"That's fine Tessirda," Saul says "somebody had to stay out on the floor. I wanted you to go with Zindit, but she ran off too quick."
Zindit:
You run down down the street, past the grandiose edifice of the Mystery of the Gate, and turn right just after, then take a quick left that brings you to one of the three entrances to the octagonal pyramid that is the House of the Silken Veil. Silk curtains hang in front of the wide entrance. You duck inside and find a busy parlor, filled mostly with ladies and their clients, standing around or sitting on cushions enjoying quiet conversation amid a haze of incense. A tall elf with a sword stands just inside the door. He looks at you curiously but does nothing to stop you from entering.
She looked around for someone who looked the most like a priest or someone else in charge, and approached cautiously, taking care not to reveal her name. "Um...hi." she shyly introduced herself. "Mister Saul Vancaskerkin from the Gold Goblin sent me to find a priest because someone was bitten by a snake and they need help because it was poisonous. I think." She was relatively certain that was all the pertinent information, then added as an afterthought. "He can pay too. I think I was supposed to mention that."
She was feeling jittery. Being forward with a priest, in the middle of a temple other than the Publican House, didn't come easily to her. The strange atmosphere and goings-on around her didn't help matters much.
Kelne:
I appears that you don't know much about snakes. However, as you pull the snake out from under the wash tub, you notice a small scrap of paper there. It shows a crude sketch Saul with both hands missing and a note that reads "Looking to go for two Saul? Pack up, get out of town and you'll be fine."
Zindit:
"Mister Saul Vancaskerkin from the Gold Goblin sent me to find a priest because someone was bitten by a snake and they need help because it was poisonous. I think." She was relatively certain that was all the pertinent information, then added as an afterthought. "He can pay too. I think I was supposed to mention that."
"Ha ha. I'm not a priest." the man says. "But I'll fetch you one. Wait here."
He leaves through a door at the back of the room and returns a few minutes later with a sleepy-looking priestess. After You repeat your story she says "We usually don't make house calls, not for that kind of thing anyway. You should have gone to the Publican House."
"Who did you say sent you?"
"Well, Saul, I expect this lays any question of coincidence to rest," Kelne says, passing the note over to him, "I doubt we'll see any more snakes, but it's a question of when and how they'll come after you, not if."
"Saul, what does the hands missing mean? When Clegg Zincher left, he told us to tell you your 'casino is in good hands.'"
Uzes finishes up the game that he was running before closing his table again and heading up to see what Kelne has found.
"Well, Saul, I expect this lays any question of coincidence to rest," Kelne says, passing the note over to him, "I doubt we'll see any more snakes, but it's a question of when and how they'll come after you, not if."
Saul shrugs. "He's just trying to scare me, but it is not going to work."
"Saul, what does the hands missing mean? When Clegg Zincher left, he told us to tell you your 'casino is in good hands.'"
He holds up his one stump. "Did he now? He probably meant you, my new partners."
Sorda later in the week goes off looking for a cyphermage for Uzes and himself.
The wizard's apprentice tries to track down a mage for a start.
Zindit:
** spoiler omitted **
She quietly added without looking up, "He has a lot of money...."
Zindit:
The priestess raises her eyebrows."Thats the fellow that runs the Gambling den down by the river, right?" She pauses for a second, then says "Very well, take me to him."
Zindit returns to the Gold Goblin followed by a priestess, not of Cayden Cailean as you would have expected, but of Calistria.
The priestess looks around and her eyes land on Tessirda. "Hello, Tessirda." she says. "I heard you had moved here. Where is the stricken one?"
Tessirda:
Tessirda greeted the priestess with a smile, and an extended hand "Amela, good to see you here. I'd chat with you, but as you can imagine, this is not a leisurely time" she quickly motioned the priestess towards the kitchen area. "Over here."
She moved quickly and with less anxiety than she had expected. Things were settled better than she expected, and her test had been better proof than she even hoped. She bore no ill will to Amela, but no regrets either.
