Quote from Sixfoot10 >>

"I would not put it in such harsh terms but I do agree that it is strange that you all would help out earlier and now say you do not want to be involved. People who do not want to be involved usually don't get involved." 

"I cannot speak for the others, but I am new to this area, and must admit that I did not even know who the lady was. But I could not simply stand by while someone was attacked in such a public place. I am afraid I was not acting with any kind of politics in mind. But as I said, it feels like I am quite involved now." 

 

 

“ I agree with my tall friend here. And I never said I wouldn’t help.. I asked what you want us to do. Do you have any leads?  And when I asked why any of us would want to help, well that was an incentive for you to start to negotiate. And gold..  that is something I can get behind.” 

 When the fight breaks out: “Well now isn’t this a cat-astyrphe?”  

Lyrika groans happily at the kitty pun.

"Too much bickering, not enough negotiating," she says. "Some people always need to get into a chest-puffing-up contest, trying to intimidate people and ordering them around. If you want our help, trying to threaten us into it is not going to work. Throw us out of the country if you like. There are plenty of other countries, some of them nicer to be in. As to helping out before, I saw a murderer murder someone, and I was simply trying to make sure that my friends and I would not be next on his to-do list. For all your fuss about your Lady who walked away unharmed, I don't hear a word of regret from you about that murdered gnome and the guard who was killed. If you need our help as much as you say, make it worth our while, because we are not going to be bullied into danger just to save you from shelling out  coins for professional help. I, for one, don't consider it an honor to do free work for rich nobles who can afford to pay and who consider our lives worthless."

The new Baron looks quizzically at both of you. "Payment was offered. Only the young bard here and the tabaxi expressed any interest in it. You all seem to be talking in circles. How about, if you help us, you may have the purse that you might have won at the competition. That is the money you came for, no? Does that seem fair?"

She pauses for a moment. "And what murdered guard and gnome? When did that happen? You haven't told us anything about what you saw, outside of Count Jezek's actions and the fight." 

Aramae had stood by listening to his new friends with wide eyes and wide smile. Quite surprised to discover them with their own way with words.

He sips the last of his wine with great interest in the show before him.

"Well, I wasn't where the others are and didn;t see what happened there exactly, and it's usually against my principles to tell a story without putting it to music, but since you are in a hurry to hear it and I am in no mood to make a song and dance of it--" Lyrika tells the baron the events as she saw them in the tent.

Oryxis growls, now at the Baron: "I AM a professional, and I don't care to explain the situation to you. Let me go so I can redeem what remains of my honour, or your guard here will have to earn his keep."

Intimidation: 21

Edgar will walk around and offer refills of the wine. “M’lady, care for an other drink?” He offers up to the Æthling

The Baron just stares you down. "No, I don't think I will let you. And if you try anything you'll find that the good Captain here doesn't need to help. In Novgortah we are trained to handle our own problems. And no thank you on the wine, I believe I might need my wits for your friend here." 

"I just want it clear that, should a fight break out, I have nothing to do with it or those involved. Since we, or at least I, am not going to be of use to you, I would like to leave. Edgar, Lyrika, Fenro, shall we travel together? I would rather a Budding friendship end so soon before it can bloom."

Aramae will cast Message in turn to the three of them.

'I also worry this large lion will get himself in trouble and I would rather not be caught up in it.'

Oryxis' lips curl in another snarl, and his hand twitches, as if he wished to go for the handle of his greataxe, before saying with barely suppressed rage: "We have told you what we know, now let us get on with our and your business, since you clearly don't know anything more about this than we do."

Fenro hears the message from Aramea form in his mind. Not a new experience, but the sensation always feels strange to him. In reply, he gathers his thoughts to express his feelings. "I admit I have no intention of becoming an agent of the kingdom but worry that neither side will just let us go peacefully now that our swords have been drawn." Maybe the best way out of this is through. And if we can progress our own ends in the meantime, having the favour of an Aethling could be handy."

