"Yes. Isn't wonderful?" says the Baron in a tone of slightly-nervous near-conviction. "Heh-heh."
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"Well, you seem more or less safe." says an overly-jaunty Drelev upon entering. "And I have better news yet. I was able to find the fair Lady Pavetta."
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Drelev frowns and squints at Durgan. Then he laughs.
The party awakes to peaceful morning absent the noise of hammers and men shouting to one another in the main house. They head down for breakfast in the dinning room, where they find Baron Drelev sitting at the head of the big table. Seated beside him, Lady Stoon with her dog, and the Baron's man, Terrion Numesti, Lord Varn, and his second Matheus Castigan sit across from them, politely listening as the Baron speaks. "...And they had some trouble down at gates morning. Some wank named 'Fancy Pantaloons' or something like that tried to get in saying he was invited but was registered as already in attendance. Queer no? I don't think I've met them yet. For sure I think I would remember a 'Ser Prancy Bottoms'--HAHAH!!" He laughs. Everyone else laughs, Lord Varn the least and Lady Stroon the most of all. "Oh hey our fellows! Come sit! Eat! This may be our last meal before tedium takes us all." he feigns a swoon. The breakfast food laid out does look tempting, but room is two seats shy of having enough chairs. "None of you know a 'Nancypants' do you?" Drelev says chuckling.
"Have I told any of you the tale of how I rescued a beautiful fey damsel from a magical stone circle and then defeated the evil bandit chief the um--Elk Lord who had imprisoned her there with his cruel magics? I had to travel down to Mivon to hire some dwarven mercenaries to aid me in the fight." begins Drelev.
One of his men, a man named Terrion the party members think, remembered from a previous encounter, nods along with the story.
Baron Hannis Drelev and company stagger down from their rooms near midday, missing the Lord Mayor and the throne's representative's arrival. The baron in particular curses the laborers outside, and "whatever all that shouting was just a moment ago." Which had been the commotion of Rutgar Dag's arrival and departure.
Suddenly a woman yelps, drops a platter of Rostland stuffed eggs and races from the room. Other servants hop to help clear the sudden mess. Baron Delev steps from the commotion goblet in one hand, smiling and completely unperturbed.
His man, standing in his shadow, seconds this by raising his glass.
"Things have been looking up! And yes, the manor has some wondrously enticing sights." boasts Drelev slyly. He makes idle chitchat with the two men centering on all of the new developments at Fort Drelev, without ever being too specific. Work is certainly underway, but Drelev doesn't seem to be the sort interested in minutiae. "Great name! I'm so glad I thought of it." he beams. "How are things going at Fort What'sitsname?"
"AH HA! Friends! It has been so long! Come! Cast off your dusty shells!" shouts the naked man.
"Alia, was it? Perhaps you would be interested in a nightcap?" the baron asks with a smile.
"So Illthir...." the baron waggle his eyebrows suggestively.
"Seems tactically sound. We of course dealt with our 'bandit problem' months ago.""Glad to hear it! Of course, I wonder if all the bandits we are seeing nowadays in the Greenbelt were driven out of this area?" Numalar winks.... "Greener pastures no doubt." the baron says with a wink and a belch, and obviously proud of his Greenbelt pun.
"Oh I'm sure that anywhere that you alight, my dove, is pleasant and sunny." Seemingly, she begins re-introducing Scarlet to everyone at the table. "How, err--charming?" "We are hiring a mercenary group to come back with us and deal with the bandit kings goons while we deal with him." he addresses the baron "Seems tactically sound. We of course dealt with our 'bandit problem' months ago." "Man, this is some good grub, Baron!" "Just a little something our cook whipped up I'm sure. We eat like this all the time. Have you tried our chocolate cake?"
"Yes, if rumors are anything to be trusted, that would be one of the scenes for 'the good old days' our gracious host mentioned!" Illthir beamed. "Those were the days...."
"Perhaps you could export some of your lovelies." he says looking around appreciatively, and puts his hand on Serena's knee, but then he seems to remember her 'cut the head off the snake' line and removes it. "So if you are to be fighting bandits in the Greenbelt, what are you doing in the Slough?"
Does the fact that he came with Serena get Durgan a seat within earshot of the Baron?
Scarlet's glad to sit down and eat some grub. "You used to adventure? You don't seem the type. Or maybe these days of rule made you tired." **SPIT TAKE!** "WHAT!? NO! Of course not. Me 'tired'? Preposterous."
