(Casual D&D V) The Tourne

Sparky

Registered User
Oliver steps forward. "We have these to vouch for our own authenticity." He nudges Fendric, "Show him the letters from Brich and the rest," he murmurs.

"The letter for Sir Vaustus must be delivered directly. I hope you can forgive our insistence upon that matter."

OOC:

Diplomacy: 13

Woo! Get in there Fendric! Save us from Oliver's not-so-stunning diplomacy!
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Guilt Puppy

First Post
The man at the piano turns a cold eye on Oliver as he steps forward, but his tune continues uninterrupted. Arrich leans away, holding up his palm.

"I apologize, good sir, if I have offended! I meant to insinuate nothing upon your character, I assure you. It's just not the circumstance to act on trust alone..."

He exhales, looking around the room briefly before finding new words.

"Why don't we go ahead and get you set up with your lodgings, then? I'll draft a Mandate of Service for you, and then you can find a place you like. We can proceed when Sir Vaustus is ready to receive visitors again. Does that sound good? Let me escort you out, then..."

The serving man in the corner holds the door open wide, face impassive, as Arrich stands, looking about for a response.

[sblock=Xiao and Oliver]Based on his glance around the room, you get the sense that Arrich is feeling nervous about the two apparent servants present.[/sblock]
 

Sparky

Registered User
Hmm... that wasn't how I meant to come across. Still, effective.

Oliver stops short of the cold-eyed doorman and glances away only to give his companions a nod to spur them through the door. He tries to keep his face smooth as he watches the strange servant, looking for any sign of aggression towards his comrades or his own person. He scours his memory for an inn the group would have passed on their way to the formidable fortress. One that he might hint for Sir Arrich to meet them at later... hopefully sans his unnerving escort.

OOC: Gather Information check +6 = 14
 
Last edited:

Guilt Puppy

First Post
Arrich steps forward, leading the group out the door and back through the loose nest of corridors to the place where you had entered. The serving-men remain behind, eying your exit silently.

[sblock=Oliver]Oliver thinks back; the estate they'd stayed at had been on the outskirts so they'd never been through the city proper, but he does remember Sturt mentioning that the inn Andhourt's was a good place to catch local music, although that might not be a great sign about the quality of its lodgings. And Koehl's family estate would almost certainly welcome the group to stay longer, although how long would be difficult to gauge.[/sblock]
 

dpdx

Explorer
As Fendric felt through the letters to produce the One that would contain Thedoric's seal to show Sir Arrich, he grew increasingly uneasy with every second that passed. Hiritus' look of somber but resolute determination only sealed that emotion.

Oliver's nudge and suggestion sent his hand in a different direction, for the letters from Brich and the other Lords of the West, those he had first met at the Tourne. Fendric's intersection with an actual letter came only in time to meet with Sir Arrich's hasty acceptance of Fendric's offer to meet at a better time.

Hand stayed for the moment, Fendric moved toward the door, Hiritus acting as vigilant escort, eyes boring into the pianoman and the servant. Fendric, seeing not much amiss, turned to offer to Sir Arrich as they headed for the door:

"Your offer is much appreciated, May the Radiant Light Shine Upon You. And if I might trouble you once more to send word to us when it might be safe to have even a supervised visit to Sir Rienne Vaustus, we could resolve this matter with minimal bother and tantamount respect and safety to the Crest!"
 

doghead

thotd
ic - Casual

Xiao ponders the meaning of what he thinks he saw. Why would Arrich be nervous of the servants?. The stranger from a strange land doesn't like the situation one bit. It was easier when everyone seemed equally suspect. Now it would seem that there are two camps and in the castle, suspect and also suspect. Xiao sighs softly. Perhaps Xiao is misunderstand situation.

Xiao resolves to pass on what he saw, or maybe saw, to the rest of the company once they can talk freely again.
 

Sparky

Registered User
Oliver scours his memory for inns and comes up with a place whose reputation he can't vouch for, he ponders briefly Arrich's seeming unease and hobbles quickly to head of the column, "We're new to the city. Where would you reccommend we stay? Somewhere with music and private accomadations. Somewhere friends might sit and talk." He looks meaningfully at Arrich, hoping the man catches his meaning.

OOC: Diplomacy 1d20+6 = 10

Good grief.
 

Festy_Dog

First Post
Nurthk quietly plods along amongst the others, increasingly frustrated and feeling as though nothing had been accomplished.

He grumbles to himself, something about Arrich and inept servants. Nurthk looks like he wants a drink or three.
 

dpdx

Explorer
Once they have traversed the long corridor of murder holes and ambush spots in the castle, Hiritus looks around to make sure no one of taint is nearby (and that Arrich's taint remains faint or dissipating, and is therefore explainable from proximity to the servants).

If the coast is clear, and the party is out of earshot and eyeshot of the servants, Hiritus turns to their escort, Sir Arrich, and looking him in the eye, asks softly and politely:

"Are you well, Sir Arrich?"
 

Guilt Puppy

First Post
Arrich considers Oliver's question only briefly.

"The Farlund is a fine place, on the Northern end of the city. Plenty of privacy, and fine entertainments in the dining hall. It's where the wealthier merchants usually lodge, as well as foreign dignitaries. Such as yourselves," he offers, with a smile.

