"That sounds about right. We don't really know anyone in this town, so either we need to start shaking some trees and laying out some bribes, or figure out some potent divination magic, I guess," replies Azura to Ryn.
Ya. Unless we plan to fight the whole clan at once, And to be clear I'd like to keep that open as an option, we need a lot more information. Or just one person who's in the know and could be convinced to talk.
"I'm torn. On the one hand, heading to the parts of town controlled by the Ardocs, and near the lab, are more likely to yield results. But, those areas are also going to lead to our poking around getting reported back and noticed. So... what to do? Anyone got a great idea?"
Saersha's fingers idly stroke Embyr's waist as she listened to what the man had to say and the other's responses. It seemed he wanted something that would potentially lead to a path forward in their own mission so she saw no reason to refuse. Instead she turned her thoughts to how they could get more information.
Her fingers stilled as a thought came to her and Saersha said, "If we can get an image of the person we are looking for, and even better something that belonged to them personally or that was part of them like some hair, I might be able to learn something via scrying. Other than that we are going to have to ask around."
"If it's some personal effects of Berkanin Ardoc you're looking for..." A thin smile breaks out on Sullivan's face.
"...there's a way to get them."
"He likes to think he's discreet when it comes to the Tallow Boys. He's really not." The half-elf shakes his head. "He's the favoured customer of a Tallow Boy who calls himself Arnic Mint. His usual stomping grounds are in the Oriat district--where all the artists and libertines ply their trade."
"Arnic's a tall, beefy fella--hair of gold and skin of bronze. Literally--the man's an aasimar, and not a lot of them in Kaer Maga."
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"Aasimar sex worker? Nooooo," says Azura with falsely drawn-out exaggerated shock. "Sounds like this could be an interesting side jaunt."
Ulfr chuckles. I'll stand watch at the door. This guy doesn't stand a chance once our ladies get a hold of him.
Ryn snickers at Azura's faux appalled reaction, shaking her head in amusement. "Sounds like we're headed to the Oriat district then, there's no way it won't be interesting."
Hey, if two aasimar get together, is there a chance they'll have a literal angel baby? Ulfr asks with a little smirk.
"Not as far as I know," says Azura seriously in reply to Ulfr. "The totality of being 'angelic' is an ephemeral quality that is more than biology. But we're not going to test it today in any case!"
She links up arm-in-arm with Ryn again and says, "Maybe we can find a show to watch or something to buy while we're there, hmm?"
"Sure! If we;'re going to be in the area investigating, we might as well check out the sights and take advantage of the city's cultural sector." the gladiatrix says with a smile.
Saersha found herself quite amused at what they were going to have to deal with and knew this could be quite fun. At the question of whether two aasimar would birth another aasimar, Saersha thought the question over. It was an interesting one and while she knew Azura seemed to have the right of it and said, "She's right, being a true angel would require dying and your soul ending up in Heaven where you may become one type of angel or another over centuries or more. Ultimately outsiders are not born, they form. There are instances where one can become an outsider in other ways. There are certain rights that can turn one into a demon or devil but the requirements are...," her words trailed off and she ended by simply saying, "grizzly." Saersha shuddered at the thought of what would be involved and would talk about it no more.
Shifting to the other side of the outer planes Saersha spoke a bit more and said, "I am sure there are similar paths to becoming and angel or agathion, etc, but I do not know how those are done other than they are likely the polar opposite of going to the lower planes."
Azura nods at Saersha's commentary—that seems to fit what she recalls about extraplanar entities of the extreme ideologies.
"Thanks for the tip," says Azura to Sullivan. "Sounds like we're off to talk to a Tallow Boy about a little business... but just the tip."
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"You are sooo bad." Ryn whispers after recovering from another snicker.
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Saersha's lips quirked as her lips twisted into a naughty grin and she said, "It might be hard but that's a sacrifice we will have to make."
"I kinda hope it's hard. 'Tallow' was sounding a little disappointing, to be honest."
"Wait, what were we talking about?"
Once the party emerges from The Wheel Unbroken, Trendon catches up to them and they set off towards the Oriat district.
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It's simple enough to get directions to what many locals consider the most colourful of Kaer Maga's many districts; the gist of it is "Just follow the streets until you see the super-colourful pennants and garish murals. Can't miss 'em."
And indeed, Oriat is quite difficult to miss--the riot of colour that greets the party is one sprayed into the air in a grandiose display of magical wonder from a street performer, to the delight of several of the younger-looking locals. Ribbons of flowing colour decorate the surrounding streetlamps, standing in contrast to the aging, breaking stonework of the buildings at the mouth of each alley.
The performers in Oriat run the gamut of deliberately plain to the outright scandalous--men clad in drab grey noble garb engaging in mock duels with men dressed in eye-searing motley, gnomes clad in elaborate robes creating spectacular illusions of landscapes and monsters, along with more mundane sorts of performances being enacted on just about every street corner.
