Keliwyn strides the broad avenue of Marshal's Way. He is late for the dinner with Darthen and his other new companions in arms, detained by Silas Masani, a low-grade contact who always has "the best tip" to sell, but whose information is seldom accurate, but spectacularly good occasionally. Perhaps he makes it up when he needs money and doesn't have real news to sell. This evening's offering was the presence of a new gang of assassins in town, as if the Cerulean Society, Korvosa's sole crime syndicate would allow competition. Keliwyn made the customary assurance that he would check it out and get back to him if the information was worth anything.
The elf turns down Griffon's Lane and his shadow stretches down the hill in front of him. Six or seven more blocks and he'll be able to relax among friends.
The sending is characteristically terse. Keliwyn, come to Bower House immediately. The ambassador calls.
Keliwyn stops immediately upon hearing the mental summons. He pauses briefly, considering his meeting & those waiting for him, and lets out an audible sigh before thinking, in clear answer, I'm on my way. Turning south at the next available street, he sets out to meet with the Ambassador.
Keliwyn passes through the old city gate and into South Shore, one of the more recent additions to Korvosa. A block or two into the new district the close walls of the buildings cease to loom over the street and roll back to reveal a broad wooded park, Kew Woods. The park is something of a gift to the elven community and most of the elves in town make their home in one of the copses here.
Bower House is located in the largest tree in the copse. It is the official residence of the ambassador. A stair of rope and wood constructed so that tension in the rope compresses and holds the wood railings and treads in position, curves gracefully to the ground from the lower branches.
You notice the presence of more watchers than usual scattered throughout the copse. They are a common precaution to help guide townsfolk around the center of the copse where the elves expect more privacy.
As he enters The Woods, Keliwyn ponders the fact they he hasn't missed his people more, and is a bit conflicted about it. Perhaps it's the excitement I've been caught up in he muses. Hopefully, thinks will come down for a bit . . . although I imagine Barvasi will have to be dealt with at some point. Nodding and waving to those he recognizes, Keliwyn keeps a stern face to convey to others that he's occupied and in a hurry, but makes mental notes to spend some time mingling, if possible, after business is resolved.
Once he notices the unusual amount of Watchers, however, Keliwyn's mind returns to the present, and his curiosity gets the better of him. An urgent summons from Kalissreavil himself, an increased watch . . . there may be more than just the general unrest at hand.
Up the hanging stairs, onto a small landing of boards lodged between forking branches , then up a more traditional wooden stair that spirals up the tree's trunk. Despite the cold weather, this tree maintains a thick leafy canopy. Every so often there is the opportunity to walk out a thick branch to a small (sometimes covered) platform.
The consul is waiting for you on the edge one of these. "Walk with me." He holds out a hand. You take his hand and step to the center of the platform and cold shoots through you.
An instant later you are standing in a magic circle drawn on granite. The wind blows cool and gentle. The sun has set and Ambassador Kalissreavil sits before a small fire. He stands and hands you and Selumie a cup of warm cider. In the fire's glow you can see the spare growth of Alpine vegetation.
"Here. This will take away the chill. Sit." The ambassador half sits, half-squats on his heels against a low boulder. "Too bad it's not daylight. The view behind you is spectacular. "
Selumie grunts. hurry up
"Thank you," Keliwyn mutters, a little taken aback by the teleportation. The cider, however, is quickly forgotten, and any curiosity as to their location is quickly surpassed for whatever the business is at hand. While, the Ambassador, Keliwyn briefly considers, does enjoy showing off all things elven and magical, particularly in the presence of humans, this is clearly more than just that.
The ambassador continues, "Keliwyn, how long since King Eodred died? Roughly two months?"
"Normally the succession is disputed, ironed out, and the new monarch confirmed by the Seneschal of Castle Korvosa in a public ceremony. The Sable Company reports to the Seneschal, not to the Queen. It acts as a counterbalance to absolute tyranny"
"Yet since the king's death, the Seneschal has not been seen in public, nor by our sources inside the castle. Interesting, hmm?"
