Edeleth puts a hand on Rosri's shoulder. "Don't trouble yourself too much, I am sure that Saerirra understands that you meant no offense. The less said about it, the better, in my opinion."

The halfling is still very young.  Edeleth is sure that Rosri will develop more poise over the next few decades.

Roscoe only seems more puzzled. "Do yous think less of them so that they must wash alone and risk being attacked?  We's are all equals. We's wash together, we's eat together. We's a family." He pauses as he tries to understand.

"We's all have our ways of life. Maybe we's just have a different way but it doesn't make one better or worse. Different is okay. She would tell yous if she were mad I bet. Yous can always go and say sorry and see what she says." 

[It's unclear if Roscoe is naive in regards to relationships or if the tribe just doesn't have that type of stigma]

Saerrira and anyone else there may either use one of the Palace's bath chambers for free, or the Hot Springs for a small fee. 

Also, Saerrira may roll an Intelligence check to remember more about Zathka (who she did meet in the past).

Commander Belian interrupts the conversation.

"As much as I am dying for a good bath, I think we should talk to the Jarl first."

He walks through the big granite double doors leading to the Throne Room.

Intelligence roll: 14

After a quick bath and a quick letter to her grandparents, Saerirra hurries to rejoin the groups in the throne room, keeping an eye out for Intruders both leading up to and entering the palace.

Perception roll: 12

Saerrira vividly remembers Zathka the Fey. The Alliance Secret Service Agent was imprisonned by the Gnolls in the FeyWild. She also remembers he is the brother of the Alliance Airforce's Grand Admiral.

No intruders disturb Saerrira, nor does she spot any at all. The Palace is currently on high alert, and the guards have been tripled.

Saerirra nods more to herself than anything when she recalls the agent, but just stands patiently with everyone as there is more pressing matters presently.

Edeleth glares after Commander Belian with exasperation.  "Does he mean us, too?  We just finished with the Jarl." Still, he follows the commander.  Even though he grumbles under his breath that, if they don't let him go to bed soon, he's going to damned well camp on the Jarl's carpet, he knows that the situation is dire and it's important to hear as much as possible of what is going on.

After studying a few of the Jarl's books, Zyman comes rushing into the throne room. "Excuse me your highness, but what are you planning to do with the body of the assassin? If you permit, there may yet be a way to gleam more information from it!"

Team1 and Commander Belian enter the Throne Room in a hurry, after a quick encounter with the newly anointed Knight Inquisitors of the Three Peaks, aka Team2. I will resolve the meeting on the Team 1 Thread, but both Teams are currently free to mingle on the Main Thread, since everyone is at the Granite Palace. 

OOC/Spoilers Anyone who visits the Hot Springs at the moment might bump into Team3...shhhht....

So everyone, back to our Team Threads, but as long as Players and teams are in the same building at the same time, you can all catch up and socialize on this thread (in character).

As Team 1 enters the Palace Main Halls, Zathkataliendim Felaminathien is finishing his business with the Jarl. He looks even worse than he did when they rescued him from the Screaming Hunters. 

"Again, I apologize for my behaviour earlier, Jarl. I was out of line..."

Jarl Hammerstorm cuts him off...

"No you weren't . You did your duty for the Alliance. You and your friends showed me what Evil lies within my lands. For that, I am forever grateful. Go to Melassone, and tell your brother we will accept all the help we can get. But for Moradin's sake, get some rest first..."

Zathka bows to the Jarl, still bleeding on the marbled floors of the Throne room. He walks towards Team 1 as he exits, then recognizes them...and smiles for the first time ever...

"There is no rest for the wicked..."

He huggs his liberators, and friends of old, one by one, then salutes them and carries on with Team2 (for a little bit). He turns back to Team1 as he leaves.

"I'll be back...with my Brother...and I still owe you a debt. Need a favor from an Alliance Airforce Grand Admiral? Or maybe Alliance Secret Services Central Command?"

He looks at everyone on both teams.

Then he looks at Team 2. "You folks look like you could use some help. I know just the guy. This Half-Elf Spellblade Wizard from the Westwoods named Elixisys. Him and I worked at the Bureau of Arcane Affairs together, before we both got promoted to Secret Services together. He likes to just pop out of nowhere...anyway, I just told him where to find you, so he should be showing up soon. He's a good spy, and pretty brainy. Should be good support for your cell. I like this thing you folks got going on. Anyway, I have to leave, so...until next time..."

He salutes both Teams, and disappears down the Palace hallways. 

"We did not head down into that gnoll pit just for the potential reward, but we appreciate the offer. I do hope you rest yourself as soon as you are able." Saerirra says to Zathka as he leaves, then turns to the Jarl and curtsies.

"You had summoned us here, my Jarl. I presume this is either regarding the attempt at your life, or more information regarding the forces we faced in the valley."

