Leela shakes her head at the falcon. "Oh, no... at least, not as far as I'm aware. Our friend who is ill is not one of the family. Merely a visitor."

Quote from LeinadetheAlchemist >>

"Also, the two hungry fellows are with us, excuse their behaviour, they had a rough and workful day and they are thinking with their stomach right now."

 ”No offence intended….it’s just that the exotic aromas have whetted my appetite”

Sel tried to follow along with the conversation but got distracted by a particularly colourful parrot...

The falcon chatters slightly but looking surprised as a figure approaches wearing a golden mask like Maitland's but wearing fine Ajaran robes, their fingers adored with, as a hand rests on the hilt if a dramatically curved blade within a fine leather sheath.

"Apologies for my lateness, " the masked figure says bowing to the party their tone serious. "Ah Thale they linger here for what reason, " they asks the falcon. The masked figure's tone slightly annoyed.

"Yes...of course emissary Ardh, " the falcon bows deeply. "Had...had I known they were your guests as well," the falcon adds nervously cocking their head about stepping back to allow the party entry. 

"Good evening Thale," the masked figure emissary Ardh the falcon called them moves forward stopping briefly to gesture to the party to follow!

Leela breathes a sigh of relief and surprise.

She glances around to make eye contact with the others before following the masked figure. "Many thanks to you, uh, Emissary Ardh?"

She nods to the falcon as she passes.

Jenna follows the others, doffing her feathered hat with a flourish as she passes the falcon.

"Thank you very much, Emissary Ardh. A pleasure to meet you! May I mention in Thale's defense, that he's just doing his job properly? In my opinion pedantic, thorough and loyal guards are essential nowadays..." - Riw starts his monologue about his profession forgetting that no one really asked his opinion.

"Yes, of course," Emissary Ardh replies to Riw. "This makes our business a little easier to get started if you and the group weren't prevented from entering the Royal Ward, " they add with a soft chuckle. "So, introductions necessary.  I am emissary Maanai Barakah-Set Ardh," they explain bowing deeply at the party. "Please, come with me! I will take you to the palace of my family and there we can discuss the task at hand," they add turning in a whirl of robes heading deeper into the Royal Ward. 

Sel trotted after Jenna not quite sure what had changed to allow them in....

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 with their human attendant following behind. The towering and board shouldered figures that are essentially bipedal cows (firblog) and hippos (giffs)! Besides the well dressed denizens of the Royal Ward the party also see the splendor of the Ward itself! 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! 

Emissary Maanai Barakah-Set Ardh 

Sel walks through making appropriate Ooh! Aah! noises.

As Leela follows Ardh, she looks around, wide eyed. 

She also casts glances at Ardh. The mask is similar to the one worn by the Professor. Is there anything else she can determine about the emissary? Any other similarities to the Professor, maybe? ( perception 17 or is it insight - 8 )

As they reach the group of revellers, Jenna nods to the lanky man.

"Good evening. I must say it's good to see a fellow human" she smiles broadly "Are you a traveller too or do you live here?"

Leela finds little similarities in Emissary Ardh and the professor besides their golden mask but even in that the masks ate not of similar construction. Ardh also moves easily,  has a robust looking figure even in loose robes, and a decidedly similar accent to the other Anjarans. An insight into their words or facial cues however are hidden by the mask.

Emissary Ardh continues to led the party towards the Verdant Towers as the sunsets. Ahead the streets begin to gleam in the magic lights illumating. Ardh continues talk about the trip to Anjara and they seem to know quite a great deal about each of you as well as the trouble with the Lamia!

Jenna approaches the human man who nods at her.

"I...I was brought here as a child with my parents who were explorers or I thought. They died and Lord Saayd took me in," the human gestures to the big bellied giff in lavish and expertly tailored robes walking ahead towards a well lit street where musicand laughter is wafting towards the party. "You know there's more humans than you would think," the human man says stopping to whisper to Jenna. "Ah but sadly before the late King Seqenenre Ta'a's decree they came here like my parents..." he sighs speaking in his normal tone again. "The came here as misguided fortune hunters," he adds with nod his eyes glances to Jenna's party that Ardh is leading further north away from the steet the giffs and firblogs have departed from the main road. "There are a great many mage and scholars that Seqenenre Ta'a invited to live here in Me'at Halwa. You can find many humans at the Allsight Temple to Ioun. Even elves and dwavres too," he explains before looking at Jenna'scompanionsa little more closes, his eyeslingeringon Selinae. "I...I have never seen a woman like your friend here," he then says motioning to Selinae with a large beaming smile at Selinae before he gives her a slight bow. "What brings you here? With an emissary escort no less," he asks Jenna. 

