As the dawn comes, Elvire is up and bustling, and for good reason. The messengers, those who sought out for miles with fliers calling for strong arms, had returned but a few days ago. Slowly and steadily, Elvire has been visited by numerous strangers, most well-traveled, all with experience in their eyes.
Gorm had been wandering the city streets for a few days now, with nothing to show for but a notecard stating to the guardsmen that she had answered the call for mercenary work. That didn't stop the looks, however. She couldn't tell if it was her devil heritage or how she carried herself, but she's caught a handful of glances already.
Moskov has managed to seclude himself in the quietest section of Elvire's lower district. And not willingly. This place is loud! He's been to a handful of human civilizations in his travels, but this one takes the cake. Day or night, there's some kind of commotion. Same with Shadow. The boat ride here was peaceful, if not a little boring as she wasn't allowed to get involved if the ship was attacked. She couldn't walk down a major street for two minutes before almost getting run over by a horse.
Pin, gods bless her soul, was having the most trouble making heads or tails of this place. Though she has met a few of her kind in this place, she was regrettably informed that the most halflings she'll find were in her hometown. Which was, oh, how many day's travel...
Corwin. This city is not kind. No that's not it. It's too much. Too many rough and tumble folks out and about. So much yelling. It's almost resulted in fists being thrown a handful of times. To which the guardsmen have warned time and time again.
Cifray has had, notably, the best experience so far. Gentlemen tipping their hats, being invited to libraries to study, even getting a few not-so-subtle invitations to join other parties who are already well acquainted with the city.
About a week goes by with everyone bumbling about, when guardsmen on horseback trot along the major roads of the city, saying "All mercenaries to the Adventurers Hall! All mercenaries to the Adventurers Hall!"
Cifray was shopping at the market when she heard the call. Getting familiar with the city's libraries had been nice, but she didn't leave her own home just to see more shelves of books. She had spent the better part of her time here exploring the streets and shops, getting to know the ways of urban life. She knew she made an odd sight sometimes, furiously jotting down notes and observations in her journal but she didn't mind. It was all so exciting and new.
When the call rang out though she put her writing away and hurried towards the hall. She still didn't quite consider herself an adventurer, but she did have some measure of skill and felt that it was her duty to contribute to the protection of the city if she were to continue to enjoy its experiences.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Iymbryl; Elven Eldritch Knight in DM Jynne's LMoP,
Maker; Vect Wizard of Automata in Conspiracy in the Stars,
Valhik Steeltemper, Gnome Blood Hunter in Archie's Tomb of Annihilation,
Kallaia, Tiefling Bard in Minotaur's Storm King's Thunder
Shadow, sitting hidden in the shadow, was looking at some human children playing, they had sticks with colourful bands tied to one end that they waved in the air. Shadow had a urge to join them, the flutter of colours fascinated her. Cazoon curled around her neck almost asleep.
She heard the call from the guard. Taking a final look towards the children she sighed and stepped out of the shadow and moved towards the Hall.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Basina Fairfoot- Halfling paladin Shadow through the forest (Shadow) - Tabaxi Ranger (beastmaster)
Corwin, gloomy as the call of a mourning dove, sat under one of the rare trees he'd found in the city, looking to the sky above and wondering what he'd been thinking coming to the city. The hermit elf had trouble enough navigating the small hamlets on the edge of his distant forest home. These city people were something different--so much in a hurry, so much of the time, so loud...
As he had for several days, he took a little time to look around the streets that surrounded him, the eaves of buildings, the sky, the gutter, looking to see what creatures and plants were hardy enough to call the city home. Then, he felt a vibration in the ground, the oncoming hoof beats of horse. A moment later the cry rang out summoning would-be adventurers to the Hall. Well, this was what had drawn him to this place.
He rose from the ground and strode toward the hall, moving quickly, avoiding eye contact with passing people.
Gorm Diabhal saw the looks and glances, felt the whispers and curses even if she didn’t hear them, but gave no sign or response to any of it. Ivory white skin, little horns poking up from her forehead, blue hair in a messy bob... and of course the tail. Nothing short of magic hid the tail for very long. So people looked, some spat behind her back as she walked by, others made gesture or whispered obscenities, but life was life and idiots always feared the unfamiliar.
