Ruhk offers Anton a smirk, then the taps the side of his nose with a finger before moving it to this lips and making a ssh sound.
"It's a...secret."
You all see a noble business man come into the inn. He is dressed in a tunic of purple. He is also wearing loose fitting pants and some actual sandals made of cow leather. He is wearing two silver rings, and has a large pouch full of tinkling gold.
"I'm looking for some adventurers who will help me," he says. "I helped you, now I need help."
Ruhk grins and pushes out a chair for the man to sit.
"You've got my attention, let's see if you can get my interest as well.
Sit down and tell me how to lighten your mood...AND your purse."
Igneous stays seated and remains eating but he certainly turns towards the man with an interested gleam in his eye, Is this perhaps the next task to which I shall be set? Do I wish to serve once more?.
The dwarf gives his head a slight tilt, No harm in listening before I decide which way the wind will blow or the tide shall take me.
"I need some brave souls to risk going into the family crypt," says the business man. "My name is Jerem del Thane. And I want to challenge our king's reign. My family is connected to nobility, and I need you to get a signet ring for me."
That does peak the dwarfs interest, "Family Crypt you say?
Is this a large crypt? Do you believe it to be haunted?"
Going up against royalty? Ambitious!
But do I want to get involved with that? It COULD come back and bite me later.
Either they fail, and the king decides to clean house, or they succeed and want to tie up loose ends.
I'll just wait and see what the others say.
check out this mark… wait… I’m done picking pockets, even if the waitress is trying to pick mine with extra plates of food…
The slightly less grumpy girl tears the warm loaf of bread in half and nearly buries her face in it as she deeply inhales its aroma. She takes a bite that’s noticeably larger than good manners would allow before word of adventure catches her ear. She tries not to seem too eager as she turns to listen.
”And you’ll pay people—adventurers—to just get that ring for you?” she asks after hearing his pitch. “How much? And, where is this crypt?”
" Delving deep into the halls of the dead? Interesting?" he says rubbing the stubble on his Chin.
" Thats is a stiff crowd, literally dead stares who often give you the cold shoulder..." he says before he moves on.
" I am willing to hear what the rest of my fellows think"
Desperately trying to hide her interest Angoldil looks to the man and asks "I'm interested but before I agree to anything can you prove that this crypt belongs to your family. Not to say you seem dubious. It's just when disturbing the dead one can never be to carful" She then rolls up one pancake and takes a bite while waiting for her answer.
Well, they are asking questions, so they seem interested.
I won't let them go alone, but I'll wait until we can talking private to at least warn them of the implications.
Heh, even I know it's bad form to call a potential employer a manipulator to his face.
check out this mark… wait… I’m done picking pockets, even if the waitress is trying to pick mine with extra plates of food…
The slightly less grumpy girl tears the warm loaf of bread in half and nearly buries her face in it as she deeply inhales its aroma. She takes a bite that’s noticeably larger than good manners would allow before word of adventure catches her ear. She tries not to seem too eager as she turns to listen.
”And you’ll pay people—adventurers—to just get that ring for you?” she asks after hearing his pitch. “How much? And, where is this crypt?”
"It is in the hills near Chondalwood," he explains. "In the graveyard."
That does peak the dwarfs interest, "Family Crypt you say?
Is this a large crypt? Do you believe it to be haunted?"
"It could be haunted, yes."
Desperately trying to hide her interest Angoldil looks to the man and asks "I'm interested but before I agree to anything can you prove that this crypt belongs to your family. Not to say you seem dubious. It's just when disturbing the dead one can never be to carful" She then rolls up one pancake and takes a bite while waiting for her answer.
"Strange that you doubt my veracity," he says. He pulls out an old plan of the crypt. Made on vellum (which is sheepskin). "This has been in my family for generations."
"I don't think that the Elven lass is trying to insult you Sir. But, graverobbing and theft are grave, no pun intended, crimes, and I should think that she, and I, were I to agree to this endeavor, would like to make sure that we are retrieving property for the owner, and not for some other nefarious purpose".
The dwarf wipes his chin and stands up, he heads to the table to look at the vellum crypt plan.
"I don't think that the Elven lass is trying to insult you Sir. But, graverobbing and theft are grave, no pun intended, crimes, and I should think that she, and I, were I to agree to this endeavor, would like to make sure that we are retrieving property for the owner, and not for some other nefarious purpose".
The dwarf wipes his chin and stands up, he heads to the table to look at the vellum crypt plan.
You can make a local knowledge check, a sense motive check, and a Knowledge arcana check.
As far as you know, Igneous, he's not lying. The signet ring will help him confirm his genealogies. You can guess that the graveyard has grave robbers, a necromancer, and probably a ghoul infestation. But that is all rumor.
Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Anton laughs heartily " Igneous that was quite a good one, 'Grave indeed' I shall have to keep that in my repertoire"
Hmm, I think I'll keep that tidbit to myself for now...
Now he just has to mention the pay to seal the deal, I think.
Igneous shrugs at Anton, "Feel free, I've no gift for jesting, mere coincidence that one.
Hmmm, based on what I have heard lately I can see why this is not an endeavor that you would wish to undertake for your self. I would indeed be interested in assisting as I think I have some minor skills that could help.
We should take this discussion to a place a bit more private than the open common room of the Red Lady agreed? It seems that other patrons besides myself do have an interest and I for one have my room for one more day..."
Angoldil looks over the map and tries to memorize it. "I mean no disrespect. Just over cautious. I'll gladly take this to another room but not the one I rented as I don't have fund, as you know." She looks up from the vellum before them."Shall we adjourn?"
Maia sandwiches a piece of ham between two hunks of warm bread and tentatively nibbles at it while she listens to the discussion. When talk to turns to moving somewhere more private she says, “I’d like to know what kind of reward your offering before I head somewhere more private with a bunch of strangers…”
Ruhk chuckles a little at that.
"Talking money in the open for anyone to hear?
Reckless...
I LIKE it!"
Maia sandwiches a piece of ham between two hunks of warm bread and tentatively nibbles at it while she listens to the discussion. When talk to turns to moving somewhere more private she says, “I’d like to know what kind of reward your offering before I head somewhere more private with a bunch of strangers…”
The business man sighs. "I can pay a thousand gold out of my personal account," he says.
Hmm, even divided between us, it's enough to keep a person in food and housing for some time.
I don't see a reason to reject it, let's see what the others think first though...
Fashionably late as always! Lady Serendipity had always smiled upon the half-nymph, and she's hardly taken a step into the common room and already snatches of something interesting piques her subtly pointed ears and rives any thoughts of breakfast out of her mind. "Oh!" She exclaims, skipping up to the purple clad nobleman and his interesting looking entourage and inviting herself to the conversation. "Did I hear someone say something about crypts and lost family heirlooms?!" Lizbit flashes a charming smile and puts a hand to her chest. "That just so happens to be my area of expertise! Lady Firehair has tasked me with finding and preserving lost artifacts of significant artistic merit! Oh, excuse me! Where are my manners?" Lizbit turns to address everyone assembled. "I am lady Elizabeth Applestar. My father is Lord Cornelis Lukas Applestar. Maybe you know each other?" She turns back to the nobleman. "Well, anyways, tell me about your family and this ring! Why is it so important that you need it now?"
Fashionably late as always! Lady Serendipity had always smiled upon the half-nymph, and she's hardly taken a step into the common room and already snatches of something interesting piques her subtly pointed ears and rives any thoughts of breakfast out of her mind. "Oh!" She exclaims, skipping up to the purple clad nobleman and his interesting looking entourage and inviting herself to the conversation. "Did I hear someone say something about crypts and lost family heirlooms?!" Lizbit flashes a charming smile and puts a hand to her chest. "That just so happens to be my area of expertise! Lady Firehair has tasked me with finding and preserving lost artifacts of significant artistic merit! Oh, excuse me! Where are my manners?" Lizbit turns to address everyone assembled. "I am lady Elizabeth Applestar. My father is Lord Cornelis Lukas Applestar. Maybe you know each other?" She turns back to the nobleman. "Well, anyways, tell me about your family and this ring! Why is it so important that you need it now?"
Jerem looks at you and says, "I do know your father. You seem very happy to do this. I like your Enthusiasm."
Igneous raises his eyebrows at the decision by some to speak of matters so openly, but he does not push the issue, only waits for the Nobleman to either agree to his request or continue in the open.
The man chooses to speak openly, Igneous' eyes do not raise or widen at the prospect of the gold, Igneous has known opulence and its effect on those who have it. What makes him more interested is the opportunity to do something well... interesting.
I thought we were going into another room. What ever. I need that money or I'll be sleeping outside more than I want to. She asks "Will we get to take this with us." pointing to the plans.
I thought we were going into another room. What ever. I need that money or I'll be sleeping outside more than I want to. She asks "Will we get to take this with us." pointing to the plans.
"Yes," Jerem simply says.
"Sounds fun, any objections?" Anton says as she seems eager to go.
"I know I will be going, as one must make sure to pay proper respect to all the dead." Anton laughs as he then smiles."I mean no one wants Aunt Ophelia all wet and cold to mumble about brains and damning you uncle for marrying Ophelias' sister"
Igneous chuckles at Anton's comment despite himself, but says nothing further still waiting to see what this potential employer has to say first.
