Amira Oenestria |
As her partner engages the shpokeeper, Amira scans the shop looking for indications of heavy activity while reading the man's reactions.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Bill Dunn |
"Do you sharpen? The ends of my hook are getting dull. Could you get me one in silver? I hear there's a werebeast problem around here and I want to be ready!"
The man's light up at the sight of the mithral grappling hook. "Sharpen? Of course we sharpen! Say.... that is a beauty. But if you ask me, the mithral is wasted on such a crude tool. If it were mine, I'd have it reforged into a beautiful blade."
"It does take a lot more work than a regular iron one, though. A sharpening job on one of these will run you 10 gold coins in labor and material. And even then, I'm not sure I'd recommend this against wererats and the like. I'd normally recommend a real weapon. We've still got a few if you've got a problem--they've been hot sellers lately. We most often sell them to people looking to clear out a nest of imps or who think that, just because they're sailing for Cheliax, they'll need them to fight off devils everywhere they go."
There are a few small cards about the place referring to some of their magical wares. A magical dagger, a magical mace, a long sword of fire. All of them say to inquire with the shopkeeper for further details.
Amira Oenestria |
"See I told you this is where he got that dagger!" Amira says aloud to Cassandra "And if they've been selling fast, they probably all have them."
Bill Dunn |
"Dagger, eh?," the shopkeeper asks. "Looking for a silvered one? We still have a couple of those. They're a good seller - small, discrete, and not too expensive. 22 gold coins. If you're looking for enchantment-ready craftsmanship, though, that's another 300."
So as not to leave anyone else out... what will Wednesday, Tolenn, and Terri be doing while Cassandra and Amira are in the shop?
Wednesday Daud |
I think the plan was for Terri and Tolenn to go to the Trapper's Hole.
Cassandra Wagner |
"You can't climb a wall with a sword." Cassandra points out cheerfully. "I like my tools to be weapons. Wait. Strike that. Reverse it."
She leans against Amira's shoulder.
"So, I know where we heard about the werecritters, what has everyone else in a panic?"
Terri Riverrun |
I think the plan was for Terri and Tolenn to go to the Trapper's Hole.
I thought it was Wendy and Tolenn. Did I misunderstand something?
Bill Dunn |
The young man shakes his head, "I don't know if I'd say it's a panic, really. Just a few jumpy people, but I suppose with the blood veil and all, people are on edge. I sold a bunch to a group of dockworkers just a few days ago. I guess they pooled their money together to get them. Said they were going after some nests of rats that were spreading the plague and wanted to be prepared in case some were wererats. Five daggers and a hatchet, about a dozen crossbow bolts, all silvered. No idea if they found any yet."
Tolenn |
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OMG , two eaten posts! One last week and one earlier this week...
To quote Amira: "You have a point, I suppose if it looks that way and we fail to appeal to them, Tolenn and Terri can go there next and we switch off?" Amira responds. Sounded like a plan to me :) Sorry my response didn't make it through.
Tolenn watches Amira and Cassandra walk the market to the blades dealer, a pensive look on her face. She then looks across the busy street to her and Terri's destination.
She retreats further into the alley, a rueful smile on her face, "These times chafe. I've come to value each of you highly. To not be there to help..." she says .
Amira Oenestria |
"I think I might know the guy who got the hatchet, now that you mention it. I'm considering something like that but I kind of want a second opinion. Can you describe him?" Amira asks thoughtfully.
Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Bill Dunn |
"A good swing and the hatchet will make a deeper cut, I guess," the clerk estimates. "But if you're looking for the guys who bought the weapons, they're sometimes in the area once the main dock work is done. The Walk draws plenty of waterfront people, particularly the ones with a little more cash to spend like foremen and supervisors. It was three guys who came in for the blades, I'd say more Chellish than Varisian. They were all dressed in their work overalls - they were all bearded..." he shrugs. "I'd recognize them if I saw them again, but I don't know if I can describe them so you'd tell them apart really well."
