Karn was about to comment on what an odd one the tiefling was before realizing that he might have done the same thing in normal circumstances. Smirking a bit, be turns back to the crowd heading for the door and gets up from his seat. "Let's see what the the good ol' sister has to tell us. That is why we are here after all." Then he heads towards the door to join his companions outside.
Dran says nothing as the group goes about its business on finding out information on the kobolds, he continues to drink his ale almost seemingly not caring one way or another. The drow's eyes, however, dart this way and that taking in the patrons as well as listening in on some of the conversations going on around him
Perception (Sight) (1d20+1=4)
Perception (Sound) (1d20+1=15)
Perception Check, 1d20+6=8, Streetwise Check, 1d20+0=5
Sturdy pays close attention to how the towns people react to seeing the group trek across town and into the temple.
Aglaeca/Dran:
"I've lived here for ages and ages, I mean I could tell you all sorts of things. All sorts of rumors, stories, gosh I have some great history books back home. This town is just so rich in history, the great thing is when I'm at market I get to meet up with all sorts of travelers and get all sorts of history scoops." Eilian says, It is apparent to you that he LOVES to chat and he has been chatting your ear off about local history for some time now.
You both are having quite different experiences for the evening but looking around you notice a wide variety of farmers, Salvana wrafton is running around taking care of her patrons, Eilian the old is talking Drans ear off, Aglaeca has become quite the hit at the gathering, a quiet elf is sitting in the corner drinking alone and now Lord Padraig has just entered. The whole room greets him almost in unison.
Aglaeca, you have already managed to have a few drinks purchased for you as people are very much enthralled with your stories. "Tell us another, please." many of them ask you.
Chorro, Karn, Marcus, Sturdy:
Your trip through winterhaven is pretty much uneventful, there are market stalls set up all over the town square and very few people are out and about. When you all finally arrive at the Temple of Chauntea you see that it is unimpressive at best, it's an old wooden structure with very little in the ways of updates. It's not like the temples you are used to back home. When you enter you are greeted most quickly by Gevarn
"Oh they're here, thank the Great Mother I thought perhaps you had forgotten about the job or had something happen to you. Sister Linora, Sister Linora! these are the adventurers I was telli-.. Where are the other two? Well nevermind that, these are the adventurers I was saying can help us with our mission."
Sister Linora is a middle aged woman. She seems to be rather soft-spoken when she first greets you. "Hello, I cannot thank you enough for coming to help us. Lord Padraig shows a complete unwillingness to even acknowledge how much danger we're all in with this threat. I need your help to find the cult and provide proof that it exists! I have learned through my communions with the Great Mother that Shar has turned her dark eyes upon our humble little town." She seems to become more worked up and much, much less quiet when it comes to the cult issue.
"Maybe cause the good Lord has his own scaly concerns," Karn mumbles under his breath in response to Sister Linora's shpeel. Karn was having a hard time believing this whole cult thing even existed since it seemed that more people seemed concerned about a group of kobolds than a cult right now.
Marcus casts a sidelong glance at Karn who is muttering to himself, then bows to Sister Linora. "It would seem that the perils are great, indeed. For the Lord Tempus has deafened the ear of your leader and blinded him to the danger until true warriors of valor and courage have had the chance to prove themselves in battle. I cannot speak for everyone, but I know that we are only more than happy to take up your cause and bring an end to these scaly beasts." The invoker then steps aside to allow the others to add their remarks and ask their questions.
Aglaeca gets up and bows low to the lord, remembering whatever he can of the formalities that humans bestow upon their nobels.
Greeting the lord warmly, the Tiefling slinks over and addressing the crowd from as close to the Lord's Side as he can manage, tells the crowd.
"Your Lord is here, and here to tell you soon, that the so Called Kobold Menace, will be over. Your merchants happy and your town fat with their profit. We have come, at your lords wisdom , to fight these beasts. Together we will make winterhaven, a safe and prosperous place again.
A round for everyone!
As the crowd hopefully diverts their attention to their drinks, Aglaeca keeps smiling and posing with the lord, saying threw clenched teeth quietly for the lord to hear, "You got a problem, we got the solution, lets talk" Diplomacy 7
If sylvana asks and aglaeca can get away with it, without the lord hearing or realizing, the lord should pay for the drinks. Otherwise Aglaeca will open a tab.
