The package contains a vial with a note inside.
Content to let the others handle the chitchat, and suspicious by nature, Lirianne browses the shop, using what little she remembers of curative alchemy - she's more familiar with the explosive kind - to gauge whether healing is truly the gnome's focus.
Lirianne investigates the potions and oils displayed in the shop - to her is all looks like genuine healing.
The light breeze blowing down from the Lake of Mists and Veils is barely enough to keep the air breathable in the Fleshward. The stink of so many bodies in packed living conditions combined with the poor drainage making for a pungent stew. While market stalls and storefronts still crowd the streets here as in the rest of the city, the clientele are of a noticeably rougher cut. Small scuffles sometimes create small pockets in the press of bodies, which the locals rarely pay a second glance—as if these altercations were part of everyday haggling.
It's not long before the party notices a particular altercation. Several ruffians encircle a dwarf and physically jostle him between them. The dwarf is young, just barely out of adolescence.
The situation is quickly escalating and could turn especially violent unless someone intervenes.
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Elindriel strides forward as well, taking Svetlana's cue.
"Gentlemen, if you really must fight someone, let's at least make it fair. Surely, strong, sure men such as yourselves wouldn't be averse to taking on a couple of women, would you?" She rests her hand on the hilt of her falcata, making sure the assembled crowd sees it.
The intimidating presence of the Hellknight and Duelist is sufficient to drive the ruffians straight off. The dwarf is thankful, and introduces himself as Andar Jor. I'm just here for spreading the word, and inviting new customer to the Silver Lining. You look like you travelled far! Do you travel around a lot? I bet you have exciting tales of far away lands, and perilous adventures! Tell me, is it true that there are dragons in the Taldan woods?
Yes, I am. Her nephew, that's me.
"Come, Andar, and show us the way to the Silver Lining. We are new to the city and could use your expertise and experience to find our way! On the way we can answer each others' questions!" Hagnar says to the young dwarf.
I'll take you there, of course, it's the least I could do. Also, adventurers such as you have great stories to tell, and great stories attract more guests! C'mon, there must be something you'd want to share? Large dragons? Mighty mages? Powerful priests?
---
The dockside area of the Fleshward is littered with seedy inns and rundown taverns, catering to city’s rough, downtrodden, and undesirables. The Silver Lining stands out as a cut above these other establishments. Not one of its windows is broken, its door sits square on well-fitted hinges, and its front sign proudly displays a fresh coat of paint. The patrons within are a quiet lot, mostly dwarves, and a few humans. A dwarven woman tends bar, where she does a brisk business in porters and stouts. She eyes the party suspiciously - it's not common that unknown folk walk in...
"Word is, this is the best place for dwarven stout this side of the Tusks," Lirianne comments as she finds herself a stool at the bar. Placing a small handful of silver coins on the bar, she orders, "a round for me, my companions here, and my new friends," gesturing to include the rest of the patrons in the latter group.
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"Tales of Demons, Devils, and the things that go bump in the night" Svetlana adds to the young dwarf's excitement.
***
Svetlana notes Liriane beginning the carousing, but stays strictly business for the time being "Ingret Jor? Your young fellow Andar was fighting with thugs in the street - he is mostly unharmed - a nice boy you have there" she remarks.
Her eye raises to Andar to tell her what had taken place.
Hagnar tells of his latest adventures - tales of an undead sphinx and a crystal that opened a portal to another realm, and of a sunken tower containing trials and riches beyond imagining...
***
At the Silver Lining Hagnar orders a porter and looks around, getting a sense of the mood and if anything seemed out of the ordinary...
These guys saved me from a couple of thugs on the street, they did. They're adventurers, they are, that one told me all kinds of exciting stories. Undead sphinxes, portals and drowned towers...
Well well, Ingret says, acting friendly but on her toes, and tell me, what brings a group of adventurers to this exciting town, not without a hint of sarcasm.
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Svetlana removes her helmet and looks out the window, making a sweeping gesture with her hand..."Each tide brings adventurers to this fair town, often bound for the Worldwound - but with what welcome are they met? Extravagant prices, outrageous opportunism, and the abandonment of free and fair trade. What brings us here is business first and foremost, and as Desna would have it - we came across your young fellow being abused by ruffians in the street without any intervention by passerby nor the local constables - the town might be exciting, but leaves a bit to be desired in how it is run and who keeps order"
"Order and trade are important to the preservation of a just society, and family... one must never forget family"
Well, lucky you passed by then. I'll not forget your service. Any thing I can get you to drink?
Jormundun stout it is. the woman says as she fills a tankard.
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Elindriel leans in to Ingret. "We met a little while ago with another of your acquaintances, runs an alchemy shop? Well, he trusted us enough to give us some warning about some folks that technically might have taken an interest in you."
She pauses to make sure that she has Ingret's attention, then continues, "We represent an organization that would be very interested in retrieving a particular item that you have been rumored to have in your possession; a fragment that certain other people might be quite interested in as well. These others would not be the sort to have your friends vouching for them, nor are they the type to worry about the safety of you or your loved ones."
She makes eye contact with Ingret, hoping to show the dwarf that she is trustworthy, not hiding behind lies or diverting her gaze. "So, I ask you, would you be willing to help us in locating this object?"
Hagnar continues regaling the young dwarf with tales of his adventures, and even asks if he has any interest in exploring...
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Diplomacy
Svetlana just gets to the point with the dwarven woman "I'll speak plainly too, out of respect. I was there when the Halls of Jormurdun opened after an age, I learned the Secrets of Creation, great texts on crafting weapons and armour and the power to draw magic into them, dwarven magics that helped them forge an empire - would you like to see?"
Hagnar hopes his talk with the younger dwarf wins over the elder...
Lirianne holds her tongue, aware that she's likely to make things worse, not better, if she tries to charm the dwarf.
“Fine! Fine! I’ll tell you!” Ingret grumpily exclaims. “Just give me a moment to clear out the bar.” She puts her fingers to her mouth and blows a shrill whistle to get her patrons’ attention. “Out!” she barks. In moments, the tavern is empty of all other souls. Ingret looks around meaningfully, and after a long pause she reaches under the bar and comes up with a small chest. With a key from under her apron, she unlocks the chest, removes the contents—a small, worn, leather-bound journal—and hands it over.
“There it is,” she says. “It’s my great-grandpapa’s journal. He went looking for the heirloom that came from Jormurdun, carried here by our honored ancestor Prince Toggrim. I remember as a child sitting on great-grandpapa’s lap hearing him spin tales about going down to that ruin to see with his own eyes where our Toggrim hid that piece of the Sky Key. It’s all there in that journal. A map’s there, too, I think.”
The front door of the Silver Lining suddenly explodes inward in a blast of concussive force. From outside the cloud of dust and splinters, a thin, nasally voice calls out, “Jor! Jor! I know you’re in there. The League is done playing games. Surrender your secrets or die with them!”
---
Ceobryrn
Lirianne
Svetlana
Ennoia
Elindriel
Hagnar
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???
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Hagnar retrieves two vials from his pouch and drinks one after the other, belching loudly after he finishes!
Still holding her drink in her left hand, Lirianne's right hand darts to her hip, drawing her pistol and - without turning to look - firing behind her at the figure in the doorway.
She then downs the rest of the stout, slams the cup on the bar, and steps back.