You were told that Madame Freona’s Tea Kettle was the place where adventurers could find work and avoid the hassle associated with other places in Phlan. So far, that has been true. Madame Freona, a stout and officious halfling who runs the establishment with her five daughters, has proven an excellent hostess.
Although you have had to share a common bunkroom with several other adventurers, the evening meal was excellent and the atmosphere pleasant. You are preparing to bunk down for the evening when one of Freona’s daughters peeks into the room. She calls a few of the adventurers, including you, into the hall.
“Pardon my interruption” says the halfling girl named Reece, one of Freona’s five daughters, just shy of adulthood. “A chap just came into the common room downstairs and asked me to fetch you. Something about some coin needing to change hands for an easy job.” She plays with her curly red hair nervously.
Kha’lessa licks her lips showing her obviously sharp fangs as she languishes in the chair.
She eyes the child lustfully and purrs Of course we’ll join him, child – she moves to her like a cat approaching a mouse and caresses her cheek – You can join us if you want
"I don't think Ma would allow..." - the girl replies shyly, even though she seems clearly fascinated with the tiefling's feral looks.
Armantaro pulls down his mug and pats Ragnar's shoulder My bearded friend you're right as always!
Turning to the young girl he adds with a grin Show us who this chap is Reece... before Kha'lessa starts to have any ideas...
Eiravor raises a brow...
Well that sounds a bit dodgy, doesn't it?
Then he looks at the others, finally at Reece and smiles
But then again, what doesn't these days?
I will follow dear lady, what's life without dodgy mid-night encounters?
He winks at her and adds with a theatrical clap
But we'll need ale! This cannot be done without ale, I say!
He winks at her and adds with a theatrical clap
But we'll need ale! This cannot be done without ale, I say!
"Me thinks Ma has already thought about that" - Reece giggled at Eiravor's antics - "Yer tattoos are real pretty Mr..." - she adds, staring for a moment, then hops and skips away back downstairs.
----------
As agreed, you made your way after her. In the common room, the smells from the evening service still linger strongly in the air - the mixed aromas of roasted meat, boiled vegetables, ale, wine and smoke filling your nostrils. Autumn has just begun, but it is not yet cold enough for the fireplace to be burning - the temperature inside is pleasant enough.
"Evening gents and miss" - from behind the bar counter, the halfling owner Freona nodded at a large corner table, already set up with three pitchers of ale, several mugs, and a large bowl of Freona's well known salted potato peel chips . What grabs your attention however, is the hooded figure sitting there alone. Since the face is almost completely obscured by a large hood, you are unable to ascertain if it may be a man, or a woman.
As you approach, a feminine voice unravels some of all this mystery however, and you are beckoned to sit - "Please, find a place around the table Madame Freona has so kindly set up for us" - she offers in half whispered tones, even if you are the only patrons around at this time.
Good evening. Armantaro here. says Armantaro while he joins the hooded woman at the table.
"Well met Armantaro" - she nods her head slowly, observing your movements.
I sit and use my fingers to drum something ominous on the table, ending in an exciting crescendo to a dead pause...
... after which I open my arms and go
Soooo? You missed your queue. That was your queue and you missed it... I say nodding my head in mock disapproval.
Then I help myself to some ale, take a swig and introduce myself
Well met. Eiravor Dorborin at your service., growing silent and dead serious, waiting for her move.
I sit and use my fingers to drum something ominous on the table, ending in an exciting crescendo to a dead pause...
... after which I open my arms and go
Soooo? You missed your queue. That was your queue and you missed it... I say nodding my head in mock disapproval.
The stranger reacts with a light, melodic chuckle, and even offers a polite clap - "Well done Mr Dorborin. A pleasure I am sure"
Howdy, I'm Ragnar!
Tha evening just gotten betterr, let's drink and discuss what brings us here!
"Master Redbrew" - she nods - "Please, sit" - then looks expectantly at Kha'lessa.
Armantaro serves himself then, looking to Kha'lessa, he adds - join us my friend.
"Well met to you all, and thank you for joining me on such short notice" - she begins once the group settles down - "I wish time would allow for a longer and politer introduction, but unfortunately it does not - it is my wish to remain anonymous for the time being, so I will not be offering my name. For that I apologize" - she took a drink from a water glass near her - "I will say I am a member of the Harpers, and hope that will be enough for you to accept the validity of my proposal" - the woman added, parting the hooded cloak slightly from her neck down, allowing you sight of a delicate sea-green blouse, and a pendant depicting a silver harp between the horns of a crescent moon.
"You see... By happenstance, you are in a unique position to assist with a matter most urgent - my associates have recently captured a merchant who we know was preparing to illegally purchase a... Very specific and dangerous item tonight. Our... My request is simple - I ask you to pose as the merchant and his hirelings, go to the buy site, make the transaction, and place a magical device on one of the sellers, which will allow my associates to track them back to their place of residence" - she explains - "Once the transaction is complete, you are to come back to the stables here, behind the Tea Kettle - I will meet you there and provide payment once I can confirm the delivered item is intact. I will offer you two hundred gold pieces for this" - the mysterious figure paused, waiting for your reactions, her eyes observing Eiravor attentively.
See?
Eiravor looks around nodding, checking if anyone else can spot the obvious...
See how awesome it would have been if you'd said all that on your queue? Man, some people have no sense for showmanship... he says shaking his lowered head sadly.
Then turning serious again, he adds
I have many questions, which I'm fairly certain you would not answer, so I'm in of course.
He leans back and drinks generously from his ale mug, watching the rest.
Actually there's one question you might answer... Does the seller know the captured merchant?
"I am happy to hear" - the woman nods at Eiravor when he promptly accepts - "I will try to put on a better... Show. Next time, if there is one" - she chuckles.
"And no - the merchant should not be known to the seller" - she adds - "As far as I am aware"
I'm in! says Armantaro with a smile. Anyone out? - he adds looking at his companions.
"Does this mean we have a deal?" - the woman inquires, tapping her fingers rhythmically on the table.
I'm just the bodyguard of the seller - says Armantaro with a shrug while sipping from his mug.
During this exchange Kha'lessa sips her drink not taking her eyes off their employer - except to giggle a bit at Eiravor's antics. Finally she streches like a cat and smiles
I agree, sounds fun and dangerous, just how I like it!
Just one more thing - she adds - If we're doing something illegal, we might get in trouble with the guard. No problem if we have to get... physical with them, right?
She didn't mean it, of course, but she wanted to see the woman's reaction... and everyone else's for that matter
”Wrong” - the woman replies - ”The Harpers do not condone harm to innocents”
Besides... No one said we're doing anything illegal, right? he winks at Kha'lessa, then at the mysterious woman.
You know, I can't help but get a motherly feeling from you... Eiravor says to the woman
My mom wore a hooded cloak like yours all the time. Or maybe only when she abandoned me, not sure... Eiravor shrugs, oblivious.
Back to the matter at hand though... What is this item we're picking up?
"The item... It will have an oblong shape, much like an abnormally large egg I believe, yet its colors should be quite different - a deep dark shade of red, almost black, with slivers of bright orange” - your would be employer explains - ”I can tell you the item will most likely be in some sort of protective wrapping, to avoid scratching or scuffing”
She pauses.
"I am terribly sorry to hear about your abandonment" - she adds to the half-elf - "The Harpers try to help as many orphans and abandoned urchins we can... Unfortunately we cannot reach all..."
I have a few practical questions: why is this... lets call it oversized egg, dangerous and where would be the exchange and at what time? Also I believe we'll need the money to make the purchase.
"If you are willing to accept the task, in there you will find the means to pay for the exchange, and also the magical silver pin which needs to be placed on one of the sellers" - she added, placing a violet vellum pouch on the table.
"As for the nature of the oversized... Egg... Honestly I am not sure if the object in itself is dangerous Mr. Armantaro. But I would suggest handling it with care"
"I am terribly sorry to hear about your abandonment. The Harpers try to help as many orphans and abandoned urchins we can... Unfortunately we cannot reach all..."
