Meet the Ambassadors
Subject: Meet the Ambassadors
The dinner drags on for what seems hours. The food is wonderful. Venison, beef, other unnamed meats, smoked, roasted, boiled, seared. The party has not eaten this well in months. While eating most of the party talks to the dwarves around them hoping to find out a bit more information about the situation in the Underkingdom. The dwarves live up to their reputation of being a closed lipped. Kal is able to find out about the numbers the guard told them about. "It is a military designation. It lists the Patrol, Unit, Brigade, Division and Army number they belong to and it is based on groupings of five, so five patrols make up a Unit, five units make up a brigade. I'll try and find out more if I can."
After several hours the King and the Ambassador's head to a clear space at the side of the room forming a reception line. They stand in a line with the King at one end and the Ambassador's next to him, the Lady just to his right. Other people in the hall start to gather in line to greet and shake the hands of the Ambassador's and the King. Ragnar turns to the others "We need to get in line. This may be a chance to meet the King face to face. He hurries the others out of their chairs and over to the lengthening line.
The line moves fairly quickly. It seems that the proper etiquette is to just say their hello's and move on. Calieri is the first in line. Up close his size is even more obvious. His robes hide a large belly and his fat fingers have several gaudy rings on them. His bright blue eyes peak out over heavy lids and his freckled skin shows that he has spent much time out of doors, however far in the past that might have been.
The second ambassador in line is Tripin. His hand is firm but his dark eyes are predatory. The whites of his eyes stand out in contrast to his dark skin. He looks to be well built and possibly a strong man under his robes. The third ambassador is Elspeth. Up close he seems even more fragile than before. His handshake is limp and his smile wan. His bright red hair stands out in contrast to all the dark beards and hair found in the dwarf warrens.
The Lady is next. She stands next to the King. Ragnar, first of the companions, greets her and she thanks him for his efforts on the trip. When Ran, who is next in line, approaches her demeanor changes. In a steely voice, loud enough so that many of the people near by can hear her, she says "You. Do you know how insulting you were when you asked for my daughter's hand in marriage? The mere thought of someone of your birthright thinking that I would sell my precious child for a few gold. I should demand that the King grant me a champion that I might defend her honor, but I would not sully his hall with this problem." She steps forward and slaps Ran across the face, hard. "I do not want to ever see you again. If you dare to show your face in my quarters I will have you arrested and flogged. Do you understand me?"
OODM: E-mails being sent out.
From: Mark
Subject: Reception line order
This is the order that the party is going through the reception line.
Ragnar
Ranthir
Harp
Kal
Salix
Ally
Mund
Surin
All of the party heard what the lady said, only Harp and Ragnar are close enough to really do anything.
From: Jason
Subject: Meet the Ambassadors
After a moment's surprised silence, Ragnar turns towards the Lady de Blum and replies (interrupting Ran, if need be) "My Lady, I appreciate your forbearance. I assure you my companion meant no insult." Turning only his head with a hard look towards Ran, he concludes "I assure you we'll talk privately."
From: Randy
Subject: meet the Ambassadors
Ran is momentarily taken aback. This was not the treatment he was expecting from the lady. Just as his anger starts to rise he hears Ragnar chime in. He is nearly unable to hold back from commenting despite the look from Ragnar. He wants to call her out for her lies and vileness but he has grown to respect Ragnar and decides, reluctantly, to hold his tongue.
From: Josh
Subject: Meet the Ambassadors
What. A. Bitch.
From: Kevin
Subject: Meet the Ambassadors
As Harp makes his way through the receiving line, his hopes of a quick retreat to their quarters diminishes. Would this never end? And he thought the Order had long drawn out ceremonies.
Then, the tedium of the night is broken by the outburst in front of him. Without warning, The Lady DeBlum lashes out both verbally and physically at Ran. Her comments are outrageous, but her assaulting of Ran is beyond the pale. Knowing Ran as he does, Harp moves to his side to restrain him when the inevitable response comes.
