Grin sits down between the sofas in the cabin, she pulls off her pack and extracts a leather bound book with the title "Surviving Innovation" and sets it on her knees and behinds reading.
Watching his two bunkmates Nevlav shimmies out of his chainmail and lays his shield propped in a corner. He glances briefly a Grin reading and sits on one of the couches, "Yoric, I am sorry that things seemed harsh back there. I understand that you want to do good and care for others. Alden is just a strong willed one and is dvout in his service, as am I. Your skills will be needed in the coming days and I really want to be sure that you can understand our points of views."
Yoric shakes his head with a resigned smile. “I get it, I’m not stupid. It just didn’t even give a chance for reason or compassion to have its chance to resolve the problem. That seems a bit of a reflection of the larger problem we’re meant to assist with, yes?”
“Grin, I’ll admit... being in a room with you makes me want to panic a bit.” Yoric says dryly, recalling the implication Admiral Flintlock made about Grin being a mage of some sort.
As the five of you settle in for a long journey, the train chugs along. It is surprisingly comfortable, and the first-class cabins you are sharing are equipped with many modern conveniences that allow you all to quickly relax despite the gravity of your task and the tense situation that just occurred in the station.
The train passes through the seaside town of Clingham Heights, the major industrial center of Broccton, and the town of Seewaldt, where the Kenku were attempting to gain passage -- there is a strong smell of chocolate in the air and the Engineer comes over the loudspeaker to remind you all that Seewaldt is home to the Kingdom's official chocolatier.
After Seewaldt, those of you who are still awake notice a couple of times hushed voices outside your cabins and shadows appearing under your thresholds, but everytime you look, it seems to be nothing -- perhaps some passengers got turned around on their way to the saloon car, or maybe it was the conductor.
Finally the train passes Valois and the conductor yells in a surprisingly robust voice for a halfling "Yellow Creek up ahead. Ladies and gentlemen, please make sure you have all your baggage before disembarking. Anything left on this train is considered property of the Crown."
As you gather your things, and disembark, a few passengers get off with you -- a woman whose face is wrapped in a tight veil who seems to be struggling with a heavy bag, a handful of gnomes dressed in mining gear are chatting, and a young family, a female elf, a male human who has his arm wrapped around her and is glancing about nervously and two small children who are running all over the nearly empty station.
A dwarf with a thin red chinstrap beard, dressed in the uniform of an enlisted man in the Royal Navy rushes up to you and speaks in a low voice. "Excuse me sirs, oh, and madam!" Seeing Grin, he blushes and bows. "We received a radiogram from Admiral Flintlock Garrock to expect you. Captain Graddor is working on our, uh... 'lead' and asked that you meet him at the Canary. Its a tavern near the mines, popular with the workers. I can take you there now."
“Lead on, sailor.” Yoric shoulders his pack and gestures to the dwarf. “While we walk, can you tell me: do you get many travelers here to Yellow Creek?”
Nevlav raps on the door to Thalion and Alden's room, "Up and at 'em boyos, and don't forget your stuff!" Nevlac gives a big stretch now that he is re-armored and off the train, he notices the woman and marches over, "Help you with the bag for a bit miss?" Almost as if not waiting for an answer he reaches for the bag to help shoulder the burden.
The dwarf seems uncomfortable around Grin and he stammers out a response as he was corrected -- "Oh yes...I am sorry, Ma'...I mean Miss."
As he starts to direct the larger group toward the station exit, he begins talking in a very fast voice, almost like an eager puppy. "No, sir. The mine is the only thing we really have going here for us. We get some of those silk-hatted toffs from the capital..." he blushes and pauses, unsure if he gave offense, but then seemingly decides to push right through "who want to negotiate some sweetheart deals with Lady Raskiel for the ore, but other than that, not really Not even any oversight from the government. Captain Graddor kind of IS the government. That's the way we likes it. Nice and quiet here.
“I don’t usually take much interest in mining. Perhaps I’ve neglected the romance of smelting in my songs. Lady Raskiel is the owner of the mines?” Yoric is happy to have a chatty guide.
Thalion hadn't slept, of course, but his meditation came to a sudden end as Nevlav pounds on the door. Somewhat disgruntled, he shoulders his pack, his bow and his quiver and attaches his shortsword to his belt, happy for once that he didn't have to actually use it.
He gestures for Alden to follow and scampers off the train, easily catching up with the short-legged dwarven guide.
Alden gathers his thing and gathers with the rest of the group, following the dwarven sailor. Alden makes mental notes of the dwarf and what he is saying as the others converse with him.
Nevlav, you find the woman's suitcase to be much heavier than you imagine. It takes some effort, but you do eventually get the suitcase down. The woman thanks you profusely. "Thank you so much, kind sir. Its so refreshing to get out of that diseased, horrid city and into the countryside where there are still REAL gentlemen." Through her veils, you don't see much, other than big green eyes with pupils being thin slits. She presses five gold coins into your palms and begins to drag her suitcase along the station floor in the opposite direction from you.
