"I got 25 silver I'll throw your way for the information wee seek, and another 25 if by some miracle you happen to be right". "Or maybe we could make some other arrangement". "It's getting late, and the place is not exactly crawling with customers".
Perception
Profession: Merchant
The signs are clear - a slight shivering, stinting eyes, a reddened nose. Kassandra sighs at Zograthy as he babbles about gold and silver. "Bah. Just another pesh addict. Will you really find the secrets of the universe in a drug? That's pathetic. How can we know you're serious and not just hallucinating?".
Zorathy's smile fades. "Clearly, you speak of things you do not personally know," he says in a brittle tone. His eyes flick to Oscar. "If you have come to insult me, you are succeeding quite well, but if you have actually come to find whoever it is you are looking for, you are doing a remarkably bad job of it."
Uraisa glances at Kassandra. What a strange negotiating technique. I hope she has another plan.
"You." Miet points to Kassandra "Stop helping." Miet thinks for a second "How about that gem we found?"
Shiv quietly slips behind the tent and takes up a position nonchalantly cleaning his fingernails as the negotiations take place. Frowning to himself as he overhears bits of the conversation, this grub wants ta fleece us, wonder if'n he'd be a bit more friendly like with me offer'n ta give em a gut full o' steel.
Ellantera remains outside the tent. Finding a crate to sit on, she pulls out the old dagger that got displaced by the shiny new silver one and begins carving a piece of discarded lumber.
She watches those near the tent and listens to the discussion within, not sure she likes the tone even though she really doesn't make out the words that well.
"I don't mean to insult you, but you insult us". "You don't even know what we want to know, yet you've already set a price"? "Maybe all I want to know is where the closest Kumquat on a stick vendor is". "How about we ask the question, before you tell us how much you're going to shaft us for"?
Diplomacy
Zograthy's lip curls. "You've already told me what you're looking for, and you have come to the Amazing Zograthy to find it," he says coldly. "I know my reputation, and I assure you, if you have sought out my tent in search of answers, the answers I will provide are worth the price I've set. I suggest you pay my fee so that we can move along."
"Oh definetly" Miet agrees nodding "Tell me would you be willing to accept a trade of items instead of gold for this?" She puts on her friendliest grin
Diplomacy
The sneering smile on Zograthy's face softens a little. "Ah, now this one I like," he says. "She understands. The secrets of the universe hide in many places - gold is simply the most common means of accessing those places. Yes, my friend, I would be pleased to accept something of suitable value in trade for my knowledge. Let us see what you have to offer."
"Well we have this gem ." She holds up the unidentified gem "Now I admit I am not exactly sure what it is but surly it must be worth what your asking?"
In response to Miet's earlier request, Ellantera sticks her head through the tent flap and says, "I have some gold, but I do not have 50 pieces. Will that help?"
Oscar shakes his head at Ellantera's offer. "Well why don't we just announce to him that we've all got tons of money, and let him hold out for more". "Have none of you ever bartered"? He then sits down, and slaps his hands to his head, groaning, and shaking his head.
Surprisingly, the remark brings a hard glint to the girl's eyes. "From what I heard from outside the tent, I don't think you have any room to talk about bartering skills. What did you offer? A tenth of his request? I would be showing you the tent flap, too."
Zograthy smiles thinly at the bickering in his tent, but reaches below his desk and produces a jeweler's loupe, which he fits expertly to his right eye and holds out a hand for Miet's gem.
Miet offers the gem for inspection.
Galyna ignores the sounds of bickering coming from inside the tent, instead studying the alleyway
Perception
Zograthy takes the gem with a slight nod of thanks, then holds it up to the light for a moment before turning his loupe on it and giving it a thorough examination.
His eyebrows slowly raise as he looks over the gem, and when he finally finishes his inspection, he fixes the gnome with a firm stare. "You have absolutely no idea what you've given me, here, have you?" he asks, shaking his head slightly. "Yes, I will accept this in exchange for the information you require. Moreover, if you'll wait here, I'll get the rest of your payment. I think you'll find it satsifactory." He stands up, limping out of the tent on his ornately-carved cane.
If we can pull a slight reset...
"Miet, this magical gem might be worth hundreds or thousands of gold. Before we just give it away, let's try some of the other gems," the wizard offers to the gnome pleadingly.
Zograthy takes one of the mundane gems and eyes it critically through his jeweler's lens for a few moments. After completing his examination, he nods once, pulling off the loupe and tucking it under the table once more. "Sufficient," he says, smiling with something more like warmth. "You have my full attention and cooperation. Ask your questions, my friends."