Yet, throughout all the revelry, there's an undercurrent of tension... especially around the shadowed corners. It's almost as if everyone expects the partying to be interrupted at any moment.
Ulfr catches onto the tension almost immediately. He appreciates the frivolity, but also recognizes the performance, thus revealing the tension. He stalks at the back of the group, eyes peeled for things the riot of color might hide.
As the wandering streets of Kaer Maga give way to the Oriat district's riot of colors, Azura takes on a wide grin. She slows her walk to a casual pace to take in the musicians, jugglers, and raconteurs. Her own garb shifts in color as she moves, the illusions causing it to flow through different hues in response to the brilliant envcironments surrounding her.
"This may be a bustling city of commerce, but it's good to see people enjoying themselves."
Ulfr subtlety points out a couple of musclebound men dressed in dark brown robes and sandals lingering around the mouth of one of the alleys. They're looking for someone. he rumbles.
"Hopefully not looking for a pair of gladiators, a sin-sorceress, a milkmaid and a mystic theurge, or else they're in for a bad day."
"good eye Ulfr...shall we speak to them or just let them skulk?"
he looked for some shop or stall selling ribbons or the like to further fit in with the attire of those around them.
Saersha was quite taken with all the sights, people in varying outfits, ribbons decorating the area, scandalous appearances. Saersha was in the closest thing to heaven she would likely ever see. She was more than enthused to be there and couldn't wait to enjoy herself, too bad they were here for a reason.
Saersha had her arm around Ambyr as usual and gave Azura a slight glare at being called a "sin sorceress". "The correct term is a Lust Mage. I am no simple sorceress. Unlike those who come into power by accident I have the discipline to control it, not let it control me."
When the skulkers were pointed out Saersha considered and finally said, "Better to watch them for now I think."
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"And I'm more than a milkmaid, but it's just a quick quip," replies Azura as she tries to get a glance down another alley to see if there are more groups of suspicious-looking fellows.
Embyr's tail suddenly swishes. "Milkmaid?!" She hisses at Azura, her eyes briefly flashing purple.
She then blinks. "...oh. I thought you were referring to me. Sorry." Her cheeks flush and she hugs herself.
"Yeah, talking about myself. These juggernauts are more than just for show," says Azura absently. "You would be our resident cat girl of extraordinary talents."
Such as, for example, the two musclebound men Ulfr pointed out earlier. Now that he mentioned them, you've managed to pick out several more--each in pairs, and moving through the crowds with practiced fluidity of motion. You count at least six pairs of such people.
And, more than that, your keen eyes spot someone who matches the description you were given of Arnic Mint.
Standing next to a two-story townhouse decorated with a mural of elementals of fire and water entwined in a dance is a man dressed in a silken black vest, trousers that cut off just above the calves and sandals, his bronze skin gleaming in the day's summer sun. His gold hair catches an errant breeze as he furtively looks about, his silver-coloured eyes twitching with stress.
Next to him is a brown-furred rabbit the size of a mastiff... and an extremely well-built lizardfolk with vibrant blue scales and a white underbelly, clad in little more than hide pauldrons and a loincloth.
It's Arthak! What's he doing with Arnic Mint?
"Nobody stare, but I have eyes on our quarry," says Azura, "along with Saersha's biphallic buddy from below the Lady's tower. But there are muscle teams moving about the area in pairs. How do we wanna play this?"
Ryn smiles at the sights, taking in the beauty and festivity of the district.
When Ulfr spots possible trouble and the discussion turns to who they might be seeking, she grins at the term milkmaid, a bit of color coming to her cheeks as her thoughts stray, though she does glance over at the apparent goons, before Azura takes up watch.
"Why do I get the feeling he's who they're looking for? If that's the case, a distraction to draw them while a couple of us spirit him away somewhere might be the best bet. Barring that, close in on him and fight them off if that the case." she says, taking a deep breath and cracking her neck without even realizing it.
We could also hunt them, but I wouldn't in this crowd. Too easy to lose them. I agree with Ryn. We get to him first, fight them of if necessary. Ulfr has to consciously not draw a club immediately.
"All right, well, Saersha already knows Arthak, so let's play this off as just some friends randomly meeting at the festival. Saersha can ask for introductions to Arthak's companion, and we can see about going inside to talk more," suggests Azura.
"will try the milk later if im not too mangled. I'll keep my eye them for when they make their move.... hes liable to be more compliant to be hustled away if Ryn and Ulfr offer to lead the way anywho.."
The party makes their way over to their sighted quarry, passing through the throng of revellers and entertainers with some effort. As they approach, Arnic Mint notices them and shrinks away--but Arthak's eyes light up and he waves in greeting.
"Warm-blood friends? You come to strange place of lights and many tribes! Greetings again!" The burly lizardman's expression is almost happy... or, as happy as a lizardman's face can express, anyway.
