As the minor functionary scans the document, to ensure that all of the blocks are properly filled, he nods approvingly. "Not your first time I see!"
He takes the form and walks away for the briefest of moments before returning with a coin bag. "One hundred gold sails it is. The city of Magnimar appreciates your service." He hands the bag to Caius and turns back to a pile of papers he has to sort.
"This is probably as safe a place as any to sort out the reward." Caius proceeds to hand out 20 gp to each of his companions and stows his own share securely away. "This marks the largest bounty I've ever claimed - by about 19 gold, 9 silver, and 2 copper! I foresee great things with you lot."
”Great things ahead indeed, Caius”, Ghaernan agrees. ”Thanks for the distribution, I hope we can exchange and divide much of the remainder tomorrow morning. Shall we make our way out of here friends, before the city watch finds reason to keep us? My plans for a certain Leftenant excepted, of course…. A return to the Sleepy Dragon to recover for the rest of the evening, then? I’ve no requirement to return to the Pathfinder Lodge to sleep, although the Venture Captain will expect a report on matters tomorrow, I expect, once we’ve explored the last of our initial leads on Natalya’s fate. Andel, what of you?”
Andel quickly replies, "I have other matters to get to and sleep is in my near future. I cannot express enough my appreciation of the rescue. I will be reporting back to Venture Captain Heidmarch tomorrow myself. I wish you all the best on your own path."
Gundar sees Andel depart still wondering what he was writing so much about.
"I believe the proper name my good bard is the Sleeping-ING Dragon Inn...not the Sleepy Dragon Inn. but I tend to agree that is where we should recover for the evening."
It’s getting on towards low twelve by the time you arrive at the Sleeping Dragon Inn. The place has slowed down since you left, but there are still some of the usual hard core patrons left. Durell has rooms to let, and you have no trouble bunking down, should that be the plan.
You follow the directions previously received from the Leftenant, and you find yourself at a partially collapsed warehouse on the shoreline, in a particularly filthy stretch where tidal currents often cause the filth and refuse of the city to collect in stinking clots along the shore.
The entrance to this hovel consists of a pair of skiffs leaning against each other to create a triangular “arch” from which a moldering remnant of a ship’s sail hangs like a curtain. Sitting next to the entrance is an old sea chest with a broken lid. A sign leans against the front of the chest—“LEEV A GIFT AND WATE OUTSID.” A dented tin platter sits on the ground before the sign.
What manner of creature begs thusly? I know not...
Cauis looks around the area for watchers or potential "gifts."
Verilich will take to the skies and attempt to find ways to peer through upper windows or other broken rafters. Otherwise will make a scan around the perimeter of the warehouse looking for anything out of the ordinary or contacts to let those with the gift of diplomacy engage.
Too bad I used the outhouse at the Inn, I could leave a nice gift in that tin.
Through the message spell that is our group's SOP. "I can see into the warehouse and there is no people or movement inside. it is relatively open, but oddly there are rowboats clumped together inside. Could be a cover for a trap door to their hideout. Are we attempting to go in or are you going to attempt the cryptic gift?"
Verilich will land on the roof in a place he can see inside if possible. if not, he will keep his orbital surveillance flight.
Verilich thinks the roof looks a bit too unsteady for his bulk.
"What kind of gift could they be hinting for? We desire to speak with this 'Blighted' so lauded by the good left-tenant. Surely she would not send us into harm?" Not knowing what else could serve as a gift, Caius deposits a silver on the platter and stands by, quizzically scanning the environs and trying to peer around the sail curtain.
After a short wait of maybe 20 seconds, a man emerges from the warehouse. He is a wretched creature, more skin and bone than meat. His flesh is clammy and gray in places, one of his eyes is clouded over with a white film, and his clothing is caked with filth. His breathing is raspy and gurgling and smells of bad meat—he’s plagued by a wet, hacking cough.
He slowly walks over to the pan and looks at the gift. He picks it up, inspects it, spits on it, polishes it, bites it, and finally, he drops it back on the pan, turns around and heads back towards the arch of rowboats entrance of the warehouse.
Caius notices that the dagger at Fenster's side is not masterwork and likely has the broken condition.
Gundar will try to figure out what his affliction is.
Gundar is pretty sure it's nothing that a good meal and a hot shower couldn't fix.
Khalid will add to the tin his bar of soap that was so effectual with the paradox box.
Upon hearing the clang as the soap hits the pan, the man turns around and slowly returns to inspect the new offer. He lifts the soap, sniffs it, rubs a little under his arms, sniffs his under arms, and shakes his head with a sigh.
He drops the soap back into the tin alongside the silver piece.
