Saul is sitting in his office. A small fire is burning in his fireplace, despite the relatively neutral temperature today. He cracks his fingers as Nel and Tamiro enter, and gestures to the chairs in front of his desk. Today, he's set up five chairs and offers you red Chelish wine before smiling wide and starting to speak. Five small pouches sit on the edge of his desk.
"Ah, nice to see you," he says. "I trust the day has gone well. Let us wait for the rest of the junior partners before getting into business, of course. I did hear about an unusually large wave down in the Wharf district today. What a pity. It's emptied out our gambling hall for at least the afternoon. I'm sure business will pick up this evening as people seek meat and drink."
"Hai. Odd wave came in and crashed through the Wharf district. People always need a distraction though." Tamiro says, chuckling with a wink.
Taking a seat, he grabs some wine and holds up one of the pouches, "Pay?"
Vara follows Nel and Tamiro into Saul's office. "Mister Saul," she says with a formal though curt nod. She stands near the back of the office, leaning lightly against the wall, watching Saul the same way a lioness would watch a wolf.
Vark follows suit, his demeanor eerily similar to that of Vara.
With a simple bow he addresses the man at the desk, "Mr. Vancaskerkin." before selecting a chair off to the side.
He summons a lute and lightly plucks it's strings, soft enough as to not interfere with the meeting.
The sight of what he assumed were coin pouches displayed on the desk did improve his mood somewhat, however.
Saul smiles at Tamiro as he snatches the pouch off the desk, much how a mother would smile at a disobedient child.
"Why, yes," he says, "it is payday. After all, I must keep the junior partners well-supplied. The Gold Goblin has been incredibly successful since you have started working for me, and much of it has been due to your hard work. I've included a little something extra in there for each of you. Of course, I can't afford a permanent raise quite yet, as we do have our creditors to pay." Saul lets his gaze rest on Nel for a moment before returning to the rest of the group gathered.
Inside each pouch is the 10 GP expected and agreed-upon pay, an additional 5 gp, and a breath mint.
"But, please, we have more serious matters to discuss. Have you located Larur yet? I do worry ever so much about him. He's not usually one to miss work."
Picking up her glass of wine Nel nods in appreciation. "I except that business will pick up as well. It will be a good distraction for everyone in the city to forget about their problems for a while." Eyeing the small coin purse on the table, Nel takes a small sip of her wine.
"Thank you for the generous bonus Mr. Vancaserkin. I understand how important it is to pay your debts." Offering Saul a pleasant smile, Nel waits a beat before speaking.
"We went to Mr. Smeed's office, but were unsuccessful in finding Larur there. After this meeting the four junior partners and I were going to head out to check his apartment. I will let you know if I find anything after we check his home."
"Excellent, Nel. I trust you did not find any clues at the moneylender's house? Very well, not all leads are fruitful." Saul's smile cracks a little. "If these profits continue, I have a mind to make you full partners! It seems that you're breathing a life to this old box of wood that I never could."
The lioness stalks forward to the table, walking with graceful cross steps. With a quick swipe, she snatches up a bag of payment, looking primarily at Saul, the wolf, the whole time.
"We have not discovered a trail yet, though when we look at the mister Larur's house, we shall find something that vill lead us to whoever hath harmed our kith," Vara purrs as she looks over the coins. She then cooly spins to stand by the door, discretely casting detect poison on the breath mint included in the payment, bowing her head as if in quiet prayer.
Saul starts up at Vara's unusual behavior, then narrows his eyes as she begins casting. "Dearie, are you all right? Do you need a day off?" Saul's brow is knit in worry.
Tamiro raises an eyebrow at Vara's stalking, and shrugs. Popping the mint into his mouth, he grins and raises a glass to Saul, "Thanks boss! We will be sure to track down what happened to Larur!"
Downing the last of the wine, and feeling well after two full servings of alcohol in as many hours, he adjusts his blades, bowing to Saul, "If that is all boss, I will be returning to the floor."
Nel opens her mouth to speak, but stares at Vara's odd behavior. "Uh... Right Vara. We'll see if we can find Larur. Tamiro did you want to stay here or come with to Larur's house?" Placing down her mostly untouched wine glass, Nel picks up her coin purse and nods in appreciation to Saul. "Thank you again for the bonus, Mr. Vancaskerkin and for the drink."
