A Keg for Dragon [IC]

[ludomastro]

Alexander squares his shoulders and nods toward the men.  "My name is Alexander, good sirs.  Tis true that I am an adventurer.  Though only bards and historians will be able to tell your grandchildren if I am to be a hero.  I am traveling with several companions.  You see Lauren here to my left - she is a dwarf of some renown.  Two more wait outside the town and asked that I introduce them prior to their arrival so as not to startle the good people here.  They are Vandarzryx the dragon and Ssryn the naga.  I could not help but notice that the people of this town seem on edge.  Is ought amiss?"

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Alexander, ever the attention hog, is looking to impress these semi-officials.

Meh, a 12 isn't great but it'll do for now.  If it were the mayor, ....

[ArawnNox]

Lauren adds, "Mercenaries is probably a better word, but aye, we are after a fashion." She looks between the two men, "Besides tellin' ye about our unique travellin' companions, we need te speak to whoever's in charge, here."

After seeing the abysmal state of the town's defenses and lack of a real militia, she's even more on edge and the situation is beginning to eat at her.
So much so that she jumps the gun on her questioning.

"How is it that a town way out here has such poor defenses? It doesn't make any sense."

[Antilles]

The two guards' eyes widen and jaw slightly drop at the mention of a dragon. You doubt they caught Alexander's question, and are quite sure they missed Lauren's, as they half turn to each other and begin sprouting half sentences at each other. "Did you hear? A..." "Do you think he...?" "Nah... or maybe..." "Timing's too good, though, it's gotta be..." "I dunno, but..." "Not our job, though." At this point both men perk up with the realization that whatever's going on is someone else's worry.
Samuel clears his throat, and in the best official declaration type voice he can muster, announces "Your friends may enter the village, Northpoint welcomes any honest, law-abiding person, be they man, dwarf or, er, dragon." After he's finished, Elijah pipes in with "Oh, but you should come with us and meet Hiram, the magistrate."

[Catodon]

Vandarzryx watches the position of the sun. A little more time so Alexander can prepare the village for his coming. To pass the time he puzzles over Loreniesforj’s odd behaviour.

flashback
Lauren quirks an irritated eyebrow at Vandarzryx, "Forget already, did ye?" she stands firmly, feet spread and the butt of the halberd in the ground, "I'm Lauren Iceforge and I'm NOT yer bloody herald. Y'either show up with us or ye can wait long enough so we can keep the villagers from panicking when they see yeh."
The drake replied only “Alexander always goes ahead to prevent unfortunate misunderstandings and no, I did not forget” then turned to watch the road.

the present
What a strange thing to say, Vandarzryx had not forgotten. He had not asked before because he had not needed the creature’s name before. In the small group “the dwarf” would have been sufficient and it never came up anyway. Now they are heading for a town with likely more dwarves a name is required. Why did she accuse him of treating her like his herald, that’s Alexander’s function. If she was under the misunderstanding that he was using her as a herald why was she not pleased? Vandarzryx wants to solve this puzzle. He is close to dwarf territory should the drake come to money he might want to employ a dwarf as an agent.

Hour over the drake begins a slow walk to the town watching carefully for reckless folk.

[ludomastro]

Glancing and the sun for a moment, Alexander takes stock of the time.  The big flying lizard should be along shortly.  Going to get his feelings hurt if we go indoors though.

"We would be happy to meet with Hiram; however, my friends are not at ease indoors.  Would Hiram consent to meet with us outside?"

[Antilles]

The two militiamen are gently but urgently ushering the two adventurers towards the Shattered Sword, while Samuel answers Alexander's question. "Yeah, probably. Sebastian can carry out some chairs and a table, if you ask him."

As they're practically marched in the front door of the Shattered Sword, the two adventurer's hearts jump as they're standing face to face with an owl-bear standing on its hind legs and ready to claw their eyes out! Fortunately they immediately spot that the owl-bear is stuffed, and is currently being used as a coat rack. Still, it makes for one hell of a conversation starter. A quick glance around the otherwise warm and welcoming inn also reveals the stuffed head of the southland plains hyena over the mantel.

Samuel calls out to draw the attention of the only group of people in here, a group of locals arguing over tankards of ale. They turn around and eyes Alexander and Lauren, but before they can say anything Samuel informs them, with more than a little satisfaction in his voice, that "You wanted us to get results? Well, how's this? We've found a group of heroes for you to sort things out." Elijah also adds in an exited voice, "And they're travelling with a dragon." They then turn on their heels, informs the adventurers that if they require assistance they'll be happy to lend a hand, and walk out before the stunned-looking men or the adventurers can respond.