This is frustratingly slow. Verilich sees the silver coin try and then the soap try. Khalid is being stingy again I see
Verilich will fly down and land and drop a gold coin into the offering box and stand there awaiting the return of the man. he will try to engage once he exits.
"My good sir, as you can see, I am not from around here and do not know what your customary procedures are to gain an audience. Perhaps conversation might help us figure out your price. Can you explain the rules of your ritual please?"
The old man hobbles his way back to the tin, and pulls out the gold coin. He hefts it, along with the silver, and the soap. He smiles briefly, but drops the three items back into the pan. He glances at Verilich and turns to walk back to his hovel.
Ghaernan walks carefully along the filthy stretch of shore to the condemned warehouse with the others, and watches their game at first with some amusement, although the state of the wretched man that comes forth rather unsettles him. Soon enough, though, he perceives the weight of the companions' mission pressing upon them, and with some course of action decided he turns his back to the pan and hovel, stepping away several feet and drawing his cloak about him in apparent thought.
Arcane whispers, a subtle difference in his flowing stance and stride, and a hand withdrawn from his belt pouch soon have him turning back to his friends, however, a smile upon his face and a gleaming "platinum" coin in his outstretched hand, which follows the others' offerings into the platter...
The grimy human returns a fourth time, and retrieves the latest offer. He clicks his tongue a couple times in approval. He pockets it, along with the soap, the silver, and the gold. He turns and sits on the chest and looks inquiringly at Ghaernan before asking, “What yew want Fenster ta’do?”
Caius watches, incredulous, as Fenster returns for the fourth time, collecting the absurd pile of offerings the party has already laid before him. When Ghaernan drops the platinum piece into the tin, Caius’s jaw tightens, his molten orange eyes narrowing in disbelief. He folds his arms across his chest, glancing around at the squalid surroundings, as if to confirm that they were indeed standing in a filthy hovel and not some grand hall deserving of such payments.
Shaking his head in sheer amazement, Caius finally mutters loud enough for the others to hear, "Unbelievable. I know times are tough, but I didn’t think gutter filth had gotten this pricey. His services had better be worth it!" Caius wonders if perhaps the Left-tenant might be getting a cut...
He leans slightly toward Ghaernan, his voice low but sharp with disbelief. "We’re practically funding this man’s retirement, and all we’re getting in return is the privilege of talking to him. Might as well have bought him a new house while we were at it."
His eyes flicker over the ramshackle entrance and the grimy tin platter, his tone thick with mock sarcasm as he adds, "Clearly, I’ve been underestimating the cost of doing business in this part of town."
Ghaernan nods in appreciation of Caius’ observation, not yet ready to share both the extent of his own agreement with the Slayer, and his associated intent to avoid such an absurd cost, if this exchange produces no meaningful results. The Bard quickly reassesses the situation, though, perceiving that the wretch before him now is perhaps Fenster himself, in which case “The Blight” rings true in another unwholesome manner entirely…
”Well-met, Fenster. I’m Ghaernan, and I and my companions are here with guidance and directions from the city watch to seek you out for any information regarding the whereabouts of the Tower Girls, and an opportunity to talk with them about the disappearance of one of their own. She apparently vanished within the last few days, among many others, it would seem, but we’ve been tasked with finding just her. With the Tower Girls as our best lead at the moment, we greatly want Fenster to tell us what he knows of where they are, for the gifts we have given. Thank you…”
Fenster chuckles, ”yes, very busy I have been lately. Disappearing everyone.” He puffs up his chest in pride, but the effort causes him to fall into a series of racking wet coughs spraying mucus all about as he does. He recovers and continues, ”You be careful, or I will disappear you too.” He points away into the distance randomly.
”Now, the Tower Girls, well. I’m their landlord, I am.”
Caius watches intently, staying clear of the effusive spray.
Khalid barely pays attention, still hoping Fenster puts his soap to good use. Hopefully soon. Perhaps in the mouth.
Ghaernan is almost immediately angered by Fenster’s initial response, likely from a combination of the wretch’s dire admission and even a remote possibility that his mucus could make contact with any element of Ghaernan’s person. As Fenster points away into the distance, the Bard runs a thumb in an arcane weave along the length of copper wire encircling a finger upon that same hand, and glances to Caius while whispering a Message spell…
”Be ready to attack, friend; this filth may be far more dangerous than appears…”
Ghaernan turns back to Fenster, then, to either press for the truth or end the threat…
”Fenster, those words of ‘disappearing’ people have grave meaning. Just last night, this very group ended the threat of the ‘Nidalese slavers’ accused of abducting innocent people - and turned them over to The Arvensoar. Clearly that was not you, but many others have still been taken - are you actually claiming responsibility for all of those crimes? If so, the bounty on your head should be…considerable…”
The Bard offers these words with increasing ominousness in his voice, perceiving that diplomacy is lost upon one who would admit to heinous crimes and answer only to coin (and soap)…
Fenster appears completely surprised at the turn of events in the conversation. "No, no, you are quite correct sir. I was but bragging about something the likes of which I know nothing. I have had no hand in any disappearances. My apologies."
