Aznive
Rimble
Abaal
Ashara
Nemesis
The party somewhat splits up, perusing the stalls of the market and asking questions of the vendors with a variety of responses...
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Aznive shoots Ashara a look, eyebrows high and the corners of her mouth low, in a quizzical gesture. Right. Any ideas on how to handle this?
"I'm sorry to hear that you've fallen on hard times, ma'am," aznive says to the Tengu in the gravelly voice of her baker's disguise. She doesn't give up that easily, though. She pulls some silver coins from her pouch and offers them to the woman. "You were a ship's captain, you say? Did you sail the open seas, or the lake down here? You must have seen a lot of the area, if you did..."
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"'Gentlemen?'" Abaal muses thinking of the Aasimar woman disguised as a tiefling pirate next to him. Maybe his eyes are not so good. He looks over the wares absently wondering if any of the concoctions the man is offering are worth the purchase price.
"Hmm? They seem a bit pricy for just one blow. Almost seems worth it just to buy a blade made of mithril. Certainly it would be less expensive in the long run."
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Despite being undercover Ashara has a soft heart and so she nods at Aznive and moves near the birdlike humanoid:"You get your coin if you let us help you. I can see you have not been well. Maybe I can do something more than just giving you coin. By itself that has never healed anyone, you know, but a pair of skilled hands and a keen mind have, so let me check you out and then you'll get your coin. You are lucky by the way, it usually works the other way around..." chuckles Ashara as she starts examining the tengu "captain".
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"Yes, I suppose I could pay in you in slaves. Do you have change for a gnome? How much for a slightly used halfling?"
Abaal sighs heavily seeing how well his negotiations are going. Really he would prefer a straight up fight. He looks about for witnesses....
If he doesn't see anyone about he draws his long curved knife and steps closer to the man. "Tell me alchemist, in your expert opinion, what unction or humor would you suggest we bathe this blade in?" Abaal says in a threatening tone.
"I'm looking for someone...."
If there are prying eyes, he stalks out and looks for the short fellows, knowing that by now they will have found someone or something for him to pound the information out of.
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"Thank you, my friend, that's useful information indeed! As for your affliction. There's nom uch I can do for you besides what I did. The only person who can save you is yourself. You consumed a great deal of drugs. Drugs that poisoned you I might add. If you keep doing that I fear you won't be long for this world. Muster some willpower and you can still live a long life. Anyway, the choice is entirely yours" says Ashara while leaving the Tengu.
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Aznive smiles warmly at Ashara, quite at odd with her stodgy form. "You handled that very well, I think. It takes a kind soul, to want to help people who are so deep on trouble." Checking that no one else is close enough to overhear, she continues. "So, what do you thin? Aspis checkpoints could be a problem, so we'll need a really good story to be down there. Word of the attack has gotten 'round, but that's no surprise. That 'traitor' think worries me. Could that be about our informant, I wonder?"
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Ashara smiles at Aznive:"Thank you, you did well yourself, I just hope he finds in himself the strength to break his addiction. I would do more, but here and now I'll just end jeopardizing our mission"
While walking the oracle whispers back:"Check points might be aproblem. I suppose we could try to convince them to let us pass under pretension of being shady merchants but then we'll need to be extremely careful once walking among the serpents. Anyway... there's something else that bothered me: our friend mentioned a traitor from the lodge? If that's true it would change everything. Approaching disguised as merchants would become too risky. What if this traitor knew about our mission and sold us out? On the other hand, confirming the traitor's identity would become a priority"
The man feels Abaals knife shift, its point giving him the closest shave of his life. Before it can go any deeper, he squeezes out "If you are looking for someone, a good place to start would be Odemi.. she knows all the hidden nooks and crannies. She will lead you right to where you belong.."
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"If you're trying to blend in, you aren't doing a good job. Your clothing is all wrong, and your attitude lacks any respect. You aren't going to get a deal down here.. just killed."
"I know! But do you think I can find a decent embroidered, taffeta shirt down here!" Abaal complains, idly waving his knife around. "I was thinking a midnight blue blouse--tasseled buttons, and matching sirwal to go with the cloak and keffiyeh. Maybe a pair of pullover thawbs one black one white you know so I can make two outfits out of it. I'd like to pick up a white, cotton-wool shemagh for the desert too."
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"That's a troubling thought indeed," Aznive says as she adopts a slouching walk for a few paces, trying to decide whether it fits with her chosen form. "It's a shame the woman was so addled. Or maybe lucky, because we can be pretty sure she's not a spy herself. Regardless, the though of someone within the Lodge turned traitor is worrisome. The opposite as well. What it they know that this "Three Rings" character has spilled the beans? Everything he knows and has told us could be compromised, or might be used against us. We'll have to tread carefully."
She walks straighter, dropping the slouch eventually. "Let's see how the others are doing..."
Abaal ties up Omeck and leaves him in a corner, and luckily, his bonds hold.
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"She may be bad news, but it seems like it is the only solid lead we have. Of course, given what transpired, I hope Abaal's contact did not purposefully send us to this Odemi, out of spire..."
She turns as if to leave, then reconsiders. "It's a good thing we learned a little about the interests of Tseka. It seems like we would have to hold tight to the blue whinnis he have, and possibly the fingerbones...? We might draw her attention with those items."
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"Most-likely this Odemi is the sort of guide that will take you to an ambush. I am not unfamiliar with such things. But she probably knows much of this place. We should advertise for a guide and then let our stealthier members keep watch upon our progress, unseen from a distance." Abaal says, readjusting his disguise.
As the companions walk around, discussing their next move, a quiet, timid voice comes out of the darkness nearby. "Do you know where you are going? You seem lost.."
Neither Xavian nor Ashara can see anything in the shadows around them, but the voice still floats out from the darkness.
"Appearances can be quite deceiving. That is why I like the shadows. So, tell me.. what are you doing down here?"
"And who would this buyer be?" the voice continues its query. "There are a great many buyers down here.. but the merchandise only comes from a few places.. and typically not from outsiders."
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"Thank you, my friend. Your informations were really useful", Rimble greets the rogue.
Well Rimble, I guess we ougth to find the others before they get in trouble.
"You're right, we have to be fast."
Rimble mounts on Antoniollus and flies on the way to the others.
Once they are reunited and discussing the next steps, Rimble was surprised by the voice from the shadows.
Immediately, the gnome casts Detect Magic in the direction of the voice.
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Aznive tries to draw the person in, without giving away too much. "Well, if there are many buyers, then it seems we may need some help in selecting the right one. Such help would be well-rewarded, of course." She tries to force the issue: "Are you such a person, who could help us in finding a buyer?"
"I could, perhaps, help you.. but help always comes at a price in the undermarkets and below." the voice says. After Ashara's outburst, there remains a moment of silence.. before an extremely odd creature comes just within the light. Minute in size, it slithers on a fur covered serpentine body, but has the head of a fox. It peers at you with intelligence and wariness before speaking again, this time obviously to Ashara. "There are many dangers down here, and I have spent many years watching and learning all I can. Perhaps if you were to tell me what you seek, and show me some interesting magic, I could be persuaded to guide you where you seek to go. Knowledge of anything I do not already know will also get you what you seek."
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Aznive studies the odd creature intently, trying to ascertain what species they're dealing with. Fox-headed, but with the body of a snake? She's trying to come up with some interesting tidbit of information, but is too distracted by the creature's strange form. Is it just an illusion, meant to confuse us?
She coughs as the ashen-skinned woman spouts fire, only barely missing their contact. She gives the woman a stern look. What is she doing?! We're trying to get it on our side!