MD&D IC (Bastion City)

[Nefarion Xid]

The city of Bastion is a sprawling metropolis positioned on the north side of a narrow bay. Sheer gray-white cliffs ascend nearly five hundred feet skyward whereupon the city proper is located. When people say "The Harbor" they refer to a sprawling, crowded and often dirty city unto itself; a series of barrier islands below the cliffs, a labyrinthine construction of wooden docks and a flotilla of all sorts of vessels from simple fishing boats to luxury caravels and the imperious looking galleons still in employ to deter pirates. A wide avenue known simply as Trade Road runs east, making a steep climb through the cliffs before taking a U-turn into the walls of Bastion. Everything that comes by way of the sea will enter Bastion by the Trade Road or the enormous wooden cranes that operate on the edge of the cliff. In a vain attempt to control illicit materials (and at the behest of merchant lords who would prefer to keep their prices high) guardsmen inspect most of the containers brought up into the city...but there's just no accounting for what you might find in the Harbor. Undisturbed caves serve as meeting places for criminals or even lairs for monsters. The city's sewer system runs off into the bay not far east of the Harbor (part ancient catacomb and part filth, there's absolutely no telling what sort of foul things have deigned to inhabit the sewers and few seek to find out).

Lowtown occupies the south western quadrant of the city. It's a rough sort of place where the downtrodden and salt-of-the-earth sorts eke out a living. Too poor to relocate and lacking the skills and education for more lucrative employment, the denizens of Lowtown fill out the most menial jobs in the city. The district is so named because it actually sits lower than the rest of the city, adjacent to the cliff but outside the inner wall. Crime is bad in Lowtown, but thankfully so are the criminals. Few of Lowtown's many gangs are stupid or desperate enough to pick a fight with a man with a sword, but some certainly try. The city guard is almost completely absent from this district and it's those same gangs who maintain a semblance of order.

The city guard wear hunter green tabards over mail coats and white pants bloused into tall black boots. They typically carry halberds and crossbows as sidearms. Guard Captains are distinguished by their short jackets worn under trim leather doublets...and of course their big plumed hats. The regiment a guard belongs to can be discerned by the silver emblem on their right breast as well as the color and pattern of sash they carry tied to their belts (captains wear plums in this color as well). It's pointless to try and stereotype all guardsmen since they're just as varied as everyone else. Though, they are overwhelmingly comprised of human men and almost without fail they know who pays their salary. Each guard regiment is kept equipped and paid by a certain patron who may or may not have other designs for his men besides just "keeping the peace". These guard regiments double as the city's soldiery since a state army hasn't been kept since the fall of the Empire.


Points of Interest in the Habor

Yan's Inn And Noodle Emporium: Run by an ancient bearded human who claims to have been a spice trader, Yan's Inn And Noodle Emporium is a cross between an open air diner and an actual inn. Out front there are a few tables and chairs, but most customers take a seat at the bar. There's no menu since the only thing to eat is whatever Yan decides he wants to cook. People know four things about Yan. One - he only provides chopsticks and laughs at anyone who can't use them. Two - he can and will refuse to serve you alcohol if he doesn't like your looks. Three - his food is delicious. And four - judging from the tattoos and stern lighting reflexes...there's no way this guy was just a spice trader. He has 4 small rooms above his shop; the nightly rate is quite affordable if he likes you.

Points of Interest in Lowtown

The Red Dwarf: A clean and respectable establishment noted for its bright red tile roof and widely reputed to be one of the safest places in the slums. Run by one "Cat", a Razorclaw Shifter. (Arcane Copycat, I'll leave it to you to describe this place a little more)



Today: July 1st, 1209

The weather is fair today. The respectably high altitude of the city proper combined with prevailing winds from the north keep the humidity down. Late summer promises to be uncomfortably hot and muggy, but for now, at least it's nice out.

The the trade ship Dejected Suitor has just arrived from the southern kingdoms with a cargo hold of indigo, tobacco and coffee. To avoid paying taxes in the city, they're selling their goods right off the boat.

Rumor has it that Blackthistle Tea is also making its way to Bastion from the southern kingdoms. This addictive stimulant is prescribed in small doses for several common ailments, but an overdose can stop your heart. Possession of the substance is currently illegal and one may be fined up to 200 gold pieces. If you're caught with more than a pound, you can expect 2 years jail time.

Current Zone Masters

The Harbor: Nefarion Xid

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Reserved for your daily Merchant and Foreign Quarter News! Working on a write-up for these parts of the city!

The Foreign Quarter is a relic of days long gone. Back when the city was still young, it was where all the new-comers from distant lands would live. It was where most of the more respectable pubs, inns, and restaurants were, and still has a reputation for class without the price-tag that you might find in the Towers (read: noble quarters), and thereabouts. Now, however, the city is much larger than before, and though the amount of foreign merchants has increased too, the so called “foreign quarter” has gained a permanence it lacked, as more and more of the merchants are staying in the city for longer, and many have moved their families in, or started new ones. A middle class was emerging in Bastion, and this is where it was happening. Well, this and the Merchant’s Quarter. Many families struggling to afford the high standard of living of the Towers, but unwilling to descend into Lowtown, moved into the newly forged district. It is these families that pay the local militia/guard regiments. Many other families living in Lowtown moved out into the new district, leaving whole neighbourhoods of Lowtown empty, ready for the gangsters to move in and ransack the place. So, in the western half of the Foreign Quarter you have a respectable residential area, while in the east you have an eventual slide into the Merchant’s District.

The Merchant’s District borders the harbour, and is centered about the Market Squares. Nobody can say for certain which of the Squares was the original one, but the common consensus is that the unglamorous, inglorious Livestock Square is the original. Each of the 7 squares has its own feel, its own uniqueness, whether it be the exotic smells of the Tazzies Square (Tazzy being slang for foreigner), the hawkers cries of the City Square, or the, erm, unmistakeable smell of the Livestock Square. The rest of the Merchant’s District, not taken up by the squares, is shops. Before the fall of the Empire, almost all of what little shops there were opened onto one of the squares. Now, there are entire streets of shops, radiating from the markets. If you want to find something, anything, usually this is the place to go. Well, if it’s legal, at least.

[deathpigeon]

July 1st, 1209. The Bastion City Sewers.

The Bastion City Sewers are some of the largest sewers in the world because they are interconnected with the underground cave system. Over time monsters and villains have used this to create lairs and to sneak into town. As such, the towns guard have regular patrol, but this duty is considered the worst.

Many of the denizens of the sewers dislike the guards, their presence, or what they stand for, because of this the guards are often driven out or killed. They see the guards as a symbol of tyranny and oppression. However, they hate and fear the villains who pass through equally.

[Crucival]

July 1st, 1209

The Harbor: A Deliberately Nondescript Warehouse

Safka Varnos opens the outer door, allowing a green-wearing Captain of the Guard to go on his way, his bribe arranged to be deposited through all the proper channels to avoid it being easily traced. The warehouse is, of course, a perfectly legal holding of the Varnos firm. The legality of its contents, however, is in a state of uncertain flux, depending on what, exactly, it is on a particular day.

