Ezren will go with Theodric and learn about these Tallow Boy and what he might know...
Krunch goes to miss Feathers, being followed by Theodric, Ezren and Inkita.
Miss feathers is a muscular woman who stands a head taller than the other working ladies. She loves telling stories about her most awkward
romantic entanglements, her booming voice and quick laugh accompanied by dramatic gestures with her feathered boa.
Krunch spends an hour with her, listening to her stories while the others sit at a table nearby. Occasionally some pretty boys and handsome girls inquire whether they want anything else than a drink.
After listening to the stories Krunch remembers to ask whether she knows anything the Gael family. She answers: “I know a lady named Imelda Gael, but not well enough to have met her family. She’s a rough one, all muscles and tattoos and always mad about something. Sharp as a whip crack too, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear she’s gotten herself in trouble.”
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"Imelda sounds like a very mean lady. Not like Miss Feathers and her friends", the big tiefling says with a grin as one of her working girl saunters by. "Can Miss Feathers tell Krunch where Krunch can find Imelda or one of Imelda's friends? Is there anyone else in Kaer Maga that might not like Imelda Gael because she's such a mean lady? Krunch's friends might want to talk to them too."
Your guide knows of a sweettalker who might have some good information. He leads you to Shiyu, a middle-aged man with light brown skin and dark hair, but his most striking feature is the thread that binds his lips together. Shiyu offers what he knows freely,but he communicates only in the peculiar language of Sweettalkers—a combination of clicks, sighs, whistles, and hand gestures.
Ezren and Ikita quickly make sense of what the man is saying. They ask him some questions and receive answers in his weird language
Inkita thinks about where she could get more information and remembers the Augurs, the society of trolls blessed with the gift of prophecy
and foresight. You find Vargun, a particularly worldly troll that is shopping in the stalls of Winesop Alley in the shadow of the Augurs’ temple. Vargun wears a long, purple toga with a bloodstained, horizontal slit across her midsection.
When asked about the Gael family, she slices her belly open, examines her own entrails, and tells you
“These Gaels have borrowed beyond their means, and their creditors grow restless. The coins that circuit the city are the coins that once padded the purse, but a dead debtor pays no bills,” she intones. She begins to reinserting her organs into her belly to allowing her
regeneration to close the wound.
She then provides a basic interpretation. “The ones you speak of have
dealt with the Commerce League, and the Commerce League’s business is Dakar’s business. Be careful about dabbling in Dakar’s business without his blessing.”
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"Oww.. does that hurt?" says Theodric to the troll female.
"Here, please accept this... it will make your divinations more bearable... you may also want to take a good sniff of this if you find yourself into a brawl..." Theodric gives her 5 doses of Heathensnuff, a minor drug that grants the Endure Pain feat for one hour.
Heathensnuff
Source Cities of Golarion pg. 42 (Amazon)
Price 10 gp; Weight —
Category Black Market
Description
Others lacking the will to harden themselves appropriately turn to alchemical methods to endure. This purplish paste is made from sea urchin toxins and numbs the user’s ability to sense pain. Illegal in Nidal, the drug is used mostly by those attempting to emulate true belief in Zon-Kuthon or who anticipate great pain. A dose gives the user the Endure Pain feat for 1 hour, though it also has debilitating side effects and leaves telltale reddish-purple stains around the nostrils for up to one day, easily identified by those familiar with the symptoms. Followers of the Midnight Lord believe using heathensnuff is a sure sign that an individual lacks faith.
Anyone who takes the drug must make a DC 10 saving throw or become addicted. A snuff addict can stave off withdrawal for 5 days by taking a dose; failure means he must save or take 1d4 Dex and 1d4 Wis damage. This save DC increases by +5 for every 5 days since the last time the addict had a dose. If the addict makes two of these saves in a row, he is no longer addicted. Remove disease can cure an addict if the caster’s caster level check succeeds against a DC equal to the addict’s current withdrawal DC. Greater restoration or heal cures the addiction without requiring a roll.