Zindit turned to Saul as soon as she saw him, instantly turning apologetic. "I'm sorry, sir! I know you said go to the Patrician's House and I really was going but then I would have to take the ferry and I thought I could get to Calistria's temple and back quicker and I'm sorry I didn't do exactly what you said to do but I thought this would make things better." she rambled, clasping her hands together. She seemed a bit like a poorly treated dog; eager for praise and terrified of being kicked.
Saul bends down and pats Zindit on the shoulder. "You did fine Zindit. To tell you the truth, I like them better."
Amela lays her hands on Martha and begins chanting in Elvish. A few seconds later she looks up and says "That should do it."
"Thank you Amela dear," Saul says "How much do we owe you?"
"Just a favor." Amela replies. "At some point in the future either I or Calistria may ask you for one." She turns to Tessirda. "Good to see you Tessirda, I'm glad things are going well for you."
Amunyet, at first surprised at the appearance of a priestess of the Savored Sting, stands aside to let her heal Martha. When she is finished, Amunyet politely thanks her. However, she is more interested in watching the interplay between the priestess and Tessirda.
Afterwards, she walks over to Zindit and says, "I suggested the Publican House, as I thought the priests there might be a bit more sympathetic to our plight. Calistria's flock is not always known for their compassion. I am impressed you were able to convince her to come here. Between you and I, though, I would have preferred that she charged us gold. We may find that cost ends up being far more than what we otherwise would have paid ..."
"Oh, repaying favours to that temple isn't so bad...", Zavos interjects, then he smiles in remembrance.
Tessirda gave the priestess a brief hug, and nodded. "All is well. I was just afraid you might have taken me departing badly. It was time for me to change course."
Now that there was no more pressing need to hurry, she instead indulged herself a little "Is everything alright? How about the new girl, has she lived down the "shame" well?" It wasn't just idle small talk - these people had been her family for years, and keeping some measure of good relations was important even now.
Giving a slight shake of his head at Saul's cavalier attitude towards the threat, Kelne waits around to be sure that Martha's going to be alright before resuming his duties on the casino floor. This new insight into Tessirda's past is a distinct revelation, but right now, he's more concerned about the safety of all concerned.
"We should all take care," He says, "I doubt our snake-smuggling friend is done, and any one of us is a potential target."
Zindit was standing as tall as a gnome could manage, grinning widely with satisfaction in her quick thinking and Saul's compliment. When Amunyet approached her, she expected more of the same approval, and looked up hopefully at the Osiriani priestess.
Afterwards, she walks over to Zindit and says, "I suggested the Publican House, as I thought the priests there might be a bit more sympathetic to our plight. Calistria's flock is not always known for their compassion. I am impressed you were able to convince her to come here. Between you and I, though, I would have preferred that she charged us gold. We may find that cost ends up being far more than what we otherwise would have paid ..."
Zindit's smile gave way to crestfallen moping. She was fidgeting nervously, and couldn't even look Amunyet in the eye. "B-but I was just trying to get help here faster I didn't know how bad the bite was and I would have to cross the river and it would have...I-I'm sorry..." Strangely, Zindit seemed even more fearful of Amunyet's disappointment than that of her employer.
She looked out the corner of her eye for Sorda, hoping she could call on him for support, or at least tag closely along behind him so that she would be ignored. Tessirda certainly seemed more pleased to see the Calistrian priestess than Amunyet, Zindit thought. That certainly wasn't what she expected.
Zindit was standing as tall as a gnome could manage, grinning widely with satisfaction in her quick thinking and Saul's compliment. When Amunyet approached her, she expected more of the same approval, and looked up hopefully at the Osiriani priestess.
