The guard nods "One moment." The guard heads to the door and lightly knocks on it. A conversation begins with someone on the other side of the door before the door finally opens.
The other guard who has been quiet all this time ushers you forward. His voice is cheerful yet cordial.
"Excuse me but weapons will need to stay here with me. You will have them returned after you leave."
The guards patiently wait for your response.
"I wouldn't dream of needing such things especially in such dutiful company." she flashes coy smile. She allows the guards to confiscate her weapons which to her were mostly for display rather than any practical need in the first place.
With much smiling and winking, Merelda begins slowly and almost sensually divesting herself of her various weapons. Rapier, Dagger, cold iron dagger, hand crossbow, whip, and etc. Once complete...
"I could take off my spiked armor if you wish, but...that could end up being an unfortunate distraction for some I think since I'm not wearing much else under it...?"
You see the guard stumble a little at Merelda's last comment. "I think you can wear that...um thank you. Please proceed." Taking your weaponry he waits for you to enter and then deposits in a side room once you enter.
The Mithril Exchange is impressive when you enter as the light from outside filters in from the windows located around ten feet off the floor. Everything is arranged immaculately with a counter being arranged in the middle of the room and the various goods encircling the counter. Milling around the shop are a couple of customers who attempt to haggle with the the elven woman who stands behind the counter answering any questions. At the counter are another two guards who stand at attention. Their eyes immediately focus on you as you both enter.
"So Ezeriz sent you? Are you here at the behest of the Watch? Do not think my prices will be any lower I am running a business not a charity no matter is going on with the city."
Merelda just stands there, staring back at the guards and smiling slyly. Her eyes slowly blinking, much like a cat.
Innis takes in the impressive looking shop for a moment then proceeds to match Reesla's business like manner. "We are no charity case I assure you we have payment enough for your services. Let us dispense with the needless questions you run a tight shift around here I'll not belittle it is such a fashion."
Innis & will produce the chest of gold and trinkets to set the stage for business. and follows through with her other bartering assets after she lists her demands from mundane to exotic items in order of priority...
To be traded...
• In a cabinet on the south wall a silver serving set (~60 gp),
five delicate crystal goblets (~18 gp each), nine bottles of perfume (7 gp each)
• a beautifully crafted dagger (masterwork)
• assorted non-magical gold and silver rings (~125 gp for set)
• a gold and onyx hairpin (~25 gp)
• gold and ivory earrings (~100 gp)
• a small skull made of malachite (~75 gp)
• gaudy gold and silver rings (~400 gp for set)
• two silver necklaces (~20 gp each)
• a pair of gold and onyx earrings (~75 gp)• scroll of idiocy
• Friesta's spellbook
• Ellesete's spellbook
• thieves tools
• Cauldron
• white stone(found in mortuary study)
• a deep blue stone(found in mortuary study)
• Snakeskin Homonculous manual
One of Reesla's guards gathers your haul and brings it to the counter where she looks over your goods carefully writing down each piece and noting the price she will buy it for.
"Anything else? I will not inquire where you ladies gathered all of this. I do not deal in stolen goods nor would I believe that associates of the Watch would acquiring these items through illicit means. Still I have never dealt with you. My price for all you have shown me is valued at 3385 gold crowns."
Innis nods "very well beside the items we have a large sum of our own on hand."
"The gladius plus 750 gold for the enchanted falcata.
I see you looking at that polarm it is a glaive. It has been enchanted to make even sharper but I will only let it go for 8500 gold.
My records indicate I have the curative wand you are looking for. It has 19 charges. The sale price is 1800 gold.
The wand of protection from evil will cost 750. It has been used only a few time there are 43 charges on it.
Finally I do also have a pearl of power. That I can let you have for 1150 gold."
"Very well Reelsa it looks like we have a deal"
Merelda whispers in Innis' ear as business concludes. "What a marvelous idea!" the changeling exclaims.
"Reesla we have an associate who is a connoisseur of sorts. Unfortunately duty requires we temper our indulgences with the current state of the city. However we would be remiss if we could not secure another opportunity to acquaint ourselves with that masterpiece of a glaive in your possession. Should we leave 850 gold for you and your item to remember us fondly and put distance to other suitors for the span of a week we would consider it a sound courtesy of which we might be indebted even more. What do you say?"
"A fair proposition. I will keep 200 gold to recoup any losses regardless if someone purchases the item or not. I shall hold onto the glaive for 2 weeks after which should someone inquire about this weapon they will have first right to purchase it. Agreed?"
"Agreed Reesla. Our business here is concluded I wish you good fortune may our paths cross again." Gold exchanges hands, Innis packs up the new gear and sets out to regroup with the team.
Gathering your newly acquired items you head back to the Green Mortuary stopping momentarily to thank Sergeant Ezeriz with a sinful smile which causes him to trip over his words as he ushers another group of people into Old Cassomir.
It is a quick trip back to the Mortuary and you find yourself in good spirits after your talks with Reesla. As you near the gate is slightly ajar and you notice a red hand print around halfway up the gate. The hand print is human sized and still wet from the looks of it. It does not take you too long to realize that the red colour of the print is blood.
Rushing inside you clamber up the steps into the building only to see the old owner of the mortuary sitting on the floor of the entry hall his head slumped against his chest with two daggers buried down to the hilt pinning each hand to floor. A thin cord attached to a tube hangs around his neck.
Innus frowns looking down the old man "Not one of ours at least...
Innis investigates the purpose of the cord and tube in the Mortuary keepers demise.
Merelda sends Cinder up to carefully check for ambushes, while she investigates the tube and the inevitable 'note from the badguy' it most likely contains.
You look over the body noting that the daggers pinning him down are not the cause of his death. Unsure what or who his death you move on to the tube hanging around his neck.
The tube is made out of a sturdy piece of wood and you notice there are grooves all over the tube. Removing it from the neck of the proprietor you find it is hollow and carefully you set to open it.
As you do so you see a piece of hide tucked inside. Pulling it out you give it a firm tug and then watch as five bloody finger tips also spill out of the tube.
You unfurl the bloody note momentarily eyeing the finger tips laying on the ground and wondering what depraved person left this for you:
One by one the mice ran around
And one by one the cat swatted them down.
A memento for the five...oh wait the four of YOU to remember me by.
Because Run or Hide. I will come for each of you and greet you with a far less kindly reception than this old fool received.
signed Haddy
"Good. Maybe finally we can kill that son-of-a-*itch halfling!"
Innis bears her teeth is disgust as the fingers drop and the note is read."This half-man thinks to play games of blood in shadows....hmmm more devious than we assumed. For all that we have won today it seem these cultist may yet have scored one touch upon us. Come let us make haste to the other's with them we shall brew a cataclysm for this miscreants"
Leaving the body there Innis and Merelda quickly head down the stairs to meet up with the others. Gathering everyone you are about to tell them what has occured when you notice that Nicias is missing.
Lililinda indicates that Nicias informed her that he would be heading out to gather some reagents and would return later. He left shortly after Innis and Merelda so he should be back by now she figures.
"We have our destination now don't we? Let's turn these traitors over to your charmed constable Innis and move out! I'm worried about Nicias, but he knows where we were planning to go."
Innis considers the situation "Nicias missing, Kirzon, Lililinda and I are mostly spent, bodes ill for charging ahead. Kirzon you're a tracker is there anyway you can determine whom these fingers once belonged to or where they might be? If they are indeed our missing friend's then the effort of worrying for him is wasted."
"This note means little to me save that the addled halfman might not be able to count. We should stay the course and regather our strength here I'll not be frightened away. If he had the strength to harm us he wouldn't waste time with foolish games." she adds.
Amigail listens quietly to the Calistrians' report. When there's a break in the conversation, she asks for more information about the party's apparent halfling enemy.
"Not much to tell really. He was used as the coverman for the cultists operations here to give them a innocent face and keep the mortuary keeper under duress. We defeated him and his muscle a large cat and some other big and not quite bright humanoid."
Innis looks to Merelda briefly "We squeezed him for information but he found a chance to slink away while we were per-occupied. In fact i'm a little impressed he found the courage to pull this stunt. Let this mess be a cautionary tale to any of you who entertain the thought that wandering off alone is particularly wise."
Merelda Sighs.
"Haddy will get his due: I promise by the Triple Sting! If we're going to rest however, then let's do it. Block the door. Everybody try and rest as best they can and we'll get going to our next location tomorrow. Wake me if I need to help on the watch at all. Kirzon, think you can help us with our fever like you did the last time?"
With that, Merelda appropriates the giant polar bear-skin rug, rolls up and falls asleep. Cinder rests comfortably on top her all night and almost perfectly still, except for the occasional antennae twitch when people move about.
"... In fact i'm a little impressed he found the courage to pull this stunt."
"I suppose a sneaky little coward can have plenty of 'courage' when his enemies aren't in sight." Lililinda comments.
She continues working late into the night, but eventually weariness catches up to her, and she falls asleep under a pile of silk scraps.
Innis conducts some final prayers for the group.
and before she takes her rest like the other's she steals away to obtain the electrum seal
She also offer's Kirzon her talents if he needs them in making sure the group is as well as can be
Kirzon tries his best to keep his poor snake in good health, but it is to no effect as his condition deteriorates.
-Posted with Wayfinder
You set up a guard shift to get your much needed rest for this evening. Kirzon is sure to give each of you a thick paste-like substance that leaves you with a peppery citrus taste after you eat it. He mentions it should help to stave off the effects disease.
Innis hopes that resting her weary body will provide some manner of comfort but she awakens feeling hollow and weakened.
With Nicias still gone and the Party morale sinking. She buries herself in her books of epic tales and war prayers seeking inspiration. She retrieves her harp to play a tune as she reads and sings to the group.
Despite being a novice the performance is quite good and offers her a measure of relief and a lingering sense of courage.
Remembering Friesta's journal Innis will open it and plunder it's secrets with a spell
Amigail can't help but feel a bit inadequate when Innis pulls out a harp, strums it, and sings an uplifting tune...while she's only able to swing her falcata at things, occasionally connecting.
Well, we each need to do our part against this scourge, however small that part may be.
Even with only a brief period of sleep, she feels relatively strong, like her body is at least fighting the infection within her to a standstill.