As soon as the group left the town hall, Drax said he had something he wanted to go take care of, and waved off all questions for more details. He moved off in the opposite direction everyone else was heading and disappeared around a building in half a heart beat.
After a slow meander around town in which everyone did their best to unobtrusively listen to the local scuttlebutt, everyone except Mills, who said he'd take the horses to Radil's livery to be fed and bedded down for the night, made their way to Aaris' Silver Feather inn. Walking through the inn's main doors the group was immediately confronted by the blast of delicious air wafting the smell of the Feather's food past their nostrils and out into the street. Aaris was behind the bar leaning on one elbow talking closely with a rather weather-beaten old man with a well trimmed grey and white beard, and long wavy grey hair tucked underneath a round brimmed, black hat that was salt stained from sweat around the leather trimmed band. As soon as Zanoth, Lucky, and Gor stepped across the threshold he cut short his conversation and raised a waving hand in hearty greeting. "Well if it isn't the saviors of the Ridge! Come in! Come in! Grab a booth and let me get you some drinks." Aaris pointed a finger at a couple of the still empty booths on the wall opposite the bar, and then grabbed some mugs and started filling them from the tapped barrel of mead that was resting behind the bar.
After Aaris slapped down the three frothing stone tankards of Highland mead, he said, "Eeneri's got honey roasted chicken and goat cheese salad tossed with a pumpkin vinaigrette all made up and ready to get you started off if you're interested? I can get you some pork and mustard sandwiches put together with some of the leftovers from last night's pig roast, or there's a bit of mushroom soup simmering in the kettle, or both, or all three depending on how hungry you are I guess?" The topic of food addressed, before even waiting for answers, Aaris dove into a question about their adventure. "You're back quickly, I'd guess that means things out in the wilds went really well or really poorly. Can't wait to hear all about it."
Meanwhile at Radil's stables, Mills couldn't escape some questions about the group's rather quick return to town either.
Radil puffed on a pipe of sweet and pungent smelling tobacco, blew a couple smoke rings above Mills' head and asked, "You find what you were looking for out there? I bet Feorac a gold piece that you'd bring his amulet back no problem. So what's the news? Did I win my bet or not?"
Meanwhile at Radil's stables, Mills couldn't escape some questions about the group's rather quick return to town either.
Radil puffed on a pipe of sweet and pungent smelling tobacco, blew a couple smoke rings above Mills' head and asked, "You find what you were looking for out there? I bet Feorac a gold piece that you'd bring his amulet back no problem. So what's the news? Did I win my bet or not?"
"Well... We found it, but I wouldn't go askin' for your gold yet. The thing is dangerous. Look, Radil? You seem a nice fella'. If I was you, I'd keep a bag packed. Just in case. You get my meanin'?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"All the food please and ale. As for our trip we had success but that talk is best for when we've filled our bellies and wet our throats."
Lucky waves the man down to his level. And continues in a hush tone.
"We found it alright its bad news, real dangerous item this town been sitting on. We stored it far away for the safety of the people. Might need your help to convince the Mayor this is the best plan and to pay us for the trouble. Can we count on you to protect your town?"
Radil's face scrunches up in an expression of consternation. "Keep a bag packed? To run where? Why? It's just a necklace."
--At the Silver Feather Inn--
"Vittles and Ale coming right up." Aaris says. Then when Lucky waves him closer for his conspiratorial conversation, he listens intently, nods, smiles, and says, "I always do my best to protect the Ridge." As Aaris walked away to get food and ale, Lucky couldn't help but realize that was a very elusive non-answer answer.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Zanoth listens carefully whilst eating the warm food, certain that something strange is going on.
<with slight sarcasm>
”Aaris, yes... seems you did a good job “protecting” the villagers who were slaughtered less than a week ago.”
<More seriously>
“Please believe us when we say forces beyond your knowledge or ability are gathering and if your want the next raiding force of Dragonborn to be an army of 500 that leave none in the village alive, continue your current course.
We also have the best interests of the village in mind when we say this is not the end. I wont force you to hand this artifact over to the proper authorities, but if you or the mayor insist on simply taking it back and letting us move on, when your village is a smoking ruin I wont interfere either.”
Radil's face scrunches up in an expression of consternation. "Keep a bag packed? To run where? Why? It's just a necklace."
