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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 held 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. Each of you are preparing to bunk down for the evening when one of Freona's daughters peeks into the room. She calls a few of you, including each one of you, into the hall.
"Pardon me sayin'" calls the halfling girl that you have come to know as Reece, though her sisters call her 'Reecie', "A chap just came into the commons downstairs. Says he's got a job fer ye. A right easy job fer the likes o' ye." Her halfling's lilt is almost lyrical, and her habit of nervously playing with her curly red locks belies the fact that she is almost an adult.
What do you do?
Do you know this "chaps" name, Reece?
"Thanks for the heads-up, Reece," Ander says, smiling. "Is there anything we should know about him before we go down?"
Thank you very much for the tip, Reece. And as Ander has pointed out, can you tell us anything about the man?
Thanks, Reece Ceidith flips a gold coin her way, and turns to Sir Adrian and Ander. You coming with me?
Eh, work? Sounds....laborious.
Sir Adrian looks at Ceidith.
I believe it is you who is coming with us, but yes, let us proceed.
Presmer puts down the notes he was reviewing and packs them into his pack. Throwing the satchel over his shoulder, he clomps down the stairs to the mysterious meeting. Pulling up a chair with the group at a separate table and watches intently as the discussion carries on.
Presmer has olive skin, and long black hair with patchy facial hair. He wears no armor and carries no weapons, but guards his satchel with a diligent fervor.
Senka grabs her pack (she hadn't yet unpacked for the night) and heads down to meet this mysterious stranger.
"Thanks, Reece!" Ander says, heading downstairs.
Sir Adrian marches downstairs to meet the person requesting their aid.
Senka finds a seat near the stranger, not too close and with reasonable defensibility. She waits patiently for the others to arrive, seat themselves (or not), and get the conversation started.
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Reece smiles at you all as she leaves to continue her chores, stuffing the gold coin into a pocket of her apron, and you all begin making your way downstairs.
As you descend the stair into the common room, you see a lone hooded figure sitting at a large table. The rest of the room is empty and he motions for you to approach.
The man keeps his face obscured by the hood of his cloak and speaks in an obviously disguised voice, "Thank you for coming to hear me out. I represent the Harpers, an organization dedicated to fighting Evil wherever it hides. I have a mission that you all, being relatively new to Phlan, are in the unique position to complete. We have captured a merchant that was planning to illegally purchase a red dragon's egg. Since you are not well-known around town yet, we need you to pose as the merchant and his hirelings and complete the transaction."
He looks at Ander, "You look almost like you could be related to the merchant. It seems that the buyer and the sellers have never met face-to-face and you should match any description that the sellers might have. All we need you to do is somehow plant this pin on one of them, so that we can magically track them back to their hideout."
The hooded man waits a moment to hear your responses before continuing...
"I'm in a merchants' guild," Ander says, holding up a hand. "If I'm seen purchasing contraband, I could be in big trouble. How do I know you'll have my back if that happens?"
I do not think we need to purchase anything, just plant the pin, right? Our new help may have the deft fingers to perpetrate such a ruse as members of your Merchant Caravan. And, besides, you would not be doing it as Ander, but this captured merchant, so as not to sully your good name.
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The hooded man nods in contemplation, "If things go South, the Harpers will pull some strings with the merchants guild to clear your name."
He pulls a small pouch and places it on the table next to the pin, "Payment will indeed change hands, but these diamonds are quite fake. They will hold up in a pinch, but will not fool an appraiser, so to say that this is not dangerous would be misleading. But we are trying to stack things in your favor. No names are to be used, according what we have discovered, the parties refer to each other as 'the buyer' and 'the seller'. Keeping anonymity is in the best interest of both parties.
"Once you have acquired the egg, bring it back to the stables behind the Tea Kettle, and I will pay the sum of 200 gold crowns to divide amongst yourselves," he leans forward, "But under no circumstances do you harm the sellers. If they attack, retreat. We want to track them, and discover their source. We cannot do that if they go to ground. Anything else?"
Where is this meeting to take place? Is it a public, well-populated area, or somewhere more isolated? What is the terrain like? How much cover will we have? Senka wants to know.
Ander feels a tad unnerved by the nature of the questions that flowed so readily from the lady next to him, but regains his composure and says, "About that dragon egg... Isn't something like that dangerous? Is that something we can just stick in a backpack and be okay? It won't, I dunno, explode or anything?"
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"The exchange is to be taking place at an abandoned barn on the outskirts of the city. The surrounding area can provide some cover, or if you arrive early, maybe you can hide a few of you in the barn, but it depends how early the sellersarrive. As it just hit 11th watch a few minutes ago, you have a little under an hour before it takes place at Deepnight," he produces a crude map to set next to the small purse and the pin. "This will take you there. By foot, it should not be more than 20 minutes."