From: Derek
Subject: Meet the Ambassadors
OOC: Would Allistair have any decent chance of casting a spell with verbal and somantic components unnoticed? Even with all the attention in the room clearly not on him? Just speculation right now, but Ally could come up with a pretty biting anonymous reprimand using Ghost Sound or maybe Whisper.
Back in the room
Subject: Back in the room
It is unlikely, especially with out the needed feats, to cast a spell with out it being noticed. This is a fairly crowded area and Ally and the group are standing in a reception line.
From: Mark
Subject: Back in the room
Ran is not sure what stings more, the slap to the face or the bald face lies and the besmirching of his honor. His left cheek still stinging and his right now flush with anger and embarrassment Ran starts to open his mouth in reply. Just then Ragnar's hand clamps down on his arm in a tight, almost painful grip. The fighter looks down at his companion and is stunned to hear him say "My Lady, I appreciate your forbearance. I assure you my companion meant no insult." Ragnar turns his head and gives Ran a hard look "I assure you" he concludes "that he and I will talk privately." Ran almost confronts his companion when Harp grabs his arm on the other side. The ½ elf realizes that there is nothing to be gained by a confrontation here and so turns to the Lady, bows slightly and moves on to the King.
The rest of the party pays their respects to the King, exchanging banal pleasantries with him. Kal gives the Lady a stern look but she ignores him, chatting with Elspeth when not talking to someone. Ragnar signals for the companions to follow him, and they quickly head back to their rooms. Once in the room Ran whirls and faces Ragnar "Do you want to tell me what that was all about. You know that everything she said was a lie and you wouldn't let me defend myself? I thought we were friends?"
'Ran, I apologize for what I said in there. I don't doubt for a moment that your conduct was correct, but you didn't seem to recognize that the Lady was trying to pass a message without being overheard. She wants to speak with you privately, and without anyone else knowing of it. Ordinarily I could not care less what the desires of someone falsely accusing my companion were, but in this case, I'm afraid we may need her help in order even to meet with the king, let alone obtain the gem. I know that speaking with her is a challenge, but I would appreciate it if you would make the effort.'
OODM: The last paragraph was from Jason directly. I await comments.
From: Derek
Subject: Back in the room
OOC: Huh? I'm confused. How in the world do you interpret the Lady's actions as "I want to meet with you privately" ?
From: Kevin
Subject: Back in the room
Harp's jaw drops in surprise. He had thought the Lady had lost some of her brain cells. It had sure sounded like she had meant what she had said.
From: Jason
Subject: Back in the room
OOC: Body language?
From: Porter
Subject: Back in the room
While waiting at the end of the line, Mund keeps trying to get Surin to play games with him.
"Come on, you pick the target, and I'll stick my knife right in it."
He watches with amusement the bruhaha that happens with the broad and Ran. At least its not boring.
When he reaches the lady, he laughs good-natured at her, but doesn't say anything.
From: Mark
Subject: Back in the room
Oh and I have very little problem with you and your characters being very confused about this. That is the whole point.
From: Mark
Subject: Back in the room
The Bluff skill can be used to pass secret messages. I am not a big fan of this being use with 100 % accuracy, even if the person attempting it rolls well on the Bluff check. If the person for whom the message is meant does not expect it I then roll a sense motive for the person getting the message. Ran rolled a 2 plus his non existant sense motive mod. Ragnar, who has +11 to his sense movtive, rolled an 11 for a 22. Harp rolled a 5 or something along that line. This was a DC 20 sense motive. Only Ragnar picked up that the Lady's actions were out of character.
From: Josh
Subject: Back in the room
This is getting good. :)
From: Randy
Subject: Back in the room
Ran, frustrated at the embarrassment he had just faced, is initially unsure of what Ragnar says but then thinking about it, it seemed obvious.
