'ell all's good then.
Oren's Sense Motive:
Yang's Sense Motive:
Yang quietly taps the shoulders of everyone else outside the conversation.
"It is seeming to me that Miss Sergeant is... defensive? Defensive about the topic of these slavers. There is, I surmise, more to this story."
Kua nods to Yang and steps up to the desk allowing his Dusk Warden insignia to show clearly. "Sargent, you say that these kidnappings are confirmed to be rumors? What do the supposed victims have to say about the matter?"
Yang continues to watch the Sergeant's reactions to the questions, otherwise remaining silent. Knowing how grating he can be, he feels it better to watch than anything else.
sense motive
Kua nods to Yang and steps up to the desk allowing his Dusk Warden insignia to show clearly. "Sargent, you say that these kidnappings are confirmed to be rumors? What do the supposed victims have to say about the matter?"
"All of those thought disappeared were found- none of them on their way to Nidal or any slave market. I suppose it's simply not as entertaining to gossip about the Watch actually getting something done as it is to spread unfounded rumors and panic. As far as we're concerned, the matter is closed."
Kua raises an eyebrow in surprise. "The victims were found immediately in every case? Why were these people thoght to be missing at all?"
"Well good job on resolving the issues of the disappearances, then, Sergeant. The Watch certainly deserve to be commended for their quick resolution of the issue. I agree that success rarely receives the recognition it deserves."
We'se goin' to keep an eye out fo' 'ny other stuff out on t'streets. Where's t'bounty list y'been talkin' 'bout?
Kua raises an eyebrow in surprise. "The victims were found immediately in every case? Why were these people thoght to be missing at all?"
"I didn't say immediately- they were missing for a short time from their homes. But they were all found. That's all I can say on the matter..."
"Well good job on resolving the issues of the disappearances, then, Sergeant. The Watch certainly deserve to be commended for their quick resolution of the issue. I agree that success rarely receives the recognition it deserves."
Kasadei nods, though she seems uncertain.
"Thank you... though I suppose saying it's resolved is a bit generous. The case is closed and the victims were found- like I said, that's all I can tell you."We'se goin' to keep an eye out fo' 'ny other stuff out on t'streets. Where's t'bounty list y'been talkin' 'bout?
"The board is on your left on your way out- plenty of petty thugs and nuisances to deal with. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Fair enough. Thank you for your time Sergeant, this has been helpful." Kua makes a few notes on the directions to the warehouse and makes his way out of the office.
Auron nods his thanks and peruses the board while waiting for the party to conclude their business.
Oren smiles. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Sergeant. Thank you for your time and assistance." He inclines his head in a gesture of respect and follows the others out the door.
"I suppose our next stop will be the Underbridge," he says once they are outside. "As I understand it, that's a rough part of the city, so we'll want to be wary."
Once outside, the half orc gives a skeptical look to his companions. "Anyone else find that business with the kidnappings a little strange?"
We'se find out w'en we'se slummin' the streets. We'se goin' to ask Fenster w'at 'e knows an' the res' is as gud as your bes' guess.
Fully memorising the names on the board, Auron leads the way out of the barracks, sniffing again the streets of Magnimar.
"I did as well," Oren says. "I wonder if we might be able to locate one of those who was believed to be missing. Perhaps looking into it would be useful, though I'm not sure if it'll relate to our primary task."
"I did as well," Oren says. "I wonder if we might be able to locate one of those who was believed to be missing. Perhaps looking into it would be useful, though I'm not sure if it'll relate to our primary task."
"Strange? Yes. Very much. The sar-gent did not say how the people were found, and in what condition. Curious."
"As Auron says, maybe we'll find something out from this Fenster or one of the tower girls. Anyone know what to expect from these Szcarni? Are the generally reasonable or should we just skip diplomacy right off the bat?"
"Anyone know what to expect from these Szcarni? Are the generally reasonable or should we just skip diplomacy right off the bat?"
