Test post.
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Along a large street in the Merchant’s Quarter stands the Drowsy Bugbear. A sign hangs out front, depicting a snoring bugbear holding an empty mug. A solid wooden door is slightly ajar, and a blind man sits out front, playing a jaunty sailor’s tune on an accordion with suprising skill. The interior tavern is fairly standard, a bar at one side of the room with stools along it and tables filling the rest of the establishment. Sitting at a table in the middle of the room sits a well dressed Kelish man. He talks to a large man sitting at the table before shaking his head. The large man stands up and storms out, mumbling about, ”Damned Kelish always tryin’ to make a buck.” Once the party members make their way to him he greets them warmly, ”Now you all look like a fine bunch! I am Sedik Vasra Hahmayad al-Katapesh! I assume you are here about the job? If you are, it is fairly simple. A ship for Katapesh will leave in two days, the Trade Wind I believe it is called, docked at wharf 5, pier 18. Once in Katapesh, meet Maulia at Hahmayad Exports. She will take you to the caravan to Alkenstar. Finally, once in Alkenstar speak to Kruv at the Wach and Heldonpinder Trading Company to collect your pay. Do you have further questions?”
Sedik seems a little...odd. Some mannerisms seem a bit out of place.
seems fair enough. When do we board the Trade Wind, and do you have any jobs for us before that.
Elsa speaks with an absalom slums accent, that she is trying to suppress.
Erick had been sitting at the bar, his Chapter House had taken a request for someone who could handle people and violence in equal measure, and as the newest they'd sent him. When the man he'd been sent to meet motioned them over, he approached warily. Something about the man was off. "Yes, what is the pay, what is the job? I was given just a request that you'd requested a hired hand." He responds. His eyes narrowing slightly. "Seems your out of your native environment, not a local either I take it?" He asks, neutrally, to see what reaction he gets.
As Armanus enters the bar, in which during his voyage found out the annoying gnome was sent for the same job, he is motioned over by the man who was described as his contact for the job. Listening to both the kelish trader and the cavalier, the tiefling agree with the newcomer's questions.
"Yes", agrees Armanus, "I also feel we could use some more information, if you care to elaborate."
Kristleifur Ehrenskiöld stand 3' 7" tall and weighs 39lbs, with hairless skin the colour of granite. But he has the confidence and swagger of someone twice that or more.
In his Darklands leather clothing, with a battered (gnome-sized) musket on his back, he swaggers into the bar. And sees the fascinating red man again!
"Armanus! You were in such a hurry off the ship that I nearly didn't see you leave! Good to see you here!"
He turns to Sedik and hears out his pitch.
"Sedik, can I call you Sed? We'll need a bit more info than that! Cargo, time span, likely foes, etc, etc, etc! Don't hold back Sed!" Kris says, smiling a genuinely enthused smile.
"Ah, I suppose not all may have gotten the specifics. You are to escort a shipment from here to Alkenstar by way of Katapesh. The ship voayage to Katapesh shall take three days, and the caravan will take anywhere from five to ten days, based on weather and such. I cannot imagine there will many foes, but in this line of work a bit of insurance is always useful." He turns to Erick and says, "I as may have noticed, I am Kelish, and in that way I suppose I am out of my element." He then notes to Kristleifur, smiling slightly, "Sedik is fine." He finally says to Elsa, "The Trade Wind leaves two days from now in the morning. I have no jobs for you until then, so consider it some time to relax."
"Now that's more like it Sed! Ik!", Kristleifur says, beaming as he recalls. His accent speaking Taldan a mixture of surface gnome pronunciation of common with Darklands influence.
"Even if you're new to town, you've surely heard of a few places to have some fun, get some coin, right?"
The deep gnome appears to not quite grasp this Taldan word for "relax".
"I see, yes, they did leave out a few things. Unusual for my Order, but not unheard of. Apologies, I am Chevalier Erick Bonestihl." "Of the Order of the Tome." He nods to all in turn. "My usual duties are Bodyguard and Diplomatic Missions, so escorting is not too outside my experience." He turns back to Sedik. "And the pay scale, Mr. Sedik?" He prompts a second time, since Sedik seems either scatter brained, or trying to avoid the answer.
I am Elsa Swiftfoot. And I too am interested in what we are to be paid.
"I also" A figure emerges from the chaos of the bar - featureless in a hooded floor length coat made from some sort of mottled fur "Am here about 'the job'. Assuming, as the others state, the pay scale is adequate."
Unlike most mercenaries Zyrel seems little interested in the payscale - he raises the point only to fit in.
Kristleifur turns to the hooded figure.
"You're interesting. Let's be friends!"
And to all:
"My manners escape me! I am Kristleifur Ehrenskiöld, at your service! With due compensation."
He winks at Sedik at the last part.
Erick eyes the hooded figure thoughtfully for a moment, but then returns his attention to Sedik.
