A thread to dot into once we decide on participants.
You receive a letter from Ambrus Valsin that sends you on your way to Druma in search of Emiliop Bucsa--a tall Varisian man with pierced ears and a long ponytail.
You arrive at the Silver Spoon Inn and Tavern, a roadside inn 10 miles west of Kerse that caters to business travelers and tourists. The inn's common room is bustling with travelers and merchants. Its black marble bar top and gilded chairs are clearly intended to suggest an atmosphere of wealth and luxury, but the tattered seat cushions and faded wall tapestries betray a general slide into disrepair.
Patrons clad in jewels and fine clothing mill about the room, drinking and gossiping excitedly. A few white-clad individuals stand aloof from the crowds, nibbling at crusts of bread rather than partaking in the exquisite charcuterie boards laid out on polished ebony tables. A tall, sandy-haired half-orc man with rough but pleasant features stands behind the bar, polishing the marble surface with a white cloth. He wears a simple leather jerkin over a loose canvas shirt and trousers. A brass tankard dangles from a leather strap at his belt. He grins and calls out in greeting: “Well met, travelers! What’ll you be having, then?”
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Grel feels out of place in this fancy environ. He's a dusty dwarf, with mud often caked to his boots. He does his best to kick if off before he enters the inn. He wears a cloak of muted colors over a an armor of bone or horn. He helps himself to some cheese from the charcuterie laid out. What's ale you have, barkeep. Big mug if you please.
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Wiping sweat from his shaven head, the Tian man smiles at the sight of the crowd within. Fine mithral armor, stained with the dirt of the road behind, bears a simple symbol of a red sun on a coastal horizon. Raising the butt of his halberd off the floor, he steps up to the bar as well. "I will drink with you, if that is agreeable." He nods to the bartender. "An ale as well, and word from the road if you've heard any."
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"Grandpa! Wait up!" A shorter woman with large glasses steps through the doorway. "Oh, there you are!" She walks over to join Grel at the bar. "Just look at you - straight from the fields and not even changing into something presentable! Thank goodness Grandmam remembered to send your nice clothes with me." Her clothes look simple, but well-made, and a dusty cloak hangs off her shoulders. "Did you have any trouble finding the path here?" she asks Sarma.
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Artoria leaves her iconic armored gown packed away as she travels to Druma, making sure to prepare Serren's Swift Girding just in case combat breaks out quickly. After some argument, she convinces Archimedes that keeping him hidden away for now would only make sense, as a serious blond woman with a longsword and a surly owl would be quite noticeable, and therefore finally purchases a familiar satchel. She also purchases a disguise kit and takes time to apply it.
The sheathed sword on her side is iconic to her mind, but it's the first time she's been seen outside with it since summoned to this world.
Artoria instead appears in a classy, yet nondescript outfit carrying a piece of matching black luggage. She nods to the barkeep. "I have heard that Druman coffee is of inimitable quality. If I could perhaps have a mug of it, I would be grateful, Barkeep." She sits near the other recent arrivals. "Good day. You may call me Elise. Did you all also arrive recently?"
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"Grampapa, you know you shouldn't talk to strangers like that," Not-Trixie chides. "Why, if someone overheard you they might think you were giving her a hard time. What would Grandmam think?"
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A tengu in a finely apportioned suit carrying a *magnificent* briefcase ducks in and out of conversations with the folks wearing white, taking great care to get tidbits of conversation but not intruding on said conversations. Back in Druma again. I FORGOT about the Prophets. How I could I forget about them?
Every so often when he sets his drink down, a card will accompany it.
Karasuma Tazou
Attorney At Law
"We fight to make sure you get the compensation you are owed!"
Slowly the barrister makes their way through the crowd to join up with the other recent arrivals, though still taking pains to not bump into any of the Prophets and keeping the ears open for any gossip.
To the Tian fellow he offers a subdued response. "One should always be mindful of one's diet when on long roads. Otherwise, finding a way to the facilities may be... problematic."
The barkeep bustles over with your orders and seems quiet friendly as he strikes up a conversation. "Kristoff Valicho, at your service. What bring you to the Silver Spoon, if you don't mind me asking? I don't recognize any of you folks as regulars--I try to keep my eyes pealed, and I never forget a drink order."
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"Oh, this? Haverstein line. They have a small niche shop in The Coins, Absalom. Took about two years after I managed to secure a spot on the wait list." the tengu offers to 'Elise' with a casual yet practiced air.
