The captain nods curtly and walks toward the small church in the castle yard. The remaining guards fan out and stand watch in front of the castle doors.

Jorace smiles up at Aracynth and says simply, "Come by any time, young man. I am here all day every day, just ask for me and someone will point you the way."

"Thank You, Jorace, and Good Evening."

Aracynth turned with the box held securely under his arm, and made his way over to Gnome. "Hello Fizzbang. It looks like you managed well enough." He nodded after a quick appraisal. "I am glad. Shall we sojourn to the Crossroads Inn? We have some further business to discuss," he patted the box, which jingled faintly from the impact, "and a comfortable atmosphere would do us all some good after our travails today. Come, friends."

The Dragonborn then purposefully strode out of the courtyard and down the street towards the Crossroads Inn, a bit more relaxed than he had been all day.

Tharin looks into the coming night and sighs a breath of relief. After a long day of riding, and with the unpleasantness on the road, he could use a few drinks. 

"Fizz! It's good to see that you made it! We have received our monetary reward, and I look forward to celebrating with you again. Let's go back to the inn so we can tell each other of what has transpired."

Tharin would return to the castle in the morning to inquire with Jorace about passage to Ptolemos. For now, celebration of a task well completed was in order.

Fizzbang scratches his head. He couldn’t help but feel he’d missed a thing or two. But everyone looked alright, and the promise of a party AND a monetary award was everything he needed to hear 

Aracynth led the way down the streets of Ibben, back to the Crossroads Inn. The din of the evening crowd could clearly be heard from inside as he approached. He opened the door, grimacing involuntarily for a moment at the stale air that rush out to greet them. Still, after being ambushed twice today, some sturdy walls would be a welcome comfort. 

"Hey Rod," he called cheerfully to the halfling bustling and bobbing across the room, "Any beds open tonight? What about a private room for my friends and I to unwind in?" He strode purposefully towards the bar, waiting for the amiable host to finish running his tables.

Making your way through the streets touting a large chest in front of you draws a few eyes, but just as many are curious to see their local Fizzbang on a pony. Entering the Crossroads Inn, the din was mostly from a group of about 6 various humanoids near the large, front window, but the place is mostly empty. Roderick sees you all come in as he is wiping off some tables and chatting with patrons, and hurriedly finishes his conversations to head to you.

"Ah, fellows, how fare you? It's good to see you all again! I'll have food put upon the bar for you and have Marcy make sure there's a large room free!" (Judging by the emptiness you would guess that there is more than one room free, but gather he's being quaint.) "First round of drinks is on me since you're doing a service for our humble town! Rooms are still a gold a piece, though... I run a business here." He winks and elbows Fizzbang. "How went the quest? How fares-," he hushes a little and looks about the mostly empty room "How fares the Lady? And I see you have your reward! Congratulations." He beams up at Aracynth and Tharin, his face darkening a little and eyes widening at Tharin's slightly gloomy demeanor.

If you inspect the chest and open it to check the contents, please say so and where you would like to do that.

Roderick brings you a round of ales and Marcy sets a key on the bar table, smiling at Rod, then walks back to the kitchen to gather foods.

"Ah, Thank You. A brandy for me, please. Our business has transpired well enough, though we'll see just how well once we have a bit more privacy, I think." He said, winking at Rod. While the Dragonborn was not strictly whispering, he did check the volume of his voice so as not to disturb the other customers, or invite unwanted attention.

Perception : 1

He had given the table of patrons a cursory glance as he passed, but was content to idle at the bar a minute or two, while the food was prepared and the room was made ready.

(OOC: Just to be clear, I'm hoping there is a side room in the bar for private parties and such, and will inspect/open the chest once there.)

"Oh, right! Here you are, sir!" Roderick chugs one of the ales he had slid to you and pours Aracynth a brandy. "Glad to hear it! The room will be ready and food brought up momentarily! I'll just help Marcy gather the things! Second room on the left upstairs is largest. Food will be there when you are." He smiles at you all and bustles back into the kitchen.

Glancing about no one else in the bar seems to pay you any heed. They seem content to be drinking and conversing with their respective groups.

Pocketing the room key, and retrieving his drink, Aracynth heads upstairs to the private lounge. He sets the box on the side of the table as Rod and Marcy begin bringing in the food. As their hosts run out to grab more food the Paladin sits down and looks over the box, inspecting the latch.

Investigation : 11

The innkeeper and wife do not linger long, realizing you need rest and privacy. Rod smiles and bids you goodnight once food has been set up, and there are two large beds and two small cots in this room. It is well furnished, for a relatively cheap Inn, and there are several chairs and washbasins in the corner of the room. The curtains are drawn and the smell of the hot food fills the room and makes all of your stomachs rumble. Roderick treats you well.