Keliwyn nods. "I've have wondered about the Seneschal's absence," he says, "but haven't been able to look into it myself due to recent events. However, Kalepopolis should have more of a presence in this time of transition." He pauses, but after after a moment, adds, "I've been working with some people and we've uncovered some of Urgothoa's worshippers doing foul things, although I can't see any connection to wider events. Another possibility would be the devil worshippers of Cheliax although I admit that is little more than speculation on my part. Regardless, it would seem that there is a foul presence at work in the city. So, what would you have of me, Ambassador?"
The ambassador looks a little put off that you used his theatrical pause to join the conversation, but that it entirely consistent with his vanity.
"I don't know about Urgathoa " Kalissreavil shakes his head. "That doesn't matter."
"Andru ran down a fisherman who claimed to have seen Kalepopolis two nights past. A fisherman called Grunt Poollen. Andru sent for us, but when we arrived, both were dead."
"We want you to pick up the trail. Find Neolandus Kalepopolis."
"Very well, sir," Keliwyn replies. "Is there anything else? Would you like me to report to you directly? or through the Consul?" he asks with a nod toward Selimir.
"Report directly to me, Keliwyn. Considering how quickly they got to Andru, we may not have time for the usual procedure. Amistira will have a purse for you." He nods toward the magic circle to dismiss you.
"Selumie, would you remain here a bit longer. There is something else I wish to discuss with you."
The consul stretches out his hand in farewell, "Be very careful, my friend. Whoever killed Andru arrived very quickly indeed and there was no sign of a fight. "
[ooc] For reference: Amistira -- female elf -- member of the ambassador's staff. The purse contains 500 gp and a silver bracelet with a turquoise centerpiece. She explains the gem is enchanted with a sending spell. Base value of the bracelet (without stone) is 50 gp.
You know Andru worked out of "The Horn Stein", an inn catering to fishermen and visiting dwarves in Old Korvosa. Three steps from it's door will give you a view down a narrow alley to Eel's End about 40 yards away.
Andru lived in the Shingles on the Old Korvosa side of the Strait of Saint Alika.
In game terms Andru was roughly a wizard 3/ fighter 2 focussed in enchantment and usually carried a wand of magic missiles in addition to a bastard sword.
"I will," Keliwyn says to the Ambassador. Keliwyn shakes the hand offered by the Consul, and says, with a wink, "I'll be in touch."
Turning, he takes his leave, and after a few steps, finds himself back at Bower House. He spends a few minutes with Amistira and, unusual for him, keeps the chit chat to a minimum, thinking already of Andru and the leads he's been given. After admiring the bracelet and asking a few questions about it , Keliwyn thanks her, and heads out towards the Midlands, hoping to catch up with his friends at Jeggare's Jug. Traveling through the city on his way north, the signs of unrest in the city are obvious. Despite the delays and the number of concerns on his mind, he makes it a point to mindful of his surroundings and stops and hides on occasion to see if anyone is following him.
Urgathoa's undead, civil unrest, Barvasi's thugs, a gang of assassins - according to Silas, but probably worth getting word to Inigo, at least, plus the missing Seneschal and Andru, he thinks as he watches from the shadows. What more could possibly come up?
Settling on visiting Andru's home before hitting The Horn Stein, Keliwyn considers the latters proximity to Eel's End, and makes a mental note to ask Heather whether she can assist him with some sort of magic to disguise his appearance. Pulling his cloak a bit tighter around him, and making sure his blades are loose and ready, he steps back on to the street and continues toward his meeting.
The sendingturquoise is a single use item with unlimited range.
The rain (the latest of many rainy days) is probably a help to you as any followers would have to stay close to keep you in sight. Checking your back trail on your way north through the length of the city reveals no followers.
