Art nods, grinning widely. "I'll see what I can find out around town. Perhaps some of the bars and such might know something... If there's something to hear, I'm sure I'll pick it up." He says confidently. And with that, he's off, stretching his wings a bit above the docks, flying around deftly.
Once he touches back down, however, he's all business, finding his way to the first of likely several stops in local bars, a likely slow, potentially expensive foray into town as he inquires about some particularly rowdy, problematic lizardfolk.
After a few bars, and quite a few free drinks, Art has spent GP. However, he's learned the following :
1) There is only one species of Large sized lizardfolk in this part of the country. They are black scaled with fringes along their heads and down their backs, and they are very nasty and stand-offish. They don't climb particularly well, they are however extremely good swimmers.
2) There is a small country of desert lizardfolks on the other side of the continent, inhabiting a cold desert, near the Badlands.
3) There might be some mountain lizardfolk, possibly, if you believe the old tales, but nobody has seen one in thousands of years, if they actually exist.
4) Nobody he talks to has seen a large ship with lizardfolk on it that flies. However, the ship that Elrohir described is nearly 500 years old, and could be used as a water based ship and nobody would be the wiser.
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Although greatly abashed at her failure to win over the inspector, Volita perks up and delves into the marketing district like a shark in a cloud of blood.
She spends a good deal of time first just learning the lay of the land--she doesn't initial try selling anything, she's just getting her feet wet at being a merchant. She cross-reference the rumors they have about who needs what, and tries to get a more solid "feel" for what she could set up as a trading route.
Only then, after she's compiled copious notes, and made a few friendly contacts, does she approach a few likely sellers and sees who is offering the best price for nuts and recently-revived fruits.
Through the whole process she wants to re-try the Attraction spell at least once, to try and understand her failure from before.
For Volita to figure out what went wrong, she'll need to make a Kn(Local) DC 15 and a Sense Motive DC 15 check, or flat out ask a local.
After a day of talking and researching, Volita has 2-3 potential purchasers.
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Volita purses her lips, unable to figure it out on her own. While taking a break and sipping tea at an outside booth, she finally gives in to her inner extrovert. She taps the lady next to her and leans over. "Hey there! How ya doin'? Oh, is that the chamomile? I'm trying the Earl Grey myself but its not exactly blowing my skirt up, ya know?
Hey, quick question. I just got here on my boat, and while I was at the docks, there was this guy there. We didn't talk together much, but we were, like, -totally- giving each other the eye, know what I'm saying?
So, I spoke up, and suggested a situation where we could maybe spend some time together and he -totally- bailed. Made up some poop about 'reassignments' and just, like, left!
I'm just a strange stranger here in this strange, strange land. But is that, like, a thing here?"
For whatever data is gathered after her brief break, she returns to the serious business of making phat stacks.
The Fashtali woman looks at Volita, and her wings. "I assume it was not one of your kind? How revolting..." She moves away from Volita as if she were a leper or something.
As she examines the market place, Volita begins to notice that there's no haggling on prices, at least, not often and usually it's not mutual. She does notice that the non-locals seem to be the ones trying to haggle. The locals don't seem to bother. Some even get obviously upset when haggling is attempted.
Finally having some people around to handle the talking and information gathering Adran stays back at the ship. Keeping watch over it.
As the others go off to sell their wares and talk to the locals, Sting takes to the air, and leisurely flies off towards the Elven district. He keeps an eye out for anything interesting while in flight.
[dice=Diplomacy for trading]1d20+2
[dice=Perception to see people around town]1d20+8
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+3
Connor hung back as Volita went into the marketplace. Like the Atalantian woman, he was offset by the Fashtali female's response. So they are more closed here than I originally thought. Connor concluded.
"Perhaps we should just take the highest offer before the afternoon sun requires us to re-negotiate our asking price again." Connor suggested to Volita.
The vast majority of the city is Fashtali and Green lizardfolk. No gray lizardfolk in evidence. Some black scales, a few small green scale. Lots of Fashtali (mostly the panther types) a few tigers.
Near the port you see humans, elves, gnomes, and halflings running around. Nearly everywhere you go you cause a mild stir due to the wings.
