(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown

"The ogre spellcaster was interesting. I hadn't realized they were capable of magical feats, although I'm not sure it was really using its own magic. It seemed to be a situation like those dragon cults in the west - in other words, that some great entity was channeling  its own power into the ogre." When he mentions the entity, Grugga instinctively looks toward the southwest, thinking of the peaks of those great mountains he witnessed when he touched the medallion.

"We've also come across some Scabs, like any other travelers." He thinks for a second, fishing for a good story. "Our first job was a scientific endeavor to follow up on signs of new life in the lake. Fishermen were seeing vaguely humanoid heads pop up out of the water at night, sometimes a few of them grouped together. A local researcher was thinking it might be a new species, and that they might be friendly. As it turned out, though, it was a lake hydra. Leelan, our monster expert, is wearing it right now."

In the interest of a good story, Grugga goes into a detailed and animated explanation of the struggles of the fight - how they discovered it was weak to fire because they had heard it was afraid of torches, how they fought in a couple of rickety fishing canoes and had to get out into the inky black waters and felt the heads darting around by their legs, etc. Finally, almost as an after thought, Grugga mentions that's where they discovered that there was an active hag cult in Bardstown because they saved a young Elven girl who was being sacrificed by drowning to the hags.

Leelan looks down in silence at the silk suit he’s wearing, then back up at the rest of the people at the table.

"I believe what Grugga meant to say is that my usual travelling attire includes an armor made from the leather of the hydra. Surprisingly comfortable might I add. I also seem to recall our battle with a water elemental when we went after the cultist that threatened Bardstown. T’was a grueling battle. We had to use every last trick at our disposal to vainquish the creature. But in the end, teamwork and cooperation have managed to keep us alive to this day."

Not quite clear over which of the teams missions are still secret and which can be openly discussed, Aubrey smiles politely as the others speak. "Yes, joining the Red Band has certainly been very educational about the ever present threats to Bardstown, and it has been an honour to contribute to it's safety." He says calmly, trying to descern any reactions from the Duke to what have been mentioned so far.

Insight: 13

Rohuzar gets the thousand yard gaze and muses "Oh right, the elemental... I try to forget about that."

The Duke nods along to your stories and seems to take particular delight in the rescue of the young elf maiden.  

Aubrey:

 Eventually the soups are taken away and the main course is served.  You are presented with broiled medallions of beef tenderloin in a mushroom and red wine sauce.  Whipped garlic potatoes, steamed baby carrots, and honeyed cornbread muffins complete the dish.

The Duke makes small talk through the rest of dinner, mostly with Aubrey and Leelan.  Of Aubrey, he engages in customary noble pleasantries, asking after the health of your father and aunt, as well as general inquiries about current events in Shelley.  He also inquiries about the security situation at the townhouse and if you require any aid there.  Of Leelan, he asks some rudimentary questions about gnomes.  After some very basic questions about gnomish anatomy and biology, he asks if you are acquainted with a particular merchant gnome by the name of Eldon Fossil [you have never heard of him].  He seems disappointed and asks a few follow up questions about how one would track down such a gnome, but there really isn't much that you could tell him.

Aubrey enjoys his meal and compliments the menu while continuing to politely converse the Duke, mentioning that his father and aunt are both with good health but that they worry over local troubles with the Beneducci boys and Hag cults in Shelley disrupting trade, and since unfortunately Lady Shelley has her hands tied up most of the time with personal interests there is only one family in Shelley fully devoted to upholding the rule of law in the region. He also mentions the thought that dealing with these threats soon could prevent them from possibly be a problem for Bardstown as well in the future.

Leelan tries to answer the Duke’s questions to the best of his abilities. On an anatomical level, gnomes aren’t much different from humans, except for the obvious diminutive size and slightly pointed ears. As for this Eldon Fossil, Leelan is regrettably unable to provide an answer that might satisfy his host. Once he moves on to a different topic and/or guest, Leelan will happily partake in the meal while also only drinking water.

(Sorry things have gotten really busy for me lately between work kids, and a wife pregnant with twins.)

Guilim really only adds to the stories of the others, shaking his head as he remembers parts from each of the fights they have had to deal with. "Still some of those are still better then having to crawl through a cave to deal with a tribe of goblins. The stench alone is enough to make one consider a very early retirement."

Grugga lets his allies take the attention of the Duke. He doesn't want to seem anti-social, but at the moment the less attention the better, until he knows where he stands. He continues eating the delicious meal and once he finishes his first glass of wine, he switches to water.

The Duke continues to make small talk as the main course is finished. 

Servers eventually take the plates and bring out dessert - a custard with a brown crisp flambeed on top, served with a plate of fresh raspberries.

