"He lost his shoe on the way here I guess," I say to the smith, "As I said, you come highly recommended. I'm sorry to see you having to be at work so hard. I was hoping we could get together and discuss some of our mutual acquaintances You could bring the mistletoe and I could bring the drinks and it would be fun."
The smithy stares at you in confusion for a moment and then his eyes widen in surprise. His eyes dart to the guards but he manages to avoid turning his head and giving himself away.
"The Dead Well. Tonight," Smaar whispers urgently and then in a much louder voice "WHY YES, SIR. I DO HAVE THE PERFECT SHOE FOR THIS MULE. ... BUT ... I'M VERY BUSY NOW. I WILL BRING IT TO YOU AT THE DEAD WELL SOMETIME THIS EVENING IF THAT IS OKAY."
You wonder how he's managed to survive this long.
"Sure Mister." Sir Manfred looks at Hru. "Hey, where are we goin?"
"One of these idiots is going to get me killed" Liandra mutters to herself, barely audible to her companions.
"Sure Mister." Sir Manfred looks at Hru. "Hey, where are we goin?"
Seeing the others Hru relaxes a little, almost disappointed.
"Just out for some air." replies Hru.
Seeing the others Hru relaxes a little, almost disappointed.
"Just out for some air." replies Hru.
Umm, yes.
As they walk out of earshot of the guards Hru gets a mischievous look.
"Maybe one you of the silver-tongue would ask the guards if there is a good view from the Keep to pass the time till the mule is shod? I would suggest strolling by just to get a look at it closely, but I doubt if the guard would let armed men such as Manfred of myself near."
"If these here are the surly type, surely I have a remedy for that...a bit of wisdom from the Iron Lord. We could do with a few guard costumes as well"
And a bit more eagerly "There's only two of them"
Increasingly worried, Sir Manfred says "OK, thats enough walking. Time to go back to our rooms." He then hooks his arm through Hru's and firmly starts guiding him back to the inn.
"oh alright..but it was a good idea. These guys can't handle people like us trained in the wilds the northlands....they're only two, Gorum would not forgive me if I didn't at least try to seek conflict with mine enemies." Hru says softly to Manfred as they head for the Dead Well
"They'll get it soon enough...HO HOOO!" Hru laughs, just before looking over his shoulder to throw a last steely stare at the Baron's "forces".
"Have you no faith Sir Hru? I can feel it building, the tension in the air. A fight is certainly coming, of that have no fear. But we must not be rushed into one due to boredom or nervous excitement; we must bide a while yet. Planning and coordination with those who share our allegience will allow us victory over forces many times our apparent size."
Sir Manfred cranes his neck around to look at the gates to the inner bailey.
"If nothing else, I would like a chance at the inside of those gates rather than having unpleasant substances dropped upon me from the battlements."
Sir Manfred smiles reassuringly at his comrades. "The time will come."
From the sounds of things, they were planning on leaving through the front gates but grumble now that they've 'missed their shot'. They worry that come tomorrow, the town will be under seige.
Putting those few pieces of information away for later Eria begins to put an ear out to see if there discomfort with the situation is just not wanting to fight an army of there fellow men or if there is genuine hatred of the Baron there.
Okay, unless you are hoping to win some money at cards and want to play that out, that brings us up to Knotty's turn. Knotty, do you do anything in preparation for nine bells when the keep guards come to get the alchemist's fire?
As Argith makes his final preparations, Knotty steps out back and when out of sight of everyone he hits himself with the wand of mage armour.
Then he gets all sooted up around the face and hands and waits.
As they wait, "so they have many of these deliveries or did you just start in the last few days?"
As Argith makes his final preparations, Knotty steps out back and when out of sight of everyone he hits himself with the wand of mage armour.
Then he gets all sooted up around the face and hands and waits.
As they wait, "so they have many of these deliveries or did you just start in the last few days?"
Argith, no longer distracted by his work (and quite possibly coming down), looks suspiciously at Knotty. He turns back to the three men in chain shirts with a chelish coat of arms emblazoned on their black and grey tabards.
"It's ready," says Argith.
"Who's he," one of them indicates Knotty.
"My helper," shrugs Argith.
"The Baron won't like that. Get rid of him."