It’s been a half dozen or so days since Gorm got into town and started inquiring about the offer of work for mercenaries. At first nobody wanted to speak with her, or had no clue where to send her... But she did what she did everywhere, deliberately fell into a calm, quiet routine. Routine was good in a new place, it helped build a set of people who quickly got used to having you around. Some would becoming accepting once they got over their initial prejudices, others would instead just ignore you and let you be. And if someone eventually decided to test you, well hopefully by then you had enough regulars to vouch for you to the guardsmen so as to keep you out of the cells. Hopefully.
Gorm had gotten a room above a questionable tavern and found a bakery for breakfast pastries but otherwise took the rest of her meals there. Routinely. She’d seen some sights, avoided some fights, and passed on a few opportunities that may have been trying to present themselves. She was here looking for honest work so thanked but declined a few who made inquiries about her availability for more shady jobs looking for some muscle. It was hard to turn down those jobs, they were a routine too. At least were once upon a time...
The coin in her pouch were dwindling though, and a girl did need to eat. Luckily she was leaning against the wall of her favorite bakery enjoying a tart when the guardsman upon the grey and black horse rode slowly by shouting the instructions she had been waiting for.
“Which way to this Adventurer’s Hall,” Gorm shouts out around the bite of pastry she just took.
The guardsman turned his head to look at her and immediately narrowed his eyes. She could see the responses swimming through his head but he thought better of it and kept the insults to himself. His response instead was desultory and abrupt, but it turned out to be accurate enough.
Her cloak wrapped around her, the Tiefling broke with routine and headed to the Hall...
Pin simply follows the crowd of people that look equipped for travel and adventure. Easy to get lost in a big city and it's better to travel with the crowd.
It takes a few minutes to almost half an hour to make it to the adventurers hall, depending on where everyone was before the signal was given. During this time, Elvire's citizens part ways as the varying sized, well-seasoned individuals passed. Some looked at the shiny-armored, broadsword wielding warriors with awe, while smearing at the less clean, more brutish looking individuals, for their own reasons.
The Adventurers Hall, located near the upper-lower district, stone built, two-story building about six houses wide. On this street, there isn't an average looking individual in sight. Our heroes can count about thirty or forty adventurers just from a quick glance alone. Two well-armed guards stand side by side the front doorway. And in the center, standing atop a podium, is unarguably the most interesting thing our heroes have seen so far. Standing at a foot and a half feet tall, wearing light green Nobel robes with a white inlay, was a Grung. Skin shiny orange with black spotted dots across their face, chin held high, hands held behind his back and big, bulbous eyes piercing into every individual that approaches the hall.
"Uh, are you supposed to be a-"
Faster than the eye can blink, the grung's tongue flew out and smacked the young human man in the face.
"I AM, NOW AND FOREVER ALWAYS, TO BE ADDRESSED AS SHINGA GU GU! PRRRRIEST SHINGA GU GU!! ELVIRE DOES NOT DESERVE SUCH INSOLENCE!" Another slap. Now the young man's face looks red and sickly swollen. "Leeeeeeave this city! AT ONCE!"
With tears welling up is his eyes, be it from embarrassment or reaction to the poison no one is sure, he jogs away from the area.
"You there!" Priest Shinga stares daggers at Gorm. In a flash, what was left of her pastrie was snatched by his tounge and eaten. "Oh my...mmm...its quite good. Ahem- NO SNACKING IN THE HALL!"
As the young man started to jog away, Corwin felt his heart crack a little. He knew what it was to be young and commanded to leave the world you knew behind. He took a silent step or two toward the youth, thinking he might try to reassure him with a quick word, though such speech was far from easy for him.
But too quick the young man was gone, though Corwin found himself standing a little closer to the froggish humanoid’s next victim. He raised an eyebrow as the pastry was consumed, saying nothing. He looked from side to side, curious to see who else might draw the grung’s attention.
Gorm Diabhal bows slowly to the priest and takes a half step back before raising back up. "No offense intended, Priest Shinga Gu Gu," Gorm says with an even tone. "I'm here to learn and grow in your service."
