Chuckling at the play on words, "See anyone can have a silver tongue."
Finishing off his drink and smiling at Cherry, "And I like making people happy so it is easy."
"What about your own happiness?" asks Cherry. "Got your own luuuuurve?" She drags out the final word with a ridiculous accent.
Leaning forward and grinning, "Oh, my own happiness always came my dear."
Cherry blinks, then bursts out laughing. "Oh I bet it always came!" she says, putting one hand on her chest and heaving to get air as she laughs hard. "All right you rake, one more beer and then you should see your priestess friend if you're planning to get that errand done today."
Smiling widely at Cherry's laughter, "I have managed to put that off for sometime and I think I can manage to continue to do so."
Leaning back and still smiling, "She would not miss me much and you are the more pleasant bartender."
"So you never told me who Sinashakti is. That name I do not recognize."
"Sinashakti's the um... patron of travelers, I guess? Encourages visiting new places and experiencing the world and being a good neighbor. Or something. Not really a big religion and I'm no priestess."
Silvio chimes in with Syeira's second request. "I imagine the strange thing in the sky is the talk of the town amongst the Order of Cyphers. Not to mention it looks like all those papers you had strewn about has aa connection."
"Ah him?" Samaritha asks. She smiles. "I've heard tale of Archpaladin Zousha. Seems he came back from a demon hunt a little more addled than most. Can't stop narrating what he see's and jumping into conversations that he's not a part of.""Pity, he was cute too."
"Right..." Orendel says, side-eyeing the man as he wanders off muttering something about travelers and respite.
"I passed through Bloodsworn Vale myself, come to think of it. Came all the way here from Molthune. What about you? Where'd your journey to the Gold Goblin start?"
====Syeira and Silvio====
Loris considers your request, and nods as Silvio mentions the blot in the sky.
"That indeed has been a cause of interest and possible concern for the cypher mage community. And yes Syeira, we have been concerned. Unfortunately, there have been no conclusive results. Nothing in the history books points to this as a normal occurrence, but a popular theory is its a phenomenon of the cyphergate riddle. But you say you had a hunch?"
Loris sips her drink, savoring the smell and soft taste over her mouth.
"Tell you what. I'll gather some materials for this Samaritha to study, and when I have more time I'll ask her over for an interview of sorts. Until I have the means to take on an apprentice, I would love for Syeira to come over and help with my research every now and then."
====Dougal and Cherry====
Cherry and Dougal continue to bond over drinks.
====Orendell====
"Magnimar." Samaritha answers. "And I'll be damned if I go back a failure to take my parents work. Politics."
She shudders at this thought.
"That sounds perfect!" says Silvio, delighted by Loris's willingness to work with Samaritha. "Thank you so much. Whatever you have for her to study, I'd be glad to bring it for her review. If she can help you with your study of the blot, that's even better. I hope to participate myself at some point, once the affairs of the Gold Goblin are in order."
====Orendel====
"Magnimar." Samaritha answers. "And I'll be damned if I go back a failure to take my parents work. Politics."
She shudders at this thought.
"Politics, oh sod!" Orendel exclaims in disgust. "I can relate. Bloody-handed politics resulted in me and my own father on opposite sides of a battle!"
"You do not have to be a priestess to be religious. Nor do you have to be fanatically devoted to be religious. Easy belief where you do not want to the stress of a temple is the common way of it."
Handing his mug over, "I suppose I must go face my faith now. Thank you for talking with me Cherry."
Wondering off and leaving for the streets of the city. Walking slower the closer the The Minstrel's Meadhall. The familiar noise of happy people drifts outside. Straightening his spine and clinching his fists before walking inside.
People are sitting around tables laughing, eating, and drinking. Moving out of the doorway and looking around for that familiar face of Cassandra Cailean. A few minunets roll by before Dougal spots her.
Quietly walking over to the older grey haired priestess. Tapping on her shoulder, "Cassandra I need to talk to you."
