Milana shakes her head, touching her hand to her forehead.
Ah yes, i know what you are talking about! Lady Darchana’s dinner party. What an embarrassment for Lady Silviana. Can you imagine being told that your handmaiden is some sort of… well… spy? Dreadful. The woman’s name is Atlag, and she has been here for almost three weeks! Three weeks! When I think of the private conversations that happened in front of Atlag? It makes me ill, honestly ill.
Composing herself, Milana continues, Lady Silviana retains a solicitor, a Chelish gentleman named Solvius Salbus. He works out of an office in the Coins called the Red Letter. He drew up the paperwork for my Lady to complete the transaction on Atlag with a man named...
She wags her pointer finger a few times, shaking her head as she tries to recall the name. Mahdi Mahjub. No, Mahjub Mahdi! He does his business down in Misery Row, of course. It’s a small shop with several large windows to allow passersby to see into his display parlor from the street. ‘Mahdi’s Chattel: Absalom’s Finest,’ so the sign claims. Honestly, I think every third building in Misery Row claims to be ‘Absalom’s Finest.’ I wonder how many spies like Atlag he’s sold over the years? It’s a dreadful, dreadful business. I am not sure there is anything else I can tell you, but I am sure you understand my Lady’s desire to move on from this embarrassment? Good? Yes? Thank you.
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"Thank you, missss Milana.", Sritaro trying to be polite. The ways of nobility and politics was not his favorite, but some parts of being a mercenary require you to step outside of your comfort zone for the sake of the mission.
"We will sssee to Mahdi and of course leave your misssstress's name out of it.", the nagaji not expecting any other questions from his companions.
You seem to possess a keen understanding of how things work in Absalom, so perhaps you might be willing to perform a small service for my Lady. It would be unheard of for Lady Silviana to demand recompense for her handmaiden purchased from Mahjub Mahdi; however, were you to secure such a deal, it would be gracious gesture that might lead to a budding friendship, don’t you think? And should he refuse you, who were you to askin the first place?
She shrugs her shoulders and frowns slightly.
Salbus’s solicitation business is located in a rented office space in the Coins. The office is located on the ground floor of a recently rebuilt twostory building that houses several different professional
offices and merchants. A small plaque with an Asmodean pentacle and an inscription reading “Red Letter — Solicitor Salbus” hangs outside.
As the office door opens, a small bell chimes overhead. Inside, the cramped space holds a meticulously organized bookshelf and a rosewood desk. Seated at the desk, a middle-aged Chelish man with short red hair and a widow’s peak peers intently at a sheaf of legal documents as he carefully copies out key clauses, then acknowledges his visitors. He looks up from his work with a slight smirk on his thin lips and introduces himself.
Solicitor Solvius Salbus. What brings you across my threshold this glorious day? Though I must warn you, given my current workload, accepting new clients may not be possible at this time.
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Greyveil smiles up at the man. It pleases me to know that your business thrives good Solvius. We are hear to discuss a matter that, if handled improperly, could impact that level of success that you currently enjoy. It is my hope and desire to avoid that, and I prey that it will be your desire as well. I fear my colleges and I bring to you news of an unhappy customer. Having set the stage Greyveil looks to the more diplomatic in the group to finish the story.
Have we met before? Do you have any proof or a seal from one of my costumers? Of course one of my competitors must send some knock-offs to spoil my day...when will they finaly give in? Look, i´m very busy. So unless you got something really important...
He looks back into his books.
The solicitor looks at Mia, Sritaro and Yugatta in turn before laying down his feather and leaning back on the chair, folding his hands over is belly.
You´re a curious lot. I´ll give you five minutes of my precious time to say what you have to say. Better make it worth it!
The solicitor looks everyone in the eye, asking:
I´m not getting your point there? Was that waht you wanted to talk about with me? Making a recompense? For whom?
Fumbling the buttons of his vest, he mumbles Mh, mhm, i heard some rumors about such a coincidence. Who were you again?
