Trifecta: The Stones' Teeth

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

Your journey ends in Medro, capital and jewel of the Empire. After a few days of rest, your minds turn towards your next adventure. Somewhat conveniently, as these things sometimes go, the innkeeper informs you of a letter left in his care for you. Sealed with the imperial seal itself, the letter looks quite impressive. The innkeeper leaves you in private to peruse its contents which are as follows:

"Please meet this evening at Duke Morland's estate. The party bearing this missive should present it at the gates, and you shall be escorted in. The good duke wishes to discuss with you a matter of importance, and one you should find most lucrative. Dinner is at seven, and you are expected to dress as befits a ducal dinner."

[McSherrie]

"I do so love it when things work out like this." Evi's green eyes flash as she gets her chance to read the note. "A ducal invitation is certainly a lovely starting point for our next story. But I think we may need to change our current mode of dress..." She eyes her own travelling leathers for a moment, sniffs thoughtfully, then smiles at the rest of the party. "I believe that a visit to the tailor may be in order, ladies and gentlemen."

[Serpent Stare]

"Urgh," grunts Ovurka, distastefully, looking over the letter with her lips moving slightly. "Tailers? We gotta be all in fancy colors now?" She looks sullen about the concept, and looks gloomily at the ragged clothes she is so proud to wear. After a moment, she asks, "Evi? What is 'luckertive'?"

[dauphinous]

Although she'd been the one to negotiate the deal that brought them to Medro, Betsy didn't want to go there. As soon as the city came into view, her mouth shut, the small smile she usually wore evaporated, and her responses to questions turned into little more than half-hearted gestures. Which, of course, was fully expected. Cities had that effect on her for some reason that she was entirely unwilling to discuss.

She'd pulled her hood up over her head as they passed through the gates and kept her gaze fixed firmly downwards. As soon as rooms were secured at an inn, she'd disappeared into hers, and hadn't even come out for meals. Which was unusual. Normally, she'd at least sit and enjoy the company. Not here, though. Not in Medro.

[Santanya]

Duantan

Duantan eyes the invitation suspiciously for a bit. It was curious, but came with the territory he expected. A little more public in appearance than he liked on other people's terms. Betsy's withdraw into quiet made him uneasy as well, but hell, how often did they get into a major city.

"Sounds very lucrative indeed," he says to the others with a slight shrug. "I suppose worst case we turn him down then make a run for the gates to escape Medro," he says with a grin. "We should look presentable as well," he agrees. "I should have the proper attire," he adds with mischievous addition to his grin.

[Toliudar]

Orwell

The burly bald dwarf looked up and around at his companions. At the talk of "proper attire" for the ducal affair, he haphazardly combed his fingers through his thick beard, checking for remnants of lunch. He glanced down at his plate armour.

Presentable. Right! I'll get some polish for the armour. I may have to go with the traditional axe for dining, but I'm sure the duke will find a hammer acceptable, don't you think? It's been a while since...er, a long time since...I've never had dinner with a duke. Any pointers?

[Santanya]

Duantan

Duantan chuckles softly. "You may wish to not bring any large, overly intimidating weapons," he says, chuckling softly. "I doubt the duke would welcome anyone fully and visibly armed," he says with a smile. "Probably should go for regular clothes too."

[McSherrie]

"Lucrative means that we will be paid well, Ovurka. And I think that we could all use a little extra jingle in our purses. Even if we have to sacrifice our fashion individuality briefly." She looks at the orc speculatively for a moment. "I think that a rich brown might work best for you, with your lovely eyes. And for you, Orwell, definitely a deep blue."

[faithfreebible]

Polishing up his breastplate and smiling at how Evi and Ovurka are getting along, considering some of the... troubles they had when they first met, Gilad chimes in.
"While I tend to agree that the duke may not appreciate us walking in looking like an invading force, it occurs to me that going into this situation unarmed may be more dangerous than incurring his displeasure by arriving prepared. He must know we are adventurers and that we travel armed, the worst he can do is force us to leave our weaponry in his care while we share his table.
Besides, I'd sooner go without my right hand than without my blade."

