Biggs agrees that the Wharf District is the most logical place to start. In the morning, he will spend several minutes in quiet prayer to Torag, and then try to grab a quick breakfast before gathering his gear and heading out with the mage.
"A dwarf's gotta eat I tell ya! Even the mighty Torag had a hearty breakfast every mornin'"
Arriving in the wharf district, Biggs will detect evil, hoping to find some less than reputable character that he could get some information from. He will scan any citizens faces, trying to recognize them or see if they act suspicious upon seeing him.
Biggs almost goes blind there is evil everywhere in the wharf district. Nothing overpowering but just all over.
Anezka is able to discover thAt there is a halfling that lives in the wharf that supposedly deals in information. But that information always cones with a price.
"I may have found something!" - Anežka tells her dwarven companion excitedly - "Word on the streets is there's someone that might actually know something about the robbery..." - She looks around for a moment, to make sure no one is eavesdropping - "A halfling, living here in the Wharf. I couldn't get any details, but it seems information is his specialty, and the more sordid it is, the more he knows! Of course, he'll ask for payment..."
Anežka looks at her friend, unsure - "What do you think? Should we try and speak with him?"
Biggs furrows his brow, his head flooded with the amount of evil residing in this neighborhood.
"Hmm... Aye, I reckon we best pay this halfling a visit. I have no qualms about greasing his mits with some gold. This is truly a rough neighborhood, and even the blessings of Torag are of no use in finding these thugs here... Perhaps the mighty lord of the forge wishes us to delve deeper into this. Lead on pretty Anezka, I have no bearing here!"
Anezka finds out that there is corner that the halfling pan handles on, but if you drop 5 gold into her cup she will listen, but May or may not answer
Biggs will put 10 gold into her cup and then wait for his companion to explain what they are looking for. He has decided she is a much smoother talker than he, and that Torag rewards those who know when to stay silent and be patient like a stone.
After finding their target, Anežka watches as Biggs puts a generous amount of money in the woman's cup, then after a moment of uncertainty, she speaks up.
"I... Er... Hello, friend. We might be in need of your... Talents" - Anežka looks the halfling up and down, trying to discern her reaction, then goes on lowering her voice to little more than a whisper - "There was a robbery, yesterday, at the Golden Goblin. A man and a woman managed to escaped with the prize chest... Would you happen to know anything about their possible whereabouts?"
Anežka almost holds her breath while she waits for the halfling's response.
As soon as Biggs drops in the coin, she looks up, and looks closely at you both. Then she smiles wide.
I'm listening.
As Anezka whispers her smile grows. Might be I could help,might not. What is in it for me?
Biggs tugs on one of the several rings in his beard and pipes up:
"By my mighty shaft, I swear no harm will befall you, halfling. The rage of the gods will come swiftly like a hammer of justice. Those responsible for this theft, destruction, and utter disregard or respect for life shall meet their reward. If you cannot help us, I cannot promise you will be spared..."
Anežka seems caught off guard for a second, as she tries to envision what a suitable reward for the halfling could be.
"The thieves stole a sizeable amount of money..." - She says tentatively, measuring her words - "Help us find them, and when we recover the money, you'll get your cut."
The halfling laughs heartily at Biggs. I am tempted to help you simply for that laugh Dwarf.
She listens to Anezka closely. How much was stolen? And how much of a cut are you offering?
Anežka fidgets a bit, uncomfortable about revealing to the woman exactly how much was stolen, but afraid that trying to be vague or evasive would just end up doing more harm than good.
"... Ten thousand silvers. The thieves stole a chest with ten thousand silvers in it. And the longer we wait, the harder it'll be to get it all back. If you can help us, then tell us how much do you want. Please, time is of the essence!"
I want 15% for my information. Up front. And you never spoke with me.
Anežka narrows her eyes - "That's quite a lot to ask. You'll have your money when we get the chest back. If your information is good, then you have nothing to worry about."
Unless you die getting it, or someone sees you with me after. Nope. 15% up front.
just the one needed.
I tell you what pretty one. 10% up front, and you can leave the last 5% under a bucket overturned on the corner just across the way there. Final offer, take it or leave it.
She points across the street to another corner , plainly in sight of where she is now.
Biggs sighs, knowing that his companion does not have any money to spare.
"100 gold is a steep price to pay for information. What is it that makes your knowledge so valuable? Surely we could find out more about this ourselves, and you won't gain a single copper an have to spend your nights laying awake and wondering if those noises you hear are the rhythmic blows of torags forge as he smiths a fine blade with which to take your head. Good day"
Dwarf, if you could find the info you needed on your own you would not be talking to me now would you? If is up to you. And if that is what is considered a threat where you come from you really should get out a bit more.