"I could have saved a few of your associates at the Order some time by telling them that it's no natural occurrence," Syeira with a faint smirk. "If they had bothered to let me in the door." Although initially disappointed to her that the renowned Order of Cyphers was no closer to determining the cause of the blot than she was, the Harrower is nonetheless relieved that the mages are concerned with the phenomenon, and grateful that Lady Loris has agreed to consider taking on Samaritha as an apprentice.
"I am more than happy to help you where I can. Truth be told, you would be doing me as much of a favor as I would be you." Setting aside her now empty teacup, Syeira rises and embraces Loris once more. "Thank you for seeing us, Loris. Assuming no other incidents crop up at the Gold Goblin, I'd like to visit again in a couple days. If you need to see me before then, you know where to find me."
=====Dougal ======
Cassandra smiles as you approach and reaches over, embracing you in hug that says "Welcome home."
Dougal, this is a pleasant surprise.." she says, her voice grainy through years of preaching and teaching. Her eyes are warm, and she scoots over and invites you to sit.
It seems that through the combined efforts of the party (seriously, you just beat the DC) the Gold Goblin is starting to attract more and more customers. Saul is practically beaming as the casino is starting to have regulars and newcomers alike.
Saul finds you all, and admits, "I can't believe it! We're breaking even! I wasa sure that catastrophe of a tournament would sink my final shot at a legitamite business, but you lot have come through for me. I can't pay you this week, gods know I want to, but if we can keep up the effort, next week you all will start rolling in the cash!"
====================================================
Another week goes by with relatively no excitement, which for some of you is probably a happy thing indeed.
Feel free to make another "help the business" check, and play a scene if you'd like, but I'll be moving along much quicker this time.
Cherry putters about the bar for the week, making chit-chat, occasionally laying down a cutting jibe at a customer who's overstayed his welcome, and swatting away roaming hands. She always seems to have a task for Nikaro, whether it's carrying a message, busing used drink mugs, or fetching something from the local market for her latest concoctions (be it spices, fruits, or some other exotic addition), along with a coin or two.
She also gets to know the others a bit better during the week...
"Hey, Syeira?" she asks one night after closing. "Lay out the cards for me?"
Between helping to run the casino and assisting Loris with her research, Syeira manages to find time to set aside about a half-hour each night to craft new signs in order to help draw in more crowds. Toward the end of the week, after closing, she goes looking for Nikaro but finds Cherry instead. "Oh, Cherry, it's good you're here," she says, setting down an armful of freshly dried signs at one end of the bar. "Nikaro seems to have taken a liking to you... I was wondering if you could ask him to hang up these signs around town in the morning. I'd ask him myself, if he ever bothered to sit still long enough for me to find him."
Brought up short by Cherry's question, Syeira nevertheless agrees to the request and takes a seat opposite the tiefling, the harrow cards - never far from the witch's reach - already being deftly shuffled in her hands. She wonders whether it is idle curiosity or a true desire for insight that motivated Cherry to ask her for a reading and is about to ask her the same, but disregards the thought a moment later. If there was something specific on the tiefling's mind she wanted answers to, she was sure to be disappointed; the cards had little insight to impart to anyone these days beyond a clear and imminent warning of death. A simple reading would have to do.
Syeira begins by laying three cards in a line, face down on the bar. Turning over the first, Syeira explains the significance of The Keep. "This card tells me you've experienced a good deal of hardships in your past, and seeing as you come from Riddleport, that comes as no surprise to me. But you're here today because you possess an even greater reserve of inner strength. You are not a woman who is easily shaken. Hold on to that strength, for, as much as I wish it were otherwise, I fear that your trials are not yet over."
The second card, that of The Rakshasa, seems to give Syeira a bit of trouble. After staring at the card with a little frown for a few, quiet moments, Syeira raises her eyes back up to Cherry, giving the woman a look as open and non-judgemental as she can. "Tell me, has there been something on your mind of late?"