With that said Gorm waits patiently and intently, studying this priest with calm but attentive eyes. She had not known what to expect but she truthfully would never had expected this. Still, she knew what it was like to be the outsider, she would not be one to begrudge Priest Shinga Gu Gu whatever authority trip they needed to take in order to keep this crowd in line.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
The young human scholar joined the rowdy crowd around the interesting priest. Using her small frame to squeeze through larger adventurers at the edge of the throng Cifray slowly but surely made her way near the front. Taking her notebook back out she begins scribbling her thoughts as they come into her mind; Shinga Gu Gu's odd appearance and actions, the interesting tiefling whose sweet he stole, the uncomfortable looking elf nearby, the smells of so many sweaty fighters packed in closely to a public space...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Iymbryl; Elven Eldritch Knight in DM Jynne's LMoP,
Maker; Vect Wizard of Automata in Conspiracy in the Stars,
Valhik Steeltemper, Gnome Blood Hunter in Archie's Tomb of Annihilation,
Kallaia, Tiefling Bard in Minotaur's Storm King's Thunder
Moskov weaves in and out of the civilians to make it towards where he was supposed to gather. He gives quick apologies to those he jostled on the way through in his heavily accented voice between bites of an apple. He discovered the fruit in his first day, and has quickly fallen in love with them. They have nothing of the sort where he was from.
He arrives in the congregation only slightly winded. He watches the guy leave and has a moment of sympathy for him. He thinks the Priest was a little harsh, but who was he to judge? He watches the Grung intently from the back of the group as he crunches another bite from his apple. Seeing the frog take someone else's food, he quickly stashed his before the same can be done to him.
Priest Shinga gives Gorm a long glare before slowly fixing himself back to a proper position. He begins to yell at another approacher as the guard to the priest's left gestures to Gorm. "You may enter." She then leans in for a whisper. "And if your lucky, you fail the test and never have to hear frog-breath again."
"Did I hear something!?" Shinga snaps. The guard begins to cough.
"Nothing, High Priest. I'm just coming down with a cold."
"What?! Why would you step outside then? You could get me sick!"
"High Priest, you cannot contract human illneses."
"Really? I'm sure I caught the sniffles once."
"Whatever it was, sir, it did not come from a human. Your biology simply doesn't alow it."
"Hmm, I suppose-" Shinga lets out a sharp gasp followed by a croak as he sees Cifray scribling in her notebook. "A SPY! You fool, you willingly relenquished secrets to our enemy! Apprehend her at once!!" All of the general chatter that filled the street died down as the would-be mercs all looked Cifray's way. Some folks put their hands on their weapons, while others stood infinatly confused. The guard who was speaking with the priest let out a low groan and spoke again.
"Sir, that is not a triton, It is a human woman."
"They can desguise themselves you fool! Hide in plain sight! It is the ultimate tactic!"
"Except this building is warded against such things, and that the triton hate humans. Remember?" There is another long pause of silence before the priest fixes himself upright again.
"Perhaps I was a bit to quick on the trigger."
"That is an understatement , Young miss, you may enter." The guard gestures to Cifray.
During these few seconds of what can acuratly be seen as nonsense, Corwin feels a bump on his shoulder. Turning around, standing about his height was a human male. Dark, sun-kissed skin, moderate leather atire and a longbow slung on his back. He looks to Corwin with a sly smile and makes a dismisive gesture at the priest. "This guy is a friggin' quack. I can better pass as a priest, lookin' just like this." And he gestures to his clothing.
"Priests come in many shapes and sizes, he's going to be a bit to get used to but everyone has their quirks." Pinfeather approaches the door with a motherly confidence. One that says she is meant to be here and will be seen and heard (you know the one. Where your mom can walk into a food fight and everyone stops and pays attention.) She then politely says. "If I may be so bold, I believe these people may need some support."
Shadow keeps herself at the edge of the large group of people. She looks curiously at the gong, she has never been so close to one before and she would have liked to talk to him. But this doesn’t seem like the right time.