Elrohir sees mostly the same thing that Connor does. The trees are all 30 to 60 feet thick, and hundreds of feet tall, some probably close to a thousand, with thick lush overgrowth. The lack of light leaves the space between the trees as dark nearly as night other than the lights of the city, even in daylight. Only occassional nearly physical beams of light stream through openings in the canopy.
Eventually though, Elrohir finds a section of the city with radically different architecture. The buildings are built onto the side of the trees, like the Fashtali/Lizardfolk buildings, but these are much more primitive looking, with un-planed wood and bark still on the logs.
The area has perhaps a few hundred mostly elves around, moving with purpose. The elves mostly wear loincloths, both the men and the women. They are all heavily muscled and heavily armed with wicked looking weapons. Most have tatoos and piercings.
As Elrohir approaches, several look up and snear at his magical wings.
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Volita nods and whispers, close to Conner, Yeah. Wow. I've never met a people -this- cloistered. Well, not having to haggle with different merchants for days and days should make things quicker, at least. But, yeah, let's ask around, note the original offers, then just pull the trigger on the highest one.
Mind you, I don't think we're gonna see a lot of variation. Just a hunch. But let's check it out."
Volita begins hunting out a price for their cargo in earnest.
"Conner, while we're here, do we want to buy up hardwood? They offer good prices in the Feld Ranges, and one or two other places."
"Hardwood?" Connor muttered dubiously. "Without knowing more about potential buyers, I'd hate to stake our hold on a whim. I'd like to have a more desperate target."
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"Nope," Volita says, taking out her notebook and taking umbrudge that her data was called a 'whim'. "Got it right here: 'They do like wood, and pay well for it. They make the best weapons in the world.' We could load up on Hardwood, and either sell it for outrageous profits, or take modest profits -and- load up on a bunch of high-quality weapons.
And in my experience, weapons are -never- that hard to move.
So can we can we? Huh? Huh? Can we can we huh?"
"We need to find out, ah, if Sting and the others have any relevant leads for us to follow. It wouldn't do to have a cargo for the wrong country." Connor reminded her, keeping his eyes open around them.
Art & Adraniel convey the following to Connor and Volita.
After a few bars, and quite a few free drinks, Art has spent GP: 2d10 + 5 ⇒ (7, 2) + 5 = 14GP. However, he's learned the following :
1) There is only one species of Large sized lizardfolk in this part of the country. They are black scaled with fringes along their heads and down their backs, and they are very nasty and stand-offish. They don't climb particularly well, they are however extremely good swimmers.
2) There is a small country of desert lizardfolks on the other side of the continent, inhabiting a cold desert, near the Badlands.
3) There might be some mountain lizardfolk, possibly, if you believe the old tales, but nobody has seen one in thousands of years, if they actually exist.
4) Nobody he talks to has seen a large ship with lizardfolk on it that flies. However, the ship that Elrohir described is nearly 500 years old, and could be used as a water based ship and nobody would be the wiser.
5) Volita got quotes for the cargo that varied, depending on whether people were wanting to buy the whole cargo at once, or part. If she takes the highest combined total, she can sell the whole cargo for GP, but it will take a week to part and parcel it all out. If you want to speed that up, she can sell it all as one bulk sale to a single person for
5) Volita got quotes for the cargo that varied, depending on whether people were wanting to buy the whole cargo at once, or part. If she takes the highest combined total, she can sell the whole cargo for 1,504 GP, but it will take a week to part and parcel it all out. If you want to speed that up, she can sell it all as one bulk sale to a single person for 1,406 gp.
Volita can fill up the hold with non-rare woods for GP. Or she can find rare woods that will fill up about 20% of the hold for GP.
Elrohir sees mostly the same thing that Connor does. The trees are all 30 to 60 feet thick, and hundreds of feet tall, some probably close to a thousand, with thick lush overgrowth. The lack of light leaves the space between the trees as dark nearly as night other than the lights of the city, even in daylight. Only occassional nearly physical beams of light stream through openings in the canopy.
Eventually though, Elrohir finds a section of the city with radically different architecture. The buildings are built onto the side of the trees, like the Fashtali/Lizardfolk buildings, but these are much more primitive looking, with un-planed wood and bark still on the logs.
The area has perhaps a few hundred mostly elves around, moving with purpose. The elves mostly wear loincloths, both the men and the women. They are all heavily muscled and heavily armed with wicked looking weapons. Most have tatoos and piercings.