Valyra Tolsharn sighs. "I still don't know why you bother paying them. We both know you could dominate the man in a hearbeat. Or I could use my feminine wiles..."

Varnos laughs. "Money keeps a man addicted. Feminine wiles...well, they can do the same, but less reliably. Besides, he's got a wife and kids to feed, which makes money more attractive and horned women less so. I prefer to give a man rope and let him hang himself." He returns to his desk, makes a few notes in a large ledger, and then sets it down and exits his office, looking over the inventory of his shipping headquarters.

This is, by far, the largest legitimate front he has--storage capabilities, an office, an underground lair containing less legitimate activities--though Varnos does maintain a manor in the Foreign Quarter where he actually lives, and a series of smaller distribution centers in Lowtown and the Merchant district. The harbour, however, is the center of shipping to Bastion's surroundings, and so it is the harbour that houses the business center of the Firm.

Surveying the warehouse proper, Safka sees a pile of boxes marked with weapons, to be distributed at a discount to the harbour guards. If they're going to turn a blind eye to enforcing laws on Firm property, they might as well have quality equipment to enforce them elsewhere. Particularly on his competitors. Another crate of weapons is slated to go out to Lowtown with Valyra, to be sold to the gangs. One shipment, largely composed of cutlasses, will be sent on a merchant vessel destined to be looted by pirates...who pay well for shipments of new weaponry that can maintain a certain amount of discretion and respect for their rogueish reputation. There are, of course, stockpiles for other eventualities--a rush on swords in the Merchant quarter, a war breaking out somewhere nearby, a gang feud running particularly hot and bloody...

But none of these crates draw his attention for long. It is a series of unmarked boxes that Safka's eyes linger on, for now. The papers resting on top of them instruct the harbour staff to store them in a supposed customs holding warehouse for a few days before transferring them to a ship that does not exist. Said customs warehouse was actually a smuggler's stash, one Safka strongly suspected would get a chance to see the Blackthistle tea once it made its way ashore.

[Vadin]

July 1st, 1209, Bastion Harbor, Yan's Inn and Noodle Emporium

Will sipped his bowl of noodles and listened. He didn't ask anyone anything, he just sat back and listened.

It always seemed to work. If you sit in a bar long enough and pay enough attention, you'll always find a job. As far as William Gunderstank was concerned, that was as hard and cold a fact as the sun risin' in the morn' or the tide rollin' in in the next few hours.

[Nefarion Xid]

July 1st, Bastion Harbor, Yan's Inn and Noodle Emporium: Old Man Yan, William Gunderstank, Rome de Terath

Rome sits fidgeting, uncharacteristically, on his stool in front of the open faced shop. Normally he'd be content to bide his time quietly, content to be alone in his own head while the world passed him by. But, for nearly two years he'd woken up each morning in his hammock, shuffled up to the top deck and did as every man aboard a ship does (exactly what he's told). The transition to life as a pirate had been jarring, of course. Rome was easy going, well mannered and soft spoken with a distinct disdain for authority. To avoid being thrown overboard, he followed the captain's orders to the letter and simply swallowed his pride and in some cases his wit with it. The whole ordeal was a little like being a school boy again with some sporting fanatic screaming in your ear to run faster and hit harder. Of course, being a pirate meant that your ability to suck it up and contribute to the team was a matter of life and death. Eventually he succumbed to the rigor and the little voice inside his head that spurred him to be creative and learn new things just went quiet. Now, with no one to rouse him at dawn and no one to tell him what to do, that voice was coming back. And as he was unoccupied with any scholarly pursuits...unoccupied with anything at all...he just sat fidgeting.

Having some time ago finished his lunch he produces from his inner breast pocket a silver box and from it two black cigarettes and a sulfur match. The air is instantly filled with the scent of clove oil. Wordlessly, one of the cigarettes if offered up to their host who takes it suspiciously, runs the length of it under his nose and finally nods approvingly; though his disposition never changes from that of a pucker faced old man who looks as if he's got a lemon candy just behind his teeth. Rome provides a light for them both and they spend a few seconds puffing and coaxing up a proper fire before inhaling deeply. Yan indicates his approval again with a plain nod before returning to his work.

Rome turns toward Will for a moment as if he had something to say, then apparently thinks better of it, like it had been a stupid question. He returns to his original position; elbow on the counter, cheek cradled in his palm...boredom complete with a cigarette hanging limply from his crooked mouth.

[dr.cello]

July 1, 1209

Bastion Harbor: Verene de Lacey

Verene de Lacey slips through the crowds along the Trade Road, eyes fixed mostly on the ships moored in the harbor. She's heard the rumors the same as anyone, and while her studies keep her busy enough, it is easy to grow impatient. Trade ships bring news from the southern kingdoms; she intends to find out. There's always the chance there's something more interesting than its cargo holds on its way.

There's a lot of ships out there and she's never spent a lot of time around the docks. Better to start asking questions early.

((OOC: I am on a quest for locating the <i>Dejected Suitor</i>, with an option on picking up any news or further rumors that might have filtered in from or relating to said ship.))

[Nefarion Xid]

July 1st
The Dejected Suitor at dock (Harbor)

The ship isn't hard to find. A steady stream of customers comes and goes from the ship's provisional shop. Ships fresh from the south were always popular because they brought with them a variety of (tasty) exotic goods.

Swarthy men with equally dark and rugged accents are still moving merchandise and goods up from the cargo hold and onto the dock. The captain (one can presume he's such from the fancy duds) stands by in a makeshift cubicle formed from crates and barrels with a mahogany desk in front of him to hold his paperwork and increasing pile of gold. Nearby another crew member flashes necklaces, bracelets and other trinkets in gold and silver to passing ladies. Three of the biggest buccaneers are clearly on the lookout for troublemakers; they stand with their arms folded in a no-nonsense sort of way.

"Thar ya go sar. Twenty pounds Orilian cocoa and uh...ah yes, thar's your pineapple as well. You enjoy."

The captain waves off a satisfied customer who's trying to manage a heavy sack of beans and a prickly fruit at the same time.

"All right, who's next? We've got Longleaf Blue straight from the fields in Brisco. We've got cane sugar! Can't take yer tea without a spoon of sugar! And em..."

One of his mates with a scraggly mustache offers over a porcelain teapot with a hopeful smile.

"Oh aye...we've that as well..." mutters the captain slightly off put.

[Crucival]

July 1st, 1209: The Harbour. Varnos Firm Merchandise.
A group of dockworkers arrives at the "customs warehouse," carrying a load of unmarked boxes from the Varnos Firm. The boxes, unmarked as they are, simply sit in a corner as various shipments pass by.

From the wharf, a level or two above the dock, Safka Varnos watches the Dejected Suitor. Could this ship be the source of Blackthistle? It had all the right hallmarks--it simply remained for the ship to offload a couple of crates and send them to the right smuggler stash. Or perhaps they had another method--Safka's plans certainly accounted for that possibility. Even if they didn't offload their Tea into the so-called customs warehouse, they would certainly be picking up a number of boxes from it before they departed.


