Exactly as Aziel had predicted, the Riot Room was full of hot air, if perhaps not at the volume she had expected. Pontificating part-time professors expounded on existential apocrypha at several tables, hushed conversations over half-drunk bottles of cheap wine. Several young and not-so-young scholars sat reading or studying at other tables, and a not inconsiderable percentage of patrons simply sat staring at nothing, books or journals in front of them and pipes leaking pungent fumes in their hands.
A long-haired halfling perched on the cushioned shelf of one dormer window with a half-circle of tables arranged around her as she talked. She looked up briefly as Aziel and Diego entered but kept talking quietly to her audience.
Quiet, Diego thought. Much quieter than the Docker "symposiums" he had been privy to. The Riot Room would have been more aptly named The Placid Place, the Berian mused internally. Where was the fire? The Spirit of Revolution? The worker with the sweat of her brow being all the spark she needed to call for anarchy and an end to capitalists and kings?
Risurians, he sneered inwardly. Endless debates about what to do and not one of them had the orcish-blooded courage to kill dragons and rewrite laws. Still, he kept his expression polite and pleasant, taking out a rolled cigarette from its simple, tin case and passing one to Aziel before resting his own between his tusks. The sharp, silent crack of a match sparking, the wafting, curling smoke that rose from what was recently lit and what was recently snuffed, and Diego felt prepared to deal with philosophers who cared more for the condition of the soul than they did for the condition of their fellow beings.
His yellow eyes caught sight of the halfling whom had taken notice of the pair and gave Aziel a subtle nudge with his elbow.
"Big crowd for a single speaker," he noted in his rolling Berian accent, "Wager she's got the lay of this place."
With care, he led the way through the room to join the half-circle of tables listening to the woman's lecture. His ears paid attention to what she said whilst his eyes and other senses kept track of the crowd, trying to gauge who this halfling was to them.
]
Eveline made a point to cast a Mage Armor spell before entering the tavern. She wasn't expecting a fight, but better safe than sorry. She briefly considered using a spell to protect her mind from enchantment, but it wouldn't last longer than a minute, so she discarded it.
The tremor shocked Eveling enough that she nearly lost her footing. Thankfully the ever graceful Uxui steadied her before she made much of a scene.
"Thank you, darling. I'll be making my way towards the Game Room if you're up for it."
Uxui showed up wearing the sleek, multihued clothes favored by vishkanya--all rippling silk, easy to squeeze into or out of, whatever the case might be. She managed to look businesslike and yet as salacious as any denizen of a seraglio. Unlike any actual member of a harim, though, her jewelry was limited to dozens of red and black bracelets and soft pearls in her earlobes.
She smirked to herself and the crowd, and headed to the outdoor bar, keeping an eye out for workers ready to celebrate a week in Flint's best-maintained factories.
"Eveline, I have baser places to be, but I'll see you up there," she said, after releasing a hand from the sorcerer's shoulder. "I have my own games to play."
His yellow eyes caught sight of the halfling whom had taken notice of the pair and gave Aziel a subtle nudge with his elbow.
"Big crowd for a single speaker," he noted in his rolling Berian accent, "Wager she's got the lay of this place."
With care, he led the way through the room to join the half-circle of tables listening to the woman's lecture. His ears paid attention to what she said whilst his eyes and other senses kept track of the crowd, trying to gauge who this halfling was to them.
Aziel found a chair in the halfling's circle of listeners and plopped into it, crossing her hooves on another as she smoked her cigarette and listened. The tip of her tail lashed lazily as she concentrated on what the halfling had to say... and any side conversations that might be had around her.
Diego had looked positively constipated when he'd seen the clientele of the Riot Room, and she was still stifling the smile she'd been unable to completely avoid as she waited for any fireworks - or leads - to appear.
As Aziel and Diego sat down the halfling was saying "...manufacture thoroughly revolutionizes it, and seizes labor-power by its very roots. It converts the laborer into a crippled monstrosity, by forcing her detail dexterity at the expense of a world of productive capabilities and instincts; just as in the relatively primitive warring states of Ber where they butcher great land beasts whole for the sake of their hide and tallow. The laborer's value to the capitalist, therefore- by nature unfit to make anything independently in this system- is as a mere appendage of the capitalist’s factory!" The crowd of fellow scholars sitting around her were all nodding appreciatively at this dissection of the underpinnings of the capitalist system.
