The Grayhaven City Gates

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Eozindra Arilyra

Apr 5, 2024 10:31 pm

Apr 5, 2024 10:31 pm

The Grayhaven City Gates

It would almost seem rehearsed, how quickly Eozindra lined up her presentation with that of the established archetype Elysia laid out. The two communicated on a wavelength beyond comprehension; or maybe they just had lots of practice in setting each other up and following through in the spur of the moment. The now light-skinned half-elf patted the hand disengaging from her elbow after being assisted up the step and replied in a mirrored, eloquent cadence. "Of course, but please do not tarry long."

She smiles and finds a seat in the well-appointed interior and casts a pleased and entranced gaze upon the intricate detailing around the group. "Marvelous craftsmanship," she comments as she continues to examine the finer details of this mobile meeting place.

OOC:

Anything jump out regarding the interior? Any signs that might ring a bell to Zin or offer additional information about its current occupant?

Apr 7, 2024 5:46 am

Apr 7, 2024 5:46 am

The Grayhaven City Gates

The Ducal guards arrive and address the group, scanning for the person responsible. "You the driver?"
The man nods unhappily and points to Argus. "He hired my carriage..."
"I didn't ask you who hired the wagon, now did I?" the guard snaps. "What got into you that you drove so recklessly?"
The driver stammers: "I...Something spooked them, and they just went wild..." He looks at the team, which by now is totally calm and looking placid again. The guards seems focused entirely on the driver, and have not bothered looking at anyone in the carriage. They address Argus: "Sorry to bother you, kar.(*) Are you and your guests quite all right? Or shall we have to make an example of this incompetent?"
Argus frowns and considers the question. The driver wilts under his glare. "...no..." the dwarven scholar eventually replies, "These things happen, you know. He regained control very quickly. No harm done here." He gestures with a broad sweep of his arm. "But don't let us keep you from tending to anyone who was inconvenienced by his driving. Here's a little something that might help to...ease their distress." Argus smoothly pulls a few orbs from his vest and hands them to the guard, who is both distracted by the money and bemused at the odd denominations. The guards walk away, mollified. Argus claps the driver on the back. "Never fear - you are doing fine." And he smiles at Elysia. "I appreciate that you were here in case that didn't work." He climbs into the carriage and then replies to Eozindra's comment: "I always feel that, if one needs to travel, one might as well do it in style!"

Once everyone is aboard and settled comfortably, he takes a device from his pocket and raps on the ceiling with it. "Let's continue!" Argus calls, and the driver gets the team going again.

OOC:

* - At a minimum, Argus and Morik know that Argus is not a knight, but these guards are both ignorant of dwarven heraldry and being totally obsequious to wealth. Any of the rest of you can choose to know that, too, if you think it makes sense for your character.

There isn't really an explicit prompt here; the carriage ride through town will take a bit, so if you want to converse, do so. I'll post more tomorrow.

Elowin Galanode

Apr 7, 2024 7:34 am

Apr 7, 2024 7:34 am

The Grayhaven City Gates

Elowin sits silently for a while until the question is unbearable.
"Kar" what is a Kar? I'm sorry but I am unfamiliar with the term

Apr 7, 2024 9:43 pm

Apr 7, 2024 9:43 pm

The Grayhaven City Gates

Morik shrugged at Elowin. "The ignorant fool assumed our friend here is a dwarven knight on account of his wealth. It's the rare time ignorance favored us."

Argus Goldblood

Apr 7, 2024 11:45 pm

Apr 7, 2024 11:45 pm

The Grayhaven City Gates

Argus Goldblood

Argus smiles and nods. "Not all are familiar with our titles and how rigorously they are applied. 'kar' is a prefix that signifies that a dwarf has been awarded a title for service to the state, bestowed by a king, queen, or emperor. It's very much like 'sir' for other races. And like 'sir,' 'kar' is sometimes mistakenly used for a generic address of respect...especially by non-dwarves."

Findal leans forward to add: "We traveled with a kar on our way from Mara. kar'Javon was his name."

