Camille rises an Eyebrow at the woman speech, not knowing if she is just an overprotective sister or if she is hiding something. In any case, The newbie is willing to let thing go away with Brenda, for now.
Camille covers her insignia and goes to the Mad shark and waits for Ayren to show up.
On your way down the corridor, you notice a great number of glowing bits among the shattered remains of destroyed gear-men. Cedric is careful to avoid them... After all, the quick jolt of electricity wasn't enough to cause any damage, but it still hurts.
Your soon reach the V.I.P room downstairs. There's a commotion there, now. People talking over each other and demanding explanations as a in-over-her-head waitress tries in vain to calm them down. But oddly enough, there are no signs of battle or violence in the room.
The man in armor who was overseeing the room earlier stands behind her with a blank expression, making sure no one gets too rowdy. However, other than him, there seems to be no security or armed forces of any kind around.
The falconer is nowhere to be seen. Cedric looks around, as if searching for someone.
"I guess they didn't get here after all..." he says.
Meanwhile...
Brenda is content to let things go. She leaves you alone and goes talk to the girl greeting customers at the entrance of the establishment. The two of them seem to be close friends, as they chat to each other.
"Don't take it personally." says a voice behind you. After a startled moment you turn around to see a kind-looking middle-aged woman with (graying, but don't mention it to her!) brown hair. "Brenda is a bit overzealous when it comes to little Lizzie... She has her reasons for that, but it does sometimes get the best of her."
The woman gracefully ties around herself an apron with a cartoony-looking fish painted on it.
"Would you like drink, dear? Perhaps some food?"
Brother Cyrus approaches the waitress & armored man.
"I was asked to speak to Krieger and be brought to one of the... red rooms?" Cyrus asks none too sure of his current path. He winces slightly as he idly feels one of the wounds inflicted by the gearmen.
Shea walks behind Cyrus into the main room, clearly busted up from her fight with the Gearmen. Certainly the people must of heard some kind of commotion from upstairs.
"Do not worry people, everything is A-Ok, The Problem has been dealt with, Thanks to our great patron security has never been tighter, You can all enjoy your games in peace!"
She then scurries after Cyrus.
"I have somewhat lost track of what's going, but hopefully this Krieger can shed some light on things."
The armored man raises an eyebrow and stares at Brother Cyrus for a good 30 seconds... But then seems convinced of your honesty.
Without saying a word, he gesticulates to two of the bartenders, who swiftly but nervously come to his side. Once they are close, he gesticulates a little more and hands each of them a shortsword and a dagger. The two men seem hesitant, but take the weapons anyway.
The armored man then turns to you and signs for you to follow him.
The man silently guides you through a oddly long corridor. Much like the upper floor, it seems longer than it should be able to be in a building this size. You realize a moment later that Cedric is joining you (if inquired, he simply replies "Hey, I was up there too!". Your guide doesn't seem to mind).
If spoken to, he just nods and seemingly takes a mental note of your questions and statements, but doesn't reply. The corridor has a number of doors, all made of rare (and expensive) mahogany wood and with gold plates with numbers engraved on them.
You notice they all also have a tiny golden anvil engraved on its top right corner, slightly above their hinges .
Eventually, the armored man opens one of the doors and prompts you in. The room has scarlet-colored wallpaper and sofas. A small fountain of crystalline water on the corner, a fancy round table covered by scarlet cloth. On top of it rest six sets of silver plates and cutlery, as well as four rather ostentatious golden chalices.
After all of you enter the room, the armored man closes the door and taps it twice with his index and middle fingers. A blue rune glows on the mahogany wood for a brief moment, then fades from sight. He then pulls a rope hanging from the ceiling next to the red sofa, producing the short but distinct sound of a bell being tolled.
He briefly stops and gesticulates a few short hand-signs.
"Your friends here soon..." says Cedric without much confidence. "I think...?"
The armored man then takes quiet steps towards the table and pulls one of the chairs, as if inviting you to sit. Cedric quickly and joyfully does so.