"She practically begged me to marry her daughter for the whole journey to this point and hasn't once shown a negative thought towards me personally. I can't believe I missed this signal. She must have information to share. I wish she didn't feel the need to pass it to me personally but I feel sure that you are correct Ragnar. I should go to see her at the earliest opportunity. Perhaps Ally should make me invisible so that I can do this without being detected."
From: Porter
Subject: Back in the room
"Maybe Ally should make somebody else invisible so that they can watch your back while you go talk with the crazy lady."
From: Kevin
Subject: Back in the room
Harp speaks up "Or, Allistair could turn you invisible and you could go with Ragnar when he goes to "talk" with her. But then, how do you get out of there? Maybe Allistair could go with Ragnar so he can make you invisible when you go to leave."
From: Jason
Subject: Back in the room
"Actually, I agree with Mund. Despite the fact that she didn't mean what she said, she *did* accuse Ran in the hearing of some very important people, and I think it would be best if someone were with him in case something goes wrong.
"Allistair, you're able to let people converse at a distance, are you not? Perhaps you and Ran could go together and talk to her. It could even be someplace public. Salix, Surin, were either of you able to find some sort of park or garden? It wouldn't be surprising for her to miss the feel of outdoors, and if she were escorted there could even be witnesses that you never actually talked."
From: Derek
Subject: Back in the room
Allistair is absolutely dumbfounded at Ragnar's assertion that the Lady de Blum's actions were an act. After some explanation though, he agrees that there must have been some hidden meaning behind the Lady's actions and that they need to speak with her.
"I think your suggestion is a good one, Ragnar. Further discussion with the Lady is warranted, as is due caution. Depending on the level of stealth required we can try several things. Your suggestion of a park or other public place has merit, however if the Lady's hidden message is to be believed, Ran should not be seen by the Lady at all. Or at least Ran and the Lady should not be seen in the same place at the same time. Thus I think something even more discreet is called for. Perhaps Surin could help disguise Ran as someone else like Kal, and then the disguised Ran and I could talk with the Lady using my message spell?"
"Or, if Ran and I could get somewhere secluded, I could cast a Rope Trick that Ran and the Lady (and others too if needed) could meet inside. Perhaps inside a lavatory would be an ideal location? I would leave Sysyphys outside to scout the entrance to the lavatory, and when no one is around we could each in turn enter the lavatory and climb inside the rope trick. We could then have our discussion with the Lady and leave by the same route."
"I also have a spell that can make a group of us invisible for up to 8 minutes. Between that and the Message spell we could theoretically have a secret meeting with the Lady anywhere."
"Any other ideas?"
From: Porter
Subject: Back in the room
Would they even have lavatories here, or just chamber pots?
From: Derek
Subject: Back in the room
OOC: Good question. Do they have lavatories here? Even if not, surely there is a closet or back room or something that we could use...
From: Jason
Subject: Back in the room
OOC: On second thought, I think the more discreet version is better (IE no whispered conversations at a distance.)
From: Mark
Subject: BAck in the room
There are no lavatories per se. There are wash basins in the rooms and chamber pots.
There might be a lavatory somewhere in the warrens, but no one in the party has seen one.
From: Derek
Subject: Back in the room
"If there aren't any lavatories, then maybe there is some other place we could get into unnoticed. Any ideas? Or should Ran and I just go invisible and then use my Message spell to converse with her?"
So what?
Subject: So what?
So what is the party going to do? They do not know where the Lady is staying or how to get in touch with her or her schedule.
From: Mark
Subject: Waste
Just so everyone knows, the standard answer to this question is that there is usually an offal/waste chute that goes to a pit with an Otyugh. There may be several such pits around the warrens.
From: Randy
Subject: So what?
"Well, before we get to far we need to find out where she is staying. Surin, you're probably the best person to find that out. Do you think you could do some nosing around and figure out where her chambers are? She seemed to hint that that is where she would like to meet. Once we know that, I think it would be best for me to go alone since the message was directed solely to me. We can arrange a maximum time I will be gone and if I'm not back before that time expires, you can come looking for me."
