Not really carring about some diseased stranger Narsel approach Zalen as the others depart. ”So, Mr. Candorian. I understand this is your business?” he looks around ”I must say, you have done a fine job with it”
Gern looks at the group as they start heading out of the shop. He has no worries about Alandra being able to take care of herself, and from what he has seen so far Grunhild is as steady a dwarf as you'd like to meet. The other he didn't know well at all except for a brief introduction from Zalen.
"Ye be needin' any more company for this one Alandra?" he asks her quietly as she files past him at the door.
"Sure Gern, you can come if you want." Now that she thinks about it, it might be a good idea to have one of her friends along.
Obviously still torn, Zalen finally sends Grau along with Alandra and the others, assuring the worried sergeant that he and his niece are in very good hands.
Turning to the newcomer Narsel Zalen replies
"Why, we sell almost everything! But mainly Candorian Emporium focuses on exotic and wondrous good, brought with much danger and determination from far off lands, all for the purpose of finding an honoured place in the home of Korvosia's finest citizens. Here can be found items of marvel and wonder which no other business in the entire city can boast of!"
Winking along with the smile to show Narsel that he had been indeed delivering the typical sales pitch, it is clear that Zalen is obviously somewhat distracted. With the loss of several pairs of helping eyes and hands, the brand new proprietor knows he has to be more vigilant than ever. Indicating to Owen and the children to keep an even sharper eye on things as well, Zalen adds to Narsel
"You'll have to please forgive me friend for, as you can see, it's a busy day. But if you;d like to accompany me, I can show you around the store a bit. If you'd like to help out, you'll be more than welcome. What kind of potions do you sell?"
Beginning to do his rounds of the warehouse, Zalen hopes to draw Narsel along with him.
Narsel follows Zalen around the shop, stopping once in a while to study an item, doing his best to look intelligent. ”Well all kinds really. But in these tragic times i have found an increased demand for potions of the protective kind. I also do it in talismans once in a while, but those a hard to come by these days.”
Sense motive
Zalen nods interestedly as he listens to Narsel describe his work, but something in the man's tone causes the young rogue to look twice at him. Although he mouths the words, it seems the potion maker does not actually find anything tragic about the recent events in the city at all.
His guard suddenly up, and wondering how Alandra knows the man and if he is indeed to be trusted at all, Zalen asks him
"So, what is your story Narsel? You don't strike me as being from Korvosa, is this is correct, how did you end up in our fine, if troubled, city?"
Gern nods his head at Alandra's words and moves off with the three of them and Grau. He's not entirely sure where they're going, but after the recent troubles, it never hurt to have more friends along for a trip.
Small Seaside Home in Old Korvosa
As the group reached the small, dilappitated home, once more the harsh realities of Korvosan life struck home. For all the cities splendor, its worst-off children still scraped by much as they did in any city. As urchins, half-forgotten and half-ignored.
The small home Grau brought them looked none too different from the rooms Lamm's thugs had taken. A house, rotting beams supporting it, whitewash stained dirty brown from years of fumes and neglect. Yet as Grau moved his hand to open the door, it moved seemingly on its own.
A young man, black hair and pleasant, fair skin opened it. He had a grim smile on his lips, and wore the yellow-and-white Robe of a junior priest of Abbadar, the first vault's keeper. God of cities and some say even civilization itself. "Ah, greetings good people. I suspect you come here to see our little patient? You better be careful. I do not know what this illness is, and even though her mother and siblings seem so far unaffected, I am not certain they might not eventually be."
At the Grand Opening
The coming and going of customers remains steady during the day, and the wonders imported from all corners of the world drew a sizeable chunk of Korvosa's creme. Many of the more expensive pieces, thought off as probable fixtures, were gone by the end of the opening day, almost offsetting the cost of refurbishing the fishery and acquisition of wares. It was a glorious day, all said.
