"Understood, Lady Nenet. Hopefully Badhru will return to the realm of the sun."
"Sorkesh, we are to obtain information which the Thorn claims he possesses. Namely, a lead on the location of the Diamond Sage."
Asmani eats a bowl of goat yogurt with chopped almonds and dates sprinkled ontop, savoring the sweet dish as she listens to Nenet. When the lady states her instructions, she bows her head in acquiescence.
Turning to Sorkesh: "That, and undertake whatever mission he gives us as payment for said information beyond the ten thousand gold. We're all hoping it's nothing too violent or dangerous."
From her glum expression, however, it's clear those hopes are very small.
Rawiya isn't sure what she thinks.
On one hand, it's good to be far away from her uncle's wrath.
On the other hand, she may not be as far away as she hopes. The family employees and vendors seem to be everywhere.
"Welcome Sorkesh."
She frowns. Another outsider who doesn't seem to understand our culture, but oh well. Another set of eyes and arms should we face mere foes.
The group leaves the inn and walks to the House of the White Uraeus. It is a two-story, whitewashed stone structure located, covered in frescoes depicting many of the old and new gods associated with healing. A large brass plaque above its entrance depicts a snake with two “necks” that split from its body, each with its own head.
Upon entering and arriving at the commons area, the group is greeted by a servant wearing immaculately clean beige clothing who maintains a quiet but friendly attitude. ”Greetings, visitors. How may I help you?” People laze and relax around two bubbly fountains to the left and right of the adventurers.
"My friend Badhru. He's been sick for several days and none of our skills seem to make a difference.
"He is a kind man and has been good to me.
"Is there someone here who could tend to him and decipher the meaning of his symptoms?"
Rawiya looks anxious and worried as she assists Badhru to a bench to wait for a response.
The servant opens his eyes wide: ”Oh, Badhru! Lady Nebetiunet has sent a message early this morning informing us the poor half-orc is a good friend of the Sage. Effendi, we shall see that he gets healthy in no time.” He calls two servant girls who together carry a near unconscious Badhru down a hallway. ”His room is already prepared and a healer will see him shortly. You are welcome to come and visit him any time after that. In the meantime, is there anything else our place of healing can do for you?”
Theshen steps forward.
"Effendi, you have my thanks for your efforts to restore our friend Badhru to good health. Could you tell us if a man known as the Torch appeared here recently?"
”The…Torch…? I am afraid–“ the servant is interrupted by a muscular half-orc woman about 15cm taller than anyone else in the room. ”I’ll take care of this. Scram, boy.” She asks for Theshen to state his business. Once he produces proof of being there on the Sage’s stead, she grunts and takes the group to the second floor of the White Uraeus.
Cool breezes carry the scent of mint and sweet balm throughout the clean halls. Two half-orcs keep watch outside one set of closed doors which, when opened, reveal a tiled bathing chamber beyond, with a skylight letting sunlight inside the room.
“Welcome to Eto,” rasps a man lounging in a steaming tub, his skin looking as if it had been boiled and never allowed to heal. “I am the one known as the Torch. To whom do I owe the pleasure of speaking to? And what can a humble secret monger such as I do for the Sapphire Sage, whose wisdom knows no bounds?” he asks as he leans forward in the tub and flashes a mocking smile.
unless he is very, very wealthy, we'd have a hard time finding a partner for him at Silks and Sweets
"Thanks for having me, everyone. I hope I can do my bit.
"I wouldn't expect a lack of trouble on the way to riches, Asmani!"
Sorkesh follows along with the others, taking in the sights of the building.
"What an [u]interesting[/u] person." Sorkesh thinks about the Torch.
But prudently decides to let someone else do the talking.
Theshen steps up.
"Greetings, effendi. I am Prince Unas-Ankh, also known as Theshen. My companions and I have been asked by the Sapphire Sage to speak with you about the matter of the Diamond Sage."
"It is such a pleasure to meet you, Unas-Ankh. Your silent bodyguards too," the Torch says with a smile. "Now, what a coincidence, I might actually know something about that! But it is an expensive and rare piece of information. How much is the Sapphire Sage, whose coffers might know even less bounds than his wisdom, willing to offer for such a treasure?"
Rawiya begins humming softly in the background, an ancient song of cool, crystal clear springs, and beautiful serving staff with trays of cold drinks and cooling elixirs.
