Quote from Hardcopi >>

"Rip rides a Dire Wolf into battle."

 "Never heard that one," says one patron. "Although to be fair, he didn't have that much time to tell us stories."

"Yes, and the most prodigious nose he had! Big and long and black. We thought it was a mask at first," says another.

"like a ravens mask? what was his race? Gnome, halfling, dwarf? was he youthful and spry or an older experienced individual?"

Quote from Gimpster >>

"like a ravens mask? what was his race? Gnome, halfling, dwarf? was he youthful and spry or an older experienced individual?"

 General murmurs are followed by statements...

"Raven?"

"Yeah, kinda like a raven."

"Well, he had talons for feet like a bird! Thought it was maybe a curse or something."

"Oh yeeaaah, that's right. I was distracted by the amazing voices he did when he told the stories, really brought them to life—that troll's roar, just, wow!"

"Ah ha! yes i know of whom you speak! he is a good friend of mine actually, though he isn't Rip Dangerfield. He is a big fan though so it makes a sort of sense that he adopted my name. Was he in good health? the last news I had of him wasn't very heartening. It doesn't surprise me he told a good yarn of daring do's, he learned from the best after all!" Rip who seemed slightly peeved a moment ago brightens at the realization of who this Sudo-Rip is

// Rip please make a Charisma (Persuasion) check with disadvantage, because these guys are not inclined to readily believe you.

// As usual, anyone's Inspiration can be used to counteract the disadvantage before the roll. //

i'll go ahead and use that inspiration 24 27 "Now just to be clear let there be no doubt that you met a Dangerfield true enough! Just not 'Rip' Dangerfield."

(the 24 is the first roll, will take that since advantage & disadvantage cancel each other out)

A few of the patrons who have been reading the books nod in agreement. "He makes a pretty good argument," says one. 

"Well whoever you are, Mr. Dangerfield, you've earned a night's stay on me!" Says a rather jolly, plump fellow in fine clothes. "You and your friends can eat and drink as you like, and I'll speak to the inn keep next door about your rooms!"

"thank you kind sir! now, who wants to hear how the two Dangerfields met?" Rip then launches into an exciting (and to his friends obviously 80% fiction) story of how Dangerfield was trained to be an assassin but wanted more from life, after dangerfield got hurt in a failed mission Rip and Dangerfield literally bumped into each other (laughs were had) he saw a better path and now seeks to right the wrongs of the world! with exciting and intense battles against mean monsters scattered throughout. 

I want to see if Crownsguard believes: 2.

Every. Word.

The gnome continues to pepper Crownsguard with questions, such as, "You say your name is Crownsguard—do you serve a crown?" and, "How long ago were you built?" and, "What gives you power and sentience?" and, "Do you have any hidden functionality?" 
 

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

The gnome continues to pepper Crownsguard with questions, such as, "You say your name is Crownsguard—do you serve a crown?" and, "How long ago were you built?" and, "What gives you power and sentience?" and, "Do you have any hidden functionality?" 
 

 “I did... A very long time ago and for a very short while. I have slept for a long time, and I do not know how long ago I began sleeping. I derive my power from Mechanus and the ideals of order, because I am a Paladin. My goal is to protect, serve, and uphold the law. I am unclear as to what you mean by ‘hidden functionality.’”

Taking full advantage of the patron's offer of food and drink, Flint asks the barkeep "just whad'ye mean by 'hidden functionality'?"

"Well...spells and wondrous traits, my fine fellows," says the gnome, still prodding at Crownsguard, this time around the underbelly. "Don't you have exploding hands or extendable legs or anything? Fire breathing? That's what I would do if I was constructing something like him. Er, ah...her? It?

"Well, ha...that, and a compartment for an ale keg! Take my brews on the go, I would."

"Ale would be a good idea... you hollow Crownsguard?"

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

"Well...spells and wondrous traits, my fine fellows," says the gnome, still prodding at Crownsguard, this time around the underbelly. "Don't you have exploding hands or extendable legs or anything? Fire breathing? That's what I would do if I was constructing something like him. Er, ah...her? It?

"Well, ha...that, and a compartment for an ale keg! Take my brews on the go, I would."

 “I see. I am primarily designed for combat. However, my creation imbued me with the capacity for magic. I am afraid that my design was largely utilitarian in nature. No fancy bits. In their desire to assimilate my design with more organic traits, I am capable of... scanning for colloquialisms... downing a fresh brew with the lads.”

"Ah, well in that case, I'm happy to have you here!" The gnome chuckles, shaking his head incredulously. "Ale-drinking clockwork men, what won't they think of next!"

The last bit seems more of a rhetorical question than anything.

He then turns to Marav. "I'm sorry, lad, you said something about the taste of the ale. I admit, with this influx of people I've been forced to spread out my provisions a tad. I'm working like crazy to brew more, but it takes weeks y'know. If I had a bit o' magic I might be able to speed up the process, but fermentation is as fermentation does."

(@Ink did you still want to make a skill check or do anything to follow up post 8673? https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/7921-storm-kings-thunder?comment=8673)

“I believe the next thing that they will think of is a device that will allow wagons to move without horses or magic. They should call it the automatic mobile vehicle... Or maybe a magical gerbil. That would be interesting as well.” Crownsguard will sit down.

// Will move the clock forward (to in-game morning) later today, unless anyone has anything else to add! //

The night passes in much frivolity, and the merchant avails you of a well-appointed suite in the Headless Troll Inn, across the street from the Flaming Flagon. Like the Flagon, the inn is very full and has its own appointed security guards. Your suite is the entire third floor of the establishment, and it's obvious you got the best rooms in the village—the rest of the inn is being run like a makeshift hostile, with beds laid out head to toe in every room. Even so, the walled village simply isn't big enough to give room for every refuge-seeker here. People are sleeping on their horse-drawn carts, in chairs and benches, and on the ground, covering themselves with cloaks and whatever else they can find, huddled together in the chilly darkness of the late autumn night.

The night passes with an uneasy peacefulness. There is much tension and restlessness in the air. Angel, the Aasimar monk, spends much of the night carrying light with him, and comforting those most unfortunate souls who have no beds to lay their head. 

// Let me know what you want to do with Lezryk Daerivoss, and if there's any business you want to attend to in the village. You are free to set out when you like! //

//flint has further business here, deferring to others wrt Lezryk.//