The crates contain an Antagonist Quest, should the PCs become interested in the Blackthistle Tea shipment, which triggers 2 hours past sundown on July 1.

If no one is interested in the Blackthistle Tea shipment or snooping around the Dejected Suitor by nightfall on July 1, I will post to complete the Antagonist Quest.

[Vadin]

July 1st, 1209, Bastion Harbor, Yan's Inn and Noodle Emporium

Sensing that his companion is growing a bit bored (and not too overly excited himself), Will pulls out the map and adjust his arcane eyepatch. He stretches the well-worn canvas map across the table and points to several marked places with a quill kept in his hat.

"Rome, me pal, which o' these X's nearest Bastion seems ta be tha most promisin'? I'm undecided on which we ought to pursue. All should offer clues about Sharktooth's treasure, but I just can't make up me mind!"

[Nefarion Xid]

July 1st, 1209, Bastion Harbor, Yan's Inn and Noodle Emporium

Rome starts as if woken from a nap.

"You...you mean...just grab a shovel and start...digging?"

Whether genuinely quizzical or just sarcastic he hastily makes an addendum.

"I suppose you can rule out anything in or near cultivated land. People have been farming these hills for for a thousand years. I think some sheep herder might have noticed a mound of freshly disturbed soil. So it stands to reason that Black didn't bury his treasure in someone's pasture."

He takes a long drag from his cigarette and politely exhales upwards.

"Or at least if he did someone beat you to the treasure a long time ago."

[Vadin]

July 1st, 1209, Bastion Harbor, Yan's Inn and Noodle Emporium

"Nay, nay! This spot be a dungeon used by Julius' grandfather fer the crazier criminals, this square here be an old fort from times before Bastion were even a glimmer in a merchant's gold tooth, and this smudge here is...agh...even with this danged magic, I can't tell a lick o' what that says. Must be a code or somesuch."

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

July 1st
Naomi Freald, John Yurman, Ana Hoft
Piezzabello (a nice restaurant)

Naomi finished her bowl of soup with gusto. It was an interesting soup, very tasty, but that only reminded her of it's price again. She looked up at the two people she was sitting across from, and a frown found its way onto her face again.

She opened her mouth, but Ana spoke before she could start her sentence. "Aren't you glad we decided to go out for a meal?"

"Well, yes, but at the same time..." Naomi sighed, and looked straight at John. "It's been 2 weeks. Have you found anything?"

"Not as such, no. Well, not in so many words." John looked embarrassed. "To be frank, I've ran out of money searching. If you could give me some more money, I might be able to get a few more bribes, maybe get lucky and find someone with information..."

Naomi shook her head. "John, when I came into the city 6 months ago, I had hundreds of gold. Now, I have enough to get by. I don't have enough money anymore."

John's face darkened. "Look, this isn't my usual field, alright? I don't do information, I just sell stuff, remember? I did my best."

"Your best wasn't good enough."

"John, Naomi, please! Let's just eat lunch, ok?"

[Nefarion Xid]

July 1st, 1209, Bastion Harbor, Yan's Inn and Noodle Emporium

Yan's interest is piqued...though it's very hard to tell. There was perhaps a half second pause in his carrot-chopping.

Rome finally spins around to look at Will. "You know, it's been a while since I've had a look. Can I give it another shot? Maybe I can decipher that smudge."

(I'd like to make an Arcana check or maybe just an Int check to see if Rome can glean anything from the markings. Would someone else with DMing powers care to facilitate this? (Make up something). That is, provided Will hands over the map for a second.)

Arcana Check:
[roll0]

[Arcane Copycat]

July 1, 1209. The Red Dwarf in Lowtown, Midday.

Tavi (Disguised as a human), about 6-7 partrons, as well as Cat the bartender

He mumbled a little as the elf across the table swept up the few coins that he had won. He thought he had a winning hand, but was outdone in the last round of betting. No matter, there would be many other games after this one. He got up, deciding that Cat probably owed him a drink.

He made his way over to the bar, paying little attention to the 2 people besides him.

"Cat, I do believe that I am owed at least one drink. A pitcher of ale, if you could."

The shifter passed him his pitcher, barely taking his eyes of the mirror he was currently staring into.

"If you were any more vain Cat I'd think you'd try to marry yourself."

He rested back, taking small gulps of his ale, deciding if he should make his way over to the docks later. Word was that a ship from the south was in port, and chances were information and profit were to be had.

As he was muling over those thoughts, he caught the word 'Blackthistle' being uttered from beside him. Without making it obvious, he instantly began listening intently. The duo, both half-elves by the look of them, were keeping their conversation very quite, and speaking rapid fire Elven. Lucky for him, his brand new earring translated everything into the common tongue in his mind. He couldn't hear much, something about 'several boxes' and 'customs warehouse', but it peaked his interest. Blackthistle Tea was illegal, and therefor, valuable. Even getting a few pounds of the stimulant could be profitable. He carefully made note of what both men looked like and were wearing, in case the opportunity to 'replace' one of them came up. He waited for them to leave, then quickly finished his ale, and began to make his way to the harbour...

[dr.cello]

July 1, 1209.
The Dejected Suitor, Bastion Harbor: Verene de Lacey, the crew of the Suitor.

Verene approaches the captain, adopting a professional demeanor, giving everything she sees an appraising look.

"Welcome to Bastion, Captain!" she calls as she approaches. "My employer would like to arrange for a purchase of some of your wares. Mind if I take a look?"

She carefully emphasizes the word "employer," attempting to emphasize that she represents the sort of individual who is powerful, wealthy, and wishes to remain anonymous--perhaps someone who might be interested in purchasing some Blackthistle in bulk.


Just in case:
Bluff: [roll0]

[CainSF]

July 1st, 1209, Bastion Harbor, Yan's Inn and Noodle Emporium: Old Man Yan, William Gunderstank, Rome de Terath, Sain-toros

Sain-toros had entered Bastion through the main trade gate of the merchant quarter earlier that morning. He'd been wandering the city looking for an inn to stay. Everything about him shouted foriegner. He was still wearing his leather armor which was cut to gaurd his vitals but left his upper arms and strips on his upper thieghs bare, he also wore the front open revealing the energy lines on his chest. Added to this he wore his longsword and taveling gear.
Wandering about had brought him to a few new sights for him, an ocean of water, cattle, and sailing ships that didn't glide over fire. Now mumbling softly to himself in primordial he arived at Yan's he approached the counter.
"Um, good day sir I’m looking for an inn to stay in and I think I was pointed in this way I didn’t really unders- You're doing it again Sain...”
He started wandering away now apparently talking to himself, still in primordial.
“...You keep slipping to the origin tounge, why do you do this? Well its what happen when you are on the road too long, you slip to the comfortable things. No one else to speak to, you use what is simplest . Right I knew that, lets try again.”
He reaproached the counter now switching to common with a heavy accent.
“Ey oppolojize, hwhat Ey ment waz Ey em hlooking foh en inn. Waz pointed zis hway but I think I got lost hagain. Kan hyou ‘elp me?”
(Translation: I apologize, what I ment was, I am looking for an inn. Was pointed this way but I think I got lost again. Can you help me?)
He smiled slightly his flame like 'hair' flickering sofly.


