Gideon smiles to himself at the exchange between the pair, listening with interest as they go back and forth. He knew precious little about the city he'd spent most of his life in after having spent a considerable portion of that time sheltered by his parents because of his impaired eyesight. It was nice to know a little bit more about the place.
Alleria shrugs I'm sure bards throughout the city relish in measuring their...ah...skill...against one another in the retelling. In a few years it shall be Abadar himself and a medusa with seven heads. The city has flavor we should say.
Fenster’s home is a partially collapsed warehouse—the building has a relatively large open area within, but he keeps to one corner. Here, he’s made a sort of crude shelter from rowboats (one or two of which might still be almost seaworthy) and timbers leaning against the warehouse’s frame. The entrance to this hovel consists of a pair of skiffs leaning against each other to create a triangular “arch” from which a moldering remnant of a ship’s sail hangs like a curtain. Sitting next to the entrance is an old sea chest with a broken lid. A sign leans against the front of the chest—“LEEV A GIFT AND WATE OUTSID.” A dented tin platter sits on the ground before the sign.
Gideon gives a slight frown as they approach the warehouse, his blurred vision bringing it into focus long after the stench of the moldering sail reaches his olfactories. He is nearly upon the sign next to the sea chest before he can actually read the letters emblazoned in all capitals on the sign above it. "Hm. How quaint. What sort of 'gift' do you think Fenster is referring to? I am loathe to continue giving good coin to those who would waste it on drugs or other addictions. Perhaps some food...?"
Alleria strokes her chin for a moment, If I remember right its about "wowing" him. We leave him something he might fancy, he comes and takes a look see and if he likes it he'll do as we ask. He ain't used to high livin but we should give him something of worth. If its food it should be good food or something of the like.
Basil looks rather annoyed..."The Profit Margin of this task seems to be shrinking all the time" he comments
Oh come now Sir Basil think of it as an "investment" on future returns... Sifting through her pockets Alleria produces a pair of gold coins. Surely there is a vendor near here that can get us a fancy loaf or what not? Or shall we just skip pretense and throw some gold at the man?
Gideon follows suit, removing a pair of gold coins from the coin-pouch he carries with him. "I suppose it ultimately makes no difference...while I would much prefer not handing gold over to him, it would certainly be a lot faster than trying to find some sort of worthwhile gift. And gold does seem to make negotiations a much simpler affair."
"The last one charged fifteen gold for his information," Yera says as she produces four gold coins. "Other informants may want some as well. Perhaps we should ask Lady Heidmarch for assistance?"
Basil weighs his significantly lighter purse in his hand. "Aye Lady..you might have the right off it..well we know where this Fenster resides now and I doubt he'll be gone tomorrow..I suggest we return to the Lodge find out if we are due a stipend for this task and then eat and rest before we head out for the slavers meeting"
"We can also report what we have thus far discovered. Lady Heidmarch may be able to give us assistance beyond the financial."
Alleria shrugs and puts the coins back in her pocket, I'll never turn down spending someone else's coin or a spot of rest. Let's go back.
Basil leads the others back to the Lodge
It is getting on later in the evening as you make your way back to the lodge. Things are quiet, and you feel a serene sense of tranquility just from being in this part of the city after your ordeals in the slums.
When they return to the Pathfinder Lodge, Gideon pauses in the foyer, drawing in a slow, deep breath. Despite the fact that this very lodge is the only place they have yet seen combat, he still feels a sense of peace and ease in the building that wasn't present in the slums of the city.
After the brief respite, he looks around for anyone who can direct him to Lady Heidmarch.
Basil declines to sit ..his armour might mar the furnishings insted he stands by the windows watching out onto the streets as the shadows lengthen
Alleria will find a chair to sit and put her legs up on the nearest table. A lodge is for comfort to return and rest. She doesn;t stand on ceremony.
It's not hard to find Sheila. Upon seeing you, she immediately calls you to her private office.
"So," she says, anticipation dripping from her voice. "Tell me. What have you discovered? Did you find Natalya? What about what she was after?"
"Unfortunately your Grace we have not yet discovered the young...uhhh... ladies whereabouts, though we do have some promising leads. However we are struggling to follow those up due to a lack of funds.Is there any chance that the Society could furnish us with an advance?"
"Oh," she says, the hope leaking from her tone. "Well, I suppose I could give you an advance. Wait just one moment." She leaves, swiftly returning with a small purse.
"Here's one hundred. This should help cover your expenses." With that she turns to exit again. She stops at the entrance, and without looking back adds, "I'll be expecting some results upon your return."
Basil weighs the purse judging its worth by weight.."Well that should help" he mutters
As midnight draws near, you return to the docks in hopes of catching what might be behind the recent disappearances in the act. The place what rumors you dug up indicated as the place appears to be an old, boarded-up shoreline tavern once known as the Puffy Pelican — 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. A quick investigation of the building reveals nothing out of the ordinary — the tavern truly looks abandoned, and bears no signs of having been used recently.
