Raven sighs as she sees the captain wake up.  "Good day Captain Kibble.  I swear I have done nothing, not since the last time we spoke that is..." She glances to the window and then back to the gnome.  "My father was not able to meet me at our usual place and, instead, sent a letter asking me to return to my mom."  She pulls out a letter from her pocket.  "He said there was something strange happening, and wanted me safely back in the Free City..."

Quote from Astalda >>

"It is good to meet you, Del, a talented musician is always welcome in Lomalos.  But it is merely Captain Kibble, not 'Lady.' Even among the noble houses here, titles are rarely used, except for in the most formal situations, or for the highest-placed leaders."

 
Elwin's ears would have perked if they could. They didn't use titles? Were the nobles here actually... sensible? Surely that would be too much to hope for.

Quote from BaconExpert982 >>

"Eladrin don't see the seasons the same way those who live in this realm do,"

 
Eladrin, was it? The warlock made a mental note to remember the otherworldly elvish clan.

Quote from JacWalke >>

"If they are magical in nature you should perhaps head to the same place as I. Lord Quentin Adiyodi."

 
Elwin stifled a groan. So he WAS a noble, yet when told they didn't use titles locally, he insisted on his being noticed. This one would be a handful.

Quote from DragonDenn >>

"Good day Captain Kibble.  I swear I have done nothing, not since the last time we spoke that is..."

 
And this one appeared to already know the captain? Interesting...

The young man cleared his throat as he addressed the gnome.

"The name is Elwin. Elwin Cold." He didn't have any fancy titles, but he did have a surname now, and one that he'd earned. Dismissing thoughts about nobility for the moment, he smiled broadly and continued, "I'm just a lowly warrior seeking adventure, and hoping to make a name for himself."

He couldn't help but puff himself slightly as he asked, "If you've got any local troubles, just let me know; my fees are pretty reasonable, if I say so meself." Another smile, one of confidence and youthful ambition, again directed toward the captain.

"Greetings, Elwin Cold," says Captain Kibble. "Lomalos is still fairly peaceful, and many of our own fighters have been sent away to aid in more dangerous territories. This has left a gap, and I am sure that you will find many travelers and merchants grateful for protection.  I happen to know that the castle will be looking for some reliable guards very soon. I will keep your name in mind."

Turning to the woman with a stern, slightly reproachful expression, she adds, "Raven Blackblade.  Am I to understand that the Free City will not have its usual break from your shenanigans this year?  I will have to listen to Constable Allendre sobbing into his ale at the Bell and Drum all summer long."

Elwin's eyes widened slightly at the half-elf's open chastisement. He managed to hold back a grin though; even though he didn't look like trouble size-wise, he'd been a bit of a hell-raiser himself in his youth, and he couldn't help but wonder what sorts of trouble this Raven normally caused? Hopefully nothing too terrible.

But this still seemed more immediately interesting than even Mindartis the "Eladrin." So of course, he listened intently for Raven's response, while feigning disinterest the entire time. He even cast a discrete glance at Del, to see what the bard (apparently) thought of this--after all, he'd already pegged him as a potential traveling companion, might as well see just how straight-laced of a chap he was, too.

Curiously Quentin asks, “Excuse me Captain Kibble. I don’t mean to be rude but, why is the castle looking for extra guards? Did they send all of their guards away as well, leaving none to defend it?” 

"The castle is well guarded," says Kibble.  "At this time I am not at liberty to discuss the details of the matter. Just that there will be an opportunity to serve the kingdom in the near future."

"Hey, it is not my fault." Raven points out with a playful shrug.  "Blame my father if you wish..." She looks thoughtful though.  "Would you know anything about this trouble he refers to..."

Quentin gives a respectful nod to the Captain for her answer, choosing to not press any further. However, he has a look on his face that the group may one day realizes that he has come up with some sort of crazy idea. 

"Well then, Lord Quentin," Mindartis laughs, "perhaps I will take you up on your offer. The tattoos are not magical, but how else would they appear suddenly without magic?"

Quote from DragonDenn >>

"Hey, it is not my fault." Raven points out with a playful shrug.  "Blame my father if you wish..." She looks thoughtful though.  "Would you know anything about this trouble he refers to..."

  "The gnolls have been very active in the south, hitting merchant shipments and small villages.  I also hear news that the planar seals have been broken by some unnamed team of villains," Kibble tells them. "It is easier to cross between planes now--even accidentally-- and rumors are being told at the Council Hall of evil Fey creatures, monsters of Shadowfell, and even demons of the Abyss being sighted.  One never knows how much is true, of course.  And I'm afraid I have not been to Rhachluksor recently myself, and the Court of Whispers is secretive.  They have not shared their troubles with the Council of Courts. I can only assume that it is more of the same. Fens are notoriously likely places for planar portals."

"Well father knows what he is doing."  Raven says, though she looks worried at the news.

The coach rolls on and the sun climbs in the sky, as you chat and pass the time.  The light forest turns to deeper forest, the light green beginnings of leaves at the tip of every twig. Pixies buzz around, collecting the few early-blooming wildflowers, and you occasionally see the huts and burrows of gnome villages among the trees. In time, the forest opens into farmland, and the coach turns east at a crossroads. A few fields are newly plowed, but many are still covered in puddles from the recently melted snow.

