INTRO: Meeting with the Council

[OGRE MAGE]

The Return Visit to the Council........

[OGRE MAGE]

The group heeds the words of their leader as they all begin to show up early, outside the Town Hall.

Doubtful is the first to arrive, followed by Keilif who is smiling from ear to ear in his new fancy priests robes with a shiny new fantastic bludgeoning weapon at his side. Ben is seen next, looking over his shoulder as he arrives. He is followed by Burly and Jervis, the latter pushing a wheelbarrow with the contraband from the basement still inside. Alec and Jonas arrive last but still make it before the meeting is called to order. Jonas looks like the cat that just swallowed the canary and Alec looks like he just lost his best friend.

There is time now to designate a "speaker" for the party and to also make any arrangements that might be necessary before heading in front of the council.

Ben continues to look around the area, hoping to spot someone else as they arrive.

[coil23]

Jervis, may I have a word with you? Doubtful takes Jervis aside for a private conversation.

We really need to be cautious and we need to put our best foot forward with this council...especially after the impression we left with the last meeting. Two things on that...this contraband we stole from those that stole it needs to be reported to the council and no one else. If the reavers' hideout is close enough to town to walk to then they probably have dealings in town and we don't want word getting back to them about their property. And "word" here includes information like people's names and faces that were involved with the stealing of their property. You get me? I hope you just held onto this and kept it hidden since we parted ways and that no one else knows about it.

The second thing is that we need a speaker for the group. I think my age and my caution will give us the best chance to be taken seriously by a council that isn't inclined to take us seriously. And if I can use that ring when I talk to the council we will have a better chance for good results. What do you say?

[Mant72]

Keilif:

Keilif stands admiring an intricately carved mace, forged to resemble the head of a seahorse.

[hedgeknight]

"Nice mace. Where'd you pick that up?" Burly asks, walking over to Keilif.
Keilif may notice that Burly actually smells clean...

[Mant72]

Keilif:

Keilif beams at Burly's inquiry, "The good Father Wilfic, at the Temple of Shiliel, graciously gave it to me. Isn't it truly a wonderfully crafted weapon? I would almost call it a piece of art." He turns the mace over in his hands, continuing to admire its beauty.

[wolfpack]

Jervis thinks for a moment.

We stole nothing, we liberated ill gotten gain. he says matter of factly.

I did go to a few vendors this morning getting price check on the goods, but no offer of value was made.

Ceratinly you can borrow the ring to speak to the council

[Fulci]

Jónas Gillman, weird dude

Jónas arrives, panting.
"I managed to sell off the stirge, we got 300 golden doublons for it!" he whispers to his companions*.

"We can buy helmets and short swords!"
He still has the 10' pole, but now he "customized" it with a few nice carvings of fish scales around the grip. Of course, this DIY artwork is nothing compared to Keilif's intricately carved mace... "Wow..." he says. "If I had a mace like that, I would just look at it all day, but I certainly wouldn't bash people with it... It's just too beautiful."

* OGRE MAGE, did Uncle Bobber come up with the money already?

[coil23]

Doubtful

Doubtful borrows the ring and ponders how best to phrase the group's progress so far.

To Jervis, Thank you, I think this will help us. And you may think of what we did as liberating ill-gotten gain but the reavers will not. So whatever the morality of what we did, you might consider simple self-preservation when you go spreading news about town of what we took. Now let's go get the council on our side to help offset the reavers hunting us down.

Doubtful turns and clucks in admiration at Keilif's beautiful implement. That mace is a beauty. So exquisite. You must be proud. My goodness, killing certainly is god's work.

[wolfpack]

Jervis

Smiling at Jonas good news Jervis slaps him on the back.

Grand news indeed, but I am sure you meant Great Sword!

[Urson]

Alec

My Smithing Master has told me I am no longer welcome there- except as a paying customer. Dis is both good and bad news. I plan to take this new career as a warrior in hand and ride it like a runaway ore cart.

As for keeping our heads low, I agree. Let us see what we can convince the council of, and what they will have us do.

[hedgeknight]

"Or maybe a well-made staff > functional for walking and for knocking some sense into people. Much better than Granny's rolling pin." Burly gives Jervis a smile and pats Keilif on the shoulder."Maybe the gods will continue to smile on us at the council meeting. Have you asked their blessing?"

You'll notice Burly is not carrying the rolling pin this morning.

[OGRE MAGE]

Jónas Gillman, weird dude

"I managed to sell off the stirge, we got 300 golden doublons for it!"

OGRE MAGE, did Uncle Bobber come up with the money already?

You were paid 105 gold up front that the group can now split if they want. (15gp each) You will have to go back sometime today in order to see if he has the rest of your coin yet.

[wolfpack]

Jervis will take his 15 gp.

I will need to arm myself as a proper knight and get some proper instruction

[OGRE MAGE]

Doubtful gives Jervis a little lecture that the young man doesn't necessarily agree with. The handsome future knight does agree to Doubtful's proposal about his ring though and he removes his new treasure. He devolves back into plain ol' Jervis with the boyish face and the bowl cut. However, when Doubtful dons the ring, he instantly becomes far less drab and plain. His appearance turns far more appealing and his voice is now pleasant to hear. The now dashing Dorn seems quite ready to speak to the council.

Keilif enjoys showing off his new robes and beautifully carved mace, only gloating a little bit. Alec gives the group some ill favored news. He is ready for anything the council has to say. Burly smells much better and is without his beloved rolling pin.

Jonas rushes in and tells the group that they are now rich. He hands each member a handful of gold coins and tells you that there is twice that much still to come. Dorn refuses his share.

As you continue to wait and converse, a familiar looking man begins walking up the street towards you. By the look on his face, you can see that it is clearly the person Ben is looking for. When he gets closer, you realize that it is councilman Tortuga.

Tortuga shakes his head at Ben as he approaches. I found nothing! Nobody's heard of a Sanbalet or of any smuggling activity going on in the area. He looks around at the rest of the group. So you lubbers discovered quite the surprise out at the old house then, eh?

[coil23]

Doubtful

Yes, sir, we did. Jervis wisely held on to some of the contraband so that we can show the council directly. And he pauses uncomfortably and swallows Ermulf was murdered right in front of us.

[OGRE MAGE]

Tortuga looks at the contraband and then to the now suave Dorn.

What! MURDERED? I noticed that there were a few less members than when you set out, but I just figured a few of you got scared and ran off.

Well, I'm glad I caught you guys before you went inside. Do NOT tell stories of death and murder to the rest of the council! Just leave those bits out if you know what is good for you.

Tell me more about these smugglers.

[coil23]

Doubtful

What? Why on earth would we leave out that one of our group was murdered after being sent on this mission by the council?

[Urson]

They might not wish to hear such- and might choose to send a larger group- of the city guard. If we kick dust over the facts of Ermulf's death, we will likely be sent back- to get proper vengeance for our friend. This will also let us get first pick of whatever wealth may be available.

[coil23]

Dopubtful

Just to our group and not within earshot of Tortuga or any others, I am HIGHLY suspicious of asking us not to mention the murder of our compatriot to the very people who sent us out there to investigate in the first place. I am inclined to do the exact opposite but want this to be a group consensus. So I'm hearing that saying nothing will allow us to be the ones to go back out. I would like to hear more.