New Friends, No Axes IC

[Athedia]

Laurel reads the posters intently, then grins and reaches up to grab a tab from the kitten poster. "Ooh, does anyone else want a kitten?"

She waits in line like a proper citizen, then walks up to the guards with a large smile on her face. "Hello Sirs! Lovely weather for travelling, isn't it?"

The guard gestures to Laurel to put her bags on a table and for Laurel to go stand in a small booth. A small halfling woman wearing goggles sits midway down the table, one hand resting on a crank. As she turns it, the surface of the table reveals itself to be a series of moving boards, which carry objects down the table. She cranks it until the bags are level with her and then opens them and peers into their contents. Apparently satisfied she closes the bags and turns the crank some more depositing the bags in a bin at the end of the table. Another guard nods to Laurel and gestures for her to go pick up her items.

"Let's see... don't have that... don't have that... am not that... haven't figured out how to put a siege engine in my pocket... Waterskins with water? Well, I guess I have that." Braxton pulls out his waterskins, finishes off the one, and empties the other. "That should be good. Wonder what that's about though. Also, looks like I'll have to watch my buying and selling while I'm here."

Braxton joins the others in line to enter the city.

Braxton is gestured to go through the same motions as Laurel did, but instead of gesturing for him to take his things and join her the guard signals to a stout woman overseeing the proceedings. She approaches, looking at Braxton suspiciously. "I'll need you to come to a private room for a moment. Leave your things there."

[Table Flipper]

The guard gestures to Laurel to put her bags on a table and for Laurel to go stand in a small booth. A small halfling woman wearing goggles sits midway down the table, one hand resting on a crank. As she turns it, the surface of the table reveals itself to be a series of moving boards, which carry objects down the table. She cranks it until the bags are level with her and then opens them and peers into their contents. Apparently satisfied she closes the bags and turns the crank some more depositing the bags in a bin at the end of the table. Another guard nods to Laurel and gestures for her to go pick up her items.




Braxton is gestured to go through the same motions as Laurel did, but instead of gesturing for him to take his things and join her the guard signals to a stout woman overseeing the proceedings. She approaches, looking at Braxton suspiciously. "I'll need you to come to a private room for a moment. Leave your things there."

Braxton looks over, surprised. "Of course. Did I do something wrong?"

[Athedia]

Braxton looks over, surprised. "Of course. Did I do something wrong?"

The woman places her hand on the pouch by her side. "We need to ask you some questions. Don't make me call the guard."

[Table Flipper]

The woman places her hand on the pouch by her side. "We need to ask you some questions. Don't make me call the guard."

Braxton nodded. "Very well. Please, lead the way."

[Athedia]

Another guard takes his bags over to a booth to start examining them in detail, while the woman escorts him into the room to the side of the gateway. The line starts moving again, but a little quieter this time.

Spoiler: Braxton

Show

The woman gestures for you to sit at a table in the center of the room. Other than the table and a glowing sphere hanging from the ceiling there isn't much unusual about the room, except for the fact the walls and ceiling are a pristine white. Once he sits the woman pulls out a scroll and quill from her pouch. "What brings you to the Freeports, Caldian? We didn't receive word of an envoy."

[SirCatBeard]

Terrach looks a little grumpy in line, but the fact that they have not confronted him yet is fine with him. When they single out Braxton, Terrach becomes visibly annoyed. "Hmph. Search probably the only guy here who actually respects your authority." Terrach mutters, only slightly audibly. To the searchers: "Why don't you check his pocket for trebuchets, while you are busy mistrusting the most honest man here."

[aReallyGreatAxe]

Another guard nods to Laurel and gestures for her to go pick up her items.

Laurel picks up her items, mumbling some generic pleasantries to the guards, and continues on into the city.
She's a good bit past the gate before she realizes that she's entirely alone. Well, there's plenty of people around her, but a decided lack of too-nice paladins and exotic bird-people. For the first time in months, she's entirely free.

<I could just walk away>, Laurel realizes with a start, and very nearly does so before she remembers the importance of their situation. Alfred would probably eat her or worse, turn her into one of the skeletal servants for her disobedience. Or, more immediately, the dwarf would track her down with his sorcery.

So instead, she waits impatiently near the city gates, looking intently at the piece of paper in her hand and trying to decipher the address. Freeporters must carefully study how to make their handwriting illegible.

