Adventures in Esyldien - Campaign Thread

Sora nods along as she eats another large mouthfull, gulping it down before adding. "Well does anyone wanna go talk to this Duke after we eat? Probably won't need everyone there for those who aren't comfortable meeting with him. Some of us can go exploring while the rest have a chat with the guy."

Nemeia nods. She thinks for a moment and says, "I'll go with whoever wants to talk with him. We should be able to get the details and report back tonight. I'm definitely going to do a bit of exploring afterwards though."

9 joins others at the table, and starts eating in small bites. “I’ll join whoever talks to the Duke. Also, is it just me or Gus seems to be more than he presents. I feel like there is something going on with him. I would say the same about the Duke, but I don’t need to, we all know that.”

As the meal comes to an end, Witt will happily join Sora and anyone else not interested in meeting the Duke in exploring the city.

Nemeia shrugs at the mention of Gus having more to him than it seems. "What do you mean. He seems like a decent guy to me though a bit more personable than most maybe?"

Sora finishes up her meal as she consider's 9's words, "I'm not sure, honestly. He seemed authentic, just really, really weird. I think he just really loves being an innkeeper." She shrugs as she wipes her hands and mouth clean with a cloth before standing up off the table. "Well we can certainly keep an eye on him while we're here, but first let's go meet the Duke." Once everyone was ready to leave Sora would head downstairs and ask whoever she could find ( Gus ideally ) how to get to Duke Hakon's estate.

“I’m not saying he is a bad person, just that there is more to him than he leads on.”, she downs whatever drink is on the table, and moves back to her bed to pick up her bag. “So, who is talking to the Duke?”

Grabbing her supplies and calling for Cali, Nemeia joins the others in their quest to find the Duke's estate. She was excited to work with a person of privilege as they often had resources that made her research significantly easier. 

Upon speaking with Gus he is indeed more then happy to provide the party with directions to Duke Hakon's estate. The walk there takes some time as it requires navigating the streets of the Merchant district and into the Noble district. Night has completely fallen over the city by the point but there is no shortage of street side lanterns in this sector of the city lighting the way to your destination. Upon reaching the Duke's estate you find a residence displaying the same level of spectacle as the Duke himself. A needlessly large mansion with architectural accents that are typical among the homes of high class nobles in both their scope and uselessness. It lies beyond a tall fence of metal bars with a filigree of exotic metal designs built into the bars, making sure to leave enough space to put the huge mansion behind it on display while still keeping people deliberately out of the property. Walking around the property you eventually come upon a large game, next to which is a small guardhouse, also on the inside of the property fence, with a pair of guards looking out over the street beyond.

As soon as you walk up to the gate, one of the guards who notices you will begin walking up to the edge of the game with a heavy crossbow in his hands, giving the party a careful and unwelcoming eye. "State your business here, or move on, 'less you want a bolt in your gullet."

Nemeia offers and says, "The Duke has requested our audience. We are here to fulfill that request." Nemeia gives a wide gesture to the rest of her companions gathered here. She does her best to not agitate the guard as she's known more than enough guards that think very highly of their own position.

Back at the Inn, in response to 9's question, Sora volunteers, "I don't mind talking to him, wouldn't be the first crook I grilled for info." Then she along with everyone else made their way downstairs to speak with Gus. She had to agree with 9's perspective, this innkeeper probably had more to him then first sight, but whatever it was she had no idea at the moment. For now she thanked Gus for the help, reminding herself to talk to him about some of the other questions she had about this town. 

Together with the rest of the party she made her way to the Duke's estate. Almost immediately upon seeing his mansion she started hating this guy even more. Dark memories from a previous life began threatening to surface once more, but Sora forced them down. She had no desire to remember that, ever.

Even so, she was already in a more foul mood then normal when they walked up to the guards. Nemeia spoke up properly offering the information the guards asked for. Sora wasn't feeling nearly as polite. "Your boss wants to see us right away, so how about we skip the bullshit and you can let us in and take us to him."

Moira

Moira eats and joins the others in uncharacteristic silence. Even when threatened by the guard not giving much reaction. 

(Sorry y’all. I have been sick the last few days. I think I’m finally getting over it though.)

Nemeia's polite and professional tone contrasted greatly with Sora's blunt and abrasive words, throwing the guards for a bit of a loop as a result. Without a doubt the demanding presence of Sora's tone had the desired effect on the now less then confident guards. 

"Uh yeah, right, one moment then." The guard said trying his best not to sound as rattled as he was. He looked over at the other guard and gave him a nod, then the two of them moved up to the gate and unlocked it, opening one side just far enough for everyone to easily walk past. "Right, this way." Once on the other side of the gate one of the guards remained behind to lock up the gate once again while the other led the party through the front yard up to the main door of the mansion. It is a large wooden double doorway with an intricate inlaid bronze pattered across the surface. Walking up to it the guard knocks the door loudly then waits awkwardly there trying not to look at the party, or Sora specifically. 

Eventually one of the doors opens up and a somewhat older looking human in a proper butler's suit peeks out from the other side, "Yes?"

"The, uh, Duke has important guests, demand to see him." The guard explained.

"Very well." the butler nods opening the doorway further to let the party inside, "Come in, I shall inform the master of your arrival."

Beyond the doorway is a large lobby, a huge crystalline chandelier above you filling the space with light, sparking decorations and artwork fill the space as though every attempt is made to impress guests with the wealth of mansion's owner.

Nemeia walks in and takes in the sites of the mansion. Her new standard for amazement had been the Standard Unicorn's decor. While everything here was quite amazing in quality and style, the Unicorn just had that special atmosphere. Cali takes in the sights of the room but doesn't leave Nemeia's side. 

"Nice," she says but doesn't seem as thrilled compared to her excitement at the Unicorn. 

It's all right, says Witt reassuringly to the guards.  We're not that bad really, when you get to know us.  I hope the rest of the night goes better for you.  He gives a supportive smile as they leave the guard behind at the gate.  

Gosh, he says to Sora.  I never thought to try talking to folks like that.  Do you think it would work for me?  He adopts his fiercest face, and addresses Sora:  I demand you show me how to do that!  Intimidation 12  He scans her face, looking for a reaction.

While waiting in the lobby Sora took a deep breath trying not to let her annoyance of this place get to her. The interior of this mansion really only served to validate her frustrations, but she knew it wouldn't help them much for her to be angry all the time while they met with the Duke. 

Sora looked over at Witt as soon as she heard him speaking to her, watching as he sternly demanded her help. Her reaction consisted of blinking then tilting her head slightly as she looked back at him, "That's actually not so bad. Might not convince more experience guards though, but the average joe will probably get their knees shaking a bit. To be honest, it's not something I normally think about. Guess I was just in a bad mood, that's all."

9 flashed a quick a smirk at the contrast between Nemeia’s amd Sora’s approach. Moving in the mansion, 9 raises an eyebrow at the interior. She scans the area in general for anything particularly eye-catching/unusual. Perception: 16 +2 

It was some time later that the butler returned, addressing everyone in the room. "The master will see you now, Come this way please." He ushered the party to follow him down a long hallway to a large office room. This room held several bookcases, some of them locked others filled with various volumes, along with various decorations and furnishings, most notably being the large trophies hung up about the walls and ceiling. Much like the room before it, everything in here seemed decorated more so to display wealth then for any practical purpose. At the far end of the room was an oversized oak table likewise ridiculously decorated for its display of wealth. Behind it sat the Duke you've come to see, as Hakon sat there looking over the entire group with a judgmental gaze. Behind him two more guards stood to either side of him, perhaps for security reasons or simply a display of power. After everyone in the party was inside the room the butler bowed and left, closing the office door behind him.

"I am grateful to you, dear adventurers, for accepting my invitation." Hakon said with his particular charming smile, "Now, how would you like to be paid for capturing an assassin?"

Nemeia's eyebrows raise. She'd fought against snakes, goblin eating frogs, and weird demon creatures but she'd never thought to attempt to match wits with an assassin. The job normally required a certain dedication to the craft while Nemeia was just now learning how to properly build small tools to help fight minor inconveniences. An assassin would be a much more difficult task as well as the fact that their entire skill set was designed to murder her. She takes a big uncomfortable gulp.

"Sounds like a job for Summer's Treason!," she attempts to say with confidence. "Oh, that's the name we call ourselves now," she says to make it clear that she was saying that the group would like to do it and not saying there's another group out there more fitting for the task. She wasn't really sure if the others would be up for it probably would sit on the proper side of the fence compared to being tasked with assassinating someone.