As the people start moving in to the hall she follows. Keeping close to the wall, in the shadows where it is possible. Kazoo is fully awake and keeps moving his head back and forth, his little tongue whipping in and out tasting the air.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Basina Fairfoot- Halfling paladin Shadow through the forest (Shadow) - Tabaxi Ranger (beastmaster)
Cifray was so distracted by her own attempts to take in the entire scene that she managed to entirely miss the priest accusing her of ill intent and barely realized that the guard was ordering her to enter the hall. Packing away the notebook once more she hurried inside to see what new sights and sounds were to be found there.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Iymbryl; Elven Eldritch Knight in DM Jynne's LMoP,
Maker; Vect Wizard of Automata in Conspiracy in the Stars,
Valhik Steeltemper, Gnome Blood Hunter in Archie's Tomb of Annihilation,
Kallaia, Tiefling Bard in Minotaur's Storm King's Thunder
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Corwin says nothing for a moment, looking the stranger over with a wary eye. He was unused to being approached so directly, and was naturally suspicious of anyone who seemed overly friendly too quickly. And of course he has long known that all cities of the world are rife with pickpockets and others who might look to trick him out of coin or something else.
"Hmm, yes, I have never seen a priest like him before," Corwin says quietly, not wanting to draw the same sort of attention others have for speaking, eating, coughing, and most anything else in the crowded hall. "But I seek ... adventure, so ..." If there's nothing more to be done with the stranger, he will move toward the door to politely request admission.
(Wasn't sure on format for it, but I used Insight on the stranger. Roll is in the spoiler below.)
As Corwin has met many people who introduced themselves as overtly friendly for selfish, sometimes dangerous means, he's also met some who were just friendly. This man is certainly of the latter, giving off no ill intentions. Just wanting to make friendly conversation in an odd situation. Priest Shinga looks down at Pin with a sneer, and then his face softens. "How about that, another follower of Yondalla. You must've traveled quite a ways."
Gorm and Cifray enter the hall with Shadow and Markov sneaking past the now distracted priest and getting 'okay's' from the guards. Having only been allowed to wander the middle districts, our heroes have not seen anything they would deem too spectacular apart from another city. But this place...this hall is some kind of palace. Shiny marble flooring decorated with many symbols of warriors and beasts painted on it like a grand canvas. Four sets of wide stairs that lead up to the second floor where the four can just see the quest board that stretches from one end of the hall to the other, cutting off at some points for doors that lead to smaller rooms. Giant tapestries hanging swooping from the ceiling and in front of windows. Just a rainbow of colors and symbols.
Standing on the second floor, looking over the railing and flanked by four guardsmen was a human woman. The group would guess about late thirties, early forties. She is dressed in the same nobel palette as Priest Shinga, though they cannot find any holy symbols on her. She gives you a glance, a smile, then her gaze traveles to the others slowly pouring into the building.
Gorm gives the guard a brief, acknowledging nod when she’s told she may enter. She adds a quick flash of a smile when the guard whispers to her. The Tiefling then walks steadily inside, as the guard indicated, eyes wide to investigate the new area while also listening as best she could to the shenanigans playing out amidst the crowd.
Why was I chosen, Gorm wondered to herself. There were most definitely more seasoned and experienced fighters out there. Better armed and armored as well. Gorm was sure she had skills perhaps none of the others had but they wouldn’t be readily apparent...
Perhaps it was though. Readily apparent. Or rather appearance. Did this grung perhaps she was disposable since she was a Tiefling? Or due to coming with just a sword and some darts instead of the shields and armors and clunky weapons others bore?
Calm yourself, Gorm reminded herself. Don’t complicate things unnecessarily. Take life as it comes, deal with things as they are, not as you fear they may be. Fear deceives the mind and blinds the eyes. Wait for the truth to reveal itself before setting your mind...
Having steadied herself, Gorm looks around her new surroundings. A brief nod is given to the woman on the second floor. More nods of acknowledgement to those who enter after her. Otherwise Gorm Diabhal stands stoically and quietly, letting her senses take everything in.
