Torch smiles and waves a hand to one of the half-orcs. "Arnulf, fetch today's task list, please. Let's see what needs to be done!" The same half-orc that escorted you in heads out of the room and returns with a piece of parchment. Torch examines it and smiles, "Yes, yes! This should do nicely. Complete these tasks and we'll consider the payment complete." He scrawls a few more notes on the paper, then hands it to Arnulf to hand to you.
On the paper you read:
- The academic Ionacu Lozar from the Sinomakti School of Sciences is preparing for an expedition to a site in the Pillars of the Sun. I have a scarab-marked prayer book dedicated to the god Khepri that needs to be placed among his personal effects without him suspecting anything is amiss.
- An associate has delivered a shipment of valuable Osirian artifacts to just outside Eto. She claims that the objects are hidden inside a dry well southeast of the Sunrise Gate. Retrieve these and bring them to me. The magic rod is of particular importance; everything else is expendable.
- The half-elf Madam Zelekhati, owner the establishment called the Dancing Dunes, is most adept at acquiring secrets, and I need you to find out how she does it— no doubt it’s something she’d rather keep hidden from authorities. Further, convince her to share what she already knows with me. Threaten to reveal her secret if she’s stubborn. End the scheme if all else fails.
- I recently heard that the leader of the Hundredfingers gang had an important message for my ears only. Track them down, get the message, resolve any loose ends, and report back to me.
Torch watches with almost pride as you read. "Four tasks. Complete them to my satisfaction and I'll give you the information you seek. It's a pity, really," He grows serious for a moment, "You seem like decent people; I would have been honored to have you join my faction when I was still with the Society. I hope your experiences with the Decemvirate are less... treacherous than mine. So,do we have a deal?"
Torch smiles in a self-congratulatory manner and nods to the half-orc, Arnulf. Arnulf leaves the room. "Strange things, appearances. Arnulf there looks like a brute, but he's actually a leading scholar of the Taldan dance movement known as Colloquialism. Corresponds with artists and dancers around the Inner Seas. Of course, one may think he's simply a brute, but appearances are deceiving."
Arnulf returns in a moment, a small package containing the scarab marked prayer book in his hands. He gives it to whoever will take it.
"Rest assured, oh pathfinders, that I have no interest in the scholar's harm. I simply wish him to have the book without his knowledge of where, when and from whom it came." Torch smirks at your reluctance.
Leaving Torch behind in the White Uraeus, you find yourself on the streets of Eto. There is some traffic, but the street is mostly quiet and you have privacy.
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"I'm afraid I no longer am quite as good at sneaking as I once was. I remember the day I was as lithe as my good lady in Sothis, but sadly the sun has set on those times. Plus, it hardly seems right to be doing that for me; what would the world think should they hear a linnorm king was up to petty thievery. Or whatever the reverse of thievery is."
Sir Quinton seems as sincere as almost always as he makes his feelings known.
As you speak, you walk around a corner to find a thriving market area. People are moving to and fro, and a general aura of life permeates the place.
"Oh yes my friend I have many scholar here in my wares! I sell much Sciences! You buy? You buy?" A smiling Garundi man in a turban begins trying to push poorly made pots into your hands, while murmuring, "You touch you buy!" under his breath.
An old toothless woman, half-bent with age and arthritis laughs loudly at your antics trying to avoid the pot-seller. "You will get no information from him! He is as crooked as his pots! There is no Sinomakti School of Sciences in Eto, stranger. No such place! You want information? You're looking for someone? You talk to Madame Zelekhati at the Dancing Dunes. She is local know-it-all in Eto, knows much about much. You tell her Leonora sent you, you get good deal! Is down that street! Big building, hard to miss." The old woman points toward a broad avenue leading away from the marketplace, then calls to the pot-seller in Osiriani. He backs away from Sir Quinton, muttering to himself.
