Jayse smirks at the banter, "So what makes these sorcerer's shrooms so valuable? I mean, risking the Wailing Woman's wrath and all? Or is that a question for Straehan?"
"Well, he'd maybe know all the specifics but... it's a rare mushroom; grows on only three islands. And it's used by wizards and such almost exclusively. I know it's got uses for spells, potions, and magical ink. Who knows what else. It may not seem like much to you but what we sell for 50 gold gets cut up into small chunks that sell for nearly that price in the markets of Orfallen."
Jayse shrugs and smiles good-naturedly, "Sounds interesting, though it sounds like maybe you should charge more." He sits for a few seconds watching the strange salesman gnome before a thought strikes him, "Hey, you said an unmarked ship went past recently. Is there anything else you can tell us about it? We're trying to make sure no one falls prey to the reavers around here, and it'd be good to be able to know if that ship you saw was one of theirs or not."
Fin overhears the gnome's question to Ushari and she finds herself biting down on her knuckle so that she doesn't say what she's thinking.
Ushari notices the look Fin gives the strange gnome, and guesses to what the young elf was thinking. A way home…
Nelton is distracted by the exchange between the salesgnome and Ushari, but Jayse's question brings him around. "Huh? Oh. It was pretty big two mast-er, heading up the coast in a hurry. She was running full sails and it was a stiff wind that evening. It wasn't a Reaver, though; they always fly their colors. But it definitely could have been a pirate of some stripe."
"Ah, well, that's good to know. Thanks" He begins to move towards the peddler's cart, more in an effort to speak to his friends than to see the goods on the strange wagon.
"Well, Nelton didn't know much about the ship that passed through here, though he doubts it was our reavers. It's strange that we've seen no evidence of them outside of that fog, though." He bats at an odd hanging spinning handle, "So what's the plan? Move on to the other village?"
Fin looks contemplative at Jayse's question noting that the agile warrior's complexion is still far too pale to be healthy.
"Itty Biti," she says, waving to the merchant. She steadies Straehan on her shoulders with one hand and indicates Jayse with her thumb. "Healing?"
Ushari looks up from her detailed study of the contents of Bit's items for sale. How could I be so clueless here, Jayse still has the wounds of the Wailing Spirit!
"Yes, like Findelwing says, Jayse here needs powerful divine magic to restore his life force lost in a battle with a foul abomination! Can you help him?"
Jayse's pale expression turns to the little hawker, waiting to hear if it's good or bad news.
I wonder what this kind of healing will cost me...
Bit's eye swivel between Fin and Ushari at the mention of Jayse's medical need. He walks over to the monk and pulls him down to eye level, then uses a thumb and forefinger to expose the white of Jayse's eye. His blue eyes look deeply at the monk's eyeball and he clucks his disapproval. "Hmmm... tough case but I should have something that will work."
He releases Jayse and hops to the back of his stall to the locked ornate wooden box found there. He deposits a coin in the lock and taps a complicated pattern on the box. With the sound of many clockwork pieces sliding and clicking, it opens. Bit gently pulls out... a very old and gnarled twig. He turns and shows it to Jayse with a flourish.
"This is the Leechwand of Getafax. A touch of this wand should suck the taint right out of you, restoring you to full health." He casts an assessing eye over the Mako and her crew. "Am I wrong in assuming you don't have much to trade? A single touch of this, were I inclined to charge money, is valued at 420 gold. And you aren't the only one of your friends who needs its benefits." Bit gives Fin a friendly look.
Nelton pipes up, "Since Ushari healed our folks... we can probably contribute some." He shows Bitiborium the large Sorcerer's Shroom. From the surprised look on Bit's face, he recognizes it. "How much would you value this at?"
Appraise
Buyer?
Bit examines the sizable mushroom closely, seeming almost entranced. "I know a buyer who would like this very much. I'll trade you a touch of the Leechwand for it. How about that?"
Before the gnome can re-think his offer, Nelton says, "Deal!" and shakes the smaller man's hand.
Ushari nods gratefully at Nelton, "Thank you very much for this, Nelton. I know how much that mushroom is worth to you." She then says to Bititorium, "I believe Jayse was more severly wounded by her touch, if you could please..." While the gnome moves to treat Jayse, she feels her own money pouch, and while it had a satisfying clank of coins jingling in it, she knew it was far short of what was needed for a second touch of the Leechwand. Still she would donate what she could for the cure.
I wonder if we will need to hunt for more of these Shrooms to pay for Fin's treatment.
Bit touches Jayse with the twig, muttering some words under his breath to release its power. In seconds, Jayse feels better.
Bit watches Ushari with a calculating look, "So, it seems that we know what two of your companions need. What about you? You seem more than curious about how I travel. Why is that? Is there some special place you wish to visit?"
The salesgnome rests his hand on the closed lid of the mysterious box, tapping lightly. "I sell many things: Goods, travel possibilities, even information at times. So what is it that you need and what kind of bargain might you strike for it?"