[Table Flipper]

Another guard takes his bags over to a booth to start examining them in detail, while the woman escorts him into the room to the side of the gateway. The line starts moving again, but a little quieter this time.

Spoiler: Braxton

Show

The woman gestures for you to sit at a table in the center of the room. Other than the table and a glowing sphere hanging from the ceiling there isn't much unusual about the room, except for the fact the walls and ceiling are a pristine white. Once he sits the woman pulls out a scroll and quill from her pouch. "What brings you to the Freeports, Caldian? We didn't receive word of an envoy."

Spoiler: Athedia

Show

Braxton follows her gesture and takes a seat at the table and silently waits as the woman pulls out her supplies. "Right. I should clarify right away that my companions and I do not come to represent the government of Calduane. In fact, we have no official business with the Freeports as such. We are simply stopping by to purchase and sell some supplies. We are also not merchants, of course, so we have no intention of surpassing the posted 100G limit." Braxton waits for the next question.

[Athedia]

Spoiler: Athedia

Show

Braxton follows her gesture and takes a seat at the table and silently waits as the woman pulls out her supplies. "Right. I should clarify right away that my companions and I do not come to represent the government of Calduane. In fact, we have no official business with the Freeports as such. We are simply stopping by to purchase and sell some supplies. We are also not merchants, of course, so we have no intention of surpassing the posted 100G limit." Braxton waits for the next question.

Spoiler: Braxton

Show

The woman nods and writes something down, then looks up sharply. "Companions?" As she is talking there is a knock on the door an a guard enters and whispers something to her. She nods to him and then turns back to Braxton. "One wouldn't happen to be a to talkative dwarf would they?"

Terrach looks a little grumpy in line, but the fact that they have not confronted him yet is fine with him. When they single out Braxton, Terrach becomes visibly annoyed. "Hmph. Search probably the only guy here who actually respects your authority." Terrach mutters, only slightly audibly. To the searchers: "Why don't you check his pocket for trebuchets, while you are busy mistrusting the most honest man here."

The man that Terrach spoke at looked at him sharply, then up at the now vacant desk. Abruptly he turned and walked into the side room. Around a minute later he walked back to Terrach. "I will need you to come with me."

Laurel picks up her items, mumbling some generic pleasantries to the guards, and continues on into the city.
She's a good bit past the gate before she realizes that she's entirely alone. Well, there's plenty of people around her, but a decided lack of too-nice paladins and exotic bird-people. For the first time in months, she's entirely free.

<I could just walk away>, Laurel realizes with a start, and very nearly does so before she remembers the importance of their situation. Alfred would probably eat her or worse, turn her into one of the skeletal servants for her disobedience. Or, more immediately, the dwarf would track her down with his sorcery.

So instead, she waits impatiently near the city gates, looking intently at the piece of paper in her hand and trying to decipher the address. Freeporters must carefully study how to make their handwriting illegible.

The address read 457 Apt B Fern Ave Please knock and wait

[SirCatBeard]

The man that Terrach spoke at looked at him sharply, then up at the now vacant desk. Abruptly he turned and walked into the side room. Around a minute later he walked back to Terrach. "I will need you to come with me."

"Sure. Where are we going?" Terrach says with disingenuous cheer as he follows.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Zinnia watches Braxton empty his pockets, then be led aside. As law abiding as he is, it didn't seem to be enough for them.

"Yeesh, these guys really have a bug up their cloacas." She frowns, if a tengu could frown, and looks around for another way inside the city.

Spoiler: Perception

Show

(d20+11)[18]

[aReallyGreatAxe]

The address read 457 Apt B Fern Ave Please knock and wait

Laurel grins in triumph as she finally puzzles out meaning from the squiggles. Besides, the wait was beginning to grow long. Surely they wouldn't chase after her with sorcery if she just popped over to get a kitten.... they'd hardly notice her absence!

She looks around one last time for a familiar face (or beak, or beard) then trots off, reading street signs along the way.

[Table Flipper]

Spoiler: Braxton

Show

The woman nods and writes something down, then looks up sharply. "Companions?" As she is talking there is a knock on the door an a guard enters and whispers something to her. She nods to him and then turns back to Braxton. "One wouldn't happen to be a to talkative dwarf would they?"