As Elrohir approaches, several look up and snear at his magical wings.
Example of some of the elves in the area, giving Elrohir funny looks
Example of some of the elves in the area, giving Elrohir funny looks
Example of some of the elves in the area, giving Elrohir funny looks
Example of some of the elves in the area, giving Elrohir funny looks
Sting lands, near one of the groups, but with enough room between them to not appear openly hostile or intrusive. He keeps his hands visible, and away from his bow or other weapons.
"Afternoon. I, uh, am with a, um, trading vessel, that stopped here after getting lost. Uh, I could use some information, if possible" He says, in Elven, clearly a bit intimidated.
A dark haired female elf with an axe on her back laughs. "I think I've heard everything now, a rich Seevra asking me for help. He must be desperate!" Several of the other elves burst into laughter.
"Careful Ma'gra, it's a rich Seevra, probably some damn noble. It's too fragile to even walk around, has to fly everwhere. It'll probably break if you talk at it too loud." A male with elaborate face markings barks back, causing another round of laughter.
A truly magnificently tall blonde elf with a bow laughs. "Ga'vran, I thought all the Seevra were nobles? That's what they always tell us when they invade anyway, that they're the nobles and we Kaava are just stupid dirt huggers who need to be led."
Ma'Gra shakes her head. "Well, Kre'Ma, it did ask politely, guess I should at least pretend like I care." She turns back to Elrohir. "What do you want, Seevra? Hurry up though, there's rumors we're at war again, and if I find out we are while you're still here, I'll take that head off and sell those fancy wings of yours."
"Look, I have no idea what a 'Seevra' is, but I am no noble, promise. In fact, until just recently, all I was a prisoner for a vile bastard of a lizardfolk who tore of my biological wings, and tortured me for sport. That's what I'm after, information about him and his ship" He'll then describe his captor, ship, and provide any other information they request.
Elrohir get's about 3 sentences into his explanation, and the other elves burst into laughter.
"It thinks it had wings... I always knew Seevra were nutters, but gods..." Ga'vran explodes, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Yeah, now I feel sorry for threatening it.. still, seems a waste of resources for such expensive magic items on a nutter Seevra..." The blonde elf comments, eying Elrohir's wings with avarice.
"He is not a Seevra, Children. Now apologize to the Atalantian." A quavery voice cuts through the laughter, quite literally, as the laughter stops almost immediately. An elderly elf moves into Elrohir's view, and the muscular elves laughing at him part, all show extreme deference to the woman. "Now then, Atalantian. It's been centuries since I've seen one of your kind, and never with out their own wings. Don't mind the children, they think you're a Seevra, from Elishtru Seevra. High Elves as they call themselves."
Elrohir suspects, due to her age and comment about not having seen one of his kind in centuries that this is an Ancient. Ancient's are elves who live 10 to 20 times longer than most elves. They can easily live to 2 or 3 millenea in age. They are universally respected, regardless of origin, even Dark Ancient's are given deference by non-Drow. And vice versa.
As the blonde makes her comment that seemingly sounds like she might try to take his wings, Sting unslings his bow, but before he gets a chance to knock an arrow, the elder appears and he puts down his weapon.
Turning to her, he bows in respect "Honored one, as I just told these children, my wings were torn off by a monstrous lizardfolk, who then saw fit to torture me for his own amusement."
"Careful child, for while thou hast been matured much by thy experiences, thou art still a child as well." She admonishes Elrohir, but there's a small hint of a smile on her lips as she speaks, taking some of the sting from the rebuke. "Still, that is something that should not be allowed. Describe this one to me..."
The old woman looks thoughtful. "I have not seen this, but I do not go to the docks. Children, has anyone seen or heard aught of this?"
The now much larger crowd of muscular elves all speak amongst themselves in whispers. A red-haired elf with a great axe clears his throat. "Honored Ma'Ver, I have not seen this lizardfolk with wings, but the gray lizardfolk I have seen. They are Salvartha, they live in the Ranges, far to the south. They are great climbers, and strive with giants on equal footing."
