"Yeah, let's get our own stuff sorted and make our way to the Amber Isle."

Varen makes sure Mouse is packed appropriately. Turns out, leaving several carts worth of goods on the side of the road is a quick way to lighten the overall load... not that she ever travels with more than can fit in a saddlebag and her own pack.

As she climbs up onto Mouse's saddle, she looks at Elavor. "You know this town well, yeah? Any good stores or other things of interest on the way?"

(OOC: Gonna have to rely on the DM for this but yeah, Elavor knows... ) 

Elavor mounts Dust, and looks down the street they are on..."Well, depends on what you're looking for... If you're into really good quality armor and weaponry...." and he goes on to tell them the locations of any stores that are on the way , or out of the way in the city, depending on his experience and their needs. He of course, would have a map handy, and be able to show them where they were currently and the locations of the shops or locations he was describing. Obviously, he's in his element with directions and enjoys helping others find their ways around...

“Don’t you think we should get to the apartments first? Make sure everything is um...safe for the  family before they come?” Petal fixes her gaze on Varen as she says this, nudging her with a look. The gnome looked concerned ever since the Amber Isles were mentioned. She 

"Sorry, Petal. I meant that more as a 'learning the lay of the land' kind of way. It'll be good for Elavor to point out some notable landmarks as we head to the apartments."

Oh, ok - thanks for showing us around Ellie! Petal smiles an uneasy smile

"And the library of course, dear boy! I absolutely must visit the library!" Ronegan exclaims, once again the loudest among the traveling party. "I must have read every text in the Firstforge keep three times. New books shall preserve my sanity." The unease that Ronegan felt amidst all the political maneuvering on the barge melts as he moves through the metropolis.  He places Ronegan's Illuminated Reader in his hip canister. That was a labor of love for him. A few hours more and it would be finished, and then he couldn't wait to share it with Ran. He follows the others, listening intently to Elavor, interjecting exclamations of delight every so often.

The grand city of Ospel lays before the party and the royal family of Firstforge moves away surrounded by the high king's guard miles ahead of them to the Amber isles. The city itself is vast and teaming with life. It's a metropolis in every sense of the word. The amalgamation of all cultures and commerce exported as well as imported here. People of all races have come together to live in the Light and built this new capital city just under a hundred years old over a former temple of a long-forgotten god. All seem to live here in harmony on the surface but each cultured member of the party knows it's only skin deep and trouble brews here as old as the Darkness itself. As all the six kingdom's of differing racial heritage contribute to the wealth and power of Ospel and the city it knows no rival in the seven kingdoms. It had become the seventh kingdom in a short period of time from its draw of the six kingdoms inhabitants. Ospel is the jewel of the seven, the grand city... Looking around at its buildings are a mix of architectures best described as all cultures of Embera melding together. The city is broken into four main areas and from above look like a pyramid. The base and largest area is the Umber district. The second-largest and area of commerce is the Ochre district,. The third-largest is the residential area known as the Cadium district. The last and the smallest area or tip of the pyramid are disjointed islands known as the Amber isles. The Umber district comprises the docklands. One area is where the Grambler canal comes in along the River Athos that feeds into the Mistral Harbor. The cities largest harbor is where the icy Boros and tropical Verra Sea meet. This area is the outskirts where the city wall is currently under construction. It has serval areas considered slums but is mostly where the city is growing far too fast for formal housing to keep up! The Ochre district houses all the guilds, the grand library, and the Union Bazaar. This is the area of Ospel where a body could find just about anything if they know where to look, how to haggle or have a large purse! The Cadium district is mostly residential. It has a wall already and the area has controlled entry. This is where lower nobility lives as well as the wealthiest merchants. Leaving the main city in the Mistral Harbor lies the Amber Isles which is a tidal chain of islands, three in total, that are linked by roads that disappear at high tide but only boats can reach after dusk. These isles house the royal family in the high king's palace known as the Lightbringer's Court. The second island is the holy site where the Lightbringer came to Embera where the grand cathedral of Lightbringer is built known as the Fortress of Radiance. The last and smallest island is the seven kingdom's prison known colloquially as the Retched Rock but it's official name is the Oubliette Isle. 

Elavor knows the city well. Ronegan would have a scholarly idea. Kiran would know the holy areas from training as well as the grand cathedral and holy isle.

OOC: Elavor can roll with investigation with advantage to find specific things.

As Varen rides Mouse at a walking pace alongside the procession of party members, she can't help but marvel at the size of the city. Her father had spoken of it, and she'd seen pictures in some of the Firstforge Library's books, but the scale of the metropolis was breathtaking.

She looks at Petal. (Would Petal be riding with Varen or one of the others? We have our three horses between the six of us, and two shorties.) "Have you ever seen anything like this? It makes me feel like a backwater bumpkin. When I was little, I used to think my family's keep was the mightiest place ever built by man or dwarf."

