Raven whispers to the group. "I believe it's best if we find what we are looking for quickly and leave." Raven enters the sidestreet, looking for Zogarthy's tent while keeping an eye out for danger.
Both Raven and Omoro notice a small, well-patched tent painted with mystical symbols and decorated with chicken-bone fetishes and similar odd objects. Smoke drifts slowly from within the tent.
As you enter, a pair of varisian toughs just out the tent, sitting on a stack of boxes haphazardly stacked nearby watch you closely. Inside the tent, you find the air thick with incense. A table covered in blue velvet stitched with moons, stars, and arcane symbols sits in the middle of tent. A dusty crystal ball sits in the center, with a dog-eared harrow deck sitting near it.
A bald varisian man with piercing eyes and dressed in threadbare purple robes sits on the opposite side of the table, the harrow deck within arm's reach.
"Welcome, seekers of the unknown!" He raises his arms into the air in a flourish, looking upward to the ceiling of the tent. "The Amazing Zograthy sees all and knows all. A double fist of silver for a turn of the cards or a vision in the crystal; a treble fist of gold for the secrets of the multiverse." He looks at the group, a smile upon his face.
Sashaying her way into the tent, with a fluid grace Nadja skeptically eyes the Great Zograthy. As she gazes about the room, she mentally nudges Dagon, with an air of interest, urging her companion to test the air while she patiently waits for his reply.
With a cold smile Nadja sits down at the table across from the fortune teller. Disconcerting to be on the other side... still I should know what to look for. Casually she takes up the dog eared harrow deck and begins to skillfully array then, as if telling Zograthy fortune.
"Great and powerful Zograthy." Nadja intones, flipping over the first card. "I see you visited by wanderers from afar... those who might be finders of pathways." Flipping over the second she motions to it. Ah the twin, but these are not the first seekers to come to you for this past knowledge. Yea, you have walked this path before. Gracefully turning over the third she motions to it. "The Golden Key. You hold the key to the knowledge they seek." Turning the final card over Nadja smiles. "The Rabbit Prince inverted. A powerful omen to be heeded, as you know." Sliding forward a double fist of silver, Nadja smiles. What oh great one can you tell us of Natalya Vancaskerkin?"
Calendir carefully surveys the scene, not only before they enter the tent, looking for potential threats, but also on the inside, observing the space inside and peering outsdide while listening to the conversation at hand. All the time, in such close quarters, his hand rests casually behind his back, on the massive greatsword.
Sly one that Nadja. - he thinks to himself while keeping a watch.
Perception:
Amazing Zogarthy seems ready to say something as Nadja grabs ahold of his harrow deck, but the "seer" holds for a moment and simply listens to her.
"Not just seekers of knowledge, but of secrets, yes?" He grins and leans back in the chair. "Those are my perhaps my greatest trade!" He looks to the silver coins lying on the table and greed flashes across his eyes for a moment before he looks back to Nadja. "Fifty gold coins and I will tell you what I know of Miss Vancaskerkin." He grins and gestures to the table.
Amazing Zogarthy seems ready to say something as Nadja grabs ahold of his harrow deck, but the "seer" holds for a moment and simply listens to her.
"Not just seekers of knowledge, but of secrets, yes?" He grins and leans back in the chair. "Those are my perhaps my greatest trade!" He looks to the silver coins lying on the table and greed flashes across his eyes for a moment before he looks back to Nadja. "Fifty gold coins and I will tell you what I know of Miss Vancaskerkin." He grins and gestures to the table.
Nadja narrows her eyes at the Amazing Zogarthy. So he assumes us rubes? Gracefully rising from the table Nadja, slides the coins back into the folds of her dress and turns to her companions making ready to leave.
"Let us go seek out our second informant. I thought that being from the people would have carried some favor. Clearly I was mistaken. We will find the information elsewhere and for far less." Pausing at the door of the tent Nadja turns back to Zogarthy. I might be persuaded to do business with you, just so I don't have to travel half-way across the city for the information I seek, but fifty gold is far too expensive. Ten is far more reasonable."
