Elaine walked slowly Up to The Man Holding The Torch, quietly drawing her Dagger and Holding it tightly on His Throat as She stands behind him. "I suppose You three are not whatever im looking for. Still i would be greatful If atleast one of You cooporates and tells Me why You believe it is a good Idea to graverob this Place. You could be The next Victim of whatever murders around These parts...or Mine If You even think of getting hostile." She says, her Cold eyes staring at The other two.
Spoiler: Deception Roll D100+10=32 (Fail) "I said I wanted her humbled - *then* brought here. Do not try to trick me, halfling." The voice says, deep, threatening. "You will have your pay when the job is complete."
"Hard to say. Certainly wouldn't be the first tomb in history where the occupants decided to get up and have a stroll." Lauriel shrugs her shoulders in an exaggerated fashion. "Shouldn't be trouble for us, though - people have gone into the place and come out breathing before." Mirtha leans in. "He's a student at the University of Uldengrove. Just a pup, completing his degree. Apparently, a lot of the archaeology students go down there to find stuff for their thesis, or whatever." The thief shrugs like her sister. "He has a few hired guards, but nothing special - I know Uldengrove mercs, they act tough to convince students that they're hot shit, but they're nobodies. Students only hire 'em cause they don't know any better." She holds out a magical locket, the image shifting to display the image of a young half-elf. "Does this kid look like a threat?" Spoiler: Image
"We shall see if your capabilities match your confidence, child." The handler speaks, their voice frustratingly even. "The target is a caravaneer. Human. You will be given detailed information on him once you leave. Any means necessary are acceptable, so long as you do not bring scrutiny down towards the Talons. I will not interfere in your methods."
"At last you are to have your day, huh?" Eliza's room mate says, a friendly enough but perhaps overly outspoken warrior of the Northern Wilds. "I do not see why you would travel with that...whatever his name is, though." She says as she takes long swigs of her drink. "Maeburn or whatever. He's weak, and his skills are nothing you are not capable of. His presence is...what was the word? Redundant." She says. "You should find a better companion. Someone strong and brave. An actual man, rather than an excuse for one. Better for keeping you warm at night, too." She smirks.
"Rent?" The fat man chortles. "My dear, you're already doing a job for me. We're not so greedy out here. Please, you can have one of my sons' rooms. They've all attending school far away, so they hardly need them."
"I didn't want to impose." Fei chuckles, though hearing how the farmer's children were away for school. "Wow. That's surprising." She couldn't help but say, a bit impressed that he'd invest in his children like that. When most farmers would just have their offsprings inherit their land, and job. "Thank you. I'll be sure to bring that beast down, before it does any more damage." Fei says in a confident tone, "Come along, Peng. And mind your manners." If the fat farmer didn't have a problem with it, Fei leads her goblin to one of the spare rooms. "Don't touch anything." She orders the green idiot, as she removes the book holstered to her side. "Now, let's see." Fei idly flips through the pages of her bestiary, looking for something that matches the information she's found.
Lyria regarded the image in the locket, “This boy? Cute, but no—doesn’t look threatening at all.” She leaned back and tilted her head inquisitively, “So, why do we need him again? Can’t we just sneak into the tomb and grab whichever relics we need? Does he have the only key and the lock can’t be picked or something?”
"It's Maelon and you know it." Eliza replied with a roll of her eyes undercut by the corners of her lips twitching upwards. In many ways Sigrid was the opposite of Eliza: brash, strong, confident, and opinionated; but despite this the pair had developed a strong friendship. Sigrid was in many ways the closest thing to a sister Eliza ever had. A very rambunctious and outspoken sister. "I know he doesn't exactly 'do it' for you Sig, but I see his other qualities. He's kind, sweet, sincere, romantic and loyal; everything I'm looking for in a partner." What Eliza failed to mention was that the two women oftentimes found themselves attracted physically to the same types of men. And if Maelon added some muscle to his frame and grew more assertive and confident Eliza would practically mewl in desire every time the two were in the same room. "I just wish he'd ask." she concluded. With her things gathered she turned to her roommate "Any tips or advice for my first adventure? If not I'm off to the markets and I'll see you when I get back."