. A new week, a renewed effort to maintain an orderly casino. Though the patrons sure are rowdy this week. It's everything Silvio can manage to keep things orderly.
He spends this week studying the company financials, looking to understand the business and detect any impropriety. .
During the week, he also checks in on the new half-or hire. "Tunka, how's the new post going? Have you gotten to know Hans and Beyar? I know it's been a rough week, but it'll get better once we lay down the ground rules here."
As Syeira asks her the question, Cherry bites her lower lip, then wiggles back and forth in her seat, her tail flicking energetically. Finally she says, "Wellllll... I've been thinking about how I'm kinda stuck here, that I would love to travel and see things, but... I can't really get away, can I? I can't really afford to take a trip, and where would I go anyway? And people need me here." She looks down at the bar with a shy smile and continues, "An' Riddleport is my home after all, an' there's so much to love as well as stuff to hate." The smile turns down a little and she says, "But I can't escape how this city hurts people too, aye? So it makes me... it's full of sad memories, too."
She looks back up and blows a strand of hair out of her face and says, "Does that make any sense?"
Syeira hums thoughtfully as she considers Cherry's answer before replying, a little hesitantly, "I suppose it does. You don't have to tell a Varisian what wanderlust feels like. Growing up in a wee settlement in the Uplands, I've often wondered about what it would be like to see for myself half the things I've read about over the years. Silvio even suggested I try to make a go of settling down here. I considered it. ...Briefly. But at the end of it all, home is home, and I can't picture myself living anywhere else."
"So yes, it makes sense to me. To the cards, however, I'm afraid not," she says with a faint smile. Tapping the face of The Rakshasa, Syeira explains, "This card, in the strictest interpretation, suggests a loss of freedom of sorts. Physically, it could represent slavery or wrongful imprisonment. Mentally, it could mean coercion or perhaps an unhealthy fixation on something." That tieflings often had to struggle to resist their inborn infernal urges was something that Syeira was aware of, and indeed, her first worry on seeing the card turn up was that Cherry might be having some trouble on that front, but their brief talk about the woman's hopes and dreams and sadness was enough to put that concern to rest.
Turning over the last card, Syeira gives a resigned sigh at the sight of The Fiend. "And that, my dear, is a most unfortunate card to have in one's future. But, if it makes you feel any better, everyone I've performed a reading for these past few months have had The Fiend in their future." Gathering the Harrow cards in a neat stack, Syeira puts them away and folds her hands on the counter. "I wish I could offer you more advice, but I'm afraid my foresight is a bit clouded for the time being."
At the description of the Rakshasa, Cherry thinks a moment and says, "I guess I'm a slave to this place? A prisoner? I don't know how to leave Riddleport. But maybe I would just find excuses even if I could." She looks forlornly at the smoky room over Syeira's shoulder.
When the final card is turned, Cherry looks concerned and says, "No, wait, what does that card mean? I, er, I mean I've seen Harrow decks before but I don't know how to interpret them. Is that supposed to be about me, or about something happening to me? I mean... I'm no devil... not really. Did I... did I do something wrong?" She looks crestfallen, the sides of her lips tugging down slightly, worry creasing her eyes.
Syeira regards Cherry with raised eyebrows and a small smile, clearly impressed with her unique interpretation on the card's meaning. "Well, that's certainly one way to look at it. But what is it that keeps you here? Circumstances, or something more?" Syeira wonders aloud, before adding, "If you don't mind my asking, of course."
At a momentary loss for words at Cherry's worried outburst, it takes a few moments for Syeira to understand what has upset the tiefling so. Understanding dawns on her when she hears the woman protest that she's no devil. "Oh, Cherry... no," Syeira reaches out to cover one of Cherry's hand with one of her own, her tone soft. "This isn't about you or your heritage, although, when I tell you what it is, you might wish it were. ...The Fiend is a card of death, dear. Death on a calamitous scale." Syeira pats Cherry's hand reassuringly a few times before drawing back, her green eyes suddenly hard. "I don't know why this has been in everyone's future, but it has something to do with the cursed blot that's appeared in the sky. It's the reason I came to Riddleport in the first place." A wry smile curves her lips as she says, "Solve the riddle, save the world."
