Lem listens to Zashier’s response, eyes as usual barely able to make contact, darting about the room, mostly the floor, and his trembling fingers fidgeting with themselves, periodically drifting up, index finger raised to the ceiling as if to register a hesitant complaint or take issue with something the paladin just said, but always sinking back down to continue fidgeting in silence. He lets Zashier finish his declaration that he won’t allow anything to be kept.
Eyes still on the ground, he says, “I was merely making the point that, theoretically, all of this would belong to a dragon, or a monster like Amros, if it were not for us. We came here to retrieve something for a friend, and seem to have done so. We nearly died, several times. Of course most of this can go back to whoever might be able to prove they lost it. It’s not greed to believe accomplishing something difficult merits compensation, especially if that compensation allows the doing of more... good deeds.”
He looks to the rest of the group. “Am I right to say that? Of course we won’t take everything, but when we bring all this back to the authorities, we can present what portion we expect to keep. Plus the expectation that anything in this hoard that someone cannot prove is theirs can go to us. A finder’s fee. A just reward. Whatever you want to call it. As for the dragon egg, it just seems smart to keep it close so we can help decide what to do with it. I doubt the good lord wants to have the egg in Fallcrest anyway. He will probably shove it back at us and ask us to dispose of it. What are people supposed to do with a dragon egg?” He looks to Zashier. “Do you.... do you think that the dragon egg is the rock? And the hammer is whatever smashes it? Is that what you mean?”
When he finds the red dragon scale chest he mutters amiably about how happy Telly will be. He pulls it out a bit to see if there is anything hidden underneath the scales inside the chest. The two bags he tosses on the floating disk with some negligence.
As one unaccustomed to holding on to negative feelings, Zashier brightens almost immediately at Yokini's entrance. A good mood that lasts all of three seconds, or so it felt to the elephantine man. Though he listened respectfully to Lem's explanation, it is clear throughout much of it that the Paladin wasn't fully buying into things. Not after the warning yesterday from good, old friends. But, it was some kind of change in tune, so by the end he had to stop looking so tense.
"Well first off. As I think I said before, or at least with Ms. Thistle, a finder's fee is fine once it's all been delivered and given a chance to be sorted out."He reminds, though even he furrowed his brow in consternation, before ultimately deciding to shrug off any inconsistency.
"And naw man. Mr. Amros might've lost it a bit, but even he wouldn't have kept working with'em if they wanted a Dragon Egg, which would've been bad for just about everyone. My thinking is that it something more precious, but locked up out of his reach, yeah? Something we can ask him about, or the more proper authorities to look into, if they should not need our services." He replied. "Same goes for the hammer, which is probably something taken during the war, and if so, also likely kept by the top of the proverbial food chain here." He nods sagely. "Anyhow, we best get going already. See if we can maybe catch a guard or two too about escorting us the place, and go from there."
With that said, and everything loaded up, Dragon Egg included, Zashier leads the way upstairs. Once at the top he does have the brilliant idea of tossing his own bedroll -- a really a compilation of stitch together blankets -- over the loot as some added measure of security.
Thistle does weigh in on the treasure or not question. "I think there's a difference, in my mind, between stolen items and found treasure. Items that were stolen should be returned to their owners, and that probably includes the egg, mind you. Anything not stolen, or that can't be proven, is found treasure, and we should get to keep it, unless there's an established tax in the city for found treasure. I'm not one to argue the point, and I've known a city or two that wouldn't bat an eye at claiming anything found to be property of the treasury, but I'm also not inclined to fight my way out for some gold or a magical item or two." She looks up at Zashier.
"I'm of the same mind as Zashier, here, though we've come to it from different directions. We should present it all to the city and see what they let us keep."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Lem listens to Thistle, nodding here and there. “Exactly, I’m glad we’re on the same page, they’ll need solid proof. Now let’s get going.” He also ritually casts unseen servant and starts walking, and the floating disk begins moving out of the cavern, up stairs, through the house, and out onto the street, always 20 feet behind Lem, attached via invisible tether. He stops every once in a while to ensure the pile doesn’t shift as the disk moves, and replaces any coins or containers that fall, enlisting the unseen servant to help in this task. He takes Zashier’s idea to heart and covers it with his own bedroll as well.