Fenster appears quite intimidated and cooperative.
At Ghaernan's warning, Caius draws his sword and stands ready. He takes a moment to study the crouching wretch that appears to have only his broken dagger as a weapon but obviously hides something more deadly.
Verilich doesn’t understand the reason why blades are being drawn, but he will stand next to the target in an attempt to stop a fight before it begins.
”My good man. We have paid your fee and asked questions about the disappearances. You seem to be holding back valuable information that I suggest you expedite telling us before my hasty sword happy friend gets more upset. “
Fenster seems put out at Verilich's outburst. "But I did! I just said that I haven't been involved in the disappearances! I'm not a Nidalese slaver! I'm not even Nidalese! I don't know anything about the disappearances!"
"We seek the Tower Girls, as you were told. Being their landlord - unless that too is exaggeration and self-aggrandizement - should make it very easy for you to introduce us." Caius addresses Fenster directly.
"Ohhh, yes, the Tower Girls. Well, they were here just a few days ago, and I've not seen them since. They do this sometimes, stay somewhere else and come back." His face perks up, "Ohhh, the disappearances, I remember something else. The blue dwarfies! Did I mention the blue dwarfies? I seen them myself! They go skulking about the alleys of the waterfront now and then. I doesn't know where they come from or go to, and I haven't seen them in days either. Ohhh, maybe they took the Tower Girls?" He finishes this exposition with a wheeze, and another coughing fit.
Ghaernan mentally files away the revelation of blue dwarves for the moment, concealing his surprise, and lets the iridescent glow of his eyes intensify, his voice grow more resonant, as he and his companions press the wretched man...
"Good, Fenster, perhaps earning your gifts now... Hmmm, if you know the Tower Girls so well, then, you can easily speak more of one of their own...the one we seek...Natalya...who now seems among the disappeared herself. Tell us more, Fenster, and we can leave you to your spoils..."
Fenster's eye shine a little when her name is mentioned, "Natalya, ahh yes, Vancaskerkin right? I don't think she is running with the Tower Girls still. They had some sort of falling out. I have seen her hanging around a building not far from here. She seemed to be doing her best to be unobserved, but nuthin’ in th’ Shadow gits by me good peeper," as he taps the sallow cheek under his non-clouded eye.
”That is indeed an interesting development, Fenster… Direct us truthfully to this building where you think you’ve seen Natalya… and if my companions agree, we’re willing to keep your boastful admission to a multitude of heinous crimes of abduction…just between us. You’ll be free to enjoy your gifts with our blessing…and no bounty upon your head…”
"As long as you use the soap...
Oh, and do you know where this other place the Tower Girls sometimes stay?"
"I do not know where the Tower girls have gotten off to, but I can give you directions to where I saw Natalya."
Blue Dwarves... Caius grimaces in perplexed bewilderment.
This "blighted" one babbles such nonsense.
With 1000 gp at stake, Caius is also interested in solving the disappearances; the missing informant cannot be their sole pursuit. He simply cannot leave that silly statement as final word ascribing the disappearances.
"Explain yourself! What is the meaning of blue dwarves? Surely you are aware that dwarves are not blue," as he points to the dwarf standing nearby.
Fenster shows fear in his eyes, "yes, of course, you are right. My apologies. A trick of the light, I'm sure. Dwarves aren't blue."
Ghaernan nods seriously with the provision of the wretch’s specificity on Natalya, turns and looks back to each of his companions as though weighing a grave matter for consideration while reaching within his belt pouch, then turns back to regard Fenster appraisingly…
”If this information on Natalya proves true, Fenster, then we will consider our business concluded, and perhaps seek your services in future dealings. And here; you should use this to look into that cough…”
The Bard hands Fenster ten gold coins, the value of the supposed “platinum” piece Ghaernan had previously thrown into his pan…
Caius is disgusted with the shower of undeserved wealth falling on this man. He locks eyes with Fenster and ejaculates, "I don't need your lick spittle agreement that dwarves are not blue! I demand you explain further these abductors.
Fenster pockets the coins without checking them. "Sir, my mouth can only report that which I saw. They were blue dwarves." He turns to Gundar, "my apologies to you mister dwarf, because of course dwarves aren't blue, as this fine gentleman points out."