Mari smiles at Bel. "Let's get to it!"
Flint notices many many tiny food and drink establishments around the alleyways, serving what appear to be a local crowd. It's hard to pick out which one might best respond to strangers barging in and asking questions.
Sammad on the other hand turns the charm up to eleven as he stops random passersby. A blushing vesk lady ends up saying "Oh, there's places everywhere, but the best are out in the Brass Bazaar. You're new here, right? The Bazaar fills the whole center bit of Corona. Everything you could dream of in there, and plenty you'd have never guessed about. But if you're new, the best place to start is the Grandmaster's Kitchen, right inside the entrance on this side. Nice and cool for you newbies, and free drinks if its your first visit too." She also slips Sammad her number before miming a 'Call Me' and waving goodbye.
On the Infosphere, Bel and Marisol work together to find a trove of info about Cryo-Generics. According to their spheresite, they specialize in storing temperature sensitive gases and equipment, as well as frozen food. Its clear from a simple search that places like Cryo-Generics are ubiquitous in Corona thanks to its particularly unique environment. After some digging on the spheresite, you get the impression that Cryo-Generics is still operating and should have active employees.
Incidentally, you also know that criminal activity runs rampant in Corona, as the bubble has no civil authority imposing order. The highest "legal" authority are powerful merchants and their well-compensated security forces. These are able to keep large scale crime to a minimum, but smaller criminals, fugitives, and smugglers sneak in without issue.
This is probably why the maps for the bubble are garbage.
Bel and Marisol work together to hack the flimsy security of the Cryo-Generics spheresite, but find the back end of the site more or less empty. Whoever built the spheresite didn't put in much effort to make it more than a pretty splash for potential customers. However, there *is* a public facing number to call for customer inquiries...
Apparently Flint is too hot right now to listen to Belmariss and Marisol working on the computer and instead is watching Sammad work his magic, lighting up at the prospect of a cool cantina and a cold drink.
Ordyt seeks out whatever shade he can find and watches admiringly as Mari and Bel work. "I wish I could do that," he whispers as an aside to Flint. "It would be nice to have skills that aren't in some way related to violence."
Sammad accepts the vesk woman's number, folding it into a pocket. He makes his way over to the others, a small smile on his face. "We should seek the Grandmaster's Kitchen...it's nearby, and they give new customers free drinks!"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Sammad recalls a lesson he had been told during his Cooperative training...Ice in Corona might as well be ice held over a flame. He had been warned, both formally and informally, about the risks of doing business in Corona.
"If we're going to investigate Cryo-Generics, we should be...subtle. If we make too much noise, we could alert the people we're looking for...and bring reprisal on our heads."
Replying to Ordyt quietly, Flint whispers, "In this short time we have worked together, Ordyt, your 'violence' has been key to our survival and the good we have done for the Archipelago. Your developing healing skills give me hope that I will stay conscious for more of our battles. We must always strive to better ourselves, but acknowledge the usefulness of our strengths in the meantime."
|
Sammad accepts the vesk woman's number, folding it into a pocket. He makes his way over to the others, a small smile on his face. "We should seek the Grandmaster's Kitchen...it's nearby, and they give new customers free drinks!"
"Don't have to tell ME twice!" Belmarniss replies.
Sammad recalls a lesson he had been told during his Cooperative training...Ice in Corona might as well be ice held over a flame. He had been warned, both formally and informally, about the risks of doing business in Corona.
"If we're going to investigate Cryo-Generics, we should be...subtle. If we make too much noise, we could alert the people we're looking for...and bring reprisal on our heads."
"That goes without saying. This is reminding me more and more of Nightarch by the minute...Speaking of which, wasn't that cargo we dropped off when we first arrived bound for that Zeizerer Outpost I'm seeing on this display?"
She shows Sammad the location on her map, one of the few points of interest that's actually labelled.
"Right, let's head that way," agrees Flint, looking to Belmarniss and saying, "Lead the way, fair Star-Knight."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Lured by the promise of free drinks, you follow the instructions and head deeper into Corona. It doesn't take long before the alleyway you're in emerges onto a broad boulevard with a giant, open pair of brass gates. Beyond those gates you see the beginnings of the Brass Bazaar.
The Brass Bazaar is a massive and anarchic market of haphazard stalls, temporary structures, and a few permanent installations that sprawls across most of the interior of Corona. The market has several layers arranged like a crater composed of irregular tiers, much of it far newer than the ancient structure supporting it. Merchants on spires and balconies hawk wares to the passersby down below, and traders capable of flight or in flying vehicles zip up and down to exchange goods and raucous words. On the labyrinthine main levels, sales carts trundle through pedestrian crowds, individuals on magnetized enercycles drive on the undersides of elevated bridges, and all manner of alien jostle and shop.