"Any negative stereotype you've heard about Varisians is true about the Sczarni," Sister Mara advises. "Like any other bandits and thieves, you can negotiate with them - just be sure to count your fingers afterward if you shake their hand."
"If they were to take my fingers, it would be seen, I think," Yang quips, waving his pudgy digits around. As the group walks however, Yang begins to complain a bit, as his legs carry his large bulk slowly. "Cannot a carriage be gotten? My feet grow weary."
From the Arvensoar, you walk through the district of Naos on the Summit, sticking to the wide main boulevards. Like much of the upper-class homes and buildings on the Summit, the buildings here are primarily stone and Naos is home to many banking institutions, new-money neighborhoods and villas. Heading east from the Arvensoar, you can just see on your right further inland the Guardians- two 200 foot colossi standing with burning staves held high, forming an arch at Twin's Gate, on the Summit's inland side. You pass a fortresslike temple to the Inheritor and another monument, this one a bronze bowl filled with green oil, an eternal flame around its ring which cycles between yellow, orange, violet and blue before your very eyes. This would be the monument known as the Founder's Flame. Continuing on through the late-afternoon crowds, you pass the sprawling stone Cathedral of Abadar on your left.
Continuing straight, always north toward the sea and allowing Yang a moment to rest his feet, you come into a vast plaza marking the Capital District. In the center of the wide space is another of the city's famed monuments: this one depicts a great aquatic horror of a spiny and serpentine aspect with two heads battling a single man wielding a sword and shield. The engraving at the base says,"Indros cul Vydrarch". Further North, you can see the titanic expanse of the Irespan, miles of ancient stone looming over the neighborhoods below in the Shore before abruptly terminating over the sea.
From here, you descend the Cleft on a long slope, heading toward another wide cobblestone plaza in Dockway- a bustling waterfront, with buildings of both wood and stone. To the west, you can see yet one more monument that Kasadei mentioned to mark your way: the Eyes of the Hawk, which depicts twin wizards battling arachnid monsters with eldritch fire. Further away, you can just barely mark the famous Bizarre of Sails: the largest free market in Varisia, where all manner of common and exotic goods are haggled over and exchanged daily. Those of you used to Kaer Maga see some small glimpse of the home you left behind in the clashing awnings and (relatively) exotic patrons, though the whole of the city feels so open and spread out in comparison to your previous home on the Rise so many miles away.
But still further north, crouched and sprawled beneath the Irespan's great pilings, parts of it forever locked in its shadow, squats Underbridge- your destination. Here, the roads are nothing more than trash-strewn and muddy gaps between slumping shanties and decaying shacks. Pockmarked and sallow thugs, vagrants and orphans peer at you furtively, sometimes having to be actively discouraged with a ready weapon and a stern warning. You push past beggars, salt-blasted tenements and ramshackle brothels to reach a partially-collapsed warehouse on the shore, where the tidal currents have brought reeking piles of trash and refuse to rest on the shoreline nearby.
After doing a circuit of the building and being satisfied that no one lay in wait to ambush you (and hearing little activity within), you push open the waterlogged door and enter a large and open area. Constructed in one corner is a crude hovel built of rowboats and timbers leaning against the warehouse's frame, a pair of skiffs leaning against one another to form an "arch", a tattered remnant of a sail serving to give the occupant some privacy. Next to the arch is a battered sea chest with a broken lid. Leaning against the chest is a sign that reads:
"LEEV A GIFT AND WATE OUTSID"
A tin plate sits on the ground in front of the sign.
Sister Mara flicks a gold coin through the air to land on the tin plate with a metallic *CLINK*.
As they walk through the city, Oren looks around with interest and appreciation. "This truly is a magnificent place and awesome to behold."
He grows reserved as the splendor fades to ruin and neglect, however, and shakes his head repeatedly in displeasure and distaste.
"Gold? he whispers at Mara. "That might have been a bit...excessive." He resists the urge to reach for his crossbow as they wait.