From: Derek
Subject: So what?
"I'm not so sure that it's a good idea for you to go alone, but we can discuss that when we know where the Lady is."
"I might be able to approach her directly and in the open, by saying that when we were attacked by the enemy wizard, I fear there may be some magical after-effects from the spell that injured her. I could then pass her a note for a meeting time and place, or converse discreetly with her using the Message spell."
"Also I may be able to find her location using the scrying spell. It's not certain though, but it's no loss if it fails."
From: Josh
Subject: So what?
"It's certainly possible she was trying to pass a message, but I don'tthink it's a certain thing. She's conniving and cruel. We shouldwork to hear what she has to say, but we shouldn't trust her anymorethan absolutely necessary."
From: Mark
Subject: So what?
You know, I just realized I am having a blast creating a complex interesting female character.
From: Porter
Subject: So what?
"Let's sneak into her room, tie her up, and one of y'all magickers can use that brain spell on her."
Surin goes out
Subject: Surin goes out
Ragnar thinks for a moment. "Ok the Lady obviously wants to talk to Ran and it seems that she wants him to show up alone. Alone may not be the best idea, but we might have to consider it. First, lets see where she is. Surin, can you go out and try and find where the Lady's quarters are. If you find out, see if you can do a bit of recon and see how easy it might be for us to get in." The halfling nods " I met this old dwarf when I was out and about earlier. Let me see if he is still at the bar. Give me some gold. A good drink usually loosens the tongue." Ragnar nods "Harp, give Surin some gold." The dwarf turns to hide the wide grin on his face as Harp sputters and then digs into his pouch to give Surin some spending money.
Surin head straight for the small bar he had met the old dwarf in earlier. He had been making his way around the closest thing the dwarves had to a city center. It was a large open cave but cave was the wrong word for it. The floor and all the walls had been finished and except for stone walls of the confining cave, it looked just like a city center. Merchants, tradesmen, inns, and pubs filled the area. There were even several parks. There were no trees in the parks, and no grass, but there were still open places with running water and other underground flora. One park had a large fungus growth that had a myriad of colors while another had a stone garden that boggled the mind.
A half hour after leaving the parties quarters Surin shows up at the bar, The Broken Anvil. It takes a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the light. As they do, he sees that his acquaintance, Garlin, is still in his corner, his head slumped on the table, his tankard on its side. The halfling motions to the barkeep for two more tankards. He then heads over to the table and takes a seat next to the sleeping dwarf.
When the barkeep puts the tankards down Surin pays him and gives him a nice tip "Keep the ale coming" he says. The smell of the ale causes the sleeping dwarf to stir. Surin speaks up "Garlin, I'm surprised at you. Look at that, you wasted some ale." The sleeping dwarf wakes up groggily 'Wasted ale? Me, not a chance. Must have been schum other guy." The two start telling stories and drinking. Surin is able to switch tankards with out Garlin realizing it so the dwarf is drinking almost two tankards to every sip or two of the halfling.
Over the next hour Surin is able to get Garlin to talk about where the Ambassadors stay. "They gots them up Long Stone Way. Real nice places. Not houses, dwarves don't build houses like you outside folk do, but still nice quarters, big you know, lots of room." "How about guards? The Lady did not have any guards with her when she got here, other than the Centurion of the patrol that escorted her here. She didn't even have any Ladies in Waiting. Sort of surprising I thought." Garlin laughs "You don't know nothing about how those Ambassador's work do you? We supply all protection for other countries Ambassadors here as well as all their help. The other countries do the same for our Ambassadors at their courts. Gives us good reason to keep them safe. Not that that helped the last Ambassador from Byho."
OODM: I will write more tomorrow. I am going to Kevin's house to watch the Bengals game.