Whether you comply or not, he looks at you and spins his hand and briefly moves his mouth without producing any words.
You get his meaning: "Speak."
The armored man shrugs his shoulders and goes back to looking over the waitress' increasingly desperate attempts to silence the room.
Eventually, you're approached by Jenny, the waitress from the Mad Shark to whom you briefly talked before going upstairs.
"So... What's going on here?" she whispers to your group with a calm, but inquisitive (and somewhat demanding) tone. "We heard loud bangs, then a heavy crash outside... Finally, Ms.Reyes left in a hurry, covered in blood and followed by over a dozen men! I think she took with her every guard she met on her way out!"
"Indeed, somethings is amiss in here." says a voice you recognize as Ayren butting in uninvited. Jenny rolls her eyes but that never stopped the half-elf. "Some of my business partners were taken to safer locations... And that bird-keeper guy never came back downstairs. That pale-looking couple he talked to also left quietly, but rather swiftly once all the noise started."
The things are just slightly calmer on the main casino. Perhaps non-VIP guests are just more used to unexplained noises and guards rushing in and out.
A few customers (mostly those close to the shortest route between the VIP Room and the main entrance) have bruises and cuts, but otherwise, the atmosphere of the place remains largely the same... Although careful inspection reveals that the staff is not quite as calm as they try to appear.
Eventually, Alvarez shows up, holding a fancy handkerchief against a small cut on his cheek.
"Ah... My friends. It's good that I found you." he says with an amicable smile and a calm, but subtly concerned expression. "I believe my intel was flawed. The man we were looking for was indeed here. But he wasn't in possession of my dagger. In fact, I have reason to believe he was looking for it as well... Which begs the question: Who had it? And who has it now? I'm afraid of the possibilities. Few people can are capable of misleading me to such a degree." His voice betrays a sobriety and seriousness you hadn't seem in him before. He then returns to his cheerful self "But do not worry, friends. Either way, I'll keep my part of the deal. I'll pay you for your services and testify in your favor in your trial."
Brother Cyrus follows the man as he sees no reason not to. He glances at the anvil symbol and something about it tries to jog his memory.
"Friends? Which friends do you mean?" Cyrus asks before taking a seat.
And if nobody stops him, Cyrus spends a substantial amount of time complaining about and detailing everything that has happened to him since arriving in Blue Shell.
Tai Leng stares in amazement at the silent men.
"I never thought I'd find people who'd taken a vow of silence outside of the monastery. It already seemed like a pain when you only needed to interact with other people about once a month."
Shea really has no reason to stick with Cyrus on this one. Also she's pretty sure she might be dying. There is nothing but pain~
"Hey fill me in if you want later, I need to 'Freshen Up.'"
Shea does Air Quotes when she says Freshen Up, Inquiring the nearest worker where the Powder room is. When she's there she wood shapes the door closed and proceeds to do the obnoxiously elaborate song and dance to self heal herself. She does this till she is either fully healed or something else happens that catches her attention.
The armored man listens to Brother Cyrus woes for about a minute, then sighs and moves away. Cedric continues paying attention, but is clearly more entertained than sympathetic to the Paladin's whining woes.
He scoffs at the mention of vows of silence.
Shea finds a bathroom stall and casts her spell twice...
About five minutes after you got in the room, there's a knocks at the door. The armored man moves to answer it.
When the door opens, a waitress speaks sheepishly to the armored man.
"M-Mr.Krieger. I brought the guests' that were requested."
The armored man nods to her, and as she steps aside, you are joined by Alvarez and two other people, neither of which you know... But apparently Cedric does.
"Ah! Luna! Ronnie! You got here!" he waves excitedly at the dark-haired young man and woman. From their looks, they are possibly half-tian, and most likely siblings. "I was afraid you left to meet Din without me!" Cedric says as he stands up and approaches them.
Meanwhile, Alvarez seems relieved once he sees you.