To Hiritus:

"Quite, young knight. And yourself?" he asks, measuring with a glance. "You don't look poorly for how far you've traveled." He still radiates the same faint evil.
 

Sparky

Registered User
"The Farlund, eh? A private room sounds nice. We might rent one for dinner... at the eigth bell. Eighth bell sound good to you lot?" He looks at his companions and back to Arrich. We are NOT staying there.
 

Guilt Puppy

First Post
"Excellent," Arrich replies. "I will send word to you there when a meeting which satisfies your bond can be arranged. You can find me here if you need me. Rest well!"

Arrich bids you off with a hearty wave, his face clenched in a very deliberate smile.
 

G

Guest 11456

Guest
Cylantro : Female Human

Once Arrich is gone, Cylantro turns to the others with a smile. "Shall we find lodging then? I for one am ready for a bit of relaxation. Something about that whole experience back there has worn me out." As if on cue Ginger stretches and yawns.
 

hellrazor111

First Post
Hmm, he seems a bit strange to me says Cray with a strech. Hey Hiritus, as a palidan you've been trained to sniff out evil right? Did he have the stench of it on him?
 

Festy_Dog

First Post
Nurthk grunts, "As much as I'm infuriated with delays when we're so close to completing this thing, it doesn't feel right unless we're delivering it into the hands of the intended recipient."

He runs a hand through his hair as he hears Cray pose a question to Hiritus.

"Evil? I didn't notice anything odd, just unnecessary bureaucracy and bad music. Something in there get your hair on end, Cray?"
 

Sparky

Registered User
Oliver scowls at the mention of 'evil.' He snorts, "I don't know about any of that, but there's definitely something strange going on with this Arrich fellow."

"Well, not knowing where else to go, should we send for our mounts and go to this Farlund?"
 

Sparky

Registered User
Oliver glowers at the group. "Now you don't have anything to say?"

You'd think, this close to finishing, there wouldn't be any keeping them quiet, but no... like a bunch of statues. Oliver rubs at the old tattoo on his hand and winces at the ache in his bones. Gods, I hope we are close to finishing.

Grumbling to himself Oliver heads off to the estate they'd left their various animals at and keeps a sharp lookout behind for any sort of tail. He's relatively certain no one has followed the Fellowship.

OOC:
Spot: 10
 
Last edited:

Guilt Puppy

First Post
Returning to Koehl's family estate, you find the remaining Crownsmen somewhat anxious for news. Perhaps sensing your frustration, Koehl extends an offer for you to stay there for as long as is needed to sort out the situation.

"The Crest can be difficult, and overly-protective of themselves," he explains. "What balances on blade's edge is at the heart of it, I measure. Paranoia may be their birthright."
 

Sparky

Registered User
Oliver slumps into a chair with a grunt while household attendants see to the gathering of the animals. He rubs at his temples, "That seems dead on." He raises his head, "Do you know anything about the Crest's functionaries? One in particular, Sir Arrich. He had a decidedly... strange air about him."
 

dpdx

Explorer
Hmm, he seems a bit strange to me says Cray with a strech. Hey Hiritus, as a palidan you've been trained to sniff out evil right? Did he have the stench of it on him?

Nurthk grunts, "As much as I'm infuriated with delays when we're so close to completing this thing, it doesn't feel right unless we're delivering it into the hands of the intended recipient."

He runs a hand through his hair as he hears Cray pose a question to Hiritus.

"Evil? I didn't notice anything odd, just unnecessary bureaucracy and bad music. Something in there get your hair on end, Cray?"

Oliver scowls at the mention of 'evil.' He snorts, "I don't know about any of that, but there's definitely something strange going on with this Arrich fellow."

Hiritus looked thoughtfully at his friends as they conversed, while Fendric gritted his teeth, still irritated that the bureaucracy was preventing their mission from being over.

"No, the boy is right, however crude - the whole room was tainted, and Sir Arrich carried some, too. I didn't want to draw attention to it until we were clear - for all we know, that whole castle is either defiled, or in thrall."

Fendric seemed to be struggling with something internally - the evil in the room unsettled him, but it wasn't that. Finally, he spoke:

"If I knew for certain that Sir Rienne Vaustus had control of his own faculties, I might possibly Send to him notice that we bear his letter. Apart from that, May the Light Show Us a Way, I know not how to deliver this letter.

I apologize to you all for my own unfamiliarity with stealth and subterfuge, and I understand that it was this that prevented us from rescuing Father Premule straightaway. Perhaps I could be of use away from anyone who might wish to infiltrate the castle to find Sir Rienne.

However, I am tired, and possibly confused, so perhaps my attempts at planning are best left for another time. I would seek the advice of the Koehl family.
"

---

Guilt Puppy said:
Returning to Koehl's family estate, you find the remaining Crownsmen somewhat anxious for news. Perhaps sensing your frustration, Koehl extends an offer for you to stay there for as long as is needed to sort out the situation.

"The Crest can be difficult, and overly-protective of themselves," he explains. "What balances on blade's edge is at the heart of it, I measure. Paranoia may be their birthright."
Hiritus waits for an opportune moment to take Koehl aside, then asks him:
"Has it always been that way? Not that I expect to be shown straight in to Sir Rienne, but that experience was like descending into undeath."
 

Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition Starter Box

An Advertisement

Advertisement4

Top