She sniffs the air.

"I think I might prefer the Deephallow. At least when you are in that ancient wood, you know you are surrounded by danger. Here?" She pauses, thinking of her conversation with Kiran.

"Blinded by the light."

For the moment, Kiran would be content following along with the group, driving the carriage (I think they left it behind for us). As they travel along, though, he'll keep a careful eye out for anyone paying undue attention.

(Petal would be happy on either Varen or Elavors horses.)

Looking around, Petal seems overwhelmed by the city. “Well, it sure is... um.. busy.” She seems to struggle to find a nice word to describe the city. “I sure haven’t seen anything like it, that I know!” She smiles at the mention of the deephallow “Well, I’d feel a lot safer there than here,  monsters that lurk in the woods are far easier to understand - you just gotta know how to treat them, or how to trick them. Here.... the rules are different.”

"Here, there are no rules."

Ran takes in as much of the sights and sounds of Ospel as he can. Despite his role as emissary he has never really spent time in Ospel. He has heard stories, and he served with a number of soldiers who group up in the seedier parts of the city. Everything felt designed to awe and make you feel small. You could lose yourself here if you aren’t careful. 

Catching fragments of Petal and Varen’s conversation, he interjects a comment.

”There are plenty of rules. Unfortunately, though, no one tells you what game you’re playing,” he says. “At least not until they are sure you‘re already losing.”

He returns to watching along their route. Without the royal family with them, they are probably the safest they’ve been since they started on this journey.

Varen gives a chuckle. "That's one way to consider it." She looks up to the top level of Ospel, and eyes where she can see the spires of the Lightbringer's Court in the distance.

"The game started the moment we packed up and left the keep. And we don't even know how many people are playing at it."

Ran thinks a bit about what Varen has said. Perhaps this will be the time to make sure he has a piece in play. He had seen it before. In times of turmoil opportunities present themselves. He just hadn’t know what he wanted then. Now, now maybe he knew.

OOC: The city awaits are you splitting the party or staying together? Shopping or investigating the attacks? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

The party sees a clear path ahead where the high king's guard disappeared into the crowds towards the Amber Isles. If one had never been there one would assume that's the direction they were going... The party can see cargo being unloaded by the canal and at a short distance away the harbor too. Tall ships dot the water as far as the eye can see and a shift in the wind carries the salty scent of sea air towards the party.

Looking at the sea, Petal points “Now that.... THAT is beautiful!” 

Turning to Elavor she asks, “So how do we get to the isles, do we swim? I’ve always wanted to swim in the sea!“ 

 Looking up at Varen, as she sits in front of her on the horse she whispers “Do you think we should tell the others about the package? Ellie and Ronnie would help, I know it!”

(Ronnie will be with Elavor, then.)

Ronegan breathes in deeply of the city air. It was exciting to be in such a place, the halfling thought, and he was positively vibrating with anticipation. The nature of the political discussion among the others dampened his enthusiasm though, and brings Ronegan back to reality. After hearing Petal's comments about Ospel, he will quietly remark to her. "You are not wrong. This place is dangerous People like us," he looks significantly at her "are considered nothing less than abominations in this place. Be very circumspect in how you use your...ehrm, talents. Always assume someone is watching. If you are not careful, the next witchfinder we may encounter may be less conflicted than our monk friend there." He jerks a thumb back towards the wagon. "The young prince needs to be careful as well. As it is right now, I doubt very much his father will be able to protect him."

More loudly, he will announce "I think the unpacking can wait a spell. Elavor, old boy, do you know of any place in the city we could get a decent meal? Perhaps a place near the action of this tournament? If we can get some solid facts about these attacks on the other families, rather than the odd innuendo from some busybody old halfling, we might then be able to draw some valuable conclusions. At least about the motives for the attacks, much less the identities of our adversaries." He rubs his ample stomach. "Besides, the gray matter always operates a bit better having been fed. A good rarebit would not go unappreciated now."

Petal pulls a berry out of her pouch - “ Ronegan, can you wait? I think someone on the isles might be plotting against the family. If you’re hungry you can have this berry!”

Ran looks over at Ronegan and Petal. 

"What is that about someone plotting in the isles?" he asks sharply. "I was going to suggest we continue on to the court straight away. I've encountered some of the other emissaries before and we could check with them to see if any had been attacked on their way here. But if the plot is being conducted from the court itself we may need to think about our next step very carefully. Why do you think the isles are connected to the Dark Wanderer?" 

He stops to listen carefully to what Petal says, already thinking that avoiding the trappings of the court might be a good idea. Heading towards the barracks might be better. 

"Petal found something in the inn. Might have been related to the shady character we saw at the bar... The one wearing Ospel colors. She can get into more detail."

She looks to Ronegan. "Food later, Ronegan. I think we might need your most discerning eye when we look through the apartment... Make sure nothing is amiss." She gives him a sly wink.