Standing up, and making her way out of the door, Nel turns to everyone. "I'm going to change into my armor, when I'm done I'll be ready to go. You are all more than welcome to follow or stay here."
Realizing she is showing too much, Vara spins looking somewhat pink in the face. "Ah, no mister Saul. I was merely whispering a quiet prayer that we would find our lost friend. Nothing is a'miss." The lioness has vanished and Vara is back to her usual self. "Is there anything else, mister Saul?"
Looking up at Nel, he nods, "Ah. Probably best to go check on his house. Let me get my armor. Wish it had a little time to dry out, but I guess that is wishful thinking."
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Larur Feldin's apartment on King Street is easy enough to find. After all, a flat without a door causes much attention and doesn't simply fade into the scenery. Its door is broken off the hinges and set aside. Through the opening, you can see a rather dirty apartment starting to fill with trash and vermin. A hallway leads further into the building, and the rest is difficult to see in the dark.
It is nighttime, and the street is light with torches. Several women sit gossiping on a stoop nearby, mainly talking about the damage done at the wharves earlier today.
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Mazra's will wait until the others have gathered their pouches, then he will pick up the last one, "Thank you Saul, I will see this is put to good use. But know this, loyalty is better earned than bought."
Mazra will go and dry his clothes out a bit before following Nel and the others to Larur's apartment.
Mazra will approach the ladies on the stoop, and bow to them graciously, "Do any of you know what might have happened over at that apartment?" Mazra will point to Larur's apartment.
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One of the women smiles and says, "I don't ask too many questions around here myself, but during the night my children woke up with a start. I put them back to bed and didn't think much of it. The apartment was broken open this morning. Can't tell more than than, I'm afraid."
Another woman, this one wearing a red scarf, leans in closer and says, "I heard that Pitkya's cousin saw a tall man with nose piercings come by this morning and poke around before leaving. Maybe they were eyebrow piercings, I don't quite know. Quite a mystery! And," she lets out a small laugh, "everyone knows that I love a good mystery!"
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"Who might this cousin of Pitkya be? And where could I find her? Would you know of anyone who might fit that description?" Mazra will pull two gold coins from his pouch belt and holds his hand out to the red scarfed woman, rubbing the coins together between his thumb, and his middle and index fingers.
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A third woman, this one knitting, harrumphs and clicks her needles together louder, saying "Keep your two gold so you can take some nice woman out to dinner sometime. Seina is always going off about this cousin or that distant relation who knows something, and it turns out to be a dud. Besides, last I heard, Pitkya's oldest cousin was 10."
The woman in the red scarf blushes and says, "Well, yes, she is a child still, but she knows much! Her's name's Allyne, and she's under consideration for an apprenticeship at weaponsmith's. Such a bright girl!"
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Never-the-less Mazra will take one Gold coin and place it in the Red Scarfed lady's palm, and drop the other in the knitting woman's yarn, "Ladies! Thank you." He will gently bow, "Good evening to you all."
He will return to the doorway of Larur's Apartment and tell the party that we may want to speak to a young girl named Allyne. She might be found at the weaponsmith's.
Mazra will then look up, 'Cayden make me fleet of foot.'
He will then draw his rapier, and look at the party "Does anyone have a light?"
Vark takes the pouch of payment and leaves the room without another word. He was glad to have something to keep his mind off of Saul's questionable intentions and Sam's less than thrilled reception to his display of affection. Yes, Vark was the first member of the group ready to depart.
Vark tensed up as they discovered the state of affairs at Mr. Feldin's home. He eased somewhat as they conversed with the ladies. As Mazra seemed to be handling the matter, Vark kept quiet.
At Mazra's request for light, Vark begins to rummage through his pack, but then he realized he didn't usually carry any torches in his day-to-day travel. "Um, sorry friend, I don't. Maybe someone else does?"
Vark makes ready to enter the apartment with the others, clutching his spear-flag in both hands.
