Chapter 0: The Gathering

[Rex]

Qleceec

"An excellent idea Boff. It would be even better if we had 2 who could stay and keep watch."

[shaidar]

Garrant keeps his face free of any outward amusement as he watches for the guards reaction to Siouxsie.

[Quonundrum]

Androgost

A veteran of several diplomatic missions, he is quite accustomed to this procedure. He immediately surrenders his long sword, horseman's mace, dagger, along with his shield, helm, and gauntlets, as well. "I would like a receipt, please." He asks of the guardsmen.

[gurusql]

Check in with the Crimson Guards
Mid-Morning Waterday, 5th day of Planting, 597

Androgost hands over his weapons with little fanfare and quickly gets a note listing the item and slot number for each item turned over. They do allow the knight to keep his shield and gauntlets and allow his passage when completed. Siouxsie makes a little bigger deal of it, to which the Crimson Guards ignore the flair and do request the so called ceremonial blade before completing her transaction. The other party members seem less positive on situation.

Boff sees that the vast majority of the people walking around this part of the city (not counting the guards) are weapon free. He realizes that getting a room and leaving the equipment in a room would accomplish the same thing without leaving the equipment in the hands of the guards. It still might be wise to leave someone in the room however.

[Rex]

Qleceec

Qleceec leaves her bow and sword. "Keep an eye on the Franny please."

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos "I stay outside too. Not so good with diplomatics anyway."

[shaidar]

Garrant is happy to hand over his weapons, and makes sure he gets a receipt too.

[OGRE MAGE]

Boff nods his head at Nah Olos.

“If yer truly keen on it, stay out here with me Franny. But don’t go gettin inta no trouble, hear?”

Handing any weapons that aren’t allowed inside over to his niece for safekeeping, the dwarf gives her a hug before following his friends through the checkpoint. As he leaves, he reiterates.

“No trouble! Hear?”

[Rex]

Qleceec

Qleceec gets a receipt too.

[Quonundrum]

Androgost

Collects his receipt and patiently waits for the others.

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

Would try flirting with the stern guards, that cheeky wink, an extra sway in her hips, licking her lips when she speaks, brushing against the guard just a little too familiarly.

To keep her sword of course.

"But I am just naked with it. Nothing to cover my druidical ass but these little springs of mistletoe," she gestures covering nipples and elsewhere with a green leaf and some berries.

Siouxsie tries a little sushi to flirt with the guards. [1d100+31]=1+31=32

When it becomes obvious these guards are simple not for moving, in any fashion, she pouts. Calling them as gelded stallions not fit for riding and probably 'eunuchized' and this and that and ... pouts more handing her curved blade over.

"Well, if it goes missing I will know which guards to turn into a frog, or a turnip or I will get him to get you". pointing towards the half-orc who waits outside.

She catches up with the others quickly lest she says too much.

[gurusql]

Meeting with the Spokesman for the Yeomanry League
Mid-Morning Waterday, 5th day of Planting, 597

The adventurers self-select Nah Olos and Franny to guard the Crimson Guards and the weapons and the entrance to the Council Hall building. The remaining party members leave their weapons behind and have it only replaced with a sheet listing the type of weapon and slot number and the official seal of the Yeomanry League.

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They enter the building the walls are covered with bas reliefs showing historic events of the Yeomanry League. They are greeted by a scribe that asks their business.

In the interest of moving this along and getting Nah Olos back with the group I will assume that they mentioned that the Yeomanry League was hiring adventurers to stop the earthquakes.

The scribe takes down their names and escorts them to a room about 20'x20' in size with a round table and 8 equal chairs. This being purely an interior room with no windows it is noted that light comes only from two lanterns that appear to have some kind of magical light source, perhaps Continual Light spell. The bas reliefs design continues and the group notes that there is tasteful gold leaf used in some of the bas relief. Other than the entrance used by the group there is one other door on the opposite side of the room. The scribe mentions that he will try and get Freeholder Marius Lindon to speak with you as soon as he can.

After about 6-7 minutes, the group hears the other door has a bar removed and enters a man with a small mustache and long dark curly hair. He is wear black ceremonial plate mail with gold trim, but carries no weapons. He has a puffy blue shirt under the mail that is exposed at the neck. He also wears a red sash around his waist. He appears to not stand on ceremony and enters the room alone, but it is noted that the while the door he entered is closed it is not re-barred.