The first to gather his wits is an elderly, late sixties, human man, who is dressed, speaks and carries himself as someone with greater refinement than you'd expect from a small out-of-the-way village like this. "I am Hiram Mirth, acting magistrate for this village. You... you said you're travelling with a dragon? Where is he?" After explaining where the other half of the adventure party is, he nods understandingly. "Yes, I understand. Thank you, it will give us time to prepare to receive him. Sebastian, we'll set up behind the inn. We'll need chairs, several large tables, and we'll need to get a fire going. Make it two fires!"

Suddenly there's a great bustle as people prepare quite the ostentatious reception for Vandarzryx and Ssryn, though it's clear they're more concerned about the drake's needs than the naga's. A barmaid brings the two suddenly-ignored adventurers a keg of light ale each before hustling off to help carry furniture.

Just in time for Vandarzryx and Ssryn's agreed-upon time to enter the village, the preparations is complete. Several large tables, enough chairs to seat the party (those with legs, anyways) and the village's representatives. They've cooked up an impressive supper, and have clearly poured the good stuff in the cups (one of which is quite large and reinforced to withstand being gripped between a drake's claws), and have several roaring fires going, making the area nice and balmy.
Most of the village is gathered around the inn, still at a respectable distance but clearly curious to see a dragon. Those of the village that will be joining the evening supper is standing around, looking anxious.

[ArawnNox]

Lauren watches all this fuss and hustle with stunned bewilderment. They clearly seem to know they've got a problem that needs outside help, but is it in all related to the Iron Legion? She doesn't know. They don't seem interested in answering her questions, and whatever it is, it apparently calls for them to treat the adventurers to drinks and a meal. She would much rather get down to business, but...

...She's not going to turn down free ale.

...sip...

This ale tastes like piss...

[Fiendbasher]

Spying the beginning of the bustle in the village, Ssryn turns and begins heading back toward the road, where the drake is waiting... figuring it must be getting close to time for them to make their appearance. Again she stays low, occasionally lifting her head up over the height of the underbrush to look around, until she arrives at Vandarzryx's location. The naga waits for him to lead... counting on the dragon to draw a great deal more attention than she will.

[Catodon]

Vandarzryx nods to acknowledge he has noticed the naga's return.
Approaching the town the great drake lets out a high pitched cry, every rabbit for a half mile scurrises to hiding imagining a 6 ton eagle. Vandarzryx walks into town head high, wings flared to catch the dying sun. His stride radiates pride and power.

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The screach is a cry prclaiming his ownership of the town to any dragons with earshot. For the most part it is as instinctive as a laught is for a human.
Impress check
the power and glory of an ancient Age (1d20+5=24)

[Antilles]

The walk into the village is rather unusual for both drake and naga. For the naga it's walking through a crowd and barely getting a second glance, for the drake it's being met by a crowd that is actually excited to see him, rather than cautious and fearful. They are surrounded by curious villagers all the way to the Shattered Sword, where an elderly human dressed in clothes fancier than you'd expect for a small village like this asks everyone to go back to their work, and introduces himself very politely to the two as the village magistrate Hiram Mirth. He then invites the entire party to a small evening feast, which the sight and smell of the various foodstuffs laid out on the tables in front of you would make it difficult to turn down, had you any interest in doing so.

The feast is rather good, it's clear they've used the best the Shattered Sword has to offer in regards to both food and drink. They're even serving genuine dwarven ale! At first there is only eating and small talk, commenting on the food and news from the south, though it's clear both groups are itching to ask some serious questions to the other party. When the eating is done and the everyone's sitting with a full keg of ale, Hiriam begins the proper conversation.

"I hope you've been properly welcomed to Northpoint. Now, may I inquire why you've come here?" When you explain you were heading north to look for adventure and stumbled upon a threat to the village, he deflates a little, it was clearly not the response he was expecting. He thinks for a moment, mumbles something to himself about how it can't be a simple coincidence, and adresses the party again. "Northpoint is usually a sleepy little town - and we like it that way - but lately... well, as you've yourself noticed, lately there's been a great deal of trouble. Chapel is missing, and the dragon is dead or mad or worse, but what's worse than dead, really? And we've seen black wolves in the forest of late. Shamans of the Red Hand use wolves as forward scouts, it's been said. Will you help us?"

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So yeah, people in this village doesn't seem to mind drakes very much. Basically, people of this village will have between 5 and 10 starting Disposition towards Vandarzryx, so his Reviled is less/not effective when talking to people of the village.

Everyone technically gets one free unspiced food and drink, but it's getting late and unless you're planning to head into the forest at night it doesn't really matter.

Also, I forgot that the goblins had their own tribe, so the ones you killed would've had a small red handprint somewhere on their bodies. Though Vandarzryx was the only one who searched a goblin, so he's the only one who would've seen one, in that case on the goblin's chest, underneath the armor.

