Khessa, steps forward, incredulous: the party has had to face the journey into the unknown, fight unexpected monsters, escape tentacles as big as columns... and now have to fight with the client's employees?
"Vathroc," the blonde arcane warrior puts a friendly hand on the other's shoulder "we would of course be both happy and thankful if you would escort us and guide us to Albrek. Didn't we just do what he wanted? Let's go tell him the good news! What are we waiting for?"
For the tall adventuress, the simple "improvised adventurer" who is still a humble peasant at heart, everything would seem so simple...
(OOC: @drumdigby - Did Vathroc actually say "Albrek" instead of "Aubrek"? I assume that it was a typo in the post, but in a world with Disguise Self, Changelings, and Dopplegangers, I wanted to doublecheck!)
Vathroc bristles a little when Xanrym pushes against him taking the chest, but doesn't push the issue. "Would you like an escort? Or perhaps you can just try to guess where to drop it off. I'm sure if you walk around the docks with an enchanted chest asking where Albrek lives for long enough some fine gentleman will be happy to help you."
In the last few months, Xanrym has grown and learned with his new companions. He's starting to learn how to use his power and his voice to stand up against both every day injustice and the darker, malevolent forces in the world. Now, he's also learning how to navigate their relationships with employers, patrons, and mentors. He's trying to establish The Company's reputation and advocate for them to be respected and treated fairly.
"Vathroc," the blonde arcane warrior puts a friendly hand on the other's shoulder "we would of course be both happy and thankful if you would escort us and guide us to Albrek. Didn't we just do what he wanted? Let's go tell him the good news! What are we waiting for?"
Xanrym is always happy to de-escalate conflict, and he tries to do so graciously. "Yes, it is kind of you to offer an escort, and we happily accept! We meant no offense, Vathroc. You serve your master well, but you must understand that we fought through untold horrors to retrieve Aubrek's package. After a long journey, we do not want to falter in the final steps. It would be a crushing blow to brave death by a kraken only to fail because of some common bandits between the docks and Aubrek's rooms. If you have a cart, we'll hitch up Heckle to carry our gear and the package."
Xanrym helps to hitch up Heckle and supervise putting his own chests (with the spare equipment he brought on the trip and with the party's treasure from the Emperor) and Aubrek's chest in the cart. That way, no one has to carry Aubrek's heavy chest, and they'll all be able to fight if someone tries to take the chest en route to Aubrek.
Xanrym also tries to smooth things over with Vathroc as they load up the cart or as they walk to Aubrek's place. He says that with the Company's success, Aubrek's wealth and status will soon be restored. Indeed, Xanrym expects Aubrek to exceed his previous heights and become one of the most important men in the city! Vathroc's position and importance will be elevated, and everyone will recognize the head butler of the "Merchant Prince" Aubrek Drallion.
Persuasion25 (Silver Tongue feature) for Xanrym's attempt to nudge Vathroc back into a favorable (or at least neutral) view of The Company.
Theldrin goes to the cabin to get the last of his belongings, and will cast Mage Armor on himself while he's there. Returning back to the dock he helps get everything ready for the trip to deliver the chest to Aubrek.
Coriana will stand down once the situation with the butler doesn't boil over. She's come to trust Xanrym's tongue, as while she can usually naturally put people at ease, he seems to work at it. She will gather her stuff from the ship and head out.
@Drumdigby and @werelemur: If mage armor is visible or noticeable with an arcana check of 14 (On sheet), Coriana, passing Theldrin outside the cabins will say, "Expecting trouble?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards. DM - The Old Keep
(OOC: assuming that's a good enough roll for her to at least suspect)
"Always..." Theldrin answers with a grin, then continues in a hushed tone. "We're not done with the job quite yet... and the Prince may have enemies in the city that don't want us to finish."
Vathroc helps you get your things onto the cart and starts leading you toward the tenements of the River Quarter. After a while you arrive at an old townhouse a little ways back from the river. Perhaps once grand, now slightly run down, Vathroc asks you to wait outside while he goes in to get Aubrek.
After a moment Aubrek comes outside, completely charging with excitement. He exchanges quick pleasantries with you all before going straight to the chest and pressing his ring up against the outside. You hear a click and the top lifts up to reveal a chest full of papers. Aubrek let's out an exited squeal then closes the chest and asks Vathroc to make sure it is taken into the house, he then addresses to you. "Thank you all so much, give me a week or two and I will have your money ready for you. Please tell me, what has become of the Emperor and its crew?"
