On the way to Charlie's Irmiel stopped to purchase some simple things like charcoal and a few herbs and incense, and now, while they were discussing options, settled a small portable brass brazier on the corner of the table and was burning the mixture periodically chanting something over the fire. "Maybe we are overcomplicating things? Even if we do not have a name (yet), we can ask for the audience from the general as admirers. Or, we can say one of us is writing a book about the recent wars and would love to get an incentive from a living witness? Should not even be a lie, I can see myself documenting our adventure that surely will include some battles with shadovar. OR, we can be concerned citizens willing to take arms and make shadovar pay for the death and destruction they caused yesterday. Either way, the general might get curious or flattered enough to talk to us."

The mixture in the brazier burned out and the smoke coiled at the table, forming a miniature cloud. Irmiel gently blew it away, revealing a small golden-skinned lizard with emerald eyes. The little critter blinked, tested the air with its tong and curiously looked around. The girl smiled and picked the reptile up, putting it at her shoulder where the animal froze like an exotic decoration. "Welcome back, Osrik! Like this shape?" Irmiel looked at others. "Not sure how to get to the wizard, though. Do not think he will see any beginner mage - he would suspect any of us of attempts to steal his secrets or trying to become his apprentice (which is basically the same thing). But he might agree to see someone "less suspicious". So, two of us," she pointed at herself and Sistri, "can go to general and the other two to the wizard. It is too dangerous for Kris to meet the general, but if, say, an ambassador (of a sort) from the enchanted forest," she looked at Llwyd, "and his bodyguard in this treacherous lands," the look towards Kris, "want to discuss the danger of a renews shadovar activity around... Maybe he will agree?"

The plan was not exactly flawless, but Irmiel was ready to work on shortcomings. "What do you think? Too complicated?"

"Not too complicated, but I suppose I don't understand why we should lie about being contractors.  I don't see why such an important man would agree to see two strangers from the woods any sooner than he would paid contractors for the contract.  Either way, like the general, he would be more willing to help if has some personal stake in the search.  And after yesterday's attack, doesn't everyone in the city have a personal stake?  Emotions will be running high for quite a while, so perhaps we should simply ask?"

The young girl looks from one face to the next, genuinely curious for advice from the more experienced party.

In silent attention he heard as his companions spoke their thoughts. Sistri echoed his doubts about Arabel while Irmiel came up with some plans and Kris voiced her own questions. The satyr recognized her process of casting the spell Find Familiar, although he was surprised about the manner in which the elf did it. When druids called upon spirits they didn’t need to use material components. Does that mean that the very nature of our magic is different? 

“I think that the point of Irmiel’s idea is that by using the ambassador history we have a mean to at least attempt talking with the sage by ourselves instead of hoping the general can help us, which is a valid point.” He spoke looking from the warrior to the wizard, waiting for confirmation. “That said I am less than confident on my ability to play the role so it may be better to keep this plan as a last resort if we don’t manage to get the general’s help. Kris is probably right by saying that we have more chances of speaking with the old man by presenting ourselves as contractors, specially if we say that we want to respond the Shadovar threat and challenge regarding the search for the Mythallars.”

The man had spent at least part of his life fending them and even wrote a book about them. Llwyd could not understand how most of the things worked in cities, but he was quite sure that this meant Silvermaul had no love lost for the Netherese.

Irmiel nodded to both - Llwyd and Kris. "The keyword here is "everybody". We should not be "everybody", because if we are - what is the point of talking to us? Both the Sage and the General could be besieged by now by other companies and we need to stand out to get the audience. But maybe I do overcomplicate things and in reality, the General is all alone, offended by everyone's forgetfulness and waiting for someone he could share his knowledge with, while the Sage is desperately looking for a reliable group that can deal with both - mystery and the danger of invasion. But do you agree to split up or should we attempt to disguise Kris properly this time?"

He reflected upon Irmiel’s words, fighting the urge to admire the new form of her familiar. Osrik, he remembered. His name is Osrik. Not the thing in which he should be focusing, the satyr noticed fast. He casted his eyes upon Sistri and Kris, trying to read their reaction, but before he could do as much he noticed the silence and decided to speak.

“I think there is no reason for us to not try both possibilities. First we try the ‘we are part of Charlie’s Company’ approach and if it doesn’t work, we can make a second attempt using Irmiel’s plan and I will need you all of you to teach me how an ambassador would present himself.” Llwyd said not particularly sure of his logic. Amongst the druids it was far easier to ask for help. “The only thing is that if we try the more open approach, identifying ourselves as contractors, we would need to disguise the group that will later pose as the general admirer’s or have the future admirers absent for the meeting. And whoever Kris go we will probably need to have her face under bandages. No offense, Kris, it is a very beautiful face, but this time it is better to keep it covered.”

