Zurka nods in reply to Ilaria. "Thank you. This information will prove most help in tracking them down. Are you aware of any other associates they may have hired or have been traveling with?"
As he sits back to eat his meal he thinks to himself, Those two mages may know something of the portals said to be located in the Spire. I MUST have a chance to...talk with them privately, presuming they are still alive...
None known. There must be only the two of them.
She waits a few seconds, then looks at each of you before asking
Shall I prepare the contract? It will be ready this afternoon.
Seeing an opportunity to detach herself, at least for a while, from her soft hearted family, Mary nods.
"I'm in."
The bird underneath her hair whispers.
"Though a hasty decision, it might prove useful if there's arcane or occult knowledge to be gained."
"Write up your contract. It's always a pleasure to get paid to kill mages. I will sign your contract, right after lunch."
Gorok shrugs, and since no one has told her to go away, decides earning some money by killing a couple of mages was an acceptable way to spend a day.
"A good bounty is worth working for." She said calmly. Looking to the half orc she nods slightly and then looks to the others studying them.
Neither was the name of her bounty but she still had time to look around and listen. Maybe she could get word on her original mark. If not this one seemed more lucrative.
Katara looked at the woman and nodded curtly. "I have my own meal and preparations. I will be there though."
Gorok reaches out and drops three silver pieces on the server's tray.
"please write up the contract"
'Sadly non of them is a necromancer, but maybe I will find some servants there. And money is always welcome for my research.'
Meet me this afternoon, after your midday meal, at the Temple of the Golden Key. It's the name of the local temple of Abadar. The contract will be ready, and wait our signatures. A pouch with an hundred gold pieces will be delivered to you after the contract is signed, as previously said. Don't be late. You can use the morning as you see fit.
The woman finishes her glass, and get upstairs, to her room in the inn, addressing old Juliver
Innkeeper, make sure I won't be disturbed, and serves my meal in my room.
Meurasod looks around at those assembled. "Any one have any supplies to get once we pick up pre-payment? We could probably use a good rope and maybe a grapple to go with it. A crowbar or sledge might come in handy as well. Have any of you been to this spire before? I have not and am unsure of what to expect. And good job getting that information about those mages. I would not have thought to ask those questions."
After the woman has taken her leave, Zurka watches her leave with an unreadable expression. As the dwarf speaks up, Zurka turns to face him. "I plan on using a portion of the advance to stock up on supplies. I would advise the rest of you do so as well. Also..." His voices changes slightly with a note of excitement. "I wish to...question these mages before we...deal with them. They may have information which would prove useful to me."
"It sounds like a possibility that, given the lady wants them silenced even if dead, they were in a deal gone awry. Carrying perhaps a secret too risky to get out."
Ah, mystery and intrigue, two interesting topics.
Gorok mumbles, "Thieves tools might be good..."
"You all did notice she didn't say 100 gold per person. Just a hundred gold. The supplies must be group oriented. If we are lucky it is a 100 each then you can budget then but it is best to assume it is not. Also, 1000 per head, means total as a group we would get is 2000."
Katara's voice was matter of fact. "Rope and grapple is always good as is crowbar and sledge. Block and tackle would help also and thieves tools would be a great addition considering traps. And those things are expensive. As for talking with them. That is on you. I will wait on my decision until I read the contract. Just remember. Abadaran's are extremely harsh on those that stray from a contract. And expect her to pay enough to make it always in her favor. Her type deal that way."
"Hah, I knew I liked you for a reason las. Sharp ears on that one, and not even an elf. You be right thou, 100 gp for the group, and it will come out of our 2,000 in the end, I recon. Alright, if no one has a rope, grapple, thieves tools, crowbar, or sledge, we'll pick those things up after we sign the contract and be on our way. Probably pick up a couple if sacks too to keep those heads in. I don't recon those hell knights be too keen on us walking around with severed heads in hand."
Meurasod looks at Zurka, "sorry son, you'll have to pick up spells with your own coin, unless you know of one that'll help the whole group."
"That reminds me too. Let's see, 2,000 divided by, uh 6 is...carry the one...blast, help me out here, someone figure out what our cuts are gonna be so there's no arguing about it later. Anything left over we can use to refill spent resources, like bolts or arrows, fix any damaged gear, and maybe pay for some room and board for a bit. Whataya say?"
"2000 devided by 6, comes to 333,33 gp each and a few coppers left."
In the family, profits were shared, so determining shares came naturally to Mary.
Meurasod looks at Zurka, "sorry son, you'll have to pick up spells with your own coin, unless you know of one that'll help the whole group."
