"Assuming you're still inclined to help, I think the last detail is just whether you're ready to do this today or if you need time to prepare?"
With his sword and shield in hand, "Ready to go. Let's do this. Well, as soon as Lyra returns."
Lyra returns, dressed in the same arms and armor, subtly adjusted for her figure. "Hello, sir and mam" she bows to the older couple. She wants to thank them for the opportunity but doesn't cause that seems like she is too desperate for something to do.
Lyra's entrance draws Gavin's attention, as it always does. With a smile, he says
"The lovely Lyra Posfurore, master of the rapier and the rapier wit. These fine folk were just explaining a job opportunity. And to answer your question," he says as he turns back to Mykos and Tara "I would be better suited to the task tomorrow, if the delay is amenable."
When told of the planned venture, the Witness nods. ”I think it’s best if I accompany you.”
Mykos and Tara look mildly disappointed at Gavin's desire to wait another day, but both nod their agreement. The Vitolian's grin returns at the Witness' interjection and he declares, "Excellent, having a wizard along is always helpful!"
Tara smiles softly at his enthusiasm and asks, "shall we meet for breakfast again tomorrow, then, and we can make our attempt directly afterward?"
"That sounds perfect. Just a question or two to aid the preparation. Did the creature use any energy or element in its assault? How long after we enter the portal should we expect to encounter it?" Gavin replies.
”Energy, yes,” Tara answers, “elements, no. It was sort of a translucent energy… like magic missiles.”
“Like magic missiles,” Mykos agrees rather wryly, “only bigger… and longer lasting… and sometimes in wall form…”
“Oh, yes, like a wall of force,” the lightly armored woman adds. “As for time- we don’t know exactly how fast you are but, based on what we’ve heard, you should reach it in less than a minute, plus however long your transformations take.”
“This portal doesn’t let you leave the Tower for long,” the unarmored man reiterates, “usually one shapechanging spell will last just about the whole trip.”
”What materials does this creature appear to be constructed from?” Utilization of powerful force effects indicates a high level of sophistication for a construct, doubly so for a golem.
Gavin heads to the Temple, chatting with those he meets along the way. Once there, he seeks out Finn O'Donal. Quite pleased with the arrangement they have had so far, Gavin casts enhance water 9 more times.
He then spends the day moving from merchant to merchant, looking over their wares for anything of note, but also asking if they are in need of any particular items or materials that he can keep an eye out for in his travels.
Lyra sighs, then lets her brother have the day, which he accepts and goes around chatting and helping as there is need.
"The guardian looked to be carved of the same stone as the floor and walls around it," Mykos answers the Witness after taking far too long to swallow a bit of streaky bacon, "inlaid with some silvery metal filigree."
"I'm not an expert," Tara offers, "but it looked to me like it might be mithril."
As in their previous visits, most of the shops have very little standing inventory- the majority of their goods being made to order. Perfect Powder has a number of differently sized containers of blackpowder and a variety of different 'cartridges' (which seem to be paper packets used to load firearms more efficiently), and Moonwind's Magical Sundries, as usual, has a fairly wide selection of (mostly low level) scroll, potions, and wands. None of the vendors seem particularly lacking in any materials, perhaps due to the Mercantile Exchange's standing offer to import any needed materials.
"I wonder how the armor sale has gone?" Seth says outloud, as a strange reminder popped into his head about it. "Well, doesn't hurt to check." he says to no one in particular, and then does so.
Seth lead the way the short distance across the Redwatch Marketplace to the Mercantile Exchange. The Archbanker is not present in his usual place at the counter, but there instead is a Vitolian woman of similiar age, whom Gavin knows to be his wife, Giovanna Lombardi. When Seth mentions the matter of the consignment of giant-sized equipment, she retrieves a ledger, leafs through it, and answers, "yes, your pieces have sold and your share totals to five-thousand and four gold. Would you like to leave that in your account for future purchases, take it in trade today, or be paid in coins and gems?"
After introducing himself, and chatting a bit, they get down to business. "While my inclination is to leave it on account, the spoils are not mine alone. I believe coins and gems would allow the division to be easiest. If that will not hurt your coffers too much that is."
"Not at all," Giovanna answers with a smile. "How many ways are you splitting it?"
While she's speaking, a wet little girl--no more than 3 or four years old--comes running in from the bathhouse area exclaiming, "Mamma!"
The woman smile warmly at the child and answers, "Maria, amore mio, la mamma sta lavorando. Torna da papà e pulisciti."
Giovanna nods, makes a note in the ledger, then retrieves five beautiful gemstones (worth 1,000 gold each) and 40 silver pieces from a drawer beneath the desk, while the wet child stands by and watches. "Is there anything else I can help you with today," the woman asks.
Gavin thanks Giovanna for her assistance, then spends the day at the Temple, listening to stories and trying to build some relationships.
The Witness has no other questions for Tara and Mykos, and spends the remainder of the day observing Gavin’s interactions.