"A necklace? You met a lot of ordinary thieves that summon the dead? Attack whole towns to stage a break-in? No. Something is up. And if you don't like good sense when you hear it, then I got a bridge I can sell ya." Mills' people skills sometimes leave something to be desired.
Radil's face scrunches up in an expression of consternation. "Keep a bag packed? To run where? Why? It's just a necklace."
"A necklace? You met a lot of ordinary thieves that summon the dead? Attack whole towns to stage a break-in? No. Something is up. And if you don't like good sense when you hear it, then I got a bridge I can sell ya." Mills' people skills sometimes leave something to be desired.
Mills' words make Radil cough up a billow of smoke as he swallows the reality of their intent. "When you put it like that..." He says as tendrils of grey smoke waft out of his nose and mouth. Mills watches as the proverbial lamp lights up inside Radil's head, and the man who's better with animals than people, starts to realize that there's definitely something more sinister going on here than he originally thought. Considering his duty to the horsemaster well and goodly done, Mills heads back to the Silver Feather to meet with his companions.
--At the Silver Feather Inn--
(OOC: Zanoth you've earned Inspiration for that deeply on-character speech.)
Aaris' face drains of color for a brief moment when Zanoth finishes his warning. When he speaks again, it is with much less confidence. "You lot have proved yourselves twice over, so I've no doubt what you say is true. If I can be of help persuading Bercha that Feorac's amulet is better kept in your custody than his, I will. Count on me."
After a couple refills of food for Lucky and drinks for all Mills walks in and grabs a seat at the table with his friends, getting some food and drink for himself as well. Before he even has a chance to swallow his first bite Bercha steps through the Feather's front doors, and not alone. Feorac is right behind him, and he's got the pommel of some long weapon sticking out over his right shoulder. Mills and Zanoth both locked eyes for a moment, having a conversation that involved zero words. That pommel was certainly attached to the Dagrest clan greatsword that they'd seen hung up on display in Feorac's house. Men with swords of that distinction didn't pull them off of their decorative wall racks without purpose.
Scanning the room took no time at all, and Bercha smiled and nodded in the direction of the Outlander's table. He did not, though, walk over. Instead he said something to Feorac and the two of them disappeared around the corner where the stairs and Aaris' private parlor were adjoined. The mayor never even so much as waved to indicate the party should follow him. Half a minute later Aaris appeared at the group's booth and said, "Mayor Bercha and Feorac would very much appreciate your company in the parlor. I'll have your food and drinks carried in there by one of my servers." Mills and Lucky shared a look at that point. They both knew that "would very much appreciate your company" meant they were expected to show up whether they liked it or not. Increasingly the tension regarding what should have been a simple, "thanks, here's your money," was growing.
“Don’t expect they want to kill us, but we should be on our guard.”
Zanoth decides to see if he can detect any nefarious creatures in the area, then once the whole group is ready proceeds to join Bercha and Feorac in the parlour.
/OOC Pop a <Divine Sense> once in the main room, then once again in the parlour.
Zanoth's divine senses don't reveal any fiends, undead or celestials in the Feather's common room. After food and drinks have been properly finished, the group heads into the now familiar parlor just around the corner near the upward stairs. As he enters the room Zanoth again calls upon his divine sense, but neither Bercha nor Feorac radiate such an aura. When everyone has had a seat at the table, one of Aaris' serving girls brings in a platter of mugs and two tall stone pitchers, one with ale and one with mead. Then she leaves and clicks shut the door. For a moment no one talks. Bercha just looks around at the group, and Feorac picks at the dirt under his fingernails with a dagger. Finally, mayor Bercha addresses the situation at hand. "So you've revealed that you found the necklace, and you've even brought us back a prisoner to interrogate to for more information about this cult that Vivi was involved in. I'd say you're all due the 120gp we promised, just as soon as you give Feorac back his family's heirloom." It is clear from his demeanor that Bercha thinks handing over the amulet should be no trouble at all, and he fully expects someone will produce it and slide it over to its rightful owner.
Mills clicks his tongue. "It ain't that simple. And it ain't a matter of gold, so don't go thinkin' we're just a band o' outlaws lookin' to score big. This necklace is something big. Real big. The drakes want it, bad enough to stage an attack on the town in order to get their break-in. If we leave it here, they'll come back, and with more swords. If we leave with it, hope is that they'll ignore this here home o' yours."
