"I am more curious - how long that talk would take." Ola did not order anything and was just sitting there, thinking. "Still would like to visit Alliance office. Unlikely they know more about house Sokol, still, the take of that house equals on the matter can be interesting. If there is enough time, I would use it to visit Alliance."
OOC: Ola's contact at the Lord's Alliance is at the Valhingen Graveyard on the outskirts of town. It's not nearly as close as the docks to The Laughing Goblin, but possible to get there and back before sundown.
Imizael pours another ale for Zelra and answers, "I'm afraid not. I think your friend is the better person to ask about that."
For Sylyra:
"We are not fond of order and process in the Harpers. We value the independence of our agents, and as such, we must be certain that those in our ranks are capable of gathering information and intelligence by themselves. I wanted to see if, given no more than a location, you would have the ability to do so, and I must say I am pleased. Not only did you learn of the situation at Sokol Keep, but also then gathered your companions and set about fixing it, without any guarantee of payment," Olisara says.
"The best way to solve a problem is to do so before it begins. This tenet is at the very core of our mission as Harpers, and one that you seem to share. So, now, I will stop playing coy and share with you what I know." She crosses a leg over the other and leans forward.
"One of the Black Fist guards that is regularly stationed at the Keep, at his own request, has gone missing; a guard sergeant by the name of Grim. Reports of him speak of a lazy man who cares about money first and foremost, and jumps from one scheme to get rich quickly to the next. Others in the Black Fist speak of a position at Sokol Keep in the worst terms, which begs the question, why would a man with such poor character be routinely volunteering for such a spot? I suspect that this is his current scheme, that he has found something at the Keep that he believes will make him a rich man."
"The Keep is old after all, older than most of Phlan. Whether it is arcane in nature, forgotten knowledge, or something else entirely, I would prefer it to stay out of the hands of a lazy Black Fist guardsman. That is my charge to you, Watcher Wasanthi: Keep an eye out for such things, recover them, and return them to the Harpers, where they can be studied and safely kept."
In the midst of Olisara's information and request, memories come flooding in from your early days in Phlan. Grim is a name you have heard before, and with the connection to Keria and Aravele it is not hard to piece together. After your falling out with the pair, he arrived with a trio of Black Fist guards in the Cracked Crown where you were staying and made a display of arresting you, listing all sorts of grievances against Keria and Aravele that were either highly exaggerated or simply untrue. Once they escorted you out of the tavern, he and the guards attempted to beat you down. You escaped with some bad injuries, but an even worse injury to your pride. This was one of your lowest moments, the final blow to any attempt at a reputation among the nobles in Phlan.
OOC: So Grim is the friend of Keria that you established as my nemesis at the beginning.
Sylyra's jaw tightens the longer Olisara talks. By the time she finishes, he realizes he is starting to get a headache from grinding his teeth. He smiles a hard smile. "I am familiar with that particular guard," the druid says, trying to sound less angry than he feels. "My friends and I will do what we can to uncover the scheme."
Olisara smiles playfully as she walks back to the door and opens it for you. "Always so serious," she comments. "Good luck. I have high hopes for you."
Ola (that did not go to Lord's Alliance, of course) just asked: "Anything new about the case?" but regardless of the answer she was ready to finally move to the island.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Zelra chugs down the rest of her ale, says goodbye to Fat Mar and Imizael before following aside Sylyra, eyeing his face and body language to try and discern how he's feeling after his meeting.
Sylyra is contemplative and upset/angry — not his usual self-absorbed, elitist self.
In response to Ola's question, the elf says, "Not much new. A Black Fist thug — seems the organization is full of them — named Grim has gone missing. He is Keria's friend. The one who was stationed at the beacon. If he's involved, there's a good chance there's something special there. Something worth a lot of gold. Whatever it is, I've been told to retrieve it for the Harpers." He reaches up and touches his cheek, where you remember the final discoloration of a bruise was when you first met Sylyra. Catching himself, he runs his fingers through his long, blond hair to push it away from his face and folds his arms across his chest somewhat protectively.
Zelra frowns. "Mmhm. As I thought. You're usually so snooty but now you just seem... I dunno, upset? What exactly happened in there? I mean, look at this."She gestures towards his crossed arms. "Something definitely happened."
