The small Shoanti man just frowns, though he does seem to be looking at this Zograthy. "Nobody in this neighborhood can afford a double fistful of silver."
"Well, we can trace your connection with this person of course. Now, two small fistfuls of silver, or 10 in common speak, is surely not too much for fine folk such as you." Zograthy says and reaches for his harrow deck.
Dantor Shortbeard, the dwarf, followed the group to Washer's Way. Upon entering Zograthy's tent he setup near the entrance as if to guard it if need be.
5 Silver and I shall spread news of your usefulness among my colleagues at the serpents run. If your info checks out.
Feeling socially out of place, Khorbin stands outside opposite Dantor next to the doorway.
After paying off the street urchin, Shathee holds on to the rest of his gold and allows the others to do this bartering.
With the fortuneteller thus engaged, Leylia stands back, casually looking over the rest of the tent. might agitate him if I cast a cantrip; damn. should've done that before I walked in.
"Ahh, done." Zograthy says to the offer of 5 silver. He takes the money, pockets it, and then gestures to the seat across from him. "Sit." he says and then shuffles the deck. "Now, think of this person who you wish to know about and we shall see what the spirits have to say." after a pause, "Are you ready?" When he feels that Aurie is thinking of this person he draws a card and lays it out.
-The Winged Serpent-
"Your friend has been seeking knowledge has she not?" he asks but without waiting for a reply he draws the next card.
-The Theater-
"She has something important to tell and seeks a stage upon which she may share it." The next card is flipped.
-The Midwife-
"This important thing is new information or a new item that she has found or created. Perhaps you will be asked to present this new item. he says and turns the next card.
-The Unicorn-
"It would appear your friend has found something, information or object, of exceptional value that she wishes to share with all in some public display. Perhaps she is with child or planning to get married. The cards do not say." He smiles and looks at you, "Now, do not ruin her surprise. When she reveals her information, be sure to act surprised."
The Winged Serpent. This is the lawful good card of wisdom. It represents the couatl, the bridge of understanding between the towers of knowledge and judgement.
The Theater. This is the neutral good card of charisma. It represents prophecy, with a true prophet acting a part as the puppet of the gods.
The Midwife. This is the neutral good card of wisdom. It represents the enabler or conduit of new creation, information, or arrivals.
The Unicorn. This is the chaotic good card of charisma. It represents one who generously offers up that which is sought
And where would this place be oh most amazing one? Aurie says with smiling bright green eyes that look into his.
According to mom, flattery gets you everywhere.
Leylia makes sure to be facing away from Zograthy when she rolls her eyes. Fortune-tellers...
"Most likely at the next large gathering of friends. I suggest you remain patient. Now, if you will excuse me, I must rest my spirit." The Amazing Zograthy says.
The short Shoanti man steps forward and puts a hand on the con-artist's shoulder, helping him stay put. "I think the lady doesn't believe you have given her her money's worth. Perhaps you could better serve her?"
Seeing the man's effort to leave, Shathee slips quietly into the back of the group and aims to follow the fortune teller if he attempts to slip away.
Her green eyes flare and turn into a bright vivid red.
I indeed feel unsatisfied, are you certain this this she pauses as if to admire her nails as her hair starts moving on its own account.
is how you wish to proceed? Her eyes turn green again
Disappointing me such is... inauspicious She says with a pearl white smile.
Zograthy looks from Yahto then to Aurie, then to the others in the room. Seeing no one with a sympathetic look, he continues, "I don't know what you mean? I told you what the cards say. I cannot do more."
Perhaps about the future, yet where have you met her in the past? And who would like to see her harm? Aurie inquires, without actually getting physical, but her eyes dont leave his.
"Help! Thugs!" he cries.
Shathee hides in the back of the tent, peeking out from down low to see if anyone is coming this way.
Leylia releases a resigned sigh as she turns back toward the interior of the tent and the now panicking Zograthy... "Oh for Desna's sake, keep your breeches on, old man. If we wanted to mug you, we wouldn't have bothered paying you. The fortune telling route isn't getting anyone anywhere, so let's cut to the chase." She pulls five gold coins out of her pouch and spreads them on the table, holding them beneath her hand. "Here. The only secret we're after is where Natalya Vancaskerkin has run off to. The rest of your little, erm--" she motions to the rest of the tent, searching for a word, "--universe, you can keep."