"It wouldn't be right to leave it here for more folks to get hurt."
“Indeed, have you listened to nothing we have said since returning ? Do you not understand the grave danger you and this town is under ?
To me it would appear you seek the death of your own people, unless you plan on something you are not telling us, in which case we are ready and willing to help.
As Mills says, to simply hand it over with no further assurances as to its future will most likely lead to disaster, but as far as I am concerned it is your choice, I would not fight a good man for it, but an evil man should not get his hands on it, and I am sure Mills will not allow the latter.”
Lucky eyes go wide for a second at the mention of its not about the gold. He thinks about protesting but does not want to undermine Zanoth and discides to wait and see where this goes first.
”Don’t worry my friend. Just to point out.. you paid us to “bring it back”, which we have, and for which we are due, but these new development need further discussion and certainly further action.“
Feorac grumbles hearing what he deems to be a band of mercenaries trying to get good coin for not doing their job. "Let me get this straight. You want the town to pay you out of their own treasury coffers to NOT give me back what's mine?!" He clicks his tongue in a contemptuous and dismissive fashion. "Not sure how things work where you're from, but around here that's akin to robbery. The necklace is mine, 'as been in my family for generations, and now you want to tell me that it's too dangerous to give back to me?!"
The mayor, sat and listened quietly, for his own part, it appears that he is willing to think things through more thoroughly before passing judgment. When Feorac finishes, he places a hand on his arm, and stands up to walk around a bit while he thinks and talks. "I understand your anger Feorac, but it could be that the necklace wasn't dangerous before, because there was no army of dragons and dragon-men pervading the continent. There's no doubt that whoever took the amulet wanted it badly enough, and had the power, to stage that skeleton attack. Without the Eorl stationing a garrison here, we'd never survive another attack on that scale." Bercha reaches both hands behind his back and clasps them together just above his tailbone, and rhythmically taps the back of one into the palm of the other. "Might be I can convince the town council that it's worth paying you for the loss, and paying them what they're owed with the understanding that they'll take the necklace far away from here." He looks at Feorac to gauge his response as he speaks. The hulking warrior harumphs a bit in his chair, and exhales a piteous sigh, but it does seem like he'd acquiesce. Then Mayor Bercha looks from Zanoth to Mills and back again. "Where exactly do you plan on taking the amulet, in order to protect it? You're a long way from the borders of the Republic."
Good Mayor in this day and age knowledge is dangerous. To tell you where we are taking the amulet makes you a target for those who seek it. I say ignorance is rhe best coarse of action in most cases especially one as .... let's just say deadly as this one. Those who seek this amulet has an army at there command and the treasury of a nation to finance its recovery. The less you know the better and I regret what I think I do.
I will tell you this. In a previous life I helped test the security of high value patrons and in my years of experience the best thing to keep something safe is to very its location and limit the number of those who know its where abouts. As they say in my previous life. 2 nobles can keep a secret if one is dead. So I say this we will be on the move and a random path and outside this one no one should know we have the item in question.
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(Thanks...makes sense...I will edit my post to reflect this)
As soon as the group left the town hall, Drax said he had something he wanted to go take care of, and waved off all questions for more details. He moved off in the opposite direction everyone else was heading and disappeared around a building in half a heart beat.
After a slow meander around town in which everyone did their best to unobtrusively listen to the local scuttlebutt, everyone except Mills, who said he'd take the horses to Radil's livery to be fed and bedded down for the night, made their way to Aaris' Silver Feather inn. Walking through the inn's main doors the group was immediately confronted by the blast of delicious air wafting the smell of the Feather's food past their nostrils and out into the street. Aaris was behind the bar leaning on one elbow talking closely with a rather weather-beaten old man with a well trimmed grey and white beard, and long wavy grey hair tucked underneath a round brimmed, black hat that was salt stained from sweat around the leather trimmed band. As soon as Zanoth, Lucky, and Gor stepped across the threshold he cut short his conversation and raised a waving hand in hearty greeting. "Well if it isn't the saviors of the Ridge! Come in! Come in! Grab a booth and let me get you some drinks." Aaris pointed a finger at a couple of the still empty booths on the wall opposite the bar, and then grabbed some mugs and started filling them from the tapped barrel of mead that was resting behind the bar.
