A Keg for Dragon [IC]

[ludomastro]

Alexander stops humming quietly and ponders the drake's question.  "Lauren is ... dedicated and thorough.  She would be valuable both on and off the battlefield.  Though I believe more off than on.  She would be well suited to directing others: perhaps the head of the household staff at first and after training suitable people, she could head up a library and give council.  Though, she will not come to service gladly: it prickles her people's sense of honor.  You might try a bit of two-legged folk courtesy with her.  I think she would take that well."

Where did that come from?  Maybe the giant lizard will appreciate his "herald's" thoughtful and direct answer.  Maybe Lauren won't kill me for offering her services to Vandarzryx without her permission.  Yeah, and maybe you'll finish that song you've been working on for weeks before lunch. 

Alexander sighs more to himself than anyone and nods at Lauren's suggestion.  He attempts to roll his wrist in similar fashion as a greeting to Ssryn but does a poor job of it.

[Catodon]

Vandarzryx opens his mouth to speak but spying ‘Loreneisforj’ approaching merely says “…watch my silence, I have come to comprehend a little more than you suspect”. True to his word the dragon does not mention the previous exchange and listens to Lauren’s suggestion and the comments of the others.
Only after this does he speak.
“You will seek out Eliana, my majesty may keep back her words. I will remain here until you return or noon. Those who approach my person I will ask for the location of the lair of the Dragon of this territory.”

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'a little' is an accurate description of how much he understands of social behaviour but the damn big lizard's pride prevents him from admitting how little or accepting overt lessons.

[ludomastro]

To Vandarzryx he says, "Of course."

However, Alexander merely nods at Lauren and mouths, "I'll tell you later."

Looking over at Ssryn he stops and says, "Thank you for your efforts on our behalf during the night.  I am sure that the temperature was not pleasant.  Would you accompany us to Eliana's?"

[Fiendbasher]

The naga's gaze shifts about the area before coming back to rest on Alexander when he speaks. She answers, "It waz tolerable. And yez, I will go withh the group."

Ssryn draws her main knife with a backhanded grip so that the blade lies along her inner forearm, an indication of a lack of intent to use it. Instead she briefly inspects the watermarked blade and wipes it with one of her scarves before returning it to its scabbard.

She goes back to watching any people in the area with inscrutable gaze... unfortunately, her utter lack of expression makes it impossible to guess what she's thinking...

[ArawnNox]

Lauren watches the exchange between Alexander and the dragon with a puzzled look. Once the course of action seems to be decided upon, she heads for the apothecary, knocking as she steps inside the establishment, "Miss Eliana?"

When the shopkeeper shows herself, Lawren puts on a pleasant face and explains their buisiness, "I'm Lauren Iceforge. My companions and I have agreed te help find out what happened to yer village's protector. I was wonderin' if ye could tell us what ye know about yer village's agreement wi' th' dragon an' if ye might have any idea were we can start lookin'?"

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While she may not have the making friends skills of Alexander, lets see if Lauren can at least make Eliana willing to share her story...
Impress Check...
1d20+3=23
ooooh, do I activate that crit or not? Have AD refreshed? Eh, might as well, I don't get those kinds of rolls very often.

[Antilles]

Vandarzryx remains behind at the village square, basking in the sunlight and providing a magnificent spectacle for the villagers. Over the next hour or so every villager seems to have some excuse to pass by the square, gawping in awe at the drake, mothers holding young children and pointing at the drake, whispering excitedly. Sadly, no one seems to muster the courage to actually walk up and talk to him, so Vandarzyrx remains in the village basking in both the sunlight and the admiration of the villagers. It is a good feeling.

The two-legged members of the party takes the short stroll over to the herbalist's shop. It's a decently-sized two-story building, looks old but well maintained, with a decent herbal garden behind it. When they enter, they see what is surely a herbalist's version of heaven. The back end is the workshop, filled to the brim with just about every piece of equipment imaginable, while the rest of the floor is filled to the brim with potions, lotions, oils, leaves, roots and more besides. There is something to cure or alleviate just about every ailment imaginable here, including several items that would serve adventurers such as yourselves well. In the middle there is a counter, behind which stands a young human woman. It turns out she is Eliana's assitant, and that Eliana is expecting them for tea in her apartment on the second floor.

