These Pathfinders will be legends!

Game Master noral

Right. Apparently we need to discretely ask about Jax Telandil there. Well then, lets give it a go!

The elf is ready to be out of the dank tunnel, and brushes off his clothing as soon as he emerges.

Once they find Aunties, Darzus immediately sits at the bar and in hushed tones asks the bartender if he's seen Jax Telandil around.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Zamin shakes his head.

"Ehh ... so many words!!"

Exiting the tunnel you crawl out under the docks. Wet sand and detritus litter the ground as you climb up onto the dock there are ramshackle buildings, tents mixed in among the many buildings. Pezzacky dockworkers are going about their work. A few turn heads when Malluma crawls up onto the docks. But otherwise no one seems to take notice. After an hour or so of looking around you find Aunties. In Docktown’s chaotic jumble of ships, Auntie’s tavern still
manages to stand out. Draped in bright curtains of white and red and bearing a huge, garishly painted former ship’s
masthead of a woman as its sign—creatively augmented to
hold two foaming mugs aloft, the three-story converted ship’s
hold is perpetually packed with Pezzacki looking to drown their
fears and boredom.

As Darzus mentions Telandil a few of the patrons remember the name and have seen him around. One particularly drunk patron mentions outlook. "I saw a begoggled ghost diving into the water and came out with a white staff!"

Darzus perks up and gives the drunkard a skeptical look.

Ghost? White staff? Do tell me more good man. What happened after that?

The drunk sidles up to you and continues his story. "yeah it was just last Sunday, I was taken in my fresh haul, and right as I'm sailing in, I seen him. Surfaced right off me port side eyes glowing green ghoulie like, shaken a white stick in the air I just about fell overboard." he takes another swig of Ale and is about to continue when an elderly halfling woman carrying a tray interjects. "Walsh you are still telling that story? It gets more outrageous every time you tell it. Now let me get this poor fella and his friends a drink before you talk his pointy ear off." The woman steps behind the counter and sets the tray down before offering you each a drink. "You must be some of Poppos students? What can I get for you?"

"Um, what do you have that won't get me drunk and tastes good?" Jussa asks with an apologetic expression.

Darzus squints at the drunk man, asking This is... Jax Telandil we're talking about?

He turns to the bartender.

Whiskey, neat. So are you familiar with Jax? Perhaps you have some less tall tales about him.

"I can offer you some seafood soup if that's what you're after, or boiled water..." Auntie places a bowl on the bar with some steaming muscles and some other unrecognizable seafood inside. "your looking for Jax Telandril, eh? Well he hasn't been around here in a few days, though I heard he was up to his ears in debt, was planning on starting a magic item shop, and to marry Amalia Wraxton to boot! Though those are mostly just rumors."

Zamin grunts.

"Yes, soup!! And beer! Oh and yes Jax!" he says smiling.

Auntie smiles and slides another bowl onto the bar. Followed by a beer.

"Thank you. What does all this cost?" The others are doing a pretty good job getting people to chat, so Jussa does her best to seem like an ordinary customer. If everyone in the group asks about the same person, it could draw attention. Low key is the name of the game.

Malluma grabs a beer and sits by the others. "A magic item shop, eh? Seems like the area could use one. Expensive though. Was he up to something recently that would help him do that?"

Auntie grabs a rag and begins cleaning a glass. "Well if he's had any success I haven't seen it yet." auntie puts one glass down and begins cleaning another. "well since It is obvious you are new here, and your friend there is so enthusiastic about my cooking, I'll give you this set on the house. Call it good advertising, since in a few more days you will be tired of seafood."

give me a perception check

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"Oh, thank you so much! When you hardly ever get out, dining hall food gets so old. Having something different is so refreshing!" Jussa is careful to phrase her little speech as general statements, without claiming them as her experiences. That way she doesn't have to lie. Technically.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Malluma seems more intent on the food than the goings on.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Falshin allows the others to speak, maintaining a constant vigilance in the area, although, he does speak up when orders come order. "Just an ale for me, good madam." He smiles with a nod.

Hmm, maybe we'll go check out this magic shop and give it some of its first business. Where did you say it was again?

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

if you beat a 10.

You notice some of the patrons are starting to leave as the questions continue. The average volume of the room begins to lower as people's conversations are pausing to listen to the questioning.

Auntie who steps out from behind the bar to collect some empty glasses continues."well it's only a rumor I heard, I haven't seen it myself and you know how the rumor mill can be, especially when everyone is trapped in this town."

Malluma looks around, starting to get nervous. She whispers to the rest of the group, "Maybe it's about time we be getting on."

"Yeah, I was just thinking the same." Jussa finishes off the last of her order and nudges Darzus. "Hey. We should probably get going, if we want to finish our stuff before we have to get back. Auntie, thank you so much for the meal. It really was delicious. You're a gem!" She hops down from her seat. "Coming, guys?"

Darzus frowns at the abrupt suggestion from Jussa and Malluma, but only a moment later gets the implication.

Oh... yes.

He gets up from his barstool to follow after them.

The skinwalker looks around and obviously did not care.

"Yeah, I though it is getting interesting but ok. You are smart. Ehh .. I hope you are ... " he says with a raised eyebrow and follow Jussa.

Falshin glances up at Jussa. "That time, eh? Perhaps next time I could read your fortune, Auntie, in exchange for that brew." He gives her a pleasant smile as he turns to follow the others.

Auntie comes walking back with an arm full of dirty glasses, stopping just short of Falshin. She smiles up at him."well handsome, as long as my forecast has you in it, I'd say it's lookin pretty good to me. But go ahead and come back, I do like a good palm reading." She continues behind the bar setting the dishes in a large tub with a crash.

Outside Aunties a few of the former patrons are giving you a wide berth. But once they see you leaving they start heading back inside.

where to next?

Darzus looks around at the others.

How about we look into this supposed new magic shop? However, I'm not sure we got a read on its location from that short discussion before we got our "polite" hints to exit.

He frowns for a moment before continuing to think out-loud.

I wonder if asking about it further out here is going to get us additional non-friendly looks. Never-the-less, I'll try a few comers and goers on the topic... I'll be discrete about it.

Gather info, magic shop location (Diplomacy): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"Sounds good, always like a magic shop. Must need a lot of barter to get a magic item." She follows the group. "After that we should head to The Defiant, to see what the loyalists are up to."

As you meander through the docks, you end up over hearing discussions about Telandils magic shop. He couldn't manage to get it off the ground without proper permits from the Loyalists and constant pressure to bring in a swath of newer items he ended up ND er getting it off the ground. Though he did manage to settle his debts from the venture.

Oh, well. It truly didn't come to exist. Or not for long. Okay then, off to the Defiant!

"Bummer. I would've liked to see the inventory, honestly. And if he was running the shop, it would've been easier to find him. Oh, well." Jussa tags along after the others, surreptitiously checking to see who, if anyone, seems to be taking note of them or following them.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

As you take a look around while you walk. You see several of the same faces popping up. They don't seem to be working together, but the more you pay attention the more it seems that people are watching your every move.

As Falshin takes note of those watching them, he leans in closer to Jussa, whispering. "I do wonder if the shop was not just a front for him. Perhaps we should go back under the cover of darkness to check into it further? I am quite good at moving around unseen and picking locks from a distance even."

"From a distance? Wow, that's a trick. You've gotta show me sometime! --Hey guys!" Jussa hops closer to the other party members and acts like she's telling them a silly little thing that Falshin told her so that the onlookers can't tell that she's making sure her pals all know that they're being watched.

Oh... Maybe Falshin is right and we should be doing this at night.

Are there particular shops or places we can pop into, to get out of the open quickly?

Malluma, assuming the onlookers are a threat, tenses up and her hands stray to the hilt of her weapons. "Which faction have we upset? This town moves fast. Let's get to an alley, where we can see if they follow us..."

“I don’t like these eyes in my back! Do you want me to take them out?“ he says with a hopeful look on his face.

"Not yet, Zamin. That would draw an even bigger crowd. Let's duck into an alley like Malluma said."

As you are walking the streets, much of which is crowded with outdoor stands of many types of local foods, clothing, and other sundries. Small shanties and ramshackle structure are more common after the past naval bombardments. Though there are a few large buildings, drydocks, fish processing plants, dive bars, and warehouses which could be ducked into without much suspicion.

It is also worth noting the few people who appear to be watching you aren't following you. Though a few younger street urchins do stop playing to stare at you for an uncomfortably long time.

Malluma leads the group into a nearby building for a few minutes until everyone is confident nobody is following them. "Well, best be heading to The Defiant then."

You all slip into a slightly ajar set of large double doors. You are first hit by the smell, a pungent scent of chemicals and raw meat left out for a few days. Inside is only dimly lit by large windows with broken glass panes, that line the upper walls of this large warehouse. Once your eyes adjust to the dim light, you notice the row upon row of fish drying on hanging racks along the ceiling. The floor is cluttered with all manner of detritus, from buckets of fish guts, rusty tools, to large tarps thrown hap-harzardly along the floor.

"I guess these robes aren't very good disguises, if so many people are taking note of us." Jussa takes a good look at the group, comparing them to the folks they've seen out and about.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Does she notice anything that makes us stand out?

Compared to the local color, you guys seem cleanly dressed, wear your weapons openly, a few of you stand out do to your ancestry.

Most of the locals are humans who are on the poorer side.

Give me a wisdom or intelligence check

Wisdom: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Just to convey Falshin's appearance, the only "weapon" he carries openly is a dagger on his belt. He also carries a walking stick which is effectively a hanbo. I realize others definitely carry more openly, but just wanted to clarify for Falshin at least.

Intelligence: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

anyone who got over a 12

As you look at your disguises, you realise it wasn't meant to hide the fact you are foreign, just the fact that you are pathfinders or adventurers. Only wealthy foreigners could afford to sneak their kin passed the chelish navy to college. While it doesn't make you less of an outsider, it does make you sort of a local oddity. It won't be unusual to see people staring at what might be a wealthy person in a community in extreme poverty.

After scrutinizing the group, the reality of the situation dawns on Jussa. "Ohhhh! I get it now." She explains why the group is attracting so much attention. "So I guess we lean into that idea, huh?"

Darzus laughs nervously.

Huh... I guess we're "going slumming" then, as far as these folk are concerned. If this is all that comes of it, so be it. Let us proceed.

Malluma, riding atop a twelve foot long and several foot wide snake, doesn’t bristle at the stares. She’s used to being an outsider in a foreign land. The long lance and other weaponry bristling from her back don’t help with the image. ”These poor people. Let’s move along quickly, so as to not cause a disturbance.” I don't know if I mentioned taking my mount with me. But as a Cavalier, I need to even in the weirdest situations unless strictly forbidden.

As you leave the docks and head into the heart of Pezzack, you notice many buildings are burned or scarred from the signs of combat. Even still the streets remain busy and people tend to move out of your way as you approach. The Throne Defiant is not a difficult building to find, a large stately brick building painted red with black trim, flies the flag of cheliax. Though the flag does show signs of wear. As you enter in the large double doors, the Inns common room is well decorated though shows signs of a violent altercation. Furniture is damaged, blood spatter is on the walls and floor. A few armed men in black uniforms are righting the tables and removing some dropped weapons. A maid is scrubbing at the blood in the carpet, as she notices you entering she begins to scrub more furiously and look visibly stressed.

The elderly Valia Wain, a human cleric of Iomedae, sits in a tall-backed chairs nursing a cup of thin tea in the otherwise empty commons, her brow creased with worry and the fringes of her longsleeved dress still tinged in crimson. She looks up from her cup. "If you're hear to speak to Rea Bellory, you're late, the Galtans gave her a deep wound, it will take much time to properly heal." She places the cup on the table. "Damn Galtans, if they can walk in to take What ever they like in the heart of Chelaxian government, then there really is no order left in Pezzack worth saving."