Auriel listens attentively as the others talk, nodding when Braden’s speculation about why the Lord Regent hasn’t acted against Krulek—or the dragonborn, for that matter—aligns with his thoughts. The paladin doesn’t like where this leaves Phlan’s ruler, who seems to prefer seeing his people struggle rather than acting to solve it, but none of this surprises him as much as hearing about people—even if they are outlaws—being sold and then ransomed back into freedom.
"Sold?", he remarks,"As if they were what, furniture?" The Eladrin shakes his red-haired head in disbelief, then breathes deeply and crosses his arms. He finds himself liking the city a little less the more he hears about it. He hadn't been so naive as to imagine Phlan would be the epitome of justice when he first arrived—after all, this hadn’t been true in his native realm either—but this was a bitter pill to swallow.
Auriel doesn’t say more about this, but he is visibly deep in thought as his gaze drifts elsewhere for a while. When he returns to the moment, he looks at the party and says, “Ah, well. It seems a lovely tour of Grimshackle's prison is on the agenda for today.” He sighs and then straightens himself, trying to cheer up by focusing on their ultimate goal: making the merchant routes safe again and ensuring the people of Phlan have their vital supplies back.
Hildigrim taps his chin thoughtfully, then glances at Braden with a nod of appreciation. "Your insights have been most enlightening. I believe you've given us much to ponder as we prepare for the road ahead." He gives a slight bow, then turns to the others. "Any more questions before we begin to formulate our plans?"
Hex notices Braden beginning to become annoyed by the party's constant barrage of questions and takes pity on the poor merchant. She shakes her head. "None on my end."
Carl shakes his head no, then says “Yep, sounds like we need to head to that Grimshackle prison. Can thinka much better places to be, other spots I’d like ta visit, but that’s our next step Ifn we want to figure this out… I’m ready whenever you are.”
"There's still the matter of payment," Braden chuckles as he locks the back of his wagon and fixes the ruffles in the top cover where the thug had attempted to tear it away.
"Though, I appreciate that you're all so eager, I would be remiss not to mention the bounty. House Cadorna is offering 75 gold pieces for the leaders of each of the two bandit groups. This is in addition to the bounty that the Lord Regent has offered up for the arrest or death of Sahnd Krulek. I'm sure you've seen the signs," he says.
"Here," he says, unrolling a piece of parchment and handing it to Auriel. "A map of the local area," he explains, "I will, of course, be willing to accompany you to the prison, if only to cover any fees that the Grimshackle brothers may levy."
"House Cadorna is generous. That money will certainly be of help,"the paladin says, taking a quick look at the parchment before looking back at Braden. "I don't know much about the Grimshackle brothers, but I can imagine speaking to that prisoner won’t be straightforward. Your company will be much appreciated, Braden."
Focusing again on the map, Auriel shows it to the group but realizes a bit too late that he's used to taller companions. "Sorry,"he says to Hildigrim and lowers the map so the halfling can take a proper look, then comments, "The prison doesn’t look that far. A few hours' walk, perhaps?"
Hildigrim smiles appreciatively as Auriel lowers the map. “I still feel it would be prudent to speak with the Black Fists before we depart — any additional information on Krulek could be invaluable. Forewarned is forearmed,” he adds with a firm nod. “If we’re efficient, we should have time to reach Grimshackle Jail before day’s end, with ample knowledge in hand.” He taps his chin thoughtfully, then adds, “And if need be, I could make inquiries alone and catch up to the rest of you afterward.”
Hex blinks in shock as Braden mentions payment. "Oh. Right. Yeah... Sylyra was usually the one who brought up payment... I completely forgot." She sighs and rakes her hand through her hair, perhaps a little bit rougher than needed, before taking a look at the map.
She chuckles a bit as Auriel lowers the map for Hildigrim but as the halfling suggests splitting up the party, Hex frowns. "No, I don't think it's a good idea to split up already. I know it sounds harmless but we never know what might happen. We'll go with you, though I wouldn't have any high hopes if I was you. Its unlikely they'll be willing to tell us anything useful."