They begin to pick up the crates of alchemist's fire.
"Aha! A flight of gold. Eight is the second highest. Hand over your peanuts boys. Might have lost the ante but still to the good. Your deal next Hru I believe..."
"Red fives, busted again, I'll never get the hang of this civilization thing"
"A twelve of wands? Alright gentlemen, I'll bite; Check."
"Aha! A flight of gold. Eight is the second highest. Hand over your peanuts boys. Might have lost the ante but still to the good. Your deal next Hru I believe..."Not too interested in actually gambling, I nonetheless am open to allowing others at the table.
Diplomacy: 1d20+9
Galadar soons find various denizens of the tavern treating him like one of their own. People are beginning to whisper about how "Galadar's Men" stared down the out-of-uniform guards.
Just out for a friendly game to pass the time, Sir Manfred doesn't try too hard.
Just out for a friendly game to pass the time, Sir Manfred doesn't try too hard.
Yep. Manfred and Galadar are soon the center of attention. Ben Willhuff even gives Galadar a grin when he brings a tray of drinks over. He leans in and says, "You're better than I thought you were."
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As soon as it becomes apparent that we are becoming quite popular, I whisper in Liandra's ear, in dwarven, "It is suggested that you take your leave and entertain the blacksmith for us while we are entertaining these sturdy gentlemen. I believe 'mistletoe' is the password in case he needs proof of your identity."
Having seen the attention gleaned by Manfred and Galadar, Hru finds a safe shadowy corner to withdraw from the limelight and watch the room. He notes Galadar saying something to Liandra but can't hear over the raucous din.
He nurses a single mug of ale so as not to become impaired, if he should note someone watching he appears to quaff vigorously actually spilling most down his front and then ordering another from a passing barmaid. He awaits a sign from the Iron Lord.
Knotty grins at the soldier and Argith. "Fine by me, Tis hard work and dangerous too."
Then he walks over to Argith, putting out a hand, "good luck with the next batch, but watch the naptha mix temperature."
Knotty grins at the soldier and Argith. "Fine by me, Tis hard work and dangerous too."
Then he walks over to Argith, putting out a hand, "good luck with the next batch, but watch the naptha mix temperature."
Argith smiles regretfully at Argith and then whispers, "Do you want your pay in silver or pesh?"
After helping out with whatever odd task's still need to be done Eria turns in for the night.
"Silver, that pesh stuff will kill you."
Taking the money, the halfling wanders outside and watches the three soldiers when they leave from a distance before following them back to make sure that they do go to the Baron's Keep. He keeps as long a gap as he can.
"Silver, that pesh stuff will kill you."
Taking the money, the halfling wanders outside and watches the three soldiers when they leave from a distance before following them back to make sure that they do go to the Baron's Keep. He keeps as long a gap as he can.
They do indeed go the Baron's Keep. The townsfolk seem more fearful of these Chelish legionnaires that picked up the alchemist's fire than they do of the regular guards. The street pretty much clears out but you still manage to go unnoticed.
Then back to the Inn and wait for the rest. Perhaps a little snack of apple cider and cheese.
With some bread and soup maybe if they have it. And whatever fruit is not too mouldy just to be healthy.
That should keep Knotty from waisting away in case we work the night away as well.
It sounds like everyone is back at the inn, except for Eria. Liandra can make contact with Smaar when he comes.
Smaar see Liandra waiting for him and speaks in a low voice, "You were foolish to talk so freely in front of those guards. I think the baron suspects me. He's had those guards at my door for almost a week. Hope your boss can meet me somewhere private. I don't want to be talking all out in the open."
Liandra leans forward and whispers,"Act as if you're following me up to my room, we'll all meet there."
For the benefit of onlookers in the common room she lets out a giggle, sliding her hand up his brawny arm and up his cheek then twirls her fingers in the man's hair.
Giving a lascivious look over her shoulder she heads towards the stairs, taking them slowly.
Liandra leans forward and whispers,"Act as if you're following me up to my room, we'll all meet there."
For the benefit of onlookers in the common room she lets out a giggle, sliding her hand up his brawny arm and up his cheek then twirls her fingers in the man's hair.
Giving a lascivious look over her shoulder she heads towards the stairs, taking them slowly.