You have a choice of a couple routes to get to Andru's home in the shingles. You can stay on the streets until you cross the Strait of Saint Alika and then climb (DC 12) into the Shingles. Or you know two routes through the shingles on the mainland side which lead to two crossings to the Shingles near his home on Endrin Isle, the Strait Wire, a single wire tightrope across which you can go (acrobatics DC 18 or climb DC 17) , or Swinging Bridge, a crane-like affair of salvaged timbers which can pivot over the strait allowing you a short run along its length followed by a long jump (acrobatics DC 8)to the rooftop of a building which leans out from the Old Korvosa side. A branch of the Cerulean Society, the city's thieves guild, charges a 3 copper toll for use of the Swinging bridge.
In any event as you cross the Strait the white-crested rush of water is unusually high and fast from the many days of rain.
Disappointed, but not surprised that he's missed his friends, Keliwyn changes course for the Shingles and opts for the swing bridge. He pays the coppers and makes chit chat as usual, always looking for a bit of information , and makes the jump with little effort .
Keliwyn skips lightly through Old Korvosa's shingles. He quickly arrives at Andru's rooftop lean-to. As he prepares to enter a voice hisses, "I wouldn't mess about there, good sir. Tis a cursed place now."
Keliwyn stops short, and admonishes himself for not being more careful. Turning towards the voice, he looks for any sign of danger and replies, "Cursed? What ever do you mean? Where's Andru?"
A slip of a halfling slides out from under a crude tent of sailcloth strung from a chimney. She grins, "Well, not really cursed, like by a mage. But it wasn't lucky for Andru, that's certain. He and his friend both died in there and the red men slipped away."
"What? He's dead?" Keliwyn says as he measures up the halfling and calculates the best approach for obtaining information. Settling on directness, he crouches down to eye level, lowers his voice, and continues. "Andru was a friend of mine. Can you tell me what happened?"
"Not much to tell. He brought his friend, a lean old man, up here. That wasn't like him at all. Andru mostly kept to himself. Good fellow. He'd tip us a pinch or two when there was no work. Just kept to himself. Actually I never saw him have visitors before.
"They weren't there long when the red men came. Two went in by the door. Another was by the window. That one started stabbing through the window with a big jagged sword. Only one red man came out."
"Any idea who the old man was? Did you catch his name? What about the Red Men? 'know any more about them? Has anyone been in the place since they left?" As he speaks, Keliwyn's fingers dip into his belt pouch, and he pulls a few coins out, clinking them in his hand very overtly.
The halfling smiles at the sight of the coins. She reaches under her tarp and pulls out two tattered, but reasonably clean cushions, "Here. Sit a spell." She hands you a cushion and drops hers on the rooftop and drapes herself over it.
"I didn't catch the old man's name. Never saw him before. Looked like a working man, butcher or porter maybe. Strong arms. He had a long thin knife."
"Them red men. I'm guessing they were men mind you. Couldn't see their faces with the masks they wore. Right size and didn't move smooth as an elf, but quiet. Never heard them coming and I heard you shinning over that wall to slide down here."
"Like I said, two went in through the door and one was standing by the window there sawing away. You can see the rips in the curtain there. I heard Andru call out once, and there was a couple pops. Then the one red man came out, they wiped the blood off their blades and they climbed back up that wall ."
"I ain't stupid. I laid low in here and kept Bil quiet too. Maybe for a bell or two. Then a bunch o' elves showed up armed for trouble. They weren't real happy with what they found so I didn't pop out for them. They poked around in there, then hustled the bodies out."
"Two people have been by since, looking for a place. But the murder is still too fresh . Someone will move in there someday."
A little more description. As Shingles homes go Andru's place is pretty rich. You're standing on a 30x50 patch of roof formed because the uppermost story of the tenement was only half the width of the story below. It was probably a nice rooftop deck for the penthouse at one time. That door is now boarded up. Andru's leanto is about 10x15 and five feet tall for most of its lenght. It shares a wall with the actual building. It's other walls and roof are real planks. It has a real door with a lock and two windows with thin muslin cloth stretched over them.
