Jade stares at the armory as it opens. It's beautiful.
Thak clucks his tongue admiringly as he casts his eyes over the fine selection of weapons.
A selection of the shinier arrows end up in Thak's quiver.
"I could be a guard, but I'm not much of a liar, nor a good hand with a polearm." Terflynn warns while raiding the armory.
"Fortunately, I am much of a liar."
Thak searches vainly for some adamantium arrows before giving up.
"How would you like to be my dumb cousin?"
"Your plan is sound Jade. I will pose as a driver. My plain looks should help in that department." Angrim goes and finds a normal leather whip in the armory. "I'll carry this, and put my real lash under the seat. My normal whip would shred a horse's back. Not very convincing." He comments to whoever seems to be listening.
"Alfred, make sure I have some suitably peasant-like clothing. It should not be clean, and make it too large so I can wear armor under it without showing." Angrim commands the servant. If he wants to act like our slave I'll treat him like one.
"If I am to be a guard then just a guard's disguise for me. I won't need one of those hats."
"I suppose my armor would be rather hard to hide without one of the hat's of disguise. The idea of taking things for womenfolk was a good one and would even make sense why two women are merchants. Spices and herbs, both in bunches of dried herbs and also some seeds so that people can plant their own. Large bolts of fabric would be too bulky for us to deal with though, so perhaps ribbons and fine embroidery threads instead and needles for their use. I'd veto the cooking implements though, also too bulky, heavy and noisy to deal with"
Jade nods quickly at Embrianna's suggestions. Here's a question we need to agree on before, Jade said, leaning forward, When they come for us, do we let them take us, and hope to escape once captured, or stop them and hope that we can force one of them to tell us where their headquarters are?
"I'm very much agreeable to the second option, myself. Terflynn responds. "Not much o' one to hand myself into trouble. Not least of my own will, that is."
"Dumb cousin sounds fine for me, sir Thak. But don't go buryin' us in any trouble with that mouth o' yours!" he cautions Thak.
"I can play merchant, but I can't play helpless prisoner. There's no way I'd willing surrender my weapons to play one."
Jade nods. I that will do for me too.
I don't like getting pushed around, either. I'll take a hat, though, if no one else wants it. I'll be less noticeable if I look like a kid.
Do we charge in fast, or take our time and maybe catch them before they catch us? Maybe we should go fast to the town, then lounge a bit, and let them come to us. Use a little inquisitor juju. They must have spies or something in town. We'll spy the spies!
The gnome sometimes gets excited. He realizes that he sounded a little too sure of himself. These are all fairly experienced adventurers like himself, not tyros fresh out of training. He shouldn't presume they don't have better ideas.
Sorry. Sometimes I get excited...
He smiles, his face a caricature of what a human smile looks like, and looks over everyone at once, then bows deeply and humbly, tipping an invisible hat.
This looks like a fun group. Ever at your service, mistresses and masters!
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Well looks like it has been decided. I will see to your preparations and we will leave tomorrow first light my Lords.
Personal transport has also been arranged for you if you should wish to visit the other parts of the Dusk Valley.
1. Library- A large room containing rows and rows of ancient text can be seen. Long ladders slide across these 10 feet bookshelves as librarians retrieves these tomes to preserve and maintain it's condition. A wiry old man lifts his heavy browed eyes leads you to an enclosed wooden cubicle with a small lighting device installed at the top. The cubicle smells of rosemary wood.
Dear Lord/Lady, may I inquire what do you seek and we will retrieve it for you.
2. Chapel- You knelt before the altar and prayed before your deity asking for guidance and blessing.
As you entered into the white city once more, the townsfolk started gathering and asking for your blessing.
1. Bless the townsfolk- You touched the foreheads of the peasants as you say a prayer over their life. The townsfolk lay olive branches at your feet as they received their blessings. Young children emerged and hugged you.
2. Visit the shops- You blessed a few townfolks before heading to the merchant area.
Angrim goes shopping and purches a large sack of Potions of Enlarge Person (20 of them). These are always useful. He thinks to himself, leaving the shop with a bulging sack.
Diggy goes to the library, curious as to the flora and fauna of the area we're going to.
Terflynn goes to explore the capital, and takes a few moments to offer blessings to those he meets.
Thak visits the library, and bows deeply to the aged librarian. "I seek knowledge about the creation, maturation and deaths of lycanthropes."
Jade walks out to the Dusk Capital. When she gets there, she walks through the town, blessing townsfolk as she goes. She continues until the sun sits low on the horizon, almost losing track of time. Finally, she walks back to the headquarters to sleep.
Thak visits the library, and bows deeply to the aged librarian. "I seek knowledge about the creation, maturation and deaths of lycanthropes."
Grollus visits the library, and inquires about the workings of devils.
Embrianna goes into the chapel and prays to Shelyn.
That night when the heroes returned dinner is prepared at the dining table along with all the required arrangements for the mission. The heroes gathered for dinner and prepare themselves to sleep while discussing the mission.
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The next morning Alferd arrives outside the Eagle's Hideout with the Hedgehog. The spikes have been removed from the carriage and modified to look like a rich merchant carriage. Inside remains the same with the levers, secret compartments and the scorpion ballista.