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The inside of the house has been gutted. In the back room is a man. He's startled to see the party and explains that his house was wiped out by the wave earlier today. He has no money to stay elsewhere now, so he was staying here. Before long, though, a group of gendarmes comes by and grumpily announces that they're taking over the investigation after getting an anonymous tip, forcing the party out and off the job.
Mazra finds the girl, and after a few minutes of talking with her, it becomes quite obvious that she did see someone and that they had facial piercings, though nothing else can really be determined reliably. However, these aren't uncommon in Riddleport; several members of the Gold Goblin staff have them, as well as tattoos and all forms of body modification. She is, however, adorable.
On hearing the report of the events transpiring, Saul sighs and taps his key-hand on the desk. "Well," he grumbles, "looks like we need a new floor manager. Any of you want the job?
Tamiro grunts, "I am happy tossing cheaters."
After that, he makes it clear he wants no part by walking away to return to his floor duties.
Saul's blatant disregard for the well-being of his associates is the last straw. Vark finally breaks out of his gloomy disposition and speaks up, his voice strong and true as only a true veteran of the stage can muster.
Stepping forward into the middle of the discussion, "I understand you to be a practical man, Mr. Saul, sir, but are you to pass off the potential death of one of your employees so brazenly?" Vark glances around to the others before continuing, "I, for one, am certainly not interested in even discussing filling his position, and most likely, forgoing his livelihood until there is a proper investigation into his whereabouts. We have a lead, this man with facial piercings, and although those seem to be quite common in this city, I have the utmost trust in the aptitude of my colleagues."
He looks back at them, a determined look on his face, before turning to face Saul once more, "I guarantee you we will deliver results, we just need a bit more time. We all know you to expect an influx of customers tonight due to the incident at the wharf, so what I propose is that you promote someone to take over Mr. Feldin's duties temporarily for this evening and allow us to continue our investigation in the morning. Sir."
Saul stops tapping his key hand and rub his forehead. "Look," he says with a slight scowl, "Feldin was a great manager. I don't know what's happened to him, you don't know what's happened to him, we don't know if he'll shamble in here tomorrow after sleeping off a night of heavy drink. What I do know is that we need someone to run the floor tonight. Don't worry. If Feldin shows up, he'll get his job back." He looks down for a second, somewhat sheepishly.
"I must also tell you something. Gambling and drink isn't everything that the Gold Goblin supplies. In the basement, we run a fighting ring. Animals, mainly. We'd manage to get a few reefclaws for a show tonight. It's the biggest attraction we've had in some time, which is why it's vital it goes smoothly. Very profitable, but it also directly competes with Clegg Zincher. We try to keep it quiet because of that." Saul sighs and looks at the group. "I'm appointing Nel floor manager, if no one has any complaints. There's a raise, of course, for you, making you get 25 gold a week for as long as you have the position. You'll be a full partner."
"This job exhausts me, and I need good workers to support me. To be honest, I've been looking to retire next year. My hope is to train you all, get you up to snuff, and then leave the business to you. If that works for you, I'd like to make you all full partners in the future."
Vark takes a moment to savor the thought of running the Goblin with his friends, free of Saul's dark dealings and questionable past...
Yes, that would be the life. Just my friends and I enjoying the comforts of running a profitable business.
After his short moment of reverie fades, he perks up at Saul's willingness to compromise, "See, that wasn't so hard now was it? I'm sure Nel is more than capable of handling Feldin's duties until his whereabouts are known, and I'm glad you are willing to give him his job back once we find him."
...And then the rest of Saul's statement sinks in.
"Wait, you run an animal fighting ring in the basement? Do you pit innocent creatures against one another in a fight to the death? That's wrong Saul, and I don't like it. Can't you find more honest means to compete with Zincher?" He looks to Vara, expecting a similar reaction.
"No, no, no. Not to the death! These animals are too expensive for that. We typically rent them out or sell them a few weeks later," Saul shakes his head. "I am glad to hear that we've come to an agreement."
Vara listens to the others speak with Saul with her eyes lowered, fearing her behavior from before may have gotten Gildi in trouble.
When she hears Nel appointed floor manager manager she turns a smile at the other half-elf. However, when Saul mentions the animals in captivity, fighting each other in the basement, she reacts very similarly to Vark. She lets the charismatic gnome lead the charge, simply looking with blazing eyes on Saul, with a hand on a hip.