(The disk only moves when the caster tries to move 20 feet away, and it stays no more than 20 feet, per the spell description.)
The party makes their way up from the basement, still some disagreement as to how to handle the discovered treasure. With the help of the Yokinis family, as well as the other freed captives, everything seems accounted for. You make your way up and out of the basement, through the dilapidated house which is now looking even worse with several holes in the wall and ceiling that you didnt notice last night, and out of the dragon shaped hole in the wall. In the bright morning sun you can take in your surroundings a bit more. The exterior of the estate is broken more than you thought it was. From what you can tell, the dragon must have burst up into the main part of the house, possibly looking for the egg, then burst out into the street freezing a few passersby. It couldnt unfurl its wings and get momentum in the tight city streets. It looks as if it climbed and jumped on a few different buildings, climbing its way up to the top of the Kamroth estate, where it must have finally taken off....to where, you dont know....will it return? You dont know that either, and its that question that seems to itch at the back of your brain as you walk through the streets, leaving behind you the aftermath of the dragon, and an estate that seems to be falling apart as you move away out into Upper Fallcrest.
As your caravan of treasure-laden humanoids makes their way through the streets of Upper Fallcrest, a few of the guards from the Wizards Gate (Eastern City Gate) break away from their post to accompany you to Moonstone Keep. Looking at the map in discord, (pinned in the Media channel) the Kamroth Estate is the large building right on the cliff's edge of Upper Fallcrest, near #4 the Wizards Gate. You make your way through the streets and alleys to the Northern Gate. The citizens of Fallcrest begin to fall in line. Despite Zashier's bedrolll over some of the treasure, it is impossible not to notice a long line of around 20 people hauling chests and treasure through the streets. You gain quite a following, growing larger as you get closer to the Keep.
Rumors flew around last night and this morning about the dragon, and about Amros. Now they see treasure and the townsfolk want to know whats going on. A few shouts of "Is that my trunk?" and "Are those my candelabras?" and other items being thrown out as people think they see their own possessions in the stack of treasure.
You get to the Northern Gate, and turn right up the stone stairwell, the mini-forest to your right as you go up the stairs to Moonstone Keep, the home of Falen Markelhay, the Lord of Fallcrest. Making your way through the gates, you pick up a few more guards to escort you into the Keep, almost the entire town following behind you.
In the open area outside of the keep, but inside the inner gate, there are a few tables around which you place the treasure on, and quickly run out of space, bringing over another table and piling the rest of the treasure on and around it.
The party stands in front, near the treasure.
The city bunches in behind them.
Lord Markelhay, with Bireal and Romero and a few other high ranking guards exit the Keep directly in front of you, and a hush falls over the crowd. He is a balding middleaged human, with kind eyes and an imposing belly. Likely once a strong warrior, its obvious he has become more peacemaker than protector in his ruling of Fallcrest.
Lord Markelhay address you "Good morning. Welcome to Fallcrest. I have heard a lot of stories in my lifetime, but nothing quite like what I heard last night. I havent gotten much sleep, but thats nothing unusual. What with the mishaps we have had in the last few months. But thats beside the point. I dont recognize most of you. Zashier I know of you, though we have not officially met. Could you please fill me in on what has happened in my town? I would like to hear it straight from the horses mouth...or the elephant's mouth, as it were. (He smirks at his own joke, not trying to offend, just creating some levity in the tense situation).
Does Lem see Amros anywhere? And having lived in the book repository for years, has Lem ever seen Markelhay before? Does he see Lt. Plank, Scrub, or Toggle among the guards?
