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Prizm strolls into the overflowing oyster and skips over to one of the tables, grabbing the seat of one of the old wooden chairs he will work to pull himself up – and then will give Bert a hand up as well.
Once seated the little gnome kicks his feet with nervous energy. ”Brandywine please!”
While he waits patiently for his beverage – after about 30 seconds – Prizm utters the words ”bored……”
Glancing up at the bar where Lya is conversing the small fey then glances at Bert. ”Give her a hand Bert – or… a foot?”
Tenting his small fingers he looks excitedly to the other members of the merry band. ”This is going to be GREAT!”
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Bert nods stoically at his master and does a small somersault off the chair and scurries over toward Lya and Okzat – weaving this way and that.
Looking up at Lya with tiny beady eyes, he tilts his head at an overly sharp angle and blinks. Seeing that she is using her own ninja skills, he then steps over toward Okzat and pecks him on his boot lightly.
When the Oread looks down the dodo breaks into a dance.
The proprietor and barkeep, Paltus Flynter, quickly gets Lya, Ojzat, and Prizm their drinks. None of it is particularly high quality (much the contrary!)). Lya notes the sourness of the red wine she is poured as being typical of a vintage from Sauerton that is somewhat past its prime. Prizm's "brandywine" ends up being a very harsh liquor... perhaps at one time grapes were in its past, but it is hard to tell at this time. The ale that Okzat receives is potable, but typical of a small beer served at a place like this.
Flynter doesn't seem impressed by the antics of the bird, saying, "Just make sure the bird don't crap in The Oyster. I keep a clean bar here."
This statement is belied by everything about The Oyster, of course, down to the glassware whose cleanliness is definitely in question...
"Naw. This ain't too bad. Ain't got a new ship come in from far away. That's when we usually get busy. That, and it is still pretty early. We'll get a few more in laster, 'round noon, when some of the teamsters get their breaks." Flynter spits into the glass he is polishing, and gives it an additional rub down with the filthy rag he's been using.
"Don't see too many crews like you folks around here, though," he says, looking at the Oread, gnome, half-orc, aasimar, half-elf, and human. "'Specially not too many as purty as you are. What's a nice girl like you doin' in a place like this?"
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Ancel smiles winningly, showing plenty of teeth, "Mon ami Lya is correct, we are looking to find a good place to hunker down when the... how do you say...," Ancel looks askance at those around him, "...weather?" and shrugs, "Becomes poor. If you know what I am saying?"
Ancel then looks around the place, appraissingly, from atop his bar stool, "You may call me Ancel Le Cerfbeer, and might I add that you have a fine place mon ami, perhaps we can do business together? I hear you have small baubles for sale? Yes?"
"I do have some pearls for sale, are you in the market? The Oyster, as you might imagine, goes through a large number of its namesake shellfish, so we find a good number."
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Prizm watches the exchange from his table as he tries to stomach his brandywine. With a smirk on his tiny cherub like face he hops off the oversized chair and then wanders outside the inn briefly.
Strolling around the corner into an alleyway he waggles his little fingers and smiles from ear to ear. Before him a city guard appears out of wisps of shadowy smoke and bows before his master. The man has a closed face helmet where only the eyes are visible, his tabard denotes the city watch. Upon his belt he spots a longsword, and on his hands heavy swordsman gloves.
Prizm waves his new friend to follow him back to the bar.
”Why no sir! This place is reputable you have my word as a gnome and a traveler! I know you said you suspected there were dealings in this place, and that there could even be counterfeit pearls. I didn’t even know this city had a black market?! I think there will be room for your friends, when did you say they would be here? “
The gnome gives the barkeep a nervous look and scurries back over to his table. Using all his strength Prizm pulls a heavy wooden chair out for the guard to sit.
”Your welcome to sit at my table sir. Can I offer you an ale?”
At the mention of drink the guard quietly raises his gloved hand to wave away the notion. Seating himself at the table he crosses his arms across his chest and locks eyes with the barkeep – never blinking, and quietly watching… and waiting.
Ancel looks around the bar after the pearls are mentioned. All over the place, gaudy, obviously fake pearls are on display. These wouldn't pass the appraisal of a drunken Varisian, so these cannot be the ones he is trading.
"Pearls, you say" asks the Galtan man. "Have any samples of your wares?" With the "guard" on display, the barkeep looks a little nervous.
"Not at this time, my friend. Perhaps you could come back, later. When the bar is a little... more empty."
Ancel then turns the conversation, as it appears he has pushed this one as far as he could. "Understoon, mon ami. Perhaps you could help me in another way," he says, pushing a gold crown across the bar. "I am looking for a way to get in touch with the Kortos Consortium. Unfortunately, I am new in town, and don't know anyone. Would you happen to know of anyone in that I could talk to?"
The coin quickly disappears, and Paltus Flynter says, "Yeah, I think I can help you." He nods at the man sitting a table near Kiv. "I think he's one that can help you. I think his name is Markell or something. You want for me to introduce you to him?"
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Hushing his voice Prizm nods at the guard and leans over to Lya and others. "It's simple, I can make this guy wander around and do anything we want.. he is a watchman.. we just need to ensure the keep knows that the city watch know he is up to something. And that more will be coming over the course of the night. That way the location for the meet wont be viable and we thwart the attempt. We merely need to keep eyes on the barkeep to ensure he doesn't adapt. We hold the aces here, we just need to act as a group and enjoy the game" the gnome finishes barely audible to those around the small table.
Looking around the room, it appears that the man that the barkeep pointed out is not concerned about the "guard". However, the barkeep keeps watching "him", and seems to be doing a little better job of cleaning things.
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Unnerved by his familiar staring him down, Prizm leans down and addresses him.
”What is it boy? Someone trapped down a well? Are you hungry? The French sounding bard is really a lady?.... an ugly lady?”
The warm glow of understanding seems to lighten the gnomes face and he nods at his feathered friend.
”I can do that”
Prizm pulls out some parchment, motions for the guard to watch (paying attention to the barkeep the whole while) – while the gnome pens a small note and gives it to his dodo.
The guard nods and gives Bert a little pat on the head and motions for him to be on his way.
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Bert the ever stalwart mascot of the band sets forth outside the pearl. Weaving this way and that he eventually finds his quarry. Approaching a band of guards he sets into motion to grab their attention.
When the guards make eye contact, the dodo drops his note and seems to be waiting for something – tapping his tiny little bird foot.
Upon reading.
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"Relax Lya! Bert is never wrong.. confused.. but never wrong. He will take care of things, have no doubt!"
Prizm smiles and shakes his tiny empty cup at the barkeep. The gnome leans over to the guard inquiring if he would like something to drink - only to be greeted with a raise hand and a shake of the head.
"Suit yourself Mr. Stuffy" remarks the little fey.
The guard patrol sees the dancing dodo in front of them. They try to ignore it, but Bert is persistent. Finally, one notices the letter, and starts they start moving towards the bar.
As Prizm explains the plan he has set into motion, the team realizes that the guards will need more than just their word for the crimes. They need to quickly get some witnesses or the like to corroborate their story.
The team is able to gather enough pertinent information by chatting with folks around the bar, and just recalling what they had learned in the past.
They then realize, that before the guard actually shows up, they had best get themselves some evidence. Certain that the Paltus "Pal" Flynter keeps some of his stuff on site, they realize that they'll need to get some samples to show to the cops.
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Zavra rapid flips through her blue book for some form of information about the black market for pearls around town.
She consults her notes and sketches regarding the layout of the bar, movements of the bartender, and interesting places that he looks that don't seem focused on his actual activities, hoping to get some clue where he may be stashing any illicit goods.
Assuming she has a clue of where to look, she watches for an opportunity for a distraction to slide out of sight and attempt to help Kiv break into any locked conveyance that may hold the false goods.
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After Bert shuffles back into the Overflowing Oyster Prizm waves him over and gets a report. Nodding at the Dodo, the gnome gestures to his illusion - which promptly gets up and heads to the privy.
"Bert my friend, we need evidence for your new friends who are on route. Sneaky sneak time. Go get it." the gnome whispers to his little familiar.
As the little bird rolls under the table, Prim waves a half and the sound of breaking dishes erupts fron somewhere behind the bar.
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Okzat watches Zavra consult her notes "Looks like she knows what shes doing" He stands up and moves next to her, whispering. "Any clue where to look?"
Wherever she suggests to search is where Okzat will attempt to go, stealthily...
The short but heavy half stone man is loud and quite comical in his attempts to be discrete...
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Any illusion spell you cast with a duration of “concentration” lasts a number of additional rounds equal to 1/2 your wizard level after you stop maintaining concentration (minimum +1 round). At 20th level, you can make one illusion spell with a duration of “concentration” become permanent. You can have no more than one illusion made permanent in this way at one time. If you designate another illusion as permanent, the previous permanent illusion ends.
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Bert eyes his master and gives a stoic nod. Narrowing his tiny eyes he rolls under the table and becomes one with the shadows.
As he darts across the room weaving this way and that - with the sudden sounds of breaking dishes by the bar.. he LEAPS - and lands softly quite alarmed.. looking around he hopes nobody noticed.
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Ancel, still waiting for the bartender to lead him over to Markell, so chatting him up at the bar, "Mon ami, it looks like things are heating up, and I would hate for you to lose the opportunity to do business with the likes of me. So perhaps you should to show your stash, secretly behind the bar of course, so that I may make a purchase. My time is short, and I must be leaving before long, so if we cannot make this deal presently, then we cannot make this deal. You want to make this deal with me, non?"
Kiv takes advantage of the ruckus that has been going on, and makes her way to a quiet corner. She follows Bert's lead, and finds a small clock on in the back. Knowing this is an important mission, she takes her time, and makes sure she doesn't mess up. But knowing that time is of the essence, she doesn't take forever.
She cracks open the lockbox, and then sets it back, unlocked, so that the guards can easily find it. Within are a handful of fake pearls. Some are in a lustrous final state, but others are like the ones in the bar, of need of some work.
Just as she makes it back, the guards make it into the bar. "Oh, hey, Pal, how's it hanging ?" the first one says, rather non-chalantly. Rather than being concerned, Pal relaxes, and says,"Not too bad. Willard. Bars been a little quiet, but business is still ok. "
Both of you realize that the guards are a little too chummy with the bartender. Additionally, you notice that eth guards are getting served drinks, and none have gone for their coin purses.
The drinks that the bartender is serving to the guards seem to be coming from a different keg than the one that he served you all from. The looks on those drinking make it seem like the quality is less than that which you drank.
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Lya *spills* her glass and walks up to the bar "Can i get an ale this round? My black friend is enjoying his ale, so i will take one as well."
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Ancel looks knowningly at the barkeep, "Mon ami, what is it that you are doing in serving these city guards from the keg to the left instead of the keg to the right..." And a bit too loudly, "Which keg is better, the left one you are serving my friends, or the right one you are serving the local constabulary!" And looks over at the guards, "Mes Amis, shall we have a taste test, one mug from the left, and one from the right?!"
[dice=Diplomacy aid for Lya]1d20+1