As you catch up with the group, you hear the red-headed dwarf still happily chattering away. "Indeed she is, sire....a most beautiful woman. Inheirted it from her husband, Lord Raskiel, one of the "Heroes of the Realm," 'e was. Prince Kellen's artillery officer. Cradled the prince's 'ead in 'is lap as the poor old sod died. Tragic! Raskiel was given 'is title and operatorship of these mines as a reward for 'is service. A good man, 'e was. 'is wife's alright, but bit of a snob, if you ask me." The dwarf pauses to take a breath.
As the group walks, the further you get from the train station, the seedier and seedier Yellow Creek seems to become. There is a Church of the Engineer, sitting half-finished, at the point where the town specifically becomes clearly the part of town where most of the mine laborers work. The sailor begins to speak of the mines, excitedly describing the process of mining the ore, adding "if you like, I reckon Captain Graddor could probably arrange a tour. Breathtaking sight, it is."
The dwarf stops in front of a dilapidated building.
"This 'ere's the Canary. Captain Graddor is inside, probably with a lass on 'is lap and a pint in 'is hand."
“Thank you, Sailor. You’re a real help. I hope I see you again, sometime.” Yoric gives the dwarf a wave. He then turns to the crap hole that is the Canary - the meaning of which is not lost on him with regards to mines- takes a deep breath, and strides in, with his lute now in his hand.
As usual in the city Thalion wore his hood up, not to obscure his face but to hide his pointed ears. Smelling the sooty air of a mining village he frowns. Mines meant dwarves and for some reason he never did get along with dwarves.
He waits for the bard with his lute to enter the bar and liven up the place before opening the door himself. Instead of entering he gestures for the rest of the party to enter. He says, "I'm going to stand near the door and keep a lookout. I didn't want to cause alarm by mentioning it earlier, but we were followed to the train and they might have hitched a ride."
Grin sits down between the sofas in the cabin, she pulls off her pack and extracts a leather bound book with the title "Surviving Innovation" and sets it on her knees and behinds reading.
Watching his two bunkmates Nevlav shimmies out of his chainmail and lays his shield propped in a corner. He glances briefly a Grin reading and sits on one of the couches, "Yoric, I am sorry that things seemed harsh back there. I understand that you want to do good and care for others. Alden is just a strong willed one and is dvout in his service, as am I. Your skills will be needed in the coming days and I really want to be sure that you can understand our points of views."
Yoric shakes his head with a resigned smile. “I get it, I’m not stupid. It just didn’t even give a chance for reason or compassion to have its chance to resolve the problem. That seems a bit of a reflection of the larger problem we’re meant to assist with, yes?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"People be stupid. Ya can'reason wit' wan, but'ya put dem togedder an' you get paranoia and panick." Grin says without looking up from her book.
“Grin, I’ll admit... being in a room with you makes me want to panic a bit.” Yoric says dryly, recalling the implication Admiral Flintlock made about Grin being a mage of some sort.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Grin's eyes tilt up from her book and in a dry, flat tone she says. "Good" before continuing to read.
As the five of you settle in for a long journey, the train chugs along. It is surprisingly comfortable, and the first-class cabins you are sharing are equipped with many modern conveniences that allow you all to quickly relax despite the gravity of your task and the tense situation that just occurred in the station.
The train passes through the seaside town of Clingham Heights, the major industrial center of Broccton, and the town of Seewaldt, where the Kenku were attempting to gain passage -- there is a strong smell of chocolate in the air and the Engineer comes over the loudspeaker to remind you all that Seewaldt is home to the Kingdom's official chocolatier.
After Seewaldt, those of you who are still awake notice a couple of times hushed voices outside your cabins and shadows appearing under your thresholds, but everytime you look, it seems to be nothing -- perhaps some passengers got turned around on their way to the saloon car, or maybe it was the conductor.
Finally the train passes Valois and the conductor yells in a surprisingly robust voice for a halfling "Yellow Creek up ahead. Ladies and gentlemen, please make sure you have all your baggage before disembarking. Anything left on this train is considered property of the Crown."
As you gather your things, and disembark, a few passengers get off with you -- a woman whose face is wrapped in a tight veil who seems to be struggling with a heavy bag, a handful of gnomes dressed in mining gear are chatting, and a young family, a female elf, a male human who has his arm wrapped around her and is glancing about nervously and two small children who are running all over the nearly empty station.
