Seeing the party getting more comfortable with each other, Binderbald claps his hands and says excitedly, "Ah, wonderful wonderful wonderful! I love seeing agents getting along well. So, your task. There are a few merchants here in Skyside who's been hawking counterfeit Tetrad wares. I need you to track them down and see who's been leaking the products or schematics. Shouldn't be too tough, but Seyadiyek wanted to see how you handle a more mundane task."
"Certainly" Aakif answers, somewhat swallowing his pride. "Would you please enlighten us on what the wares are that we should be looking for?"
Finch address Elsa, Lanatir and Zyrel each by name, with the hope that speaking the handles aloud will brand the words into her memory.
As for what each says, she does her best to get a word in—
“I guess I can retire when folks start calling me ‘deep-pockets,’” she replies to Elsa, and of both her and Lanatir‘s expectations regarding skills with a shooting-iron… “There are those who claim they can shoot the butt off a dog’s flea, but my father didn’t raise no braggart. I hope my expertise with my weapon of choice will be self-evident should there be a need.”
P.S. simply smiles in reply to Zyrel’s apology, not wanting to imply there was a need, but also not diminishing the gentlemanly gesture. As for skills, “Well… my late father’d roll in his grave if I start tooting my horn in the same breath I said I wouldn’t. But I do play a mean tin sandwich, which I’ll proudly display when the time is right.”
P.S. listens to the task, then says to Zyrel, “Well, seems spotting a fake’s a skill I should mention to y’all. I do know my way around a poker table. And not that I’m a cheat, but can’t blame my keen eye should a fool flash his cards in my general direction.”
Zyrel gets three distinct words: <Pumpkin. Spice. Finch.> She then gestures, <That’s my true name. Call me by it when the opportunity arises to show you understood my hands. Just a little trick I learned at the convent.>
”Oh, yes yes yes! Most of it is kitchen appliances, though there’s also rather distressing rumor of series of, well, a line of trebuchet toys for children that are much stronger than expected.”
Finch is too mindful of her manners to utter a cuss word, but that’s not to say some rather unbecoming phrases haven’t crossed her mind.
“It’s one thing to manufacture a blender that makes smoothies rough, but a toy catapult strong enough to pult a cat? That’s child endangerment, and I won’t stand for it.” She stands up, ironic word-choice not lost on her. “—by which I mean I won’t sit and do nothing.
“So let’s keep the briefing brief, Mr. Binderbald. What other beans you got left to spill? A general location for the hawkers’ll do for a start.”
Zyrel nodded and added another question for the gnome "To confirm the mission; you want the people who supply these 'hawkers', not those people themselves. We would need to either interrogate, infiltrate, or investigate those people, and need to know if we need to punish or report them. Further, do we possess any legal power in this issue, or are we required to remain anonymous?"
Zyrel took a breath and turned to their new companion. "I absolutely agree with you regarding child endangerment Pumpkin."
Pumpkin smiles at the confirmation her hands were understood. (That trick don’t always work, she admits to herself.)
Patting her holsted revolver, she says, “It’s hard to form certain consonants with a barrel in one’s mouth, yet the taste of gunmetal’s an incentivizer for the otherwise silent.”
Wondering what people might think of her for suggesting such a notion, she adds, “My point’s that we’re thinking alike, Zyrel. The hawkers ain’t the real villains, we just need one to tell us where the counterfeits are manufactured.” To the party in general: “If infiltration’s the preferred method, I can be subtle.”
Subtle as a stick of dynamite up a bronco’s keister.
“…with effort.”
"I have some skill at assessing the value of goods and may be able to discern the real items from counterfeit."
Binderbald points at Zyrel, ”You’ve got it exactly correct my friend! Now, Tetrad jurisdiction is never exactly legal, per se, so all you need to do is find the sellers, track down the suppliers, and then inform us of who and where they are. Now, most of these hawkers are mostly in the shops of Skyside, though some have been spotted in Smokeside as well.”
“Great, so we got our task. And I suppose, after reporting, Tetrad does what’s needs doing from there. Here’s hoping it ain’t blowing up the factory.”
P.S. pauses… then quietly adds in a slightly less jovial tone, “With people in it.”
She watches Binderbald’s face to see how it changes when she first accuses her employer of wanton destruction, then in the next breath, murder. Can she glean what the nature of Tetrad’s retaliation will be, and whether they consider the counterfeiters’ grunts expendable?