Another pair of servers arrive as well.  One begins mixing up digestifs, in the form of raspberry syrup and bourbon old-fashioned cocktails.  The other cuts and offers cigars to the group.  There are two options, a lighter leafed claro, for the novice smoker, and a darker maduro, for the accomplished cigar aficionado.  The Duke, to this point drinking only water, passes entirely on dessert but takes an old-fashioned and a maduro.  He also has the server pour a second old-fashioned and leaves it at the empty seat next to him.

Being somewhat used to smoking cigars at the Old Mill Taphouse, Aubrey too would go for the darker maduro along with an old-fashioned and water. He would have tried to pay special attention to any reactions from the Duke to his mentioning of troubles in Shelley.

Insight if needed: 11

Rohuzar takes nothing, sensing business arriving as he sees the drink at the empty chair. 

Aubrey:

Grugga, used to workshop smoke but not cigar smoke, takes a lighter cigar and and some dessert, but maintains drinking water now. During a lull in a conversation, Grugga speaks up. "We really appreciate your hospitality, m'lord. Everything is truly exceptional." He hazards a switch in the conversation to learn a bit more about the duke. "May I ask where you got that marble bust of - is that Lillitu? - the craftsmanship is exquisite and the marble quality is superb as well. It's truly a work of art and a testament to your good taste."

While not a aficionado of cigars, Leelan has some experience smoking as it can help warm up during those especially cold nights in the Northern Trade Federation. He takes the lighter stuff, but stays with water. 

As pleasant as this evening was, he can’t help but think that there’s more to it then meets the eye, that the Duke might have ulterior motives for this meeting.

Guilim lets those that enjoy the cigars have their share of them, instead taking another small drink. As before he nurses it and listens to what is being said around the room. Like the others he feels that the conversation is soon going to become serious so his full attention is on the duke.

The Duke swirls his drink and casts his eyes toward the bust Grugga is complimenting.  "I'm not certain the historians have ever definitively named the subject of that piece.  Lillitu is a popular guess, that or one of her earthly daughters.  The piece itself - all the pieces in the room - were a gift from Vigor I to my family.  When the exodus north occurred after the fall of great Amnifortis, great care was taken to extract and preserve the great troves of art, artifacts and treasures of thousands of years of human history.  Unfortunately, in the chaos of the exodus, not all the art was accounted for, and not all the owners and artists survived the journey.  These pieces were part of the vast collection of 'orphaned' art that was catalogued in the years after the Empire settled here and unpacked their bags."  He says the last bit with a smile.

As dessert and digestifs are being finished, the Duke taps a sip from his drink.  There is a double tap on one of the thin doors in the back of the room.  "Ah," he says.  "That will be our other guest.  Do hold still for a moment.  The spell is just for security... it will be over momentarily...".

The door opens and a lithe figure in a silver mask and black hood is standing on the other side.  You all instantly feel a presence probing your minds.  If you consent, see the spoiler.  If you try to resist, make a WIS save against DC 17.  Those who smoked one of the cigars offered make the save at disadvantage.  On a failed save, take 3 psychic damage and see the spoiler.  If you make the save, you resist all effects.

 In the time it takes the spell to pass, the masked figure circles the table, eyeing all of you and leaving her (?) dragonbone handled daggers conspicuously noticeable on her belt.  The moves to the far side of the table and takes the open seat between Rohuzar and Guilim.

However concerning this figure might be, attention is quickly drawn back to the door.  A young, dark haired man dressed in the red and white finery of Imperial House Mastieri.  Despite his youth, the eyes are hard, clear and observant.  He walks into the room and claps a hand on the shoulder of the Duke, and then takes the second glass of bourbon and sips while his eyes work across the five of you.  

The Duke rises and pats a shoulder in return.  Addressing you, "Gentlemen, I apologize for the subterfuge, but we wanted to keep this meeting under the table.  I am honored to host and introduce his eminence, lord and defender of all the realms, heir to the seat of St. Christopher and the Golden Throne of Amnifortis, holder of the Silver Sword, hero of men, your emperor, Vigor Mastieri, the second of his name."

Grugga takes in the information offered about the beautiful artwork in the room and he remarks that it's a fine collection with a remarkable history. When the masked woman enters, Grugga instinctively fights back against the spell for a split second before consciously letting it affect him.

When the emperor enters, Grugga's eyes open wide and his mouth mouth goes dry. Despite Aubrey's description of the Duke as the emperor's right hand man, the young Orc was not expecting this at all. He instinctively stands up out of respect, then looks to Aubrey for guidance.

Rohuzar totally resists 

Wis save 20 

He also tried very hard to avoid visibly sighing in defeat at the entrance of the Emperor, thinking back to consider what they could have done to avoid this entirely. 

Considering the circumstances, Aubrey does not resist the mental probing, giving instead a firm nod of respect to the lithe figure in a silver mask and black hood. As the emperor enters, Aubrey immediatley sets in motion any protocol regarding etiquette when in the emperors presence, assuming standing up and bowing, speak when spoken too and so on, hoping his companions will follow suit. "My Emperor, it is an honour."