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He says, "Greetings adventurers. I hope you had a pleasant Festival time. My name is Freeholder Marius Lindon the elected leader of the Council of Common Grosspokesmen. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing and do you happen to have a selected leader?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Boff bows low before the man in a respectful manner.

“Boffin Stonegirdle, o’ the Barrier Peaks Stonegirdle Clan, at yer service, Freeholder Lindon.”

The dwarf looks apprehensive after the last question, nodding his big head slightly in the direction of Androgost.

[Quonundrum]

Androgost

Androgost notices the slight nod from the dwarf and reluctantly assumes the mantle of leader for the meeting. He bows in diplomatic fashion to the Grosspokesman. "Greetings, Freeholder Marius Lindon. I am Sir Androgost, Grand Knight of the Steelheart, and of the Dreadwood Forest. My companions and I have arrived to offer our humble assistance regarding the earthquakes reported in the Jotens, sir." He concludes his introduction with a formal salute.

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

The grandiose surrounds are a little awe inspiring for her though others may find such extravagance rather commonplace. The polished floors and echoing chambers remind her more of a tomb than a place for meeting. Druidic conclaves are held out under the open sky, not within the rigid confines of pillared hallways and decorated chambers.

"Good job Nah ain't here. He'd probably nick that lot." she says regarding the threads. She resists the temptation to tamper with them or the enchanted lanterns.

"Could come in handy, one of those." she whispers. ironic having chastised the urchins for possibly trying to pickpocket earlier.

If asked, she introduces herself but otherwise remains silent when the speaker enters.

[Rex]

Qleceec

"Qleceec, Ranger of the Yeomanry League."

[shaidar]

Garrant nods at Lindon

"Greetings, I am known as Garrant the Gaunt. Spell wielder and priest of The Lord Of All Magic."

Somehow he manages to convey the capitalisation of the last 5 words in his tone

[gurusql]

Meeting with the Spokesman for the Yeomanry League
Mid-Morning Waterday, 5th day of Planting, 597

Freeholder Marius Lindon

He repeats each of your names out loud in a respectful way and then encourages everyone to sit and then does so himself in the closest remaining chair to the door that he entered. He lowers his head for about 5 seconds and then raises it back up and begins, "Thank you to all for coming this way. You may have noticed that local earthquakes have increased over the past few weeks. The town folk here in Loftwick and in the lands beyond are getting increasingly nervous. I am sure that much of those nerves come from the days before my ancestors lived in these lands that and the Escarpment was created. I want to leave the area of superstition and talk about what we do know. There is a small dwarven mining community about 6 days ride from here into the Jotens. They are one of our trading partners. We would like you to select one of two possible missions here and now." At this point he is interrupted and the door opens, and another man enters the room. This man is in his mid-thirties and with long black hair. He wears a purple tunic and pants with a white cloak that is held up by gold jewelry with amethysts and emeralds. After he enters the door is shut behind him.

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The Freeholder continues, "Ah, Hir glad you could make it. Let me introduce my friend Hirdom Mastermight the High Priest of the High Church of Heironeous. Anyways back to the offer! We would offer your group to journey to the dwarven town of Silver Spring and return here with what the source of these earthquakes are feeling within two weeks and we will pay you 500 gold coins or follow the clue and stop the earthquakes within 22 days from now and we will pay you ten times that amount, or 5,000 gold coins, with an additional 1,000 gold coins for each day less than 28 that you return to town, with a maximum of 10,000 gold coins. What say you Sir Androgost, Grand Knight of the Steelheart, and of the Dreadwood Forest, will you and your mighty band pledge yourselves to this important quest."

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

The question is asked towards Androgast, likely he will accept. We have no better offer and the endeavour is a noble one.

But she has a few questions. Six days there and back only allow two days to investigate. Taking longer, up to another two weeks to quell the cause.

She starts to compute days vs coinage in her head. That is gold per person not a fixed amount to be divvied out?

"Why twenty eight days? What is happening here in Loftwick that sets such a deadline?"

She wonders too if we can cut the travel time. Probably not got a flying carpet big enough or a flock of trained hippogriffs to carry us.

[Rex]

Qleceec

"It seems there is much haste with no explanation indeed. Of course that does not rule it out but it does raise questions."