Looking for a polisher (Tika in tow)
Perception
Diplomacy (gather info)
Sense motive
"I'm happy with the current one It has.......sentimental value."
"I am here to present myself to the Cleric on Duty. The Blood is the Way." Vrykkas is cordial but not friendly. He simply waits. If the man does not immediately respond, he will glare at him until he does.
Intimidate:
Vrykkas nods his head, once more impassive. He walks through the door and lowers his eyes. "The Blood is the Way. I am Vrykkas, sometimes called the Pale. I have come from afar to visit the city and I would like to pay my respects as befits a follower of the Blood."
Lethe
The Stealmaster is not telling everything about the blade. He seems to be judging your character. "I see... May I ask what value it has, and how you came upon it?"
"It was my fathers....It's all I really have left of my parents so any other blade is pretty much worthless in comparison to it."
"Okay" Lethe hands over the 25 gold and her axe before returning to the Inn.
Viyko bids his hireling farewell, then says, "How would you feel about joining a mercenary company? We've business to tend to with them in a day or two, depending on when they can see us."
Diplomacy to Gather Info (aid another to Estelle if possible):
"Estelle, we should tell the others."
Stealth:
Ivan crawls around Viyko's potential hiding spots and looks for holes and gaps that people may notice him through.
Stealth: , or Perception:
Ayla reserves rooms for everyone at the inn, and asks for some food and drink while she waits for the others to return.
Knowledge (local):
Vrykkas
Vrykkas enters an old musty office with lavish decorations of gold, silver, red and green. A large desk sits at the center, framed by gigantic shelves holding tomes of forgotten knowledge or boring regulations on ceremonies...A big man in his fifties, wearing only a thin crown of hair under a small red satin cap looks at you. His eyes look tired and his cheeks are flushed from either anger or wine. "Thank you for your respects Vrykkas the Pale. The Blood is the Way... Will that be all?"
"Indeed, my lord. I simply wished to make my presence known and provide the respect due your eminence. If I may serve the Blood, I shall be available."
While looking around for info, Viyko keeps scanning alleys, warehouses, rooftops, stairs and the like. If Estelle asks, he comments, "I've never been much for the trappings of civilized folk. The forgotten and overlooked corners of their world hold a certain magic and peace, though, which I find appealing." Eventually Viyko spies an out-of the way rooftop that is shielded from the view of passersby, and protected from the elements not far from the party's inn. "If you should need my aid tonight, Estelle, I'll be bedding here. I might actually have pleasant dreams for a change." With the last comment, Viyko's gaze wanders a bit and he remains relatively distant until they reach the inn.
Viyko informs the party the party of what he and Estelle found out.
Tika pretty much hits the pillows the moment they arrive at the Inn. Lethe meanwhile waits for the others to come back "So how did things go?." She asks once they are all back together.
Tika pretty much hits the pillows the moment they arrive at the Inn. Lethe meanwhile waits for the others to come back "So how did things go?." She asks once they are all back together.
"Good! This place let Hammertail stay in stable!" Ayla says between bites of food, gestures to the seat next to her.
While looking around for info, Viyko keeps scanning alleys, warehouses, rooftops, stairs and the like. If Estelle asks, he comments, "I've never been much for the trappings of civilized folk. The forgotten and overlooked corners of their world hold a certain magic and peace, though, which I find appealing." Eventually Viyko spies an out-of the way rooftop that is shielded from the view of passersby, and protected from the elements not far from the party's inn. "If you should need my aid tonight, Estelle, I'll be bedding here. I might actually have pleasant dreams for a change." With the last comment, Viyko's gaze wanders a bit and he remains relatively distant until they reach the inn.
Viyko informs the party the party of what he and Estelle found out.
"Boy you're a strange cat". "Rather stay out here than a nice comfortable bed in an inn...still to each his own.". "I thought I might sing a few tunes tonight, and maybe earn enough for my keep without having to come out of pocket".
At some appropriate time during the evening...probably after dinner, Estelle will take stage in the inn, and belt out a few old fashion Varisian drinking songs. Perform: Singing.
Viyko and Estelle
Viyko and Estelle's cooperation bore fruits as they got a lead after only five hours of research and small bribes (remove 5 sp each): There is indeed an hobgoblin run outfit of mercenaries located in The Shroud. They are rumored to be the tough and nasty type, to charge a lot and to specialize in the brutal and the bloody. You manage to get the name of a contact, an elven bar owner named Kolenius, with the bar's name: Kolenius'. The ward is about an hour walk from the inn.
Viyko confers with Estelle before speaking to the group to see if she has anything to add.
"Oh yeah uh just so you guys know I need to wait here for three days while my axe is being seen to."
"Well, Lethe," Viyko smiles, "if the watch finds my sleeping place, you can get me a cheap room in an inn's common somewhere."
Viyko looks to the group. "Estelle and I have a lead on the bugbear. The contact for the mercenary company is an elf, about an hour's walk from here. Lethe, do you have a suitable backup to your axe for the next few days?"
"Ayla would prefer to go sooner than later, but she understand if we wait for Lethe weapon. It seem to mean much to her. Ayla understand, Ayla would not leave without her Spirit Mask."
"Well, Lethe," Viyko smiles, "if the watch finds my sleeping place, you can get me a cheap room in an inn's common somewhere."
Viyko looks to the group. "Estelle and I have a lead on the bugbear. The contact for the mercenary company is an elf, about an hour's walk from here. Lethe, do you have a suitable backup to your axe for the next few days?"
"Not really... I guess I could buy one in the morning though."
The night before, after Estelle and he told the group of their findings, Viyko asks everyone if they should come up with a subtle or direct plan. "So, do we waltz in and start talking, lie to them about our intentions, kill everyone to send a message?"
Are they just mercs, doing a job? If so, then we need to find out why they came at us. Otherwise, their employer will just find more disposal warriors to come at us, and maybe pay more for the next group.
"Indeed. As much as we may regret it, this is not war-time. We must have a burden of proof before we execute sentence on these people. We must use subtlety."
Viyko smiles at Vrykkas.
"Eloquently put, comrade Vrykkas. My thoughts precisely. So, what's our ruse?"
"Ayla was planning on bringing Hammertail. He not so subtle."
"Well, Ayla, do you have any ideas? Mine are mostly clouded by revenge right now."
Well, there's always the old 'we're mercs looking for work' approach. Its hardly uncommon after the war.
"I say we go in there and beat the snot out everyone inside then ask some questions."
Viyko chuckles a little at the discussion, and he can't wait to see how they all vote...
"Hmm... Both idea sound good to Ayla." Ayla mutters, stroking her chin in thought
"Well, aside from hiring our own help, we're on our own and with limited funds. If we bust everyone's heads together, then what? If we go under the pretext of looking for work, then what? How long before we could get actual information, and the merc boss we're looking for?"
"Ayla wait here with Hammertail, unless they OK with Hammertail inside. Give us signal, and we rush in." Ayla says, whispering the last part.
I suppose if they have descriptions of us, we'll know soon enough.
"If so, then why no attack? It no like Hammertail blend into town! He no housecat! We not been here long though. So you may be right." Ayla shrugs.
"It would be absurd for them to have every operative given our description, when they were confident that their agents could dispatch us. They would have to be privy to our successful escape in Segelios and get back to Atur before we did. If they are capable of that then we best leave town, as we are as good as dead."