Upon hearing that Seren starts formulating the backup plan, first fearing for his companions and praying they get out safely, but second thinking of a way to salvage the foray. He stays near the door awaiting Absinthe and Rosa's actions.
If I stay disassociated from these two, I may be able to catch him with a "different" audience ... praying he's still in a mood to see folks
Seren gulps as he starts thinking of his words.
Absinthe's arm shoots out, and she clips Rosa in the back of the head.
"Fool!" she snarls.
She bows to Barvasi again. "The Chelish diplomat," she says, her words quick and precise. "He comes to amuse himself here. We require details of his exact 'entertainments' so he might be compromised into not levelling a trade embargo which would cripple the city's economy and, by extension, all our operations."
Another light smack for Rosa's poor head.
"Please forgive this... property's impertinence," the tiefling growls. "It struts and preens, but has no idea of how to properly do business. We are in your hand, not you in ours, of course."
Segang stays near the bow of the boat and tries to listen to the conversation, craning his neck to try to get a glimpse into the room.
"Sun burn this, Segang, we're going inside," growls Melianthe. She wanders off, casting Mage Armor. After a moment, she walks to the edge of the gangplank, some distance from the guard, with an innocent expression, and then Sleep Hexes him.
"Guess we're going with plan B." If the guard is knocked out, Demitri will try to slip inside.
The dragon's eyes arch as Absinthe takes charge. Barvasi relaxes slightly, but his unwelcome expression remains. "You mean Amprei," he barks a humorless laugh. "That Chelish mosquito is causing enough trouble to get notice in this city?" His eyes narrow as he takes in details about the two of you. "Who are you... and who do you work for?"
"With all due respect, your majesty," Absinthe says, her tone becoming slightly harder, "what is that information worth to you?"
Her tone mellows slightly. "Let it suffice to say that we represent people willing to pay for Amprei's Achilles heel. Please. He does not need to be eliminated, just... neutered."
Her eyes flick to the cage. "On a personal note, I find myself intrigued by this fine specimen. As a sideline, might I ask what your price would be to acquire this pseudodragon?"
Barvasi grimaces, but doesn't press the issue. "As you say, information is valuable. What are you offering?"
At Absinthe's mention of it, the dragon's eyes flash hopeful for a moment, but it hides the emotion quickly. In response, Barvasi gives a half-chuckle. "Five thousand, if you have such coin."
"As you clearly do not consider Amprei a person of great interest, let us start the bidding at ten platinum as a point of reference," Absinthe says with an offhanded gesture. "He has no true power of his own, after all, and he is hardly essential to your own operations."
Eyes flicking towards the pseudodragon, she adds: "While I like the look of this creature, he does not appear to be in the finest of health... Perhaps you might consider lowering that price to five hundred. I can see I will need to take him to a healer before I can get to work."
Barvasi shakes his head, but the smile returns. "I may think Amprei worthless, but he is wealthy. I'm sure he would pay at least fifty platinum to learn that someone is out to bribe him."
"But consider the damage to your own enterprises if the man is allowed to do as he pleases!" Absinththe says as she raises one finger. "You must weigh short-term profits against long-term profits. I'll throw in ten platinum more for your trouble, but do try to meet me halfway, your majesty."
"Your bargaining posture is highly dubious, and haggling just bores me. The same bits of leverage you wish to purchase, I could use to protect my 'enterprises' against Amprei. Fifty plat, and you provide me some entertainment." This gets a few chuckles from the nervous onlookers. The dragon just blinks and sighs.
"I shall carry your price to my employer," Absinthe says, bowing her head. "You understand, of course, that I did not carry such a sum on me."
Provided no one tries to stop them, Absinthe collects Rosa and rejoins the others.
"The king of the spiders, he demands fifty platinum as well as some 'entertainment' for his information on the Chelish diplomat," she tells the rest of the group, whispering. "He will not negotiate the price."
"That's reasonable. We were given twice that as a bribe. What kind of entertainment did he ask for?"
"He did not specify," Absinthe says, tight-lipped behind the mask. "One chose not to enquire, as suspicions of unsavoury preferences intruded upon her. As he has not specified, one hopes he will not complain if more mainstream entertainments are offered."
