Stonebound

"Fine! Fine! 15 Gold and the daggers!" The merchant calls after you Hitticus. 

Alanis as you leave the merchant gives you a black look. Obviously partly blaming you for the underhanded haggling from the strange Dwarf.

Hitticus makes the deal and then turns to the gnome "Come along, I'll introduce you to some friends and we'll discuss current events along the way." (Hitticus has a voice that's deep and melodious, but also drips with a little sickly sweet venom. You can tell he is interested in you coming along, but that he most likely is not offering the whole truth at this time.)

„Current events?“

Alanis is now thoroughly confused, her hand wondering unconsciously to a vial on her belt belonging to her alchemist’s supplies. She catches herself though, after all causing a scene is exactly what she wants to avoid.

“I... I don’t think I would be much of a help with that, Master Holdhammer. I‘m not from around here, you see. Oh! My name is Alanis Gemhair, Sir.“

She curtsies a little awkwardly. Well aware that she is acting extremely foolish, she joins Hitticus regardless, her curiosity about the very unusual dwarf getting the better of her. She certainly is not going to follow him into any dark alleys, but as long as they keep to public areas, she should be fine.

Hitticus begins to update Alanis on everything that happened up to now. "And that's when we got here, my companions are off warning the city leaders, I decided it was more prudent to be prepared myself." He goes back toward the dock to retrace steps to find where his party is staying.

Alanis is staring at Hitticus with increasing horror and disbelief, almost hoping the dwarf is just playing a very, very cruel trick on her.

Insight: 8 (trying to figure out wether she believes him)

“Oh my gosh, that‘s horrible! I hope your friends can get through - do you think this city will be attacked, too?“

She honestly doesn’t know why Hitticus is sharing all that with her, but if he is indeed telling the truth, then she should in fact stick around to know firsthand what is happening.

"I belonged to the fifteenth legion of Baldenvelt," Randrak replies. "Commonly known as the Stone Cloaks, and my colonel was Colonel Darnik."

@The Sheild Hall

“Danrik was a good man.” She paces the room for a moment, “For the time being stay with your companions here and I may have use for you. If we slot you back into the ranks it will simply fuel the rumour mill further.” She nods, “Yes we will keep you out of reach for now I think.”

Just then a door opens and a female gnome enters carrying a tray of refreshments. Kriell takes a glass of wine and indicates that you are all welcome to partake.

”So what more can you tell me? What do you know of these Dragons? We’re there other forces amongst the goblins? Some evidence of a power behind them perhaps?”

"Drow, and the dragons were controlled with a magic collar" ((I believe one of brought the collar)) "I don't understand why we are standing here. This is an emergency. A whole city has been destroyed and you yourself have reports of other areas being overrun. What exactly are we deciding?"

She smiles and sips her wine. "Firstly master Dwarf, I do not even know your names and you expect me to be throwing myself into action based on a couple of dire proclamations?" She raises her hands to forestall any angry response, "I doubt none of what you tell me and we are not in fact standing still. Secondly, ever since the first rumours reached my ears I have been drawing in the regiments and negotiating with the High Lord to increase military expenditure and gain the support of his own forces. I have also sent word to Shard, Corellos and Eranon. What I have lacked up until now is solid evidence..."

"What we are deciding is how best I might use you to ensure the safety of this city...now tell me what part do the Drow have to play in all of this and may I see this magical collar which you claim can control a dragon?"

OOC: I thought you picked it up Uldran?? Dont say you left it in the ship Duh! Everyone pats their pockets and feels really silly...

Hitticus you back track toward the docks to find no sign of your companions. Alanis still stands by your side absorbing your fantastic and somewhat terrifying tale. In the distance you can see the Firehook is still at dock and a squad of Dwarven soldier appear to be arguing with the crew.

You companions are most likely still inside the Shield Hall, and you do remember mention of meeting at the Gelded Goblin, an Inn you wandered past before climbing to the the upper city. 

Alanis you strange new companion grows quiet for a moment as he looks this way and that. 

OOC: Where do you both wish to go?

"Let's head to the Gelded Goblin, a stiff drink could go a long way in settling the nerves."

„Uhm, alright. We are roomed there anyway.“ (assuming it does in fact offer rooms) Alanis agrees.

Definitely better than wandering the streets with a peculiar stranger harboring undefined intentions towards her. Her senior should get there sooner or later. Alanis wonders what she will think about all this. Maybe declaring it all nonsense? Could be true, the city seems to be quite calm given that the great capitol Baldenvelt has supposedly been raised to the ground. And yet... inscrutable as Hitticus may be, Alanis does believe he is telling the truth.

