping people. His orphans are little more than thugs. And many other things, though most of them too far fetched to believe.
Later, as all try to figure out where you were supposed to meet Tiadora, she approaches you. She is bedecked brilliantly in all white, looking like a travelling noble on the way to her wedding. She looks at each member of the group finally nodding, It'll do. She escorts the group through the bustling dock city of Farholde. She takes them to the nicest part of town, a gently sloping hill called Calliver’s Green. There are gates here in front of the community and she approaches the guard confidently. Baron Vandermir is expecting us.
Of course, my lady. This way, the somewhat nervous guard answers after consulting a list.
There are only six manors in this neighborhood and Tiadora leads the PCs to what is arguably the most impressive and opulent of them. The front door is secured by two guards wearing armor and livery. The guards are polite but firmly insistent, No stranger may go before the Baron so armed. They hold out their hands, ready to receive weapons.
Argan is wearing his Locke disguise, passing as a Knight of the Alerion, complete, with a Mitran Holy Symbol, shining breastplate and long white cloak, but he was not expecting that kind of behavior. "I've seen some people trying to remain safe, but this is just stupid! For you to feel safe you want to disarm a knight? If anything happened, I would be unable to protect those around me." He unties the belt that holds the scabbard of his longsword and handles it to the man, certain that he would not draw it and see the serrated blade as it really it. "But if you want that, go ahead and take it."
His other sawtooth sabre remains hidden behind the disguise self spell, and although there is a dagger of the Knights of the Alerion on his belt, he does not make any movement to handle it, considering its ritualistic importance.
He unties the belt that holds his longsword...
Lil shrugs, handing over her bone quarterstaff, dagger, and light crossbow. Her attire is similar to what it was before, but now it is bright and festive instead of dark and dreary, appearing more like a circus ringmaster.
Of course, Locke also hands them his other weapons, which includes a simple dagger (not the Allerion one), a MW Shortbow, A grappling Hook (just in case), a Throwing Axe, a Hammer and 2 Javelins.
Seth was disguised not as Michael, but as a simple robed figure. Unfortunately there were limits to the magic item he had that kept him from changing the appearance of his race, but he did his best to make those features seem plain and unimportant. He had no idea what this Baron was like, but he wasn't going to sacrifice his favorite disguise on the off chance that it would give him some advantage. He wish this... Tiadora hadn't been so recluse. He had questions she could have answered and her absence had hindered him in that regard. Oh well.
As a precaution he had long since taken too when he was in the Mitran order, Atral was no longer perched on his shoulder, instead waiting above the front door, invisible. When the doors opened he would slip in and find a place to hide nearby.
When the man asked for their weapons, he pretended to be reluctant in handing over his crossbow. His armor was unadorned, currently, and the normally red robes he wore appeared to be a black cloak mostly covering them instead. He silently looks to the Knight before finally handing his sole weapon over.
Vlad is reluctant to hand over his longsword, but does so. He hands over a longbow and a few daggers as well.. He always had tooth and claw if it came down to it..
Kharn hands over his longbow and greatsword without much complaint. He could tear men apart with his bare hands.
The men nod as your weapons are handed over. You are lead to the front door where a group of servants, lead by the butler, greet you. You are brought into a sitting room. One servant approaches you, Would you like some brandy? Each is followed by another, Some skewered beef? Crayfish puffs? So many options are brought around, it seems to be a meal in its own right. While the brandy is exquisite and the food delicious, you ate left waiting for some time.
After a while, you are finally brought to the table. A handsome half-elf in red and white finery waiting for you. Dinner is served and the servants dismissed. As the last servant leaves, the Baron turns to you, You come to me as beggars, the last remnants of a forbidden faith. You will promise me much, of that I have no doubt. But all that I am likely to earn from helping you is the inquisitor’s pyre. Tell me, why should I help the likes of you?
Vlad smiles wide at the man. "The answer is simple my good man.. Power! When we rule this land there will be the ones on top and then everyone else.. If you wanna be on top you'll help us. Of course if you refuse we'll just have to notify Thorne that you are unwilling to assist servants of the Lord of Hell.. He will likely not take that well, so lets just be friends and help each other stay on top. Sound good?"
