Answering Respar, Kiven changes his form into an older looking wizard and artificer and answers "you can call me... Wulfric." "Yes, that will do. Rubeus Wulfric, actually, but my... friends... use my last name, as is my preference."
"We can still use your other idea, my dearest Respar, if it appears that such a shop is not a great fit for this small town. We can say we heard rumors that the guard here would be expanding, and thus the town with it, and we want to be ahead of the market. Yes gathering supplies would be a good excuse to not have much inventory to start, and to be out of the shop a lot, as you say."
"For you, Tigress, we can leave out a bowl of harmless reagents for you to stir, and perhaps some colored liquid for you to attentively boil and stir just in case you ever need to look the part."
Kiven looks back at Respar and says "see, I knew you had it in you" with a wink. As usual, it is less than charming.
The group heads east along the road to Aldencross. It isn't long before you see the wagon Kili mentioned. It is a simple and rickety affair, made of old grey wood. A man in peasant's clothing sits beside it, watching a small fire before him.
Before they get anywhere near the man or the wagon, the group gets a message from Eya telepathically, "This man is under a contract but we should still use caution here. Stay alert and make sure he's being truthful."
The man stands up, he's short and wiry, and looks quite nervous. "Er, um, yes, I believe so. You are the ones interested in, uh, visiting the keep right?"
Upon affirmation of any sort, he nods. "I am Balin, I live here in Aldencross. I was told to assist you with anything you required."
"Interesting name, Balin, a pleasure," she responds with a slight smile. "We're just going to go ahead load up the wagon then so that we can be on our... Is everything alright? You look rather nervous."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Respar notes Balin's nervousness, and begins to surreptitiously scan the area,looking to see if this is some sort of ambush, or if they at least have watchers about.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kiven stands a good fifteen feet away from their contact in the form of Wulfric, bow at the ready. He joins Respar in surveying their surroundings for any trouble.
Balin wipes sweat from his brow. "I, uh, I just haven't done anything like this before, you know?"
Neither Respar nor Kiven spot any signs of trouble in the area. As far as Respar can tell, Balin's telling the truth. He seems scared of the group, and even more so to be seen with the group.
Kiven, disguised as a gentler wizard, relaxes and approaches the wagon, getting ready to climb aboard. "You have nothing to worry about. We're just travelers and entrepreneurs looking for new opportunity in Aldencross. Trying to get ahead of the market here before this place grows any further. Do tell me, what types of merchants does the town have? What might be lacking? Also, what is your profession?"
"Martha" looks briefly to her companions, then back to Balin, "Understandable. Indeed, we would love to do business in your town. I hope the Inn is nice, we've been traveling for some time. I'll go ahead and hop in the back now, Balin. Please take us to town as soon as possible and tell us about it as we travel."
She places her things in the wagon then sits in the back of the wagon. She has a burlap sack partially open by her feet.
"We're uh, we're pretty self sufficient, and make most things we need ourselves. Its exotics we don't have, silks and the like. But there's not much money to spare for expensive stuff like that, so..." He seems to relax a little as the conversation moves into familiar territory.
"I run a small store. Some general goods, but I mostly make candles. That was my excuse for getting out of town, I was collecting honeycomb from a farm a few days off. I'll sell the honey separately and then use the wax for the nicer candles." He taps one of several small barrels in the back of the wagon.
"Since I believe you were, ah, 'contracted' to do this job for us, candle maker, where do your responsibilities end, exactly? How else can you help us?"
He ducks his head, "They, uh, don't end. I was told to perform any task you might require. Uh, short of anything clearly suicidal." He finishes that last bit quickly, leading Respar to believe the last statement was his own addition rather than actually part of his instructions. "Anyways, I was told you were interested in the keep. I make deliveries to it, the officers there are the biggest consumers of my best candles, I don't know if the guards would let me bring anyone else in with me, let alone the four of you, but I can describe the layout and the people there at the very least."
'Wulfric' looks at Respar with a grin and then addresses Balin again. "Excellent, you will be most helpful then, I'm sure. So what can you do to help us settle into town? Do you need any help in your own shop? Is there space? Are there any empty shops for purchase or lease?"
Respar, who has slightly altered his coloring to more closely match that of 'Martha,' chimes in with, "Have no fear. We won't ask you to do anything that would put you in great danger. You're too valuable a resource for us. Now, as my elderly friend here has asked, are there any empty store fronts available for rent or purchase? And by all means, describe the people in the keep you know. Once we're settled in, you can do your best to make us a map of the keep."
After Balin has answered the initial inquiries, Respar says, "And as far as you're concerned, you ran into us on the road. We've been traveling to town, and you offered us a lift." After a pause he says, "If such generosity is outside your usual nature, you made it conditional on us helping you unload your cargo at your shop."
Jesla listens to the man disdainfully. Yet another weak southerner. These craven beings that lived behind city walls might as well be young children hiding behind their mothers skirt. She does her best to keep a look of disdain off of her softer face and merely shakes her head.
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Answering Respar, Kiven changes his form into an older looking wizard and artificer and answers "you can call me... Wulfric." "Yes, that will do. Rubeus Wulfric, actually, but my... friends... use my last name, as is my preference."
