01 Arrival At Dawnsmoor (IC Thread)

Pomin nods and finishes his meal and drink before turning to the side and clenching fist in front of his mouth and belches into it and smacks his lips. "We'll be over when we're done since we have a unique experience and information not best suited for public and mixed company." Pomin admits thinking about the ambush.

"Agreed. We shall be along shortly."

Lyle nods and smiles but stays hovering at the end of the table making for a slightly off putting end to your meal as it feels almost like he is watching and willing every mouthful to speed its way down your necks. Once you have finished and gathered your things Lyle starts to lead you through the city.

The area you are currently in seems to be mostly comprised of shops or stalls, taverns and inns and for the most part is quite rowdy with various shop keepers and traders shouting out their wares on offer and minstrels and other entertainers either performing for coin from the passersby or shouting out to advertise which inn they will be playing at this evening. Even this rowdiness seems to pale a touch in comparison to what can only be the Orc Market, a large open air area in the middle of the city filled with merchant stalls and tents with a number of pegged out areas dotted about it, some seem to be for showing off various livestock that is for sale whilst others seem to be set aside for wrestling matches and other bouts of strength and the odd couple you catch glimpse of seem to have a sizable crowd around gambling and drinking as the match plays out. Rather unsurprisingly the route Lyle seems to be taking you diverts around the majority of the Orc Market leading you around and uphill towards the walled Elven district.

Heading uphill you gradually notice the buildings changing as you leave the merchant district. Here all of the buildings are permanent structures built out of stone and the majority have a second floor. You also note whilst there are businesses here they seem to be focused around those that the more affluent would attend (jewelers and coin houses) but even these seem to be a touch rougher and more down market than you have seen in other cities. As you approach the low wall that surrounds the Elven Ward you enter into a open area, a wide gate into the Elven Ward stands to the south and to the side stands probably the largest building you have seen in Dawnsmoor which Lyle leads you towards. A tall tree stump, maybe seven feet tall and three feet wide with all of it's branches having been trimmed off some time ago by all appearances, stands at the side of the door into this building and a number of notices and other scraps of paper are nailed and stuck to it. From the description the barman gave you at the Wheatsheaf you assume this is the City Hall.

Lyle leads you past a couple of guards on the door who other than giving you all a cursory glance do not make any moves to stop you and he takes you into a comfortably appointed room. A number of padded chairs sit around a table and Lyle gestures for you all to enter. "Please, make yourselves comfortable here. I will go and let my master know you are here" he says as he quickly moves to leave the room.

You are left alone for a few minutes....

Pomin makes note of the areas for gambling and tests and feats of strength plus wrestling. Although it'd be great to quickly make a name in a new city if the games are rigged it would be a moot point. With little time to case the area he moved on and through till he found himself poking the cushion of a chair before climbing up and into it. Sitting cross legged he looks around the waiting room.

"Nothing like getting a job from a city magistrate... we should get the details in writing if we accept the job."

As Prong travels she keeps an eye out for places that look like they can host a good card game. She also watches for children, looking to see how the less fortunate ones fair. At one point, near the Orc Market, she notices a small crowd of children following the party. No doubt they are curious about Motem, but their fear of the beast keeps them back. Prong starts giving the young owlbear commands to do some of the tricks they do together. This seems to please the children and they come closer, following more openly. She calls them forward in groups of two or three and show them how Motem likes to be scratched behind the ears. Once they see that he is nothing to fear she tells them that if they see her or Motem around town to say hi again, then sends them on their way.

At City Hall, she sits in a chair with her legs outstretched, while Motem curls up underneath her legs, looking all the world like a pile of trapper's furs she might be trying to sell.

"Agreed. Legitimate work from a town magistrate should be good honest work. Hopefully anyway."

Throughout the entirety of the walk Khurza scowls at anyone who might try to cause trouble for them, wanting to keep her new teammates safe in this labyrinth of of stone and wood. Arriving at city hall she takes an interest in notices, pleased there seems to be enough work to keep them above poverty.

Inside the waiting room Khurza takes a seat, putting a fist under her chin as she contemplates the situation.

His lackey seems to believe we will take it, but remember: they may tempt us, steel your resolve.

Just as Pomin gets back to his feet there is a thud against the door into the room. After a moment there is another thud followed by a kindof scraping noise before the handle moves and the door opens to Lyle almost falling into the room after opening the door with his elbow as his hands are full of a tray covered with cups, a number of small pots, and a pot lidded jug with some small amount of steam coming from the top, he also has a sheaf of papers stuck under one arm and what appears to be a rolled up writing kit under the other. As he regains his footing he smiles at you all as he hurriedly heads to a small table at the side of the room "My master will be here momentarily, please excuse me I need to prepare this" and he then starts busying himself making what appears to be some sort of over elaborate tea.

