CH. 9: Winter is Coming

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra makes sure that she is presentable, then puts on the warm cloak that Norris got her. "I'll try," she says. "Have a good day," she adds before she leaves to check in with the army.

[JadedDM]

Kendra Greylock (Old Fort)
Donning her fur cloak, Kendra steps out onto the streets. Her boots crunch the snow underfoot as she walks. It feels so strange for it to be snowing so early. But maybe it just feels that way because there was no harvest festival this year. The harvest festival was especially sacred to the Seekers, as it marked the day when the Belzorites were ousted from the city. But there wasn't going to be one this year, and with the Seekers gone, there may never be one again.

When she arrives at the old fort, she finds Mouna preparing the Fire Snakes--a large number of them, anyway--to head for the Fair Gate to march on Qualinesti. Perp is nearby, but is being left behind for light duty like she is. He's still badly injured, but looks a bit better than when she last saw him.

"Well, Greylock," Mouna says, wearing full battle armor and armed to the teeth. "Just patrol the merchant district and keep an eye out for any trouble. We'll be back in a few days, victorious," she says with a wink before putting on her helm.

Arulia Seroth (323 Three Forks, Seroth residence)
Cassilda's back straightens at suddenly becoming the focus of everyone's attention. "Oh, it's...great. I'm learning so much already. I've made a lot of mistakes, but...Master Una says I've got great potential." She looks down at the remaining food on her plate and moves it around with her fork. "There's a real rush to get everything ready for the army. They're marching today..."

Grubnick (Fair Gate)
Grubnick follows after the ogres, trying his best to keep up with their long strides. He's forced to follow at a jog, leaving him slightly winded when he reaches the Fair Gate. On the other hand, he's not as cold anymore.

The Fair Gate hangs open and soldiers are spilling out of it, forming up into ranks just outside of the city. There must be at thousand or so already, including ogres, draconians, goblins, hobgoblins and worgs. Two of the three red dragons that have been routinely patrolling the skies since the occupation also wait here, ready for the march on Qualinesti.

A number of citizens have gathered to watch, much like Grunbick. They talk to each other quietly, wondering what will become of the elves.

Felran, Ne-Chanz, and Shima (High Hand Inn, Common room)
As the three talk, the two elder dwarves finish their meals and get up. The women heads upstairs while the male steps outside.

[HorizonsDream]

"Got it," Kendra says as she pulls her cloak tighter around herself. She gives the proper respect to Mouna before she walks over to Perp. "...You okay?" she asks.

[BishGada]

Tulbas is furious at Magnus reaction, the man has no idea what he is talking about and if he thinks by mocking him it would encourage him to push himself farther, well, he is as dumb as a rotten block of wood. But he has no interest in explaining his actions to the Mage. There is no point in doing so, all he will get is more insults. He seizes the opportunity to leave the house as nothing specific is asked from him. 'you CAN go to church he said, not HAVE to, so...' he thinks to himself and quickly gathers his backpack and staff and goes out. The moment he is out he is hit by the freezing cold! He throws his robes over his face as the wind stings his eyes. His heart almost as cold as the crunching snow under his feet, he walks to the market to buy some warmer cloth. Then he goes to the Steel Tankard to find Haaque.

===============================================================
(OOC: Tulbas will buy warmer cloth, gloves and warm boots and what is common to cover the face, either scarf or hat that covers the cheeks.
He will try to bargain if possible. He would mention his friends intention to go to the prefect about the tax issues and would say he can throw a good word on the specific merchant.)

[djhyland]

Arulia smiles at Cassilda's explanation, even though she's unsure her sister is telling the truth. "I'm happy to hear that you're doing well, Cassilda," she says. "Would you like me to walk you to work again? I still have to find a job for myself, so I'll be going out anyway."

[JadedDM]

Kendra Greylock (Old Fort)
Perp nods sullenly. "I've been raised by the captain since I was hatched," he admits. "Guess I just...feel lost without him." Kendra notes that he still has Krup's eye-patch clutched in his claw.

Arulia Seroth (Outside Una's weaponsmithy)
"Okay," agrees Cassilda. They finish breakfast and everyone starts going their separate ways. Before they all leave, though, Thoron reminds everyone to be back by dinner time. Arulia leaves her armor and weapons behind, of course, as she no longer has a pass to allow it.

Arulia escorts Cassilda to her job again. This time, though, they walk through the snow and Arulia can't stop shivering. Her cloak is ruined and her bare hands go numb. She is not equipped for this weather.

"Thanks for walking me," Cassilda says as they arrive.

Tulbas Erogund (Steel Tankard)
Tulbas grabs his backpack, but he cannot carry a staff or any weapon without a permit or he'll be quickly arrested. And since he gave his permit to Gobax last night, he no longer has one. Therefore he is forced to leave any and all weapons behind for now.

He passes several checkpoints and makes his way to the marketplace. There he finds a vendor selling winter clothing and asks for a full outfit. All of it comes to a total of 14 steel pieces, but Tulbas tries to convince him he is somehow going to get the new tax lifted. Despite looking like he went through a meat grinder and having the appearance of a 14 year old, he somehow manages to persuade the merchant he was serious. The vendor knocks off 20% and agrees to a fee of 11 steel pieces instead.

After paying, Tulbas puts on the scarf, the new thick cloak, thick gloves, wool pants and winter boots and shoves his old stuff in his pack. He then heads for the Steel Tankard. The place has a few people in it at this hour.

Sitting by the fire is a somewhat overweight man with a farmer's tan and short, fiery red hair. He rubs his hands by the fire, sometimes blowing into them to keep warm.

At a table by himself is a dark-skinned man engrossed in a thick book. At the table next to him is a handsome fellow with olive skin trying to fix a very broken lute. It looks fairly hopeless.

