When Zograthy starts speaking, Mach starts paying close attention.
Mach cringes a bit, noticing the signs of pesh addiction.
Great. Now we have to wonder if the info we're about to get is accurate or if it's rambling, doddering nonsense. For all we know, he thinks he's talking to a blue fish from the bowels of the Abyss.
He doesn't say anything, instead looking over to where Nimt wandered off to. He subtly motions for Nimt to come back: the last thing they needed was for her to get lost or kidnapped.
"Well we have come here for information, but not the secrets of the multiverse." Quintus leaves the unspoken yet to hang on the air. "So I will ask for a vision from the crystal ball Amazing Zograthy."
Quintus pulls out a double fist of silvers to pay him with.
"We are looking for a woman named Natalya Vancaskerkin. Please look into your crystal ball for any sign of her."
Zograthy waves his hand dismissively at the silver "As secrets you seek, perhaps my greatest trade!"
He rubs his thumb and index finger together "Secrets are usually much more expensive but I like you." he smiles at Quintus, "So I will answer your questions for only 15 gold." he nods decisievly.
At this point, Mach has to speak up.
"Ha, ha, ha. Very funny. The only reason a fortuneteller would charge that much would be if he's running a scam... or desperate." He says, walking over. "Judging from your trembling hands and bags under your eyes, I'd say you're going through a dry spell from your Pesh."
"By the way, 15 gold for a reading? For that same amount of money, you'd get a hit of Pesh. Coincidence? I doubt it." Mach says, leaning over.
He turns to Quintus. "Приходите, пойдем. Мы можем взять наши шансы в другом месте."
Quintus picks his silver back up.
"Well somebody needs a hit I guess."
Quintus nods to Mach.
"I agree with you. Goodbye Mister Zograthy I hope that you can find something to help you out before it begins to hurt too much."
Zograthy shrugs "I have plenty of what I need. Help is not free, if you want answers I require payment it is as simple as that. If you prefer to try your luck elsewhere that is your choice, though I doubt you will meet many others that have had direct dealings with Natalya."
Quintus seems to consider Zograthy's words, and if they have the ring of truth to them or not.
Quintus sighs.
"Well we need to find out happened to her to help out, so here."
Quintus lays the 15 gold pieces out on the table.
Mach shrugs his shoulders and turns back to Zograthy.
He'd better not be off his gourd on Pesh... well, worst comes to worst, I can just steal it back.
As you lay down the coins Zograthy quickly swoops them up in his hand and pockets them away somewhere in his robes.
He smiles "So Natalya then? What information do you seek?"
"Natalya has recently gone missing and we wish to find her. We seek any information that can help us find her."
Zograthy nods "Yes, she hasn’t been heard from among the Sczarni. Many folk along the waterfront, both here in Beacon’s Point and over in Dockway and Underbridge, have been disappearing of late — a few each week, in fact, with many simply vanishing out of their very beds at night. I suspect that Natalya is among those who have disappeared in this manner."
He squints his eyes, his lip snarling a bit "As long as only poor Varisians and other destitute folk are being targeted, the chances of the city doing anything about the disappearances is nil."
He sighs and shrugs "Though if you are trying to blame the Sczarni I can assure you this is not a Sczarni plot — indeed, the Sczarni are quite interested in solving the vanishings themselves, but are not seeking aid in that effort. If anything, it’s harder to contact actual Sczarni leaders these days than it is normally. The leading theory on the street is that the vanished folk are the victims of slavers who then secretly sell them offshore at night to Nidalese ships. I don't know whether this is the case or not but it sounds pretty ridiculous to me."
Zograthy laughs "That's what I'm saying there is all this talk of slavers but no one knows anything more. You might ask around in the Dockway as that is where the rumors abound. Maybe you can gather some more information there. As for the abductions themselves it is at night as far as I know when they occur."
"So she disappeared in the dead of night. Check the Dockway, that's it?" Mach asks, already regretting speaking to the man.
The fact that the gang leaders appear to be disappearing is pretty big, though... some of 'em were the toughest motherf**kers to walk Magnimar.
