"Thank you Igor." Illthir resists the urge to simply rush into one of the rooms and leap into the soft, warm and not dirt filled bed. Instead she merely picks one and unloads her gear. Then closes the door, carefully, and face-plants this blessed gift of civilization. Oh I've missed thee! Eventually she does get up, looking to round up some companion to visit that bath that was mentioned.
"This Stolen Lands meeting can't be at the Lord Mayor's home, given Restov's autonomy within Brevoy. The Dragonscale Throne would like the Stolen Land stettlements (both our charter and that of other groups) to be a unifying, all-Brevic endeavor. Iannuchi can host this meeting since he is the foremost Aldori Swordlord, and there is great respect for that faction."
As they walk through the yard, Alia points the Dwarven Carts with the Pentagon out to Durgan and the others. "Brunderton, right? They arrived while we were there and caused quite a change in mood there-"
"I may have become paranoid learning about all the politics in these lands, but with the big room, Assassins would know exactly where to go, wouldn't they? We have some days before the meeting, I will keep watch tonight and prepare a magical ward tomorrow."
When Durgan inquires about the wedding, Alia is slightly evasive: "We can look around, but I am not certain now is already the time. Finding an suitable grove to show respect for my kind is appreciated, but not giving my family an opportunity to attend would be an affront. I did pass on my intent, and I suppose a messenger with a response may wait for me back in our capital. I suspect we will want to strenghten the roads and secure the region between there and Restov anyway, to allow trade to flow and support and settlers to move in, so we may have another opportunity in the future - but I will gladly take a look around the estate to see if a suitable area even exists here."
After their bags have been placed in the rooms, and the tour concluded, Alia will gladly join Illthir and head towards the baths.
Zokon tries to hide his dislike of being dabbed at by Igor.. kinda.. he takes stock of the tactical situation, noting escape routes.
"Ahh. thankyou Durgan, yes wise, we should all make ourselves comfortable and presentable"
When they are at the rooms.
"Please all check this floor for escape routes and such, we are in the game of politics now and I want us to get in the habit of being aware of our situation. Baths would also be great, ladies first I assume" he tips his head in the seemingly already departing ladies direction.
Zokon drops his pack off in his room then he goes and checks each room, looking at the windows and such to note each escape route. He even goes as far as to stick his head out a window or go outside to see how to access the roof via a window.
"There is an enchantment that some of the Mendevian Crusaders used, called Keep Watch. I have never been able to master it myself, but it could be useful if we are truly paranoid.
And there is another, Serren's Swift Girding, to instantly don armor."
"I have heared of the enchantment you speak of, it also serves my kind against Treerazers ambitions. I never learned it, but it would probably be worth looking into."
Zokon tries to hide his dislike of being dabbed at by Igor.. kinda.. he takes stock of the tactical situation, noting escape routes.
Illthir and Alia head out to the bathhouse*, a large stone building built into the side of the keep walls, near the well. There are two women already there, one of whom you recognize form Restov, Sandralane of Rahadoum.
"Hello." she says looking up from dousing her long, straight black with an clay ewer.
* Similar to the ladies' washroom in Much Ado About Nothing, though perhaps better lit.
The other older woman also with dark hair has not yet been met by either of the adventurers.
Illthir does not recognize the older woman. Perhaps she'd been out in the woods for too long? Or perhaps this was just the distant aunt of the swordlord coming for a visit. Nevertheless; being courteous couldn't hurt!
"Hello and well met." she gestured a friendly greeting, trying to gauge if the others were interested in smalltalk and gossip - or if they just wanted to wash away the dust of the road and be done with it.
Fergus goes about finding any sort of a library or study. Eager to try and find some information. On dragons, werewolves, and fey.
"Well met", Alia adds, trying to place both of the woman somehow. She gently directs Illthirs attention towards what she suspects is the robe of the older woman, featuring religious symbols.