She is prepared to explain herself.
Binderbald raises an eyebrow. His tone is far less chipper than it's been so far as he says, "Are you proposing collateral damage?" He makes an expression of concern as he jots something down, "Well, ah, let us hope this doesn't merit a report to the higher-ups, shall we? The Tetrad prefers to be invisible whenever possible, and wanton destruction is nothing if not visible."
The gnome seems genuinely concerned, in part for the sake of the lives of other, but also for the liability that an unstable member of the team could be.
“Apologies for concerning you, Mr. Binderbald. I am not a killer, as I said during the vetting process. Your tells, to my relief, assured me that likewise can be said for our mutual employer.”
She is relaxed as she explains, “When we get a hawker to talk, I’ll be similarly watching for tells to know if he’s lying, if he’s got a guess who sent us, if he’s potentially dangerous.”
As for the report, “Feel free to tell the higher-ups that the new gal has demonstrated an effective interrogation tactic that works just fine with hands in pockets and arms in holsters.” She repeats the apology, “Sorry I seemed to do so at your expense, Mr. Binderbald, and at the risk of my credulity. Said tactic does necessitate a particular element of surprise.”
Lanatir looks at Finch. Some sort of game that she likes to play?
"You did indeed get information from Binderbald, Miss Finch, but I think you may have misinterpreted it.
The Tetrad are not, to my understanding, particularly merciful or kind-hearted. They are subtle.
I would not be surprised if, after giving information about the counterfeiters to the Tetrad, those counterfeiters find themselves the victims of unfortunate accidents for which the Tetrad has plausible deniability.
One part of our prior mission, chasing down leads, seemed like it was headed towards a decision between breaking a deal or shedding a needlessly excessive of blood. Despite being new to the group and not particularly virtuous, even I felt the need to voice some scruples. As it was, circumstances solved that particular problem for us.
The Tetrad are killers at times. As we may be called upon to be. We were to eliminate Suradesh if he wouldn't return with us, after all.
But we are to be subtle, as the Tetrad is. I do not think we can expect to remain paragons of virtue while in their employ."
Finch turns to Binderbald, again, watching for his reaction to Lanatir’s words, particularly the ‘unfortunate accident’ part.
She twiddles her fingers a little as she listens and watches.
Aakif uses this time to pray and prepare some spells to aid him in the upcoming task.
Cantrips:
- Create Water
- Guidance
- Light
- Mending
1st:
- Ears of the City
- Bless
- Remove Fear
- Open
- Shield (domain)
2nd:
- Aid
- Restoration, Lesser
- Zone of Truth
- Locate Object (domain)
3rd:
- Agonizing Rebuke
- Blessing of the mole
- Fly (domain)
Zyrel cocked his head "For the record, I have made it clear that I am not willing to engage in pure assassination. If I kill, it is because I have decided to do so. That said, I also expect such a refusal would indicate the end of my employment."
"It would be extremely helpful to see an example of a counterfeit item and its genuine exemplar. Given the Tetrad has discovered the problem, can I assume such an example exists?"
Pumpkin admits, “I’ve seen men buried who’d died before their time. One in particular brought tears. Another, a smile.” She doesn’t elaborate.
“No matter. The gun stays in its holster ’til my hand’s forced. What say we give Skyside a go?” She’ll of course wait to see if Binderbald indeed has a sample of a counterfeit. If so, she’ll express her interest in seeing the dangerous toy. Perhaps seeing what such a thing might do will make her better understand why one would feel at ease taking a life.
Well being subtle tends to be the best in all. Elsa comments
Fights tend to be nasty affairs
Binderbald's got no samples of the counterfeit, though he gives descriptions of each of them. There are toasting forks that can apparently heat themselves through magic and mechanically enhanced rotary beaters. The trebuchets look like, well, trebuchets, but much stronger than normal. He also gives directions to several of the shops, one of which is in Skyside.
The party sets out through the crowded, dirty, bustling streets of Alkenstar. Street performances, hawkers, beggars, and every other manner of urban activity make it a place on constant chaos. They make their way through the streets of Skyside towards one of the sellers, eventually ending up at a shop proudly title in red and white text above the door, Seminvandil and Sons.
