Karib nods in agreement, "I've always been fond of passwords myself. Or phrases; besides, I could probably fashion one of this in less than an hour."

He shrugs and looks to Leosin for guidance. "There are many ways to make contact."

"Good. I'm glad to see that you are the people I thought you were," Ontharr remarks when the mission is accepted.

Leosin replies to Yevele and Karib, "That is, of course, your choice. That symbol is the best universal way to let a Harper know that you are a Harper, however." Then, when the question arises regarding the cult's caravan, he says, "It would be best if the wagons are allowed to complete their journey. Our goal is information, and right now this is the only lead we have. If we never learn where the Cult is headed to with all this treasure, then all of our work to date is moot."

"Now then, we have one night to get you situated, and I suggest we make good use of it. You'd do well to change your appearance as much as you can in simple ways. Even though you'll have a new face in Samir, you'll still want to reduce the odds of anyone you might have met at the camp recognizing you.

I can see that you're equipped with whatever new clothing and gear you need; even new weapons if you want," Ontharr says.

Rogram begins stroking his beard. When disguises were first brought up, he imagined he could use his spell to disguise himself. But now that he realizes he's going to need to be in disguise much longer than he can hold the spell, he wonders what he might need to do. Cut his beard? Never! Change his hair color? Maybe. Change his weapon? He furrows his brow as he considers giving up his sword — even for a little while. He isn't by any means unskilled in other weapons. He is actually quite comfortable with both a battle axe and a warhammer. He's even been known to have good aim with a crossbow. And if he's going to need to be sneaky, perhaps he should trade in his scale mail for something quieter. Oh, and maybe trade his shield for something more generic. His mind continues to mull over the possibilities.

Following Omir's suggestion to change their appearance, Yevele thinks for a minute about what she can do. After a short pause, she speaks up "I can cut my hair." the monk says grabbing a couple strands of her shoulder length hair. "Is there anywhere I might be able to get it dyed some other color? And, maybe buy some cheap jewelry, and fairly colorful clothing. If I was to get a tattoo, could it be magically removed later?"

Karib looks non-plussed. "I can refashion my shield; many smiths carry the symbol of Gond; I will just adjust it". Then he stares down at his mail and shakes his head. "Without several days and a smithy, there's little I can do with this. 'Tis a pity we found no plate mail. Perhaps some lacquer would do the trick...shiny and black, might look the part?"

Rubbing his beard and moustache, he winces. "And perhaps make a few other minor changes. Let it grow to rival Rogram's, perhaps?"

"Do I need to disguise myself as well? Or should a traveling acolyte be so unusual on such caravans?" Samir seems interested, rather than disagreeable. 

"You should fit right in," Leosin answers Samir. "Healing services provided by an acolyte are highly sought after in a caravan."

OOC: You can assume that any cosmetic changes can be done on Ontharr's dime this evening. Let me know if there are any weapons or gear that you would like Ontharr to equip the party with, and once everyone is situated and ready to go, we can advance upriver.

Rogram will shave his head, dye his beard auburn, put on studded leather armor, and take a battle axe, light crossbow, and a quiver of bolts. At someone's prompting, he also dons a leather cap that covers the tops of his ears to help him look more human. He will attempt to hide away his scale mail, shield, and sword in the party's packs to take them along as well.

Samir will go as himself then. 

Karib will (if possible) go with armour of a different colour: tinged with black or bronze, perhaps. He will also reshape and recolour the Gond symbol on his shield and shave his face. Sigh.

(( Happy to move on ))

Yevele will get her hair cut short and dye it black. She will also get some cheap bracelets and rings to wear, as well as more brightly colored clothing. In addition, she will see about getting some sort of hat/helmet to wear and an old, battered shield to carry around. The shield will be conveniently forgotten if she needs to go into combat or needs to run, it is merely an ornament to help disguise her appearance.

OOC: Added new gear (at least anything that has mechanics beyond cosmetic flavor) to inventories. 50 gp has been added to each character's inventory to cover the expenses of the trip.

At dawn, Ontharr Frume and Leosin Erlanthar stand before you at the river docks, along with the small sailing vessel requisitioned by the Order of the Gauntlet. Looking you up and down, Leosin grins. "I hardly recognize you myself," he remarks.

Ontharr shakes each of your hands and relays some final information. "My contact in Baldur's Gate is a human trader named Ackyn Selebon. He operates an equipage business in the Outer City north of the city wall, in a district called Blackgate. He's not likely directly involved in the hiring of guards for caravans, but he'll know people who are. If he vouches for you, you'll have no trouble getting hired on as guards for a northbound caravan."

The captain of the ship steps onto the dock as some cargo is carried aboard. "This everyone? Captain Sethrin," the tall human man introduces himself. "We can set out as soon as ten minutes from now. The whole crew's aboard, and if the current's friendly enough we'll reach the city in a few days." Looking more the part of a nobleman, he speaks with the confidence of a ship's captain nonetheless.

Rogram shrugs his shoulders, trying to get comfortable in the studded leather armor rather than in response to the information distributed by Ontharr. He sighs and reflexively reaches up to touch the leather cap on his head, under which is his newly shaved head. He attempts to memorize the contact's name.