Yet before it was all done, a last sour note had to be played. A young noblewoman of Arkona had just made her tour of the Vudran section, and went into a shrieking fit. "You monsters. Pirates and smugglers all of you. You dare claim this Emporium a place of business when you would bring stolen goods and brazenly display them? A shame on you, and all who come here, this place is"
Her antics were loud, hard to overlook and impossible not to hear.
"Let me see her then, maybe I can find out." Alandra says impatiently.
Rushing over to the woman, an ingratiating smile on his face and summoning every Dimplomatic () talent in his body, Zalen first tries to calm the woman and enact some damage control at the same time
"Ah, I see you must be a woman of fine taste and discrimination madame. But I assure you, the Candorean Emporium only carries the finest goods, all purchased in the most honorable of fashions. Obviously there must be some simple misunderstanding here, but I am sure we shall be able to settle the matter to your satisfaction."
The concerned proprietor makes sure to say this loud enough for others to overhear. While he does he has several other things going on in his mind at the same time. Glancing at the item(s) in question, Zalen quickly tries to ascertain what they are and their approximate true value.
As talks to the woman, Zalen also takes a close scrutiny of the woman herself, trying to determine if she is truly upset over the matter she claims to be, or if this is some sort of scam she is pulling.
At the same time, having a roguish background himself and so being aware too that she could simply be a diversion for thieves or vandals she may be partnered with, the sharp eyes young man looks around for anything suspicious and signals to Owen and the children to keep a sharp lookout on everything.
Finally, as most of his friends seem to have left, Zalen darts a glance at Narsel, asking with his eyes for aid in dealing with this situation.
Gern raises an eyebrow at the way Alandra speaks to the priest of Abadar. It would appear there was no ove lost between the two hurches.
He speaks to the man, even as Alandra pushes past him. "Ifn' ye be a priest o' the church lad, have ye not tried yer magics ter fix tha lass yet?"
Grunhild silently follows Zalen and looks at the item causing so much commotion. Maybe his own knowledge can help shed some light on the trouble. Grunhild knows he has to thread carefully around nobility, especially those with lots of wealth.
As the cousin of his good friend Gern came to lend his aid and wisdom Zalen made a mental sigh of relief. He had come to know and respect the knowledgeable Dwarf's opinion on many matters and was glad to have a reliable friend and companion at his side.
While all eyes are on the women Narsel quietly slips into the back and actives his hat of disguise to take the look of an older gnome scholar.
He then approaches the crowd.
”Smugglers and stolen goods you say? If this is true it is an outrage. Fortunately I happen to be an expert on exotic goods, if I could please have a look at this good miss, I will be able to discern the truth here.”
bluff if needed
"Let me see her then, maybe I can find out." Alandra says impatiently.
Elian watches the interplay between the two priest, waiting to see Grau's niece. He feels more concerned about how this disease was caught but will provide any healing assistance Alandra need.
Small Seaside Home in Old Korvosa
Somewhat taken aback by the cold greeting from the two, the Abadaran priest nevertheless tried to salvage the encounter in some way. "Well, Sir Dwarf, there is two sides to this coin. The more glittering one is that I already asked for this particular blessing this day." He bowed his head slightly. "The less polished one relates to my church's teachings. I am not allowed to spread the powers Abadar entrusted to us without some form of recompense - so my learning of herbs, sicknesses and the natural healing arts will have to do. It would not do to have her healthy, but her family starve to death over it. So I do what I can without magic. It is not breaking any rule, and so far, I feel I have done at least some good this way."
From inside the house, a deep, hacking cough emanates, audible even on the street, and assuredly painful. The priest winced involuntarily, and suckled on his own lips. "I just pray you can aid her, she is getting worse so very quickly."
At the Grand Opening
The Noblewoman's shrieking came to an even higher pitch as Ayen shot her a glance that promised very unpleasant events - but Zalen's timely intervention cut that risk short. Somewhat mollified, the noblewoman adjusted her shawls, and pointed towards an urn, purportedly from Nidal, and containing the ashes of an ancient vampire - yet probably containing but dust and memories, considering that the item was lacking any magic and not even closing tightly anymore. All in all, a conversation piece, scarcely worth the 30 gold he expected to make after haggling, and surely not the asking price.
"This, these urns were on the ship they sunk in the Jeggare three nights past. I am sure of it. The ship with the yellow lights. Surely, they were smugglers to supply your store. I heard urns like these were seen as salvage." She seemed sincere, if a bit shrill. "What do you say in your defense, proprietor? Why do you have posession of the cargo dark smugglers were bringing into our fair city at the dead of night?"
”But dear miss, if the ship was sunk, how should Mr. Candorian here have gotten these urns in his posession? I am sure it is all a misunderstanding, and that Mr. Candorian paid a fair and full price for the urns”
Bluff
Diplomaci
Alandra makes her way into the room.
She makes a quick prayer to Pharasma and kneels at the sick person's side to examine her thoroughly.
"Are ye sayin' ye could possibly cure this girl, but cannae do so becasue yer god fobids it unless they pay fer it?" a small fire of anger appears in Gern's belly for a moment, though he controls it until he can find out what this priest means.
"Ifn ye have the magics ter cure her, lad, I suggest ye be usin' them and ye let us sort out tha payment. This man here" he points to Grau "Happens ter be a friend of a friend. He came ter us fer help, and we tend ter help those as need it. Kind o' like a church really, though we 'aint askin' fer payment"
It was not the priest that had gotten under his skin, in fact the boy seemed a nice enough lad and had even done what he could so far. It was just that the thought of a god that wouldn't cure a child becasue the folk couldn't pay had him a little bit angry. It must have been all that hanging around Zalen and his own charges. He'd gone a little soft for the young ones.
"How much is the askin' price fer curing a malady such as this?"
Alandra makes her way into the room.
She makes a quick prayer to Pharasma and kneels at the sick person's side to examine her thoroughly.
1d20+9
When the priest has finished, Elian asks :" Have you found other similar cases ? From what my friend describes, it does not seem a common illness."
After the priest answer, he makes his way inside to help Alandra:
Aid another
Grunhild removes his spectacles and clears his throat. "Ahem ... If I may interject, my lady Arkona, Mr. Candorian is an honest business man. I can assure you that this vile ship wasn't there to supply this establishment. You implied there were many urns while we have but one. Perhaps this is only a simple mistake. They could be different urns. Didn't you just said you only heard that some were salvaged ?"
Doing his best to look both indignant at the accusation while still trying to be a proper proprietor who wishes to please an upset potential customer (none of which should be too hard, as he is both these things at present)
Zalen simply nods his head empathetically and allows his talented acquaintances to carry the moment for now.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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Zalen:
Small Seaside Home in Old Korvosa
Alandra burst into the home, anxious to visit the patient, leaving the other priest behind - however, she could not quite reach the source of the hacking caugh. She found her path blocked by a woman in her mid-thirties, sorrow and harshness having dug trenches into her face before its time. "You won't get to her, Carrion Bird. There's live in my girl still!" she harshly called out to Alandra, blocking the door. "Your Lady can wait for her a while longer." Her arms were pressed into her hips, and she blocked the door towards the room Alandra knew the girl inhabited. Inside the shabby home, two more children, aged maybe four and around seven stood, visibly frightened by the current confrontation.
Heal DC 14:
Outside, the Priest sighed, and lowered his head towards Gern. "Sir, I can ask for each boon but a limited number of times - and I have exceeded that for today, I fear. Also, the Master of the First Vault is strict, and Charity is - while not unknown by any stretch - sadly not his most prominent trait. I may disagree with this part of dogma privately, but I am not able to change it. The requested donation would run at one and a half hundred coins of gold - and this family would be ruined, even if they could raise the money."
Turning to Elian, he added "No, fortunately I have not encountered them yet. I hope whatever illness has struck her is not communicable easily - but I am afraid. I have been here before, and none of the common treatments shows any sign of aiding her. If this illness spreads, it could be dire."
At the Emporium
The Arkona lady scoffed at the rude interruption, but gave the Gnome a short glare. "I do not know, and I care not how pirates extract their plunder from a wreck. I know only this man has many secrets he ought to explain, and right soon."