Looking around at his assembled companions, he adds,
"Anyone who wants to avoid offending the duke, need not follow my example." smirking, he finishes "You can tell him it's an elf thing"

[faithfreebible]

"We should also ask around about this Duke Morland, perhaps when the innkeeper returns"

Spoiler

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maybe someone with higher charisma should deal with the innkeeper on the gather information check. do we have a "leader"?

[Toliudar]

Orwell

Regular...clothes? But these are my regular clothes. Hey, Evi! I could mend up my old robes if you can make em blue.
He tries to be coy, but it just comes off as avuncular. Then Gilad's comment sinks in.

You think maybe it'll be dangerous? But we haven't even had time to offend anyone. Here anyway. Lately. I haven't been around for years. And that was an accident that time, easily explained. Seriously, though, you think this could be dangerous?

[Santanya]

Duantan
Duantan chuckles softly. "It won't be dangerous," he says. "If it were going to be, we would have been picked up by guards, not invited to dinner," he says shaking his head.

"I'll make a few inquiries around town and see if I can get a feeling for what we can expect from him though," he says. "I'll need something to keep myself occupied while you all are making yourself pretty," he says with a grin towards the dwarf. "I'll see if Betsy needs anything while we're here as well," he adds, glancing to the others.

[faithfreebible]

"Yes, Betsy...
You've been with her the longest, do you have any insight on why her behavior has suddenly taken such a turn for the melancholy? She's usually so cheerful"

[dariathalon]

Corwin

Corwin snorts a little at Duantan's comment about Orwell making himself pretty. "I don't think we'll have time for that. And if Betsy wants to sit up in her room and stew, she's welcome to it. There's a whole city out here to enjoy, even a nice ducal dinner tonight. She's a grown woman and if its what she wants I see no reason to bother her until we're ready to go. I can probably find a nice shop to buy some good clothes if anybody's interested. It's been a while since I've been here, but this is where I was trained. Used to know my way around pretty well too."

[Serpent Stare]

Ovurka looks a little sheepish when Evi compliments her eyes. "Er... Yeah. Maybe. Brown, I can put up with, I think." After all, brown was what she normally wore... it just wasn't brown in a fancy way. It was the good, honest brown of undyed clothing that didn't think too highly of itself to get dirty now and then.
"Well, I will go with you, Evi. You know more about pretty clothes than me. You can probably say what looks good better. To a duke, you know." Ovurka pauses, and addresses the group at large. "Should we wait and see if Betsy is gonna come with us? She looks pretty in the clothes she already has, but she might still want to come. It must be boring just sitting in her room alla time."

[McSherrie]

"Good idea, Ovuka. Duantan, could you ask Betsy if she'd like to join us please?" Evi's mind is already spinning with ideas for redressing those members of the party who might be willing to let her, and her hands begin twitching as if she is already writing it all down. "Corwin, any ideas on where we should go?"

[Santanya]

Duantan

Duantan nods slightly. "I'll be back down in a bit, with or with out the Priestess." He stands and gives a slight grin and strides up to the rooms. He pauses as he gets to one, looking at it curiously for a moment before knocking twice and waiting by the door.

Once she answer the door..

"It would seem that we have been invited to dinner with the Duke," he says, raising his eyebrow slightly. "The others are going to get more suitable attire and wondered if you would like to accompany them for assistance. I'm going to do a little asking about about him, so we both could do that if you would prefer," he says, smiling to her as he explains everything.

[dauphinous]

Betsy only opens the door the most minimal amount required to see out. Once she sees who it is, though, she opens it a little bit more. "The Duke? Us?" She frowns and looks at the floor. "I don't know if I should go out. If anyone recognizes me- I mean," a light blush forms on her cheeks, "not that I'm important or anything, but it might be kind of...um...awkward," she finishes lamely.

"I'm supposed to be dead." With a light sigh, she looks over at the wall beside her, still frowning. "And I'd rather stay that way."

[dariathalon]

Corwin

Corwin lets the front legs of his chair drop to the ground with a thud. (He had been leaning it back against the wall behind him. "Sure, let's see for the ladies..." he begins naming places and giving a some general directions to each one. As he does so, he counts them off on his fingers.