The apartment is very nicely furnished, though most everything in it is very old and clearly very cared for. Lauren notices several items, charms and suchlike, that is decidedly dwarven in origin, and though common in dwarven homes is unusual to see elsewhere. Eliana herself is an elf and possesses that ageless beauty that most elves have, making it difficult to put an age on her, though the look in her eyes and the way she carries herself indicate she has seen a good many years pass by. She gives the group a polite inclination of her head, and greets them: "Welcome, young adventurers, to my humble home. Please, sit, and have some tea with me. I have several blends, favorites of several parts of the world, as well as this dwarven blend I find most agreeable." She shows you to a table with teacups prepared for everyone, as well as several mugs of tea, the smells steaming from them blending into an unusual but interesting sensation.

After Lauren introduces herself and the others as well as getting the ball rolling on the questions, the elf sips her tea and settles back, ready to tell her tale. "Ah, you wish to hear about the beginning of the compact? Of course I will tell you, I remember those days well. One day, 75 years ago, two dragons appeared in this area, not far from the village, one after another. Not long after the second dragon arrived, a terrible fight broke out between them. For hours they fought, swooping through the air using fire, fang and claw to bring each other low. Eventually one of them prevailed and tore the heart out of his opponent, before landing not far from the village grievously injured. I managed to convince the village to try and help the dragon, but we couldn't do anything to heal his wounds. We were able to ease his pain for a while using then entire village supply of dwarven whiskey.
As the wounds healed, we could see that he would have a scar that would pain him for the rest of his life, as well as making it very difficult for him to fly. In the meantime the village had already begun to enjoy the safety that having a dragon living nearby provided, so we offered him a continuous supply of dwarven whisky if he would settle nearby and watch over the village, an agreement he accepted and have kept all these years... until now."

She refills her teacup, before answering the other question Lauren asked her. "I am sorry, I do not know where the dragon has its lair. Only the dragon wards have that knowledge. But I may be able to help you regarding Chapel. He is such a kind young man, and I truly hope nothing unfortunate has happened to him. He visits me frequently, to talk and ask advice, and once he told me he had a, well, a secret hideaway I guess you could call it. A cave he had cleaned up and furbished, where he would go when he desired solitude. If he is not in the village or with the dragon, I believe you will find him there." She gives the directions to Chapel's hideout, they're not too precise but you believe you should be able to find it. She seems to be considering something, before adding "You might wish to speak to mr. Templeton, the owner of the general goods store. Chapel has been in his employ since he first moved to the village, he might know something else about Chapel that I do not."

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Vandarzryx can have a +1 morale bonus to skill and attack checks for the next couple of hours, sitting in the town square has been a rather positive experience for him.

Eliana will resist Lauren's Impress check: 1d20+6=17. Lauren wins by 6, so Eliana has +3 Disposition. The standard Action Dice effect isn't really useful, and she seems quite willing to talk without any prodding, so I'll say that she offers your group a little something in case you run into trouble, a Vitality Potion for each (and she'll turn vandarzryx's healing potion into something he can actually use).

[ludomastro]

Alexander bows to the elven woman and smiles his best smile. "It was a pleasure to speak with you.  Perhaps dinner at a different time?"

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Impress check = 9

[ArawnNox]

Lauren sets her cup down, once Eliana finishes her story. "Thank ye very much fer yer help, Eliana." she rises to leave, "By th' way, that was th' best dwarven tea blend I've had in years. I'll have to purchase some from ye later."

Once everyone has finished asking anything else they want to ask (or, in Alexander's making a fool of themselves), she bids Eliana good day and heads back out into the village to confer with the group as a whole.

[Fiendbasher]

Ssryn stays out of the way for the most part, having little to add to the conversation with Eliana but paying close attention to it nonetheless... especially the part about the fight between the two dragons. When the others prepare to go, she follows them out, with a slight head bob toward Eliana on the way.

[Antilles]

Eliana replies to Alexander with a diplomatic reply of 'perhaps', though it's clear to all that she finds his advances more amusing than interesting.

To Lauren she smiles, takes a small sealed package from a cupboard and hands it to the dwarf, before replying "No payment is necessary, though I would appreciate a chance to share another cup of tea, after your business with Clipwing and Chapel is concluded. It is seldom these days that I get to share a cup of dwarven tea with someone who truly appreciates it."

She tells her assistant to arrange the potions for you, and wishes the group good luck in solving this case. You say your farewells and leave the shop, and are standing just outside. Where to first?

[ludomastro]

Alexander walks out with Lauren and Ssryn.  He seems in a bit of a shock.

What is it with the people in this town?

"So, uh, I guess we find this Mr. Templeton?"