Argus' eyes widen momentarily. "kar'Javon? He was awarded with the title for services rendered to Queen Sophia's father. He's a zicherbrekh of some repute."

OOC:

Those who speak Dwarvish recognize that "zicherbrekh" is a word that roughly translates as "security consultant:" sort of a combination of locksmith and burglar. Regardless of her Dwarvish fluency, Elysia recognizes the term from her studies.

Findal leans back and strokes his beard in thought. "Ah, that makes sense. I wondered why a kar would be traveling with a merchant caravan rather than with his own escort."

Apr 8, 2024 1:17 am

Apr 8, 2024 1:17 am

The Grayhaven City Gates

OOC:

Note: As we move away from the gates and into another part of Grayhaven, I will be starting a new thread. But feel free to continue posting here if there's more conversation or information you'd like to get during the carriage ride.

Adran Galanodel

Apr 8, 2024 1:36 pm

Apr 8, 2024 1:36 pm

The Grayhaven City Gates

Adran sits quietly, half listening as he mulls over the bolt from a hand crossbow. The angle it pierced the horse should tell a lot as to where it came from. Above them, from a rooftop perhaps? Someone on the street? Perhaps even... Adran's eyes narrow a bit and scan inside the carriage itself.

Eozindra Arilyra

Apr 8, 2024 1:54 pm

Apr 8, 2024 1:54 pm

The Grayhaven City Gates

With a perfectly trained presentation of bright-eyed interest and engagement, Eozindra folds her hands daintily upon her lap and smiles cordially at Argus. "I think we can agree that ignorant deference is preferable to some of the potential alternative conducts one may receive from the local constabulary." She breathes a gentle sigh that almost carries a giggle and looks to Elysia, shifting to the side so as to make sure there is space for her companion to sit beside her. Then the bard looks back to the dwarven man and continues, "I would be very much gratified for the opportunity to learn more of our gracious host. How long have you been traveling? What brings you to Grayhaven?"

Elysia Nightthorn

Kilikina Inactive for 2 months

Apr 8, 2024 4:05 pm

Apr 8, 2024 4:05 pm

The Grayhaven City Gates

With a small smile, she gently pats Eozindra on the hand, a silent gesture of gratitude and confirmation that she was settled fine in the seat beside her. She sits quietly, content to listen to the conversation as she watches Adran fiddle with the crossbow bolt.

Curious to hear the answer to why he was in the city, she waits to hear Argus answer before finally speaking herself, asking, "Why would someone shoot at you or attempt to do you harm?"

Argus Goldblood

Apr 9, 2024 7:03 am

Apr 9, 2024 7:03 am

The Grayhaven City Gates

Argus Goldblood

In some ways, Argus is strikingly similar to Findal. Both are scholars interested in esoteric aspects of magic, but in personality, they are very different. Despite clearly being shaken by what he perceives as his narrow escape from death, Argus manages to be gregarious and attentive to his saviors, maintaining multiple conversations at once.

"Absolutely correct! The Grayhaven Guard can be distressingly inquisitive. I find that a bit of money goes a long way to maintaining that ignorance. Others might hesitate at paying a bribe from their own pocket, but I say 'Fufflehumpf' to that! What price on friendship, and furthermore, what price on my own life? I can tell that you are quality people of the highest caliber, and some of you scholars to boot." He looks at Findal warmly. "I could see a kindred spirit in you right away...well, within a few moments of being saved by this charming lady." He inclines his head in a solemn bow toward Elysia. Turning with a smile back to Eozindra, he continues. "Genteel words, lady. What did I say? Quality people! But in answer to your question, I have been a peripatetic gadabout in my studies for most of my life. I travel to remote locations to pursue my studies - the last few decades have been devoted to the most compelling research into the transformative effects of inherent magics on their environs - and then I present the results of my research at various gatherings of similar researchers. I gave a talk here in Grayhaven a while ago, and I have some time before my next engagement, in a month's time at the Alabaster Academy. So I'm staying here for a while longer, to enjoy the Jewel of the West."

