Nathon Hummel's page

"What now, Darian? Do we eat a quick lunch and meet the others? We can always come back. They might like this place."

"And that lager."

"A nice mild lager, maybe?"

Malkovitch can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the unspoken plan is to hang out a while and see if Ben gets a chance to talk later.

*** At the Dead Well ***

"Meat and potatoes then, please. We should eat well while we can."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Nathon moves casually toward the innkeeper. "Mr. Willhuff? We'd like a quiet word with you?"

Nathon nods and follows Darian into the building.

Nathon looks blankly at his companion for a second. The enormity of what Darian has said stuns him.

"I -- I, I'm sorry, Darian. That's ---. That's just wrong. I mean terrible. How do you carry that with you?"

Got slammed by work.

Will try to post tonight.

Nathon looks quizzical. "Never."

"Perhaps fate was untwisted. Or maybe it has a sense of irony. My father was just such a man as the baron. I left home because I couldn't abide the way he treated the people. I've drifted mostly since then. Desna and Cayden Caillean guide my steps. I hope."

Nathon looks straight ahead, frowning during this recitation.

"Now you know my deepest secret. What's yours?"

Nathon sighs glumly. "You're right. That castle wall is looking impassable. I hope the others found something better at the temple. Or that this errand will turn something up."

On the way to the Dead Well

We are outsiders here, says Darian, it stands to reason that in a community this small, we will attract attention. But if we want to complete our mission, we have to talk to people, the Baron will think we are suspicious no matter what we do. I think that Lord Almir is no friend to him, whether or not he will help us, remains to be seen.

Darian continues walking to the Dead Well.

"You're right of course. We're bound to be noticed."

A few steps later Nathon has a different thought. "Maybe we're going about this wrong. Maybe we should go to a friend of the baron and tell them that we want to join the baron's cause. Just because the baron's troops aren't welcoming recruits, doesn't mean his friends won't."

Nathon falls in step with Darian.

"What do you think about Almir? He picked up my innuendo easily enough. I'm a little worried about his warning though."

Darian bows again and says, Good Day to you, Lord Almir. and exits the house.

Once he gets outside, he says, Why don't we head over to the Dead Well Inn, it's on the top of the list we got from Tandifor, and if nothing else we might be able to get something to eat there.

"Fair enough. " Nathon looks up and down the street, then back at Darian. "Which way is it?"

Also sneak in a perception check to see if anyone is taking an unusual interest in us. 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

'Where to next' was directed more to Malkovitch, AZ. I'm thinking the dog owner might be a good shot. Darian's already got some rapport.

"I'll make the same prayer, sir. We are staying at Tandifor's lodge."

I think we're done here for now. Where to next?

Darian bows to Lord Almir, Thank you for your assistance, is there a time that it would be more convenient to call upon you, Lord Almir?

Nathon waits respectfully for Dreyxor Almir's reply.

Or 23 if AZ let's me aid you!

At Almir's

"And how do I know your not Baron spies?"

"Unfortunately, sir, I that would be a hard thing to prove. So I will tell you our story and let you judge for yourself."

"Our story is that we are caravan guards. We were escorting the last merchant into town when the gates were closed. Now we are truly stuck here until the siege is lifted."

"Consider our plight, homeless without friends in town, and with limited funds. If the siege lasts any time at all, we will surely be the first to suffer hunger."

"Add to that, we have friends among the Andoran forces, some of us may even have family among them. When they pour over the wall it will be every man for himself and we could easily end up fighting friend and kin."

"Add to that an honest desire for the fewest people killed or wounded. We may be the party best-suited to arrange some sort of ... accommodation between all parties, to eliminate obstacles to a peaceful outcome."

Diplomacy, 2nd try: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Nathon steps into the room. "Sir, Tandifor suggested that we speak with you. We're interested in ending the Andoran siege with a minimum of bloodshed, but we just arrived in town. We don't know anything about the politics here except that the people seem to fear the baron more than love him."

"Plainly, sir, we'd like your counsel on how to proceed."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

At Dreyxor Almir's:

"Thank you, miss." Nathon flashes a quick smile at Darian. We made it!

The ranger looks around curiously while he follows the maid to the study.

Nathon smiles again. What would she do if I said we were Andoran agents here to do the baron in?

"Tandifor suggested that we call upon Master Almir. We're interested in ways to end the siege with a minimum of bloodshed."

Servant:

She opens the door and asks
"Do you have an appointment?"

"I'm afraid we don't, but our business with him is important. Could you possibly get us in to see him? "

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Nathon smiles. "Good morning, miss. We'd like to speak with Lord Dreyxor Almir, please."

Upon reaching the Almir estate, Nathon knocks on the door.