Uldran just calmly listens to Kriell. "Please don't take my questions as accusations. We all are just trying to figure out what is going on. For my part I tire of politics quite easily. I am the practical sort and care as much for the wilds that are being destroyed by goblin armies as I do for these cities." 

The Gelded Goblin

 @Alanis and Hitticus

You both enter the Inn and make your way to the nearest bar. It would appear that the inn has several, laid out across three floors. It is a lively place filled with music and chatter as Dwarves meet and drink for business and pleasure.

"Good afternoon to you both." a dark haired barman is wiping down the bar with a damp rag and stacking glasses ready for the wash. "What can I do for you this morning?"

"It's been a long ride out on the fire and I could use a drink, open a tab for me would you and put this pretty little gnome lass on it as well." Hitticus winks at Alanis and smiles. "While we sit we can talk about that magic you're hiding. It's best for fellow practitioners to stick together with the bigots in these 'fair' cities."

Alanis looks positively baffled. „You-!“ She realizes in time that this should be treated as a sensitive topic and continues in a considerably lower voice. „You use magic? As a dwarf?“

The young gnome clearly has to wrap her head around that foreign concept and looks at Hitticus with amazement and wonder.

Hitticus tips a glass and nods. "Not shy about it either. Cockfither bigots can take their hate and place it where the dwarf don't mine for all I care." He smiles warmly "It's always pleasant to talk to gnomes and other practitioners."

„Yeah, things are certainly less tense in Eranon. Here, I might seriously hurt guild business if I get caught - and worse! - so I promised not to make a spectacle out of myself. Which I really thought I didn’t, so you gave me quite a scare there, Master Holdhammer.“

Alanis fixes Hitticus with a curious gaze.

“I mean, I‘m not even some fancy wizard or something with a spellbook and a staff and all that. It‘s just that when I craft something...“

she subtly gestures to the assortment of vials, tubes and the like arranged on belts and in pouches for easy access

„...I can create an immediate effect with it. Even if it wouldn’t quite react like that without my meddling, if that makes sense. Not quite as powerful as slinging spells out of thin air, but at least it is a bit more subtle. So if you don’t mind me asking, what was it that you picked up? Was it the bag?“

Alanis gently pats the bag at her side.

(It is a temporary bag of holding created through the infuse item feature. I suppose it might actually have a different magic feel to it than the actual item.)

@The Shield Hall

After properly introducing yourselves, you all spend the next few hours briefing Kriell on your adventure thus far. You speak of your escape from the docks, the dragon attack upon the Firehook and the discovery of the magical bands controlling the beasts. One of you produces the item for her to inspect and her eyes widen as she tracer her fingers over the etched runes. You speak then of the Drow attack and the death of Salvas though you leave out certain details you swore to keep a secret. Especially the existence of a dragon egg aboard the ship. At last the conversation is done and Kriell moves to a desk at the back of the room where she has ink, quill and a seal. She proceeds to write a short missive as she speaks.

"The fact that your first instinct was to warn the city and not simply slip ashore and flee into the mountains speaks volumes of you loyalty and courage. You have free passage through the upper and lower tiers of the city, though I would ask that you do not attempt to leave it for the time being. I will be preparing communications based upon your statements here today and it is my hope that with the detail you have provided we can now convince the Isle as a whole to make ready for war."

She completes her writing and begins to the wax to press her seal into the now folded parchment, "I have a ordered room and board for you all at the Gelden Goblin and the Lord writ will cover the expense for the duration of your stay as a token of our appreciation. Things are tense in the city right now and I would ask that you avoid any entanglements in the Cities politics be they religious or otherwise."

Walking over she hands the sealed parchment to you Randrak, "Give this to Old Stolbard at the Gelded Goblin with my regards. You soldier, with stand surety for the behaviour of your companions. Go get some much needed rest and I will send for you on the morrow to further this conversation. I will also see about aranging some small reward for your efforts to date." 

OOC: Anything else you want to cover here at the Shield Hall? If not where are you off to next? It is now mid afternoon.

Randrak smiles in reply as he is handed the sealed parchment, "Thank you, ma'am." He says with a polite nod. "We will await your call."

He turns to leave the Shield Hall but awaits his on comrades. He then intends to head straight over to the Gelded Goblin Inn to present the Lord Writ. Deciding that it would be best to get business settled first.