Moira starts rapidly nod her head. "Ahha.... I may have some contacts that can come in handy as well. Between me and tall, dark and gruesome, we will find your brother in no time."
Darien nods, "Fair enough, we'll just have to ask around."
He looks at Justified and Moira, "Seems you two have a good idea how we should proceed, so I'm following you."
"Hmmmmm" The young female half-elf begins to pace back and forth then stops."Let's head to the Merchant district. Plenty of people there. Lots of thieves there looking for an easy score."
Yes.. pesh, terrible. We have had many issues with it in my homeland. Did you know it comes from a flowering cactus?
Moira's inquiries among her contacts in the merchant's district reveal a few that remember seeing Vanthus here and there, although no one's seen him recently. Everyone assumes he's still living at Vanderboren manor.
Taking the investigation into the shadier areas of the Shadowshore reveals that Vanthus was seen in the area and that he was often seen in the company of a known smuggler named Penkus. Moira and Justified both know Pekus to be a brutal lout, prone to drunken binges and with a violent temper. Penkus has been less visible in Shadowshore as of late, leading many to believe he'd moved on to another venue. You do find one squint eyed thug who claims that he saw Penkus and Vanthus a few weeks ago at a boat shop called "It Still Floats!" where they got in a huge argument with the proprietor.
Yes, I think that is a wise course of action.
"Yes sir-reee.... we find Penkus then we are a lot closer to Vanthus, but watch out guys. That Penkus is "missing a couple of ors in his boat" if you know what I mean. Carefull with that nut-job."
Moira walks with her new friends in the streets. At times she may wave at some passerbyers, even thought she does not know them.
You have little trouble finding the boat shop. Inside is everything a nautically minded person could ask for, if they liked their goods slightly used and off indeterminate providence. The proprietor, a squint eyed old dwarf, gives you a long look as you enter.
"What can old Panchi do for you folk today."
Moira begins to looks around the shop. Realizing that she is the newcomer to the group, she lets others to make the introductions.
Darien steps forward, "Good day, sir. We're actually trying to find somebody who might have come by here. Name of Vanthus. You wouldn't remember anybody by that name, would you?"
Darien produces two gold pieces as he speaks, places them down in front of the dwarf, then covers them with his hand.
The dwarf spares the gold a brief glance.
"Mayhap I've heard of such men, but I don't like to discuss my customers behind their backs. It would be a hard blow to my conscience and who can put a price on piece of mind."
Darien nods, "Oh, I understand your concern. We've actually been asked to find this Vanthus by his sister. Seems their folks died a while back, and she's keen to see how he's been getting on. So don't worry yourself - I'm sure he would want us to find him."
Darien pulls out a eight more gold pieces. "Perhaps this will prove to be a suitable finder's fee? And we'll promise to forget where we got the information..."
The dwarf breaks into a wide grin and scoops up the coins.
"We'll I guess that I can put a price on it. I sold a boat to a pair that went by such names as those. They seemed excited, and loaded a lot of lamp oil, lanterns, and rope into the boat before they shoved off. Couldn't say where they was headed, but the last I saw of them, they were paddling off to the west."
Moira is close by, pretending to shop, as she hear the mention that the two targets went west.
Do you have a boat for 8 people and cargo? Something simple, but sea-worthy. Perhaps with an out-rigger.
Oh.. more water, how agreeable. Ignius glumly blurts out at the mention of more sea travel.
"I'm sure I've got something of the sort dry docked around here, if your looking to buy."
The grippli looks on, as the big folk interact.
"In my shop? Nobody. Outside of it? Who knows."
He runs a pensive hand through his thick beard.
"I could put a word to some of my associates in around the docks. Maybe one of the fisherfolk saw where those two ended up. Why don't you lot come by tomorrow and we can have another chat. If I anything comes up, well then maybe we can talk about that boat."
A boat? Really? Hrm Ignius mutters rubbing his white carefully bound beard. I could never stand the sea. Give me the rolling dunes and sun any day.