Aubrek let's out an exited squeal then closes the chest and asks Vathroc to make sure it is taken into the house, he then addresses to you. "Thank you all so much, give me a week or two and I will have your money ready for you. Please tell me, what has become of the Emperor and its crew?"
Initially happy to deliver the chest to Aubrek successfully, Xanrym becomes somber at the mention of the ship. He says, "I'm afraid that The Emperor of the Waves is lost. The ship and the entire crew. While I prefer to give each story its proper telling, the short explanation is that the new cleric, Krell, was false. He was secretly a cultist and follower of The Demon Queen of Spiders. When we boarded The Emperor, Krell was the only surviving crew member. He had summoned or brought onboard various arachnidian monsters, undead, and even a few minor demons! They appear to have killed all of the other crew members." He does not mention the gnawed human bones in Krell's room or the skulls around Lolth's altar. Xanrym wants to spare Aubrek those gruesome details, especially if he knew the captain and crew well.
Xanrym continues, "Be glad that you hired The Company of the Grey Chain, Aubrek! We had to fight our way down to the hold, past spiders, past demons, past the foul undead. We defeated Krell himself and recovered your chest. And maybe The Emperor could have been rescued and repaired if it were not for that titan of the sea: the kraken! It rose up out of the depths of Nyr Dyv, wrapped its massive tentacles around The Emperor of the Waves, and tore your ship asunder, leaving nothing but flotsam! We barely made it off of the ship in time and--praise the gods!--with our lives and your chest intact. You can ask Captain Wolgar and his crew: they saw it too!"
Xanrym gives Aubrek a sympathetic look and a pat on the arm. "We did what we could. The Company of the Grey Chain was a match for Krell and his monsters, and we brought you your chest. But to fight off a kraken...? Well, you would have needed the Citadel of Eight." Brightening, he says, "At least we were able to rescue your chest and the deeds!"
Khessa is saddened to remember that she couldn't save any of the crew... but she is no longer the naive girl who helped her family in the fields. She has long since experienced the harshness of the world. She is saddened... but also aware that she couldn't do anything at all. When she arrived, no one from the crew was alive (except the one who shouldn't have been - Krell).
The blonde arcane warrior therefore only adds, with a sigh, staring her blue eyes into Aubrek's with sincere sorrow: "I would have liked to bring you even better news, but it's as Xanrym said. We didn't have a single chance to save the ship or the crew. It was already a feat to bring you back what we are now delivering to you. I am truly sorry. But sometimes things are as they are - rather than as we wish them to be".
Aubrek bows his head, but only for a moment. “Well, there’s nothing we can really do about it now, may their souls rest in peace down there.” He quickly moves the conversation on, “You’re right of course, you have all proven to be incredibly capable adventurers, espiecially good for me that you have some experience with waterborne missions. You should expect to hear more from me once I get my business sorted in the city. Of course one of the first things I will do is get you your money. Thank you all and I’ll see you soon.” He turns to go back into the townhouse, yelling commands at Vathroc.
Theldrin does his best to hide his disappointment that the party won't be getting paid anything yet for the mission they just completed, but then again he can't say for sure now he recalls what the terms were that were agreed upon. He shrugs to himself, trusting it will work out, and bids a cordial farewell to Aubrek and Vathroc, followed by a polite bow.
"Ah, I was hoping for a quicker payout," Coriana says to the others once their employer leaves. "Seems like we have time to kill. Anyone know a good but moderately priced in in the area?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards. DM - The Old Keep
Syllen gives a slight bow followed by bidding Aubrek farewell. After Aubrek departs Syllen turns to the group.
“What is the plan now? What do we plan to do while we wait? Also where do you stay when you are in town? I was relatively new to town when I accepted this job.”
Xanrym tells Aubrek that he can leave word for The Company of the Grey Chain at High Tower Inn when he's ready with their reward.
Xanrym would have already given everyone their portion of the other treasure that The Company recovered from the Emperor before it sank. (See below.)
Xanrym talks with the others about their plans. He prefers the High Tower Inn, which is in the Garden Quarter. It is more expensive than the Black Dragon Inn, but it gives him more opportunity to meet with agents of the Citadel of Eight. (Xanrym clearly has some prior connection to the group.) Xanrym says, "While we wait for Aubrek to conduct his business and get us the money, we'll all have some free time to spend in the Free City. I'd be happy to show you around a little, and we have paperwork that allows us access to The Great Library if anyone needs to use its resources."
