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He gives Castor a strange look "I see..." He coughs "Forgive me for being blunt. I wouldn't want you to be called away before we're finished. Those who are interested in helping me to preserve my good name will not find me ungrateful. Call on me when you can." "Gentlemen. Ladies. My card." he then proceeds to hand out a card with his name and address to each of you except Ophelia. He orders one of his warriors to bag and pick up the broken construct.
"I can see my understanding may have been coloured by whom I deal with. You make a fascinating point Guard Sorceror. I'd love to discuss it later tonight - I have a share in 'savoureux cochon', perhaps there? But I fear we're a little off our path." "With your permission, Guard Sergeant, I'd like to start my investigation."
knowledge:local dc 10:
savoureux cochon is a fancy restaurant known for its endless buffet of tiny meals. While the name is Galtian, it prides itself on the width of its menu. knowledge:local dc 15:
...rumoured to have ties to the Urgathoan church of gluttony knowledge:local dc 20:
...and whispered to have 'special' nights tied to more obscene hungers - though it has never been proved knowledge:local dc 25:
...because that savoureux cochon is a literally underground eating club that imports its delicacies from special breeding farms in Geb knowledge:local dc 30: ...and serves a particular dish made from human ganglia that is physically, psychologically and psychically addictive.
sense motive dc 23:
That explanation makes sense - but your instinct tells you he's lying. To Mia: "I'm impressed you can deliver that with a straight face. The Guard work for the Council. The Council are primarily high powered crafters. My rivals are high powered crafters. I'm aware of the politics involved - even if you aren't." "Still, while I'm not sure I trust the guard, I might trust a guard with some of my secrets - but I would have to know them very well."
Victor looks at Mia, then Ophelia.
sense motive dc 20 or Mia:
"Aha! But you see I'm not goblin. While I was born a goblin, my people regarded my intelligence as a flaw! I learned to read and write from a captured spellbook and was expelled from my tribe! Since I came here to civilisation I have been a practicing, orthodox Urgathoan." he fishes in a belt pouch and pulls out a gorgeous golden Urgathoan holy symbol. "Obviously I don't spread that around, but I can bring witnesses."
sense motive DC 23:
While that is logical, and his religious affiliations seem to be something he believes he can prove, there's something off about it. knowledge:religion DC 15:
Nex makes a point of allowing any religion that doesn't break the law. On the other hand Urgathoa is a patron of Geb, and that tends to make her worship unpopular. Also, she's a goddess of taking what you want no matter the consequences, undeath, disease, cannibalism and gluttony. "As for a list... it would simply be me listing the thirty or forty most powerful crafting wizards in the city. I'm sure they'd never risk doing anything themselves. It will all be done through cutouts." "I suggest I put you on a retainer, and if you see anything that suggests one of my machines has gone rogue, you do your best to fix it quietly and investigate. I can promise I will be most generous should that happen."
sense motive DC 18:
...Or he thinks there'll be more breakdowns and just wants to hire you to keep them quiet and/or point the finger at someone else sense motive DC 23 (as above) continued: You get the feeling he doesn't actually want you to investigate.
He pulls out ten platinum pieces, putting them on the table.
"Surprised? No. I suppose not. There's nothing here to indicate anything other than malfunction. But then, I expected that." "As I said, it is possible this is nothing other than a malfunction. I'm certainly having to treat it as such. That said, I've a number of rivals with the skills to pull something like this off without leaving evidence." "My rivals are facing ruin. My new techniques allow me to create a fifth generation construct like this for perhaps ten thousand gold. The extant models with the same capabilities cost twice, even three times that." "This incident is going to cost me clients. The forty thousand I'm spending on the Academie is nothing compared to what the rumours of this will do to my sales." He looks at you, obviously expecting sympathy.
Mia:
simply: Forget fire, stop them fighting together, and smash them. It's going to be a hard fight, but the fact you are in a guardhouse should give you the edge. The goblin looks askance at the bloodstain, but still enters. Victor quickly goes through the parts. He looks disappointed.
sense motive dc 20:
He doesn't look surprised "Well, I'll take these back and see what I can work out. Obviously I'm recompensing the Academie for the damage until I can prove this wasn't a malfunction." He reaches into a large belt pocket - and reaches deeply enough it seems to be extradimensional. "I am quite grateful to the Guard for preventing greater damage - I understand it could have been much worse. While I have already thanked the Guard as a whole, I understand I owe you in particular a debt of thanks."
"Pleased to meet you, Sergeant. By all means let us adjourn to the interrogation room for now. Would it be possible to have the parts brought in as well? I'm quite keen to investigate."
"Good afternoon. I'm here to collect the construct parts. Might we talk somewhere more..." he pauses "Private." If your eyes were closed it would be impossible to think this a goblin. The speech is clear, polite, and with a faint Taldan accent. The man himself is dressed as any professional craftsman, but the clothes have hints that reveal how expensive they are. |