Spoiler

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This is assuming that his knowledge: local roll is good enough to get some names. Even if it's not, I suppose he could name places have closed up shop in the time since he's been in town. Here's a roll in case you want it.(1d20+10)[19]

[Santanya]

Duantan

Duantan smiles slightly. "Well, if you're supposed to bed dead, no one will be expecting to see you," he says. He steps closer to the door, but not close enough to encroach on her too much and speaks softer. "If you do not wish to get anything for yourself, that is fine, you have always looked lovely," he says quietly. "I could use your assistance in getting to know our possible benefactor a bit though." He smiles to her. "Just about the inn a bit and maybe a few close places," he adds.

[Toliudar]

Orwell

The forge-priest looks a bit shy as he asks Ovurka.

Mind if I tag along? It's been a long time since I've been in Medro, and it would be delightful to be able to reacquaint myself. Last time I was here, I mostly saw thes three plague-ridden flophouses down the east side. Amazing what a little gangrene can...never mind.

[dauphinous]

Betsy

"Oh, um." Betsy blushes a little more. "That...makes sense...I guess. Just a minute." She disappears, but leaves the door hanging open, then reappears with her cloak on her arm and steps out, closing and locking the door behind herself. "People like the Duke. Or, they used to, anyway." She looks just about anywhere but actually at Duantan, favoring the floor. "There's been a rumor that he had a hand in the Emperor's assassination, trying to take the throne for himself, but, you know, there's always rumors, right? The higher you are, the more people want to pull you down, I guess."

Betsy drapes her cloak over herself, pulling the hood up over her head, hoping that will be good enough, and that this isn't a huge mistake.

[Serpent Stare]

"Well I don't mind," says Ovurka, shrugging as she looks down at the dwarf. "It's Evi to talk to. New clothes..." she starts to grumble, but her words drift off as she sees Betsy walking down the stairs. She smiles at Betsy reassuringly, but says nothing more.

[faithfreebible]

"well, if everyone else is going to go shopping, i think i'll stay here for my reverie, i haven't had a complete one in several days."

[McSherrie]

"The more the merrier, I say. We'll leave you to your rest though. Is there anything that we can pick up for you while we're out?" Evi begins the surprisingly quick process of getting ready to go: grabbing her cloak, checking to make sure that Duantan hasn't reappropriated her coin pouch again, and smoothing her hair. "Shall we then?"

[Toliudar]

Orwell

Turning to bow to Evi, Orwell inadvertantly allows his hammer to swing into Ovurka.

All set...oh, sorry. Again.

He follows the ladies out.

[Serpent Stare]

Ovurka pushes Orwell's hammer gently away, with a slightly awkward and amused smile at the clumsy dwarf. "Look out where you are swinging that thing, Orwell. You could hurt somebody with it."
She follows Evi and ((when we get there)) allows herself to be redressed in finer clothes - but objects to any sort of plume or even slightly extravagant decoration with a pleading look, and flatly refuses to remove the strips of tattered rad fabric that encircle her ankles.

[Toliudar]

"Look out where you are swinging that thing, Orwell. You could hurt somebody with it."

Following, Orwell murmurs: Yeah. I get that a lot.

[dariathalon]

Corwin

Corwin stands up and says, "I guess I'll go along then too. A new outfit is not a bad idea." He looks back at Gilad, "See you later then," and follows Evi, Ovurka, and Orwell out. Feh. New suit for the duke. Why can't people like him just accept everyone as they are? They always seem to take such a high and mighty attitude. Oh well, I could use them anyway. Some of my older clothes are beginning to show their wear.

[dauphinous]

Betsy

The smile Ovurka gives Betsy is returned with the most minute shadow of the same that flickers for only a moment across Betsy's face. "Women warriors are not required to wear dresses. I'm sure they know we aren't, ah," she blushes light pink, "courtiers. I would try brown with red highlights first, Ovurka."

She grips Duantan's arm tightly, letting him lead as always. She keeps her head down and adjusts the hood several more times than is really necessary, just to be on the safe side.