He stands to his feet with practiced ease, his hood seeming to cause the shadows to cling to his face, "As you can see, time is of the essence and if you decline, I must hurry to find replacements. Will you aid us?"
"I feel a little conflicted about such shady dealings," Ander admits, "But I've seen what can happen if something dangerous lands in the wrong hands, and I'd like to be part of the solution. Count me in."
After a brief pause, he adds, "And you still didn't tell us how to safely transport the egg to the later meeting place. Also, what exactly should we say if we're caught carrying this contraband and have to explain it to local law enforcement?"
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"This late at night, it is unlikely that there will be too many bystanders, even less so since these scoundrels have chosen such a remote place to facilitate their skulduggery. Red dragon eggs are rather large, but it should fit in a backpack rather snugly. That way, if you were to run into anyone on the way back into town, nothing will seem out of place."
You may count me in, as well.
The quiet scribe at the other table, pipes up, You can count me in, but since we are using fake diamonds to buy this how do we know it is a real egg? We could be exchanging a bag of fake diamonds for a paper machet(sp?) egg. And if it's him how looks like the buyer who are the rest of us supposed to be?
Senka nods at the stranger. We will take care of it.
To the rest of the group, she adds, We should be going, but first, quick introductions. I am Itzal. And you are? She somehow manages to keep her attention on the group while heading for the door, where she waits for the rest of them to follow - and hopefully give their names.
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The stranger nods in response to the scribe's question, "You'd best be a shrewd bunch of merchants and demand to inspect the egg then. Placing the pin on one of them is priority. But remember, you are playing a part. At least one of you, likely him..." He indicates Ander, "Will have to be the merchant, but the rest of you can be hirelings, partners, whatever you wish. Perhaps you can be an expert brought on to check the authenticity, I don't know. You will be better suited to deciding that than I. Good luck, and I will see you after the exchange."
As the Harper Agent leaves, Ceidith turns to the rest of the party. You can't see his grin beneath the piece of cloth that covers his mouth, but you can see his eyes light up. Names Ceidith. If you wish, I could slip the pin on the merchant. My hands are deft, perfected from years of stealing secrets
Ander runs his hands through his hair. How do I keep ending up surrounded by people like this? Is this what adventuring is always like?
After a small sigh, he nods to the two ninjas he somehow managed to end up alongside. "Nice to meet you Itzal, Ceidith. My name's Ander. I'm a woodcarver and apothecary, but learning swordsmanship as well."
I prefer to keep my name away from all lips, at least until this is over. Loose lips and all that. Scribe will do, for now.
Well met, Ceidith, Itzal and Scribe. I am Sir Adrian Fullbright. The rest of you I have already had the pleasure of adventuring with.
"I see we've all made friends then yeah? Time to add a new stanza to the ballad of Sir Ander the Polite. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
You notice some movement out of the corner of your eye as a man in a dark cloak walks up, most of you remember him from the encounter in the cave a few nights back.
Sounds like we need to get a move on... I can play the part of a guard.
He looks at the new folks, nods, and says, my name is Wrathmire.
Senka, apparently satisfied with the introductions, exits the building, holding the door open a moment longer than necessary in invitation.
Sir Adrian walks through, and nods to Itzal.
Why thank you.
He speaks to the others in a hushed tone.
As is fitting of my station, I will take the role of a benefactor and patron of our fine Merchant, Ander.
Senka nods to Sir Adrian, then lets the door fall gently shut onto the next person through, striding off confidently into the dimly-lit streets toward their destination, keeping to the shadows of her namesake.
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It is a 20-minute walk to the meeting place. As you approach, you see several shadowy figures already waiting there, backlit by an oil lantern hanging upon a nail. Three of them are in vigilant positions, as if hired muscle taking guard duty. A slighter figure leans against the wall of the barn, a large backpack at its feet. The light reveals only a half a face, but its features are unreadable at this distance.
Senka will stay as much in the shadows as possible, weapon out and ready to be used quickly should the need arise, but not as an immediate threat. Her goal is to stay hidden from the sellers (and their...associates) and unneeded by her companions. That's how she prefers to operate.
Wrathmire jumps over to help Itzal to make sure she is ok. Helps her regain her composure, and walks next to Ander with his hand on his crossbow.
Rather embarrassed, Senka accepts Wrathmire's assistance and stalks off into the night. Dang rocks! I really need a way to see in the dark.
Ander tries his best to focus on the businessman aspect of himself, approaching the seller with confidence.