Vark tags along, tending to stay towards the back of the group. When finally arriving to the money lenders establishment, he makes certain that the brawnier members of their band are between him and any potential danger.
"Good luck! Be careful!" He says to Nel as she makes her way around to the back of the building. Meanwhile he keeps an eye peeled for any movements from inside.
"Our friend has an appointment." Vara explains with an innocent smile to the uneasy people across the street.
She takes a moment to be sure the onlookers have moved on, and possibly explaining that the loud one (Tamiro) merely takes his work very seriously. Nothing to be concerned about.
After that, she turns her back on the street and steps into the money lender's office after the men.
"Ha! My friend, we simply need to knock harder!" Tamiro grins and steps back to kick at the door. Raising a boot up he kicks hard at the door.
Kicking again, more solidly, he roars, "Open up Ratto!"
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The door does not budge under Tamiro's assault, but a small metal panel on the door slides open to reveal a man's piggish looking out, a painful sty visible on his right eye. He yells, muffled by the door, "What business do you have here? It's generally considered rude to batter down your moneylender's door." Faintly, a chair scrapes behind the door. "You tell Saul that what he owes me is going to double if he ever dares to send his thugs to my house again. And I'm going to charge him for the damage you do to that door."
The panel slams shut and his feet slam against the floor as he scurries deeper into the house.
"Wait, we have an appointment!" Vara cried out at the piggish face just before the panel is slammed.
Vark doesn't get a word in edgewise before the piggish man slams the panel shut in his face, "Well that went less than ideal." Looking to the brazen armored man, "Tamiro, please, calm yourself. You won't get very far in life by yelling and beating down every barrier you come across."
Vark glances around, ensuring they weren't drawing a crowd by the outburst, before sighing to himself, continuing, "Well, he knows we're here, so I guess there's no harm in going around back to see how Nel is fairing."
He waits to see if the rest of the group is in accord before heading around back to check in on Nel. As he heads around back, he keeps his eyes peeled on the building for any hidden entrances.
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While Vark doesn't find any entrances around back except for the door, he does spot a blood-splattered cloak in the pile of trash. The door here appears to be identical to the front door, except that it does not have a metal panel for talking to visitors.
The front door panel slides open again, and the same pair of piggish eyes stare out. The man scoffs and says, "I keep my own appointment books. What is your business with here?" The eyes dart over to take in Tamiro, and he hastily adds, "And get that brute away from my door. He's done enough damage today."
Vark lets out a quiet gasp as he spots the cloak, and quickly stuffs it into his pack as he hears the panel slide open and the man address the group once more. He makes his way back to the front, whispering a quick aside to Vara before addressing the man in the panel.
"I found a bloody cloak in the trashcan in the alley. I've got it in my pack here, we may want to take a closer look at it later..."
He then addresses the man, "Good afternoon, Mr. Sneed. Apologies for my friend here, he tends to take the most direct route whenever possible. We're looking for an associate of ours who was last seen visiting your place of business. I'm assuming you know the name Larur Feldin? What can you tell us about the last time you spoke with him?"
Vara would first indeed attempt to get Tamiro to stand down. "Tamiro, dear, please, you are scaring the poor man!"
Vara crouches down to listen to Vark's whispers, nodding with an expressionless look on her face. Standing as Vark speaks, she wears an apologetic smile. "It is as the friendly gnome says. We are here on behalf of Larur Feldin. We believe he was expected to see you, but we fear he may not have made it- unless you have seen him already in recent days?"
"Then you should have opened to the first knock Gaijin!" listening to Vark, he raises an eyebrow.
"Open up Butta! We have questions! We have no interest in Sauls loans!"
"So you are saying have not seen mister Feldin over the last two weeks? He did not make his appoint-ment he had with you?" She inquires. Vara then narrows her eyes slightly, "I can speak for my own purity, as one new to this town. Though 'corrupt' or not, surely you would want mister Saul pay his debts to you. Yet, if you endlessly refuse to speak with his people, then how do you expect that ever to happen? We wish only to talk. Open the door. Answer our questions, and we shall leave you in peace."
