Marten is glad of the opportunity to clean up a bit after all of the travel. His companion Yala is a bit less diligent... except that she pays special attention to cleaning her hands and face, which rather makes sense for an alchemist.
"Being informed about local goings-on probably prepares us better for what we may encounter in the fort proper," replies Marten to Colwyn.
"Marten's right, the more we know about the situation here, the fewer unpleasant surprises." Vibenia agrees, as she works to clean the worst of the mud and muck from herself.
You are now cleaned up and better rested, time to attempt the brothel. :)
What are you doing?
Niadroub Kliip is happy to go to Santinder Morne since that seems like it's a straightforward way to get information. Waffles seems happy to go the the Velvet Corner since that seems like a ripe venue for pranks.
Satinder Morne greets you warily as you enter the Velvet corner.
It looks as if she takes you for another group of mercenaries.
What are you doing?
Zelera was concerned about what she saw in the town as they entered, the mercenaries were bad enough with the way they treated people, not to mention how a few of them looked at her like she was a piece of meat they wanted to enjoy. Worse still was the way the town was overbuilt and largely empty causing her to mutter, "This is what happens when humans don't stay attune to a natural balance, desolation."
It was a great relief when they made it to their temporary place to stay, the abandoned inn. They wouldn't have a fire tonight, but they would have shelter and privacy which were both important. They would have to keep a watch but that wouldn't be a large problem Zelera did not believe.
As they discussed their next steps and decided on visiting the casino Zelera's gaze went to Waffles and she grinned mischievously, oh the fun they might have now. "So, off to the brothel," she gave Colwyn a crafty looked and then added, "just don't let Melianse find out about it Colwyn."
"So, off to the brothel," she gave Colwyn a crafty looked and then added, "just don't let Melianse find out about it Colwyn."
Colwyn's eyes dart around nervously, suddenly more afeared than he's been since entering the occupied settlement.
"We're just stepping inside for business," he chuckles nervously, speaking just loudly enough so Melianse, if magically eavesdropping, could hear him. "Why, I doubt there's a body in this entire town that could hold a candle to my wonderful baroness."
Playing it safer still, Colwyn allows his companions to enter the establishment first so as to not seem overeager. When he gets the chance, though, he will engage Satinder in a bit of chatter, trying to be as subtle as possible.
"Finally, a spot of life in this town. After hearing my friend Kisandra tell me that I just had to visit Drelev's Keep, I was starting to think she was grossly overstating this place," the baron begins, palming then sliding their contact's ring across the counter. "I'm sure this place was lovely...once. I wager it'd be fine to bring those heydays back, eh? If nothing else, the trip has given me a chance to collect some lovely flowers."
Colwyn punctuates this by withdrawing and setting down the flower also provided by Kisandra, hoping his attempt to discreetly pass along these tokens to identify themselves to the proprietress has not drawn attention from anyone unwanted.
A beautiful woman dressed better than anyone else in town, Satinder
Morne exudes a sense of confidence, bravado, and charm in all she
does.
She rarely lets her temper show, always smiling and waiting until she has the upper hand on an enemy before releasing her anger and savoring the sweetness of Calistria’s revenge.
This trait has served her well of late, as her current clientele are
growing increasingly hard to manage and control.
Shown Kasandra's flower she immediately becomes helpful, and ushers you to a back room out of sight of the relaxing mercenaries. She congratulates you on staying so discrete. The Baron has a curfew in place, enforced by Hill giants guards at night!
She smiles, "Thankfully reaching the Baron has an easier path. Like many would be rulers he made sure to have a secret escape tunnel to his keep."
She provides you precise directions to the entance to the secret tunnel. .
She also offers you a secret room here in the Velvet corner to rest and recover if you need to.
Her advice to you is to deal with Drelev and his advisors first, then clear out the mercenaries and Giants once you have taken out the leadership.
What now?
"Solid plan. Drelev and his inner circle will be depending on the mercenaries to protect them, and the giants and mercenaries won't expect an attack coming from within. We execute this hard and fast, they'll have no idea what's going on until it's too late." Vobenia says, nodding her approval at the plan of attack.
Niadroub Kliip puts his hand up to get everyone's attention. "Wet."
"You mean 'wait,'" Waffles corrects him.
"Thes what I seed." The Magister asks if there's been any word of Terrion Numesti and his current location (and how to get there). He also asks if there are any Tiger Lords in town.
Marten remains polite and follows Colwyn's lead.
"What's our exit plan once things go south?"
"Drop any living thing in opposition?" Vibenia suggests with a shrug.