"Oh yes, I am quite aware of Seripan's performance tonight. If I miss any of her shows, I hear about it for weeks," Lady Aurelia laughs.
Assuming a more serious demeanor, she explains that ore of any kind is hard to come by around Uringen. The forested hillsides of the valley are difficult to prospect and mine, even before factoring in the risk of attack by Mather Nithra's gang. This means that most smithing products cost a little extra in Uringen.
As for cold iron, it is impossible to find in her part of Uringen. However, she gives you the name of a smith in the static part of town who deals in cold iron, primarily selling to the Embeth Travelers when they visit town.
Lady Aurelia also gives Wonky the name of one Barnabus Q. Goshstone, describing him as a gnomish baker who has seemed particularly out of character as of late and suggesting that the party begin their investigation with him.
The mayor's laugh is harmonized by Pelipe's own.
"Then we shall see you tonight."
Despite this change of topic, the mayor still doesn't overly mind explaining their position with cold iron. Pelipe does notice that the vendors within the First World do not sell it, and that it is impossible to find here, likely due to the same reasons she was hesitant that they speak about it. At least it is available to her companions in the static Uringen.
As the group gains a contact for more information, she readies herself to travel again, and to a baker no less. "Fae delicacies? Yes please!" Ahto would easily see that at the word baker, Pelipe smiles. Perhaps she enjoys a good pastry?
When the meeting is complete, she will curtsey politely to the mayor and wait in turn to excuse herself after the others.
"Without question, I would recommend the Green Cat," Lady Aurelia replies. "In fact..."
The mayor pauses mid-thought and rises from her chair. She sidles up to a cabinet tucked against the wall and opens the doors, fronted by stained glass. At first it looks like she retrieves some manner of cookie or biscuit from a dish sitting inside, but when she returns you see that she carries a thin copper disc etched with floral motifs.
"If you present this to Wilf or Calista, the owners of the inn, they will take proper care of you. Oh my, that sounds awfully ominous, doesn't it?" she exclaims, embarrassed for a moment. "This token simply shows that you are my guest, and they will get you set up with accommodations as a favor to me."
"Sounds great, my Lady. Thank you!" Katrine smiles at her and bows. "See you tonight, then."
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Ahto accepts the engraved disc from Aurelia with polite acknowledgement. "My thanks for this favor Lady Mayor. Thank you for your hospitality and time, Lord Mayor. We will take out leave, and see you both this evening." He gives each of the Mayors a respectful nod and moves away from the table. "Shall we be about our business, friends?" he asks the others, gesturing for them to follow.
Pelipe blushes at the inference that she needs baked goods. It brings a smile to her face as she chuckles delightfully in brief. From the mirth on her face, Wonky hit the nail on the head and like a kid caught sneaking cookies out of the cookie jar, she now tries to conceal this fact in the presence of the mayor. As they leave, she looks to the horizon to see about what time it is and how much time they have until this party Seripan mentioned.
"I suggest we order first, and then discuss things after we all receive our food hmm?" she grins. Perhaps she's trying to guarantee that she gets a delectable pastry before he perhaps would shut them down for the topic they are going to discuss with him. With that, she will head out toward the bakery.
The riot of colors along the thoroughfares - flowering trellises along the buildings, flowering weeds growing through the cobblestones - belies how orderly the streets are laid out, radiating from the strange clocktower at the town's heart. With directions from Lady Aurelia, bolstered by some corrections from passersby on the way, you soon find your way to the Goshstone Bakery.
Or, as the sign above the door proclaims, "Master Goshstone's Magical Oven of Peerless Renown."
Wonky's thorough studies confirm that the Bleaching can only affect gnomes and not their homes, yet this bakery practically stands in defiance of such science. The paint upon the wooden panels is faded, and the walls remain untouched by the flowering ivy that clings to the neighboring buildings. The windows' wainscotting is thick with dust. A visitor could be forgiven for mistaking this for an abandoned building, if not for the stooped figure you see shuffling about his work through the dark window panes.
