Pendar - Session 16

47 Merrysest, Earthsday -
Continuing farther north along the road, the party eventually reaches the gates of Iranri that evening.

Atremis looks around curiously from within Sana's hands, taking in the sights.
Nimue: "So, we haven't yet talked about which stuff to sell."
Sana: "Um... why is there another fantastical beast with us...?"
Atremis looks towards the object of Sana's gaze, curious.
Sana: "I'm not the only one who noticed that... right...?"
Maximilian: "A new friend. I encountered her at a tragic moment."
Atremis: "(...Marigold Three?)"
Sana: "...Like Miss Pegasus, Asteria?"
Maximilian: "A little, yes."
"Actually, now that I think about it, perhaps more than a little."
Sana: "...they're both winged equine creatures."
"They are very similar."
Atremis tilts his head, clearly confused.
Atremis: "(Why so many Marigolds?)"
Sana: "(People like animals here, I guess.)"
Maximilian: "Either way, this friend is a determined fighter and good companion."
Sana: "Like Asteria~"
Atremis looks very confused.
Sana: "...Atremis, the pegasus is now named Asteria."
"...the winged one, I do not know."
"We shall call it Spare Marigold?"
Nimue: "Well, what do you guys plan to do in the city?"
Maximilian: "I have some arrangements in mind."
Nimue: " I guess Max already has a name for the gryphon?
Sana: "Um... I do not know. I will first try to find the stables, then see if there is a temple, perhaps look for more supplies..."
Maximilian: "Gryphon? Is that what she is?"
Atremis tilts his head.
Sana: "Yes, that creature is a Gryphon."
"A horse, bird and lion mixed into one."
Atremis shakes his head, still looking as confused as ever.
Sana: "...it's a big flying marigold, Atremis."
Atremis: "(Like the bird and bear mixed into one from before?)"
Sana: "(...more like a flying marigold.)"
Atremis: "(So Marigold Two and Marigold Three can both fly.)"
"(Why do we even need Old Marigold?)"
Maximilian: "I've been wondering if she has a name of her own, the way she understands Common. But then again, she can't speak it."
Maximilian turns to the Gryphon.
Maximilian: "Would you mind being called Aquila?"
Sana: "(She is not called marigold two, Atremis. She is called Asteria.)"
The gryphon squawks indignantly at the two and stalks further away from the group, then looks calmly at Max.
Atremis: "(Artesia?)"
Sana: "(No, Asteria.)"
Maximilian: "Aquila it is, then."
Maximilian smiles at the creature.
Atremis: "(You should name it Marigold Two. It's easier.)"
Sana: "(...I would really prefer the name Asteria, please, Atremis?)"
Atremis: "(Okay...)"
Maximilian: "Either way, I plan on acquiring the appropriate fanfare as a knight."
Atremis: "(I'm jealous. You and Maximatthias both get to fly now.)"
Sana: "(Actually...)"
"(I think I can cast a spell that can allow you to fly, Atremis.)"
Nimue: "Isn't that a rather long term goal, instead of a goal of spending a week or two in a city?"
Sana: "(...if it is a peaceful day tomorrow, would you like to try that?)"
Maximilian: "Well, in this case, I mean decoration."
Nimue: "For your new friend?"
Atremis: "(Um, like something I can ride on too?)"
Maximilian: "If we're going to rally to support the throne, we should leave as much of a mark as-....now... that is an idea."
Sana: "(Better. You will not need anything to ride. You will be able to... for a small amount of time, be able to fly by yourself. ...It's only for a few minutes, but still, doesn't that sound exciting?)"
Marigold sniffs at Max.
Atremis: "(But I don't have wings, miss Sana.)"
Sana: "(I can make a spell that will give you wings, for a few minutes~)"
Nimue: "Aside from the accoutrements, any other plans to squash the conspiracy?"
Maximilian: "Research, I suppose."
"We passed some people that were involved on the road. So there are definitely going to be more."
Nimue: "Thinking about spending some money on spells and materials and doing research myself."
"Already got a place to sleep? Thinking about assisting you guys."
Maximilian: "I'll be seeking out the church of Ivanda."
Nimue: "Should have expected that."
"Good evening good gents."
Gate Guard: "Evening. Your business in the city?"
Thuggish Guard: "Things've been trouble of late."
Nimue: "Visiting the stores, stalls and library of this fine city, maybe also doing some selling and offering my services as a sage."