Ushari looks at the gnome salesman, wondering what his ulterior motive was. Isolde’s words echo in her mind, Everything has a price, what price are you willing to pay?. She is both hopeful and fearful of what he may know about her past, information such as that would be next to impossible to unearth out here, only in Crux could she discover clues. She resists the urge to ask about the planar device used by the gnome, electing to instead ask something else…
”I am interested in just information currently. What sort of payment is required for such?”
Bitiborium gives Ushari an ever-widening grin, "Well, now... that kind of depends on the information you seek, doesn't it? Tell me what you want to know and I'll tell you if I know it and how much sharing it will cost you."
Ushari hesitates fro a moment, a feeling of fear overwhelming her as she stares at Bitiborium. I have to know...
"What do you know of Crux, City of a Thousand Spires and of a person who is from there known as Despair's Daughter?"
The gnome's eyebrows shoot up at the second half of her question. His answer is measured, "I know the City of a Thousand Spires quite well. I visit it frequently in my travels. Arguably, one of the grandest cities in existence. Ah, it's quite a sight at night, all lit up with the eldritch fire racing across the pinnacles. And the view of the Endless Lake from the old Cathedral is awe-inspiring... Of course, the only thing that outnumbers its spires are its secrets. Oh, yes, there are very many of those..."
"As for 'Despair's Daughter' - I've heard of her or him. With that crowd, the name could be a ruse. It's mostly hushed rumors but there are a few facts, and I have them."
He watches her warily, gauging her desire for the information...
Ushari puts up a good front of Oh-I'm-just-curious but it isn't quite good enough to fool the little gnome.
His look is cagey, "I'll tell you what I know of 'Despair's Daughter' but the price will be... you candidly answering a question I put to you in return. Do we have an agreement?"
Jayse puts on his best 'I could care less about this' face while he fiddles with some useless looking knick-knacks, his ears keen to hear the outcome of the back and forth between Ushari and the gnome.
Straehan should never play poker, his curiosity at the exchange is evident to everyone... in a 3 miles radius.
Ushari glances at Jayse and Straehan briefly before concentrating on Bititorium, staring hard at him, certain he could see straight into her soul. She wondered if maybe he was an avatar, perhaps of the Grey Lady? She swallows hard, feeling her throat turn dry for some reason. ”Very well, I agree to your terms.”
Bit hops up on the table and sits comfortably on the ornate box, putting himself roughly at eye level with Ushari.
"So, Despair's Daughter... They say she's a woman but I've never heard anything that convinces me it is so. Among criminals, all sorts of fanciful names get tossed about and they don't mean anything. Take Red Boots for instance, I very much doubt he wears red boots."
"But that's beside the point, isn't it? We were talking about Despair's Daughter." He ponders a moment, trying to organize his thoughts, "So the Daughter is a new risen 'star' among the criminal underworld of Crux. She is a high-wire, do you know this term?"
He smiles when he sees more heads than just Ushari's shaking 'no'. He expounds, warming to his audience. "Crux has many high buildings with archways, walkways, and parapets. The spires scrape the sky two hundred feet up! Just like in a forest, there are creatures that live at all levels - from the ground up to the canopy. This is true of the criminal element as well. There are many types of burglar - from lowly jimhooks that pilfer food through windows to cat-burglars who work a few stories up. To thief-acrobats who dare the higher heights where the walkways are narrow, the winds vicious, and any misstep means death. Beyond the height where you find acrobats, you will find the high-wires. They dare the highest heights to rob the noble or rich elite of Crux."
"The Daughter is one of these. She appeared perhaps six months ago, breaking in to 'impossible' targets, stealing a variety of things - sometimes valuables, sometimes not. In some places she would leave a strange 'gift' in place of what she took - children's toys mostly. The rumor, at least among the Guard, was she did this to make a name for herself. Some thieves do perpetrate odd crimes to raise their credibility and high-wires, as a lot, are a bit strange." He shakes his head as if he finds this explanation too convenient or has information that refutes it.
"But among the criminal fraternity, the rumors were very different. The Daughter, according to those who allegedly knew her, was unstable. Some thought her insane. She wasn't trying to make a name for herself - she was twisted... Subsequent events would prove that guess to be closer to the truth."
The gnome salesman pauses dramatically, savoring the rapt attention of the crowd and giving a chance for questions before he continues.
Ushari stares speechless at Bitiborium, unable to put words to what was running through her mind. She looks over to Jayse, Fin , and Straehan, but there are no answers there. Her mind runs to the day back in Isolde's hut, not so very long ago. ...You are known as Despair's Daughter..." Now this salesgnome has provided her another piece to the puzzle of her life....
...Not to her happiness, and joy. She waits for the gnome to continue, wishing she could turn back the clock, yet unable to prevent the onslaught of revelations.
Greeted by no questions, he continues. "The whispers said that something drove her, some personal tragedy... abandoned by her mother or some such thing. Somehow her high-wire activities were a response to what happened to her. Whether it was revenge or attention seeking or making up for whatever she was denied... she was driven to her thieving actions and, if rumors are true - worse."
