Rehearsing his cover story to himself, Virgil listens and watches how the crowd behaves.
Upon noticing the commotion, the gentleman waves in the direction of his maid Atoli, instruct the driver to go around. This infernal jostling is upsetting my digestion.
Virgil points at each of his companions.
I have enacted a Message knack. We are now in contact as far as 140' of myself. Only whisper, and I shall hear., the gentleman demostrates.
The trader seems to be winning the fight and quickly the militiaman's comrade's pull him out, laughing. Gaskar inches into the crowd as best he can, nearby a wagon carrying a tower of chicken cages topples over, a rooster escaping and flopping oddly over the faces of those standing nearby. The general lack of movement makes the heat swelter.
With time you reach the gates. 2 guards approach the carriage, wearing slightly different uniforms. The militiaman wears a chainmail hauberk with a red and black tabard and carries a spear, tapping it on the boxes of produce in feigned interest. The other wears a breastplate engraved with the symbol of Vendikon's family crest (a cross encircled by a wheel, flanked by opposing swords). His longsword is sheathed as, despite the chaos, he calmly utters "Name and purpose" as if its the 60 billionth time he's said so today.
"Gaskar Drolp, another delivery for the Tuckets."
The guard responds "Gaskar, right. I remember you now. Who's this then? They don't look like your escort..." the other pokes his nose through the carriage window, glancing at those sitting inside.
"Yes, I chanced upon some noble travelers who preferred my carriage to horseback. The Augustana House I believe it was?"
"Augustana? Come up here to 'escape the shackles' of the Andoran government, is it?" he offers sarcastically.
Nysha stay quiet and pretend to be somewhat absent. She watch the guards and the surrounding to try to learn as much as she can.
Virgil simply smiles at the officer, as he stares into his eyes.
He then absently begins to slowly swing a beautifully crafted pocket watch, while locking his cold-blue eyes onto the official.
Perhaps, a bit of respect for your betters are in order.
The Mesmerist casts Charm Person on him.
He seems pretty agitated by your order "Say again?? Tch...Andy, we got a mouth..."
Garan steps in and speaks, affecting a somewhat foppish air.
"Please, good sirs, forgive my master. The Lord Justin can be a bit much to take in all at once! Yes, we come from Augustana. And yes, perhaps milord was feeling the pinch of democracy a bit. Nevertheless, our business is inside. Would you kindly let us pass?"
Garan takes the guard to the side and chats with him heatedly for a few moments, and ultimately seems to diffuse the situation. The guard wipes his dusty brow and rolls his eyes.
Gaskar intervenes as well "Hey Travis, rounds on me at the Blade. Now that's my word." he points at them both insistantly, who seem to relax and get back to the drudgery of their existence.
Just as you are waved through and make it past the palisade however, an eerie silence goes over the crowd. A low hum is definitely heard...no that's a trumpet. An Andoran marching hymn. A small boy on the shoulders of his father swears he sees soldiers in the distance. Everyone looks dumbfounded when a guard shouts "WAaaake up now boys! Close the gates! Close the gates!" Screams go up as people both eager to leave and eager to stay get crushed between the massive log barriers. A little girl whose mom ran off stands alone crying uncontrollably. A hooded man grabs a traders coinpurse in front of everyone and almost supernaturally fades out of sight. Shouts of "Hells!" and "The rumors were true..." or "Gods!" abound. The siege of Piren's Bluff has begun.
Each of the members of the group hear a whisper in the ears.
Apologies, but that always works. Nice save, Mr. Swiftblade.
The Mesmerist smiles at the official.
Strong Will in that one...
Good, I will enjoy breaking him!
Nysha takes mental note of the abilities of Virgil. Magicians are always good when they are on your side but sometimes the power makes them too fickle.
Let's not lose a moment, master. - Nysha says somewhat sarcastically. She takes actions to open the path for the group (I guess people are storming to enter the keep, so I just push people around to open a route)
Nysha leads the carriage down Keep Road, until reaching a large white-washed house near the center of town. A plaque outside reads "The Forest Bounty" (). Apparently the siege has caused concerns among the public that food will soon be scarce. There are a couple guards reassuring them that the keep is stocked enough to last years.