[Fiendbasher]

Ssryn doesn't seem to mind being overlooked... as long as no one steps on her tail, that is... and she minds her tail very carefully to avoid just such a thing. Much to the contrary, she takes advantage of the lack of confrontation to pay close attention to the goings-on. She finds the villagers' unusual reaction to Vandarzryx, and the presence of the drake-sized cup, to be of particular note.

When food is offered, she glances over the table and settles a roasted fowl. Although she prefers to eat in privacy, she is very hungry and disinclined to offend her hosts, and so she breaks the bird into manageable pieces and swallows them down whole-- bones and all. She does pass up the ale, however. Fermentation in her innards is typically a bad thing. Some water from a rain barrel suits her just fine.

After the meal is done and when the magistrate begins speaking, Ssryn fixes her lidless gaze on him, watching his lips move as much as hearing him speak. 'So they know a dragon, that explains much...' she muses to herself, 'probably including the lack of defenses in this town. If one claimed this town as its own it likely wouldn't allow anyone else to mess with it. Apparently it's gone now though... mad or dead? Oh, there are indeed worse things than dead...'

The naga notes the comment about the wolves as well, and mentally curses herself for not thinking to look for animal signs... not that she was particularly good at that sort of thing. She shifted her eyes toward the dragon, wondering what he will say and content to keep her silence for the moment.

[ludomastro]

Alexander watches the festivities with something between annoyance and fascination.  With the drake present, and obviously the guest of honor, Alexander's normal charms don't seem to work very well.  Nothing to worry about, people just aren't used to drakes.  You've still got it.  Try to think of a song that would work.

I guess it's time to play the herald again.  Though, this was a much better job when he had money.  But, how many bards can boast of both serving a drake and robbing one?

"Excuse me sir magistrate.  As Lord Vandarzryx's herald, I must ask, are you quite certain that these goblins pose a threat?  I gather that the dragon of which you spoke had an ... shall we say ... an arrangement with this town.  Are you asking for Lord Vandarzryx's assistance?  If so, would the arrangement be extended to him as well?  Also, can you be more specific about the ... uh ... particulars of the arrangement?"

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Impress with a total of 14.

[Catodon]

Vandarzryx watches and listens with inscrutible dignity. It seems he is willing to let his agents do the talking for now. Every so often though he quickly glances skyward...

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really busy and really tired. I have a bunch of work and social/game deadlines this week so I might be a bit brief just for the next few days. No prizes for guessing who Vandarzryx is watching for

[Antilles]

Since Alexander seems to be the speaker for the group, Hiram mostly addresses him, with the occasional polite gesture towards Vandarzryx. "We would like you to do three things; find out what's happened to Chapel, find out what's happened to the dragon, and if possible, restore the Compact. Now, I know you've got questions, but perhaps you should save them for someone who was there when the Compact was formed. Now, as to your reward... our village isn't particularly wealthy, but I can offer a payment of 100 silver to each, as well as free room and board at the inn." Seeing you're not particularly impressed by that sum, he adds "I can also have a chat with the shopkeepers, have them offer you a, shall we say 20 percent discount on any purchases here?" He awaits your reply expectantly.

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Lauren (1d20+2=22), Alexander (1d20+6=20) and Ssryn (1d20+5=23) can sense he's expecting the price to be haggled, which most likely means he's open to haggling.

[Fiendbasher]

Not really being versed in the finer points of haggling, Ssryn watches the continuing conversation with her usual apparent lack of affect. Only her slightly stiff posture might hint that something is bothering her. She couldn't shake the sense that she had missed something important.

If there's wolves scouting, now would be when they start moving about... they see very well in twilight. So do I. Might be a good time to look. There may be spies within the village itself as well... not likely but it's possible... and they're either watching what's happening now or they've run off to report, and it's probably too late to catch them. Why hadn't I thought of that earlier... curse the cold, it must be affecting my mind as well as my reflexes...

With all the attention seemingly focused on the dragon and the bard, Ssryn takes the opportunity to slip away unnoticed. Silently she gathers herself and glides backward with fluid grace away from the table...

...only to collide with the neglected chair she had deigned not to use. It tips over with a loud clatter, completely ruining her subtle exit. Startled by the noise, she whips around with a sharp hiss to face the chair, her hood flaring reflexively... then turns back to face the gathering and stares accusingly as if it were somehow all their fault.

Recollecting her composure, Ssryn relaxes her posture and retracts her hood, quietly stating, "I am going to check thhe perimeter again..." before turning once again to depart.

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Stealth Bye epic fail: Blend Check - 1d20+2=3

If nobody stops her she will proceed to scout the perimeter again, looking for anything she might have missed or anything new since the drake's announcing himself. Things just aren't adding up in her mind...

Stealth Check: 1d20+9=29 Epic win.
Notice: 1d20+5=12
Survival (Tracking): 1d20+2=15 Will spend an AD this time if worthwhile. (If needed: 1d6=4)