"Ah, that I can deal with. I've spent quite a bit of time in and around the Mwangi, you see.". Ialda didn't reveal any more of her past to the newcomer.
Ialda tried to not giggle at the man's mustache when she noticed his slightly wandering eye. "Aero, tell the Captain more about yourself..". She turns back to the Captain. "Aero is quite wonderful. She has saved our group on numerous occasions.". Ialda couldn't help but be a touch mischievous, as she was feeling the best she had felt in quite some time.
"Oooh, I'll listen to whatever this fair maiden has to say." Faruq grumbles loudly, snapping the Captain out of his reverie. "Right, right, I'm here on business. Perhaps later, my dear Aero." He flashes her his biggest smile, showing off his pearly whites.
"Like I was saying, we need to sail to the depot, Nightfall Station, it's called. It lies some 400 miles upriver—a two-week trip aboard my wheelboat. I would expect the job to last about a month before the nomadic jungle tribe gives up and moves on, with the option for each of you to stay on long-term, of course, if you so choose. At the end of the month, I will provide free passage back downriver to Eleder after you receive your salary from the paymaster at the station. What say you all? Care to spend a month in my company?" He eyes Aero as he finishes his sentence.
"It sound like good job to me. But me not think Faruq survive the trip." Gruug says while glaring at his half-orcish nemesis.
Faruq growls at Gruug. "Bah! I be sailor. You in that armor, you sink to bottom of sea! Let's see who save you if that happens." He flexes his massive muscles at the cleric.
Esteban gets annoyed. "Faruq, no need to pull your schlong out now to measure it. There are ladies present. Besides, he's only riling you up. Let him be." The half-orc garbed in leather armor grunts but stays quiet.
"If the Lady has no objections, I'd be up for a month of guard duty. Hopefully, they give up quickly and we could make some gold for catching some sunshine and relaxing, for the majority of the month. If not, we have ways to defend ourselves," she says, patting her new club in her hand.
"Twenny per day fer each o' us?", 'Left-Ear' says, hardly impressed by the figure. "Like ye said, we're a cut above the bully-boys ye'll find out 'n about in Eleder, an' tha' sum may be good fer them, but I'd be wantin' thirty per day fer our services. Anythin' less would jus' be insultin'."
Diplomacy Aid Another
"He brings up a good point, Captain...Aero could scarcely afford her make ups that make her eyes shine so brightly without an additional little bit of gold."
"Hmmmm, I think 23 gp per day for each of you is the best I can do. I'd happily pay you all the gold I had, but the Consortium is kind of stuck up on making profits and minimizing costs, as you can imagine. Now, assuming, Lady Vanderboren is on board, do I have your acceptance?" Seeing Ialda as the leader of the group, the Captain stretches out his hand to her to seal the deal.
The Aspis man's negotiations unfolded at such a rapid pace, Aeronniell's head dizzied. Such a rapid pace of events, only days after her life was nearly lost, and Lavinia's as well.
Placing a hand on Ialda's shoulder, Aeronniell smiled politely at the Captain and leaned down to whisper to Ialda.
"Perhaps we shouldn't shake hands until we've spoken to Lavinia first? Given she was nearly murdered a fortnight ago, I'm not sure leaving her with no guards for a month is proper? Perhaps if the Jade Ravens still lived, but they perished as well..."
"... and, we know so little about this man, or his group?"
"Captain, give me a moment to confer with the Lady. If she agrees, I think you have a deal." Ialda smiles as she rises, and asks to speak to Lavinia in private.
"Are you okay with this arrangement? Our first loyalty is to you, as you know. Only if you are completely comfortable would we agree to this month long service. Please, say the word if you object."
Upon retreating into a more private area with Lavina, Aeronniell shares what she knows of the ruthless reputation of the Aspis Consortium along with her other concerns.
"Ialda - did you see the way he was looking at us? Like we were some sort of meat and he was a hungry predator?"
Shaking her head, the elf continues.
"Something doesn't strike me right, here. Perhaps he is one of Vanthus's friends and he's simply trying to lure us away from the city for a month to make some sort of move against Lavinia? The Aspis strike me as a group that would have similar interests to your brother."
Biting her lip, Aeronniell begins pacing along the carpet.
"Lady Lavinia. You have been most generous to us this month. Twelve-hundred gold this week in payment for our services this month. And this Esteban offers us half as much to leave your employ for his for a month? The only way I could see taking this offer is to spring whatever trap this may be...."
Finally, she stops, and nervously nibbles at one of her nails.