((OOC: Red is Primordial. Blue is common. I figured Primordial would be a rough, guttural language with several strong tones, I couldn’t think of what a German accent sounds like so I went with Russian and think I might have added in a few Arabic undertones by accident. ))

[Arcane Copycat]

July 1, The Harbour, near the Dejected Suitor, Tavi (disguised as a human), Verene de Lacy, crew of the Suitor

The first thing Tavi noticed was the guards. 3 of them, all large, mean-looking 'gentlemen' that were clearly there to deter any troublemakers. The second thing he noticed was that the goods were being sold right off the boat.

Tavi sized up the 3 men, a plan slowly forming in his mind...


Insight role: Which of the three is the 'slowest' of the 3
[roll0]

[Nefarion Xid]

July 1, 1209.
The Dejected Suitor, Bastion Harbor: Verene de Lacey, the crew of the Suitor.

Verene approaches the captain, adopting a professional demeanor, giving everything she sees an appraising look.

"Welcome to Bastion, Captain!" she calls as she approaches. "My employer would like to arrange for a purchase of some of your wares. Mind if I take a look?"

She carefully emphasizes the word "employer," attempting to emphasize that she represents the sort of individual who is powerful, wealthy, and wishes to remain anonymous--perhaps someone who might be interested in purchasing some Blackthistle in bulk.


Just in case:
Bluff: [roll0]


The Captain gives Verene a look up and down and appears thoroughly convinced that she's a person of immense importance. However, man who is not a smuggler would look the same way. Or, if he does have a crate of Blackthistle stowed away on this ship he may be waiting for the intended buyer and only the intended buyer, however convinced he may be that Verene means business.

However, he draws his fingers over his lips and motions for his men to draw a little tighter and guard his 'cubicle' from eavesdroppers.

"What uh...what sort of exotic fair were ya looking for Miss?"


July 1, The Harbour, near the Dejected Suitor, Tavi (disguised as a human), Verene de Lacy, crew of the Suitor

The first thing Tavi noticed was the guards. 3 of them, all large, mean-looking 'gentlemen' that were clearly there to deter any troublemakers. The second thing he noticed was that the goods were being sold right off the boat.

Tavi sized up the 3 men, a plan slowly forming in his mind...


Insight role: Which of the three is the 'slowest' of the 3
[roll0]


A less insightful man could easily see that of the three...the one picking his nose might be the dullest tool in the shed. He's tall, blonde, slightly buck-toothed, shirtless and wears a red sash about his waist.

[Arcane Copycat]

A less insightful man could easily see that of the three...the one picking his nose might be the dullest tool in the shed. He's tall, blonde, slightly buck-toothed, shirtless and wears a red sash about his waist.

Tave casually strolled down to the boat, thinking as fast as he could.Now, let's see here... ah, there we go. He managed to work his way into a spot that was out of the way, and motioned for what was obviously the slower of the three men.

"Hey there, you interested in making some quick cash?"

To himself, he though Don't let this go south, don't let this go south...

(OOC: Italics are my way of indicating that something is said internally)

[Nefarion Xid]

July 1st, 1209, Bastion Harbor, Yan's Inn and Noodle Emporium: Old Man Yan, William Gunderstank, Rome de Terath, Sain-toros

Sain-toros had entered Bastion through the main trade gate of the merchant quarter earlier that morning. He'd been wandering the city looking for an inn to stay. Everything about him shouted foriegner. He was still wearing his leather armor which was cut to gaurd his vitals but left his upper arms and strips on his upper thieghs bare, he also wore the front open revealing the energy lines on his chest. Added to this he wore his longsword and taveling gear.
Wandering about had brought him to a few new sights for him, an ocean of water, cattle, and sailing ships that didn't glide over fire. Now mumbling softly to himself in primordial he arived at Yan's he approached the counter.
"Um, good day sir I’m looking for an inn to stay in and I think I was pointed in this way I didn’t really unders- You're doing it again Sain...”
He started wandering away now apparently talking to himself, still in primordial.
“...You keep slipping to the origin tounge, why do you do this? Well its what happen when you are on the road too long, you slip to the comfortable things. No one else to speak to, you use what is simplest . Right I knew that, lets try again.”
He reaproached the counter now switching to common with a heavy accent.
“Ey oppolojize, hwhat Ey ment waz Ey em hlooking foh en inn. Waz pointed zis hway but I think I got lost hagain. Kan hyou ‘elp me?”
(Translation: I apologize, what I ment was, I am looking for an inn. Was pointed this way but I think I got lost again. Can you help me?)
He smiled slightly his flame like 'hair' flickering sofly.


((OOC: Red is Primordial. Blue is common. I figured Primordial would be a rough, guttural language with several strong tones, I couldn’t think of what a German accent sounds like so I went with Russian and think I might have added in a few Arabic undertones by accident. ))

Yan's ears perk up when he hears the Primordial language. He turns from his vegetables with an bemused pseudo-grin and discards his spent cigarette. His apparent interest may be simply due to the fact that Sain was different or perhaps he knew a thing or two about the Genasi.

"Yeah yeah, I have rooms for rent. 5 Silver for the night. Safe place...no one messes with Yan."

He gives a stern wag of the finger to the whole dock.

"Big beds. Flame. Retardant. Mattress. HAHA!" He laughs short and derisively with a certain intensity that says 'You think that was funny. You had better laugh too...or else.'

Rome forces out a nervous chuckle and a little puff of smoke escapes his nostrils. Out of the corner of his eye he regards the Genasi, but pretends to keep his attention on Will's map which is laid out in front of him.

(Rome makes the gamut of knowledge checks for Genasi. In order: Arcana, History, Religion.)

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[Nefarion Xid]

Tave casually strolled down to the boat, thinking as fast as he could.Now, let's see here... ah, there we go. He managed to work his way into a spot that was out of the way, and motioned for what was obviously the slower of the three men.

"Hey there, you interested in making some quick cash?"

To himself, he though Don't let this go south, don't let this go south...

(OOC: Italics are my way of indicating that something is said internally)

As one might expect from a man in his current line of work, indeed he is interested in making quick cash. Moving merchandise up the shipping lanes is all about the quick cash because it's a dangerous business.

He blond wipes his finger clean, gives a noncommittal shrug...then a nod to say 'continue...'

[dr.cello]

The Captain gives Verene a look up and down and appears thoroughly convinced that she's a person of immense importance. However, man who is not a smuggler would look the same way. Or, if he does have a crate of Blackthistle stowed away on this ship he may be waiting for the intended buyer and only the intended buyer, however convinced he may be that Verene means business.

However, he draws his fingers over his lips and motions for his men to draw a little tighter and guard his 'cubicle' from eavesdroppers.

