(( lol...ok...maybe we needed grumpy Ithelion after all ))
Ithelion is silent for a moment, composing her thoughts. Does he know the source of the corruption? Is he part of it? Or just willing to turn a blind eye to make a profit? Humans. Everything is short-term.
Eventually she places her hands on the table before her and looks at the mayor, searching his face. (( Perception for any sense of deceit, or just greed: 7 ))
"We are here to ... to investigate the strange occurrences in the area. I suspect..." suspect, hah! She clasps her hands firmly in front of her.
"...I suspect that the fruit is part of that, and -- just so that we can be clear -- if they are linked...the blights, the fruit, and the increasing violence around the village...where would you stand then, on your desire to keep the fruit...available?"
Garnet's polite expression turns serious and she will choose to remain standing. She will hear his response to Ithelion, but her tolerance for this man is running very thin.
Intimidation: 23 Garnet is not happy with this greedy man and wants to intimidate him a little. Not threaten, just impose, maybe make him sweat.
@ithelion - I’m your tired state you can’t really get a good read on the mayor. “Ah, well IF they are linked, dear wizardess, I may reconsider...but in the meantime, the fruit the goblins sell us is cheap and can be sold elsewhere for 10 times or more that price. Did Rorik mention how it saved his daughter? Now she walks where she could not before! What’s a few dead cows with that kind of ability?”
@krom - the mayor’s moral compass certainly isn’t Pointed in the same direction as yours, but you can’t help wondering - if the mayor is to be believed, it granted life and vitality to that which was decaying and feeble, perhaps....
@garnet - Despite being in unfamiliar territory with an unknown amount of potential enemies around you, your intimidation is clear and causes the guard beside Vernor to step forward menacingly, hand on hilt. The guard makes a chicking sound and you feel the presence of bodies behind and to the sides of you. You look around you, and up to the second floor, and sure enough there are crossbows aimed at you. Vernor looks a bit surprised, but at the sight of having you surrounded it doesn’t last long. “Whoa whoa whoa! Yes,” he nods to Daemyar, “finally some sense! I propose a simple partnership, if you are willing. Perhaps my intentions have been misread. Perhaps you’d like to sleep on it?”
EVERYONE please roll a perception check, no advantages!
@Krom - leaning back in your chair, you notice a tattoo on the guard closest to Vernor - the one with his hand on his sword hilt after Garnet's intimidation play. It's a symbol of a dragon-like creature in flight, within a circle. Looking closer at Vernor, you notice a ring on his finger with the same insignia. You can roll a history check if you like...
Ithelion frowns when the guards become alert, but nods at Daemyar's comment, then turns back to the mayor with a slight smile, still nodding, "So -- just so we can be clear about what you propose -- if at all possible, you would like us to leave the source of the seeds untouched, remove the goblins, and leave you and..." she waves her hands to the men in the gallery "...your people in charge of the source of the seeds. Is that right?"
She frowns and glances theatrically at her companions then turns back to the mayor, "And in return for this difficult task, you would pay us for the goblin ears and give us some other undisclosed reward?"
@Krom - you immediately recognize this symbol as The Black Network - the Zhentarim. The Zhentarim seek to become the inescapable organization with whom everyone does business, and to monopolize commerce and trade. They specialize in all types of operations - legal and illegal - bringing prosperity (and sometimes hardship and suffering) - to people and places across the continent. The Zhentarim want to be relied upon and want to be the only game in town. The structure itself gives individual members freedom to pursue their own ends while remaining loyal to the “family.” The organization has deep pockets and eyes and ears everywhere, from the urchins on the street corner to high placed officials in governments, to money lending operations and colonizing expeditions in the untamed wilds of Chult. If the world were a pie, then the Zhents are several fingers deep. They are offset mainly by the Harpers. @ithelion - “Yes, dear wizardess. But be assured you will be handsomely rewarded - say, 250 gp and several scrolls you might fancy? I can bring structure to the sale of the fruit but right now it’s haphazard. I can’t imagine it getting into the wrong hands. And it’s no more difficult than you seem to already be doing, if my scouts are to be believed.” He grins and sits back, taking a sip of his wine. “But why don’t you think it over? I don’t want to get your stony skinned friend’s undergarments in a twist...just yet. I’m always looking for brave experts, like yourselves...”
Ithelion takes a deep breath and another sip of her wine, the replaces the glass on the table, and wipes her hands on her trouser legs. "We..." she waves her arm to include her companions, "...have much to discuss it seems. Though the exact nature of the magic in the citadel eludes us, it is important to the outcome. Do you perhaps know anything of it's nature, or its history?"
@ithelion - He raises an eyebrow towards you. “Hmm, that seems like privileged information and information has a price - everything, in fact, has a price. I do happen to know a lot about the Citadel, if that’s what you mean. Part of my business of course, is knowing things...”