"What do you think, Baolo? You've been quiet since the captain made his offer?"
"My dear Ialda, while I will not lie, a favorable percentage on future deals with the Consortium would definitely benefit me, I leave this decision in your hands. I know how stir crazy you've all been in my home this past week, trying to trace down leads on my brother with no success. I can understand if you wish to stretch your muscles and do this job. I myself am doing research on a venture that interests me greatly. I found some of my mother's journals...and well, I'll speak to you about it when my plans are more concrete. In fact, I'm hoping you will accompany me. But that's for another day. Perhaps in a month, a month and a half.
As for my safety, Aero, I think your investigations this past week reveal quite clearly that my brother Vanthus is no longer in Eleder. With the guard on notice after the lizardman assault, I think I am safe. Besides, I am sure I could hire your friend Devon Altamir and some of his associates to watch over my home while you are away. I leave the decision in your hands."
Balo, who has been quiet, speaks, "This offah does worry me, mon. The half-orc Faruq not glow, but this Captain Esteban glow evil when I asked Shimye-Magalla to show me where his true heart lies."
"Eh, I thought he was creepy, but I wouldn't have guessed he was evil. That's a bit different then. I don't want to be pinned up defending an evil fort for a month, if that's the case. Perhaps the savage cannibals are nothing but innocent villagers. Maybe we could join them for the month," Ialda laughs.
"Ya Ialda, e is a baad boy. I think mebbe Aero is right an he is workin' with Vanthus. Mebbe we tell 'im we need ta think about it an' see who he visits in town?"
"That makes sense. Give us a day or two to think, and we watch him in town? That could work."
There is a definite look of disappointment on the Captain's face when he hears you have to think about his offer. "Look, the Consortium really needs you." Looking at Baolo, he continues, "You should not let my personal beliefs cloud your judgment into rejecting this offer. My beliefs are, well, my own. This is a cutthroat business. I hope to hear from you soon." He bows and he and Faruq leave.
"So what, we relax for an hour or so, then try to track them down? See what devilish plans they might be up to, and go from there."
Aeronniell sighs with relief as the captain departs and immediately turns to smile at Baolo.
"Thank the stars, I knew you'd have the right idea, Baolo!"
Moving quickly across the room to the window, the elf narrows her eyes at the withdrawing form of the captain and his guard.
"I wonder just how hostile these jungle nomads are? If there even are any nomads, or they'd simply take us up river long enough to attempt some attack on Lavinia?"
As the captain turns and gives the manor one less look, Aeronniell's heart jumps and she quickly dodges behind the curtain.
"What's this about your journals, Lavinia? Is there some clue there about Vanthus?"
Once the Captain departs, 'Left-Ear' turns to his group. "What be the problem if ye judge him to be 'morally challenged'? A sinner's gold spends jus' as well as a saint's. An' I doubt they'd be enterin' into a contract with th' Lady if all they wanted to do was finish the job the lizards started. That'd be bad fer business, an' these boys be all about business. But, ye be right - we should find out if he be workin' with that rat bastard Vanthus. If he be, then we can follow this trail back and finish the job. I swear, I'll wear his guts for garters yet!"
"I didn't like the way his bodyguard was giving Gruug the eye, either. But I'm with the group. If he's with Vanthus, we can take the whole lot of them out."
Through your contacts and the guards, you learn that the Captain and his bodyguard are in Dockside. When you reach him, you see him meeting with some merchant types and they seems upset with him. He appears to be calming them down and he points to the sailors in the docks and they give him a dirty look. They leave him alone and he orders himself and Faruq a drink. The Captain gets wasted, while Faruq just drinks water. Then he spends much gold at a local whorehouse till he turns in for the night at the most expensive inn in the city.
"Well, nothing too awful, I guess. I'm not sure how we find out if he has ties to Vanthus or not. Goodness knows he won't show his face around here again."
"I think we should talk ta de merchants, no?"
"Clever, Baolo! Perhaps we could grease a palm, and see what at his game is."
"Ya mon, dem merchants likka de gold bettah den dat Cap'n."
Assuming that Lady Lavinia is okay at the manor for the time being, Ialda is ready to head out and look around town. "I don't blend in here, as you all know, so perhaps I'd best remain by myself, while the rest of you do the stealthy work. Me just walking around will draw attention, so perhaps I can make it easier on the rest of you to stay on the down low!"
"Mebbe Aero or Left-Ear bettah talk wit dat Cap'n. Dey have a bettah way wit words. But if he needs more den talkin'" Baolo pats the knife at his side.
