“For those of us not as familiar with Drynna, what are the Hidden, The Saddlery and the Rings Ruin?”, Normont asks with a frown.
”In truth, not sure I understand the problem either. There is a highfalutin merchant that gets into highfalutin places. Is your employer just jealous, or is there more to this?”.
"The Saddlery and Rings Ruin are... well, let's call them pleasure parlors. The latter is more standard fare, the former... more for specialty cases. Don't give me those looks, it's my job to know what goes on in town. I've never used their services. The Hidden, though, is a mysterious private social club. Doesn't have set hours, opens and closes at random, and for some reason the Militia can't figure out what's going on in there. Rumors are going around that some nasty folks run the place. Everything from ordinary criminals to Betrayer cults. But nobody really knows for sure."
Jasper smiles as Lokilia comes in. "Evening, Miss Lokilia. Always good to see you," they say, raising their glass of lemonade in her direction. They then listen intently to Hook's briefing. At the mention of the Hidden, they shake their head and suck air in through their teeth.
"The Hidden, huh? I've raided that place twice, never found hide nor hair of anything in there. Never sat right with me. I'd appreciate a chance to figure out the deal with that place. Maybe this'll be the wave that breaks the dam. If there's something to find at the Saddlery or the Ruin, I reckon we can find it. But if you don't mind me asking, Hook, who're you working for? And what's the name of this Westruun merchant?"
The Myriad do not sound familiar but The Remnant.....he knows them....worshippers of the undead god known as The Whispered One. It was said they once ruled Whitestone in secret before the de Rolo Familys return. Cultists and dangerous ones at that. He hoped those rumours were untrue...
"Would it be safe to presume they perhaps have spies watching or acting as a part of the soldiers?" In the back of the room, standing partially behind the doorway poking his head around the side is a 6'8" blue Dragonblood. His blue horns stretch behind the ridges above his eyes and come to a point just above where his finned ears fade from blue to an icy white color. "Sorry, you were all talking didn't want to interrupt" He scanned around the room, smiling at Lokilia, struggling to remember what he knows her face from and giving a slight wave at the familiar face of Jasper. "Oh there's a spot" He dipped his head down and pulls his shoulders in and slipped through the group to an open spot against the wall he leaned again.
Insight 13+
He is obviously a little nervous, wavering in his speech, and keeping his eyes down or away. He also appears on edge as he quickly looks over everyone in the room as he slips past
“Merchant from Wetsruun? I mean, are you not supposed to say who he is or something. Like, what’s his name?,” the hooded figure asks, again softly yet his voice pierces the tea-fragrant atmosphere with subtle electricity as the others pause for breath. Perhaps this comes out at the same moment that Jasper asks the same question.
“Oh!,” Dev blinks, his brow uncreasing for a moment when a gentle hello blows in under his cowl.
“Ummm… Hi, Lokilia.”
A smile is just beginning to form as his eyes find hers, but disappears as the Dragonblood enters, and Dev can only gawk at his impressive coloration, horns, musculature, pretty much everything. Then his gaze falls to the floor, despondent. Both in regards to the scaled goliath’s confidence and in the others’ talk of the pleasure houses, he senses a divide he can never cross.
Yet his ears are still perked for an answer to his question.
(OOC: Has he noticed in passing a merchant from Westruun? Perception:15 rolled ICS)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters
"Good point", Normont agrees enthusiastically, pointing at Dev. "Run by alleged criminals. Dev right?".
He looks up at the Dragonblood as they walk passed his seat. "No problem friend. Not sure if you caught all the introductions, let me see if I can summarise in case you don't know folks", he says then takes a deep breath. "Hook invited us here, Theron over there digs graves, Jasper is a militia sergeant, Magnus finds dead folk intriguing, Dev isn't sure why they are here, Lokilia seems super nice and I think that's it". He motions to each of the others as he names them.
"Oh, and there's me", he says slapping his palm onto his forehead. "Normont Fizzlepeak at your service. And you are?".
[not sure the best way to roll - I rolled on the campaign, so these should be in the dice log. 11 History, 18 Religion]
"I agree with the others - what's the job exactly? Are we questioning this merchant or capturing him so you can? Or are we trying to find out what's going on? I'm still not totally clear on what exactly is amiss here - some dude getting his rocks off and some other dude trying to figure out how he's so popular? What gives?" Theron strokes the stubble on his face.
"Also, what's the payment?"