Suddenly, the wheel hits a large bump, jouncing everyone nearly out of your seats, and the coach fills with an unbearably foul odor. You come to a sudden halt.

A furious, red-faced coachman yanks the door open, hauling Kibble’s trunk out and dumping it on the road, shouting, “I WARNED YOU, CAPTAIN!  I TOLD YOU WHAT WOULD HAPPEN! THIS COACH IS MY LIVELIHOOD!  NOBODY WILL WANT TO RIDE IN IT FOR WEEKS! OUT!  ALL OF YOU, OUT!”

It doesn’t take any encouragement to get you out onto the road, away from the suffocating stench.  The coachman’s backup is already throwing all your luggage into the ditch. In a few moments, the coach is galloping away to the east, nearly mowing down a couple of kids pulling a cart, and scattering a group of people who were standing in the road.

Kibble kneels down beside the trunk and opens it.  The black and white striped head of an extremely annoyed giant skunk peers out. “There, there, Zanzibar,” Kibble soothes the creature, ruffling its ears.  “Did the nasty coachman scare you?  No tip for him.”

Standing up, she says, "I apologize for your rude welcome to the kingdom. I'm afraid I have to leave you here.  This development has threatened to make me late for an important meeting.  But the buildings of the Thamasaille Simul begin just over there--" she points beyond the group of people in the road, where you can see what look like some large stone barns--"and you can probably find transportation there, through the academy to the Free City, if that is where you are headed.  Alternately, the Naicas keep the old tavern going about five miles to the west, and you will eventually find the gnome town of Scatters if you go back to the crossroads and head north. I have to be off now.  Zanzibar, come!"  She heads off cross-country between two muddy fields.  "And behave yourself!"

It is not clear whether she is addressing that last remark to the skunk.

"Well that was interesting..."  Raven says with a glance after the departing Captain.  Looking to the others in her motley group, she grins at them.  "Well I think the tavern sounds good to me, do you wish to go there, or head to one of the other places?"

Quentin looks absolutely flabbergasted as he is thrown from the cart with all his luggage. Gathering it up he says, “I mean really! A simple spell could have gotten rid of the smell! It would have been just a simple bump in the road!” Quentin looks down at his shoes which now has mud on them. “This is appalling.” Taking out his wand, a rather simple but strong looking wooden wand, he mutters his arcane words and cleans off the mud. “Now, I plan on heading  to the academy and getting to the city. I can certainly get everyone in who needs a teleport.” 

Well, I was going to say - and with the captain gone maybe freer to say? I'm in about the same boat as you, Brother Elwin, at loose ends and looking to be occupied. But what a set of choices! A quest for answers! Search for knowledge! Roving fiends to protect folk from! Shenanigans! Mystery!

Free of the carriage Del arranges his gear and hangs his fiddle from its sling so he could pluck or bow as needed I'm just out of the abbey where I studied Bardcraft (using Minor Illusion to show an image of the place) so the Tavern is a trifle more interesting right now than the Academy. But the latter is closer, and a source of further transport. On the gripping hand, just 5 miles and early in the day - Tavern first and Simul thereafter is possible. Then plays a bit: Winter turns to summer - Sadness turns to fun - Keep the faith, baby - You broke the rules and won Sha-la-la-la-la-la Shaaa-laa-laa-laa

"Oh come on, The Monkey Shines is a good place to catch up on some news, at the very least."  Raven says with a glance in the tavern's direction.  "It is not so far from there to the Academy, so we could have a drink, some food, and then head to the Academy to check on a ride on to the Free City."

Quentin seems to grumble to himself before looking at the eladrin and human who haven't spoken up yet, "What about you two? Surely you two agree getting to the city is the optimal move." 

"You'll probably only have to stew at the Academy until tomorrow anyway."  Raven points out.  "Who knows when the next coach is heading out..."  She nods to the tavern.  "At least at the tavern you can get some wine, some food, or whatever else you are wanting, then head on over to the Academy afterwards..."  She gives a sigh.  "If you would rather go to the Academy first, to check on the ride situation, we can always walk the distance back to the tavern if we have time before the coach leaves..."  She clearly doesn't like this second option as much though.

Elwin had been a bit irritated at being kicked off the coach, but found himself smiling at Quentin's even greater annoyance.

Listening to the others, he turned toward Raven and Del. "The tavern sounds great for the time being. No point in setting out for who-knows-how-long on an empty stomach."

Turning to Quentin, he teased (with the tiniest bit of concern for a noble who appeared out of his element,) "Besides, I'm sure my lord needs food as well, even if it's not the roast and cakes he's used to, yeah?" He added a definite, if subtle air of breathiness to the title as he said it. Not enough for an overt insult, but just enough to accentuate the teasing.

At the mention of food Quentin's stomach let's out a loud rumble. The nobles face turning a deep red at the embarrassing noise that involuntarily escaped. "I suppose perhaps you might be right. A stop for food will do us all some good. We should secure transport as soon as possible though." Making sure he has everything Quentin says, "Please, would you be kind enough to see my to this...Monkey Shines."