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Joie stiffened a bit, considering the argument. He wasn’t right, of course—but he wasn’t entirely wrong, either. And accompanying the locals might go some distance toward improving local relations.
”...I suppose,” is the most she gets, and adjusts course to accompany the group.
Faithe had been very quiet as they got what they needed from the ghoul, so quiet that it seemed she'd almost been forgotten in her shadowy corner, She stayed there until the others had all been escorted out and the ghoul was being removed to his cell. She was quiet as she slipped from the shadows and walked through the door behind the ghoul until she said softly, "Don't forget to keep an eye out behind, I'll be there again someday, hehehehahaha," she finished it off with an evil laugh and headed to where she figured the others were calling back to the ghoul, "And don't forget to tell Jerrad I look forward to our next...conversation because heads will roll."
Faithe caught up with the others about the time the money was given to them and considered what they had planned next. The thought of going out and getting drunk didn't much appeal to Faithe, she'd never been one who liked to let her guard down, and she was going to head home and sleep some more. Faithe was exhausted from the odd hours she'd been keeping lately, it just felt unnatural to her to be up when the sun was in the sky.
All things considered Faithe didn't think that going off on her own was a wise idea just then, not with the mess they'd gotten themselves into, so she opted to stay with the group instead. When they entered the bar Faithe found herself feeling...out of place almost immediately. Still she was here so she might as well find a spot to sit. It seemed that Tuco found them a table and Faithe went and took a seat there in the spot with the least light in it.
When their waitress arrived and introduced herself Faithe considered what to order and decided that, since Jase was paying, she'd take advantage of it. "Do you have food as well or only drinks? If so what would you recommend Saya?"
The half orc is happy to see Joie sit down as well as Faithe, he was worried his gambit would only leave him and Jase. While he was fun company he dreaded the idea of what would happen if it was just the two of them. He did his best to place where Daerokh would land in this situation but didn't want to assume things due to him being a dwarf. The half-orc had to deal with enough of that in his own life.
"Aye, whatev' Jase 'ere recommends." Its not like he didn't drink, but there was still a sneaking suspicion in his head.
"So... Business be good yeah? Problem bein', our business ain't not been done yet."
"Good evening, Saya," says Joie. "I will have a glass of water and whichever form of starch you serve best here."
Her voice is as clipped as ever, and when Saya has moved away, she eyes Tuco.
"There may not be a reward in it if you pursue it further," she points out, "aside from death."
"That's the spirit, Tuco!" He gave the half-orc a light clap on the shoulder, then said, "Aye, that's two of the fruity drinks, so far. And a water...and bread, I think?" He glanced over at Joie questioningly, not too sure about that.
After Faithe and Daerokh had given their orders and the waitress was away, the young man gave the woman the courtesy of giving her a full look from behind before turning to his companions.
"Tuco speaks truth. Turns out that some of our scribes were in possession of more literal objects than the ambiguous texts we were reading through. We have in our possession one such object, I believe." He lightly tapped his trousers where his pocket lay, arched an eyebrow, then leaned forward and whispered, "There's something in there...I'm not being crude."
Daerokh blinks.
"Wait, what's going on, Jase?"
Saya nods at Daerokh before turning to Faithe. "We do offer meals here--rib eye steaks, ribs, side of salads, fruits from our very own orchards. I'd recommend a good rib-eye steak with a side salad and some wonderful Avertin Ice Wine."
She takes the rest of the group's orders and disappears to prepare them.
Faithe considered the suggestion and nodded as she said, "The steak and salad are acceptable, but water instead of wine please."
"I'll take some ribs, pork tends to pair well with lager." Daerokh adds. "Anything you'd recommend to accompany those?"
Saya nods at Daerokh. "I find that a side of garlic bread and sautéed mushrooms goes quite well with a rib dish."
"Great choice, Daerokh! I'll have the ribs, garlic bread, and mushrooms, as well." Flashing a winning smile at the woman, he waited until she left to continue.
I'm thinking we might have found it." Hopefully there was no need to specify what it was. "We think, anyway. We haven't done any analysis or anything like that. Might just be wishful thinking. But after we're done here we can go someplace more private and I can show you what we're talking about."
Jase thought about making another joke about his pocket, but the two ladies at the table didn't seem like they'd be amused by such humor and he wasn't trying to score with Daerokh and Tuco anytime soon, so he passed. Instead he just settled in for the wait for the ribs, enjoying the drinks when they started flowing.
