(Alrighty. Deception at d/a: 15 )

Rohuzar frowns, a clearly plaintive look on his face as poor Bruno is dressed up like a dwarf for reasons beyond his or Bruno's understanding.

     "Perhaps if you gussied up one of us, instead?" Raqisat would offer.  "A more similair shaped face and all.  I could get on my knees to make the height more accurate and I won't wag my tail as much as our Bruno there."

((Although I totally love the idea of the dressed up canine impersonating a dwarf!))

(I genuinely thought using a large breed dog like a mastiff was a perfect size and bulk fit to match a dwarf, and would be easier to sell than one of us. However, I quickly lost all confidence in that from responses.)

”Too happy to be a dwarf eh?” Cosette resigns, giving Bruno pets, his tail wagging with much enthusiasm from being dressed up and looking dapper like one of the men.

Leelan finds a spot to observe, partially concealed by one of the tents.  The rest of the party stands and waits as the figures slowly make their way toward the bridge.

Its an uncomfortable wait.  The vast, silent stillness of the city, even on a warm and sunny afternoon, is unnerving.  And the unhurried pace of the three strangers, walking with no more urgency than a set of hired farmhands on their way to the fields, only adds to the surrealism.

Eventually they reach the other side of the bridge and begin to cross, coming within 30' of you before stopping.  The man with the torch stands in front, the two with shortswords flanking him and standing just a little behind.  Their outfits are a mismatched hodgepodge of different pieces of leather armor, footwraps, hooded cloaks.  All are worn but maintained, and what they lack in style the make up for in utility.  Straps fasten waterskins to their hips and up close you can see each of them has several knives packed away on their person.  Of the men themselves, they all look to be of a range between 30 and 40 years, their hair and unkempt beards and whiskers gone prematurely grey.  All share in common a narrow face and eyes along with lean, wiry frames.  All are quite thin, but they carry themselves not as weaklings or malnourished, but rather with a smooth sort of grace.

They observe the lot of you quietly for a moment, then the man in front clears his nose with a long sniff.  "The King sends us with greetings and wishes to know...".  The man is cut off when one of the others taps him roughly on the elbow and points. 

The leader's eyes follow the finger to find the odd-looking figure among you.  He is seated upright, paws poking out from under a heavy cloak.  His ears are pulled down and fluffed up with the appearance of thick muttonchops.  Across the top of his burly chest, the phrase "Remember Stoutport" is painted in facsimile of a tattoo.  One paw rests on an empty ale mug and a carved wooden tobacco pipe is gripped in his muzzle.  As all eyes fall on him, Bruno straightens up and maintains steady eye contact with the strangers.

There is another, longer pause.  "What...". 

"What is that?"...

... "That's a dog.  Why is that dog dressed up in people clothes?  Who is that dog?  Who are you people?"

The three of them take a cautious step back.  The one in front collects his thoughts.  "I don't know what you're all about here.  Why have you come?"

"My name is Aubrey Goldentide. We have travelled here from Bardstown. We have heard you have a cure for the terrible plague that is killing dwarves. We are naturally eager to learn more about that, and to be honest also about you and your king. Among us we have many people of science, people versed in the fields of archaeology and anthropology." Aubrey says with a polite bow to the three men. "We are of course willing to reward you for any knowledge you share with us about these ruins and the cure for this dwarven plague." He finishes with another bow. "And yes, that is indeed a dog, his name is Bruno and he is the expeditions pet you might say, don't let his appearance distract you now, he is quite harmless."

Persuasion to make peaceful contact: 23 Another roll if help action is given: 20

     Raqisat lets out a short laugh and a smirk when the question of the Bruno arises.  "I assure you she would have dressed our Bruno up in dog clothes if we had some available," he can't help himself from adding.  "There seems to be a dearth of Canine Boutiques in the area, however."  ((Not sure if that counts as help on peaceful contact though...))

     Besides a short glance back at Bruno, Raqisat keeps a close eye on the trio trying to ascertain their attitude - Are they here to greet visitors or to defend their area?  Are they calm or are they restraining more hostile emotions?  ((Insight, if needed: 4 ))

.

The man continues to glance at Bruno, then at Raqisat when he makes his comment, but keeps most of his attention on Aubrey.

"'People of science' you say," the man rolls the words around like he has never heard them spoken before.  "I'm sorry to inform you, but the great library has been closed for nigh on a century," he laughs and the other two chuckle along.  "There isn't much learning to be had here."

  "You seem to have heard something about us, though," the man says suspiciously.  "Aye, the King can cure this lil' plague.  But that knowledge is not for outsiders.  And of the ruins, the best information I can share is that you don't belong here."

He smiles politely but joylessly, revealing buckteeth in the process. "You seem like honest folk who might not realize what you've stumbled into.  Let me clue you in.  This city is a death trap if you don't know what you're doing.  More importantly, everything inside the walls belongs to the King Under the City.  No one enters without the King's blessing.  Out of magnanimity we allow river traffic to pass through unmolested, but the city itself is off limits.  We welcome trade, but in goods and services, not information.  Unless you have something of substance on offer, I think its going to be best for everyone that you leave."

Grugga contemplates calling for a huddle for a moment, but worries it might offend the strangers somehow. Instead, he looks at the representatives of the King Under the City, and asks: "Would you trade information of the city for food?" He quietly says to the others "I can pay for the Empress to buy more at port..." to allay any fears of Grugga wantonly offering up the group's resources.