Auriel raises his eyes from the map to look at Hex when she mentions Sylyra. He doesn't say anything, but gives her a gentle supportive touch on the back.
Regarding the proposal of splitting the party, he nods in agreement with the tiefling. "I agree. The Black Fists are just around the corner, so to speak, so let's all head there first, and then we can go to the prison."
OOC: I just need to understand how you're approaching the Black Fists here. Are you approaching the nearest guard in Podol Plaza (the ones who just quelled the riot), going to an outpost, talking to a contact, for example?
Hex taps her chin thoughtfully. "Hm... There is that one Black Fist from a while back. She might be more open to help us considering we've helped her before. Well, at least Uragum and I. What was her name again... Aledy? We'll probably be able to find her at the Outpost. If not, there's probably plenty of other Black Fists there we can talk to. What do you all think?"
If everyone is good to go, Hex will lead the group there. "You can follow along if you want Braden or we can just meet you back here once we're done?"
Hildigrim brightens at the mention of a former Black Fist contact. “Your idea of speaking with a knight you already know sounds much more promising than relying on some random guard or hoping for an audience with the upper ranks. We should certainly try her first. And if she doesn’t have the answers, we could ask for a referral — she may have insights on who’s in the know.”
As they walk, Hildigrim looks to the others, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “Now then, let’s review what we need to ask concerning Krulek.” He clears his throat and enumerates with the air of a professor.
“First, we must learn of Krulek’s background and motivation: Why did he turn against the Black Fist? I suspect it could reveal his deeper aims. What were his crimes? Second, his connections and support: Does he have known allies within Phlan, or sympathizers within the Black Fist?” He glances at each party member, as if ensuring they’re listening closely.
“Then, we should inquire about the strength and numbers of these Gray Patriots: their size, fighting capability, and organization. I’d say they must be a rather fearsome lot if the Regent won’t challenge them directly.” He pauses a moment, considering the implications.
“Oh, and we must ask of their previous tactics and patterns along the Iron Route. How do they strike? What sort of methods do they favor?” He resumes his chin-tapping.
“And not forgetting the rival group led by the dragonborn. The more we know of this mysterious leader and her ties to Tiamat, the better we can gauge her role here. Finally,” he says with emphasis, “we should delve into Krulek’s weaknesses or prior failures. Has he been outwitted before, made an error, or fostered any personal rivalries?”
"While we're at it," he says, waving a hand, "we could ask for any insights she might have into why the Lord Regent isn't providing more support for the struggling merchants."
Satisfied, Hildigrim nods. “With that, I believe we’ll be better prepared to see this job through.”
Auriel listens carefully, nodding with a serious expression as Hildigrim works through the long list. When the halfling finishes, the paladin pauses thoughtfully and says, “A thorough list, all good points. With any luck, Fist Aleyd is still grateful for what Hex and Uragum did for her back then—that might get us some answers.” He then motions for Hex to lead the way and follows along, offering Braden a nod, whether he decides to join them now or meet later at the prison.
"You can follow along if you want Braden or we can just meet you back here once we're done?"
"This actually gives me a chance to better lock up before we leave. We can meet at the Stojanow Gate when you're ready to depart," Braden says.
With Hex to direct the party to the relevant Black Fist outpost, you have no trouble finding it. Stepping in, you see Knight Aleyd frantically leafing through a few pages scattered across her desk. The woman is of middle age and in great fighting shape, but the grey at her temples seems like it might be thicker than the last time the party spoke with her. Looking up only long enough to take in the people before her, she asks, "What brings you here?"
Hex looks at Knight Aleyd with pity. As before, she's overworked and understaffed. Despite her own misgivings about the Black Fist as a whole, Knight Aleyd seemed at least much more competent than others. She clears her throat before stepping forward to address the knight.
