"Thank you mam. Have a nice day." Carl replies and leaves.
He is glad not to have to deal with sobbing relatives for a change.
Faerveren tells Persephone goodbye. "I'll see if I can find out where that Marinelli lives. Can't be that hard."
It depends a lot on one's definition of hard. Indeed it can be simply found out by asking the right person. But a lot of persons don't know, don't care to answer, or want to know who is asking and why first. But finally there is some beggar who knows and tells, but asks for a coin in return.
With one exception. In one block live a lot of people who work at the docks for Marinelli. Almost everyone else who lived there moved out. The beggar walks Faerveren to the vicinity to point out which one.
Faerveren gives the man two copper for the in depth insight and walks further towards the block.
Faerveren finds that the passage between two houses on the south has a 15 feet high wall as a late addition that prevents entry.
Walking around and trying the passage to the east she finds that there are two thugs standing in the passage who, with a grim face inquire "What do you want here?"
"Just going for a walk, enjoying the city."
"Enjoy the city somewhere else." one 'suggests' and spits her in front of her boots.
I case one would walk around, one would find the northern passage walled up too and the western one has two more of those persuasive gentlemen.
"Well, ..."
Faerveren turns around and decides, that this needs more people for a proper investigation. And darkness.
Today Gorm has a pile of delivery lists, that need to be aligned with the books. "No slacking, no imprecision. Our books have to be in pristine condition. Every inconsistency needs to be investigated." he demands.
After a long day of paperwork, Persephone leaves and walks to The Pig's Whistle. She even takes a detour as her back is killing her from all that sitting at a desk.
Once she had enough of the fresh air, she enters and takes a free seat at a table with nice looking fellas. She orders an ale and a stew.
Faerveren looks for backup at The Pig's Whistle. She drinks an ale together with Persephone, but as no one else shows up to join them, they move to Persephone's house for the rest of the evening.
"I have an interesting new aspect of this Marinelli. He got a city block for his guys. I don't know if he lives there himself, but it has his thugs blocking entry to his community."
"What do you think? Has Marinelli his money under his matress, or at the bank?"
"Do we know someone who could check that and would tell us?"
"I'm not that close with the clergy of Abadar. What about Pepe? Does she have connections?"
"Maybe. But that would become expensive."
Another night passes peacefully in Abadon and the new day begins at dawn with the toll of the bell.
Menan heads to the stables to check on the progress and lend a hand when the time is right.
"Hey there." Torbin greets Menan between to hammer blows on the orange glowing blade.
"Cast yer spell on it whenever you're ready."
Menan curiously observes the dwarf as he casts Cat's Grace on the glowing blade. "There ya go."
With his part done, Menan can leave again. A short look over the meadows shows that the elves' horses are out there in the company of the other horses of Lady Adelaide.
Bringing new horses into a group causes a settled hierarchy to be questioned and so the highest ranking horse of the Lady's stable of horses swaggers over the place opposed by Dancer who does the same on the opposite side of the fenced area.
Menan and Arawyn take note of the horses on their way out. They head to the docks. Menan is ready to take in as much activity as he can noting each business as well. Just familiarizing himself with area.
At the docks there is Marinelli's big warehause and the smaller one with the office building. There are two more warehouses from other owners and in between are several establishments serving food and drink. The most notable one being the Blue Marlin. The others are street food vendors, which aquired a shack aligned with the warehouses.
But this early the dock workers and the sailors that load and unload the ships define the image at the docks. Three two mast brigs are anchored here. It's a lively scene with a lot of people moving around and lots of shouting. It is mostly trade goods that are handled here. At this time sacks of grain that leave and coal that comes in. Winter is coming.
Persephone goes to work again. As she stumbles over Menan and Arawyn at the docks she greets them. "Hello. You here? Out for a stroll?"
"Good morning. Yes we are. Will you be at the Pig this evening?"
Menan walks over to the second largest warehouse to observe what is going o there.
"Yes. Or do you want some more privacy for a talk? We could meet at my house. I can offer some wine there." Persephone suggests.
The second largest warehouse has a sign that reads "Coal and Timber Inc.". There is some timber stored on the left side of the large place, but they are busy filling it up to the roof with coal starting from the right wall.
"Yes, your home sounds even better."
Menan moves on to the third warehouse.
The third warehouse is rather small. The doors are closed and locked. Currently no one brings or retrieves anything from the building. The sign reads "Raw Iron and other Metals".
"See you later then." Persephone moves on and enters the Marinelli office building.
On to Marinelli's warehouse.
The marinelli warehouse is stuffed with crates and boxes and all kind of big stuff that doesn't come in boxes too. Like a two seated carriage. Currently everyone there is busy carrying stuff from one of the ships into the warehouse.
On to the pier where the vessels are docked.
The ships are moored along the quay wall. From one coal is unloaded, one is preparing to leave, and the last one is relieved of crates put into the Marinelli Warehouse.
Menan moves to the vessel that is preparing to leave. He listens for any indication of where the vessel is headed to next. He will inquire if anyone is still on the pier.
"We're going ta Augustana. Wanna come along?"
While Menan talks to the sailor, a man comes past with two thugs in tow and walks to the Marinelli office building, disappearing into the yard.
As the young man enters the office Gorm inquires "How can I help you?"
The young man nods towards the door at the back and waits for Gorm to lead the way and open it. He then walks through and has Gorm close the door behind them.
His thugs stay behind. A short time later he emerges from the room again and leaves the office with his thugs.
Gorm closes the door and takes a seat at his desk again.
The young man with his company leave the premise and walk in the direction that leads further away from Menan.
"Augustana. A wonderful port. Not today, but possibly in the future. What is the fee for passage? I have a couple horses and dogs as well." Menan notes the name of the vessel.
When finished with the departing vessel, Menan heads to the one being unloaded with the same intent as the first vessel.
The ship is named "One Source 2" "We come from Katapesh and Sothis and will move on to Almas and Absalom. You don't look like a sailor, but for a fare we'll take you along."
Faerveren pulls her blanket over her head, but it doesn't help. The bell woke her and now she can't sleep anymore.
With nothing else to do, she decides to check if there are some pawn shops in town. She dresses up and leaves the house. Where to look for one. Right. She walks straight to the temple of Abadar.
She approaches the first clerk that looks like he'd handle money. "Hi there. Are you giving loans? I could use a thousand gold or two."
"Sorry Ma'm. I'm not doing loans. You'd need an account with this bank. Then you'd need an appointment, where you persuasively show how you intend to pay the loan back. Or you produce collateral, like a house in Abadon."
"That sounds long winded. Isn't there a faster way?"
"The fastest way to get money is probably in a pawn shop. But they too ask for collateral."
"And where would I find such a pawn shop?" Faerveren inquires.
"There is one in the old town, on the square around the House of Flame. It looks like an antique shop. I guess it is more than a coincidence. If your life is turning south, those are the institutions to make a coin of your misery."
"Maybe you'd like to open an account with us and go the long way, that will for sure benefit you if you decide to persevere in the long run."
"You're cute. Maybe I'll come back to that offer once I got a better idea how to reliably pay back that loan. Thanks for the hint."
Faerveren winks at the guy and leaves. Everything in here stinks of money. I need a long term plan how to redirect some of that into my pockets.
Faerveren walks through the streets towards the House of Flame and walks around it, looking out for the shop.