Ithelion stares at him for a moment, unsure what to say. Would he truly put his interests ahead of the the well-being of the town? Eventually she nods, frowning slightly, "So..." she looks slowly around the room, and specifically at the guards, trying to remember their faces.
"So that we have a mutual understanding that is clear, and we can make the most well-informed decision possible: are you saying that you will willingly share this information with us if we agree to your terms, otherwise you will withhold it from us?"
When she has spoken, she glances around again to assess the reactions of the guards.
@ithelion - the guards all have masks that cover their noses and mouths. You see their eyes if anything. The guard next to Vernor is in full view though. “I withhold nothing, adventurer,” he says to Ithelion, “I only offer a deal. And I get my information from the best sources, and the most knowledgeable people. As I said, everyone has a price.” And with that he flips a small medallion onto the table. It spins and flips as it rests before you: a symbol Of a castle over which is emblazoned a flame. “Everyone,” Vernor repeats with a smug smile. Ithelion you know this symbol but in case you forgot -
it’s a medallion given to all members of Candlekeep after a long apprenticeship. Usually that’s the only way to get one of them and the master librarian oversees all their creation...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(( Gulp -- advantage vs charm, don't forget -- just saying ))
Wisdom Save: 7
(( Edit: and I can add 4 to my (failed) save as a reaction .... which might make that 17...
At 2nd level, you have learned to weave your magic to fortify yourself against harm. When you are hit by an attack or you fail a saving throw, you can use your reaction to gain a +2 bonus to your AC against that attack or a +4 bonus to that saving throw.
@ithelion - you are caught severely off-guard and are a bit surprised and rather perplexed, and you are unable to hide it. Confusion and surprise paint a picture on your face better than words ever could. Any skill you do for the next ten minutes that needs voice is at disadvantage. The rest of the party look at the symbol and at you but aren’t sure what to make of it all.
Vernor goes on, “I see that it surprises you that the Master Librarian and I know each other? Well, as I said earlier...”. He smiles and looks at the rest of you, clapping his hands: “Well? Shall we sup? Or would you rather go to your rooms at the Ol' Boar? Or perhaps you have an answer for me now?”
(( lol...ok...maybe we needed grumpy Ithelion after all ))
Ithelion is silent for a moment, composing her thoughts. Does he know the source of the corruption? Is he part of it? Or just willing to turn a blind eye to make a profit? Humans. Everything is short-term.
Eventually she places her hands on the table before her and looks at the mayor, searching his face. (( Perception for any sense of deceit, or just greed: 7 ))
"We are here to ... to investigate the strange occurrences in the area. I suspect..." suspect, hah! She clasps her hands firmly in front of her.
"...I suspect that the fruit is part of that, and -- just so that we can be clear -- if they are linked...the blights, the fruit, and the increasing violence around the village...where would you stand then, on your desire to keep the fruit...available?"
Quietly sitting back in his chair, Krom just listens to the mayor talk.
Insight: 18 just to feel out if there is more intention than what the mayor is letting on.
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Garnet's polite expression turns serious and she will choose to remain standing. She will hear his response to Ithelion, but her tolerance for this man is running very thin.
Intimidation: 23
Garnet is not happy with this greedy man and wants to intimidate him a little. Not threaten, just impose, maybe make him sweat.
Daemyar will remain next to and slightly behind Garnet. “There are many ways to interpret your intentions.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
@ithelion - I’m your tired state you can’t really get a good read on the mayor. “Ah, well IF they are linked, dear wizardess, I may reconsider...but in the meantime, the fruit the goblins sell us is cheap and can be sold elsewhere for 10 times or more that price. Did Rorik mention how it saved his daughter? Now she walks where she could not before! What’s a few dead cows with that kind of ability?”
@krom - the mayor’s moral compass certainly isn’t Pointed in the same direction as yours, but you can’t help wondering - if the mayor is to be believed, it granted life and vitality to that which was decaying and feeble, perhaps....
@garnet - Despite being in unfamiliar territory with an unknown amount of potential enemies around you, your intimidation is clear and causes the guard beside Vernor to step forward menacingly, hand on hilt. The guard makes a chicking sound and you feel the presence of bodies behind and to the sides of you. You look around you, and up to the second floor, and sure enough there are crossbows aimed at you. Vernor looks a bit surprised, but at the sight of having you surrounded it doesn’t last long. “Whoa whoa whoa! Yes,” he nods to Daemyar, “finally some sense! I propose a simple partnership, if you are willing. Perhaps my intentions have been misread. Perhaps you’d like to sleep on it?”
EVERYONE please roll a perception check, no advantages!
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Ithelion perception: 11
Garnet's Perception: 11
Krom's Perception: 17
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Daemyar perception 14
Paladin - warforged - orange
Lorell - perception 15
@Krom - leaning back in your chair, you notice a tattoo on the guard closest to Vernor - the one with his hand on his sword hilt after Garnet's intimidation play. It's a symbol of a dragon-like creature in flight, within a circle. Looking closer at Vernor, you notice a ring on his finger with the same insignia. You can roll a history check if you like...