Wise words spoken Aurie does not move much. As she regards Leylia with a far more genuine smile.
Thugs? Have I drawn my weapons? Touched you? Or even stated any consequences for your public display of underdelivering? I would She looks him directly in the eyes
Offer my hearfelt recommendation to abandon this line of insult and apologize for it.
She touchess her heart at the word heartfelt.
Shathee sees several headed in the direction of the tent as does Khobin at the front of the tent. When Leylia gives a flat request, Zograthy eyes Aurie, Yahto's hand on his shoulder, and then smiles at Leylia, "Wait!" he calls in a loud voice. "If it was information you were seeking you should have said so. But, secrets cost more than this." before Aurie even says anything he puts up his hands in a placating gesture, "Information can be a dangerous past time my dear. I need funds to pay my boys for protection. Fifteen gold only, and keep your silver." with this last he places the silver back on the table.
Shathee and Khobin see the men stop when Zograthy yells wait.
Khobin acts like he is waiting in line......
Leylia drums her fingers on the coins beneath her hand, casting querying glances about the party before releasing them, standing straight and clasping her hands behind her back. "There's my contribution; anyone else?"
5 from me. But that info better be worth it.
The Shoanti completes the payment.
Shathee comes up from the back of the tent and adds 2 gold to the total so the others don't have to put up quite as much on their own.
"Natalya is an interesting lass but I can't say that I know where she is. Many folk along the waterfront, both here in Dockway and Underbridge, have been disappearing of late—a few each week, in fact, with many simply vanishing out of their very beds at night. I suspect Natalya is among those who have disappeared in this manner. He looks disgusted and bitterly adds, "As long as only poor Varisians and other destitute folk are being targeted, the chances of the city doing anything about the disappearances is nil. Then he shakes his head, "I know what you're thinkin' but it's not a Sczarni undertaking—indeed, the Sczarni seem quite interested in solving the vanishings themselves, but are not seeking aid in that effort. It’s harder to contact actual Sczarni leaders these days than it is normally. Rumors on the street are that the vanished folk are the victims of slavers who then secretly sell them offshore at night to Nidalese ships—but I don't put much stock in those. Natalya was, at least until recently, a member of a Sczarni gang known as the Tower Girls, a group of cat burglars. They're searching for Natalya, and word is that when they find her, she’ll be in deep trouble. I don't know what's going on, but I've heard she went mad before her disappearance. I believe you'll find that 15 gold well spent." as he finishes he sweeps the gold from the table.
Leylia soaks in the information and context, nodding as Zograthy cleans the coins from the tablecloth. "So the Tower Girls are our lead, then... and we may have a madwoman on our hands even if we find her. Lovely." She taps her chin, thoughts connecting behind her eyes as she regards her team. "You suppose the treasure she found might have affected her? Would certainly explain why she would abandon all her contacts...and her sense."
Yahto pushes the two extra coins to Leylia and Aurie.
"If her own crew is looking to punish her, she likely stole something from them, right? They would have already looked in the places she is known to go, which makes this much harder."
"I love paying customers." Zograthy calls out and those watching the men outside see them drift back to what they were doing.
Checking the Dockway and Underbridge? Issue is that the tower girls will have likely went through he likely haunts.
Another, albeit sub par option is the city guard, but its unlikely to yield much. I dont think we have the street cred to link up with actual Czarnis for plausible cooperation. Pull a raid on the Tower Girls?
Aurie lays up some options as she whispers to the party.
Shathee shakes his head with a slight look of disgust at the mention of city guards. [b]"No, the guards of the city are the last place those in need would look. Tower Girls seem to be the better option."
a pick- up for one of these slave runs has been scheduled for this very midnight at an old, boarded-up shoreline tavern in Dockway. The tavern was once known as the Puffy Pelican
A few months back, the Tower Girls had a falling out with another Sczarni gang, the Wreckwash Blades. For several weeks after that, rumor was that the Tower Girls were slumming it in an abandoned warehouse in Underbridge that they shared with a disreputable local by the name of Fenster the Blight—he may know where the Tower Girls (or perhaps Natalya) are located now.
