The dragon is a pseudo dragon named Ruby, she is the familiar of Drake a wizard and diviner, your host. He is a captain or lieutenant in the Pathfinder Society in this region. He is from Cheliax and noble born I believe. Kirren is my Master, though he is not a rogue, is a master of many things in this town. She gives you generic information about the town {which you can find above}.
If anyone gets a perception DC 13 you can see this spoiler and learn the information as well. Vuvu and any one else across the room needs a DC 18.
Ardamir has no idea what this halfling is up to...
Bug Eater hangs around the table waiting for something in the way of information to be presented about the offer. While he waits he does look around the room, observing the oddballs.
perception
"Wonder when this show gets on the road" Hemmings thought tapping his foot impatiently. "At least the scenery is good to look at, and the beer is cold".
"How 'bout another pint this way while we're a'waiting on the Bossman to make an appearance, eh?"
Anyone who gets a Knowledge Local DC 5 can see this post. This check can be done even if you have no ranks in the k(Local) skill.
Vuvu has heard of the society, though he had never thought much about them.
This could be a chance to study far and wide, and these adventure types certianly could use my skills.
Vuvu wafts the Drakes favorite treat hoping the smell will attract it to the table.
The clock behind the bar tolled.
The tiny dragon who had been scrutinizing everyone flared it's wings for a moment drawing attention to itself.
Each person around the table heard an aristocratic feminine voice echo directly into their minds.
"Thank you all for responding. I shall get straight to business. Your prospective employer appreciates promptness and organization, and will meet with you once I have made my selections."
"This job is both a manhunt and a search for the relics the missing person had been seeking. It will involve travel into the wilderness as well as the possible delving into potentally dangerous ruins."
"Pay will be one hundred gold sovereigns for the successful return of the missing person, or his remains, plus additional payment based on the ruins collected."
"Please state your names and skill sets you believe would be relative to this endeavor."
Xoruk gives the tiny dragon a sideways look, his hand still wrapped around his staff. "Xoruk o' th' Ironmaw Clan. Th' spirits answer me calls, an' I c'n channel 'ere powa t' do wondas," he speaks, his emerald eyes glinting in the room's light. "I don' know much 'bout yer Pathfindah Societeh, but I c'n respek th' value o' coin."
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Knowledge (Local):
Maybe siding with this so-called Pathfinders would help me reach my goal faster, a little adventure wouldn't hurt either.
"Name's Lecloront," as he stares in awe of a mythical creature before him, "If it's wilderness we're talking about count me in. Tracking is my expertise. Together with my trusty bow, I won't be a liability in combat either."
Vuvu. I heal, I study. I make potions. When necessary I can make things explode, but I hate doing that. I was not planning on joining this when I walked in, but studying costs money. Friend dragon this is for you.
Vuvu holds out his hand.
Hemmings your barmaid, gets you another ale, with her normal flirtations.
Ardamir stood up, gave a swift bow. "Ardamir, paladin of Iomedae. I'm handy with a blade and I am an honest man in pursuit of justice wherever I see it. If your reasons are just for having this man and this treasure than you can count on my blade and my service." And with that he took his seat again.
"Uhhm, My name is Bug Eater. "
He does manage to say this is a non self conscious fashion no matter what looks it garners.
"I am a warrior of the Sun clan of the Shoanti. Among my people I hunted, fought, and gathered food. " with this he somewhat puffs out his chest(impressive because it is massive) and extends to his full 5'4" as much as possible (not so impressive).
"I can protect any people you might need protected and crush enemies you need crushed. "
With that he looks around rather self consciously since this is the longest speech he had made in the months since he left Varissia.
Hemmings clambers atop the barstool to be seen and heard "Name's Hemmings some call me Halfshanks (for obvious reasons). Not much of a dragon-slayer like Your Lordship over there, and not a wilderness type neither, in fact I've never really been out of the city. Don't go in for magic and sorcery and all that mumbo jumbo no how...too untrustworthy or p'haps I'm not smart enough to ken 'ow it works."
"But I am nimble, quiet, and quick with a blade. Been in my share o' scrapes and come out on the right end of it s'far. If you need one for sneakin', spyin' or stealin', well then, I'm your boy."
Many of the prospective employees talked over each other, each asked the question at the same time, many confused by the little dragon's telepathic conversation.
Her eyes flicked about, looking at each one, listening, thinking. She paused a moment, as if listening to something the rest could not hear, then nodded. A surprisingly human gesture.