My dear Lords, just some things to sort out. Over here are 3 levers which you can pull. One of which is the Crystal Ball, which will be your main communication back to the Nightfall Scion. Alferd passed a pouch to Angrim..Inside contains the hair locks of Mine and Lady Aluria. You will need it to communicate with us.
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Alferd passes the map to Angrim.
Follow the directions in the map and you should reach the town Green Hallow in 3 days time my lord. May I suggest to discuss the mission on your journey there. Make sure the story is coherent and the disguise fool proof. Remember to find out what happened to the missing travelers and townsfolk and if possible put a stop to it.
Alferd then bows and gives the standard Nightfall Scion blessing.
May you survive the night my lords...
The horses pulling the Hedgehog instinctively started the downward journey through the cave eventually reaching the illusion wall. As the horses nears the wall, the spell dissolve revealing the entrance to the open clearing and soon the Heroes found themselves at the base of the Mindspin Mountains heading towards Fangwood Forest.
Thak waves farewell to Alfred, leans down and scoops up some dirt from the ground, and absent-mindedly rubs it into his robes.
"So, I shall be a guard, with Terflynne as my brother in arms and blood. I say without shame that I have the ability to lie readily and convincingly, thus I say our role will be played well. As for the rest of you... I hope you have the same ability."
"I will make one suggestion and then hold my tongue. We should have one person hidden in the carriage wearing the helm of mind-reading when we first arrive. Knowing their initial thoughts may be vital, particularly if they turn out to be ."
"Agreed. We should utilize all the resources available to us. I will remain silent unless forced to talk, in which case I will do my best impression of a driver. Are you any good at acting Grollus?" Angrim asks the other whip wielder.
Jade looks over the "merchandise," says her farewell to Alfred. She climbs in, and sits down. As the group sets off, she reaches into the armory and grabs one of the hats of disguise, placing it firmly on her head. She thinks for a moment before her appearance changes. Suddenly she appears to be a human, not looking much different from Jade, but instead of looking playful, she looks proud. The hat has become a small jewel sitting in the center of her forehead, supported by a chain.
I will go by Jensida Kael. As for the helm of telepathy, I don't see why one of the guards can't wear it. Guards wearing helmets occasion little comment. I would suggest Terflyn, since he will be otherwise dumb. As for lying, I will be better off remaining silent when possible, but I am a fair hand at it when I have to be.
Embrianna looks on as Jade dons the hat of disguise and then changes her appearance. With a sigh, she'll reach in for one of the other hats of disguise. After just looking at it for a few moments, she'll relevantly place it on her head.
Where Embrianna once sat, there is now a female human with her hair swept up on on e side and held in place by a tortoise-shell comb.
"I guess for the remainder of the trip you can all call me Lillyanna Calleigh."
Angrim puts on the baggy peasant clothing and joins Thak in rubbing dirt on himself. Nodding to the fellow dwarf he smiles. After he's clothed, he hops up onto the driver's seat. Hes stows his scorpion whip under the driver's seat and tosses an old cloth over it. Taking up a horse whip, he waits for the others to get in.
Terflynn dons a militia uniform and puts his bow on his back, taking up a heavy mace instead. "How do I look?" he asks generally.
"Like a big dumb guard" Angrim says, sticking out his tongue in a playful manner.
"I'd wager I wouldn't fool many in a disguise. I have one of those faces people don't trust. Perhaps I could remain hidden inside the wagon?"
Diggy looks adorable as cute little human boy.
Embrianna snickers at the sight of Diggy, which serves to lighten her mood a bit. She's rather uncomfortable with the necessary disguise. "Well, "Jensida", is he your son or mine?"
Jade's eyes go wide. A child? I wouldn't know what to do with a child. You take him.
"And the orphan does? Allright then Diggy, get used to calling me "mommy". It would sound rather odd if you referred to your mother by her given name. Probably the first time in history a gnome gets to call a half-orc mommy."
Timmy runs up to Lillyanna and wraps his arms around her leg.
Mommy! Jensida said she's going to make me stew! I don't wanna be stew! Don't let her make Timmy stew!
The laugh bursting from Jensida's throat us so unexpected that she nearly chokes on it. Around the hacking and laughing, Jensida manages to wish Lillyana good luck with her new child.
Startled at first by the Gnome wrapping his arms about her leg, Lillyanna soon begins to laugh. Patting "her son" on the head she manages to wheeze out in between laughs: "Don't worry little precious, no one will make any stew out of you."
Timmy runs up to Lillyanna and wraps his arms around her leg.
Mommy! Jensida said she's going to make me stew! I don't wanna be stew! Don't let her make Timmy stew!
It is early afternoon when the heroes arrived in the quiet town of Green Hallow. Rain falls regularly but lightly; a mild weather for a town so close to the the Fangwood Forest. A few villagers are outside their homes going about whatever business needed doing. It is, for Green Hallow, a boisterous day. Friends converse outside of homes, carts of various necessities are pushed to and fro, a halfling woman stands atop a crate outside the general store as she calls out details of her newest shipment in the hopes of attracting some customers.
Thak motions to Terflynn to follow him and takes up a position at the side of the cart hatch, standing straight and with one hand ready to draw his bow. He attempts to look generally intimidating, without being overtly hostile.
Terflynn takes up his position as indicated by Thak, and attempts to assist in the effort.