OOC: Lots at stake on these rolls. I'd say Varen, Ronegan, and Elavor (with the aid of anyone or each other to give advantage) could investigation to "analyze" the cipher. Three shots at it only however so choose wisely. All are talented in various ways that would have educated them for such a task. I'd even go as far as to say Kiran is a learned man too and Ran as a veteran solider has the chops for it. Not to leave Petal out but she's the only one I think wouldn't have had access to this type of knowledge based on her background.

Ran roll perception check to the grounds and window access. The Firstforge family is in the largest room at tge back of the inn it's door at the end of the hallway. It has four sets of double windows facing the street and the alley behind the inn. The stable roof slants near their rooms.

Cipher:

Ran Perception: 18 

Quote from Thoradin_Orcbender >>

Ran Perception: 21 

Ran sees no one seems particularly interested in the inn or the royal family's chambers. His sweeps seem effective. The street are still full however of farming folk and laborers revelry from a days work.

Posey brings whiskey and puddings of various kinds from a traditional bread pudding to a chocolate trifle that draws the attention of the patrons. The Cutgrass family is pulling out all the stops for the royal family's remaining retinue!

Barrin is walking around greeting patrons causally paying little attention to the party.

Elavor sits close to Varen and Ronegan, chiming in when he sees a certain way the cipher might be figured out. Mildly sipping whatever whiskey like beverage the barkeep has brought him...  

Upon seeing the cipher, Ronegan's demeanor becomes as serious as you've ever seen it. He takes several bites of the bread pudding as he works, muttering along the way. "Hmm... monosyllabic substitution here, and....no, perhaps a simple polygram? Hmmm. Elavor, can you grab that book?"

Consulting with Varen and Elavor, Ronegan does his best to create a usable translation of the cipher:

Investigation (with advantage from Elavor's assistance): 22

Elavor pats Ronegans shoulder and laughs, obviously feeling the warmth of the drink "Well done, well done, that's looking just splendid you old bookworm, you! Ha Haha!...now, what's it say?" he says, peering at the translation quizzically.   He takes another sip of the whiskey, and grins again...

Ran passes back through the inn, sees the the trio hunched over their cipher work, and while curious of their progress, he is in no hurry to reveal his illiteracy to the entire group. He climbs the stairs to find the guards and let them take a break to grab some dinner.

Investigation: 14

Varen fails to see the patterns until Ronegan points them out.

Whammied.

Quote from Viper15E >>

Varen looks down at the little gnome and round halfling. "We'll see. We don't want to invade the King's privacy... we can discuss this later."

Petal: (and probably Kiran because he no doubt beats this Stealth 24)

Varen makes very pointed eye contact with you as she said that.

 Turning to the monk, "What do you know of the Chancellor? He's as holy a man as you, Kiran, so you must have some good insights from interacting with him."

She watches Kiran carefully.

 

 Kiran chuckles quietly for a moment, "The Chancellor is a much better man than I. He is a good man and has the best interests of the empire and royal family at heart." 

(In response to the discussion about the attack)
"I find it unlikely that the other three houses would unit against this kingdom, after all, only one of them can win in the end and I doubt they'd be so foolish as to try something so blatant that would invite harsh reprisals if they failed, either in the attack or the tournament. I suspect it may have been an effort by a different party, as they say, divide and conquer. When we get to the capital, it may be wise to spread around that we were attacked by what was clearly a gang of imposters representing the other Houses." 

As the others do their rounds and begin to examine the cipher, he'll rise from the table, "I trust you to be able to handle this without me. Ran, wake me when you're ready for a rest, I will take the second watch," a flicker of expression flashes across his face and then he turns to Varen, "Varen, perhaps you would take that watch with me? It would give us a chance to talk, quietly of course."

Varen gives him a nod. "Very well, Kiran."

As the trio work on the cipher, Petal sits with her vegetables and wine, feeling a little useless. She ponders to herself - If the family are in trouble, what does her own safety matter? These people have shown her so much kindness, and though the politics of it all goes over her head, she knows she cab be of use. I mean... Kiran didn’t say no did he? 

She excuses herself from the table, heading up to her and Varens room - “What was Kiran so worried about behind that door? And Ronnie said there was magic! I’ll just take a little peek and tell Varen what I saw, she’ll know what to do!” Petal thinks to herself.

Making sure she is alone, Petal transforms into a spider and crawls back down to the mysterious door, to crawl under it and see what lies beyond.

Ronegan deciphers the message.

Petal enters the private room and finds an office. There's bookshelves on one wall and a desk scattered with papers on the other. What is she looking for? Investigation for specific items. Perception for general information.

OOC: Who is where? Resting? Hanging out in the tavern? Being a menace to society... LOL

OOC: Correct me if I'm wrong, but right now, Varen, Elavor, and Ronegan would be around the table in the pub room working on the message. Petal went upstairs to her and Varen's room before going spidergirl and crawling back downstairs. Ran's watching the royal's door. Kiran I suppose has gone to get a nap in before his watch starts.

"Could he have picked a more omnious sounding name? This is concerning. Though Kiran's probably right, seems like an outside force instead of the unification of three whole kingdoms."

Does Varen recognize the name "Dark Wanderer"?

History: 23 (w/ advantage if related to the fey/fiend/undead: 9)

Ran is upstairs in the hall on watch while the guards get dinner.

OOC: Guards ate they wanted booze LOL

Varen has not heard of the Dark Wanderer before.

Wynora and Elinor come down into the tavern but don't join the party. They instead get tankers and huddle in a corner together.

Petal stealth 16

(Just to clarify)- petal is transforming in the room and only if she is alone

"So this Dark Wanderer wants the princess. And the rest of us were to die. Hell, I swear I was nearly there myself." Elavor says, patting the almost healed wound on his side. 

He swirls the whiskey in the glass and stares at it... "Whoever it was will send more to attack. Either tonight, or tomorrow as we travel. And look, this world is larger than any of us know. We have no idea who this Dark Wanderer is... so, I for one am staying up a bit longer. I'll take a rest here before dawn hits, and the sun rises. Just so I'm fresh in the morning. But after this drink..." and he finishes it in a gulp... "it's water for me."

(Elavor will try to stay alert for the next couple of hours, pretending to read over notes or look at maps, yet keeping a wary eye and ear out for trouble)

Perception 15

Varen stares into the bottom of her tankard, before looking at Elavor and Ronegan. "Ran is watching the Royal room now. Kiran and I will take the midshift... suggest you two get some rest soon and take the early morning."

"We will need every eye we can to keep them safe."

Petal the Spider climbs up the wall and takes a look around the room, keeping an eye out for anything that could bethe package she saw Barrin take from the courier

perception 21

Ronegan's excitement at cracking the code gives way to dismay as he realizes the message's contents. However, he still cannot keep himself from pointing out to Varen and Elavor that "I was quite correct in believing Princess Opal to be the target of this brutal and unwarranted attack." He takes one more bite of bread pudding, then places the spoon down firmly. 

He stands up and his fingers drum against the container on his hip. "I am headed upstairs to inform Ran and then, I need to rest. It has been a...trying day Please wake me when it is my shift. I am not a light sleeper, especially after food as rich as this." Sticking his finger into the bread pudding for one more taste, Ronegan moves to the stairs.

Heading upstairs, Ronegan goes directly to Ran in the hallway and repeats, word for word, the message, adding "I am against informing her Highness or the twins tonight. There is little they can do right now and they have many other worries at the moment."

(After conferring with Ran, he will go to his room [assume its shared with Elavor?] and sleep until he is needed.)