Smaar's is so red and flustered he almost gives the game away as he follows Liandra up to her room. How this man managed to have five sons but remain so uncomfortable around the opposite sex, Liandra has no idea.
Once in the room, he turns on Galadar first but the group in general. "Tell me why I should trust you."
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"I'm not sure there's an acceptable answer to that question," I say with a grin, "For that matter all we know of you is that you put mistletoe in your window and we were told to seek for help from those with that sign. We have been sent to bring Andoran justice to the Baron before the seige can even begin. Any information you can give to us will be of help."
"I'm not sure there's an acceptable answer to that question," I say with a grin, "For that matter all we know of you is that you put mistletoe in your window and we were told to seek for help from those with that sign. We have been sent to bring Andoran justice to the Baron before the seige can even begin. Any information you can give to us will be of help."
Smaar considers this long and hard, "That you are here says a lot. ... The baron has been watching my smithy for days. I think he suspects me. I should hurry back."
"I can give you armor, weapons, and information. Getting the weapons may draw attention to yourselves though. Ask any questions you want."
"I'm not alone but I will have to ask the others if they want to contact you. I cannot give you their names. You understand."
"A few chelaxian guard costumes couldn't hurt" says Hru a bit pointedly before getting up. He strides to the window to covertly glance down the lane out side trying to insure the groups security.
"I think knowing of any way into the keep other than through the front gate would be useful. As for weapons and armor, we came prepared for the most part."
"Probably is a way. The Baron would have an escape route but damned if I know what it is. Of course, there's the stable roof but that hardly counts. Sometimes the guards sneak in and out through the roof of Terron's stables. You'd likely be seen though ..."
"A few chelaxian guard costumes couldn't hurt" says Hru a bit pointedly before getting up. He strides to the window to covertly glance down the lane out side trying to insure the groups security.
"Can't help you there. ... Best I could do would be get you a decent imitation of one of their falchions. Wouldn't fool one of them up close, but I have something similar."
unless I'm not there, I thought we were in the common room still, so if I am I won't do that, I'll continue as before scanning the room for any suspicious folk
Hru notices the funny guy in the yellow cape from the yard. The one who was throwing coins at one of the dogs or something odd like that.
"Who would know where a safe route in would be? Someone that walks the town's streets. Someone I can persaude to reveal his secrets. Preferably a bit weak willed."
"Is there a guard captain or sergeant with a pretty wench nearby? A gambler or drinker who the Baron stupidly trusts? Just give me a name and I'll have him as a friend before you can light a forge."
"As for weak willed, I think I know someone" says Hru turning from the window.
"Smith, what's that fellow's name? We saw him throwing coins at the kennels of a house most prominent." Hru indicates at the window.
"Not 3 hrs ago, Galadar, you remember...I gave him a bit of a start, seems he's found his way after us" Hru turns back and watches the man as covertly as possible.
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I begin to ask the question, "How many guards are..."
But Hru's observation distracts me and I attempt to surreptitiously take a look out the window.
Stealth:
"I wonder who he really is. We may have to start the violence early if he's spying on us. We don't want it getting around that the good smith is having long talks with us."
"Ask him in for a chat? I can spell him if needed." Knotty looks ready for a spot of action.
"Who would know where a safe route in would be? Someone that walks the town's streets. Someone I can persaude to reveal his secrets. Preferably a bit weak willed."
"Is there a guard captain or sergeant with a pretty wench nearby? A gambler or drinker who the Baron stupidly trusts? Just give me a name and I'll have him as a friend before you can light a forge."
"Captain Blacklock is the Baron's right hand man. He goes everywhere with the Baron. Don' know that he has a mistress though."
"As for weak willed, I think I know someone" says Hru turning from the window.
"Smith, what's that fellow's name? We saw him throwing coins at the kennels of a house most prominent." Hru indicates at the window.
"Not 3 hrs ago, Galadar, you remember...I gave him a bit of a start, seems he's found his way after us" Hru turns back and watches the man as covertly as possible.
Smaar goes to the window and gazes down in disgust, "Bumbo? That's the Baron's nephew. He's ... well, he's not all there. Or, ... well, ... that is ... there's something funny about him."
"Those kennels are Shenk's. I hear he's taking care of Bumbo for the Baron."