Sistri listened quietly to all the ideas, before adding her thoughts.  "I like the idea of Irmiel and I just approaching General Silvermace.  Perhaps he'll help us against the Shadovar."  

She then looks at Kris and Llwyd. "Maybe you two take the honest approach also? See if Alophandar will meet with you?"

She shrugs, looking at Charlie and the others fur any other ideas. "In any case, our pairs can switch targets if we don't succeed at first.  But I think we'd best just try something rather than talk."

Kris reaches out to pet the golden lizard, moving slowly in case it bites.  "Sensational!"

She listens and nods as the others speak. "Alright, that sounds good.  Irmiel, if you'll keep my hair dark, we can fit me up with a simple bandage--totally appropriate with the attack yesterday, and might induce some sympathy.  Llwyd and I will visit Alphandar."  She dislikes the idea of feigning an injury when so many have actually died, but she reminds herself that she was in fact seriously injured and did in fact almost literally die.  "Llwyd, don't worry, I can teach you all about proper etiquette!  That would be fun to practice regardless!  But, let's get through this challenge first.  Maybe on the way to the library."

Charlie nods to the group, "Hmmm, well, that sounds like a fine approach to me. Alright then, best of luck to you. I'll be here, studying and watching over construction." 

Outside Charlie's shop, the foursome separate. Kris, with a bandage over part of her face, and Llwyd head towards the royal court once more hoping to win an audience with one of the most powerful men in the country. Meanwhile Sistri and Irmiel head across town looking for the Silvermace estate. The city streets of Suzail seem back to normal today, at least from a foot traffic point of view. But people's eyes are wider, more alert, or the opposite, strangely averted, as if everyone was expecting a sudden appearance of enemies at any moment. The sky above was a solid azure blue, darkening into a deep blue near the sky's apex, with not a cloud in view. The air was warm and felt distinctly summery. Wagons full of goods moved to and fro as people crisscrossed all over. 

There was however a notably increased military presence. Soldiers in groups of 6 to 10 moved about with helms hanging to one side, deceptively casual in their ever frequent patrolling. Over the sky, at least three of four Griffon riders could be spotted swooping about as you make your way across town. The number of troops 'hanging about' only increases as both pairs of allies approach the royal estate and the noble district. 

Kris, feeling a bit discombobulated due to the wrapping over one eye, stands next to Llywd as they approach the gates. There is a short line that they wait in until reaching the guard booth. The gates are held closed by another soldier nearby and at least a dozen archers or purple dragon warriors patrol nearby, eyes wary. The soldier in the booth looks out through a melon sized hole crisscrossed with a steel mesh.  "State your business."

Irmiel and Sistri find themselves walking along past estates with 12 foot high walls that bordered the cities streets. Their occasional glimpses of the insides could be found near the main gates of each, revealing sizable estate yards filled with lush grass, plants and trees, with a mansion usually visible some distance within the grounds.  The reach the Silvermace family estate after a short time to find a smaller sized estate. No lush grand grounds, but rather a goodly sized mansion within an outer wall, with a looped entrance drive of crushed rock that circles about under an grand porch to stone steps leading up to a double door. Four guards stand within the gate. An archer stands on the porch above the driveway and another patrols the roof....no..make that two patrol the roof. One guard looks to the armored warrior, to the pink haired girl and back. "Aren't you a pair. What's your business 'ere?"

"Sir, we were here hoping to gain a brief audience with General Silvermace. After yesterday's attack by the Shadovar, we were hoping to learn a bit more.  And the General is of course one of the foremost experts.  So we would like to arrange a meeting if that is at all possible."  Sistri gives the guard a pleasant smile as she speaks.  "Oh! I am Sistri Runeswallow, a Knight of the Unicorn.  I am with the learned Irmiel Nerien."  She tries to present herself as professional as possible.  (Persuasion: 10) 

The guard squints at Sistri, "A knight? Well...the general is always willing to meet with fellow soldiers, as a professional courtesy of course. Very well. I will see if he's available."  He whispers to one of the other guards on duty who runs off, leaving everyone else standing around with nothing to do but wait a few moments in silence. The guard comes back in an unhurried manner, and then talks to the original guard who nods and turns to Sistri and Irmiel who are holding their breath slightly.  A long moment passes of anticipation. Then the guard nods and reaches for the gate, "Very well, you'll needs surrender your weapons here, and I'd like to see your ID's please."  