"Oh." Cherry looks simultaneously relieved and worried. "But if the survival of the world rests on me figuring out the Blot, well, er, I'm afraid I have some bad news," she says. "I don't have any formal education in magic or whatnot, so that's a pretty bad sign."
Following the snake incident, Orendel realizes that there's a need to convince more people to visit the Goblin. With Tunka now able to fill his place on the floor, he takes to the streets, canvasing by the posters Syeira placed last week and hawking the Gold Goblin to any who'll listen.
"Gods, I sound like one of the military recruiters back home, but instead of recruiting good lads to defend the nation, I'm recruiting lowlifes to p!ss their money away," he mutters to himself as he returns from a job well done.
When he enters, he sees the conversation Cherry and Syeira are having and approaches. He gets an uneasy look on his face as Syeira seems to make pronouncements that really get to Cherry. As they wrap things up, he taps Syeira on the shoulder.
"Probably gonna regret this, but I don't suppose you could do one of those for me?"
Sitting down and drumming his hands nervously on the table, "Sorry I have not been by recently. New job at the Gold Goblin and all."
Staring down at the table, "It is so different from what I am used to dealing with.. Not just the work, umm."
Looking up at Cassandra, "There was attempted robbery the first night I was there and something happened and I do not understand it."
Holding up his wrist to show the little iron mug that hangs there, "I was able to heal someone, like how you are." Dropping his hand and offering the older woman a quick grin, "Though with nowhere near the power you have."
Looking back at the table, "I do not understand why? I did not do anything to deserve or earn this."
Cherry reaches out and puts a hand on Orendel's arm, then says, "Yeah, you'll probably regret it, but you have ta know, right? Good luck." She pulls back and waits for the reading, equally curious about Orendel's fate.
Syeira laughs at Cherry's confusion, a quiet chuckle at first that continues to build until she's all but bent double in her seat with laughter. That the fate of the world would rest on the shoulders of one person and one person alone was preposterous, and yet, that hadn't stopped Syeira herself from believing it was her responsibility alone until just days ago. Hearing Cherry's concern helped her to realize just how foolish she had been. "By The Starsong, I needed that," she says, once she's regained her composure. "Not to worry, Cherry. If you've a role to play in all of this, you won't be standing alone. I can promise you that."
When Orendel joins their conversation and asks for a reading of his own, Syeira, though normally happy to oblige such requests, cautions the half-elf, saying, "I could, but if you think you may regret it, you should consider well whether you want to hear good news or the truth. Once I've said what the Harrow has to say, there is no unhearing it." She raises an eyebrow at Orendel as she awaits his decision, her Harrow cards already in hand.
At hearing this, Orendel gets a grumpy expression on his face and takes a seat.
"No news is good news when you grow up on the border of two warring nations. Let's do this."
"Very well," Syeira says in a cool, nonchalant tone, but the small quirk at the corner of her lips says that Orendel had earned a few points for himself in the Harrower's book. "You know, I used to get paid for this sort of thing," she mentions as she shuffles the cards once more, turning a sharp look Orendel, and then to Cherry. "Though considering we didn't earn anything this week, and seeing as I like you both so much, I suppose all I'll ask for in return is a nice mug of honeyed mead when this is done." Once the energy in the cards feels right, the shuffling comes to an abrupt stop, and Syeira lays out three more cards face down.
"You have a thorny past, my friend," Syeira says with a note of sympathy in her voice as she turns over the first card, The Tangled Briar. "This card speaks to a dark time in your history, one that still deeply affects you to this day. Some things, some memories, some people, are better left in the past. If you don't learn to let go, they will only cause you more strife."