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"This seems odd, even by gnomish standards," Wonky remarks. She pushes headlong through the door, then pitches her voice at a very odd timbre and breakneck speed.
"Hello! My name is Wonky Stenolamellarelessa Prong, Jr, and these are Sprocket (WOOF!) and Doo-dad (woof). I have come seeking both satisfaction in the way of the pastry arts as well as conversation with one Master Goshstone. Though originally from Ustalav, I hail from the nascent country of Tamlyn to the north. Where might I find an answer to both of my needs?"
She blinks.
Katrine and Storm follow Wonky into the dubious-looking bakery. The ranger looks around, hoping for fresh pastries. That's always a nice treat when she's in a town or village, you can't exactly bake over a campfire.
The Vixen enjoys the pastry and the stylish outfit. But in this personal, she can hardly relax. There is a grig to be dealt with. She’s not crazy about crushing a bug, but this bug has spread much misery. Ahto may be right to suggest death is the only solution.
Nonetheless, she will take him down alive. She fights better when she does as Sams would.
Pelipe will observe the brilliant colors with a wide smile. She loves the look of stone and the mountains, but once again, this new experience thrills her. With their directions leading them to the bakery, she chuckles at the name before noticing how dulled the building is. Muted. Then her eyes notice the ivy is not present on the walls and the sorry state of this building.
"Very!" she responds to Wonky in a confused tone. The building was certainly odd! Before she enters, the mage casts a detect magic spell to help her identify what is going on.
With that, she walks in. Once inside Wonky introduces herself.
"Aww...she's so adorable here."
Pelipe nods with Ahto in defense of their colorful gnome explaining so much. Her brilliant, refreshing smile perhaps bringing light to this dusty, rundown place. As she finds her place in the room, she will look around for other occupants or assistants to the baker. Perhaps her fae outfit and adorable curiosity of what he has available will endear him to her?
Opening the door to the bakery triggers a device more akin to an ornate wind chime than a simple bell, heralding your arrival with a multi-note song that fades into the air as Wonky begins your introductions.
The gnomish baker, his bright red hair tied back with a piebald bandana, turns around sharply.
Master Goshstone stumbles over his words as he tries to respond to Wonky. He offers a stuttering welcome before devolving into hemming and hawing, trying to figure how to address her questions much as someone who is lost might try to puzzle out a map.
Strangely, however, his tongue unties itself when Ahto and Pelipe speak up.
"Good day to you, lords and ladies bedecked in such fanciful colors! Cast thine eyes upon my shop shelves and you shall see specimens of gastro-science that has emigrated all the way from Brastlewark. My creations contain as much philosophy as yeast, for I believe that even the simplest of loaves should never be ordinary.
Indeed, looking at the loaves, rolls, and pies on display, you discover that the cross-hatching upon their tops seems to form letters and words in Gnomish.
Smaller shelves also display more artful pastries, such as puffed flowers, danish in an array of shapes, and a great many types of animal-shaped rolls with fillings.
You also notice that as Master Goshstone shows off his wares, moving across the floor almost in a dance, he makes a concentrated effort to steer clear from Wonky.
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Reading the shopkeeper's body language like a tale written for children, Ahto reaches into his pouch and retrieves a bag of coins. He hands them to Wonky and says, "Miss Prong, I would appreciate it if you negotiated the group's purchases." To the rest of the group he says, "Everyone select a pastry or confection, and inform Miss Prong of your choice. She will place the order with our good fellow here, that way, there will be no confusion."
Ahto turns to watch the shopkeeper's expression as he makes this proclamation.
"A fellow scientist then? Perhaps some of these here use a reaction to toast? These little piggies were treated in this way if my eyes don't deceive me?" She brightens seeing them. "They are rather small and cute." She then moves over the other items in the case to find what she would like to eat. She is feeling a bit more like she wants something with sugar and something sickly sweet to counter the number of bland meals she's had since leaving her family's home. Something warm and gooey would be perfect.
As she focuses on the tops of the pastries, she attempts to read the gnomish lettering.