In thier minds, some in the crowd heard "Thank you for your time. Your services will not be required."
A small number of others heard "Please make your way up the stairs with me."
She launched herself into the air and gracefully flew through the room to land on the upstairs bannister.
"Please have a seat." she said as they followed her up the stairs.
When the chosen followed, they saw that the balcony had been cleared. A table with two pitchers of ale and a collection of mugs sat ready. A man in a red jacket entered the room.
"Greetings. My name is Daxus Drake. I am the Pathfinder Venture-Captain of this province."
He produced a scroll case and removed a stack of contracts and a map from it, placing them on the table.
"I have a missing archeologist and an unfinished collection and survey mission. I am willing to offer each of you one hundred gold sovereigns for the completion of this task. Please look over the contract and sign if the terms are agreeable."
Contract? What is a contract? Well I don't want to look dumb so I'll just stare at it a bit and make my mark on it.
Bug eater moves up to the table and looks at the contract, really not even bothering to read it (or try), then makes his mark after a minute or so.
"I have signed. "
I hope he is alright. Mr. Venture Captain. What of items we find along the way? Ours to keep or are those yours also?
Vuvu says, though he does not look up from the contract as he reads it carefully.
At the dragons prompting, several individuals became visible. They introduced themselves as a rogue, a wizard, and a monk. They all did not join you up to the other room. Two women who were upstairs on the banisters also named themselves as adventurers, one with the inborn powers of magic and one that was chosen by the gods to do their biding, not of her will. They too came down the stairs and left the inn.
Ardamir takes a look at the contract, curious about the motives behind this task. Did the archaeologist actually want to be found?
I, the undersigned, agree to undertake the task of finding Mr. Balenar Forsend at the behest and direction of the Pathfinder Society of Cheliax. I agree not to discharge this duty until such time as Mr. Forsend, or his remains (or proof of demise), have been found. In return the Pathfinder Society agrees to compensate me 100 weights of Gold upon completion of this task, payable upon successful mission completion and return to Venture-Captain Daxus Drake or one of his recognized representatives.In addition, should I, the undersigned, acquire Mr. Forsend's notes or the relics he was seeking, the Pathfinder Society will compensate me for their return of a value equal to twenty percent of their appraised value (to be determined upon delivery).
Signed _________, on this date, ________
Overseen by Daxus Drake, Venture-Captian, Pathfinder Society, Cheliax
Xoruk reads the contract slowly, grumbling. When he finally finishes, he bites his thumb hard enough to draw blood. He presses the bleeding digit onto the contract, leaving a bloody thumbprint. He makes no move to stem the flow of blood, his emerald eyes turning back towards the Venture Captain. "I's done, mate," he practically growls, apparently not entirely pleased with the concept of working for someone else.
Vuvu sees Xoruk and rushes to him
Let me see to that!
Xoruk pulls his hand away from the man, glaring daggers. "Don' touch me, human, I ain' int'rested in yer opinion. I ain't as frail as you lot, a l'il blood los' won' kill me."
Hemmings pores over the contract which, while not complicated, is a little baffling for one of his formal education (which is not much, but perhaps more than some in the room...).
At length he says "So sez here we find this Forsend fella, bring him back dead or alive I reckon, an' we bring back these relics-thingys he was a-lookin' for an' you agree to pay us 100 coin plus percentage of value? S'pose that's non-negotia-able, right? What about any other loot (be it coin or other) we come 'cross in this here man-hunt, you wantin' a cut of that, too?".
"So long as we're able to keep the rest of our findings, I'm willing to sign and swear.".
He signs quickly with a flourish, spits on his palm and offers it to the Venture Captain. What say ya, bossman? Put her there to seal it, eh?".
He waits expectantly for the deal-closing handshake...
If looks could kill, Vuvu would have been plastered against the wall behind him as a dark crimson streak. Xoruk rubs his bloody thumb underneath one of his eyes, a line of red standing out against his pale skin. "Keep yer worries t' yerself, lad, and I won' have t' show ya 'ow I got 'ese scars," he says, his grin promising terrible things.
Mad men! Complete mad men!
The Venure captain eyes the little red dragon with a flat expression. Some sort of silent communication seems to pass between them and Captain Drake sighs and begins collecting the signed contracts.
Nodding to the halfling, he said "I have no interest in anything unspecified in the contract. As for the missing mr. Foresend, if he is alive when you find him, I expect him to be alive when he is returned."
He gave the halfling a terse handshake and eyed the dwarf and human's interaction.