Keliwyn nods as he listens, and when the halfling is done, he tosses her two gold coins. "I didn't catch your name, but mine is Keliwyn. I am . . . was, a friend of Andru's, as I said. I also make it my business to know what's going on around town, and there's more where those came from if you can provide me with information. I'll check in from time to time, but you can also leave me messages with Cygney Greenlake in Northgate if you have anything particularly urgent."
Diplomacy
Once their conversation is finished, Keliwyn will take his time looking over Andru's place, but will also keep an eye out for anyone watching to closely.
Perception
Perception
"Thank you. " She touches the coins to her forehead in a grateful salute, then they disappear into a fold in her long skirt. "Most round here just call me Daisy."
Inside Andru's lean-to is characteristically spare, but a little less neat than when he was alive. It was a very good shelter. An old sail has been rigged as an inner roof to channel away any water that gets through the boards and thatch of the outer roof. Likewise , the holes and gaps you see from the outside have all been patched or covered.
The ceiling sail has been cut and shredded. A chest of drawers has some half-opened ones. The bolster and mattress have been sliced open. A floor panel has been pried up to reveal a small cavity.
Looking carefully around Keliwyn notices a slight discontinuity in the grain on the main roof-beam. A few minutes prodding reveals a secret compartment with brass scroll case squeezed inside. The case is larger than usual six knuckles in diameter and the end screws off. Judging by the weight, it must be pretty full.
***
Back out side Keliwyn notices the rounded silhouette of a head on the building across the street. When he looks that way it ducks behind a shed.
Keliwyn surveys the damage, but can help but grin when he finds the scroll case. Curious, but patient, he tucks it inside under his armor and leaves. He stops for a few more words with Daisy while checking his surroundings, and noticing the silhouette across the way, he contemplates his next course of action. Deciding it's better to be the cat rather than the mouse, he takes his leave and tries to circle around to see who is watching. Closing in, he draws his steel and prepares for danger.
This being the shingles, can I have an acrobatics check too as you navigate the roof tops. A balance check running along a sloped roof just below the roofline so you won't be seen as you start to circle around? DC 15, 2d6 damage half non-lethal if you fail. The stealth check will be for your final approach.
Balance
Keliwyn neatly navigates the rooftops to circle around behind the watcher. From behind he, or she, looks something like a giant red beetle. His cape is bifurcated and the upper portion has been stiffened to resemble an insect's forewing. His leather helm has antennae and oversized eye lenses. He wears two long slightly curved swords at his hip. His head moves left and right as he scans Andru's and the adjacent rooftops.
Keliwyn briefly contemplates confronting the strangely dressed character, but understands that his mission is to obtain information and not extract revenge. He slips away instead, heading to the Horn Stein, we're he hopes to examine what he has found, and to find out what he can about Andru and his fisherman friend.
No worries on the posting. Things have been busy on my end, too, and I actually just slipped away for a few nights with my wife.
Keliwyn backs off and leaves the scarlet watcher at his task. To avoid the unpleasantly crowded district of Brdigefront, he skips up the hill past the smoking Ironworks. The massive mill which employs the bulk of the Ironsoots, the iron worker's union. More a factory than a house of craftsmen, quality of the Ironworks' goods ranges from average to poor. If you want quality, go to a custom smith and pay for it.
He then turns right (east) and walks along Jeggare Street. To his left loom the walls of Fort Korvosa. Up here the neighborhood is composed of working folk, largely Ironsoots and the small merchants who cater to them.
Reaching Fort Korvosa Boulevard, the elf strides across an otyugh plug in the center of the intersection. He turns right and walks downhill toward the Stone Bridge which connects the island to the mainland. Just before he reaches the nearly decrepit Temple of Aroden the dead god, Keliwyn turns into a small alley so that he can reach the Horn Stein without being in sight of Eel's End.