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"Perfect. We can kill two birds with one stone," Sir Quinton says. [/b]"Oh! Which reminds me of one time I did that. Tragic, though. A catapult misfired while I was in Lastwall, and crushed a perfectly nice tree, which had some very nice bird nests in it. I never did see those birds after that, so I can only assume..."[/b]
Following the old woman's directions you move down the avenue until you see a two story building with a sign depicting a dancer among the sand.
A spectacularly groomed garden of colorful sand occupies most of this two-story cabaret’s ground floor. A narrow wooden bridge winds about a trio of decorative obelisks dotting the miniature desert. A lavish sitting area filled with divans occupies the second-floor balcony granting a magnificent view of the garden below. Private curtained chambers encircle the garden, where lush rugs, soft mattresses, or piles of throw pillows serve to cushion the repose of clientele in each chamber. A door off the northern balcony opens to a staircase leading down to the street, while another set of stairs to the east leads down to the garden.
As soon as you step inside, a muscular man wearing a vest and flowing pants, but looking quite like he's able to take care of himself stops you. "All weapons must be peacebound. This is a house of entertainment." He has a handful of wires to use to peacebond your weapons; he offers them to you without cost.
The man looks you over Rekgar, then nods. "Go on in."
The man raises one eyebrow at Quinton's words, but doesn't reply to them. He gestures toward the gardens in the center of the Inn, where bridges cross the sands below. "Madame Zelekhati is with another client. Feel free to wait here; I'll let her know of you."
The bridges are lovely things, made to highlight the natural beauty of the sand below, where patterns have been lovingly brushed into the sand. A few minutes pass while you wait for the Madame to arrive.
Madame Zelekhati turns out to be a lovely half-elven woman of middle years, wearing a tasteful dress decorated with small bells that chime as she walks. She carries herself with a poise and grace you recognize from former dancers or acrobats.
"I am told you wish to speak with me. Is there something I may help you with?" She asks, her voice a lyrical sound as she smiles slightly at you in a charming fashion.
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"Ah, yes. IS there anywhere more private that we might speak? I have some delicate questions to pose, ma'am."
Assuming she agrees:
"We have been tasked to find information for Grandmaster Torch, concerning your particular abilities. He is quite impressed with your information gathering, and he'd like to find out how you are so skillful. Is there any way we might convince you to give us a little int as to your secret?"
Diplomacy
She smiles at your request, Hagrym, but says "We are perfectly comfortable here. I assure you that none of my staff are interested in our business, and my guests are all out and about at this time of day. Now what did you need assistance with?"
Zelekhati looks at you sharply, then her manner changes from charming to cold. "I don't think I like the tone of your voice, master Dwarf. I think I'll be staying right here, thank you."
Madame Zelekhati looks for a moment like she's torn between fight and flight, then lets out a long sigh. She murmurs something and a face pops up from the sand briefly! A humanoid face composed of the sand itself. "This ring gives me the ability to command earth elementals. I have summoned a sand-man here who keeps watch each night and listens for any information the patrons may reveal. People are loose-lipped when they have drink and entertainment; I simply connect the right information to the right people. This is my livelihood! You simply cannot take it away; perhaps there is something I might do for you?" She smiles in a way meant to be seductive, but her terror at losing her way of life seems to war with it and ruins the effect.
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"Oh, didn't we come here in search of someone! Perhaps, my fair lady, you could tell us where we could find the scholar Ionacu Lozar from the Sinomakti School of Sciences. And perhaps even if you might know where he is staying as he prepares for his expedition?"
"What say you friends, would that information suffice as payment?"
Madame Zelekhati seems to relax considerably at your words. "I do not know where Lozar is staying, but the local merchants are quite cross with him. He is in a great hurry to leave on his adventure and the local merchants have been stalling his shipments to annoy him. Lozar is not acquainted with how we do things in Osirion; he wants everything NOW NOW NOW, but in Osirion, time is not as pressing. Relationships matter. I believe Lozar is at the Caravanserai now, packing for his expedition. You may catch him there."