Being within Cormyr, having ID's is part of every day life and you hand them over and then surrender your weapons into a chest just inside the main gate. He passes the IDs back and nods, as two of the other guards lead you towards the mansion. The gravel pathway crunches loudly beneath your feet as the archers on the rooftops watch you with intent eyes.  The front door is opened by a man in a suit who nods in a bored looking manner at you both as you're admitted.  "Who shall I say is attending Lord Silvermace?"  Sistri repeats their names and titles. He nods and walks you through a marble laid foyer and into a sitting room. The doorman says with pomp and ceremony, "Sistri Runeswallow, a Knight of the Unicorn and the learned Irmiel Nerien to see you sir." 

Lord Silvermace looks solid. With grey hair, a square chin, and short cropped hair, its clear he's never given up on his military ways. He is dressed casually in noble garb but everything is tight fitting and well tailored and looks slightly like military wear.  He is at a chair next to a fire, reading some scrolls.  He puts them down and motions for you both to sit at a nearby table. 

"Well, I can't say this is a surprise. I was expecting a flood of visitors to come to me after the attacks, and I expect after yourselves there will be many more seeking my wisdom. Sistri, a fellow knight, my pleasure to help a fellow warrior in these dark times. Did you know that I single handedly held off three Shadovar in the battle of Lost Hook until my men had time to regroup and rejoin the battle. Did you know that their most potent warriors can harness the screams from the souls they've slain? Terrible awful creatures. So...what can I help you with?"

Learned Irmiel Nerien did her best to restrain herself from explaining to the guard what was she thinking about his comment and patiently smiled while much more composed Sistri was explaining the reason for their visit here.

"We are truly glad that we could get here ahead of the crowd. Our own encounter with those creatures was quite ... difficult. And since in our future expedition we might encounter those creatures, I mean, people, again, we wanted to learn as much as possible about them. Better to know what to expect." "How did you manage to beat them? They appeared from nowhere and then left as suddenly too. Is it their usual tactic? Is there any way to spook out their ambush? Or predict their appearance? "

Irmiel looked (and actually was) genuinely curious.

Kris walks near Llwyd as they walk, partly out of paranoia over being recognized and partly out of the general anxiety that seems to grip the city.  At least it's a nice day, however.  "Llwyd, look at how blue the sky is today!  We could call it a beautiful day if everything weren't so crazy.  What's it like living in the woods?  You must have so many beautiful things to look at."

"Good afternoon!" Kris begins politely, out of instinct.  "If it please the Sage of the Court, Alophandar Emmerask, we are but two agents of the city tasked to investigate the Netherese menace."  It wasn't incorrect, exactly, though it did paint them in a more official capacity than is perhaps true.  "We are here to beg for a moment of the Sage's time?"

The general rubs his chin and begins to speak.  Before long, it's clear that talking is one of his favorite past times, "Yes well, I actually have written three separate books on the matter as well as teach regularly at the war college. There is much to tell, more than I could possibly relay in a short conversation with you right now. Suffice to say that as descendants of the Netherese empire, they have powerful magic among their ranks. This gives them a lot of flexibility on deciding when and how to engage their enemies. Yesterdays...skirmish was nothing more than a reminder. Now more than ever they must remind nations that they are not powerless. I still can not believe that the fools over at Purple Hall added Nhalloth to the list of cities. I've told them time and time again that it's likely the head of the Shadovar empire now, but they added to the list anyway....to send a few pitiful gold seeking fools off to their deaths. Personally, Cormyr's ridiculous decision to ally themselves with Cormanthor on this Mythallar quest makes little sense to me. It hardly seems worth the blood that we will need to pay. Things are still fragile after the end of the last war. Right then...so...what is it you all do? How are you involved in all of this?" 

The soldier through the small hole doesn't look up, but simply nods and says, "Names and titles please. And have you been requested to audience?"

Plans made, the group departed from Charlie’s base. Llwyd was lost in thought, imagining how a diplomat should behave. When Kris spoke about teaching him etiquette he felt visibly relieved. He didn’t very much understood the aristocracy of Cormyr, but everything dicated she was of high birth, beheld to rather high standards when it comes to manner. Maybe she could help him, despite the little time.

“Life in the forest depends a lot on your company and knowledge of nature and especially the area where you live.” And that was how some loved the idea of spending times on the wild while others were terrified of it. Everyone in the circle said as much. “If you don’t know how to hunt or forage, you will starve. If you are alone any wound or sickness can mean death. If you don’t know how to make and keep a fire you will fall to the cold. But if you know how to deal with these things, ah, then it is a different history. There is quietude in the woods, a surprise in each tree and bush, the rivers become lifeblood and you become part of the hunt. Each bonfire brings a taste of success and if you are not alone everything becomes less of a danger.” The eye of his mind he could almost see his home.  “For us druids things are even simpler for we are more than a few and we can actually speak with the plants and beasts. The land becomes our home naturally. The sky is our roof. But what about living in the city? I imagine is not always as hectic as yesterday.”

At least he hoped not. On the gate of the castle the guard inquired about their purposes and he could only look at Kris, hoping she knew how to proceed. Before her answer the man asked for their names and titles. Llwyd had no title to speak of, but thought it better to not say as much. At least not directly.

“You can call me Gray and this is my friend Arian.” He said translating his name to common and the last part of Kris’ surname, silver, to Sylvan. “We are with the Bureau of Procurement for the Great Empire of Cormyr.” Through their contract, they were. “And in lieu of the attack of yesterday on the Administrative Building…” He continued pointing to Kris’ wrapped face, hoping the guard would infer she was wounded in the attack. This way he would need not to lie. “… we have been requested to consult the sage about matters relating the Netherese.” The librarian said to speak with the sage. It was not exactly a request, but he decided it sounded close enough. “We should not divulge further details.”

(Llwyd, please roll either Deception or Persuasion.)

Irmiel sighed and smiled at the general Silvermace. "I'm afraid we are those fools sent to search for Mythallars. One of them. Thank you for your warning, we will probably skip Nhalloth, but there are legends about other cities and each of us has a reason to join that suicidal quest. But you mentioned it was Cormanthor's idea and Cormyr just follows for some reason. Does it mean you know why is this sudden interest in the "shadovar inheritance"?" The "good old days" memories was not something she hoped for, and at first, Irmiel even regretted they came but it seemed the general knew more than (at least she) expected.

"Oh, I would love to hear more about the Battle of Lost Hook. I can only hope I one day have the skills to hold off three shadovar at once!"  Sistri comments as the general begins speaking.  As he moves into discussions of Cormanthor and alliances she is less certain about the subject.  She was more than willing to let Irmiel jump in with questions.  She does nod in agreement with her companion's statement. "Indeed, we had hoped to search out these Mythallars.  I would have thought that Cormyr gaining these items would be a positive. They seem like rather potent things to just allow the shadovar to take them."

Quote from NathanPizazz >>

(Llwyd, please roll either Deception or Persuasion.)

 
Persuasion: 17

Sistri and Irmiel: 

The general strokes his bearded cheeks, "Indeed, indeed, good questions for certain. It makes you question the policies that our good Queen has decided are important. Not in any seditious way of course, just....questioning wisdom of our leaders is a collective duty we as responsible citizens are bound to, would you not agree? Anyway, there is rumor that the magical weave is being damaged and that controlling these Mythallar can prevent further harm. Apparently this..damage...is more prevalent in other parts of the world. We've barely noticed it here. But....if you look to the sky, you may notice a twinkle here or there. I didn't really notice them, but it does appear as if they are real. So...the twinkles are magical threads that have torn. Some seem to repair themselves on their own. Others give people a strong compulsion to cast magic or use items on them so that they can absorb the magic and heal themselves. For reasons that have not been shared with the wider population, myself included, the elves have convinced our Queen that the Mythallar's are tied to this, and controlling them will prevent more damage. I think it's a bunch of nonsense, elven mysticism. But....I don't get to make decisions like that anymore. We know nothing more about these ancient powerful artifacts. Legends say some of them turned their whole population into strange lizard folk, others disintegrated everyone, some were sentient. We know nothing about such things. Gaining 'control' of these things...well....i know the heart of people. With power comes corruption and darkness. I fear their sudden influence on our golden shining country."  It's clear his 'talking' has shown no sign of slowing down.

Llwyd and Kris stand before the guard. He glances lazily up towards them. "I'm afraid I have no such appointment on my books. Please have your boss, the head of the procurement bureau talk to the minister of government affairs directly to request such an appointment."

He seems to be giving them the hard bureaucratic 'no'. 

OOC: Would Llwyd be able to read that the guard "lazily" glanced towards them?