She then finds a dry spot nearby to store her clothes and proceeds to undress herself, opting to leave the small talk to her skaldish companion, unless an interesting topic came up.
Not thinking about the wondrous display in the bathouse at all Zokon is kinda trying to rehearse what he might say to nobles
"Hello Good Lord, I am Zokon Santyev, soon to be Duke of Avalon.. hmm.. No Hello Lord blah Blah. I am Zokon Santyev. Simpler easy... bah!" he shakes his head and sits staring out the window.
"I wonder how long the ladies will be...?"
Fergus goes about finding any sort of a library or study. Eager to try and find some information. On dragons, werewolves, and fey.
"Mathter?" The creep servant appears suddenly from behind the Fergus as he muses upon finding a library, while standing on stair balcony.
He leads the wizard down to the first floor meeting room and it's three large free-standing shelves of books. Someone is already here seated at the table surrounded by a few small piles of books.
"Motht of thethe are hithtorieth." he explains damply and then sponges the dwarf off with a towel.
The servant makes introductions. "Mathter Alak Dool thith ith-" and at this point the servant pulls out his clipboard and flips though the list of names to get Fergus's. "Lord Nanseeplantz Brightbow of Kyonin. I will leave to your work gentlemen." And with that he leaves.
The place is not very quiet though, what with workmen hammering, sawing and calling to one another in the spaces around the room.
Perception check DC 23
The harsh-looking human man at the table looks up. "'Lord Nanseeplantz Brightbow.'" he chuckles mockingly to himself and returns to his reading.
Sandralane introduces herself and Mother Vorst. The Holy Mother is apparently the representative of the Pharasman church in Brevoy and is here to see to it that her flock may thrive in the newly opened lands to the south and west.
Sandralane herself is here to help fund the endeavor to reclaim the Stolen Land for Brevoy, and found a religious center dedicated to the Dawnflower, Sarenrae, a goddess whose worship is not often seen (aside from Serena) in the overcast northern lands.
Redemption and graves, that's handy if there's more bandits... Or other miscreants, opportunists and other ill intended folks. The skald makes polite small talk, enjoying the opportunity to gossip a little.
Most of the chat revolves around Sandralane's distant home of Rahadoum where all religion is outlawed and its practitioners are considered criminals. Mother Vorst decries the irreligious nation-state, and makes a point about how religion is the cement that binds a community together on a common path. Then she turns to the newcomers and asks "And what path will Avalon take?"
"We won't be following Rahadoum's path at least." The skald quips, using the joke to recall what they've discussed on the issue. She could see no harm in sharing their reasoning, as best as she could remember. "All religions not hostile to civilization or fellow citizens would be welcome. It would be delightful if either of yours would like to open a shrine or temple."
"What, no Theocracy in Calistrias name?", Alia attempts to joke, then quickly stops when nobody even smiles.
"Sorry, Illthir has the right of it - we are building up something new here, and we will need help from people with diverse backgrounds, professions and beliefs. As they are welcome, so will be their faiths. As we move forward, and some foundations of our nation become more solid, maybe we will rethink some points with more wisdom and experience, but we will start with open minds and arms."
"We won't be following Rahadoum's path at least." The skald quips, using the joke to recall what they've discussed on the issue. She could see no harm in sharing their reasoning, as best as she could remember. "All religions not hostile to civilization or fellow citizens would be welcome. It would be delightful if either of yours would like to open a shrine or temple."
"Ah, such idealism. It does my heart good to see it. You must both be young elves indeed."
"We won't be following Rahadoum's path at least."
"It is good to hear. Perhaps I can bring Sarenrae's teaching to the lands you have opened to settle. I, and several other 'heroes' as the Lord Mayor and the Magister of Restov call us, are here from other lands to forge small domains amid the Stolen Lands in return for funds to help start the endeavor."
"Hah. You're wrong, even if only by a technicality -" Illthir starts then her very eleven ears twitch. With a frown she switches tracks. "Is there someone outside? Hmhm." Getting a little self conscious she ponders how long they had occupied the bath. And pulls her towel closer around herself just in case there were less then noble intents around.