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"Of course I want Saul to pay back his debts. That 2000 gold is mine by rights! I have no interest in letting any of Saul's cronies in my house. He's already stolen enough money from me; I'm not going to give him any more!"
Lymas Smeed's piggish eyes are darting back and forth, and the glimmer of sweat is clearly visible on his brow. In addition, he peppers his sentences with profanity, cursing everyone and the moon they were born under. Vara believes that he is telling the truth.
I've had no appointments with Mr. Feldin ever. Never heard the name before, but I'm sure that I could recognize him. Make it a point to know who's working for Vancaskerkin. Never know when he's going to send thugs to break down my door and kill my pets."
[b]"I don't know what questions you have, but they sound like they're nothing good. Ask them on the street, where you belong."[b/]
Mazra does not find any particular tracks to follow; the marks of people city is too chaotic to pick out any particular set of footprints.
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In addition, Nel in the back alley would have recognized the cloak as Vark pulled it out of the piles of trash. It is clearly Larur's cloak, as there is a monogram on the inside of the hood.
Vark, did you not mention anything to Nel about the cloak?
Other sense motives as the party hears Vara's conversation with Larur:
Everyone out front believes that Lymas Smeed is mostly telling the truth. He may have known Larur Feldin's name, but Feldin had not met with him in the past week, nor had Smeed had any appointments the previous day.
Raising an eyebrow as some sort of commotion issues from the front of the building, Nel sighs as the garbled noise of clearly Vara and Tamiro talking to someone. Knocking quietly on the back door, Nel waits patiently to see if someone comes to talk, preparing to bull rush her way into the building once the door opens.
Vark waits for the more brawny members of the group form a solid line of flesh between himself and the pig-eyed man before revealing his discovery.
"You say you haven't heard of or met with Larur, and we believe you, but what do you make of this?"
Vark pulls the bloody cloak from his pack, presenting it to where Smeed can see it. "This is Larur's cloak, you can tell by the monogram stitched on the inside. I just found it in the garbage on the side of your building. And it appears to be covered in blood. So if you've never met the man, how can you explain this? Is someone trying to set you up, perhaps? Or maybe some of your cronies took it upon themselves to strike out at Mr. Vancaskerkin without your knowledge? You have some explaining to do, sir."
Vara had hesitated, not really sure of what to do. The piggish money lender has a dirty mouth, rude manners and cowardly and shifty demeanor, but all that does not mean the wretch is insincere. Clearly, the pathetic man is merely frightened.
Then Vark makes his show of intimidation, which surprises Vara. She never thought the little gnome could be so daunting. Yet- he is fey... Then turning back to the door, with a hand on her hip, and allowing the same wide-eyed look of surprise remain on her face, Vara decides to play the gentle hand in contrast with Tamiro and Vark's harsh touch.
"This is a rough part of town, we can see. It may have even been a stranger who placed the cloak, though if our friend were bloodied so close to here, then you likely would have heard or seen something- a fight, maybe- outside your door. We wish only to find our missing friend, so please tell us anything you know or you have seen."
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"How dare you - how dare you! Come to my house and accuse me of murdering on of Saul's thugs? Like the monster you work for hasn't done far worst than any of - How dare you!" The metal panel slams shut, though Lymas continues to yell loud enough for every profane comment to be clearly heard. "I hope the Rough Beast eats them! Would serve them right for coming to my house - my business! I'd never. May Densa weep at the very thought of them. Thugs! The lot! Cruel, wicked thugs."
Nel can hear bits of Lymas's screeching through the back door as he moves through his house.
Narrowing his eye's and spitting on the door, Tamiro turns to the rest of the group, and quietly growls, "I am joining the sword woman in back."
Leaving, he marches to the back alley, and coming across a horse that is baring his path he roars to the back in Tien, "Anata wa iriguchi o hakken s~~@a?"
Ignoring Tamiro's shouts, Nel knocks a little louder, hoping that Lymas hears her, but not the others. "Lymas, it's me, Alraniel Sandhal. Please let me in, I'm not looking for trouble. I need another loan." Glancing at both alleyways, Nel hopes that Gabraltar is doing his job of not allowing anyone else in the back, before she can get inside. Her being on first name basis with Sneed was not something that she wanted publicly known.
Vara gasps and shudders at the curses coming from within the house. She then murmurs a little prayer, "De réir an solas taobh istigh mé féin, na fréamhacha agus brainsí, scuab mé ar shiúl go léir kirothi ó dom agus iad siúd gar.." and pulls makes a motion before her, as if to brush the bad words away.
Nodding with approval as Tamiro storms off, she turns to Mazra and Vark. There is a restive look in her dark jade eyes looking from behind a blonde curtain. "I begin to agree we could use a rogue, or some person who knows the strange customs of this city." Brushing tresses aside, she looks up at the building to see if there are any windows, "Such a strange place, where no one trusts... People in the same community have histories written in blood."
She turns back to the others, her eyes bright, "What next, my friends?- do we try to find a way to barge in, or let the cowardly dog hide in his house?"
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He leads Nel through the interior of the building, though he takes a moment to go through a door and chain Otsk to the fireplace before Nel enters the room. He beckons her onward up the stairs into his private office. The house itself is as it's always looked; barren and simply furnished.
"Normally, of course, I'd ask you to come around the front, but it seems some of Saul's thugs are out front. I had heard you had joined them, but I couldn't believe it. You've been so good before, paying off your debts. There's no way that you would've sold yourself to that murderer. I'm sure that man they're looking for was done in by Saul himself and that cloak planted here. Please, take a seat, and let me know what I can do to help you."
Lymas sits down at a table and gestures for Nel to join him. He takes an expensive cigar out of his humidor and begins to cut it.
As Nel passes by the room Otsk is chained in, Nel breaks off a pet treat and chucks it within reach of the animal. Taking a seat in Lymas' office, Nel takes a quick look around. "Thanks for this. The guy at the bookstore was threatening to sell it, if I didn't put another 40 gp down today."
Running a hand through her hair, Nel waits for Lymas to finish cutting his cigar, before talking again. "I've got a job right now. I'm working as a hired thug, attempting to track down a missing employee, so far the leads have been, inconclusive."
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Lymas stops in place as he begins lighting the cigar and furrows his brow. "You aren't with them, are you?" he asks with a nod towards the front door. "I can't believe it - but, we must do what we must do for work. I'll grant you the loan, of course. One condition, though. Get those thugs off my doorstep."
"And, dear, please know that you should probably start by looking at your employer for answers. Mighty convenient to blame your creditors with the death of someone asking too many questions. At the very least, you must realize that anyone could have gotten into that alley and put that cloak there. Have you seen the inside of the Gold Goblin's vault? I'd wager - and you know I'm not the betting type - that it's not as full as Saul's told you it. Did you even know he owed me 2000 gold still?"
He pulls out a contract for Nel to sign, loaning her 40 GP, payments remitted in a series of 10 biweekly payments, 5 GP each.
"I'll get them to leave, under another condition. You can tell me why Feldin's cloak was found in your trash. I don't think that you killed anyone, I'm just trying to find Feldin." Shooting a pleading look to Lymas with her blue eyes, Nel waits until he agrees before going downstairs to shoo away her loud coworkers.
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Nodding and signing her full name to the document, Nel makes her way downstairs, with her coin purse 40 gp heavier. Chucking the rest of the treat to Otsk, Nel opens the door. "Thank you Lymas. I appreciate it."
With a faint scraping of undoing locks, Nel exists out the front door with a semi-annoyed look on her face. "If you are all done with harassing Lymas Sneed, we should all be going. Mazra, can you confirm that the substance on Feldin's cloak is blood? I have a theory that someone's framed the local loan shark."
