DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder 2 - Rumblings: Triboar

Davroar

"Is Urlam typical Zhentarim? I've never met anyone so full of themselves and wanting to rub it in our faces."

Having traveled mostly through or skirting around big cities in his young life so far, Davroar figures he still has a lot to learn about city folk.

Zhu

She ponders quietly for a few moments. "Zhents, like many other groups hold all sorts of different people with different personalities. Some are quiet, some outgoing, some, perhaps like Urlam, with a need to show people how important they are. Many Zhents I know of prefer to work quietly, in the shadows. Their most common trait, if I had to choose one, would be selfishness. They, and the goals of their Faction are more important than obeying local laws. Although I can say a similar thing about some other Factions as well." She smiles softly.

She pauses, adding, "Most towns and cities in the realms welcome members of the Order of the Gauntlet as we help enforce the law, so I am more interested in how the Lord Protector reacts, should we meet her, than Urlam. I didn't really expect much different from him."

Jaliera

"Interesting Zho. I guess it is difficult to generalise as we've met other folks that like to throw their weight around. Don't think that necessarily put them in a certain faction. I prefer to take people as I find them."

She smiles at everyone.

Zhu

She smiles back and nods. "Probably a wise position to take. Most people are just people and not connected to any Faction. Those who choose a Faction are typically those who have a strong belief, either principled or personal, that that particular Faction's beliefs align with."

"However", she adds, "even then, there is variability."

Davroar

Listening to Zhu and Jaliera, he finds that he should probably try to be a little more open-minded. His druid training has coloured his viewpoint to those that respect the natural world and those that do not.

"Wise words of you both that I wouldn't have considered until now. I guess Urlam is just being Urlam. I will try not to judge too quickly."

Zhu's last words stick in his mind about human (and really for any sentient being) about how their thoughts, words and actions will be different from one day to the next. It makes some sense to his young mind that only by getting to know a person over time, can anyone make a decision one way or another about anything.

Outside the Triboar Travelers

Davroar, Jaliera, Kriv and Zhu step out of the office and into the rain which has started to abate. Still, the ground is wet and squishes under their feet. As they finish discussing their encounter with Urlam, they move on to deciding on where to go. They also haven't seen Bern for a bit.

at The Talking Troll

Kaelen, the bartender at the tavern, raises a glass to complete the toast that Bern had offered and sighs when Bern does not reply to his comment about finding financial backers to help convert the tavern into a theater.

"I would put a stage over there."

He points to an area on the far side of the large puddle that had under the hole in the roof, in the rainy section of the tavern.

"A bard might be positioned to the left over there, to augment the presentation. Oil sconces would illuminate the place to provide the proper ambiance. But hard work alone does not make it happen. I won't start working on job that one has no chance of being completed due to a lack of funds. It is a wasted effort."

He pauses and ponders for a moment and asks, "Would you know of any benefactors that might want to invest in such a great opportunity?"

Meanwhile, the priest had barely heard Arus but when asked about what was troubling him, he muttered, "Banished. I was banished..."

His voice trailed off and his eyes started looking about. It didn't take an expert to figure out that he was looking for another drink.

<Bern>

His brow furrowed a bit. "Sorry ...", he said slowly. "I don't have any help for you. The closest I ever came to 'theater' is what passes for a stage in those taverns have 'floor shows'. But ... if that is what you wanna do, maybe use that 'time honored' 'floor show' to pay for the stage and =then= add the occasional 'play' or the like to transition ... as it were."

"As for investors, I could certainly ask my friends ...", he was silent for a moment as he considered. "Perhaps we can find a job that can get you started ..."

(OOC - Nep - Do we know where Northshield House is?)

Kriv

Once they were clear of the office, the Dragonborn quietly spoke up,


"Historically, the Zhents have not had a sterling reputation. This wouldn't have been the first time in the existence of the organisation that they have claimed innocence of past misdeeds and started cooperating with the rest of civilization. Last time out didn't go so well for those that trusted them."

