Beregost

Jan 2, 2023 9:04 pm

Sheemish spends some time slowly sipping his drink and absorbing the environment around him. These are common folk, for the most part, with common concerns. Most of them haven't been a mile farther from Beregost than their farm. That said, to live out here in the frontier they've got to be made of tough stuff.

These are a few of the things that catch Sheemish's attention:

"...nearly lost me head when the sword broke. 'Twas me father's too. Curse this Iron Crisis..."

"...who does he think he is? My family settled this town! I've had enough..."

"...*hic*...s'good music. Mooozik. Heh. More ale over here!"

"...Yous guys up for the job? The son of Entar Silvershield! Gotta be worth somethin'..."

"...poor Landrin. House taken over and husband devoured by spiders! I say we just burn it down..."

"...play faster, bard! Play till yer bow catches fur! *hic*... Er, I mean fire..."

Silke Rosena

Jan 2, 2023 9:26 pm

deoelvenmage Inactive forever!

"That is something to discuss over a drink." Silke takes Aiwë gently by the elbow and guides her to an empty table.

She slides into her seat as gracefully as a dancer and waves over a halfling scurrying about with a platter of crystal glasses. "What will you be having, Aiwë? I'd like something with a nice taste, but not too strong. A woman's got to have a clear head, tonight."

The troubadour takes a small sip of her own choice of drink, then sets her glass on the table and leans back in her seat. "Opportunity!" She's careful to never let the smile leave her face, and keeps her voice pitched for Aiwë alone. "If you glance - discreetly! - over my shoulder, you'll see a rather portly man. Middle-aged, dark hair, small mustache. Note his rather magnificent blue cloak. And right about... now it changes to green. In another 30 seconds it will be red." Silke notes all this without turning around herself. "A remarkable cloak, isn't it? And changing color is just one of its magical capabilities."

She takes another casual sip from her glass and leans forward, directing Aiwë's eyes back to her. "Algernon is an Amnish merchant. He only stops at the Burning Wizard twice a year, for a single night. Early in the morning he'll be headed for Baldur's Gate." Her fingers pick a strand of blonde hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear, subtly revealing diamond earrings. "Help me get that cloak tonight, and I'll make sure it's worth your time and effort."

Calliope O'Kelly

Jan 2, 2023 9:31 pm

"Good thinking; we'd say splitting up into two groups would be beneficial as well, because if the people they're targeting are separated, they'll have to send assassins to both buildings, making it harder for them to all attack a single target."

Quote:

"And how about you accompany Awie? I'll stay with Dieter for now."

Calliope shrugs, starting to trail away towards where the half elf went. "Fine by us. Should that also be how we split inns?"

Last edited January 2, 2023 9:32 pm

Jan 2, 2023 9:38 pm

Victor.Strokov Inactive for 4 months

"But what about..." Marianne opens the front door again and lets in Stella. "Dieter, have I taught you nothing? Always hold the door open for beautiful young ladies!" She flashes Stella a smile and gives her a welcoming side-hug. "Poor boy's probably just embarrassed and not thinking straight. It happens to most men."

Marianne moves into the rest of the house, the sea of dwarf children parting before her. "I'm afraid I just put dinner up, but it'll be warm again in no time." She looks back at Dieter. "Son, you should have let us know you were coming. And with company!" She busies herself in the kitchen with plates and cutlery. "So tell me how you two met!"

Dieter

Jan 2, 2023 11:09 pm

Dieter being completely oblivious dieter looks over at stella in surprise not realizing she was following him. Oh jeez I didn’t realize she was following me

"um how did we meet..I think it was in that magic fortress, the one that almost didn’t let me in. Yeah I think it was there." Dieter says thinking he’s answered his mothers question to the fullest of her meaning.

Jan 3, 2023 12:46 am

"Ahhh, an opportunity indeed," Aiwë waves away the server and takes no drink. "I'm afraid you've misread me, though. I'm not looking for work tonight. You see, immediately prior to my stop here I turned in six bandits to the Flaming Fists." She adjusts her bracelets with a proud look as though she were coyly gloating. Resting her chin in her hand she looks back at Silke. "That is enough for one day, don't you think?"

Last edited January 3, 2023 12:47 am

Rolls

I Really don't want to have to get involved in this, how about you just don't? - (1d20+7)

(5) + 7 = 12

Jan 3, 2023 2:55 am

Marianne nods as though fully satisfied by the answer, then looks over her shoulder to Stella and silently rolls her eyes with exaggeration. "Right, Candlekeep! Tulfgar told me all about the arrangements with his father's friends' children. Are you one of those then? From Icewind Dale?"

Silke Rosena

Jan 3, 2023 3:11 am

Silke's jaw drops as she gives a short chuckle. "Six bandits? Sweetheart." A glint of something appears in her eyes. A threat? "I am no bandit; such pettiness is beneath me. No, I have higher targets in mind than stealing someone's broken metal bits."

Her smile returns. "You didn't take on six bandits alone. Yet here you are, without a single companion. Why would that be?" She raises a fine eyebrow. "Striking out on your own. Would that be because you're seeking something new in your life?" Silke raises her glass to her lips. "Something exciting?" She takes a sip. "How do you know this opportunity isn't what you've been looking for? You know the old saying: 'Don't knock it till you've tried it.'"

Silke puts the glass down on the table and leans forward, resting her chin in one hand and locking eyes with Aiwë. "If the money doesn't interest you, think of the excitement!"