"I'll have the garlic bread and mushrooms as well."
Saya nods and disappears once everyone's orders have been taken.
Several minutes pass before she returns, pushing a cart with everyone's ordered dishes and drinks. She serves them to everyone before nodding. "Here's your meals everyone. Enjoy your night."
With that, she hurries off to take more orders.
Joie takes her baked potato and water and consumes it.
Where usually she's pretty stiff and military, she consumes like...
...well, no, that makes sense too, if anyone is familiar with military folks.
The potato is gone in a minute.
"Thank you, Ms. Saya! May your ancestors smile on you always."
Daerokh digs in, though he proceeds at a slower, much less methodical pace than Joie.
"I just hope we haven't kicked too big of a wastewasp's nest this time...The adventuring life has NOT been what I expected, thus far."
Tuco looks toward Joie, "Mayhaps death aye but a chance fors a life for me. What I got it ain't livin' see, it be survivin' and it ain't the same."
He knew this could propel him forward, not only that but possibly get to the actual root of the murders and it was something his patron expected.
Jase dug into his meal with gusto after a brief smile to Saya, the ribs being exquisite and the sides passable. He'd expected more of a reaction to his announcement, honestly. He thought about just pulling the ring out to show the other trio who hadn't been with him and Tuco, but even he wasn't that foolhardy. So instead he ate and enjoyed the company.
"It certainly has been more profitable than my former line of work, I can now say. I can see its appeal to folks."
Tuco wondered why Jase was being coy, there were politics involved but honestly the half-orc didn't care for them.
"'Dat stone. It be what Jase means."
He lets the silence of the table convey what he said.
Joie nods. "We should confirm that," she says.
Daerokh stops mid-chew at Tuco's announcement, and pauses to finish and gulp his food down before speaking.
"Good thing those of us at the station weren't aware of what you found at the time: the conversation could have gotten a lot uglier if they knew their prize was in our possession."
Jase's eyes widened as Tuco cut through the subtlety in the conversation. Guys, I hate to remind you, but people were recently killed over this thing...there's a reason I wasn't just openly discussing it."
The young man leaned in closer, "Tuco and I found it at the scribe's house when we searched her room. Wonder how she came upon it."
Daerokh listens quietly and continues eating.
"Discussin' what? It just be a job. Yous knows, one of 'dem things that tons o' chums have." He pats his hand on Daerokh's back, "Ain't 'dat right? Stoneworkin' is noble indeed."
The night continues amid conversation, music and at least two different kinds of smoke. By the time dinner comes to a close, some of the patrons are already stumbling out of the saloon doors with the smell of cheap alcohol clinging to their clothes.
The bill comes and is paid.
Daerokh chuckles.
"Darn right, Tuco. I mean, you know how much those Jalmeray humans will pay for simple quartz?"
Jase looked at the half-orc and dwarf confusedly, not sure if he was on the same page as them. He shrugged...it probably was for the best that they started talking about something off topic, anyway. "People will pay ridiculous sums for anything if you convince them that they need it and someone else will buy it first."
The trick was the convincing, and the young man hadn't figured out that part yet. But he was getting some experience, so he'd get there soon.
When the bill was paid and the place started looking like it was shutting down for the evening, Jase rose to his feet. "Dinner hit the spot...I hope everyone enjoyed. Want to retire someplace private to continue our conversation? We could go to my place, but I don't know if we'd all even fit in there..."
Enjoying the rest of the meal, Tuco looked pleased with it all.
"Aye well, people be payin' with other prices for stone as well yeah?" Gathering what little things he had, he excused himself for a moment. "Jus' need a bit Jase, lemme think 'bout it."
Finding a darkened corner, he speaks to the sliver of his patron in the mirror. He knew there was something scratching at the back of his mind, but couldn't quite place it.
"'Dis stone. Do I pursue it?"
He didn't know if he would hear back, he rarely did, but something told him he had to.
The mirror's surface turns smoky as you ask your question.
Its response echoes through your mind.
Weal and woe.
The mirror fades and the words echoed.
He turned to the others, "Aye I ain't splittin' up. Somethin' feels wrong, all sorts of it."
Jase grinned at Tuco, "That's the spirit! Let's go somewheres else and we can continue this conversation away from prying ears."
"You got a place in mind? My lodgings in the city aren't really suited," Daerokh replies, wiping his mouth as he finishes his meal and quaffs the last of his lager.