Noticing the woman make a strange gesture, Anežka turns her head to look around, trying to be discreet. When she realizes the danger they could end up into if the situation isn't defused, she tries her best to calm down the halfling. "Please, please! No one is threatening anyone. We thank you for your time, and we'll think about your offer. If we decide to accept, we'll return within the day with the money, otherwise we won't bother you again. We'll take our leave now. Goodbye!"
Alright sweetie. I will be here. But the offer is only good for 24 hours, after that, 15% up front. She smiles as if not a care in the world.
Biggs will follow Anezka and recieve her news with a stoic expression, not wanting to seem nervous.
"well lass, I have the gold to pay this halfling, but it would be near half of my savings. Do you suppose we have any other choice here?"
"Unfortunately no, I don't think so" - Anežka sighs sadly - "We've been asking around for hours, and she's the only lead we could get. Also, we don't really know the city, and time is against us... However..." - she adds slowly, a mischievous grin curving her lips - "I don't see why we should be the ones to pay for the information. I mean, it's not our prize chest that went missing, we are just Saul's partners! And this is clearly a... Shall we say work expense? It would be only fair for him to finance us, we are taking all the risks after all!" - Anežka looks up at the sun, then back down at Biggs again - "We still have time. We could get back to the Goblin, tell Saul what we found, and ask him for the money... So, my friend, what do you think, shall we go back?"
Anezka and Biggs wander back into the Goblin and they find that Saul is busy, he is actively hiring more staff, he sees you come in and he smiles.
What can I do for you two? Your other friend wandered off, but her help was greatly appreciated.
"well... We found a lead on the stolen silver, and the whereabouts of the thieves, but it would seem that information is going to cost about 150 gold..."
Anežka nods as Biggs summarizes the situation to Saul. "That's the only lead we have I'm afraid. If we don't pay, we could keep trying to track the thieves down on our own, but I don't think that'd do us any good" - she sighs, shaking her head, then looks Saul firmly in the eye - "I know it's a considerable sum, but have faith in us! Give us the 150 gold pieces and I promise we'll get to those thugs and take back what was stolen!"
just let it go. I suspect the money is long gone and paying for the info will just be more of a loss. I appreciate the effort but I fearless we are searching in vain.
All the enthusiasm suddenly leaves Anežka when she hears Saul's response.
"But... We have a real chance at getting the money back! And to find out who those thieves were, maybe even find out if they work for someone else. It would be a shame not to give it a try..."
I just think you are wasting time and money. I will kick in 50, and if you come back with it, we split it 3 ways. Understand I am only doing this because I believe in your future.
"well, unless you have more pressing matters you would like us to attend to, I believe I would be in your business's best interest to not let that amount of gold slip by, and at the very least bit make yourself look weak by not doing anything about it... I think we shall continue our investigation. I shall put up the other 100 gold myself. Come on, Anezka, let's track down that halfling again!"
hmm... Odd of him to so easily give up in all that money... What's his game?
Anguar and Thuavia are your ringleaders. The halfling says after pocketing the 150 They spent a night on the wharf waiting for someone who never showed up. Where they are now I can't say. Rotgut district perhaps, maybe the arena, both good places to spend some coin.
"Now that we have their names, it'll be much easier to track them down!" - Anežka smirks mischievously - "Uhmm... Someone didn't show up for a meeting with them? Well, well... This could mean they still have the chest after all. Furthermore, they don't know we are coming. If we act quickly, we may be able to catch them by surprise!"
Her eyes gleaming with anticipation, Anežka turns toward Biggs - "Well, what do you say master dwarf, should we try our luck in the Rotgut district first?"
Anezka manages to learn that the two of them had been spending a bit of money lately, mostly making bets at the arena
Biggs and Anezka make there way through the Wharf district, which is dominated by the massive arena. The scuttlebutt is that all kinds of contest occur, though the most exciting are official duels between the cities elite, though that rarely happens since poison is much faster.
There is an entrance fee of 2 silver per person to enter.
Anežka pays the entrance fee and gets inside, then looks around for a moment, trying to orientate herself.
Biggs is all about heading to the arena and finding these two bastards! He will let Anezka do the talking, and calmly stand behind her during any conversation, keeping his hand upon his hammer.
He will casually detect evil and magic, as is his custom, and take a look about.
He will also pay the entrance fee for himself an anezka.
All good . Really just want 2 per day when in rp mode. As long as someone takes the lead it's ok. As we get further I will have abetter idea of how to bot.