"Ah, my friends... I'm glad you're well. I feared the worst." he says an amicable smile and a calm, but subtly concerned expression. There's a small cut on his cheek, recent, but not bleeding.
While Krieger listens to a few words from the waitress, Alvarez pulls Cyrus and Tai Leng together and speaks to them low enough to have a semi-private conversation:
"I believe my intel was flawed. The man we were looking for was indeed here. But he wasn't in possession of my dagger. In fact, I have reason to believe he was looking for it as well... Which begs the question: Who had it? And who has it now? I'm afraid of the possibilities. Few people can are capable of misleading me to such a degree." His voice betrays a sobriety and seriousness you hadn't seem in him before. He then returns to his cheerful self "But do not worry, friends. Either way, I'll keep my part of the deal. I'll pay you for your services and testify in your favor in your trial."
Krieger dismisses the girl with a wave of his hand. She makes a slight courtesy and leaves in a hurry. After closing the door, he once again taps it twice, making a faint blue rune glow for moment.
"Much obliged Mr.Alvarez. I'll keep an eye out for your missing possession and let you know if we hear anything about it. Hopefully we can get back to some kind of normalcy soon. So...what happens now?"
While not the real crest of the family, the golden anvil is strongly associated with the Goldensmith, who are definitely the wealthiest and arguably the most powerful of the three Grand Families.
While they have little to no direct influence over strong military organizations, such as the Wavebravers have over the Armada and the Blackwalls have over the Seven Companies, they have a firm, if nebulous, sway over those same organizations and the even more so over the Mining and Trade Ministries.
The Goldensmith also prefer to solve their problems through subterfuge and deception, rather than open confrontation. And strive to always maintain "plausible deniability" in their operations.
Because of all this, you're certain the owners of this establishiment have strong ties to the Goldensmith family, as only its members, servants and closest allies would think to display it so openly in Blue Shell.
- - -
"Difficult to say. I must investigate more on this matter... I'll let you know when I have a solid lead. Hopefully you'll still be willing to aid me by then." he says with a smile... "For now, I suppose we can follow our separate paths..."
When these words are said, Krieger coughs and stares silently at Alvarez, then positions himself in front of the door.
"Or... We could wait and see what Ms.Reyes wants with us. She is our host, after all." Alvarez adds quickly. He doesn't seem scared, but simply attempting to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Krieger nods in approval.
"Miss Reyes requests your presence. Please, follow me."
- - -
Meanwhile, in the Red Room...
After 15 minutes, you hear a knock on the door. Krieger once again taps twice on the wooden surface, then opens its.
Two men in light armor enter the room. Their clothes have dust and rust powder on their clothes, but their faces and hair are clean. Both carry swords and small daggers at their belts. They may be brothers, as both have very distinctive broad facial features, short curly hair and wide noses... They have different colored eyes, however (one of them has brown eyes, the other one has hazel-colored ones). The taller one has a scar on his chin, while the shorter one has a half of an ear missing.
In actuality, three people entered the room. The two men were preceded by the black-haired woman you saw downstairs and then again at the battle against the gear-men. The one that told you to come here.
She enters the room almost with an eerie, almost ghost-like stride. Her steps don't produce a sound and she struts directly towards the red table, where she gracefully sits.
Her presence is incredibly difficult to notice until she speaks.
They enter the room and bow slightly and move towards the red table, from where the voice of the black-haired woman comes out. Cedric and his friends are so startled, they almost jump.
"Good. You are here." she says with a firm tone. "We have business to discuss. I need a certain man found and brought here within the next 10 days. And you will help me find him."
"In a Second, I'm just putting my face on"
With the assistance of her unseen servant, Shea quickly finished her make-up to an acceptable level and heads on back to the red room.
"Why are you trying so hard and failing to remain hidden in plain view? Everyone here is far too eccentric for my tastes. It is like you all try to be strange just for the purpose of being strange. I don't understand."
Cyrus blinks and watches her move into the room.
"Er, Tai I think you're being a little rude. She's clearly a hostess of the highest caliber. One able to seamlessly move between guests and see to other matters accordingly." Cyrus speaks diplomatically while glancing between the two.
"In any case Miss, I cannot in good faith accept this task. I'm not exactly sure of when our court day is and as much as I would like to get even with whatever the hells those things came from, I cannot do so in good conscious when we could be whisked away back in a cell. Truth be told, I am not eager to get mixed up with another Grand Family." Cyrus feels a little better after complaining to Krieger, but sighs heavily as he finishes talking.
"You have good eyes. Good. You will need it." the woman says without missing a beat.
She drinks from a nearby crystal glass of water.
"Don't be naive. You're already involved. You haven't been summoned to court yet. And I expect you won't be for the next 10 days."
"Right now, you are the only people I know for a fact that weren't working with those things. So I want your help. But make no mistake, you NEED my help... Even if you have a solid defense, and that's a big "if", you need a quick victory, or at least a tie. An extended legal battle could break you even if you miraculously won. Truth is... You could really use a testimony of character that doesn't have ties with the Wavebravers or any other Grand Family... And a missing philanthropist priest would be a really good one. And you'd be paid for your services, of course. Perhaps even enough to hire a good lawyer."
Mr.Reyes shrugs her shoulders.
"But I won't force you. If you prefer, we can part ways here. I'll never intervene in your lives again..." she takes another sip from her cup. "And then you can explain, in court, by yourselves, how this establishment just coincidentally happened to be attacked for the first time ever on the very day you set foot in here for the first time."
She gracefully places the now-empty glass on the table.
"It's your choice to make. Choose wisely."
"Mrs.Reyes...If you want help and can offer it in turn then simply ask. But threatening us with more legal trouble in an attempt to strong-arm us is poisoning the same well you wish to drink from. Personally I have no doubt in my mind that truth will prevail. If need be, I am willing to stand judgement before the gods and my peers. With or without aid. I will not negotiate with a thug." Cyrus' sorrowful expression quickly sharpens with frustration as he speaks.
"Grief can make us act in strange ways, Mrs.Reyes. I am willing to help, truly. I...did not reach him in time and there were others too who died needlessly today. If our attempted intervention is repaid with a knife hanging over our heads, how can we be sure you will keep your end of this deal? Nothing Good can come of a pact made under duress." Cyrus leans back in his chair, thoroughly exhausted from both the night and yet another good deed coming back to twist his arm.
"DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK OF GRIEF TO ME!" she replies, speaking as loudly and angrily as one can do without actively shouting. Visibly losing her cool, Ms.Reyes stands up so fast her chair wobbles for a couple seconds and almost falls over. For just a moment, the 5'6" woman looks much bigger.
For the first time, Krieger seems genuinely surprised.
Without speaking or averting her eyes, Reyes takes a deep breath through her nose. And when she speaks again, her voice has regained its composure, although the raven-haired woman does still sound upset.
"I am Lana Reyes. And my word is golden!" she speaks with determination. "Make no mistake, Mr.Vance... When I say I won't intervene in your lives, I mean exactly what I say. I won't sue you. I won't blackmail you. I won't sabotage you. I won't attack you in any way. I won't even speak your names... And I sure as the tides won't testimony in your trial, even if the Armada itself drags me to the courthouse by my boots! Neither will any of my employees... But if you think this incident won't be used by your opponents, you are far too naive for this city. As much as Blue Shell fashions itself 'The City of New Beginnings', many old unspoken rules of society remain the same."
Ms.Reyes finishes her water with a long sip.
"Do as you wish. I will not beg for help. You can inform Mr.Krieger of you decision." she says in somewhat of a hurry before walking towards the door.
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Shea tips her wide Brimmed hat as she Passes Reyes in the hall.
"Jeez, she seems upset."
She whispered to herself.
"Have I misjudged her age? She looks an adult, but seems to lack the ability to act as one." Tai Leng casually asks, making sure it is loud enough for Lana to hear as she throws her tantrum and storms out.