To Mach's question he shrugs and holds out his hand as if expecting another offering with a wide grin.
Zograthy pockets the coins "Natalya was, at least until recently, a member of a Sczarni gang known as the Tower Girls, a group of cat burglars. They are themselves searching for Natalya, and word is that when they find her, she’ll be in deep trouble. I don't know exactly what is going on with them but I have heard them say that Natalya went mad or something before her disappearance."
Tower Girls? Interesting name to say the least.
Quintus politely coughs.
"In the interest of keeping things civil between us and these Tower Girls we should probably try to keep a low profile. I suggest we start looking for any signs of the slaving ship immediately. Thank-you for your time Mister Zograthy."
If everybody is willing to leave Quintus will begin walking around asking people about what they have heard about the slavers, the Tower Girls, and Natalya.
Mach follows Quintus, content to let him do the talking.
Heading into the Dockway district Quintus quickly chats up a few woman and they more than happily spread the rumors of the Nidalese Slavers.
One of the women adds "Rumor has it that a pick-up for one of these slave runs has been scheduled for this very midnight at an old, boarded-up shoreline tavern in Dockway."
The other one agress "Yes! I heard it is the tavern that was once known as the Puffy Pelican"
Once asked for directions they easily point you in the right direction.
You follow their directions. A faded painting of a fat pelican still graces the facade of the empty building, and the building’s back features a half-collapsed wooden deck that hangs over the high-tide mark.
AS they leave the two ladies Quintus smiles at them.
"Thank-you ladies. It is a wonderful day indeed when a man can not only discover two great beauties such as yourselves, but those beauties are also very intelligent. I am glad to say that my day has become brighter just for the meeting of you two."
Quintus offers them a bow as he continues on his way to the Puffy Pelican.
Mach claps Quintus on the shoulder.
"Smooth. Come on, now that we have a lead, we may as well let Um'bala and Whats-his-Name know so they don't go off on a wild goose chase."
Before leaving, Mach tries to remember anything specific about the Tower Girls.
"Might not have to worry about stepping on the Tower Girls' toes, Quint." Mach says.
"They've been having problems with the Wreckwash Blades, and been forced to go to ground. Kinda ironic for a gang mainly known for its second-story work." Mach shrugs. "If we act, odds are the Tower Girls will be grateful for our assistance."
Mach snickers. "I'm certain Quint'll have no problem with that, seeing as how they're all women."
Quintus seems to ignore the snide comment as he suddenly pales.
"We do have some way to contact the other two right? Some quick way correct? As in we have another way rather than physically walking there?"
At Quintus' observation, Mach's mood shifts.
"Uh..."
He somehow manages to become paler than he was on the ship here. No small feat, that.
"...s**t. I've got nothing."
He nods to Krupt "The name is familiar, I seem to remember hearing some things on the street she is associated with the Sczarni. This may be something for me to potentially look into more."
He moves back to his desk obviously some thoughts on his mind as he sits he sees Krupt and Um'bala still standing there. "Hrm.. well I don't really know much at this junction. If I come up with anything where can I get in touch with you? Of course, if you find something yourselves I would be interested in hearing more."
"Very well I will resort to my last option in this dark time. Hopefully I won't regret this."
Quintus begins to focus on his bond with his familiar and he allows the feeling of need to flood across the bond. A few seconds pass before Quintus feels an overwhelming feeling of smugness and happiness flood over him.
"What have I done?"
I knew I was going to regret this.
When the Devil is too busy
And death's a bit too much
They call on me, by name you see,
For my special touch.
To the Gentlemen, I'm Miss Fortune
To the Ladies, I'm Sir Prize
But call me by any name
Anyway it's all the same
Suddenly a small red and black bird lands in front of the group.
"Hello, care to make a deal today?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Oh, really? Never mind me flying around I much prefer to let peons do the dirty work."
"...right." Mach says, clearly uncomfortable.
"Have you a name, Mr. Creepy Bird?" He asks, his hands starting to wring together.
"Mephistophele is the name. Making deals is my game. Care to make one?"