"So not only do you exchange gold for the lives of wild animals, you make them live in the basement? As a druid Saul, there is no way I am able to allow this..." She trails off, and thinks for a moment, then her expression softens, she looks from Vark to Saul, "I do understand the appeal of watching two beasts fight, as they do in nature- life is a struggle to survive. I have seen a dire wolf locked in battle with a snow leopard, up from a tree... it was an incredible sight, but still." Her distant look befores focused and serious, claps her hands together and looks Saul in the eye, "If this is to continue, I must be allowed to see how the animals are kept and treated between matches. A wolf must be allowed to hunt in the woods, great cats too... I also must be allowed to preside over the fights, to be sure the ring is purified before and after every battle... what animals do you currently have? .... -I am not so concerned for reefclaws."
Offering Saul a forced smile, it takes all of Nel's will power not to scream. Clearing her throat, Nel attempts to find her voice. "Ah, uh. Yes I will accept the position Mr. Vancaskerkin. I suppose you will set aside some time in order for us to go over my new responsibilities?"
Returning Vara's half-smile, with one of her own, Nel listens quietly to Vark and Vara's concerns. "Vara, Varknarnost I am sure that the animals are well taken care of. However, Mr. Vancaskerkin, it does appear that Overlord Cromarcky has taken interest in Mr. Feldin's disappearance. A group of Gendarmes interrupted our search of his apartment. I suggest that we try to keep our heads down, in order to keep attention drawn away from us."
Cracking her knuckles, Nel sighs as she realizes that Vara won't let the matter with the animals drop until she has inspected them. "Mr. Vancaskerkin, is there a way to see the animals at some point tonight? That way, we know exactly what we are dealing with? I'd like to take a hands on approach with my new duties." Flashing a smile at Saul, Nel hopes that her inspection won't bring up anything that will make Vara more upset than she already is about the animal fighting ring.
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Saul smiles and says, "Of course you may see the animals." He hands Nel two keys. "The silver one opens the guard room in the basement. The bronze one opens the secret door in the back of the guard room. I'll be happy to talk to you about the details in private, if you wish."
"Vara, I must tell you that we keep our animals in good conditions. We even keep healing potions on hand in case they are injured. If you do not find the conditions suitable, I'll be happy to consider any suggestions you may have. Of course, Feldin had served to manage the animals, so you are welcome to assist Nel in such a manner."
Saul leads the group down to the basement, showing off the kennel. In the 20 foot by 10 foot room, there are five thin dogs, two incredibly angry monkeys and a massive boar with broken tusks. The monkeys are kept in a 10 foot by 5 foot cage, the dogs huddle in a group in a ten foot by ten foot area, and the boar generally wanders free outside the cages. Straw coats the floor.
"I am sure you keep the animals strong for the fights, or how else would you make coin from them? I am mainly concerned with whether they live with the dignity all nature's creatures deserve..." Vara explains on the way down to the basement. As they group is led down, she thinks, this may be a perfect place to establish sacred grounds... if we could properly sanctify it and create the right... spirit for the fights...
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"Oh, children of wolves," Vara croons at the dogs through the kennel gate. She whistles to them, crouching down to offer a hand.
She glares back at Saul. "They're skinny. Are they eating enough?" She asks fiercely like a mama wolf demanding her pups be fed.
She looks at the monkeys sympathetically, placing a slender hand on their cage door. "Monkeys," she murmurs in amazement. "This is far North for you isn't it? You must be upset; there are no trees to climb down here." She croons to the poor, angry looking monkeys.
"Ropes on the ceiling... an old fallen tree propped up. The monkeys need to be able to climb..." She speaks aloud imagining the place to be made over like an underground jungle.
She looks with approval on the boar's free reign of the lower halls. "He surely has space. That is good. But, is the straw thick enough? Boars love to root around, veist dyou?" She watches the boar for a moment, and muses, surprised, "Not as bad as I feared... but I do have many suggestions... oh look at his poor tusks- how you doing there handsome?-" she suddenly breaks to talk to the boar, then "We could do better for the dignity of the animals. Dogs need walks, need attention and play, and more food. The monkeys need to climb... hmmm... Tomorrow, I would like to hear what they have to say about their home." She meanders to the middle of the room.
