You both get the impression that she's just genuinely curious, as if she wants to have the details of this juicy juicy gossip.
Anything else you'd like to do here?
"No no no. That's about all I can permit. Please find her!"
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Hack pauses, looing pointedly at his bloody hand, then nods. I'm fer thinkin' we have enough to go on for now. No need to intrude on this home's hospitality any more, eh? But, Lady, if we return empty-handed, we may be asking again to have more of a look-around, aye? An' fer the good of ye Mistress, I'm fer thinkin' you may wanna reconsider what ye may permit us to see?
he lets the qeuestion hang as he makes eye contact, but otherwise makes ready to leave.
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Hack pauses, looing pointedly at his bloody hand, then nods. I'm fer thinkin' we have enough to go on for now. No need to intrude on this home's hospitality any more, eh? But, Lady, if we return empty-handed, we may be asking again to have more of a look-around, aye? An' fer the good of ye Mistress, I'm fer thinkin' you may wanna reconsider what ye may permit us to see?
"Indeed, is there any place that your Mistress used to spend a lot of her time - some place we might want to check out before we leave? Of course, we don't want to intrude..." Kirael gives a deep curtsy that brings her to the level of the other creatures' knees, "We just want to be more sure of what we might be up against when we go seeking her. If there were scorch marks from a dragon, say, or a stench of goblins..."
"She's a lady of business and trade. She goes many places, but hardly a day goes by without a stop by the Marketplace!"
"Well.... I don't know about the other rooms. We'll see."
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Well, let's be off to the Spice Bazaar, before we run out of thyme! HAW HAW HAW HAW
"Don't worry, master dwarf. We're cumin." Azdak replies with similar dry humor.
"Farewell, Akhina. We'll be sure to keep you apprised of our progress. Until then, be safe!" Azdak says his farewell and leads the others to the marketplace.
Armed with a new lead, the party makes its way to the marketplace. The Grand Sook is a vast marketplace constructed mostly of tents with the occasional brick structure for particularly well established merchants, creating a sea of canvas and commodities close to the waterfront. The recovered note indicates a specific stall, so you make your way there.
The stall in question is currently vacant, though it shows signs of recent use. Neighboring merchants include Santigo the baker to one side and Ishe, Santigo’s competitor, on the other side. Between their calls to passing shoppers, they specifically target you for their wares. From the smell and look of things, they're offering the exact same recipes.
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Well, let's be off to the Spice Bazaar, before we run out of thyme! HAW HAW HAW HAW"Don't worry, master dwarf. We're cumin." Azdak replies with similar dry humor.
Ahh-haaa!! What anise joke!!!
Hack takes out a silver, and starts looking at both bakers' wares. Hey--either of you seen the gent who runs this stand? He pokes a thumb at the currently vacant kiosk.
I'll take a diplomacy check and Sense Motive (since it's inevitable.)
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"We can--heee!!!" Boom snatches Hack's silver piece mid-air and makes it dance prettily across her fingers, "--certainly try to make it worth you while!" She gives the coin a big flip and grins toothily at the bakers.
And just for good measure, a look a the empty stall:
And because why not:
Which bakery is better?
...Perhaps an aid?
After the exchanges, the bakers, who seem to just want your business, mention that if you're looking for Maroc, he's likely at the race track. If you hurry you could catch him on the first race of the day.
Azir is known for its swift, sleek dogs, and breeders often congregate at a racetrack near the outskirts of town to test their hounds’ speed. Today the track has drawn a boisterous crowd of gamblers who shout bets, laugh, and occasionally curse their luck following a bad race. With so many people seeking relaxation and distraction, the track is a hotbed for gossip and news.
Today is no exception, there are a LOT of patrons.
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Boom takes a moment to (giggle and) look over the race-dogs, trying to pick out a few of the more bet-worthy. She then uses that information as a bargaining chip in discreetly asking around for a man named Maroc. Unfortunately, Boom forgets to use Common, and her Kelish attracts mostly strange looks and only a few fellow-speakers.
"Good luck, he's already gone for the day. He had complained that he needed coin for slaves and hoped to earn it through a few good bets (trying to worm his way into the confidence of one of the Blackfire Adepts’ guards), but his luck was terrible. After losing big, he decided to take a soak at the Jistka Bathhouse to forget his troubles."
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"Good luck, he's already gone for the day. He had complained that he needed coin for slaves and hoped to earn it through a few good bets (trying to worm his way into the confidence of one of the Blackfire Adepts’ guards), but his luck was terrible. After losing big, he decided to take a soak at the Jistka Bathhouse to forget his troubles."
"Well, I guess you can't win them every time. I guess that's why they call it gambling. Well, thanks anyway. I'll see if I can catch him at the Jistka. Can you by chance give me the quickest directions to get there from here. Thanks, my good sir."
Azdak leads the others to the Jistka bathhouse.
The Jistkan Baths is one of the oldest bathhouses in Azir, and local legend claims the building dates back to the long-gone Jistkan civilization that once ruled northern Rahadoum. Any such evidence of this ancient heritage have been lost to centuries of repairs, yet the well-maintained marble facade nonetheless advertises an elegant facility. Any are welcome in the mixed-gender bathhouse so long as they do not disturb the other guests, and the most exclusive baths are located down a spiral staircase. It is a single gold piece for a full day pass.
Maroc is downstairs in the chilled bath.
The chilled bath of the Jistka Bathhouse is in the lower level of the structure, a mixed-gender facility where the modest either soak in light robes or seek other places. The air is cool and humid and the lighting is dim. Faint lanterns reflect off the water and the sound of running water echoes off the tile floor and walls.
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Kirael confers with the others in whispers, out of sight of the guard. "What's the plan? Should we venture in? I can't really abandon my sword, but it will look bad to walk in not only clothed, but armed and amored."
"I admit that the attire looks a little strange for a bathhouse, but that can't be helped at this time. I wouldn't worry about it, Kirael. I'm hoping we won't be here for long anyway. Let's just make contact and see if we can find out the information that we are looking for. Follow me, my friends."
Azdak leads the others into the pool and greets Mardoc with a cheerful greeting of one who is already familiar with him, even if he can't remember who Azdak is. "Mardoc, my friend, I am so pleased to have found you. It's me, Azdak. Please don't get up. This will only take a minute. Sorry to interrupt you here at the pool, but sometimes you just can't separate business from pleasure, huh? Well, my companions and I have just a few questions for you."
Azdak tries to allay any fears and put him at ease. If he is able to improve his attitude to helpful, he will begin with his questions.
"We're looking for a lady named Jahani Jodinaj. Do you recall the woman?"
"Well you lot don't look at all like you belong here. And Jahani should be easy enough to find. Why interrupt my bath here?"
Maroc looks EXACTLY like Eando.
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Well, sir, because she is missing. And because we hear you might know a clue or three. And...
Hack narrows his eyes and casts about conspiratorially, making sure no one is eavesdropping. When the coast is clear, he then screws up his face in concentration for a moment.
...And because ‘Sasha Antif-Arah sends her regards—healthy and alive from Andoran.’
"Then you would have my attention. As long as she’s alive, we can talk more. Damned fool Pathfinders. You really are all the same. Come, let's talk."
The Detect Magic doesn't reveal anything.