A moment of silence passes, and when Absinthe speaks again, it is in a dark, harsh-sounding language:
Barvasi waves you off as you depart, laughing.
"Well what did you have in mind then?" Demitri is a little startled by Abby's otherworldly outburst.
"Can anyone sing?" Absinthe suggests, shrugging. "Or dance? One could conceivably give a demonstration of woodworking, but was not trained in the ah, 'delicate' arts."
[/ooc]
"Neither. Unless he wants to view some Watch interrogation techniques, I got nothing."
Seren remains behind and attempts to eavesdrop.
"I am not trained, but I can sing," says Melianthe. "Should things go sour, I can also utter an ear piercing scream." She thinks. "Rosa could accompany me in a duet, perhaps."
After the guard returns, he sets up post directly outside the door. He eyes Seren and tells him to get lost.
"Perhaps whichever group goes to deliver the money and collect the information should include Brother Segang," Absinthe says, nodding to the Urban Barbarian. "In the role of the 'money man', as it were. And... I have a personal request for you all. In Barvasi's chamber, there is a pseudodragon in a cage. Our bribe money can also cover its release. Please purchase that freedom and bring it out. In Tien Xia, dragons are the children of Heaven. It aggrieves me to see one so caged by one so vile."
Seren will stumble away from the guard back to the revelers and then see if he can get to the edge of the boat where the others can see him.
"I'll go with Segang to pay him then. I don't see why we can't free the little creature as well."
"You have my thanks," Absinthe says. The tiefling bows her head slightly and folds her hands before her. "Should Barvasi still insist on entertainment from this unworthy one, remind him that he laughed as one departed. He has derived amusement from one's presence already."
[Ooc]Did I miss where he came off his 5k gold price for the dragon?[/b]
Negative, 500p is 5k.
No intelligent creature should be caged. he fumes.
"After some further calculation... we can not afford its liberation at this time," Absinthe says, her voice leaden. "Disregard it for now. The mission must be completed." She bows her head to Segang and Demitri again. "Good fortune be with you."
"We'll need it. We still need to figure out how to entertain the bastard."
"One can only offer you the suggestion already made; he laughed, therefore he was entertained," Absinthe says. "Should that not succeed, mayhap a mock duel? Mind you take no more money in than what he demanded."
Seren will attempt to sign a hidden message to the party.
Returning to the Eel's End, Segang and Demitri are checked and waved through by the guards at the ramp and in front of the 'throne room'. Inside, they find the situation much as Absinthe and Rosa did, but now the tables have been pushed to clear an open space in the center. Two of the rogues are sparring with wrapped knives, while the others watch.
Barvasi raises a hand, halting the melee as you enter. He appraises you with a grin. "Ah, you two must be the muscle. Have you come to make the payment?"
"Yes, we're here to make sure it goes according to plan. Fifty platinum was the agreed price, right?"
50 Platinum and some entertainment oh mighty king of spiders. Segang corrects. If this is entertainment, he indicates the two playing at knives. then I call the winner.
Barvasi nods, "Fifty... but not this sport. How about a game of knivesies?" The group cheers and laughs, and quickly begins to move one of the long tables back out.
"It's quite simple, really," he adds. "Two men stand on opposite ends of the table, their right hands tied by a long strap. Coins bet will be scattered around the table. One dagger, here." Barvasi takes a fine dagger from his belt and stabs it into the center of the table. "You can win any number of ways... knock your opponent off the table, kill him, or take up as much gold as you can and hope you have more than he does."
Barvasi looks back and forth between you, smiling, "Who will it be, then?"
Sounds easy enough. Who do I fight?
Barvasi scans his men, pointing at one athletically-built man. "Ged, you're up." The rogue gives a casual salute and hops on the end of the table. Quickly, the other onlookers start dropping coins at his end of the table.
As Segang mounts the table and they string both fighters with the leather cord, some of the others, including Barvasi, puts down some gold on his end. "You're big and strong. I've got confidence in you," he winks.
After all the bets are in place, Barvasi returns to his throne. He gives a nod for the fight to begin.