Snake cuts his eyes toward the creature within the cage, curious as to what it might be. Other than that, he remains mum currently.
"If we suggest the creature was easily vanquished, I think that would simply diminish you in the eyes of the town. Not something that I think you would relish, I believe." Tendal drawls lazily.
"I assume that as you are sitting in the position of authority for this particular venue that you must be Ziphras? If so, I am pleased to make your acquaintance, I am Tendal Deverin, recently of the Gold Goblin." Tendal continues, advancing further into the room, his cane thumping on the floorboards.
As Tendal advances into the compartment, the three men triangulate on him, not physically crowding him but making their protective presence known.
"'Recently' of the Gold Goblin?" Ziphras asks. "Yes, I heard that Old Stumpy did a runner. Cleaned out the contents of the vault and disappeared, they say. So what sort of business do you have with me, Mr. Deverin?"
Braddon walks in behind Tendal and steps aside, clearing the doorway. He takes another step towards the nearest thug, glaring, but otherwise remains still.
Phil malingerers, drawing out a copper coin to set racing across his knuckles by way of steadying sleight. His eyes affix Ziphras coolly and in considering mien...
"We seem to have misplaced a dwarf." Tendal says laconicaly, seeming bored already by the exchange, the company, the shabby environs. He flicked a piece of lint from his doublet before continuing, hardly looking at Ziphras, and rather, glancing around the room.
Spying a bottle of wine on the table, he muttered "Ah excellent, it has been a bit of a thirsty day" to nobody in particular as he moved forward, cane tapping on the wooden floorboards. Tendal made a beeline for the slightly dusty bottle, ignoring the incredulous looks from those around him. Blocked for a moment by one of Ziphras' men, he simply tapped the man on the arm with the cane and made a shooing motion for him to step aside before pushing past.
"A... a dwarf?" Ziphras appears surprised. He waves to his minion to allow Tendal to pass. "What makes you think I can be of assistance?"
Phil shakes his head slightly and mutters just loud enough to be overheard "Figures... they didn't think he'd know..." but doesn't seek eye contact to make the point overt.
"Who didn't think I'd know what?" Ziphras asks sharply.
"A minor matter, possibly beneath your interest." Tendal says, pouring two healthy glasses of wine into a pair of mismatched crystal goblets. After handing one to the nearest thug and then motioning him to to take it to his boss he continued, "As the master here, you would know about all matters of import, and it would be unlikely that any in your employ would ever be disloyal...or loyal to others."
He pauses taking a drink from his goblet once Ziphras has his in hand. "This is excellent, thank you."
"So we come for a trade, a bit of information for us, a bit of information for you. Then, equity achieved, balance restored, we depart."
Phil makes a play at surprise at being overheard, forcing a flush to his cheeks and shortening his breath. He flickers his eyes towards Magnimar for a half-moment before affixing them back to the floor. With a seemingly haphazard shuffle of weight from one foot to another his tunics gape slightly at his chest... revealing half of his holy symbol to view.
"Oh," Ziphras replies a little flatly, wrenching his eyes from Phillip's holy symbol back to Tendal. "I see. This is about.... All right, what is this information you have to offer, and why will I find it valuable enough to exchange for the information you're here for?"
"Because it helps us both. Of course." Tendal says, swirling the wine in the goblet before his face.
"We recently returned from Rodric's Cove. It was a very interesting trip, good sailing, met some interesting people, had a nice dinner and killed some folks who were attempting to do us harm."
"You know what name we heard drop from the lips of a man shortly to be discussing his seriously foreshortened life with the Gods?" Tendal pauses, finishes the wine and sets the goblet down. "One of yours, I believe."
Snake keeps himself in one of the 'less lighted' parts of the room while keeping a watchful eye on Ziphras's cronies and an ear to the conversation at hand.
"One of mine?" Ziphras questions. "In Roderic's Cove?"
"I am not certain, actually." Tendal waves his hand dismissively. "I have no idea if the man worked for you or not. At this moment, I honestly do not care."
"The important thing was that he mentioned a name, a name of someone who had been subverted by Scarlet Lil and was now working against his boss. This was of particular interest to us, because we are quite interested in Scarlet Lil. However, sadly the man exsanguinated before telling us anything more."
"Odd bloke, kept laughing about how man's best friend isn't always woman's best friend. Coughed blood on my second favorite shirt too." Tendal continued, flicking the cuff of his left sleeve.
With Magnimar holding court and well, Phil maintains his impression of a wallflower.
" However, sadly the man exsanguinated before telling us anything more. Odd bloke, kept laughing about how man's best friend isn't always woman's best friend. Coughed blood on my second favorite shirt too."
Braddon shuffles guiltily.
A slight crease appears between Ziphras's brows. "And this name ... this is what you have to offer?"
Tendal frowns slightly, "Of course. Information for information. We came calling like gentlemen, you have treated us like guests, and thus we continue to operate at our stations: you the leader of an organization of some import," he gestures with his cane toward Ziphras, "I a merchant and adventurer recently of Magnimar but now of Riddleport." he finished, tapping the head of his cane on his doublet.