Zilavra nods and gives another slight bow, "Very well. You can consider them already dead. Now, unless there's something else..I'll take my leave so i can get my information and get to work."
Gods, she is looking right at me! Ok, keep calm! "Hi, I'm Delphi! Huge Fan!" She extends her hand to grab the hand of the blond elf. "I was wondering if you had a moment?" Play it cool girl, don't act like a crazy person. "Perhaps for a private lesson?" Damn, am I coming off as a crazy person?
"I'm not robbing! I'm foraging in the name of the king!" He reels back as she strikes him, spitting blood. "I'm here to find criminals, you fool!"
"Miss Celeste isn't much better..." The blonde sighs to herself. They press through the market throng, Meira tagging along behind her mistress, when the elf spots a weathered hand grab the blonde's arm, its owner obscured by the press of people. "Oh, sorry sir, I think you've mistaken me for -AH!" She cries out, as she pulled further in.
Ellaria stops, the shadow of the temple cast across her bountiful form, her face appearing grave as she turns to face him. "New things. New thoughts and ideologies from abroad. New magics cast without thought to the consequences. And new...temptations, which not all have been able to resist." She says cryptically. Spoiler: Perception Roll D100: 77 Ellaria seems particularly troubled by the topic. Whatever these temptations are, they've affected her emotionally in some way, and it is visible even through the businesslike mask she wears.
Spoiler: Stealth Roll D100+10= 81 Elaine creeps forward, using the loudness of the thugs to mask the sounds of her footfalls, and keeping track of the lamps and candles the men have set, to make sure her shadow isn't cast in front of them. She moves behind the bearded man, who screams a little, before calming down a little as he realises it's a person and not a ghost grabbing him - though he becomes less calm when he notices the dagger. "According to legend, the heretics were buried with their jewellery. That's what we were going for." The other two raise their weapons but don't attack.
"They're magically gifted." The farmer chuckles as he sees Fei's surprise written on her face. "Gift from their mother. The Academy covers most of the cost, and teaches them all sorts of things besides magic, so why not send them?" He shrugs, leading her to a spacious bedroom with all manner of toys, as well as basic magical items. "I'll be back with some tea in a little while." The farmer smiles, before closing the door. She hears his footsteps go downstairs. Resting on the bed, Fei pulls the bestiary out, flipping through the pages as she tries to find a match for her monster. As she does, though, she sniffs the air, smelling a potent...musk. Peng sniffs, as well, but seems interested in a different scent trail, and crawls down to go under the bed.
"I don't have all the info, but I dated a student a while back, maybe a decade. The tomb's set about in layers, with each layer leading to a different burial chamber. Only the topmost layers have been uncovered - and they're all picked clean. To get to the lower layers, which still presumably have stuff to take, you need to do all kinds of rituals and mumbo jumbo." Lauriel raises an eyebrow. "I've never been to archaeology school, and I don't assume you have either. We could go to the tomb ourselves, but I have no idea how to open up the lower layers."
Fei focused on her book, rather than the fact that this farmer was lucky enough to have gifted children. Can't judge a book by its cover, was it? She ponders a western saying. Shrugging her head as she tried to learn more about her target. Although, as she caught a whiff of the strange scent. "What is that?" She looks around the room, wondering where the source of the odd scent could be. But once she saw Peng crawling under the bed, "Hey, stop that. This isn't our home." Fei scolds the goblin, trying to push him away from the bed using her feet. Letting the goblin feel the soles of her leather boots. "What are you doing under there?" She grumbles.
"Sweetness is for berries. Or mead." Sigrid smirks. "Men don't need to be sweet. They need to be strong." She shrugs, as if in confusion at Eliza's choice of men. At the question, Sigrid thinks. "Tell me about the quest." She might be set in her ways, but she's not unhelpful. "Given where you are headed? A shiv and a loud whistle." Sigrid opines. "It's not a nice place you are going, and you're a beautiful woman. I'm sure this paladin can protect you once you meet him, but if you get separated, I see many people trying to get their hands on you. I doubt 'Maelon' can stop them." Luckily, it doesn't take long to get from the Guild Hall to the markets. All manner of shops and stalls are available, depending on what she's interested in.