The man that Terrach spoke at looked at him sharply, then up at the now vacant desk. Abruptly he turned and walked into the side room. Around a minute later he walked back to Terrach. "I will need you to come with me."




The address read 457 Apt B Fern Ave Please knock and wait

Spoiler: Athedia

Show

Braxton sits there for a second, then facepalms. Sigh... "Terrach, what did you say this time?" Braxton then looks at and speaks to the custom's officer. "That would be one of them I think. It's mainly just that he's grumpy some... most of the time. He is a good person though."

[Athedia]

"Sure. Where are we going?" Terrach says with disingenuous cheer as he follows.

Spoiler: Athedia

Show

Braxton sits there for a second, then facepalms. Sigh... "Terrach, what did you say this time?" Braxton then looks at and speaks to the custom's officer. "That would be one of them I think. It's mainly just that he's grumpy some... most of the time. He is a good person though."

The man was silent as he escorted Terrach to the same room Braxton had gone into.

Spoiler: Braxton and Terrach

Show

The walls of the room were a pristine white and it was illuminated by a glowing orb. Braxton sat at a table across from the woman that had entered the room with him. The guard that had escorted Terrach pulled up another chair, and then left.

The woman glared at Terrach. "What the hell did you think you were doing?"

Zinnia watches Braxton empty his pockets, then be led aside. As law abiding as he is, it didn't seem to be enough for them.

"Yeesh, these guys really have a bug up their cloacas." She frowns, if a tengu could frown, and looks around for another way inside the city.

Spoiler: Perception

Show

(1d20+11)[23]

Zinnia sees that the wall goes all the way around the city until the water's edge. Other than the gate that the people were walking through the only other entrances were the boats being pulled up the low river and the carts going through a large side gate. The drivers were showing papers and occasionally a group of halflings and humans would search the contents while wearing the goggles the halfling at the table wore.

Laurel grins in triumph as she finally puzzles out meaning from the squiggles. Besides, the wait was beginning to grow long. Surely they wouldn't chase after her with sorcery if she just popped over to get a kitten.... they'd hardly notice her absence!

She looks around one last time for a familiar face (or beak, or beard) then trots off, reading street signs along the way.

Spoiler: Check

Show

(1d20+11)[23] Can she get directions

Laurel trots along occasionally getting directions from helpful strangers who seemed slightly curious to see a half-elf but were friendly to her all the same. Eventually she came to a building with two doors labeled A and B.

[SirCatBeard]

The man was silent as he escorted Terrach to the same room Braxton had gone into.

Spoiler: Braxton and Terrach

Show

The walls of the room were a pristine white and it was illuminated by a glowing orb. Braxton sat at a table across from the woman that had entered the room with him. The guard that had escorted Terrach pulled up another chair, and then left.

The woman glared at Terrach. "What the hell did you think you were doing?"

Spoiler: Athedia, Braxton

Show

"Standing up for my friend here, who would have followed your stupid rules anyway. There any actual need for this level of security? A history of incidents, that this system prevents, maybe?"

[aReallyGreatAxe]

The man was silent as he escorted Terrach to the same room Braxton had gone into.

Spoiler: Braxton and Terrach

Show

The walls of the room were a pristine white and it was illuminated by a glowing orb. Braxton sat at a table across from the woman that had entered the room with him. The guard that had escorted Terrach pulled up another chair, and then left.

The woman glared at Terrach. "What the hell did you think you were doing?"

Zinnia sees that the wall goes all the way around the city until the water's edge. Other than the gate that the people were walking through the only other entrances were the boats being pulled up the low river and the carts going through a large side gate. The drivers were showing papers and occasionally a group of halflings and humans would search the contents while wearing the goggles the halfling at the table wore.

Spoiler: Check

Show

[roll0] Can she get directions

Laurel trots along occasionally getting directions from helpful strangers who seemed slightly curious to see a half-elf but were friendly to her all the same. Eventually she came to a building with two doors labeled A and B.

Laurel pauses for a moment and checks the note, making sure that really was a B rather than an 8, and knocks sharply. As she waits, she fusses with her hair, making sure that she looks like a responsible and trustworthy cat-parent. Terrach would be so jealous.

[Athedia]

Spoiler: Athedia, Braxton

Show

"Standing up for my friend here, who would have followed your stupid rules anyway. There any actual need for this level of security? A history of incidents, that this system prevents, maybe?"