When Yokini’s family arrives to help move the treasure, he slips into what he thinks is gnomish (he does not speak it but just assumes it’s similar enough to dwarvish that he can figure out any false cognates on the fly, which he most certainly cannot), and begins giving gentle, redundant directions, supportive encouragement, and odd arcane calculation, muttering to himself. You know, the usual Lem stuff.
Lem stays close to the treasure pile and otherwise stays silent. He doesn’t like telling stories and really doesn’t like the idea of telling them in front of the whole town. Were there still people frozen by the dragon outside or was that cleared away? I’m not sure the news of the casualties has even reached Lem yet.
Thistle keeps a watchful eye out during the procession, trying to note anyone of the Braids, or anyone paying a different sort of attention than the townsfolk.
Perception: 25
At the audience with the Lord of Fallcrest, she silently pulls out the diary, that she has been keeping safe, and hands it to Zashier, with a nod, along with the necklace worn by the kobold. Both are evidence of Amros' actions, and perhaps the collusion of others in town (who also wear the necklace?).
Lem's attempt at gnomish is...pitiful at best, and Yokini's family just nods and smiles, and then shrug their shoulders at each other.
Lem, you do not see Amros or your old friends, now guards, Lt. Plank, Scrub, and Toggle. You might have seen Lord Markelhay before, definitely read about him and his family line saving this town and rebuilding it, but you have not interacted directly with him.
Lem, not sure if you know about the casualties or not, but no you do not see any. They must have been cleared away, and any ice remnants have melted.
Thistle, you most certainly do see a handful of braids, but they stay towards the back of the crowd, not getting too close to you or the treasure - likely just observing and reporting...for now...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
When Lem slips into Dwarvish, Yokini does as well, speaking the language comfortably. When anything is directed to her family, she translates on the sly, trying to keep up the appearance that her friend is speaking Gnomish.
Flashback:
After waking that morning, Yokini spent a little time working on an experimental elixir, which results in a (5) potion of resilience.
Notes on necklace evidence: in #56, Amros is described as wearing "an intricate necklace of woven golden strands that looks to be in the shape of a dragon"
And in #59, Thistle noticed "with your passive perception, you notice 2-3 people in the room that seem to be leaning forward when everyone else is leaning away from the situation...and you notice that they also have golden braided necklaces peeking out from under their robes."
Thistle would have mentioned this to the party, I think, when we found a similar necklace on the kobold.
Also, DM, are any of the people Thistle saw in the tavern (#59) present now? I assume the "Braids" gang, and the people wearing braided necklaces, are not the same people, yes? I suppose there might be overlap..? Thistle's first concern is if the Braids gang is wholly part of Amros' cult. But her secondary concern is who else might be part of Amros' cult, and where they might be now. (They could have been the cultists we dispatched in the basement, of course.)
Zashier cannot help himself. Despite the seriousness of the moment in almost every possible way, and as much as the curious statement about past problems made by the lord, the elephantine man snaps and finger crossbows Lord Markelhay. "I must say, that was a rather good one, milord. And I should know, as I am a huge Ele-fan of your work, sir."He adds, grinning from ear to ear. "I would say even that you have been most relephant Lord Protector, and most would agree, as you've always proven up to the tusk." He winks. But the joviality only lasts so long. And soon enough, he has to awkwardly clear his own throat. "Sad as it is to say, it was discovered that the man known as Mr. Armos Kamroth -- Amros.. Armis... Hmm... Bireal knows the one. He had not only stolen from the people of fallcrest or travelers to it, but also colluded with dragon cultist, the Braids, and kobolds in pursuit personal power to rival dragons... Worst yet, milord, we have also discovered some involvement with-..."
Zashier had to pause, as a measure of uncertainty finally entered his mind. It took willpower to keep from looking back to the people gathered behind him. Some of which he knew remembered the darker days, or experienced it first hand. But following a deep breathe, he puffs out his chest, and looked on again to the lord with a more serious expression. The most serious expression anyone has seen on Zashier's face in years. "Not just involvement, as it turns out, but outright conspiring with Orcs in setting up another war with us, and thensome. With word of them having even greater forces at their side this time." He immediately lays his ears flat against his skull as much as possible for the inevitable outcry of people that catch on to the declaration.