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Writer • Podcaster • Professional Gamemaster
playing Jin Wei, human (Kara-tur) way of the Four Elements Monk in the Princes of the Apocalypse
Lokilia listens with interest to what Hook has to say. "Are you just asking all of us to talk to this merchant? Or you want us to try and figure out what's going on?" Her eyes move to Jasper as she asks about the Hidden. She's not really familiar with these places, so she's not quite sure what to make of that part of the story. "We solve the case, we get the payment?"
”In truth, not sure I understand the problem either. There is a highfalutin merchant that gets into highfalutin places. Is your employer just jealous, or is there more to this?”.
“Merchant from Wetsruun? I mean, are you not supposed to say who he is or something. Like, what’s his name?,” the hooded figure asks, again softly yet his voice pierces the tea-fragrant atmosphere with subtle electricity as the others pause for breath. Perhaps this comes out at the same moment that Jasper asks the same question.
Yet his ears are still perked for an answer to his question.
(OOC: Has he noticed in passing a merchant from Westruun? Perception:15 rolled ICS)
( You did note a younger man with a wide brown face and rather large eyes under a mane of brown and blond hair, he was dressed in a rather striking yellow waistcoat which is what noted him to you while performing)
[not sure the best way to roll - I rolled on the campaign, so these should be in the dice log. 11 History, 18 Religion]
"I agree with the others - what's the job exactly? Are we questioning this merchant or capturing him so you can? Or are we trying to find out what's going on? I'm still not totally clear on what exactly is amiss here - some dude getting his rocks off and some other dude trying to figure out how he's so popular? What gives?" Theron strokes the stubble on his face.
"Also, what's the payment?"
( With those rolls you can read the spoiler text in post #24)
" Of course, his name is Conroy Pekese, as I said from Westruun, and this is where he is renting a room." He slides across a piece of paper with an address on it, a series of apartments owned by the Gull family, a family with as long a history in Drynna as the Finches.
" As I said I had already met him, here in fact, before I was hired and I confess we drank a lot of tea and he knows of my business....hence I cannot....well, this is why I bring all my new friends here."
When asked about his employer he looks extremely reticent to say anything but when the question is repeated he sighs, " I will say only that she is a hired by a young woman of one of the ruling families....and I do not fully trust her motives."
" The last few days Conroy has been drinking at the Red Trout before his other visits it may be easiest to pick him up there.", The Red Trout is known to all of you, a fairly expensive bar and restaurant that many of the Lodge frequent.
" Now, my Watch friends. I am hoping this can be off the books entirely as I do not want to ruffle too many feathers which I may have already ruffled a little too much among your superiors...but if you must then I leave it to your judgement." . " I leave it to you how you wish to engage with him....the only thing I recall from our conversation was that he spoke at length about vegetables......I suppose that is a start of a sort. Perhaps you could pretend to be a similar merchant?, he looked about at the group. " Well, some of you...."
" Just talking, my client wants to know his real reason for being here. And who he has connections with. I am inclined to agree that his ease of access to places when he has, according to my investigations, never been to Drynna before means he has friends in high places......I doubt there is much in the way of danger....perhaps some blackmail or family squabbles or something of the sort...just talk and watch and listen, no kidnapping!"
" As for payment.....well, I did not expect all of you too respond....so this is going to be a little more of my budget than I wanted but let us say 50 gold each for the next two days....and perhaps more if I need something further from you. This is ok? Not a fortune, but some extra spending money does not go astray I think."
Dev’s mind races, so ready for the other shoe to fall.
‘Is it unusual,’ he wonders, ‘that Hook is drunk on whatever mixture he’s drinking?’ (OOC: “already started to hit him pretty hard, and he’s got a big smile on his face as you enter.”) ‘It’s an odd state for someone about to spend 300GP, isn’t it? Is Hook trying to hide something other than his discomfort discussing his employer? Or does 300 gold mean little to him, meaning this task he’s set for us might not really matter to him? Or is he a drunk like old Sardi on the pier, so this is nothing unusual?’
(OOC: Insight, rolled IC: 9)
‘I can’t figure it. But 50 gold???’
“Okay,” Dev says to Hook’s offer, his face still downturned.
“I saw him on the plaza. I’ll… know who he is if I see him again. Conroy Pekese or whatever,” he offers quietly.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Normont glances at Jasper when Hook asks his watch friends to keep this off the books.
"Well, I am only loosely associated with the watch here in Drynna, so have no particular problem with that personally", he replies. "And the renumeration seems reasonable. I suppose it couldn't hurt to check on the address", he adds, giving Theron a thumbs up.