Jase leads the party back to the small inn he was renting a room at--the Open Skies Bed and Breakfast.
A different bartender is on duty tonight--a younger man with pale skin and a gaunt look to his face. His hands shake when handling money, but for the few patrons still looking for a drink at this time of night his hands become as steady as steel when he handles their drinks.
Daerokh eyes the bartender warily...after dealing with so many pale bastards today, one more seemed suspicious.
"Maybe we should talk at your quarters, Jase."
Jase nodded, making sure to grab a night cap from the pale bartender before heading to his modest room. He'd vouch for the guy, but he'd rather be in private quarters, anyway. He couldn't vouch for the rest of the fellows in the bar.
Once they were inside, he engaged the flimsy lock and then reached into his pocket, pulling out the ring he and Tuco had found earlier at the scribe's house. "This is what we found...anybody know how to check for magics and such?"
Daerokh shakes his head.
"I've read a few things about spellcraft and magical items, but mostly in terms of how my clan can profit selling certain stones to magefolk, and this feels a little outside of my mineshaft."
Tuco holds his tongue, but only until he realizes he might be the only one. "Aye. I can." Giving a proud grin he grabbed a seat, "No clues what we be findin' but get some water ready in case it be goin' bad."
Setting up a small area, he pulls some thread out and creates a little circle on the table with it and sets the mirror down.
"Lets me knows when yous ready for this."
Joie is... quite quiet, actually, for the entirety of this, but she follows along regardless, a steely expression on her face.
Daerokh trundles back down to the bar and asks the bartender for a bucket full of water.
Faithe enjoyed her food and when they left the bar reluctantly followed to where Jace was staying. When it was asked if anyone could see what magic might be on the ring Faithe shook her head and said, "No." Fortunetly it seemed that Tuco could so she stood back and waited for him to do what ever he needed to do.
You're able to get a bucket of water after the barkeep gives you an odd look upon hearing your request.
Daerokh trundles back up to the room with the bucket.
"Just in case. Ready when you are, Tuco."
Jase had been thinking Tuco was kidding about the water, but when Daerokh returned with a full bucket, he looked over at the half-orc in alarm. "Ummm, I didn't think setting a fire was part of it...is it?"
Tuco smiled. "Get youself a seat. It be a long evening." He looked at Jase, "Hope not."
Jase had been thinking Tuco was kidding about the water, but when Daerokh returned with a full bucket, he looked over at the half-orc in alarm. "Ummm, I didn't think setting a fire was part of it...is it?"
"Probably not, but we're in the part of Alkenstar where magic can get away from you if you're not careful, so better safe than sorry."
Once everyone is settled in, Tuco begins his reading of the strange ring.
A familiar roiling sensation settles in across the party as the seance begins--the eddies and churning currents of untamed magic. The more magically-inclined party members can feel it more intimately; it buzzes and hums with a savoury, yet metallic taste in the backs of their mouths.
But you're not so easily dissuaded. You press onward, focusing more intently on the ring... on the strange, pulsating shard set in it.
Thump-thump.
A heartbeat echoes in your ears. It's weak and ragged--almost as if it's coming from a diseased and withered heart.
Thump-thump.
With each pulse, you feel the waves of primal magic blanketing the room being pushed back before returning.
Thump-thump.
Thump-thump.
Jase felt uneasy about the atmosphere in the room changing, wondering what it could mean. Could Tuco's divining be about to backfire? Should he get ready to douse the half-orc with some of the water Daerokh had fetched? Clearly out of his element, the young man just looked on and hoped he'd still have a home when it was all done.
The Tailor hears it. It was a sound of power, one that he only heard when he spoke to the sliver of his patron. The stone, much like the mirror, betrayed something bigger behind the scenes.
"It... it sounds likes a heart."
He was trying to process it, but really had no way to explain it. He looked toward Faithe, "Can you feel it? The magic in the air getting pushed away by the stone?" He was hoping he wasn't crazy.
Tuco stared at the mirror he set down, "Does this here, does it stop them primal forces?" A part of him knew the answer would be vague, but on the other hand it was through devotion that he got his power... And there was nothing worse than watching these new companions die to some event that he would create if he couldn't control his detection or tests.
Weal.
Daerokh watches Tuco work, an uneasy look on his face as he readies the bucket. Then he lowers it when it's clear it won't be needed.