"Wait, you know them?" Arnic says in a velvet-smooth tenor, his expression both anxious and confused.
"Yes." Arthak's eyes linger on Saersha. "They are honorable. Aided Lake Claws in curing mist sickness--and lifted mist from the marshlands."
The aasimar's expression sheds much of his worry, but it still lingers in his eyes. The hound-sized rabbit at his feet gets up and starts sniffing.
Azura hunkers down to offer her hand to the rabbit to sniff, grinning happily at the hefty fuzzball, and waits for Saersha to make introductions.
The rabbit sniffs Azura's hand before giving it several licks.
It then bows its head, as if expecting affecting in return.
Azura scritches the rabbit behind and between the ears and gives it a few long strokes across the spine before returning to rub its cheeks.
Ryn tries to keep her eyes focused on the pairs of thugs moving through the crowd.
As does Ulfr.
When Ryn mentioned they had spotted their quarry and realized he was probably the person we, and the other thugs in the alleys, were looking for Saersha rolled her eyes and said, "Well of course they are. I had assumed as much from the beginning."
When she heard Azura mention Arthak was with the man they were trying to find Saersha's attention was immediately captured from looking around at the revels. She came over and gave the reptilian a smile as she said, "My my, I hadn't expected to see you here Arthak." As the introductions were made Saersha, too, knelt down to greet the large rabbit, mimicking Azura's actions in letting it sniff her before scratching it's ears.
As she knelt there Saersha looked up at Arthak and asked, "So who are your friends Arthak," her head tilting back to look at him questioningly.
The 'dire' rabbit seems to preen at the attention lavished on them by Azura and Saersha.
"This..." Arthak points to Arnic, who tries to put on a brave smile. "...is a warm-blood, Arnic. He mates with other warm-bloods out of season for... what did you say?" The lizardman tilts his head at Arnic.
"Money, Arthak."
"Yes, mooonnnneeeeyyyy." Arthak draws the word out, having no comprehension of what it means.
"The prey animal is Arnic's friend. She is named 'Princess Puffball.'" The lizardfolk scratches his head. "Arnic said that a 'princess' is much like a warchief's child...?"
The aasimar shakes his head. "A conversation for another time, my large scaly friend." He then turns to the party with a plea in his eyes. "Please tell me the Ardocs didn't send you to me."
We have a runner. We need to go. Now. Ulfr growls.
When Ulfr warned them, they had a runner Saersha decided that something needed to be done to slow down pursuit. She rose to her feet with a naughty gleam in her eyes as she began to chant and gesture. When she finished, she looked at her companions and said, "Move quickly," as a strange fog came from her mouth. Once they were out of the space in front of her Saersha said the last word and breathed out expelling a strange colored fog that rapidly expanded to hide them from view of most of the thugs and made anyone entering it fall into a euphoric stupor.
Azura rises again and says, "So, shall we go inside and discuss matters further? A little reunion, a little introduction?" She gestures opposite the direction of the cloud that Saersha is generating. "We can talk about business and... other things."
Arnic frantically nods and picks up his oversized bunny before leading the party into the townhouse. As Saersha's spell sets in, a chorus of raucous, drug-addled laughter sounds from the crowd the cloud settled on.
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The townhouse's interior is considerably quieter than the outside, but it's not nearly as brightly coloured or decorated. There does seem to be a fine layer of shed rabbit fur on most of the furniture, however.
"Right--hopefully, whoever followed you won't know where to go. Or at least your tracks will just get lost in the crowd outside." Arnic breathes a sigh of relief as he sets Princess Puffball down to run around some. Arthak stands at the room's entrance, on guard.
"So, did the Ardocs send you my way?"
"Let's get moving." Run says, herding the pair away from the expanding cloud while staying towards the back of the group to deal with anyone not stopped by Saersha's distraction.
"Other way around, actually," says Azura. "We are trying to get a bead on your Ardoc customer, and got a tip that it might be useful to come to you and see if you have any leads or personal effects that we could follow up on."
Azura grins a bit weakly. "I know it's kind of a weird ask from someone who just met you, and I presume you have a kind of code of honor about not revealing details about your clients. We already know that Berkanin Ardoc has been a client for a bit, and we're trying to tracking him down because there's been a kidnapping... but I'm getting ahead of myself," she continues.
"What's going on with the Ardocs? Why are they looking for you, and how can we help?"
Arnic gulps. "You're not with the Ardocs..." He then breathes a sigh of relief. "...oh thank Arshea, I thought I was done for."
"The Ardocs--they think I spilled a few secrets to the Commerce League. Y'know... golem-related secrets. The sort of golem-related secrets that are family secrets, you know what I mean?" The man's nerves fill his words more than his sense. "And I heard through a few contacts that they hired some Brothers of the Seal to... to..."
He starts to hyperventilate.