Surin keeps looking
Subject: Surin keeps looking
Surin files the last comment away and buys Garlin another tankard. "Well friend, I've had fun but not being a dwarf, this ale is starting to get to me. I'll see you around." The two say their farewells and Surin heads back out into the dwarf city. It takes him about another hour to find out where Long Stone Way is and to get to that part of the Underkingdom.
He spots a checkpoint that leads into the area where Long Stone Way is. There are guards there but they do not seem to be very serious. Picking his way carefully, he moves to a back wall and moves his way towards the opening in the cave wall that signifies the start of the tunnel. The tunnel is over 100 feet across. There are 5 guards at the check point, two working the gate itself and three more in small building right next to the gate. Taking his time Surin keeps to the partial shadows along the wall. As he passes the gate he can hear the dwarves talking in their own language.
A minute later he is past the check point. Still keeping to the shadows he works his way back down the large tunnel. A nice paved street is in the center of the tunnel. About 300 feet in from the gate there is a guarded entrance with 10 dwarves patrolling out front. Surin recognizes the colors of Fornax on a flag hanging outside the entrance. 500 feet further down is another entrance. This one has the same number of guards but flies the colors of Bhyo. The entrance way to the complex is a wide opening about 30 feet across. The halfling figures he has pushed his luck and starts the long, slow process of getting out with out being noticed. (OODM, when Surin takes 10 he has a 25 move silent and a 28 hide.)
Four hours after he had left Surin shows back up in the party's rooms "Found her, I think."
OODM: You guys can work out a plan from here.
What is the plan
Subject: Plan
Allistair is optimistic. "It sounds like as long as we're invisible, there is plenty of room for us to just walk right in. Surin, were there any closed doors we would have to go through, or places were the dwarves were so close together that someone invisible couldn't walk in?"
"Noise could be a problem though. Ragnar, do you have a blessing that would cause magical silence on a person or an area?"
From: Bryan
Subject: Plan
There were no doors in the initial tunnel-way. Invisibility seems alittle bit like cheating - but I can see how it would be useful.
From: Mark
Subject: Plan
Bryan is correct. There were no doors that Surin could see up through the entrance to the quarters. However it is likely that there will be doors inside the complex.
Just for everyones edification, envision something like the indian dwellings in New Mexico, I forget the names now. But they are built into the sides of hills, with windows and doors and stuff. There are some free standing buildings, mainly in the commercial areas but those do not seem to be used for living but for commerece.
I have this feeling that I am doing a lousy job of describing this to everyone.
From: Kevin
Subject: Plan
Harp frowns a bit. "Why are we trying to sneak around in kingdom that is supposedly friendly to us? Ragnar, why don't you just ask for an audience with Lady DeBlum, maybe under the guise of offering an apology. Allistair can go with you, and Ran can go as well, but he could be invisible. That way, you don't have to worry about any noise you make because whoever hears the noise will think it is coming from you. You meet with the Lady in private, use the rope trick to make a safe place to talk, and then you walk out the same way."
From: Randy
Subject: Plan
"I agree with Harp. If an audience is refused, then we can figure out an alternate plan. This sounds like the least risky way to approach the situation. If she wants to talk to me alone, we can do so inside the rope trick."
From: Porter
Subject: Plan
I believe they call those people the pueblos. ;)
From: Bryan
Subject: Plan
An audience is far more likely to be listened upon. If she simplywanted us to request an audience, she could have said as much.
From: Derek
Subject: Plan
Allistair also agrees. "Do we want to do this today? Right now? I have the capability right now with my current magical selection."
From: Mark
Subject: Plan
I guess I need an answer from Jason.
Is the plan for Ally and Ragnar to go try and get an audience with the Lady while Ran follows along invisible? The rest of the party stays in their room?
From: Jason
Subject: Plan
Ragnar says "There is no sense in waiting. I do indeed have the ability to make someone silent, but unfortunately it also affects everyone around him, which could easily draw more attention than a little bit of noise. But my real concern is this; if we sneak Ran in there invisible, how do we get him out?"