The Horn Stein is a squat mass of grey fieldstone with narrow vertically oriented windows. It was the first mission to Korvosa from the Janderhoff dwarves more than two hundred years ago. The dwarves have since relocated to a more conventional building closer to their main trading partner in the city, the Ironworks. The Stein has been operated as a tavern for over 40 years. Thanks to its massive stone roof, the Stein boasts a rooftop beer garden with a dozen tables set on a small lawn amidst various shrubbery surrounded by leafy foliage of the trees planted around the building.
Inside Keliwyn must stoop when crossing under any of the plinth-like stone beams that support the roof. The interior consists of many small rooms. Dwarves can often be seen here. The close stone decor reminds them of home and the beer and ale is the best this side of the Straight of Alika.
Keliwyn quickly grabs a private table in a corner, looking for any signs of trouble or potential leads. . As he sits and watches, he considers the men in crimson and what his informant, Silas, told him about new assassins in town. He reconsiders whether a confrontation would have gained any further information, but again keeps in mind that if Andru's place is important enough to watched, there probably will be someone there for at least another day or two.
After some time to himself, when he's sure no one is paying undue attention to him, Keliwyn examines the scroll case he found at Andru's place, first checking it for any traps before trying to open it.
The a waitress comes by to take your order. She's human but on the short and plump side, with broad features.
No one approaches you or seems to take unusual interest.
The scroll case is not trapped. A number of fine vellum sheets are rolled up inside. They make a thick cylinder of paper that must be coaxed and teased out of the scrollcase by hand. Cork lines the inside of the lid to prevent water from seeping in.
Andru's writing, if the author was Andru, is small, but very neat and precise. The text is not in any language you know and includes pictographs and odd symbols.
Keliwyn closes back up the scroll case, and tucks it away. After a few minutes, he takes out his harrow deck and spreads it out on the table as if he were going to play Towers. When the waitress comes by again, he chats here up, and works in that he's waiting for his friend Andru, a bartender. After she bites, he adds that Andru wanted him to meet another friend (the fisherman? Voot? I can't find his name) to see what she volunteers.
The waitress looks surprised. "Andru? We haven't seen him for days. The boss sure would like to see him though. He missed two shifts and the boss wants to cut him up, throw the pieces in the river, then fire him."
She's surprised at the mention of Grunt. "Grunt Poollen! What would a fine gentleman like yourself want with that smelly old fishwife's husband? Surely you mean someone else?" A little gentle coaxing jogs her memory. "You know Grunt and Andru were talking last week. I thought it was funny. Grunt's an Oathday regular, but he and Andru never talked much. Grunt would tell stories about his kids and the lords and ladies. No one believed 'em much. But last week Andru got drawn into that circle. The boss had to yell at him twice to get back to work."
On cue, a red-headed man, presumably the boss, behind the bar yells, "B'linda, yer ale for the dwarves'ez up." The waitress smiles, "I've got to get back to work. Why don't you stay around? We can talk some more after we close."
The waitress looks surprised. "Andru? We haven't seen him for days. The boss sure would like to see him though. He missed two shifts and the boss wants to cut him up, throw the pieces in the river, then fire him."
She's surprised at the mention of Grunt. "Grunt Poollen! What would a fine gentleman like yourself want with that smelly old fishwife's husband? Surely you mean someone else?" A little gentle coaxing jogs her memory. "You know Grunt and Andru were talking last week. I thought it was funny. Grunt's an Oathday regular, but he and Andru never talked much. Grunt would tell stories about his kids and the lords and ladies. No one believed 'em much. But last week Andru got drawn into that circle. The boss had to yell at him twice to get back to work."
On cue, a red-headed man, presumably the boss, behind the bar yells, "B'linda, yer ale for the dwarves'ez up." The waitress smiles, "I've got to get back to work. Why don't you stay around? We can talk some more after we close."
"Thank you," Keliwyn says with a genuine smile. "Belinda, is it? I'm Keliwyn, and I'd be more than happy to wait for the likes of you," he finishes with a wink.