"Well, I'm asking you to go into our crypt," says Jerem. "You could run into ghouls and draugr."
”I’m interested…” Maia answers with some lingering skepticism. “Are you looking to contract with us individually, or does whoever shows up with the ring get all the gold?”
”No offense to anyone here, but we all just met and a lump sum reward that anyone could claim alone or with an accomplice kinda seems like we’re asking for someone to double cross us…”
"Well, I'm certainly interested.
This isn't something you get asked to do every day after all.
Besides, something tells me that if this goes well, it might lead to further commissions down the line, eh?"
"I'd have liked a bit more of a discussion, but such is life. I'm in as well".
"Eh, we've covered the broad strokes, what is left is mainly just the finer details.
Sure, "The devil is in the details" as they say.
I'd say we know enough to know if we're interested or not already though."
"Good," says Jerem. "You've come this far, want to back out?"
" I could always use coin to help spread joy and happiness!"Anton says with a broad smile and thrn looks to tohers
"Any others wish to delve desp in the crypts where nobles sleep" He asks trying to be clever.
"Heh "sleep" he says...now wouldn't THAT be the greatest joke?
Ah, but but we got a disciple of the joybringer with us, so I wouldn't put it past them!
Either way, why not make it easy?
Those interested can just follow Igneous to his room and those who aren't' can stay and enjoy the ambiance of the common room."
Rising to his feet, Ruhk walks over to the dwarf, bows and holds out his arm like he was a gentleman offering to take a bashful maid at a dance for a walk.
Naturally, he grins and offers a sly wink at the same time.
"Hah! I appreciate the escort but I'll make it, a bit slower than the rest of your I'd wager but I'll make it".
Igneous gestures Jerem to the stairs and takes the lead to head back to his room, as there are indeed a few questions he would ask without a room full of people hearing the questions, or the answers...
well… I guess getting ignored answers that question… whoever comes back with the ring gets the gold… it seems like too good an offer to pass up, but I’ll have to make sure I’ve always got an eye on it… or a hand… maybe I’ll just wear it out of there… but then someone might try to kill me for it… hmm…
Maia seems to remain skeptical, but stands up with her bread and follows the dwarf.
Angoldil swiftly picks up the remaining two pancakes from her plate and follows the others up the stairs. She thought It will be nice having another woman around. Especially around strangers. I hope they like me. I hope I will be useful. I really hope this doesn't take more than three days, or I'll run out of rations. Bound up with a mixture of excitement and apprehension she rubs the back of her right hand for comfort.
”I’m interested…” Maia answers with some lingering skepticism. “Are you looking to contract with us individually, or does whoever shows up with the ring get all the gold?”
”No offense to anyone here, but we all just met and a lump sum reward that anyone could claim alone or with an accomplice kinda seems like we’re asking for someone to double cross us…”
"I'm looking to contract a group," says Jerem. "but who ever shows up with the ring gets the gold."
"Igneous was it? Which is your room?"
She rolls up another pancake and munches on the end. She was trying to recall all the names of those she accompanied.
There was Maia. And the funny one was Anton. Igneous the dwarf. But I can't recall the last man's name.
"Excuse me" She spoke to the white haired man "My name is Rowan I don't believe you said your name."
Igneous smiles at Angoldil, "Just follow me lass. It'll be a tight squeeze but once we get things hashed out, we'll be out of there soon enough and I guess off to adventure". The dwarf heads up to his room, which is a tight squeeze but he tilts the bed on its side to give enough standing and breathing room for everyone.
Once everyone is inside, Igneous launches his first question, "You said you want to challenge our king's reign. That's a bold statement to make out in public, my first thought is why? What does your family signet ring have to do with it?
I have agreed to go, but I'd still like to know exactly what I'm getting myself into Lord del Thane".
Hah! So someone else clocked on to that then. eh?
I knew I liked that dwarf.
Vindication is always nice.
Igneous smiles at Angoldil, "Just follow me lass. It'll be a tight squeeze but once we get things hashed out, we'll be out of there soon enough and I guess off to adventure". The dwarf heads up to his room, which is a tight squeeze but he tilts the bed on its side to give enough standing and breathing room for everyone.
Once everyone is inside, Igneous launches his first question, "You said you want to challenge our king's reign. That's a bold statement to make out in public, my first thought is why? What does your family signet ring have to do with it?
I have agreed to go, but I'd still like to know exactly what I'm getting myself into Lord del Thane".
"I checked the genealogies of my family," says Jerem. "I have a claim to the throne by strict primogeniture. Our wizardly king is an imposter."
"And you believe the signet will prove your heritage? Do you have allies should the King prove reluctant to abdicate based on this evidence?"