"Ooo...gnomish. I've never been good that at it..."
"Luu...luck. Luck? Maybe?"
If she cannot detect that he is detecting magic (which why would he have such a spell active if they truly surprised him), she will inch closer as she moves down the line to see what she wants. Each time, getting a bit closer to the oven. If she finds what she wants before that, she'll stop. Her curiosity doesn't outweigh her desires for a pastry.
"They look delicious, Master Goshstone." Katrine smiles at the gnome, attempting to put him at his ease. "What's inside the lion-shaped one?" So many choices! The flowers look like they have apples inside, the danishes have several different fruit fillings as well as sweetened cheese... the lions are pretty cute though.
The Vixen thinks the hedgehog pastries are adorable, but for a Milani-worshipper, the choice is obvious. “The rose would be dandy, Mr. Goshstone.”
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Ahto gives a small sigh of exasperation, as the rest of the group ignores his instructions to give their orders to Wonky, rather than directly to Master Goshstone.
Perhaps they didn't notice his discomfort with her presence, he considers.
"Miss Prong, could you confirm the prices of those items with Master Goshstone, so that we have a proper accounting of what we will be spending?"
The door to the bakery creaks open ever so slightly, and Althea - who has been staying outside to keep an eye on Vark - extends an arm and curved finger, gesturing for Ahto to step outside for a moment.
"I suspect we've both reached the same conclusion about this so-called baker," Althea whispers to Lord Ahto, confirming that she has been following the proceedings through the window and the cracked-open door.
"His mannerisms betray him. He has not the confidence or conviction of a collaborator. I know someone being blackmailed when I see one. That troublesome fey about whom you've been told so much? It has clearly gotten to him, holding something over his head.
"If you want to get anything out of the baker, you have to convince him that you are more powerful than the one he fears."
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Ahto nods in agreement at Althea's assessment of the situation. He reponds in a quiet voice, so as to not be accidentally overheard.
"I would rather not resort to intimidation tactics. Perhaps you could step into the shop in a few minutes, on the pretense of returning from an errand. Let me know that you have done as you were instructed, then inject into the conversation some mention or account of our encounter with the Strouds. I will add my own commentary, and between the two of us, we might be able to shake his resolve."
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Wonky nods at Ahto, then immediately frowns as Althea interrupts. Shrugging as he steps out, the gnome turns to face the baker.
He's nervous, eh? Let's see how much we can rattle his cage, Wonky thinks with completely-unlike-her cheekiness.
"Master Goshstone, I wish to make certain that my group's order has been taken down by yourself completely and correctly, and so, I will switch to our shared native tongue to sing out the order properly." Here, Wonky switches to the gnomish language.
"Tha an duine aig a bheil dealbhadh mu bhith a’ faicinn stiùiriche na buidhne againn rùisgte a’ miannachadh aon de na pastaichean agad a tha air a chomharrachadh leis an fhacal fortan a ghluasad gu domhainn na beul. Tha a' chailleach, a tha a' fàileadh cù fliuch, airson a' bhriosgaid aghaidh-chait fheuchainn. Bu mhath leis an duine dìomhain leis na bòtannan le sàilean gòrach agus a’ bheatha dhùbailte nach eil cho dìomhair, pastraidh ròs airson a beul. Agus mise? Tha mi airson puff uachdar a spreadhadh am broinn mo chuid. Cia mheud?"
Wonky smiles sweetly.
"Oh...um...well, that would be 11 coppers," Goshstone mumbles in Common. With trembling hands, and eyes occasionally darting towards his oven, he gathers your order and bundles them in cheese cloth, which he ties with a bit of twine in a sharp bow.
However, you notice another layer of magic hidden just beneath that. You begin to suspect that it's some other manner of conjuration when your examination is interrupted by Master Goshstone.
"Please stay away from my oven!" the gnomish baker shouts at Pelipe. Even Goshstone seems surprised by his sudden outburst. "Oh! It's just that it's carefully constructed in an old family technique. I'm, um, I'm not sure I could repair it on my own if something were to happen to it."