Syeira lifts her gaze from the card to Orendel, studying the half-elf for a reaction. She glances briefly at Cherry before returning to watch Orendel. "These readings are usually done in private... Do you want me to continue?"
"Let me get you that honey mead first," says Cherry. "You want anything to steel yourself for the next card, Orendel? Then I'll get out of your hair."
Orendel nods at the card Syeira produces.
"The battle...yes...I suppose I wear that trauma on my sleeve. The thorny part's a bit on-the-nose, I think..."
He takes a deep breath and looks at Cherry.
"I'll take a shot of Oldlaw Whiskey, if Saul's got any of that behind the bar. And...well...if you wanna stay, I won't mind. I barged in on yours, after all."
Cherry dutifully pops open a ceramic jug with a cork and pours a thick honey mead into one clean mug, then closes it, rummages around and finds an unmarked bottle of dark green glass. She removes the lid from that and smells it, then says, "Yup, Oldlaw. Figures that some o' the good stuff was put into unmarked bottles so ya had to know t'look for it." She pours a shot into a small cup, then sets out another cup and pours a second shot into it.
"One fer now, one fer after," she says.
"If I were a salacious sort, I'd say something like 'you can barge in any time,' but I think that's Dougal's line. I get the notion of fair's fair, so let's see if our anxieties intertwine."
She pushes the mug to Syeira and the cups to Orendel.
Orendel smiles a little and nods.
"Thank you, Cherry."
Then he knocks back the first shot and turns back to Syeira while he waits for her to finish her mead.
"Ready when you are."
"My thanks, Cherry," Syeira says, raising her mug in salute before taking a draught of her mead. Setting the mug down on the bar - far enough away that it doesn't pose a threat to accidentally spoiling on her heirloom cards - she turns to Orendel and gives a small nod at his willingness to proceed.
The second card she reveals is The Juggler, and she does so with a smile. "Ah, The Juggler. This is good. This suggests that the path you're on now will lead you to your goals. But you must take care to watch where you tread. One misstep will lead to disaster not only for you, but for those around you as well."
Her smile fades before the last card, The Fiend, is revealed. "That is, if we all live long enough for you to reach your goals."
Orendel sighs and takes the second shot.
"I'm not even sure what my goals ARE."
======Dougal======
Cassandra listens closely, intently, with the feeling of you are the only person who exists to her right now. Perhaps its the intense caring that drew you to her even more.
"Let me see..." she asks, placing a gentle hand on your mark.
She pauses and she examines the mark, running her fingers across the line until she has all but traced it.
"You have been given a gift Dougal." she says simply. "How you use it, and for who, that is your decision to make..."
======Gold Goblin=======
The week passes quickly as everyone gets into the habit of things. Thanks to everyone's efforts and the new hires pitching in, the Gold Goblin seems to be flourishing.
As the business rolls around to the third week, you are all approached by Saul in the morning hours. He has asked you all to not work today, as something important has come up.
"He hasn't come in this morning, and no one has seen him..." Saul says as you all file in to his office.
"Larur's gone missing far as I can tell. I sent a runner to his aparment, but have been told the door has been knocked off its hinges and the room burglurized. I had Larur run a payment over to Lymas Smeed, the money lender, but I think that slimeball has finally overstepped his bounds..."
He spends this week studying the company financials, looking to understand the business and detect any impropriety.
Silvio is startled by this sudden revelation. "Wait, what? Larur's been burglarized? You think it's Lymas Smeed? Why would he have gone after us? Are we missing payments or something? Who is this guy?"
Silvio tries to tell if Saul is hiding something. .
He thinks about whether he's familiar with the name.
He spends this week studying the company financials, looking to understand the business and detect any impropriety.
>.> Whoops
Silvio asks to see the financials, which Saul provides. Everything seems to match up, though there is a sudden increase at the very start, around 2,000 gp total.
Frowning at the answer, "I was hopping for a more definitive answer but the Gods rarely give them."