Inspecting the chest, there are no tricks, locks, traps, or other sort of hindrances to it. A plain, but beautiful wood, chest lies before you with brass bands one and two thirds of the way across its length, adding support. The rivets are silver and the latch is a simple sealing mechanism with a lever that flips into a slot. It does not lock, per se, but will not open if jostled. Inside you find 4 satchels of gold pieces, 1200 in total. Each satchel carries 300 gold per member of your band. There are also 4 golden rings lying beneath the sacks, and a hand-written note underneath it all.

The rings are gold bands with two hands blocking an exposed brain. The hands are set flat against the sides of the brain in the center, as if forming barriers.

Taking the note out, in common, it reads:

"To the intrepid adventurers,
Thank you kindly for your service and your expediency with which you completed my quest. Here is a monetary reward from the coffers of Castle Goldenrock in return for my daughter, and a thank you from my wife and I in the form of rings for your quick and efficient service. These are Goldenrock Rings of Mind Shielding; while wearing this ring, you are immune to magic that allows other creatures to read your thoughts, determine whether you are lying, know your alignment, or know your creature type. Creatures can telepathically communicate with you only if you allow it. You can [use an action to] cause the ring to become invisible until you use another action to make it visible, until you remove the ring, or until you die. I find they are of great use in your line of business and have no use for them anymore. They do require attunement. Please accept them with my gratitude.

Sincerely,

Duke Bartimus Oglethorn III"

Kynortas feels happy as he drinks his ale and sits in the room with his compatriots. Aracynth reads the not inside about the rings and the bags full of gold are most definitely a welcome sight. He was no longer poor and had received his pay after some hard work and a job well done. He was very pleased. While he held a ring in his hand and contemplated putting it on, he looked at Fizzbang and said,

"Well Fizz, now that we're settled and in a bit of a quiet spot, why don't you tell us what happened on your way through town?" 

Tharin follows the group into the room, and as Aracynth opens the package, he neatly divides the bags in front of each of the others before taking a seat at the table.  He examines his ring, slightly reluctant to put it on.  Magic items were useful, but having his mind unreadable by his foes and the foes of Ptolemos would be useful...  He slips on the ring.  He would need to ask Fizzbang what the Duke meant by attunement. 

As Aracynth distributed the rewards, he set aside his own bag of 300 gold. In truth, it was more money than he'd ever held. Soldiers were not paid well to start, and living in the wilderness for so long, well how he would possibly spend this amount was beyond him. No doubt that it would be of use eventually, though.

He looked over the ring next, listening idly as Kynortas struck up small talk with Fizzbang across the table. He reached out with his divine awareness, mouthing a small prayer to Bahamut while he examined the curious band.

Arcana : 18

It would need resizing in addition to attunement before he could use it, but that was a problem for tomorrow. He stashed the trinket away into his cloak, and settled into the food that Rod had provided them. There were still a few things to discuss before they slept tonight, but he was hungry after their ordeals from the road.

Aracynth, you gather that the ring does exactly what the note said it does. On attuning, it will resize to you, thanks to its magical capabilities.

"Well," Fizzbang began, "I doubt it was as exciting as whatever in the Nine Hells happened to you guys! But there I was, disguised as a rude, loud, smelly dwarf, very different from my normal persona. I snuck into Ibben and who should I find but my old 'friend' Jalud, pestering a merchant and our friend Eyani! So I did what comes naturally, I used an illusion to scare the pants off him! It was great!"

"Now that you mention it though...I did ask Eyani for the hot gossip around town since we've been gone. Some strange things like moving shadows and rumors of an assassins guild moving about in the night. Could be work looking into?"

"An Assassins Guild!?" Aracynth asked, a mix of disgust and surprise in his voice. "Political machinations at their worst.." He thought a moment before turning to his Elven companion. "Tharin, have you heard anything substatiating such rumors? Could these be the same villains who waylaid your troop in the swamp?"

"As for us, we were ambushed again on the cliffs. Two small Imp-like beasts with poisonous claws. They surrounded us, attacking from magical invisibility, though they died quick enough beneath our blades. Though one did utter something about their 'Master' just before Tharin felled it." He paused a moment for a sip.

Poor, poor forgetful Aracynth. The stresses must have gotten to him.

"The ambush in the swamp was a coverup for the true nature of my travels to Ibben. A story to throw the agents of Lord Samael off my scent, should they look for any potential survivors. Though from the sounds of it, they are here, sneaking around and looking for me. I'll need to keep a low profile and my mask up for the time being."

As you all rest for the evening, if you have put on the ring it attunes to you. (Attunement only requires a short rest.) You sleep soundly with no interruptions and... for once... no odd dreams. Upon awaking you notice the sun is just barely beginning to crest over the horizon, the pink and orange hues in the West greeting you for the day. The smell of batches of food from downstairs begin wafting up as well and your stomachs rumble at the notion. What would you like to do?

Tharin is up early, and looking around the town, searching for signs of the Clock Tower gang. He returns to the inn as the sun rises, hungry.

Tharin, please make an investigation check.