Shesk's words shakes Fuma as she turns to look at the rest and finally Nay. The thought that the goods maybe contraband had never occurred to her.
"Truly? Then please allow us to inspect what we are transporting. I do not wish to get in trouble with local law."
Zak, is it true that the horns are proper indicators for...vigor? she asks with a wink.
"Well..." - Zak chuckles - "That is one of the best kept minotaur secrets. And not an easy one to unravel" - he replies with a display of unusual banter.
"Truth be told most of my race do pride themselves of a nice set of horns, yet we are not diminished if they are scarred or broken in battle - such marks should be carried with pride"
As the debate surfaces regarding the contents of the caravan, he simply crosses his arms, furrows his brow, and waits for an answer.
Nareem looks at Sheska as the female wizard speaks. She nods her head in understanding. Of course! of course! No, i dont think its contraband. I will admit, i have dabbled in that from time to time. extra silken fabrics here, some DrakenBane there. Nothing too serious. Not like im trafficking slaves or anything like that. She glances momentarily at Zak before looking away.
She steps forward and reaches into her blouse, her hand searching around her left breast, and finally removing a small iron key with a short red tassel tied to the finger twist. She kneels down and inserts the key into the lock, and twists it
lifting the lid open, Nareem pushes it up so it can fall backwards, revealing the contents within.
looking in, you see a wooden slot organizer covered in a red fabric. Set within each slot, nestled securely within the slots, you see these long reddish black irons just under two feet in length. One one end, there is a twisted iron hand hold. on the other, a larger lump of the same reddish black iron.
Torin doesn't bother to look in the trunk.
"To be honest lass, I'd rather not know. In my line of business, it's best to avoid those kinds of details. Being paid to take the trunk from point A to point B is good enough for me."
Fum like the rest peers into the chest but to her all she sees are red iron bars....
As for DrakenBane? She has no idea though it maybe something named just like her. DrakenBane? Nobane? Could be the same or not.............
Sheska peers into the open trunk. Such strange-looking implements, she thinks.
She hasn't ever heard of the drug that is mentioned, which surprises her. Always room for more in the world.
Sheska focuses her mind, gestures with her left hand, and says "Arilosu". The wizard focuses for maybe 20 seconds on the bars.
That done, she says, "Well, let's go get the mules to haul the wagon and then head back to the inn, where the others are, hopefully."
Zak curiously peeks at the chest.
He had heard about drakenbane - "Fool's gold" - he grumbled about it, but otherwise remained silent.
Still walking back to the Inn/Tavern.
Keeping an eye out for any one following.
Perception
Inspecting the trunk, you see that it is a unique item, capable of holding more content than what is normally held.
well, I can take young Bander and Lady Fuma with me to the stables to retreive the mules. Sir, lady, if you please?nareem offers to the group.
Bander "Sounds good."
Walking back to the stables Bander seems pleased.
"It is possible that you are being deceived" - Zak grunts at Nareem - "The chest seems to have a false bottom, so it is possible someone has hidden other cargo mixed with your wares" - he adds - "In any case, we should see if there is any merchandise here that should not be, yes?"
"I don't see what's wrong with the cargo." Fuma says to Bander as she accompanies them to get the horses.
Bander shrugs, "I am not sure I am the best to ask I mean you big folk have all sorts of rules and 'good manners' that seem really uptight to me. I guess some things are aloud to be shipped and others aren't."
Torin rolls his eyes,
"Zak, you should know that it is rude to pry into a lady's private matters. Does it really matter what's the box? Do you plan on reading the documents we're transporting as well?"
He gives Nareem a sly look, "Of course, if we were transporting anything unusual, then that might carry some extra risk. The type of risk that commands a premium."
nareem pauses, and looks at Zak. deceived? Hidden cargo? how so?
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Walking directly behind Duatha, Aeleni wrinkles her nose at the smelly human city, eyeing everything and everyone with suspicion.
Why does this place have to be so dirty and loud? It's very intrusive and offensive somehow. Not even a bit of serenity. I wonder how they cope. But maybe then, they don't, at all.
Why are you so silent? You're bothered this Fizban turned out to be a wizard? I'm not so surprised. What did you expect a guy in weird robes and with such a hat to be? Even though the robes weren't white, red or black. That is the weird thing i guess, isn't it?
Oh what's that brooding look of yours? You're looking for a way you can turn something of that into an advantage for you, am i right?
Eww what are they selling there? Is that supposed to be food? That smells like something long rotten...
Have you seen the children there? Why are they so dirty and playing in the gutter? Aren't they cared for?
Zak looks from Torin to Nareem - "It does matter what is in the box Master Ironbeard, and this one seems like it may have a false bottom, where illegal materials could be hidden for contraband" - he points out - "I can show you"
Zak reaches down, and is able to slip his nails underneath the hidden lip of the tray that the strange rods rest upon. lifting slightly, the entire apparatus shifts slightly, allowing him an opportunity to get a stronger grip upon the tray. Lifting it up and out, he sets the dozen rods and holder off the the side, revealing the contents within.
Looking into the bottom of the chest, you see small chunks of stone or various shapes and sizes. From the ambient light that passes in through the large warehouse doors, and the slits in the walls, you pick up on subdued blacks and bright blood reds colors in the stone itself.
Sheska halts her exit when Zak reveals the hidden stones. She is quite irritated with the merchant by now, but she holds her tongue.
Sheska tries to think if she has seen any of this rock occur naturally in her wanderings.
Then she focuses on the largest stone she can see and casts a spell to try and discover whether it emits foul sorcery.
Fuma wonders how the horse would be like.
Would it be a gentle workhorse or one of those feisty types?
