Fantasy World Creations

The easily navigable streets of the capital eventually see you to the eastern gate. Largely indistinguishable from the one you entered the city through, a towering arch of corbeled field-stone with raised portcullis and thick oak doors on either side. A line much like the one you spent some time in extends outwards into the outer city along the road, and the travelers coming through mutter loudly about the absurd fee to enter.

The guard presence here isn't any different from the western gate, two at the actual entrance, one at a small table stamping papers for entry, and a fourth standing near the windowless gatehouse a few yards to the left of the opening in the wall.

"Thoughts?" Scathach asks.

     "I say we confront the one in charge, apprehend him, and take them to lord Bhenneit."  Said Thedrin as he looked at the guards, trying to figure out which one was in command.

"Didn't yer man ask us ter be discreet?" Scathach replied, watching the guards.

     "Well how else will we get a confession of the extortion?" Asked Thedrin.

"Oi don't tink Bhenneit asked for a confession. Didn't he jist want a list av conspirators an' proof? If we go in makin' threats won't that tip aff the others? They canny be that smart, maybe they keep records av what they collect somewhere." Scathach answered with a shrug.

     "Records? Where would we find something like that? I doubt they have a duke of ledgers here at the gate. Or even an earl of accounts for that matter."  Replied Thedrin.

"Do...? Do yer think we canny read or do math? Tiamat's grace man, we ain't the damn savages yer seem ter think we are! If they were runnin' a racket, wouldn't they keep track av the bit they skim aff the top so it can be passed oyt among de crooks?" Scathach hissed, the color beginning to rise in her cheeks.

     "Well..." Thedrin paused for a moment before continuing.  "Why would they keep records? They're petty criminals not a trade guild. I'm sure they have some kind of crude loot dividing system like some pirate clan or raiding tribe. Something where the biggest and most brutish of them clubs the smaller ones until the coins fall out of them like sweets from a pinata."

"Oi canny deny that's possible. Oi don't think marchin' up ter the guy in charge an' demandin' answers is best way ter solve this though. At most we git outed as agents av Bhenneit, at worse they try an' kill us." Scathach replied. "Bhenneit did say it may go further up the chain than the guards though."

     "Ugh, fine..." Conceded Thedrin. "Uh you there, other poacher. Your sort can sneak up on a stag I assume. Maybe you would be the best suited for finding the evidence." He asked with a look to Rhenri.

---

"It's Rhenri," the archer corrected. "I can go a larkin' around, perhaps I'll find somethin' or perhaps not. Hopefully it iden a piddlin' waste of time."

"It ain't a particular good use of time without knowin' what to look fowah. Let little ole' Ri here watch a few merchants and travelers, pay a close attention to any exchange of coin, and see where they keep records over yonder."

[info]Rhenri discusses her plan:

1) Wait for merchants/travelers to pass through that end up paying the gate guards.
2) Identify where a guard might be writing down for records, and where they store it.
3) Talk to the merchants'travelers with how much they've spent to get through, and what the guards asked them for their own records (their name or anything to identify them)
4) Steal the records when an opportunity presents itself.[/info]

"That about sums it up. What do y'all think? Otherwise I'm not opposed to gettin' one of the guards alone for a private questionin'."

     Thedrin's brain swam in the details of Rhenri's plan as she explained it out to him. She was smarter than he had given her credit for and the plan was not to his forte but it certainly seemed solid enough to him. "Ah... uh yes... I understand completely! A good plan."

"Ok, let's do this then." Scathach nodded.

You didn't have to wait long before you got the opportunity to watch the operation at the gate unfold. A merchant with a large covered wagon was next in line, and though you couldn't hear the exchange it was plain he was dissatisfied with what the gate guard was telling him. After a few minutes of heated back and forth the merchant appeared to acquiesce and plopped down grumpily at a table placed near the gate where another guard took his money wrote down something on a sheet of paper and handed the merchant his entry pass. The money, you notice, was then placed in a small box along with the scrap of paper.

Be it coincidence or luck, from the nearby gatehouse another guard emerged and walked the few yards to the table. From there he exchanged a few words with the processing guard, collected the box which was presumably full and left a new one in its place before returning to the gatehouse.

Meanwhile, the merchant was finally moving his cart through the gate.

---

"I figure you're better at words than I am Thedrin, there's your cue." Rhenri suggested flashing a grin as she eyed the passing merchant.

"I'm fixin' to sneak up closer; see where they're puttin' that box. It's better if we can git in there and take it without searchin' around the place."