"Oh, me? I'm here to offer some legal advice to a Mister Bucsa. However, as my hours are billable, I'm willing to wait weeks should it be necessary to meet with him. After all, Druma IS a place of business. And weeks of billable hours waiting for a client... well, it won't pave the street to my office with gold, but it'll definitely upgrade the lamps from weathered copper to finely furnished brass."
The bartender gives a good-natured frown at the mention of Emlio's name. "Emilo Bucsa? That scoundrel? Wouldn't surprise me if he needed legal representation. I don’t know where he got the coin to drink like he did, but Cayden bless him for it. He was tight-lipped about his work, but I got the impression he was mixed up in some nasty business. I guess for someone like him that’s just another day, another gold piece. He rented a room for a week, but toward the end of his stay he seemed nervous. Always watching over his shoulder, you might say. Didn’t keep him from coming in for our daily sessions. Then three days ago he stopped showing up at the bar. Haven’t seen him since.”
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Artoria takes a sip of her coffee and then leans in, playing the part of the bored bar patron.
"My apologies, but I could not help but overhear, and this sounds like an intriguing story. You say that he gave you the impression he was mixed up in some nasty business. What specifically gave you that impression? Did he give any hint as to what he was working on?"
Kristoff replies, "Rumor is some Kalistocrat had it out for him. Business deal gone bad most likely, or maybe he stole something from her. A troupe of Blackjackets busted in here on my night off and dragged him away. Criminal or not, nobody gets forced out of my bar unless I know about it. If I’d been here, he’d be sitting on this stool right next to you.”
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Peribras leaves his normal menagerie of pets behind for this mission, bringing only the wolf Darkpaw, which he leaves outside of town. He leaves his wide-brimmed hat behind, stuffs his hair in a wig, and makes a few other cosmetic changes to his face.
Alton Fuzzfoot. Yeah, that has a nice ring to it.
He approaches the barkeep and offers his biggest, most naive grin. "Oh boy, an ale if you please!"
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"Blackjackets you say? They sound mean! What are they like?"
The barkeep seems quite content to keep chatting with you.
"Ah, yes. You must be new to the area if you don't know the Blackjackets. Mercenaries that are only loyal to the Kalistocrats. Very...efficent fellows."
To the questions about Emilio, he answers, "The story I heard is that he was snatched up right from the common room, but I wasn't here to confirm that. Maybe some of our regulars here tonight were." Kristoff furrows his brow in thought. “Now, I don’t have confirmation, but some of my regulars say they saw Amynta Irel’s insignia on the abductors’ uniforms.”
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"It seems like YOU are due for some compensation as well. I'll gladly take the case for a retainer of one of your finest drinks -- if it turns out this is all a misunderstanding I'll gladly refund the cost at the end of the investigation into his whereabouts. Deal?" the tengu offers happily to the barkeep, holding out a hand to shake but NOT opening up the briefcase -- this is a verbal agreement and therefore not needing paperwork strung into it yet.
Kristoff reaches out his hand, "I'd be happy to have the matter looked in to. Let me get you the key to his room, and you can see if you can find anything. It might be helpful to ask around and see if there were any witnesses. I'm not comfortable with private security forces just snatching up my customers; I'd be pleased if you got to the bottom of it."
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Karasuma shakes the offered hand and then nods vigorously.
"In the event there's damages owed I'll ensure that your reputation as a provider of safe, reasonable lodging is not discredited in any way as well. I look forward to continuing this investigation."
He'll let anyone else grab the key that might feel a desire to do so, after catching the number off of it and starting to make his way out of the room. Once he's in a slightly less lit area, he fades back into the background for the most part...
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”Come, Grandpapa, let’s get you seated,” Not-Trixie says as she tugs Grel’s arm towards one of the nearby tables. ”You always feel better after a drink or two.”
Once the two are seated, she turns to another nearby patron. ”Is what the barkeep says true?” she asks, eyes wide and worried. ”Was this Emilio a wanted criminal, or are we all in danger of being abducted by a private militia? Did this Irel have a grudge against Emilio?”
Who is this Irel? she wonders to herself. Have I heard that name before?
The investigation of Emilio's room goes quickly. Either the Varisian travels very light, or the Blackjackets who abducted him also stripped his room of his belongings. The bed has obviously not been slept in for several days, and the only obvious personal belonging is an empty rucksack.
