The Outer City: People, Places & Things

[alchemy]

ooc: I had an avatar from DND Beyond that kind fit the 'Ostis' meme. Any chance you can retrieve that?

[Computer +1]

Yarl coughs up a wad of somthing' and spits it out onto the street. I got shit to do. If you are in Rivington ask around for Blacktongue. With that he starts to move. Over his shoulder he adds Watch for the gangs, they the only real law in Outer City.

Yarl will head straight to see Sylmorn.

I will work on making a picture of Yarl

[alchemy]

In his usual brusque manner, Ostis asked We keep going now?

[Belkregos]

Tommy nods and starts walking

[hedgeknight]

Moving on, the trio of heroes moves through the outer city town of Twin Songs pretty quickly. They note the area is filled with various temples to various gods, and every step they take, they see young men and women passing out pamplets about the return of the Prodigal Son.
Once they are through this small village, they are still on the trail as it climbs and leads to another section of the outer city > this one is called Sow's Foot.

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As you enter the town of Sow's Foot, you notice almost immediately the difference in the folks along the street. You see different races including lizardfolk and even deep gnomes (svirfneblin) among the scents of exotic foods and the calls of strange animals.

Actions?

[Belkregos]

Tommy walks on excited to be back in the city

looks to Ostis and Erevan as they walk
there might be some good food around here once we're done with Ostis errand, lets hurry up and get that done, there's so much to see

[Will89]

Erevan nods eagerly, taking note of his stomach rumbling at the new smells wafting form the streets. He studies the sights around him, not lewaving the company of his comrades, but taking it all in.Indeed Ostis, lead the way. Food sounds quite welcoming about now.

[hedgeknight]

Continuing on, with stomachs rumbling, you move deeper into the Outer City neighborhood of Sow's Foot. The exotic smells of cooking cause your mouths to water and your stomachs to rumble all the more the farther you walk. You see many strange sights in this part of the Outer City:

• A three-legged chicken being chased by a group of older boys.

• A small group of gnomes fussing about a piece of "star stone...that fell from the heavens."

• A human noble shopping at road-side stalls, guarded by no less than men, armed to the teeth.

And that is just within the first 30 yards! As you near the middle of the village, a gaunt person approaches you, having watched you for several minutes.

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The person turns out to be a gaunt Half-Elf, who openly stares at Erevan. Finally, he speaks, although his words sound like sandpaper over a rough board. "You there, I have a proposition. I would buy your...left ear. Would 15 gold suffice?"
As he talks one hand holds a small pouch of coins, while the other rests upon the hilt of a dagger at his belt.

[alchemy]

Ostis is about to reply to Tommy when the half-elf approaches Erevan with his strange request. Shocked, Ostis waves his hands in some sort of pattern as if warding off some evil that might befall them.

Almost imploring, Ostis said, "Bad juju in that one, Erevan.With your ear, he'll take your soul! Walk away!"

[Will89]

Erevan narrows his eyes at the gaunt half-elven man in confusion at his proposition. I'm quite of my ears sir, will have to decline your offer for that one. We should be on our way.. He take a step forward quickly, in hopes that his comrades will follow suit.

[hedgeknight]

Moving on ahead as quickly as possible from the strange half-elf, the three amigos follows the road that hugs Duskhawk Hill and eventually they enter the community of Whitkeep...where the streets are full of Gnomes! The buildings are brightly painted as are the store fronts, perhaps in an effort to see who can be the most gaudy, but more than not, to attract travelers to shop and rest awhile from their travels. There are artists and jugglers, minstrels and tinkers, and children running to and fro. The air is thick with the smells of cooking, baking, and the smell of tanning leather. A large white manor house seems to be the center of interest in town and definitely where Gnomes seem to be the most noticeable.
Several cackling, and half-dressed Gnomes are covered in body paint and drive a wheeled contraption down the street. They are headed straight for you and because of their state of...undress and alcohol/drug induced happiness...they do not see you at all.

[Will89]

Upon entering Whitkeep he remembers the words of Quinlapp playing back to him in his head. This is the place! It's so close now I can feel it. He thinks to himself, allowing a gleeful smile spread widely on his usually stern visage. The familiar sounds and smells of the bustling gnomes and their cooking had come rushing back to him and he realized in that instant how much he had missed the critters. Though these were not his lot, it was a much welcomed sight of familiarity. As he takes notice of the gnomes driving the wheeled contraption he is going to attempt to push into his comrades in order to move them off the road and out of the way.

