The Barons' Game

[Nathaniel]

After weeks of traveling through the Northeastern Mountains, Nathaniel finally arrived at Fovaros, the capital of Manofiade. As Nathaniel walks towards the gates of the city, he recalls the events prior to his departure from his village.

His teacher, the Shaman Harmony Klondike, brought him to her house in private. She gave him a piece of rolled parchment and told him to present it to Baron Cyprien of House Cyprien. That was all she told him, and Nathaniel choose to put his trust in his teacher and promised to do so.

Nathan approaches the gates and sees an armed guard, seeming to be a checkpoint to enter the city.

[Magikeeper]

The first guard's attention was momentarily elsewhere, the morose brown-haired elf in the process of waving over another elven guard to his location. This second, more muscular guard sits atop a small riding elephant and seems to be in high spirits.

"The smell was just a human mercenary.", noted brown hair to the other. The rider laughed. "Really?! The way the phally here was reacting you'd think it was- oh!" The rider turned towards Nathan.

Why hello there! Here on business?"

[Nathaniel]

Nathan chose to keep his letter to the Baron a secret for the time being, deciding that his teacher's lack of information on the contents as an indicator that it's nobody's business but her and the Baron

"I'm just traveling through the land, and I wanted to visit the capital of Manofaide Empire to rest, see the sights, and find work." Nathan said to the guard, telling the truth, but not all of it.

[Magikeeper]

"Haha, there are certainly no lack of sights in this fine city! As for work, well, there's openings enough." The mounted guard motions towards the gates. "Just head on through there, the guards inside will handle the usual gate procedures."

"If you see a grumpy looking old man with a white headband, have someone else handle your entry. He's been rather paranoid lately, hassles the new arrivals." adds the brown haired guard. The mounted guard waves it off. "Ah, he'll be fine in a few days. It's because.. well, I suppose it's rude of me to gossip, eh? The name's Bernon, by the way. Hope things go your way, traveler."

[Jebidiah]

Jebidiah strolled through towards the town. He hoped his previous companions were following. He saw the large male talking with the guards. He didn't recognize them, so he spoke in a jovial tone and gave a friendly way as his golem toddled behind him. "Salutations fellows! What a nice day to be around, eh?"

[Nathaniel]

"Why yes it is. I was just entering the city. Was just talkin' to these nice guards right here before you came. The name's Nathaniel, but I'd rather be called Nate. What's your's, if you don't mind me asking?" Nathaniel said while observing the stranger.

[Jebidiah]

"Name's Jebidiah. Traveling doctor, with a study in replicating and propagating physicality." He extended his hand in greeting.

[Nathaniel]

"Nice to meet you, Doctor." Nathan said while accepting Jebidiah's outstretched hand.
Curious about the last part of his sentence, Nathan decided to ask instead of guessing the meaning. "By the way, what do you mean when you say, uhm, 'replicating and propagating physicality'?"

[Heulen]

Not too long after Nate and Jebidiah had made their introductions, another large man could be seen approaching the gates. He calls to Jebidiah:

"So the plan is to find some work while in town?"

[Jebidiah]

Before he could reply, one of the hunters from earlier showed up. "Yes, the plan is to find something to occupy ourselves with in the town.

As for my work, right now I am focusing on if I can successfully transfer traits from others onto my canvas here and how they manifest. It's a bit macabre for most people, grafting is a bit of a visceral process, but I find he outcome fascinating." He gestured to his golem toddling beside him as he said canvas. He moved to continue the conversation and walk towards the town proper as they did.