Sedik nods, ”Yes, it is always money in the end with this line of work. Upon safe delivery of the cargo to Alkenstar, each of you will receive 750 gold pieces or an equivalent amount of goods. The cargo is mostly trade goods, with a few private lockboxes for high profile customers.” He purses his lips briefly before continuing, ”So, ah...Kristleifur, you want a place to drink and relax. I am not a local in these parts so I do not know exactly, but you can probably find an inn somewhere in the Merchant’s Quarter.” He folds his hands on the table and says, ”Unless there are further questions, I have other business to attend to.”
Erick nods. "Good enough for me, on the money. One last question, do you have anything for us to prove we have a ticket or berth on the ship? Identity coin, slip of paper, tickets?"
"Oooh, one last thing! Will food be provided on board? And what Erick said."
"Could we board now?" The hooded figure shrugs "I've little enough to do in Absalom. That would demonstrate you are on the level, save us board for two days, give us a chance to coordinate, and we could provide security while the cargo is being boarded."
Sedik nods, ”I suppose that could be useful.” He pats his pockets and finds a scrap of paper. He scribbles something on it and hands it to Erick. He then says”There you are. Well, you are welcome to board the ship provided you want to take a two day swim in the Inner Sea.” Sedik chuckles at his remark before continuing, ”Frankly, I do not know what they will serve.”
The hooded figure pauses, as if considering. "Best to wait here, and hope they are on schedule." he turns to the others "Perhaps we should coordinate amongst ourselves now."
"Righty so! I'm new to town, and new enough to the overburn...I mean surface. I'm willing to work with just about anyone so long as they aren't trying to eat me or shank me. I'm damn handy with tools, and muskets, and being quiet before using either of those."
The hooded figure turns to look at Kristleifur. "Zyrel. Let's let our employer go, and find somewhere more quiet to talk. Perhaps we can even find something passable to drink while we talk. Too many voices, and too many ears, here." He looks to the others "Chevalier? Elsa? Would you care to join us?"
A moment passes and the hooded figure has a thought "Are there others we are to work with, Sedik?"
The tiefling, listening to all the information relayed, nods at the elf's suggestion for quieter locations.
Erick takes the sheet of paper, and nods at his new employer. When the others talk about wanting to plan, he nods. "I can get us a meeting room at the Chapterhouse. Trying to discuss planning in an open public tavern never ends well. People listen in on you, half the squad ends up drunk, and the other half plots punishments for the drunken half, to teach them not to get drunk while planning." He gives a hard grin. "My personal favorite is embarrassing tattoo's on the face. If you run into an elf with an orc penis tattoo'd on her forehead, that's Alastra Sanhedrin. She got drunk on a diplomatic mission the night before the primaries were to converse. She doesn't get assigned to diplomatic missions anymore."
Kristleifur is grinning widely.
"Oh, I think we're all going to get on just great! To the meeting!"
ok, a meeting sounds good. On a side note, anyone seeking to tattoo me in that manner would likely lose the ability to reproduce.
Elsa smiles sweetly and electricity plays over her hands.
The tiefling chuckles in agreement with the halfing.
Sedik shakes his head before saying, ”No. If you wish to bring additional members along you could, but they will not receive their compensation. Now, I must be going. I thank you for your cooperation.” He then picks up a find walking stick and strides out of the tavern. The party leaves a bit later. As they walk they hear a voice behind them. A man dressed in simple worker’s overalls holds a piece of paper and says, ”Excuse me, you dropped this on the way out.”
Kristleifur looks straight at the man, and grins as he reaches for the paper.
"Why yes I did! Thank you most kindly!"
He then pockets it.
Not here!
Erick tilts his head, enough to see behind him, but also keeping an eye to the side, trying to make sure this isn't a pick pocket attempt, good pick pockets will try to distract you with a cohort, then bump into you while you're looking at the cohort. "And what would that be?"
Zyrel gestures a goodbye at Sedik as he leaves.
Kristleifur turns to Erick, hops up onto a nearby chair, and beckons him over.
When (or if) Erick (with anyone else in the mercenaries) comes close enough for whispering:
"Not a clue. But I really think we should open it elsewhere."
Zyrel pauses until he ascertains at least some of the others are still moving and makes for the exit.
As they step outside into the dark, the hooded figure calls "Just a moment. Hold this." The coat is thrown towards a nearby crewmember, and even as it flutters forward Zyrel dashes forward, leaps off the stone wall in front of him and does a gorgeous curved backflip onto a nearby tall roof. Quickly he pulls himself up high enough to grab an enormous backpack concealed on said roof, then lets go and slams back to street level.
"I didn't trust the cloak room, in case I had to leave in a hurry." he explains. "Probably should have, given that I messed up retrieving my gear."
Uncloaked and uncoated he can be seen to be a relatively normal looking elf. Dressed in patchy, loose clothing of grey and black he carries a spear, longbow and curved two handed sword on his back. The backpack has six quivers built into it, each full of arrows, and is covered in a multitude of pockets on the outside.
"Does anyone else need to undo precautions, now that we've met?"
Kristleifur whistles when he sees Zyrel leap up, then winces when Zyrel slams down.
"That was fantastic! Apart from the very last bit, but still! And I've got my stuff right here."
He pats his backpack and adjusts his small musket.
"So where to, Erick?"
Armanus holds his own counsel for now, quietly following the other to their private meeting place.
The party manages to find a quiet sidestreet to duck into to read the note. In slightly shaky handwriting the note says, Lockbox fourteen. Sedik isn’t telling all.
Kristleifur scratches his bald head while the note is passing around.
"Huh. So either Sedik has someone wanting to cause him trouble, or he's not on the level - or both! To be fair, we had to pry even basic information out of him so I'm inclined to check this out. Where is lockbox fourteen anyway? Back in the tavern?"
"Probably on the boat itself? Taverns don't normally have lockboxes. Or at the docks? Anyone with any local area expertise?" He asks, frowning. He checks the back of the note to see if there's a map or clue.
A well dressed man just happens to walk down the side street the party is in. He is sporting a top hat, and multicolored suit wearing strange goggles and a large, mechanical backpack/container on his back and a longspear attached to it. At his hip hangs a morning star and a shortsword. Also, attached to his belt seems to be some type of wand or hose that is further attached to the mechanical container on his back by a tube.
Behind him, a large 7' clockwork and steam construct stands eerily silent save for the precisely timed venting of steam and a faint Ticking noise that cannot be heard over the rumbling of the noise around them. Its eyes are a green at the moment
Ah! Good evening gents, I was supposed to meet with someone named Sedik about a potential job or something of the sort. It seems I have missed him, though thinking about it, I don't really know what he looks like at all! Have any of you fine folk heard of the man? Just happened to see a flyer posted by him and I got a bit curious.
Krisleifur beams at the newcome and his contraption.
"Krisleifur Ehrenskiöld, and you and your...", he tilts his head gawking at the construct, "...thingie are? We were just speaking with Mister Sedik, that is right. And we're trying to work out a few more details. Do you know where a lockbox is to be found around here?"
Erick eyes the newcomer, and then rolls his eyes as Kristleifur announces everything he knows to a stranger. "You do realize, Kris, that it's as likely that he's lying and wants to know what we know about this job? And you're giving away information to a complete stranger about it. Guards do not give information to strangers. They keep strangers away from whatever or whoever they are guarding." He then eyes the stranger. "Far as I'm concerned, unless the person who hired us, whoever they are, tells us they hired you, then you ain't hired."
Elsa sighs. Another scientist. She thought she was shut of them.
Erick, what you're saying might be true, but it is improbable. There would be easier, less flamboyant ways to get that information. Besides, if he is a problem, I'm certain we could make him regret it. she smiles winningly
"Excellent, Ms. Swiftfoot. An excellent way to undercut the point, which means that our excitable friend will ignore my words next time, and the time after. The point of providing lessons when things are unlikely to be dangerous is to prevent dangerous situations. That opportunity, now alas, is gone. I shall leave him to your care then. Do try to keep him from telling everyone everything we know going forward." Erick says politely, waving the Svirneblim toward Elsa. "Mr. Ehrenskiöld, Ms. Swiftfoot is the best person you can discuss the matter of when to believe or not believe strangers. My council is, apparently, unwanted and unneeded."
Zyrel breaks off his response to Kristleifur when the newcomer arrives. "You have missed him. And we shouldn't discuss the job with you unless you are hired." the elf pauses, nods "But we can help you to get hired. The man left not a minute ago. If we catch him you might have a chance to plead your case. How fast can you run?"
Kristleifur's head keeps turning from speaker to speaker, back to clockwork golem, to speaking girl, to speaker.
Having worked himself up into a bit of a tizzy, he finally starts talking again:
"Aaah! Yeah, I shouldn't be talking about the job! But...yeah, you go get Sedik! Get talking!"
The overburn is truly a strange place!
The party is able to track down Sedik. He stands at a small clockwork knickknack shop, a sign proudly proclaiming it to be Mella’s Marvellous Machines, perusing the wares set forth by a beaming gnome woman. Sedik sees the party and says, ”Ah, my employees. I see you’ve brought several friends. Tell me then, who are they?”
The red-skinned tiefling steps forward. "My name is Armanus Jerax Hellfire from Egorian. I am also a sorcerer." Looking around the shop, Armanus continues, "Although sadly, my experience with the clockwork is woefully limited."
Kristleifur opens his mouth and is about to start naming names and talking, then simply says:
"It's best to let them introduce themselves, Mister Sedik."
I'm learning!