Almost as soon as Lyle has started making the brew the same elf you remember from the end of the dock sweeps into the room, casting an imperious gaze around at you all before he moves to the end of the table and takes a seat. Lyle quickly finishes the drink and as the elf holds his hand out he quickly brings the drink over to him. The elf takes a sip and his face contorts slightly before he lets out a resigned sigh and places the cup on the table before he begins to address you all "Thank you for coming. My name if Ethanath, I represent the town council in matters of trade and am responsible for investigating any threats to the smooth running of good to and from Dawnsmoor. After speaking to the captain of the....ship you arrived on I felt it may be prudent to get your account of the attack your vessel suffered if you would be willing to share such information". He then looks at you all waiting for a response, as he does he reaches out to touch the cup but with a slight grimace just leaves his hand resting next to the cup.

As he has been talking Lyle moves round the room placing a cup of the tea infront of each of you.

Pomin takes notes of Ethanath's reaction before he talks, either Lyle was more adept at scribing versus tea making or it was of a quality not up to his standards. Guess I should sip some as well to be polite, not really my thing and all though. Pomin thinks before deciding to try the tea.

"I'm of the mind set Lord Ethanath it was an impromptu assault for burglary, they didn't seem prepared due to their level of planning or intelligence for what to do after they got aboard, no ship ready for when they leave just a crude raft to get there that floated away during the brief skirmish. They were likely expecting lax postures and an easy raid one or two drowsy sailors not these exceptional ladies to smack them soundly about and quite quickly. The reasoning behind it was they were ordered by someone we found via asking nicely with promises of not letting Ms Prong's companion bat him around or worse. That said do you know of the goblin matriarch Muglack by chance? She was supposedly the one who put them up to it telling them to take anything shiny. That aside I think you're more likely concerned with the trio that possibly watched from the riverbank assessing the situation before they shrouded themselves in darkness and retreated out of sight. It may have been this Muglack herself. But one of them was short carrying a staff." Pomin states in a manner almost as if he's briefing military officers. He sips the tea to gauge if the mention of Muglack or stealing shiny bits give the lord pause or concern.

Prong takes a healthy drink form her cup as Pomin is speaking. When he finishes she puts her cup down. "Yeah, that pretty much covers it. You might have an goblin infestation back that way."

Hmph, goblins are easy. With a few trained soldiers on hand they are hardly a problem at all. Khurza will swallow her entire cup in one gulp, not wanting to look intimidated by such a small drink..

You all taste the tea and find it to be surprisingly pleasant (dependent upon how much you like tea that is), it seems that Ethanath is being particularly picky at the least.

Ethanath listens to Pomin's description with a bored looking expression which is replaced by a more interested one at the mention of Muglack. "Interesting, I am not familiar with the name but given the rise in the frequency of their raids we had suspected that something was directing their efforts now." he pauses to consider things for a moment, slowly turning the cup with the tea in as he thinks before looking to Pomin again "Given where the attacks have been made I believe that the goblins are settled somewhere in the hills to the south of Kurnan Lake. Would you and your....company be willing to venture out there to see if this Muglack is real and deal with them if so? Hopefully eliminating their leader will put an end to these attacks."

Pomin listens and frowns as he thinks his thumb rubbing his lower lip a bit as he rolls his head slowly from side to side thinking.

"So the task is scouting and possible assassination unless they offer a beneficial counteroffer or service that's acceptable for you. There's a lot of unknowns on who's pulling the strings for Muglack's actions and the goblins and the numbers we're looking at heading into sneaking around or going through. We're a bit in the discussion phases of being a proper company or mercenary/adventures' group so I really can't speak for the ladies... Honestly I think that's a bad diea for me since they're all quite capable of gnomehandling me easily so I'd like to get their opinion on the matter after an intial offer is on the table. I am curious how much are we being offered for this endeavor? And what is being offered up front as a deposit plus the requisition of supplies that would likely be needed we're not aware of at this time?"

Nya gives Pomin a subtle nod.

Ethanath considers you all for a moment "The towns coffers could stretch to a payment of 500 silver for successful completion of this task with 50 of that being available to you all upon your agreement". As you all talk Lyle is furiously making notes in the papers he brought with him.

"Would it be possible to look at map of the area and deliberate with my associates on this?" Pomin request trying to do the logistics in his head on what they'd need.