Sir Basil de Fermer |
"Hmm..I think we can close that line of enquiry it would appear that the 'Slavers Ring' was nothing but a set up to trap us. It certainly didnt help us find our quarry so we must now return to the odiferous Fenster and seek his aid"
He pulls the Silver dagger that was found in the puzzle box from his belt.."I believe this should be sufficient payment for his services if required.But first off, some sleep would be good."
Gideon Derexhi |
"Certainly a wild goose chase, if nothing else. Regardless, I agree that a little bit of rest is well in order.
And the dagger may indeed serve as sufficient payment for our other lead...if for no reason other than it is silver, but are we certain it is wise to trade it away so soon? We received some funds from Lady Heidmarch for the purpose of accomplishing our mission; it may be a better idea to use that before getting rid of the silver dagger."
DM Hector |
You seek shelter in the Lodge just as the sun is rising above the buildings of Magnimar. Sheila is walking down the stairs as you enter with a cup of some warm beverage. she says nothing, but smiles at you as you all march wearily towards the back of the manor.
Later that afternoon, feeling refreshed, you continue on your search. Fenster's abode is much the same as before.
Gideon Derexhi |
Gideon chuckles under his breath before offering his agreement with his sister's opinion. "Regardless, we have returned, with I should hope a significant enough loan from Lady Heidmarch to satisfy any desire Fenster might have for gold or lucre. The question then is, how much should we leave him? Surely only a few of the coins will be more money than he's seen in many a day."
Gideon Derexhi |
"What about those red gems we found in the puzzle box? Certainly they are less useful than the dagger, in addition to their being three of them. We could try leaving one or two of those. Not useful in a utilitarian way, of course, but surely appealing from a monetary standpoint."
Gideon Derexhi |
"Agreed." Gideon responds. An accord being reached between he and Sir Basil, he steps forward, removing one of the small red gems from a pouch attached to his belt and dropping it into the small tin platter leaning against the broken sea chest, then stepping backwards a few paces to wait and see if this 'Fenster the Blight' character reveals himself.
DM Hector |
It takes less than a minute for the grimy Fenster to come crawling out of his hovel to examine your gift. He doesn't acknowledge you, but moves strait to the plate and looks the gem over before sniffing it and, apparently satisfied with what he found, pocketing it. He grins and snorts up a dribble from his nose, then sits on his broken chest.
"What yew want Fenster ta'do?"
Gideon Derexhi |
Gideon does his best to hide his distaste for the dirty man who emerges from the hole to come and examine their "gift." Unfortunately he can't stop a slightly unsavory expression from coming on his face when the vagabond hunkers down on his chest and snorts back up a dribble of mucus.
"Well, er...you see, Mr. Fenster...my colleagues and I are searching for a particular group of people calling themselves the Tower Girls. We seek an audience with one of their members and we were told you may be able to point us in their direction. Is there any truth to that?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Gideon Derexhi |
"Their landlord? Well that certainly is interesting. I don't suppose you'd be willing to point us in their direction, would you? We aren't interested in putting anyone out...we just want to see if they know a certain woman we are looking for that we were told had sought out the Tower Girls."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Sir Basil de Fermer |
"Now we do understand that there may be some difficulties with the girls..but I assure you we are not here as officers of the Law.We are the representatives of certain individuals who are concerned with the whereabouts of one particular girl.Natalyah Vancaskerkin..perhaps you know where she is..it weould certainly speed things up to cut out the middle women as it were"
Gideon Derexhi |
Gideon's eyes narrow very slightly at Fenster's reaction to hearing Natalyah's name, finding something inherently suspicious about the behavior.
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Almost as soon as he saw that flicker, though, he dismisses it, then draws in a deep breath before replying,"What 'better payment' would you require for information about Vancaskerkin's location, Fenster?"
Alleria Derexhi |
This is ridiculous you little toad Name an honest price or I am liable to take what I can get from your hide!
Intimidate!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Alleria menaces with a hand to the hilt of her short sword.
Alleria isn't the most patient in the world. I will take any and all punishment gracefully. Please do note that I am threatening to still pay him :p
DM Hector |
Fenster cowers before Alleria's sudden outburst and dives behind his chest, peeping over the top. His eyes narrow.
"Yer askin' sumfin danger's. An ole Fenster can't name a price cuz he dunno watchoo got to trade."
Keep in mind this guy doesn't appear to be too terribly bright. Plus from what you've heard he's generally more interested in trinkets that catch his attention than in gold value. That being said he's not an appraiser.
DM Hector |
Fenster grins slyly. He looks over his shoulders to make sure he isn't being overheard and continues. "I been seein' her lurkin' about in a buildin' purdy close. She ain't hangin' out wif da udder Tower Girls. Fact, she seems ta be doin' real good ta stay invisible, as t'were." Fenster hops a little closer and taps the sallow cheeck under his non-clouded eye. "Nuthin' gets past me good peeper!"
Sir Basil de Fermer |
Basil tosses the decrepit fence his reward.."Pleasure doing business with ye..Adabar's blessing on your dealings"
He turns and walks away motioning to the others to follow. until they are out of earshot.
"Well we narrowed things down a bit..an abandoned boarding house and not far away..we need a street urchin I think..some likely lad who'd sell his own grandmother for a few coppers"
Alleria Derexhi |
Oh no I think it is a fine idea to send a man of Abadar parading into the hovel. "I have questions ladies!". I would pay good coin to see that!
Alleria winks at her brother. Joking aside it probably be best not to flush out our prey just yet...
Alleria looks around to see if anyone looks like the, "I will go look into the building for a silver" type.
Gideon Derexhi |
Gideon will lend his aid to the task, assisting Basil in the task of convincing whatever person his sister grabbed that helping them find the Vancaskerkin woman was worth the effort...or the coin. Whichever proved more likely to convince, he imagined.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
DM Hector |
The peasant seems more than willing to accept your coin. He leads you to a building that has clearly seen better days. Its clipboard sides are dark with mildew and marred by scorch marks. In places fire has gutted portions of the roof's moss-covered tile shingles, but the building appears to be structurally intact. The building stands near the stark wall of the Seacleft, and scree from several decades of minor rockfalls has piled up along its southern face.
Gideon Derexhi |
Gideon follows the peasant closely, his eyesight preventing him from seeing the building until it is nearly upon them. He wrinkles his nose in a clear sign of distaste for the dilapidated old structure, despite its relative structural integrity.
"So...she's in here? What a quaint place to call home..."
Sir Basil de Fermer |
"I'm sure she has her reasons old boy."
Basil contemplates the building.."Looks like it might fall down if we sneeze to hard though.." he turns to the casters "Do either of you have a spell that might aid us..some divination that we can use to get an idea of what is in there?"