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Salvius attentively takes notes of the whole exchange with the Venture-Captain, but his notes increasingly start to incorporate what he sees Lakadee do, how he looks and how he reacts to the conversation. Notes of colorful leaves, patrons of barks and even quick leaf sample he noticed dropped from the treant. In the end, his notes include mostly the first details and developed into a quick study on the sapling.
He says to Linka-"Of course, Miss Wind!"-he says as he hands the spellbook to the Sylph. He does not ask any further questions, but will buy a hanging tent in case the journey requires them to head into Varisian swamps.
The Chelish wizard thinks about a bit and says-"Shall we book rooms in the Drunken Dog? Getting to know each could be fun, and I often find it fun to spend the n..."-his voice trails off, being a bit shy and JUST noticing the abundance of beautiful women in the group. He does a bad job to hide his blushed cheeks as he looks away, trying to awkwardly let is pass unanswered.
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The Chelish wizard thinks about a bit and says-"Shall we book rooms in the Drunken Dog? Getting to know each could be fun, and I often find it fun to spend the n..."-his voice trails off, being a bit shy and JUST noticing the abundance of beautiful women in the group. He does a bad job to hide his blushed cheeks as he looks away, trying to awkwardly let is pass unanswered.
Sayuki’s small, rounded eyebrows rise slow as glaciers, but soon enough they’re nearly in her hairline.
”I will have to check with my wife, but I have a feeling she will be against it,” she giggles.
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Vina awaits Lady Heimarch's answers patiently.
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Vina is thrilled at Salvius' inspection. "You like trees and plants too? you know that they are immune to mortals' mind-altering magicks yes? but some of us in the jungles of Jalmeray have found a way around it, mostly by practicing with the plants themselves and getting their consent... by the way, those are not his leaves: anything not at the end of his limbs or head and wrapped close around his trunk is part of the leaf armor the elves made for him during my last trip. He is an oak treant so the fair folk had the grace to only use oak leaves for his armor. Don't pull those please, as they are costly to replace... hee hee hee... you may keep that one though..." she finishes, pointing at the dropped leaf Salvius reached for.
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The Chelish wizard thinks about a bit and says-"Shall we book rooms in the Drunken Dog? Getting to know each could be fun, and I often find it fun to spend the n..."-his voice trails off, being a bit shy and JUST noticing the abundance of beautiful women in the group. He does a bad job to hide his blushed cheeks as he looks away, trying to awkwardly let is pass unanswered.
"I prefer to spend much of my time alone," Replies Ekanta. "Perhaps you could share a room with..."
He trails off as he gives Salvius a strange look, then stands up lightning-fast, staff in both hands.
"Your pulse has grown quick, Wizard. Is there danger? Forgive me, I must be more alert next time...."
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When Vina starts telling Salvius a little bit about herself, the wizard seems to be overjoyed as she shares her discoveries and tales. With a bright smile he says-"I very much like trees and plants! They've been a passion for me to study, along with wild beasts. To think the jungles of Jalmeray held such deep secrets! I myself studied in the Magaambyan Academy, after I fled Cheliax. Most of my magic I learnt there! But I've got a spell I've been meaning to try out, of my own development. It mimics the druidic art of plant growth, but replacing the normal rituals with arcane sigils."-he says as he fiddles with Lakadee's arm.
As the group picks up on Salvius' suggestion, he is surprised and says-"Sorry Ekanta! No danger! Must be the coffee, I'm sure."-but not being very good at lying. He scratches his head and looks elsewhere, trying to see what happens next.
It is a pleasant late-spring in early evening as you reach the Drunken Dog.
Entering the tap room, a tall human woman with raven-black curls stands behind the bar. The room is a higgledy-piggledy array of different tables and chairs: the seats range from old pews to milking stools to deeply-cushioned chaise longue and the tables are just as varied. The one theme is that every is old, battered and comfortable.
The tap room is busy: small groups, large groups, lone drinkers; the noisy and the quiet; the old and the young.
The group get a few strange looks as the vanara trances out for a few moments in the entrance to the bar.
The woman looks up from her drink, a little startled, "Why, I um, well... did you speak to my cousin? Oh, um... have a seat." She gestures to the heavy oak bench and two padded stools around the table.
The woman bristles at Salvius’ words and sits up straight, ”Alright, don’t patronise me. You just caught me lost in thought.”