Edit - Lorell History - 6
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Krom's History: 20
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Ithelion frowns when the guards become alert, but nods at Daemyar's comment, then turns back to the mayor with a slight smile, still nodding, "So -- just so we can be clear about what you propose -- if at all possible, you would like us to leave the source of the seeds untouched, remove the goblins, and leave you and..." she waves her hands to the men in the gallery "...your people in charge of the source of the seeds. Is that right?"
She frowns and glances theatrically at her companions then turns back to the mayor, "And in return for this difficult task, you would pay us for the goblin ears and give us some other undisclosed reward?"
@Krom - you immediately recognize this symbol as The Black Network - the Zhentarim.
The Zhentarim seek to become the inescapable organization with whom everyone does business, and to monopolize commerce and trade. They specialize in all types of operations - legal and illegal - bringing prosperity (and sometimes hardship and suffering) - to people and places across the continent.
The Zhentarim want to be relied upon and want to be the only game in town. The structure itself gives individual members freedom to pursue their own ends while remaining loyal to the “family.” The organization has deep pockets and eyes and ears everywhere, from the urchins on the street corner to high placed officials in governments, to money lending operations and colonizing expeditions in the untamed wilds of Chult. If the world were a pie, then the Zhents are several fingers deep. They are offset mainly by the Harpers.
@ithelion - “Yes, dear wizardess. But be assured you will be handsomely rewarded - say, 250 gp and several scrolls you might fancy? I can bring structure to the sale of the fruit but right now it’s haphazard. I can’t imagine it getting into the wrong hands. And it’s no more difficult than you seem to already be doing, if my scouts are to be believed.” He grins and sits back, taking a sip of his wine. “But why don’t you think it over? I don’t want to get your stony skinned friend’s undergarments in a twist...just yet. I’m always looking for brave experts, like yourselves...”
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Ithelion takes a deep breath and another sip of her wine, the replaces the glass on the table, and wipes her hands on her trouser legs. "We..." she waves her arm to include her companions, "...have much to discuss it seems. Though the exact nature of the magic in the citadel eludes us, it is important to the outcome. Do you perhaps know anything of it's nature, or its history?"
@ithelion - He raises an eyebrow towards you. “Hmm, that seems like privileged information and information has a price - everything, in fact, has a price. I do happen to know a lot about the Citadel, if that’s what you mean. Part of my business of course, is knowing things...”
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Ithelion stares at him for a moment, unsure what to say. Would he truly put his interests ahead of the the well-being of the town? Eventually she nods, frowning slightly, "So..." she looks slowly around the room, and specifically at the guards, trying to remember their faces.
"So that we have a mutual understanding that is clear, and we can make the most well-informed decision possible: are you saying that you will willingly share this information with us if we agree to your terms, otherwise you will withhold it from us?"
When she has spoken, she glances around again to assess the reactions of the guards.
Krom just leans in his chair keeping what he knows to himself for now. No need to mix the pot any more than it has been.
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
@ithelion - the guards all have masks that cover their noses and mouths. You see their eyes if anything. The guard next to Vernor is in full view though.
“I withhold nothing, adventurer,” he says to Ithelion, “I only offer a deal. And I get my information from the best sources, and the most knowledgeable people. As I said, everyone has a price.” And with that he flips a small medallion onto the table. It spins and flips as it rests before you: a symbol Of a castle over which is emblazoned a flame. “Everyone,” Vernor repeats with a smug smile.
Ithelion you know this symbol but in case you forgot -
it’s a medallion given to all members of Candlekeep after a long apprenticeship. Usually that’s the only way to get one of them and the master librarian oversees all their creation...
Ithelion make a wisdom check. :)
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
(( Gulp -- advantage vs charm, don't forget -- just saying ))
Wisdom Save: 7
(( Edit: and I can add 4 to my (failed) save as a reaction .... which might make that 17...
At 2nd level, you have learned to weave your magic to fortify yourself against harm. When you are hit by an attack or you fail a saving throw, you can use your reaction to gain a +2 bonus to your AC against that attack or a +4 bonus to that saving throw.
))
[its not an attack or a spell of any kind]
@ithelion - you are caught severely off-guard and are a bit surprised and rather perplexed, and you are unable to hide it. Confusion and surprise paint a picture on your face better than words ever could. Any skill you do for the next ten minutes that needs voice is at disadvantage.
The rest of the party look at the symbol and at you but aren’t sure what to make of it all.
Vernor goes on, “I see that it surprises you that the Master Librarian and I know each other? Well, as I said earlier...”. He smiles and looks at the rest of you, clapping his hands: “Well? Shall we sup? Or would you rather go to your rooms at the Ol' Boar? Or perhaps you have an answer for me now?”
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons