[IC] Chapter 1 - Concerning Orcs

The party shifts off the path hiding in the brush ahead of the riders seeing them.

The three riders, the finely dressed woman, the servant, and the guard come close enough for the party to see. The woman has black hair in long curls. She rides with poise and confidence that makes it clear who’s in charge.

The servant is dressed in Verge colors, a dagger mounted at his side. The guards eyes dart back and forth scanning for danger as the three trot along the road.

The woman starts "When we get there, you will secure me a room close to the court."

"Yes, ma’am"

"I need to talk to the Baroness straight away. Theo, you will attend me as I get an audience."

"Ma’am" the guard nods as his eyes glance over the parties hiding spot. He spits. "Do you think she will agree?"

"I don’t know. She was always pragmatic so I presume our chances are good". The woman continues.

Veronica recognizes the voice from the night before when she overheard the discussion with Sir Antonic. The guard clenches his jaw and they continue to ride in silence.

Gramun starts to wonder what he got himself into. Fancy nobles never made him comfortable to begin with. But his whole point was to go after the works he saw tripping around in the woods. Things are starting to seem a lot more complicated than he would like. But he stays quiet and is hiding spot waiting to see what his two companions have to say.

The riders pass the party uneventfully.

In a few hours Threshold comes into view.

A walled city, it is exceptionally orderly. Sitting on the bank of the Windrush river, the grey of the walls and curling smoke from the chimneys is much different from the small village of Verge.

The town hall can be seen in the inner city while some industrial buildings are on an island connected to the city by two long bridges.

There is a line at the gate by the time you get there in the late afternoon. Farmers and merchants are waiting their turn to get in. Guards are checking each person for weapons larger than daggers, and reminding the visitors to abide by the kinds rules. One of the main ones being magic or mystical phenomena is forbidden within the city walls. Inside the city, the streets are light because no building is taller than twice the width of the path. Some asking around about taverns would give two main options, the hook and hatchet with the main clientele being the town guards and The Black Jug typically for travelers.

The Baronness is in Tarnskeep a fortress on the lakeshore a short walk north though she keeps court most days in the Threshold town hall. She is expected back in town tomorrow.

Each of the taverns have a few rooms for rent. Additionally, Veronica can see the telltale signs of an active thieves guild written in books and crannies in Thieves Cant symbols.

So, what’s first? Room and sleep? Gathering info? Going straight to Tarnskeep and knocking on the gate?

What weapon? Says Gramun. " All's I have is this here stick. He chuckles to himself knowing what the word it could become something with a bit more weight to it. " I'd rather not linger in this city though" he says to the others. "If you're set on holding on to your sword lad then it can't hurt to at least ask."

The guard gives the daggers back to Veronica. "You can keep the knives. Law is against more deadly weapons."

He turns toward Dennan looking him up and down.

"We have a few blacksmiths that do good work. But if you want my opinion, I don’t get anything done except by Mulen over at the Spade and Sctthe. He works mostly on farm equipment but can get an edge sharper than the others here. ". He takes a sheet of paper out.

"You’ll need a waiver for the sword." He starts writing "Name?" Flattening the paper out on his thigh. "And even with this, you will need to keep it covered to not scare any locals."

The guard gives a warm smile through teeth in need of a dentist. "Have a nice day."

He gives the kitten a scratch as a means of goodbye; before turning toward the next visitor. A pig farmer wrestling with a rather unruly sow.