One other customer, seemingly acquainted to the lady, approached her. "My dear Lady. Why do we not purchase this urn, and see if it really is one of the urns from the ship?" But she waved him off "I will see this solved right here, right now, Jendar"
Sighing inwardly, Zalen smiles once again, although this time allowing to look a little forced; the smile of a reasonable man trying to remain patient with an unreasonable person. Again summoning his charm, he says
Diplomacy:
"My dear lady, I can assure you that this establishment only deals with the finest goods and providers. Never would I condone the kind of actions you are suggesting." Holding up a hand to forestall her predictable further outburst, he continues.
"However, while I trust my suppliers, I cannot say with all certainly where or how exactly they may have obtained their goods, or what suppliers they use, or the ones who supply those suppliers and so on. So, what I propose is this- Your friend here, Jendar is it?..."
Zalen inquires, nodding towards the man "...Shows great wisdom, why do you not take this urn as he has suggested and try to determine, if possible, if it is indeed really one of the urns you speak of. No, No, I shall take no payment for it, consider it a gift and show of goodwill on our part. Of course if you feel inclined to return it later, you may do so. Finally, if you can, after your inspection of the item, then provide me with some actual evidence..." clearly putting stress on the word "...of any actual wrong doings, then you have my word that I shall do all in my power to seek out and ensure that those responsible are brought before the proper authorities to receive their deserved punishments. I am sure you, and all here" raising his voice to carry at even further at this point " will agree and accept this to be a reasonable solution, yes, hmmm?"
And, a satisfied smile on his face, Zalen picks up the urn in question and gently hands it to the annoying woman. As he hands it to her he asks politely "And if it please you my lady, perhaps you would be so kind as to bestow upon us your name?"
Alandra is taken aback for a moment by the woman's reaction. "I am sorry ma'am, I'm not here on official Temple business, so her time has not come yet. I am just here as a healer who may be able to help her. May I please see her?"
Then more quietly to her. "You really should keep the others away from her. What she has may be contagious."
Grau, can you explain your sister that we are coming to help her ? adds Elian
Gern looks to the priests a final time before cutting the man some slack. "Fair enough lad, ye cannae help what ye callin' is."
He moves into the house more fully, but holds off speaking to the angry mother. The alst thing this situation needed was a gruff dwarf telling her how to run her family. Instrad he asks the young man "Ifn' it were needed, are there others of yer ilk as can call on the healin' magic for this family? I have enough cash ter cover it ifn' it comes ter it. I am not about ter sit by and watch a wee lass pass when the cure is there fer the askin."
Small Seaside Home in Old Korvosa
The priest nodded, gravely. "There are brothers who can ask this boon as well, and I can scarcely imagine that they all exceeded their grace already." His face darkened visibly at the last bit - he looked worried, deeply so.
Grau joined Ellian and the others, and motioned his friend down. "Easy. We're here to help. The friends I told you about." With a desparing sigh, the woman lowered her arms, and stepped aside. "I am sorry. It's just... she's getting worse so quickly, and I don't know what I've been doing wrong." The hardship of the recent days bend the woman's shoulders, yet she kept her head high in defiance.
Behind the door, a small sleeping room lay, outfitted with three beds, two of them standing unusued. In the last, the pale figure of a girl of ten winters lay, covered in sweat and delirious from feaver. Her entire face was on fire with inflammation that seeped blood and pus in equal measure. Each breath was audibly a chore to her, and the bloody veil tainted her features, turned them more akin to a mourner than a young girl on the cusp of womanhood.
Heal DC 12
At the emporium
Zalen knew the Noblewoman relished the scene, loved the attention, and adored watching him squirm under the accusation - but he also knew his offer left her little choice but to cut his fun short. Other than a dirty look, she was powerless to keep up the assault. "Very well. Jendar, take care that it reaches the estate unaltered. I will expose this den of vipers for what it is."
She smirked at Zalen, taking much less notice of the others. "My name is Mellisande Arkonna, second daughter of Mintra Arkonna. You'd do well not to forget that name."
Perception DC 17
Perception DC 23
Sense Motive:
Knowledge(local):
After exmining the girl, Alandra says "This looks really bad, I don't think I have the power to help her."
She looks at the woman she spoke to earlier. "I'm sorry ma'am, but I'm afraid it might be time for my Lady to take her soon."
Grunhild bows his head low at the departing noblewoman. "It would be hard to forget the visit of a member of such an old house, my lady."
Once she and all her lackeys are gone, he murmurs to Zalen. "Well, this can't be good. Does she has any reasons to dislike you or your name ? Or was that completely random ?"
After a moments thought Alandra continues. "I can't cure what she has, but I will say a prayer. It might make her feel better and might prolong her life for a day or two."
She kneels down and puts her holy symbol on the sick girl's chest.
Heal Check to aid Alandra.
"Alandra, would you know of a priest that could cure this girl, even if we have to pay for this ?"
Elian watches Alandra trying to heal the little girl before turning towards the mother.
"We will do our best to try to help you daughter but I am wondering where she got it. Grau told me she probable caught it playing with a friend near the river. Can you tell me more ? Did she find something unusual or meet someone unusual ?"
Perception
When the woman leaves Narsel turns to Zalen.
"Phew, that could have ended worse. Excuse me for a second"
He will try to find an empty room to change his look back to normal.
"Alandra, would you know of a priest that could cure this girl, even if we have to pay for this ?"
"Yes. There are many at the Temple. I have a friend who makes potions, he might be able to cut us a deal on a potion or scroll that will cure her."
Once she and all her lackeys are gone, he murmurs to Zalen. "Well, this can't be good. Does she has any reasons to dislike you or your name ? Or was that completely random ?"
Gern moves over to Alandra and whispers into her ear "Mayhap we should get two lass. Twould seem her younger brother has picked up the damnable thing as well. Gonna cost a pretty penny, though I'm thinkin' we can afford it."
At the emporium
The noblewoman left the emporium, Urn in hand, with her head held high. As high as a Scion of Arkonna was probably expected to hold her head. Zalen knew the house was one of the oldest, most prominent families in the city, noblemen who held the dynasty for ransom several times. From their fortified estate in the center of Old Korvosa, they were nothing if not influential. Making an enemy of them was something that should be very carefully considered.
Knowledge: Nobility DC 15
Grunhild, however, came to a chilling realization. The visit might not have been entirely a social event. Zalen had been implicated in a crime, after all - and that might be all it took to sink a young and risky enterprise. The lady Arkonna was demonstrating she had the power to hurt this business unless all suspicions were scrubbed clean - the perfect setup for a future proposal to protect the emporiums good name - a more white-colored version of the good old protection racket.
Seaside home
Alandra's prayer forced back some life into the frame, and the girls breaths became easier, less pained. Both Grau and her mother breathed deep relief, and Grau even grasped Alandra's shoulder in a firm gesture of thanks. "I don't know how we can make this up to you, but we will find a way." At Gern's comment, he shook his head. "This is all I know. You'll have to speak with her yourself, but for the last day or so, she's been unable to hold a coherent thought. I think she..." Her mother cut her short. "Well, she... might have found something, a few days ago. When that ship was brought low in the River"
Grunhild thinks a moment before adding: "Perhaps she's interested in your business and wants to make you 'dependant' on her protection ... However, this would mean what we witnessed was a total and complete set up. Let's hope she's not that dishonest."
Seaside homeAlandra's prayer forced back some life into the frame, and the girls breaths became easier, less pained. Both Grau and her mother breathed deep relief, and Grau even grasped Alandra's shoulder in a firm gesture of thanks. "I don't know how we can make this up to you, but we will find a way." At Gern's comment, he shook his head. "This is all I know. You'll have to speak with her yourself, but for the last day or so, she's been unable to hold a coherent thought. I think she..." Her mother cut her short. "Well, she... might have found something, a few days ago. When that ship was brought low in the River"
"Which ship ? and what exactly has she found ? If no one has ever seen such disease, it may have come from the sea."