Afterwards, she walks over to Zindit and says, "I suggested the Publican House, as I thought the priests there might be a bit more sympathetic to our plight. Calistria's flock is not always known for their compassion. I am impressed you were able to convince her to come here. Between you and I, though, I would have preferred that she charged us gold. We may find that cost ends up being far more than what we otherwise would have paid ..."Zindit's smile gave way to crestfallen moping. She was fidgeting nervously, and couldn't even look Amunyet in the eye. "B-but I was just trying to get help here faster I didn't know how bad the bite was and I would have to cross the river and it would have...I-I'm sorry..." Strangely, Zindit seemed even more fearful of Amunyet's disappointment than that of her employer.
She looked out the corner of her eye for Sorda, hoping she could call on him for support, or at least tag closely along behind him so that she would be ignored. Tessirda certainly seemed more pleased to see the Calistrian priestess than Amunyet, Zindit thought. That certainly wasn't what she expected.
Amunyet gives the nervous gnome a smile and rests her hand on her shoulder. "No, no Zindit. No need to apologize. Perhaps I wasn't clear - I am impressed you were able to convince the Calistrian to come; they're not really the compassionate sort. You did take a slight chance, but you made it payoff. Good work."
Tessirda gave the priestess a brief hug, and nodded. "All is well. I was just afraid you might have taken me departing badly. It was time for me to change course."
Now that there was no more pressing need to hurry, she instead indulged herself a little "Is everything alright? How about the new girl, has she lived down the "shame" well?" It wasn't just idle small talk - these people had been her family for years, and keeping some measure of good relations was important even now.
Amela seems happy to linger for a few minutes and chat with her old acquaintance. "Things are better than ever at the House, especially with all the foreigners coming in because of the Blot thing. Do you mean Maydean? She hooked up with a pimp a couple of days ago, I thinks she's working the streets down in Rotgut. Poor girl, I don't think she was quite cut out for the House."
"We should all take care," He says, "I doubt our snake-smuggling friend is done, and any one of us is a potential target."
Saul nods at Kelne. "Not only Zincher, but I'm sure we'll hear from the others at some point as well, especially if we do good business. They can't stand it that I am legit now."
Zindit flinched slightly at Amunyet's touch, but eased up as the priestess explained what she meant. Yes yes! She knows I'm a good person now! She looked up and smiled, nodding with a nearly inaudible "Hee..." Though there was still an uneasy tension in her, she seemed more relaxed than she had ever been around Amunyet. It's okay now, it's all going to be okay.
Comfortable that she was now absolved of any problems that might arise from Amela's future payment, she worked up the courage to ask Amunyet a question completely of her own free will. "What kind of payment would they want if they don't want money?"
Comfortable that she was now absolved of any problems that might arise from Amela's future payment, she worked up the courage to ask Amunyet a question completely of her own free will. "What kind of payment would they want if they don't want money?"
Amunyet's smile changes to one of unease. "That's the question, isn't it? The faith of Calistria is not an evil one; still, any favor they ask will be one that benefits them, not necessarily Saul (or us, as his partners). And while it may not be reprehensible, they would have no compunctions about it being illegal. I have just found, in my experience, that if ever you have an option of paying gold or owing a favor, gold is usually cheaper by far in the long run."
"So she thinks she deserves to be punished, and found someone to do the punishing for her" Tessirda replied, with a heavy voice. Some girls just... got into the business without the inner fortitude it sometimes required. Tessirda would love to help her, and set her on a better path, but wasn't sure at all how to do so.
She made a mental note to try and see the girl later on - just to see if she was willing to listen, though.
She also began to show Amela around the casino, and introduce her to what she had honestly begun to consider her own job
Amunyet is a little curious ... is Saul really as nonchalant about all this as he makes out? While she's talking with Zindit, she will also keep an eye on Saul as he talks with Kelne. Sense Motive (1d20+7=18)
"So she thinks she deserves to be punished, and found someone to do the punishing for her"
"Nah, I don't think its that complicated, I think that pimp just swindled her 'sall. I bet she wishes she stayed at the House. We have it good there, if you ask me."
During the tour Amela remarks "I'm curious. It seems a little strange to me that you would be working at a place like this. Maybe a little at odds with your new faith."
