Lyraesel takes in the noise and activity of the city, noticing the state of many of its inhabitants. "Probably easier to avoid notice here than anywhere else in this city."
"I can help with a place for you to stay Kelda." Byron offers as he looks around the town.
"So what would you suggest where we can find a guide to get us through the crown?" Adrian asked Kelda as he made his own rounds for anything interesting.
Aiko seems flatly neutral as the group heads to the next settlement. Crossing the Crown isn't common and it's going to draw attention no matter what they do.
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Kelda's eyes widen at Byron's offer. "You would offer to share your bed with me? I did not know you were so brazen. My father would not approve, but you seem brave and strong, if not smooth of tongue. I will consider your offer." There's a brief sparkle in her eye before she turns serious again. "The tavern there is the best place to start gathering the information you seek. Then perhaps the beggars or the watch. They see much."
at the bar
on the street
with a guard
Lyraesel notices ravens following and watching the party. Adrian and Byron are able to count them and identify which ones they saw where. And the number grows...
When Zaraleva asks one of the beggars about who might attack them, the man flinches and looks around furtively. "Heh! hmmm...You ask questions about them. THEY ask questions about YOU! Heh! Sleep with one eye open.
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Byron blinks and says, "I...was just offering to cover the cost of your room. But...ok."
Byron follows along behind but lets the others with smoother tongues handle asking questions.
2. The
3. Who is trying to kill us
4. Who sent the Ulfen and what killed the prisoner (arm-rings, 'Aril's Hammer')
Zaraleva at the bar:
The bartender nods as he dries off a mug he'd just finished washing. "A Tian sword? You might have some luck with old Fynn. He collects Tian stuff, will talk your ear off if you get him started on swords or the like. He's an amber merchant, got a shop in the Amber Quarter." Asked for more information, the bartender gives Zaraleva the man's full name (Fynn Snaevald) and vague directions to his home in the Amber Quarter.
Zaraleva with a guard:
The guard frowns as he leans against his spear. "That sounds like Asvig's Longthews' ring. Why do you ask? You have some trouble with his men?" Asked for more information, the guard tells Zaraleva Asvig Longthews is a local ring-giver (a term used for a minor chieftain or landowner who maintains a standing body of followers) with a farm somewhere outside of town.
Zaraleva tips the bartender well and thanks him.
"I don't know what they were thinking, but a small group of them attacked our caravan. Is there some rule we don't know about? A tax on outsiders? Protection money?"
Byron keeps an eye out for anyone paying a bit too much attention to the group as Zaraleva asks around for leads.
When the group is away from prying ears, Lyraesel brings up a key point. "THe raiders we let go, if they were sent to find out about Amieko or heard that anyone is looking for someone like her, they will definitely bring more trouble looking for us."
100% agree with Lyraesel.
"Then that's more reason for us to stay he as little as possible," Adrian replied with a sigh. "Let's find this swordsman, a Crown guide and get the hell out of this place."
Sunday, 12 Arodus 4724
Kalsgard is a bustling metropolis of nearly 80,000 souls. Someone from a sleepy little town like Sandpoint might not think it should take too long to get from the relatively unpopulated Bone Quarter, where Sandru had settled the caravan and the group found temporary housing, to the Amber Quarter, where the merchant Fynn Snaevald lives.
But the group finds instead that between the crowds, the bridges, the gates, and the confusing streets, it takes most of an hour to find Snaevald's shop even with good directions and a local to guide them. Kelda doesn't even seem to think this is abnormal. Luckily, this far north summer days are long, and there are hours yet left of daylight.
The lintel over the front door reads "Snaevald" in the trade language as well as Skald's borrowed dwarven letters and a little wooden plaque set into the wall next to the door has a hand-painted representation of a whale, indicating the whale oil and amber merchant's primary business.
Byron keeps an eye out for anyone paying a bit too much attention to the group as Zaraleva asks around for leads.
[dice=Perception]d20+14
Byron once again notes the abnormal number of ravens congregating on rooftops nearby, but with the crowds in the streets it's hard to tell if anyone on the ground is following them.
As the group is making its way to Fynn's shop, Aiko says, "You all keep going. I'm going to break off into the crowd and watch for anyone trying to follow us."
The ninja vanishes into the press of bodies.
"Good day, friend, we are looking for Master Snaevald. We are told there is no greater expert on historic swords and if he has the time, we have much to discuss."