Insight: 17

Fenro then returns his attention to the Goliath, studying him and considering his words, hoping to gain a greater understanding of what is going on and how to respond. ((Not waiting for the roll due to time, but hoping that this can be tailored to suit. I am hoping that by gaining greater insight into his motivations we can come to some kind of understanding. "I think you misunderstand us. We have not said we will not help, but neither are we your subjects that can be just told what to do. This is putting our lives on the line, and you offer us mere gold, and the prize money from the competition that one of us was already entered at that. This is the future of your kingdom at stake and we were the only ones in that tent who stood by your side. We are detained without choice and expected to put our lives on hold and walk into danger to help you out. We could simply return to our homes and the fate of this kingdom would have little effect on us. If you want our help, this must be a partnership, not an indentured servitude. Trees grow strongest when they grow together after all."

The goliath seems to be a one track minded kind of person. This type of negotiating isn't his strong suit. He's most comfortable when people respect his orders and listen to them without question. But he does seem to be listening. "Interesting. What kind of arrangement did you have in mind? I will admit that I am not used to these types of things. I am a servant of the kingdoms and expect others too be too. This is not my kingdom either but the Lady here has a good heart and a good mind. I would wish to see things turn out well for her."

"First of all, lets calm things down. Why don't we sit down together, break some bread and we can tell you about what we need. Then you can let us know if you can help us with that. Gold may be part of it, but I know that is the least of my concerns." Fenro does his best to pull some furniture together so they can sit near each other and talk. He then pulls out some rations from his backpack, and though simple fare breaks his travel bread to share. As he does so he continues to talk to the Goliath, trying to create some kind of connection with him. "This is not your kingdom either? How long have you been here? When you first got here, how did you end up serving in your position, or did you come looking for the opportunity? Have you ever been back home?"

Aramae gladly takes a seat at the makeshift meeting room. He finishes his wine, listening intently to the beginning negotiations. He appreciated and respected Fenro's manner of metaphors to describe the situation.

Aramae casts Prestidigitation on Fenro's food to make it more flavorful and delicious.

The goliath waits until the entire group has sat down. "Those are a lot of questions. I come from where all goliaths come from, the Fjordlands. I was selected by the Crowns when I was a child due to my abilities. Since then I have lived in the Crownlands and served the High Kings and Queens of the land, as they come. The Crowns serve the ruler alone, we belong to no kingdom. We give up all claims of belonging to a kingdom when we take our oath."

Quote from Sixfoot10 >>

 "I think you misunderstand us. We have not said we will not help, but neither are we your subjects that can be just told what to do. This is putting our lives on the line, and you offer us mere gold, and the prize money from the competition that one of us was already entered at that. This is the future of your kingdom at stake and we were the only ones in that tent who stood by your side. We are detained without choice and expected to put our lives on hold and walk into danger to help you out. We could simply return to our homes and the fate of this kingdom would have little effect on us. If you want our help, this must be a partnership, not an indentured servitude. Trees grow strongest when they grow together after all."

 “Oh, what he said!” Edgar smile and point the now empty wine bottle on the Ferbog. He sit down and wrap his tail around himself and start combing it with his claws.

“We’re a band of newly formed adventurers who go out in the world to find treasure and hidden and forgotten lore.” he say as of everyone already has agreed on his proposal” We have a clue to where our journey will take us next, but it would be great if we could have a permit they let us look through the royal library’s and book collections. As well as a travel permit that let the inns in your county know that the Crown will pay for our living expenses during our travels.” he looks intently on both of them knowing full well that what he asks is totaly outrageous. “If you agree to this you have won me over.”

persuation: 12

yep.. totaly outrageous.. 

The new Baron raises an eyebrow at the tabaxi. "For one who claims to be so well traveled it's clear you have never been to Novgortah. The Halls of Knowledge in Thurnak are open to all, there are no special books just for the me and my family. As for the inns, you would have to become a part of the Negotiator Corp to rate that sort of privilege. Even the Captain here is paying for his room." 

Lyrika definitely accepts another refill on the wine.  She lets her companions carry on with the conversation: she has stated her goals, she will wait till the others sort out their own decisions and work things out...or not.

"oh.. well I tried,..." he shrugs his shoulders and let the more charasmatic people take over the conversaton. 

Oryxis grimaces but sits down. This was definitely not to his liking, but the Firbolg seemed to know what he was doing, and he had to admit that his own impatience hadn’t gotten him anywhere either.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to team up with this group? After Osmyos, he’d have a hard time finding future employment as a bodyguard, that much was sure.