Another elf, one with a massive bow on her back, also steps forward, bowing. "Honored Ma'Ver, I have seen a ship that was similar to the one the Sky Elf describes. It was in port... half a year ago? It had Salvartha on deck, along with many odd creatures. I did not see a winged lizardfolk, but the creature that barked orders was enormous, and covered from head to toe in heavy armor that included a hood and cloak, it could have been anything inside that cloak."
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Volita takes the "fast" price, then races back to her ledgers to enter the numbers. As she cross-checks the prices, she starts screaming and cursing in six languages, tossing her pens and books against the wall, shouting that "It's no wonder these people don't have flying ships! It's like they never even HEARD of the invisible hand!"
Back on the ship with Volita as he directed the crew to start cleaning the hold in anticipation for the special lumber cargo, Connor heard the outcry. Sticking his head into the rear corridor, he called out "It's better than being cheated by a Strix posing as a Customs agent before we even landed!"
Sting bows in thanks first to Ma'ver, and then to the red-haired elf, and the girl with the big bow. "Thank you all so very much. I greatly appreciate your help and information."
He turns to leave, then pauses, and looks back "While our first impressions weren't the best, it was nice to be among fellow elves for a little awhile, even if we aren't the exact same. Again, thanks" He says with a warm smile, shades of the old 'Flick' floating to the surface.
Ma'Ver nods, smiling slightly. "Do be careful should you visit the lands of the Elishtru Kaava, child. They do not care for their brethren, the Seevra, and without your wings, you are easily mistaken for a Seevra. An especially rich and obnoxious one, with your artificial wings." She warns, eyes dancing slightly.
The red-haired elf nods. "Yeah, you look like a fraking 'noble'. Might wanna put a sign around your neck, says 'Not Seevra' or something... and watch for flying axes..." There's a round of laughter, much more friendly this time, and laughing with Elrohir, rather than at him.
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Much of her rage having been spent, Volita calms done and turns to address Connor. "Alright, well put. Still we have two issues.
One, we need to keep trading to make more of a profit to keep paying our crew to keep searching for your evil wrongdoers."
The description of calling the target of the mission as "your" seems deliberate. It seems that destroying a set of Vilota's notes hasn't made her any more enamored of the profit-less mission of revenge. Her loyalty is still strong, at least.
"Two, we need more leads on your evil wrong-doers.
That said, both of Basra's exports, hard wood and rare plants, are in good demand almost everywhere.
Look, we have a problem here because of their...prejudice, yeah? How about we try a place more...diverse? I'd suggest either the Feld Ranges--okay, I know you don't like them, but we could make bank on hard wood -and- buy some highly profitable weapons -and- they'd dish on any evil people because they don't care.
Or we could try Cormar. Traditional human kingdom. Might have a warmer reception, and they have lots of soft wood but not much hard wood. And maybe farmers can use rare plants. Not sure, but let's buy half and half and find out.
Also, the humans are more likely to know things about stuff.
Also, no one else exports soft wood so we could stock up. And food. Food seems to be big with some people.
What do you think?"
Adran finally hops down when some of the peeps return especially hearing the mention of food.
"Food? Did you bring some back?" He then looks to Connor
[b]"Hey Boss what is this one going on about searching for wrong doers and what not. Didn't you tell them we are the wrong doers, well sort of anyway. Look lady we are mercenaries. Saved from imprisonment or worse and working for a guy with a pretty cute Halvavian lady. She cooks real well too. The cargo thing is just a front. Now sure line your pockets with some extra coin, no onw is going to fault you for that, but Boss you need to keep the new crew a little more eye on the prize."[b]
He looks around a bit making sure there was no food brought back, whistling as he always does. Before returning back up to the nest.
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Volita cocks an eyebrow at Adreaniel. "Um, but when Elrohir rudely destroyed my books, he was yelling incoherently about something about some bad guy that had torn his wings off? I dunno, there was a lot of yelling and stabbing of patiently written numbers going on.
So, like, are we righteous crusaders, or capitalist independent contractors?
And, um, why are we mercenaries? To make money? I, ah, what if I said we could make more money by trading?
Anyway, if you just wanna be mercenaries, why don't we go to Iska? They're the mercenary capital. We could just walk up and ask them if any of their merc groups would like the use of an airship and its crew? I'm willing to bet that the logistical and scouting benefits would be immediately apparent and we could find ourselves embroiled in a lucrative civil war by lunch time.
How's that sound?"