Thuggish Guard: "What the hell is that thing with you?"
Thuggish Guard glares at Hastur, spooked.
Atremis yips in curiosity.
Nimue: "It's my pet rock."
Thuggish Guard: "I don' know that I like it. Dan?"
Gate Guard: "Wizards. Always up to something. Doesn't look like it'll do much?"
Nimue: "Hastur is very well behaved."
Maximilian: "I'm here to visit the temple of Ivanda."
Maximilian displays his holy symbol.
Thuggish Guard: "Y'don't look like much of a minstrel... alright, just keep them things out of trouble."
Thuggish Guard steps back slightly after opening the gate, glaring a last time at the ioun wyrd.
Maximilian: "Thank you, sir."
Maximilian tugs at Marigold's reins, leading her through the gate.
As the party enters the gates, a small child clambers up onto a roof to watch them from hiding, while a small group of people talk in hushed voices.
Nimue: "We should have asked what is going on in the city."
Nimue shakes her head.
Maximilian: "This is just like Seskesa."
Hastur bobs up down in agreement with Nimue.
Asteria trots along behind Sana.
Nimue: "Might be a good idea to get horses for all of us."
Sana: "It's not like I can ride my companion."
Nimue: "Sana, you are taking Atremis and Asteria to the temple of your god I guess?"
Nimue starts to watch for a person happy to answer some questions.
Nimue: "First time you guys have been here?"
Sana: "Yes, I have not been here before."
Maximilian: "It's been a while for me."
Nimue: "There a good guest house close by your temple?"
Cheerful Girl: "Passing through on your way to Alta?"
Sana: [Speak With Animals] "Hello, Mister Gryphon, I'm Sana. I hope we can get along together."
Gryphon: "{Don't call me a Spare Marigold, and maybe we will.}"
Maximilian: "Not particularly, but that's-"
"Oh, good evening, miss!"
Nimue rises an eyebrow at her cheer.
Cheerful Girl: "Evening, sir! ...are you okay?"
Maximilian: "Quite beat up, but nothing that won't heal. There was quite a disaster on the road!"
Cheerful Girl: "A disaster? Oh, was the river flooding again?"
Maximilian tilts his head.
Sana: "Giant owlbears, miss."
Maximilian: "Nothing quite that severe, thankfully. A number of merchants were attacked by a stampede of beasts! It was carnage for a while, but all is calm now."
Cheerful Girl stares mutely at Max.
Maximilian: "The merchants survived, thankfully."
Nimue: "Anyway, can you tell us where we can find a place to sleep, and maybe tell us what is going on here over a drink?"
Cheerful Girl: "There's an inn over on the other side of town... are you sure you'll be alright?"
Sana: "I'll... be fine."
Maximilian smiles shyly at the girl.
Maximilian: "I carry the blessing of Ivanda. I am sure she will grant me a swift recovery."
Sana: "Miss... do you know if there is a temple of Taelia anywhere in this city?"
Cheerful Girl: "Sure there is. Just follow this road."
Nimue smiles.
Nimue: "And about the drink?"
Sana: "{Yes, sorry, Miss Gryphon, I only meant it as a little joke.}"
Cheerful Girl: "I gotta get home before long, but I can show you to the inn, I guess..."
Sana: "So friendly to strangers..."
Nimue: "Thank you, what is your name?"
Nimue gives a slight bow.
Nimue: "I am Nimue."
Cheerful Girl: "Sara, nice to meetcha."
Maximilian: "Maximilian."
The group on the other side of the road seems to have been edging away from the party, still talking quietly.
Sullen Youth: "(We shouldn't stay here that long. We can't risk delays at this point.)"
Half-Elf Scholar: "(I trust El's judgment. He's got his reasons for being here.)"
Nimue leans in to Maximilian and whisper in his ear.
Nimue: "(does the name El ring any bells?)"
Man-at-Arms: "(The duke hasn't been at all welcoming, though...)"
Maximilian: "(El... El...)"
Nimue: "Sarah, we have heard at the gate that there has been trouble?"
Cheerful Girl: "Oh, that? The guards are just sour about Calemna's knights doing their jobs better."
Maximilian: "(It's on the tip of my tongue, but still eludes me. I'm pretty sure it's a nickname of sorts.)"
Maximilian smiles at the girl, gaining confidence.
Maximilian: "Hah, that's good to hear."
Cheerful Girl: "Yeah! They've done a lot for the city."