Ola nodded, listening: "Interesting: everyone knows and talks about treasure, but nobody dears to go and claim it. Too scared or do not really believe? I suspect we soon will find out. Though, if Igan Sokol is alive - and treasure does exist - he might object Harper's demand".
With business at The Laughing Goblin wrapped up, Imizael gives you a salute and Fat Mar a wave goodbye as you walk to Phlan's docks once more, past offices you approached earlier in the day, to the southern edge of town.
The late afternoon sunlight puts Thorn Island on full display, just three hundred feet from shore. The distance seems so miniscule, but the dangerous rocks and strong currents in the area suggest that a swim would be much more intense than it would seem at a glance.
Thorn Island is dominated by a large stone keep, one particular tall tower towering above it all, an impressive structure and larger than anything in Phlan outside of Valjevo Castle itself.
It takes almost a half an hour to find the ferry, so jarring is the contrast between the imposing keep and the meager dock that services its transport. A small boat is attached to the dock next to a snoozing elderly fellow that a dockworker along the way assured Zelra is Karst the ferryman. He sits in a chair, head drooped forward, snoring contentedly.
"Ahem," Ola politely coughed to give the dockworker time to pretend he did not sleep on work, and raised voice a bit if he did not react "Would you be Karst? Sergeant Hurn is asking you to transport our group to the Keep. Would you be able to do it now?"
Zelra sees the old man snoring and chuckles to herself beforing heading behind the chair, grabbing it and shaking it while shouting next to Karst's ear. "Oh no! Its the kraken! Everyone run! Ahhhh!"
Uragum frowns, "This is the fairy-man? That can't be right. He is much to large, has no wings, no pointed ears. Why he's just a man.... so disappointing."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Zelra makes her way to the booth they were at before. "Yep! I'll have another light ale. Also, would you happen to know what they're talking about?"
"I am more curious - how long that talk would take." Ola did not order anything and was just sitting there, thinking. "Still would like to visit Alliance office. Unlikely they know more about house Sokol, still, the take of that house equals on the matter can be interesting. If there is enough time, I would use it to visit Alliance."
OOC: How far is the office?
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
OOC: Ola's contact at the Lord's Alliance is at the Valhingen Graveyard on the outskirts of town. It's not nearly as close as the docks to The Laughing Goblin, but possible to get there and back before sundown.
Imizael pours another ale for Zelra and answers, "I'm afraid not. I think your friend is the better person to ask about that."
For Sylyra:
"We are not fond of order and process in the Harpers. We value the independence of our agents, and as such, we must be certain that those in our ranks are capable of gathering information and intelligence by themselves. I wanted to see if, given no more than a location, you would have the ability to do so, and I must say I am pleased. Not only did you learn of the situation at Sokol Keep, but also then gathered your companions and set about fixing it, without any guarantee of payment," Olisara says.
"The best way to solve a problem is to do so before it begins. This tenet is at the very core of our mission as Harpers, and one that you seem to share. So, now, I will stop playing coy and share with you what I know." She crosses a leg over the other and leans forward.
"One of the Black Fist guards that is regularly stationed at the Keep, at his own request, has gone missing; a guard sergeant by the name of Grim. Reports of him speak of a lazy man who cares about money first and foremost, and jumps from one scheme to get rich quickly to the next. Others in the Black Fist speak of a position at Sokol Keep in the worst terms, which begs the question, why would a man with such poor character be routinely volunteering for such a spot? I suspect that this is his current scheme, that he has found something at the Keep that he believes will make him a rich man."
"The Keep is old after all, older than most of Phlan. Whether it is arcane in nature, forgotten knowledge, or something else entirely, I would prefer it to stay out of the hands of a lazy Black Fist guardsman. That is my charge to you, Watcher Wasanthi: Keep an eye out for such things, recover them, and return them to the Harpers, where they can be studied and safely kept."