She looked appraisingly at Aziel and Diego as she stopped to take a breath and a sip of her drink. "We're always glad to make some new friends. Are you students at the University? New faculty?" The question was mostly aimed at Diego, since he rather looked the part of an educated man.
While there were a number of working class folk sitting around the tavern- dock workers and factory workers in knots at different tables around the room- the tavern didn't have the rough and tumble feel of a working class tavern. It certainly wasn't upscale, but from the conversation and manner of the waitresses, the atmosphere seemed somewhat elevated. Maybe it was that there were so many scholars from Pardwright University in addition to the workers.
Uxui drew eyes as she approached the bar- something she was well used to- and her well trained senses noticed the musicians sitting at several tables near the bar changed their conversation as she walked by. The long haired man who had spoken up to calm the crowd was eyeing her in particular, his foot resting on a guitar case under the table. The other musicians appeared to be taking his lead.
On the second floor, Eveline found the energy Diego had been looking for. The gaming tables and billiards were crowded with dock workers, drinking and betting hard to blow off steam. The volume in here was high, with men and women both loudly exclaiming at both bad bets, surprise turns, and missed shots.
A grizzled sailor still with a full head of hair in his early 50s was holding court about the need for a union as he held a pool cue in his hands. Aziel's old buddy, Thames Grimsley, still working hard to drum up support for his dock workers guild. Eveline recognized him from his file- he had a gash from a policeman’s knife on the side of his face, gained during a dock worker's riot. His speaking voice was unmistakable, full of unnecessary, melodramatic pauses.
As understated as she thought she was, Eveline's red dress still stood out in the room full of grease stained work clothes, and alone and without a drink in her hand, she definitely drew eyes.
"Neither, Señora," Diego answered softly, letting his Berian accent roll while still speaking with the clipped tongue of a Risurian, "But potentially interested in both positions, if what I've heard so far is indication of the syllabus. I, myself, have seen of that which you speak - the worker's sweat being treated no differently than oil for gears or coal for flames. Easily bought, and easily used up. Es una tragedia, no doubt, but one that hopefully rhetoric such as yours can help turn around, hm?"
The Berian Half-Orc wasn't exactly laying on the charm but more expressing an intellectual admiration and curiosity: he was always happy to meet fellow anarchists, socialists, and communists, wondering where, exactly, the great upheaval of Risur would come from. Far too often, however, he had quickly found that such folk were filled with talk and no action. Worse, sometimes they were filled with beer and bombs that only brought nightsticks down on the heads of the oppressed. It was a delicate balance in Flint, to be sure, but one Diego was quite confident would explode soon enough, leaving a reformed, more equitable city in its wake.
"Diego Roldán, formerly of the Panoply," he introduced himself, offering his larger hand to the small woman. It wasn't technically a lie - he had indeed come to Risur by way of that scholarly organization of Ber - but he was not about to admit to his job as a Detective within the Constabulary.
"This here is my partner," he indicated the fetching Tiefling, letting her introduce herself. While he was free to give his own name - his tenure with the RHC was recent and anyone familiar with him was more than likely familiar with his Private Practice if anything - he wasn't quite sure if Aziel would go the same route.
"Whose lecture do we have the pleasure of sitting in on, hm?" Diego asked, encouraging the Halfling to introduce herself.
Thinking Man's Tavern - Main Bar (1st Floor), Uxui
Uxui sidled up near the musicians, a smile forming on her lips. "Finished a concert, or here to play one?" she asked the guitarist. "When you aren't discoursing on seismology, that is." Her eyes flicked toward the bartender and then to see if there was an extra chair in their midst.
"Diego Roldán, formerly of the Panoply," he introduced himself, offering his larger hand to the small woman. It wasn't technically a lie - he had indeed come to Risur by way of that scholarly organization of Ber - but he was not about to admit to his job as a Detective within the Constabulary.
"This here is my partner," he indicated the fetching Tiefling, letting her introduce herself. While he was free to give his own name - his tenure with the RHC was recent and anyone familiar with him was more than likely familiar with his Private Practice if anything - he wasn't quite sure if Aziel would go the same route.