Maximilian: "Ivanda is not known for her knights, but I serve proudly in her name."
Nimue: "The duke is in town? "
Cheerful Girl: "...Well, yes. The coronation won't be for another several weeks, no one's left for it yet."
Atremis: "(Duke? Coronation?)"
Sana moves over to the lady by the house
Sana: "Um... if you don't mind... it's kind of rude to listen in on people."
Half-Elf Scholar: "...Hi."
Atremis looks unhappy as Sana heads off, and turns his attention to the new beast near him.
Half-Elf Scholar shows no indication of backing off or otherwise reacting to Sana's confrontation.
Maximilian: "Several weeks..."
Atremis attempts to make fox sounds towards the gryphon, seeing if it can communicate more natively.
Sana: "Um... Maximilian? We should probably continue this conversation somewhere else..."
Sana indicates to the shady looking people behind her.
Maximilian: "I suppose so. The streets are ill fit for such heavy talk."
Gryphon looks disdainfully down at Atremis, silent.
Atremis decides this is probably not the best time to see if the gryphon would give him a ride.
Nimue: "What are you working as?"
Sana moves back to Atremis.
Atremis offers a paw towards the gryphon, seeing if he can offer it a sign of peace.
Cheerful Girl: "Ah? I work at my family's bakery..."
Maximilian: "Ah, you'll be seeing more of us, then!"
Maximilian chuckles.
Sana: "Bakery? Then... well, you shall be seeing me tomorrow, then."
Gryphon reluctantly takes Atremis's hand in one taloned paw.
Atremis: "(Friend?)"
Cheerful Girl: "Oh, that's nice! Come by early enough and I'll have some of my best pies left!"
Maximilian: "Certainly. I know there's quite a few bellies in our group with a deep fondness for pie!"
Sana: "(Still, Max... the girl over there is still watching us.)"
Gryphon regards Atremis carefully, as if not quite ready to respond either way.
Nimue: "You got chicken pie?"
Cheerful Girl: "Yes! Alright, so, you need to know the way to the inn?"
Maximilian: "(A real scandal, our liking for pie, I'm sure.)"
"(We'll be fine.)"
Nimue: "Would be very helpful"
Asteria nudges Sana, and steps a little closer toward the strange woman.
Maximilian: "Yes, we should make a move."
Sana: "{What is it, Asteria}?"
Asteria: "{Light.}"
"{You hit the dark people. I can help hit the dark people. But light people are friends?}"
Sana: "{Light people are...not always friends. Only sometimes friends, be careful.}"
Sullen Youth: "Selia, let's just go. You're gonna make El look bad again with your snooping."
Sana: "...Um, excuse me! Why were you snooping?"
Half-Elf Scholar: "I wasn't. He's being stupid."
Sullen Youth: "It's nothing to do with you. I'm just trying to drag her away from other troubles."
Sana: "What troubles? Any troubles we... could help with?"
Man-at-Arms: "My apologies, miss. I'll remove the quarreling children."
Man-at-Arms glares sternly at the other two, heading quickly down the road.
Maximilian looks at the trio, rubbing his chin.
Sana: "...what a strange group of people..."
Atremis follows Maximilian and the gryphon, determined to get on a better paw with this new creature than he did with the prior two.
Nimue takes a look at the gryphon and the pegasus and the fox.
Nimue: "Yeah, they are the strange ones."
Sana: "Yes... quite strange..."
Maximilian: "I should probably drop by the stables after we see the inn, shouldn't I?"
"Gee, the fees are going to be murder."
Cheerful Girl: "Hey, it's alright, you don't seem that weird!"
Atremis: "(What's a stables?)"
Nimue: "Especially since the gryphon eats mainly meat, doesn't he?"
Sana: "(It is where horses sleep, since houses are not built for horses. Stables are special horse houses.)"
"(...a horse is what Marigold is, and since the other two of our friends are similar to her... they will probably stay there too...)"
Meanwhile, Efta seems to have headed off to talk to some of the locals himself.
Atremis: "(And Marigold and Marig--Asteria and Marigold Three need to go there?)"
Maximilian: "Good point. Aquila, do you prefer eating meat over greens?"
Sana: "(Yes, they will go there, because the other houses will be uncomfortable for them.)"
Gryphon nods to Max, squawking indignantly at Atremis.
Nimue: "Meet up tomorrow morning at the bakery?"
Atremis: "(...I don't have to go there, right? Since I'm a peoples, not a horses?)"