Whether it comes or not, he looks to retrieve the necessary books and notes from Lem, if such weren't already passed along earlier. And in a questioning look to the Lord about approaching, steps up to offer it Romero to likely inspect for any traps before it is then passed to the protector, as was likely tradition. "There is yet more as well, milord. Though I am uncertain, as I usually am admittedly, if this necessarily the setting further talk on it."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Thistle, great questions. You probably would have mentioned that, so we can retcon that - Thistle saw the necklaces early on, and once she saw it on the kobold made the connection. There were only a handful of them in the tavern that night, and thinking back at least one of them was in Amros's basement when you were there - he is now dead. You didnt commit all of their faces to memory, you were more concerned about the necklaces at the moment and who would jump in to defend Amros, but you feel pretty certain there are a few more people out there that were a part of Amros' cult...though, if they would step forward now, who knows. I will say you dont recognize any faces in the crowd except for a few of The Braids.
As for if there are any braids that were in the cult, you get the feeling that they are two separate issues. The Braids, a troublesome gang, and the cultists, a much large concern, but separate from The Braids.
Lord Markelhay listens intently. At the mention of Orcs, there is a general outcry from the people behind you. Lord Markelhay raises his hands for silence, which slowly overtakes the crowd yet again. He says "These are serious allegations you have brought against our most esteemed...well... most wealthy citizen of Fallcrest. He is now in our custody, as are a few of his followers; there is nothing at present to fear. You ALL can rest assured that we will get to the bottom of this. You (he gestures to the adventuring party and the freed captives) come with me so we can resolve this." more quietly now as he steps forward to Zashier "No more mention of orcs in the open like this. Are you trying to cause a panic?" He then turns and walks back inside The Keep, Bireal and Romero at his side. The other guards form up a perimeter around the treasure.
Lord Markelhay gestures, inviting you inside, and instructing his guards to watch over the treasure.
With an unreadable look at the many tables of treasure, Lem begins to walk inside, following the governor’s invitation. His floating disk, still carrying almost 500 pounds of treasure, begins to follow along 20 feet behind him (I’m assuming the loot from the disk was not offloaded onto tables, because priority would have been the stuff carried on people’s backs, and there were not enough tables).
All Lem says as they head inside, almost to himself is, “we were just looking for Telly’s lost dragon scale shipment, and then there were kobolds and a secret tunnel and monsters and cultists and disturbing, scientifically flawed experiments. Should have been just a simple acquisition job. Didn’t need to drag or- or- or- or- the war into it.” His fingers start fidgeting again.
Zashier winces, and rubs the back of his neck; following only then because the Lord had bade them. But when Lem spoke up, he is nodding nodding emphathetically and gesturing to Lem. "What he said, and most eloquently I might add. I never fully know how much to say, or not to say, as I am sure most here can attest to. I honestly felt that was a rather light thing to consider, seeing as we may or may be having a Mama dragon on our case as well, on account of the egg snatching Armos did apparently." He adds after they are inside, blithely ignorant of Lem's attempt to sidestep that elephant in the room.
It takes a second for Lem to realize that Zashier is talking about him, and a second more to realize he was talking out loud. His eyes bug out in self-conscious surprise at being called eloquent, and at having been heard at all.
At the mention of orcs, the collective gnome family all gasp along with the people. Many grab onto each other. Yokini's mom clings to Nynoa. Yokini looks surprised and outraged. "Orcs?" she asks quietly to her sibling. "What are they talking about?" As the party is asked to enter the keep, Yokini catches up to Lem. "Lemmy, what are you talking about? What's this about orcs? Did Zashier mean dragons?"