As the dawn comes, Elvire is up and bustling, and for good reason. The messengers, those who sought out for miles with fliers calling for strong arms, had returned but a few days ago. Slowly and steadily, Elvire has been visited by numerous strangers, most well-traveled, all with experience in their eyes.
Gorm had been wandering the city streets for a few days now, with nothing to show for but a notecard stating to the guardsmen that she had answered the call for mercenary work. That didn't stop the looks, however. She couldn't tell if it was her devil heritage or how she carried herself, but she's caught a handful of glances already.
Moskov has managed to seclude himself in the quietest section of Elvire's lower district. And not willingly. This place is loud! He's been to a handful of human civilizations in his travels, but this one takes the cake. Day or night, there's some kind of commotion. Same with Shadow. The boat ride here was peaceful, if not a little boring as she wasn't allowed to get involved if the ship was attacked. She couldn't walk down a major street for two minutes before almost getting run over by a horse.
Pin, gods bless her soul, was having the most trouble making heads or tails of this place. Though she has met a few of her kind in this place, she was regrettably informed that the most halflings she'll find were in her hometown. Which was, oh, how many day's travel...
Corwin. This city is not kind. No that's not it. It's too much. Too many rough and tumble folks out and about. So much yelling. It's almost resulted in fists being thrown a handful of times. To which the guardsmen have warned time and time again.
Cifray has had, notably, the best experience so far. Gentlemen tipping their hats, being invited to libraries to study, even getting a few not-so-subtle invitations to join other parties who are already well acquainted with the city.
About a week goes by with everyone bumbling about, when guardsmen on horseback trot along the major roads of the city, saying "All mercenaries to the Adventurers Hall! All mercenaries to the Adventurers Hall!"
(editing, got characters mixed up)
Cifray was shopping at the market when she heard the call. Getting familiar with the city's libraries had been nice, but she didn't leave her own home just to see more shelves of books. She had spent the better part of her time here exploring the streets and shops, getting to know the ways of urban life. She knew she made an odd sight sometimes, furiously jotting down notes and observations in her journal but she didn't mind. It was all so exciting and new.
When the call rang out though she put her writing away and hurried towards the hall. She still didn't quite consider herself an adventurer, but she did have some measure of skill and felt that it was her duty to contribute to the protection of the city if she were to continue to enjoy its experiences.
Iymbryl; Elven Eldritch Knight in DM Jynne's LMoP,
Maker; Vect Wizard of Automata in Conspiracy in the Stars,
Valhik Steeltemper, Gnome Blood Hunter in Archie's Tomb of Annihilation,
Kallaia, Tiefling Bard in Minotaur's Storm King's Thunder
Shadow, sitting hidden in the shadow, was looking at some human children playing, they had sticks with colourful bands tied to one end that they waved in the air. Shadow had a urge to join them, the flutter of colours fascinated her. Cazoon curled around her neck almost asleep.
She heard the call from the guard. Taking a final look towards the children she sighed and stepped out of the shadow and moved towards the Hall.
Basina Fairfoot- Halfling paladin
Shadow through the forest (Shadow) - Tabaxi Ranger (beastmaster)
Corwin, gloomy as the call of a mourning dove, sat under one of the rare trees he'd found in the city, looking to the sky above and wondering what he'd been thinking coming to the city. The hermit elf had trouble enough navigating the small hamlets on the edge of his distant forest home. These city people were something different--so much in a hurry, so much of the time, so loud...
As he had for several days, he took a little time to look around the streets that surrounded him, the eaves of buildings, the sky, the gutter, looking to see what creatures and plants were hardy enough to call the city home. Then, he felt a vibration in the ground, the oncoming hoof beats of horse. A moment later the cry rang out summoning would-be adventurers to the Hall. Well, this was what had drawn him to this place.
He rose from the ground and strode toward the hall, moving quickly, avoiding eye contact with passing people.
Gorm Diabhal saw the looks and glances, felt the whispers and curses even if she didn’t hear them, but gave no sign or response to any of it. Ivory white skin, little horns poking up from her forehead, blue hair in a messy bob... and of course the tail. Nothing short of magic hid the tail for very long. So people looked, some spat behind her back as she walked by, others made gesture or whispered obscenities, but life was life and idiots always feared the unfamiliar.