"Vara, this morning you said that Feldin's home was broken into? Do you know the address? I want to stop there to ensure that we are not overlooking anything."
Shoving her hands into her pocket, Nel lets out a shrill whistle, to get her horse to stand down. Tamiro, hai watashi wa motte iru." Offering a cheeky wink.
As the lock scraps open and the door begins to creek on its hinges, Vara instinctively takes a step back, reaching for her shield and club, poised for an attack. Is the money lender sending someone out to add steel to his words?
When she sees Nel, she relaxes, letting go of her weapon and shield and wearing a somewhat sheepish expression. "Ah, Lady Nel.." Sheepish becomes slightly hurt when Nel seems to accuse the lot of them of being overly harsh. "I tried the gentle way," she murmurs, crossing her arms over her waist.
At the question concerning Feldin's home, her eyes are bright once more, "Yes, someone broke into Feldin's home... we are likely to find a trail there." She pauses a moment, clasping her hands before her, "Ah! Saul only told me where to find this place. He did not tell me where Feldin lives- nor did I think to ask him." She sighs, likewise placing hands in vest pockets, " I am sorry. We may have to go and ask someone where the house is- unless..." she looks to the upper corner of her vision.
Vara tries to remember how well she knew Larur Feldin.
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"If you are all done with harassing Lymas Sneed, we should all be going. Mazra, can you confirm that the substance on Feldin's cloak is blood? I have a theory that someone's framed the local loan shark."
"Nothing in particular, just the old fashion way," Mazra will dip a tip of one of his fingers into the wet parts of the blood and bring it to his tongue to taste it.
Then Mazra will follow the party to Feldin's home.
"I do remember the neighborhood vhere he oft said he lived. Let's go there- I am sure we shall find it!" Vara sets out with the others toward Feldin's home.
Vark's jaw slackens as Nel emerges from the door, acting like nothing is amiss.
Stuttering, "How? What?" Looking around to the others, baffled that they aren't having similar reactions, "Now just what is going on here? You and pig-eyes are old friends, I gather? It would've been nice to know that before I was forced to resort to uncouth tactics!"
Face softening, Vark seems to regain some of his composure. He continues in a more even tone, "Lady Nel, my apologies." Vark drops into a deep bow. After straightening up, he hands the cloak over to Mazra for further examination, "I'm quite certain that the substance covering the cloak is blood. I would be interested in hearing your theory, Lady Nel. Perhaps en route to Mr. Smeed's home?"
Vark makes ready to leave with the others.
Raising an eyebrow at Vark's outburst, Nel silently ensures that the door is closed, before heading over to Gabraltar to start to lead him down the road. "I've lived in this city for five years. You don't live someplace for that long, without getting to meet a few people. Mr. Smeed is one of those people."
Following Vara through the urban environment, Nel keeps in step with Vark, "As you have pointed out, Varknarnost, Mr. Vancaskerkin does not have the nicest history. Part of that history includes a debt of 2000 gold pence borrowed from Mr. Smeed, never paid back. I'm not about to bloody my sword over 2000 gold. In addition, if I could make it back in that alley, anyone trying to frame Mr. Smeed could have. The house was clean inside, no bloodstains, no signs of a struggle." Pausing a moment to weigh her words, Nel debates whether to let the matter drop, or continue.
"I think that someone in this city wanted Mr. Smeed dead. Whether we were the intended executioners or the gendarme, it doesn't matter. We need to see if we can find what happened to Mr. Feldin."
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The path to Feldin's apartment winds through Wharf Street. As the party is walking, a large wave crashes into the shore nearby. Normally, this would not be any concern, but this wave pushes ships into the nearby piers and boardwalks. The creak of straining wood is clearly audible before the boardwalk begins to crack. The swell continues to push inward, and a number of beachgoers are pulled under.
Gabraltar begins to stamp his feet as the water reaches the party.