"What uh...what sort of exotic fair were ya looking for Miss?"


Verene smiles cordially. "My employer is particularly interested in various spices. Coffee, sugar . . . tea." She pauses briefly here. "My employer has also expressed an interest in establishing a more permanent contract. If you are regular visitors to Bastion, that is, Captain . . .?"

[CainSF]

Yan's ears perk up when he hears the Primordial language. He turns from his vegetables with an bemused pseudo-grin and discards his spent cigarette. His apparent interest may be simply due to the fact that Sain was different or perhaps he knew a thing or two about the Genasi.

"Yeah yeah, I have rooms for rent. 5 Silver for the night. Safe place...no one messes with Yan."

He gives a stern wag of the finger to the whole dock.

"Big beds. Flame. Retardant. Mattress. HAHA!" He laughs short and derisively with a certain intensity that says 'You think that was funny. You had better laugh too...or else.'

Rome forces out a nervous chuckle and a little puff of smoke escapes his nostrils. Out of the corner of his eye he regards the Genasi, but pretends to keep his attention on Will's map which is laid out in front of him.

(Rome makes the gamut of knowledge checks for Genasi. In order: Arcana, History, Religion.)

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

"Ha ha!"
The enthusiasm of the genasi's laugh almost matched Yan's. Rome might actualy notice the ember at the end of his cigarette brighted for a moment as he did so.
"Thees iz goud, thees iz goud! Youh already have thee customer in mind then!"
He reached for his coin pouch producing the five silver.
"Youh hwant I pay now or later?"


Rome would definatly reconice a genasi knowing that they are a race of humanoids who have been infused with great elemental power and affinity.
A genasi manifests a single element from birth, which determines its appearance and the element with which it has an affinity. A genasi’s elemental manifestation also grants special powers tied to that element. (Give me a secong Arcana check to know what the fire power is.) He would likely also know that they arnt native to the material plain despite that a few live on it. They originate from the elemental chaos.
(You might try an untrained streetwise check too. ;) )

[Nefarion Xid]

(Throwing in my Streetwise check for funsies. Will resume DMing duties later this evening since I'm a bit involved in other things at the moment.)

[roll0]

[CainSF]

(Throwing in my Streetwise check for funsies. Will resume DMing duties later this evening since I'm a bit involved in other things at the moment.)

[roll0]

He would also remember a small bit of advise from one of his sources of information on genasi, they could be very sensitive on about thier elemental manefestations. One of the greatest insults to them is to descriminate against them for thier manefestation. Had Yan said he couldn't stay because they had no fire retardent beds, it is likely that things could have gone quite differently for Rome's eyebrows with the small flame of his cigarette so close to his face...

[Nefarion Xid]

Verene smiles cordially. "My employer is particularly interested in various spices. Coffee, sugar . . . tea." She pauses briefly here. "My employer has also expressed an interest in establishing a more permanent contract. If you are regular visitors to Bastion, that is, Captain . . .?"

The captain nods knowingly with a small pout.

"Unfortunately our entire cache is spoken for. We'll be making another run and should make port here again in six weeks. Em...if you're care to specify an amount I'll make a note of it and we can negotiate a price upon my return. Fair enough, Miss?"

Verene might try a Nature check to see if she can recall anything about the way Blackthistle Tea is handled. Knowing how it's sold, in what quantity and what it might go for would be helpful information. Perhaps she can finagle such info out of the captain with a little clever wordplay though.

[Nefarion Xid]

"Ha ha!"
The enthusiasm of the genasi's laugh almost matched Yan's. Rome might actualy notice the ember at the end of his cigarette brighted for a moment as he did so.
"Thees iz goud, thees iz goud! Youh already have thee customer in mind then!"
He reached for his coin pouch producing the five silver.
"Youh hwant I pay now or later?"

Yan makes an disconcertingly fast grab for the silver and pockets it. The feat is not unlike the "take the pebble from my hand" bit from kung-fu movies. But, before anyone can be offended he produces a brass key just as quickly and places it in Sain's hand.

"Number four. It's the one with the big "4" on the door." This time, no laughter. Either this was very serious business or Yan simply got his kicks by messing with people's expectations.

Rome meanwhile examines his cigarette and deduces that Sain's fiery manifestation caused the anomaly...though it doesn't really take an Intelligence of 17 to figure out that the elemental standing 3 feet away might be the culprit. Now, had he been a polite or less reserved person he might have introduced himself to the Genasi and troubled him for a few bits of arcane trivia about his people and homeland since he'd never actually spoken with a Genasi. But, cautious and altogether shy as he is, Rome simply manages a curt "Hi," muttered in Primordial in Sain's general direction. It is quite probably one of the perhaps a dozen words he happens to know in that language; the other eleven are likely arcane terminology. He looks up for a second but nearly keeps one eye on the map.

[CainSF]

Sain smiled and noded pocketing the key.
"Fou' thank youh."
However appon hearing primordial spoken to him Sain brightened up immensly. That is to say emotionaly and his energy lines glowed slightly brighter for a moment.
"Hello! You speak the origin tounge? I was begining to think I would not hear it on this plane! Do you speak anything else? I myself speak a little elven. I believe you are the same race as the man who taught it to me. Although in the end he turned out to simply be a 'the-unplesant-sensation-of-discovering-you-had-just-steped-in-a-domesticated-animal's-fecies'* who turned on me and tried to have me killed for samples for his experiments!Luckly for me his partner wasn't compitant enouph to manage the task!"
Despite the actual meaning of his words Sain's tone and expresion seemed quite cheerful throught the whole explosion of chatter.

((*: This was an one word metaphore that did not translate well.

Cyan text is in elven.))

[dr.cello]

The captain nods knowingly with a small pout.

"Unfortunately our entire cache is spoken for. We'll be making another run and should make port here again in six weeks. Em...if you're care to specify an amount I'll make a note of it and we can negotiate a price upon my return. Fair enough, Miss?"

Verene might try a Nature check to see if she can recall anything about the way Blackthistle Tea is handled. Knowing how it's sold, in what quantity and what it might go for would be helpful information. Perhaps she can finagle such info out of the captain with a little clever wordplay though.

Verene nods understandingly. "It's no trouble at all, Captain. Let's see . . . how much can the <i>Suitor</i> hold, on a given voyage?" She looks the ship over appraisingly. "I confess, business here in Bastion has kept me too busy to spend the time I'd like to on the sea."

Rolls:

Nature check, just in case: [roll0]
Insight check on the captain to get a sense for a good avenue for plying information from him: [roll1]

[Arcane Copycat]

As one might expect from a man in his current line of work, indeed he is interested in making quick cash. Moving merchandise up the shipping lanes is all about the quick cash because it's a dangerous business.

He blond wipes his finger clean, gives a noncommittal shrug...then a nod to say 'continue...'

Tavi dramatically looked around, like this was top secret, then continued.I need someone to act as a watch for me, while I make... a business deal..."