He snaps his fingers and turns back to Hook. "You have mentioned the Finch family a couple of times now. First that this merchant avoided their residence, and also that the Gull's have as long a history in Drynna as them. Do you think that is important? Hey Jasper, your name is Finch right? Is that same Finch?".
"His apartment is probably a good place to start. Perhaps its worth while to head over to the Red Trout and see if we can gain anything from speaking with him." Nerak's gaze floated around the room for a second. "If we think that's a good idea? Perhaps we split up? One group chatting with Conroy keeping him distracted and trying to catch him with a loose tongue while the others snoop around."
Acknowledging the others that have joined the room before Hook speaks with a smile and a nod of his head Magnus turns his head back to the attention of the speakers. Listening to his companions comments and considering the next course of action, especially considering the potential opponents they will be facing, from the sound of it.
Talk about diving in feet first, Magnus thinks, first "official" act in this new town and it appears it will be against several of the largest criminal organizations in he land. I never would have been given this opportunity back home so I guess there is a plus to being sent there.
Magnus clears his throat and then speaks up, "I am not sure I would do any good speaking to Conroy as he might recognize me as an official of this town so I will join in with Theron's lot."
“Yep, that would be us. But it makes sense they’d skip us, we’re a militia family through and through. Grandpa Lonato wouldn’t dare treat with a merchant stopping by brothels. The Gulls, though… doesn’t surprise me too much they might be wrapped up in this. They keep to themselves, don’t get too personal with their business dealings.
”I’m not so sure splitting up is the right move here. If we’re dealing with organized crime or a cult or something, I don’t want any of us getting cornered or cut off. But I may not be the best person to deal with Conroy. He’ll probably recognize me as militia right away.”
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DM | Dragon Heist: Hell of a Summer Jasper Garrai - Aasimar Ranger/Cleric | The Dark Below Hyacinth Hagsbane - Hexblood Ranger |Witchwood Petra Pebblefoot - Svirfneblin Wizard | Tomb of Annihilation
“Well, I’m not worried about going it alone, but we could go to the Red Trout and pick up Conroy first. I think taking both routes at the same time makes more sense, but I’m just a grave digger.” Theron shrugs.
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Writer • Podcaster • Professional Gamemaster
playing Jin Wei, human (Kara-tur) way of the Four Elements Monk in the Princes of the Apocalypse
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“For those of us not as familiar with Drynna, what are the Hidden, The Saddlery and the Rings Ruin?”, Normont asks with a frown.
”In truth, not sure I understand the problem either. There is a highfalutin merchant that gets into highfalutin places. Is your employer just jealous, or is there more to this?”.
"The Saddlery and Rings Ruin are... well, let's call them pleasure parlors. The latter is more standard fare, the former... more for specialty cases. Don't give me those looks, it's my job to know what goes on in town. I've never used their services. The Hidden, though, is a mysterious private social club. Doesn't have set hours, opens and closes at random, and for some reason the Militia can't figure out what's going on in there. Rumors are going around that some nasty folks run the place. Everything from ordinary criminals to Betrayer cults. But nobody really knows for sure."
DM | Dragon Heist: Hell of a Summer
Jasper Garrai - Aasimar Ranger/Cleric | The Dark Below
Hyacinth Hagsbane - Hexblood Ranger | Witchwood
Petra Pebblefoot - Svirfneblin Wizard | Tomb of Annihilation
When Jasper explains about the pleasure houses, Normont turns a little red faced.
”Oh my. Um, well, ok. And of course I wouldn’t suggest…right”, he stutters.
“A private club run by criminals that are one step ahead of the law. Now that is intriguing”, he adds after he finishes his embarrassed mutterings.
The Myriad do not sound familiar but The Remnant.....he knows them....worshippers of the undead god known as The Whispered One. It was said they once ruled Whitestone in secret before the de Rolo Familys return. Cultists and dangerous ones at that. He hoped those rumours were untrue...
"Would it be safe to presume they perhaps have spies watching or acting as a part of the soldiers?" In the back of the room, standing partially behind the doorway poking his head around the side is a 6'8" blue Dragonblood. His blue horns stretch behind the ridges above his eyes and come to a point just above where his finned ears fade from blue to an icy white color. "Sorry, you were all talking didn't want to interrupt" He scanned around the room, smiling at Lokilia, struggling to remember what he knows her face from and giving a slight wave at the familiar face of Jasper. "Oh there's a spot" He dipped his head down and pulls his shoulders in and slipped through the group to an open spot against the wall he leaned again.