At the Temple:
Sister Linora glances over at Karn for a moment before looking at Marcus and smiling "I thank you, the Great Mother thanks you and I will reward you with what I can once the task is complete. I have no leads so far but I'm sure with some investigation you will be able to figure out something, I assure you the threat from this cult of Shar is real. Hmm.. perhaps you should take the job for Lord Padraig, as little as I like to say it. A cover for being here might do you some good to find out who in town is involved. Lord Padraig is probably at the Inn now, he often goes there."
At Wrafton's Inn:
Lord Padraig smiles and waves to the crowd all the while pretending to know who you are and that it is he who sent for you. "It is true, my friends here will soon rid us of our problem." he says to the crowd. Now gesturing to you he invites Aglaeca to sit down with him in a booth and have a talk "Is it just you? This is a serious problem that one man cannot solve I assure you." As Aglaeca orders from Salvana she motions her head agreeably since she sees now that you are under contract from Lord Padraig.
Once you are seated with Lord Padraig he calls over a gruff dwarf whom he calls "Thair" before turning his attention back to you.
"So, you've heard of the predicament we're in here? Less and less of our traders have been making trips into town from abroad. I worry that it will get worse in these desperate times. Those beasts vex me sorely. Yet the villagers refuse to recognize the seriousness of the problem. Attacks along the road have grown more frequent over the last few months. Something’s stirring the kobolds up. I can pay you very well for taking care of this problem for me and Thair here can help you with any kind of equipment you need, he has a fine shop."
Thair looks up slightly surprised at this mention. The dwarf grunts out
"Why yes, yes I can, Thank you Lord Padraig. he looks over at you "Business for me in particular has been rough, Bairwin Wilderson arrived a few years ago with nothing but junk and he has been able to start a shop that seems to constantly acquire more merchandise and expensive items despite having hardly any customers."
He grunts and shifts himself back into his seat.
Just as Salvana brings your drinks over Lord Padraig says, "So, what do you think?
Aglaeca follows the lord to the table, eager to begin negotiations.
Listening carefully to the Dwarf and the Human, the Tiefling sits in silence appearing to carefully contemplate the situation ,and then speaks with a directness amplified by his quiet before.
" Your quite right my lord, this is no job for one man, we are a group of 6 people, heroes all of us, who are here to end this kobold problem once and for all. Your quite right, there is something more serious at work here, the kobolds are merely a symptom, of the greater problem. "
Letting this settle in to these two obviously intelligent people, Aglaeca continues " We can solve this problem however, but first we need reassurances and supplies from you. First we require repairs and supplies, mounts, lodgings, and a free hand to get to the bottom of this convoluted and despicable matter. It appears that Thair here, is offering us repairs and supply, and sylvana is providing lodging to us here, both of which you shall pay for my lord.
You shall also procure us our own mounts when required my lord.
Lastly the free hand we require is the most important, If we do this, we will answer to no one but you my lord and you should know this. We will not stop until everyone responsible for this lays dead in a ditch. We don't believe in half measures, we can solve this malady that lays upon your town, if you give us this. I suggest you make us special deputies but make no mistake we only answer to you. We may also need other things i'm sure your militia has, cells, manacles, that kind of thing.
As for our reimbursement, make no mistake this is a dangerous mission, the kobolds are the least of your problems are we will expect reimbursement for our pains and injuries after we are done here. You will divide the pay into 7 parts, I as Commander of our group and noble liaison will take an extra share of pay.
Looking the lord in the eyes, Aglaeca extends a hand of friendship and contract to the lord. If the lord shakes his hand then the Tiefling will begin haggling over the exact amount of pay, and whether they will receive additional tithes or alternative payment, such as titles, land, brides, etc.
Monetary Pay Negotiations 8
Nonmonetary Pay Negotiations 20
Bluff Check if required 21
[note: site ate my first post, so I ended up rerolling my diplomacy checks, because i lost the link to them (in case you go looking and find like 5 diplomacy checks for aglaeaca)]
"At the inn," Marcus repeats her words dryly. His smile thins, but he forces a pleasant expression and gives another bow. "Then we must hurry back to meet him, though I'm sure the rest of our group has already begun speaking with him. Good day to you both." Tapping the butt of his staff on the floor, the invoker spins around and heads outside, back to the inn.
Padraig looks unsure whether or not to laugh or to be angry. He looks over at Thair and then once more to Aglaeca and does not extend his handshake just yet.
