"Well, I've heard the stories like everyone else - smart gorillas that can talk, hold a sword, march like soldiers. All dressing up in leaves and dancing around idols of their dark god - that Angie-wotsit. Who's to say it isn't true? Seen stranger things floating in the river."
"Look, it's been a pleasure, but word of the, uh, change of ownership here is going to spread fairly quickly, and probably attract some curiousity, and I'm guessing you folks don't want to be here when it does."
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"Well, we do have a contract with Raimondo Scevola to move some supplies so we should get out of your hair. Can you point us in the right direction and perhaps point us at someone who can help us round up the supplies needed? We need about 2 tons. If not, we have been given a potential supplier, but I thought since we were helpful to you, you might be helpful to us? And a little competition always helps when haggling."
Wright holds up his hands. "Hey, I'm a businessman - any situation that could be, um, mutually profitable, then off course I'm in. Now Raimondo Scevola I know - well at least by reputation. He's as honest a man as you'll find in this town. But he's got a weakness for the gaming table - barely keeps one step ahead of his creditors. You'll find him at the floating poker game at the Wagoner's Guildhouse. He hates the Aspis, 'cos they screwed him over and he lost his business."
"Yeah, the Consortium don't really deal in that sort of bulk, low profit stuff. House Cartahegn is the place to go in town for that sort of stuff. They fill in the gaps that the Consortium can't be bothered with. They have a warehouse on the dockfront."
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Kit's eyes light up. She has spent many an enjoyable evenings near various games of chance.
"I think a trip to the guild house is in order! Sharp eyes, fast hands, and keen minds can always find a profitable venture at such places, as long as the gambling is kept to a minimum and your nose is kept shortened. "
An apropos statement from a Kitsune if you ever heard one.
Almost as an afterthought she adds, "Besides, our future friend Scevola may need a little help if he is in deep with a gambling racket."
Borax, not forgetting some obligation to his faction,
"I was lead to believe that Ichon may have come into possession of a rare or unique manuscript. If not, are there any such texts you know of?"
[Dice=Bluff (T10)]10+13+1d6
Wright shrugs. "Can't say she was a big reader. I've seen kids who could write better, too."
Nothing else of interest.
Back at The Alchemist
Senzer is extremely grateful to the group when he hears their tale. He carefully takes the cure, and decants it into two clean bottles. "One of these should help my son recover from his immedite symptoms," he says, "while I should be able to synthesize a formulae from the rest. I am grateful beyond words to you, and to the Society for looking out for me. I assure you of my best intentions in the future."
He looks uncomfortable for a moment, and gestures towards the back room, where Ichon's thugs are tied up.
"Umm, what about them?"
Meanwhile, Giggles jumps up excitedly at Jazmine and licks her face.
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"They are not a problem any longer. There has been a change of management at the Pit. Just let them go now."
"We need to get moving though. The society sent us here with two missions, yours being the first. But there is a team out there in the jungle at a site that desperately needs supplies and support. Any delays will probably mean lives. Our next task is to collect supplies and escort a caravan to the site and make sure it gets there unmolested."
"I don't know if you can help, but we were told we could get supplies from the House Cartahegn and that our caravan would be put together by one Raimondo Scevola. This Scevola fellow does not give me warm fuzzies though. Gamblers are notoriously unreliable. So our first task will be to make sure all is in order on his side before we collect any supplies. A little 'bad luck' could complicate the whole process more than luck usually does. So is there anything we should know about either Scevola or the House Cartahegn, or do you have any contacts we could use?".
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Jazmine gratefully gives Giggles the rub down she deserves in greeting before turning any attention whatsoever to any other sentient being. "Those thugs will not be a concern for anyone anymore. It seems the new management intends to be a bit more "upscale" than the previous regime, and may even be a workable contact for us and for other Pathfinders." Jazmine contributes.
The humid stink of Bloodcove mingles with the reek of sweat and the sickly-sweet odor of tropical plants and exotic tobaccos.
The foyer of the guild house looks more like a tavern than a place of business, with tables carved from dark jungle woods and overstuffed cushions. Older men and women mingle or brood over their drinks, while strapping young toughs claim the area around the cold hearth.
Across the room, a swarthy, moustachioed man bellows in anger. He sweeps an arm across the tabletop shared with a red-cheeked, bald companion, spilling drinks and playing cards onto the carpet. “You bashterd,” he drunkenly shrieks, “You scheating bashterd, Elanzo! I need thoshe animalsh! I have a client whoshe paid fer my caravan!”
His companion wrings the remains of his drink out of his shirt.
“No one cares, Scevola. Those were the stakes, and your horses will be chow for my men before we set sail in the morning!”
“You shlipped shomethin in mah drink! You’re taking my horshesh over mah dead body!”
Elanzo simply shrugs at this and snaps his fingers. The large brutes gathered by the hearth stand up and begin moving toward the pair.
The three toughs at the middle table turn to look at the new arrivals. "Nothing to see here, folks" intones one. "Just a gentle disagreement between friends. Move along. You too Miss" - this to Kitoro as she inexpertly tries to sidle past. "Bar's over there."
"I'm not hish friend." wails Scevola. "He'sh a cheat - he schlipped somethin' inta mah drink!"
"Scevola, don't make a scene" sighs the bald man. "You lost. You're into me for three hundred. I'm taking those horses in payment. Don't make me take 'em by force."
