Searching the fallen and the captives, Albrecht and Gallus collect the following items:

• 132 gold pieces
• 11 silver pieces
• 1 gem-set ring
• 1 ebony-handled comb
• 4 sets of leather armor
• 2 sets of chain mail
• 6 shields
• 4 short swords
• 2 longswords
• 6 long bows
• 50 arrows

There is no identifying information on any of them, though they all have the same strange, fishy odor.

"Actually, I must apologise. I know of an alternative method for divining the presence of magical properties in items. If you don't mind," says Seirye, "I'd like to assay these goods. Lucien is correct. One never know when items of an arcane nature may find themselves into the hands of those who don't understand or appreciate what it is that they might possess."

She sits down before the items spread out before her and begins to softly chant the words while her hands move fluidly tracing patterns in the air. Without the power of the spell already in her mind she needs to create it from scratch, repeating the actions until the arcane energies begin to form in their own right.

Action: Cast Spell. Detect Magic (ritual). Assess the goods for any magical items and their specific school of magic. If any items have magic properties then cast Identify (ritual) afterwards on each item.

Seirye's spell is unable to detect any magic on the looted goods.

The barge sets off down the river towards Thurmaster again.

The severely injured guard regains consciousness about three hours later.

The barge arrives in Thurmaster shortly after sunset. The party will have to wait until morning to proceed on to Count Parlfray's Keep, which is about ten miles northwest of town, and will most likely want to stay overnight at the Hound and Tails, where they have stayed in the past.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:56, Wed 13 Sept 2017.

For the remainder of the barge journey, Lucien spends as long as possible discussing the practical aspects of magic with Seirye and, if she'll allow it, looking over her spellbooks. By the time the barge arrives in Thurmaster, he is practicing the hand gestures and incantations and himself.

Once docked, Lucien leads the way to the Hound and Tails. As the group enters the inn, he waives to the innkeeper and makes his way over. "Hey ho there! How many rooms do you have available? We need somewhere to lay our heads for the night." He has clearly fallen into the mannerisms of his 'Seliar' identity.

For Karon, there was something freeing about striking out on his own. For as long as he remembered, he had been a part of something larger, never lacking for company or things to do. But ever since that fateful night when he left his former friends and comrades behind, he had been feeling all alone in the world. He is used to people treating him like an outsider. It would be unreasonable to expect them not to. Half-Orcs are barely tolerated in some parts, and when they are large, armed and armored, people tend to keep their distance. Or gather up a mob with torches and pitchforks.

Fortunately, he hasn't been hassled much in Thurmaster. People have stared, pointed and whispered, crossing the street when he entered town, but that's normal. It's when they start shouting and throwing stuff things can get ugly. He had asked a young boy where he could find a hot meal and a bed for the night, and the lad had shivered and pointed at a large building in the center of the town. Karon might not be educated, but he could read the sign above the door well enough. The Hound and Tails. Interesting name for an inn.

Inside he found a warm place by the fire to enjoy a simple meal. He is about to ask for a second mug of the mulled ale he had with his stew when he hears a familiar voice. He looks up to see a man talking with the innkeeper. It takes him a while to remember where he's met the man before, but then he remembers. It must have been more than half a year ago. At that fence's place. A gambler, this guy was a gambler. Karon can't help wondering what the elf is doing here, and what company it is he keeps.

Groaning as he lumbers to his feet, Karon gets up and walks to the elf, towering over the slight man at well over six feet tall. He is wearing his mended but clean-looking chain mail, but his weapons and shield have been left on the floor next to his seat by the fire. "Sero, right? No, Seriar, is it?" he asks the man. "I remember you." He points at himself with a large index finger that looks slightly crooked. As if it had been broken and never set quite right. "Karon. Remember me? You graciously didn't win but half of my purse when we rolled dice to pass the time waiting for ... eh, that mutual friend of ours. What brings you to Thurmaster? Here to fleece... eh, that is, engage in a friendly game or two with the locals?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:42, Wed 13 Sept 2017.

Seirye walking a little more slowly than Lucien arrives next to him as the half-orc starts talking to him. As disinterested as she was in his initial approach the conversation became downright peculiar. She looked quizzically at the half-orc as he talked. Conforming to stereotype, she thought, well, we all need to get some rest and this isn't going to help. She moves forward a little further until she has half a shoulder in front of Lucien.