Goshstone carries the bundled baked goods over to Wonky. He keeps his eyes to the floor as he walks.
"You shouldn't have come to Uringen. Whatever you thought you'd find here, it's not what you think. It's not worth it. Believe me."
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"So," Ahto says as he re-enters the shop. "Has everyone made their selections? Miss Thrune will be back shortly with confirmation the Stroud Coven have abided by the terms of their surrender. It would be unfortunate if we were forced to once again diminish the number of their spawn should they renege on the agreement after their lives were spared."
The Vixen has no idea what Ahto is up to, but clearly something.
“Yeah, wasn’t easy kicking their butts while pulling our punches to keep ’em alive. But I’ll sleep better knowing that lass still has her face. Tough luck for the big guy, but that’s what happens when ye terrorize villages.”
Katrine sighs sadly. "I wish they hadn't surrendered. I know we could have taken them, the boss hag was almost down!" She brightens a bit. "You're right though, Vixen, at least we managed to get the giant." Bending over, she gently scratches Storm behind the ears with her claw-like nails. "Who's a good little giant-killer? You are! Yes you are! What a good boy!" He makes a happy canine grunt, leaning into the scritches.
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The emerald-maned gnome happily takes the small packet of pastries after passing over the coppers, humming in appreciation at the aroma escaping from the bag, belying nothing but delight in her mannerisms.
"Thank you so very much, Master Goshstone!" Wonky announces sunnily. She spins on her heel as Ahto re-enters. "We have everything we need from here, Lord Ahto!" she announces, walking out of the shop with a parting cheery Gnomish farewell.
"Bidh mi air ais ceart. Leis fhèin!"
Wonky leaves the shop.
Once back inside, Wonky drops the sing-song tone, but keeps the Gnomish tongue as she addresses the baker. "Dè mu dheidhinn a tha thu, a bhan-mhaighstir?"
There is clear shock on her face as the gnome shouts at her. Truly he is on edge. She currently stands behind the counter where customers belong and is simply looking for the pastry of her heart's desire. What could be his problem?? If he truly wished his oven to not be perceptible by spells, all he'd have to is put it behind his wall. With the grace of a noble and with a kind heart, she doesn't admit to any crime but allows him to rumminate in his inappropriate behavior toward a customer.
"I had not any intention of going near it, sir..." she voices with a sweet, soft voice.
As Ahto returns, she looks his way. "I have not," she answers Ahto in the theater of her mind, finding it more important to play along with his deception than comment on her pastry selection. "I feel that the challenge was minimal compared to our capabilities." she answers the topic. Her tone is not boastful, but truthful. Still, it may resonate all the more that they are very capable. "I believe their giant was their strongest defender as well." She shrugs matter-of-factly.
With Wonky concluding their business, it appears she is content on the outside, but those intuitive can see she doesn't feel offended, but does feel like she is missing out on what she wanted. With grace, she settles herself and focuses on being appreciative of the gift she is about to receive regardless.
After passing along the pastries to Wonky, Master Goshstone heaves a heavy sigh. He raises his eyes and looks to Pelipe. He realizes that he overreacted and that she was nowhere near his magic oven. Of course, this outburst further highlights his anxiety regarding the fixtures. Nevertheless, you wonder how much word of the party's exploits has caused him to reconsider how he treats such particular customers.
"My apologies. Raising my voice...it was uncalled for," he apologizes to Pelipe.
He shuffles behind the counter and retrieves a round bun from a glass-fronted display shelf built into the counter. He presents to her a honey-glazed sticky bun, one with a hidden center of lemon cream, by way of apology.
"It' on the house. I hope you understand why I overreacted. I...I can't be too careful. There are many rivals who'd like to know the family secrets behind my oven."
"The dark fey might be listening through the oven," he hisses through grit teeth. "Did they entice you with promises of a cure? That's the only reason why our kin come here, after all. Don't trust them, like I did. They will steal away your loved ones then blackmail you into being their pawn. You should leave before you catch their attention."