"I would say Good Morning, Knight Aleyd, but I... don't think it is for you. Uh, I'm not sure if you remember us," she motions to herself and Uragum, "but we helped you a while back and were hoping you would be open to answering some question we had. We were hired to look into the outlaw problem on the Iron Route? I'd bet helping us will help you again."
She looks to Hildigrim for a moment and leans down to speak softly. "Maybe you should ask the questions. I only remember like half of what you said."
OOC: To save time, I'm going to go ahead and just lay it all out. As usual, I'm sure time can be jumbled up a bit in subsequent posts to make it all make sense in the end.
Hildigrim gives Hex a quick nod to convey his confidence before stepping forward and bowing almost in half once again before the Black Fist. “We appreciate your time,” the halfling says after straightening. “I can tell at a glance that you don't have much to spare, so let me be as brief as possible.” He motions toward Hex. “As my new business partner mentioned, we've been hired to look into the trouble on the Iron Route. We understand there are two obstacles wreaking havoc: the former Black Knight, Sahnd Krulek, and his gang — known as the Gray Patriots — as well as a dragonborn sorcerer and her kobold henchmen. You are aware of this?”
Nodding in response to her answers, he continues once she finishes, “What exactly were Krulek’s crimes? And do you have any sense of why he might have betrayed the Black Fist?”
After hearing her response, he lifts a finger to tap his pointed chin. “Do you think he has allies still in Phlan? Perhaps even sympathizers among the Black Fist?”
“What can you tell us about the Gray Patriots themselves? How many of them are there? And since we're not members of the Black Fist ourselves, can you provide some insight into what we'll be up against in terms of their fighting capability and organization?”
“Do the attacks on the Iron Route seem to follow Black Fist tactics, or are they using a different playbook entirely? How do they typically strike, and what methods do they favor?” He pauses, leaning in slightly. “And, of course, any weaknesses you know of regarding Krulek would be of great help.”
“Now, about the rival group — the dragonborn sorcerer and her kobolds. What can you tell us about them?”
Almost as an afterthought, he tilts his head slightly and asks, “Oh, and one last thing. Do you have any insights into why the Lord Regent seems reluctant to send additional aid to protect the merchants?”
"I would say Good Morning, Knight Aleyd, but I... don't think it is for you. Uh, I'm not sure if you remember us," she motions to herself and Uragum, "but we helped you a while back and were hoping you would be open to answering some question we had. We were hired to look into the outlaw problem on the Iron Route? I'd bet helping us will help you again."
Aleyd sets down her papers and finally takes a good look at who is in front her. "Right...the literary thefts in Scholar's Square," she says. "You say 'we', but unless my memory is failing, you are the only one present who assisted with that matter."
"Nonetheless...you are correct. Relying on adventurers is not my first option, but it did serve me well on that occasion."
“What exactly were Krulek’s crimes? And do you have any sense of why he might have betrayed the Black Fist?”
"Krulek was sentenced to death for plotting to assassinate Lord Regent Ector Brahms. I doubt his desire was to betray the Black Fist so much as it was to escape death," she says as a matter of fact.
“Do you think he has allies still in Phlan? Perhaps even sympathizers among the Black Fist?”
"Krulek was a low-ranking officer. It struck me as odd at the time that he would pull so many away from the Black Fist with his station and rank. I tell you this in full secrecy, and only because your companion here has earned at least that trust, but I suspect that he was involved in the illegal pit fighting in town. The fights have proven difficult to stamp out, mostly because a number of the city guard are complicit in running them. I don't see how else he would have obtained the support necessary to form his little band of devils," she answers.
“What can you tell us about the Gray Patriots themselves? How many of them are there? And since we're not members of the Black Fist ourselves, can you provide some insight into what we'll be up against in terms of their fighting capability and organization?”