"Once you are done getting to know each other, there are a few additional details we need to discuss."
Vuvu perks up at the mention of Ruby accompanying them.
Ardamir signs the contract, feeling as if this is the reason he came into this establishment.
Now that everyone has signed a contract Daxus Drake has a few more points to cover...
"By all means get to the details, Bossman." Hemmings said impatiently drumming his fingers on the table. "Don't leave us hangin'. I can already feel them sovereigns in my purse"
IF we have time I can make potions of healing. They cost 25 gold pieces and I can only make so many per day, but I am willing to make them for you all.
Captain Drake set a small onyx sphere on the the table, roughly the size of a small apple. Arcane runes were etched into it's surface and it was smoothed and polished to a mirror shine.
"Ruby will be accompanying you, yes. As will this sphere. It will allow me to contact you and keep tabs on your location. I will check in with you once a day in the evening for a report. Should you uncover information that you cannot make sense of, pass it to me. I may be able to make sense out of things that you cannot. Should you come to an impasse in your investigations I will do what I can to set you in the right direction again."
"Here is all the information we already have on Mr. Foresend and his expedition."
Drake slid a scroll case across the table to join the small sphere.
"You may leave at your convenience. Good luck."
Fascinating!
Vuvu grabs the orb and studies it.
The scroll has some of Foresend's notes:
It is wonderful, the fortress has opened up. After the small quake one whole side has collapsed, yes things may be lost in the debris and the piles of stone but there is now easy access to enter into the Black Knight's Fortress.
No, no the fortress is just named that for the myths of the region. Most of the records of that fortress and many of the others have been lost due to the zealot changes of who is in favor or not, even in this region.
Beware of the church, for they may want some of the artifacts, just to destroy them.
I hope to spend two days searching for items that have fallen free from the fortress and taking a cursory check inside.
Draxas I hope to share these rewards with you on the 5th. (There is more writing, about two paragraphs, but it seems smudged and splotched with ink.)
Instructions on how to find the Fortress:
follow the river north for 2 hours until you find the giblet (criminal's corpse in a cage, hung from the black tree). From there follow the gargoyle markers along the dirt path, for about an hour which should get you to the abandoned village (beware of the corpses, Stay clear!). You should see a tall stark white Yew tree up on a high hill to the South East, go to it. From here you can see the fortress about a mile to the north. It is strange that you can't see the fortress from anywhere except that Yew tree or the village.
Good Luck, and if you don't hear from me, please send reinforcements, darn myths always coming true...
Vuvu recoils from the sphere, understanding what the spell requires.
He looks at Draxas's hands counting fingers...
"Ok, when do we leave? Do we wait for the morning?"
I think I would like to at least try one night in an inn before we leave. I've heard of these bed things and want to feel what they are like at least once. But I have a chief again now, so I can't ask for it and look weak.
"I am ready to go when you say Chief."
His stress on the word chief seems to carry a bit more weight than just a label.
Ardamir did not like the thought of staying the night in this place. But, from what he knew of adventuring, traipsing on through the night wasn't always a good idea either. In the surrounding country in Cheliax he didn't like to think what would come out at night. "Well, I am ready, come what may, but it might be prudent to stay the night and get a fresh start in the morning. Are there enough... beds in this establishment, or are we going to need to find other accommodations in town?"
Hemmings reads the scroll and looks up with a puzzled expression.
"Seems this manhunt has some rough edges to it, eh? Did this bloke Forsend have one of these mirror orbs to check in with? Did he report any more than on this writin' here?".
"Any idea what church is out a'lookin' for these same artifacts as your man? Are we walkin' into some sorta witchhunt? And what's whith these corpses, that's enough to give a fella the willies..."
"'xactly how long has your fella been missing anyway?
To rest of the crew: I'm up for one more night of drinkin and carousin' if you are. And leave bright and early tomorrow, find this bloke, and get our hands on the ree-ward.
I could prepare. Would any of you like me to prepare a potion of healing for you? I can prepare one tonight, with the proper supplies.
He looks at Draxas's hands counting fingers
"Mr. Foresend missed his first communication with me one week ago. It is not uncommon for an agent to occasionally miss reporting in if they are occupied at the agreed upon time. After the second missed communication I set the plan for this search in motion."
A person in halfplate walks up, he has black flowing hair and a charming smile. His eyes go from one person to the next in your party. "Daxus, will my services be needed for this group or shall I be moved on to another group?"
He gives Ruby a snack, then if Ruby allows he knuckles her behind her ears.