"And- I would like to see one of the fights," her eyes are blazing, blue-green fire, "A a struggle between Nature's subjects should not merely be a way to make coin. They must be viewed with an appropriate, ritual reverence." She spins around once in the middle of the ring with her hands spread wide. "The place must also be purified... eventually, hallowed... A place where beasts struggle to survive... even if it is staged, even if men watch..." She trails off in thought, looking at the others to see what they think.
Vara beams at Mazra. "Why of course, dear Mazra! There is so much to do, but it shall take many days... sometime this week we must take a trip to the woods east of the town to find an old fallen tree to salvage.... we need to go shopping for many a rope... for now though, I am concerned about these poor dogs. They look like they need food and fresh air. Do you like dogs? Would you like to take a walk with them, and me?" She smiles again at Mazra, nods and then turns to Saul and Nel.
"Would I have permission to take them out of the cage? Do they have leashes or ropes to lead them by? May I?" She pleads and clasps her hands before her, looking from Nel to Saul and Saul to Nel.
Saul stares at Vara as she works, his brow furrowed and head tilted to one side. "If you want," he says with almost a sigh, "you're welcome to do so. A few guidelines, though. We don't have much money for renovations, nor do we have manpower to aid this. Bojask currently oversees the animals, so you'll have to talk to him before making any permanent changes, but I'm sure he'll be alright with most of your suggestions. If you do wish to take the animals out, be careful that they aren't harmed in anyway and make sure that Clegg Zincher doesn't realize what's going on. We don't need to antagonize him, and he'll definitely see our operation as a threat to his fighting pits."
Saul dusts off his coat and key before abruptly saying, "If that's all for me, I'll be happy to leave things to you. As a note, a few gendarmes visited me earlier today. They mentioned that they were taking over the investigation into Larur's disappearance. While I don't have hope that they'll find much more than you have, I don't recommend crossing them. The Overlord's men are notoriously short-tempered and don't like others stepping on their toes."
Tamiro patrols the floor until he notices that everyone returns. Coming over to Nel he grins, "Watashi wa dōbutsu no tatakai ni tsuite kiita. Doko de kake o oku koto ga dekimasu ka?"
"Oh I have been aching to see a good fight!"
Seeing that Vara has the animal situation handled, he keeps quiet, his thoughts turned inward at the prospect of visiting the arena to speak with Zincher.
As Vark notices that everyone else is busy, he takes the opportunity to slip out for a bit, hoping his absence will go unnoticed.
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The very next day after the above event, Mazra will change up one of his Orisons.
Mazra will daily aid Vara with the animals, helping to feed, heal, and generalLY take care of them; along with trips to the nearby woods. He will also make the best of the situation, helping to promote the Golden Goblin in the best ways he knows.
Day One
Spread the word:
Greeting:
Day Two
Spread the word:
Greeting:
Day Three
Spread the word:
Greeting:
Day Four
Spread the word:
Greeting:
Day Five
Spread the word:
Greeting:
Day Six
Spread the word:
Greeting:
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6:
Day 7:
Vara listens to Saul's concerns and nods her understanding. She beams at the permission. "Any animal will be safe with me, and any major renovations I make, I shall pay for with my own coin. There is nothing too big I have in mind- though with Mazra to help me, if Bojask wouldn't mind lending an extra hand from time to time, we should be able to get everything done. I will take only one or two dogs out at a time. Dogs by themselves should not arouse a good deal of suspicion."
Back upstairs, she grins at Tamiro's excitement about the fight. "I shall be greater than any normal pit fight... the audience shall understand and revere the full splendor of Nature..." Then turns to Mazra, pacing about the floor, thinking aloud. "If the dogs are not regularly walked, then they likely don't have leashes. We shall have to fashion some!" Vara seeks the help of someone to teach her how to craft a leash.
After the conversation, she takes a moment to check on Gildi, to be sure she is well.
Day 1:
Spells prepared: speak with animals, x 3. She speaks to the dogs, the boar and the monkeys. She asks each animal, "How do you feel? Are you happy? Are the humans here nice to you? What do you want?"