"The Black Fist has been expressly forbid to investigate or assist with the Gray Patriots. As such, I know little and less about them," she says. Her answer is similar for the rest of Hildigrim's questioning, but to his final thought she answers, "The Lord Regent is a brilliant man, so if you doubt his reasoning you would be mistaken. Were you in charge of protecting a city, with your city guard diminished in number and attacks begging your attention outside of the city, would you send your city's remaining protection outside of its gates?"
In response to Aleyd’s revelation about Krulek’s sentence, Hildigrim’s head jerks back as if struck. “Do you know why he sought to assassinate the Lord Regent? Did Krulek have any political leanings or grievances against him? Was he aligned with any factions that might have influenced his actions?”
When Aleyd diplomatically defends the Lord Regent's decision to limit support on the Iron Route, Hildigrim presses further. “Do you think the Lord Regent’s choice to keep the city guard in Phlan is purely a matter of numbers, or is there something more behind his caution?”
Though disappointed that the Black Fist has little more to offer, Hildigrim nods appreciatively, giving Aleyd a warm smile. He glances at his companions. “Anything else we should ask before heading to the prison?”
Auriel salutes Knight Aleyd respectfully and stands in silence as Hex and Hildigrim speak to her. He’s as surprised as the halfling when she reveals the reason behind Krulek’s sentence, even more so when Aleyd still defends the Lord Regent’s brilliance. Seeking to sound as diplomatic as possible without concealing his concern over the Regent’s inaction, he says, “While we do not doubt the Lord Regent’s brilliance, the shortage in the city is indeed troubling. I hope his decision not to send the Black Fists is because he has another plan in motion, one whose results we have not yet seen. Regardless, as my companions have said, we will do our best to help with this issue.”
“Anything else we should ask before heading to the prison?”
The paladin is about to say he has no further questions, but at the last moment changes his mind and directs one last question to Aleyd. "Do you happen to know anything about the Grimshackle brothers? As you may know, they run a prison up the Stonajow. We will need to deal with them to gather more information that could help us with Krulek Grey Patriots. Any insights or suggestions you might have regarding them would certainly be helpful."
Whatever Aleyd’s answer—whether she knows anything useful or not—Auriel bows and thanks her for her time. He glances at Hildigrim and nods, indicating he’s ready to meet Braden at the Stonajow gate.
Auriel listens attentively as the others talk, nodding when Braden’s speculation about why the Lord Regent hasn’t acted against Krulek—or the dragonborn, for that matter—aligns with his thoughts. The paladin doesn’t like where this leaves Phlan’s ruler, who seems to prefer seeing his people struggle rather than acting to solve it, but none of this surprises him as much as hearing about people—even if they are outlaws—being sold and then ransomed back into freedom.
"Sold?", he remarks, "As if they were what, furniture?" The Eladrin shakes his red-haired head in disbelief, then breathes deeply and crosses his arms. He finds himself liking the city a little less the more he hears about it. He hadn't been so naive as to imagine Phlan would be the epitome of justice when he first arrived—after all, this hadn’t been true in his native realm either—but this was a bitter pill to swallow.
Auriel doesn’t say more about this, but he is visibly deep in thought as his gaze drifts elsewhere for a while. When he returns to the moment, he looks at the party and says, “Ah, well. It seems a lovely tour of Grimshackle's prison is on the agenda for today.” He sighs and then straightens himself, trying to cheer up by focusing on their ultimate goal: making the merchant routes safe again and ensuring the people of Phlan have their vital supplies back.
Down, down, down by the river... ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Saoirse | Auriel | Chase | Shenua
Hildigrim taps his chin thoughtfully, then glances at Braden with a nod of appreciation. "Your insights have been most enlightening. I believe you've given us much to ponder as we prepare for the road ahead." He gives a slight bow, then turns to the others. "Any more questions before we begin to formulate our plans?"
Hex notices Braden beginning to become annoyed by the party's constant barrage of questions and takes pity on the poor merchant. She shakes her head. "None on my end."
Auriel shakes his head as well.