"Found a note in orcish and giant, some sort of planning about a hammer and a rock, still angry at us, Ini,"Lem says, very quietly. He looks up with large eyes. "It might not be over."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Lem listens to Zashier’s response, eyes as usual barely able to make contact, darting about the room, mostly the floor, and his trembling fingers fidgeting with themselves, periodically drifting up, index finger raised to the ceiling as if to register a hesitant complaint or take issue with something the paladin just said, but always sinking back down to continue fidgeting in silence. He lets Zashier finish his declaration that he won’t allow anything to be kept.
Eyes still on the ground, he says, “I was merely making the point that, theoretically, all of this would belong to a dragon, or a monster like Amros, if it were not for us. We came here to retrieve something for a friend, and seem to have done so. We nearly died, several times. Of course most of this can go back to whoever might be able to prove they lost it. It’s not greed to believe accomplishing something difficult merits compensation, especially if that compensation allows the doing of more... good deeds.”
He looks to the rest of the group. “Am I right to say that? Of course we won’t take everything, but when we bring all this back to the authorities, we can present what portion we expect to keep. Plus the expectation that anything in this hoard that someone cannot prove is theirs can go to us. A finder’s fee. A just reward. Whatever you want to call it. As for the dragon egg, it just seems smart to keep it close so we can help decide what to do with it. I doubt the good lord wants to have the egg in Fallcrest anyway. He will probably shove it back at us and ask us to dispose of it. What are people supposed to do with a dragon egg?” He looks to Zashier. “Do you.... do you think that the dragon egg is the rock? And the hammer is whatever smashes it? Is that what you mean?”
When he finds the red dragon scale chest he mutters amiably about how happy Telly will be. He pulls it out a bit to see if there is anything hidden underneath the scales inside the chest. The two bags he tosses on the floating disk with some negligence.
As one unaccustomed to holding on to negative feelings, Zashier brightens almost immediately at Yokini's entrance. A good mood that lasts all of three seconds, or so it felt to the elephantine man. Though he listened respectfully to Lem's explanation, it is clear throughout much of it that the Paladin wasn't fully buying into things. Not after the warning yesterday from good, old friends. But, it was some kind of change in tune, so by the end he had to stop looking so tense.
"Well first off. As I think I said before, or at least with Ms. Thistle, a finder's fee is fine once it's all been delivered and given a chance to be sorted out." He reminds, though even he furrowed his brow in consternation, before ultimately deciding to shrug off any inconsistency.
"And naw man. Mr. Amros might've lost it a bit, but even he wouldn't have kept working with'em if they wanted a Dragon Egg, which would've been bad for just about everyone. My thinking is that it something more precious, but locked up out of his reach, yeah? Something we can ask him about, or the more proper authorities to look into, if they should not need our services." He replied. "Same goes for the hammer, which is probably something taken during the war, and if so, also likely kept by the top of the proverbial food chain here." He nods sagely. "Anyhow, we best get going already. See if we can maybe catch a guard or two too about escorting us the place, and go from there."
With that said, and everything loaded up, Dragon Egg included, Zashier leads the way upstairs. Once at the top he does have the brilliant idea of tossing his own bedroll -- a really a compilation of stitch together blankets -- over the loot as some added measure of security.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Thistle does weigh in on the treasure or not question. "I think there's a difference, in my mind, between stolen items and found treasure. Items that were stolen should be returned to their owners, and that probably includes the egg, mind you. Anything not stolen, or that can't be proven, is found treasure, and we should get to keep it, unless there's an established tax in the city for found treasure. I'm not one to argue the point, and I've known a city or two that wouldn't bat an eye at claiming anything found to be property of the treasury, but I'm also not inclined to fight my way out for some gold or a magical item or two." She looks up at Zashier.
"I'm of the same mind as Zashier, here, though we've come to it from different directions. We should present it all to the city and see what they let us keep."
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Lem listens to Thistle, nodding here and there. “Exactly, I’m glad we’re on the same page, they’ll need solid proof. Now let’s get going.” He also ritually casts unseen servant and starts walking, and the floating disk begins moving out of the cavern, up stairs, through the house, and out onto the street, always 20 feet behind Lem, attached via invisible tether. He stops every once in a while to ensure the pile doesn’t shift as the disk moves, and replaces any coins or containers that fall, enlisting the unseen servant to help in this task. He takes Zashier’s idea to heart and covers it with his own bedroll as well.