In the midst of Olisara's information and request, memories come flooding in from your early days in Phlan. Grim is a name you have heard before, and with the connection to Keria and Aravele it is not hard to piece together. After your falling out with the pair, he arrived with a trio of Black Fist guards in the Cracked Crown where you were staying and made a display of arresting you, listing all sorts of grievances against Keria and Aravele that were either highly exaggerated or simply untrue. Once they escorted you out of the tavern, he and the guards attempted to beat you down. You escaped with some bad injuries, but an even worse injury to your pride. This was one of your lowest moments, the final blow to any attempt at a reputation among the nobles in Phlan.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
DM:
OOC: So Grim is the friend of Keria that you established as my nemesis at the beginning.
Sylyra's jaw tightens the longer Olisara talks. By the time she finishes, he realizes he is starting to get a headache from grinding his teeth. He smiles a hard smile. "I am familiar with that particular guard," the druid says, trying to sound less angry than he feels. "My friends and I will do what we can to uncover the scheme."
What does Grim look like?
For Sylyra:
Olisara smiles playfully as she walks back to the door and opens it for you. "Always so serious," she comments. "Good luck. I have high hopes for you."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Sylyra returns to the common room to gather the others. "We can go," he'll say, ready to depart.
Ola (that did not go to Lord's Alliance, of course) just asked: "Anything new about the case?" but regardless of the answer she was ready to finally move to the island.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Zelra chugs down the rest of her ale, says goodbye to Fat Mar and Imizael before following aside Sylyra, eyeing his face and body language to try and discern how he's feeling after his meeting.
Insight: 17
Sylyra is contemplative and upset/angry — not his usual self-absorbed, elitist self.
In response to Ola's question, the elf says, "Not much new. A Black Fist thug — seems the organization is full of them — named Grim has gone missing. He is Keria's friend. The one who was stationed at the beacon. If he's involved, there's a good chance there's something special there. Something worth a lot of gold. Whatever it is, I've been told to retrieve it for the Harpers." He reaches up and touches his cheek, where you remember the final discoloration of a bruise was when you first met Sylyra. Catching himself, he runs his fingers through his long, blond hair to push it away from his face and folds his arms across his chest somewhat protectively.
Zelra frowns. "Mmhm. As I thought. You're usually so snooty but now you just seem... I dunno, upset? What exactly happened in there? I mean, look at this." She gestures towards his crossed arms. "Something definitely happened."
Ola nodded, listening: "Interesting: everyone knows and talks about treasure, but nobody dears to go and claim it. Too scared or do not really believe? I suspect we soon will find out. Though, if Igan Sokol is alive - and treasure does exist - he might object Harper's demand".
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Sylyra drops his arms and half glares in Zelra. "It's nothing. Let's go."
With business at The Laughing Goblin wrapped up, Imizael gives you a salute and Fat Mar a wave goodbye as you walk to Phlan's docks once more, past offices you approached earlier in the day, to the southern edge of town.
The late afternoon sunlight puts Thorn Island on full display, just three hundred feet from shore. The distance seems so miniscule, but the dangerous rocks and strong currents in the area suggest that a swim would be much more intense than it would seem at a glance.
Thorn Island is dominated by a large stone keep, one particular tall tower towering above it all, an impressive structure and larger than anything in Phlan outside of Valjevo Castle itself.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Sylyra looks for the ferry.
As they reach the docks, Zelra will ask around to find where Karst the ferryman may be.
Sylyra Perception (Advantage-Help): 11
It takes almost a half an hour to find the ferry, so jarring is the contrast between the imposing keep and the meager dock that services its transport. A small boat is attached to the dock next to a snoozing elderly fellow that a dockworker along the way assured Zelra is Karst the ferryman. He sits in a chair, head drooped forward, snoring contentedly.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"Ahem," Ola politely coughed to give the dockworker time to pretend he did not sleep on work, and raised voice a bit if he did not react "Would you be Karst? Sergeant Hurn is asking you to transport our group to the Keep. Would you be able to do it now?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
If he shows any hesitation, Sylyra will provide the written note from Liela.
Zelra sees the old man snoring and chuckles to herself beforing heading behind the chair, grabbing it and shaking it while shouting next to Karst's ear. "Oh no! Its the kraken! Everyone run! Ahhhh!"
Uragum frowns, "This is the fairy-man? That can't be right. He is much to large, has no wings, no pointed ears. Why he's just a man.... so disappointing."