"Splendid." Lord Guthbert tucked what remained of his purse of precious stones away, waving toward the small group of mercenaries. "You [i]are[/i] allowed to use my name while you're in this city to help you get whatever resources you may need. Unfortunately, you'll find that names have less influence out in the southern reaches out Beldemar, where the village of Halden is located. The provincials have ever been a reclusive and independent lot.

"You have two days in which to make your preparations," Lord Guthbert said firmly. "If I find you are still in the city on the third dawn or have fled with your wealth, I [i]will[/i] have someone have a word with you. This is a matter of some urgency, as you've probably deduced, so act appropriately.

"Finally, should you need to see me at my estate, well... Ask around. You're capable of [i]that[/i], I think." And with that, the wealthy fellow lifted his hand in a sort of beckoning gesture. His guards moved to flank him, and he started on out the door of the inn.

Momentary silence was broken by the sound of liquid sloshing into mugs. "One for the road, boys?" asked the worm-like man. "Might be the last good drink you get 'fore you enter that place."

[hider=OOC]Everyone is free to roleplay a little more here, or to advance things to the next day. The weather is, as described, cold and windy out, and the time of year is mid-autumn. It is night.

It's common practice for mercenary companies to draft out a charter of some kind to decide how wealth will be split among its members and establish any basic rules they want to have. Of course, you're more of a small group than a company, and you don't even have a chosen leader. Figuring out the ground rules may be good (and can be written up in a collaborative post or with out-of-character discussion), but it's far from necessary.

You've got enough gemstones to buy some basic gear, so feel free to ask "Hey, can I get <this> or <that>?" If it's some basic weaponry like a sword, halberd, crossbow, or if it's some better armor (or armor you can wear over what you already have if you're wearing a gambeson), chances are it's purchasable.

To clarify, Lord Guthbert didn't give the full contents of the gem pouch to everyone. He just gave everyone a couple valuable stones with which to barter as a down payment.[/hider]

[hider=Boran]The agreement's been made. Boran gets the feeling that doing anything Lord Guthbert considers to be cheating him will get thugs sent your way. He reminds Boran a bit of crime bosses like his father. Still, he clearly has the wealth he's promising if his opulent dress and his heavy purses are anything to go by.

Boran knows enough about old Aldonian ruins to know they're often guarded with locks and traps to varying degrees. It may be worth bringing a crowbar and maybe a set of lockpicks. Boran's more than capable of using either of those.[/hider]

[hider=Flint]Flint can't help but notice how rich in color the gemstones are now that he's got a moment to himself. He knows gemstones, but something about these stones is more... vibrant. It's rather fetching, actually. He's not sure how that happened, but he [i]is[/i] sure he can get a decent price if he hammers that point home.[/hider]

[hider=Lothair]Lothair has no special observations to make on the present situation.[/hider]

[hider=Riley]That strange man in the corner has risen and is starting to slip out of the room - the one that was staring at the Aldonian boy. Does he work for someone, maybe? Looking at that man gives her a bad vibe. There's something ill to come of that, she's sure.[/hider]