"So I wish to know if you have the ability to provide the following: any information as to Scarlet Lil or those in her employ who may have transited your territory in the last 2 weeks. Ship names, or locations if they are still present in some wrecked hulk would be appreciated." Tendal says, his gaze sharp upon Ziphras.
"If you are able to offer that information, then perhaps we can exchange. If not, or you are under some obligation, then we will simply bid you good evening, and Desna's luck with your future enterprise." Tendal finishes, face sharp and flat.
Ziphras shrugs. "It seems you're asking me to take a gamble, Mr. Deverin. Clearly, the information I have is of benefit to you, but it remains to be seen if this name you're offering is of any interest to me at all. I am," he gives Phillip a sharp glare, "in a position to reveal some little-known details about Lil Scarlet's comings and goings." He leans back into his chair. "With that in the balance, perhaps you could sweeten your side of the deal."
Braddon coughs politely then speaks. His words tumble out even quicker than usual.
"We know plenty of little known details about Lil's comings and goings. We're gambling that your little known details are littler known than our little known details and we already gambled coming here that we wouldn't be killed. You're only taking a little gamble. Sir."
His eyes flick to Tendal, to the floor, then to the feet of the nearest thug, ready again for trouble.
"It's hard to judge, sweeten 'nough, of another man's taste.", the staff-leaning one finally spoke, a butterfly flexing wing on one shoulder. "Would it amuse you, to sleep in her bedlinens?", he asked with a smirk. "Or, if you see yourself a friend of hers, to return them to her? Or offer either, on to some other?"
"Not, that we have them here."
Meeting Tendal's eye, Gristav explains, in evident sincere respect and false deference, "I didn't think it would occur to you."
Phil feels the flickered gaze and holds, musing internally as to what might pique the apple of Ziphras' eye. He raises his eyes from the ground and t'wards the man "If you've thoughts to a sweetened pot... then I could cast a drop of the wasp's honey t'wards it..." lilt to his words allowing Ziphras to infer Phil's position towards the Whoremistress...
"Indeed? Do tell," Ziphras steeples his fingers and fixes his attention on the halfling.
Letting his pretension of deference fall, Phil runs both hands through his hair and follows by smoothing out his mustaches. Rising to his short height before relaxing to a confident mien a half-smirk sets itself 'pon lip. Once fully having adopted the very model of a modern raconteur he shrugs "How far beyond the walls of the Wasp's house have you been?" raising an eyebrow "The common baths? The private?" his voice susurrant and inviting "the House has halls that would give you pause to question what you know of sin..." letting silence sit heavy, pungent and fulsome for a few moments.
With a languid roll of his neck Phil ends with "Though Shorafa's opinion would wax and wane with the usefulness of what you share... so?"
"You misunderstand me, friend," Ziphras grins. "I'm no tourist, and while I think Shorafa would be willing to pay handsomely for information leading to the restoration of her little lost lamb to the fold, I'm not interested in taking it out in trade."
"Here's what I want. First, Lil never knows I tipped you off. There's a ship she uses, the Teeth of Araska. As far as she's concerned, you pin the leak on one of those sailors; I can provide you with some names."
"Second, Shorafa is explicitly informed of my helpfulness in this matter. You say I agreed to this as a sign of respect to her -- and, of course, out of sincere concern for Lil's well-being. After the wayward girl has returned and all is smoothed over, I want a personal meeting with Shorafa to discuss her support for the inclusion of my little operation here in future discussions of civic affairs in Riddleport, right alongside Croat's protection racket and Zincher's staffing service."
"Here's what I want. First, Lil never knows I tipped you off. There's a ship she uses, the Teeth of Araska. As far as she's concerned, you pin the leak on one of those sailors; I can provide you with some names."
Braddon sighs.
"The Teeth? We know that. We've got it written in Infernal somewhere. It's addressed to her fake name and we already gutted her companion who wrote it. I almost drowned for that. Let me tell you, sir, that we... that I...?"Braddon looks to Phil and Tendal.
"Have I said too much?"
Braddon sighs.
"Have I said too much?"
Braddon sighs.
"You mean, today? Clearly, I'm no judge.", Gristav smirks.
Tendal walks back toward his companions, briefly raising his eyebrow once his back is to Ziphras. "Mr. Hurst, you have said what was on my lips and nothing more. As per usual, you simply drive a finer point than I am wont to." Tendal turns, and motions generally to Ziphras and his thugs with his cane. "I believe that we were incorrect. Mr. Ziphras does not appear to have what we require. We will be better served in time and efforts elsewhere. Perhaps we need to engage with the boatmen of Riddleport bay, and see if we can prise open some lips with alternative means?" Tendal puffs out a quiet sigh. "Thank you for your time, consideration and fine wine Mr. Ziphras. I bid you good day, and success in your endeavors."