Not far from the gates sits a pristine circular building, with a single window encircling the entire property to show off the interior. The trim is silver chrome and a large sign announces the Grandmaster's Kitchen. Inside, the place is visibly packed with all manner of alien on an eclectic array of seating apparati. Fire elementals and efreet diligently serve customers various types of strange looking food. In the center of it all is a state-of-the-art kitchen that's open for the patrons to view.
As you enter, a floating efreet seemingly appears out of thin air and smiles, directing you to follow him into the establishment. Although the place looks completely full, as you turn a corner, a totally empty booth seems to spring out of nowhere, and you're directed to take a seat. The efreeti says "You're new, aren't you. You can tell from the eyes. Be at ease in the Kitchen, but don't all stand from the table until you're ready to leave. Server will be with you in a moment." and winks before excusing himself.
Flint looks around in ill-disguised wonder. This is his first trip to Corona, and despite his shenanigans, his background is more the warrior priest than an explorer of the multicultural bazaar before him. As a seasoned ship's captain, though, he is still wary--his credstick is well-hidden on his person, and he doesn't ask many questions which may tip their hand about Cryo-Generics. Instead, he just sits back, watches, and tries to get a feel for each new entity he meets as they come--and some who might be watching from the corners waiting to get the drop on the newbies.
(reading the room)
"Sammad, you and Belmarniss seem to have some connections here, however tenuous. How are you wanting to play this so I can support your 'Ambassadorial' efforts?" says Flint, leaning over to speak quietly to his friend.
Intrigued by the strange foods and unusual establishment, Ordyt sits and looks around with interest. "Oh yes, we'll help however we can," he says a bit absently, trying to catch a glimpse of the meals as they are carried past to other diners.
"Refrigeration here probably takes a lot of power--could we check against structures with sufficient power sources to try and narrow the search?" The oread gives an slightly embarrassed shrug. "That may not make sense, sorry. I'm a bit out of my depth in this hunt."
|
|
"I'm flattered, Captain Conners," Belmarniss replies. She begins marching off towards the Grandmaster's Kitchen. She takes in the bustle and variety of the Bazaar with an intrigued look in her eye. Nightarch's shopping centers didn't feature nearly as much diversity and life. Mostly just drow, orcs, half-orcs and more drow, dourly conducting business and conspiratorially meeting. This place felt much much more vibrant and bright, and not just in the literal sense!
When they arrive at the restaurant, she gasps a bit at the spectacle. The sight of fire elementals cooking and serving reminded her of the overly-eager "cooks" aboard the Breath of Embers, and she could feel the magic in the air making her hairs stand on end. When they're literally conjured a booth, she seats herself and unfolds a menu.
"No no, it makes sense Ordyt. It IS a bit of a longshot, though. Flint, you're a local. How IS Corona 'run?' My impression is each bubble kind of governs itself, like we saw with Asanatown and they all kind of negotiate with each other. If we wanted to track power consumption in Corona, we'd probably need access to municipal records, and Corona, just from what I'm seeing here, seems like the place that outsources that kind of thing to the private sector."
"I, uh, never managed to escape too far from the Radiant Cathedral, Belmarniss," manages Flint, for once embarrassed by the limitations of his shenanigans, not their excesses. "Your reasoning is sound about the power consumption, though I wouldn't be surprised if a criminal syndicate had tendrils attached to the civic overseers of the private company who actually does the work. If we cut straight to the working level, we may not trip any alarms with the higher-ups," he adds.
Mari flops into the offered seat with a whumpf, clearly put out by the oppressive heat. Even her hair seems less animated.
Ordyt's idea makes her sit up straighter and she learns forward, fanning herself with her hand and saying "No, no, that makes a lot of sense! Any refrigeration is going to draw a lot of power anywhere, much less in this place. Disposing of the waste heat alone would be a major factor, since they can't just dump it into the air like you might on an outdoor world like Castrovel. You're definitely on to something, big guy."
Sammad pipes up from his seat at Bel and Flint, "Corona is lax even by the standards of the Archipelago...No civil authority, just the big-name merchants keeping peace for themselves with their private security. That's probably why the Brass Dragons are based out of here, there'd be no shortage of work."
He then continues in a conspiratorial whisper, leaning in towards the others. "I'm thinking that we should play the least threatening performance: business-people who are looking to expand into the refrigeration industry. The more clueless we appear to the true state of things here, the better." He pauses for a moment. "The name of the Cooperative should lend credence to the story-and their reputation might provide both influence and protection."