Eiravor really has no idea what happened to his parents, only scattered memories. He threw this in as a sort of test, and was now more than happy with the results.
It's alright dear lady... You have reached one right now, he says reaching forward with his hand.
Then a finger drum roll on the table to lighten the mood, and he adds
I expect we'll need the name of the item too. See this, we get to the rendez-vous, we acknowledge the seller, they acknowledge us, and then we go...
"Well, do you have the abnormally large black egg with orange stripes?"
I don't think they'll be very impressed. I'd like to know all the merchant knows about the egg, and about the seller...
"I am not aware of any particular name for the item" - the woman pondered, looking at Eiravor's hand - "I trust you are resourceful enough to find a way" - she added with a smile.
Of course we are!, he says confidently while chugging some ale.
But still, please share any other details you have, they can be crucial to create trust in the seller.
Things like the merchant's name, how they arranged to recognise each other, like is there a specific piece of clothing, a password, things like that.
"I do not have many more details unfortunately. As far as I am aware, they arranged the meeting through a third party, at a nondescript location" - she explained - "I guess they assumed whomever meets there is for the exchange?"
If that's how it was, then that's how it is... Eiravor shrugs and gets back to his ale.
He watches the woman closely though, trying to catch something off in her tone or posture, some nervousness out of place.
He finds it weird that a transaction of such a dangerous item would be so careless, so he just wants to leave nothing to chance.
Me experience tells me tha these type of requests end up giving more problems than we would like.
Don't take me wrong, I'm ok in doing it, just considering that 200 gp may not pay for the healing and other consumables we may need...
"I could go perhaps as high as... Two hundred and twenty gold pieces - would that seal the deal?" - the woman nods.
He watches the woman closely though, trying to catch something off in her tone or posture, some nervousness out of place.
He finds it weird that a transaction of such a dangerous item would be so careless, so he just wants to leave nothing to chance.
As far as Eiravor is able to ascertain, the woman seems to be speaking honestly. There is a hint of nervousness, but that can be for a number of reasons.
|
"I could go perhaps as high as... Two hundred and twenty gold pieces - would that seal the deal?" - the woman nods.
HA! Tha seems like a more reasonable amount, doesn't it?!
Now regarding the trade, ye believe it's just a matter of getting there, do tha trade, place tha magical device on one of the sellers and get out of there with the object.
Can we place the device with the main seller or any of his bodyguards? or must the object be placed on the main seller?
"The device should be placed on the main seller, good master dwarf"
I guess we're good to go then, am I right? Eiravor says, looking around the table.
Since this is going down tonight, how long do we have to prepare? he asks looking at the woman now.
Just need to know the where and the when. Then we're good to go. says Armantaro looking to his companions
The woman smiles - "Very well then. Thank you for your help" - then she provides you with directions to an abandoned barn on the northern outskirts of Phlan, where the exchange is to take place - " And we will meet back at the stables as agreed" - she added, before leaving into the night.
When the woman starts to stand, Armantaro asks: Wait, what time is this trade suppose to happen?
"At midnight" - she tells you, right before going out the door.
Once they're alone, the tiefling turns to the group So, how are we going to get the pin on the seller? Subterfuge is not exactly my thing - she grins - Apparently I stand out a bit.
She mumbles a few soft words and a few lights of various colours appear from thin air, following her finger as she moves it around with a smile A distraction maybe?
So, I guess we're in this together heh?
Eiravor looks at the group, taking their measure...
I'm Eiravor Dorborin, vagabond by nature, entertainer by trade. I can play the merchant if you'd like. I'll just a need a few minutes to prepare...
And you, my good fellows?
We're stick to you as bodygurads, at least how I see it - says Armantaro - Dwarf close to you the rest ready to shoot
Sounds good. I'll be right back then... Eiravor says as he makes way to the dorm.
There, he puts on a simple disguise to make him look more like a merchant (no visible entertainment stuff, nicer clothes, a scarf) and disguise his features a bit (cover the tatoos, hide the ears, a moustache).
Once he's satisfied with the results, he goes back to the tavern.