"Otherwise... are you in need of any services? None of the sailors we spoke with about your city knew of you - perhaps we could offer to be a middleman for selling and buying goods upriver. Of course, we're also monster hunters, ourselves. And that includes diabolical cultists living uninvited in your city." Grugga still doesn't seem trusting of the envoys. More like he's trying to gauge their interests and needs - maybe finding a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Cosette’s boots hit the floor as she takes a few steps forward. She places her hands confidently on her hips and looks each one of them up and down before addressing the bucked tooth one. “Lots to learn, but plenty to teach.” She says, shifting her weight to the other foot. “What services do you seek, gentlemen?” She quirks a brow. “What goods does a King Under the City desire?” She asks.

"Your sailors may not of heard of us... but the right people in the right parts of Danton and Floris know us... Ask around Low Town in Tucker Hills and you'll find those who know of the King. We have all the connections we need, but thank you kindly all the same."

He laughs at Cosette's question.  "At the moment, we happen to be in the market for some racquetball paddles."  He goes on to explain in detail the type of paddle they are looking for.  "Otherwise, liquor - top shelf stuff, fine clothing, cigars, tobacco... weapons, of course.  Elite weapons only... the sort of stuff to make a blighter wet itself and run away.  And recruits."

An eyebrow curls up at Grugga's comment.  "Monster hunters, eh?  So is that what has brought you to Amnifortis?  Here to study some big, alien game?  Maybe take a tentacled trophy home for some priss noble to hang on his wall?"  He thinks for a minute and then smiles again.  "So tell me then, what sort of monster's have you slain, oh great hunters?"

"Hags and hydras to name a few." Aubrey responds firmly and confidently. "But we are not here to hunt necessarily as much as study and learn. We are quite aware of the dangers lurking in the ruins and as stated we would be prepared to trade goods and services for information on the aberrations roaming your city." 

Insight to determine what they really want, if they are serious about what they say they want: 11

     "Let us just cut to the meat of the matter - Is it possible to get your King's blessing to enter the city?" Raqisat asks with no real emotion in his voice.  "If so, how?"

     Raqisat starts scanning the surroundings to ensure more of these destitute Peasants Under The City are in the area or not.  It wouldn't be the first time the welcome wagon talked and negotiated just so their brothers could sneak up and change the odds of the encounter.

Rohuzar would like to look for signs of plague or some such on them 

Rohuzar, they are a little dirty and look like personal hygiene takes a distant backseat to other priorities but there are no open sores or other obvious sign of infection.  A perception check looking at just this concern might net more information.

Aubrey, they seem to be serious about the alcohol and other luxury items.  If anything, the speaker was even more serious about the paddles.  If he was joking, he was really committed to a deadpan bit.

The speaker listens to Aubrey's statement and then turns to Raqisat.  "... Maybe.  Maybe you can obtain the King's blessing.  I have an... idea.  But it's not for me to decide.  We will take your story to the King.  Leave this place now, but return tomorrow... late afternoon.  If something can be arranged, we will return with instructions.  If we do not come back... well then you will have your answer all the same."  With that the strangers start to back up, slowly leaving the bridge but keeping eyes on you in case of any shenanigans.

Rohuzar's perception check 16 

Aubrey nods and smiles politely at the three men, then bows and takes a discreet step back as they leave. When he is no longer within sight of the inbreeds thanks to standing behind the impressive frame of Rohuzar, the young noble would call Furvus to his side, using invisibility magic on it and send it after the men, letting it use ethereal form as much as possible while still following the men back to their camp, checking around and then return to the Empress to report about how to get there and what it found there.

Furvus perception: 9
Furvus investigation: 12

(Furvus has 14 int btw, being one of the smarter entities in this team so I assume it can make a reasonable good report on what it found. :-) 

"So, what do we think? Should we do as they say and simply spend some time on the Empress until tomorrow afternoon or would you prefer doing some light exploring right away? Risk is that they will find out if we do and then we will likely not have a deal tomorrow but that is of course not a certainty either way. Furvus will hopefully provide us with a report on where their camp is and what we will find there should we happen to find ourselves there at some point during our stay here." Aubrey turns and says to the rest of the team as the inbreeds are definitely out of sight.

     "I could be mistaken but I do believe they said everything inside the city belongs to their King," Raqisat manages to say in a coherant manner.  "It did not sound like we were warned off from exploring outside..."

     "Does anyone know what Stoutport is and why it should be remembered?" Raqisat asks after a bit, remembering the chest tattoo or painting.  "Is it a part of this city or...?"

History check: 4 to see if he himself recalls anything...

.

Rohuzar, nothing about them suggests disease.  You do notice they all share some common features which is a little unusual.  They all have narrow eyes, pointy chins and noses, and patchy, prematurely grey facial hair.  Their complexions are different, but it's still enough to make you wonder if they might share some common ancestry. 

[Raqisat, Stoutport is a coastal town in the far north.  I threw that in as an old lore deep cut.  Many years ago there was a dwarven rebellion there and they sacked the town.  Then, the Empire - the old 3rd Empire that held the whole continent, not the 4th Empire that currently has holdings in the interior where these guys have been adventuring until now - came in with their legions and massacred all the dwarves.  It's something a lot of dwarves are still sore about so I dropped it as a reference.  It's the kind of thing a burly dog dwarf might have as a tattoo.]

"They say 'Leave now. Return tomorrow.'" Cosette muses along with the discussion. "Whatever we decide, I'm pro respecting space when boundaries are set." She gives Bruno some pets. "Aye Grugga, think we can craft some racquet ball paddles in the mean time?"