Chapter 3 - The Missing Delegation

"I would like to find out about these pirates and what they can tell us about the delegation from Miramar. If they had hand in moving them than they should be questioned and brought to justice.

"Pirates it is." Xella gives Sorgrimm an affirming nod.

Felicia's face drops slightly at the decision to go up river, but nods. Upriver we go. Though stopping by this monastery is something I'd very much like to do.

Riverguard Keep

A small castle overlooks the mighty Dessarin River, which is a good half-mile wide at this point. A gatehouse and keep stand atop a low bluff, but the walls are built to the water's edge. On the river bank, another low tower guards a boat basin where keelboats are moored.

The keep seems old and worn, but new timbers and shingles suggest that repairs are underway. A white banner with a blue gauntlet flies over the keep.

The front gate is closed.

Having hitched a ride (stowed away) in the back of a hay wagon, leaving his home in the city of paradise to find a good place to jam on his guitar for some coin, gamble, drink, and other sorts of debauchery. Lizzy was noticed after about a week's time and got thrown off in front of this keep. Looking up at the semi delapidated keep " seems legit." Lizzy says to himself.

Felicia, Sorgrimm, Xella, Yillia

You crest a hill and see the keep (see prior post) and across the river, a young dragonborn ejected from a hay cart. The cart proceeds into the keep on the river, and a short while later, exits empty. The cart driver tips his hat at the dragonborn and returns back the way he came.

Meanwhile, what appears to be a female human traveler comes down from the hills on your side of the river, clearly headed for the keep.

Lizzy

As above, leading up to your post.

Emerson

As above, you being the traveler. You have been traveling along sheep herder tracks through the hills. You spy the party of four to the south, and the dragonborn across the river.

Emerson, at the sight of her possible contacts, hastens her step. Loudly plodding down the hill in hopes of being seen.
While walking she allows a mottled green hood to fall behind her hairline revealing her young age.
One hand loops fingers in her pack strap and the other exaggeratedly waves to convey confidence and naivety.
When they are in earshot:
Hail!
A silly smile, showing deliberate haste and intentional fawn-like steps, bounces down the hill.
She reaches the party of four with an exasperated sigh, attempting to appear out of breath as she falls into step with them.
After an upward tilt of her head and pretentious bow followed by overemphasized push up of her glasses, a small voice says:
Hail, Travelers! I have been taking what mother told to be a shortcut for some time now! It may be true when they say: If a shortcut was better it would simply have became the path!
Forced nervous chuckle
Anyway, please tell me that trek was worth it and that dreadful dream up ahead is Rivergaurd Keep?
With a pointing finger at the structure ahead and beaming with a toothy grin she turns to examine the group.

Description: 10 year old, 4' 10'', sandy skinned girl with big brown eyes rimmed by thin circular glasses. She wears a non-descript looking green cloak that covers plain clothing. A comically large tan backpack stuffed to capacity rattles with all manner of cook-wear and trinkets as she laboriously pads along.

Hail! Yillia greets the oncoming traveller.

She is slightly taken aback by the child's overloaded backpack. She stifles a laugh, thinking to herself perhaps the backpack contains another child. You don't travel very light do you? She smiles. Yes, that's the place. I'm not sure that it's particularly welcoming for visitors though...

Yillia's baggage in comparison is quite sparse containing little more than the essentials. Her complexion is shaded by ingrained dirt and occasional scars, her posture straight and alert. A well-loved bow and quiver point out from behind her

Felicia smiles and focuses slightly on Xestras. While the others are looking at the newcomer, Xestras quickly turns invisible and takes off towards the keep.

One of the nifty tricks my friend learned was how to fly about invisibly. I'm going to focus on his eyes for a moment, see what I can observe beyond their wall for a moment. she says to her compatriots.

Her cheeks overly inflate and exhale cartoonishly as she heaves to shift the weight at the mention of her pack.

No kidding! Mother always says come prepared, foolishly, I listen.
She closes her eyes with a massive smile at the acknowledgment of her presence from the well worn woman.
She continues:
Thank the heavens! My feet are killing me! May I ask, what business would such a welcoming group have in such a down trodden looking place?

Her quick eyes subtly shift to Xestras (I assume an unseen servant? Or animal companion?) as it phases out of visibility. She attempts to focus all her social awareness on not freaking out over how fascinating it was to see and how intrigued she is because of it.

Well, that IS a nifty trick! Color me fascinated! How did you do that? What can that little guy see? Does it have a name?