[spolier]
Standard Action: Prestidigitation. I make the appearance of a few Platinum Pieces appear as if I pulled them from a pocket, then return the 'coins' to my pocket before the effect disappears.
Here's a Bluff check to make it look genuine if it's required
[roll0]
[/spoiler]

As you can see, I'm willing to pay, big currency, easy to hide so your shipmates don't ask too many questions. You'll have to duck out for a while from here though, but I promise the pay to be worth it. Are we agreed?

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

July 1st
Naomi, Anna
Evening, On the way to the Red Dwarf

You know, Anna could be really smart sometimes. Naomi reflected. I mean, it's not like she's normally stupid, far from it! She has a real head for numbers, that girl, and she keeps a clean desk, and a clear head.

The plan, as Anna put it, was simple.
"So, the problem is you don't have any money, right?" Anna prodded Naomi on the walk back to Anna's house. "And you need money to get information, to find your friends. But you have no good way to gain money inside the city."

"Tell me something I don't already know." Naomi replied, uncharacteristically scathing.

"Well, I have 2 plans. The first one involves getting you drunk, you need to relax some. The second involves getting you money. I mean, you're not really doing anything in here, right? And John and I can easily enough find information without you being here (no offense meant). So, you're free to go out and get the loot the way you usually do, raiding lost temples and hunting down monsters hordes, or whatever. Does this make sense to you?"

It hurt, sure to admit that she could do nothing to help find Scief and Lucille. But the girl was right: the most helpful thing Naomi could do right now is go out and do her usual stuff, and channel the gains right into the search efforts.

And it was for those 2 reasons that Anna and Naomi arrived at the Red Dwarf, looking for drink and adventure, respectfully.

[Arcane Copycat]

And it was for those 2 reasons that Anna and Naomi arrived at the Red Dwarf, looking for drink and adventure, respectfully.

(Nef gave me permission to DM in here, so I guess I'll take this)

July 1, Evening, The Red Dwarf. Naome, Anna (Gwyn), Cat the bartender, about 12 other patrons

The Red Dwarf was rather quiet this evening, but that was more likely to change the later the night went on. A small card game had started up, between 3 humans. A small handful of elves and half-elves sat at one of the tables, laughing loudly and spilling drinks in a fit of festiveness. nobody else paid them any mind though, either caught up in their own converstaions or too busy draining their glasses in an attempt to escape reality, even if only for a little while.

The man behind the bar looked human, but had some obvious catlike features. He was absentmindedly polishing a glass while staring at his own reflection in a mirror on the back wall. He must've been deep in thought because it took a Dwarf sitting at the bar a few attempts to catch his attention.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

July 1st
Naomi, Anna, Cat + others
Evening, the Red Dwarf

Ana quickly moves up to the bar, to try and get in an order between the dwarf's, and Cat's inevitable loss of concentration. "Hi, I would like an ale, and my friend will have..." Anna trails off, and looks at Naomi, who is still making her way to the bar.
"Rye and Ginger"
"One ale and a rye and ginger, then, if you may."

Meanwhile, Naomi is more interested in the contents of the board behind the bar, the one that usually has a few interesting requests for items and such on it...

[Arcane Copycat]

July 1st
Naomi, Anna, Cat + others
Evening, the Red Dwarf

Ana quickly moves up to the bar, to try and get in an order between the dwarf's, and Cat's inevitable loss of concentration. "Hi, I would like an ale, and my friend will have..." Anna trails off, and looks at Naomi, who is still making her way to the bar.
"Rye and Ginger"
"One ale and a rye and ginger, then, if you may."

Meanwhile, Naomi is more interested in the contents of the board behind the bar, the one that usually has a few interesting requests for items and such on it...

Cat managed to tear himself away from his reflection to get the two ladies there requested drinks. When he returned, he noticed one of them staring at the noticeboard. "Here you go ladies, one Ale, one Rye and Ginger." He turns to face the board. "Not much up there, unless you're looking to buy something."

The noticeboard itself has a few things of interest. Mostly just advertisements for people selling information and items, but amongst the clutter of 'Sale' ads is a 'Wanted' ad.

I was exploring the sewers the other day when I came across... something moving down there that shouldn't be there. I alerted the guards but the didn't take me seriously. I'm too much of a coward to kill it myself, so I'm offering a reward for the first person who does.

The note is signed 'Geffard.'

(I've already asked Nefarion about this and he's given me the ok)

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Cat managed to tear himself away from his reflection to get the two ladies there requested drinks. When he returned, he noticed one of them staring at the noticeboard. "Here you go ladies, one Ale, one Rye and Ginger." He turns to face the board. "Not much up there, unless you're looking to buy something."

The noticeboard itself has a few things of interest. Mostly just advertisements for people selling information and items, but amongst the clutter of 'Sale' ads is a 'Wanted' ad.

I was exploring the sewers the other day when I came across... something moving down there that shouldn't be there. I alerted the guards but the didn't take me seriously. I'm too much of a coward to kill it myself, so I'm offering a reward for the first person who does.

The note is signed 'Geffard.'

(I've already asked Nefarion about this and he's given me the ok)

Naomi takes the R&G gratefully, and takes a sip, while inspecting the ad in question. Anna takes a long swig of her beer before turning to Naomi. "Well, see anything?"

"Only one that looks promising. Pretty simple. Hunt and destroy, with a reward. I'll probably be able to take that one on my own, though it'd be better to see who this Geffard is first." Naomi attempts to get Cat's attention. "Hey Cat, that note there, guy by the name of Geffard, what'd he look like? A regular?"

[Arcane Copycat]

Naomi takes the R&G gratefully, and takes a sip, while inspecting the ad in question. Anna takes a long swig of her beer before turning to Naomi. "Well, see anything?"

"Only one that looks promising. Pretty simple. Hunt and destroy, with a reward. I'll probably be able to take that one on my own, though it'd be better to see who this Geffard is first." Naomi attempts to get Cat's attention. "Hey Cat, that note there, guy by the name of Geffard, what'd he look like? A regular?"

Cat smiled, pointed teeth showing. "Yeah, he's a regular. Comes in pretty much every night. I'd say he's a bit shorter than you, human. Likes to come here, reel off all his theories about how the noble's have scrying spells set on everyone in Lowtown, paranoid stuff like that."

Cat chuckled a little bit, then went back to cleaning the empty glasses that were piling up.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Cat smiled, pointed teeth showing. "Yeah, he's a regular. Comes in pretty much every night. I'd say he's a bit shorter than you, human. Likes to come here, reel off all his theories about how the noble's have scrying spells set on everyone in Lowtown, paranoid stuff like that."

Cat chuckled a little bit, then went back to cleaning the empty glasses that were piling up.

"Ok, so not all that promising, but I might as well give it a shot. Speaking of shots, I think I'll have one. Surprise me. It's getting late for sewer adventures I'd much rather do that in the day."

[Arcane Copycat]

"Ok, so not all that promising, but I might as well give it a shot. Speaking of shots, I think I'll have one. Surprise me. It's getting late for sewer adventures I'd much rather do that in the day."