"All is forgiven, kind sir," she answers with a curtsey at his apologies. She takes in a breath of air as if things are made right now, and even more so as through his years of serving people, he was able to discern what she wanted solely by what she was passing by. There is a literal gasp as he reaches in behind a larger cake and produces a delectable dessert for her. Shortly after, a hum of happiness exits from her lips as she is handed it.
"An angel in disguise then. I see you now. Thank you!" she offers with the most brilliant of smiles. Then with almost a protectively cute hunch, she digs her two fingers into the edge of the pastry and scissors off a piece. She quickly moves close to Ahto, her protector, to keep any and all from absconding with her dessert. Pelipe then will flash him a happy smile communicating in no spoken words, yet in facial expressions, novels of how happy she is at this moment as she tastes it.
A short moment later, as Wonky leaves, her eyes beckon her lord to follow her out of the shop. If he does, she will then turn to face him. Her fingers scissor off another piece of her honey-glazed bun and offers him a piece. While she does, she speaks in a low voice, "I could perhaps offer him ways to help him protect his oven?"
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A small smile plays across Ahto's stony face as Pelipe moves closer to him and digs into her pastry.
Ahto is happy that Pelipe is attracted to him, and feels safe and protected in his proximity.
"Let Miss Prong have her private conversation with him, first," Ahto suggests. "Going back in now might inadvertently interrupt a productive conversation with our evasive proprietor."
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There is no hiding it on Pelipe's face that she realizes Ahto's positive thoughts. She blushes ever so slightly and in a pure demure fashion, twists slightly in a happy way back and forth in place. Pelipe does seem to want to change the subject though--not in refusal--but because she knows what acceptance may mean to such a powerful man and those who look up to him. There is no doubt though that she also feels attraction, which may scorn their new otherwise noble ally.
"Alright. I'll wait...and I hope that she is successful. To come all of this way and to not find what we're after..." she shakes her head as she takes another tiny pinch of her food and places it in her mouth. "...I would find myself hard to console," she states matter-of-factly.
Pelipe directs her attention briefly to the others in their party.
"I think we all did pretty well setting that up. I'm not so grand at sneaky language and hidden meanings. Did I do well elevating us? Was that what we were trying to do?" she asks in a cautious manner, as she really is not great at lies, lying, or detecting them.
"You think you're not so good at this stuff? Clearly you've never seen me trying to flounder my way through diplomacy." Katrine chuckles and bites into her pastry. The baker never did tell her what was inside, but she's not too picky. "I hope Mister Goshstone is a bit more willing to talk without us big folk around."
The baker nervously glances over his shoulder, towards the oven.
"The dark fey forced me to tamper with its magic. Now it also serves as a portal, a gateway to their hideout in the forest, so they can sneak into town to wreak their mischief. And I can't stop them, or they'll hurt my brother."
"You did quite well ingratiating your lord...with a common baker. Bravo," Althea sardonically praises Pelipe.
She sharply turns on her heel to face the rest of the party, proudly standing with her knuckles placed on her hips and elbows outthrust.
"Now then, if someone else would care to hold Vark's leash for a bit, I could seek out the most influential, most financially endowed merchants in Uringen and strike an accord with them. As I'm sure you can guess, I can be quite persuasive."
She rolls her eyes, anticipating a tepid response from the party.
"I know you think me arrogant and condescending, but I am merely being pragmatic. Lord Ahto cannot spend too much time away from his seat of power. Not only is there at least one changeling Stroud daughter still at large there to be dealt with, but there are innumerable ambitious swordlords and scheming noble houses in Brevoy with their eyes upon the Stolen Lands. If we dawdle too long on this diplomatic expedition into what is, frankly, the middle of nowhere, by the time we return we'll find that he's been usurped in our absence."
She now turns her eyes to Lord Ahto himself.
"I'm looking out for your wellbeing - you and your land. If I'm to be sworn to your service, then I'm going to take it seriously and do my damn best."
The Vixen’s response is brief. “Leave Jocelyn the Tanner to me.”