"Well toots the airship isn't really ours. As I said we work for a guy. I mean look at my handsome face. Hasn't always been mine. This one is new. The mission we are on sure it has a bit of revenge in it for Elrohir, but after that we will return and figure our next move. Understand."
Adran waits still looking for food, but has yet to go back up to the nest as Volita seemed to want to chat.
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Volita blinks and looks confused, liek a duck hit on the head. "Yaaaaaa, I don't know nuthin' bout no 'guy'. What's this guy's name. What, exactly, is it that -he- wants us to do? And what does he want slash get out of it? A cut of the profits?
Again, we come back to the whole thing where we -might- be able to make more trading. But I'm not sure yet. I might be missing something, I often am.
So I'm guessing this, what, like an assassination thing? Boss Man wants Badman dead, and Badman just happened to do bad thing to El?
That's fine, I can see that.
Still, even so, we could still go with the aforementioned plan: We buy a butt-ton of hard wood. We got to Iska, sell wood for lotsa money, and start to hire out on some jobs, getting us in close with the world's best mercenaries.
If Badman is a bad man, then sooner or later the bad hombres of Iska will hear about him, eventually. Then we pounce, and can start beign worried about what's important.
Which is making money.
Sorry, when I was hired I think I missed the employee training on account of a giant monster. These things happen."
"You talk a lot. Look I just kill who needs killing by who they pay me to take care of. Kind of how I got into all this mess." He then looks to Connor. "The boss here can explain more, but I don't think our contractor wan't us running all over the place buying and selling cargo."
Connor looked at Volita and Adran going back and forth. "While all this discussion is worthwhile, compared to ripping up books or taking out weapons, let me reiterate: we're waiting on Sting. Our 'mission' is to find the missing air-ship with the lizardman captain on it and destroy both with prejudice." he started.
"Volita, I appreciate you keeping us on the right track of staying profitable while we do the real mission. Based on your advice, I would rather buy the hardwood and go to the dwarven Feld Ranges. However," Connor said, "the best place to find a non-flying airship is along the coast. As much as I don't like being treated unfairly by Wingless, Cormar, which we just left, by the way, sounds like a better area to check other ships out. This place is starting to go stale."
Connor looked over at the Halvavian. "Adran," he requested, "keep an eye out for Sting. From what you and Art tell me there's big lizardfolk here, in the rivers. So we might be close."
Turning back to Volita, Connor repeated "We're selling what we have before nightfall. Get the special woods onboard in the hold. The crew's getting ready for both. We'll decide where to go when Sting gets back."
Sting once again thanks the elves "I appreciate the advice. Thank you all again" And with that he takes flight and heads back to the ship.
Upon landing, he goes to Connor and fills him in on everything "I'm not sure that cloaked figure is my tormentor, but it sounds like it could be."
He flat out ignores Volita, and any talk of trading and cargo.
"Salvartha...in the Ranges..." Connor repeats. "That tells us where the lizardfolk came from, but not where they are going. Unless the tormentor goes back regularly to pick up new crew as needed."
Looking over his shoulder, Connor yelled back "You were right, Volita! Load up on stuff for the Feld Ranges!"
He told Sting, "It sounds cold. It probably is cold. I hate the cold. But let's take this lead and see where it gets us. Anything else from your elven sources? As in, should we follow the rivers south to the Feld mountains, or just haul anchor and fly straight-a-way?"
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Volita 's face lights up at Connor's words and she grins at the prospect of FINALLY making a serious stab at phat stacks and zOOOOms out, heading for the market district.
She tracks down the contacts she had made previously and puts in...two orders.
Volita can fill up the hold with non-rare woods for 1000 + 8d100 ⇒ 1000 + (48, 42, 1, 37, 31, 73, 9, 41) = 1282 GP. Or she can find rare woods that will fill up about 20% of the hold for 1250 + 4d100 ⇒ 1250 + (29, 57, 51, 16) = 1403 GP.
Volita grabs all the rare wood she can, then fills up all the empty space with non-rare wood, the whole total for this wacky non-haggling place coming to 2428gp and 6 sp!
Step 3: Profits!
Adran listens. "On it boss." He takes flight back up to the nest, when he sees Sting making his way back he shouts down to Connor then sits and relaxes just observing the surroundings.