Down, down, down by the river... ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Saoirse | Auriel | Chase | Shenua
Carl shakes his head no, then says “Yep, sounds like we need to head to that Grimshackle prison. Can thinka much better places to be, other spots I’d like ta visit, but that’s our next step Ifn we want to figure this out… I’m ready whenever you are.”
"There's still the matter of payment," Braden chuckles as he locks the back of his wagon and fixes the ruffles in the top cover where the thug had attempted to tear it away.
"Though, I appreciate that you're all so eager, I would be remiss not to mention the bounty. House Cadorna is offering 75 gold pieces for the leaders of each of the two bandit groups. This is in addition to the bounty that the Lord Regent has offered up for the arrest or death of Sahnd Krulek. I'm sure you've seen the signs," he says.
"Here," he says, unrolling a piece of parchment and handing it to Auriel. "A map of the local area," he explains, "I will, of course, be willing to accompany you to the prison, if only to cover any fees that the Grimshackle brothers may levy."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"House Cadorna is generous. That money will certainly be of help," the paladin says, taking a quick look at the parchment before looking back at Braden. "I don't know much about the Grimshackle brothers, but I can imagine speaking to that prisoner won’t be straightforward. Your company will be much appreciated, Braden."
Focusing again on the map, Auriel shows it to the group but realizes a bit too late that he's used to taller companions. "Sorry," he says to Hildigrim and lowers the map so the halfling can take a proper look, then comments, "The prison doesn’t look that far. A few hours' walk, perhaps?"
Down, down, down by the river... ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Saoirse | Auriel | Chase | Shenua
Hildigrim smiles appreciatively as Auriel lowers the map. “I still feel it would be prudent to speak with the Black Fists before we depart — any additional information on Krulek could be invaluable. Forewarned is forearmed,” he adds with a firm nod. “If we’re efficient, we should have time to reach Grimshackle Jail before day’s end, with ample knowledge in hand.” He taps his chin thoughtfully, then adds, “And if need be, I could make inquiries alone and catch up to the rest of you afterward.”
Hex blinks in shock as Braden mentions payment. "Oh. Right. Yeah... Sylyra was usually the one who brought up payment... I completely forgot." She sighs and rakes her hand through her hair, perhaps a little bit rougher than needed, before taking a look at the map.
She chuckles a bit as Auriel lowers the map for Hildigrim but as the halfling suggests splitting up the party, Hex frowns. "No, I don't think it's a good idea to split up already. I know it sounds harmless but we never know what might happen. We'll go with you, though I wouldn't have any high hopes if I was you. Its unlikely they'll be willing to tell us anything useful."
Auriel raises his eyes from the map to look at Hex when she mentions Sylyra. He doesn't say anything, but gives her a gentle supportive touch on the back.
Regarding the proposal of splitting the party, he nods in agreement with the tiefling. "I agree. The Black Fists are just around the corner, so to speak, so let's all head there first, and then we can go to the prison."
Down, down, down by the river... ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Saoirse | Auriel | Chase | Shenua
OOC: I just need to understand how you're approaching the Black Fists here. Are you approaching the nearest guard in Podol Plaza (the ones who just quelled the riot), going to an outpost, talking to a contact, for example?
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Hex taps her chin thoughtfully. "Hm... There is that one Black Fist from a while back. She might be more open to help us considering we've helped her before. Well, at least Uragum and I. What was her name again... Aledy? We'll probably be able to find her at the Outpost. If not, there's probably plenty of other Black Fists there we can talk to. What do you all think?"
If everyone is good to go, Hex will lead the group there. "You can follow along if you want Braden or we can just meet you back here once we're done?"
Hildigrim brightens at the mention of a former Black Fist contact. “Your idea of speaking with a knight you already know sounds much more promising than relying on some random guard or hoping for an audience with the upper ranks. We should certainly try her first. And if she doesn’t have the answers, we could ask for a referral — she may have insights on who’s in the know.”
As they walk, Hildigrim looks to the others, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “Now then, let’s review what we need to ask concerning Krulek.” He clears his throat and enumerates with the air of a professor.
