The women take the lead while Karethas and Amir continue deliberating. Returning to the markets of Lower City, Varkata quickly finds the tall girl that seemed to know Radi. She goes by the name Sukham, you discover. She knows that he has found employment with a powerful slaver and smuggler known as Father Jackal. Radi has indeed boasted about it and how well he has been paid to betray the stingy adventurers he was serving before.
Kzrira us pretty useless on the social skills.
Diplomacy(aid another): <-- missed it by that much
"Slaver!" Karethas spits out in disgust. "After we just rescued him from slaving gnolls. Radi needs to pay with his lying, double-dealing tongue! Amir, find Radi and he can probably tell us where the Dean is hidden."
Not at all surprised by Radi's choice of masters, Kzrira rolls her eyes.
We need to make an example of this Father Jackal. An example that says any and all slavers who interfere with the Heroes of Kelmarane shall be responded to with great prejudice.
She then waits for Amir to determine the next step.
Sukham says that Father Jackal runs a place called the Garden of Chains in the Twilight District. That is enough to jangle the old rogue's chains. Amir knows the place, a slave auction that deals in special illicit orders smuggled through the city's old underground waterway.
Kzrira considers this information.
Accessed via an underground waterway. How convenient.
Varkata chuckles, "Noticed that too, huh?"
The heat of the day grows as you pass through the throngs of the Lower City markets and beneath the aptly named Jackal Gate into the Twilight Gate District. Amir leads you quickly to the Garden of Chains not far from the River Scorpius.
Like many of the buildings of the district, it has been renovated from the old ruins that were uncovered in the expansion of the city after the coming of the Pactmasters. From the outside it is a thick walled adobe structure with a pair of old towers designed to vent off the heat and draw up cool air from underground. Peering in you see a rounded atrium like balcony surrounding a lowered area that once served as a tranquil water garden.
Now the upper area has been partitioned into a series of small slave pens and an auction block. The lower area has several food carts positioned around an empty cistern. These serve the buyers and sellers as they peruse the goods and make deals. A spattering of gnolls is seen among the mainly human slavers. The caged slaves are mainly human and halfling.
The adventurers step back outside into the heat and noonday sun to make their plan.
Karethas suggests, "Amir could go down there disguised with his mask. Scout things out, maybe find Radi or a clue to where the dean is held. If we find Radi than we can shake him down for the dean's location. If he has to Amir can grease a few palms to see if someone saw them bring a man of the dean's description around here."
Kzrira nods.
I hate splitting up in the heart of the enemy, but that sounds like a reasonable plan. I do not think we have the fire power to just move in, and even if we did, it would assuredly bring the wrath of the Packmasters.
Amir nods at Karethas, Yes that might be best. We might think one day of seeing if we can secure the magics to split up and stay in touch with one another, I have heard of such things in the market before.
Assuring that he is relatively out of sight Amir will touch his hand to the hat and focus on his desired appearance: a slightly taller pale Elven man with green eyes and dressed in muted jewel tones with knives and a satchel where there are swords and the shoulder bag of the rogue. He has the hat take the shape of an ivory and jade hair clip something Amir saw once on a visiting merchant from Kyonin.
Varkata says, "Such magics do not sound divine in nature."
The tall elf gives you a nod with a mischievous grin that settles into an indifferent expression as he enters the cool innards of the refurbished ancient water gardens. There are a couple of speculative glances from the other merchants, but no one moves to interact with the foreigner. An inspection of the slave pens does not reveal Xobhadi so the elf descends to the lower floor decorated with ancient mosaic tiles that are now cracked and chipped.
Two human and two gnoll thugs bookend the auction block where three slaves are currently being displayed. A wooden platform holds the auctioneer above the press of bidding merchants with another gnoll brute guarding the base of the structure. Amir sees more guards, human and gnoll, toward the rear of the room by the large cistern. His eyes are pulled to an unusually fat gnoll with greasy fur and a curl to his lip that looks particularly sadistic even for a gnoll. This must be the overseer.
Karethas casts Mage Armor on himself, extending the duration to 12 hours. He curses his own limitations that he cannot cast Arcane Eye to keep an eye on the old man. Instead he moves back to the spot where they could see into the building and tries to look inconspicuous as he tries to find the tall elf.
Varkata says, "I really wish one of us could go with him, to be honest... But since we have to assume they know us well enough to identify us... well... the question becomes should we linger here, in case Amir needs us, but risk giving him away.... or should we continue our investigation -- or at least be seen doing so?"