A dwarf with a thin red chinstrap beard, dressed in the uniform of an enlisted man in the Royal Navy rushes up to you and speaks in a low voice. "Excuse me sirs, oh, and madam!" Seeing Grin, he blushes and bows. "We received a radiogram from Admiral Flintlock Garrock to expect you. Captain Graddor is working on our, uh... 'lead' and asked that you meet him at the Canary. Its a tavern near the mines, popular with the workers. I can take you there now."
“Lead on, sailor.” Yoric shoulders his pack and gestures to the dwarf. “While we walk, can you tell me: do you get many travelers here to Yellow Creek?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Before departing the train, Grin is going to leave a straw and burlap poppet in one of the other cabins.
"It's miss" Grin says with an indignant tone. She follows closely after Yoric and the dwarf
Nevlav raps on the door to Thalion and Alden's room, "Up and at 'em boyos, and don't forget your stuff!" Nevlac gives a big stretch now that he is re-armored and off the train, he notices the woman and marches over, "Help you with the bag for a bit miss?" Almost as if not waiting for an answer he reaches for the bag to help shoulder the burden.
(Nevlav -- make a Strength check)
The dwarf seems uncomfortable around Grin and he stammers out a response as he was corrected -- "Oh yes...I am sorry, Ma'...I mean Miss."
As he starts to direct the larger group toward the station exit, he begins talking in a very fast voice, almost like an eager puppy. "No, sir. The mine is the only thing we really have going here for us. We get some of those silk-hatted toffs from the capital..." he blushes and pauses, unsure if he gave offense, but then seemingly decides to push right through "who want to negotiate some sweetheart deals with Lady Raskiel for the ore, but other than that, not really Not even any oversight from the government. Captain Graddor kind of IS the government. That's the way we likes it. Nice and quiet here.
Grin let's out a playful moan before saying "Too qua-yet." and trailing off into a light cackle.
“I don’t usually take much interest in mining. Perhaps I’ve neglected the romance of smelting in my songs. Lady Raskiel is the owner of the mines?” Yoric is happy to have a chatty guide.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Thalion hadn't slept, of course, but his meditation came to a sudden end as Nevlav pounds on the door. Somewhat disgruntled, he shoulders his pack, his bow and his quiver and attaches his shortsword to his belt, happy for once that he didn't have to actually use it.
He gestures for Alden to follow and scampers off the train, easily catching up with the short-legged dwarven guide.
Alden
Alden gathers his thing and gathers with the rest of the group, following the dwarven sailor. Alden makes mental notes of the dwarf and what he is saying as the others converse with him.
Nevlav strength check: 13
Nevlav, you find the woman's suitcase to be much heavier than you imagine. It takes some effort, but you do eventually get the suitcase down. The woman thanks you profusely. "Thank you so much, kind sir. Its so refreshing to get out of that diseased, horrid city and into the countryside where there are still REAL gentlemen." Through her veils, you don't see much, other than big green eyes with pupils being thin slits. She presses five gold coins into your palms and begins to drag her suitcase along the station floor in the opposite direction from you.
As you catch up with the group, you hear the red-headed dwarf still happily chattering away. "Indeed she is, sire....a most beautiful woman. Inheirted it from her husband, Lord Raskiel, one of the "Heroes of the Realm," 'e was. Prince Kellen's artillery officer. Cradled the prince's 'ead in 'is lap as the poor old sod died. Tragic! Raskiel was given 'is title and operatorship of these mines as a reward for 'is service. A good man, 'e was. 'is wife's alright, but bit of a snob, if you ask me." The dwarf pauses to take a breath.
As the group walks, the further you get from the train station, the seedier and seedier Yellow Creek seems to become. There is a Church of the Engineer, sitting half-finished, at the point where the town specifically becomes clearly the part of town where most of the mine laborers work. The sailor begins to speak of the mines, excitedly describing the process of mining the ore, adding "if you like, I reckon Captain Graddor could probably arrange a tour. Breathtaking sight, it is."
The dwarf stops in front of a dilapidated building.
"This 'ere's the Canary. Captain Graddor is inside, probably with a lass on 'is lap and a pint in 'is hand."
“Thank you, Sailor. You’re a real help. I hope I see you again, sometime.” Yoric gives the dwarf a wave. He then turns to the crap hole that is the Canary - the meaning of which is not lost on him with regards to mines- takes a deep breath, and strides in, with his lute now in his hand.
Paladin - warforged - orange
As usual in the city Thalion wore his hood up, not to obscure his face but to hide his pointed ears. Smelling the sooty air of a mining village he frowns. Mines meant dwarves and for some reason he never did get along with dwarves.
He waits for the bard with his lute to enter the bar and liven up the place before opening the door himself. Instead of entering he gestures for the rest of the party to enter. He says, "I'm going to stand near the door and keep a lookout. I didn't want to cause alarm by mentioning it earlier, but we were followed to the train and they might have hitched a ride."
Grin wanders inside after immediately upon arrival, not listening to the words of warning from Thalion.