Cat turned to look at the bottles on the wall, and picked out one that contained a yellowish liquid. He poured it into a shotglass and handed it over. It smelled of wildflowers

"They call it devils nectar, don't ask me why. It's a tad strong for my liking, but that's just me." He looked up, at someone who had just entered the bar. "Ah, there's Geffard now."

Geffard was human, a mess of scruffy brown hair that went down to his shoulders, wearing a simple cloth shirt and pants. Upon hearing his name, he tensed up. "Wh-why you pointing me out Cat? Is someone looking for me?" Cat chuckled. "The lady here has taken an interest in the note you posted, Geffard. You need to relax some."

[Nefarion Xid]

Sain smiled and noded pocketing the key.
"Fou' thank youh."
However appon hearing primordial spoken to him Sain brightened up immensly. That is to say emotionaly and his energy lines glowed slightly brighter for a moment.
"Hello! You speak the origin tounge? I was begining to think I would not hear it on this plane! Do you speak anything else? I myself speak a little elven. I believe you are the same race as the man who taught it to me. Although in the end he turned out to simply be a 'the-unplesant-sensation-of-discovering-you-had-just-steped-in-a-domesticated-animal's-fecies'* who turned on me and tried to have me killed for samples for his experiments!Luckly for me his partner wasn't compitant enouph to manage the task!"
Despite the actual meaning of his words Sain's tone and expresion seemed quite cheerful throught the whole explosion of chatter.

((*: This was an one word metaphore that did not translate well.

Cyan text is in elven.))

After staring cross eyed down the length of his cigarette Rome shifts uncomfortably on his stool then replies, "No...no, just know how to say 'hello' is all." Having never made a good faith attempt to actually learn the Primordial language he worked out 'you speak?' and then the rest faded into a gibberish of nonnative, indeed non-planar phonemes.

He lets the cigarette fall from his fingers to the boardwalk and he grinds it into dust under his boot. The sudden onset of self awareness was probably brought on by Sain casually mentioning that he spoke elven (Rome hadn't understood when he was accused to being a high elf, but he can make an inference from where Sain was going with that statement). Even in a city like this he felt it was just best to blend into the majority and not draw any attention to himself. The tips of his ears are carefully concealed beneath a black headband and his two day old beard threw most people off; and of course he was by heredity more human than eladrin. But, the fey blood was strong in him and it was his eyes that gave him away. Though glassy from lack of sleep and too much smoking there was an inner brilliance to them as if they were lit from behind with green fire.

Squirm..."No, don't speak much Elven either."

[Nefarion Xid]

Verene nods understandingly. "It's no trouble at all, Captain. Let's see . . . how much can the <i>Suitor</i> hold, on a given voyage?" She looks the ship over appraisingly. "I confess, business here in Bastion has kept me too busy to spend the time I'd like to on the sea."

Rolls:

Nature check, just in case: [roll0]
Insight check on the captain to get a sense for a good avenue for plying information from him: [roll1]


The captain raps the his desk nervously. Verene is dangerously close to biting off more than she can chew. Stuffed to the bulkheads, a ship full of Blackthistle Tea might fetch 2 to 3 million gold pieces...but there's unlikely to be that much demand for it in the city so transporting that much is too much risk for too little reward. Verene probably realizes this in hindsight. Blackthistle is a fibrous bitter weed that grows wild in the Southern Kingdoms like Terath. Southerners simply make tea with the dried leaves for an enjoyable little pep, but elsewhere in the world it's ground into consistency like chewing tobacco or snuff and similarly consumed. In concentrated doses it produces feelings of euphoria and hyper arousal...which soon turns into hyper vigilance and paranoia. Both the tea and the snuff are by all accounts disgusting and bitter enough to induce vomiting in those aren't used to the foul taste. Repeated abuse causes tooth decay and weight loss. But, with the opium trade near dead, some people are willing to try anything.

"Sakes...supposing I could get me hands on that much, do you really have the capital to make it worth my while?"

[Nefarion Xid]

Tavi dramatically looked around, like this was top secret, then continued.I need someone to act as a watch for me, while I make... a business deal..."

[spolier]
Standard Action: Prestidigitation. I make the appearance of a few Platinum Pieces appear as if I pulled them from a pocket, then return the 'coins' to my pocket before the effect disappears.
Here's a Bluff check to make it look genuine if it's required
[roll0]
[/spoiler]

As you can see, I'm willing to pay, big currency, easy to hide so your shipmates don't ask too many questions. You'll have to duck out for a while from here though, but I promise the pay to be worth it. Are we agreed?

Stretch (good a name as any for the lanky blond crewman) looks about nervously then contorts his face in confusion as his tiny greasy brain tries to process the request.

"Sooo.........you just....want me to go away for a bit? That it?"

[Vadin]

After staring cross eyed down the length of his cigarette Rome shifts uncomfortably on his stool then replies, "No...no, just know how to say 'hello' is all." Having never made a good faith attempt to actually learn the Primordial language he worked out 'you speak?' and then the rest faded into a gibberish of nonnative, indeed non-planar phonemes.

He lets the cigarette fall from his fingers to the boardwalk and he grinds it into dust under his boot. The sudden onset of self awareness was probably brought on by Sain casually mentioning that he spoke elven (Rome hadn't understood when he was accused to being a high elf, but he can make an inference from where Sain was going with that statement). Even in a city like this he felt it was just best to blend into the majority and not draw any attention to himself. The tips of his ears are carefully concealed beneath a black headband and his two day old beard threw most people off; and of course he was by heredity more human than eladrin. But, the fey blood was strong in him and it was his eyes that gave him away. Though glassy from lack of sleep and too much smoking there was an inner brilliance to them as if they were lit from behind with green fire.

Squirm..."No, don't speak much Elven either."

William looks up from his map and says boldly to the newcomer in somewhat sub-par Elven, "I know a fair bit o' it, though! My name be William Gunderstank. What might yours be, Stranger? And what brings a man like yerself to a little city like this?"

Yes, Will can put a piratical spin to his words in any language.

[CainSF]

William looks up from his map and says boldly to the newcomer in somewhat sub-par Elven, "I know a fair bit o' it, though! My name be William Gunderstank. What might yours be, Stranger? And what brings a man like yerself to a little city like this?"

Yes, Will can put a piratical spin to his words in any language.

Sain looked disheartened by the lack of comprehension of his native tounge and both the apparent flames on his head and the glowing lines that tranversed him seemed to dim a moment. Atleast until Will spoke up.
"Szain-torozs! That iz whole name. Ovten get azked whut thee rezt iz."
He shruged.
"Az for why Iy'm 'ere... weeeeell, moztly wandering teal I find a way home. Courze must alzo decide where home iz!"
As he was saying this he was also looking Will up and down, trying to think of if he had read anything of this race.

((OOC: Haven't done this in a while lets see if I can remember how to roll
Arcana: [roll0]))

[Arcane Copycat]

Stretch (good a name as any for the lanky blond crewman) looks about nervously then contorts his face in confusion as his tiny greasy brain tries to process the request.