Like the last time they were in the Free City of Greyhawk, Xanrym will spend some time telling stories of the latest escapades of The Company of the Grey Chain at various taverns around the city. He'll start to spread the word that The Company is in the city and available for new jobs. He spends his mornings reading and writing. Xanrym meets with Theldrin and anyone else at the Black Dragon Inn at least once/week, and he'll drop in there whenever he's at the the Great Library.
Xanrym will also start looking for a more permanent base for The Company. He'll check in with Aubrek a few days after they deliver the chest and ask him for advice on acquiring property in or near the Free City. He'll also ask his contacts at the Citadel of Eight for advice.
(OOC: Everyone can basically add 212 gp and 1 small ruby (or its 100 gp value) to your character sheet. If you want to keep the gemstone instead of exchanging or trading it for its value in gold, you could use a Ruby and override the price or use a Garnet and override the name. The High Tower Inn is Comfortable accommodations, so it costs ~2 gp / day. IIRC, the he Black Dragon Inn is Modest accommodations: 1 gp / day.)
After all of the gold is sorted out Syllen talking to the group.
"I will probably stay at the Black Dragon. If someone is fine with me staying in their room I don't sleep so I don't need a bed and I most likely will just rely on my magic for food and water. Also I plan to use the gold we found from the ship to by supplies in order to brew some healing potions and craft spell scrolls."
Khessa is immediately enthusiastic about accepting Syllen's offer! Growing up in a small house with a family of seven, she is not used to much privacy - and being able to witness the magical process of creating potions and spell scrolls is an opportunity she absolutely cannot miss!
The blonde arcane warrior continues her magical and combat training, but in her free time she often visits the nearby Unearthed Arcana, so incredibly fascinating. And when Xanrym offers her the opportunity to visit The Great Library she accepts with almost childish exhilaration: in Twardens, her (now razed) hamlet, books were a rare sight (much to the chagrin of Eshta, her mother). Her mother. A bittersweet smile comes to her as she remembers. Lacking the funds to buy the few books that a few merchants rarely brought, Eshta would spend a lot of time looking through them, pretending to consider buying them... when in reality, with her keen memory and quick mind, she would memorize the most interesting sections! Eshta... Dear Eshta...
'I will free you,' the tall adventuress promises - both to the other and to herself. 'I will free you and everyone else. And I will take you to visit The Great Library too! You will like it, Mom... oh, if you will like it...' And in fact, it is no coincidence that the main information she looks for in the library mainly concerns the Underdark, any accesses, any maps, any information on drow and other cultures that are their allies or enemies, any rumors... Everything that could be useful to her in the future to organize a rescue mission.
Khessa, steps forward, incredulous: the party has had to face the journey into the unknown, fight unexpected monsters, escape tentacles as big as columns... and now have to fight with the client's employees?
"Vathroc," the blonde arcane warrior puts a friendly hand on the other's shoulder "we would of course be both happy and thankful if you would escort us and guide us to Albrek. Didn't we just do what he wanted? Let's go tell him the good news! What are we waiting for?"
For the tall adventuress, the simple "improvised adventurer" who is still a humble peasant at heart, everything would seem so simple...
(OOC: @drumdigby - Did Vathroc actually say "Albrek" instead of "Aubrek"? I assume that it was a typo in the post, but in a world with Disguise Self, Changelings, and Dopplegangers, I wanted to doublecheck!)
In the last few months, Xanrym has grown and learned with his new companions. He's starting to learn how to use his power and his voice to stand up against both every day injustice and the darker, malevolent forces in the world. Now, he's also learning how to navigate their relationships with employers, patrons, and mentors. He's trying to establish The Company's reputation and advocate for them to be respected and treated fairly.
Xanrym is always happy to de-escalate conflict, and he tries to do so graciously. "Yes, it is kind of you to offer an escort, and we happily accept! We meant no offense, Vathroc. You serve your master well, but you must understand that we fought through untold horrors to retrieve Aubrek's package. After a long journey, we do not want to falter in the final steps. It would be a crushing blow to brave death by a kraken only to fail because of some common bandits between the docks and Aubrek's rooms. If you have a cart, we'll hitch up Heckle to carry our gear and the package."
Xanrym helps to hitch up Heckle and supervise putting his own chests (with the spare equipment he brought on the trip and with the party's treasure from the Emperor) and Aubrek's chest in the cart. That way, no one has to carry Aubrek's heavy chest, and they'll all be able to fight if someone tries to take the chest en route to Aubrek.
Xanrym also tries to smooth things over with Vathroc as they load up the cart or as they walk to Aubrek's place. He says that with the Company's success, Aubrek's wealth and status will soon be restored. Indeed, Xanrym expects Aubrek to exceed his previous heights and become one of the most important men in the city! Vathroc's position and importance will be elevated, and everyone will recognize the head butler of the "Merchant Prince" Aubrek Drallion.