DM Screen:
After maybe half a minute, you hear a wet hacking cough from within the hovel and out staggers a hunched over wretch of a man clad in filthy clothes, with stringy hair and grey, clammy skin. He's almost nothing but skin and bones and you can see that one rheumy eye is clouded over with a white film. He smells of rancid meat.
The wretched creature looks over at the single gold coin in the plate, then back at the six of you. After an appraising look at your gear and bearing with his good eye, he hacks and spits at your feet before turning around back into his hovel, with naught else but a shewing motion behind him with a claw-like hand.
"Come back when ye ain't cheep!", he rasps.
Kua tightens his fist as he considers trouncing the old man, but then thinks better of it, figuring he should play nice with the locals for now. The orc reaches into his pouch and produces two more gold, dropping them into the plate. "Better?" Kua adds with a heavy eye roll.
A vein throbs at Auron's right temple. Almost driven to barge in, mailed boot first, Kua intervenes first, depositing more gold into the plate. Auron watches on, barely containing his rage.
Why we's wastin' gold on scum? hisses Auron.
His faithful hound accompanies his master as Auron tries to grasp the filthy man and lift him clear off the ground.
I'se ain't 'ere fo' ye health, 'astard. Speak, are y'Fenster?
Sister Mara follows Kua's example and tosses another couple of gold coins onto the tin plate.
"My feet are sore. This man should take our gift and be happy, or there may be problem," Yang exasperates seemingly to himself, but loud enough to be overheard.
Warily, the wretch returns after hearing the clink of more coins on his plate. Eyeing you furtively, he quickly scoops the money up and deposits it into his pocket. Then he sits on top of the sea chest and coughs uproariously for a moment. Finally clear of the fit, he grins and says,"Wull, tha's better. What d'ye need ol' Fenster ta do, eh?"
"We understand the Tower Girls have been staying with you. We're looking for one of the them - Natalya Vancaskerkin. Know where we can find her?" Sister Mara asks bluntly.
Fenster puffs himself up a bit.
"Aye! I'm their lan'lord!",he says proudly, before sneezing into his sleeve. He grows more wary, however, when the subject turns to Natalya.
"And ol' Fenster knows where ye can find Natalya, me loves... but me mem'ry ain't so good. I needs a prettier present ter help me focus, right?"
Auron's precariously contained rage boils over, with a strained voice he hefts his warhammer and sunders the flimsy door to splinters.
I'se gots sumthin' t'focus y'memory jus' right. It works wit' almos' anythin', rotten doors, bad memory too. See I'se fix y'door an' y'get a gud one wit' t'gold on t'platter.
"How much prettier Fenster?" Kua lets a bit of anger into his tone.
Fenster flinched as Auron cracks a piece out if his "doorframe" . His eyes flit between Auron and the rest of you.
"Awright 'en, big lad, have it yer way. Yer Natty's out hidin' off from the Tower Girls- at a warehouse, sowfeast corner o' the Shadow. Ol' Fenster's seen her in an' out- not much excapes me good peeper.", he says, tapping the cheek under his good eye.
"Now shove off, eh, now ye done robbin' a poor man o' his livelihood...",he adds, shewing you off before adding with a sickly sweet voice,"...and do be careful, love. We eat dogs in this parta town and we're awful hungry."
Auron gives the slummer a hard stare at his one remaining eye, looking for a sign of betrayal.
Watch fo' w'at y'wish, Me mutt's ne'er misses a meal. B'sure y'ave mo' meat on ye when 'e turns up.
As if on queue, Jhaik raises his hind legs and marks Fenster's doorway.
Kua studies Fenster's face as he speaks. Looking for any hint of deception.
Yang also studies the man, looking for deception.
sense motive
Sister Mara's eyes narrow as she studies the sickly man for any sign of deception.
As the group departs she keeps a wary eye on Fenster's hovel to make sure the man doesn't try to make any surprise attacks.