You arrive at the Dancing Dunes just on sunset, as you seek entry, friendly staff insist on your weapons being ‘peace bonded’ prior to you entering the building.
A spectacularly groomed garden of colorful sand occupies most of this two-story cabaret’s ground floor. A narrow wooden bridge winds about a trio of decorative obelisks dotting the miniature desert. A lavish sitting area filled with divans occupies the second-floor balcony granting a magnificent view of the garden below. Private curtained chambers encircle the garden, where lush rugs, soft mattresses, or piles of throw pillows serve to cushion the repose of clientele in each chamber. A door off the northern balcony opens to a staircase leading down to the street, while another set of stairs to the east leads down to the garden.
The garden covers an area 40 feet to a side, and the second story sits 15 feet above the ground floor.
The Dancing Dunes serves as a teahouse by day, a cabaret in the evening, and a den of ill repute in the latest hours of the night. Local movers and shakers employ the Dancing Dunes as a meeting place to discuss business, in all of its varieties. As the evening begins, you each pay the cover charge of a gold piece -servants set up a small stage in the northwest sand garden where performers begin to sing, dance, and play instruments. Everburning torches provide normal light during the evening performances.
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Magrim tries to keep as low of a profile as he can with a dinosaur at his heels. The dusty dwarf seems out of place in such an establishment, but he nudges Kel as they walk around looking for a table.
You own a bar, right? A place like this probably sells a lot of liquor. Why don't you see if we can get Madam Zelekhati to meet with us, tell her you'd like to be her alcohol supplier. We have to get our foot in the door before we can find out her secret.
The shows continue as you talk...
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The barbaric 'bodyguard' does what 'bodyguards' are supposed to do, and watches the corners, the comings and goings of various people, and generally tries to look serious enough to be providing the cover story strength but at the same time trying to enjoy the surroundings.
Let's see if the rumors about elves and half-elves are true. I've got a weird feeling... Is that what a hunch is?
Unfortunately (fortunately?) no, that scheme is not evident
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Henrick orders a few drinks, downing them fairly quickly. As he finishes, he starts bragging about how he is a great explorer and sometimes courier, and "whoa, if only you knew the secrets I could tell, lads!".
He is, of course, trying to present himself as a viable target for however secrets get collected here...
It doesn't take long before a friendly attendant asks "Do you come here on business?"
An exotic half elven lady soon appears at your table, "I am Madame Zelekhati, welcome to the Dancing Dunes, come, lets us wander the place and admire the performers and the art whilst we talk - I hear you have business to discuss?"
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That sounds wonderful, Magrim says, offering a dusty arm to escort her on the walk.
When they are out of earshot of any other patrons: We've heard you...know a great many things. Can you use this knowledge to tell us about the Hundredfingers Gang? We've heard that they, too, have uncovered some secret knowledge and, well, if you're better at learning secrets than they are, we would like to introduce you to someone who desires a mutually beneficial business arrangement.
Agraic
Henrick
Kel
Magrim
Rogelio
She feigns amusement at the request "What wagging tongue suggested I might know about them" - her pelasant demeanour and musical laughter would almost have you believe it too.
As you walk and talk it is Magrim that notices that part of the gardens patterns shift subtly... following you.
AND
Magrim also notes that Zelekhati has a nervous habit of twisting the large stone ring on her hand, particularly whenever she glances at her garden.
"Torch. If what you said you thought I was was true, then he'd be a competitor no?"
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Look sharp--something's following us. See how the patterns are shifting?
Magrim frowns, but nods at the mention of Torch.
Aye, we're working with Torch. Our business relationship is one of necessity. We are here to find something of great historical value to Osirion, but first we have to jump through Torch's hoops. If you know the man, then I don't need to tell you it's better to have him as an ally than an enemy. Do you really want to compete with him? His reach is far. Share your secrets with him, and you'd stand to profit from it, certainly more so than if you try to oppose him. So, what would you have us tell him?
She contemplates this for a moment, "That depends on what you want to tell him doesn't it?" she smiles as she continues walking to a small bridge under another art installation "Look at this artwork, some may say they see the canvas, some may see the paint, and other might report about the skill of the artist" she looks back at the party.
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Kel finally pipes up.
What my associates are trying to say, my lady, is that they are looking for a route that keeps everyone happy. As a fellow business owner, I can assure you that I am looking for the same. Besides, you didn't mention the thing that people like you and I see when we look at the painting: the time and effort it took to perfect it. I think you and I can both agree that if we put a little effort into this, we can keep Torch happy and your business's... affairs, exactly as they are. Perhaps you could give us something to tell him that is... less impactfu to you,, but still substantial enough for him that he remains satisfied?
The man ends his statement with a wink, and a bow.
"If I was what you say I am, then Torch will be looking more to have me shut out as a competitor. Perhaps if you discovered the secret was one of the performers happened to be a good lip reader, and you caught her out - why tomorrow if she left all of a sudden that would be tragic. Perhaps that what you might tell him, that you have exposed the identity of the spy and informant, and now they had little choice but to move on - thus spoiling any operation that was here... if there was one here of course. Tomorrow a contingent of performers and staff will move on"
"How would that story suit you?"
"The contortionist, she was a spy all along, and in the morning there will be a hasty departure, quiet, but obvious enough - if someone were looking, and I am certain someone will be... by the time you got back to Torch the news would already be old and he'd probably be telling you"
"We have an agreement?"
She smiles broadly "Glad we could agree and solve our mutual issues. It will be done".
For the rest of the night you enjoy significant largesse in complimentary foods and wine. The artistic and creative displays truly are a credit to the establishment and the artists...
At least one dwarf wakes the next morning with a shocking hangover. This is not helped by the fact that the group is in a desert city where brightness and light are in abundance.
Agraic catches news that something has the Hundredfingers gang spooked.
The normally ubiquitous thieves have been avoiding the bazaar for a few days.
He does have a lead on their likely location in the slums...
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Agraic will get together with the rest of the party and note that their name-dropping may have made the job a bit rougher, especially conflating it with Zelekhati... Who may or may not have also conflated them with other folks as 'payback' for leaning on her a bit or Torch for being pushy. All's fair in cloak 'n' dagger, right?
"Y'know, if y'r name's in th' mouth 'f others, make sure it has teeth, an' all? 'm prob'ly blown as far as the sneaky route, so just tell me where y' want me t' position to make this meeting work... and be ready for the fact we could be walkin' into an ambush?"
Two rows of decrepit wooden shacks are separated by an alley that serves more as a filthy runnel than a pathway. Broken wooden doors do little to keep the elements or vermin out, but there is little within to steal. Few of the shacks boast more than a chair or two and several threadbare bedrolls.
An apothecary, wanders offering her ware. As she passes you by, she gives a pitch - half sales, half full of hope - "Curatives and salves for what ails you, from bruises and broken bones, sewer gut, or even this ointment that can restore flesh as readily as the legendary sun orchid elixir! Great for cuts, abrasions and even the deepest burns!" she hunts your faces for signs of interest.
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Kel takes the pity on the woman, his eyes searching her for visible threats before answering.
Aye, well it's good I ran into you, then, because breakfast gave the me the worst case of... Well, you get the picture. Do you have anything to help me before I have to buy new trousers?
He speaks kindly, and the rest of the group obviously knows it's a made up story to have a reason to purchase something.
However, being the thieve's guild member and fence savvy business owner that he is, he also is well aware that this could be a way for thieve's to see who has anything worth stealing, and an ambush. His hand stays near his rapier.
She looks sagely at Kel and clinks around with some vials, "A tincture of vervain should cure that, one silver it will set you back to stop your innards feeling like they are creeping to the outtards" she smiles, pleased to be doing business "It's a slow day" she laments as she draws a bit of wrapping paper for the small glass vial and looks to Kel to confirm the trade
Perception
As she looks down, the movement of her neck brings into a view a rather nice amber talisman, a touch expensive for a local, she obviously makes a good living.
Make a DC12 (know local)
It is a token of the Red Mantis Assassins
"I could charge more in Magnimar or Absalom perhaps - but in Eto one needs to be more modest with their fee" She smiles as she tenders the goods.
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Kel smiles as he takes the tonic in hand.
Aye, that you could. A cure of this magnitude and this size would cost five gold at least in Magnimar, take my word for it!
He chuckles, but doesn't ingest the tonic yet.
Tell me madam, why is an apothecary of your skill working here, and not a bigger city? I don't get the feeling it's about profit for you, that's for certain. Is it to help the needy of this area?
His rapier hand stays put. When he sees the necklace, he doesn't change demeanor or say anything. Yet.
But tell me, my new friend. You seem like someone who... knows things around here. I am to procure a message for an acquaintance. Would you happen to be able to direct me to the people I'm to meet?