The Wandering Archipelago (D&D 5e)

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen clinging onto Merhiv's arm, pretending to be afraid when they step out of the light.

Deception: 1D20+6 = [9]+6 = 15

EDIT: to those that see past the deception:

► Show Spoiler

She's not afraid in the slightest. It seems she wants to get near the handsome dragonborn noble that saved her life a couple of times.

[Dlover]

Mehr bids his farewells to Raina and turns to Syli briefly, "You've made an interesting friend. I'm glad for you. Now I must hope she is only a capable bargainer, or I may find her with a notable discount on our goods." Giving a brief chuckle, he then addresses Gwen and Korrik, "It will be troublesome. They are friends of the Morleys, and having dispute with one may mean trouble with the other, depending on their closeness. But I can't hold you responsible. I began the poor relations when I opposed them on the ship. Still, please refrain from antagonising powerful groups in the future."

Turning down the river path, Mehr pulls out his wand, and holds it high as it begins to glow brightly (Casting Light cantrip).
Seeing past Deception is, what, Insight?
12 means Mehr thinks the girl is scared. Being mindful, he'll not tease her for it.

[spiderwrangler]

I roll my eyes at Gwen... Perhaps if Otho doesn't work out, she's the one to leave behind if she can't handle a few people being noisy at night...

► Show Spoiler

Insight: 1D20+4 = [1]+4 = 5
Insight: Take 2: 1D20+4 = [10]+4 = 14

[thinkslogically]

Kal / Darruk Insight: 1D20+3 = [20]+3 = 23
1D20+3 = [2]+3 = 5

Darruk seems utterly unaware of Gwen's ruse and gives her a hearty thump on the back as he moves closer to try and make her feel better and inadvertently becomes something of a third wheel. "Nothing to be worried about out here, lass! We'll look after you!"

Kal chuckles at the situation and decides to intervene to rescue Gwen from the overly-helpful cleric:
"Perhaps we should walk ahead and make sure the road is clear, Darruk?"

Darruk doesn't seem completely convinced, but allows himself to be led to the front of the group by Kal while the others tag along behind. All in all, the evening's walk extremely pleasant and uneventful and they make it back to the Dancing Minstrel Inn around 10.30pm. The Market Square is quiet at this time of night, and while there are still a couple of people in the bar, most are finishing up and heading home for the night. Bren catches your eye as you enter and jerks his head in the direction of a corner table, where Otho Greenbottle is sitting alone and empty-handed at an empty table, looking very much like someone who's been stood up.

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen kisses Merhiv on the cheek, trying to hide her crush and as something she'd do with any good looking person that helps her out. "Thank you ever so much for escorting me tonight.~"
Deception: 1D20+6 = [10]+6 = 16 people who passed last time shouldn't have to roll.

► Show Spoiler

:rfol: I like how the paladin knew what we going on, out of all people.

[spiderwrangler]

I catch Bren's eye and give him an apologetic nod, signalling for two drinks to be delivered to the table. Turning to Gwen, "If you're quite through, can I borrow Mehr's attention to interview a potential hire?"

"Otho! Apologies for leaving you so long, the meeting ran a bit longer than anticipated, and the walk back is rather long. I'm glad you stuck around though. This is Mehriv Turajin, our employer, and these are the other members of our little venture."

[thinkslogically]

Otho looks up in surprise.

"Oh! Master Tallpine, I had begun to think you would not make it! I am so pleased to see you all made it safely back!

Master Turajin, it is an honour to meet you sir, and all of your wonderful companions!

Ah, where are my manners! You must be exhausted from walking through town all night! Please, sit and make yourselves comfortable!"

Otho bustles around a bit, and in mere moments has rustled up appropriate seats for everyone around his table. A small folio sits underneath the table, stuffed full of papers and he seems very keen for someone to start the "interview".

[spiderwrangler]

I quietly defer to Mehr, but brace myself in anticipation of Gwen butting in with flirting at one or both of them...

[Dlover]

Mehr shrugs off Gwen's attention, preoccupied by the applicant, "Don't mind it, girl." Approaching the table and sitting across from the man, Mehr nods, "You are master Greenbottle, then? My companion tells me you are seeking employment. Tell me, are you able to do arithmetic? Read and write? Keep accounts?"

[thinkslogically]

"Oh yes sir! That I can do! I've worked for my father's trading ventures for my whole life so far and if there's a skill that's needed to run a shop, I've got it! Yes sir! I just... well, I don't know if Master Tallpine informed you or not, but I've not got my Guild's membership and I'm needing a local, registered enterprise to sponsor me. It'd be 5 gold a month in fees, but- well, I wouldn't need much wages! Or... any, really if you'd be willing to provide me a spot to sleep and a bit of food? I guarantee you wouldn't regret it!"

[Dlover]

"Well alright, then. Tomorrow I shall go to the merchant's guild about sponsoring you, and one of my companions can show you to the store. It is a recent acquisition, in need of repairs, but once it is in better condition it will serve. As for other matters, the day after tomorrow we will be leaving to attend to an open task placed by the merchant families council, so the store shall be left in your care."

