If you'd care to remove your footgear, I will gladly have a look at it and do what we can to repair it," says Edeleth.  "A warrior can be killed by going into battle with poor equipment. Perhaps you could step out of the ranks for a few minutes while we discuss matters."

He tries to get an idea of who Rollo is as Rosri talks to him: Is he a crook who's just too much of a slob to get decent boots? Does he seem to feel trapped and desperate, and maybe like he can't afford new ones? Or too depressed to bother? (Also, if Rollo hands over the boots, Edeleth attempts to look like an actual shoe expert while casting Mending on them as many times as it takes.

INSIGHT on Rollo: 19

Roscoe watches the exchange as he takes another bite of his apple. He then begins to wonder if his own shoes needed attention. 

As Edeleth and Rosri both spend a few minutes trying to talk to Rollo, and pass for Ralph Lauren (OOC lol 😂😂....), the scrappy looking blond Dwarf only stares up and says "No thank you..."

Sure, Edeleth and Rosri's deception did not work as intended...but they both notice a certain expression on Rollo, or rather, a lack thereof (ooc your deception didnt work, but you both rolled good perception/insight). The Dwarf soldier stares blankly at them, as if his very soul was absent...as if he was being mind-controlled...

Rosri looks over at Edeleth. Something is definitely not right with this guy.. “well then, at least let me measure your feet so we can make new ones for you sir.” And he get down on his knees before Rollo can refuse and at the same time he slip his hands in to Rollos pockets. 

ooc: OMG I think he made me.. 😱

Oh, dear, thinks Edeleth, at a loss. If the dwarf's mind is being controlled, does it mean that the controller knows and sees what is happening here? Or is Rollo merely programmed to behave within certain parameters?  In any case, he has no spells prepared that can deal with this situation.

More in an attempt to distract the dwarf from Rosri's pocket-picking attempt than in hope of accomplishing anything, Edeleth puts a hand on Rollo's shoulder and says firmly, "My good sir, are you not aware that over 72.8 percent of self-induced combat fatalities can be traced directly to broken or shoddy equipment? We can NOT allow you to proceed to battle with your boots in this condition. There are regulations that cover this, are you not aware of the Jarl's army codes? This situation is covered under Section 367654.88A and also Directive 72 subheading Q33.  No dwarf is allowed to accompany a ready battle force into combat without all gear being judged adequate, and your commander himself has filed a complaint about the state of your boots. Who knows what other substandard equipment you may be equipped with--cracked armor? Rusty weapons? Holey underdrawers? You are a walking hazard to the safety of your unit. Kindly hold still and shut your face while Mr. Ralph inspects the rest of your gear, or you will be put in the stockade and not allowed to accompany the army on this vital mission!"

Deception? Or Intimidation?  13  (Or can that count as a Help action and give Rosri an advantage roll?)

Edeleth suddenly realizes that one way or the other, Rollo must actually NOT be allowed to accompany the army. Or, if they can't prevent it, perhaps there is no choice but to go along and watch the dwarf...or find a way to eliminate him.

Taking another bite of the apple, Roscoe looks on with interest. Edeleth and Rosri seemed to be getting flustered. "Sure they're fine," he thinks to himself. 

"One moment, while I consult with our companion and bodyguard," Edeleth says, stepping away and turning to Roscoe, hastily scribbling a note. "Roscoe, could you please fetch Zyman? Our friend Rollo, here seems...er, ill, as well as ill-equipped, and should in no way be allowed to go along with the army in this state. I wonder if our medic might have some means of preventing him from doing anything dangerous." 

Edeleth quietly casts Detect Magic and looks back at Rollo.

The note says, "Dwarf Rollo seems to be mind-controlled. Must free him or stop him from going, may be spy or saboteur. Can you help?"

Roscoe hops down from his crate and says, "Yes. We's can get him if we's can find him." He isn't quite clued in on what's going on but he hastily begins searching for Zyman so that he can relay the information. 

Rosri pretend to take Rollos measurement for a while until he sees Edeleth hurry away over to Roscoe. He sees what he say and notices the folded parchment. 
To distract Rollo from looking Edeleth's way he stands up and start talking to him.

“All is done now Mr. Rollo. You know, you really should take better care of your gear. Winter might be over soon but it is still cold out side and frostbite is still a real threat. Well take care, we’ll be in touch regarding your new shows in a few hours. ” 
He looks over at Edeleth to see if the coast is clear. He  then look around for a close by soldier who might know Rollo.

Investigation? 8
Perception? 26

If he find one he will walk a round about way so that Rollo doesn’t see Rosri approche him. “Hello Sir, My name is Rosri Fastfoot, I’m with the hanging knights. I noticed that Rollo over there seemed a little out of it and wanted to hear if he has always been like this? Otherwise he might be showing early symptoms of dark fever. First, you go dull and space out. Them after a few days your skin start to harden and turn black. And the third step is death.. it is important that we catch it early, cause when the skin turnes black he start to be contagious.” He looks seriously at the man “I hope you understand that this need to stay with us, or it might start a panic within the army.”  
Deception 9

At Roscoe's behest, Zyman approaches "Lauren" and Rollo. With a quick exchange of glances, and the little information that Roscoe gave him, he figures that something is amiss.

"Ed...Lauren, how can I, Calvin, help you here? I mean, beyond the clearly horrendous shoes..."

As he speaks, Zyman focuses some of his magical talents to cast prestidigitation to clean up what parts of Rollo's uniform he immediately sees as dirty or rusty.

"Good work, Roscoe! Ah, yes we are in dire need of your fashion expertise, Calvin," says 'Lauren,' wondering if he ought to have given Roscoe an alias of some sort. "Rollo seems reluctant to avail himself of our services. Perhaps you could help persuade him?"

He supposes it's too much to hope that Zyman knows of any way to break the mind-control. He would try 'dispel magic' himself, but sadly, had not had the precognition abilities to know he would need that spell prepared today.

"One would consider he would be more amenable, considering that we have friends in common," Edeleth adds as a last resort, using druidcraft to create the odor of baking gingerbread.

Roscoe watches the situation with a mix of confusion and amusement. 

Zyman stood by, perplexed by Edeleth’s druidcraft, and his statement. Rummaging around, he gound some small amounts of carmine earth, which he could use as rouge on his cheeks. After applying the make-up, he gave Edeleth another look, so as to confirm whether Edeleth really wanted him to cast Friends on the dwarf.

(Ooc: I know that’s not what you intended, but Zyman doesn’t yet know of the gingerbread man, and is wholly cofused)

(OOC: Back in post 529, Rosri did say he tells the story of his mission to the whole group, so you should actually know about it and the Gingerbread man, now. And Edeleth wrote a note for Roscoe to deliver to you, not sure if I made that clear--The note says, "Dwarf Rollo seems to be mind-controlled. Must free him or stop him from going, may be spy or saboteur. Can you help?"

So, if you have any ideas...)

Zyman (if I am not mistaken) seems to be the designated Medic of the Team. Roll a Medicine and Perception check on Rollo, while he just blankly stares at Edeleth, listening to his whole speech with a look of utter disinterest.

Meanwhile, Rosri asks around the Dwarven army about Rollo. Luckily, the Soldiers are a bit friendlier than their commander. One of them,a bit slimmer than the rest but rough looking, answers the Halfling. He nudges him over, gathering his belongings. "Ay...Rosri Fastfoot...I've heard of ya'. Got a few friends in the Family me'self (points at a couple of charriot tattoos on his neck). Matter of fact, so does Rollo...or did...him and I hung out a lot. 'Course, that all changed the day he took that deal that no one else in the Guild wanted. Sold a bunch of poison to some guy named Thardax the Murderer...got the job through some new Kingpin named the Gingerbread Man...after he came back from the deal, he was never the same....No, I don't think it's Dark Fever....my uncle died of Dark Fever...this is something else entirely..."

(OOC: Was there any result on the Detect Magic spell?)

Edeleth sighs and goes to sit next to Roscoe.

Quote from Astalda >>

(OOC: Was there any result on the Detect Magic spell?)

Edeleth sighs and goes to sit next to Roscoe.

 Yes, Edeleth detects magic inside Rollo himself...

Rosri looks at the man surprised. “Oh you are? I thought you guys weren’t big on the thought of fighting?” He inspect the soldiers tattoos. “Are there more of the family in the army?” 

Rosri realizes that he never went to visit Florence or any of the members in the family as he had promised. “Uhm, could I trouble you with a favor? Could you deliver a letter to Florence of the family for me? I promised him I would come and visit before they departed, but some things of important has come up and it looks as if I won’t be able to keep that promise.” He takes out a piece of paper and hastily write out a letter to Florence.  

In Cant

< Dear Florence

Unfortunately I wont be able to visit you and the Troop before you leave. I’m sorry.
I want to thank you once again for helping us on the road and for inviting me to be part of your family. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I also wish to warn you, as you might know there  is a new kingpin in town, he goes by the Gingerbread Man. He is dangerous and unreliable...>

Rosri goes on to explain the current situation with his new found mission and tells Florence about Rollo. 

<...if you have any information regarding this man, please find a way fo let me know. I’m afraid dark times  is ahead of us my friend.

Take care

Rosri. >

After handing the letter to the soldier and asking of he knows anymore of GB man he heads back to the Edeleth and Roscoe and finds that Zyman has joined them as well. He sit down beside Roscoe and as him about the current situation while waiting for Edeleth ans Zyman to return. 

Before leaving though, he give the soldier his condolences about Rollo and his uncle.

Edeleth nods at Rosri as he joins him and Roscoe. 

"If Zyman can't do anything, I'm afraid we will have to stay with the army until this is resolved," he says. "I can sense some odd magic in Rollo, though of course, I can't be certain if it is the mind-control spell I am detecting or something else. If one of you is willing to drive the wagon, I can meditate and rest in the back, and by this evening I should be ready to try to dispel whatever magic it is that I sense."

"Sorry about the eagles, Roscoe," he adds.  "Actually, I can summon an eagle for you to try riding sometime when we are not busy. We won't have the benefit of professional instructors, and it can only last an hour, and it will be a fey creature rather than an actual eagle, but it is something, at least."

He supposes there are worse things than being stuck for three tedious days of staring at the backsides of two hundred surly, unappreciative dwarves who did not particularly want them along, after having lost the alternate chance of soaring over the mountains on the most majestic bird in existence and getting actual flight experience that might be useful for his future transformations.

He reminds himself it's for the greater good, and that they are not here to enjoy themselves. 

Stupid (squirrel swear word) dwarves.

Roscoe shrugs as the thought of taking flight as part of the air force fades away. "Probably best to stay close to the ground. No sense in risking the fall." He looks out over those around him. "What's yous plan with this one?", he says gesturing to the person the two were assisting with the footwear.