"Whose lecture do we have the pleasure of sitting in on, hm?" Diego asked, encouraging the Halfling to introduce herself.
Aziel tipped a lazy two-fingered salute the halfling's way, giving her a nod of acknowledgement. She felt no great need to introduce herself just yet, but when she did, it would have to be by her name as well - there were a number of Dockers in the crowd that she knew, a few that she'd spent energetic evenings with before. For the moment, she was listening to the side conversations more than anything, hoping to catch mention of the industrialist or their true quarry - and being amused by the expressions of some of the men when Diego referred to her as his partner.
Well, he wasn't wrong!
Aziel, for all that she knew Docker philosophy well enough, was not well-versed in the learning that Diego could boast of, having never formally studied; so she remained quiet, breathing in the atmosphere and the smoke drifting in the air, and waited for some clue to present itself for her to pounce on.
On the second floor, Eveline found the energy Diego had been looking for. The gaming tables and billiards were crowded with dock workers, drinking and betting hard to blow off steam. The volume in here was high, with men and women both loudly exclaiming at both bad bets, surprise turns, and missed shots.
A grizzled sailor still with a full head of hair in his early 50s was holding court about the need for a union as he held a pool cue in his hands. Aziel's old buddy, Thames Grimsley, still working hard to drum up support for his dock workers guild. Eveline recognized him from his file- he had a gash from a policeman’s knife on the side of his face, gained during a dock worker's riot. His speaking voice was unmistakable, full of unnecessary, melodramatic pauses.
As understated as she thought she was, Eveline's red dress still stood out in the room full of grease stained work clothes, and alone and without a drink in her hand, she definitely drew eyes.
Noticing that she wasn't going to blend in with the crowd, she decided to be bold and move herself to a position where she could better hear Grimsley. After all, her curiosity wouldn't even be feigned.
Lyle Langston responded to the bartender's words with laughter, as though she had just told him an tremendously good joke. "No, no. I am not quite so unrefined as to beg for food, miss. He said...
...which was entirely untrue, but not at all relevant to the current conversation. "The only free thing I could possibly desire is your lovely smile, and you have already been kind enough to treat me to that."
The entrepreneur ordered three of the desserts to go with his drink, which he paid for without hesitation, even adding a little extra as a tip (though Lyle reminded himself that he would have to ask for reimbursement by the RHC later on). Remembering that one of his fellow constables had mentioned the desserts might have been drugged, Lyle waited until the bartender (and those around him) were occupied elsewhere. He then tried to discreetly use his Detect Poison Spell-Like Ability on the brigadeiros.
"Diego Roldán, formerly of the Panoply," he introduced himself, offering his larger hand to the small woman. It wasn't technically a lie - he had indeed come to Risur by way of that scholarly organization of Ber - but he was not about to admit to his job as a Detective within the Constabulary.
"This here is my partner," he indicated the fetching Tiefling, letting her introduce herself. While he was free to give his own name - his tenure with the RHC was recent and anyone familiar with him was more than likely familiar with his Private Practice if anything - he wasn't quite sure if Aziel would go the same route.
"Whose lecture do we have the pleasure of sitting in on, hm?" Diego asked, encouraging the Halfling to introduce herself.
If the halfling woman was charmed by Diego's accent or manner, she didn't show it. She smiled at the half-orc but it seemed more bemused than friendly. "An educated man from a far off land." She put out a small hand to shake with Diego. "Hennet Rinus, of Pardwright University. I've met a few visiting professors from Ber. Do you by any chance know Kuono of Reo Pedrecoso? Stout Millerian, always said she had a pet bear back home, but I think she was making a subtle joke about freedom and self-determination."
Unfortunately for Aziel's attempt to eavesdrop, most of the group of scholars- not all young, as there were several folk easily in their 40s sitting there- had quieted down to listen to the introductions, and the rest of the quiet conversations were too far away for Aziel to overhear from where she sat.
Uxui sidled up near the musicians, a smile forming on her lips. "Finished a concert, or here to play one?" she asked the guitarist. "When you aren't discoursing on seismology, that is." Her eyes flicked toward the bartender and then to see if there was an extra chair in their midst.