It’s been a half dozen or so days since Gorm got into town and started inquiring about the offer of work for mercenaries. At first nobody wanted to speak with her, or had no clue where to send her... But she did what she did everywhere, deliberately fell into a calm, quiet routine. Routine was good in a new place, it helped build a set of people who quickly got used to having you around. Some would becoming accepting once they got over their initial prejudices, others would instead just ignore you and let you be. And if someone eventually decided to test you, well hopefully by then you had enough regulars to vouch for you to the guardsmen so as to keep you out of the cells. Hopefully.
Gorm had gotten a room above a questionable tavern and found a bakery for breakfast pastries but otherwise took the rest of her meals there. Routinely. She’d seen some sights, avoided some fights, and passed on a few opportunities that may have been trying to present themselves. She was here looking for honest work so thanked but declined a few who made inquiries about her availability for more shady jobs looking for some muscle. It was hard to turn down those jobs, they were a routine too. At least were once upon a time...
The coin in her pouch were dwindling though, and a girl did need to eat. Luckily she was leaning against the wall of her favorite bakery enjoying a tart when the guardsman upon the grey and black horse rode slowly by shouting the instructions she had been waiting for.
“Which way to this Adventurer’s Hall,” Gorm shouts out around the bite of pastry she just took.
The guardsman turned his head to look at her and immediately narrowed his eyes. She could see the responses swimming through his head but he thought better of it and kept the insults to himself. His response instead was desultory and abrupt, but it turned out to be accurate enough.
Her cloak wrapped around her, the Tiefling broke with routine and headed to the Hall...
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
Pin simply follows the crowd of people that look equipped for travel and adventure. Easy to get lost in a big city and it's better to travel with the crowd.
It takes a few minutes to almost half an hour to make it to the adventurers hall, depending on where everyone was before the signal was given. During this time, Elvire's citizens part ways as the varying sized, well-seasoned individuals passed. Some looked at the shiny-armored, broadsword wielding warriors with awe, while smearing at the less clean, more brutish looking individuals, for their own reasons.
The Adventurers Hall, located near the upper-lower district, stone built, two-story building about six houses wide. On this street, there isn't an average looking individual in sight. Our heroes can count about thirty or forty adventurers just from a quick glance alone. Two well-armed guards stand side by side the front doorway. And in the center, standing atop a podium, is unarguably the most interesting thing our heroes have seen so far. Standing at a foot and a half feet tall, wearing light green Nobel robes with a white inlay, was a Grung. Skin shiny orange with black spotted dots across their face, chin held high, hands held behind his back and big, bulbous eyes piercing into every individual that approaches the hall.
"Uh, are you supposed to be a-"
Faster than the eye can blink, the grung's tongue flew out and smacked the young human man in the face.
"I AM, NOW AND FOREVER ALWAYS, TO BE ADDRESSED AS SHINGA GU GU! PRRRRIEST SHINGA GU GU!! ELVIRE DOES NOT DESERVE SUCH INSOLENCE!" Another slap. Now the young man's face looks red and sickly swollen. "Leeeeeeave this city! AT ONCE!"
With tears welling up is his eyes, be it from embarrassment or reaction to the poison no one is sure, he jogs away from the area.
"You there!" Priest Shinga stares daggers at Gorm. In a flash, what was left of her pastrie was snatched by his tounge and eaten. "Oh my...mmm...its quite good. Ahem- NO SNACKING IN THE HALL!"
As the young man started to jog away, Corwin felt his heart crack a little. He knew what it was to be young and commanded to leave the world you knew behind. He took a silent step or two toward the youth, thinking he might try to reassure him with a quick word, though such speech was far from easy for him.
But too quick the young man was gone, though Corwin found himself standing a little closer to the froggish humanoid’s next victim. He raised an eyebrow as the pastry was consumed, saying nothing. He looked from side to side, curious to see who else might draw the grung’s attention.
Pin scowls at the frogman's form of discipline.
Gorm Diabhal bows slowly to the priest and takes a half step back before raising back up. "No offense intended, Priest Shinga Gu Gu," Gorm says with an even tone. "I'm here to learn and grow in your service."