"That will not be a concern, Meurasod. I require only a few coins for gear and supplies for the exploration of the Spire."
"I don't think I need additional suplies right now, my pack is heavy enough as it is"
The halfling server comes back to your table after a few minutes
Do you want or need something else? More mead? Food?
Zurka waves off the server as the simple fare already provided to him was quite overwhelming to his palate. Once the server has left the group alone he turns to face each of his new-found companions. "What do you think of our...benefactor? Do you believe she is withholding vital facts from us here? Facts that would complicate our mission to find these wizards?"
"probably"
"Not to my impression. However she surely left out details to the reason why they should be found.
Something we can only speculate on."
Gorok blurts out, "Of course she is," then turns red and focuses her eyes downward.
"I don't think I need additional suplies right now, my pack is heavy enough as it is"
You keep me standin' and stop the bleedin' and I'll carry anything you need me to darlin'.
When Mary quoted the number Katara smiled at her. It was a predatory smile but not towards her. Almost as if she recognized her way with figuring out the cut and was showing appreciation.
Katara looked at Zurka with an even stare as if the answer was obvious. When Gorok spoke Katara nodded at her as if agreeing with her.
Looking at the halfling she nodded. "May my meal be served to go. Something came up and I must go but I insist on having your wonderful meal."
Looking at those gathered. "If you will excuse me. There are things I must attend to before we meet again."
With a nod she would take her gathered meal and heads out.
As she ate she would explore the town and find out where the important places were and try to subtly find the more seedier ones in town. Information was vital but one had to build up the information first. She wasn't the most diplomatic so that usually failed unless she recognized her own type.
The fact so many had congregated in one area..., well that was nice but she would need more.
Time to meet people as she would look for a place that either had a bounty board or weapons shop.
After an uneventful morning, you walk toward the impressive building of the Temple of the Golden Key, where Abadar is worshipped.
Iliara is already there, chatting with a young and robust priest, in a small, private chamber.
Ah, Brother, here they are. We will soon begin.
She motions you to come in, and the priest close the door behind you. He then says a quick, formal prayer to his god
I, Brother Herno, priest of Abadar the Law Bringer and Bringer of Civilisation, will watch over this contract, and will seal and keep it when it will be signed. By my voice, I serve my god. Listen to the contract, and then sign it on your own will if you are satisfied.
He clears his throat and starts reading the document
Let it be written than, on the 13th Sarenith 4715, a contract has been made, in one (1) copy, between the following persons
Iliara Medrass, from now on named “the buyer”
And here will be written your names ,
from now on collectively named “the providers”.
This contract will stay in the hands of the Temple of the golden Key in Fort Inevitable.
By signing this contract, the providers engage themselves to collect and bring back proof of the death of the following people, last known to have gone to the Emerald Spire for exploration:
Jahrun Cabrenos, Conjurer mage
Tiawak Nerabret, IllusionnistThe buyer will provide both the providers and the Temple of the Golden Key with means to recognise both missing persons.
Said proof of their death being the head of the aforementioned mages, with the tongue cut off. The head(s) must be brought back to the Temple of the Golden Key.Upon completion of their part of the deal, the temple will then pay the providers a thousand gold pieces (1000 GP) by head retrieved on behalf of the buyer, with a 10% commission provisioned by the buyer.
The providers will receive, right after signing this contract, the sum of an hundred gold pieces (100 GP), from the hand of the buyer.
In the case of the death of one or several of the original providers, remplacements can be added to this contract, as seen fit by the surviving providers.
After completion of the deal, this copy of the contract will be destroyed by the Temple of the Golden Key.
Here are the signatures
Zurks nods in greeting to Iliara then takes a seat as the other members of the party peruse the contract. Once the priest has read the trems of the contract, he shakes his head slightly. Such an odd way of doing things here. My lord would dispense of such...pleasantries should he wish those two mages killed.
When the time came to sign the contract, he hesitates slightly as tales of those foolish mortals who became ensnared by Infernal contracts. Still his mission was clear...
He dips his pen into the quill and signs his full name 'Zurka Shadowsworn' at the bottom of the document.
There. The die is cast... for good or ill.
Meurasod signs the contract and then immediately stands up.
"Now, I believe you have a bag of coin for us. I have supplies to purchase before we head out. If any care to join me, feel free.
Gorok thinks on it, the signs. 1000 gold would go a long way toward her researches.
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Aralu carefully reads the contract, looking for any trap or intent to decive from it or Iliara.
the Oracle reads trough it a final time, and puts her signiture and her name in the right place.