Type poison, ingested; Save Fortitude DC 13
Frequency 1/hour for 4 hours
Initial Effect Endure Pain feat for 1 hour (see above);
Secondary Effect 1 Con damage; Cure 1 save
Cost 10 gp
Source Cities of Golarion pg. 42 (Amazon)
Through violent and torturous conditioning, you have built up a resistance to pain.
Prerequisites: Survived being tortured 10 or more times.
Benefit: If you take nonlethal damage, you may attempt a Fortitude saving throw (DC equal to 10 + the nonlethal damage dealt) to reduce that damage by half. The Endurance feat grants a +4 bonus on this saving throw.
Ezren pulls out his very light purse, and hands the troll 5 gp, "Thank you for that unusual insight, you are quite the unexpected diviner."
Being a bit short of cash, he waits for the others to make some contributions as well.
"Thank you, my precious." the troll says while pinching Theodric's cheek.
All in all the investigations have taken you approximately 10 hours. You get back to the tavern to decide on the follow-up.
"It seems a valid choice to see the Freemen, we can go investigate other leads afterwards, if time allows."
"Yes ma'am, no ma'am" your guide replies to Inkita and takes you to the Common house. From the outside it is clear that it is a pub and temple of Cayden Cailean.
A maze of small tables fills the crowded floor of the bar, which is packed with plainly dressed citizens of the Bottoms enjoying good company and a variety of local brews. One especially long table in the center of the floor seats a dozen humans and halflings, all engaged in debate. You move closer and overhear that they are discussing how best to learn how to dance the quickstep.
Inkita notices that a chelish man is more or less leading the conversation. She manages to catch his name, which is Halman.
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Theodric, still wearing the same Varisian trader disguise, approaches the bar (not the long table, however places himself against the corner of the bar that is closest to the long table) and orders a drink. He waits for Inkita to talk to these Caydenites, pretending not to know Inkita, Ezren and Krunch.
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Inkita tries to navigate through the crowd to speak to this chelish man. Once she manages to get his attention she will ask to speak to him in a more private setting regarding the Gael Family.
"Pardon the intrusion. We are looking for some information regarding the Gael Family here in the city. I heard you might be able to provide us with some assistance in that regard."
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"Gael family?", says Theodric, taking a long swig from his mug of ale, as he overhears Inkita's question. "Now I'd like to hear about those swindlers too, as they still owe me some money. But we are in the house of the Drunken God, lass... so perhaps you could offer everyone here a round or two so that our... thoughts be better lubricated and tongues as well... hehehe... no pun intended to you lass, of course..." Theodric gives Inkita a long lustful look. On that, he is not bluffing.
The man won't leave the table at first and answers “The Gaels have been quiet but have done little harm. We know them and can understand their concerns, but you’re strangers to us. I see little that needs voting on here.”
Inkita throws her considerable charms into the fray and the man agrees to talk to her in private "I think that the Gaels’ activities of late have been suspicious, but I am reticent to cease supporting fugitives in need. But if you agree to perform a potentially dangerous task for me, I will push the council to vote against continuing to support the Gaels."
Inkita reluctantly agrees to the deal, seeing that she has no choice and the man continues.
“Some folk walked in off the plateau yesterday with a Pegasus they captured—Cayden knows how—and they plan on selling the poor thing at the Stockyards in Downmarket tomorrow. All intelligent creatures deserve to be free, but we don’t have the budget to buy it, and the Freemen can’t free it by force without starting a war. You, though... you don’t live around here. Being a newcomer doesn’t make things any safer for you, but at least nobody expects your actions to fit into the city’s politics. Make sure the Pegasus escapes the market, and you’ll be sure to find the council tipped in your favor when you return.”
Out in the open air of the city’s core, the Stockyards are a maze of animal pens filled with earthy aromas and activity. The occasional roars and bellows of more exotic creatures punctuate the bleating of goats, cows, and other grazing animals.