Spoiler: Braxton Terrach

Show

"We have a right to protect our borders from smugglers and other threats. Each city a sovereign land. And as a Freeport near the border we must stay vigilant. As for you. Talking about smuggling siege weaponry? What sort of idiot tries to incite panic." She looked very frustrated and on the edge of actually being angry.

Laurel pauses for a moment and checks the note, making sure that really was a B rather than an 8, and knocks sharply. As she waits, she fusses with her hair, making sure that she looks like a responsible and trustworthy cat-parent. Terrach would be so jealous.

Spoiler: Laurel

Show

A little old lady opens the door and quickly ushers Laurel into a back room. In a small cage in the corner was a small kitten wearing an auto adjusting collar with a silver moon attached. "Just the one left, don't need payment deary. Just remember me for next time okay." She picked up the cage and handed it to Laurel. "Just don't remove that collar, and don't let it out until you know you can train it." Not giving the half-elf much chance to speak, she quickly shooed the girl out the door, cage in hand.

[aReallyGreatAxe]

[SPOILER=Braxton Terrach]
A little old lady opens the door and quickly ushers Laurel into a back room. In a small cage in the corner was a small kitten wearing an auto adjusting collar with a silver moon attached. "Just the one left, don't need payment deary. Just remember me for next time okay." She picked up the cage and handed it to Laurel. "Just don't remove that collar, and don't let it out until you know you can train it." Not giving the half-elf much chance to speak, she quickly shooed the girl out the door, cage in hand.

Spoiler: Athedia

Show

Laurel stammers out thanks and then is left out on the street, wondering what on earth had just happened. She looks at the door, then the street, then the kitten. That had not been the response she was expecting.

"Well, little guy, looks like I'll need to get you a bigger box. Maybe a leash?" She absentmindedly reaches a finger inside the cage and scratches the kitten between his ears as she wanders toward the marketplace. "Hm, but what to call you?" She looks critically at the ball of fluff. "You look like a Tyrannis. Much better name than 'Freya'."

[SirCatBeard]

Spoiler: Braxton Terrach

Show

"We have a right to protect our borders from smugglers and other threats. Each city a sovereign land. And as a Freeport near the border we must stay vigilant. As for you. Talking about smuggling siege weaponry? What sort of idiot tries to incite panic." She looked very frustrated and on the edge of actually being angry.

Spoiler: Athedia, Table

Show

"Does it work? Are you actually any safer, cause it seems to me siege weapons inside a city kind of defeats the purpose." Terrach asks, genuinely.

[CoffeeIncluded]

She can't fly over the wall (but maybe, some day), and they're checking the cargo. Zinnia groans and waits in line with a surly expression on her face.

[Athedia]

She can't fly over the wall (but maybe, some day), and they're checking the cargo. Zinnia groans and waits in line with a surly expression on her face.

As Zinnia reaches the table and booth the halfling at the table looks up and then gestures to her belt. A guard steps over. "We are going to need you to remove your belt and place it on the table."

[Athedia]

Spoiler: Athedia, Table

Show

"Does it work? Are you actually any safer, cause it seems to me siege weapons inside a city kind of defeats the purpose." Terrach asks, genuinely.

Spoiler: Terrach/Braxton

Show

"If the other Freeports heard about us hording siege equipment, trade agreements get canceled. That means people starve. Are you a fan of making people starve?"

[CoffeeIncluded]

As Zinnia reaches the table and booth the halfling at the table looks up and then gestures to her belt. A guard steps over. "We are going to need you to remove your belt and place it on the table."

Zinnia rolls her eyes but complies. She doesn't let the belt out of her sight.

[Athedia]

Zinnia rolls her eyes but complies. She doesn't let the belt out of her sight.

As Zinnia exits the two guards come over to her. The female guard speaks to her. "Si-Ma...Excuse me but you have been randomly selected for a quick search. One of us will do a quick patdown and see if you have any contraband. Whichever one of us you are more comfortable with. We can also do this in a private room if you are more comfortable with that. It will all be done over the clothes." She sounded like this was a well rehearsed speech.

[CoffeeIncluded]

As Zinnia exits the two guards come over to her. The female guard speaks to her. "Si-Ma...Excuse me but you have been randomly selected for a quick search. One of us will do a quick patdown and see if you have any contraband. Whichever one of us you are more comfortable with. We can also do this in a private room if you are more comfortable with that. It will all be done over the clothes." She sounded like this was a well rehearsed speech.

