Firebrand is pretty much just going with the flow right now. It doesn't look like there's anything he can do about whatever is happening, and there are others in the party who would be better suited to try and talk the guards down.

Dissatisfied with his ability to appraise the situation, Glyph turns to Firebrand, Jada, and Ophelia. "Would it be most prudent to pass through the checkpoint as visitors to the district? I'm not too keen on waiting in this line, however. We may have to do something about that . . ."

The half-elf places a hand on his hip and narrows his eyes at the crowd, making a shrewd, calculating face, though he's really just playing eenie meenie miney mo in his head. His brain begins to cycle through a set of fixed narratives, weighing the option of going full-entertainer mode or finding another way through.

"Well yes we are visitors. If we can pass through the official way then that is fine with me. If they do bar our entry then we can consider more stealthy routes." whispers Jada as he does not want others in line to overhear. He occasionally puts on a smile as to not seem too suspicious.

"As much as I'm not a fan of waiting in line, I'm not sure we have a better option," the dragonborn sighs. "The last thing we need is to risk the wrath of the guards by trying to sneak around like a pack of thieves."

"Indeed," Ophelia quietly chimes in, "attempting to bypass guards on the lookout for assassins is a poor strategem. Best we wait and make our case plainly. I don't suppose we have a watchword or some other means of assurance as to our business?" She looks over at the carriages passing through another door. "Perhaps one of these carts belongs to our erstwhile ally." She looks at the carts, trying to see if one bears the mark of the house of Barakah-Set.

History check to identify the emblems: 14

Glyph smiles at his friends, silently agreeing to wait in the line until they reach the guard checkpoint. Realizing that he’ll likely be recognized at this point regardless of whether he’s going for the incognito look or not, he sets down his pack, removing and donning his beloved golden cloak. After a brief yawn and a stretch, he slings the pack back over his shoulder. “Well, if we’re going to introduce ourselves to the local authorities, we may as well make a fashionable impression.”

Ophelia recognizes the emblems of thd royal houses of Me'at Halwa.  Either direct descendants of the Ta'a family or of the previous rulers which are few but still survive.

OOC  further lore provided fistofcurry if you like it!

Glyph approaches a man carrying a bag whose dressed rather plainly in comparison to the others.  The man stands near but doesn't seem to really be apart of a group of men dressed in fine robes bemoaning the wait to enter the Royal Ward to conduct their business that evening. A party it seems they are trying to reach. One particular stout and big bellied man is gesturing wildly with a blue envelope,  Glyph can assume it's the invitation!

The half-elf raises an eyebrow very slightly at those in the line. He resists the urge to enmesh himself with the group of annoyed, would-be partygoers, feeling almost compelled to start regaling them with some seemingly unbelievable tale. Pursing his lips, he turns back to his companions and begins to speak. “So . . .”

He awkwardly shuts his mouth again. His plan was to pry a bit more into the backgrounds of his fellow adventurers, before he realizes it may not be prudent for the group to advertise their backgrounds. He looks almost to be chewing on his tongue in the awkward silence, and he’s clearly not used to being at a loss for words. He fidgets a tiny bit, looks back to his comrades, then turns his eyes to the apparently solo man with the bag in front of him. He scans the man and his bag out of boredom.

Investigation check on the man with the bag: 6

Glyph doesn't seem to think anything of the human man with bag, a servant perhaps, of the big bellied man who is a giff. He's amongst a group of other giffs and firblogs.

OOC the denizens of Anjara are humanoid beasts.  There are tabaxis, gnolls, giffs, firblog, aarakocras (ibis/falcon), and lizardfolk (more like crocdiles). There's also a large population of elements genasi. They're are not very many humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes,  or halfling amongst the Anjarans.

Glyph grits his teeth and looks at the wannabe partygoers. Turning back to his comrades, he grins and very loudly says "Looks like somebody gets to go to a party! I wonder what it's all for? This is such a lively place, it almost puts Rexxentrum to shame!"

The half-elf slaps Firebrand and Jada on their shoulders. "Many parties where you lot come from?"