The long haired musician smiled back at Uxui. "For now we're just drinking. Too early in the night to make any money, Miss...?"
One of the other musicians at a table to one side- and with a view of Uxui's back side- said something to his tablemates in pidgin Elvish that made them chuckle.
Noticing that she wasn't going to blend in with the crowd, she decided to be bold and move herself to a position where she could better hear Grimsley. After all, her curiosity wouldn't even be feigned.
Grimsley was expounding on his favorite topic, the need for workers to unite against the exploitation of the factory- and ship-owning class. It was still early, though, and the firebrand had yet to fully get going. After a few minutes, the grizzled old docker finally noticed her.
He cocked his head in Eveline's direction. "You want something or are you just waiting for the table to open up, sweetheart?"
...which was entirely untrue, but not at all relevant to the current conversation. "The only free thing I could possibly desire is your lovely smile, and you have already been kind enough to treat me to that."
The waitress laughed and shook her head. "I'm expecting a good tip, with a tongue as sharp as that. Smooth talker like you's got to have some gold in his pocket."
The entrepreneur ordered three of the desserts to go with his drink, which he paid for without hesitation, even adding a little extra as a tip (though Lyle reminded himself that he would have to ask for reimbursement by the RHC later on). Remembering that one of his fellow constables had mentioned the desserts might have been drugged, Lyle waited until the bartender (and those around him) were occupied elsewhere. He then tried to discreetly use his Detect Poison Spell-Like Ability on the brigadeiros.
Lyle's magic told him these chocolates were not dosed. So the dead woman must have gotten the fey pepper from somewhere else.
If the halfling woman was charmed by Diego's accent or manner, she didn't show it. She smiled at the half-orc but it seemed more bemused than friendly. "An educated man from a far off land." She put out a small hand to shake with Diego. "Hennet Rinus, of Pardwright University. I've met a few visiting professors from Ber. Do you by any chance know Kuono of Reo Pedrecoso? Stout Millerian, always said she had a pet bear back home, but I think she was making a subtle joke about freedom and self-determination."
"Kuono also had a habit of also enjoying puns, especially when she could show off her linguistics skills," Diego noted with a chuckle, nodding in recognition of the name, "Though "Pet Ber" certainly does have ... different implications for our people, sí."
Diego pulled up a chair to settle himself down, leaning back against the wood while studying Hennet. He gave a small glance back to Aziel to make sure she was well before he run his fingers through his thick, curly beard.
"Truth be told, your lecture caught me a touch by surprise - consider my curiosity piqued, Señorita Rinus, but I have heard that one of these very parasites frequents this tavern. A Señor Sechim, I believe the name was. The notion of a magnate caring at all for his workers, now that would be worth a dozen treatises and even more thorough scrutiny. And yet here you sit, criticizing the system unabashedly."
There was no critique in Diego's words, that was for sure. If anything, he sounded a touch impressed.
"Are you familiar with the man, at all? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on such a perplexing oxymoron as a Caring Capitalist."
"Arantxa," said Uxui with a smile. "It means 'thorn bush'," she said to the musician with the terrible Elvish, showing more of her teeth as her smile widened.
If the halfling woman was charmed by Diego's accent or manner, she didn't show it. She smiled at the half-orc but it seemed more bemused than friendly. "An educated man from a far off land." She put out a small hand to shake with Diego. "Hennet Rinus, of Pardwright University. I've met a few visiting professors from Ber. Do you by any chance know Kuono of Reo Pedrecoso? Stout Millerian, always said she had a pet bear back home, but I think she was making a subtle joke about freedom and self-determination.""Kuono also had a habit of also enjoying puns, especially when she could show off her linguistics skills," Diego noted with a chuckle, nodding in recognition of the name, "Though "Pet Ber" certainly does have ... different implications for our people, sí."
Diego pulled up a chair to settle himself down, leaning back against the wood while studying Hennet. He gave a small glance back to Aziel to make sure she was well before he run his fingers through his thick, curly beard.
"Truth be told, your lecture caught me a touch by surprise - consider my curiosity piqued, Señorita Rinus, but I have heard that one of these very parasites frequents this tavern. A Señor Sechim, I believe the name was. The notion of a magnate caring at all for his workers, now that would be worth a dozen treatises and even more thorough scrutiny. And yet here you sit, criticizing the system unabashedly."