Belinda swings by a couple more times to drop off another of whatever you're drinking. "I asked around about Grunt and Andru. Nobody has seen them for a few days. Maybe they ran off together." She giggles and runs a finger along Keliwyn's jaw.
The bar fills with customers from all levels of society. A minstrel shows up. He sings ballads praising Queen Ileosa, accompanying himself on his lute. He plays and sings very well, but his lyrics are insipid at best, and often sickeningly fawning over the Queen. Perhaps he has misjudged his venue, the crowd seems to only agree when he extols the Queen's appearance. Only a few of the better-dressed patrons drop a coin in his hat.
Discouraged he slings the lute over his shoulder and wanders through the bar. Eventually he spies your mostly empty table and drifts over. "Room for one more?" He pushes in and sits down.
Belinda swings by a couple more times to drop off another of whatever you're drinking. "I asked around about Grunt and Andru. Nobody has seen them for a few days. Maybe they ran off together." She giggles and runs a finger along Keliwyn's jaw.
In reply to her touch, Keliwyn gives the barmaid a wink, optimistically content to see where this lead takes him.
He watches as the minstrel makes his rounds, and tries to ascertain who in the crowd may be particularly friendly with the bartenders, or at the least, who may be a regular.
When the minstrel comes to join him, Keliwyn beams a smile, and welcomes him with a gold piece. "Of course!" he says, "As a patron of the arts, there is always room at my table for talented musicians. I'm Keliwyn," he finishes, extending his hand.
Sense Motive
Most of the crowd seems to be regulars. They tend toward the center and east end of the room. The booths and tables on the west side seem to be more visitors. A trio of halfings at a table near yours definitely are not regulars, although they keep shouting out things like, "It's my cousin Tad!" as people walk by. The minstrel is also not a regular. He gets little in the way of appreciation or warmth, even from his donors.
"Thanks, " he says taking the gold and your hand. "Tam Giovanollo. I think that will more than double my take tonight. Let me buy you a drink."
Belinda bustles by, takes the order and bustles off. Tam continues the conversation. "Discerning and generous gentlemen like you are rare." He's interested in whether you play, how you make a living, whether you know anyone at court, "I'd like to get a court appointment you know."
Belinda's back with drinks. "So who's your new friend?" Then she's off again.
"Tam, it's good to meet you. Tell me, what brings you to this place? It seems like this crowd's purse strings are a wee bit tight for the entertainment."
Keliwyn keeps the chatter light, and works from the general state of the city and the King's death, to the missing Senechal, the recent, uh, events at Eel's End, and even drops that he's waiting for his friend, the bartender Andru. He's tries to learn what he can, but is wary enough that even a simple minstrel, particularly a bad one, may not be what he appears.
In response to the inquires, he merely states that he's more a writer than a musician (poetry, of course), that he does odd jobs for various merchants, particularly with regard to the Mierani, and he gives some indication that he knows people of prestige.
When Belinda approaches, he smiles and effuses, "My dear! I was thinking we could grab a late meal! How much longer will you be?"
Belinda smiles delightedly. "Just an hour or so. I'll have Gio put something up for us."
Tam:
"A poet, huh?" Tam is obviously impressed. "Can you give me a sample? Maybe we could work together... I mean lyrics are hard, have you ever tired to rhyme Ileosa? ...I've often thought that if the words were better then ... "
In affected annoyance, "Oh sir, you have no faith. Let me play one for you. An old elven tune." Out comes the lute. He makes a stab at an old elven lay. "I'm soorry. I'm just not as good after a couple beers."
"Who do you know? ... If it wouldn't be much trouble, could you get me a gig, or even a meeting? Especially with some new songs I'm sure they would like me. "
He drops the other subjects in favor of his career.
Belinda is chatting with the other waitresses. Every now and then one's head rises out of the huddle to take a look at you.
Closing time: Tam promises to stay in touch. He'll meet you in a day or two?
Belinda has obviously managed a favor or two, because she doesn't clean up, but sits down with you straightaway. Poached chicken and vegetables. It's a little greasy, and the vegetables are limp, but not bad. Why do humans always serve you chicken?