Theshen pauses for the briefest of moments, then replies.
"Likewise. It is also wise not to spend frivolously, so alas, our offer must be constrained. Would you find four thousand in gold coin, and a task performed on your behalf acceptable?"
The Torch observes Theshen. His grin grows wider before he speaks: ”I see you have been informed of how I do things. The tasks are a separate matter, which we will discuss shortly. But surely you jest, my dear prince? The information you desire costs at the very least 15000GP.” The man does not appear to be kidding when he says the price.
Rawiya raises an eyebrow and looks directly at Torch
"Really?!
She turns to Threshen.
"An astute bargainer, but perhaps he could be persuaded to come down just a bit."
Rawiya has the feeling the Torch is playing around with Theshen.
Shu-Kri, unused to bartering or merchant business merely observes.
Theshen feels concern.
This could go badly!
"Master Torch, I do not jest in the slightest. The information could be a great boon to the Sage, true, but it would be a greater boon to Osirion as a whole. I would ask you to consider a lower figure. Would eight thousand in gold suffice?"
The Torch bursts out laughing at Theshen’s remark, hitting his hand against the water’s surface. ”Gods! I was not aware you were a comedian, dear prince. I cannot deny I appreciate Amenopheus’s sense of humour. No one involved in this transaction cares about Osirion in the slightest, my boy.”
One of his half-orc servants pours a jar of balmy water over the scarred man before he continues speaking. ”Now, I grow tired of this pretend negotiation, so let’s cut it short: what is the maximum value that duplicitous patron of yours allowed you to offer me? Surely it was more than 8000, probably what, 11000? 12000?”
A tad deflated, Theshen speaks up.
"The most I have the authority to offer is ten thousand gold and a task, to be determined. Will *that* then suffice, Master Torch?"
The Torch thinks for a second before grinning. His deep voice echoes on the chambers walls: ”my boy, I am happy we have reached an understanding. About the task, I would rather replace it for 4 small assignments, if you will. Little things, all together should not take the five of you much more than a day to complete. They are also all things I’m sure will be adequate to your…ethical sensibilities.”
”Lily, can you hand them the book and the list?” He says to the muscular half-orc who had led them to this room and who, the group realises, carries a white flower on her hair. She gives them a small prayer book with a metallic scarab attached to its cover and a small piece of papyrus.
”The list has the relevant names and information for your tasks. In short, I need you to:
* make sure an expedition leaves Eto with this prayer book in their cargo;
* bring me a small stash of Osirian artefacts currently just outside the city walls;
* get some information on the owner of a small establishment in the city;
* and fetch a message a gang leader has been trying to deliver me.”
”I imagine you do not have the payment with you at the moment, so once you are finished with these tasks and have my compensation with you, come back here and I shall give you all that I know on the Diamond Sage.”
Rawiya looks at the list, then looks up at Torch.
"You want us to smuggle Osirian artifacts into the city?"
She smiles sweetly.
"I'm sure you'll amend this in writing to indicate that you'll keep us out of prison and will cover any fines or legal costs.
"We would be of no use to you in finishing the other tasks if we are 'otherwise engaged' with your judicial system. "
Sorkesh is happy to let Theshen and Rawiya do the negotiating.
"A strange list, this", he thinks as he looks at Torch's list.
"Ah! The songbird speaks! Dear, it's a small number of goods, none of them much different from what anyone might find in any Osirian ruin; if the guards see you trying to smuggle these objects they will simply levy a fee.
"Unless, of course, you openly threaten or attack them, in which case you are on your own: the Torch does not approve the use of violence where diplomacy and cleverness will suffice." It strikes Rawiya that, despite the man's hideous appearance and unsettling character, his voice is pleasant and almost musical.
Theshen fixes his composure, stares at the list, and replies:
"These 'assignments' we shall do, and I will pass on word of your required payment. We will indeed return for said information. And we will strive to avoid any difficulties."
Theshen is pretty clearly ready to leave. But others may yet speak before he does so.
"I agree that cleverness is usually more effective than direct affronts. However, the issue remains: Any fees and penalties we pay must be covered by your coffers.
"Theshen has just emptied ours."
She turns to leave with Theshen.
Drat that man! We're going to end up in jail and some wizard will interrogate me, and I'll be done for.