"Where were I? Ah yes; idealism. We are hoping it won't hurt." she frowns again. So far it had stung a few times though. But indeed - she wasn't old enough to grow bitter just yet! "Regardless - We have learned theologists with us. I'm sure they'll manage to sort out any messes. And masses!"
"Is there someone outside?"
"What?"
Fergus rubs his hands together as he goes about looking over the shelves. History is all well and good, but hopefully there was something more akin to what he was looking for here. Perhaps a history of fey in the realm, or historical accounts of dragons or lycnthropay. Anything that may provide some insight. If he can find what he seeks, then the noise is but a minor annoyance. He takes to his task with such focus, its likely he is oblivious to anything else.
Ditzy, unable to bear the sounds, snuggles deep inside one of Fergus's pockets.
Fergus comes away with a stack of books that at least have some passing mention of dragons. There's next to nothing on the topic of lycanthropy though.
The man at the table doesn't look up from his books.
Most of the text pertain to the fall of Rostland at the claws and fire of Choral the Conquer's red dragon allies who laid waste to the Aldori Swordlords' army in what has since been called the Valley of Fire. The battle and the wide-ranging dragon attacks that followed signaled the end of Rostland as an independent nation over a century ago. Rostland was soon joined by its belligerent northern neighbor Issia to form the current kingdom of Brevoy, under Choral's rule. These texts are primarily historical (or at least purport to be) and cover matters of politics, biography, family matters, geography, and the Swordlords' history, in addition to any little bit they have on dragons.
Other books (almanacs, historical fiction, myth, legend, local history, personal journals, scientific books pertaining to the natural world, books of heraldry, etc....) recount legends, and tales of many sorts of dragons including: wyverns, regional drakes, red, white, black, green, bronze, and silver dragons, as well as fairy dragons, dragon turtles, linnorns and tatzlwyrms (in roughly that order, most-common to rarest or most-mythical). Most of these tales are sandwiched in other narratives or discussions. There's maybe only one or two "Here there be Dragons" books in this house's library. Interestingly there is a drastic decline of dragons being mentioned over time. More recently penned books (books written in the last century) have fewer accounts of dragons, and those that do occur are more-likely fairy-tales rather than first-person encounters with actual dragons. According to the texts the most common (by far) dragon noted in the region today is the vicious wyvern, who, after Choral's red dragon allies of a century past, account for a large number of the "officially" reported dragon sightings contained across all the books.
Standing amid the shelves Fergus remains uneasy. To him, it is as if he was being watched by unsympathetic eyes.
With their shower done the two clerics dry off and leave. Both say they have a number of things to do before the summit a couple of days away. Sandralane however tarries to say that she looks forward to meeting Alia, Illthir and their contingent later (but before the conference begins).
"Is there someone outside?""What?"
"Just ... some noise. Take care, see you later then." The skald shrugs her shoulders. But maybe it wasn't actually steamy women it sought, but political secrets? Or ... she realized as the clerics left ... an assassin waiting for a lone target. Brr. I'm missing Mr. Badger already! The skald winced and shamed herself for not recalling his name.
Durgan will wait for the ladies to return before going for a bath - otherwise, he would expect the bathhouse is still occupied.
"Illthir, I hate to ask, but would you mind watching my weapons and armor if I leave them here while I go bathe? It may be unnecessary caution on my part."
Zokon has also been waiting for this time.. he will take a dagger with him though.
Hearing Durgans announcement
"Ah Durgan an excellent Idea, shall we go make ourselves civilised again?"
He heads towards the bath house dagger concealed in his towel
Someone is there enjoying himself beneath the taps already.
"AH HA! Friends! It has been so long! Come! Cast off your dusty shells!" shouts the naked man.
Fergus will begin marking down notes for future reference. It wasn't much, but it was something. He particularly notes any dragon kin that are storied to be able to shift their forms into those of humans or humanlike outside of normal dragons while bemoaning silently the lack of material on other subjects. Every so often he will glance up and around the room before rolling his shoulders a few times to try and ward off the uneasy sensation.
"Baron, good to see you again. How is Fort Drelev?
And how have you found the sights here at the Iannuchi estate? Everything to your liking?"
Durgan gets into a bath and listens to what the Baron has to say.
"Worry not, I'll keep them safe." the skald nods solemnly and drags a chair near the equipment. She'd watch them closely. No-one there. No-one here.
She picked up the axe and weighted it in her hand, enjoying the craftsdwarfship. Of course she'd *never* play around with her valued companions gear. This was merely the professional curiosity of a skald at work. Yes. Weeeeh!
Upon noticing SOMEONE was around, Alia also became cautious. They were supposed to be save here. But save had a very...dynamic definition.
And Illthir had noticed it too. She swiftly finishes cleaning herself, then decides that they should probably rotate bathing guard duty in the next couple days.
Sooner than she originally hoped, they return to their quarters and let the guys head to the baths: "Cautious, we heared someone on the outside - we suspect someone attempts to listen in to conversation. Or worse. Just assume that you are eavesdropped on."
The alternative of a peeping tom, while more likely, was also the worse possibility of the two. Alia was not truly worried about assassins in this case, expecting those to strike in less public places.
Finding herself with spare time, she continues working on both her chainmail and a small artistic sculpture.
Zokon flashes the dagger at Alia as he passes by, "Warning headed my lady." and off he skips
As they come into the bathhouse Zokon is especially weary, looking around, but when he's see the Baron he relaxes a little, he disrobes and put his towel down close to the bath and then he gets in
"Hello Baron, good to see you in such good spirits. These celebrations will be much more enjoyable with you around. How have you been?"
"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?"
Later, when everyone is dried and dressed, they are summoned a purpose-built pavilion with a half-dozen large banquet tables set within its well-lit interior. All of the many windows are cast open to the clear evening sky inviting in the scent of the fields of flowers all around it.
In attendance are Baron Hannis Drelev and one of his men, Sandralane of Rahadoum, Mother Hellana Vorst, the wizard Alak Dool, a contingent of three dwarves (an nobleman and two guardsmen?) from Glimmerhold, the Swordlord Maegar Varn, and as his dashing second Matheus Castigan serving as his aid.
In addition, there are newcomers in the room, a trio of Glimmerhold dwarves, and two human men. one is a stout middle-aged man with a white bristly mutton-chop mustache and monocle covered in regiment showing his allegiance to the Lady of Valor, Iomedae. The other is a gnarled root of man with long gray hair, dressed in second-hand noble attire, wearing too many rings. Igor introduces them as "Balthur Mithtbreather and company" and "Ther Ernetht Daye" and "Thith ith-"
"'Longtooth' will do." Interrupts the man, smiling a warm, gap-toothed smile. "Thank you, Igor."
He offers a knotty old pianist's hand, and shakes any given in return.
"Well met!" says the other man greeting everyone warmly in the fashion of kindly older burly men everywhere.
The dwarf nods slightly. His two veiled guardsmen merely stiffen a bit, as if they were found out while playing hide 'n' seek.
Durgan will go around and shake hands. "Greetings, all. May your ventures prosper.
I am Durgan Far-Walker, priest of Abadar. I hope this conclave proves profitable for all involved."
Alia demurely stands besides Zokon, following his lead.
Not only did Brevoyans seem to expect that of their women - to be honest, she didn't care much about that cliche - but this social gathering was certainly more than just a dinner. She had learned enough about how nobility worked in this region to be cautious - something that kept her natural confidence in check.
After the introductions are done, she turns to the Igor:"Will our gracious host, Lord Iannuchi, be able to join us for dinner? I would love to express my gratitude for his hospitality."