There was no critique in Diego's words, that was for sure. If anything, he sounded a touch impressed.
"Are you familiar with the man, at all? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on such a perplexing oxymoron as a Caring Capitalist."
Aziel's brows rose; she was reluctantly quite impressed. Maybe the halfling was hard to impress with philosophy and rhetoric, but she thought Diego sounded as though he'd been bantering with philosophers all his life, rather than earning a living as a Docker. Could Rinus hope to play matador with this Berian bull?
"Olé," she murmured to herself, her gaze on the two while she let her peripheral vision suggest to her anything of interest... like someone taking undue interest in Diego's mention of Sechim.
Satisfied that the chocolates weren't poisoned, Lyle popped one of the brigadeiros into his mouth, chewing as he carefully considered his next move. He had not really expected any of the food to contain fey peppers over the counter, but it had been worth taking a few moments to confirm it.
Taking out a couple more gold coins, the former businessman waited for an opportune moment to grab the waitress's attention once again.
"I must say that was a corking good meal. You have my compliments, miss." Lyle said as he slid his tip across the counter. "But I must confess, while both the company and the service here today have been nothing short of exquisite, I do have another reason for seeking out this place. You see, that friend I mentioned earlier is actually my sister-in-law, and I have been given the rather difficult task of acquiring some of her favourite treats for a surprise birthday party."
Leaning back in his chair, Lyle then began to fiddle with the collar of his shirt, as if suffering some form of guilt. "I have already mentioned the brigadeiros, but I am sure that other desserts were mentioned. Oh... if only I could remember! But if perhaps I could speak with whoever deals with her the most, they could tell me more about what she orders? She was in here just this morning..."
Lying as easily as he breathed, the RHC Constable began to describe Nilasa Hume in as much detail as he dared to provide.
"Kuono also had a habit of also enjoying puns, especially when she could show off her linguistics skills," Diego noted with a chuckle, nodding in recognition of the name, "Though "Pet Ber" certainly does have ... different implications for our people, sí."
The halfling scholar laughed, as did a few of the members of her audience. Apparently Diego had scored a point for himself.
Diego pulled up a chair to settle himself down, leaning back against the wood while studying Hennet. He gave a small glance back to Aziel to make sure she was well before he run his fingers through his thick, curly beard.
"Truth be told, your lecture caught me a touch by surprise - consider my curiosity piqued, Señorita Rinus, but I have heard that one of these very parasites frequents this tavern. A Señor Sechim, I believe the name was. The notion of a magnate caring at all for his workers, now that would be worth a dozen treatises and even more thorough scrutiny. And yet here you sit, criticizing the system unabashedly."
There was no critique in Diego's words, that was for sure. If anything, he sounded a touch impressed.
"Are you familiar with the man, at all? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on such a perplexing oxymoron as a Caring Capitalist."
Hennet rolled her eyes. "Sechim? Yeah, he comes in here, brings some of his pet workers as a treat. But if he paid them a living wage he wouldn't have to take them to a pub because they could take themselves." She shook her head. "He has a reputation as a good boss, but he plays up the 'good steward' capitalist role so hard it makes you wonder what he's hiding. None of them," she raised her voice a little so her entire crowd could hear, "really care about the worker! Their only concern is leveraging the sweat of the working class and maximizing profits! If they are making an effort to improve the lot of their workers, it's only because it's a pain to train new employees!"
The other scholars were nodding along, clearly agreeing with Hennet's line of thought on the owners of capital. Rinus nodded now that she had her audience's attention back and she looked back at Diego. "What's your interest in Sechim, Panoply?"
"Arantxa," said Uxui with a smile. "It means 'thorn bush'," she said to the musician with the terrible Elvish, showing more of her teeth as her smile widened.
The musician smiled back and raised a glass in Uxui's direction. His expression said he either didn't understand her hidden threat or he didn't care. The long haired man laughed. "Alright, Miss Arantxa. Can we buy you a drink? A pretty woman can sometimes bring more coins than a pretty song on its own."
Leaning back in his chair, Lyle then began to fiddle with the collar of his shirt, as if suffering some form of guilt. "I have already mentioned the brigadeiros, but I am sure that other desserts were mentioned. Oh... if only I could remember! But if perhaps I could speak with whoever deals with her the most, they could tell me more about what she orders? She was in here just this morning..."