"Madam." Zinnia grits her beak and holds out her arms, fluffing up her feathers to conceal the small shinies tucked above her hips and under her keel. "Let's just get this over with. What's with all this searching anyway? Does this have to do with that halfling fireball thing?"

Spoiler: Hiding her shinies

Show

sleight of hand: (d20+15)[23]

[Table Flipper]

Spoiler: Terrach/Braxton

Show

"If the other Freeports heard about us hording siege equipment, trade agreements get canceled. That means people starve. Are you a fan of making people starve?"

Spoiler: Athedia, Terrach

Show

Braxton couldn't quite believe the conversation that was going on. Still... "I assure you, ma'am, that we are not fans of making people starve or of causing fear and mistrust, and I certainly respect laws put in place for the common good. I'm sure the guard outside can attest to the fact that I even emptied out my waterskins to avoid violating that regulation, odd though it may have seemed to me."

[Athedia]

"Madam." Zinnia grits her beak and holds out her arms, fluffing up her feathers to conceal the small shinies tucked above her hips and under her keel. "Let's just get this over with. What's with all this searching anyway? Does this have to do with that halfling fireball thing?"

Spoiler: Hiding her shinies

Show

sleight of hand: (1d20+3)[7]

The woman does a quick and thorough job, her hand steadily squeezing down Zinnia's limbs. "We don't get really any of your kind here. And we are a trade city, all the Freeports are. Smugglers are not welcome." Detecting nothing the woman stood back. "Enjoy your time here and have a good day." Zinnia's belt and bag sit at the end of the table waiting for her.

Spoiler: DM only

Show

(1d20+3)[7]

[SirCatBeard]

Spoiler: Terrach/Braxton

Show

"If the other Freeports heard about us hording siege equipment, trade agreements get canceled. That means people starve. Are you a fan of making people starve?"

Spoiler: Athedia, Terrach

Show

Braxton couldn't quite believe the conversation that was going on. Still... "I assure you, ma'am, that we are not fans of making people starve or of causing fear and mistrust, and I certainly respect laws put in place for the common good. I'm sure the guard outside can attest to the fact that I even emptied out my waterskins to avoid violating that regulation, odd though it may have seemed to me."

Spoiler: Athedia,Braxton

Show

"Now why didn't you say so on the poster, a little reasoning behind the rules would make many more likely to respect them, leading to a safer city. Also, everything he said."

[Athedia]

Spoiler: Athedia, Terrach

Show

Braxton couldn't quite believe the conversation that was going on. Still... "I assure you, ma'am, that we are not fans of making people starve or of causing fear and mistrust, and I certainly respect laws put in place for the common good. I'm sure the guard outside can attest to the fact that I even emptied out my waterskins to avoid violating that regulation, odd though it may have seemed to me."

Spoiler: Athedia,Braxton

Show

"Now why didn't you say so on the poster, a little reasoning behind the rules would make many more likely to respect them, leading to a safer city. Also, everything he said."

Spoiler: Braxton and Terrach

Show

"Dwarf, your people barely leave the mountains. What do you know about complicated intercity commerce. As for you Caldian, you are still an unknown and an oddity in these parts." She produced two metal bracelets from beneath the table. "Put these on. They will seal until one of us uses the release. They allow you to stay for 1 week maximum, any longer and we require an official visa application. No use of violence, no attempting to remove, and absolutely no leaving without reporting in. Am I understood?"

[Table Flipper]

Spoiler: Braxton and Terrach

Show

"Dwarf, your people barely leave the mountains. What do you know about complicated intercity commerce. As for you Caldian, you are still an unknown and an oddity in these parts." She produced two metal bracelets from beneath the table. "Put these on. They will seal until one of us uses the release. They allow you to stay for 1 week maximum, any longer and we require an official visa application. No use of violence, no attempting to remove, and absolutely no leaving without reporting in. Am I understood?"

Spoiler: Athedia, Terrach

Show

Metal bracelets? What good are they supposed to do them? Still, no use in asking or arguing about them. Braxton grabs the bracelets, and puts one on each wrist."You are, ma'am. No violence, bracelet removal, staying for over a week, or leaving without reporting. I apologize for any inconvenience my arrival has caused."