She pauses and looks you over, ”You have heard, I assume, that I am looking for adventurers to take on a delicate mission. One of the city’s tax-collectors, Elias Kyle, has gone missing. I need you to find him. You will be required to travel into central Varisia and report back only to me. Does that sound like a job you would like to hear more about?”
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Tanya looks disgusted at the shamble state of this tavern. She hesitates to enter, but eventually follows the rest of the party in.
"I'll let you handle the talking." She whispers to her comrades from the back of the group. She doesn't even take her hat off while inside. The trenches look better than this...
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Ekanta, I want to apologize ahead of time. After my last mission I made sure to practice precision with my bombs, but it still seems likely that you'll end up on the wrong side of a bad toss eventually.
Ekanta seems completely unbothered by this.
"To live is to suffer," He replies as though that were the most normal statement in the world.
Ekanta simply stands near Tanya, silent as usual, looking around at the dizzying array of furniture.
Jeminda softens a little, relieved that you are being straightforward and practical, "Elias' last known location was Galduria. He was on a mission for me to square the books with the town of Ravenmoor and he sent a letter saying that he was making good time."
She pushes some hair out of her face, "This was no a scheduled collection. That was the problem," she half-smiles, "Ravenmoor had fallen off the schedule some years ago. I don't know how it happened but this was an emergency collection: the books did not balance. I asked Elias because he was someone I could trust - he's my brother-in-law - and because he doesn't make a fuss. My employers do not like problems; they like solutions."
She reaches into a pack, "So, the deal is this: I pay you 200 gold sovereigns when you return with the answers to what has happened to my brother-in-law. What I would really like is for you to return with Elias and the back taxes. But if I can't give my boss solutions, I need to provide answers."
She double-checks a ledger, but so fast that she clearly knows the answer, "Ravenmoor owes, all things told, 507 gold and 6 silver but the government is willing to round things down to 500 gold for simplicity's sake. And because Ravenmoor are not responsible for the errors in the schedule." She pinches the bridge of her nose, "Even if they should have contacted the city when scheduled visits suddenly stopped."
She meets your gaze again, "Elias is family, and he's a person: finding him is your top priority. The taxes though would be a bonus."
She's holding something back.
Sense Motive
The woman puts her head in her hands, "Elias, he's a good man but, when my sister died, he went off the rails for a while. Did a lot of drinking. Fighting. It's why he's got that bust up nose." She shakes her head, "It's not my bet on what happened, I swear, but there's always the chance he's collected five hundred gold from Ravenmoor and gone to drink it all in Riddleport." Her voice trails off, "At least that would mean he was alive..."
"what do you say? Find out what happened to the man and the money, bring them back here if you can, and you'll get two hundred gold each. Have we got a deal?"
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”Ravenmoor? I imagine we are to look in Etran’s Folly if we do not find him there?” she titters; both towns are quite obscure, with the latter being more a turnip stop along the path to a town someone actually cares about.
Her eyes light up when the “two hundred” is clarified as “two hundred each; much more sensible for someone who does not simply want their mercenaries to walk off with the taxes.
”I agree; we shall find your Kyle and return him in as good a health as we come upon him. Better, if necessary.”
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Salvius is overjoyed when he hears mention of Magnimarian marshlands. He says to the group and to Jeminda-"This will be a chance to learn, I'm sure! To have the chance of studying the flora and fauna of the famous Mushfens, it will be a time to remember."-before he realizes he might come off as unprofessional.
He continues-"All in good faith, of course. Our priority is Elias, and knowing the land will keep us safe."-getting ready to leave as soon as possible. He is unable to contain his excitement as he quickly glances over some books he has about swamps in the River Kingdoms.
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"Ravenmoor owes, all things told, 507 gold and 6 silver but the government is willing to round things down to 500 gold for simplicity's sake. And because Ravenmoor are not responsible for the errors in the schedule."
"How very generous." Tanya says flatly.
"Oh please, Etran's Folly is just a crumbling little town that is waiting til the last merchant it has dies off before it disappears forever." Tanya rolls her eyes. "Besides, their all turnip menu doesn't do any favors for satiating appetite."
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As you talk and seem willing to help, Jeminda buys everyone dinner and uses the time to write up a simple contract. It has no catches or complexity, just a clear agreement and her promise to pay. She signs it and then passes it to the group, "If you put the name of your adventuring party, only one will have to sign. We'll deposit it at the temple of Adabar."