"I am afraid that you are quite mistaken... whatever your name is... this isn't Sero or Seriar or Suriar or indeed any other name that you might care to invent in your probably inebriated state." Her tone isn't particularly insulting or condescending, just very matter-of-fact as she continues on in her clipped and very proper accent. "His name is Lucien and while he may have an inclination towards games of chance I doubt that he is this person which you seem to think he is and unlikely to associate with persons such as yourself. He is a hero who has done greet deeds. Now I'm sure you don't mind if we take our leave but we have travelled far and faced much danger and we are now looking to get some well-deserved rest before we need to set off again."

She pauses to take a breath before turning slightly to face Lucien, not realising just how close she was.

"Now, come Lucien, we need to arrange the payment for our rooms with the manager of this establishment."

Karon looks confused, but only for a moment. "I'm sorry sir, I must have mistaken you for someone else," he says quickly. If Seliman, or whatever his name is, is on the run using a made-up name, why should he spoil things with his new lady friend?
This message was last edited by the player at 09:39, Fri 15 Sept 2017.

Lucien doesn't break character when Karon approaches, he looks up at the towering half-orc with what is clearly a mocking expression of having been deeply offended, but at that moment Seirye inserts herself between the two of them. There is only the briefest moment of frustration on the elf's face when Seirye says 'Lucien' and he doesn't let it phase him. Instead, he pulls out his coin purse and places ten gold on the counter in front of the innkeeper. "For food and beds, eh?" His voice is still the cheery tenor that is so distinct from his normally somber baritone.

Turning back to the half-orc, he flips another gold piece towards his right side. It hangs in the air more than long enough for Karon to catch it easily if he wishes. "Sorry about the mix up. No harm, no foul friend." He gently tries to redirect Seirye back towards the group and, if she turns her back to him, he throws Karon a roguish wink.

Lucien then proceeds back towards the others and begins to look around for an empty out of the way table. "Let's grab a table while we wait for our food. I need to explain something quickly." This time his voice is nearly a whisper, but clearly his normal tone. None of his body language betrays any agitation except that he gives each of his companions a serious look.

Karon watches the interaction with a bemused expression. Setimal, or whatever his name had been, is clearly up to something, but it's hard to say what. Perhaps he's a conman working on this strange elven lady. Or he might be married to the woman, using the Sitelar name, or whatever it had been, as a pseudonym when he wants to have a little fun. Hard to say, really, but the man's discomfort with the situation is obvious and Karon has no reason to make it any more awkward.

When the man who now calls himself Lucien flips a gold coin in Karon's direction he makes no move to catch the coin, allowing it to land with a thud and then a clatter on the floor. "You mistake my intentions, sir. I thought you were someone I used to know. I'm not a beggar," he says, his eyes narrowing. He has no interest in causing the man more problems, but neither will he demean himself by taking his gold.

As the man who now calls himself Lucien retreats to a nearby table with his entourage, Karon takes in the strange group. Whatever Sileman, or whatever his name had been, is mixed in, it clearly involved some strange folk indeed. He spots another elf, a dwarf and a tall woman that looks like a tiefling. Interesting. Perhaps an half-orc won't be the most unpopular half-breed in the inn this evening.

As he looks, the bulky half-orc backs away towards the bar. He turns just as a man carrying a pint of ale attempts to scoot past him. The two collide and half the man's ale is spilled over his tunic and the floor. The man, clearly inebriated, turns with a look that is a mixture of indignation and rage on his face. "Oi, you klutz, you owe me a new..." he manages before he sees the massive half-orc he's bumped into and calms down amazingly quickly.

Karon grabs the man's shoulder to steady the drunk a little. "I apologize, I meant no harm. Here, let me buy you another drink," he says. The man looks a little surprised, and the two head to the bar where Karon orders a pair of pints, handing one to the man and taking the other to his stool by the fire. He takes a seat and turns his body enough to allow himself to enjoy the warmth from the fire but also to keep an eye on Sulin, or whatever he had said his name was, and the curious group he was probably trying to con out of their live's savings.

Seirye sat down at the empty table with the others, totally oblivious to Lucien's look. She gazed around the common room content that the drunken oaf had left them alone. The frown that had begun to develop at the possibility of a confrontation eased away.

