Mikkitar stays in the corner, trying to look not-arrestable.
"I can sketch out a map for you. " Kasadei says back to Olander.
"It's a partially collapsed warehouse in a rough part of Underbridge."
She retrieves a scrap of paper and pen and inkpot. A few moments later she passes over a rough map with a few directions on it.
"It's a rough part of town where the watch only goes in force. Watch yourselves if you decide to go and investigate."
"Fenster styles himself as an information broker. I think he's a man of few loyalties, so he's likely to tell you what you want to know if you pay him well enough."
Many thanks for the advice and helpful information. Perhaps we best be on our way? Olander suggests to his fellow agents.
Notes about where you are heading:
The party spends a couple of hours making its way across Magnimar to get to Underbridge.
This part of the city is just as rough as the stories have made it out to be. Fortunately, you are all armed and look competent enough to keep any casual riff-raff at bay.
The streets are really just muddy tracks and finding the place consumes another hour as you trace and re-trace your steps, avoiding any conspicuously shady looking streets that might harbor danger.
The man known as 'Fenster the Blight' currently lives in a partially collapsed warehouse on the shoreline, in a particularly nasty stretch where tidal currents often cause the filth and refuse of the city to collect in stinking clots along the shore.
The partially collapsed warehouse has a relatively large open area within, but he keeps to one corner. Here, he’s made a sort of crude shelter from rowboats and timbers leaning against the warehouse’s frame.
The entrance to this hovel consists of a pair of skiffs leaning against each other to create a triangular “arch” from which a moldering remnant of a ship’s sail hangs like a curtain. Sitting next to the entrance is an old sea chest with a broken lid. A sign leans against the front of the chest—“LEEV A GIFT AND WATE OUTSID.” A dented tin platter sits on the ground before the sign.
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Nocki overreacts to the Underbridge and mumbles constantly while the group is there. He is particularly unhelpful to find Fenster's place and as they get there he makes a face at the smell.
As they observe his house, the dwarf says "I suppose he wants something real. Let's get this over with." and drops a silver piece on the platter.
"Yes-yes, money is always good gifting. But I do not know how much-much this man will want. Use this-this, too."
Mikkitar slyly draws out a gold crown and hands it to Nocki.
Flashing a gold crown is a sure way to get the wrong kind of attention around here...
Nocki places the two coins on the platter and then retreats back to the others to see what happens.
After a few moments, a man emerges (at least you think it's a man).
The wretched creature is more skin and bones than meat. His flesh is clammy and gray in places and one of his eyes is clouded over with a white film.
His breathing is rasping and gurgling and he lets out a harsh wet cough.
He looks over the two coins in the platter, spits a gob of nasty phlegm to the side, shakes his head, and shambles back into his rude hut.
He is obviously not impressed with your offering.
"See-see? He wants more shiny gifts than these coins. Here, use this-this, it worked for the Sczarni earlier, yes-yes."
Mikkitar grabs up his gold crown and brings forth another of the gems they received from the Pathfinder's trap-box earlier.
After Mikkitar drops a gem onto the platter, the old man comes back out and stares down at the new offering.
He reaches down, picks it up, and raises it to examine it.
He nods, and looks over at you.
Not taking his eyes off of you, he raises the stone to his mouth and swallows it.
You all think that you can see the bulge of the gem moving down his throat as it passes down his neck and towards his stomach.
Then he shambles over to sit on a broken chest and asks: "What yew want Fenster ta'do?"
"Hello, we are looking for, A friend, lets call her that. Her name is Natalya. She was gonna sell us something. Then she wound up missing"
Sandu slowly lowers himself to a crouch to look the man eye to eye.
Mikkitar nudges Nocki and giggles.
"See-see? The small man wanted the stone, yes-yes. Now he tells us where we find the girl-girl and join the Lodge. "
"Hmmmmp ... I have 'friend' named Natalya." the dirty man replies.
"I know all about that one....."
"but maybe I need a better offer to tell you about my friends...."
That sounds about right... show 'em you've got a gold piece and they'll ask for more...
Olander pipes up," How much are you asking for?"
"Somethin' about like what you already gib me....."
Mikkitar produces the final gemstone they obtained from the Pathfinder Lodge.
"I want-want this, but we must spend-spend to earn, yes? Here-here, take this."
He hands the stone to Nocki and then fades back against the wall.
"And what will this gem get us, I don't want to pay you for each drip of water from your spout"
"Better be payin' up after Fenster tells you what you want..." the dirty, one-eyed man growls at Nocki.
"Fenster know Natalya from when da Tower Gurls rented space here in Fenster's place." he begins.
"But Natalya, she's not wit da Tower Gurls no more."
"She hidin' from that lot in a buildin' here in da Underbridge Shadow."
"But Fenster knows. I spotted her. Nuthin' in th'Shadow gits by me good peeper!" as he taps the sallow skin under his non-clouded eye.
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Seeing Fenster is more knowledgeable than he initially seems, Nocki thinks he would be a good friend to have. He says "Well, we're Natalya's friends. We want to help her. Could you point us towards this building you're talking about? And make sure it's the right one, if it's not we'll come back and get our payment out of your belly."
Unfortunately, Nocki doesn't know how to make friends.
Fenster shrugs at the threat.
"Fenster be tellin' you true."
"Natalya is hidin' in a buildin' next to da' Seacleft."
"It's easy to fin'. Is the one with the rocks dat fell all on is south side."
Thats a heck of a gem to promise someone of this sort. Probably could have gotten the same information for a hunk of glass
Olander agrees with Nocki's assessment with a curt nod, and joins him in the search.
After paying off Fenster with the rest of his bribe (which he gulps down for safety's sake), the party sets off to follow his directions and find Natalya's hideout.
It takes an hour or so of navigating through the tangled streets of Underbridge, but you eventually find a building that matches Fenster's description up against the base of the Seacleft.
This old two-story building has seen better days. Its clapboard sides are dark with mildew and marred by scorch marks. In places fire has gutted portions of the roof ’s mosscovered tile shingles, but the building appears to be structurally intact. The building stands near the stark wall of the Seacleft, and scree from several decades of minor rockfalls has piled up along its southern face.
You can see doors on the south and west sides of the old building.
You are approaching from the east along what could charitably be called an 'alley' between the tumbledown shacks of the neighborhod.
Make perception checks!
The dark reaches down and around Sandu, he closes him eyes and intones a old psalm as he touches his butterfly it begins to give off starlight.
Olander looks cautiously for danger.
It's quiet and dark this far back up in Underbridge.
None of you notice any activity at the old house.
It looks structurally intact from down in the in alley where you are.
It does appear that worn trails of foot traffic lead down the alley and to the two entrances you can see.
"Worn trails and foot paths yes-yes. This house is used by someone or something, a lair in the shadow of the Span. Maybe our quarry hide-skulks inside, where we find and profit from her."
Mikkitar sneaks up to the entrance, crossbow at the ready.
Mikkitar scurries up to the south door of the building.
Mikkitar, make stealth and perception checks.
As Mikkitar gets close to the old house he notices a foul odor of sewage emanating from the structure. Before he can investigate, the door to the west opens up and two Varisian men exit the house.
The men have a typical collection of tattoos covering their arms and extending up from beneath their colorful shirts onto their necks.
Both are armed and armored in mail coats. They both carry crossbows in their hands and morningstars hang by their sides.
"Hey now creeper!" one exclaims loudly.
"We don't need any tresspassers around here."
"Not-not Creeper. I am Mikkitar, searcher and finder and returner of lost folk. Tell me what I ask and profit, yes-yes."
Mikkitar stays near the wall and makes sure a bomb is close to hand.
"You don't have any business here." the thug says in an overly loud voice.
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Nocki notices the bad position they're in. If the want to shoot Mikkitar, they'll have free shots before the Pathfinders would be able to react. He approaches slowly. Although he hasn't drawn his warhammer yet, it is very visible. He holds the shield in his hand tighter as he walks. He says "Gentlemen, I'm sure this is a misunderstanding. There's no need to be alarmed. As you can see, we're honorable people. Now how would you like to make some business, huh?" Nocki is attempting to corroborate Mikkitar's story. After all, if these men can be bribed, a lot would be easier. They're not the honorable type anyways.