"We are looking for a lady named Natalya, and we were told that you might have that information," the young mage looks around the room for the other's approval, hoping she was not screwing up too badly.
Ellantera smiles and nods her affirmation in response to the mage's glance.
Kassandra examines Zograthy skeptically, unsure if she should believe anything coming out of his mouth, but keeping silent for the moment.
Zograthy pauses, waiting for more information. When none seems to be immediately forthcoming, his eyebrows raise slightly. "I'm sorry, my dear, but I will need a bit more than that. Natalya who? What else do you know about this girl?"
"Her last name is Vancaskerkin. We're concerned she might have gotten herself into some trouble, but we don't know where to look. We can't help her if we can't find her. We thought you might be able to help us track her down."
Zograthy frowns, looking displeased. "Ah, Vancaskerin. A difficult thing. No, I must admit, I do not know where she is, but I will tell you what I can of her. She is one of the Sczarni, and until recently was a member of the gang known as the Tower Girls, an all-female group of, ah, what is the term? 'Second story men.' Or women, I suppose, in this instance. She has disappeared, and my contacts tell me the Tower Girls themselves are looking for her, with fire in their eyes and their daggers close to hand. I gather her departure was not entirely peaceful, and some have even hinted that Natalya had gone mad before she vanished. It seems that the search has been ongoing for several days, though, with no success - and, in truth, such a thing is unusual for the Sczarni, who have resources and experience both when it comes to finding those who have gained their ire." He pauses, stroking his chin.
"Many folk along the waterfront, both here in Beacon’s Point and over in Dockway and Underbridge, have been disappearing of late," he goes on at last. "A few each week, in fact, with many simply vanishing out of their very beds at night. Given the challenge finding her has so far presented to the Sczarni, I suspect that Natalya is among those who have disappeared in this manner." Zograthy's tone takes on a bitter note as he continues, "As long as only poor Varisians and other destitute folk are being targeted, the chances of the city doing anything about the disappearances are simply nonexistent. I can assure you that it is not a Sczarni plot — indeed, the Sczarni seem quite interested in solving the vanishings themselves, but are not seeking aid in that effort." He stops again, as if weighing whether to continue, but finally goes on. "If anything, it is harder to contact actual Sczarni leaders these days than it is normally. The leading theory on the street is that the vanished folk are the victims of slavers who then secretly sell them offshore at night to Nidalese ships; I put no stock in such rumors, but must confess I cannot offer an alternative explanation at this time."
"um, would more gold get us more information," the Mage asks, not being able to decipher anything from the fortune teller.
"Hmm". "I have not heard these rumors". "Perhaps we should frequent a few less savory taverns, and see if our coin, and a few ale's could loosen any tongues".
Zograthy smiles, a hint of frost returning to the expression as he turns his attention to Oscar. "Indeed," he says, eyeing Oscar distastefully before looking back across at Uraisa. "More gold spent here would accomplish nothing - I have told all that I know. But spent elsewhere, you might well learn much more."
"Thank you for your time, sir. I think we might want to keep this conversation between us, what do you think?"
Uraisa looks around, and hopes this uncomfortable conversation is over, so she can scurry back outside.
They all think I'm an idiot...I know I screwed something up.
"Of course," Zograthy smiles at Ellantera. "The secrets of the universe are not candy to be tossed to children. I am always the soul of discretion." He bows his head and raises his hands, as if delivering a parting benediction to you all.
Once you have reassembled outside the tent, you can easily get one another up to speed on the information you have gained.
Diplomacy
Time
Miet undertakes asking around with great enthusiasim
Oscar takes his place at Miet's side attempting to aid her golden tongue.
Diplomacy Assist.
And frowns as he seems to be losing his grasp of the intricacies of the common tongue.
It is early evening before Miet is satisfied with the answers she has gotten, but as the group's thoughts begin to turn toward supper, she has learned that the word on the streets is that one of the "sales" of kidnapped victims to the Nidalese slavers is planned for tonight at midnight, at a boarded-up tavern in Dockway once called the Puffy Pelican.
It is about 5 in the afternoon now. What would you like to do?
"If we have a few hours, I would love to grab a bite of dinner, if that would be ok with the rest of you. Midnight is still a long way off..."
Nodding his agreement with Uraisa, "Some grub is in order. All this watchin' people yap has gotten me hungry. Then I suggest catchin' a few hours shuteye so yer fresh fer a long night."
"Dinner and a nap then". "I love being an adventurer".