In the corner sits a young girl, perhaps around 13 years of age, by herself. She is dressed like a peasant and nurses a drink.

Up at the bar are two blonde woman, sitting side by side but not interacting with each other at all. One is wearing leathers and has short hair, while the other is covered in a heavy cloak, but some of her long hair spills out of the hood anyway.

At a table in the darkest corner sit four Baaz, drinking and carousing. A single kapak leans against the wall near the door, keeping an eye on things.

One of the barmaids sits on the other end of the bar, apparently on break. The barkeeper is behind the counter speaking with Haahqae about something.

=========

Tulbas makes a CHA check to haggle with the clothing vendor [TN 11] (1d20): 9, pass.
Tulbas pays 11 STP for a full winter outfit.

[TristenC]

Shaking his head at the growing forces, Grubnick heads off to the steel tankard.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra hesitates a moment, then gives Perp a little pat on the shoulder as she isn't sure what else to do. "...I'm sorry." She was the one that killed him, so part of her did feel sorry even if it was for what she considered the greater good.

[djhyland]

Arulia grits her teeth against their chattering and smiles bravely. "I'm happy to take you to work, Cassilda. You are truly doing well here? You would tell me if you're unhappy, wouldn't you?"

(OOC: Assuming that Cassilda doesn't complain of atrocious mistreatment or something:)
Arulia waits for her sister to disappear into the smithy, then tucks her hands under her arms and hurries to the nearest clothing merchant to buy a new cloak and a pair of gloves. After finding suitable garments, she spends her few remaining coins to purchase them and dons them quickly before continuing on to purchase material for bandages and then on to the High Hand. Even with her new clothing and the effort of walking through the new-fallen snow, it takes the entirety of the walk to the inn before she stops shivering.

(OOC: By my count, Arulia's gloves and cloak should cost her 1.8 steel pieces. I don't find a price in the PHB for bandages, but I hope that they don't cost too much. If the prices are inflated due to high demand or something, she'll opt for just the cloak (0.8 steel normally) if she can afford that with the 2.2 steel she has. If she can't afford even that, she'll hurry as quickly as she can to the inn and find a fire to warm herself.)

[spyguy1503]

Ne-Chanz grins slightly. "I would like some tea. And my name is Ne-Chanz."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Tulbas and Gobax (Steel Tankard, common room)
Gobax arrives at the Steel Tankard shortly after Tulbas does. The place has a few people in it at this hour.

Sitting by the fire is a somewhat overweight man with a farmer's tan and short, fiery red hair. He rubs his hands by the fire, sometimes blowing into them to keep warm.

At a table by himself is a dark-skinned man engrossed in a thick book. At the table next to him is a handsome fellow with olive skin trying to fix a very broken lute. It looks fairly hopeless.

In the corner sits a young girl, perhaps around 13 years of age, by herself. She is dressed like a peasant and nurses a drink.

Up at the bar are two blonde woman, sitting side by side but not interacting with each other at all. One is wearing leathers and has short hair, while the other is covered in a heavy cloak, but some of her long hair spills out of the hood anyway.

At a table in the darkest corner sit four Baaz, drinking and carousing. A single kapak leans against the wall near the door, keeping an eye on things.

One of the barmaids sits on the other end of the bar, apparently on break. The barkeeper is behind the counter speaking with Haahqae about something.

Kendra Greylock (Old Fort)
Kendra and Perp stand side by side as soldiers march past them, leaving the fortress and heading for the Fair Gate. Once they are gone, Perp says, "I should report to my checkpoint," and walks away sullenly.

Arulia Seroth (High Hand Inn, common room)
Cassilda insists everything is fine. Perhaps she insists a little too much. But as she's unable to get anything out of her, they part ways and Arulia goes shopping.

(OOC: Due to the new tax, all prices have doubled. So a pair of gloves would cost 2 STP and a cloak would cost 16 SP. Bandages now cost 2 CP each, whereas before they were only 1 CP. You can try and haggle to get the price lower. Let me know what she goes for and how many bandages she wants.)

She then heads to the High Hand steps inside, finding it much warmer thanks to the blazing fire in the hearth. The plainswoman innkeeper stands behind the counter. There are also five humans about. Three sit at a table together, eating breakfast. A fourth sits alone, wearing black robes. Everyone gives her a wide berth. The last wears a heavy cloak and sits at the bar, speaking with the innkeeper.

Two kapaks stand on the balcony above, looking down on everyone and quietly whispering to each other. Three baaz sit away from the others, drinking and carousing.

She also sees the white minotaur and red-haired half-elf she fought with last night. They are speaking to a very shady looking dwarf dressed entirely in black leathers.

Felran and Ne-Chanz (High Hand Inn, Common room)
While they are talking with the dwarf, Arulia steps inside the inn.

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn, Common room)
While he is talking with the minotaur and half-elf, the door swings open letting in a burst of cold air. A young woman with honey blonde hair and green eyes steps inside and closes the door behind her. She looks around as if trying to find someone.

[Chris1234]

"Right, let's start again, Ne-Chanz. I'm Shima, I'd be delighted to get you some tea. How do you take it? Oh and what's your companion's name?" the dwarf replies, doing his best to be cordial, and then turns his head to look at the source of coldness on the side of his face, commenting, "Who's she?"

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra watches Perp walk away. She sighs slightly, and then starts in the direction of where she is suppose to patrol.

[spyguy1503]

"No idea." Ne-Chanz says. "But if you fancy her, go talk to her."

[Chris1234]

"Thought she might be one of your lot, you seem to have one from each race," Shima retorted, wittily, and failing somewhat. "Anyway, what's the name of the gnome you know? Any how do you like your tea?"