You easily locate two Varisians, a man and woman, standing by a small animal pen. Inside the pen is a white pegasus that is muzzled, hobbled, and has her wings bound to her sides with rope.The man holds a rope tied to the pegasus, while the woman shouts enthusiastically at wealthy looking passersby, trying to interest them in buying the creature.
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Theodric ducks in an alley before approaching the two Varisians, and adds 30gp of jewelry to his his Varisian trader's disguise, effectively trying to look like a well-to-do Varisian trader. He slightly shifts his hat of disguise illusion to make his clothes look expensive and to let some of his magical gear shine through the disguise but he enhances their appearance and he makes them look extra expensive i.e. jeweled boots of striding and springing, platinum-gilded falcata +1, velvet gloves and puffy shirt, etc.
Ezren scowls as he sees the magnificent beast so restrained and walks over toward the handlers/hawkers. "Hello... pretty beastie... what's such a thing worth on the open market these days?"
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After Ezren's subdued approach, Theodric instead goes for the larger than life approach. Contrasts make life interesting. He approaches the Varisans and with a look of utter amazement, says, "Ah!! whata beautiful beasta you offera! my bride-a! at home-a! she woulda lova dis!!! name-a your price-a, merchants-a! May I-a petta the beast-a? is it stilla... functionala? does ita come atta discounta due to-a injury-a or illnessa? name-a your price-a! do notta lettte meee hanggge likkkke dis-a!!!!"
The woman was just starting to answer Ezren when Theodric appears. She steps in between the beast and the trader
"The price is 5000 gold. But if you both are interested you can bid, with a starting bid of that amount. What do you say? And of course the beast is functional. It's wings are bound so that it does not fly away."
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Theodric hesitates... "Mammmmmammia!! fiva thousand crownsa!!! this is a mighty steepah!! but as a luck-a would have it, I'mma still interrrrested! Perhaps, as a show of a gooda faith-a, you can unbindada wings, to prove us she's a not injured yes?" Theodric starts fishing through platinum pieces and gems, for effect! :)
"Well, I find myself a little strapped for cash... so if this fellow wants it at your opening price... I'll have to pass." He shrugs and starts to walk away as if no longer interested... though he doesn't go far, staying within earshot.
"Oh no, it is not in pain. We do that to protect it against itself. It might hurt itself." she turns to Theodric.
"Unfortunately that is also why we can't unbind one of her wings. But you are welcome to inspect her, at a reasonable distance. If we can agree on a price you will get the opportunity to fully inspect her after you have deposited the amount at the Abadar bank."
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Seeing Krunch going to the pegasus, Theodric slightly elevate his voice to draw the woman's attention, "OK THEN... my lady-a, do you-a have a desk-a anywhere where-a we-a canna sit-a and-a so-a that-a I cannna counta ma munnnney? Inkita, my dear-a Shoantia slave-a girl-a, care-a ta join-a thissssa lady-a and I to counta ma munnnnnney? you'ra always-a so good at helpinga me counta ma money-a!!"
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Inkita looks over the kept pegasus and will stand next to Krunch getting closer than the dealer would like but in a non threatening manner as if inspecting the creature...
"5 thousand may be too much for a beast in this shape... you do not even know if it can fly? Why would you buy one without knowing if it could fly."
"Feel free to cast any healing spells that you want, but I assure you that the five thousand is a reasonable price. Now sir, if you would be so kind as to follow me, I have a table in the tent over here"
She opens the flap of the green tent just beside the stockade and indeed, inside you see a simple table and two chairs.
"Hold on ma'am! You can step over the fence when you beau here has paid the price. Not before!" the man says while he blocks the way over the fence.
The woman replies to Theodric
"Oh, I wouldn't want to bore you with that story. Let's just say that the beast came to be in our possession and we want to give rich people like yourself the opportunity to acquire a pegasus. All your friends would envy you, can you envision that?"
She still has the flap open to the tent "Now let's settle this deal, or should we look for another buyer?"