He sits back, "The rest is all speculation. No one knows for certain what happened - whether a job went wrong, or she did. The only thing that can be said for certain is that the target from one of her jobs fell or was thrown from a balcony. There wasn't much left after a one hundred foot fall. After that, a few more rich and powerful types also had 'accidents'. Was it Despair's Daughter or someone else or suicide? In a city as tall as Crux, many people try to learn to fly. No one can say for certain what happened to those people."
"The rest, well... its even more speculation than that last bit. Criminals gossip like hens."
Ushari sits back heavily after Bititorium has finished speaking. She holds her hand up, her birthmark barely noticeable under her shirtsleeve. She stares at it without any recognition, it seems like she is in a daze, unaware of her surroundings. Her eyes glimmer with moisture, but the tears do not flow. She then puts her head in her hands, covering her face, not looking up at anyone.
After several long minutes, she raises her eyes to look at those in her fellowship, from a pair of ice blue eyes, then a pair of small black eyes, then finally a pair of sea-green eyes. She responds softly, "I do not...remember any of this happening. But it is certainly possible, even likely."
After looking at the others, and drawing strength from their presence, she turns to Bititorium. Fixing him with a look filled with unanswered questions, and wiping a stray tear tricking down her face, she takes a deep breath and asks him, Master Bititorium, I believe I owe you an answer to a question posed by you, and a truthful answer at that. What is your question?"
Bitiborium is surprised by her reaction, not understanding why it would affect her so. His response comes hesitantly, "Well, I.. um... perhaps you've sort of answered the only question I have but, well, I guess I'll ask it anyways."
"Why are you so curious to know about Despair's Daughter?" From the look on his face, it is plain to see that he is concerned about what reaction the question will bring.
Ushari, on hearing the question, sighs inwardly. She wished she had not been so cavalier with her acceptance of this deal. Still, there was no turning back.
”Master Bititorium, I said I would be truthful, and I will answer the question as best I can. To put it bluntly, I was told by a friend who used magic to verify this is the case….that…that…I am Despair’s Daughter. I do not remember any of those events you mentioned, only bits and pieces, that do fit what you have told me of her.”
Jayse stops his facade of not listening and looks at Ushari with surprise on his face. Well, she's got guts. I would have lied.
The gnome eyes her carefully, "Your friend's magic or no... that seems unlikely. Despair's Daughter is dead."
Ushari's face drains of color (not that there was much color to begin with) and whispers, "Dead? Are you certain of this? Was there a...body found?"
"Well, now we're getting into that wild speculation and rumor I was trying to avoid. I'm guessing you can't fly, young lady, and neither could Despair's Daughter. She was... pulling her last job when the fellow's bodyguards crashed into the room and came after her. She led them a merry chase across the rooftops and archways. She was wearing a ball-gown of all things, if the rumors are true. Anyway, whether she tripped on the dress, or mis-stepped, or was shot by an archer, she fell - a very long way - upwards of 150' feet. By all reports, she fell silently and didn't fly away... only drifted a bit one way or another with that dress acting like a sail. They didn't find her body... but there are areas of Crux where that isn't a surprise. And after a fall like that, well, there isn't much identifiable to clean up."
"Besides, this only happened a few weeks ago. Unless you've traveled from there to here in the blink of an eye - I don't see how you can be her. Moreover, you seem pretty sane, Miss."
"Sane?" Fin says softly to herself looking up at Straehan to see what he thinks about that word.
Suddenly thinking of something, the tall elf runs to fetch Ushari's pack, heedless to Straehan holding on for dear life. Handing it to the shorter human, she says, "Dress!" and makes the hand motion meaning Ushari should show it to Itty Biti.
Ushari stares blankly, trying to search her memories for any revelation to refute Biti’s claim that she was not the Despair’s Daughter. Only until Fin mentions the dress, the blue dress that was with her wrapped tightly in a waterproof bag, does she respond.
She hesitantly takes the dress out, and holds it up against her body, allowing everyone to see how it was exactly fitted to her body shape.
Straehan is so caught up in the story that he misses the subtext of Bit's comments and instead responds to Fin from atop her shoulders.
Bit looks at the girl and the dress somewhat confused. "It's a lovely dress and, sure, it could have been made in Crux... but I didn't see Despair's Daughter fall and I've no idea what color was the dress she had on." He shrugs helplessly.
Findelgwing frowns and asks, "Skitter?"
Ushari nods at Fin in agreement, then takes the magical Music Box from her pouch she nicknamed Skitter, and shows it to the salesgnome, "You mentioned Despair's Daughter was known to take children's toys as well. Is this a good example of such a toy?"
He eyes the ornate box curiously and whistles. "That is no child's toy - the materials alone are worth a fortune. And from what I heard, the Daughter left rag dolls, tiny dresses, things like that... Wait." He looks very closely at the box, "What kind of toy is this?"
Ushari responds, "That is not a toy but more of a construct. I do not know where I got it from, it was wrapped in with my dress."
Jayse's eyes narrow at the gnome, "Something tells me he knows something else about 'the Daughter's' last job, too. Out with it."
Bit looks uncomfortable with Jayse's comment and focuses in on Ushari's. "Then why call it a toy? Does it dance or something?"