Vara biskly takes the lead, forging a way through the city streets towards Feldin's neck of the forest. Adept at multi-tasking, she listens in on Vark and Nel's story as the group walks.
Vara is increasingly impressed with how well assimilated Nel is in the world of humanity. In her Northern homeland, half-elves were treated very differently from humans. In the North, humanity is scattered amid savage beasts, capricious fey, and ancient dragons. In the North, race matters.
“Og menn voru svo oft síst manna af öllum...” She murmurs to herself.
Curiosity slows Vara's pace, allowing Vark and Nel to catch up just a little, she looks over her should for a moment to ask something of Nel.
“How was it like when you first arrived at the city as one... who is different?" Vara indicates her ears. "Oh, abd did come directly from the castle Magnimar?” Vara only assumes that Magnimar must be a castle. Nel is a knight, after all.
"What is this?" She is ready to seek higher ground if she must. Does wave look like it would knock everyone over?
Vara also attempts to get a better bearing on things by glancing around, andnlistening.
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Mazra will seek to brace himself against the rush of water, looking for a post or other support to grab hold. Once he is able to move through the water he will head for the boardwalks and render aid in anyway he can. "This isn't good! People may be hurt. I am heading to see if I can help,' Mazra talks out to no one and everyone at the same time.
After recovering from the initial shock of the surging tide, Vark will first find sound footing, then he will attempt to aid Mazra in his recovery efforts .
"Oh no! Are waves this big common in Riddleport? We need to help!"
Unfortunately, all Vark could see was froth and flotsam.
Coming back around the building with Nel's horse, he simply grunts, "Huh...I see?"
Following the group through the city and down into the docks, he listens absently to the conversation, grabbing some jerked meat from a street vendor for cheap, he eats and thinks on how strange some fo these individuals are.
His atention quickly snaps back at the panic being wrought from the incoming waves, he yells "Kabāi o motomeru! Seek high ground!"
Tamiro quickly goes to pick Vark up off of the ground, seeing his short height as a danger to himself, "Watashitoisshoni kite! Come!"
"The fury of nature is not easily brushed away! Let's save who we can!" Vara rushes forward, grabbing the nearest person who appears helplessly unable to avoid the brunt of the wave. Guiding this person aside, she seeks to brace herself and the other person against the main force of the wave as it passes on the side of the street.
Nel's eyes widen as the abnormal wave approaches them. Tightening her grasp on Gabraltar's reigns, Nel watches in horror as Vara rushes forward. "Brace yourself!" She shouts out to everyone within earshot, hoping that Gabraltar doesn't decide to bolt. Taking in a deep breath just before the salt water washes over them, Nel braces herself.
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The wave crashes into the boardwalk where you are standing.
The wave pushes through the board walk, splintering kiosks and smaller buildings. The sound of wood creaking under pressure fills the area, and the screams of panicked beachgoers are easy to hear. Nearby, a woman panickedly asks where her son is, and a man in full-plate is pulled ten feet into shore before stopping. Water drains out of his armor as he attempts to stand.
Even bracing herself, Vara and whoever was pushed aside by her, is swept away by the force of wave. A feeling of peace washes over her. Should she be carried off here, it shall at least be by the hand of nature rather than wicked men...
Vark yelps as the wave crashes in moments after Tamiro hauls him up out of harms way.
"Brace yourselves!! Did everyone make it? We've got to help that lady find her son!"
Addressing the man in the armor who seems to have found his footing, "You there! Help that lady!"
Letting go of the reigns, Gabraltar bolts to higher ground as Nel sputters and tries to reorient herself. Moving towards the heavily armored man, Nel helps him to his feet. "We need to get out of here! A second wave could wipe us out!" Nel shouts with wide eyes and a slight tremor in her voice. Nothing like this had happened in Varisia as long as she was alive. Giving a quick look over at those who remained standing, Nel pauses as two notable members appear to be missing.
"Where's Vara and Mazra? VARA! Mazra!" Nel calls out in a slight panic as she looks around for the druid and the holy-man.