Once she can no longer discern where it is and as she watched it take off her eyes go to work attempting to dissect her walking companions.

[DM, if you want to ignore these rolls because you didn't ask for them I understand. I figured this is what she would be doing, use which ever one if applicable. Also if this isn't how I do it I would love to know. Still a newbie)

Arcana- to determine spell or origin or how it is being cast
Insight- as the same thing but attempting to read body language to glean knowledge.

Yillia's face softens and her smile slowly warms into a more natural one. "If you have the time and the eye for it, you may be able to salvage some plants together to make a salve for your feet." She pauses as she senses some movement of her companions behind her, but finishes; "A traveller needs to take care if their feet. Otherwise, well, they can't travel too well, can they?".

Yillia looks Emerson up and down, At her age, Yillia was wandering the land too. However, many hard learnt lessons made her cautious and cynical in her youth. Looking at Emerson, her stomach twists with a mixture of nostalgia and concern. She wouldn't have survived long as carefree as this small human back then. Though, those were different times and different lands. Maybe it was fine. She forced the thought to the back of her mind, this conundrum could be resumed later.

She turns around a little as focus shifts to Felicia, still continuing the conversation. "We're doing some investigation of the keep" Yillia continues, careful with her words. "Making sure this place is safe for passers-by and travellers like yourself. Abandoned places like this tend to attract bandits and other nefarious sorts looking for some sort of base."

That was Xestras, a little friend of mine. I'm not totally sure how he accomplishes it, to be honest. But it's something that I'm thankful he can do. Felicia says, truthfully. I'm not sure what he can see yet, but as soon as I see it I'll let you all know. she says with a smile.

Sorgrimm keeps his weapon readied, his eyes moving between the keep, the small creature in front of them and the Dragonborn.

"I have a bad feeling about this." He speaks to no one in particular before directing his next question at the strange new girl alone I. The wilderness. "Where is your mother child? And why are you out here alone searching for a pirate’s keep instead of tending to your family’s needs?"

To Yillia
That sounds delightful, stranger! Could you also show me how you do it? I love learning new things!
Emerson notices Yillas' appraising eye and childishly smiles ever wider, she loves when adults underestimate her.
Ooh! That sounds spooky! You must be strong adventurers then? Perhaps you know my uncle, Mangobarl Lorren? Or cousin, Dazzle? They are adventurers too!
As she speaks Emerson is studying the facial contortions of her new companions hoping to gauge if these are the ones she was instructed to meet up with.

Also, I am sorry! I didn't ask, what are your names?

To Felecia
Absolutely fascinating... What a pretty name... Thank you, he seems like a sweet little friend. May I pet him sometime? That is if you would let me continue walking with you, it would be nice to have some company for awhile.
She smiles but is clearly distracted in awe of this creature and its handler.

To Sorgrimm
Emerson chuckles as pleasantly as she can in hopes of defusing any confrontational situation eyeing the dwarf as possibly the one mentioned to her by Mangobarl Lorren and Dazzle. She curses herself for not getting more intel.
If they were to work together, it was probably best to make a friend.
My mother is away, far away, I actually haven't seen her in some time. My family is not what you might label, traditional.
She pauses and purses her face in thought at how to word
My whole family is my immediate family. As we grow we get passed from person to person to gain... perspective. I am on my way to visit this keep to meet some family I have not yet met in hopes to learn some new things.
Besides, who said pirates couldn't still be good people?

Emerson's whole body tenses to the razor she is trained to be as the lizard man reaches for her pack.
Noticing he doesn't appear to be particularly menacing and that the groups attention has been drawn from her to him the thought occurs to put herself in a situation of distress by an unknown party. Possibly moving them to 'rescue' her, further endearing them.
Before she can complete her though she is dangling in the air.
This lizard, possibly of dragon descent, is much stronger than she thought.

To Lizzy
She chuckles and realizing he means well, better to make a friend here
I mean, a few! Never know when a stout house needs to be built! Thank you sweet, scaly friend!
She slides down out of the pack with one hand searching for her hidden sleeve knife and the other looping into the nearly translucent string that she has tied to a Rapier in her pack, just in case.
As she watches her pack being set and hearing the gaurd regard the group, she quickly and nimbly ties and buckles all the pots and pans that were intentionally loose.
With a heave they all sinch snugly form fitting to the pack, making her movements silent.
With that silence, she slips behind Yillia and waits for the rest of the group to speak. Appearing as unassuming as possible.