As the group turns their back on the Torch, the secret monger addresses Rawiya. ”You have guts, songbird. I like that. And gods know you will be needing it.” His voice fades behind the group as Lily the half-orc escorts them back to the common area of the White Uraeus.
After everyone is out of earshot of Torch, Sorkesh will speak up hopefully.
"Hopefully we can make some money out of this without getting into too much bother."
Rawiya looks at Sorkesh, stunned by his comment.
"Make money!!! We'll be lucky if we get out of this with our hands still attached to our arms and our heads still attached to our bodies!" she hissed.
With the group out of the presence of Torch, Theshen turns to the others.
"Friends, my best was barely sufficient. Although I am not sure there are many who could best the Torch in that position, that is no excuse. The question now is what do we do now? I was going to suggest that we split up and tackle these tasks swiftly, but the Torch's final words haunt me. I think we will need to stick together, and beseech the gods for fortune as we get these done."
"Together, for certain. Why don't we return to the inn and discuss this in private.
I say we start with the least risky tasks first, and finish with going outside the walls."
Rawiya whispers quietly, while watching for eyes and ears upon them.
As far as Rawiya can see, no one in the White Uraeus common area is displaying any interest in the group: the staff is busy working and the guests are minding their own business, resting and leisurely talking to each other.
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"Never split the party, my Gran always said."
"That makes sense Rawiya. Let us find a private room there."
"Agreed. Then we can prioritize the tasks. I, personally, care not for the order we accomplish them."
The group leaves the luxurious neighbourhood where the House of the White Uraeus was located and quickly arrives at their inn, The Incontinent Behir. The owner leads the adventurers to the same room where they had breakfast, now empty and silent.
"Nenet? Where did she go? And were our goods that she was keeping secure? She said she'd meet us here!"
Rawiya turns on the owner.
"Where is your storeroom? Where are our things?!"
The innkeeper seems puzzled with the clear suspicion in Rawiya's questions. "Lady Nenet has left shortly before you did. She mentioned she'd be away for the rest of the day, only returning by dusk, and that she gathered so would you and your friends…regarding your belongings, they are safely stored, madam. If you need them, I can take you to them straight away."
A quick look out the window reveals it is around 09:30, 10:00.
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"So, my colleagues. We have several options ahead of us. What think you all? The, er, smuggling seems complicated, though I myself don't feel beholden to silly local border rules."
Asmani sits on the edge of the table and hikes one knee up under her chin. She gazes at the list of tasks and then raises an eyebrow.
"If it were my choice alone, I'd start with the gang leader of the Hundredfingers. I'm... well. More comfortable operating on the streets. People in the market were talking about the Hundredfingers gang quite a bit, saying they'd been spooked and gone to ground these past few days. Perhaps we could try to unearth them?"
She hands the sheet over to the next person.
"Don't get too upset, Rawiya.
"I'm from a merchant family.
"Thinking about coin is a habit."
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"I think that sounds reasonable, Asmani.
"It looks like it's not AS difficult as the other three tasks."
"Sure, sounds good to me." Rawiya looks less distressed after discovering their things are safe and Nenet will be back this evening.
"The woman I talked to yesterday at the bazaar seems knowledgeable. I might ask her if she's heard anything about their disappearance. We could use some more coffee beans
"She mentioned the same silk trader as the guard at the gate, Yehud. She also named someone else, who trades in finer things.
"Does anyone else have any other suggestions of where to start?
"I could probably make some quiet inquiries about the 'silk' trade, as well."
Theshen seems a little torn but focuses on the matter at hand.
"Receiving the message seems simplest. I would however be unsurprised if there is some unhinted complication involved. That too for the other tasks."
"There might be quite a few details Torch 'forgot' to mention."
Following Rawiya’s best lead, the coffee saleswoman, the group goes to the bazaar. When they arrive, the whole space is the recognisable, almost cozy chaos of all Osirian public markets, in a mix of yells, smells and sales pitches. They reach their destination and are greeted by the woman who shoves s small cup of coffee into their hands. ”Taste it, the best coffee in all of Eto, you will fall in love! Ah, but this is the lovely lady from yesterday! Another kilo of beans, my sweet wheatear? Tell your friends they are irresistible!”
"So much coffee? Do you inhale the stuff, Rawiya?" Sorkesh asks in jest...
"It gives me the piles," Shu-Kri says to no one in particular.
"I would try some of this coffee, as Rawiya offered last night."