Krieger lifts his arm as if to reading himself to deliver a backhanded slap to Tai Leng, who promptly raises his guard... But before anything happens, Ms Reyes speaks.
"No. Today he gets one. One." - And then leaves.
Krieger shrugs his shoulder. He doesn't seem at all offended or worried.
- - -
"Insulting a girl who just lost her father... And in her own establishment too!" says the (half-?)tian girl that joined Cedric. "Classy."
"You must be real popular with women." adds the (half-?)tian man next to her.
"Ah... Don't be rude. These guys are new in town! They don't know how the not-nobles are... And they probably saved my life, so we should be grateful."
"Well... *You* should be grateful." replies the other young man.
"Nonsense. You'd be lost without me!" Cedric retorts.
"Like a crane without a map..." the girl adds.
And then Shea bursts through the door, looking clean and refreshed, Looking around the room at all the sour faces.
"Why's everyone so glum?"
And then Shea bursts through the door, looking clean and refreshed, Looking around the room at all the sour faces.
"Why's everyone so glum?"
"Another person in this city has attempted to twist our arms and force our cooperation where a simple request would suffice." Tai says, sighing.
"It is beginning to become tedious. We have helped a fair few people since coming to this city -several without even being asked or expecting reward- and it is only the ones who believe themselves 'important' that feel the need to jump straight to coercion and threats instead of communicating like thinking people."
"Hopefully that explains my current state of irritation with people like her, whatever her emotional state is."
"I don't really know what you've guys have gone through, but if someone is trying to force you to do something you don't want to, Then ditch them."
She said, her unseen servant sliding a seat over to her, Plopping down into it.
"I mean, it seems like they need us, So if they can't be a little gracious then why bother. Let them handle their own problems. But that's just what I would do... I'm thirsty."
Shea looks around the room, where there any drinks provided? If so she has her unseen servant bring her some.
Also she suddenly realizes Tai looks really beat up.
"Oh damn, you're really hurt, let me help you with that."
Shea holds out her hands and glittery sparkles rain over Tai.
And for about two minuets Shea just bathes Tai in what looks like glitter till all his wounds heal up.
She also sprays Cyrus with glitter too for a good two minuets.
"Ah... Don't be such a sourpuss!" says Cedric. "The Reyes may be rich and have ties with the Goldensmiths, but in the grand scheme of things, they are still small fish. They can't exactly fall on their knees and supplicate in front of strangers... Even saying 'please' probably hurts their souls. I think her 'threat' was her way of offering to help you with whatever legal problems you have if you help her."
"Hmm..." says the young tian woman "She did mention a missing priest... We should help her, boys."
Her fellow tian responds. "I see what you're getting at, Luna, but we still gotta a deal with Din. We don't have time..."
"We could ask him for a little more time..." she replies.
"Again?!" says Cedric. "He'd would either laugh at us or demand a very steep increase in his fee..."
"But it's a priest! So close to the Festival... What if he serves the Empress?"
"Then he has much better support than we could possibly provide!" replies the man called Ronnie.
The trio continues to debate among themselves.
Alvarez simply observes. Curious about the course of action you and the other guests will take.
Krieger watches you quietly. He doesn't seem anxious or angry, but his bored expression and distant eyes tells you he'd rather be somewhere else.
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Cyrus is pensive for the moment before giving a wry smile to no one in particular and chuckling to himself.
One does not do Good because it is convenient. You do it because it's the right thing to do.
"Circumstances be damned. I haven't stopped helping people who need my help and I have no intention of doing so now. Even if the people who need it are a little rude. The girl lost her father and I won't begrudge her that." He looks to Tai Leng with a wry smile.
"What say you Tai? They say the most rewarding work is often the most trying and it's already been a hell of a night."
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Tai massages his scalp to relieve the oncoming headache.
"Of course we'll help; I'm not just going to leave a man to die because I'm annoyed by the person asking me to do it. Though we are short on details at the moment. The only details we have of this man is that he's male, and is a priest...though of whom I have no idea."
Shea crosses her arms.
All this talk of people not being gracious and not even a thank you for my magical miracle healing, Glass houses.
She thinks to herself, Shrugging poofing her windstaff into her hand, idly tooting a tune on it.
"This shindig is pretty boring now that the fighting is done."
Tai felt the pleasant warm feeling of positive energy raining down on him, He remains unchanged except perhaps his fingernails grew a millimeter or two. Perhaps it relaxed his mood a little too.
Kriegers gives you a thumbs up (you get the feeling social interactions aren't his forte). Then he moves his lips without producing any sound... And with what seems like sleight of hand, he produces a small but fancy-looking scroll case. And hand it to whoever is closest to him... In this case, Tai Leng.
He nods slightly and leaves the room.
"Eloquent guy..." says Ronnie with a confused tone.
Inside the scroll case, there are three parchments of paper. When unfolded they are revealed to be:
- A very realistic-looking 10x10" oil painting portrait of a human man ins his 50s or 60s, with balding grey hair, sun-tanned skin, no beard, broken nose, green eyes, and a tired but serene look on his face. He has vestigial rope-burn scar on his neck and wears a necklace whose steel pendant is a shaped like an angelic ankh, the holy symbol of Sarenrae.
On the bottom right of the portrait, written in fine cursive lettering, you see the words Samwel Ritto.
- The second piece of paper is a map. It has three big black "X" marked on it, on three different locations. All of which are outside the city. The closest one, a few miles north of Blue Shell is marked "Queen Bel-ha". Another one, further north still, has the subtitle "Black Gear". North-east from it, the last mark, farthest from Blue Shell, has nothing written under it. It's just a seemingly random spot in the middle of untamed wilds.
- The third and last rolled paper is a card-sized vellum paper scroll containing a very simplistic map of Blue Shell and the words "Glittering Hooves - 4 - LKSB".
"I'm not familiar with these. What about you all?" Cyrus shows the pictures to Cedric's group.
"Never seen him before... The name sounds familiar, but I can't remember where I heard it before." says Cedric.
"Don't look at us. We've only been in this city for a few weeks..." says the girl called Luna.
"Too bad. If you all end up taking her deal, we may cross paths again soon. Name's Cyrus Vance. You can call me Brother Cyrus or Brother Vance if you like. My friend here is Tai Leng and this woman..." Cyrus gestures towards Shea. "I'm not really sure who she is or what relationship she has with Mr.Alvarez." Cyrus offers a hand to shake to Cedric and prompts a return introduction, but is not offended if they decline to. Afterwards he looks to Mr.Alvarez.
"What about you Mr.Alvarez? I may need to go ask our...usual informant if we have no leads." Cyrus makes a somewhat funny expression as he imagines Ayren likely passed out somewhere.
"Hmmm... I'm sure I've heard the name before." answers Alvarez. "And I may have seen him in past social events. I'm pretty sure this man walks within some of the city's wealthiest circles. But I don't think he's a member of the Grand Families or a government officer. He's clearly a religious man, however. I don't really have close connections in the city clergy, so it might just be that he and I walk different scenes, with a little bit of overlap."
"Do you know anything about the places listed? I'm not keen to go wandering to unknown locales looking for a missing priest."
Tai pauses for a moment.
"It seems an obvious question, but has anyone check the Sarenite temple yet?"
Shea Waves
"Hi I'm Shea Mills, I'm a Gifted Magician"
She does a little curtsy.
"I was just hired and told to come here and find Tai and a Brother Cyrus and help them best I can, I was also given this."
She holds up the image of the Dagger.
"It's like a dagger or a sword or something, I was told to keep a look out for it, besides that I know very little of the wider situation... Actually, I might know something, let me have a closer look at that stuff."
She looks over the map and painting and tries to recall any information she may have picked up during her years of education.
"Miss Mill was my backup plan." says Alvarez "She's quite competent, and I figured you could use some arcane support."
