Book 1 Chapter 3.1 - The Eastern Gate Scandal

[Asta]

"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.

[Throndir]

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.

Stealth 1d20+8 : 20 + 8, total 28

[pringerbeam]

     "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!"

Bluff check (+5 bonus)

Rolled 1d20+9 : 14 + 9, total 23

[Asta]

"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.

[pringerbeam]

     "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?"

[Asta]

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.

[Throndir]

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

"What's in here..."

[Asta]

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..."

[pringerbeam]

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

[Asta]

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

[pringerbeam]

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

[Asta]

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.

[pringerbeam]

     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."

[Asta]

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.

[pringerbeam]

     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.