(The disk only moves when the caster tries to move 20 feet away, and it stays no more than 20 feet, per the spell description.)
The party makes their way up from the basement, still some disagreement as to how to handle the discovered treasure. With the help of the Yokinis family, as well as the other freed captives, everything seems accounted for. You make your way up and out of the basement, through the dilapidated house which is now looking even worse with several holes in the wall and ceiling that you didnt notice last night, and out of the dragon shaped hole in the wall. In the bright morning sun you can take in your surroundings a bit more. The exterior of the estate is broken more than you thought it was. From what you can tell, the dragon must have burst up into the main part of the house, possibly looking for the egg, then burst out into the street freezing a few passersby. It couldnt unfurl its wings and get momentum in the tight city streets. It looks as if it climbed and jumped on a few different buildings, climbing its way up to the top of the Kamroth estate, where it must have finally taken off....to where, you dont know....will it return? You dont know that either, and its that question that seems to itch at the back of your brain as you walk through the streets, leaving behind you the aftermath of the dragon, and an estate that seems to be falling apart as you move away out into Upper Fallcrest.
As your caravan of treasure-laden humanoids makes their way through the streets of Upper Fallcrest, a few of the guards from the Wizards Gate (Eastern City Gate) break away from their post to accompany you to Moonstone Keep. Looking at the map in discord, (pinned in the Media channel) the Kamroth Estate is the large building right on the cliff's edge of Upper Fallcrest, near #4 the Wizards Gate. You make your way through the streets and alleys to the Northern Gate. The citizens of Fallcrest begin to fall in line. Despite Zashier's bedrolll over some of the treasure, it is impossible not to notice a long line of around 20 people hauling chests and treasure through the streets. You gain quite a following, growing larger as you get closer to the Keep.
Rumors flew around last night and this morning about the dragon, and about Amros. Now they see treasure and the townsfolk want to know whats going on. A few shouts of "Is that my trunk?" and "Are those my candelabras?" and other items being thrown out as people think they see their own possessions in the stack of treasure.
You get to the Northern Gate, and turn right up the stone stairwell, the mini-forest to your right as you go up the stairs to Moonstone Keep, the home of Falen Markelhay, the Lord of Fallcrest. Making your way through the gates, you pick up a few more guards to escort you into the Keep, almost the entire town following behind you.
In the open area outside of the keep, but inside the inner gate, there are a few tables around which you place the treasure on, and quickly run out of space, bringing over another table and piling the rest of the treasure on and around it.
The party stands in front, near the treasure.
The city bunches in behind them.
Lord Markelhay, with Bireal and Romero and a few other high ranking guards exit the Keep directly in front of you, and a hush falls over the crowd. He is a balding middleaged human, with kind eyes and an imposing belly. Likely once a strong warrior, its obvious he has become more peacemaker than protector in his ruling of Fallcrest.
Lord Markelhay address you "Good morning. Welcome to Fallcrest. I have heard a lot of stories in my lifetime, but nothing quite like what I heard last night. I havent gotten much sleep, but thats nothing unusual. What with the mishaps we have had in the last few months. But thats beside the point. I dont recognize most of you. Zashier I know of you, though we have not officially met. Could you please fill me in on what has happened in my town? I would like to hear it straight from the horses mouth...or the elephant's mouth, as it were. (He smirks at his own joke, not trying to offend, just creating some levity in the tense situation).
Does Lem see Amros anywhere? And having lived in the book repository for years, has Lem ever seen Markelhay before? Does he see Lt. Plank, Scrub, or Toggle among the guards?
When Yokini’s family arrives to help move the treasure, he slips into what he thinks is gnomish (he does not speak it but just assumes it’s similar enough to dwarvish that he can figure out any false cognates on the fly, which he most certainly cannot), and begins giving gentle, redundant directions, supportive encouragement, and odd arcane calculation, muttering to himself. You know, the usual Lem stuff.
