Poinki blinks. "More weapons for inner guard," he says. "Everybody supposed to be on guard today. And laundry for traveling monks. You tell me where to go to wash?" He looks up hopefully at the acolytes. (Persuasion, hoping for a better roll this time. XD ) 22

Si'Juul notices the impolite smile on the gnome's face but ignores it.

"Actually I was thinking of helping you out here a little while today for a bit of coin. But if you don't need any help I can be on my way."

Si'Juul turns away from the gnome, appearing to simply be glancing aside but is actually scanning the area for any Brand members happening by.

Perception: 8 (nope)

Elhanna will just stay where she is in the ally and observe

Poinki:

The elder acolyte utters a string of obscenities: “Damn higher ups, never telling me anything... how is one supposed to do ones job without proper... urgh it’s just so frustrating! Leave the weapons in the arsenal to your right, the washing room is at the back, straight through the messhall.” Do you oblige and leave the weapons where he indicated?

Si’juul:

The gnome raises his bushy eyebrows in response:”Well, I can’t pay you much above an apprentice, which would hardly be fitting your skill... but if times are hard for you, I’ll gladly help out.” With that, he hands you a leather apron, and then hands you a broken watch and a set of tools. “It’s a precious piece, but I find it difficult to look at the clockwork for long with my old eyes. I’d certainly welcome your help with these.” After a slight pause, watching you get ready, he adds:”Don’t worry, you’re safe here. But tell me, what are you running from?”

Elhanna:

As you stay in the alley for a while, the captured spy slowly regains his composure. “Look, if you let me go, I won’t scream. Seeing as the rest of you took off like that, I’m figuring you’re in some kind of trouble. So how’s about we make a deal- I get back to mine and won’t say anything about you or your friends.”

Paren, what are you doing?

Paren will wander back to Elhanna once he's sure Poinki is safely inside. "Oh no, you don't get to just go on your merry way because things worked out a bit different. You're still involved in all this. Whether your just a pawn or something larger has yet to he determined so you don't get to go." 

"What do you intend to do to me then?" The captured spy answers with a mixture of indignant disdain and fear.

After Si'Juul awkwardly dons the apron, he takes the tools and watch and pulls up a chair, sitting on it backwards in front of the workbench he used before.

"Best not to ask too many questions if you value your health, and it's not me who would threaten it. Whatever coin you can manage to pay me will do, but if you're barely scraping by then you might need it more than I do. If you know the local leather worker and can get her to put a rush on my armor, that would helpful too."

Tinkering check on the watch:10

(I guessed it as a dex mod + proficiency with tinkerer's tools, but since I rolled a 2 I don't think it matters much)

Paren just shrugs. "To be determined. Now, tell me, who in the guard would the folks inside the church consider loyal?" 

The shopkeeper smiles kindly: "You care a lot for other people, that is good. Keep that... I won't pry, just know that I'm hear if you need someone to listen. As per your armour, I'll see what I can do." Just as he finishes, you slip and one of the springs flies straight in your face. After seeing that you weren't injured, the shopkeeper says: "Ah, I'll make you into a watchmaker yet- none of us can call us artisans before getting a spring to the face at least once. And, if you are to work here, call me Al, short for Alfredo. What should I call you, or is that not good for my health either?"

-------------------

The spy, clearly intimidated, rapidly spouts: "There were always believers among the watch, but it's a militia you see, so many of the town that have a gripe with the church don't like the acolytes roaming around town, enforcing edicts and such. That's why the archbishop got the mercenaries up here, to stiffen up the watch and to make sure there isn't any grumbling about the new laws. People will thank him when the drow come for our gates, that much I guarantee you!"

The group you saw discussing things by the gate was a mixture of folks in padded armour with a tabbard in the city's colours, the brand members with their large bandoliers, and plenty of large bearded men in slitted sleeves and ruffles, strutting about like peacocks. It's not hard to figure out which of these are the mercenaries.

After letting out a frustrated sigh because of the spring to the face, Si'Juul looks to Al.

"You can call me Si'Juul, my name. But don't shorten it like your name. I don't know if that's a gnome thing, but my name would sound weird that way."

Si'Juul just looks into Al's eyes for a moment, debating with himself.

"You've seen them in town. Men with these."

He taps his holster.