Perception
"Well someone is at home" Basil says quietly "We need to strike hard and fast with the element of surprise. I'll go in first, Alleria you follow and target any obvious spell casters. Gideon, Yeralithi back us up and pick targets of opportunity. It's not a great plan but it's the best we can hope for given we don't actually know how many off them are in there."
The light from the lantern is just the smallest halo in his clouded vision, but nonetheless, it is there. He draws in a slow, deep breath, wondering if he will be in the midst of his second combat experience that day. Man, if his parents could only see him now.
"Agreed. Though please let me know before the assault begins. I have two spells that will aid us, both offensively and defensively."
"Lets get to the door then you can cast whatever you need to and once that is done we go..The fools don't seem to have put any sentries outside which is a good thing.."
"Very well, Sir Basil. At your word, then." he whispers in reply, casting the spells when they are in position behind the door.
Alleria withdraws her pistol and sword and nods slowly.
Before Basil gives the word, Gideon quickly fishes out of his pack his Harrow deck, realizing that he hasn't drawn a card for his fortune yet that day. He draws a deep breath, focusing his energy and his will into the deck of cards in his hand. Then, slowly, he draws a card.
A crown revealed, Gideon breathes a slow sigh. It may help them talk their way through whatever was waiting behind that door without having to resort to a fight. Still...his spells couldn't hurt in case they couldn't find success with more passive forms of diplomacy.
Basil leads them up to the door as quietly as he can..the thick doors and walls of the one time Inn should serve to muffle their approach sufficiently
Seeing her brother pull his infamous card Alleria can't help but offer a slight poking of her tongue at her brother before firming her grip on her pistol and smiling as she looks on as Basil leads.
Silently, ever so silently, Basil eases open the door. Narry a sound is made - no squeal of old hinges or squeak of warped floorboards. Within the main room you see a floating light hovering some six feet off the ground.
Gideon peeps out from behind his Paladin companion, gazing into the room, trying to focus his admittedly limited vision inside.
Basil peers into the room and nods to Gideon to cast his magics
Alleria's eyes adapt quickly and she takes in the room as the paladin opens the door...
Yera looks about the room with her Elven eyesight, though she has little idea what she might be looking for.
Even Gideon's milky eyes manage to pick out the shape huddled in the corner of the room, trying very hard not to be noticed. The figure is difficult to make out in the shadows, but you can tell that it is a thin man with a weak chin and a ratty haircut. He wears noble’s clothing that look as though they were once fine, but have been worn daily for weeks.
Alleria's reaction is to look at Basil with a bit of a curious look. Not what I expected...
Gideon seems very curious at the sight of the man huddled in the corner, having not expected the single, thin man huddled in the corner. He looks to Alleria and Sir Basil, giving a nod to his sister's assessment. Definitely not what he expected, either.
"Should we approach him? He doesn't seem like someone terribly dangerous to me."
"I would advise caution...it may be a cunning trap. Cover me Alleria"
Basil eases into the room and makes his way around the edges to approach the figure "You there..who are you and what is your business here" he asks softly but with an air off command
"Uhhhh," he stammers, surprise that he had been noticed etched onto his face, "hiding."
Alleria casually keeps her gun in hand and stands to Basil's flank ready to draw a bead as needed.
"Hiding, from who..these Nidalese slavers who are rumoured to be in command here?"
As he speaks Basil concentrates his gaze on the Man..searching for any evil in his soul.
Gideon hangs toward the back of the group, drawing in a slow, deep breath. His spells would only last one minute...he hoped he didn't waste his few castings preparing for a fight that didn't happen.
Of course, if a fight did not occur, he wouldn't complain...he wanted to try and avoid conflict if he could. Maybe it would be better if he simply waited until combat broke out to use his spells until he had enough experience to make the spells last longer.
Yes, I was expecting slavers and unsavory types...and instead I get cowering and frightened. Who are you and what are you hiding from?
"You!" he yells as he jumps to his feet. He swiftly begins weaving his fingers in complex patters. Yeralithi notices he's sloppy, as if untrained or badly out of practice. Yet he makes up for it with gusto. Quick as he jumps up, he slings his arm out and spreads his fingers. Arcane syllables pour from his mouth. Yeralithi internally cringes like a grammar tutor listening to slang. Vivid, clashing colors burst from his fingers. You don't know whether to compare it to a rainbow or the effect of oil on water.
Basil Will:
Gideon Will:
Yeralithi Will:
All 3:
Blind & Stunned:
Alleria Init:
Basil Init:
Gideon Init:
Yeralithi Init:
"Man" Init:
Yeralithi watches in horror as all three of her companions fall to the ground, knocked unconscious by the man's spell.
: