0.1 | Riverthanks in Heirwater

OOC: Don't mind me...

OOC: No problem at ALL about not posting on the weekends! We're still learning our rhythm as a group, no big deal.

As the robed men rush over, they take in the curious crowd in their peripheral vision, and the assortment of capable-looking strangers whose attention they have attracted. Maybe it's the gong still reverberating through the air that makes them think twice, or the clanking of the two guards following Eldrick... but this is not a fight they're so eager to pick after all.

"...to bed! Get him to bed!" one of them yells, for the benefit of the crowd. "Too much drink in that one."

"You know how it is--a few too many free drinks at the House of Masks," smiled his companion, turning with open hands and an apologetic smile. He drops his hood, the red cord at his throat swinging down to hang vertically from his shoulder. As his hood drops, he reveals a halo of golden curls, like an adorable toddler. "Sorry for the disturbance, folks! Happy Riverthanks, good luck and fair dealings!"

Taking his cue from the others, the man gripped by Tosher begins to wobble. "Shay whatnow?" he hiccups. "Toucha statue for luck?" He lets out a terrific belch and slumps sideways.

"Our apologies for the disturbance," says golden curls to Tosher, still loud enough for spectators to hear. "Are you looking for the Central Stone, which grants luck at midnight? Allow us to be your guides, we'd be delighted to show you, to make up for this small commotion."

OOC: By the way, should anyone want to leave the area, you're definitely able to. I'm thinking I might create a separate thread for that, something like "0.1 — At the College of Magic" and keep the "main thread" going here for whoever sticks around in this area. Then, whenever you leave that other setting, you can re-join the main thread if you're finding the others again. That's my working concept, but if anyone has seen it done really well through another method, let me know and we can do that too!

The guards standing beside Eldrick look back at their abandoned post at the main doors of the College of Magic. If they don't hurry back over, any old riffraff from the street could wander in, and then they'd be in hot water with their real commanding officer.

"Ah yes, the Boiling Samovar. I know it well," replies golden curls, "a perfect idea. We'll help him along, but there's for your trouble." He hands an object to Jean, murmuring something too low for the others to hear as it exchanges hands.
His eyes flick towards the door of the College of Magic, where it seems Eldrick, Charles, and Xulara are all converging. Then, in a louder voice he says, "Come on then, good minotaur--let's find you some golden luck on the double-quick!"

The men in robes turn to the path back towards the twin drawbridges, golden-hair in the lead, yellow-teeth in his feigned drunken stupor leaning heavily on their third companion. "This way, my tauriform friend!"

As they turn to go, the guards hustle back to their post at the College of Magic door. "Sorry!" puffs Wilfred, straightening his halberd. "No visitors allowed in the Academy on Riverthanks!"

"No trouble at all good sir. Have a lovely Riverthanks!"

Jean turns and heads to the College entrance. He approaches the front door and tips his jaunty tricorn hat to the guards, "Good day gentlemen, keep up the good work," and attempts to walk right through the door.

OOC: Jean is a regular visitor to the College on business. There's a good chance, if these guards are here on the regular, that they would recognize him. He comes and goes frequently, and at odd hours. As we move into this interaction, let me know what social rolls (if any) are required of me.

"Bup-bup-bup-bup-bup!" protests Wilfred, putting a hand out to stop Jean. "Sorry sir, we'll need h'official proof of business."

Colin nods eagerly, "He's right as usual, he is. Lots o' cut-ups and flogarts tryin' to shammy their way in for a lookabout today."

"Too right, Colin. And we weren't moved from our usual post waaaaaay in the back of the Fortress to guard these gates to let just h'any old Johnny-come-blithely in without just cause or an invitation what merits entry."

They block the entrance importantly.

OOC: Let's do persuasion!