"Our

Leela finds little similarities in Emissary Ardh and the professor besides their golden mask but even in that the masks ate not of similar construction. Ardh also moves easily,  has a robust looking figure even in loose robes, and a decidedly similar accent to the other Anjarans. An insight into their words or facial cues however are hidden by the mask.

Emissary Ardh continues to led the party towards the Verdant Towers ahead glinting in the magic lights illumating the streets. They talk about the trip to Anjara and they seem to know quite a great deal about each of you as well as the trouble with the Lamia!

Jenna approaches the human man who nods at her.

"I...I was brought here as a child with my parents who were explorers or I thought. They died and Lord Saayd took me in," the human gestures to the big bellied giff in lavish and expertly tailored robes walking ahead towards a well lit street where musicand laughter is wafting towards the party. "You know there's more humans than you would think," the human man says stopping to whisper to Jenna. "Ah but sadly before the late King Seqenenre Ta'a's decree they came here like my parents..." he sighs speaking in his normal tone again. "The came here as misguided fortune hunters," he adds with nod his eyes glances to Jenna's party that Ardh is leading further north away from the steet the giffs and firblogs have departed from the main road. great many mage scholars at the Allsight Temple to Ioun are human and also elven.  I...I have never seen a woman like your friend here," he then says motioning to Selinae with a large beaming smile. He then gives Selinae a slight bow. "What brings you here? With an emissary escort no less," he asks Jenna as Ardh hearing this steps closer but doesn't immediately react.

"Emissary Ardh!" - starts Riw in a normal tone, but switches to whispering - "Do you know anything about Maitland? Did they reach your family's palace?"

Selinae smiles back to Jennas new friend as she looks around at the sights and sounds...

"Sel....yes she's quite the woman! Don't let her size fool you though. She is a gentle giant." she grins up at the goliath before turning back to the man. "We were crew on the air ship that recently docked." Jenna answers simply

Leela lends her voice to Riw's questioning about Maitland. "Are they..." she swallows. "Are they still with us?"

"Yes, Adruus advised me that you might have some trouble with the Royal Ward gaurdians arriving quite unexpectedly and without the help they promised to bring. The monk gave me even more concern when he explained how you have drawn..." Ardh sighs, "somwle negative attention to yourselves already in the market, " Ardh says diplomatically. "I am however here to guide you to my family's villa. Maitland I'm afraid isn't awake.  Even our great magics here are limited to lifting ancient curses," the emissary explains with a bow of their head. "I for one will already suffer judgment, " they add gesturing to their mask, "but those who care know I face judgment and kept my life committingthe restof it to the service of those I had wronged.  In my case lije Maitlandit was my family," they explain. "Please, " they gesture for the party to follow but linger to greet the stranger speaking to Jenna and Selinae! "You seem to be loosing your companions," the emissary says to the strangers gesturing to his group off the main road moving towards a side street pretty far ahead. 

Ardh then lingers with a ridged stance interposed between the ladies and the stranger who seems to take the hint!

"Yes, well good luck with your adventures here in Anjara," the young man says giving everyone a bow before disappearing down the side street to rejoin his own companions!

Moving quickly through the street the party arrives at the Verdant Towers moving towards the large walls outside now looming in the pale orange skies fading into inky black the emissary pauses briefly! Then with a few gestures, mumbling a phrase a gate appears in the wall! The party then takes note there is no visible guards here protecting the Towers. As they pass into the gardens lush and otherworldly they find a U shaped two story palace guarded by the gardens themselves! Larges intimidating plants and menacing sounds come from the lush greenry with shocks of purple,  blue, and red dot the landscaping!

"Ah stick close," Ardh says in a casual tone taking a particular path through the gardens. "Mirror my steps, " they advise as they move forward towards the palace!

OOC any insight or investigation or perception can be rolled.

As the emissary mentions the attention being drawn to themselves, Leela blushes a little, abashed. "I have been perhaps too long cloistered in my temple," she says in a low voice. "I have much to learn about the outside world, and especially here."

She looks around carefully as they pass into the gardens. perception 17