Festa, in lieu of wordy savvy, decides to take cues from Tippi. He tries to overhear her conversation with the barman, and then tries to see if either anybody reacts to that conversation, or if he can pick up any stray conversations that could act as a lead.
"And where might we find this Brissa Santos?" Felos asks casually.
Jacinth orders a drink and some food. He tries to listen to what the bartender says.
Perception
"And where might we find this Brissa Santos?" Felos asks casually.
Neld shrugs. "Haven't seen her in ages either. Last saw her last time she was in here with Vanthus. Probably in trouble with the law again, I reckon. Maybe that's what's happened to Vanthus too. She got him wrapped around her finger, pulled him into one of her heists, and landed them both in jail. Wouldn't surprise me."
"'Heists?'" Tippi repeats, raising her eyebrows. "The woman is actually a brigand? You'll forgive my ignorance -- I'm recently arrived from Taldor -- but I was under the impression that Corentyn isn't known for lawlessness. If she's a known criminal and repeat offender, why haven't the Hellknights apprehended her before?"
The bartender chuckles slightly. "Well, perhaps I overstated things a little. By heists, I mean petty pickpocketing. She's actually an artist by trade, I believe, but she's been in trouble more than a few times. She's too low-scale for the Hellknights though. They just leave her for the city guard, which is lazy and slow at the best of times. At any rate, she and Vanthus seemed to have a thing going, but like I said, haven't seen either of them for days. Haven't heard anything regarding them either."
He pulls out a couple of glasses. "Can I get you anything?"
"White wine? I don't think my companion here had decided yet," she looks to Felos expectantly.
"Grog, if you have it," Felos says resignedly.
Neld raises an eyebrow. "Some rather differing tastes," he says with a smile. He turns around and takes a bottle of wine from the shelves behind him and fills one of the glasses. He then puts the second glass away, grabs a mug and fills it from a barrel behind the bar.
"A pair of coppers for you," he says, pushing the mug towards Felos, "and five coppers for you," he adds, placing the glass of wine in front of Tippi. "So, what's your interest in Vanthus Vanderboren?"
Glancing around her with perhaps an abundance of caution, Tippi opens her purse to pay for her wine. "His sister's worried about him. Thought he might be in trouble. Sounds like she may be right."
Neld snorts derisively. "His sister should've given him some of her inheritance if she's that worried about him. Might have kept him out of trouble. That said, he probably is in trouble. Seems like the type to go looking for it to me."
"Personally," Tippi lowers her voice and leans forward over the bar, "I don't think the senior Vanderborens did either of their children any favors pulling that trick with their estate. They've driven Vanthus further into the arms of disreputable companions and left poor Lavinia totally adrift at the business of managing an estate. I fear she's already been swindled out of the greater part of her inheritance. Tell me, have you ever heard any rumors why Vanthus was cut out of the will? What did his parents have against him?"
Neld leans closer as well. "Oh, I've heard a few," he says. "Some say he's not a legitimate child, although those people can't really agree on whether he's a product of his father's or his mother's indiscretion. Others say that he had taken a tiefling lover and his parents were disgusted by it, so confronted him over it. When he refused to end the affair, they cut him from the inheritance. Still others say that it was simple favouritism for his sister. To hear him talk, he'd pretty much agree with that one. He says they never treated him fairly or gave him a chance. What the truth of the matter is, who can say?" He shrugs and straightens back up again.
"Well, it certainly sounds as if he has a legitimate complaint," Tippi remarks, settling back on her stool. "He's certainly not to blame for the indiscretions that led to his birth, and if he chose love over money, more power to him, I say. This Brissa... she's not the tiefling in question, I take it?"
Festa swallows a cough as he listens to the exchange, then he reminds himself to pay attention to anybody else who might find the conversation equally interesting.
Neld shakes his head. "Nah, not unless she's really good at hiding it."
"So, assuming they're not locked away in jail, where might we look for Vanthus and Brissa? Does she generally run her jobs here in the West Drenches, or ought we to look for them in another part of the city?"
Neld leans back a bit. "Well, traditionally, she's generally run her business--legitimate or otherwise--out of the East and West Drenches and Mercanto. She would move around a bit depending on where the best business was. But like I said, I haven't seen her or Vanthus in a while now, and I've not heard talk of them either. I'd suggest checking out a few other taverns in the area." He chuckles slightly as he says his next sentence, "I don't normally like sending business elsewhere, but it's possible they just decided to change drinking holes, so you might have better luck at another place."