Lem stays close to the treasure pile and otherwise stays silent. He doesn’t like telling stories and really doesn’t like the idea of telling them in front of the whole town. Were there still people frozen by the dragon outside or was that cleared away? I’m not sure the news of the casualties has even reached Lem yet.
Thistle keeps a watchful eye out during the procession, trying to note anyone of the Braids, or anyone paying a different sort of attention than the townsfolk.
Perception: 25
At the audience with the Lord of Fallcrest, she silently pulls out the diary, that she has been keeping safe, and hands it to Zashier, with a nod, along with the necklace worn by the kobold. Both are evidence of Amros' actions, and perhaps the collusion of others in town (who also wear the necklace?).
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Lem's attempt at gnomish is...pitiful at best, and Yokini's family just nods and smiles, and then shrug their shoulders at each other.
Lem, you do not see Amros or your old friends, now guards, Lt. Plank, Scrub, and Toggle. You might have seen Lord Markelhay before, definitely read about him and his family line saving this town and rebuilding it, but you have not interacted directly with him.
Lem, not sure if you know about the casualties or not, but no you do not see any. They must have been cleared away, and any ice remnants have melted.
Thistle, you most certainly do see a handful of braids, but they stay towards the back of the crowd, not getting too close to you or the treasure - likely just observing and reporting...for now...
When Lem slips into Dwarvish, Yokini does as well, speaking the language comfortably. When anything is directed to her family, she translates on the sly, trying to keep up the appearance that her friend is speaking Gnomish.
Flashback:
After waking that morning, Yokini spent a little time working on an experimental elixir, which results in a (5) potion of resilience.
All OCC >
Notes on necklace evidence: in #56, Amros is described as wearing "an intricate necklace of woven golden strands that looks to be in the shape of a dragon"
And in #59, Thistle noticed "with your passive perception, you notice 2-3 people in the room that seem to be leaning forward when everyone else is leaning away from the situation...and you notice that they also have golden braided necklaces peeking out from under their robes."
Thistle would have mentioned this to the party, I think, when we found a similar necklace on the kobold.
Also, DM, are any of the people Thistle saw in the tavern (#59) present now? I assume the "Braids" gang, and the people wearing braided necklaces, are not the same people, yes? I suppose there might be overlap..? Thistle's first concern is if the Braids gang is wholly part of Amros' cult. But her secondary concern is who else might be part of Amros' cult, and where they might be now. (They could have been the cultists we dispatched in the basement, of course.)
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
OOC: well-spotted!!
Zashier cannot help himself. Despite the seriousness of the moment in almost every possible way, and as much as the curious statement about past problems made by the lord, the elephantine man snaps and finger crossbows Lord Markelhay. "I must say, that was a rather good one, milord. And I should know, as I am a huge Ele-fan of your work, sir." He adds, grinning from ear to ear. "I would say even that you have been most relephant Lord Protector, and most would agree, as you've always proven up to the tusk." He winks. But the joviality only lasts so long. And soon enough, he has to awkwardly clear his own throat. "Sad as it is to say, it was discovered that the man known as Mr. Armos Kamroth -- Amros.. Armis... Hmm... Bireal knows the one. He had not only stolen from the people of fallcrest or travelers to it, but also colluded with dragon cultist, the Braids, and kobolds in pursuit personal power to rival dragons... Worst yet, milord, we have also discovered some involvement with-..."
Zashier had to pause, as a measure of uncertainty finally entered his mind. It took willpower to keep from looking back to the people gathered behind him. Some of which he knew remembered the darker days, or experienced it first hand. But following a deep breathe, he puffs out his chest, and looked on again to the lord with a more serious expression. The most serious expression anyone has seen on Zashier's face in years. "Not just involvement, as it turns out, but outright conspiring with Orcs in setting up another war with us, and thensome. With word of them having even greater forces at their side this time." He immediately lays his ears flat against his skull as much as possible for the inevitable outcry of people that catch on to the declaration.