"Well, Sammad, you and Belmarniss have the contact here, and I am your transportation, Ordyt is security, and Mari is, well, Mari. Sound good?" asks Flint.
Pleasantly, as you sit in the booth, it begins to exude a cooling mist that brings your local temperature right down to what's approximately comfortable for your whole group. While there aren't menus available to order from, you're not left pondering how to order for very long. Just as Sammad finishes his whisper, a pleasantly mellifluous voice says "No need to present yourselves as anything you're not here."
You look over and notice a stocky human woman with short dark hair streaked with silver and gold. She's dressed in a simple smock bearing the name of the restaurant and a well tailored blouse and slacks beneath. She turns iridescent golden eyes on each of you in turn. As she does, you're struck by the briefest pang of some primal fear. It passes the moment she grins. "Welcome to the Grandmaster's Kitchen! Ridiculous name, I know. My partners insisted. I'm Luthyx, head chef, and I'm happy to welcome you to the Brass Bazaar."
She folds her hands in front of her. "Since you're new to the Bazaar, I'd love for you to try some of our specialties, on the house. Today we have flame melon juice, ruthig milk tea and sun bean ice. Though you can have only one each." She raises a finger into the air "After you've given them a try, I'd be happy to hear your opinion."
Flint feels like a powerful entity has sifted his soul in a split second. He looks at her carefully, as she is certainly much more than she seems...The silver and gold hair, the unusual name, and the iridescence of her eyes--could she be some kind of draconic or metallic being in disguise? We were here after Brass Dragons, right? Or something like that...
"As you say, chef, I'll try the sun bean ice. We are new here, and want to tread lightly around the locals until we get our bearings. No offense intended," responds Flint by way of explanation, adding, "Though I must say the more reasonable temperature in your establishment is most welcome. I was unprepared for the heat on the streets, and my mechanic here was just wondering how businesses keep their cool here. My concern is that Corona's heat shielding may be unstable and causing the heat, but most of the inhabitants seem well-adapted. "
"The name's Flint, by the way, nice to meet you," he says respectfully, adding with a wry smile, "And even nicer to be out of the heat for the moment."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Sammad looks up at the woman, managing to keep an even expression even though the woman gives him the most worrying vibe. I've looked efreeti in the eyes-this little one is nothing.
"I'll have the flame melon juice, chef. It's been a while since I've had properly spicy fare." As Flint finishes his response and introduction, Sammad sees an opportunity. "And I'm Emissary Sammad Al-Fayir, of the Al-Fayir Cooperative. My companions and I are in Corona on business, and finding it a little troublesome to get our bearings, so to speak. Would you, or anyone else here, be able to help us find our way?"
"Another sun bean ice for me!" Mari chimes in, seeming to quickly recover from their host's powerful gaze.
That was bizarre...what are you?
|
|
Belmarniss' shades do little to hide her being taken aback by the chef's sudden appearance.
"So um...you're the Grandmaster, then?"
Some color comes to her indigo cheeks at being caught off-guard like that.
"Star-Knight Belmarniss Rycast, errant Knight-Lieutenant of the Knights of Golarion, at your service. It's an honor and a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
She's about to stand and bow when she remembers the efreet told them not to do so until they were ready to leave, so she settles for a salute.
"I think I'd like the ruthig milk tea, please."
Visibly starting, Ordyt smiles uncertainly back at Luthyx and forces his hands to relax.
"A pleasure to meet you, Grandmaster Luthyx. I'll, hmm. I'll have the flame melon juice as well please."
Luthyx smiles knowingly at Flint's comments "Yes, while the locals have adapted to our unique bubble, it's not the most pleasant for newcomers. You're welcome to rest and relax here until you're ready to brave the heat outside." And as Sammad follows up she adds "Ah, the Cooperative? I'm happy to give advice if you need it. Where does your business for the Cooperative take you?" She turns golden eyes on you with a pleasant, welcoming smile.
To all of you, she adds "Pleasure to meet you all. I'm certain you have an interesting story, considering your backgrounds." As she says that, she taps the table lightly with a finger and your chosen drinks appear in front of you.
Despite some of you being quick practiced at reading people, none of you are able to get a clear bead on Luthyx. She's friendly and gracious, and seems to earnestly want to help you.
Flint shrugs slightly, unable to get a solid read on the mysterious proprietress, then nods at Sammad, indicating that he is deferring to the eloquent Emissary as they try to subtly gather information on Cryo-Genetics.