"I'm not sure what you mean by "greater problem", the only thing I need for you to do is eliminate the kobold infestation. As for your quite lengthy list of demands, I would like to meet your entire party before I will discuss the payment and exact amount of gold. We live in a quaint and humble town, our city is not exactly lined with riches. How do I know you're not some swindler coming to trick me out of seven shares of gold? I've already said that Thair will help you out and as far as goes mounts, you can borrow some from the militia but for now they will stay property of Winterhaven. You have to understand that the resources you ask for don't exactly exist here, If I had a militia or town guard with the seemingly unlimted supplies you think I have, I wouldn't have these kobolds. You are bold to make such demands upon just meeting me, this strikes a chord in my heart."
He asks Thair to leave the table before whispering to Aglaeca
Aglaeca:
"This town is hardly the sort of place where titles, property or brides will be high in caliber. I have cousins however who hold lordship in higher towns, if you complete this task well then I will see if I can find you place under the service of a bigger city. When you bring your whole party before me we can talk about payment."
Lord Padraig calls over one of his guards who quickly pulls a parchment out of his satchel and unrolls it, it is a map of the area. Lord Padraig points to a spot southeast of the village.
"This is the kobold lair, one of my scouts is sure of it."
Temple Crowd:
As you enter the Inn you see that Aglaeca has made himself comfortable with someone who seems to have two guards, you assume it's Lord Padraig.
Aglaeca, standing up and bowing as the rest of the party enters the room, says in a quite voice to the lord, " Well, that's not what your priest thinks, and really what are the chances that two completely unrelated maladies infest your town. Either way, I hope you enjoy wrangling cats.
Walking over to the others, he has a wide grin for Marcus and makes a bit of a show of bringing them over to the lord, allowing the party to introduce themselves, before introducing the lord, and then quietly slipping away, taking a moment to ask Chorro to, "make sure they don't embaress themselves too much."
Turning the corner and getting away from people, the easy smile and open face drop off instantly. Finding his room, Aglaeca barricades the door and window if able, before tossing off to sleep... under the bed.
Dran turns to the old man and says rather irritable " Unless you have something of usefulness about the kobold problem leave me or..." the drow trails off as he catches sight of Aglaeca and a lord of some sort engaged in a conversation. As the conversation comes to an end Dran leaves his current table and heads over to meet Aglaeca and after asking him what that was all about, the drow walks over to the lord with an air of confidence and superiority. As he walks Dran keeps a hand on the red handled sword at his waist.
When he reaches the lord Dran takes a bow and introduces himself " The name's Dran Cutthral. Master swordsman and hunter. I guarentee to get the job." Dran's tone is a serious one and leaves no question as to his skill to carry out any task
Marcus raises an eyebrow at the tiefling's smile as he approaches, then follows as he makes his introductions to Lord Padraig. He listens patiently as the ruler explains his point of view and ponders the true nature of Aglaeca in the back of his mind. He is about to say something when Dran appears, rejoining the group and making his presence felt. Marcus can only smile as the warrior asserts himself in the way that he does.
"Indeed," Marcus chimes in. "These are capable warriors in their own way and have much experience traveling with one another. Rest assured, Lord Padraig, that these are not your run-of-the-mill mercenaries. Tempus has gathered us together for a reason and it is a terrible one in the face of our enemies." Marcus looks over his companions for a moment, allowing the words to sink in before he continues.
"But we are not unreasonable, either. Allow us the opportunity to prove our worth to you and your people, and then you can decide for yourself if you wish us to thwart the danger from your village. The priestess of the Earth Mother is convinced that the evil Mistress of the Night has a hand in this, and I, for one, am willing to believe her. Are you willing to risk taking the chance that she could be mistaken? I'll bet Shar is hoping that you might."
Lord Padraig greets the newcomers to the conversation. "You keep bold company, and you make an interesting point. I'm not unreasonable either, If you and your friends go to the lair and find anything to prove the existence of a cult while you solve my kobold infestation then I will grant you further supplies like what your tiefling leader demands. But I expect the kobold problem be dealt with. and quickly. Enjoy your evening." the Lord excuses himself from the table and moves onward out of the Inn with his guards.
The room pauses it's activity for a moment to see off Lord Padraig but quickly resumes into laughter and conversation.
Marcus keeps a friendly face until the Lord disappears with his men and the crowd loses focus on their group. Then his expression grows stern as he looks to the others briefly. Without a word, he spins on his heel and heads straight towards the tiefling's door and beats his staff hard against the wood. "Aglaeca, I'd like a word with you!"