Grimacing slightly, the Chelaxian spreads his hands to admit defeat. Ordinarily I would not speak of privately executed contracts with an unaffiliated third party, Solvius says before patting a folded paper on his desk. However Lady Silviana had a letter delivered to me prior to her departure for Taldor, authorizing me to disclose to the deputized agents of Lady Darchana the identity of the chattel merchant. I take it insistant as you are you must be those persons. Mahjub Mahdi is the purveyor in question and can be found at the northern end of Misery Row. His private shop is called Mahdi’s Chattel. It’s a step up from the Slave Pits to be sure—a much more orderly experience, a very fine display parlor with excellent lighting, and he always keeps excellent wines on hand. I trust you will treat him with the respect that he deserves.
You leave the solicitor and make yourselves on the way to the coins...
Misery Row is an enormous, elevated platform that runs along the eastern edge of the Coins district, and serves as the main destination to buy and sell slaves in Absalom. The cages are set into the platform such that slavers and prospective buyers can walk over the pits to inspect the merchandise easily. Mahdi’s Chattel is located along the platform, where his many-windowed storefront can catch the eye of discerning buyers. The massive wooden platform is well worn by foot traffic, and is active all hours of the day and night. The Token Guard, the guards responsible for patrolling this part of the city, intervene only in particularly egregious crimes or those they’re paid to investigate. As a result, petty criminals have numerous opportunities to ply their craft.
A hanging sign identifies the single-story building with large, full-length windows as “Mahdi’s Chattel — Absalom’s Finest.” Heavy curtains are drawn over all of the windows—one of which has been smashed—and a small painted sign that reads “Closed” hangs over the latch of the door. The door is not completely closed and shows signs of scratches and damage to the wood around the latch.
You think you´re special? Think you don´t have to pay the fee *glass splintering* Youuuuuu´rrree wrrrrong! Now gimme that gold! Something heavily slams against wood.
Map.
Kicking aside the open door, Sritaro charges in, closely followed by Kamu and Yugatta, only to see noone there.
Mahdi’s Chattel is pleasantly decorated. An Andoren rug lies over the polished wooden floor of the entryway, and a small decorative table holds a curious stone statue. The eastern half of the room is in slight disarray, apparently from light renovations that are nearly complete.
Disorder reigns the room through. The windows have been smashed, and broken glass lies on the floor and on the desk on the opposite side.
The work table in the center of the display parlor conceals a heavy, polished stone with a 4-inch-diameter steel ring attached to the top, providing an anchor for manacle chains.
The stone statue on the table stands almost 2 feet tall, weighs about 15
pounds, and has simian features, massive horns, and a long tail.
There´s a door to the eastwall where the voices seem to come from.
Sritaro opens the door completely and enters the room:
This large office doubles as a private parlor for Mahjub Mahdi to conduct his legal but objectionable business. The room’s furnishings consist of a round table with two comfortable chairs, a desk with a metal-banded strongbox beneath it, and a refreshment cart. Two paintings hanging on the north wall both depict the bustling harbor of Katheer.
You see a half orc and three humans in the room. While the half orc and two humans seem like ruffians and are armed, the third human appears like a merchant.
The half orc, holding the merchant at bay in one corner, turns to you and snarls: Now what is that? Don´t you see we are busy here? Leave and mind your own business!
Map.
So, taking this up where we left:
Small summary:
Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin briefed you on the meeting between Lady Darchana and the Master of Spells, instructing you to speak with Lady Silviana Dimora’s majordomo or her Chelish solicitor. Only once you learned the source of the marked slave you should take that information to Lady Darchana directly. Neither of Lady Silviana’s staff was initially willing to discuss the Lady’s private business with strangers, but you were able to convince them to divulge the name of the Keleshite slaver, Mahjub Mahdi, in Misery Row. But as you went there you saw him threatened by some thugs and felt compelled to intervene.
Or at least Greyveil started a fight with his sudden bomb.
Greyveil lobs his bomb into the room, right on the head of the poor thug who just wanted to have a nice day doing his job. He still stands, but not much of his face remains....
Mezuk gets burned by the fiery splash as well, but the other guy can dodge most of it behind the table somehow.
They cry out their pain and wrath, drawing weapons and attacking the first target in sight - Sritaro - who seems to be taken on the wrong foot. Mezuk sets out to hit with his greatsword.
One of his companions makes his way out of the room though, positioning himself, the other takes out and drinks a potion.
Map.
Damage taken:
Thug1: -9+4
Mezuk: -5 -2AC 1 round
Thug2: -2