Jan 3, 2023 3:34 am

Aiwë suddenly finds herself hot with irritation. She masks it with a laugh. "My mother wears a cloak of perfect snow white that never soils. It glints in the sun and leaves her untouched in the most bitter cold. She claimed it from a priestess of Auril, after defeating her and her yeti thrall alongside her friends, one of whom paid for that victory with his soul." He got better, but that wasn't the point of this story. "When it comes to daring deeds it will take more than a caper for a cloak to excite me. Find another mark to string along with your silk, Rosena." Aiwë stands to leave.

Last edited January 3, 2023 3:44 am

Silke Rosena

Jan 3, 2023 3:56 am

Silke's nostrils flare and a hint of red touches her cheeks. "So, a spoiled brat after all." A moment later she's smiling too sweetly. "Best of luck to you in your endeavors, Aiwë. I hope we can... meet again sometime."

Jan 3, 2023 4:45 am

Catsqui1688 Inactive forever!

Aiwë waves tiredly. On her way out she trips on her skirt and falls over onto the Amnish merchant Silke pointed out.

"You're being watched, be careful," she whispers. "Ah!" she says louder. "Im so so sorry, tonight is NOT my night!" She leaves the inn having neither played nor eaten.

And walks into Calliope outside the front door.

"Oh, hi Calliope!" Aiwë adjusts the toothed headdress that got disheveled in her 'fall.' "Was the Jovial Juggler not jiving with you either? I already made someone mad in there, but you can go in."

Last edited January 3, 2023 4:45 am

Rolls

Please excuse my total accidental mistake (performance) - (1d20+7)

(3) + 7 = 10

Runeson

Jan 3, 2023 8:04 am

I drop my stuff off I my room and head down to the common room before settling down for the night. Before going to sheemish I check for anything out of the ordinary or someone paying particular attention to the artificer.
I then go over to him and say,

Quote:

I’m up in (insert room # here) in case you need me.

Rolls

Investigation for anybody creeping - (1d20+1)

(7) + 1 = 8

Stella

Carcabob

Jan 3, 2023 5:54 pm

Quote:

"But what about..." Marianne opens the front door again and lets in Stella. "Dieter, have I taught you nothing? Always hold the door open for beautiful young ladies!" She flashes Stella a smile and gives her a welcoming side-hug. "Poor boy's probably just embarrassed and not thinking straight. It happens to most men."

Stella gives a curtsy and returns a weak smile. "Thank you! I...guess so?"

Quote:

Marianne nods as though fully satisfied by the answer, then looks over her shoulder to Stella and silently rolls her eyes with exaggeration.

When she turns away, Stella gives Dieter a confused shrug. That's how she remembered meeting Dieter too. If the woman was implying something, she was too tired to figure it out.

Quote:

"Right, Candlekeep! Tulfgar told me all about the arrangements with his father's friends' children. Are you one of those then? From Icewind Dale?"

"Oh! Tulfgar. I guess word did get here, didn't it?" Stella opens her mouth, hesitates, looking to the top corners of her eyes, then closes her mouth. Dieter seemed to trust her, and she was the wife of Tulfgar, son of Tulfgyr. They could trust her, right? She looks at Marianne and opens it again. "When did he hear about it and tell you about it? He didn't happen to tell anyone else, did he? There have been far more who know about us than there should be, and not everyone has been...friendly, you see..."

Jan 3, 2023 6:24 pm

"Not friendly?" Marianne turns to regard the two more carefully. Particularly Dieter. "You look pale, Deedee! What's happened?" She shakes her head crossly and grabs an enormous loaf of bread and forcefully starts slicing it. "I don't know who Tulfgar has told. He's quite talkative in the shop when working with customers."

She calls out to one of the children: "Bronwyn! Run to the shop and fetch your father." One of the older children zips off to do as told.

Marianne plates the bread and swathes it with butter, then puts it down in front of Dieter almost hard enough to crack the plate. She stomps across the kitchen to work on another slice for Stella. "Tell me everything."

Stella

Carcabob

Jan 3, 2023 7:17 pm

Stella shrinks back at Marriane being so forceful and direct, and looks warily to Dieter and back to Marriane.

Was she just expressing motherly instincts, or was there something more going on?

Last edited January 3, 2023 7:18 pm

Rolls

Insight - (1d20+5)

(16) + 5 = 21

Jan 3, 2023 7:47 pm

Victor.Strokov Inactive for 4 months

Stella knows this behavior and these signs. After all, Icewind Dale has roaming tribesmen that purposely foster and harness such anger. And who could forget the stories of Icewind Dale's favorite goliath, Ug the Barbarian?

It's highly likely that Marianne is or was once a barbarian herself.

Dieter

Jan 3, 2023 8:11 pm

deoelvenmage Inactive forever!

"oh yeah I died, being a bit pale is a byproduct of the restoration magic. My friends tell me they took me to a temple but I’m a bit foggy of when I first woke. It’s okay Stella you don’t have to hold your tongue around these people." Dieter sits and starts eating "you have to forgive stella mother, she’s a bit new to the outside world but almost the reverse of when you first picked me up. She trusted too much and now she trusts to little but that can happen when assassins try and kill you in candle keep itself"

Calliope O'Kelly

Jan 3, 2023 9:00 pm

Quote:

"Was the Jovial Juggler not jiving with you either? I already made someone mad in there, but you can go in."

"Nah, we were just following you because Stella wanted to split up but also stick together; we haven't gone in yet. Who did you make mad? We don't need more assassins coming after you," Calliope jokes.

"Related, Stella wanted you to know the plan is to stay in different inns in smaller groups so they have a harder time finding who they're looking for."

Jan 3, 2023 9:40 pm