"few expeditions I helped fiance informed me of a Thriae community around this area. Queen Bel-ha is likely the name of their leader. Black Gear... Sounds like a few reports of ancient machinery found all over the island, but without more details, I can't be more specific."
Alvarez taps on the last X drawn on the map... "This one... I have no idea what it may be. I don't know of anything particularly noteworthy there, but my intuition tells me there's something amazing to be found there."
You've occasionally heard word about a Priest Ritto, who runs a charity house near the docks, where they offer food, blankets and shelter to the homeless.
He is also a bit of a oddball, who among other things, walks barefoot everywhere, has clothespin on the back of his collar and iron wristbands on his arms.
- - -
Sarenrae is a Neutral Good deity, associated with Healing and the Sun. One of the most widespread faiths in Golarion, and quite popular in Blue Shell.
She teaches temperance and patience in all things. Compassion and peace are her greatest virtues, and if enemies of the faith can be redeemed, they should be. Yet there are those who have no interest in redemption, who glory in slaughter and death. From the remorseless evil of the undead and fiends to the cruelties born in the hearts of mortals, Sarenrae's doctrines preach swift justice delivered by the scimitar's edge. To this end, she expects her faithful to be skilled at swordplay, both as a form of martial art promoting centering of mind and body, and so that when they do enter battle, their foes do not suffer any longer than necessary.
Tai Leng relays this info.
Shea crosses her arms.
"I was gonna say that."
You've occasionally heard word about a Priest Ritto, who runs a charity house near the docks, where they offer food, blankets and shelter to the homeless.
He is also a bit of a oddball, who among other things, walks barefoot everywhere, has clothespin on the back of his collar and iron wristbands on his arms.
"Father Ritto" has no formal ties to the "official" church of Sarenrae, and has repeatedly refused to join their clergy. No one knows why. He doesn't seem to have any ill will towards them, but just doesn't seem interested.
He's known to have worked with prominent political figures of Blue Shell, some of them before they were actually prominent. In fact, there are rumors that "Father Ritto" has been in Blue Shell since the city's founding.
Similarly, there are rumors that Father Ritto is actually Searing Sam, a near-legendary enforcer from the criminal underworld of Blue Shell, who hasn't been seen in over 40 years.
"It seems like we should be able to go to all the locations in a fairly straightforward route. What could this Glittering Hooves - 4 - LKSB possibly mean here?"
"Miss Mill was my backup plan." says Alvarez "She's quite competent...
"Those are certainly...words." Cyrus says as diplomatically as he can.
"In any case, we should probably get going now and leave tomorrow morning. After all this, I could go for a drink and some good food as well."
"It seems like we should be able to go to all the locations in a fairly straightforward route. What could this Glittering Hooves - 4 - LKSB possibly mean here?"
"Oh! Oh! That one I know!" says Cedric excitedly. "I mean... I don't know what the '4 - LKSB' means, but I know the Glittering Hooves! It's a racetrack! The races only occur every few days, but it's always open for visitation. People who are rich enough to own noble-blood horses, but not rich enough to have a miles-long yard can leave theirs animals there... For a nominal fee, of course."
"Thanks Cedric. I suppose we'll see you around maybe. That should probably be our first stop looking into this missing priest." Cyrus gets up, stretches and gets ready to leave to go to the Mad Shark and get some food.
"That sounds like a good place to start, I guess the temple would be the first place to ask around, We could possibly purchase a scroll, That sort of divination scroll would run us about.... A Pretty penny, We might want to only do that as a last resort."
"Maybe we'll see each other around..." says Cedric. "My friends and I have business to attend. Tonight was actually my 'day off'. If we get some free time, I'll try to see what I can learn about the guy."
After saying that, Cedric and his friends wish you a good night and say their goodbyes, then leave.
"I should be going too..." says Alvarez. "I need to learn more about the dagger-thief. I'll be in touch with you, so don't worry, you'll still be paid for your services. And I still intend to testify in your favor."
"Good bye, and good luck." he says before leaving as well.