[info]Stealth up closer to the gatehouse without drawing attention. Perhaps blending in with other travelers, or lounging nearer the gatehouse. Goal is to be able to see through the door/window and find out where exactly the box is being placed in.

[blockquote]Stealth 1d20+8 : 3 + 8, total 11[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Perception 1d20+7 : 7 + 7, total 14[/blockquote][/info]

     "My cue?  I mean...  Yes, my cue!"  Stammered Thedrin as Rhenri made for the gatehouse.  "Uh... Damnit..."  He stuttered as he strode straight for the guards.  "Hail! Uh... Guards!"  He shouted a bit too loudly.  "Yes guards!  I uh...  Have something I need to talk to you about!"  He yelled as he waved his arms over his head.  "I uh have urgent need of your attention!  My uh... coinpurse... it's been stolen!"

[info]Assuming Bluff check[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+4 : 19 + 4, total 23[/blockquote][/info]

"Ehh, wot?" The guard nearest the gate said, leaving his post to speak to Thedrin. "Someone nicked your money? Hey, Friseal, get out here and help me deal with this!"

From the gatehouse, another guard emerged blinking hard at the transition from the darkness of indoors to the light of the outside. "Huh, what's going on?"

Meanwhile...

As the area around and within the gatehouse clears of its watchers, Rhenri approached the door. Fortunately Thedrin's acting was a sufficient distraction and no one noticed her, nor did they see when she peeked through the open door to spy the small coinbox sitting on a table inside; entirely unsupervised.

---

With the coinbox sitting in plain sight, unsupervised. Rhenri decided to make use of the chance Thedrin had given her. She would grab the box, stuff it in her pack, and sneak out before someone notices.

[info][blockquote]Stealth 1d20+8 : 20 + 8, total 28[/blockquote][/info]

     "Yes! Uh... My purse has been... what was the word you used? Nicked? Yes, nicked. By... a... giant! Er... giant man! Easily more than a head taller than me. And he had an eyepatch!"

[info]Bluff check (+5 bonus) [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+9 : 14 + 9, total 23[/blockquote][/info]

"Giant... Eyepatch..." The first guard repeats as he writes down Thedrin's description of the "thief". "Ok, we'll be on the lookout for the brigand and get in touch if we find him. What was your name again sir?"

Meanwhile...

As quick and as quiet as a stalking cat, Rhenri dipped into the gatehouse and snatched the coinbox. A moment later it was stuffed neatly into her pack and she was out the door at a nonchalant walk.

From over the guard's shoulder, Thedrin could see that she was no longer in a compromising position and the operation had been a success.

     "My name? Uh... my name is..." Thedrin was starting to sweat from trying to keep improvising until he saw Rhenri's exit. "Oh, hey what do you know?" He said, patting his scale coat. "Guess my purse was in my undercoat and not my pants today. Sorry to bother! Gotta go!" He abruptly finished before turning and fleeing the situation at a quick step. He met up with the rest of the group and let out a relieved sigh before asking. "So... success?"

After beating a hasty retreat from the guards, Thedrin could just overhear one mutter: "Bloody foreigners..."

Some distance away, safely situated out of sight from the gate, the group reconvenes down an alleyway. "What did ye manage to snatch?" Scathach adds to Thedrin's inquiry.

---

"Successful." Rhenri said as she pulled out the box to open it.

"What's in here..."

The box, unlocked likely due to Thedrin's performance distracting the guard that was handling it, contains a decent amount of coinage, several scraps of paper with various names that you can only assume belong to merchants, and a small bound notebook full of names and numbers.

Scathach let out a low whistle. "That's a fair amount av ill-gotten coin..."

     "Do you think this is enough evidence?" Asked Thedrin as he picked up the book and casually flipped through the pages.

"Probably? Let's go see what Bhenneit says."

     "Seems prudent enough. At least this task was rather quick." Replied Thedrin as he closed the book and returned it to the box.

As a group, you make your way through the streets of Aite-Aerd heading in the direction of Bhenneit's estate. Upon arriving at his home, located on one of the upper terraces that make up the layer cake that is the city, you find to no surprise that it very obviously reflects his wealth and influence. Though space in the city is at a premium, Bhenneit's manse is surrounded by well manicured gardens which are then in turn surrounded by an iron fence. Compared to the rest of the city's aesthetic, it stands out.

"Cor. That's quite the home." Scathach, whistles in appreciation.