“First, we must learn of Krulek’s background and motivation: Why did he turn against the Black Fist? I suspect it could reveal his deeper aims. What were his crimes? Second, his connections and support: Does he have known allies within Phlan, or sympathizers within the Black Fist?” He glances at each party member, as if ensuring they’re listening closely.
“Then, we should inquire about the strength and numbers of these Gray Patriots: their size, fighting capability, and organization. I’d say they must be a rather fearsome lot if the Regent won’t challenge them directly.” He pauses a moment, considering the implications.
“Oh, and we must ask of their previous tactics and patterns along the Iron Route. How do they strike? What sort of methods do they favor?” He resumes his chin-tapping.
“And not forgetting the rival group led by the dragonborn. The more we know of this mysterious leader and her ties to Tiamat, the better we can gauge her role here. Finally,” he says with emphasis, “we should delve into Krulek’s weaknesses or prior failures. Has he been outwitted before, made an error, or fostered any personal rivalries?”
"While we're at it," he says, waving a hand, "we could ask for any insights she might have into why the Lord Regent isn't providing more support for the struggling merchants."
Satisfied, Hildigrim nods. “With that, I believe we’ll be better prepared to see this job through.”
Auriel listens carefully, nodding with a serious expression as Hildigrim works through the long list. When the halfling finishes, the paladin pauses thoughtfully and says, “A thorough list, all good points. With any luck, Fist Aleyd is still grateful for what Hex and Uragum did for her back then—that might get us some answers.” He then motions for Hex to lead the way and follows along, offering Braden a nod, whether he decides to join them now or meet later at the prison.
Down, down, down by the river... ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Saoirse | Auriel | Chase | Shenua
"This actually gives me a chance to better lock up before we leave. We can meet at the Stojanow Gate when you're ready to depart," Braden says.
With Hex to direct the party to the relevant Black Fist outpost, you have no trouble finding it. Stepping in, you see Knight Aleyd frantically leafing through a few pages scattered across her desk. The woman is of middle age and in great fighting shape, but the grey at her temples seems like it might be thicker than the last time the party spoke with her. Looking up only long enough to take in the people before her, she asks, "What brings you here?"
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Hex looks at Knight Aleyd with pity. As before, she's overworked and understaffed. Despite her own misgivings about the Black Fist as a whole, Knight Aleyd seemed at least much more competent than others. She clears her throat before stepping forward to address the knight.
"I would say Good Morning, Knight Aleyd, but I... don't think it is for you. Uh, I'm not sure if you remember us," she motions to herself and Uragum, "but we helped you a while back and were hoping you would be open to answering some question we had. We were hired to look into the outlaw problem on the Iron Route? I'd bet helping us will help you again."
She looks to Hildigrim for a moment and leans down to speak softly. "Maybe you should ask the questions. I only remember like half of what you said."
OOC: To save time, I'm going to go ahead and just lay it all out. As usual, I'm sure time can be jumbled up a bit in subsequent posts to make it all make sense in the end.
Hildigrim gives Hex a quick nod to convey his confidence before stepping forward and bowing almost in half once again before the Black Fist. “We appreciate your time,” the halfling says after straightening. “I can tell at a glance that you don't have much to spare, so let me be as brief as possible.” He motions toward Hex. “As my new business partner mentioned, we've been hired to look into the trouble on the Iron Route. We understand there are two obstacles wreaking havoc: the former Black Knight, Sahnd Krulek, and his gang — known as the Gray Patriots — as well as a dragonborn sorcerer and her kobold henchmen. You are aware of this?”
Nodding in response to her answers, he continues once she finishes, “What exactly were Krulek’s crimes? And do you have any sense of why he might have betrayed the Black Fist?”
After hearing her response, he lifts a finger to tap his pointed chin. “Do you think he has allies still in Phlan? Perhaps even sympathizers among the Black Fist?”