Argan is very wary with the food, thinking that it could be poisoned, so he waits until the baron gets here, so he could change the focus. "I would follow that advice if I were you, and I would also avoid from calling us beggars once more, least we kill you and raise your corpse to wander the streets fighting for some human meat. Plus, we won't promise you much, just one chance to gain the cardinal's favor now, cause tomorrow will be too late. But if you still want promises, I'll give you facts: Balentyne lies in ruins, powerfull as they thought they were, equipped as they could be, blessed and protected for a thousand years it stood, but now is no more."
He raises his shoulders. "Should be clear to you who will win this."
Seth listened to the words of two of his new companions and was having trouble deciding which of them was more dangerous. "To the point..." He whispers to himself, surprised that the man was so direct and that his companions were so willing to oblige that. This man was too powerful to be a complete fool. Did he really forget about Thorne? Rather then speak, and perhaps mistakenly ruin his companions efforts, Seth turned his eyes toward the Baron and studied the man -very- closely for any hint as to the politicians thoughts.
The Baron looks at Vlad, his attention focusing more on the man as he speaks. By the end of Vlad's speaking, he is nodding, slowly, but nodding. He barely even notices Argan's comments. The Baron looks at Vlad, I will help. He gives a decisive nod. I am not sure what you are here in Farholde for--and I'd rather not know--but while you are here, I can give you accomidations, he motions around him, to the rather opulent manor. More than a wonderful place to stay though, there is a secret tunnel that will allow you to come and go as you please. In addition, as long as you are not too obvious or gruesome in your crimes in Farholde, I can make sure none of them are linked to you. Thirdly, I can grant you access to some of the . . . shall we say, "shadier" merchants in town. And finally, if you need someone charmed, bribed or persuaded . . . he motions to himself, I am your man. Is there any of that you need help with already? He looks at Vlad, seemingly sure there is.
"That sounds lovely Baron, we will certainly take you up on your offer and stay here. I can't imajine we will be here long though. We must get to finding the Horn. In the future though if we have need of help here we will most assuridly come to you about it."
He looks to his companions. "Is there anything else you all would like to add?"
Kharn not particularity caring about the delicacy of diplomacy simply drinks as much booze as he can find and takes as much booze as he can when they finally leave.
Lil listens to the back and forth, giggling at the not-so-veiled threats. "Thanks! Anything else you know about the horn?"
Argan wants to push the man a little further, just for the fun of it, but also for the money. "You know what, Vlad, I don't think that's a real contribution. Let's think... How much is the Baron providing our group? oh, yes, a couple dozen gold pieces! I think that's the bargain of the century, don't you?" He raise his hands to the others, seeking some sympathy from them.
"A couple dozen gold pieces for a favorite spot on the winning side? Nah, I don't think that would do... We could get more from any wanna-be criminal in town... But we are in need of some strong magical items, or at least the resources to build them, since the ingredients are not so common..."
"It seems my associates feel you should contribute more if you are to be kept safe when this puny town burns. Have you ever been to Ghastenhall my dear Baron?"
Seth continues to remain silent now. At this point, Argan was handling his largest complaint, and once again the tiefling found a chance to observe his colleagues in action. He also continues to keep an eye out on the Baron who, caught on the 'generous' offer he had given, should probably be feeling a little worried right now. Was he being honest? Was that really all he could do?
The Baron looks around confused, I think you underestimate the value of my persuasion. He turns to Argan, Have another crayfish puff. Without thinking, Argan takes one and stuffs it into his mouth. Turning back the Baron says, No Vlad, why do you ask of Such a place?
Lil giggles. "We're at dinner! We should be being nice, not little meanie guests!"
"I am not being mean Miss Lil.. I was simply presenting the groups wants. Now to the question. My family has been settled in Ghastenhall for quite some time and my father has quite the collection of holdings. After I claim such for my own I would be happy to help you relocate from the back woods town. A man such as yourself should be in a place of power, not this small, dump of a town. Now, shall we eat and have a good time? You have some women around here yes?"
Argan controls himself not to pick up a fight here. Most probably they would end up killing everyone in the mansion, and ruining their stealth approach to the horn. But oh, he will kill this man personally when the time comes, and that is pretty clear in his eyes, shinning with anger. He eyes the man slowly, checking for vital spots on his frail-looking body, and realizes it would not be hard to do that right now, even with his bare hands. But that would gain them nothing. So he makes an effort to control himself, and wait for the right time.
