Streetwise #1: - Wild = 11
Streetwise #2:
Streetwise #3:
You both get approached by some shady merchants that promise you the world in goods but are to cautious and finally find someone who appears to be genuine.
A dusty looking half-elf who looks like he spent to much time in the sun pulls out an old bag no larger than Manu's hand.
"How yer gonna pay for this big guy?"
He looks you both over not really holding much besides your weapons.
"That looks like a small bag. What do you want for it?"
The half-elf grins. "Oh it's not just a small bag my big friend. It's a bag that can hold a lot more than what it appears it can hold. Very rare item indeed!"
"I'd like to see proof."
Tydus watches the transaction intently interested to see the demonstration for himself.
The half elf holds up the bag and take out a wooden spoon holds it up show the both of you and then drops it into the bag. He then takes a silver fork and does the same with it grinning widely. He then shakes the bag but you don't hear the two objects banging together.
"See they are there but not really there."
He then reaches in and pulls both out.
Manu watches closely trying to see if he is sleight of handing the items to make it seem like a magic bag.
Perception
You notice the Half-Elf did attempt to fool you. The wooden objects never actually went into the bag.
"So what do you say friends? I can offer you a great deal on this fine magical object!"
Manu reaches out as if to take the bag to examine but grabs the half-elf by the shirt/armor and lifts him a foot off the ground. "I do not like liars." he says as he stares intimidatingly into the man's eyes.
The half-elfs eyes bulge a bit as he's lifted off the ground.
"Wait wait!"
He sqints his eyes and looks into Manu's.
"You look like a fellow who means business! I can tell you where to go to get what your looking for. For a price of course." he smiles a bit at his last remark.
You notice others in the market area stop and look your way as you hold the scrawny half elf up.
Manu squints at him ignoring the others around them unless any approached him. "Why should I believe you?"
Tydus turns around and looks at those staring at the transaction, if they make a move towards him, he knows just what to do...
"You can either trust me or try to find on your own. Those are your only options friend. Now please put me down before you start a riot in the market."
Manu lets the man hang for 3 more seconds just long enough to make him sweat before he drops him. "Fool me once...shame on me. Fool me twice...I hurt you badly."
The half-elf dusts himself off when you let him down. The crowd disperses as no actions appears to be happening anymore.
"Good good! Well your in luck I know a guy that can definitely help you! He's not in the elven quarters but he specializes in specialty items. Little old human male."
He gives you a general description of the man and where you could find him across the city in another area with members of the lower castes of the city.
Curiousity will entice Manu to investigate this man with strange goods for the possibility he might be someone they'd like to know in the future. And if this is a trap he'll cut his way free of it.
Tydus chuckles, "Well that was almost interesting. Do we have the coin to afford such a wondrous item Manu? Perhaps we may need to work for that Aristocrat after all".
"Services can be exchanged in place of coin, usually such things are not easy to set a price on anyways. Just meeting a person who trades in such things will be helpful. If we have nothing they want then we come back another time. If this is a ploy then we kill them and gain whatever little they have. In this strange city perhaps we may even find a few who we can trust...perhaps."
Tydus nods at Manu's comment, knowing he has little more to offer than that idea and agreeing wholeheartedly with the sentiment.
You make you way toward the other side of the city and by time you get there is a little past mid day. The streets are a little less crowded here as it's not really a market place but you do see more guards in this part of the city than the elven market.
You make you way to the building in which the half elf told you and the door is closed. You knock but and no one answers for a few minutes until finally an older human opens the door. He matches the description that was provided to you. A middle aged human probably in his 50's with a long beard that is half grey and balding head. He is very tan from the sun.
He looks you both up and down as you both dwarf him, especially Manu.
"What can I do for you young fellows?"
Tydus clears his throat, "We hear that you are a man who knows how to get things here in town, we have come to see you to find out if this rumor is true".
The old looks between the two.
"And who told you that?"
He appears to be leaning on a staff or something.
"Greetings. I've been told you sell certain goods that are rare and hard to find. My comrade and I are interested in acquiring some such things and getting to know more of this city. We have travelled far across deserts vast. We were told to seek you out from a scoundrel in the elven market who tried to scam me."
The old man squints his eyes.
"Wouldn't happen to be a skinny half-elf would he?"
He nods before you answer.
"I do sell some strange things from time to time but they arn't cheap fellers. Do you have coins or trading goods?"
He looks between you before you respond.
"From the looks of it you two look not so well off at the moment."
"You'd be surprised. We have found ancient ruins and fought our way here across open desert from the north on nothing but a couple water skins of water and our weapons. I am sure that if you have something of value we can find a way to pay you in coin or trade."
The old man nods.
"What you looking for then? Anything specific?"
He still stands half way behind his door trying to not show the inside of his place.
The streets behind you are rather dead. Not much traffic here.
"A bag that can hold more than a bag it's size normally should."
The old man squints his eyes at Manu before replying.
"Indeed a bag of such qualities would be quite valuable to such explorers such as yourself and would perhaps be quite expensive as it's value is almost limitless." he chuckles a bit at his own joke.
"Perhaps we could work something out. There is something I need done and in return I could trade you some such bag."
Manu looks thoughtfully at the man and nods. "I will hear you. May my comrade and I enter while we speak or shall we speak here of this matter?"
"Bartering eh? Well at least it will help us pass the time".
The old man nods and motions for you both to come in. His place is rather barren. Just a few pieces of furniture and some books on a small wooden table which both of you probably can't read.
He takes a seat at a table resting his arm on it.
"There are rumors of something outside of Tyr that may be very valuable to many people and may cause some rifts with the leadership here since Kalak's demise. If you could locate this thing we could arrange a trade."
"What is the thing you speak? We know little of the leadership or politics of this city but have ranged some outside the walls."
The old man rubs his head and squints.
"There are rumors of an ancient Cistern out in the Ringing Mountains that a long-dead preserver named Aravek created a long time ago. I would like to be the one to find it's location and secrets if possible. Would help me out with my standing in the city you see."
"Hmm. Well we know of a closer newly formed oasis created by a water elemental just days ago. But if this cistern is anything like that we have some experience."
The old man nods.
"A new oasis is good but knowledge of how the Cistern works would benefit all of Athas as we could create water for everyone all throughout the tablelands. Not a single mouth would go without if this knowledge is found. I'm sure you understand the importance of that and if it falls into the wrong hands."
"How will it be kept out of the wrong hands? Do you trust the rulers of this new city? What can you tell us about them?"
The old man strokes his beard.
"Well you want to get into politics this early in the game? Lets see... Tithian is an egotistical bastard who took advantage of the situation but he is definitely the lesser of the two evils being that of Kalak. Would rather have him ruling over the city rather than that maniac. As for Ageis he means good but don't think he can keep the council together and the council is the only thing that is separating Tithian from being a tyrant like Kalak. But really you should not get involved in their squabbles so early in your visit here lets concentrate on the task at hand. If the secrets of the Cistern fall into the wrong hands they will exploit it's capabilities and possibly cause more problems."
"Alright so we find this cistern, figure out how it works and then tell you?"
The old man nods.
"Sounds simple but I'm sure others are already looking for it so you may run into trouble. The less that know the better though."
"Got a map? We'll need time to plan and supply if we are going to head out."
"You see that's the problem. No one knows where it exactly is just rumors. It could be a wild goose chase for all I know."
"If you do not have a map how about a general direction..."
Tydus turns to Manu and shrugs.
Manu nods to Tydus hoping they were of like mind to accept the man's offer as doing something like this could have many benefits.
"Aside from the bag, Tydus is there anything your looking for that perhaps this man might have? A focus for The Way?"
"Yes any information you can provide us to help us succeed will be helpful as we need some idea of how far we must travel to seek out this cistern. Is there someone here in the city who might know more details of its location?"
"You must not speak to anyone else about it!" he says firmly.
"As I have said already the whereabouts are unknown except that it's supposed to be in the Ringing Mountains. You can take this path," he draws out a very rough sketch on some parchment "to safely make your way there but once your in the mountains you will be on your own."
"Just to be clear I'm not searching the whole mountains...this better get us close to wherever this 'cistern' is, this is already sounding pretty flimsy." He waits for Tydus to reply to his earlier comments before they make a decision or leave.
"Agis and Tithian are the only rulers? What of the Mul and the other slave who rule this city?
How long is the journey? I am interested as well, as for what I want, if this cistern is so important, I will reserve any request for what we discover when, or perhaps if we find it".