"Steer clear of them. And if you can't, well, pray to whoever you might pray to that they don't just put you in the ground for the fun of it. Best not to mention to anyone I been here if you don't want them poking their noses around. But if you got something you feel you need to tell me, well, I am not hard to find. Or you can find one of the people I am traveling with. You saw them right? You see something shady going on with those men, you find me or one of the others I am traveling with. Take it to the grave otherwise, understand?"

Quote from NemoCaptain >>

Poinki:

The elder acolyte utters a string of obscenities: “Damn higher ups, never telling me anything... how is one supposed to do ones job without proper... urgh it’s just so frustrating! Leave the weapons in the arsenal to your right, the washing room is at the back, straight through the messhall.” Do you oblige and leave the weapons where he indicated?

 Poinki does.  The items have sentimental value because Helga gave them to him, but goblins have to be practical to survive, and he knows he can replace them if he doesn't get them back.  Then he hurries through the mess hall to the laundry room.

Alfredo looks at Si'juul for a long while: "There are many gnomes in these parts, fleeing up from the south, thanking these men for defending them against the drow. I believe you, but just know, in hard times many might join a cause for a variety of reasons. Those you are running from might well be nothing more than a murdering bunch of thieves, like many mercenaries are. But nonetheless, the Archbishop and Crusader John did a lot with their help to keep some of the gnomish populace safe."
He drops the subject, and starts to work on a mechanism of his own, letting you focus on the watch.

Poinki, the elder acolyte goes along his way after you deposit the weapons. You reach the laundry room with no trouble, finding two other young acolytes, a halfling and a human woman, bent over a tub and scrubbing robes, while an older male dwarf with a beard to about the middle of his chest was busy hanging up some of the washed robes, ready to dry. What do you like to do?

Si'Juul just turns back to the watch and stares at it in thought.

If there is an unused wash tub, Poinki dumps his bedroll in it (If not, just tosses it in a corner) and says, "Hey there! My master, traveling priest, wants to wash stinky old bedding, probably should just burn it. Needs to soak, LONG time. Any dry robes ready for me carry to priests? All getting ready for big stuff, in a hurry. Big hurry. If not dry, will have to take wet, priests cold and cranky, but all say HURRY HURRY HURRY."

(Persuasion 20)

Paren gives a small laugh. "Oh, I'm all for anything that kills a drow, believe you me. But I also am not a large fan of a military force that takes it's orders, whether they know it or not, from a demon lord. Is there a group that would be loyal to the Mayor first, rather than to the Archbishop?"

Elhanna will take a moment to cast sending to Ponki. 

“Ponki how are you doing? Do you need help? Me and Paren is outside with the spy. You can respond to this message. Stay safe.” 

(Poinki will wait to answer till we see how the laundry room goes.)

The present acolytes don't even look up from there work and just gesture over to the dwarf. He gives you a look: "You new here? I ain't never seen youse here before. What master is this bedding for again?" He seems to ask more out of curiousity than mistrust, as he hands you a tray with six folded and dried robes.

Paren and Elhanna, the spy shrugs at the monk's question: "Honestly, the church and eye just knew that the Watch wasn't solid. It's not like I kept records on their members or anything."

Si'Juul, after a while, you hear Alfredo return, and, clearing his throat, addressing you again. In an apologetic tone, he says: "I'm sorry if I caused offense. It was wrong of me to say what I did, I don't know what you suffered at their hands. I let Spike know that we'd appreciate the armour being done sooner than later, she said she can have it ready for tomorrow for you. You can stay here until then."

Si'Juul nods, turning to Al.

"In case I don't manage to do it myself, you make sure she knows how greatly I appreciate it."

He turns his reversed chair around to sit and directly face Al.

"So, would you like to share how much the Black Brand had done for you and your people? From what you say, sounds like a lot. And if you happen to know where they like to hang around, that would be good to know too."

"Master name is Friar Melf Bergelmason. Not surprised you not hear of him, travels a lot. Small villages mostly.But friends in churches everywhere. Thank you very much, priests will be happy you get robes done so quick." Poinki loads his laundry basket and hurries back to his friends, answering Elhanna's message, "All good, on way out if nobody stops."

If absolutely nobody is on watch, Poinki might try to sneak his mace and shield under the robes on the way out, but will take NO risks: a couple of weapons and a used sleeping bag are small prices to pay for enough disguises for the entire group to infiltrate.