Amazing Zogarthy stands up from the table as the varisian woman goes to leave. "Wait, wait! Let's not be hasty here." He pauses for a moment. "Twenty-five gold coins, perhaps? Ten is simply too little. More than simply money, I cannot be giving away secrets, and at such a price, I practically am. I have a reputation to maintain and that is nearly everything to a person such as I."
Raven watches as Nadja bargains with Zogarthy, impressed with her skill. With hope she could get the information for a song. She is surprised when suddenly Bertholdt attempts to change tactics. Placing her hand on Bertholdt's shoulder, she whispers to him...
Raven will lead Bertholdt outside the tent.
Fool of a man! Nadja hisses to herself, before carefully composing her face back into a smile towards Zogarthy. "Twenty-five gold is acceptable. And please forgive my companion. He does know not the people the way you and I do." Fishing into the sleeves of her dress, Nadja withdraws twenty five gold, and lays them on the table.
Calendir actually snickers inward as he was about to have a similar burst at the so-called "Amazing" one...
"Let us see what Nadja can pull off, if not I may have to jump on him just for good measure" - he thinks for himself as he nods in understanding at Bertholdt leaving the tent.
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The feathers on Omoro's neck raise at Bertholdt's explosion, and Omoro bows to the Amazing Zogarthy as Raven escorts the man outside. "Please accept my apologies as well, Zogarthy-san. I may not know the ways of your peoples, but one learns manners quickly in Tien Xia."
Assisting Nadja's Diplomacy:
Outside Zogarthy's tent, Raven will lead Bertholdt off to the side, making it less obvious waiting for the others. "Anyone watching will have noticed, but this should be less conspicous in general," she thinks to herself.
In a low voice, she talks to Bertholdt, hoping it simply seems a private conversation. "I do appreciate the raw passion you displayed. There are times when it will get things done quickly. But negotiation is an art, one that takes time to master." Though her voice is low, her tone is still stern.
"Think of it as a swordfight, the two fighters maneuvering back and forth, each testing the other's defense. The same concept as here. I would never think to put myself between you and another of the blade, I would only be a burden. Rather I would support you while you lead." Raven softens abit at this point. "Though there may be times when we will have need of that passion. Don't let this one moment get you down. I'm glad to see you willing to take such a stand. Thank you for that." She gives the warrior a smile.
Amazing Zogarthy looks surprised at Bertholdt's sudden outburst. He seems about to yell, but Nadja's and Omoro's quick words seem to cause him to hold for a moment.
He sighs and shakes his head before scooping up the gold. "I know that Natalya Vancaskerkin has not been seen for a few days. There have been a number of disappearances, mainly amongst the poor of city, mostly here in Beacon's Point as well as Dockside and Underbridge." His tone goes dark. "As long as the disappearances keep to poor Varisians and other such folk, there is little chance of the city doing anything. The Sczarni are quite... interested in these disappearances. We are troubled by them." He stops for a moment. "Her disappearance might be tied to such things. The rumor is that Nidalese slavers are involved... but I have little faith of that."
He stops again for a moment, pondering something. "Natalya was... is a member of the Tower Girls. They are mostly cat burglars, but the rumors are that they are the ones most interested in finding her. I doubt that they will be happy to see her."
"Now, are there any other topics you'd like to know about or was that all?" He grins.
After hearing this, Calendir steps outside, and heads on over towards where Raven and Bertholdt are gathered.
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Omoro tuts as he hears Zogarthy's answers. Nothing we didn't already know, other than there's other disappearances. That might be our angle.
"I thank you, Zogarthy-san, your answer has been most enlightening. It does concern me that there are so many people disappearing in Magnimar's poor districts, but I am hardly surprised that the authorities do nothing as long as it does not affect their coffers. How many more people have gone missing? And why do you not suspect the Nidalese in this?"
Amazing Zogarthy looks at Omoro. "There are only rumors, no evidence. Nothing has been found to suggest that these slavers actually exist."
Nothing new if you ask me. - Calendir informs Bertholdt - It seems she was a member of the... Tower Girls..? We have heard about this before?
"Did he provide any other information, their relationship with Natalya, if we would be able to contact them?" Raven is annoyed at Calendir's return, but says nothing. Nadja seemed confident in such matters, and hopefully knew the right questions to ask.