Sana: "(You stay with me, Atremis.)"

The young girl leads the party to a prosperous-looking inn, empty other than them, a silent-looking woman keeping to herself in the corner of the room, and the innkeeper, a half-elven man with a noticeable spider tattoo on his neck.
Nimue: "Frigg, Spider! How are you?"
Half-Elf Innkeeper: "Welcome, all of you... Ah, hello there! Now what a surprise."
Atremis looks at the half-elven man, sniffing at him curiously.
Half-Elf Innkeeper: "What business brings you out here?"
Maximilian: "Are you two familiar?"
Nimue: "Have fallen in with good people, quite a change."
Nimue grins.
Nimue: "This is Spider, an old friend of mine."
Half-Elf Innkeeper: "We go back a ways. Heh, good to hear about that. Maybe it'll improve your mood!"
Maximilian: "I see where he gets the name from. Pleased to meet you."
Half-Elf Innkeeper: "So, what can I do for all of you?"
Nimue: "Need a place to sleep for a couple of days, and my friends need to stable a horse, a pegasus and a gryphon, and yes I am serious."
Atremis hops out of Sana's hands, walking towards the innkeeper and on top of the counter.
Maximilian: "If you could help catch us up on current affairs here, I would also be most pleased."
Sana: "We would like a room for the night... please, too?"
Atremis seems particularly curious in the innkeeper's smell.
Half-Elf Innkeeper: "Well, well. Interesting new company you keep, yes. I should have just enough rooms for all of you... just keep your pet from soiling the floor."
Sana: "He would never."
Half-Elf Innkeeper: "Everyone who brings their pets inside says that, kiddo."
"Current affairs... let's see. How about you tell me your story first?"
Sana: "Maximilian will tell you that."
Maximilian: "H-Hey, you can't lump it all on me!"
Half-Elf Innkeeper: "Take it easy, I don't bite."
Sana: "I'm not very good at speaking... and if you recount your tale, you could be a famous knight."
Atremis turns around, beginning to sniff Sana a little too to compare scents.
Maximilian: "I suppose I do need to practise it."
Nimue does a subtle nod at the lady in the inn and raises an questioning eyebrow at Spider.
Half-Elf Innkeeper shrugs slightly in response.
Half-Elf Innkeeper: "(Came here a few days back. Asked me something about people dying of blood loss.)"
Nimue mmhms.
Sana: "(...blood loss? I am a healer, if anyone is bleeding, I can help.)"
Nimue: "( Sounds more like vampire hunting then illness curing to me )"
Half-Elf Innkeeper: "(Didn't sound like a curing thing.)"
Maximilian: "That's... ominous."
Stern Woman looks at the large gathering of people, and gets up from her seat, heading upstairs wordlessly.
Nimue: "Well a drink, a story, Max willing."
Nimue turns to Sana.
Nimue: "You can ask her tomorrow."
Maximilian: "I suppose it's just us, now."
Atremis takes a brief sniff at Maximilian, shakes his head, and returns to sniffing the half-elf innkeeper.
Maximilian: "It started when we saw a girl under attack in Auna."
Half-Elf Innkeeper takes a bottle from a shelf behind him, pouring cups of wine for all of them as he listens with a mild demeanor.
Sana: "...was it?"
"I thought it started in a forest..."
Atremis tilts his head at Sana.
Maximilian: "I suppose that was when we met, yes."
"But that is not why we are here, now, is it?"
Sana: "Did I not meet you and Atremis in the forest?"
"...but if we never met there we would not be here."
Maximilian: "This lass, as my memory found, was heir to house Seskesa fair, and the brutish oiks after her were hired to kidnap her!"
Maximilian continues on, dismissing Sana's points.
Maximilian: "So with that knowledge, we found another group, lying in ambush for the same girl! There was a whole web of it!"
"We triumphed, just narrowly in a vicious battle. Having slain the group's leader, we escorted her home."
"And there, we learned the true scope of things. A whole league of... rapscallions, slinking about and threatening the aristocracy who don't support their wishes for the coronation."
Half-Elf Innkeeper glances skeptically at Nimue.
Nimue gives a slight shrug.
Maximilian: "Should I... continue or not?"
Atremis sits down on the counter, patiently.
Spider: "And what lovely damsel in distress was this?"
Nimue leans towards Spider.
Nimue: "(But I am ready to match anyone asking for information about us, and ready to pay extra for information about who asks about us.)"