Turing to Lauren he adds, "Just so you know, Vandarzryx is thinking of hiring you.  He's a bit easier to take when you humor him a bit."

Am I really that far off my skills?

[Fiendbasher]

Upon leaving the shop and only in the close company of Lauren and Alexander, Ssryn quietly speaks in a sibilant conspiratorial tone to her companions only...

"It sseemz likely thhiz Chapel may have run into marauderz, henz the reazon for hizz delay. We will be lucky to ffind him alive. I will procure ssome ssupliez for myzelf before we sset out and meet with Vandarzzryxss."

With that, she twists about and heads back into town. Taking advantage of the villagers' manner of finding her unremarkable she winds through what passes for a market until she finds someone selling fresh eggs. She purchases several of these and consumes them as she goes along with the casual lack of affect that most folk might eat fruit while walking... cracking the shell with a hand and swallowing down the contents, one by one. She also finds some smoked meats and buys some for later provisions, should this endeavor take her further afield or leave her out longer than anticipated.

A quick wash-up and refilling of her canteen later and it isn't long before the naga is headed back for the dragon sunning in the middle of town.

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A common meal and some rations should put her back about 5 silver at most I reckon-- 4 if she could have gotten the eggs at the inn as her common meal. The manner I described her getting them was mostly to make the post somewhat interesting.

[Antilles]

Ssryn remembers there were hardboiled eggs at breakfast, so she returns to the inn and asks to buy some raw ones. Sebastian looks a bit funny at her as she asks, but fetches several raw eggs for her, for free. "We'll just call it late breakfast, eh?" he says with a wink. When she inquires about some smoked meats he informs her that he usually doesn't carry a stock of them, he usually send someone to pick up what's needed from the farmer. But he does give her the directions to the farmer he buys from, and when checking the farmer is more than willing to sell several days worth of meat to her. Supplies arranged, she returns to the village square where Vandarzryx is being showing off for the gawping villages.

Alexander and Lauren wanders over to Templeton's General Goods. It's a small shop by most standards, but when they step inside they see it's well-stocked in not only the various sundries normally in demand in a village, but a surprising amount of shelf space is dedicated to what is unmistakably adventurer equipment. A closer look reveals everything from arrows, bolts and poultices to swords and maces, with a bit of light armor as well. Most look used, but pretty well maintained. Aside from a couple of obviously quality items, most seem to be about average.

Behind the counter sits a man fitting Oliver Templeton's description, currently mending a knife wound from the breast of a leather vest. He is without a doubt the fattest man in the village, and is dressed in a fine quality petitioner's robes and wearing gaudy rings, jewelry and silk ribbons in his hair. All in all this looks like a man of considerable wealth and who likes to show it. When they enter the otherwise empty shop he puts down the armor and rises to greet them, giving them a practiced smooth and friendly smile. "Welcome to my humble little shop. I am Oliver Templeton, the proprietor. What can I help you with this fine morning?"

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The eggs (a.k.a a common meal) you get for free from the inn. The meats (standard 7-use rations) is full price minus the standing 20% discount, so 4 silver.

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While Alexander might not be a card carrying member of the Thieves' Guild, he knows men who are (or at least claim to be), and if this village was big enough that he'd think there'd be a guild here, Templeton would be the first guy he'd question if he was looking to get in touch with them. As it is, you doubt he ask any questions for most things you'd offer to sell to him.

[ArawnNox]

Lauren looks around and picks up the vibe that this guy is one part pawn-broker and one part scavenger (because, seriously, where else is he going to get merchandise like this?). She leans over to Alexander and whispers, "You talk te him. Ask what ye can about th' lad an' his cave. I'll pretend te browse his wares."

She steps away and starts perusing the shelves, pretending to be interested, but really, she thinks most of it is second-hand junk. She can't help but wonder if the guy collected this stuff from adventurers that met poor ends... or whatever the dragon killed in protecting the town... that would make sense, but... is there really a market for this?

[ludomastro]

"Mr. Templeton, my good friend - I hope.  My name is not terribly important compared to someone of your stature.  But if it pleases you, please call me Alexander.  We - that is to say - my companions and I have been asked to look into the mater of a missing guardian dragon and his young ward.  Perhaps afterwards, there will be an opportunity to discuss ..."  He glances over his shoulder at Lauren before looking back and lowering his voice.  " ... some business."

"Would you happen to know where we could find Chapel or perhaps his dragon friend?"

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Influence = 25