"It seems to me Zogarthy that if the Tower Girls have been seeking out Natalya then they might be our best source of information. Do you know where they have been working from, or anyone they have been in contact with recently? Because as of now, you have not given me any information that I did not already know, except for missing persons that I care nothing for. If you don't know where I can find Natalya at, then who would?" Clicking her nails on the table in a slow methodical manner, she wills Dagon to run its way out of her sleeve as she coldly begins to pet it, while staring at Zogarthy the whole time. Tell me the truth, and if I learn what has happened to the missing persons, I may share the information with you. Smiling coldly she cradles the viper and looks Zogarthy in the eye.
"Hmmm... For anyone other than the people, I would not speak of this. I do not know the location of the Tower Girls. They have disappeared as well, although their members are still occasionally seen on the streets." He pauses for a moment. "However, I do know where they were. An abandoned warehouse in Underbridge shared by Fenster the Blight."
Clasping her hands together, Nadja stands and gives a short bow to the wrinkled man. "You have my gratitude Zogarthy. It will not be forgotten." As she turns to make her way out of the tent Dagon slithers its way back into the folds of her dress. Stepping out of the tent she gives the party a half-cocked smile "We should seek out a man in Underbridge named Fenster the Blight. Zogarthy informed me that the Tower Girls were last seen in a warehouse that Fenster is reputed to occupy. And you Bertholdy..." Nadja slowly sizes up hulking, scruffy looking man, eyes narrowing. "You should leave negotiations to others better suited to it. In return I'll leave swinging an axe, or some other appropriately heavy object to you. Are we clear?" Sniffing in distaste, Nadja crosses her arms and taps her foot. "Unless there any objections, we should head to Underbridge."
Calendir smiles at Nadja's scorn and comments to Bertholdt - You just gotta love that girl, don't you?
Let us be off then to look for this Fenster character - where shall we start?
Knowledge (Loccal):
Calendir recalls the location of the this particular warehouse and you all set off to Underbridge.
The warehouse is an abandoned, collapsing structure, not really worth inhabitation. Peeking inside, there is a small shelter in the corner, constructed from a pair of rowboats and other flotsam that lean against the far corner. Debris lies scattered about the largely open interior and shafts of sunlight stream down through the torn roof.
Sitting next to the entrance, identifiable due to a curtain made from the scraps of a ship's sail, sets an old sea chest with a broken lid. A sign leans against the chest, in front of a dented tin platter, that reads "LEEV A GIFT AND WATE OUTSID".
"Interesting." With a simple spell, the sound of several coins falling into the tin platter can be heard.
Calendir carefully surveys the scene for potential dangers - looking for someone on watch, or maybe another avenue to approach the warehouse.
Perception:
"Calendir' Prompts Nadja tapping her chin in thought. "You were familiar with where this Fenster was located. Do you know why he is called "the Blight"?"
Knowledge (local) if another roll is needed:
His senses alert, focused with the scouting task at hand, Calendir nonetheless ponders Nadja's question - Not now Nadja, that is something to be answered at a later time... Right now I need focus...
Putting his finger to his lips, and looking at Nadja, Calendir just goes ahead and does something he knows brings a high risk of upsetting her - Hush now Nadja, silence please, shhhhh...
Perception: You can see the faint sparkle of light glimmering off of something moving slightly just inside the doorway.
Signaling the others, Calendir points at the door and draws his greatsword as silently as possible.
Stealth:
Insolent Fool! Nadja hisses to herself while crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at the audacity of one of her lessers. For just a moment Nadja pictures herself willing him into sleep, only to have him wake chained and shackled as Dagon's venom slowly drains away his vitality. In the blink of an eye the vision is gone and Nadja coldly smiles, showing perfect white teeth. This will not be forgotten, Brute! The Sczarni always repay their debts.
Uncertain what has Calendir so spooked, Raven carefully draws her dagger, her other hand unconsciouly going to the raven's foot on her neck.
Calendir signals Bertholdt and then points to the door.
Calendir nods at Bertholdt in confirmation.