"Agreed. Tandifor, thank you for your help."

Nathon's got +8 in diplomacy, but his sense motive is weak. If Almir lies to us, he'll be clueless.

Nathon leans in a little closer. This could be important.

Darian rolls his eyes upward at his companions inability to spell, (Pact Hall, PACT Hall is it really that hard to remember?) he thinks to himself.

Fine, he says and turns to Nathon and asks are you ready to go?

"Aye." Nathon accompanies Darian back to the lodge, where he asks the maid for Tandifor.

"That's a good idea. You can even pose as a social climber eager to get in good with the baron by embracing Asmodeus like he has. Who knows? Maybe she can get us into the castle."

Thanks for the list, AZ.

Nathon shrugs, "I think I'll go back and ask Tandifor about some of the people on Simon's list. Maybe we can find an ally or trick one of the baron's allies into getting us into the keep."

I agree with Malkovitch that having the whole gang show up at Pact Hall could be a little awkward. I'll ask Tandifor about the people on the list, especially Tweiford Shenk who's "om the fence."

"I have little talent for dissembling. It would be just as well if I didn't go then."

Nathon sags a little with disappointment.

"I was hoping we'd be able to go over the wall or through a window or something. I guess Pact Hall was our next stop."

I skimmed back through the thread but couldn't find a post i thought I remembered in which DM_AZ gave us a couple names of people we could talk to. Does anybody remember it?

Nathon looks glumly at the castle. No chinks in the baron's armor here.

After their pass, he asks the others, "I didn't see a way in except through the gatehouse. What about you guys?"

If we agree to scout the castle. Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

"The castle is a long shot. Odds are they've covered every way in, but maybe someone was careless. It's worth a look anyway. Then we can visit the Pact Hall and some of the possible dissenters."

I say Scout the castle first. Maybe we'll discover a way in. Pact Hall may give us some background, but it probably won't get us close to the baron.

Let's call it a night and we'll case the castle and the Pact Hall in the morning.

Nathon frowns and looks up and down the street to see if anyone has noticed them. "Azmodeans' first vice is a thirst for power, but they've got plenty of others too. Maybe we'll find something if we wait. Maybe we should just try to sneak in. Maybe we drift in and ask questions tomorrow? Let's have a look at the castle proper before we decide."

By which I mean let's scout the castle and see if we can sneak in somehow.

In his last post, Nathon meant to ask Tarasi about the glowing doors, not the statues. That's what I get for posting in a hurry.

Nathon watches the front door and adjacent street while Simon and Ezekial circumnavigate the building.

"Tarasi, can you tell anything about the glowing statues?"

2nd story windows?

"Tandifor's a good man then."[/b] Nathon takes a sip. "The Andoran army is huge. Does the baron have a way out if the Andoran's win? Like a secret tunnel out of the castle of something?"

"Maybe it's the local leader. The tavern owner seemed fearful himself. Tandifor seems like a bold man. What's he really like?"

Lodge Maid:

"I dislike him, but who would repleace him?
And it'd depend on who who ask that question to,
some support him, others not so."

"It's funny. Down at the tavern they all seem a little afraid of the Baron. You folks up here at the lodge don't seem afraid.."

Lodge Maid:

"Been here all my life, if that answers the question."

Nathon chuckles, Nice girl.

"So what do people think about the baron and what he's doing?"

Lodge Maid:

"If Tandifor gives the Ok you can rest here, otherwise it's the Inn."

"I'm Nathon." He flashes her a smile. "Have you lived here long?"

Lodge Maid:

"Here's your Beer, and I've not seen you before, you new in town?"

"Thanks." Nathon centers the beer between his hands on the table. "We just got into town ahead of the Andorans. Now we need a good, cheap place to stay. Looks like this siege could go on a while."

Nathon glances at the drinkers and the door. "I'll keep an eye out here. " He mutters quietly.

He finds himself a table and calls for a small beer.

He'll nurse that beer carefully. He's not really going to drink it. It's window dressing.

Nathon continues to look at the wolf and Darian. He waits for someone more adept than he to tread this conversational path.

He's bold enough. At the tavern they seemed to think that the Baron or his agents could see and hear all. Maybe there's more to him than we think.

"We were guarding the last caravan that came into town. Now we need a place to stay while we wait out the Andorans."

Nathon smiles and drifts toward Darian and the wolf. He has an easy manner with animals, and no fear. I don't think I would be as relaxed with my hand that close to that mouth. Is he using magic?

Nathon smiles as Darian approaches. Here's Darian. That's one question answered.

His smile broadens at Darian's news. Another answered. Now all we have to do is find a way into the castle.

"Lead on then , Darian."