Keliwyn is friendly enough with Tam, and drops a few names of people he knows with higher connections. When the minstrel takes his leave, Keliwyn is sure to tell him to look for him at his friend Siladil's tavern, and promises a better audience.
All throughout, Keliwyn continues his low key flirting with Belinda, and resists pouring it on too thick. "Belinda! My dear!" he greets her when she returns with the plates, making a show of getting up and pulling out her seat. While they eat (chicken?!? again??), he let's the conversation take it's course, but gradually nudges her in the direction of Andru and the fisherman, eager to continue with his investigation.
Tam slurps up the contact names, promises to come to Siladil's, and winks as he departs when Belinda brings the chicken. "A dragon's horde of thanks, Keliwyn. I'll see you around then." He shoulders his lute and is gone.
Belinda is easily maneuvered through the conversation. She genuinely liked Andru ("He's so funny, and sometimes would do a little magic for us, after work.") although they were not especially close. Grunt was a different sort, more like a piece of furniture that would show up once a week at the bar. Somewhat crude and abrasive, "But what do you expect from a fisherman?" Grunt would spin aggravatingly long stories about the wealthy and the nobility in whose houses his wife ("my big-eyed dairy cow, he always called her") had secured employment for a succession of younger relatives. The stories were sometimes drolly amusing, often boring, occasionally scandalous, but always longer than made listening worthwhile, but as one of the longest continuous patrons of the bar Grunt had certain rights. Once he had taken a long draft and said, "Did I tell ya about my nephew Bill and the odd to do at the Leroung estate last month?", a regular was duty-bound to hear the story out. No one believed the stories at all. "I mean, how would this fisherman's family find their way into all these grand households?"
All throughout the meal, Keliwyn's wheels are turning as he works through the information being provided, and how to pursue the possible leads. Pleased with Belinda being so forthcoming, he let's it show through in his attitude and genuine goodwill with her. He's sure to inquire about her own background, and family, and flirts enough to inquire as to whether she's married and has a family. In passing, and as the opportunity presents itself, he asks if Grunt's friend's Bluenose and Jake are also regulars of her fine establishment, and/or where he could otherwise find them.
Jake regularly came in on the same night as Grunt. Bluenose is in often, but on a less predictable schedule.
The chicken carcass demolished, the wine running low, and the bartender calling, "We're locking up. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."
Belinda gazes hopefully at Keliwyn's eyes.
More run-of-the-mill chicken, Keliwyn thinks, taking in Belinda's gaze. Resigning himself to the demands of duty, he sks her, "Where to next? Perhaps you have a place nearby?" As they get ready to leave, he calls out to the bartender for another bottle of wine, pays the bill and leaves a generous tip.
Diplomacy, if needed
The next day, however, he'll continue his investigation, starting at Grunt's neighborhood ] and even the nearby fishing docks, if necessary
neighborhood - Diplomacy
docks - Diplomacy
If nothing good turns up, he'll return to the Horn Stein in the evening, to see if Jake or Bluenose show up.
New bottle in one hand, Belinda on the other arm, you step out the door and into the street.
"My place is this way." Belinda points you up the hill, away from Eel's End.
Two dozen paces from the door two men in fighting leathers step out into the street in front of you. One carries a loaded crossbow draped casually across his forearm. The other wears gloves with studded knuckles. "Hey, Keliwyn. Our friend would like to ask you some questions. Why don't you come with us."
Perception DC :
Perception
Initiative
Keliwyn pulls his arm from around Belinda, and without taking his eyes from the men in front of him, he leans a bit toward her and says, "Run along, my dear. I'll find you later." The words are barely out of his mouth, however, before he notices man sneaking up behind him, and he drops the wine bottle and draws his weapons.
"So, you're going to go the hard way." The crossbow snaps up.
"Good" 'Knuckles' Pounds his left fist into his right palm.