Insight 13+
He is obviously a little nervous, wavering in his speech, and keeping his eyes down or away. He also appears on edge as he quickly looks over everyone in the room as he slips past
“Merchant from Wetsruun? I mean, are you not supposed to say who he is or something. Like, what’s his name?,” the hooded figure asks, again softly yet his voice pierces the tea-fragrant atmosphere with subtle electricity as the others pause for breath. Perhaps this comes out at the same moment that Jasper asks the same question.
“Oh!,” Dev blinks, his brow uncreasing for a moment when a gentle hello blows in under his cowl.
“Ummm… Hi, Lokilia.”
A smile is just beginning to form as his eyes find hers, but disappears as the Dragonblood enters, and Dev can only gawk at his impressive coloration, horns, musculature, pretty much everything. Then his gaze falls to the floor, despondent. Both in regards to the scaled goliath’s confidence and in the others’ talk of the pleasure houses, he senses a divide he can never cross.
Yet his ears are still perked for an answer to his question.
(OOC: Has he noticed in passing a merchant from Westruun? Perception:15 rolled ICS)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Dev’s voice again, muttering to the floor.
”People say all kinds of things about other people that aren’t true. There’s nothing new about that.”
If the others look at him, he explains curtly, his voice very soft, while shifting uncomfortably against the far wall.
”’Nasty folks.’ It’s just a rumor.”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
"Good point", Normont agrees enthusiastically, pointing at Dev. "Run by alleged criminals. Dev right?".
He looks up at the Dragonblood as they walk passed his seat. "No problem friend. Not sure if you caught all the introductions, let me see if I can summarise in case you don't know folks", he says then takes a deep breath. "Hook invited us here, Theron over there digs graves, Jasper is a militia sergeant, Magnus finds dead folk intriguing, Dev isn't sure why they are here, Lokilia seems super nice and I think that's it". He motions to each of the others as he names them.
"Oh, and there's me", he says slapping his palm onto his forehead. "Normont Fizzlepeak at your service. And you are?".
[not sure the best way to roll - I rolled on the campaign, so these should be in the dice log. 11 History, 18 Religion]
"I agree with the others - what's the job exactly? Are we questioning this merchant or capturing him so you can? Or are we trying to find out what's going on? I'm still not totally clear on what exactly is amiss here - some dude getting his rocks off and some other dude trying to figure out how he's so popular? What gives?" Theron strokes the stubble on his face.
"Also, what's the payment?"
Writer • Podcaster • Professional Gamemaster
playing Jin Wei, human (Kara-tur) way of the Four Elements Monk in the Princes of the Apocalypse
Hook Korats eyes darted across the faces of the Watch members present, " That has been my assumption."
( You did note a younger man with a wide brown face and rather large eyes under a mane of brown and blond hair, he was dressed in a rather striking yellow waistcoat which is what noted him to you while performing)
( With those rolls you can read the spoiler text in post #24)
" Of course, his name is Conroy Pekese, as I said from Westruun, and this is where he is renting a room." He slides across a piece of paper with an address on it, a series of apartments owned by the Gull family, a family with as long a history in Drynna as the Finches.
" As I said I had already met him, here in fact, before I was hired and I confess we drank a lot of tea and he knows of my business....hence I cannot....well, this is why I bring all my new friends here."
When asked about his employer he looks extremely reticent to say anything but when the question is repeated he sighs, " I will say only that she is a hired by a young woman of one of the ruling families....and I do not fully trust her motives."
" The last few days Conroy has been drinking at the Red Trout before his other visits it may be easiest to pick him up there.", The Red Trout is known to all of you, a fairly expensive bar and restaurant that many of the Lodge frequent.
" Now, my Watch friends. I am hoping this can be off the books entirely as I do not want to ruffle too many feathers which I may have already ruffled a little too much among your superiors...but if you must then I leave it to your judgement."
.
" I leave it to you how you wish to engage with him....the only thing I recall from our conversation was that he spoke at length about vegetables......I suppose that is a start of a sort. Perhaps you could pretend to be a similar merchant?, he looked about at the group. " Well, some of you...."
" Just talking, my client wants to know his real reason for being here. And who he has connections with. I am inclined to agree that his ease of access to places when he has, according to my investigations, never been to Drynna before means he has friends in high places......I doubt there is much in the way of danger....perhaps some blackmail or family squabbles or something of the sort...just talk and watch and listen, no kidnapping!"