After the captain introduces himself, Rogram gives the stately man a curt nod. "Rogram Smith," he says, using what many in Greenest called his Pa instead of his clan name. He had considered also changing his first name, but figured it was unlikely anyone in the army would have heard it during the rescue. "Do we each get jobs while aboard? I've never been on a boat before, but I am interested in learning more about it."

Samir makes a point to put on a brave face to Ontharr and smiles nervously as he says goodbye. He moves to stand by Captain Sethrin. 

"We have a full crew, so you can all feel free to pitch in or relax as much as you'd like," Captain Sethrin responds.

After firm a goodbye handshakes from Ontharr and a salute from Leosin, the crew pushes off of the dock with long river poles, allowing the current to carry the boat downstream. The river, bustling with trade, is full of vessels spending more time ensuring that they don't collide with each other or the riverbanks than worrying about speed, but by the afternoon your ship finds solace on the River Chionthar. It is a calm day with even calmer waters, and the diligent crew has the boat moving swiftly.

As the sun sets, Sethrin makes plans to tie the boat up for the night when the light dwindles. Some members of the crew rest on the deck under the night sky, while others take up their established watches or head below decks to the tight sleeping quarters.

OOC: Taking an opportunity here for characters to react or interact. We can advance whenever we're ready.

As the boat moves away from the docks, Rogram finds himself watching the ever-present source of light over Elturel grow slowly smaller. He scowls, remembering his uncle telling him it was a coal from Moradin's forge. I wonder what else he's told me that isn't true, Rogram thinks to himself.

When the riverbank begins interrupting his view of the Companion, the half-dwarf seeks Captain Sethrin and offers his services. "I don't like to be idle," he says. "When we get closer to Baldur's Gate, I should practice with my new axe and crossbow. But for now, I can do whatever you like."

Karib arrives at the port minus beard and sporting a new wide-brimmed hat with what looks like an eagles feather in it. It clashes somewhat with his now blackened armour and matching shield. If anyone stares he just shrugs and smiles then listens to Ontharr and Leosin.

"No time like the present," he says in answer to the question, before gathering his gear and walking carefully aboard. "Karib...ah..Smith." he says to the captain with a slight bow. "No relation."

Quote from nschrock >>

Samir makes a point to put on a brave face to Ontharr and smiles nervously as he says goodbye. He moves to stand by Captain Sethrin. 

"Don't worry, lad. Ontharr's recommendation is solid coin. Trust his judgement."

Turning back to the captain he asks where he should stow his gear, and if there are any jobs for a smith or tinker on board. "Idle hands and all."

"By all means, grab a pole," Captain Sethrin tells Rogram. "Conner here will show you the basics."

"If ye ever used an oar before, forget it. River polin' ain't nothin' like it," the burly human sailor informs Rogram.

The captain pulls a half-orc woman aside when Karib asks about jobs. "Mazie's our quartermaster. If there's anything needing repair, she'll know of it," he says. "Of course, we can always use extra sets of eyes at night as well. We rarely run into trouble between Elturgard and Baldur's Gate but that doesn't mean trouble won't come finding us."

Despite the crew's caution, the trip downriver is uneventful. It takes all of three days managing the river's current before the sun rises over the bustling city of Baldur's Gate ahead. With goods coming from north and south by wagon along the Trade Way and by ship on the Sea of Swords, and from the east along the River Chionthar, Cormyr and Sembia, Baldur's Gate is situated on a prominent bluff next to the river, overlooking an excellent natural harbor. Sethrin's crew navigates the riverboat to an unoccupied dock and begins tying the boat down.

The city is divided into three distinct segments: The Upper City where the richest and most influential citizens live and where The Wide, the city's marketplace is located; the Lower City, which surrounds the harbor and where most of the city's merchants live and conduct their business; and the Outer City, which lies outside the walls and where most of the city's laborers reside in conditions that vary from crowded but clean to squalid.

The docks are charged with activity and the streets of the Lower City ahead of you are covered in a morning fog rolling in off of the river. Even with the reduced visibility, the slick streets are filled with merchants and buyers alike.

Samir looks across the city towards the Wide. 

"So that's where we want to go to find our work, right? Or did I misunderstand?" 

Yevele quietly moved onto the ship, trying to stay out of the way of the crew. During the voyage, she would spend time on the first couple days practicing her martial arts, but as they got closer to Baldur's Gate, the monk would stop her practices so that anyone spying the ship wouldn't realize she was a monk. During the voyage, she will ask Rogram and Karib the best way to carry a shield so that she looks like it is a normal part of her gear.

If either the men try to give her lessons in how to use a shield, Yevele will reply "I'm not planning on using this clumsy thing in battle. It will just slow me down. It is just part of my disguise."

Unlike Rogram, Yevele did not feel comfortable taking a turn at the poles, but she was willing to help out in otherwise on the boat, even it that just involved cleaning or taking a turn on watch at night.

Arriving in the city, Yevele is somewhat shocked by how many people live there, never having seen that large of a community before. When Samir's gestures and asks if that is where they need to go, the monk will reply "Is that Black Gate. Samir said is contact is in Black Gate. That is all I know."