A female manticora wearing a leather cape approaches you.  “I hear that you are traveling to The Bridged City to investigate this bane that is troubling us.”  She says. “I’m Sheriff Isi. I would send some of my officers, but we hardly have enough to keep the peace as it is.  As you travel, stay alert. There have been reports of bandits on the road. It’s two days travel on foot, or half a day by carriage, although it might be difficult to find a driver given the trouble on the road.  If there is anything I can do to help, just ask.”

"Much thanks."  Lia says with a nod of thanks.  She is a beautiful, white-haired, half-elf wearing an assortment of gear.  She has a set of short swords at her hips, with a rapier down her back, under her pack.  A shield rests attached to her pack.  and A heavy crossbow hangs from that pack as well.  The clothes she wears is a step up from what you would expect, the cloak fur-lined, with her skirt and tunic looking to be a bit higher quality than most commoners wear.  All of her clothes are clearly made for wearing in the cold weather of the region.

Gold Plainsweeper is grateful for the advice.  Like Lia he is a fair-haired half-elf but very different in appearance.  Brawny and always in some kind of armor his clothes, those that can be seen, are utilitarian and almost smell of practicality.  He sports his trusted longsword along with a shield that is strapped to his back in boring times.  He has plenty on to keep him warm but you get the feeling he wouldn't be dressed much different if they were heading into a desert.  Gold is just gold, always has been and always will be.

"Thank you for your kindness and we will stay alert."  He turns to the others and asks "Do we want to find a carriage?  It would make the travel easier but like she said supply and demand might put it out of our reach at the moment."

Hallanann, in a quiet voice that belies an individual that would rather not be the center of attention speaks up, "If it's all the same to the group, I think quicker might be best, given the circumstances. So, if there is anyone who might be willing to drive us, Sheriff, could you point us in the right direction?"

Hallanann is an attractive half-elf with an athletic build and not blonde, but gold hair. His eyes are a deep blue with golden fleks randomly strewn about his irises.

He wears a black cloak with intricate green fleurs all over. Sometimes, you might think you see the colors or pattern shifting on the cloak. Underneath, he wears the white shirt,  black trousers and black, knee-high leather boots that he just bought for these cold wintery conditions.

"Well, aren't you in luck." Sheriff Isi says.  "Here's Tiarsus now.  Tiarsus drives for the Crossed Wands Inn.  He's the most reliable driver we have here in Durgan's Rest."

Tiarsus is a thin old elf who sits perched on top of his carriage, resembling a gargoyle on top of a castle wall. "So ye need passage to The Bridged City is it?" Tiarsus voice is as thin as his body. "I reckon I may be of service, but those bandit toll takers..." Tiarsus trails off in his thoughts and swats at the air. "I would charge 6 gold pieces each, but you look like you could hold your own in a scuffle.  You might not know by looking at me." The frail man says, "But I'm not much of a fighter," he chuckles. "If fighting starts, I'm ducking under my cab. What do you say to 3 GP each?"  

"Speaking for myself, I'd say that sounds fair. How about we give you half now, and half when we arrive."

Persuasion: 10

Krusk, without introducing himself, takes 3GP out of a pocket and hands it to him.

Krusk is a big, hulking half-orc with pale grey skin, purple eyes, and jet black hair. He has a lot of weapons on his back, and is wearing chain mail armor that clinks is whenever he moves. It seems odd that he doesn’t introduce himself, but he goes back to standing and listening, which he does often.

Krusk wants to roll insight on Sheriff Isi (14) and the driver, Tiarsus (15)

"Seems fair to me." Lia says with a smile, tucking some of her white hair behind an ear as she pulls out her money pouch.  She extracts 3 gold and hands it over.  "I'll just pay my full amount up front."

 It appears to Krusk that both Sheriff Isi and Tiarsus are being genuine. (The serendipity of Tiarsus being right there was just to move the plot along because play by post can get a little slow.)

(Persuasion 25! How can I argue with that. :-D ) "You look like an honest chap."  Tiarsus thinks for a moment, "...  And that you could probably dislocate my arm just by looking at it.  Half now, and half later it is."

Gold pulls 3gp from his poach and hands it to the driver.  "We are most grateful to the sheriff for finding someone willing to take us through the dangers on these roads.  This will reduce our time, thank you"

(ooc: after all of my hard negotiating, everyone paid up front in full. Lol.)

Being a curmudgeon, Hallanann gladly hands over 1GP and 5SP, loads up his equipment and situates himself for the trip. "Thank you, Tiarsus," he says as he gets into the carriage.

Quote from CelticSurfer >>

(ooc: after all of my hard negotiating, everyone paid up front in full. Lol.)

 

Being a curmudgeon, Hallanann gladly hands over 1GP and 50SP, loads up his equipment and situates himself for the trip. "Thank you, Tiarsus," he says as he gets into the carriage.

 Sure you want to pay 6 GP instead of 1.5 GP?  I.E. 50 SP = 5 GP... lol.

 "What's this, a group rate when I've already paid my fare in full?" A slender creature with a rodent-like face and tail, their body covered in white and grey fur beneath their traveling clothes, comes out of the Crossed Wands Inn. "Not that I mind sharing the carriage, I'd just rattle around in there all by meself, but if I'd known I could get a lower fare by inviting a few others along, I mighta invited some of the cousins after all." They pause to think for a moment, then make a face. "Or maybe not."

They look about at the others. "Hello there, name's Chikra. Headed to the Bridged City as well then, eh?" It's a little difficult to tell if you've not met a slitherin before, but given the pitch of voice and the number of bangles on ears, claws, and tail (along with a tail knife and a few nicks and scars, to say nothing of the shield and weapons attached to the back of their pack) you'd hazard Chikra's probably female.

Quote from DragonDenn >>

Quote from CelticSurfer >>

(ooc: after all of my hard negotiating, everyone paid up front in full. Lol.)

 

Being a curmudgeon, Hallanann gladly hands over 1GP and 50SP, loads up his equipment and situates himself for the trip. "Thank you, Tiarsus," he says as he gets into the carriage.

 Sure you want to pay 6 GP instead of 1.5 GP?  I.E. 50 SP = 5 GP... lol.

 (ooc: lol I'm an idiot. This is why I don't math in public. Is it 10SP/1GP? Whatever the right math is for 1.5gp is what I gave him. Haha)

Hallanann looks at Chikra and politely nods with a smile, "I'm Hallanann. Pleased to meet you."

Tiarsus looks at all the folks climbing into his carriage, and seems to be concerned "Not that I don't want to take you whole lot, but things are looking pretty crowded in here." He pauses to think, and continues, "Inside fits four comfortably.  One of you will need to ride up on the driving platform with me, and one on the trunk seat.  My eyes aren't so good, so someone who can keep a lookout for them vermin... Umm, no offence Chikra."

Krusk nods at the newcomer, and gets up and sits on the trunk seat

"Unless someone else feels better able to keep an eye out, I'd be willing to sit up front with the driver," Hallanann says. 

If no one speaks up, he gets out of the inside of the carriage and climbs up next to the driver.

Chikra's lip curls up in a slight snarl. "I'll consider it, if you knock down my fare to meet theirs." She crosses her arms over her chest.