As the others talk, Adran considers the bolt. It's a short shaft, no more than a foot long, the size of something fired from a hand crossbow. The angle suggests that it was fired from above, from a window overlooking the street or perhaps a rooftop.

At Elysia's question, Argus pales with a gasp. "I have no idea why someone would attack me! It honestly hadn't occurred to me that someone was trying to kill me! I'd assumed it was an accident, that something had startled the horses and they ran out of control!" He shivers. "I...I just can't conceive of why someone would come after me. I'm a scholar, I give talks on magical creatures! How could I have offended anyone to the point that they'd want to kill me? It's inconceivable!"

As the journey through the streets of Grayhaven continues, Argus is clearly shaken, though by the end of the ride he is somewhat recovered and putting a genial face on again.

Elysia Nightthorn

Kilikina Inactive for 2 months

Apr 9, 2024 12:39 pm

Apr 9, 2024 12:39 pm

The Grayhaven City Gates

Nodding her head in understanding, Sia quiets again as her thoughts begin to run. Could this have been a quiet attempt at taking out a magic researcher? With his wealth, he no doubt had connections, which could make someone want to remove him quietly. An accident on the streets wouldn't be a bad way to do it, kills him while keeping the person who ordered it out of it. Or is Elysia thinking too much into this, maybe it was an accident. Not that she continues that thought, just acknowledges it because her gut is saying otherwise.

Deciding to hold other questions while the dwarf is still obviously easily shaken up, she listens as she watches out the carriage window, keeping an eye on their surroundings.

Eozindra Arilyra

Apr 10, 2024 2:20 am

Apr 10, 2024 2:20 am

The Grayhaven City Gates

spaceseeker19 says:

"I have no idea why someone would attack me! It honestly hadn't occurred to me that someone was trying to kill me! I'd assumed it was an accident, that something had startled the horses and they ran out of control!" He shivers. "I...I just can't conceive of why someone would come after me. I'm a scholar, I give talks on magical creatures! How could I have offended anyone to the point that they'd want to kill me? It's inconceivable!"

OOC:

This is one of the few times I will add a roll without being told which skill to use. In the immortal words of everyone on Critical Role: INSIGHT CHECK. Do I believe him that he doesn’t know why he would be targeted?

Rolls

Insight - (1d20+4)

(14) + 4 = 18

Apr 10, 2024 4:54 am

Apr 10, 2024 4:54 am

The Grayhaven City Gates

Argus seems genuinely confused, though his eyes do stray to the elaborate wooden box he carries. It's a bit smaller than the one that Adran (?) is carrying (which Zik was using as a chair), and does not have the Duke's crest carved in it. Argus' box is about the size of a cigar box or pencil box (8" x 5" x 2"). You don't think he's lying so much as the box may be the only thing he can think of that people might want badly enough to steal. Murder, though? He's baffled.

Elowin Galanode

Apr 10, 2024 11:38 am

Apr 10, 2024 11:38 am

The Grayhaven City Gates

What is the significant of these wooden boxes? We found one with the dukes seal on it, and we are going to return it to him later today. But I see that you are also caring one. I sensed enchantment on the one we found and we are not going to open it, just return it. But I wonder if there an established system of wooden boxes. Or is it just a coincidence?

Adran Galanodel

Apr 10, 2024 3:25 pm

Apr 10, 2024 3:25 pm

The Grayhaven City Gates

Adran has their recovered box in his pack, and when Argus inadvertantly points out he also has one, a thought forms that the elf shares with the group in the privacy of the coach.

"I'm no diplomat or member of royalty, but if I truly wanted to ensure something of great importance was delivered safely via conventional means? I'd hire a dozen couriers and give them all similar packages, and send them all out to different locations. Most would-be thieves would be hard pressed to catch the true package."

Elowin Galanode

Apr 10, 2024 3:30 pm

Apr 10, 2024 3:30 pm

The Grayhaven City Gates

with a self-destruct enchantment on the box, so if it was opened the secret would still be... secret. Clever!
Even if its not true. She laughs at her own joke

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