The line moves forward and the group of well dressed men are easily passed through the gates. Then with blank expressions the party meets a falcon like aarakocra and a silver gnoll wearing similar armor and both holding halbreds with a large tassel beneath the blade!

"Hold! State your business," the falcon says to the party with a priecingly blue eyed gaze looking at each of you as the gnoll looms behind holding his pole arm. 

"I've attended a few in my time," Firebrand says, with a wistful smile. "Though mostly they were formal ballroom events... so perhaps not the most invigorating environment for some."

"No. I was busy surviving and earning coin. A few tavern celebrations, but nothing formal" says Jada flatly.

Jada looks to the falcon "We are couriers and we are here to meet our client in the royal ward" He looks to the sky for the time of day and back at the falcon with the look of someone who is almost late.

Deception Check

15

"Quite a few. My family regularly holds galas for, well, really any occasion. Though it's been ages since my studies have permitted me to go." Ophelia raises an eyebrow at Firebrand's remark. "You're not a fan of ballroom dancing? A pity. Some of the most fun I've had was on the dancing floor." She scans the carriages to see if any bear the mark of the house of Barakah-Set. As she watches, she points out the different emblems and relays the history of Anjara to the group.

“A mixed bag then?” The half-elf muses, chuckling at the thought of a ballroom full of dancing dragonborns. His memory shifts involuntarily to an almost hallucinatory memory, or perhaps daydream, of blurry figures in valuable, elaborate clothing mechanically dancing on a ballroom floor. For once the specifics of a story are lost, and he sighs. “Dancing, yes, I used to love to dance, though I’ve not danced in years. Just no time, unfortunately.”

The guard’s sudden question breaks Glyph from the reverie of the daydream/memory. As Jada stretches the truth of the matter with the guard, the half-elf seems to watch him intently, almost as if jealously studying the movements and mannerisms of his face while he tells the lie. He resists raising an eyebrow or smiling at the githzerai’s statement, instead watching for the guard’s reaction, ready to jump in and gild the story, if needed.

The falcon's eyes narrow at the gith and his motley crew of companions. 

"What house?" He then asks leaning, seeming relatively relaxed, as he inquires more as a facet of his job.

Coo-coo metagaming pigeon Ophelia knows extended royal houses within the Royal Ward but she hasn't seen the Barakah-Set family emblem amongst the carriages coo-coo

*Jada can be confident his deception worked*

Insight is available to the party. 

The falcon's companion, the gnoll, waves to the group behind yours as if to interview them as the falcon awaits your reply!

Jada gives Ophelia a meaningful look. In hopes she will jump in with a house name as Jada is not familiar with them besides the house of of Barakah-Set.

Ophelia takes a beat before replying. Her mind sets to work on what she's seen. There's clearly a gathering of nobles going on, yet none of the carriages carry the emblem of the house of Barakah-Set. Could it be their target has fallen out of favor? Would it be dangerous to declare their allegiance to that house? "We're guests of house Nasser." 

Deception: 11

The falcon nods. Ophelia's assumption about the lack of Barakah-Set crests is that the family is out of favor.

"May the light of Aten shine upon your work," the falcon nods allowing the party to pass through the gates.

As the party enters the tall gates, nearly 10ft high in fact with runes carved into them, they bump into the slow-moving group of revelers on foot their human attendant following behind the towering and board figures of essentially bipedal cows and hippos! They also see the splendor of the Royal Ward! The buildings are made of the finest stone crafted by magic not solely by hand or paw! The streets are a jigsaw of slate stones that echo the footfalls of anyone who tread upon them. A series of arcanely illuminated street lamps light this fine main street ahead and the side streets the party passes on either side. This front entrance seems to be a market of some kind but unlike the one by the skyport these merchants have stone buildings to sell their wares. As the party moves forward all the buildings in the disc-like entrance area are closed for the evening.  Their doors locked and windows shuttered!

"I have never seen so many signs of wealth and power" says Jada. He begins to wade through the revelers, but changes his mind as he does not want to garner any unnecessary attention. Hmm... well we can wait a bit for this revelers to move on. Perhaps we can gather some information. Jada then nudges a nearby attendant. "What has everyone so excited?"