Near the gate which leads onto the property stands a pair of well outfitted guards. The emblem you recognize as Bhenneit's house sigil is emblazoned on the upper right of their breastplates. These men clearly belong to Bhenneit, and Bhenneit alone.

     Thedrin shrugged at the estate. "I've seen better. The Grandwaves back in Albion own most of the ships that travel the lake and they have an entire menagerie on their city estate. What a thrill it was to rendezvous with Chelese Grandwave in the aviary. Too bad those damn parakeets started to repeat what they heard. Her father tripled the guard and hired some old maid that never left her side after that."  Commented Thedrin as his mind drifted off into memories. He almost walked right into one of the guards, so distracted was he.  He stopped just an inch in front of the guard. "Ah, hello there. Lord Bhenneit is expecting us."

The guard nods silently in response then pushes the gate open for you to enter. Once inside the grounds he closes the gate behind you and begins your escort to the main house where you find what you can only presume is some kind of high ranking waitstaff or steward waiting at the door.

An exchange of brief nods is the only communication between the two as the guard leaves you to return to his post. The steward, cracking the door to the manse open, motions you inside.

The interior of Bhenneit's mansion is a level of lavishness you've not seen in any town on the steppe, outside Thedrin's personal experience at his uncles ranch that is. Expensive décor displayed everywhere the eye falls further reinforces the fact that Bhenneit is very successful in whatever it is that he does for a living. There is a noticeable change in the air once you cross the threshold, one of a magical nature, though not necessarily malignant. Once the front door is closed firmly behind you, the steward finally speaks.

"Though the door to your left please. You may wait in the parlor while I inform Lord MacMhata of your arrival." After directing you, the steward whisks himself away quietly to fetch his master.

The parlor houses an arrangement of comfortable looking seating, a large shelf holding an impressive liquor collection, and a mural on one wall depicting a group of some sort of feminine humanoid fey at play near a pond.

     Thedrin looked over the mural. He was reminded of some of the tales of knight errants that managed to bed wild and exotic fey during their quests.  "Well there's plenty of time."  He muttered to himself before taking a seat in one of the chairs and assuming a very laid back posture.

After about five minutes Bhenneit finally comes through the door to the parlor. "Apologies for the wait, as well as the silence of my staff. The house has been warded against scrying, but the garden has not. You can never be too careful. I assume, since you're here that you managed to find some concrete evidence of the misdoings at the gate?"

     "A ledger of some kind." Replied Thedrin, taking out the book and handing it to the noble. "Hopefully it will suffice."

Bhenneit accepts the notebook and thumbs through the pages for a moment before pocketing it. "Yes, I think that will do nicely. My other acquaintances will make good use of this. Was there anything else?"


[info]You may also turn over the box of collected gold, or potentially keep it secret and divvy the contents up later.[/info]

---

"That was all you wanted, right?" Rhenri responded with a question of her own. There was no sense giving away something extra if it was never asked for. There was probably a couple hundred of gold pieces worth of currency in the box. "Proof of misdeeds?"

[info]Sense Motive on him to see if he's expecting money or has suspicion that we might have some.

[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+3 : 8 + 3, total 11[/blockquote][/info]

"The more evidence the better, but what you've provided is sufficient."

Bhenneit nods in approval before fishing a small object from his pocket, a ring bearing the signet of his house. "You've done me and this country a favor. Take this ring and my gratitude as reward, you may find it opens doors most find closed. Metaphorically speaking of course, its just a ring."

[info]You cannot discern if Bhenneit knows you have money from the gate, or is expecting it.[/info]

[info]You receive the MacMhata Signet Ring.[/info]

     Thedrin took the ring and inspected is quality. His own ring finger instinctively itching where his own used to sit. He knew it was quite the boon, though not without risk. To act as the agent of one house marked you in their service, friends with their allies and foe to their enemies. Their earlier encounter at the court of the Righ having made him wary of openly flaunting the influence he could now wield. "A true honor. We will be sure not to stain the reputation of your house with this ring." He finally replied. "Is there anything else you might need from us?"

"I believe that is everything." Bhenneit replied. "I won't hold you up any longer, I'm sure you still have much to do and see while you wait on the expeditionary force to be assembled. Rian will see you out. Do enjoy the city while you are here."

The steward from before had somehow silently re-entered the parlor, and motioned for you to follow. A few moments later, you found yourself back on the street with nothing but free time ahead of you.

[info]Everyone gains 50 experience points. The box, which you chose to keep, contains 400 gold in various denominations of coinage.[/info]
[info]Soft Closing thread. Resuming main thread.[/info]