Session 6: Roast and Spying Report

The Party has made it back to the Goofy Seagull, where Brego is still chilling, drunk off his ass. It's late afternoon, early evening, and the Party decides to just stay at the Goofy Seagull for a night (in rooms 3&4), for 2SP per day. Room 3 is the closer of the two to the stairwell leading to the bar, and Vadania paid for the rooms. 

She then starts telling some of her tale, once everyone is settled into one of the rooms. She says that the cloaked men are after Nox, not her. In Vadania's hometown, her family is nobility and as such, they are the only ones allowed to take care of the pegasi herd. Her charge was a pregnant mare, whose baby was born stillborn. Absolutely distraught, Vadania made a pact with her patron, saving the baby, but now it's considered an abomination to her people - it's a nightmare. She named it Nox, and because of what happened, her people want both of them. Rothgar and Andry ask about her patron, but Vadania isn't willing to share more than the fact that it's not a savory type.    The Party then discusses how to handle the two military avariel men chasing Vadania, with Andry saying they can take 'em, but Vadania isn't so sure. She thinks that if they defeat these two, more will follow. They then start contemplating the weaknesses of the avariel guards. Then, there are questions about Andry's spear being too big, and the Party wonders if Avani is able to shorten it for her. The resident gnome waitress interrupts this riveting conversation with an announcement that dinner of roast, potatoes, salad and bread is served. Vadania makes an off-putting comment about beards on female gnomes, but thankfully it is unheard by the waitress (don't want her spitting in the food!).   After stuffing themselves on the gnome's amazing food, the Party decides to go to bed for the night (long rest!), and the next morning decide to see Simon so that he can appraise the gems that they got in the skirmish on the ship. As they leave, the Party doesn't see any signs of the avariels, but they do see and pass a group of city guards. One gives them a questioning glance while they pass, but doesn't stop them.    Making it to Simon's shop with relative ease, they note that it's named the Arceuus. It is a ridiculously tidy shop, and deceptively small on the outside. Some of the items look magical, and everything is organized to the nth degree. There are some gems and jewelry in a case near a desk, and the Party sees who they assume to be Simon behind the desk, working and organizing. Vadania asks Simon if he can appraise the two rubies and sapphire, placing them in his tray. He is incredibly awkward, but appraises them nonetheless. While Simon is appraising, the rest of the Party notices the shop dog, Reggie, who is laying on the floor hanging out. Simon, finishing his appraisal, says that he will pay market value for the gems - the rubies are worth 50GP each, the sapphire is worth 100GP, plus 10% store credit (220GP).   Deciding to split the 10% credit, Rothgar finds a Cloak of Protection and decides to purchase it. The total cost is 60GP. Simon writes out a contract for them, noting that there is 160GP in store credit left. Rothgar also decides to get a minor health potion. The agreement also states that the Party will come to Simon first to sell any wares they may want to part with.    After a successful time at Simon's shop, the party goes to the Temple of Moradin on Fletcher Lane to meet Elcas. The temple is simple in design, yet refined, not ostentatious like many of the other temples in the city. There are large ornate double doors, but they are made up of steel, stone and wood. No one is outside, so the Party takes the stone steps up and go inside. Once inside the temple, they see 4 columns (like this --> |   |   |   | ) and in spaces 1 and 3 there are carved flaming anvils. There is also an ornately sewn tapestry with the Commandments of the Allhammer hanging above the walkway. Past the columns is a couple of steps down into a circular room, almost like a meeting chamber.   The door to the right of the columns is an office where Elcas is having a meeting. While they wait, Andry marvels at the vastness of the space, while Vadania and Rothgar walk away from the receptionist (a half-elf) and discuss that it is odd Avani is not part of the Circle given her status as a smith.    Finally, Elcas appears, and brings them through a door, heading right once they get through the door. He ends up in an office, and looks to the human in the room, Keldor, and asks if she will give up her office for the meeting. Agreeing, she quietly gathers her things and leaves.    Immediately, Elcas asks the Party if they are taking the job, as the shipment leaves in an hour. Rothgar says that they have other things they want to talk about, and need insight on, but also asks if the pre-job down payment is still in effect. Elcas hands over two potions of healing to Vadania. Rothgar then gets serious, stating, "Circumstances have changed." To which Elcas laughs and says, "You mean more than the scene of two elves yelling at each other in the street?" Obviously, Elcas already at least knows something of their encounter the night before, and asks what they need. Rothgar replies, "Since you're so well connected, we wanted to see if there were possible precautions that we could take if the gentlemen come back. We don't want to start a war in the middle of the street," with Vadania adding on, "We want to avoid them at all costs." Rothgar lets Elcas know that they were given 2 days, so they really only have 1 day left before the guards come back. Elcas asks why they were given a 2 day headstart, and Vadania admits that they want her to forfeit what is hers. Elcas then makes a reference to Vadania's nonexistent husband, in a very awkward manner, which confirms that the thing is not property.    