After Aaris slapped down the three frothing stone tankards of Highland mead, he said, "Eeneri's got honey roasted chicken and goat cheese salad tossed with a pumpkin vinaigrette all made up and ready to get you started off if you're interested? I can get you some pork and mustard sandwiches put together with some of the leftovers from last night's pig roast, or there's a bit of mushroom soup simmering in the kettle, or both, or all three depending on how hungry you are I guess?" The topic of food addressed, before even waiting for answers, Aaris dove into a question about their adventure. "You're back quickly, I'd guess that means things out in the wilds went really well or really poorly. Can't wait to hear all about it."
Meanwhile at Radil's stables, Mills couldn't escape some questions about the group's rather quick return to town either.
Radil puffed on a pipe of sweet and pungent smelling tobacco, blew a couple smoke rings above Mills' head and asked, "You find what you were looking for out there? I bet Feorac a gold piece that you'd bring his amulet back no problem. So what's the news? Did I win my bet or not?"
"Well... We found it, but I wouldn't go askin' for your gold yet. The thing is dangerous. Look, Radil? You seem a nice fella'. If I was you, I'd keep a bag packed. Just in case. You get my meanin'?"
Paladin - warforged - orange
Gor smiles "Thank you Madam....I would like the salad and the soup please." and says nothing more
"All the food please and ale. As for our trip we had success but that talk is best for when we've filled our bellies and wet our throats."
Lucky waves the man down to his level. And continues in a hush tone.
"We found it alright its bad news, real dangerous item this town been sitting on. We stored it far away for the safety of the people. Might need your help to convince the Mayor this is the best plan and to pay us for the trouble. Can we count on you to protect your town?"
Persuasion 21
--At the stables--
Radil's face scrunches up in an expression of consternation. "Keep a bag packed? To run where? Why? It's just a necklace."
--At the Silver Feather Inn--
"Vittles and Ale coming right up." Aaris says. Then when Lucky waves him closer for his conspiratorial conversation, he listens intently, nods, smiles, and says, "I always do my best to protect the Ridge." As Aaris walked away to get food and ale, Lucky couldn't help but realize that was a very elusive non-answer answer.
Intimidation roll: 11
"A necklace? You met a lot of ordinary thieves that summon the dead? Attack whole towns to stage a break-in? No. Something is up. And if you don't like good sense when you hear it, then I got a bridge I can sell ya." Mills' people skills sometimes leave something to be desired.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Mills' words make Radil cough up a billow of smoke as he swallows the reality of their intent. "When you put it like that..." He says as tendrils of grey smoke waft out of his nose and mouth. Mills watches as the proverbial lamp lights up inside Radil's head, and the man who's better with animals than people, starts to realize that there's definitely something more sinister going on here than he originally thought. Considering his duty to the horsemaster well and goodly done, Mills heads back to the Silver Feather to meet with his companions.
--At the Silver Feather Inn--
(OOC: Zanoth you've earned Inspiration for that deeply on-character speech.)
Aaris' face drains of color for a brief moment when Zanoth finishes his warning. When he speaks again, it is with much less confidence. "You lot have proved yourselves twice over, so I've no doubt what you say is true. If I can be of help persuading Bercha that Feorac's amulet is better kept in your custody than his, I will. Count on me."
After a couple refills of food for Lucky and drinks for all Mills walks in and grabs a seat at the table with his friends, getting some food and drink for himself as well. Before he even has a chance to swallow his first bite Bercha steps through the Feather's front doors, and not alone. Feorac is right behind him, and he's got the pommel of some long weapon sticking out over his right shoulder. Mills and Zanoth both locked eyes for a moment, having a conversation that involved zero words. That pommel was certainly attached to the Dagrest clan greatsword that they'd seen hung up on display in Feorac's house. Men with swords of that distinction didn't pull them off of their decorative wall racks without purpose.
Scanning the room took no time at all, and Bercha smiled and nodded in the direction of the Outlander's table. He did not, though, walk over. Instead he said something to Feorac and the two of them disappeared around the corner where the stairs and Aaris' private parlor were adjoined. The mayor never even so much as waved to indicate the party should follow him. Half a minute later Aaris appeared at the group's booth and said, "Mayor Bercha and Feorac would very much appreciate your company in the parlor. I'll have your food and drinks carried in there by one of my servers." Mills and Lucky shared a look at that point. They both knew that "would very much appreciate your company" meant they were expected to show up whether they liked it or not. Increasingly the tension regarding what should have been a simple, "thanks, here's your money," was growing.