Persuasion 25 (Silver Tongue feature) for Xanrym's attempt to nudge Vathroc back into a favorable (or at least neutral) view of The Company.
Theldrin goes to the cabin to get the last of his belongings, and will cast Mage Armor on himself while he's there. Returning back to the dock he helps get everything ready for the trip to deliver the chest to Aubrek.
Coriana will stand down once the situation with the butler doesn't boil over. She's come to trust Xanrym's tongue, as while she can usually naturally put people at ease, he seems to work at it. She will gather her stuff from the ship and head out.
@Drumdigby and @werelemur:
If mage armor is visible or noticeable with an arcana check of 14 (On sheet), Coriana, passing Theldrin outside the cabins will say, "Expecting trouble?"
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
(OOC: assuming that's a good enough roll for her to at least suspect)
"Always..." Theldrin answers with a grin, then continues in a hushed tone. "We're not done with the job quite yet... and the Prince may have enemies in the city that don't want us to finish."
Syllen having noticed Theldrin having mage armor suddenly.
"Have the streets of Greyhawk been dangerous during your time here?"
"Not especially as of yet," Theldrin replies with a shrug. "But better safe than sorry."
(That was a misspell for Aubrek.)
Vathroc helps you get your things onto the cart and starts leading you toward the tenements of the River Quarter. After a while you arrive at an old townhouse a little ways back from the river. Perhaps once grand, now slightly run down, Vathroc asks you to wait outside while he goes in to get Aubrek.
After a moment Aubrek comes outside, completely charging with excitement. He exchanges quick pleasantries with you all before going straight to the chest and pressing his ring up against the outside. You hear a click and the top lifts up to reveal a chest full of papers. Aubrek let's out an exited squeal then closes the chest and asks Vathroc to make sure it is taken into the house, he then addresses to you. "Thank you all so much, give me a week or two and I will have your money ready for you. Please tell me, what has become of the Emperor and its crew?"
Initially happy to deliver the chest to Aubrek successfully, Xanrym becomes somber at the mention of the ship. He says, "I'm afraid that The Emperor of the Waves is lost. The ship and the entire crew. While I prefer to give each story its proper telling, the short explanation is that the new cleric, Krell, was false. He was secretly a cultist and follower of The Demon Queen of Spiders. When we boarded The Emperor, Krell was the only surviving crew member. He had summoned or brought onboard various arachnidian monsters, undead, and even a few minor demons! They appear to have killed all of the other crew members." He does not mention the gnawed human bones in Krell's room or the skulls around Lolth's altar. Xanrym wants to spare Aubrek those gruesome details, especially if he knew the captain and crew well.
Xanrym continues, "Be glad that you hired The Company of the Grey Chain, Aubrek! We had to fight our way down to the hold, past spiders, past demons, past the foul undead. We defeated Krell himself and recovered your chest. And maybe The Emperor could have been rescued and repaired if it were not for that titan of the sea: the kraken! It rose up out of the depths of Nyr Dyv, wrapped its massive tentacles around The Emperor of the Waves, and tore your ship asunder, leaving nothing but flotsam! We barely made it off of the ship in time and--praise the gods!--with our lives and your chest intact. You can ask Captain Wolgar and his crew: they saw it too!"
Xanrym gives Aubrek a sympathetic look and a pat on the arm. "We did what we could. The Company of the Grey Chain was a match for Krell and his monsters, and we brought you your chest. But to fight off a kraken...? Well, you would have needed the Citadel of Eight." Brightening, he says, "At least we were able to rescue your chest and the deeds!"
Khessa is saddened to remember that she couldn't save any of the crew... but she is no longer the naive girl who helped her family in the fields. She has long since experienced the harshness of the world. She is saddened... but also aware that she couldn't do anything at all. When she arrived, no one from the crew was alive (except the one who shouldn't have been - Krell).
The blonde arcane warrior therefore only adds, with a sigh, staring her blue eyes into Aubrek's with sincere sorrow: "I would have liked to bring you even better news, but it's as Xanrym said. We didn't have a single chance to save the ship or the crew. It was already a feat to bring you back what we are now delivering to you. I am truly sorry. But sometimes things are as they are - rather than as we wish them to be".
Theldrin bows his head out of solemn respect for the deceased crew of the Emperor, keeping quiet for now as he listens to the others talk.