Wasn't sure so I rolled acrobatics? D20 plus Dex modifier so I can roll something else if necessary.
Acrobatics: [1d20+3]=1+3=4

[Belkregos]

Tommy jumps trying to get out of the way,
Ostis, we have to come back here, too much fun!!

[hedgeknight]

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You easily avoid the wheeled contraption of death, even with the help of your companions, along with several other Gnomes who shout and shake their fists at their crazy kin.
Seeing the three of you for what seems like the first time, the Gnomes of Whitkeep begin asking questions, as Gnomes are known to do.
"Where are ye from?"
"What brings ye to Whitkeep? Just passing through are ya?"
"Are ya hungry? We gots the bestest gopher pie anywhere south of the valley!"
"Have ye a place to stay? I got human-sized beds...clean too!"

[alchemy]

The gnomes are a bit much for Ostis, and he roars as the racers almost hit him and the others. The plethora of questions being shouted at them are almost the proverbial straw that broke the dragon's back, but finally he calms himself while deferring to the others to make arrangements. The only thing he does ask one of the gnomes is: Wee one, where is the blade and stars? I tink it's a tavern.

[Will89]

Erevan's demeanor softens a bit as they are approached by the gnomes after nearly being ran over. The white manor catches his gaze more than once, his elven intuition telling him he may already have an answer to his question before asking it aloud to the crowd. He calls out in gnomish, hoping to get someone's full attention amongst the flurry of questions. Greetings gnomes of Whitkeep. We have traveled far to Baldur's Gate and have many things to attend to. I am looking for the hostel, perhaps you could point me in the right direction? He glances over at Tommy and Ostis to see how they are faring in their interactions.

[hedgeknight]

The gnomes are a bit much for Ostis...the only thing he does ask one of the gnomes is: Wee one, where is the blade and stars? I tink it's a tavern.

"Wee one? He must be talking about you, Frumple!" laughs one of the Gnomes, pointing at another diminutive clansmen, who frowns and crosses his arms. The smaller Gnome, Frumple, shakes his head and jerks a thumb over his shoulder. "The Blade and Stars is an inn on the other side of the Basilisk Gate in the Lower City. Nice place, I'm told."

Erevan...calls out in gnomish, hoping to get someone's full attention amongst the flurry of questions. Greetings gnomes of Whitkeep. We have traveled far to Baldur's Gate and have many things to attend to. I am looking for the hostel, perhaps you could point me in the right direction?

The Gnomes grow quiet and several are surprised at Erevan's mastery of their language. They warm up to the archer almost immediately conversing in the Gnomish tongue.
"How did you come to speak our language?"
"Were you raised by Gnomes?"
"Where do you hail from, young man?"
"What is your birth name?"

And so on the questions go, but one fellow with bright yellow shoes says, "The hostel is just down the street yonder. Take Eastern Lane and you can't miss it. Big manor house, Gnomes everywhere. Why do you seek it, friend?"

[alchemy]

I don' know this place. I get lost easy. You, Frumple, take me there. He leans almost into Frumple's ear and whispers something that the others can't hear. 1 gold if you take me there.

[Belkregos]

Tommy's eyes brighten when he hears the lower city mentioned,

in the lower city? i need to go there as well, would you know of a shop called Sorcerous Sundries in the Lower City? im looking to talk to a Rivalen who runs the shop.

Tommy walks along with the group

[hedgeknight]

"Sorcerous Sundries is in Heapside, just a few blocks from the Blade and Stars!" offers a Gnome with brilliant blue hair in answer to Tommy's question. "Do you need a guide?"

"Follow me!" Frumple says, ignoring Erevan, grabbing Ostis by the hand and leading him up the thoroughfare, past a group of Gnomes arguing and fussing over a cart of chickens, and on up the hill into the community of Whitkeep proper.
(OOC: Sorry Erevan > haven't heard from you in over a week.)

Passing through Whitkeep, Frumple, along with a small band of Gnomes leads you past a walled community they refer to as Little Calimshan and into another community they call Norchapel. From there, the neighborhoods blend into Stonyeyes where the massive wall surrounding Baldur's Gate can be seen clearly for the first time!
Piercing the city's eastern wall is a statue-lined gate. "Basilisk Gate," Frumple declares, pointing at the gruesome statues surrounding the opening in the wall. Common folk and beggars line the road leading into the gate, and the rank odor of tanning leather fills the air. The Gnomes hardly notice it, though only three (including Frumple) accompany you now.
At the gate, guards of the Flaming Fist check papers, and collect copper pieces for entrance.
Frumple turns to you and says, "It's a 5 cp entrance fee for each of us...erm...you'll pay mine, right? Since I'm your guide?"