Sammad takes a sip of his melon juice, then a long gulp as he finds the flavor to his liking. He looks to Luthyx with a smile, "Delicious! My compliments to...well, you, I suppose!" He then has a hearty chuckle at his own joke.
He sets the drink down before he responds to Luthyx's question. "The Cooperative is trying to diversify our offerings within the Archipelago itself...we're in talks with some leaders within the refrigeration industry. But so many of them make themselves hard to find...why is that?"
Mari takes hold of her drink in both hands before carefully lifting it to her mouth and tasting it. Her eyes widen and she clearly faces a struggle over whether to drink it as quickly as she can or slow down to appreciate the flavor of it. She eventually comes down on the side of taking her time.
Eventually, she finishes, and the relief on her face is palpable. "Thank you, so much. That was wonderful! My name is Mari, and it truly is a pleasure to meet you."
Ordyt gives an appreciative nod after the first sip, but his eyes go wide as the spices hit him. "Ooh, oh that's good," he says, taking a second, longer drink.
"Sammad, you call that young woman and thank her for me."
Luthyx looks very pleased indeed to see you all enjoying your drinks. As you continue sipping or gulping, she answers Sammad's question. "Oh you're here to talk to leaders in the refrigeration industry?" She smiles, as though this is an unusually amusing statement "I would have thought to Cooperative was past hazing their employees, oh dear."
With a kindly tone of voice, she explains "Everyone and anyone does a little refrigeration here in Corona. There's always a need, and all it takes is a steady supply of power and the right equipment. There's no leaders to talk to, just a lot of small operations here and there. And that's not even talking about all the companies that are nothing more than fronts for one gang or another. If your supervisor sent you after one of those ghosts, I'm afraid you've been sent on a wild ruthig chase."
Flint thinks for a moment, then jumps into the conversation, "Really, gangs using legit refrigeration companies for cover. What is the world coming to?"
Turning to Sammad, he says, "Emissary, what was that supercooled drink you wanted to try here? I know it was served in a shot glass and had a single drop of red liqueur suspended in it, right? I'm sure it is quite expensive, but after all we've been through together, perhaps I could buy you one from our chef, here."
|
|
Belmarniss sips the tea and her shades snap back as her eyes widen in surprise.
"This is...this is amazing! I'm usually more of a coffee person, but this is perhaps one of the best drinks I've ever tasted, bar none," she says, blinking as the light irritates her eyes and she reactivates her shades. "Thank you for your generosity."
She continues to drink the tea while Sammad and Flint dance around the point of the conversation.
"Is all this vague innuendo really necessary? This isn't a spy trivid," she bluntly comments.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Gods bless you, Bel," Ordyt mumbles into his mug.
Sammad flashes narrowed eyes at Bel. He whispers his response to her, "It's imminently necessary. We know no one here, and so we can trust no one. I know it rankles at you, but that's why I'm doing the talking...."
He then looks to Luthyx, taking another sip of his drink before he does so. "Well, I certainly hoped my superiors would be above such things. I am family, after all..." He trails off, looking down at his drink for a moment with an expression close to despair, then composes himself again to look up to Luthyx with a small smile. "But nothing gives me pleasure quite like achieving the impossible-if you could help me find the people I'm looking for, I'd be eternally grateful." He even bats his eyelashes at her, trying extra-hard to charm her into giving information.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ordyt's comment causes Mari to nearly choke on her drink.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Luthyx nods with appreciation at the positive feedback coming from Bel, and maintains a small smile as Bel suggests dispensing with vagueness. Sammad's whisper, quiet though it is, gets picked up on by her ears and she says "Wise, certainly."
To his subsequent question, she answers "Eternally grateful is rather a lot of gratefulness to offer. I wouldn't promise something you won't back up." Her smile turns wry for a moment. "Of course, I'm happy to help you find the people you're looking for, so long as you're willing to say why you're looking for them."
She doesn't seem even the slightest bit impressed by Sammad's luscious eye lashes, and instead glances at the quieter members of the group. You get the sense that the Grandmaster has seen so much in her time that any deceptions are likely to not impress her.
Ordyt looks up from his drink and meets Luthyx's gaze steadily and forthrightly. "The people we're looking for sent some of their agents to rob some friends of ours last night--as far as we can tell, completely out of nowhere. We want to find out who and why. We were able to glean the name "Cryo-Generics" as their front-company, but we don't know where it is."
"We need to find out who they are working for and recover the data they stole," adds Flint, seeing how this being prefers to communicate.
Sammad sighs, then looks to the Grandmaster again. "Well Grandmaster, I apologize for the deception-it seemed merely prudent, as you seem to understand."
