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Madame Zelekhati smiles as she listens to the three "Rumors are told about everything and the city walls are a pain to everyone." she turns to Eldon, "What kind of information do you need?"
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Tyriel arrives a bit late behind the others, his head being bombarded by sharp pain as his blood boiled mildly. A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek as he leaned against a large tree, a hand placed firmly over his eyes while he gritted his teeth.
A moment passed, his breathing began to relax while his hand slipped from his head, resting along his other arm, folded over his chest. He simply watched behind his hair that was now wildly drooped over his face.
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Tarquin looks to his companions, trying to make eye contact. He knows that sooner or later they will need to come clean about their involvement with Torch, and that they seek information about Zelekhati herself. However, he is unsure how best to broach the topic, and looks to his more diplomatically-savvy allies for some kind of cue whether to bring it up now, or to try maintaining a low profile a bit longer.
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"So you are in fact an information dealer?" Eldon eyes spark for a moment "We are looking for the Jeweled Sages Miss. We were told the Diamond Sage was hidden within the walls of Eto. And we have been told you know good all the whereabouts of people in this city." Eldon turns to the woman and looks deeply at her eyes "Do you know who the Diamond Sage is and where does he live?"
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With a growing frustration with this 'pussy footing' around, Tyriel could no longer contain himself. Joining the other elf, Tyriel slamed a hand hand flat onto the table, a small flame flicking from his fingers only briefly. His eyes shimmered with an inner flame that seemed to glow.
Tyriel Leaned in, Staring the woman in the eye.
"Would you sell the damn information?"
The elf shouted, A notable hiss within his voice seemed to echo as he was unable to maintain his composure.
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Jumping a bit at Tyriel's actions, Auriea walks up to the sorcerer and puts a hand on his shoulder."There's no need to be like this, Tyriel. Calm down. Madame Zelekhati is an information broker, and quite fine at her job from what I heard."
Turning back to the elf woman, Auriea speaks up again,"I do apologize about his outburst. As you can see, we aren't exactly the most of wordy group, handling conversation in a polite manner. We came to you, because the broker we used didn't seem to have information of how to get what we wanted, but mentioned that you might know, being the broker you are."
"Please stay calm Tyriel. I don't want to get into a fight when none of us are at the advantage," thought the Sylph.
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Tarquin sighs. "To be honest, Madame Zelekhati, the information broker we visited first is the reason we are here. We know it's likely that you do not possess the intel we need, but our first contact does, and he sent us to verify how you ply your craft. Given that you are a fellow secret-monger, my guess is that you already know of whom I speak, and you know that he is not a man to be trifled with. As long as you remain a point of interest to him, none of your secrets—those you keep for others...or for yourself—are safe."
Tarquin extends a hand in a gesture of sincerity. "These back alley dealings have never been my forte; I've usually gotten what I want by playing it straight, so that's what I will do with you. Share your tricks of the trade with our associate, and I'm certain that the two of you can reach some kind of mutually beneficial business arrangement. Or you can maneuver him into a corner and blackmail him into oblivion, if that better suits your fancy. To be honest, I have no love to lose between myself and our taskmaster. We simply need his information so that we can move on with our cause. What I do know is that if you refuse to collaborate with us—and, by proxi, with him—then you risk making a dangerous enemy with international connections and a long memory."
Tarquin shrugs. "Perhaps it's because I'm an honest man, but it seems like an easy choice to me."
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Tarquin raises an eyebrow, then chuckles. "Truly I am treating with a master, since I don't believe I ever introduced myself in this establishment. Evidently, though, it would have been an unnecessary courtesy. I tip my hat to your keen ears and mind, Madame.
"Being an honest man, I would come clean with my new business partner but play things closet to the vest, charging reasonable rates for my intelligence and keeping close tabs on the exchange rate of services and information in order to stymie any mistrustful behavior. Were I a dishonest man, however, I might share just enough information to be dangerous. If I learned my secrets via three different methods, for example, I might share one, two if pressured, but keep my third tactic a secret of my own. I would then use said secret method almost exclusively for keeping tabs on my new associate, but defer to my other, shared sources for information I might wish to barter. This would maintain my front of being forthcoming, but leave me with an ace in the hole and a finger on my colleague's pulse.
"I sincerely believe that cooperating with our employer would prove more bountiful for you than resisting him. But that doesn't mean I recommend giving away all your evidently formidable talents. Who knows? You may find that the favor trade agrees with you, opening up a beautiful new realm of opportunity for you and your establishment."
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"I would agree, that from a business standpoint, that letting one know all their secrets isn't in one's best interest unless it would prove beneficial towards all parties involved. As for knowing our friend's name here without him introducing himself, I would have to say you are quite good with the gathering of information, which as mentioned, could expand your horizons in the nearby future."
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For the ones who are holding onto the book.
More than a dozen camels are tethered outside a large pavilion tent while a score of porters pack supplies for what looks to be a grand archeological expedition. Crates of tools, coils of rope, and sacks of dried food lie in piles waiting to divided up among the beasts of burden. Within the sumptuously appointed pavilion, stacks of scrolls and hand-drawn maps lie strewn across a canopied bed. A tall, dark haired northerner with a thick eastern accent and persistent scowl supervises the storm of activity while checking over an inventory scrawled in a well-worn ledger. “Where are those amphorae of water? This expedition won’t last a week in the Pillars of the Sun without water!”
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Tarquin speaks to his comrades well out of earshot from the pavilion. "Our task is to make sure the book is added to the caravan without suspicion. Distractions strike me as suspicious. Perhaps we can try dropping it into the map and document archives without drawing any attention to ourselves? Either sneak in or masquerade as expedition grunt workers?"
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"Then I should not 'distract' in this situation. Whom ever is able to sneak in and out...That would be a better course of action, I think."
Tyriel shook his head, trying to shack the inner urges to spread terror through unbiased flame. A distraction that would be. He took a step back, holding a hand to his forehead, covering his eyes in the process.
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"According to Torch, the mark needs to not suspect anything, so I think planting the book among the maps is the best course of action." Looking around the group, Tarquin adds, "That said, I don't see many stealthy types in our midst, so perhaps we should help him get the supplies he needs and slip the book into the package."
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"Sorry to correct you, but some of us, we are actually stealthy" Eldon smiles "We can proceed with your plan, but if you want I think I can easily slip the book on his pocked or in his belongings with an easy hands trick while you distract him. And a conversation should be a distraction good enough if you ask what I mean by it."
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"Fair enough. I'll go strike up a chat with Lozar while Eldon slips the book into the assorted documents. Eldon, if you can't get a clear opening, come join the conversation and that'll be our cue to go with plan B. In the meantime, I'll try to get a sense of what work Lozar needs done, so we have a cover story just in case. Sidney and Auriea should come with me in case my social skills fall flat; Tyriel, can you back up Eldon if things go sour?"
Tarquin rounds the pavilion and approaches the man with the ledger from the side opposite Eldon. "I must say, this is quite the operation you have underway. Mind if I ask what this is all for? I'm an adventurer of sorts and new to the region, so your resources and manpower have piqued my curiosity."
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Eldon makes a surprise expression as he is catch in his swift action "Oh my! You got me!" he let's the book fell, inside the bag if possible "They paid me a great money to stole it from you! Sorry, I wanted no harm!" and so simulating he is trying to steal the book the elf tries to get rid of the grasp and run away.
If he succeeds to escape but the man pursuits him, he uses vanish to disappear and look for a safe place.