Zhu

Stepping back outside, and back into the rain, she glances from one side of the town to the other and shrugs. "I suppose we'll have to ask someone where Northshield House is, unless one of you know? Not the kind of weather to just wander around looking in."

DM

As they make their way out of the Triboar Travelers and start heading back towards the caravan grounds, Kriv, Jaliera, Davroar and Zhu can see that many of the caravan guards have already huddled inside their tents as the rain continues. But there are others in the streets. Most notably there's an armed guard in the town square outside the Tower of the Lord Protector. Most other folks in the street are trying to find their way out of the rain.

[[ well ... if we can get results like =that=, can I roll to see if I can get a tank ... or maybe a 'strike team'?? <weg> ]]

Jaliera

"No idea. We could ask him."

She points to the guard at the tower.

"Bet he knows. And if it is expensive we can always camp."

Arus to the Priest (at The Talking Troll)

Where he comes from, there's only one god worth praying to and that's Persana, Guardian of the Deep, God of tritons.

There's no triton pantheon like the elves and dwarves celebrate, no facets or aspects, only the one Persana, a force of civilisation.

So Arus looks over this priest and can't fathom much about the drunkard's calling. But only a priest would wear such impractically long robes when the ground is so sodden.

"I doubt they banished thee to the tavern, priest."

Arus drags the man upright.

"Come now, man, tell me thy sad story."

Zhu

She nods, moving across the street to go talk to the guard.

Davroar

He will quietly wait beside Jaliera while contemplating about changing into a duck as he feels his fur armour slowly getting heavier by the moment from standing in the rain. Hopefully Zhu gets directions from the guard and they can at least get a nice cooked meal.

DM - Outside (Zhu, Kriv, Jaliera & Davroar)

While the others waited, Zhu sauntered over towards the guard near the tower in the center of the square. As she walks over to him she realizes that he's actually watching the building across the street. The sign over that building has the marks of the Lionshield Coster, the very place they intend to visit to learn about the dagger. The guard, a stocky dark haired man doesn't appear to be happy and places a hand on the hilt of the shortsword on his hip as she approaches. "Halt!" he calls out before Zhu even has a chance to say anything. "This here establishment be under the protection of the Lord Protector!"

at the Talking Troll

When Bern tells Kaelen that he can't help, the proprietor sighs in disappointment but when Bern suggests that he can ask his friends, optimism and a smile cross his face. "Would you ask your friends? Perhaps if they pool resources...?" Then he asks, "What sort of job?"

Over at the booth where Arus is trying to pry information from the priest he makes some progress. "I was exiled. Banned! They threw me out! Helm, why do you test me so? I lived all my life in Neverwinter. They banished me to Red Larch. Go to Red Larch they say. Run the Shrine of the Allfaiths they say! Why? Why?"

Then his bloodshot eyes narrow and he leans forward and says "Politics. It's all stupid politics. I should have played their games!" before starting to weep.

Arus to the Priest
(at The Talking Troll)

"Helm?" He wonders, "Haven't heard of him."

Arus wears half a grin for the priest's predicament, but it's not unkind. More amused by those who blame their bad habits on others. As if some tyrant had forced the drink down the priest's throat.

"I take it Helm is not the god of wallowing self-pity. What is his symbol?"

<Bern>

He smiled and shrugged. "No promises, but I will see how the other feel."

He paused at the last question. "Not sure", he said after a short pause. "They are looking into that", he said, raised his glass, emptied it, and added, "I am looking into this", he said looking into his empty glass ... which he then set on the bar ... expectantly.

Zhu

"Is it?" She says. "Alright", she nods. "I have no reason to dispute your claim."

She glances across the street at the other building the man seems to be watching, noting the symbol on it. "I only have a quick question. Can you point me towards the Northshield House? Oh, and also I suppose you can tell the Lord Protector that a member of the Order of the Gauntlet will be staying there for a night or two. If she would like to speak with me I can be found there, presuming they have rooms."