Storm King's Thunder

“You speak truth, but your body language betrays you. Look at your hand, Flint. You said that you need to understand undeath. You are a smith, not a necromancer. You found it in a keep dedicated to the personification of chaotic evil and undeath. That is cause for concern. You are correct. Nothing can be done and you are not a danger. However, the hammer is. Give it to me, I will safeguard it until morning when you may cast the spell. You may use either my hammer or blade, or both if you desire. That way, you will not be left unarmed. Keep in mind that I protect you and serve whether you are willing or not. Give me the hammer.”

"Ye'll not be disarmin' me. An ye  have me word ah'm'na danger ta  ye. Me word should be 'nough fer any o' ye.  Nothin' can be done tanight, safer fer all o' us fer  th'hammer ta stay right where it is fer th' night. Ink, tell 'em, ye know ah'm right lad."

“Incorrect. I never stated that I desired to disarm you. I stated trade.” Crownsguard flips his hammer from his waist and extends the hilt toward Flint in offering, “Commonly, verbal testimony is quality evidence. However, in examining the effects of all three weapons on Ink, as well as your stubborn disagreement to part with a weapon that you found only a few days ago under suspicious circumstances, I call the visibility of your testimony into question. You are being played. Give me the hammer. Do not mistake me for a common thief, Flint. I am not trying to rob you. I am trying to help.”

Flint turns to face Crownsguard and stands up. "Ye callin me word inta  question....lad?"

Crownsguard meets Flint’s gaze, “Yes.”

Crownsguard's affirmation strikes Flint like a hammer blow to the chest, and he falls back a step. He turns to face Rip and a single tear falls as he considers the words Rip said about Moradin and his clerics. Flint slumps to the chair, head down.  "Ah can't give ye  th' hammer. Ye must have th' right o' it, but me hand won't  let it go. Ah can't cast th' spell tanight. Ah'll cast it on th'morrow. If ye do'na  believe me, tie me ta th' dammed cart."

“I believe you, Flint. You are a dwarf of upright standing. My prime directive is to serve. I will help you to the best of my ability. Which is why I’m going to try this. If it fails, we wait till morning. Drop.”

Crownsguard casts Command.

 Wis save DC??: 22

 Marav just looks at Crownsguard "Don't cross a line you can't uncross metal man. He shed blood to protect us all."

//Flint is his curmudgeonly friend while CG is new... no offense. :) //

//DC 14... Pass. Also, none taken haha//

Seeing Flint resist the spell, Crownsguard stands upright again, but makes sure not to look at Flint, “Unfortunate. I suspected a simple spell would not hold enough sway. That was the last of my power. However, it was not enough. We will rest and Flint will remove the curse in the morning. Good night.” Crownsguard will find a room, close the door, and shut down.

"It's OK Marav. Na  worse than ah done ta Ink not five minutes ago."

Flint volunteers to take first watch. In the taproom. With a flagon.

"I know, and honestly I don't trust anything we got from there 100%. Even if Muradin forged that for you that necromancer likely put a curse on top of it."

He walks over to the innkeeper and hands him 5 gold, "Sorry about the fuss, it has been a long day."

He walks over to Angel, "Want to help me watch this guy, " he indicates the noble, "We can share a room and one of us stay awake and keep watch."

He leans over to the noble, "Behave and we will have no issues, try something stupid and I will eat you." He grins and lets his tusks show.

Intimidation: 20

Lezryk rolls his eyes at Marav. He and Angel follow you to a room where he finds a corner and pulls his cloak over himself to sleep.

Ink still foggy headed, reacts way too slowly to the unfolding action. Instead, upon seeing Flint's sag, puts his hands on the dwarf's shoulders and says, "You are trusted. The hammer, at least by most, is not. I'll take first watch with you and keep you company."

"You know, as strange as it sounds, perhaps you should hang around with Crownsguard.  I know sometimes, especially in the mornings, the pull to - to strange things let's say, is strong. For some reason, when I was around Crownsguard, I was able to hold on to my own thoughts a little more strongly."

Ink firstsspends time to attune to the Ruby of the War Mage, placing it on a mundane scimitar. 

Leading up to the watch, Ink will sit in a corner, with Quill on the table in front of him. He casts as a ritual comprehend languages then pulls out another old book and studies it for the rest of the evening. 

Ink will take the first watch with Flint, followed by his four hour meditative rest, one hour of spell preparation, and then join whoever is up for the last watch.

// Ink, please make an Intelligence check for your studies. //

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

// Ink, please make an Intelligence check for your studies. //

 //  Ink Intelligence Check:  24  //

The night passes without incident. Your noble captive seems to be cowed or at least resigned to his fate, and says not a word to you or your hosts.

"Talkative fellow, isn't he?" says the old man in the morning, referring to Lezryk. "Well, anyway. Hope you get to Everlund soon so's you can find your lawman." 

The couple also provide you with breakfast—flat cakes with cheese, steamed grain & dried fruit, and goat's milk, . "1 gold piece per person for the room and board," says the gruff older woman with her lightly accented voice, as she sets the food out for you. "You can pay me or th' husband, makes no difference."

The sun is only just rising on the horizon,  painting the sparse clouds a gentle yellow. The road ahead of you is clear, at least for the time being.

Crownsguard is sat next to Flint, looming over him. It seems that he might’ve been there all night after Flint fell asleep. He waits patiently for him to awake.

Ink hands the woman six gold pieces and thanks her and her husband.