Gaskar conducts his business quickly and the produce is unloaded. "Now, I promised those boys a mead...before I go though, let me give you the lay of the land..." he informs you about some of the locations within town.
Virgil nods his thanks to Gaskar.
The noble-looking gentleman then turns to any young street urchin. He tossess the kid a silver coin.
Lord Augustana. If you would take message to your finest Inn to make preparations for my staff.
A scruffy little girl grabs the coin right in front of her little brother's face "Dang, you guys are highborn? That's kewl!!" she runs off to the north, back toward the gates. She returns shortly after and informs you they have prepared the Master's Suite at the Dead Well.
When the little girl goes
Well, we are inside. Now we only a reason to approach Baron Vendikon. Though it is better to wait some time, I'll bet he is not in the mood for visitor right now.
A formation of guards led by a long black haired fighter marches down Keep Road towards the gates on horseback. Their faces look dead serious and the crowd parts way for them. Whispers come from the crowd like "Blacklock's goin' to parley with them..."
Virgil grins like the Cheshire Cat.
Perhaps, if we domstrate usefulness to our Baron; coupled with a like-mind noble arriving at this time, may prelude an invitation., Virgil whispers via Message.
Garan listens to the whispered exchange, then adds:
"I agree. Let's bide our time for a bit and see if we can uncover a way to get ourselves invited. Perhaps we should begin a bit of reconnaissance?"
As Garan says this last. he notices the group riding down the keep road.
"Although I am interested in seeing what happens here first."
Again, this is all whispered via Virgil's spell.
Virgil whispers Garan's message to the others.
Whispering: Good, I'll go with Virgil to his suit in the the Dead-Well, a noble would never be without at least some bodyguards. Garan can you start the reconnaissance?
"It would be my pleasure." Garan replies to Nysha through the whisper-link.
You follow Blacklock and his bodyguards through the streets back towards the gate. Being a cavalier, you are likely familiar with the process of parley, a sort of conference between warring men, brought on by some ancient etiquette. Blacklock leaves the gate to meet Dakovya, no doubt to discuss the terms of the siege. If the Baron doesn't like what Blacklock reports, he may retaliate.
Wandering the streets after, you search for signs of the resistance...
A two-story construction of stone and timber towers above the rooftops of nearby buildings and rivals the watchtowers for prominence. A sign near its entrance depicts a stone well surrounded by weeds. Bronze letters afixed to the sign above the picture read “The Dead Well.”
Long-railed hitching posts frame a wide stoop and tall, narrow pine doors providing entrance into the inn. Wood smoke wafts from stone chimneys rising from the steep, wood-shake roof, carrying the promise of warmth and a hot meal within.
As you enter, time stops. A barmaid drops a flagon in dead silence, and everyone turns to look at you.
Virgil maintains a distance of 100' with Garan, maintaining a posture of boredom.
Being a military-looking sort, you should be able to intergrade yourself into that parley, Virgil whispers to the knight.
Aa the Cavalier approaches the group, the Noble that he arrived with begins speaking aloud about Garan's battle prowess.
At the Inn
Noya approaches the barmaid and asks if she could borrow some of the kitchen to help prepare her Master Naran's next meal.
All the while subtly getting information in the kitchen.
Noya, the busy workers at the bar happily let you in to their little operations. It's hard to work at this particular inn because of all the stair climbing. There is a row of tables, then stairs down, then a row of tables, etc all leading to an old well some levels down. Customers drunkenly hurdle coins into it.
You learn the inn manager is a retired gambler from Absalom by the name of 'Lucky Ben Willhuff'. Apparently he has been incredibly annoyed lately, because the baron has stationed 2 out-of-uniform guards in the common area. With time, it isn't hard to guess which ones they are, given the barmaids attitude towards them.
Garan temporarily changes his plan and attempts to ingratiate himself with the parley.
He approaches the leader of the group and calls out, then offers a quick bow.
"Sir, whilst I am only recently arrived, I too am a knight of some renown - Sir Garan Swift-blade, late of Taldor. As I am to be a guest here as your enemies besiege you, might I accompany you in parley as an impartial observer?"
Over the course of a minute or so Blacklock turns from brushing you aside to "Fine, fine...that Dakovya would probably like an impartial observer. Who did you say you swear fealty to? Andoran or Chelaxian?"
Whispering to Garan, Virgil imparts some suggested half-truths for the Knight to satisfy Blacklock.
Perhaps, a bit of dancing around an absolute answer here? Play up the true need for the Nobility is, afterall, our main concern. If Blacklock shares his Baron's ideals...
What? - Nysha says to all the ones watching the party when they entered the dead well. The young women makes sure nobody interrupts Virgil in his mental conversation with Garan. In the meantime she also ask for some elven wine if there is some.
Noya: Elvish wine is abundant, they oblige. After finding you aren't Chelaxian the scene relaxes. A pair of fellows in the corner seems to have eyes for you however.
Garan decides to follow Virgil's line of thinking.
"My family is Taldan, if you must know. But a matter of disgrace forced me to leave my father's household some years ago. In my efforts to restore my honor I have traveled far. Most recently my business has taken me through Andoran, but I haven't always felt welcome there. I heard folk here might be friendlier to a person of my position."
Noya pawnders what to do with the undercover guards at the inn,
"I could poison them, but that would raise a red flag at this inn and cause trouble for it. Odds are it'll need to be done when they are gone from here and at home. I'll need a way to track them... then decide if I can silence them."
Noya will subtly talk with Lucky to see if he has something she can use for tracking the undercover guard.
Garan
"Oh, a Taldan is it? Fantastic." he off-handedly says while dismounting. It seems hes not detected anything wrong with you. Snapping his fingers at some guard near the gate, they run into a little shack and bring out the black flag of parley. After hoisting it high over the walls, they cautiously debar the wicket (small door in the larger gate), and step out into no man's land. "Let's see why this general wants to make my garrison a living hell..."
Noya
In whispered tones deep in the kitchen, behind the light of the hearth, Lucky listens to your plan "Track them? What is it to you? I can tell you those 2 are here all day every day. And everyone knows it too...except travelers of course. How can people have a good time when they know the guard are breathing down their necks? Leave the guard to Rhasper and his 'Conquerer's Blade'. I wish there was some way to get rid of them...I bet the baron would just send more if we did."
Garan feels a sense of relief as his story seems to pass muster. It seems folk all across the Inner Sea are eager to dismiss those of Taldan blood.
He doesn't offer any more comment as the wicket is opened. He merely nods his head in assent and steels himself to face the general from the other side of things.
This is no problem Garan, you've had to pretend not to know people dozens of times before. Especially the countess, after the ball in Augustana...
His face grows strangely distant for the briefest moment in reminiscence, then snaps back to its practiced impassiveness.
On the way out, one of Blacklock's men mumbles something like "Son of a b%*!# this is awful..." but the captain keeps his stern gaze. Dakovya is sitted at a fine woodcrafted table with a neat stack of papers and a little red writing felt.
"Ah, Blacklock. Good man. The Andoran army will never forget your performance at the Underbrockle enclave. I've yet to see your equal with the longblade."
The cordiality doesn't seem to be returned "What is this about, General? The free people can't suffer the old houses anymore? You know what this is going to do to my men? We've got stock for more than 2 years siege...if you want to siege, siege..."
"This isn't about House Vendikon. Well, I'd say its already finished. Your boy there has defected to Chelish rule." Dakovya returns, adding "This is your one chance for unconditional surrender" as he plops the parchment over.
"Tch...you can't be serious, he'll never agree to this..."
The banter goes on, as they discuss the transference of ownership and other items of wealth.
Nysha buys some quality wine. Acting Refined, She brings it to her master's table and serve him a small drink. She then leave the bottle in the table, turn around and with a stern gaze she try to discourage anyone from disturbing virgil.
Virgil nods in appreciation to Nysha, sipping the wine.
Whispering, he says, Perhaps, our dear friend, Blacklock, will bow to reason? Garan, if you could attempt to befriend him?
Back at the bar, a dimwitted servant delivers bags of coffee "Dur! C-c-c-coffee!" plopping the sack down hard on the bar table, slightly drooling.
Those at the bar seem overly polite. "Yes, thank you Bumbo. You delivered this all by yourself? Wow! What a great helper you are!"
"C-c-c-coffee!" Bumbo replies.