Spider nods subtly to Nimue's statement.
Maximilian twists his mouth in caution.
Spider: "(Got reason to think anyone might?)"
Maximilian leans in to the other two, waiting for them to finish.
Nimue: "(Got no reason to doubt our knight in shining armor and caution pays at the level of play.)"
Spider: "(True enough. So. The girl?)"
Nimue: "Sorry continue please."
Maximilian: "(Lady Valdya.)"
"(Someone got wind she was traveling, and set up roadside ambushes along her path.)"
Spider: "(Curious. Alright, go on.)"
Maximilian: "The lord was grateful enough to equip us to set out and find what rotters are behind this foul play, and set off northeast."
"We cleansed the cliffside of marauding harpies, and learned of a mystery near Brightshire. As it happened, some foul sorceror had corrupted the crypts there, and we had to put to rest the tortured souls within."
"That was when we met your old friend, Nimue."
Nimue interjects.
Nimue: "I heard about a group of... err, heroes who went to cleanse the crypt, and curiosity, that old flaw of mine, got the better of me."
Spider: "I still wonder why you didn't get a cat as your familiar. 'Foul sorceror'?"
Maximilian: "Pemmat, I think his name was."
"Unfortunately, we saw no sign of him. From the hints we had, though, he had probably long left. Might not even be alive anymore."
Spider: "Pemmat... Alright, anything more than that? Do you have anything more than a name?"
Maximilian: "An old Cleric of Taelia sought to hunt him down. She worked with another passing secret messages through a magic coin. Actually, hang on..."
Maximilian roots through a pouch in the bag of holding for a couple of familiar coins.
Maximilian: "They had a few of them. Different coins for different tricks. Harpies had them, worryingly."
"Anyway, this cleric... Orielle. The poor girl was trapped in the crypt with no hope of escape. We found her journal in the depths, detailing her breakdown..."
Atremis yawns, before curling up on the counter.
Maximilian lifts his hand to stroke Atremis's head, seeking comfort as he tries to retell everything.
Spider: "How about you let me see that?"
Sana goes back to sit at a table.
Maximilian exchanges a look at Nimue.
Sana seems to rest her head on the table in her arms.
Nimue says half-jokingly.
Nimue: "I am starting to wonder if we shouldn't haggle."
"He is trustworthy enough and is well informed."
Spider: "I'll tell you what I can of what you should be knowing."
Maximilian: "Yes, true."
Maximilian pulls out the tattered journal from the bag.
Maximilian: "Besides, this is far less sensitive information than the last."
Nimue adds the papers she collected in the crypt.
Spider pages through the journal with a neutral expression, before turning to look through Nimue's items, pausing on the child's drawing and the seal.
Spider: "So. The deaths. Two children were found dead of blood loss in the slum. Prickly back there hasn't heard about it yet."
Nimue: "Sana, get over here."
Maximilian: "When you say blood loss..."
"You don't just mean bleeding out from a stab-wound, do you?"
Spider: "I mean dead with hardly a drop of blood and that's all I mean."
Maximilian rubs his head sheepishly.
Maximilian: "I can see why that would put the whole town on edge."
Spider: "Well, it's common knowledge that the crown prince is paying a visit to our beloved city, but you may not have heard that yet. Put the two together and you have bad timing."
Maximilian: "Ah, the Prince!"
Spider: "And that leads to more problems, like nosy inquisitors."
Maximilian glances at the stairs.
Maximilian: "That does add up."
Nimue: "Mhm, have you ever heard the name El?"
Spider: "There's the blacksmith's kid Ella, goes by El. It's what a couple of the prince's friends call him. And it's the name of a fisherman who's been detained drunk a few too many times."
"I've more than heard the name, and I'm sure it's more than the three of them."
Maximilian: "Ah, so that was the nosy crew."
"Well, it relieves me to know their allegiance."
"Guess I'll have more reason to sort out a presentable look while I'm here than I thought."
"Do you know any good tailors? I'd like to work with the followers of Ivanda here to really suit up my armour and steed to show her colours!"
Nimue gives Max a pat on his back.
Nimue: "One of the problems with being a good person is, that you are not suspicious enough by far."
Spider: "How about you go see Nettina down the street for that?"
Maximilian: "Will do."
Maximilian: "Even if it will draw trouble, I will wear those colours, Nimue. I must."
The conversation dwindles to small talk as the night approaches, before the party retires to their rooms.