Whether it comes or not, he looks to retrieve the necessary books and notes from Lem, if such weren't already passed along earlier. And in a questioning look to the Lord about approaching, steps up to offer it Romero to likely inspect for any traps before it is then passed to the protector, as was likely tradition. "There is yet more as well, milord. Though I am uncertain, as I usually am admittedly, if this necessarily the setting further talk on it."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Thistle, great questions. You probably would have mentioned that, so we can retcon that - Thistle saw the necklaces early on, and once she saw it on the kobold made the connection. There were only a handful of them in the tavern that night, and thinking back at least one of them was in Amros's basement when you were there - he is now dead. You didnt commit all of their faces to memory, you were more concerned about the necklaces at the moment and who would jump in to defend Amros, but you feel pretty certain there are a few more people out there that were a part of Amros' cult...though, if they would step forward now, who knows. I will say you dont recognize any faces in the crowd except for a few of The Braids.
As for if there are any braids that were in the cult, you get the feeling that they are two separate issues. The Braids, a troublesome gang, and the cultists, a much large concern, but separate from The Braids.
Zashier, at your puns, Lord Markelhay loosens his serious demeanor a bit. Any persuasion you need to roll will have advantage against Markelhay.
Lord Markelhay listens intently. At the mention of Orcs, there is a general outcry from the people behind you. Lord Markelhay raises his hands for silence, which slowly overtakes the crowd yet again. He says "These are serious allegations you have brought against our most esteemed...well... most wealthy citizen of Fallcrest. He is now in our custody, as are a few of his followers; there is nothing at present to fear. You ALL can rest assured that we will get to the bottom of this. You (he gestures to the adventuring party and the freed captives) come with me so we can resolve this." more quietly now as he steps forward to Zashier "No more mention of orcs in the open like this. Are you trying to cause a panic?" He then turns and walks back inside The Keep, Bireal and Romero at his side. The other guards form up a perimeter around the treasure.
Lord Markelhay gestures, inviting you inside, and instructing his guards to watch over the treasure.
With an unreadable look at the many tables of treasure, Lem begins to walk inside, following the governor’s invitation. His floating disk, still carrying almost 500 pounds of treasure, begins to follow along 20 feet behind him (I’m assuming the loot from the disk was not offloaded onto tables, because priority would have been the stuff carried on people’s backs, and there were not enough tables).
All Lem says as they head inside, almost to himself is, “we were just looking for Telly’s lost dragon scale shipment, and then there were kobolds and a secret tunnel and monsters and cultists and disturbing, scientifically flawed experiments. Should have been just a simple acquisition job. Didn’t need to drag or- or- or- or- the war into it.” His fingers start fidgeting again.
Zashier winces, and rubs the back of his neck; following only then because the Lord had bade them. But when Lem spoke up, he is nodding nodding emphathetically and gesturing to Lem. "What he said, and most eloquently I might add. I never fully know how much to say, or not to say, as I am sure most here can attest to. I honestly felt that was a rather light thing to consider, seeing as we may or may be having a Mama dragon on our case as well, on account of the egg snatching Armos did apparently." He adds after they are inside, blithely ignorant of Lem's attempt to sidestep that elephant in the room.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
It takes a second for Lem to realize that Zashier is talking about him, and a second more to realize he was talking out loud. His eyes bug out in self-conscious surprise at being called eloquent, and at having been heard at all.
At the mention of orcs, the collective gnome family all gasp along with the people. Many grab onto each other. Yokini's mom clings to Nynoa. Yokini looks surprised and outraged. "Orcs?" she asks quietly to her sibling. "What are they talking about?" As the party is asked to enter the keep, Yokini catches up to Lem. "Lemmy, what are you talking about? What's this about orcs? Did Zashier mean dragons?"
"Found a note in orcish and giant, some sort of planning about a hammer and a rock, still angry at us, Ini," Lem says, very quietly. He looks up with large eyes. "It might not be over."