With that said Gorm waits patiently and intently, studying this priest with calm but attentive eyes. She had not known what to expect but she truthfully would never had expected this. Still, she knew what it was like to be the outsider, she would not be one to begrudge Priest Shinga Gu Gu whatever authority trip they needed to take in order to keep this crowd in line.
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
The young human scholar joined the rowdy crowd around the interesting priest. Using her small frame to squeeze through larger adventurers at the edge of the throng Cifray slowly but surely made her way near the front. Taking her notebook back out she begins scribbling her thoughts as they come into her mind; Shinga Gu Gu's odd appearance and actions, the interesting tiefling whose sweet he stole, the uncomfortable looking elf nearby, the smells of so many sweaty fighters packed in closely to a public space...
Iymbryl; Elven Eldritch Knight in DM Jynne's LMoP,
Maker; Vect Wizard of Automata in Conspiracy in the Stars,
Valhik Steeltemper, Gnome Blood Hunter in Archie's Tomb of Annihilation,
Kallaia, Tiefling Bard in Minotaur's Storm King's Thunder
((Wow, I missed a lot))
Moskov weaves in and out of the civilians to make it towards where he was supposed to gather. He gives quick apologies to those he jostled on the way through in his heavily accented voice between bites of an apple. He discovered the fruit in his first day, and has quickly fallen in love with them. They have nothing of the sort where he was from.
He arrives in the congregation only slightly winded. He watches the guy leave and has a moment of sympathy for him. He thinks the Priest was a little harsh, but who was he to judge? He watches the Grung intently from the back of the group as he crunches another bite from his apple. Seeing the frog take someone else's food, he quickly stashed his before the same can be done to him.
((Do you want a description of Moskov?))
((No need, Dimir. Not right now))
Priest Shinga gives Gorm a long glare before slowly fixing himself back to a proper position. He begins to yell at another approacher as the guard to the priest's left gestures to Gorm. "You may enter." She then leans in for a whisper. "And if your lucky, you fail the test and never have to hear frog-breath again."
"Did I hear something!?" Shinga snaps. The guard begins to cough.
"Nothing, High Priest. I'm just coming down with a cold."
"What?! Why would you step outside then? You could get me sick!"
"High Priest, you cannot contract human illneses."
"Really? I'm sure I caught the sniffles once."
"Whatever it was, sir, it did not come from a human. Your biology simply doesn't alow it."
"Hmm, I suppose-" Shinga lets out a sharp gasp followed by a croak as he sees Cifray scribling in her notebook. "A SPY! You fool, you willingly relenquished secrets to our enemy! Apprehend her at once!!" All of the general chatter that filled the street died down as the would-be mercs all looked Cifray's way. Some folks put their hands on their weapons, while others stood infinatly confused. The guard who was speaking with the priest let out a low groan and spoke again.
"Sir, that is not a triton, It is a human woman."
"They can desguise themselves you fool! Hide in plain sight! It is the ultimate tactic!"
"Except this building is warded against such things, and that the triton hate humans. Remember?" There is another long pause of silence before the priest fixes himself upright again.
"Perhaps I was a bit to quick on the trigger."
"
That is an understatement, Young miss, you may enter." The guard gestures to Cifray.During these few seconds of what can acuratly be seen as nonsense, Corwin feels a bump on his shoulder. Turning around, standing about his height was a human male. Dark, sun-kissed skin, moderate leather atire and a longbow slung on his back. He looks to Corwin with a sly smile and makes a dismisive gesture at the priest. "This guy is a friggin' quack. I can better pass as a priest, lookin' just like this." And he gestures to his clothing.
"Priests come in many shapes and sizes, he's going to be a bit to get used to but everyone has their quirks." Pinfeather approaches the door with a motherly confidence. One that says she is meant to be here and will be seen and heard (you know the one. Where your mom can walk into a food fight and everyone stops and pays attention.) She then politely says. "If I may be so bold, I believe these people may need some support."
Shadow keeps herself at the edge of the large group of people. She looks curiously at the gong, she has never been so close to one before and she would have liked to talk to him. But this doesn’t seem like the right time.