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"Well. Perhaps we should check out his allegations. Anyone here able to check for drugs in his drink? We do have a cleric with us. If the drink IS drugged, then I think your clientele should know about it"
With that she acts out a mini mob scene using poor Kane, as usual, as a prop, complete with finger puppets and knives.
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Kitoro's outburst is all the queue Borax needs,
Clearing his throat, "Ahem, I am an alchemist. I would be happy to get prove that honorable Elanzo has done no such thing (for a small fee of course). In fact, with Elanzo's honor at stake, I am a certain he would return this blubbering idiot's entire stake should I find any alchemical agents at play."
Borax smiles smugly at Elanzo as if to suggest he stands by the man.
Borax moves to the table against the wall and sits down.
The bald man bristles. "Look, I don't know you guys, but how about you keep your noses out of my business? You got some complaints about the drinks, take it to the management. Scevola lost to me, he owes me, and he can't pay, so I'm gonna take his horses."
Balomar steps forward, exuding calm authority. "Horses are poor payment for a debt. Wouldn't you rather have coin? How about we come to an agreement to settle his debt?"
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It's Kits turn to bristle.
"Not until that drink is checked. If it turns out that is is not drugged then we can discuss payment, otherwise there is going to be trouble."
With that Kit makes a subtle gesture and Kane falls dead, pierced with a 3 inch blade through the heart, an obviously well practiced shtick.
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"Considering that we have business ourselves with Mr. Scevola, the outcome of your situation does concern us sir. I would not worrk with a man that does not pay his debts, butt neither would we choose to do business with a cheat. I would suggest that you allow our alchemist to prove one way or another what is going on. That is, unless you have something to hide, sir?"
With a deliberate dramatic move of his arm, Elanzo sweeps the glasses and bottle off the table, causing them to crash in pieces on the wooden floor.
"You want to go poking around in the trash - feel free. Now, I heard the big guy here" - gesturing at Balomar - "offer to settle Scevola's debt. That I like. Then I heard the rest of you making accusations. That I don't like. So if the big man or any of the rest of you want to talk cash, then we can negotiate and Scevola can keep his horses until the next time he loses at cards. Otherwise, I'm takin' them horses, and if any of you try to interfere, I'll get my men here to remove you from my face."
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Kit gives him an incredulous look.
I hate cheats.
"You actually think you can threaten us with your two-bit thugs? I'd like to see you try. As far as I'm concerned you just admitted your guilt when you tried to destroy the evidence. So, I have a counter offer. You make good on the money you've stolen from poor Scevola over the years."
Her words are infused with magic and inspire courage (+1/+1 morale bonus to combat).
Kit unlimbers her whip and smiles at him prettily. Kane makes for the safest hole he can find.
Since I already rolled intimidate I won't bother again unless you ask. If you do ask I'd prefer to take 10 for 19.
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Borax does not seem ready to give up on outsmarting his adversary, though he feels combat may be inevitable.
"Please, please, let us not resort to violence. If Captain Elanzo said he didn't cheat, then he must be telling the truth. In fact, I have a wand of Detect Lies that will prove the good Captain's innocence. I'm sure the Captain has no objection? I should point out that when a person lies, he turns yellow under this spell."
Borax pulls out his wand of Silent Image and pauses to let the idea sink in.
"Of course a man of his stature and reputation might rather wash his hands of the whole silly affair and clear his name of an impropriety. Either way, I am happy to employ the wand???"
Borax raises the wand waits for a signal from Elanzo.
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"Be calm, child. Just tell the truth. You don't want to lie before the Sarenrae" - Kyra shows Elanzo her Holy Symbol.
She then speaks few words in praying and her hands begin to glow with divine energy
"Sarenrae sees and hears everything, but she's merciful and so are we. We'll forgive you in case you are lying for threats are useless and violence is unnecessary."
Elanzo stands, a studied bored expression on his face. "I won't blaspheme the gods with lies, priestess. Scevola lost on a fair turn of the cards. The stakes were his horses against my ship. He bluffed a big hand he didn't have, and I called him on it. True or not, Scevola?"
"Well, yesh, but..l." begins Scaevola.
"See? Now unless you would like to make me an offer for Scevola's debt, I think we are done here."
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"It would be unwise to lie in this situation, Captain Elanzo. We will uncover the truth, for the god's demand it. But lying leads to conflict... and conflict, well, it leads to pain & death. I prefer not to cause either. So, let us speak the truth like civilized men, and not take up arms against each other."
Elanzo spreads his hands. "You know what - to the hells with this. Let him keep his mangy horses. He's so bad at cards that I'll win them again the moment you guys turn your back. Come on guys."
He motions to his crew, and heads for the door. "Just don't walk alone on the docks at night. That's all I'm saying."
Scavola watches Elanzo go, and then turns to the group in awe. "Thanksh. I need them horshes cosh I got a contract for the Path... I mean, shome group from out of town. But I can rewards you, yeah. Shee, I got this sscheme, can't fail, to win shome money. I jusht need you guysh to shpot me a little cash upfront..."
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Jazmine and Giggles watch the thugs push their way out of the tavern and into the street before she pulls up a chair near Scavola. Disinterestedly, she says in a wry voice. "Well. Not only are you a bad gambler, you are bad at keeping secrets. Luckily, we are not ones you have to watch out for. We are here to collect on your errand involving those "horshes", if you know what I mean."