“What can you tell us about the Gray Patriots themselves? How many of them are there? And since we're not members of the Black Fist ourselves, can you provide some insight into what we'll be up against in terms of their fighting capability and organization?”
“Do the attacks on the Iron Route seem to follow Black Fist tactics, or are they using a different playbook entirely? How do they typically strike, and what methods do they favor?” He pauses, leaning in slightly. “And, of course, any weaknesses you know of regarding Krulek would be of great help.”
“Now, about the rival group — the dragonborn sorcerer and her kobolds. What can you tell us about them?”
Almost as an afterthought, he tilts his head slightly and asks, “Oh, and one last thing. Do you have any insights into why the Lord Regent seems reluctant to send additional aid to protect the merchants?”
Aleyd sets down her papers and finally takes a good look at who is in front her. "Right...the literary thefts in Scholar's Square," she says. "You say 'we', but unless my memory is failing, you are the only one present who assisted with that matter."
"Nonetheless...you are correct. Relying on adventurers is not my first option, but it did serve me well on that occasion."
"Krulek was sentenced to death for plotting to assassinate Lord Regent Ector Brahms. I doubt his desire was to betray the Black Fist so much as it was to escape death," she says as a matter of fact.
"Krulek was a low-ranking officer. It struck me as odd at the time that he would pull so many away from the Black Fist with his station and rank. I tell you this in full secrecy, and only because your companion here has earned at least that trust, but I suspect that he was involved in the illegal pit fighting in town. The fights have proven difficult to stamp out, mostly because a number of the city guard are complicit in running them. I don't see how else he would have obtained the support necessary to form his little band of devils," she answers.
"The Black Fist has been expressly forbid to investigate or assist with the Gray Patriots. As such, I know little and less about them," she says. Her answer is similar for the rest of Hildigrim's questioning, but to his final thought she answers, "The Lord Regent is a brilliant man, so if you doubt his reasoning you would be mistaken. Were you in charge of protecting a city, with your city guard diminished in number and attacks begging your attention outside of the city, would you send your city's remaining protection outside of its gates?"
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
In response to Aleyd’s revelation about Krulek’s sentence, Hildigrim’s head jerks back as if struck. “Do you know why he sought to assassinate the Lord Regent? Did Krulek have any political leanings or grievances against him? Was he aligned with any factions that might have influenced his actions?”
When Aleyd diplomatically defends the Lord Regent's decision to limit support on the Iron Route, Hildigrim presses further. “Do you think the Lord Regent’s choice to keep the city guard in Phlan is purely a matter of numbers, or is there something more behind his caution?”
Though disappointed that the Black Fist has little more to offer, Hildigrim nods appreciatively, giving Aleyd a warm smile. He glances at his companions. “Anything else we should ask before heading to the prison?”
Auriel salutes Knight Aleyd respectfully and stands in silence as Hex and Hildigrim speak to her. He’s as surprised as the halfling when she reveals the reason behind Krulek’s sentence, even more so when Aleyd still defends the Lord Regent’s brilliance. Seeking to sound as diplomatic as possible without concealing his concern over the Regent’s inaction, he says, “While we do not doubt the Lord Regent’s brilliance, the shortage in the city is indeed troubling. I hope his decision not to send the Black Fists is because he has another plan in motion, one whose results we have not yet seen. Regardless, as my companions have said, we will do our best to help with this issue.”
The paladin is about to say he has no further questions, but at the last moment changes his mind and directs one last question to Aleyd. "Do you happen to know anything about the Grimshackle brothers? As you may know, they run a prison up the Stonajow. We will need to deal with them to gather more information that could help us with Krulek Grey Patriots. Any insights or suggestions you might have regarding them would certainly be helpful."
Whatever Aleyd’s answer—whether she knows anything useful or not—Auriel bows and thanks her for her time. He glances at Hildigrim and nods, indicating he’s ready to meet Braden at the Stonajow gate.
Down, down, down by the river... ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Saoirse | Auriel | Chase | Shenua