Festa swallows a cough as he listens to the exchange, then he reminds himself to pay attention to anybody else who might find the conversation equally interesting.
10 + 6
Festa and Jacinth have not noticed anyone obviously taking an interest in Tippi's conversation with the bartender. The waitress, however, after bringing you your orders, does inquire why you chose to sit separately from the friends you came in with.
Jacinth gives her a warm smile. "We're supposed to be the strong, silent types in the background. Can't you tell?"
The waitress glances over at Tippi and Felos at the bar and then back at Jacinth and Festa. "Ah," she says. "I see." There's a hint of confusion in her voice, but she doesn't press the issue.
Does Tippi have any further questions for Neld? If not, he starts rambling on about business in general and how things have been picking up of late, and so on.
If you're finished here, do you wish to pursue any other avenues of inquiry tonight or return to the manor and resume in the morning?
Felos, bored with the man's rambling about his business, meanders towards the fireplace, until he realizes that there's no fire on at the moment, so he just stops and curls up on the floor in the middle of an aisle.
Felos soon finds himself being nudged by the waitress's foot. "You'll have to get up from there, sir," she says. "If you'd like a room, I think we have one available. You can check with Neld."
After this, you head back through the nighttime streets of Corentyn and back to the Vanderboren manor where you settle down to rest for the night.
Breakfast in the morning consists of some steaming hot pancakes and lots of fruit. Lavinia eagerly inquires whether your excursion last night was productive.
"Well," Tippi answers cautiously, wanting neither to upset the girl nor to raise her hopes unduly, "we found a tavern your brother used to frequent, but he hasn't been there recently. We also got the name of a known associate -- not a very savory one, I'm afraid. The tavernkeep thought your brother might have been drawn into illegal activity by his companion and arrested by the city guard since he hadn't been there in about a week, but since we know from the Asmodean priest that he was robbing you blind a mere four days ago, I think we have to assume he's simply changed his base of operations."
"We could try other taverns, but there must be dozens in the East and West Drenches and Mercanto, where his friend is known to operate. I'm aware of a local sage that I thought I might ask about these signets we found in Vanthus's room; he specializes in antiquities so unless the families are very old he might not know them, but perhaps he can point me toward someone trustworthy who does." She pauses. "Lady Lavinia, do you know the name Brissa Santos? Or are you aware of any past romantic entanglements your brother might have gotten caught up in? Particularly ...'unconventional' ones?"
"I don't know that name," Lavinia says with a shake of her head and a shrug, "but when he came back from the plantation last year, he started spending a lot of time away from home. He definitely had a lot of...associates, but I don't know anything about any of them. When he first moved out of the manor before mom and dad died, I'm pretty sure he moved in with a lover somewhere, but I don't know who. I think he may have argued with our parents about her."
"Keep faith, my lady. We have only begun looking for him and see how much we have already found out about your brother. All will be well. Tomorrow dawns a new day and hope springs eternal."
Lavinia nods, looking a little embarrassed. "You're right, I know," she says to Jacinth. "I'm just...eager to learn everything. And a little scared, I guess."
"Isn't there some way to divine his whereabouts? It would likely be cheaper on the whole."
"Diviniations take money," she points out. "Besides, who are you going to ask: the Asmodeans?"
"Yes there is, but magic is often not the best solution to the problem. Perhaps after we have exhausted all of the more mundane measures of locating him, the cost of spells will be more feasable. "
Edunel nods at Tippi's and Jacinth's words, and then speaks up herself. "The cost of divinations could skyrocket fairly quickly. Anything less than a scrying spell doesn't have the range and would require you to wander around the city anyway and pay your caster to repeatedly cast the spell at each new location. Even scrying can be resisted and that's a spell that will cost close to four hundred gold per casting. Plus, as Xanthippe says, we would probably have to go to Asmodeans to find someone capable of casting the spell."
"We've only tried the one place. We could go to others and ask around after your brother and his friend. Someone will eventually be able to tell us something." Jacinth says in that upbeat, cheery way of his.
"The tavernkeeper did suggest we try other taverns," Tippi agrees. "And we've got another person to ask about now, and one with a bit of a reputation on her, from what I understand. Unless I miss my guess, Brissa Santos will draw more attention than your brother would. Still, it's a great deal of ground to cover. I'll see about these signets this morning," she concludes, "and then we might begin tavernhopping this afternoon when they start to get more custom? The more people are about, the more likely we are to find someone who can point us toward your brother."
Jacinth figured to follow Xanthippe around and help her where he can.