Andry then makes reference to this item being incredibly valuable to Vadania, and that she's on her high horse about it. Elcas is concerned that Vadania isn't being forthcoming about what the item is, but says he will consider the issue. He asks if they stay in the city, with the item that is precious to Vadania, is the item a danger to the city? Vadania replies that the item is not dangerous to the city, but the pursuers are dangerous to her, and possibly the city as collateral, although not intentionally to anyone else. Elcas asks her how she plans to avoid them, but Vadania doesn't even know how they found her in the first place. Elcas tells her that the 3 of them made a name for themselves, which is how he found them in the first place, so how can they really expect to hide? He asks them if they want him to discourage the avariel guards from pursuing them? The Party explain to him that it's not a matter of discouraging them, it's more a matter of dealing with the next ones that come.    Elcas tells them that it's in the Circle's best interest for them to stay in the city and continue the work they've been doing. After making that statement, he comes to the decision to help, saying the Circle will find out where they are, and that he will speak to other members to see what they can do. The avariel are isolationists by nature, and Elcas says that if it were another city that the Circle was familiar with a letter might work, but without representatives in Vadania's culture, it will take a bit of doing to fix things. Andry makes a note to say that discretion is appreciated, which Elcas in turn nods, thanking them for their trust in him. He tells them that they can do the job today, and for the moment, the Circle will make sure that they have a place to go where the guards can't find them, for a day at least. He asks Vadania what the chances are that the guards will leave the city if they can't find her, and Rothgar responds, "It's more likely that they'll leave if they hear we've left town." Vadania follows up with, "If it helps, we did defeat the specter in the woods...well, Andry killed it." In absolute awe, Elcas says he's surprised they didn't run, and then confirms that the Party will do the job, reiterating that the town guard will handle everything after they determine who the person is and/or bring them in.   Leaving the meeting with Elcas, Vadania and Andry talk strategy, with Andry saying that she thinks someone should be at the bank when the shipment arrives. While they talk, a small child comes up, telling them about a bake sale to support The Children of Moradin's Youth Group. They have brownies and lemon bars, 2BP each. Looking at the child with his big eyes, they buy a brownie and a lemon bar. Vadania, beyond irritated with Rothgar's chewing, takes 1 point psychic damage. She then tries to punch Rothgar in the shoulder, but he doesn't even feel it.    Andry, meanwhile, decides that she will be the one to go to the bank as a lookout and someone to not be suspicious. Once she gets there, she scopes out the area before going in, seeing nothing remarkable out front and no one shady visible to her. Going around back, she sees that there are doors that lead to the alley and it looks like where people who are on their breaks go, and where things come in and out of the bank. She passes a stealth check with a 23 and notices that someone is out back smoking, and that the door is a single door, looking to be heavy duty and made of iron or iron bound. She hears a loud series of locks and latches after the door shuts, and every wall and door appears to be extremely solid. There are apartment buildings adjacent to the alley, but nothing that looks like someone can get in and out quickly. Heading inside, Andry sees a wide reception area, a wall with some tellers, a few people in line and a guard in the corner. Nothing looks unique or odd about the bank. Deciding to go outside and wait for the shipments to come through, Andry goes back to the back side of the building and climbs up the stairs of the apartment building in the alley. She finds a balcony that she can sit on where she can see the road, the alley, and the door, but doesn't notice anything out of place.   Vadania and Rothgar tail the shipment, since Elcas didn't tell anyone about their job. They both roll crazy stealth checks (Rothgar - 22 with a nat 20, V - 20). The roads are incredibly busy near the warehouse, so they have no issues blending in. Nothing of note happens with the first two deliveries. The wagon gets to the second warehouse on Campbell Avenue, and begins loading up so that it can finish the deliveries. The wagon goes down San Juan Hill towards the last bank, but Rothgar and Vadania still don't see anything odd.    As the wagon goes through the intersection at Cloquet Avenue, Rothgar and Vadania hear a low growl, seeing a stray dog who is decidedly not happy at having strangers in its territory, and it begins to head towards Vadania. It is slightly aggressively trying to chase them out of the alley, and Vadania manages to successfully avoid getting bit by the angry dog. As they continue to cross the intersection behind the wagon, the crowd thickens and they come upon a stage where people are singing. Someone grabs Rothgar's arm and tries to drag him onstage. Failing his grapple check, Rothgar gets pulled on stage while Vadania continues following the shipment. Singing terribly, Rothgar is quickly escorted offstage, and he is able to catch up to Vadania with ease. They follow the wagon with no further incidents until it turns into the alley behind the bank in question.