He will use this moment to carefully study his prey, analyzing its behavior to learn what other abilities does it have, specially thoughts that could make the man show reactions if he was reading his mind.
Kharn begins imagining what he could do with thirty halflings tied together as a weapon.
"Well thank you for the offer of help and a place to stay for the night."
It seemed like the party was split on this, and perhaps was often split on things like this. Vlad was happy to have what was already offered while Kharn and Argan had more ambition. The man was willing to negotiate, and that was important, but the fact that he felt he had room to do so meant he hadn't been nearly as cowed by Master Thorne as the priest thought. A mistake? Perhaps. So many webs weaved it was hard to tell when one was stumbling across a true error or yet another plan or thought process.
With a small, hardly audible sigh, he speaks for the first time. Unlike the other times when he spoke, his voice was harsh, raspy and deep, as if it came from someone far older beneath the shadows of his cloak. "I think your original offer was fair, if a bit... mundane for our needs. Useful as it might be we do not hope to be here for more then a fortnight, lest we tarry. Perhaps you can add some... information to the bargain. Someone as powerful as yourself needs much of it yes? The priests in this city, I am told, are lax and a bit cowardly... are there any other obstacles around a group of our persuasion might need overcome that you know of? Anything else of use that you have come across through your network?"
The Baron smiles as Vlad suggests the holdings in Gastenhall. Yes. Somewhere like that would be more to my liking. Let us eat and enjoy ourselves. While we do, why don't you tell me a little about these ingredients that are so uncommon and hard to reach. The Baron continues to listen to and speak with the group, drinking from his wine goblet, a satisfied smile on his face.
As for your information, the largest obstacles would be those common to working around Mitrans. Secrecy is the word to remember. As for what else may be in your way, I would need to know more about your mission for that. As of yet. I have heard nothing more than the a few words about finding a horn. I do not wish to pry, but if you wish for information on obstacles, I need more. Otherwise, we may keep our secrets--for as I said, secrecy is the word.
Lil casually swings her legs under the table. "That seems fair, let's give him a little more!"
"Im afraid Seth must expound as I do not think we are here to take over this town, but rather find and take over the Horn. We've already heard there's not much to know about Caer Baer, other than it's a forest. Is there anything you can add about any forest dwellers or perhaps info on the Horn?"
Seth frowns beneath his cowl and when he speaks there is a note of distaste in his voice, but it doesn't seem at all directed at the Baron. If anything the subject he spoke of was more likely to be the focus of his ire. "Of course he shares little with any of us, for we are but pawns to him. It is well that you bargain for more for it seems he is unwilling to share much. I speak of our mutual... contact of course."
With a sniff, he turns away for a moment, then looks back to the Baron. "Much of what I can share is apparently Myth. A horn hidden away in a haunted forest by specters that attack and leave no trace. As learned men we both know the undead are not nearly so... subtle, unless they are of a particularly dangerous breed. Perhaps that is a good place to start, as Vlad suggested? Know you much of the mysterious Forest that borders this town you have made such fine living in?"
The Baron leans forward, interested. This horn then. It is the legendary treasure of the Caer Bryr? He falls back into his chair. Of course, whatever you require, but as Vlad has said, there is little known about this forest. What I can tell you is only rumor. He pauses, taking a sip of his wine. As you have mentioned, there are rumors of hauntings. Myself, I think it is possible, though not near so prevalent as most speak of. There will be animals. One in particular holds a place in many the fears of many, a one eyed tiger. There are rumors of living trees, though I doubt the veracity of this one. He stops, remaining silent for some time. Finally after a few minutes, And of course the elf that recently went in to the Bryr and never came back. I believe he was staying at the Wandering Friar Inn before this. He looks casually, almost too much so, at the lot of you, waiting for a reaction.
"You have quite extensive knowledge of the going on's of this town, to even know of a single elf. Perhaps a threat... or a simple fool. Know you which he might be, through your contacts?" The older voice definitely sounded impressed. It wasn't particularly obvious if one were judging by his tone, but his words gave clear indication that he thought the Baron worth listening too. Beneath his hood, the appearance of an aged, grey skinned and haired tiefling narrowed it's dimly lit eyes to study the Baron closely as he answered.