Cassandra Wagner |
Cassandra pulls out ten gold pieces from her purse and puts it on the counter.
"I'll pay in advance." she explains, "And be back at the end of the day to get that sharpening if everything goes right."
Bill Dunn |
"It will be a couple of hours. This stuff is challenging to work with. Might I suggest you go have a few drinks over at Aram's Crown? I can bring it by the tavern when I'm done since I'm otherwise closing up the shop for the evening."
Meanwhile, over at the Trapper's Hole where business is similarly slow, the proprietor Jope Chantsmo can be seen inside at his workbench. Looks like he's fletching some arrows.
Workers from other parts of the Midland neighborhood are starting to filter in to the area and heading to Aram's Crown.
Amira Oenestria |
"Sounds like a plan to me." Amira says with a nod looking over at Cassandra with a grin. "You can bring it by when you're done. I'm sure you won't have too much trouble finding us."
Cassandra Wagner |
"Perfect!" Cassandra says. She hooks an arm into Amira's. "I could use one of those dark, depressing drinks you love so much."
Amira Oenestria |
Flashing her partner a grin, Amira struts out of the weapons shop, arm in arm with Cassandra. "OOh I know just the one too." she says as they leave.
Bill Dunn |
Over at Aram's Crown, the evening is just getting started and the more exotic spirits are coming out. The special today is an Osirian whiskey made with dates for a thicker and sweeter flavor. The alcohol content is moderate, for a spirit, but that puts it head and shoulders more alcoholic than the watered ales, lagers, and wines they serve during the day.
The crowd at Aram's is growing and surprisingly festive (though the liquor may have something to do with it) for a city in the grips of a plague. A few comments are easily overheard...
"So I says to her, I ain't gonna pay fer that no more. I already paid her enough to get it replaced, I ain't paying no more."
"Tyro got the blood veil, but I'll be damned if he isn't doing better than Mama Zaffa when she came down with it, Pharasma rest her soul. I think we're really turning the corner on that plague like the priest said."
"Gray Maidens, ptah! They took my old man's blade right offa me. Confiscated it, they did. I shoulda stuck her right the sun don't shine if she wanted it so badly."
"Ships are starting to brave the plague, I hear. With prices dropping in Magnimar, they can't turn profit bypassing us anymore."
Amira Oenestria |
Buying them both a few of the higher end drinks, staring with a sample of the Osiriani whiskey, Amira leads the pair in drinking and socializing with the patrons picking up rumors and gossiping, subtly steering the occasional line of gossip to "those filthy wererats" and "where to get a good silver weapon so a girl can protect herself"
Time spent: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Diplomacy:Gather Information: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Bill Dunn |
Sorry to post so late - surprisingly distracted by work
Amira works the crowd at the tavern, buys a few drinks (don't sweat the cost, it's a pittance, relatively speaking), and keeps her ears open for rumors and other gossip.
She finds a few dockworkers willing to give up a little dirt on anti-rat campaigns. "Tobias started up this group that has been going into the sewers to hunt out the rats. He says that rats spread disease and most of us believe him. They're unclean animals living in the sewers. So every couple nights, he and some of the others go hunting, setting up traps, and all that. They said it's getting more dangerous though - some of the rats are smart and they mentioned something about wererats. Makes my skin crawl just thinking about them. They spread their curse and soon we'll all be rat men squeaking at the full moon."
Amira also picks up other news:
Sounds like things are happening on Endrin Isle and the Old Korvosa district - now mostly cut off from the mainland by the destruction of the bridges. Riots have been visible and that means the Arkonas aren't controlling the streets any more... or at least not successfully.
Shoanti trading has declined precipitously lately. It could be a reaction to the plague (though there's no talk about the plague spreading to the Shoanti tribes), but if so it's a bit delayed.
