Piper protects herself with a spell as you make your way to the dock. I'll describe the scene based on the checks.
By now the party is in a groove, and quickly singles out a potential lead. Questions produces, Jonathram a male half-elf and an amateur apothecary. He has not aged gracefully, despite his elven heritage. He is completely bald and wears a silver earring in one ear and a snowy white beard.
“Thefts? I don’t know nothing about no thefts. I know about receiving stolen goods though, and I ain’t about t’get locked up on no fool charge like that. Some Varisian feller come by wanting to buy up mah vermin repellent, trying to barter off some potions or whatnot. But I sees the Glyph of the Open Road on ‘em, and I ain’t about to touch no Pathfinder stuffs, so I tell him to shove off. Boy that got ‘im real mad. He was itchin’ up a storm, he was! Must have been living in them marshes, where them skeeters live.”
"Sorry, fresh out. I sold the last not more than an hour ago."
No worries, no need to roll, he's already talking, "Can't say that I know who you're talking about."
The description of the average looking Varisian is shockingly useless in its unremarkable nature.
"The swamps are pretty much everywhere around here, just outside of town. Most people mean either the ones directly north or the ones to the North West if they're talking about them."
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" Now may be the time to visit The Forest Bounty. Getting the insight from members of the city’s various militias might prove vital in plotting our next point of travel." Hun offers dryly as he glances at Bullwhip and his vociferous stomach racket! "Plus, we should feed this one before he turns on us!~"
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"Fine, then. Can you supply some alchemist's fire?" Thiera buys two, if they're available.
She has a few more questions to ask:
* "Do you see items with this glyph at other merchants in the area?"
* "Do you know where else this Varisian might have gone? We'd like to find him."
* "Who really runs things around here?"
When their questions are exhausted, she joins the rest of the part heading toward the Forest Bounty.
She smiles at Hun's description of Bullwhip. "Just don't feed him after midnight, and I think we'll be fine."
Alchemist's Fire is available.
"I don't see much else with the Glyph, but honestly, I don't normally look. The Varisian? Not sure. I don't think he spends a lot of time here actually, he's new. As for who's REALLY in charge, it's the militias that call the shots, but truth be told GOLD is in charge here (and a hatred of those Molthuni bastards!)
The Forest Bounty is a popular feast hall located on the north side of Tamran. The majority of the feast hall’s clientele seems to be militia types as they resupply, trade scouting reports, and compare scars. The feast hall is busy when you arrive.
The interior of this enormous wooden long house is brightly lit and filled with the sounds of laughter, music, and merriment. Food scents mingle with the smoke of cooking fires and tobacco pipes. Servants carry food and drinks from the open kitchen area to the various wooden benches and tables that fill the hall. Many of the patrons are armed and armored, proudly bearing the insignia of local militia groups on their cloaks and tabards, along with the sword and tree symbol of Nirmathas.
As before, Gather Information or new Knowledge Local.
Everyone looks for a moment before utterly ignoring Enora. Most scowl before they go back to their business. A single man does not,a wounded veteran clad in a green cloak bearing the symbol of Nirmathas. He walks with a noticeable limp and is missing his left arm from the elbow down.
“Now is not a good time for strangers to be asking questions in Tamran. There are rumors that spies walk among us and that Pathfinders are among those spies. I find it a little hard to believe, given Pathfinders helped me out in a time of need,” he remarks, gesturing with his hand to his amputated arm. "Be ye Pathfinders?'
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"Hey, you look like a fella who knows what's going on... are you a militia captain? Well you should be! Looking for some information about a Varisian feller itchin’ up a storm, or an elfin couple poking around asking for designs of Shining Crusade uniforms, or a power wielding lass with black and white hair... any of this strike a cord with you?"
"This isn't the time to get all uppity with your questions. You remind me of myself a long time ago." He nods at Hun, "Be ye Pathfinders?"
"I can tell that we're going to be having a conversation shrouded in suspicion. Allow me to level the playing field. So here is my offer. I know something of these bandits you seek, and I will tell you, but first one of you must drink this,” he says, producing a small blue bottle from his pocket.
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"No, I've heard this bardic tale. I drink that, and the next thing I know, I'm waking up in a wash basin full of ice with only one kidney."
Then Piper catches a glimpse of a lock of her white hair, and remembers her doctor's orders.
"Nethys preserve me," she says as she grabs the bottle and downs it in one gulp. She wipes her mouth. "Now what in Asmodeus' bedchamber was that stuff?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
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I'll go with Dupine drinking it...
-Posted with Wayfinder
IF you opted to make the save, start with a Bluff check:
The man wastes no time hitting August with questions, "“How long have you been working for Molthune?” “Who is your Molthuni contact?” and “Do any of your allies have ties to Molthune?”
"Here is fine. I'd rather it be public. If you're not Molthuni, I think you'd want it to be public too. You've got much to gain and more to lose. I have no idea about whatever frame-up you're talking about."
He speaks without blinking or looking away.
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Dupine responds just as rapidly. "We do not work for the Molthune, so therefore we have no contact. In so far as asking about my allies, well, I have many contacts and cannot know what all of them may do outside of their dealings with me, but to my knowledge, none of them collaborate with the Molthune."
Good thing I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder.
He nods gravely at August's responses before speaking. “Two weeks ago, while my men and I were patrolling along the edge of the Fangwood south of the city, we spotted a group of bandits attacking a smuggler in the woods. The leader looked like a woman with a streak of white hair. We gave chase, and tracked them as they fled west, but lost the trail when they hit the river. I don’t think they simply forded or swam; I’d bet good money your bandits have a ship capable of sailing up the Marideth River.”
The conversation continues for a bit longer, but the party gains no other information. When you part ways he ends with, "Next time you see Marcos Farabellus, tell him Imad Sharras sends his greetings."
Frustrated with your lack of progress, you head back to base to talk over what details you DO have.
That's when Desna smiles. A bird seemingly made of magic drops A NOTE in Auri's lap...
Now what?
It's DEFINITELY a forgery.
Sadly, the DC to see the spoiler is Linguistics 20.
If you guys decide to go early for the counter, give a Perception check , tell the the plan, and I'll set it up.
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"Someone wants us at the pier unprepared, so it must be a trap. There is little I love more than turning someone's trap on them." August grins, and then frowns. "Plus, it seems to be the only actionable lead we have..."
He suggests that we seek out some maps or at least a description of the area, and plan to make a stealthy approach an hour or so early to watch for who comes and how they may be planning the trap. He also suggests that Piper saves her Pearl of Power for another spell, and instead uses Dupine's wand of mage armor to buff both of them up (and anyone else who can use it).
I don't mind you taking 20 in this case.