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"I trust in the competence of Councilor Kavinka and Captain Garess. If Tamlyn is overrun by the time we return it will been over their dead bodies, as well as those of the entire garrison and every citizen strong enough to bear arms. I am more concerned with the proverbial spiders spinning webs and puppet strings, and little birds whistling whispers into distant ears. My training and Abadar's blessing grant me insight into the deceptiveness of others, if they are in my presence, but I cannot see around walls, down alleys, or into sewers."
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"Are those caraway seeds? I can't STAND caraway. Bleah." She just as absently sets the half-chewed scone back on the counter and moves for the door. "I'll just go let the team know your cunning plan."
And she abruptly heads out the door.
The gnome reappears, a distasteful look on her face and her finger picking at one of her back molars. She nods at the team in acknowledgement, removes her finger, and spits a speck of something chewed onto the ground. She jerks a thumb behind her as she reaches automatically for a scratch at Sprocket's ears.
"He's being blackmailed," she explains. "Brother is kidnapped by dark fey. They're using his oven as a portal between their hideout and this place. Suggested that we launch a counter-attack. All ready?"
Wonky's messy bun looks somewhat more messy than before. Her cadence of speech also seems much more clipped, though the speed at which the wheels are turning in her brain seems to be of the same speed as previous.
The Vixen asks bluntly, “Are ye suggesting we crawl into the oven?”
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"If you are suggesting we go through the oven now," Ahto replies. "I think it might be prudent for us to forego our formal wear and dress for the business at hand. We also do not know how many retainers, lackeys, soldiers and guards we might face on the other side of that portal. Some degree of caution would be advisable."
The sardonic tone of Althea lowers her smile and she becomes quieter. It reminds her of court and some of the less affectionate people there. She takes it with patience and doesn't return the favor when she could comment on the woman's persuasiveness.
"No, I just think you are cruel, negative, and I think you are a serpent waiting to strike."
Her smile returns at Ahto's answer of friendship, positivity, and trust negate her. All she does is a nod in agreement with his views.
Her eyes travel to Wonky as she returns. As the gnome explains and the situation is explained, she nods.
"I can change...Not a problem. I only wore this because I thought we'd not have a chance to change otherwise. I'd imagine we can just use his backroom to change if we want to go now? Shall we go ask?" she pauses, "Umm...Is he friendly to us? Is there a chance he might be lying or sending word to them right now?"
"Alright! Let's do it." She will head back inside with the others, steal away to some secluded area to change into her newer, but more adventuresome clothing, and will ask some questions of the gnome (through Wonky if she must).
Questions:
"Have you been to the other side?"
"Can you tell us a layout?"
"Will we be in the middle of their base, possibly noticed, or is it a secluded area?"
Dependent on the answers, she will prepare some spells now
Then, when the others are ready, she will climb into the oven with them.
"Well, that explains his nervousness. By all means, let's do this." Katrine stuffs the rest of her pastry in her mouth and follows the others to a suitable area to change clothes. Once properly garbed and armored once more, the ranger switches the normal arrows in her quiver for cold iron arrows. "Have any of you got cold iron weapons? If not, we might be able to duck into the Material Plane part of the city to buy some before we go."
The Vixen says, “No cold iron for me’ll be necessary.” She knows that’s buIIshit, and the idea of handling a weapon meant to hurt fey specifically bothers her, but VV has no problem with her friends using whatever weapon is best suited for the job. “If we’ve a full day to prepare before crossing o’er, I’d prefer to touch up me outfit.”
When Wonky pops back into the bakery to relay Pelipe's questions, the renewed jingling of the bell sends Goshstone nearly jumping out of his skin.
"No! No, of course I haven't gone through," he frustratedly whispers his answer. "Even if the damn dark fey hadn't instructed me not to, I'm not about to crawl into an oven that might transport me into the middle of the wicked buggers' hidey hole!"
"Calm yourself, sir, we will handle it shortly. Maybe make some more baked goods while we are away to ease the nerves."