OOC: A quick sneak peak at the Evil Christmas Special, as the Kobolds, Gnolls, Dragonborn and Mindflayers crowd the ceremonial mosh pits, in their Evil Lair, awaiting the arrival of the Krampus...

https://youtu.be/ZlBXd6FE2ic

Also, make sure to check out the newest additions to the Wiki! CITY of the 3 PEAKS, part 2 and 3

Quote from Grotex >>

OOC/Spoilers Anyone who visits the Hot Springs at the moment might bump into Team3...shhhht....

  (Do we get to invade their thread? >:) )

Edeleth closes his eyes.  A stranger joining the team? Through his dismay, the pain of his mind-flayer-induced brain damage, and his fog of exhaustion, two words rise through his consciousness with terrible urgency.

Hot spring.

"Anyone for the hot spring?" he asks.  "I'm paying."  (The invitation includes Team 2, Team 1 and any NPCs still in range.)

"With an offer like that, how could I refuse." A strange voice says from behind Team 2. As you turn you see a younger looking half-elven man seeming to slowly slide into view out of thin air. By the guards reaction you can tell they were not expecting this and are jumping at the thought of another assassin, a fear he quickly relieves by holding up a medallion with the mark of the Alliance Secret Service. 

"Elixisys Berevan, at your service. Zathka told me to look for an elf, two halflings, and a human, and you seem to fit the bill. I hear you're in need of a fifth." The voice that comes from his lips seems at odds with his appearance. It comes out flat and even in tone, no matter the words that he is saying. And the accent doesn't fit either, a lowborn voice in stark contrast with the well made clothes and light armour that adorn his body. A gladius style short sword hangs over his left shoulder under a black cloak and his right hand is wrapped in white bandages. A slightly scruffy beard gives him a more human look than most half-elves but the eyes and ears are distinct. 

Edelth spins around, startled by the sudden appearance.

He looks at the newcomer with narrowed, suspicious eyes. "I am not certain where Zathka got the impression that we required assistance.  I assure you, my companions and I are quite self-sufficient and require no further support. However, as you've taken the trouble to find us, you are perfectly welcome to accompany us to the hot spring."

Having come to trust his companions, Edeleth really has no wish to cope with another stranger.  A secret agent?  To help them or to watch them? While he can admit that Grunda is sorely missed, they had taken down the mind flayer and the assassin without her.  And another spellcaster?  He and Zyman have that job thoroughly covered, thank you.

Although...surviving and returning after their last adventure had taken every bit of magic he could muster.

And Zathka HAD said this newcomer was from the Westwoods.  And he is half-elven, anyway. Edeleth is so tired of being the only wood elf in evidence anywhere in this city.  He has heard interesting stories about bladesingers, too.

Maybe he will at least talk to this person, anyway. For a little while. News form the Westwoods would be welcome.

“Did you hear Roscoe! Edeleth is taking us to the hot springs! I heard that they really is a sight to behold!”

Just then a half elf man show up out of nowhere and starts to talk, making Rosri jump halfway out of his skin. <where did he come from? I didn’t notice him at all!> 

wary of the newcomer and not having paid attention to what Zathka had been saying, he wonders if this is a spy sent to watch them. If that is the case, the enemies really do work fast.  

"To the springs!" Roscoe says with a smile. As he prepares to head that way, he hears the voice. It takes a second for him to understand there is no threat present with the words. "Yous can come too!," he offers to the stranger. "We's are Roscoe. That's Rosri, Edeleth, and there's Zyman.  We's are Knight Inquisitors of the Three Peaks. That one's new. Yous may know us as the Knights of the Hanging Chicken. Do yous have a tribe?"

Elixisys tips his head slightly in acknowledgement. "If you are going after threats to the alliance then I would say the more capacity you have to do that the better. Kill the things that want to kill us." He turns towards Roscoe. "Thank you for confirming things. I've studied the notes on each of you and your journeys so far, I must say I'm impressed by what you've done. As for a tribe, that depends on what you mean by the word." 

 Don't get attached to him, Roscoe, we're NOT keeping him, Edeleth thinks, though he doesn't speak it aloud.

Arriving at the hot spring, he tosses five gold on the counter, telling the attendant, "The very best you have for my friends." (That should more than cover the deluxe treatment for anyone who wants to come along!)

Roscoe has good gut feelings and if he think Elixisys is a friend, then Rosri will trust his friends jugement. But he is still a little suspicious and wont let him out of his sight. 

“Come on then! Let’s all go and and bath at the open hotsprings!” He grabs Roscoes arm and drags him in the right direction. One there he will change in to the provided bathing clothes (if there is any) and take a round around the spring to make sure there are no enemies close by or spies hiding behind fake walls and such. When he is sure the coast is clear he leaps in to the water so it splashes all over! 

ooc: oh no you posted a few mins before me! D: