The ladies gather your working cart and easily bring it to the cavern opening. Luckily nothing else comes to harass them while doing so. You load up your cart with the contents of the cavern, taking special care to organize things for the baker, your shop, and unknown what to do with.
You begin to head back towards Absalom and you spot a caravan heading the opposite direction and they give you a friendly head nod on your way by.
Aye, will do my dear. Thanks for the heads up. You should have smooth travels if you’re going to Absalom, the breeze is nice as they part ways. The travel is indeed nice as the breeze is crisp as the sun warms your face.
Karita hails the oncoming caravan. "Keep your eyes open. We cleared out a group of bandits and wolves back there, but it's possible there's more trouble." She says earnestly.
You manage to make it back to Absalom, without further hindrance or issue. You arrive at the bakery where Gwendolyn is inside tending to a customer. Once done she heads over,
So…back so soon. Does that mean my supplies weren’t recoverable? her tone somber and expecting the worst.
Upon arriving the first stop is the city guard to turn over the prisoners outlining what they did, explaining about the missing presumed dead folks of the raided wagon, and explaining what two of them appear to be. Finishing by stating that the missing folks were most likely eaten.
Arriving at the bakery Zen'Zot begins collecting Gwendolyn's stuff in preparation to carrying it inside for her and responds to her question saying, "No we were able to salvage some of it but sadly not all of it, and the personnel well.. we did not find them at all. I am afraid they may have been eaten."
The guard take the two adults…then looks puzzlingly at the child.
We ain’t no orphanage bud. Try one of the churches in holy quarter, or something like that. The two adults…we can take care of them just fine. We will make sure they don’t become werewolves and if they do we will just kill them and be done with it. Don’t want nothing like that getting out
Gwendolyn will almost let out a giddy happy note, but manages to collect herself since her place of business is still open.
My oh my…that was very fortunate for me and you nice folks. A deal is a deal, and if you ever need my help let me know as she goes to retrieve a small coin pouch filled with 20 gold pieces.
Before you head out, please take a small loaf of bread to share amongst yourselves. You’ve saved me the hassle of telling a client their order wouldn’t be ready on time…and my reputation of being punctual AND affordable is decks to none. May your shop be prosperous as she hands you a small sourdough loaf for the road.
"What church would we deliver a werechild to? Desna? Shelyn? Abadar? Saranrae?" Karita wonders.
Zen'Zot says, "You seem to fail to understand this child is as much a... werewolf," he says that last word questioningly, "as that guy there." he points to the one guy that could also transform. "As such I do not think an orphange will be able to handle him, is there anywhere else we could deposit the kid where they might know what to do with him?" Zen'Zot was hoping for the best here but leaving the kid at some normal orphange was not going to happen for sure. Far to dangerous for the other kids.
The situation with Gwendolyn he leaves to the females as they would know better how to handle her much better than he could. So, he simple moves what goods they were able to recover into her shop and accepts bag of coins and loaf of bread and then awaits the conclusion of the discussion with the females who were bound to connect on that higher feminine level that exceeded what men were capable of communicating upon
Mara considers whether she knows any churches that would be able and willing to help an orphan in this situation. "Who knows much about the churches around here?"
Mara smiles and nods. "Of course! A pleasure helping out a fine establishment. Bartleby's, under new management, is always looking to develop friendly relations with reputable businesses."
Nothing really spring to Mara’s mind. Zen’Zot thinks on it and a couple options are Sarenrae, which only has a statuesque shrine. Maybe someone there could point him in a direction, otherwise a potential option if wanting an actual temple would be Iomedee.
Mara than tries her best to win over Gwendolyn and as she finishes Gwendolyn gives her a simple nod, Of course my dear. Bartleby would be might proud that good people have taken over his shop
As you return to your shop, the man you hired to watch over it is wiping off various tables, shelves, and tidying up.
Ah, welcome back. The couple days went well. We had some business…nothing I couldn’t handle. The second day you were away, an adventurer in a chain shirt came by and purchased the 6 daggers you had in stock. It may not have been a super expensive sale…but a sale is a sale in my book he says with a slight chuckle.
Hey…also…I cleaned out the basement. You know you got some strange door down there with some do-hickey of a hole for some sort of key. I mean, I tried to mess with it and it didn’t budge. The footprints are mine…I just didn’t want you to freak out. Anyways, thanks for the job and if you ever need me again just holler. as he takes his payment for the four days and heads out.
Zen'Zot listens and as the man begins to head out Zen'Zot says, "I would rather not holler, so please just show tomorrow as usual as this was not a temporary job."
"Iomedae seems like a good option. They are of a military bent and might be able to handle the child better then some of the others and offer him tools to help keep whatever bestial nature he has in check." Uwe says.
Uwe nods to Lashley as he departs and then will move around the shop and see how tidy Lashley has kept it and clean up any items that might need to be sorted.
Mara nods. "Agreed. Iomedae it is! Where can we find her temple?"
Mara herself definitely does not know.
Mara starts taking stock of how things have developed in the shop. "More sales? Excellent. Let's work on this shop." She examines the mysterious keyhole curiously. "We'll have to check that out later, maybe after we work on some more of these upgrades."
Mara then hires some workers to help tidy up the shop, arrange things, and stock shelves. She also takes business consulting on magical items but spends little time on this work. In reality, she simply summons Xerxes and has them examine the items in a room by himself.
[spoilers=Downtime Rolls]
Downtime Rolls Religion
Some sad days there.[/spoiler]
After one particular, long day of working the shop, Mara catches her comrades. "A question. I know all three of you know more about books, histories, and different lands than me. I happened to think of a phrase that an old coworker would say. Do you know what language this is?" Then she intones a few harsh syllables.
Mara is being somewhat withholding by casually referring to this person as a coworker.
"Kill them."
Zen'Zot listens but does not recognize the language but states, "Sounds like a rather harsh language."
"That is the tongue of demons. The phrase was 'kill them'. This colleague of yours was not being kind to those around them." Uwe says with a dark frown at the language.
"I don't speak that language, I'm afraid."
Mara looks startled at Uwe's revelation then nods slowly. "I suppose that makes sense. I don't remember them being particularly nice..." She then tries to shift the subject away from her past. "How about you, Uwe? How did you receive your training? And when did you learn the tongue of demons?"
Mara spends the next two weeks using Xerxes to consult on magic items, with herself as a front, while she helps manage the livestock to ensure they are in good condition and even making a little money on the side by hiring the horse out.
"Sometimes life takes you down dark and foreboding paths. But tis where you come out that matters." Uwe says.
Mara laughs out loud in surprise at Uwe's answer. "You are right, of course. But you managed to reveal even less information about your past than I did of mine!" But if Uwe doesn't want to talk more about his history, Mara won't press him.
Karita, you spend time at your alchemy table, adding a lot of flare and extravagance to the complex alchemy process. You create a spectacle unlike any other. A group of children, ages 10-13 sit in awe at the show. They convince their parents to buy something from the shop to show their appreciation…after much whining and complaining is involved. You manage to bring in another 3 gold pieces in revenue for the week.
The weeks go by, as nothing of note happens until the end of the first week. An adventurer comes buy and purchases the masterwork bastard sword you have hanging on the wall.
The second week, is not so kind, as nothing happens. The final week however, business picks up as people show up for Karita’s performance. It’s so amazing that a local sees it, and looks to Zen’Zot.
So…what do you call this thing as he gestured to your Poppet.
"It tis called a poppet, but I call em Woody. Still a poppet can come in two sizes. This size or a smaller more doll like size. While they do not speak they still interact with their owner and can be handy for all sorts of things based on its owners desires. Of course, most poppets are not as personable as the ones I make as I attempt to create a face that the owner finds endearing thus making it much more personable." Zen'Zot does his best to convey all the aspects in the most positive light that he can.
How much does it cost…to ummmm make one? as he seems trying to take it all in.
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The following day, after Zen’Zot has the conversation with the man inquiring about his poppet, a well dressed man enters the shop. He has soft tipped ears of an elf, and low cheek bones. It’s clear he is of mixed blood, and he wanders around the shop for a bit taking in your wares presented.
Greetings everyone. I do hope business as well as life finds you well. You have such a nice shop, but that’s not all that has been spoken about as of late. The dwarf, has proven to be quite the smith of blade and hammer. And you young lady as he looks to Karita, seem to be quite the alchemist. Oh my, where have my manners gone. My name is Gilthanis Silverbrow and I am a speaker for the lord whom employs me. The man who employs me is Vincent Del Sol. He doesn’t have much in the way of power or affiliation…but what he does have is money. He had sent me here on a inquiry of your services…both as adventurers and craftsman and craftswomen as it were
He lets his words hang in the air and slowly creep inside your brains to process.
Uwe nods and says, "We would be most interested in hearing this business proposal."
Uwe tries to remember anything he can about this Vincent Del Sol.
Karita looks up from where she is mixing up a remedy as Gilthanas addresses her and the others, one eyebrow raised, but waits to hear what he has to say silently.
most likely the backroom with the door closed as he has a lot of woodworking to do
Mara, who's frequently near the front chatting up customers, hears the noble's name and tries to recall it. She wasn't much of a scholar so she would only be likely to do so if she had happened to interact with the fellow in a past life.
She nods and smiles to the speaker for the noble. "Indeed? Please tell us more. We are capable and looking to expand our business."
The Del Sol family is the 4th largest fabric import/export in Absalom.
Vincent Del Sol is 3rd in line to take over the business behind his two older brothers. The parents are older and could leave the business at any time.
The business has been having trouble of late making a profit. They seem to be treading financial water, as the three other fabric businesses have allegedly been trying to squeeze them out of the fabric market due to their behavior and the general lack of distaste for the Del Sol business.
The Del Sol family allegedly has ties to the shady underground, but nothing can or has been proven to anyone.
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Well, he’s not looking to expand per se, but he has heard about how you are former adventurers looking to make a successful business.
He looks around, as another customer browses the shop and he stops speaking while they are there. The customers leaves after a few minutes and Gilthanins continues.
He has come across an area in the Cairlands, that he hopes to excavate sooner rather than later. He owns a trio of caravans, and one while traveling the area has… as another customer walks in to browse Gilthanis stops.
Is there somewhere private we can speak?
Mara nods and leads Gilthanis back to the workroom where Zen'zot is. She summons Xerxes to watch the storefront in case Uwe and Karita want to come to the back room as well.
Xerxes pushes up his spectacles and sighs. "You want me to tend the store? Well I suppose that's not the MOST demeaning task you've requested of me." He says this in a meaningful way but Mara looks confused. The eidolon then mutters something under his breath.
Xerxes muttered "Ah yes, you wouldn't remember that."
Mara is very, very far from hearing what Xerxes said and walks into the workroom with Gilthanis.
The witch puts aside her mortar and pestle, wipes off her hands on a rag, and joins Mara in the back, mildly curious.
Zen'Zot looks up from his work as Mara and her guest enter wondering what was what but waiting to see what Mara said and or did.
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Ah, much quieter. Yes, this shall do. So, Vincent’s caravans had noticed a structure in the Cairnlands. The caravan hasn’t noticed it before amongst their various travels. The strange part is…when they look the following morning the structure was no longer there. I personally think the caravan driver was hallucinating…but he swears on his paycheck that he’s not crazy. Well, Vincent would like to send some people to investigate the alleged structure in the Cairnlands. He was hoping to hire you seasoned adventures to (1) see if the structure is indeed real and not a mirage, (2) thoroughly investigate the structure if it is indeed real to the best of your comfort level and report back everything you find out in terms of information and (3) bring back anything you find of tangible goods. Is this an inquiry you’d be interested in, because if so we can discuss compensation as he looks at the woodworking Zen’Zot is working on.
Mara nods to Gilthanis. "Yes this could be interesting, depending on the details. Compensation is, of course, a key matter."
Uwe joins them and listens to the proposal with a slight frown.
"Hmm...many questions are popping up about your proposal. But lets start with your master's endgame intentions here. You say to bring back all of the tangible goods, does your master intend to claim all of the tangible goods or would a portion be shared with us? If his intend is to pay us for this and not share in the tangible goods, what is his offer before any tangible goods are found?" Uwe says as he wonders about the potential value of such a find and wonders how you could predetermine a reasonable payment method.
"My compatriot echoes my concerns. If we go there, investigate, and bring back all the tangible goods-normally known as 'looting'-to you, what's left for us? If this structure is rife with arcane tools, which we could use, we'd lose quite a bit of coin in this potentially." The witch comments patiently. She holds Kavius in her arms, stroking him as she speaks.