Aeronniell's face twists up at the mention of her talking to the captain, but it quickly turns to a smile.
"Yes, Left-Ear should totally talk to the captain!"
Clearing her throat she adds.
"I'll talk to the merchants."
"Any of you's need me as bodyguard, or me stay here too?"
"Perhaps, you and I can go shopping, Gruug. Nothing makes a better distraction than the two of us out and about. While we get everyone's attention, the others can quietly ask about the other goings on in town."
"Good idea boss."
"Aero, I'll go wit ya in case I trouble, but ya bettah take de lead."
Ialda smiles at Gruug and pats him on the back. "Thanks, buddy. The rest of you all find out what you can and let's meet back here in what, six hours or so? Hopefully we can figure out what the Captain has going on, and if it involves Vanthus."
"Aye, I'll look into th' merchants. They didn't seem too happy with him - a bit o' coin an' a friendly ear ought to cheer their britches off."
The pirate approaches the merchants after Faruq leaves, several mugs of grog in his hands. "Ye fellows look like ye could use a drink to wash down the bitter pill tha' scallywag asked ye ta swallow. Drink up, lads, for I be buying!" He seats himself at the table, passing the flagons around.
The merchants, adorned as well with the Aspis Consortium pins, happily accept the drinks from Left-Ear. One of them narrows his eyes at the bard and speaks, "I am Malik Graves, representative of our business interests in the region. Aren't you one of the group that Captain Esteban is trying to persuade to go guard our outpost? Why not just say yes already? It's good pay and you'll be cultivating a good relationship with the Consortium, which may help you in the future. Don't force us to take these smelly dockworkers as mercenaries. What say ye?" He raises his drink to Left-Ear.
Ialda takes Gruug with her, and walks around town, as conspicuously as possible. She looks closely at any weapons, armor, or other interesting items she sees, demonstrating how to use most of them with a great flourish. This will certainly be a spectacle!
'Left-Ear' notes the pins in the lapels of his tablemates a moment too late, and laughs despite himself. "Sorry, mate, it be the others. I tried to tell them that yer coin spends jus' fine, but they've been bitten by a frightful beast named 'paranoia.' I'll let 'em know there were nothin' more to th' tale than what ye told me, an' I'm sure we'll be acceptin' yer accord soon enough. Drink up, lads, the next round is on me as well." He pats the merchant nearest him on the back, and stands to go pay the bartender.
"Oh, one more thing, Master Graves," he says before he heads away. "There be another man I be lookin' fer. Yer Consortium has eyes an' ears all over th' place, so maybe ye might be able ta help me out on that as well. Th' brother of me current employer, th' Lady Vanderboren, killed a mate o' mine, an' I've sworn vengeance 'gainst him. If ye hear anything about his whereabouts, I'd be very gracious indeed." He punctuates this with a pat to his coinpurse. "Savvy?"
As Left-Ear questions the merchants, Baolo watches and listens to the merchants trying to judge their words and character.
Aeronniell contents herself with observing Malik Graves while Louis does the talking, the better to concentrate on the man rather than be distracted watching her own words.
At the mention of paranoia, she frowns slightly, remembering how they - including Lavinia - were all nearly murdered by an overzealous first mate, just to have a lecherous Aspis operative appear a week later.
"Oh, one more thing, Master Graves," he says before he heads away. "There be another man I be lookin' fer. Yer Consortium has eyes an' ears all over th' place, so maybe ye might be able ta help me out on that as well. Th' brother of me current employer, th' Lady Vanderboren, killed a mate o' mine, an' I've sworn vengeance 'gainst him. If ye hear anything about his whereabouts, I'd be very gracious indeed." He punctuates this with a pat to his coinpurse. "Savvy?"
The three merchants nod quickly. "We will definitely keep an eye out for Sir Vanderboren. Though last we heard was he involved in some awful ship burning off the coast. He is not good for our maritime business."
Baolo senses the merchants are being sincere and you can tell they much enjoy the news of gold and rewards. They are very wealth driven.
There are other patrons in the bar, besides the merchants, mostly sailors. Aero hears the Captain is a strong disciplinarian and expects the best from his crew and will not tolerate anything less. Stories that he cut a sailor's hand for not swabbing the deck properly are common.
The following morning, after sobering up some, Captain Esteban and Faruq show up at the Vanderboren estate again. "I need an answer. Are you in or out?"
"You've got yourself a deal. When do we depart?"