[dice=Bluff (A Liar & Conman + Charisma + Level)] 1d20+4+1+3
Lying as easily as he breathed, the RHC Constable began to describe Nilasa Hume in as much detail as he dared to provide.
As he described her, the waitress's expression grew less and less friendly. Eventually she leaned in, displaying a generous amount of extremely tanned and weathered cleavage. "Friend, I know the girl you're talking about and I know her boyfriend, too. I also know she doesn't have any siblings. So you can get to the point or you can get out."
1st Floor
"Happy to accept, Señor...?" Uxui let her smile warm.
Hennet rolled her eyes. "Sechim? Yeah, he comes in here, brings some of his pet workers as a treat. But if he paid them a living wage he wouldn't have to take them to a pub because they could take themselves." She shook her head. "He has a reputation as a good boss, but he plays up the 'good steward' capitalist role so hard it makes you wonder what he's hiding. None of them," she raised her voice a little so her entire crowd could hear, "really care about the worker! Their only concern is leveraging the sweat of the working class and maximizing profits! If they are making an effort to improve the lot of their workers, it's only because it's a pain to train new employees!"
The other scholars were nodding along, clearly agreeing with Hennet's line of thought on the owners of capital. Rinus nodded now that she had her audience's attention back and she looked back at Diego.
"What's your interest in Sechim, Panoply?"
Diego had stomped his foot quite loudly in agreement with Hennet's view of the robber barons that were figuratively and literally bleeding Flint dry. There was no need for deception or acting to do so: this was exactly the sort of fight the Berian was prepared for, although as always the "resistance" in the city seemed to be what was before him: people with a lot of talk and theory and philosophizing, but very little direct action.
That could be dealt with later.
"Not so much Sechim, Professor, Diego began, "But a Client of mine, a Señorita Nilasa Hume."
He paused for a moment. Assessed whether that name had raised some eyebrows or garnered some interest.
Diego cleared his throat and continued on.
"I was looking into a personal matter for her - I run a small private investigations office for Dockers, you see, helps keep the lights on - and last I heard was that my client had been arrested by those club-swinging government thugs on Oxen Street. You'll imagine my surprise than when I went to find her in lockup to see if there was anything I could do for her, she had already been bailed out!"
The Half-Orc took a long, slow drag on his cigarette, letting the smoke filter out from his nostrils, as if a steaming Berian Bull.
"By a Señor Sechim. I had hoped to find the man here and figure out why he did such a thing. Taking workers out for drinks, eso es una cosa, but buying the release of a 'criminal'," Diego scoffed at the term, playing up that he did not think that Nilasa had done anything to deserve being the target of police violence, "That is something else entirely for a factor owner with a 'Reputation' around town. I feel this may be important to the matter Señorita Hume asked me to look into, but I wager she may not want to speak too candidly of her employer, 'friendly' as he is or not. We all need Bread, after all. Did Nilasa come around here, perhaps? Has she been seen in Sechim's company, were they ... close?"
For a moment Lyle just sat there, frozen in place. A few misplaced words, a little too much detail, and just like that the lie had completely fallen apart. And the conversation had been going so smoothly too. Still, it appeared the waitress had known the victim far better than he had anticipated. That was something to consider.
After several moments of uncomfortable silence, Lyle finally laughed. He raised his hands as if to say 'Oh you caught me!' as he shook his head in embarrassment, the former businessman having decided it was time to drop the act.
"Ah... I see that I have made a mess of things." Lyle said, trying to appear even more honest and open than usual. "I apologise for the deception, miss. But I thought I might learn more here if everyone was at ease. Reaching into his pocket, the entrepreneur quickly flashed his RHC badge, before sliding it back inside his jacket.
Leaning in close, the constable began to speak very softly. "So now you know who I work for. And you can probably guess what I'm here for. Earlier today Nilasa Hume was found dead under suspicious circumstances. If you were her friend, then I need you to share with me everything you knew about her activities, including any odd behavior you might have witnessed.
"With your assistance, it might just be possible for me to bring her killer to justice." Lyle said, his voice that of a man who was all too serious.