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"But first; would you mind telling us a bit how things are going here in the fort? We are of course curious!" Illthir asked, leaving the Baron's question for those better prepared to answer it. "Oh, you know, 'uneasy lies the head that wears a crown' and all that. It is all decisions and responsibilities. Not like the old days. Give me an adventure any day." He quaffs his drink and waves off rulership as a mere nuisance. He turns to Zokon. "So you hold the charter to the Greenbelt?" Zokon: Zokon has the feeling that while Drelev is certainly a man with no more space inside of himself for more (of himself) that he is a clever man (and dangerous) too. Zokon gets the idea that he is purposefully goading Numalar by pretending to ignore him. Drelev is actually listening closely to everyone at the big table.
Actually, this is Drelev's official picture from AP 34 Kingmaker: Blood for Blood. He is a 'real' Kingmaker NPC. It is a very popular image for fighters and rogues.
"I am your humble host, Hannis Drelev! Baron(!) of these savage lands and by writ of the Dragonscale throne...""It's an honour to meet your Lordship," Numalar says with a bow. "Numalar Auritonius, at your service. I too have a charter from the Dragonscale Throne, though I have not received any sort of title for it, alas. Our area of concern is east of here." dice:
The baron only seems to have eyes for attractive women with some elf blood in them. He only seems to feign interest in anything Numalar has to say nodding and grunting in appropriate places. Serena smiles coyly at the Baron's attentions. I guess that it's been a long time since any of them have seen a woman. I'll need to be tactful to keep from insulting our hosts, but I'll not sacrifice my values. "Perhaps, mi'lord, but I will accept your invitation to your table." "Splendid!" The baron produces a magical looking ruby-tipped rod and with a word a palatial tent—a huge pavilion of silk 60 feet across—spings into being. "Terrion, tell the servants we'll be dining in the tent." "Aye." says the man and then departs to his duty. Obviously proud of his large tent Drelev invites Serena, Illthir, and Alia in. And if it seems like they aren't going to to take the hint, he grudgingly invites 'the rest' in as well. Soon enough a banquet of food is set out. "Alas, our last entertainer left us a few weeks ago." "So what is it that Mivon can offer you that Drelev cannot? Aside from a bard of course. Haha."
"Oh, I didn't realize your were together."
"Those Brevoy Birds! Hah! I would just like to see them try that here! We're ready for any foe. Right Terrion?" "Aye, Baron." says Terrion. "We're not as foolish as those other chartered companies." adds the Baron. He turns to Alia looking a bit puzzled. "Have we met before? There is something about you, about your exotic elfin beauty, that seems familiar somehow...."
"Look, dwarf, the bandits are none of my problem," growls the fur trader, "And I don't want any trouble with them. So if you want to poke your nose into that, go to Fort Drelev. Or Camp Drelev. Whatever." "'Fort Drelev'.... I like the sound of that! Yes. It has a very strong ring to it--'Fort Drelev'. Fort Drelev it is!" Says a flamboyant-looking rake at the head of a party of passing mercenaries. He seems to be in charge. The man turns to his aid and says: "Terrion, write that down." Terrion gives an "Aye, Baron." and notes the change on a small pad.
"Welcome to Fort Drelev! I must say that it is not often that we are graced here on the frontier with three such lovely elfin nymphs as you." The apparent Baron says with appreciative glances at Alia, Illthir, and Serena. "I am your humble host, Hannis Drelev! Baron(!) of these savage lands and by writ of the Dragonscale throne empowered to make them safe for flowers like yourselves from fiends both mortal and monstrous!" He says with a flourish, and then swats a mosquito from his neck. The women have attracted a lot of attention from the men of the Serena:
While in Mivon, there was a lot talk in the streets of Hotspur Selline the Lord-Mayor's son. An able, if crude sword brawler, it is apparent to all that he will never attain his father's high position and so he has instead set his sights on claiming his own land in the northeast--the so-called Stolen Land occasionally claimed by Brevoy. The impetuous boy is recruiting mercenaries to help him carve out a steading that he can rule as his own. Drelev draws close to Serena. "Sarenrae is it? Now that must be a tale! Sultry desert lands, diaphanous attire, harems.... And my, but you must be as freckly as a star-field under there." The Baron considers (a lot). "Might I offer you the opportunity to sit at my table tonight. Afterwards we might play at connecting all the dots." He waggles his eyebrows. |