Quick question for the Gm-> Can i get a tiny description of my room? Namely does it have a window that leads to the roof that I can move threw?
Aglaeca manages to find himself on the roof of the Inn, from inside the window Marcus can still be heard calling out to him.
Aglaeca, untying the rope, settles on the roof and goes to sleep , much like his friend, under the stars.
Chorro, content in the knowledge that he is where the spirits wish him to be, does little save accompany Sturdy and Karn to visit the temple of the Greatmother.
He is respectful to Linora and Gevarn, but offers no interjections into their discussions, save a brief amused snort when the sister recommends a visit to the human lord back at Wrafton's Inn.
Once back at the inn, he is not in the least surprised to see the tangle Aglaeca has gotten himself into, only nodding to his friend as he scurries out amidst the confusion.
To Marcus, he offers a shrug. "Aglaeca will be found when he wishes it, child of Tempus."
The shifter will then gather his few possessions and a second mug of small beer and settle himself beneath the tree in the back, content to let the sunrise wake him.
Karn simply smirks at the display in the Inn after their return from the temple. That tiefling ain't as bad as I thought, he thinks to himself as he sees Marcus storm off in a huff after Lord Padraig leaves. Finding an empty table, he motions for Sturdy and Dran to join him as he orders a round of ale. "Quite an interesting night, eh? I'm excited to see what tomorrow has in store for us."
The invoker waits by the door for a few moments when he hears the tiefling scurry out the window. He furrows his brow for a moment as he ponders quietly. "What is he doing? Does he think to hide from everything and everyone to avoid any consequences? This is unacceptable."
For now, Marcus leaves the hell-spawned creature's door and returns to his room for rest and meditation. Tomorrow is another day. Aglaeca can not hide forever.
Sturdy doesn't really understand all the interactions within the group and between Aglaeca and Lord Padraig but he trusts Aglaeca's skill with the spoken word. He sits carefully and has a meal with Karn before heading to his room. He pulls the mattress, sheets, and blankets from the bed and sleeps on the floor of his room. He's had too may encounters with man made beds and chairs where the furniture ended up on the losing side. He ponders the quest that the party will embark upon in the near future, a cult, insane worshipers of a god foreign to him. Then again all gods are foreign to Sturdy. His clan worshiped nature, not as a god but out of respect for it's power. He will search for proof of this cult for Lord Padraig but also search for proof of this god's existence for his own curiosity. The supernatural and magic is believable and at times commonplace in the world but immortal beings with overwhelming power is incomprehensible to Sturdy.
In the morning the sunlight hits the high tower and seemingly trickles down into the rest of the town, spilling over the market. There is a wide varieties of smells and sounds to be heard very very early in the morning. The closest of these smells is the smell of breakfast pouring from the kitchen of Wrafton's Inn. Salvana is quite the Innkeeper indeed.
Waking refreshed and playful with the dawn, Chorro will determinedly toss walnut after walnut to the roof of Wrafton's Inn.
"Aglaeca." toss "Chorro's spirits say to him 'Chorro, wake Aglaeca, there is work to be done.'" toss "Chorro's nose says to him 'Chorro, sausages and bacon are frying, surely Aglaeca will want some.'" toss "Who is Chorro to deny the truth of his spirits?" toss "Who is Chorro to deny the truth of his nose?" toss
Aglaeca swats away the walnuts, peeking over the edge of the Inn's Roof, he looks at the Shifter. "I think we're going to have problems, Chorro, I think Marcus thinks that we are following him, or tempus blessed him, or some such craziness."
Gingerly edging down the roof to the lowest distance , Aglaeca will reenter his room if possible or will otherwise leap to the ground at the least distance possible.
Eventually joining the shifter back outside, Aglaeca sits down, and starts smashing walnuts with a hammer from his climb kit. Eating the nut off the rock. looking somewhat perplexed the Tiefling looks at the Shifter and asks "Who is tempus anyway?"
Gingerly edging down the roof to the lowest distance , Aglaeca will reenter his room if possible or will otherwise leap to the ground at the least distance possible.
"You think too much, tiefling," Marcus says as he approaches the pair. His voice is calm and deliberate, as is his step. "Or perhaps not enough. Which is why you should sit still a moment and listen."