She takes the dogs for walks with the new leash, and buys about 200 ft. of rope. (20 gp), about five pitons and a hammer. She also buys extra food for the dogs.
Day 2:
Spells prepared: speak with animals, x 3. Continues to build rapport with the animals. Tells the monkeys, they'll be able to climb around soon!
She takes the dogs for walks again.
She begins fastening the rope to the ceiling to basically make a rope way to the monkeys. The rope trail all over the top part of the basement so the monkeys might freely climb around all over it.
Day 3:
Spells: Default, in Character Sheet. Vara travels out to the forest with Mazra. She seeks out a fallen tree, a smallish one, to drag back into town. She pays a gold to any fellow staff member who comes with her to help drag it in. She cleans the tree and sets it up in the monkey's kennel for them to climb on.
Day 4:
Spells: speak with animals, x 3.
After a long day of massage and kitchen work, Vara takes a break- drinks some ale, takes a long bath, and meditates on the roof the Goblin. She checks on Gildi and spends some quality time with her.
She takes some time during the day to ask the monkeys what they think of their tree, and to ask Bojask if he could get just a little more straw, but takes no more than about 20 minutes doing this.
Day 5:
She takes the dogs for walks again, she spent time with the animals today, so she takes it easy, though she checks on the rope structures and tree to make sure everything is going smoothly.
Day 6:
Spells: speak with animals, x 3.
Another trip to the forest, though only to gather leaves and sticks to give a greener, woodsier environment to the place below. She speaks to the animals again, and asks Bojask if he can cut a monkey door atop the monkey kennel door for them to come and go as they please.
She takes the dogs for a short walk! One gets to go to the forest. She tries to develop a rapport with some forest animals as well.
Day 7:
Default spells, though replacing fang with one speak with animals to check in on the beasts. She takes her free time to rest today. It has been a long week, time to take it easy!
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Several times during the work, Bojask disappears for long periods of time, stating that's going to visit the vineyard. When he returns, he's drunker than before and reeks of a strange smell.
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The next week is relatively quiet. Saul lavishes praise on Nel and Vara for the smooth running of the ship. He mentions several times that he's excited, for once, to be considering retirement, and offers to train any of the party on any part of his day-to-day operating. Please make 7 days worth of work checks, for a total for 14 roles, if you haven't already. In addition, please mention your character's normal habits after the Gold Goblin closes.
Samiritha tells Nel and Vark that she loves working for the Gold Goblin, but still hopes that one day she'll find a cyphermage to take her on as an apprentice. While she does not go as far as asking for any sort of word or recommendation, she does seek their blessing and understanding if she must leave.
On Toilday, rumor comes that a large flock of seagulls came out of nowhere - just up appeared from the sea in a great spiral. After a few minuters, after they were joined by the seagulls normally on shore or nesting, the entire flock crashed into the Cyphergate. The few seagulls that remained immediately flew out to sea. That night, and over the next few days, hundreds of bird carcesses wash up on shore. The entire southern half of the city reeks of death and decay, and most of the gendarmes busy themselves with basic cleaning.
This morning, a brief tremblor shook the city, though there appeared to be no structural damage. Around midday, Saul gathered everyone into the foyer of the Gold Goblin, before excitedly saying. "I have a shipment waiting down for me at the docks, but you must hurry and retrieve it. There's four casks of exotic liquors that I had planned on serving at the tournament, but storms delayed the shipment these past two weeks. Please, go retrieve it before word gets out that it's in port, as I'm sure the other crimelords, even the Overlord himself, would want to claim that shipment as their own!"
Also, the first time the vineyard incident occurs, she mentions it to Nel and discusses it with Mazra.
Vara works very hard most days. Still, she is sure to check on Gildi every evening as things wind down. When she has more time, she watches the woman work on her embroidery, hoping to learn a little by watching.
Otherwise, after a long day's work, she occasionally treats herself to an ale, and then every evening she is sure to bathe, and shortly afterwards, collapses into her bed and falls fast asleep for the night.
She is as horrified as one would expect by the sight of the massive bird die offs, even shedding silent tears. During the day of the shipment, she goes with the party to collect the exotic liquors.