Amyunet:
"You have it good there, no questions" Tessirda replied, with a smile. Of all of Riddleport, she would always remember the temple most fondly. There was a reason she stayed, after all.
During the tour, when Amela voiced her concerns, she nodded. "It would seem so, at first glance. I thought about it an awful lot. Look at who gambles most, though. Those who just want to get right to the top without any of that nasty 'work'-thing. Nothing I can do for them, really. But also those who just don't have any other hope then being lucky once in their lifetime." She turned her head towards one of the patrons she had kept an eye on previously. "I try to see when one of them is ready to talk, and listen, too. When they are, that makes all the difference in their lives."
She smiled. "I mean, who most needs some hope? The merchant professing his loyalty for public standing, or the one alone in the dice pit, betting his children's food since that's the only way he thinks he can make the week?"
Zindit mulled over what Amunyet had said. She wanted to say something helpful, in order to continue showing the cleric her worth. She looked back and forth, making sure Amela was out of sight.
"They punish people who've hurt others don't they? Maybe they would need help doing that one day?" She hoped that was the case. The only things she knew for certain about Calistria's faith was that it involved revenge and prostitution. She suspected she wouldn't be very good at the latter.
"You have it good there, no questions" Tessirda replied, with a smile. Of all of Riddleport, she would always remember the temple most fondly. There was a reason she stayed, after all.
During the tour, when Amela voiced her concerns, she nodded. "It would seem so, at first glance. I thought about it an awful lot. Look at who gambles most, though. Those who just want to get right to the top without any of that nasty 'work'-thing. Nothing I can do for them, really. But also those who just don't have any other hope then being lucky once in their lifetime." She turned her head towards one of the patrons she had kept an eye on previously. "I try to see when one of them is ready to talk, and listen, too. When they are, that makes all the difference in their lives."
She smiled. "I mean, who most needs some hope? The merchant professing his loyalty for public standing, or the one alone in the dice pit, betting his children's food since that's the only way he thinks he can make the week?"
"When you put it like that I guess it makes sense." Amela says.
"Oh, repaying favours to that temple isn't so bad...",
Sam, who has been standing behind Zavos, nudges him in the ribs when hey says this.
"Aren't you going to show me around town one of these nights?"
Zindit spent the next few days becoming more familiar with the layout of the Gold Goblin between her duties. She particularly tried to learn everything there was to know about the vault, and any other storage places in the casino where valuables might be kept. Just in case..., she thought.
When she wasn't staying close to Sorda, she was trying to impress Amunyet with her dilligence. She was more relaxed around the Osiriani woman now, though Tessirda still frightened her. She kept an eye out for the elf, while also trying to figure out whether she really was what she had feared.
She still didn't feel quite safe sleeping in the Gold Goblin, so she made her way back home back in the shop's attic across town every day, making sure her "wards" were in place and collapsing to rest after managing to make it through another day.
"You know I am not so bright. I usually take a bit longer to find problems in my plans than anyone else. But this one feels right, to me at least. So, I think I'll follow it through, and hope she's not too vindicative if I am wrong." Tessirda replied, as she accompanied the priestess back towards the exit.
She returned to the cleanup shortly afterwards. She looked for people who could use a little wakeup call, but decided to pay the girl a visit, too.
Amunyet basically continues her standard routine, although she changes the spells she keeps prepared in order to better offer support from the catwalks, in case of a disturbance.
During the mornings, coming to accept the fact that Sorda has completely ignored her requests to include her in finding a contact with the Cyphermages, Amunyet attempts to make the connection on her own. Diplomacy (1d20+6=14)
The day after the snake incident, Amunyet will approach Tessirda during one break. "I apologize, but I must confess I overheard some of your conversation with the Calistrian priestess. It is none of my business, but all the same I wanted to offer my assistance when you go visit your friend in Rotgut. I have heard it is not the best of areas in the city."
Tessirda smiled. "Alright, but let's not put any pressure on her. I just want to see her, and have a few words. If she needs help, we help her. If not, that's her call." she replied to Amunyet, a larger smile than the circumstances probably merited. "I really feel like I'm getting closer to what the Dawnflower would want me to be."
Tessirda smiled. "Alright, but let's not put any pressure on her. I just want to see her, and have a few words. If she needs help, we help her. If not, that's her call." she replied to Amunyet, a larger smile than the circumstances probably merited. "I really feel like I'm getting closer to what the Dawnflower would want me to be."
Amunyet smiles back. "Of course. I will stand by and only offer help or counsel should you ask me."
Fore his part, Kelne spends the next few days poking around a bit during his time off. Nothing so obvious as seeing if anybody's been hired to take down Saul, of course. Instead, he intends to find out a few details about their employer's past, so that he at least knows who has the biggest grudge against him (and thus, is most likely to be behind the snake).
Zavos shows Sam around the town, and attempts to help her obtain the apprentice position that she is looking for, but he does not miss out on other "opportunities" which arrive. He also continues to entertain and work the crowd, and keeps an ear out for interesting rumours (especially about Saul or the Blot), both at the hall and in town.
Diplomacy (Gather Info) (1d20+7=24)
Zindit:
The shop where you live is just a couple of blocks from the Gold Goblin in the Wharf District. When you are leaving for work the next day, the shopkeeper Artus, whose attic you live in, is standing outside his shop. He sees you and says:
"Off to work again, eh Zin? How's the new job?"
Amyunet:
The next morning you go to the Cypher Lodge to talk to the Cyphermages. The Lodge is is located in the affluent Windward district, which is across the river from the Gold Goblin and south. This means you have to take the Velashu Ferry across the river. 3 cp gets you to to the dock in the Windward District, and then a short hike up the hill brings you to the Lodge, which is a grand structure of stone and timber perched on a sub-crag of the mountains that form the Western boundary of Riddleport.
The old grey-haired man at the main door to the lodge looks at Amyunet with a slight frown. "What can I help you with?"
Kelne:
On the first day of Kelne's investigation he finds out very little that Saul has not already told him, certainly nothing that would make one rival stand out as having more of a grudge against him than the others.
Zavos:
Samaritha enjoys her time with Zavos on their night out, and it is obvious to Zavos that she likes him, and romance could be a possibility if he were to pursue it. At the Cypher Lodge, he has no more luck than Sam initially did; they are not taking new apprentices at this time.
You also learn a bunch of interesting stuff about Saul. In his younger days, when he was still "in the game", he moved around alot from boss to boss. Then his son Orik was involved with a scandal involving a local prostitute named Lavender Lil and an alchemist named Falk. The alchemist was murdered and the son fled the city. The clincher here, is that the alchemist was Clegg Zincher's brother. Of course Zincher was pissed off, and tried to have the gendarmes arrest Saul. However, when they went to his house they found it was burning, and before they could put out the fire, Saul's wife perished in it. They caught Saul trying to flee the city and he was charged with the murder of his wife and arson. But, get this, Zincher requested to the Overlord that they spare Saul's life and instead just chop off his hand, and the Overlord agreed to the request.
Tessirda:
Zindit:
The shop where you live is just a couple of blocks from the Gold Goblin in the Wharf District. When you are leaving for work the next day, the shopkeeper Artus, whose attic you live in, is standing outside his shop. He sees you and says:"Off to work again, eh Zin? How's the new job?"
"It's good Mr. Artus! I'm making money just by watching people! I don't have to kill rats or bugs or anything! I haven't been asked to, at least. I can even start paying rent, sir! If you want." She was in good cheer today. No nightmares.
She quickly added, worriedly, "B-but I can still watch over your shop too, can't I sir? I'll keep the pests out!"
"Of course you may stay Zindit, but you're right, you will be expected to pay rent now that you have a real job."
Artus chuckles, "Keep the pests out indeed."