He glances to Ordyt and Flint, then back to Luthyx. "My comrades speak truth-we are pursuing truly dastardly villains, not here on business. All we ask for is a lead to their hideout's location."
"Ah." Luthyx nods "A valiant group."
"Cryo-Generics changes hands as often as we change our menu here, but it is a real company. Or it was the last time I checked. They're in the Bazaar's sublevels." She clicks her fingers together and a heat-haze illusion appears, transforming into a three dimensional model of the Brass Bazaar. She traces a line that weaves through it down to an unremarkable point in the lower levels. She breathes on it, and the illusion turns into a solid cube of glass with the model and path etched into it. She sets it down on the table. "The area is usually not too dangerous, though I've heard recently there's been more gang activity on that level."
"Now, I have to get back to the kitchen, but don't you hesitate to order something more substantial now, alright? Just raise your hand and a server will be right over." She waves a hand and heads off to talk to another table of guests.
|
|
Belmarniss makes sure to try and copy the illusion into her arm-computer so they can reference it while travelling.
"Thank you, Grandmaster Luthyx."
As she leaves, she looks at the others.
"So...we ordering anything else, or should we just get going once we're done with our freebies?" she asks, taking another sip of the tea.
"I'd be happy to have a meal, to repay the Grandmaster's generosity. We should take some time to come up with a strategy for moving forward, anyway..."
Sammad notices that the meals other people are eating are all simple, homey fare - dishes native to the Burning Archipelago. It seems there currently isn't a menu and you can request whatever you like from the kitchen.
"Right you are, Emissary, no sense investigating complex conspiracies on an empty stomach," says Flint, flagging down a waitress and ordering some sandwiches and crisps--not wanting any hot food at the moment, given the temperature outside.
"Anyone else feel like a mouse that locked eyes with a cat?"
Sammad turns to Mari, "I have literal efreeti for cousins and bosses-you get used to that feeling," punctuating his response with a shrug.
He then takes another long sip of his drink, and asks the waitress that Flint calls for the Grandmaster's spiciest curry and rice.
"I don't, and that was unsettling," Ordyt says softly as he sets his empty glass down on the table. "I saw a vermelith once, winding its way between the astroids out there in the dark. Pretty sure it didn't see us but that fear felt familiar."
|
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Right you are, Emissary, no sense investigating complex conspiracies on an empty stomach," says Flint, flagging down a waitress and ordering some sandwiches and crisps--not wanting any hot food at the moment, given the temperature outside.
"Anyone else feel like a mouse that locked eyes with a cat?"
"That's probably the best description of it. Only thing that comes close is how some of my instructors at the Academy looked at us students...though, she was different. Less like a predator ready to pounce on the slightest hint of weakness and more like...we were lab mice and she was the scientist observing us. So much more powerful than us, but in a protective and intrigued way..."
She strokes her chin.
"I'm...not sure what to order. Apostae's cuisine is very...utilitarian...less focus on taste, more on nutrition and getting back to work. And given that the KoG's MREs were an improvement, that's saying something!"
Each of you find the food that you order simple but delicious and filling, with just enough complexity to the flavor that you're sure its more than it appears to be. Each of you who ordered something find yourselves paying just 5 credits each for your meal. Once you're all full and ready to go, you stand up and watch as your booth (and its associated spatial region) shrink and disappear.
Once you're back outside the heat hits you once more, though you're able to rely on your armor's environmental protections when it becomes too much to endure. From the glass cube map that you got, it seems that the path down to Cryo-Generics will be long - likely a couple of hours on foot.
-----
You head down quickly from the upper, airy levels of the Brass Bazaar and find yourself walking down narrow alleyways where raucous vendors attempt to out-shout one another as they advertise their wares. Storefronts are a patchwork of rust, faded plastic, bright neon, and improvised advertisement. Even though things look shabby, you see plenty of credsticks changing hands. Business is brisk.
You continue onward through the winding streets onto a broad avenue lined with bars. Laughter and shouts echo from the establishments, and the smell of spirits and smoke billows from every door. You hear a chorus of heavy whirring behind you, and suddenly a quartet of individuals on enercycles catch up to your group. The four grey skinned women have bright red hair piled atop their heads, identical leather jackets, and identical tattoos - a red and yellow whirl on their necks.
If you exceed the DC by 5 or more you recognize the specific gang as:
One of the women pulls her enercycle up to block your path and gives your group a cocky grin. "Hellooooo! You look lost. Lucky for you we're guides for this section of the Bazaar. We'd be happy to help you get to wherever you want to go for a low price."