"This establishment seems satisfactory, Lucien, even if some of the clientele seem to have been enjoying its wares for longer than is good for them," she added, whispering because Lucien had, "but I do hope there isn't a problem with our rooms? The innkeeper didn't say something to you did he? We aren't sharing rooms are we? Sharing beds? No, that is not going to happen. I don't want any of you to get any ideas, I mean if that's the case them I am most definitely sharing with Antia."

She began to frown again and, as if to vindicate her concerns, she wasn't surprised when she noticed that the half-orc became involved in what began to look like an altercation. She shook her head at the goings-on and decided to ignore him. She hoped that it wasn't a reflection of the quality of the accommodation. She was so looking forward to clean sheets after their days on the boat.

She'd lost track of the conversation already. "Did you order me a wine?" she said quietly, almost conspiratorially, to Lucien.

Al mislikes crowded places and grumbles to himself as he trudges along. The more crowded the area gets, the more he seems to just shut down. His trudging grows slower and more awkward, his shoulders hunch, he even stops talking to himself.

At the inn, Al immediately makes his way to the bar and climbs up a stool to grab the bartender's attention for some liquid courage. Sipping on an ale, he simply marvels at Lucien, that guy knows everybody! Gawking at the exchange between the elves and the half orc, Al is obviously confused. "But he..., but she..., wait, wot?" he mumbles from the sidelines.
A small giggle escapes him when it looks like the 1/2 orc is about to smash someone, shrugging when the situation dissolves. The tension did relax him a bit and he simply acknowledges this whole tall-folk talky business is beyond him.

Al nods at Lucien's suggestion for the group to politely leave him alone for a minute. That, at least, he can understand. "Good idea, mate. We'll grab a table so's ye can have yer talky talks."
Clambering down and over to the table, he grabs a seat closest to the door. "No worries, mates. The elf is good at the talkies. It's obviously a friend, N if he's not one yet, he will be soon. The elf's good at the talkies."

Lathan watches the exchange between Lucien, Karon, and Seirye with quiet amusement. He follows Lucien and Seirye to the out-of-the-way table, smiling subtly as the two begin to whisper. He sits down with them, glances over at Karon, and then waits for Lucien to give what is most likely going to be an entertaining explanation about what just happened.

Since Karon refuses the coin, Lucien takes the opportunity to grab it off the floor with the most basic of the spells he has been practicing. The coin lifts up as if of its own accord and floats back into his coin purse. As usual he takes a seat against the wall so that he can watch the entire room, but he leans in and keeps his voice low. It isn't quite a whisper as the inn is too loud for that. "First, I will say that I've never particularly been fond of beds anyway, so I'll take a quiet corner in whatever room. However, this place isn't so large as to have a place for each of us so at least a few of us may have to double up. Also, I didn't order any drinks. I apologize." He gives a shrug.

Lucien's normally placid face is momentarily torn by indecision. Whatever it is he wants to tell the group, it clearly makes him uncomfortable. "Anita knows some of this already, but there hasn't been occasion to tell the rest of you. In my previous profession, I had occasion to use an alias..." He pauses, looks at Albrecht, and amends his statement. "I gave people another name to confuse them. That name was Seliar Silversong. You may recall that I introduced myself to Darius Carman in Milborne by that name." He sighs. "I do that because I would rather that only people I trust know my real name. You all, of course, know that name: Lucien." He leans back a little in his seat. "I am, perhaps, being overly cautious. We are a long way from anywhere where the name Lucien means anything to anyone." He looks over to where Karon is buying a drink for a man.

It takes Lucien a moment of thought to place the half-orc, but in the grand scheme of his life it wasn't so long ago that he met this fellow and he manages to place him. "I do think I remember that half-orc. He is, or at least used to be, a raider. Given all the problems with bandits we've run into around here, it might be worth cornering him and trying to get some information out of him." He looks back at his companions with a raised eyebrow clearly looking for input on this plan.

Albrect listens intently, nodding sagely as the need for fake names floats well over his head. He's still unsure of proper names for most people and places; why stuff would need 2 or even false ones is beyond his reason. But getting information, he can see wisdom in that. "Aye, well he seemed like a proper mate. Maybe you tall folk could talk nice n catch up on any raiding news? Might haps be seein if he be knowin anyhing about that winged cloak fellow? I'm no so good with them talkies. I'll stay here and deal with the eatin's."

"But if it helps any, ye can call me Bob?" He adds, helpfully dispelling any notion that he was really catching on.

Karon watches the people in the tavern but doesn't speak much to the locals. Instead, he sits and nurses his ale by the fire. He tries not to look like he's watching the table where the elf he knows as Silor, or whatever he had called himself, is having a discussion with his entourage. The elf speaks for a while to his companions. For a while there he looks uncomfortable, but then he has a look of resignation on his face. The filthy-looking dwarf seems to offer his insight on the matter, but his face is not visible from where Karon is sitting, so it's hard to see how he's reacting to the story.

From this distance it's impossible for Karon to read much from the elf's expression. He might be faking what little expressions the half-orc thinks he sees across the fairly crowded room, or he might be trying to explain to someone he's trying to con why this strange half-orc had been bothering him. Doesn't matter, Karon thinks as he slowly sips his ale. It had been nice to see a familiar face, but he'll have to get used to being alone now. It had been his choice to leave, so now he'd have to live with it.

As he turns a little to let the fire warm his massive back a little, he makes a mental note of apologizing to the strange elf if he sees him alone later. That elven woman who had spoken for him earlier seems like a bit of a shrew, but Selir's, or whatever his name is, choice in women is none of his concern.

"I'm not sure cornering someone of his, um, size, is a good idea, Lucien," Lathan says. "But I understand what you're saying. Perhaps, since you have a history with him, you could try talking to him to see what he knows."

Seirye looked peculiarly at Albrecht. Did everyone here go by another name? She understood that you needed to use the true name when manipulating objects but hadn't been aware that she needed such knowledge when used her powers to befuddle other people. She would need to investigate this when had the opportunity. Lathan hadn't said anything so she assumed he was comfortable with that name, whether it was real or not. Should she adopt another name? She would need to assess this if her research indicated anything. She frowned, at least partially out of her own confusion.

"Lucien", said Seirye slowly and uncertainly, unclear if that was what she should address him as now. She followed the lead of the others and stopped whispering. "If you think it's a good idea then I would not seek to sway you from that course but, if you do it, take care. He almost got into a fight before. You know that we are here to back you up if you need it don't you?"

She stood up and looked at everyone at the table. "Now, as far as I understand it, I should take my turn to order drinks for you all." Seirye turned away and headed to the barkeep, not thinking that she might need to ask what people might want.

Anita smiled at Lucien finally he was seeing the group as trusted friends

"Lucien if you would like I will accompany you to have that chat with that large fellow having a cleric with you might ease his mind"

Lucien almost, but not quite, cracks a smile at Albrecht. There is the faintest twitch of a muscle at the corner of his mouth. Instead he focuses on Seirye and Lathan. "I'll give it a shot talking to him as Seliar and we'll see how that goes then. Don't be too quick to jump in though. I can take care of myself after all." He rises and nods to Anita though he gives her a look that says he knows what she's thinking. "Of course the backup would be appreciated."

Lucien leads the way over to where Karon is sitting. He takes a seat by the fire next to Karon, but doesn't immediately make eye contact. "You'll have to forgive that little display earlier, but Seliar owes money around these parts so it would be inadvisable for him to show his face. Regardless, I'm up to my old tricks, but that's not nearly as interesting as what you're doing here. You're a long way from your crew unless they've moved recently." He says all of this in a low voice as he appears to just be watching the room.

Karon watches the elf talk to his companions for a while before he gets up and takes one of the seats next to the half-orc by the fire. That is one of the advantages of being a brutish-looking half-orc, people tend to sit anywhere but next to you, he muses as he watches the elf approach.

"Hah, Seliar, that was the name," Karon says, managing to bring his voice down after a rather loud 'hah'. "Or Lucien like your lady-friend called you. Listen, I'm sorry about getting you into trouble. I hope your elven lady-friend wasn't too upset. She looked like I just pissed in her favorite boot or something. To be honest, I don't even know why I decided to say hello. I guess I was just happy to see a familiar face," the large half-orc admits sheepishly.

"I'm afraid I'm not up to much interesting around here," Karon says, holding up his hand and quickly adding: "Don't worry, I'm not scouting out the village for anything nasty or anything. Not that I ever did much of that, I'm not the most inconspicuous guy around, you know."

He takes another sip of ale as he thinks about how much to tell the elf. He might not be wanted around here, but if the elf wanted a quick way to settle those debts he said he had, turning in a known bandit might be worth the journey. He's thinking about making up something about meeting a few of his friends soon, but something stops him. He's not that person any more. If Seliar wants to bring him in he's not even sure he'd resist much. Not that fighting would be much use if the rest of Seliar's entourage pitched in. They might not look like much, but elves never did and somehow always managed to be more competent than they looked.

"Ah, sod it," he says after thinking for almost a minute. "I'm not with my former friends any more. I could tell you that we had a difference of opinion, but the truth is I simply walked out one night. Guess I didn't want to be a bandit any more." It doesn't take a genius to figure out there is more to the story than that, but it's all Karon is saying for now.

"It's been a few days now on the straight and narrow. I suppose I'll see how long that will last," he says. He again holds up his hand to stop Seliar from interrupting, as he continues. "Now, let's be clear that we didn't split on unfriendly terms, so I doubt very much they'll come after me for leaving them."

Karon is a little surprised he's spoken so much to this relative stranger, but the elf is a good listener, and perhaps he has been a little lonely, alone on the road. He discretely puts the small lock of blonde hair he had been unconsciously fiddling with back into the pouch in his belt. "So, what about yourself? That's an ...eh... interesting company you're keeping these days. What brings you fine folk to this place if it isn't fleecing the locals like you did me back at that fence's place?"

Lucien waves off Karon's concerns about Seirye, still behaving very much like a suave gambler. He leans in as though eager to hear news about what Karon is doing in Thurmaster, but as the tale unfolds he just blinks, once, in surprise. Karon's story wasn't at all what he was expecting and his prepared diversion into the doings of local raiders and bandits went right out the window with the half-orc's admission that he is no longer a criminal. It takes only half a second longer to realize what Anita is likely to want to do with a reformed bandit. With a somewhat contained sigh of resignation directed at his cleric companion, Lucien addresses Karon. "Listen, why don't you come join us and I'll explain what we're about. If you're really looking for honest work, you could do worse than listening to what we're engaged in doing." He looks to Anita for approval of this offer of reconciliation.

Karon thinks about it for a moment. "I could. That elven lady didn't seem too fond of me though. But if you think your companions can tolerate someone like me then I suppose it can't hurt to hear you guys out. Especially if the 'honest' part of it is real," the bulky warrior says as he gets up.

He collects a large, metal shield as well as his sword and a nasty-looking pick before joining the other table. This gives Lucien enough time to get there before he does.

Lucien rejoins the table at his old spot against the wall. He gestures to Karon as he approaches. "Everyone this is Karon. He says he's trying to take up an honest living and so I would like us to... afford him that opportunity." There is a strange conflict behind Lucien's eyes, but he doesn't say anything else. He leaves it to his companions to voice their opinions on this plan.

The half-orc seems ill at ease as he approaches the table, but once he sees that the elven woman who had been rather off-putting before is not sitting there at the moment he relaxes a little. "Well, hello everyone," he says awkwardly. "Si... eh, Lucien did mention you guys were involved in something interesting, and I am currently, ah, between employments, so to speak."

Karon grabs a chair from the next table. The men sitting there seem to be about to make a fuss about losing the chair, even though nobody is using it at the moment, but one look at the tall greenskin makes them think again. Karon turns the chair around so that it is easier to sit with his sword, now secured around his waist.

Al is working on his second mug of ale, and looks up, and up again, at Karon as the two approach. "See, mates. Good talkies n we're all mates already. You won't have to kill him after all, Lathan, so's ye can relax."
"Hi Karon, I'm Albrecht. Damnit! I'm Bob. Well, if Bob helps. If not then, well, I'm Albrecht, or Al, or Bob. I'm still getting the hang of this." Al is nervously babbling, he's clearly not good with introductions, or conversation, or people in general. "Anyhoo, I'ma Mosskettle scout. We're jobbin, I suppose, mostly I leave the details to the tall folk. We just got shinies for ale here from the boat and hardly disemboweled anyone!...
Hey, elfy says you're a bandit, do know some tallfolk fellow with what a feather, flying, cloak, magic... thingy? Seemed to be bandit leader or somesuch nearbouts. It was his nasty fisherfolk wot we gutted n put to flight.
Oh, want some ale? or food?, we have food, if'n yer tween jobs n short of shinies, I'd be happy to share!"