As the group leaves, Darien looks at Justified and Moira, "Do you know anybody else who might have information? I hate to waste the rest of the day."
Grun looks up at his big people. As him where they would go to slake their thirst...
Ah yes, a Tavern! An excellent suggestion master Grun.
Turning to the dwarf, Ignius puts a smile on his face. Do you know of any Taverns that they used to frequent?
"Couldn't help you there, they weren't particularly friendly like when they was here and I never seen them in my own watering hole. I'm sure they drank somewhere, but there is a hundred places to do that in this city."
You spend several days slogging about the various districts in the humid summer heat, following up various leads that inevitably end with you no closer to determining the location of either Penkus or Vanthus.
Just when frustration is beginning to set in, a nervous-looking half-elf with messy black hair, a ragged suit of leather armor, and dirty hands approaches calls out to you from a darkened alley. He shifts uncomfortably as you approach.
"Word on the street is that you are looking for Vanthus Vanderboran. I might know where he's gone to ground, if you have the coin to pay."
Moira stands with her hands on her hips and begins to tap her left foot.
"Wait a minute big boy....I wouldn't put my trust in thieves."
She stare at the others not realizing what she said aloud.
Snorting, Ignius turns away. Yes my dear, we had the same thought about you when we first met.
He gives Moira a scowl,
"You talk to a thief if you're trying to find a thief. I know your boys took that cruddy little boat they bought out to a little island and if you show me the colour of your coin, I might be inclined to tell you which one."
"I got this big man"
Moira stares at the rogue, wondering if she can trust what he is saying.
The rogue takes 10 gold pieces out with her right hand. She holds up the right hand and drops 1 coin, falling about a foot through the air, and lands in her left hand. She lets go of another coin and again the coin falls into the left hand and makes a clatter sound when it hits the other gold coin. "Right now...you haven't said a word that would make me think to pay you." A third gold coin drops from her right hand into her left hand. "So what do you have? I have more coin in the right hand if you want that too."
The scruffy fellow whispers two words,
"Parrot Island.", then looks around nervously.
"There's some old smuggler's tunnels burrowed into the place and I heard that Penkus and his boy were looking to set something up in them. I heard that there's a trap door leading to those tunnels on the top of the hill on the island. If I wanted to find those two that's where I would look.
Moira stares at the man and hands him the entire 10 gold pieces that she was toying with. She whispers to the man "I hope that your information is true. I'm gonna come back and cut out your lying tongue if it isn't"
The rogue starts to slap away the dirt and grime from the mans leather and offers him a smile. "Have a wonderful day full of happiness and joy."
Grun gives the girl a glance, Molasses.
Keep your eyes and ears open friend. Bring good information and there is more gold for you. But, be smart, be discrete.
The Grippli croaks softly and his over-grown gecko climbs down an alley wall, eying the informant.
Smiling softly, Ignius nods his head slightly towards Master Grune. He is right Moira. You get far more with a carrot and a stick then just a stick. Besides.. Ignius trails off before storm clouds appear behind his eyes and a wave of heat billows around him. Your not very good in making threats.
Then as quickly as Ignius’s fiery elemental heritage imposes itself, Ignius wills it away, looking like a bookish desert trader. Advice is all young one, but Master Grune has the right of it. Remember… he came to us and then you threatened to beat him for his initiative. It sets a poor precedence.
The girl start to laugh. "Oh... I had to try. You guys are so big and tough. I wanted to see what it's like being tough like you guys. Want to be able to pull my own weight."
The annoying little teenage girl persona comes out and Moira says to the informant "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. Pops over there is right. I don't scare people well. That's why I never...uhm.. you can keep the 10 good pieces. I'm gonna go now. Maybe hide behind the big human over there. Or maybe look for a clue."
Moira walks over to her new friends and wanders around.
The dirty fellow snatches up the coins with a furtive look around and turns to head down the alley.