"Of course not...my dude. Of course not..."

Ben just chuckles to himself about Ess's discomfort and turns back to keeping the skinning process clean.

---

A larger dinner party is exactly what Ben wants and he would like the whole party there, specifically Kay and Ash who will be doing the snooping. Ess can come, it would be odd if he didn't! Bim would also be along, otherwise how would Ben show him off properly?!

He would have introduced the council to Bimz properly and explained his tragic background and that he agreed to join the party in their heroic deeds, beginning with the crocodile clean up. Preferably while Bimz is on Ben's shoulder so people are still mostly looking at Ben. He wouldn't really want to emphasize the whole sentient being being traded as a reward bit if at all possible. Bimz is free to catch bugs if he wants too but he would make sure that Gellan knows what Bimz likes to eat so it is ready at the party.

Ben wonders momentarily at Hanna's absence but he has bigger fish to fry tonight!

((During dinner/the performances it will be up to Kay and Ash to see what they can find out about Gellan's dealings. Ben is mostly just a distraction, which Ess and Bimz can help with as needed.

The more people at the party the better for Ash and Kay to slip away!

Oh, and the jewelers? If there is one.))

((I think the priority would be getting a layout of the place, more 'casing the joint' than looking for secrets... though if secrets happen to be found...))

((The extent of the mission is up to the experts!))

((OOC: thanks all! I’m back home now))

Ash is happy with how everything is going, and with the plans for upcoming quests.

In relation to the weapons, she likes the profit from seeing what the crew can find but not the uncertainty. She likes the potential certainty of buying stock from a blacksmith but not the profit.

But given the timescales, would suggest, “Why don’t we ask the blacksmith’s if they can fill the order from existing stock, or how long it would take to get that kind of order pulled together. That way, we’ll know what we could get if we had to, and how much time to leave to get it. If we find the stuff in the mean time, great, but I’d like to scope out a fall back option”.

She’s also up for the party and casing the house. “I’ll need something to wear!”. At some point she would try and find something suitable. Could she find something like this? How much would that set her back?…

"As long as we're circumspect in the asking, I'm not opposed to checking on what they have and can make in a couple of weeks."

Ben will check with them today if he has time, on the premise of the upcoming conflict with the sahaugin and equipping the town should the need arise.

"How down low do we need to keep it? The town is allied with the lizardfolk now, but is the council keeping that and the sahuagin threat a secret from the people?"

"Mostly don't want someone to undercut us or offer better deals going forward. Otherwise, it's not likely we'll get in any trouble for it."

"I suppose, but don't think anyone's in the position we are to offer them... though that's probably what Sanbalet's crew thought too. Speaking of, he had a bunch of hobgoblins working for him, you think they were just mercs, or is there a horde out there somewhere dipping their fingers into things?"

"And let's learn from Sanbalet's team's failures if we can. Let's see what the bandits have, and if we're lucky the tower will turn out to be the same as the 'haunted' mansion."

He thinks on that statement before adding,

"Albeit with fewer walking skeletons. After that we assess whether to engage the blacksmiths here and other merchants or head north to fill the order. We need to head that way in any case sooner rather than later."

"Hadn't put much thought into the hobgoblins. They didn't seem to be in charge and there were none on the pirate ship so probably mercenaries. Otherwise I expect we'd have seen or heard more sign of a horde."

He scratches under a horn thoughtfully,

"Though that would probably get the council to find some money for us to confirm there is no threat..."

Korrik considers for a bit. 

"Perhaps... though I think my Gran would have had a few sayings for that. She used to tell us things like this all the time... 'If the pig's already drained, don't need to stick it again', or 'after you've milked the cow, let go of the teat'... Course, if they ASK, who are we to turn down hero work."

"I've heard similar...colorful turns of phrase. In any case it is a consideration for later when we have more time, and likely dependent on our future employment opportunities."

((Finally, some time to myself!))

Ok, so that small merchant at the market (she's not really a true jeweler) does have a few stones that she'd be willing to exchange gold for. They include:

blue quartz x 10

turquoise x 10

quartz x 2

Ash, you're able to find a red dress that is similar to the one in your picture at the market. (I'm thinking a customized  'clothes, costume' item, and add the description within?) The cost is 5gp. 

All - just to confirm, you are waiting to go to the blacksmith depending on how these next few quests go, yes?

Ben, the council would be happy to hear about Bimz, and Gellan will ensure they have food for him as well at the dinner. Bimz basically never wants to leave your side so he's very pleased that you're bringing him as well.

Ok - large dinner party it is! Gellan is stoked and is looking forward to an evening with the heroes of Marshswamp in a different setting than vs. the council hall.

Alliance formed + 3  /  9:00PM  /   Primewater Mansion

He invites a handful of his friends to the dinner. 4 to be exact. I'm not sure how much RP I want to do here although if one or all of you want to spend some time with RP during this dinner please let me know and I will be happy to engage! That being said, any and all questions you might have for Gellan about any particular location in or around the town, or about anything else for that matter please ask and I will RP it.