The invoker stands a few feet away so as not to intrude their space, but close enough that he is now part of their circle. "Tempus is the Lord of Battles, and I am a follower; not a leader. It is my duty to find those who conduct themselves honorably upon the field of battle, and ultimately support those who can support themselves. My swordarm may be weak, but I am no less a soldier at heart, which means I must know when to follow and when to lead.
"However," he continues, "I must also recognize those that are fit to lead others, and those that are not." He pauses to give Aglaeca a meaningful look. "A leader cannot distance himself from his followers, nor does he throw them to the wolves and backs away when he feels that his contributions no longer matter. His opponents will only see it as weakness, both on the battlegrounds and at the table of diplomacy."
Marcus pauses again to give a thoughtful look before continuing.
"If a leader should arise from our little group, one that our group will follow without question or condition, then I will accept their decree in good faith. But," he cautions, "I expect a true leader to earn his position by acting like one. To do otherwise would go against the very tenets of my faith, and I cannot allow myself to support such a person no matter how well his intentions may be."
The invoker looks both of the companions over quietly, allowing his words to sink in for a moment. His fingers run over the fire-etched markings of his staff as if to give him comfort, and then with a small bow, he tells them, "That is all I needed to say. Please, enjoy the rest of your breakfast. I will leave you in peace to find my own meal inside. I expect we will be heading out shortly. I will be ready."
Marcus turns to head back to the inn, but stops after a few stops. "One more thing," he says before continuing on. "There is no need to bring this up in front of the others, Aglaeca. I feel their loyalties already lie with you and your ways. Just think on my words. They are deserving of that much, at least."
Walnut Toss
Well, here I was hoping he would calm down in the morning Standing up, the Tiefling rummages threw his pockets and finding a scrap of map, hands it to the shifter. I found the Kobolds, Chorro, what do you say, wanna go get the rest and go kill some kobolds?
Leaving the question hanging in the air, Aglaeca saunters off towards the Inn, looking for breakfast, grumbling something under his breath that sounds like "Save me god blessed fools."
As you all enjoy your breakfast, nothing especially notable occurs. The townsfolk that are also enjoying their morning meal certainly know who you all are by now and what you are going to attempt and most of them look over at you with a hopeful smile every now and again.
Aglaeca tells everyone that the lord in addittion to offering to pay them for their trouble afterward, had also pointed out the suspected location of the Kobolds. Finishing early to let everyone else get ready, (Aglaeca was always ready), Aglaeca goes and gets the animals that the Lord had promised to loan (Need 6 horses and a draft animal (A Donkey? ).
If no one has any surprises, along the way , Aglaeca asks if anyone has had any experience exterminating kobolds or other pest creatures of a simular nature.
Sturdy finishes his breakfast quietly, gathers his pack and exits the inn. Upon Aglaeca's return with the horses, he chooses the strongest of the lot to support his hefty frame. The horse strains under his massive weight and the sight is slightly comedic to those looking on. "I hope we don't end up getting chased, I fear I will be left for dead."
Aglaeca returns with indeed six horses and one pack donkey. They all look a little old, but the man at the stable promised that they are sturdy and courageous. After everyone has gathered their belongings you mount your horses and prepare for the journey to the kobold lair. A large group of townsfolk have gathered to see you off and wish you luck.
You pass through the gates and head towards the location that Lord Padraig has given you.
Please let me know where you would like to be on the western edge of the map
Dran chooses a black steed that appears to have the same disposition as the drow. When Dran hops on the creatures back, he leans down and whisper words in elven in the hoarse's ear and the hoarse lowers his head as if he understood what was being said and his temper seemed to have cooled a bit. With a quick adjustment of his sword and shield, urges his mount forward as the fighter takes point heading to the middle of the road. As he does so Dran takes note of his surroundings with one hand on the reins and another casually fingers the red hilt of the bastard sword on his hip.
The disciple of Tempus takes the reigns of an unexceptional chestnut mare. His thoughts seem to be elsewhere, but he does not distance himself from the others in any way. He responds with simple expressions and short words when addressed or questioned. But his manner remains reserved and quiet for most of the journey.
Chorro sits easily astride his portly strawberry roan, chewing on walnuts and whistling back to the birds.
War cries break from the underbrush as several small figures
dart from hiding places. You know these to be kobolds.
Kobold Skirmisher Init (1d20+5=9)
Kobold Dragonshields Init (1d20+4=5)
Kobold Wyrmpriest Init (1d20+4=17)