From: Josh
Subject: Plan
"Why don't we see if Ran even needs to be there? Ragnar should gofirst with whatever excuse to get an idea of what she wants. He maybe able to just take her message for us. I'm still wary of trustingher, and it's going to be difficult to pull this off anyway. Let's seeif we can't resolve it in an easier way first."
Trust
Subject: Plan
So who is going to go? Ragnar and Ally. Is Ran going along? Will he be visible? The invisible spell only last for 8 minutes at Allys level. There is no way they can cast it in the room and get to where the entrance to Long Stone Way before it runs out.
From: Randy
Subject: plan
"She specifically singled me out among the entire group of us. I think that she wants to communicate something with me. As uncomfortable as it is, I may be the only one she will entrust with the information that she needs to pass on. I think that I should be among those to go. I will, of course, defer to you Ragnar."
From: Jason
Subject: Trust
"I agree with Ran here. To me, it's not so much an issue of whether or not she specifically needs Ran; it's a matter of how can we get her to help us. And our best bet is to conform as closely as possible to her wishes until we find out what she really wants. We probably do need to send someone else along, Allistair at the very least, but I've yet to hear how we are planning on getting anyone out?"
From: Josh
Subject: Trust
OOC: Let's not forget, in character, that we don't know that Ragnar passed his roll. Previous to this encounter she was just a bitch that we all hated.
IC: "Well. I don't trust her, and no one here did two hours ago. Because she slapped Ran now we all do? If she directly asked us to send Ran incognito to meet with her I wouldn't think it was a good idea, and I don't think many here would. Why are we willing to trust her because we *think* she sent us a secret message? We should send Ragnar along with Surin, or maybe Allistar and Surin. They should meet somewhere public, where they can be seen but not heard. Based on their judgment we can then decide whether to trust her more. I for one am very wary of trusting her. I can't stress this enough. We have a very important mission to execute and I don't see why we should risk imprisonment by the Dwarves because this lady we've all previously found unsavory gives us some half signal that either she wants to talk to us or that she wants to have absolutely nothing to do with us."
From: Porter
Subject: Trust
"Which brings us back to my idea. Let's tie her up and magick up her brains."
From: Derek
Subject: Trust
We don't have to go that far, do we? Just go to someplace near the first checkpoint where the embassies are, make Ran invisible, and then walk in. For going out, we just need to be out of sight somewhere before the spell wears off.
As an alternative, what about disguising Ran? Could he pass as Mund or Kal or Salix with a change of clothes and a disguise?
From: Jason
Subject: Trust
The problem is, I doubt she wants it known that she's talking to any of us, not just Ran. That's just my personal suspicion, which Ragnar shares, not based on any special knowledge.
From: Jason
Subject: Trust
"Oh don't get me wrong, I don't like her either. I completely agree that someone needs to be there with Ran, for his protection and ours as well. It's not that I feel we *should* do what she wants; it's that if we are able to help her in some way, she may be willing to help us. I have a meeting with the steward this afternoon. If it goes well, we should be able to speak to the king. But from what some of the other dwarves have said, I have gotten the impression that may take a long time to get around to. If that does end up happening, the Lady de Blum could expedite the process. We need to go, if only to keep our options open."
From: Jason
Subject: Trust
PS: It's also worth noting that even OOC, we only know that Ragnar passed his sense motive to understand what she was trying to say. He didn't actually sense a "motive", so to speak, so we have no idea IC or OOC if she's trustworthy.
Ragnar speaks
Subject: Rangar speaks
After the discussion spawned by Surin's report winds down, Ragnar stands up and says "All right, I've made my decision. Ran cannot go alone, and so Allistair and I will accompany him. We're going to try to all sneak in invisibly. Surin, do you have any idea if the Lady was in right now? I would prefer to do this as soon as possible. Harp, if for any reason I don't make it back in time for my meeting with the steward, you're to go in my place as an official representative of the order to attempt to secure a meeting with the king. If we need something, I'll be able to get word to one of you, so all of you make sure someone knows where to find you until we get back."