Not-Trixie tries to recall some information about Irel. She remembers that Amynta Irel is a Kalistocrat who owns a vineyard estate 15 miles west of Kerse. Though she presides over several lucrative trade operations, she earns a significant portion of her income through the production and distribution of fine wine. Irel owns vineyards in several countries, including her native Druma. She doesn't seem to be a very high-profile figure.
Fortunately, the other tavern patrons are only to happy to gossip about the situation with their gregarious new friends. A young barrister confirms for her that Irel appeared outside the tavern three days ago and unlawfully and forcefully took the Varisian traveler Emilio Bucsa into her own custody. Though popular opinion stands against Irel’s vigilantism, other Kalistocrats understand the reasoning behind her actions and intend to ignore the situation.
The barrister's fiance, a clerk in the village, mentions that Amynta Irel is currently attending to business in Kerse. She brought her fearsome personal bodyguard and a cadre of guards with her, leaving the estate less protected than usual. Still, Irel’s estate is heavily protected by patrols of Blackjacket guards, magical creatures, and deadly traps, so she probably feels quite secure.
A local troubadour claims that he chatted extensively with Emilio before the man was kidnapped. According to the performer, Emilio Bucsa betrayed Irel in a business deal eight years ago. Irel hired him to investigate a fellow Kalistocrat whom she suspected of illegal business practices. Emilio obtained evidence of the Kalistocrat’s guilt but defaulted on his contract with Irel by selling the information to another party before disappearing with Irel’s down payment. Amynta Irel became obsessed with collecting Emilio’s debt. When he reappeared in Druma a week ago, she set her plans into motion. He suspects that Irel is currently holding Emilio prisoner at her vineyard estate.
Finally, a tipsy halfling confides in a low voice that his cousin works as a maid at the Irel estate. He whispers that Amynta Irel recently discovered that Emilio Bucsa’s bloodline is directly tied to a historical site in Varisia. She plans to use him to access the site. Rumor has it that she commissioned an Osiriani wizard to create deadly constructs to guard her research about the location and methods to bypass the site’s wards, though his cousin never mentioned seeing anything like that.
Peribras joins in, trying to squeeze a little more out of the people.
[I]This mission got a lot more complicated. But I guess if we rescue him he owes us one.[/ooc]
Peribras is able to confirm some of the information the Not-Trixie heard, lending extra veracity to it.
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Artoria sighs at the compounding complexity of this mission. While she is willing to play her part and be a good sport about all this subterfuge, she can't help but wish they could just dash it all and go for a more direct approach.
"This sounds like kidnapping, not arrest." Sarma states flatly as the rumors are relayed. "Perhaps we should pay for a room to discuss what good citizens should do about it."
"I think you have the right of it. A private place to discuss would be wise."
Kristoff ushers you into a private room at the back of the inn, where people often go to discuss business dealings.
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After a few moments in the meeting room, Karasuma is standing there and listening intently to the information as it is being passed around.
"It probably would not be a good idea for me to be prominent and talking during such a visit. Given that my skillset leans more towards 'subtle', 'investigatory', and 'removal of mechanical obstacles' being notably present could hamper that. How many of us are confident in our subtlety and ability to move through places and groups largely unseen?" the tengu begins.
"It would also be a good idea to get some eyes on the estate to suss out the defenses and safeguards before we commit to a given avenue -- having a couple of escape options ready BEFORE we need them is going to be rather crucial. The Blackjackets have their reputation because it is well-earned and well-paid for based on my last trip here."
"Good job on gathering the intel so far. It's a bit more than some missions I've been on, at least?"
Kara looks to the rest of the party for additional insight.
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I can take the shape of a bird or small animal to infiltrate and get a sense of the defenses. Potentially find us another route in if we need to storm the castle, as it were. Grel doesn't much like the idea of leaving the ground where he is most comfortable but if taking animal shape is the most advantageous route for the mission, he will do so.
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"Just watch out for any wards that extend above the walls,"Not-Trixie cautions. "The good news is that you'll be above people's heads and far enough away that you should be able to use magic without anyone noticing right away." She pauses, pushing her glasses back up her nose. "At least we have a way into Emilo's good graces - who would suspect their rescuers of not being who they say they are? Speaking of which, remember that we are agents of Grandmaster Torch now and not Pathfinders."