She winces slightly at her own suggestion, then shrugs, "I wouldn't mind seeing the scene of the abduction, for one thing.... learning what the guards know, or suspect, for another.... and, for that matter, try to hear what's being whispered in dark corners about the scroll and who may be bragging about owning it, or looking to sell it."
Karethas glances back at Varkata, "Dividing our tasks is efficient, but not particularly safe. I'd rather be found out than leave Amir alone in there."
Varkata says, "I just worry that we're the ones putting him at risk in our desire to help him... and I can't think of a reason to have us all in the area that doesn't risk us being recognized."
Kzrira looks from the priestess to the mage and back:
Lets go and find a tavern nearby. One where we can keep an eye out for our "elvish" friend.
I agree that more investigation is better, but will not leave Amir alone. I trust those gnolls as far as I can throw them. And considering the size of most of them, that is not far.
Varkata chuckles grimly, "I get that. My natural inclination is to offer to chop them up for you so you can throw them farther."
Amir makes his way to the overseer careful to approach in a mix of confidence and belonging but not wanting to project arrogance, he needed these gnolls to be their version of cooperative after all. Amir approaches ready to be stopped by guards before reaching the sadistic looking gnoll.
Upon the disguised rogue's approach, one of the gnoll guards jokes to the overseer
Elf Amir offers an appreciative chuckle and bows, speaking in gnoll We taste best slow roasted I am told. But today I seek a greedy pup, not one in chains but I hear known to you. His name is Radi and my partners and I are looking for him...
The obese gnoll laughs loudly, clearly amused by the strange elf. "All flesh is for sale. I would almost give the annoying pup to you for free, but um, out of respect for our working relationship I should really ask a fair price."
Amir elf bows deeply "Of course. And what would the house ask for him?"
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The gnoll laughs cruelly, "I'm asking for 50 scarabs, but I'm not wrapping the whelp up for you. I'll point you and your partners in the right direction. That's all."
Amir elf produces the coin easily, More than fair.
The fat gnoll licks his sharp teeth lascivious as he counts again and pockets the coin. Jutting his chin toward the back of the lower chamber, he says in a low tone, "That cistern back there enters the old qanat. Keep heading south and west and you'll find him."
Amir makes his way back to the others and tells them what is going on, having them follow him to where Radi is supposed to be...
Cover up, I will maintain my disguise...
Amir grabs the others who are looking somewhat suspicious only from their rather tense stance despite the people passing down the busy street who pay them no mind. Reentering, the attention is all on the new batch of slaves for sale and the overseer just waves off the guards at the back to let you through.
At the far end of the cistern, a trough passes under a low arc and slopes gently down a ways before ending in a well with a ladder leading into a chamber below. You can hear an argument in gnoll about who has killed the biggest man echoing up.
"Good work old man!" Karethas says with a smile. He pulls the veil from his hot weather gear and covers his face. He follows him down to the tunnel and casts Light on Amir's sword. Once they reach the ladder he dismisses his spell and looks back down the way they have come. He whispers to Amir, "If I make you invisible can you take them out quietly?"
Varkata whispers, "I can use a silence spell to prevent them from raising an alarm."
Kzrira glances over at Varkata:
Hold your magic until we need it. Right now we are not enemies. Lets try to keep it that way. There are far too many guards here. I could shoot all day, and would still not be able to take them all down.
She grins:
Not that I would not mind trying to rid the area of them.
If I were to be invisible that would aid any attempt to get close to them. Such an advantage would not allow me to dispatch them but it might provide an opportunity for me to create enough of a distraction for the rest of you to descend in less danger?
Varkata says, "A good point... As much as I'd love to slice up the furballs, they aren't yet or enemies... Coin and subterfuge may be the better plan. "
She smiles grimly and adds, "And then slaying the foul things can still be our fallback plan."
Kzrira grins as she responds to Amir:
Remember, if you are trying to imitate one of those dogs, it is best to plug your nose and then fill your mouth half full with dung.
Karethas sighs, "Sorr, I think Kzrira is right, too much risk of stirring up a hornet's nest if we attack them and it goes wrong. I think bribing might be the best course of action?" He looks to Amir, "What do you think?"
Varkata chuckles grimly, "We can always reclaim our coin when we kill them on the way out.. "
Kzrira looks at her companions and then around at the slave pens and marketplace.
As much as I hate to do it, I think that greasing a few palms may be the best alternative at this point.
Amir elf approaches the ladder and in Gnoll call down I am here for the human Radi, what would it cost to let me see him?
[dice= "Gnoll" Diplomacy?]d20+6[/dice]
Amir peers into the well and makes an offer which is greeted by snickering.