OOC I assume Ragnar is not generally wearing his armor here in the city, but if he has been he'll leave it in the room now.
An early morning trip
Subject: Early morning trip
While Surin is out trying to find out where the Lady is living those who wield the powers arcane and divine discuss how they can get into her rooms with out being seeing. After Ragnar has heard every one describe what special power they can call forth he tells them "I have to think and pray on this. Call me when Surin returns." The dwarf then moves off to a small room in the suite, removes his armor and sits down in prayer.
Several hours later Harp knocks quietly at the door "The halfling has returned. He says he thinks he knows where the Lady is." Ragnar nods and gets to his feet, following the ½ orc back into the main room. Surin explains what he has found. Ragnar thinks for a few minutes and decides "All right, I've made my decision. Ran cannot go alone, and so Allistair and I will accompany him. We're going to try to all sneak in invisibly. Surin, do you have any idea if the Lady was in right now? I would prefer to do this as soon as possible. Harp, if for any reason I don't make it back in time for my meeting with the steward, you're to go in my place as an official representative of the order to attempt to secure a meeting with the king. If we need something, I'll be able to get word to one of you, so all of you make sure someone knows where to find you until we get back."
"I don't know if she was there" responds Surin "felt I was starting to push my luck even where I was. This looked like one of them places where ' I'm lost' just wouldn't work as an excuse, if you get my drift." Ragnar nods "I do. You did fine. In fact better than I had hoped. Go get a little rest." The dwarf turns to the rest of the party "We three will go and get this done. Ally will use his arcane powers to shield all three of us from the view of the guards. I will not wear armor since even if they could not see me they would hear me well enough. Ran, I recommend you leave your armor here as well, but I will not command it. Ally lets go see if there is some place near the gate where you can cast your spell with out too much notice."
OODM: I am waiting to hear from Randy to see if Ran is going to wear his armor. I will write more tomorrow.
An early morning trip, cont.
Subject: An early morning trip, cont.
The three wander through the streets of the underground city, following the landmarks Surin had given them. It takes them about half an hour to find the gate complex that Surin had described. Ally points to a spot about 100 feet away from the guards but shielded from their view "You two stay here for a bit. I am going to take a look around. I should be ok as long as I am not too obvious." Ragnar starts to speak but the mage is off before he realizes. Ran gives Ragnar a punch in the arm "Don't worry about him, he's probably the smartest person I know and you've seen that he can handle himself. I'm not sure who is tougher, him or Mund." Ragnar nods agreement but still has a worried look on his face.
Sooner then they would have expected Ally comes hustling back, an excited look on his face "Come on you two, now's the time. I'd almost say that the gods were smiling on us." "What are you talking about ?"Ragnar asks. "Did someone see you? Are you being followed?" The mage is almost breathless "No, no, nothing like that. Just a stroke of good luck, I think. When I got to the other side of the road, I saw a group of dwarves pushing what looked to be small carts or tables ahead of them. I smelled eggs and bacon and other food. I think they are bringing the Ambassadors their breakfast. That means there will be noise and the gates will be up. Now be quite and let me cast this spell. Remember, you can still be heard."
Ragnar and Ran nod while Ally starts his chanting. As he chants he pulls out what looks to be an eyelash encased in some type of material. He touches the himself and the other two as he chants. The words build to a small crescendo and there is a small flash. The others look at him "Did it work?" Ranthir asks. "Yes" is the short reply "and we had better get moving if we want to get through the gate. Remember, stay with in 10 feet of me or the spell will no longer affect you." The three hustle out from where they were and move purposefully towards the gates.
OOC: I will write more in a few minutes.