Ever the adventurous, Mary doesn't read it more than once thoroughly, then proceeds to take the quill to sign the paper.
Iliara waits until Katara sign, showing a small but full purse to Meurasold, nodding to the greedy dwarf
The money is ready.
Katara would calmly read over the contract a couple of times. Then taking the quill she would sign it with the elegance that seemed out of place. As if she knew how to scribe or at least came from a nicer background. While it read Katara that wasn't her real name. But the one she had assumed so long ago. It fit just nicely.
Once finished she would step back.
"So the contract is done." Her voice was soft with a ringing note of finality.
Turning to the dwarf. "I will go with you to oversee the purchases made for the group."
"Oversee our personal purchases?
I reckon if we'd let you do that by yourself, i'd probably miss out on useful items. I'm certainly going with you."
Meurasod might feel the bag of gold strangely slightly lighter in weight.
"Of course and just to make sure things are fair let us count the gold." She said. "Not that I don't trust our benefactor but its good to double check."
Zurka rises to his feet. "Perhaps we should all go together on our shopping trip. It would give us a chance to become familiar with one another...a useful thing as we will soon be trusting our lives to one another." He looks over each one of his new partners, an appraising look in his eyes.
"Now our new benefactor here was nice enough to sign a contract and be all legal-like. She risks as much penalty shorting us as we do trying to pull a fast one. You can count the money while we walk. We know what we need to purchase, and we're gonna do just that, and then we're going to enter this spire and bring back these mages heads."
"Now here's what's going to happen. We're all going to go to this store. You're going to tell me what you want purchased. You're going to hold my weapons while I enter this store with Gorok and buy what we all agree upon. When I come back out, Katara will count the money and Aralu here will carry the rest of the money until we return from the spire. While Aralu is carrying the money, I'm going to carry her extra gear so we're not any slower than we need to be. Now then, are then any questions?"
Gorok nods, and adds quietly, "I once set someone on fire when I saw them going through my alchemical supplies. He screamed until he stopped moving."
Everybody should do that, vs Miss Thievy's sleight of hand
Mary, you don't appear to have ranks in Sleight of Hand which is not usable unless trained.
"...and my great granny shrunk a man's head for insulting our family."
Gorok perks up suddenly. "Really? Did she show you her technique?"
"I was a little girl, she kept it her secret saying, 'you are not old enough for such tricks'. But it was most amusing, to see a broad man's head shrink to the size of an apple."
"Perhaps we can learn to duplicate it, maybe if we use...," and Gorok begins to name of a seemingly endless list of alchemical reagents and processes, quickly losing track of the fact she was actually talking to someone other that herself.
Katara smiled at the dwarf and took mental note. It was good learning about a group one was dealing with and such comments drew people out. Seeing where the dwarf lay was a good start.
Hearing the exchanges she took mental notes on everyone. The mystery was still around Arula and Meurasod a bit but she would see their work soon enough.
'Mary most likely has magic up her sleeve. May or may not be power hungry but definitely likes to use her charming smile. Gorok, a bomber but also interested in other things that change the body. May be able to find some useful things in that. Meurasod, seems like an honorable type. We will see how that holds up. Zurka, definite magic type but may be good with more. Will have to keep an eye out."
"Well, I see you wish to take control as our leader. That works fine for me at the moment. I will indeed count it. I have a think for exacting each coin owed. Its a personal thing. I don't like being short changed even if unintentional."
When Gorok goes mentioning ingredients, Mary knows of some of their properties.
"Ah, that one. You can do something amazing with that."
She leans in..[whisper]....and then....if you combine that with..... they'll never see it coming.[/whisper]
"I watched my dad build a fascinating trap once, it was an expensive looking chest with a big lock filled with zombie ravens, those could strip a man down to the bones in a minute"
Once at the store, Meurasod will leave his axe, spear, and shield with Zurka. "I'll be wanting these back real soon. Come Gorok, let us see what we can get."
He turns to head inside.
"Howdy friend," he says to the clerk. I'll be needing a few items if you have them, and I'm sure my partner here will need some things too.
100 feet of silk rope
grapple
crowbar
sledge
thieves tools
sacks x2
Once Meurasod has returned Zurka returns the equipment and helps himself to a portion of the advance funds to purchase an adventurers kit for himself.
Gorok thinks a minute, the decides, "Mmm, no. Anything I could use is too expensive."
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As you count the money in the purse, there is really 100 gold pieces in it, and you waste no time in spending some of these.
The Emerald Spire waits for you...