Aurelia is very confused by the mayor. "Once you get to be 943 years old? What do you mean by this? Also, have any of you seen Lucy? She was right behind me a minute ago..."

Aurelia tries to understand what the mayor is talking about. Things seem fishy here, and she doesn't like it.

Insight12

Mayor Nighthill immediately shakes his head at Slade's words and waves away the notion of expendable people, "Sorry, stranger. I can't allow any more waste of life in these lands. The ongoings of the day have claimed enough life as it is!" He listens to Dahme'dre's offer of assistance and nods at both. "I see. You all merely wish to be of some help? I am loathed to put more into harm's way, but there may be something you can do..."

(Thordain, I am going to -gasp- ignore the post as you have it right now! I think you missed something - Castellan is a dwarf who is in his mid-900s, which is normal in Eberron (or all of fantasy really?). He took you to Mayor Nighthill and then left. Mayor Nighthill is a human whose age hasn't been formally announced. Please post anew if you would like to do anything before Mayor Nighthill starts rattling off a quest or two! Such as asking about Lucy or insighting about something else. Note to all: Other than my goofs, I will always try to point out when YOU, the character, feels something is off obviously. For example, if there really was a 900 year old human, all of your characters would immediately think it must be some sort of trickery, sorcery, or possibly an undead.)

(For 800 years have I trained bankers.)

Ashehee listens to her companions talk to the mayor while surveying the crowd in the tower. The suffering she witnesses and hears pains her.  Putting her warhammer away, she walks the tower room, offering medical aid to the injured (Medical: 11). 

While providing medical care, Ashehee quizzes the locals about the recent developments, hoping to learn something useful (Investigation: 1)

(If I make a successful medical check and provide aid always welcome an advantage to my investigation roll if you are so inclined. :) )

Quote from LaRue >>

(Thordain, I am going to -gasp- ignore the post as you have it right now! I think you missed something - Castellan is a dwarf who is in his mid-900s, which is normal in Eberron (or all of fantasy really?). He took you to Mayor Nighthill and then left. Mayor Nighthill is a human whose age hasn't been formally announced. Please post anew if you would like to do anything before Mayor Nighthill starts rattling off a quest or two! Such as asking about Lucy or insighting about something else. Note to all: Other than my goofs, I will always try to point out when YOU, the character, feels something is off obviously. For example, if there really was a 900 year old human, all of your characters would immediately think it must be some sort of trickery, sorcery, or possibly an undead.)

Ashehee assists with the simple bandaging and stints as she is able. She sees two others assisting the House Jorasco halfling from before. From their garb, she can tell one is a priest of the Silver Flame. The other seems to be a follower of the Sovereign Host. They seem to be applying basic medicine, just like Ashehee, but also offering words of prayer to the injured. As she tours the wounded, she does manage to overhear gossip about the halfling doctor that seems to be incredibly stingy by their standards.

"Honestly, I can't believe that lout!" One wounded human complains to a half-elf woman by his side. "That Jorasco halfling is such a snob. Here we are, bleeding - perhaps even dying - and he just worries about his coin purse."

Ashehee sees Klobs arguing with the House Jorasco halfling, and catches this much of their conversation:

"These folk need your immediate attention, ya rat bastard!" Klobs shouts down at the halfling. The rat bastard can hardly contain his smug grin.

"Look, I've got the bandaged up properly. The ones who are deeply wounded have been stabilized, Klobs," The halfling shakes his head as if there was nothing more he could do. "Business is business. I'm already offering a steep discount for all that!"

---

Back with the mayor, Mayor Nighthill looks puzzled. "A little girl? Lucy? I'm afraid not. There are a lot of children running loose here..."

(I won't enforce a bold, but I do approve of it. When I am not typing posts on my phone, I try to bolden my dialogue where it counts.)

"We'll find Lucy before we move on the cult. She Definately came into the keep with us, but I let track of her once we were safe. She may be with Linan and her children. Before we gobsearch, please, how can we help with these cultists?"

(I'd keep mine as is, sometimes actions speak louder than words. Also, if I emphasize everything she says it will be harder to emphasize anything she says)

"Ah, yes," Mayor Nighthill beckons the gang toward the long table. He walks over and begins explaining once you are close enough to see the map that is upon the table. It is a complete map of Ardev. "We have heard reports that several are trapped inside of one of our churches, Bright Altar. It is located here-" He points to a spot on the map. "You will recognize it as being of the Silver Flame. I don't have any people to spare that wouldn't be a detriment to holding this keep... but perhaps you all could turn the tide? You've fought these cultists already... are you confident in your abilities?"

(Jumped on to give you this whole map. Green circle in lower right is the location he is pointing at.)

Dahme'dre looks around the table at her companions each in turn giving them opportunity to show any concerns (even if I don't =P ).

"Absolutely, we're confident. We will rescue these people. Before we go: do you have an armory we can visit? We may get an edge with new equipment... I also want to ask on behalf of my friends... They would probably fight only for the chance to help, but they can fight better in the future if I can insure we all end the day with some coin in our pocket."

 [Edit: persuasion: 24 ]

Slade nods in agreement, "Yes, I seem to have lost my longbow and favorite set of lock picks on the way here. I'm confident in my abilities, but having the right tools for the job would go a long way to help."