Mills is a bit steamed, but says "The horses are ready, if we need 'em. Let's get this over with. Don't kill anybody."
Paladin - warforged - orange
/OOC Pop a <Divine Sense> once in the main room, then once again in the parlour.
Gor in no rush to meet with these two dimwits, does not get up until his soup and salad are finished, and his beverage downed.
Zanoth's divine senses don't reveal any fiends, undead or celestials in the Feather's common room. After food and drinks have been properly finished, the group heads into the now familiar parlor just around the corner near the upward stairs. As he enters the room Zanoth again calls upon his divine sense, but neither Bercha nor Feorac radiate such an aura. When everyone has had a seat at the table, one of Aaris' serving girls brings in a platter of mugs and two tall stone pitchers, one with ale and one with mead. Then she leaves and clicks shut the door. For a moment no one talks. Bercha just looks around at the group, and Feorac picks at the dirt under his fingernails with a dagger. Finally, mayor Bercha addresses the situation at hand. "So you've revealed that you found the necklace, and you've even brought us back a prisoner to interrogate to for more information about this cult that Vivi was involved in. I'd say you're all due the 120gp we promised, just as soon as you give Feorac back his family's heirloom." It is clear from his demeanor that Bercha thinks handing over the amulet should be no trouble at all, and he fully expects someone will produce it and slide it over to its rightful owner.
Mills clicks his tongue. "It ain't that simple. And it ain't a matter of gold, so don't go thinkin' we're just a band o' outlaws lookin' to score big. This necklace is something big. Real big. The drakes want it, bad enough to stage an attack on the town in order to get their break-in. If we leave it here, they'll come back, and with more swords. If we leave with it, hope is that they'll ignore this here home o' yours."
"It wouldn't be right to leave it here for more folks to get hurt."
Paladin - warforged - orange
Lucky eyes go wide for a second at the mention of its not about the gold. He thinks about protesting but does not want to undermine Zanoth and discides to wait and see where this goes first.
Seeing Lucky’s eyes widen;
Feorac grumbles hearing what he deems to be a band of mercenaries trying to get good coin for not doing their job. "Let me get this straight. You want the town to pay you out of their own treasury coffers to NOT give me back what's mine?!" He clicks his tongue in a contemptuous and dismissive fashion. "Not sure how things work where you're from, but around here that's akin to robbery. The necklace is mine, 'as been in my family for generations, and now you want to tell me that it's too dangerous to give back to me?!"
The mayor, sat and listened quietly, for his own part, it appears that he is willing to think things through more thoroughly before passing judgment. When Feorac finishes, he places a hand on his arm, and stands up to walk around a bit while he thinks and talks. "I understand your anger Feorac, but it could be that the necklace wasn't dangerous before, because there was no army of dragons and dragon-men pervading the continent. There's no doubt that whoever took the amulet wanted it badly enough, and had the power, to stage that skeleton attack. Without the Eorl stationing a garrison here, we'd never survive another attack on that scale." Bercha reaches both hands behind his back and clasps them together just above his tailbone, and rhythmically taps the back of one into the palm of the other. "Might be I can convince the town council that it's worth paying you for the loss, and paying them what they're owed with the understanding that they'll take the necklace far away from here." He looks at Feorac to gauge his response as he speaks. The hulking warrior harumphs a bit in his chair, and exhales a piteous sigh, but it does seem like he'd acquiesce. Then Mayor Bercha looks from Zanoth to Mills and back again. "Where exactly do you plan on taking the amulet, in order to protect it? You're a long way from the borders of the Republic."
Lucky clears his throat and pipes up
Good Mayor in this day and age knowledge is dangerous. To tell you where we are taking the amulet makes you a target for those who seek it. I say ignorance is rhe best coarse of action in most cases especially one as .... let's just say deadly as this one. Those who seek this amulet has an army at there command and the treasury of a nation to finance its recovery. The less you know the better and I regret what I think I do.
I will tell you this. In a previous life I helped test the security of high value patrons and in my years of experience the best thing to keep something safe is to very its location and limit the number of those who know its where abouts. As they say in my previous life. 2 nobles can keep a secret if one is dead. So I say this we will be on the move and a random path and outside this one no one should know we have the item in question.