"We ought to leave you with this much, anyway: Either Lil, or someone working hard to seem to be Lil, wanted us to think you had the dwarf and the lefty, and that they were here. Someone, wanted wet steel here today. So, if they didn't contract ahead, they're no friend of yours."
Phillip emerges from an interminable torpor to add "Shorafa will know of your helpfulness..." leaving the lilt of his words to interpretation
Ziphras's knuckles whiten as his fists clench monetarily on the arms of his chair; then, with an effort, he calms himself. "Go ahead," he offers nonchalantly. "But you'll not find Lil without my help, and when you return, my price will be higher. Or perhaps," he smiles coldly at Phil, "I'll cut out the middleman and deal directly with Shorafa. Go-betweens like you merely slow the pace of negotiations."
Braddon looks to Tendal.
"If he's the only one who can help us, maybe we should stay? Who else would know where she is? I mean, Riddleport is a pretty small backwater."
Braddon frowns and looks back to Ziphras.
"Umm, no offence."
"Well, if we're to part, let me offer a grand alternative, and then, even if we do part, it will seem less a loss, compared to the ridiculousness of what I suggest... In this, I'm inspired by a tale I read as a lad, of a man who offered to people who thought themselves flawed, each in his particular failing, simple tokens of their superiority in those realms, which let them see, by a sort of dead reckoning, how far they had come, and how far they might go."
"You spoke of what monsters we might report we'd faced here. And of a place at the table. You want, a place at that table, and that respect. Well, you've already got it, and you're well-positioned for more. This Lil Scarlet, she's demonstrably clever, and she's managed to anger, well, more than one power, in the city. And then she arranged that we think you had people we want."
Gristav looked about, measuring dissent, but knowing he might miss it. With a faint shrug to Fortune, he continued, "So, that's the story we'll tell. That we never got in far enough to find those fellows, our dwarf and our cripple, and so far as we can tell, you've herself here, as well. Perhaps we'll claim a whiff of perfume. Given the interest some have shown, to us, of her, you'll have what you need, to start, whatever conversations suit you best. I expect you ought to prepare your presentation, they're liable to come to you."
"You lack a monster we might report, but that could serve you better, a redoubt of doughty doubletted defenders, than a fantastical, but doubted... creature."
Tendal, face set like stone listens as Gristav finishes, then simply turns back to Ziphras and watches him coolly from near the door.
Braddon takes a step forward.
"Look. I have to kill Lil. Real bad. She killed my Gramma. I don't care what the price is. I've got a spare sword. It's beautiful quality. Not as good as the one I wanna put through Lil but you can have it. Now."
Braddon slowly takes his Masterwork Short Sword and, hilt first, pushes it towards the nearest thug.
"I was gonna sell it to pay these guys back. I'm not sure how much I owe. They'll tell me. But you can have this. Just for talking. I'm sorry. I just hafta kill Lil. And maybe toss her head over the cliff where Gramma was found. Shorafa may not like it, but it's important."
Braddon takes a step back and waits nervously.
"Second, Shorafa is explicitly informed of my helpfulness in this matter. You say I agreed to this as a sign of respect to her -- and, of course, out of sincere concern for Lil's well-being. After the wayward girl has returned and all is smoothed over, I want a personal meeting with Shorafa to discuss her support for the inclusion of my little operation here in future discussions of civic affairs in Riddleport, right alongside Croat's protection racket and Zincher's staffing service."
Phillip considers the words for a few moments before inclining his head in a nod far enough to break eye contact. The nod is held for a few moments before raising his head and tilting it to one side to encourage Ziphras to continue.
Ziphras raises an amused eyebrow at Braddon. "There've been many men who have wanted to kill Lil. They end up killing for her. You'd be better off petitioning Shorafa for redress. The woman comes up with some ingenious schemes for revenge."
Ziphras's nearest man takes the shortsword from Braddon, turning it in his hand and running his eyes over it. He offers Ziphras a shrug, and the guild leader nods.
"The ridge is honeycombed with smuggler's tunnels," he relates, "ways to get goods or people in and out of Riddleport without official notice. You'd never find it on your own, but one of my men can show you which one she uses to come and go from her assignations with the Teeth. But you tell Lil one of the pirates betrayed her. There's one, Scabb, with a black beard. Shorafa you tell I pointed you toward her lost sheep."
Braddon's brow furrows as he listens, concentrating intensely.
"We've been seen talking to the crew," he nods. "Scabb. She'll believe that."
Braddon grins. "And I'm happy to tell Shorafa the truth. That's why she doesn't like me."
Tendal listens quietly to the exchange, his cane steady on the floor, hoping that Braddon can break through the impasse. He nodded absently when Ziphras gave them the information they needed.
No need to upset the balance now. Ziphras isn't going anywhere, and Jenner isn't likely to go anywhere either. We have more important work to deal with...lives in the balance. he thinks, his face a mask.
"So," he says expectantly, "are we in agreement?"
Braddon nods, opens his mouth, closes it, then looks to Tendal and shuffles his feet.
Snake cuts his eyes toward the indecisive Braddon before turning them to Tendal, curious if an agreement is coming.