[Arch Lich Burns]

"Should we not leave by tomorrow morning instead? It is urgent we do it as little time as possible. Leaving a day in would only make matters worse."

[Dlover]

"Tomorrow we will need to settle in master Greenbottle, speak to the guild of him, acquire notice of the petition from the hall so we shall not be challenged for trespassing upon merchant family land during our work... We could leave immediately after those preparations, and begin progress early, but that means foregoing traveling by ship."

[thinkslogically]

"Well alright, then. Tomorrow I shall go to the merchant's guild about sponsoring you, and one of my companions can show you to the store. It is a recent acquisition, in need of repairs, but once it is in better condition it will serve. As for other matters, the day after tomorrow we will be leaving to attend to an open task placed by the merchant families council, so the store shall be left in your care."

The young man just about tips the table over in his haste to shake Mehriv's hand, clutching it in both of his and shaking it vigorously. With tears welling in his eyes, he says:
"Oh thank you! You will not regret this, I swear! You have made an excellent investment, sir, that's the truth!"

Whenever Mehriv gets bored and extricates his hand from the young man's clutches, Otho will laugh loudly and leap on Korrik in a bear hug. Behind the bar, Bren can be heard giggling at the sight.

[Arch Lich Burns]

"Not necessarily. One of us can go where the ship is being docked and make sure it does not leave without us so that we can go by boat."

[thinkslogically]

((Raina told you guys that she'd be leaving at dawn with or without you, in case that affects your plans at all...))

[spiderwrangler]

"There, there... won't be a whole lot of book or shop keeping at first... how are you with a broom and mop?"

"Gwen, not sure they will hold off on our account... if they've places to be, that likely takes priority."

"Mehr, was it not understood we'd be lending our aid at the meeting? Surely a slip of paper isn't worth holding off further... results will mend any bureaucrat's hurt feelings..."

[Arch Lich Burns]

"Precicely! We need to act immediately before something terrible is going to happen. The guild membership can't hurt to wait while we sort things out can it? We do not have anything to bookkeep currently but once we get back we might just have that. Think of the little lost girl Merhiv." Gwen looks at him with pleading eyes.

Persuasion: 1D20+4 = [11]+4 = 15

[spiderwrangler]

"Not to mention success would put us in the good graces of one of the more powerful families in town..."

[Dlover]

"Hm... Master Greenbottle, if I prepare a letter and funds tonight, will you be able to go to the guild with it tomorrow and give them word of my sponsorship? As for the other matter... Guards beyond the city will have no word of us, nor any way to recognise us. No, if we wish to avoid arrest we will need the identification notes. Nobody has complaints if we set out on foot tomorrow?"

[thinkslogically]

((If you wanted to have registered your interest with the Steward before leaving the meeting, that's fine by me. It'd save you the walk back for no real reason since you were just there

If so, you can add a Writ of Passage to your inventory: The writ is a piece of parchment, on which are written the words: "The bearer is hereby entitled to travel freely through all lands that fall under the protection of Hightown.". A gold stamp emblazoned with a sailing ship and set of merchants scales has been placed next to the signature of the Steward of Hightown [signed on behalf of the Council]))

"Hm... Master Greenbottle, if I prepare a letter and funds tonight, will you be able to go to the guild with it tomorrow and give them word of my sponsorship? As for the other matter... Guards beyond the city will have no word of us, nor any way to recognise us. No, if we wish to avoid arrest we will need the identification notes. Nobody has complaints if we set out on foot tomorrow?"

"Oh yes sir! A letter of sponsorship will do just fine! Thank you sir! I can hardly wait! And don't worry about the look of the place, I'll have it as good as new in no time, you mark my words!"

[Dlover]

((Oh, that makes it much easier. I thought it'd have to wait for the next day before they were prepared.))

"Excellent. I shall prepare the letter forthwith. Gwen, prepare three gold." Saying so, Mehr pulls out two GP to add to the three he's asked for, to cover the first month's sponsorship. "Master Bren, may I trouble you for pen, paper, and a small amount of wax?"

[thinkslogically]

Bren stops cleaning his cups (but not chuckling to himself).

"Right you are Master Turajin! I've got some in the office."

He returns a few moments later, with the necessary writing supplies and a small lump of blue sealing wax.

[Dlover]

Mehr writes out a formal letter to notify the guild that he shall sponsor Master Greenbottle, signing the bottom edge. When it's complete, he folds the letter and seals it with the wax, pressing his signet ring into the wax to stamp his clan's crest into the surface. "That letter should suit the need. The store is not in good condition, but it will put a roof over your head if need be. I advise you stay out of the basement, there are some nasty rats there, which we will be clearing out at a later date."

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen glares at him angrily and tosses some of the tiny bit of money she had on the table a bit more forcibly then she should have. She pretends it was only the money she cared about, nothing else.

In the bag there is 3 gp worth of coins

Deception: 2D20.LOW(1)+6 = [17, 18]+6 = 23
Jeeze even with putting Gwen at a disadvantage she still aces it.