Running his fingers over the odd mark on his arm, "You know I had been avoiding any tattoos. Apparently Cayden felt I needed one."
Looking back up at Cassandra, "I swear I am not meaning to sound ungrateful. I just did not expect this but I will try to live up to it."
Grinning at her, "So is there a 'I just became a holy man' drink?"
-----
Spending a while at The Minstrel's Meadhall once he is done with Cassandra. Drinking an socializing with those there and trying to drum up some interest in the locals to visit the Gold Goblin.
----
Returning to the Gold Goblin late that night with a pleasant amount of alcohol running though his veins and a lighter heart. Trying a quietly as a drunk man can to silently crawl into bed. Stumbling over his boots and collapsing on the bed with a thump.
Even though he did not get a real answer at least he knows his new gifts are from a good source. Cassandra would have said something if it was not. Resting easy for the first time since coming to work here. Dreaming pleasant dreams of tiny fairies dancing across a bar and shaggy dogs singing rousing drinking songs.
---
Making sure to take time to check in on Nikaro throughout the week and unsure that no one is giving him any grief over his age.
Tracking down Silvio and greeting the man with a wide smile, "Were you able to help that woman, Samantha?
----
Raising an eyebrow at the news, "You want us to try to find him? What can you tell us about him? And are there other moneylenders we may have to deal with?"
Dougal finds that the morning after his drunken evening out he's carefully tucked in and his boots are carefully placed out of the way at the foot of his bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Lymas Sneed..."
"I guess this is some after-hours work, eh?"
As the business rolls around to the third week, you are all approached by Saul in the morning hours. He has asked you all to not work today, as something important has come up.
"He hasn't come in this morning, and no one has seen him..." Saul says as you all file in to his office.
"Larur's gone missing far as I can tell. I sent a runner to his aparment, but have been told the door has been knocked off its hinges and the room burglurized. I had Larur run a payment over to Lymas Smeed, the money lender, but I think that slimeball has finally overstepped his bounds..."
"Goddammit!" Orendel shouts, slamming his fist down on the table.
"You're sure it's not Clegg Zincher trying to f!ck with our business again, Saul? A man who delivered us a venomous snake as a housewarming gift seems like the kind of man who'd order our bookkeeper kidnapped when we start turning a profit."
Orendel looks intensely at Saul, waiting for an answer.
"I imagine Saul would have lead with that, if he were sure of what happened to Larur," Syeira says, only a little cross at having been startled by Orendel's outburst. "As it is, I expect he wants us to find out what's happened to him and why. Is that right, Saul?"
Silvio, puts Saul under the watchful eye of a lawful man. But he isn't able to notice anything odd if Saul is hiding something. You have heard the name in passing, usually with people upset with money.
You've heard the name, but not much really.
Cherry seems to have better luck with recollection, and recalls Lymas Sneed is a decently known moneylender. He has a flat in the tenements of rat street, and keeps it well defended with locks and security. He is a disgusting creature; constantly sweating, sporting a patchy beard, and fond of smoking expensive cigars.
Saul angrily stares at Orendell, his unwavering gazematching Orendell's fierce outburst.
"You think I haven't considered that? Of course I've considered Clegg, but he's not one for sneaky maneuvers. If he's going to hurt me, he's going to do so publically, or at least take credit immediately afterward. It could be him, but I'm willing to put whatever money I have left that its that damned moneylender intent on....collecting..."
Saul has the address of Lymas and requests that you all personally check and see if Larur is there, and is even willing to put up a ransom if needed.
Silvio notices the strange pause at the end of Saul's comment. "Collecting what, exactly? What do you owe him? We can take care of the problem but you owe us the full story here before we do it. For instance, do you happen to owe Lymas Sneed, say, 2,000 gold?"
Orendel takes a deep breath as Saul chastises him.
"All right...I get it...Sorry, boss."
His eyes narrow when Silvio describes the unusual financial situation. They were full partners in this venture, and Saul was keeping secrets from them?