Festa will join Tippi too; he feels too unfamiliar with the social interaction and the wispy word thing that Tippi does so well - and too wise to recklessly try it himself. Besides, there was a hint of danger more than once, odds suggested grouping up would be better for everybody involved.
Felos follows along as well like a lost puppy...though anybody who voices such a comparison does so at their extreme peril.
"I actually came to Corentyn to negotiate a purchase for my employer with Mr. Balinger," Tippi explains as the party sets out. "Only my cabin was robbed when the ship made port at Ostenso; by the time I realized my luggage was gone, we were at sea again. There you go," she points out as an aside. "I've been robbed, and I've never known any member of my family; if that inspires any of you to pledge your life and sacred troth to my service, I'd be happy to accept. At any rate," she goes on, "Lady Lavinia's expression of thanks might enable me to begin negotiations, but I'm afraid her brother's depradations won't allow my bid for the artifact to attain the heights it might have to in order to secure Mr. Balinger's acceptance of the deal."
"I've already pledged my life and sacred troth to the Lady Vanderboren. If only you'd opened up sooner I very well might have pledged them to you instead. He says jovially. "But, I am willing to aid a friend with a desire to better herself."
"Just my luck," she sighs. "The early damsel gets the knight, and then they're all taken. Said nothing about bettering myself, though." She winks at Jacinth.
The trip to the history museum takes you through the Noble Quarters north up the steep roads into High Quarter. This high up along the cliff affords a stunning view of the harbour below, which helps make up for any exhaustion brought on by the climb.
High Quarter is made up of cramped houses, pubs, and shops, as well as quite a bit of rubble from old buildings that have either partially or fully collapsed. The Museum of History is in much better repair than the buildings that surround it. It's a large building that looks like it may have once been a courthouse or something similar but has since been converted to its current use. Its large front doors stand open and a sign says, "Welcome".
"Look with your eyes and keep your hands to yourselves, boys," Tippi advises lightly at the door. "There are artifacts here dating from well before Aroden shuffled off his immortal coil." She enters the museum and glances around for its proprietor. "Mr. Balinger?"
"Best behavior. I promise.
Festa eyes the exhibits with cautious enthusiasm. He doesn't know much about history in a definite sense - being a more hands-on pragmatic kind of guy - but he did get some instruction when younger, and finally putting some reality behind the dry words was spurring on his imagination.
The interior of the museum is quite expansive. The entrance foyer has a high, vaulted ceiling and wide walls. Display cases are spaced out throughout the foyer, each one displaying an artifact of Corentyn's illustrious history--remnants of battles won, the original writ ordering the construction of the Arch of Aroden, Corentyn's declaration of allegiance to the House of Thrune, and so on. The size of the room and the spacing of the displays give the sense that there's a lot more here than there actually is, but in truth, the collection is rather small and could have easily been displayed in a room a fraction of the size. In all likelihood, though, there are further artifact displays in other rooms.
At Tippi's call, you hear the sound of shoes hurrying over the stone floor. "One moment!" a voice calls back. A few seconds later, a man come hurrying towards the entrance. He's a short, middle-aged Chelaxian. His dark hair is just starting to grey and to recede a little.
"Welcome to the Museum of History," he says, coming to a stop in front of your group. "I am Zefiro Balinger. How might I be of service to you today?"
"Mr. Balinger," Tippi smiles and gives a polite bow. "I trust you are expecting me? My name is Xanthippe, and you have been for some extended time corresponding with my employer about a transaction to your mutual interest and benefit. Professor Marraday of Oppara?"
Jacinth begins inspecting the displays.
Balinger's eyes brighten and his mouth spreads into a wide smile. "Yes, yes!" he says, and grasps Tippi's right hand with both of his. He shakes her hand vigorously. "I have been expecting you! I hope your trip was safe and enjoyable. No difficulties finding me, I take it? Good, good! Please, come on in! We have much to talk about. Can I offer you and your...bodyguards?...some refreshment? Perhaps you'd like to look around the museum a bit before we get to business?"
"Well, it was a bit ... tedious hopping from port to port along the southern coast of Avistan, but I arrived with only minor inconvenience," she skims over being robbed with a smile. "My, uh, 'entourage' and I would love to see your collection, of course. Professor Marraday was most regretful that he could not make the voyage himself, but he is getting on in years, you know. I handle most of his acquisitions outside the borders of Taldor these days." While she fully intends to flatter the curator on his museum, she is also genuinely interested in the artifacts and their history -- and hopes to find a natural segue to asking about the signets.