His friends include a dwarven couple and a human couple. Both are longtime friends and have been trying to set Gellan up with the perfect mate for awhile but to no avail. He's dated many different women over the years but never settled down, and throughout the course of the evening you would've found out all of these other general details about Gellan:

Gellan would tell his 4 friends most of the details about the lizardfolk and what the party has done here in Marshswamp to date. Probably after some wine. The human couple had actually already heard of the 'Heroes of Marshswamp' and were very much looking forward to meeting all of you. Gellan trusts his friends but also knows that the lizardfolk alliance and the upcoming Sahuagin activities are almost public knowledge now seeing how this town gossip works which is why he was ok talking about it. He doesn't talk about any specifics or anything like that.

One thing in particular he'd ask about though is if you've been able to find any other smuggling operations in or around the city that the 'council' might want to know about.

Ben, you perform your new songs to Gellan and his friends which allows both Ash and Korrik to get a few moments to scope things out. Get a layout of the place. Case the joint. There is wine flowing and I don't think it would be super awkward or anything for each of you to leave during the performance. That being said, Ash and Korrik please roll perception and stealth checks to determine how this all goes. Also, would you want to go together, or separately during the performance?

Ben, the performance goes quite well, although they are new songs and you feel they could use some polish. There was some wine consumed tonight, so the guests along with Gellan likely applauded and cheered more than they normally would, but they were entertained nonetheless.

OK! - Let me know if I missed anything. Over to you!

Perception: 14

Stealth: 19 (with option to Pass Without if we want)

((I think leaving somewhat separately, but meeting up to help each other keep a watch out? Or do we want to split up to cover more ground as we 'get lost on the way to the potty'?))

((So far as the blacksmith goes in post #1966 Ben would have checked with them if there was time before the dinner or alternatively the next day. He is just seeing what they have in stock and how much they could produce in a couple weeks. He'll vaguely imply it is for the upcoming conflict rumors have been mentioning and checking the town's readiness.))

Ben takes to the finery like he was born to it (which he was if you ask him). He will engage in all kinds of small talk and mention the quest to the Dreadwood and inquire if Gellan or the others have any advice on venturing into such an ominously named place. He'll ask them about the sahaguin and if they've had problems with them before, more to keep the conversation going than actual expectation they know anything useful. He'll also compliment Gellan on his choice of wine and send his further compliments to the chef.

On Gellan's question about other smuggling rings he'll reply honestly,

"We haven't had time to look for any other smugglers, the council and the queen have kept our schedules filled!"

He will then turn the question around asking, innocently as he can (which is pretty darn innocent considering how not innocent he is),

"Why, do you have word of more? We're back in town for a while now so we can look into any leads you have?"

He'll put Ess on chatting up people to distract them from Kay and Ash's absence, mostly around moving to town. He'll play requests as well if anyone has one and he'll uses the lute of illusions to really bring the stories to life.

((Oh, and Ben would buy all the gems on offer to lighten the loads. Anyone have a lot a of silver/copper they want to offload? Ben mostly has gold, which is going to be the least weight change.))

Ash

Perception: 18 

Stealth: 21 

As well as sneaking off (somewhat separately, but meeting up and splitting up with Korrik as necessary), when they are back, and as the performance ends, Ash will accidentally on purpose find herself right next to Gellan, and will be applauding just as enthusiastically as he does, maybe with a polite look over to him and a coy laugh “Ah haha ha…”, or even an unnecessary ‘bravo’ or similar, hoping her voice close by might gain his attention.

She will complement him, and thank him for the dinner. She may even innocently comment that ‘beef is her absolute favourite, and how much she likes good meat’, or similar. She will also flatter the man by gushing about the house and laugh at how the decor matches her dress. “What this old thing?”, she says brushing the front of it down, and sides, turning this way and that. Then she would go in for the kill by insisting he take her on ‘The Tour’. “Oh, but you must!”.

If he’ll indulge her, she perhaps gets another shot at casing the joint? Maybe with advantage since Gellan himself is helping  her? Especially she can innocently ask ‘What’s that? Where does that lead? Oh the windows have a view of? Show me where you work!’, etc.

Ill roll persuasion, but maybe the DC is low if she put in enough groundwork?! And I’ll roll another Perception with advantage. Feel free to do with that what you want! 

Persuasion: 12 

Perception: 16 

And if it’s worked a little too well, she will thank him and make sure they make their way back down as is only befitting of a lady…

She’d be as interested in where he doesn’t take her as where he does, and will make a note of where he particularly doesn’t want her to see!

Ben looks at Ash a little miffed that he isn't the center of attention should she manage to get the tour.

He won't voice any need to follow along with her and will engage with the other guests while they are gone.

((OOC: if Ash isn’t his cup of tea, Ben may still get his chance))