If anyone else wants to help work the crowd, we can treat that as Aid Another. DC 10 adds +2 to the final check and can improve the specificity and sensitivity of the information gathered.
Wednesday Daud |
Aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Bill Dunn |
With Wednesday lending a little of his own carousing to Amira's, they're able to triangulate a little more information. Tobias will be leading another foray into the sewers tonight, after sundown. They're meeting at Bailer's Retreat - a tavern near the docks that tends to see a lot of drunk criminals as well as coffee-drinking guardsmen looking for an easy collar.
They also uncover rumor of another Blackjack sighting. He disrupted one of the Academae's attempts to destroy one of the wooden bridges linking Old Korvosa with the mainland, but he was ultimately forced to retreat from superior Gray Maiden firepower.
Amira Oenestria |
"Nice to know he's still out there stopping them from trying to strangle the city." Amira says quietly. "Looks like we're headed to Bailer's Retreat later tonight."
Wednesday Daud |
Wednesday nods, all the while trying not to get too drunk.
Tolenn |
Tolenn refrains from 'carousing', finding a quiet corner to wait for the results of the other's investigation.
When the others emerge and share what the found, she nods, "Blackjack is a friend of the city, I wish him well. As for this Tobias, shall we confront him and his band at Bailer's or let them make some distace from possible reinforcement among the customers of the tavern.?"
Wednesday Daud |
"If we show up there we could get next to them under a pretense of joining them, and could talk em up. Also having some guards around couldn't hurt, neh?"
"Of course if we wait for them to head for the sewers we'll know for a fact which are going after those in the sewers and they'll be less of them, but they'll be less likely to want to talk things out."
"Either works for me." Wednesday finishes with a shrug.
Cassandra Wagner |
"What's the law?" Cassandra asks as she does a handstand on her chair. Park copies her. "Is killing wererats illegal and actual murder? Do we need to bring in the guard to handle this? If it isn't illegal what are we going to do? Even if we get them to stop it won't make peace. You heard that guy down there. Nothing short of blood will satisfy him. And I don't think we're willing to slaughter a bunch of scared idiots who have convinced themselves killing something they don't consider to be real people will keep them safe."
Amira Oenestria |
"We're not going to just let it keep happening either. They are part of this city too, as much a part of it as anyone else and all have their role to play and a right to exist." Amira says as she watches her partner's perfect balance. "They want to pay hunter and I'll gladly teach then their place on the food chain."
Bill Dunn |
True to his word, and long after an hour has passed, the young man from the Slicing Dicers comes into the bar with an object wrapped in a bundle - Cassandra's mithral grappling hook.
The Bailer's Retreat isn't particularly far - is it the next stop or do any of you have something in particularly you'd like to do?
Amira Oenestria |
Knowledge Local: Auto success
"Besides there practically aren't any laws governing stuff like this, or if there are, they're so deeply buried as to be non-existent. The best anyone could hope for legally is to find an Arbiter who actually thinks of them as people." Amira continues, trailing off as the blade shop owner arrives with Cass' grappling hook.
Pretty sure that's next if no objections.
Cassandra Wagner |
"Okay. I honestly didn't care but I thought one of you might." Cassandra says as she attaches her baby to her belt. "Let's go!"
Wednesday Daud |
Park has his own compartment on your belt?
Tolenn |
Tolenn frowns a bit, "One would think the prohibitions against murder would apply. They are after all citizens. " then she shrugs, the vagaries of the Korvosa legal system isn't really germane.
"Let us make haste to the Bailer's Retreat." she advises.
Sorry if you guys were waiting on me, for some reason thought we'd come to a consensus...
Bill Dunn |
Upon arrival, Bailer's Retreat reveals itself to be a skeezy dive bar. The wooden exterior sags a bit in places and is poorly weathered. Acrid pipe smoke wafts out through the open door as does the low sound of desperate men drinking their frustrations away.