Pumpkin casually enters the store, pretending to browse. She is looking for a trebuchet and a clerk, and listening too… any of the Seminvandil fellas here now? Anyone commenting on the grown woman looking at toys for boys? What assumptions do they make, or are they tight lipped? She also watches for ogling eyes (and yes, she admits Else is the prettier one), and also nervous glances considering how many people entered the store carrying blades.
The two employees in the store are a pair of sharply dressed kobolds.
One of them hustles out to her and extends a small, scaly hand. He says with the friendly patter of an experienced salesman, "Good afternoon miss! Anything catching your eye today? We've got all sorts of household appliances for you and the rest of your house. If you've got some extra coin we've got a fantastic new broom straight from the magi-factoriums that is more than worth it's weight in gold."
Aakif asks Elsa outside the store. "Would you be interested, Miss Elsa, in going around the back of the shop? Markets looks grand and proper from the front, but the back is where they hide their dark secrets."
Magi-factoriums… probably not in a dead spot.
“Magi-factoriums, huh? What kind of a broom would they make there? One for riding?” She smiles pleasantly at the sharp-dressed kobold. As much as she’d see the dangerous toy, the salesperson’s assumptions allow her to spare the fish story. “I don’t suppose I can get a demonstration of the broom, or any other magical appliances.”
As they travel Zyrel runs through a list of contingencies and questions; setting rendevous points, choosing passwords, setting emergency words, checking for allergies...
Once they reach the shop he enters, and carefully looks over the various devices on display while Pumpkin takes the lead.
Sounds like a great idea, Padre. Let's go have a look. Elsa says smiling. The has a look around the back, Keeping quiet
Lanatir will look over the merchandise, mostly curious about what if anything seems to be an unusually good deal. He would take that as suggestive of possibly being a counterfeit item meant to move quickly.
Elsa begins to sneak around the back but sees a hulking half-orc standing outside the back door of the shop. She's sneaky, but something about the chaos of the city has thrown her off her game.
The prices seem generally fair to Lanatir. Granted, his years of wandering may have caused his grip of exact pricing of modern household goods to be skewed, but they seem just fine for what he knows. Zyrel is a little lucker, realizing that many of these devices seem to be of surprisingly shoddy quality. In searching around, though, they find empty shelves dedicated to both toasting forks and rotary beaters, small placards stating Out of stock, inquire with management.
The kobold gives a toothy grin, "The broom you say! Well of course." He retrieves a broom from a rack behind the counter and presses a carved wooden button on it. Just like that, it springs into motion, sweeping the floor on it's own. "Quite something, isn't it."
Pumpkin considers her function on the team, for now, is to distract… and get the salesman talking.
“Handier than a husband!” she exclaims with genuine enthusiasm, as magic does amaze her and she is not interested in a husband.
The best bluffs are comprised almost entirely of truth.
“So they got magi-factories making these things? I always thought factories would smoke out magic so it don’t work… but seeing’s believing.
“Are these produced locally? Y’know… buy Alkenstarian and all that! I can’t face my sewing circle if I don’t support the local manufacturers, but if there’s a magi-factorium here in Alkenstar, I just might persuade the gaggle to clean your shelves faster than a self-propelled broom.”
She pays attention to the kobold as well—is he suspicious of her question? Might she pick up a clue?
Aakif will loiter around the front of the store while Elsa sneaks around. He doesn't want to inadvertently abandon her.
Elsa smiles at the half-orc and backs off. Best not to start trouble.
Zyrel spends another moment checking lines of sight from the counter to the street, then strides forward.
"Do you sell scopes?" he demands, rudely, despite having seen none on the shelves. "Goggles? Scrolls?"
Lanatir is not exactly sure what he is supposed to be doing, so he just examines some gadgets out of curiosity. He has very marginal social skills and knows it.
Primarily, he is waiting for Aakif to return with further directions, since the Abadaran cleric has come up with a number of good ideas.
The kobold chuckles, "Miss, there are many magi-factoriums here in Alkenstar! Most of this is indeed produced locally."
The kobold is interrupted by Zyrel blustering in and demanding out-of-stock items. The kobold looks almost taken aback, his sales patter interrupted as he says, "Well, ah, we might have something over this way. Scopes for what?" He looks guiltily at Pumpkin Spice, "I'm terribly sorry ma'am, I'll have to help him out."
The half-orc guarding the door may as well be made out of stone for the utterly dispassionate look he shoots at Elsa.
Pumpkin is a bit surprised her ruse was disrupted.