Gern moves over to Alandra and whispers into her ear "Mayhap we should get two lass. Twould seem her younger brother has picked up the damnable thing as well. Gonna cost a pretty penny, though I'm thinkin' we can afford it."
Alandra whispers back "OK, I'll go after we finish here. But let's hear about where this disease came from first."
"Aye, 'tis lucky we have a watchman along. They're good at questionin' folk"
The dwarf grins at what he obviously thinks is a funny statement. Indeed, the dwarfs in his family would know exactly what he meant. It may have been lost on Alandra though.
Grunhild thinks a moment before adding: "Perhaps she's interested in your business and wants to make you 'dependant' on her protection ... However, this would mean what we witnessed was a total and complete set up. Let's hope she's not that dishonest."
Zalen rubs his chin as he nods in agreement to the clever Dwarf's reasoning "Indeed, let us hope, for although she herself is not known to me, her family is a particularly old and powerful one."
His lips pressing together into a tight line the new proprietor continues grimly "Yet if she seeks to gain some influence over or profit from the business I've...we've started up again in my father's name, she shall find us to be difficult, and dangerous prey indeed."
Shaking his head to clear it Zalen looks down on his new Dwarven friend with a smile saying [b]"Nevertheless, I thank you for you help Grunhild. It seems it is my great fortune to always have one of your wise kin by my side to offer sage advice. I think this be a good time to begin closing up our opening day, yes? And then perhaps we can go check on the others and celebrate what was, for the most part, a very fine first day indeed. Food and drinks on me!"
And clapping the Dwarven scholar on his solid shoulder, Zalen begins moving around the store, gently guiding the remaining customers out of the store and giving instructions to Owen and the children to begin closing up.
Seaside home
Grau looked aghast, shocked. "You should have told me!" He said, before turning back to the group. "There was a ship coming up the Jeggare, three nights ago. It came at night, when the port was long closed, and did not fly any flag, nor light position lights. Just a single yellow lantern, I'm told. The harbor guard called in Sable Marines on night-trained Griffons, but they couldn't respond quickly enough - and one of the harbor trebuchets was fired to sink the ship, close to north bridge."
Profession (Sailor) DC 20 OR Heal DC 25
Tayce added "Brienna found some strange old urn. Ugly as hell, but worth good coin. We sold it off to a merchant we know, and what do you know, got a golden sail for our trouble. That's enough to keep all you hungry goblins fed for a long time." She tussled her youngest boy's hair.
At the Emporium
The closing of the shop went smoothly, and the first day was a resounding success, as a beaming Aren announced when she tallied the purchases against their costs, and the items "lost" in the opening day hussle.
Yet even as Zalen was about to give everyone his thanks and congratulations, something took the festive air right out of everyone's lungs. A halo of colors materialized on the old deck of cards, now securely stored away in a shelf behind the counter. Out of the colors, the form of the shapely Varisian formed who had first brought the group together to avenge her own death. Once again her features, now translucent and unreal, were wracked with foreboding. "You have done very well for yourself, Zalen, saving Korvosa from the Edge of Anarchy - but now it stands closer to the abyss than ever before. We approach an hour of great troubles. Gather your friends, gather all you can recruit, and prepare a seance at midnight."
Seaside home
Profession (Sailor) DC 20 OR Heal DC 25 ** spoiler omitted **
Tayce added "Brienna found some strange old urn. Ugly as hell, but worth good coin. We sold it off to a merchant we know, and what do you know, got a golden sail for our trouble. That's enough to keep all you hungry goblins fed for a long time." She tussled her youngest boy's hair.
Heal check
"Grau, why do you sound so alarmed ? Maybe they were just smugglers." says a puzzled Elian.
He then turns back to Tayce "And do you know which merchant you sold it to or if other urns were found ?"
When she hears the story, Alandra mutters another prayer under her breath, asking Pharasma for guidance.