Lets gather some information. I think tracking the tower girls is going to be harder, hmm, do I know anything about Czarni customs, also known as how to not run around looking like either a mark or an invader on their turf?
The Serpents run attracts all kinds of people, including and particularly Czarni. Perhaps her day job caused her to know a bit more.
If we are splitting up, which is reasonable if since we are pursuing a missing person and time is important, we need to have a prearranged meeting point. Pursueing either lead would take between 1 and 4 hours. As well as possibly emergency beacons? Like, lets say a purple light? Oh well, I cant cast spells yet, but there was a weird Ulfen or whatever girl that constantly talked about the many uses of the light cantrip. Like seriously...
She pauses and speaks with an exaggerated Ulfen accent
Did you know zat ze light cantrip can even be used to cover a retreat? I prefer ze color red for zat, I think it is ze most bomblike ja?!
My preference is that we pick an easy landmark to meet back up, and that both groups have a person capable of casting a light spell, and that we hit the landmark with a green light if we are safe and found something, with a red one if me need help, and with a yellow one if we got nothing but arent in trouble.
She proposes.
Shathee visibly squints at the Ulfen accent as that completely threw off his ability to make out the phrasing.
"I do not cast spells, but it seems a good plan." He glances at those gathered and then continues in his heavy Qadiran accent. "Who is capable of doing such a thing? That would help us split the group."
"I can cast it," says Leylia, pursing her lips in thought, "Though a light spell won't really be that visible in the middle of the day."
Sounds like a plan
"I can cast Light Spell"
How do you split? Looks like Khobin on one team and Leylia on the other. What do you intend to use as your monument? While the two districts touch each other, Underbridge, in particular, is greatly obscured due to the Irespan bridge over top of it.
Aurie is a fairly competent combatant. She also talks a lot.
Are the any statues on the irespan bridge?
Mr. Khobin? Lets go then.
The fire haired Bloodrager smiles at the Magus and wastes little time heading out
While it takes her some time, she does have a some Czarni members in her web of arena based contacts, which makes things considerably easier.
May I inquire where you are from? I have been borne in Galt but grew up here with foster parents.
She asks Khobin while canvassing.
If it comes to fighting, do you prefer to flank, or to not be flanked?
She asks as well, switching between tacical an personal talk.
Aurie manages to dig up the following information on the Tower Girls. A few months back, the Tower Girls had a falling out with another Sczarni gang, the Wreckwash Blades. For several weeks after that, rumor was that the Tower Girls were slumming it in an abandoned warehouse in Underbridge that they shared with a disreputable local by the name of Fenster the Blight—he may know where the Tower Girls (or perhaps Natalya) are located now.
Fenster the blight? Charming fellow I am certain. Do we have anyone who is good at healing? Because I am not. She pauses
If the tower girls do proper security they, or the wreckwash blades will have someone keeping tabs on Fenster... SHe muses
If we want to meet him with just 2 of us, we should be quick.
Shathee offers to team up with Leylia and look into the Nidalese slavers.
Wandering around the unfamiliar area, Shathee leads Leylia into the wrong section of town looking for information.
I walk slightly behind Aurie or her right.
I don't feel as confident in a fight as you seem. Still trying to find my place in a fight. Never really paired up with anyone. Always been a loner when it comes to fight.
"Perhaps splitting up wasn't our best plan," Leylia thinks aloud. Mingling with the locals for detective work wasn't really her talent and it seemed neither Yahto nor Shathee were silver-tongued investigators either. A quick rustle of her fingers in her coin purse told her how much gold she had left and a frown crossed her face. No, can't just go throwing money around everywhere or there'll be none left. Assuming a cutpurse doesn't just steal the rest...
Dont let an enemy understand you arent competent, showmanship is a part of fighting, at least in my experience. A human enemy is going to be as scared and afraid of you as you are of him, generally speaking. Before she disappeared, my mother told me to visualize my foes as being naked, helped me a lot with keeping my cool in the arena. Ill put your preference in the "dont get flanked" camp.
Aurie offers with a friendly smile.
Hmm, I have a bloodline, and descent from someone awesome, but how much of my merit is actually mine? She thinks as she says that.