As the people start moving in to the hall she follows. Keeping close to the wall, in the shadows where it is possible. Kazoo is fully awake and keeps moving his head back and forth, his little tongue whipping in and out tasting the air.
Basina Fairfoot- Halfling paladin
Shadow through the forest (Shadow) - Tabaxi Ranger (beastmaster)
Cifray was so distracted by her own attempts to take in the entire scene that she managed to entirely miss the priest accusing her of ill intent and barely realized that the guard was ordering her to enter the hall. Packing away the notebook once more she hurried inside to see what new sights and sounds were to be found there.
Iymbryl; Elven Eldritch Knight in DM Jynne's LMoP,
Maker; Vect Wizard of Automata in Conspiracy in the Stars,
Valhik Steeltemper, Gnome Blood Hunter in Archie's Tomb of Annihilation,
Kallaia, Tiefling Bard in Minotaur's Storm King's Thunder
Corwin says nothing for a moment, looking the stranger over with a wary eye. He was unused to being approached so directly, and was naturally suspicious of anyone who seemed overly friendly too quickly. And of course he has long known that all cities of the world are rife with pickpockets and others who might look to trick him out of coin or something else.
"Hmm, yes, I have never seen a priest like him before," Corwin says quietly, not wanting to draw the same sort of attention others have for speaking, eating, coughing, and most anything else in the crowded hall. "But I seek ... adventure, so ..." If there's nothing more to be done with the stranger, he will move toward the door to politely request admission.
(Wasn't sure on format for it, but I used Insight on the stranger. Roll is in the spoiler below.)
13 Insight check re the man's motives
As Corwin has met many people who introduced themselves as overtly friendly for selfish, sometimes dangerous means, he's also met some who were just friendly. This man is certainly of the latter, giving off no ill intentions. Just wanting to make friendly conversation in an odd situation. Priest Shinga looks down at Pin with a sneer, and then his face softens. "How about that, another follower of Yondalla. You must've traveled quite a ways."
Gorm and Cifray enter the hall with Shadow and Markov sneaking past the now distracted priest and getting 'okay's' from the guards. Having only been allowed to wander the middle districts, our heroes have not seen anything they would deem too spectacular apart from another city. But this place...this hall is some kind of palace. Shiny marble flooring decorated with many symbols of warriors and beasts painted on it like a grand canvas. Four sets of wide stairs that lead up to the second floor where the four can just see the quest board that stretches from one end of the hall to the other, cutting off at some points for doors that lead to smaller rooms. Giant tapestries hanging swooping from the ceiling and in front of windows. Just a rainbow of colors and symbols.
Standing on the second floor, looking over the railing and flanked by four guardsmen was a human woman. The group would guess about late thirties, early forties. She is dressed in the same nobel palette as Priest Shinga, though they cannot find any holy symbols on her. She gives you a glance, a smile, then her gaze traveles to the others slowly pouring into the building.
Gorm gives the guard a brief, acknowledging nod when she’s told she may enter. She adds a quick flash of a smile when the guard whispers to her.
The Tiefling then walks steadily inside, as the guard indicated, eyes wide to investigate the new area while also listening as best she could to the shenanigans playing out amidst the crowd.
Why was I chosen, Gorm wondered to herself. There were most definitely more seasoned and experienced fighters out there. Better armed and armored as well. Gorm was sure she had skills perhaps none of the others had but they wouldn’t be readily apparent...
Perhaps it was though. Readily apparent. Or rather appearance. Did this grung perhaps she was disposable since she was a Tiefling? Or due to coming with just a sword and some darts instead of the shields and armors and clunky weapons others bore?
Calm yourself, Gorm reminded herself. Don’t complicate things unnecessarily. Take life as it comes, deal with things as they are, not as you fear they may be. Fear deceives the mind and blinds the eyes. Wait for the truth to reveal itself before setting your mind...
Having steadied herself, Gorm looks around her new surroundings. A brief nod is given to the woman on the second floor. More nods of acknowledgement to those who enter after her. Otherwise Gorm Diabhal stands stoically and quietly, letting her senses take everything in.
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop