Thinking of what the duergar said, Grimnir thought out loud.. »that is true, maybe we should ggive our group a heroic name, so people will remember us! »
but then, coming back to reality, he presented himself. « Aye, I am Grimnir, Our Dragonborn Valrish, here, is the one who took care of the egg until now. We’re you looking for it ? And why this need to remain secret from your red dragon? »
Turning to Oorr, the duergar replies still in hushed tones, "Demon worshipers? Last we knew, our egg had been taken by a thieving derro group known as the Gray Ghosts. It doesn't surprise me one bit that they were worshiping demons. We have sensed a great disturbance, as if a hole was torn in the world. Perhaps they are responsible! Very kind of you all to rescue the egg from them. Thank you... to all of you. I am Gartokkar Xundorn, leader of the Keepers of the Flame, and watcher of Themberchaud, the red dragon who keeps the Gracklstugh forges lit." As he says this, several other keepers come up to the egg and begin to inspect it. Another brings a litter with an egg shaped impression on it, preparing to transfer the egg over so they can remove it.
Then, to Grimnir, "We have been looking for this egg for days, ever since it was stolen from us. We interrogated several members of the Gray Ghosts, but they were all mad, as derro tend to be, and would not tell us what they had done with it. Obviously you had much better luck. As to why it is a secret, let's just say that as the Keepers of the Flame we are responsible for overseeing the one who keeps the fires lit in the city, and we believe that new blood is needed to accomplish this. Themberchaud has grown fat and lazy. It is perhaps time he retired. I would ask you not speak of any of this to him, should you encounter him. For returning of the egg, and your silence on the matter, I offer a reward." Gartokkar claps his hands twice and a duergar bearing a banded wooden chest steps forward, opening it to reveal gold and gems.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Oorr remains expressionless, gold and wealth mean nothing to him. He is more interested in doing the right thing and perhaps Gartokkar is influenced by the madness of this underworld. Insight 7
Oorr remains expressionless, gold and wealth mean nothing to him. He is more interested in doing the right thing and perhaps Gartokkar is influenced by the madness of this underworld. Insight 7
You do not detect any deception from Gartokkar, though you're unclear exactly what his motivations are. He seems to genuinely be happy the egg has been returned.
Valrish, a little bit emotional seeing the egg being taken away, steps up towards Gartokkar. "We've managed to take care of the eggling on our own, so I suppose that the Keepers of the Flame will take even better care of it. A reward on the level of the moving and keeping a dragon egg safe through this mad underworld of yours must be quite plentiful. Right?" Valrish asks the duergar.
Insight: 7
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PbP Characters Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
Gartokkar is hard to read, and you are unable to tell his true intentions with the egg. Gartokkar raises an eyebrow at Valrish, "You have our thanks and our gold, and you ask for more? Yes, indeed, you've done very well. I see you even managed to keep it warm, without which it may have died. The chest is all we have to offer, take it or leave it. Gold is hard to keep around here. Themberchaud often confiscates it for his own horde of treasure, and once it's there, there's no getting it back. Thank you again, we have the egg now. You may leave."Gartokkar turns his attention to where the other keepers are trying to transfer the large egg to the litter. One of the keeper's feet gets tangled in his robes as he helps to lift the egg, losing his grip, and the egg starts to topple toward the ground. Gartokkar rushes forward, "You fools!"he shouts, "Be careful with that, it's nearly ready to hatch!" His voice echoes momentarily throughout the hall, but everyone's eyes are on the toppling egg.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Valrish, seeing the egg topple, quickly runs towards it and tries to stop it from falling down as he rages. He wouldn't let his work go to waste, and he most certainly wasn't going to dishonor himself by letting a dragon egg break.
Athletics: 19
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PbP Characters Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
Grimnir is watching the scene with interest. In this crazy world, the fate of this egg is actually a small priority. He will leave this to Valrish who seems to be more attached to it. He then turns his attention to the chest and the gold, trying to evaluate how much coins there is.
Valrish, seeing the egg topple, quickly runs towards it and tries to stop it from falling down as he rages. He wouldn't let his work go to waste, and he most certainly wasn't going to dishonor himself by letting a dragon egg break.
Athletics: 20
The heat of your rage subsides quickly, but as it does you find yourself stabilizing the egg, and placing it gently into the litter brought by the robed duergar. Gartokkar sighs in relief, and the keepers begin to take the egg away. The duergar holding the chest steps forward and places it into Valrish's hands. Grimnir does some quick calculations peering over Valrish's shoulder, noting the gems, and the volume of the box... there's at least 1,000 gp value in the box.
Before Grimnir can get a final count, a low rumbling growl is heard from the large cavern outside the building you're in. A slow deep voice like rattling coal is heard echoing throughout the area. "Gartokkar... what is all that commotion?" The floors begin to vibrate rhythmically as foot steps fall in your direction.
Gartokkar's sigh turns into a gasp, and he turns to the duergar hauling the egg away to the back of the room. "Quickly! Quickly! He must not see it!"He rushes to cover the egg with the blanket from the stone giants that had fallen to the floor, but as he nears the egg he notices the massive yellow eye peering through one of the upper windows in the vaulted room.
"What is this?!"the booming voice yells, as the massive horned head of Themberchaud breaks through the upper walls. He crushes the outer wall, a large, imposing Adult Red Dragon. "An egg?! So you mean to replace me? Well... I am not the only one that can be replaced."With that Thermberchaud takes a deep breath, his face pointed towards the duergar and Gartokkar carrying the egg.
(OOG The room you are in is huge. There's actually an entrance for Themberchaud, but he decided to come through the wall instead... You are all slightly behind the dragon as he faces away and appears to be about to breathe on the duergar with the egg, including Gartokkar.)
Oorr would really hate to have the feathers burnt, so he asks Zippy to make his way out of there, and when everyone else of his companions is out as well, he will follow.
As much as Valrish is honored to see an Adult Dragon, he'd much rather not be toasted by one. He carries the chest out of the dragon's sight and approaches his comrades. "Say, why don't we leave now? Seems as good a time as any."
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PbP Characters Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
Grimnir sees the Red Dragon ready to exhale his fire breath and help Valrish grab the money and Run away from the duergar that is going to be roasted... " Cover quick!"
You all grab the gold and run, fleeing the room just as Themberchaud releases a devastating breath of fire on his one time keepers. You feel the red hot heat on your backs as you race through the doorway and out into the dark city streets of Gracklstugh. Screams erupt from inside the building, but are soon cut off. Not wanting to linger, you hurry away, gold in hand. As you move North, you see groups of stone guards, giants, and a few more keepers of the flame rushing towards Themberchaud's cavern to see what has happened, and hopefully to calm the dragon down. You avoid talking to them, and manage to find an out of the way place to count the gold you earned.
The chest contains coins, gems, and jewelry worth 1,068 GP.
Having narrowly missed a fight with a large red dragon, you lay low and let the commotion die down, but soon you make your way to the hold of the Deepking on the suggestion of the Stonespeaker.
The Hold of the Deepking is a dark and foreboding edifice lodged between two great columns that rise up into thick clouds of smoke that conceal the cavern ceiling. Giant basalt braziers filled with molten lava bathe the palace facade in a hellish glow, and the thick stone walls bristle with iron turrets and battlements.
As you approach, you are surprised to find the palace unguarded, but then you pick up on the sounds of feet moving, armor clinking, and spears rattling, for what sounds like dozens, if not hundreds, of soldiers. When you approach closer, a palace guard captain materializes right in front of you. Knowing that duergar can turn invisible at will, this is not completely surprising, but the sudden appearance does cause you to be slightly startled. After giving you a quick once over, the guard captain nods, and indicates that he has been expecting you. Both Stonespeaker Hgraam and Errde Blackskull have sent word of your deeds to the Deepking, and he is eager to meet the adventurers from the overworld. More duergar materialize around you, and as a group, escort you inside.
Lava pours down troughs cut into the black basalt walls of this vast hall. The heat is oppressive, and the air reeks of sulfur. Thick black columns support the heavy ceiling, and at the far end of the hall stands an iron throne atop a polished obsidian dais. A crowned duergar encased in armor sits on the throne. Next to him stands a royal consort wearing a gown made of gold coins.
A herald at the front of the hall shouts out, "The great hall of Horgar Steelshadow the Fifth, Deepking of Gracklstugh welcomes..er, welcomes..." At this point he leans in to the group and in a loud whisper asks, "Who do we say you are, friends?"
"I am Oorr of the Star Mounts, with me are Grimnir The Gentle, Valrish the Volunteer and Belwar the Bald. And this is my friend, Zippy Eight-Eyes. We all are pleased to meet you, Deepking and Deepqueen. Many troubles have occurred in your city, we helped at best of our winds. You have to be aware, Deepking. Madness and demons are spreading in this underground realm and you need to stay steadfast to fight back."
"I am Oorr of the Star Mounts, with me are Grimnir The Gentle, Valrish the Volunteer and Belwar the Bald. And this is my friend, Zippy Eight-Eyes. We all are pleased to meet you, Deepking and Deepqueen. Many troubles have occurred in your city, we helped at best of our winds. You have to be aware, Deepking. Madness and demons are spreading in this underground realm and you need to stay steadfast to fight back."
Horgar is an aged Duergar, wearing stately dwarven plate and a ceremonial headdress. He looks down upon you from the dais, his lips unmoving as he glances to each of you as Oorr calls out your names. The female duergar standing next to him shifts her weight a bit, and chuckles at the mention of Deepqueen. When Horgar hears this he raises a hand to silence her, then speaks in a hoarse voice "Hush, Shula, they are not from here. They do not know you are merely a consort, though one I treasure for your council." Shula seems pleased with the words of the Deepking and takes a step back from his side as he addresses the party.
Horgar speaks again in a raspy, yet authoritative voice, "Welcome Oorr of the Star Mounts, Grimnir the Gentle, Valrish the Volunteer, and Belwar the... ahem... Bald. Your help to the city of Gracklstugh has not gone unnoticed. No less than two of my most trusted allies in the city have heralded your coming. It is unusual for those from the overworld to help the duergar, we who have been cast off from Moradin's kin," and as he says this, his eye turns to Grimnir, "but nevertheless we have endured. For your service, you are welcome in my city, and given free reign that is normally reserved for duergar only. You speak of demons and madness. This is of great concern to me. We will double the guard and be wary of any oddness that may occur. Have you any other requests, or suggestions for me and my kingdom?"
He waits for an answer patiently. Shula steps forward to rest her hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know much about how to handle a kingdom, but we ask for directions to the nearest passage to the overworld and an escort if possible," Valrish says, stepping forward.
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PbP Characters Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
"I don't know much about how to handle a kingdom, but we ask for directions to the nearest passage to the overworld and an escort if possible," Valrish says, stepping forward.
"Ah, yes, true to your name, you have volunteered the first request, friend Valrish." The Deepking turns his head to his right, the opposite side from Shula, speaks softly some inaudible words to the empty space beside him, nods, and then turns back to the group. "The escort is commanded, though we cannot lead you to the overworld. Those passages are not known to us. You would do well to seek the deep gnomes in Blingdenstone perhaps, or the drow in Menzoberranzan, though from what I hear, you are not on friendly terms with the drow. The escort can guide you to many places in the underdark, you have but to name the location."
Oorr is trying to understand whether or not the gentleness of the Deepking is truthful or not. Insight 11
The deepking is very old, and it's hard to get a good read on his dark and wrinkled visage. You get the sense he is not happy that outsiders are roaming his city, but you are also aware that the stone giant's relationship with the deepkingdom goes back generations. Horgar may be trying to honor that relationship through his actions today. If not for your heroics with the Stonespeaker and the curse you abated from his people, you may not be having this conversation. You are not 100% certain he will deliver what he is saying (escort, or free roam in the city) or if he is merely paying lip service to you. As it is unclear, you assume he is sincere. For now.
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Thinking of what the duergar said, Grimnir thought out loud.. »that is true, maybe we should ggive our group a heroic name, so people will remember us! »
but then, coming back to reality, he presented himself. « Aye, I am Grimnir, Our Dragonborn Valrish, here, is the one who took care of the egg until now. We’re you looking for it ? And why this need to remain secret from your red dragon? »
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Turning to Oorr, the duergar replies still in hushed tones, "Demon worshipers? Last we knew, our egg had been taken by a thieving derro group known as the Gray Ghosts. It doesn't surprise me one bit that they were worshiping demons. We have sensed a great disturbance, as if a hole was torn in the world. Perhaps they are responsible! Very kind of you all to rescue the egg from them. Thank you... to all of you. I am Gartokkar Xundorn, leader of the Keepers of the Flame, and watcher of Themberchaud, the red dragon who keeps the Gracklstugh forges lit." As he says this, several other keepers come up to the egg and begin to inspect it. Another brings a litter with an egg shaped impression on it, preparing to transfer the egg over so they can remove it.
Then, to Grimnir, "We have been looking for this egg for days, ever since it was stolen from us. We interrogated several members of the Gray Ghosts, but they were all mad, as derro tend to be, and would not tell us what they had done with it. Obviously you had much better luck. As to why it is a secret, let's just say that as the Keepers of the Flame we are responsible for overseeing the one who keeps the fires lit in the city, and we believe that new blood is needed to accomplish this. Themberchaud has grown fat and lazy. It is perhaps time he retired. I would ask you not speak of any of this to him, should you encounter him. For returning of the egg, and your silence on the matter, I offer a reward." Gartokkar claps his hands twice and a duergar bearing a banded wooden chest steps forward, opening it to reveal gold and gems.
Oorr remains expressionless, gold and wealth mean nothing to him. He is more interested in doing the right thing and perhaps Gartokkar is influenced by the madness of this underworld.
Insight 7
You do not detect any deception from Gartokkar, though you're unclear exactly what his motivations are. He seems to genuinely be happy the egg has been returned.
Valrish, a little bit emotional seeing the egg being taken away, steps up towards Gartokkar. "We've managed to take care of the eggling on our own, so I suppose that the Keepers of the Flame will take even better care of it. A reward on the level of the moving and keeping a dragon egg safe through this mad underworld of yours must be quite plentiful. Right?" Valrish asks the duergar.
Insight: 7
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
Gartokkar is hard to read, and you are unable to tell his true intentions with the egg. Gartokkar raises an eyebrow at Valrish, "You have our thanks and our gold, and you ask for more? Yes, indeed, you've done very well. I see you even managed to keep it warm, without which it may have died. The chest is all we have to offer, take it or leave it. Gold is hard to keep around here. Themberchaud often confiscates it for his own horde of treasure, and once it's there, there's no getting it back. Thank you again, we have the egg now. You may leave." Gartokkar turns his attention to where the other keepers are trying to transfer the large egg to the litter. One of the keeper's feet gets tangled in his robes as he helps to lift the egg, losing his grip, and the egg starts to topple toward the ground. Gartokkar rushes forward, "You fools!" he shouts, "Be careful with that, it's nearly ready to hatch!" His voice echoes momentarily throughout the hall, but everyone's eyes are on the toppling egg.
Valrish, seeing the egg topple, quickly runs towards it and tries to stop it from falling down as he rages. He wouldn't let his work go to waste, and he most certainly wasn't going to dishonor himself by letting a dragon egg break.
Athletics: 19
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
Grimnir is watching the scene with interest. In this crazy world, the fate of this egg is actually a small priority.
He will leave this to Valrish who seems to be more attached to it.
He then turns his attention to the chest and the gold, trying to evaluate how much coins there is.
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
The heat of your rage subsides quickly, but as it does you find yourself stabilizing the egg, and placing it gently into the litter brought by the robed duergar. Gartokkar sighs in relief, and the keepers begin to take the egg away. The duergar holding the chest steps forward and places it into Valrish's hands. Grimnir does some quick calculations peering over Valrish's shoulder, noting the gems, and the volume of the box... there's at least 1,000 gp value in the box.
Before Grimnir can get a final count, a low rumbling growl is heard from the large cavern outside the building you're in. A slow deep voice like rattling coal is heard echoing throughout the area. "Gartokkar... what is all that commotion?" The floors begin to vibrate rhythmically as foot steps fall in your direction.
Gartokkar's sigh turns into a gasp, and he turns to the duergar hauling the egg away to the back of the room. "Quickly! Quickly! He must not see it!" He rushes to cover the egg with the blanket from the stone giants that had fallen to the floor, but as he nears the egg he notices the massive yellow eye peering through one of the upper windows in the vaulted room.
"What is this?!" the booming voice yells, as the massive horned head of Themberchaud breaks through the upper walls. He crushes the outer wall, a large, imposing Adult Red Dragon. "An egg?! So you mean to replace me? Well... I am not the only one that can be replaced." With that Thermberchaud takes a deep breath, his face pointed towards the duergar and Gartokkar carrying the egg.
(OOG The room you are in is huge. There's actually an entrance for Themberchaud, but he decided to come through the wall instead... You are all slightly behind the dragon as he faces away and appears to be about to breathe on the duergar with the egg, including Gartokkar.)
Oorr would really hate to have the feathers burnt, so he asks Zippy to make his way out of there, and when everyone else of his companions is out as well, he will follow.
As much as Valrish is honored to see an Adult Dragon, he'd much rather not be toasted by one. He carries the chest out of the dragon's sight and approaches his comrades. "Say, why don't we leave now? Seems as good a time as any."
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
Grimnir sees the Red Dragon ready to exhale his fire breath and help Valrish grab the money and Run away from the duergar that is going to be roasted... " Cover quick!"
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
You all grab the gold and run, fleeing the room just as Themberchaud releases a devastating breath of fire on his one time keepers. You feel the red hot heat on your backs as you race through the doorway and out into the dark city streets of Gracklstugh. Screams erupt from inside the building, but are soon cut off. Not wanting to linger, you hurry away, gold in hand. As you move North, you see groups of stone guards, giants, and a few more keepers of the flame rushing towards Themberchaud's cavern to see what has happened, and hopefully to calm the dragon down. You avoid talking to them, and manage to find an out of the way place to count the gold you earned.
The chest contains coins, gems, and jewelry worth 1,068 GP.
Having narrowly missed a fight with a large red dragon, you lay low and let the commotion die down, but soon you make your way to the hold of the Deepking on the suggestion of the Stonespeaker.
As you approach, you are surprised to find the palace unguarded, but then you pick up on the sounds of feet moving, armor clinking, and spears rattling, for what sounds like dozens, if not hundreds, of soldiers. When you approach closer, a palace guard captain materializes right in front of you. Knowing that duergar can turn invisible at will, this is not completely surprising, but the sudden appearance does cause you to be slightly startled. After giving you a quick once over, the guard captain nods, and indicates that he has been expecting you. Both Stonespeaker Hgraam and Errde Blackskull have sent word of your deeds to the Deepking, and he is eager to meet the adventurers from the overworld. More duergar materialize around you, and as a group, escort you inside.
A herald at the front of the hall shouts out, "The great hall of Horgar Steelshadow the Fifth, Deepking of Gracklstugh welcomes..er, welcomes..." At this point he leans in to the group and in a loud whisper asks, "Who do we say you are, friends?"
"I am Oorr of the Star Mounts, with me are Grimnir The Gentle, Valrish the Volunteer and Belwar the Bald. And this is my friend, Zippy Eight-Eyes. We all are pleased to meet you, Deepking and Deepqueen. Many troubles have occurred in your city, we helped at best of our winds. You have to be aware, Deepking. Madness and demons are spreading in this underground realm and you need to stay steadfast to fight back."
Horgar is an aged Duergar, wearing stately dwarven plate and a ceremonial headdress. He looks down upon you from the dais, his lips unmoving as he glances to each of you as Oorr calls out your names. The female duergar standing next to him shifts her weight a bit, and chuckles at the mention of Deepqueen. When Horgar hears this he raises a hand to silence her, then speaks in a hoarse voice "Hush, Shula, they are not from here. They do not know you are merely a consort, though one I treasure for your council." Shula seems pleased with the words of the Deepking and takes a step back from his side as he addresses the party.
Horgar speaks again in a raspy, yet authoritative voice, "Welcome Oorr of the Star Mounts, Grimnir the Gentle, Valrish the Volunteer, and Belwar the... ahem... Bald. Your help to the city of Gracklstugh has not gone unnoticed. No less than two of my most trusted allies in the city have heralded your coming. It is unusual for those from the overworld to help the duergar, we who have been cast off from Moradin's kin," and as he says this, his eye turns to Grimnir, "but nevertheless we have endured. For your service, you are welcome in my city, and given free reign that is normally reserved for duergar only. You speak of demons and madness. This is of great concern to me. We will double the guard and be wary of any oddness that may occur. Have you any other requests, or suggestions for me and my kingdom?"
He waits for an answer patiently. Shula steps forward to rest her hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know much about how to handle a kingdom, but we ask for directions to the nearest passage to the overworld and an escort if possible," Valrish says, stepping forward.
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
Oorr is trying to understand whether or not the gentleness of the Deepking is truthful or not.
Insight 5
"Ah, yes, true to your name, you have volunteered the first request, friend Valrish." The Deepking turns his head to his right, the opposite side from Shula, speaks softly some inaudible words to the empty space beside him, nods, and then turns back to the group. "The escort is commanded, though we cannot lead you to the overworld. Those passages are not known to us. You would do well to seek the deep gnomes in Blingdenstone perhaps, or the drow in Menzoberranzan, though from what I hear, you are not on friendly terms with the drow. The escort can guide you to many places in the underdark, you have but to name the location."
The deepking is very old, and it's hard to get a good read on his dark and wrinkled visage. You get the sense he is not happy that outsiders are roaming his city, but you are also aware that the stone giant's relationship with the deepkingdom goes back generations. Horgar may be trying to honor that relationship through his actions today. If not for your heroics with the Stonespeaker and the curse you abated from his people, you may not be having this conversation. You are not 100% certain he will deliver what he is saying (escort, or free roam in the city) or if he is merely paying lip service to you. As it is unclear, you assume he is sincere. For now.