" As for payment.....well, I did not expect all of you too respond....so this is going to be a little more of my budget than I wanted but let us say 50 gold each for the next two days....and perhaps more if I need something further from you. This is ok? Not a fortune, but some extra spending money does not go astray I think."
"I can start by checking out his apartment," Theron says, grabbing his top hat and standing. "Anyone want to join me?"
Writer • Podcaster • Professional Gamemaster
playing Jin Wei, human (Kara-tur) way of the Four Elements Monk in the Princes of the Apocalypse
Dev’s mind races, so ready for the other shoe to fall.
‘Is it unusual,’ he wonders, ‘that Hook is drunk on whatever mixture he’s drinking?’ (OOC: “already started to hit him pretty hard, and he’s got a big smile on his face as you enter.”) ‘It’s an odd state for someone about to spend 300GP, isn’t it? Is Hook trying to hide something other than his discomfort discussing his employer? Or does 300 gold mean little to him, meaning this task he’s set for us might not really matter to him? Or is he a drunk like old Sardi on the pier, so this is nothing unusual?’
(OOC: Insight, rolled IC: 9)
‘I can’t figure it. But 50 gold???’
“Okay,” Dev says to Hook’s offer, his face still downturned.
“I saw him on the plaza. I’ll… know who he is if I see him again. Conroy Pekese or whatever,” he offers quietly.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Normont glances at Jasper when Hook asks his watch friends to keep this off the books.
"Well, I am only loosely associated with the watch here in Drynna, so have no particular problem with that personally", he replies. "And the renumeration seems reasonable. I suppose it couldn't hurt to check on the address", he adds, giving Theron a thumbs up.
He snaps his fingers and turns back to Hook. "You have mentioned the Finch family a couple of times now. First that this merchant avoided their residence, and also that the Gull's have as long a history in Drynna as them. Do you think that is important? Hey Jasper, your name is Finch right? Is that same Finch?".
"His apartment is probably a good place to start. Perhaps its worth while to head over to the Red Trout and see if we can gain anything from speaking with him." Nerak's gaze floated around the room for a second. "If we think that's a good idea? Perhaps we split up? One group chatting with Conroy keeping him distracted and trying to catch him with a loose tongue while the others snoop around."
(OOC: what is the hour?)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
(What does Jasper know about the Gulls?)
DM | Dragon Heist: Hell of a Summer
Jasper Garrai - Aasimar Ranger/Cleric | The Dark Below
Hyacinth Hagsbane - Hexblood Ranger | Witchwood
Petra Pebblefoot - Svirfneblin Wizard | Tomb of Annihilation
Acknowledging the others that have joined the room before Hook speaks with a smile and a nod of his head Magnus turns his head back to the attention of the speakers. Listening to his companions comments and considering the next course of action, especially considering the potential opponents they will be facing, from the sound of it.
Talk about diving in feet first, Magnus thinks, first "official" act in this new town and it appears it will be against several of the largest criminal organizations in he land. I never would have been given this opportunity back home so I guess there is a plus to being sent there.
Magnus clears his throat and then speaks up, "I am not sure I would do any good speaking to Conroy as he might recognize me as an official of this town so I will join in with Theron's lot."
( Approx 20:00 hrs.)
( Respectable family, fairly stodgy, not overly social. Businesses are mostly kept at arms length from the family proper.)
“Yep, that would be us. But it makes sense they’d skip us, we’re a militia family through and through. Grandpa Lonato wouldn’t dare treat with a merchant stopping by brothels. The Gulls, though… doesn’t surprise me too much they might be wrapped up in this. They keep to themselves, don’t get too personal with their business dealings.
”I’m not so sure splitting up is the right move here. If we’re dealing with organized crime or a cult or something, I don’t want any of us getting cornered or cut off. But I may not be the best person to deal with Conroy. He’ll probably recognize me as militia right away.”
DM | Dragon Heist: Hell of a Summer
Jasper Garrai - Aasimar Ranger/Cleric | The Dark Below
Hyacinth Hagsbane - Hexblood Ranger | Witchwood
Petra Pebblefoot - Svirfneblin Wizard | Tomb of Annihilation
“Well, I’m not worried about going it alone, but we could go to the Red Trout and pick up Conroy first. I think taking both routes at the same time makes more sense, but I’m just a grave digger.” Theron shrugs.
Writer • Podcaster • Professional Gamemaster
playing Jin Wei, human (Kara-tur) way of the Four Elements Monk in the Princes of the Apocalypse