Sheska finishes her inspection and starts the hike back to the inn.
You typed "you have never seen this material before. and your detect magic/knowl arcana does" and was the last word "nothing" or?
Bander was about to head out the door but he turns looking back. His eyes wide as he sees the false bottom pulled from the box. "A SECRET COMPARTMENT!?!?!" He looks up a Fruma, [b]"We gotta see this. . . What could it be.
Fuma shrugs, bemusement in her features as she couldn't see what was so interesting to have grabbed the Kender's attention.
She did know Secret compartments. It was how her master smuggled her out of the slave camps....
Nareem walks back over and peers into the box as the minotaur lifts the hidden tray out from the trunk. her face scrunches up, worry, fear, befuddlement playing clear as day upon her features. Well! Well well! that is interesting! It would explain why they needed six men to lift it off of the other wagon. she looks up at everyone. But i assure you, i had no idea that there was this hidden compartment! Nor this...stoney stuff.
Bander looks up and a little crosseyed at their patron. "So whose cargo are we actually moving if you weren't aware?"
Duatha orders a hearty meal of meats and stew along with some ale, unusual for him but with along road trip ahead and unknown dangers might as well have a full belly.
The elf shrugs, "I found myself a bit tired on the road and weary from lack of nutrition, it does not hurt to have a full belly at the onset of such a "quest".
If the last several weeks are any indication, what keeps them is foolishness, not of our own devices..."
Zak reaches inside, and pulls out one of the larger stones, feeling its weight and texture - "Anyone has any idea what these may be?" - he questions his companions.
With the question raised Bander of course starts to touch the rocks and picks one up eyeing it.
Sheska arrives at the inn and slaps a few copper pieces down on the bar for some bread, cheese and water.
Then, spying Aelina and Duatha, she goes to join them.
"You're all done? Great!" Sheska punctuates her comment by taking a big bite out of her bread.
"We managed to get a wagon, contingent on delivering some goods at our destination. The others will be here shortly, once they snag the horses." She gnaws at her cheese and takes a swig of water.
"Oh yes, of course." From her satchel, Sheska produces Duatha's charred spellbook. "Thanks again. I'll return the favor along the journey. And, oh my, am I ready to leave this city."
Sheska arrives at the inn and slaps a few copper pieces down on the bar for some bread, cheese and water.
Then, spying Aelina and Duatha, she goes to join them.
"You're all done? Great!" Sheska punctuates her comment by taking a big bite out of her bread.
"We managed to get a wagon, contingent on delivering some goods at our destination. The others will be here shortly, once they snag the horses." She gnaws at her cheese and takes a swig of water.
"Oh yes, of course." From her satchel, Sheska produces Duatha's charred spellbook. "Thanks again. I'll return the favor along the journey. And, oh my, am I ready to leave this city."
Duatha smiles at Sheska, "Yes done. We have the documents from the Court as well as the Book for the Library, I shall retain both items for the journey for I certainly wish to visit the Great Library.
A wagon eh? So we have transport and we are being paid for it? A fine deal indeed".
Duatha finishes his meal and considers pulling the book from the satchel but for now waits. He places his spellbook back in among his own belongings.
"Agreed, I too am ready to leave this place".
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Eyeing both Sheska and Duatha criticaly the mention of the transport job pricks Aelenis ear.
Not bad. That provides a cover and reason for our voyage.
Fragile magic users can also travel in the wagon then.
she adds casually with a side glance to Duatha.
What are we transporting then and who is the employer? It is indeed time to leave this place, but this seems suspiciously convenient.
Grasping the stones to pick up, both bander and Zak are surprised by the heaviness of the stones.
Nareem responds to Banders question. An old friend of mine from out east. Met him on some of my travels in the early start of my trading career. Very nice fellow. Has always given good advice, and a kind man for those long boring stretches upon the road where the scenery hardly changes. He says it's some kind of metal. beyond that, he isnt sure. He is also just a middle man, as he also doesnt know where this stuff originates from.
Nareem leads bander and Fuma down the street to the stables, and with some quick instructions, is able to harness her six mules and lead them back to be hitched to the wagon.
so...how are we going to get that box onto the back of the wagon? Nareem asks to everyone. it took 6 strong men to move it off of the other wagon.
Sheska
downs the rest of her bread before answering Aeleni.
"A small-time half-elven merchant, for the who. The what is a lot more interesting, but we can fill you in on the way." She takes a last, long swig of water. "And then there will be plenty of time for you both to tell the rest of us anything you found out about that old man."
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A half-elf? Aeleni asks in astonishment.
Why would they live here and not among elves? How is the cargo interesting? Is it some art pieces? Do they sell elven goods among the lesser races? It's always good to have some hope and share beauty in the world! A half-elf might be uniquely suited for this! Serving as an ambassador of culture among humans, being able to provide them with more insights and access...
"We have Zak." He looks at the minotaur. "Go ahead pick it up."
Duatha does not respond to the sharing of the nature of their employer, "There is nothing to tell. The crafty old wizard used magic to escape his cell.
They seem not interested in tracking him down so I assume they must believe him harmless or do not wish to draw attention to their own ineptitude".
No stranger to hard work, the woman Fuma leaves the horses to help the others load the chest into the wagon. For something so small, it weighs a lot she muses.
If you mean just strength then mine is 18 or the bonus? +4.
No stranger to hard work, the woman Fuma leaves the horses to help the others load the chest into the wagon. For something so small, it weighs a lot she muses.
"That I can do."
Torin puts his back into it, but makes sure to lift with his legs... He lets out a grunt of effort, "Should have just had them move it right into the back of your wagon."