Why drop me for an impatient customer? Huh…
She decides not to overplay her hand. The kobold might slip up the location, or…
If there’s a place to sit, Pumpkin will take a seat, cross her legs, and be read as demure? impatient (but too polite to show it)? businesslike?
Zyrel stands straight "Ideally? Seperate goggles. I could accept a rifle mounted scope. A hand telescope could work, I suppose, depending on the construction. I'm looking for something in the under four thousand range." He cocks his head "Or potentially a little more, if you'll accept trade.
Aakif doesn't want to crowd the store, so he decides to lay out his tapestry and begin prayer on the side of the street.
The kobold salesman's eyes widen, "Riflery equipment? I think you're in the wrong store my friend. Though..."
He narrows his eyes and nods to the one behind the counter who walks over the Zyrel. They have a brief conversation with each other in a language that definitely isn't common.
"Do we send him to Vykel?"
"Might as well. He must've come here for a reason."
The first salesman says softly, "If you're looking for some hardware for, ah, covert business let's say, Vykel over in Smokeside's your man, he can get you almost anything on the hush hush if you get my meaning. He's at a shop called Smokeside Repairs, tell him the dragons sent you."
The kobold turns back to P.S. and says, "Ah, terribly sorry to keep you waiting madam!"
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all really,” P.S. replies, “I believe that, before we were interrupted, you were saying the factorium is here in Alkenstar?”
"Ah, yes, factories are the backbone of the economy of the Grand Duchy! I'm not sure which one exactly this broom came from, though if you buy it I can certainly inquire with my suppliers when I speak with them next."
“Well, it’s not as if I’m carrying my weight in gold, but… how much are you asking for this sweet thing?”
"Thank you, my good uh, shopkeep." Zyrel nods, palming a gold coin and passing it to the kobold as he passes. He nods once to P.S., and walks out.
“Well, it’s not as if I’m carrying my weight in gold, but… how much are you asking for this sweet thing?”
"100 gold! A premium, to be sure, but for quality like this the price is absolutely worth it!"
Is the price fair, she wonders.
In any case, that’s double what’s in her purse, and her job is to earn, not spend.
“Well… I may need to get in touch with my sewing circle.”
She says this as a woman too proud to admit that 100g is more than she can afford, as she smiles sheepishly, ready to head for the door. But she hesitates, as if searching for a polite way to excuse herself.
Pumpkin Spice is pretty sure that the broom is at a bit of a markup, but she's not familiar enough with consumer goods pricing to really tell.
Her excuse to leave is a good one, and the kobold gives a toothy grin and says, "Well, I'll keep you in mind if I get anything more moderately priced in!"
As the party makes their way away from the shop, the gems on the small metallic badges that each member of the party was given as a Tetrad agent flash, and a telepathic message fills each party member's mind, Binderbald's normally chipper voice full of worry, "Tetrad agents! One of our experimental self-sustaining magi-factoriums has gone dark. A team of newer field agents will handle the bootlegging, you are to make your way to the factory with all haste, a specialist is en route to provide further information!" He gives directions to the place, just outside of Alkenstar City proper to the west towards the Gunworks.
Each is comprised of a four sided blue gem, surrounded by reddish metal on a black cloth backing. Each side of the gem also has a bar of the same reddish metal. They are standard issue for Tetrad agents, and allow for one-way communication between field agents and higher-ranking Tetrad coordinators. A rough mock-up of one is on the first slide of the combat maps.
Pumpkin grins as things start to liven up. “Looks like the higher-ups see us better suited for action than words.”
She follows the voice in her head, and looks ready to shout ‘yee-haw,’ but shouting like that just isn’t her cup of sarsaparilla. She moves swiftly, and kinda quiet-like, eyes as sharp as they are eager.
"You should see Mr. Lanatir in action." Aakif replies. "Let's run."
Lanatir nods to Aakif. "Fate willing, I may live up to my reputation."
He leads the way as indicated by Binderbald's voice, sword in hand.
Ouch, my head!
Elsa quickly casts mage armour and takes off at a run.
P.S. is a little surprised that Elsa would bump her head. Then it occurs the her…
“Okay, so ain’t just me who finds the voice in the head… awkward, to put it mildly. I gather you dabble in magic, minus the tech? Is it common to put your voice in another’s head like that?
“It’s fascinating,” she interjects, perhaps in the hope of not offending. “But it did help the timing was right. Might be off-putting if the voice bellows while I’m talking.”