"We can still use your other idea, my dearest Respar, if it appears that such a shop is not a great fit for this small town. We can say we heard rumors that the guard here would be expanding, and thus the town with it, and we want to be ahead of the market. Yes gathering supplies would be a good excuse to not have much inventory to start, and to be out of the shop a lot, as you say."
"For you, Tigress, we can leave out a bowl of harmless reagents for you to stir, and perhaps some colored liquid for you to attentively boil and stir just in case you ever need to look the part."
Kiven looks back at Respar and says "see, I knew you had it in you" with a wink. As usual, it is less than charming.
When Kiven asks her if she enjoys fire, she smirks devilishly, "What can I say? It's on brand."
---
As the group changes names and disguises, Eya just blinks a couple of times and states matter-of-factly, "Martha Rose."
She heads towards the wagon with the others.
The group heads east along the road to Aldencross. It isn't long before you see the wagon Kili mentioned. It is a simple and rickety affair, made of old grey wood. A man in peasant's clothing sits beside it, watching a small fire before him.
Before they get anywhere near the man or the wagon, the group gets a message from Eya telepathically, "This man is under a contract but we should still use caution here. Stay alert and make sure he's being truthful."
As they approach the man, Eya waves to him and says, "Hello sir, I think you may be our ride into Aldencross. Would I be correct in that assumption?"
The man stands up, he's short and wiry, and looks quite nervous. "Er, um, yes, I believe so. You are the ones interested in, uh, visiting the keep right?"
Upon affirmation of any sort, he nods. "I am Balin, I live here in Aldencross. I was told to assist you with anything you required."
"Interesting name, Balin, a pleasure," she responds with a slight smile. "We're just going to go ahead load up the wagon then so that we can be on our... Is everything alright? You look rather nervous."
Respar notes Balin's nervousness, and begins to surreptitiously scan the area,looking to see if this is some sort of ambush, or if they at least have watchers about.
Perception 24
Sense Motive 11
Kiven stands a good fifteen feet away from their contact in the form of Wulfric, bow at the ready. He joins Respar in surveying their surroundings for any trouble.
Perception: 10
Balin wipes sweat from his brow. "I, uh, I just haven't done anything like this before, you know?"
Neither Respar nor Kiven spot any signs of trouble in the area. As far as Respar can tell, Balin's telling the truth. He seems scared of the group, and even more so to be seen with the group.
Jesla looks grimly at Balin. " That is understandable. " The short brunette smiles at this.
Kiven, disguised as a gentler wizard, relaxes and approaches the wagon, getting ready to climb aboard. "You have nothing to worry about. We're just travelers and entrepreneurs looking for new opportunity in Aldencross. Trying to get ahead of the market here before this place grows any further. Do tell me, what types of merchants does the town have? What might be lacking? Also, what is your profession?"
"Martha" looks briefly to her companions, then back to Balin, "Understandable. Indeed, we would love to do business in your town. I hope the Inn is nice, we've been traveling for some time. I'll go ahead and hop in the back now, Balin. Please take us to town as soon as possible and tell us about it as we travel."
She places her things in the wagon then sits in the back of the wagon. She has a burlap sack partially open by her feet.
Jesla clambers into the back of the wagon as well. She smiles reassuringly at Balin as she does so.
"We're uh, we're pretty self sufficient, and make most things we need ourselves. Its exotics we don't have, silks and the like. But there's not much money to spare for expensive stuff like that, so..." He seems to relax a little as the conversation moves into familiar territory.
"I run a small store. Some general goods, but I mostly make candles. That was my excuse for getting out of town, I was collecting honeycomb from a farm a few days off. I'll sell the honey separately and then use the wax for the nicer candles." He taps one of several small barrels in the back of the wagon.
"Since I believe you were, ah, 'contracted' to do this job for us, candle maker, where do your responsibilities end, exactly? How else can you help us?"
He ducks his head, "They, uh, don't end. I was told to perform any task you might require. Uh, short of anything clearly suicidal." He finishes that last bit quickly, leading Respar to believe the last statement was his own addition rather than actually part of his instructions. "Anyways, I was told you were interested in the keep. I make deliveries to it, the officers there are the biggest consumers of my best candles, I don't know if the guards would let me bring anyone else in with me, let alone the four of you, but I can describe the layout and the people there at the very least."
'Wulfric' looks at Respar with a grin and then addresses Balin again. "Excellent, you will be most helpful then, I'm sure. So what can you do to help us settle into town? Do you need any help in your own shop? Is there space? Are there any empty shops for purchase or lease?"
Respar, who has slightly altered his coloring to more closely match that of 'Martha,' chimes in with, "Have no fear. We won't ask you to do anything that would put you in great danger. You're too valuable a resource for us. Now, as my elderly friend here has asked, are there any empty store fronts available for rent or purchase? And by all means, describe the people in the keep you know. Once we're settled in, you can do your best to make us a map of the keep."
After Balin has answered the initial inquiries, Respar says, "And as far as you're concerned, you ran into us on the road. We've been traveling to town, and you offered us a lift." After a pause he says, "If such generosity is outside your usual nature, you made it conditional on us helping you unload your cargo at your shop."
Jesla listens to the man disdainfully. Yet another weak southerner. These craven beings that lived behind city walls might as well be young children hiding behind their mothers skirt. She does her best to keep a look of disdain off of her softer face and merely shakes her head.