Quote from LaRue >>

"Ah, yes," Mayor Nighthill beckons the gang toward the long table. He walks over and begins explaining once you are close enough to see the map that is upon the table. It is a complete map of Ardev. "We have heard reports that several are trapped inside of one of our churches, Bright Altar. It is located here-" He points to a spot on the map. "You will recognize it as being of the Silver Flame. I don't have any people to spare that wouldn't be a detriment to holding this keep... but perhaps you all could turn the tide? You've fought these cultists already... are you confident in your abilities?"

Quote from LaRue >>

Ashehee assists with the simple bandaging and stints as she is able. She sees two others assisting the House Jorasco halfling from before. From their garb, she can tell one is a priest of the Silver Flame. The other seems to be a follower of the Sovereign Host. They seem to be applying basic medicine, just like Ashehee, but also offering words of prayer to the injured. As she tours the wounded, she does manage to overhear gossip about the halfling doctor that seems to be incredibly stingy by their standards.

"Honestly, I can't believe that lout!" One wounded human complains to a half-elf woman by his side. "That Jorasco halfling is such a snob. Here we are, bleeding - perhaps even dying - and he just worries about his coin purse."

Ashehee sees Klobs arguing with the House Jorasco halfling, and catches this much of their conversation:

"These folk need your immediate attention, ya rat bastard!" Klobs shouts down at the halfling. The rat bastard can hardly contain his smug grin.

"Look, I've got the bandaged up properly. The ones who are deeply wounded have been stabilized, Klobs," The halfling shakes his head as if there was nothing more he could do. "Business is business. I'm already offering a steep discount for all that!"

---

Back with the mayor, Mayor Nighthill looks puzzled. "A little girl? Lucy? I'm afraid not. There are a lot of children running loose here..."

(I won't enforce a bold, but I do approve of it. When I am not typing posts on my phone, I try to bolden my dialogue where it counts.)

Slade offers the halfling a sly grin, "I think you might want listen to her friend. My associate is a bit...oh what is the word...overzealous when it comes to this sort of thing." Then turning to the Mayor, "Mayor Nighthill, surely the city has some funds set aside for this type of emergency. Perhaps you and the Sovereign Host could reach some sort arrangement before my overeager associate begins disarranging them."

(Persuasion: 8, sorry that should be a 7...put in the wrong bonus)

Mayor Nighthill reacts jovially to Dahme'dre's requests with some light laughter and says, "Certainly, some coin can be promised. I can promise you 25 gold pieces each... if I like the results, I can offer you something much greater if we survive this night." He acknowledges Aurelia's claim and thinks for a moment before saying, "It is truly that dragon they have that has me confused. To convince madmen to join a cause I can believe, but to have a dragon come along for a raid? To be an active participant? It doesn't add up to me... at least insofar as what I know about dragons."

Meanwhile Ashehee's threat takes full effect against the Jorasco half-elf. He begins to tremble at the knees, but he seems to be putting on a strong front. However, both Ashehee and Slade can tell he is trying to act tough, and poorly, "Y-You dare threaten m-my life, whelp!? I could have you blacklisted at-at every reputable house of h-healing!" As Slade speaks, it seems he manages to persuade the halfling somewhat to give-in. "F-Fine, I'll p-provide some magical healing, but m-mark my words... you will regret this!" The halfling stomps off to provide healing.

"Don't mind him... I'll deal with House Jorasco, myself." Mayor Nighthill shakes his head.

(Technically, the wounded are somewhere else far from the Nighthill convo, but I'll let it happen like this for now! Also no worries about the roll. They changed the UI, so its messed me up once already I think.)

Stuff your characters know: House Jorasco basically has a monopoly on healing in Khorvaire. They are usually doctors and such. In Eberron, churches don't actually heal anyone, because magic is somewhat more scarce than usual settings. So while your holy people might have some medical training, magical healing is really resigned to adventurers, House Jorasco, and people who managed to become, mechanics wise, clerics, druids, and other healing classes.)

Ashehee and Slade: you sense that his threat is real, but you most likely feel he cannot actually follow through on it.)

Mayor Nighthill's assistant, a half-elf woman, leads you to the armory. There you find the following potential upgrades to your equipment. It is heavily implied here that you shouldn't take 'too much,' but that hasn't been explicitly stated. 

You find (enough for everyone to take 1 unless otherwise specified):

Studded Armor
Scale Mail
Chain Mail
Shields

Javelins (There are 20)
Spears 
Longswords
Shortswords
Longbows

Roll 1d20 for an extra special loot. (1 isn't failure and 20 isn't critical, this is for me to work with.)

Dahme'dre won't truly benefit from mundane equipment, but she is pleased to find her allies are able to equip themselves. She take a look around for anything that might be of use for her.

(Loot: 8)

(Loot roll: 17)

Aurelia nods and thanks the mayor. "We will do what we can, I promise you."

She then looks at the pile of armor, but sees nothing that she isn't already wearing, other than a shortbow that may prove useful.

(Loot: 4)

Slade saunters over to the longbows and gives one of them a trial pull, "Not bad. I wonder what else they have lying around that might be of use."

(Loot: 19 Slade is looking for a quarter staff and thieves tools)

(Sweet lord I'm glad these aren't attack or skill rolls.)

Dahme'dre decides to pick out a short sword. Not her specialty, but it could come in handy in the right situation. She tucks it away into her pack.

[Edit: do they have any saddles? We should grab them too off available.]