Outside, a small cluster of men and women are starting to gather. There are currently 6 of them wearing a mix of varieties of piecemeal armor and leather. A few bear packs and other sacks. Most of them are armed with ragtag weapons, a couple of spears, a couple of pitchforks, a shovel or two...
Amira Oenestria |
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Looking at the motley group obviously itching to start trouble, Amira considers. "Sunday, you might be the most likely to pull off just joining in to raise some hell. They'd probably be happy to have an able bodied fighter along with them. Tolenn, I'd suggest hanging back and following at a distance, since you…well radiate disapproval when bad people are doing bad things. I do when I need to scare them but I don’t think you can turn it off.” she says with a smirk.
Turning to Cassandra she winks, looking up at the rooftops. ”Ready to disappear and follow along on the rooftops?”
Wednesday Daud |
Who?
"It's part of her charm." he quips to the Vigilante before shrugging in approval.
Moving off a ways from the group he'll then start to make his way towards the rowdy gathering.
"Ah, about got lost on the way here. This where I can hunt some vermin, neh?" he says as he gets closer to them.
Cassandra Wagner |
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Of course, Cassandra isn't even there when her partner turns to her. She's already scrambled up to the rooftops.
Park chitters and joins her!
Amira Oenestria |
Shaking her head with a chuckle, Amira gives the other nod before racing up to the heights where they felt most alive, resuming the chase she'd never quit.
Tolenn |
Tolenn smiles as her friends scamper up to the rooftops, thinking of her own younger days doing the same thing.
She watches Wednesday approach the mob, stepping back into the shadow a a nearby tenement to observe.
Wednesday Daud |
You guys should go for a race sometime.
Bill Dunn |
One of the men, a fairly burly and greasy sort of fellow, responds to Wednesday's query, "Yeah, we're gonna clear out some rats. You don't look like a dock worker though. Where are you coming from?"
Up close, Wednesday gets a good look at the people in the gathering. Most appear to be dockside laborers judging by their look and body odor - a bit fishy and plenty of sweat. They also all seem to mark him as an outsider. None of them give him a hostile look, but it would be hard to judge any of their expressions as trusting.
From up on the rooftops, Amira and Cassandra can spot a few other people making their way into the area. And, shortly thereafter, the number of people gathered (aside from Wednesday) rises to 10.
Wednesday Daud |
"The bar. Heard you guys were hunting some vermin, maybe even monsters. If you were wanting this to be a secret club then ya might want to have a few words with all the drunks in town, neh?" Wednesday responds with a shrug.
Cassandra Wagner |
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Cassandra makes little pincer motions with her forefinger and thumb.
"I'm squishing your head."
Tolenn |
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Tolenn watches as Wednesday talks to the vigilantes, "Go easy, Wendy." she thinks to herself, "They've not an evil bone in their bodies, merely ignorant."
Wednesday Daud |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Or they could just be under 5 HD :3
Bill Dunn |
"The bar? Needed a little liquid courage, eh? Haw haw!" the burly fellow laughs. "Well, if you can handle those weapons you're toting around, we can use you, liquored up or not. I'm Tobias, and we're here to fight the blood veil in our own little way. We may not be the high and mighty, but we can still clean up a lot of the rats that spread disease. If they can spread one disease, they can spread another like the veil."
The other people in the area gather round closer. "We're going in again at the grate. Watch the bites from the big ones. Hawkins got bit a few nights ago and the bite isn't healing so good. He's staying holed up at home until he's sure he didn't get the veil. If you see something bigger than the biggest rats, call out. Could be an otyugh. They're city property and we can't touch them. But it could also be a wererat. They're real dangerous. Better to run unless you got lots of numbers. Any questions?"
Wednesday Daud |
Wednesday had met an Otyugh before, friendly, as long as you didn't get between them and trash.
"You said this Hawkins is holed up because his wound won't heal, neh? He wasn't bitten by a wererat was he?"