Aubrek bows his head, but only for a moment. “Well, there’s nothing we can really do about it now, may their souls rest in peace down there.” He quickly moves the conversation on, “You’re right of course, you have all proven to be incredibly capable adventurers, espiecially good for me that you have some experience with waterborne missions. You should expect to hear more from me once I get my business sorted in the city. Of course one of the first things I will do is get you your money. Thank you all and I’ll see you soon.” He turns to go back into the townhouse, yelling commands at Vathroc.
Theldrin does his best to hide his disappointment that the party won't be getting paid anything yet for the mission they just completed, but then again he can't say for sure now he recalls what the terms were that were agreed upon. He shrugs to himself, trusting it will work out, and bids a cordial farewell to Aubrek and Vathroc, followed by a polite bow.
"Ah, I was hoping for a quicker payout," Coriana says to the others once their employer leaves. "Seems like we have time to kill. Anyone know a good but moderately priced in in the area?"
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Syllen gives a slight bow followed by bidding Aubrek farewell. After Aubrek departs Syllen turns to the group.
“What is the plan now? What do we plan to do while we wait? Also where do you stay when you are in town? I was relatively new to town when I accepted this job.”
"I like the Black Dragon Inn," Theldrin says. "And it's close to the Unearthed Arcana," he adds with a grin.
Xanrym tells Aubrek that he can leave word for The Company of the Grey Chain at High Tower Inn when he's ready with their reward.
Xanrym would have already given everyone their portion of the other treasure that The Company recovered from the Emperor before it sank. (See below.)
Xanrym talks with the others about their plans. He prefers the High Tower Inn, which is in the Garden Quarter. It is more expensive than the Black Dragon Inn, but it gives him more opportunity to meet with agents of the Citadel of Eight. (Xanrym clearly has some prior connection to the group.) Xanrym says, "While we wait for Aubrek to conduct his business and get us the money, we'll all have some free time to spend in the Free City. I'd be happy to show you around a little, and we have paperwork that allows us access to The Great Library if anyone needs to use its resources."
Like the last time they were in the Free City of Greyhawk, Xanrym will spend some time telling stories of the latest escapades of The Company of the Grey Chain at various taverns around the city. He'll start to spread the word that The Company is in the city and available for new jobs. He spends his mornings reading and writing. Xanrym meets with Theldrin and anyone else at the Black Dragon Inn at least once/week, and he'll drop in there whenever he's at the the Great Library.
Xanrym will also start looking for a more permanent base for The Company. He'll check in with Aubrek a few days after they deliver the chest and ask him for advice on acquiring property in or near the Free City. He'll also ask his contacts at the Citadel of Eight for advice.
(OOC: Everyone can basically add 212 gp and 1 small ruby (or its 100 gp value) to your character sheet. If you want to keep the gemstone instead of exchanging or trading it for its value in gold, you could use a Ruby and override the price or use a Garnet and override the name. The High Tower Inn is Comfortable accommodations, so it costs ~2 gp / day. IIRC, the he Black Dragon Inn is Modest accommodations: 1 gp / day.)
After all of the gold is sorted out Syllen talking to the group.
"I will probably stay at the Black Dragon. If someone is fine with me staying in their room I don't sleep so I don't need a bed and I most likely will just rely on my magic for food and water. Also I plan to use the gold we found from the ship to by supplies in order to brew some healing potions and craft spell scrolls."
Khessa is immediately enthusiastic about accepting Syllen's offer! Growing up in a small house with a family of seven, she is not used to much privacy - and being able to witness the magical process of creating potions and spell scrolls is an opportunity she absolutely cannot miss!
The blonde arcane warrior continues her magical and combat training, but in her free time she often visits the nearby Unearthed Arcana, so incredibly fascinating. And when Xanrym offers her the opportunity to visit The Great Library she accepts with almost childish exhilaration: in Twardens, her (now razed) hamlet, books were a rare sight (much to the chagrin of Eshta, her mother). Her mother. A bittersweet smile comes to her as she remembers. Lacking the funds to buy the few books that a few merchants rarely brought, Eshta would spend a lot of time looking through them, pretending to consider buying them... when in reality, with her keen memory and quick mind, she would memorize the most interesting sections! Eshta... Dear Eshta...
'I will free you,' the tall adventuress promises - both to the other and to herself. 'I will free you and everyone else. And I will take you to visit The Great Library too! You will like it, Mom... oh, if you will like it...' And in fact, it is no coincidence that the main information she looks for in the library mainly concerns the Underdark, any accesses, any maps, any information on drow and other cultures that are their allies or enemies, any rumors... Everything that could be useful to her in the future to organize a rescue mission.