"Sooo.........you just....want me to go away for a bit? That it?"

"Yeah, just for a while. easy money without trying. What's to lose?" Mentally he made a note of the condition of Stretch, and was glad he wore some of his less 'refined' clothes today.

[dr.cello]

The captain raps the his desk nervously. Verene is dangerously close to biting off more than she can chew. Stuffed to the bulkheads, a ship full of Blackthistle Tea might fetch 2 to 3 million gold pieces...but there's unlikely to be that much demand for it in the city so transporting that much is too much risk for too little reward. Verene probably realizes this in hindsight. Blackthistle is a fibrous bitter weed that grows wild in the Southern Kingdoms like Terath. Southerners simply make tea with the dried leaves for an enjoyable little pep, but elsewhere in the world it's ground into consistency like chewing tobacco or snuff and similarly consumed. In concentrated doses it produces feelings of euphoria and hyper arousal...which soon turns into hyper vigilance and paranoia. Both the tea and the snuff are by all accounts disgusting and bitter enough to induce vomiting in those aren't used to the foul taste. Repeated abuse causes tooth decay and weight loss. But, with the opium trade near dead, some people are willing to try anything.

"Sakes...supposing I could get me hands on that much, do you really have the capital to make it worth my while?"

"Oh, no, I couldn't do that to you--you'd have customs all over you with that much." Verene holds up her hands here. "But even, say, one percent of a full load--that'd be a few crates worth, I imagine--could make both your crew and my employer very happy. And you could stock enough other goods that nobody else will need to know you're shipping it--and turn a tidy profit on that, too."

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Cat turned to look at the bottles on the wall, and picked out one that contained a yellowish liquid. He poured it into a shotglass and handed it over. It smelled of wildflowers

"They call it devils nectar, don't ask me why. It's a tad strong for my liking, but that's just me." He looked up, at someone who had just entered the bar. "Ah, there's Geffard now."

Geffard was human, a mess of scruffy brown hair that went down to his shoulders, wearing a simple cloth shirt and pants. Upon hearing his name, he tensed up. "Wh-why you pointing me out Cat? Is someone looking for me?" Cat chuckled. "The lady here has taken an interest in the note you posted, Geffard. You need to relax some."

Naomi raises her shot glass to Geffard, and drains it. (Describe what it tastes like? Probably reaction?)
She beckons him over. Once he's close enough, she begins talking to him. "Hi, my name is Naomi. You must be Geffard. I read your note, and I think there's a chance there might actually be something there." She gives a smallish laugh. "Well, I would like to at least check it out. Could you describe what you saw to me?"

[Nefarion Xid]

July 1st
Verene, Tavi, Crew of the Dejected Suitor in the Harbor


"Yeah, just for a while. easy money without trying. What's to lose?" Mentally he made a note of the condition of Stretch, and was glad he wore some of his less 'refined' clothes today.

Stretch gives an almost-knowing nod and then strolls away as nonchalantly as he's able. The remaining two guards don't notice anything out of the ordinary and presume Stretch has just seen something shiny as always.


"Oh, no, I couldn't do that to you--you'd have customs all over you with that much." Verene holds up her hands here. "But even, say, one percent of a full load--that'd be a few crates worth, I imagine--could make both your crew and my employer very happy. And you could stock enough other goods that nobody else will need to know you're shipping it--and turn a tidy profit on that, too."

The captain scribbles a note in his logbook.

"Grand, grand...so that'll be the two crates then, 'bout a hundred pounds, bit more if I can spare it. And eh, we'll settle on a price upon my return? Risky business that..."

It it sounded like Verene was getting the run-around, she was. Since so few ships actually brought Blackthistle up from the south, the price of the stuff was very subjective; i.e. the captain was free to extort however much gold he wanted out of the local dealers.

[Vadin]

Sain looked disheartened by the lack of comprehension of his native tounge and both the apparent flames on his head and the glowing lines that tranversed him seemed to dim a moment. Atleast until Will spoke up.
"Szain-torozs! That iz whole name. Ovten get azked whut thee rezt iz."
He shruged.
"Az for why Iy'm 'ere... weeeeell, moztly wandering teal I find a way home. Courze must alzo decide where home iz!"
As he was saying this he was also looking Will up and down, trying to think of if he had read anything of this race.

((OOC: Haven't done this in a while lets see if I can remember how to roll
Arcana: [roll0]))

Will stands up and puts his arm around the genasi in an unusually friendly fashion. "Tell ye what, Zane, how about we make a deal, eh? What if I help you find a way back to wherever it is ye be from, and you help me find Sharktooth Black's lost treasure?"

To anyone who wants to run a game sometime soon, there's a dungeon used by Emperor Julius' grandfather for crazy (and potentially magical) criminals, a several thousand year old abandoned fort, and a mysterious smudge that could be anything- Will totally wants to explore any of these to search for the next clue to Sharktooth Black's treasure.

[Arcane Copycat]

Naomi raises her shot glass to Geffard, and drains it. (Describe what it tastes like? Probably reaction?)
She beckons him over. Once he's close enough, she begins talking to him. "Hi, my name is Naomi. You must be Geffard. I read your note, and I think there's a chance there might actually be something there." She gives a smallish laugh. "Well, I would like to at least check it out. Could you describe what you saw to me?"


The flavour instantly gives away the namesake. It's viciously sweet, like honey, but a thousand times more potent. And strong, burning like vodka on the way down. It also has another taste, something that's hard to place a name on, maybe some kind of wildflower.


"Well, I was hiding down in the caverns they got down in the sewers, because I've shielded it from scrying spells. Well, I only saw a brielf glimpse of it, but it was... yellow... and crawling on the floor... I don't know what it was, but it was obviously menacing. It didn't look like it should be able to live..." Geffard ha gone horribly pale at this point, and begins shaking a little.


July 1st
Verene, Tavi, Crew of the Dejected Suitor in the Harbor



Stretch gives an almost-knowing nod and then strolls away as nonchalantly as he's able. The remaining two guards don't notice anything out of the ordinary and presume Stretch has just seen something shiny as always.

Easier than I thought...
Tavi then began setting about duplicating the appearance of Stretch as best he could.


Minor Action, Change Shape. Mimicking the appearance of Stretch.
Standard Action (Up to 3 of these if necessary) Prestidigitation to change as much of my outfit as possible to resemble Stretch's, for up to 1 hour.


Tavi then begins to wander over towards the boat, hoping to make his way to wherever, if any, some unattended cargo was being held.


Well here are some rolls you might like. Feel free to disregard those you don't need, I just figured this will save you time later
Bluff (Pass of my disguise): [roll0]
Stealth (You may want it, I'm not one to judge): [roll1]
Perception (Making my way to unattended loot and all, if of course you want one at all): [roll2]

[CainSF]

Will stands up and puts his arm around the genasi in an unusually friendly fashion. "Tell ye what, Zane, how about we make a deal, eh? What if I help you find a way back to wherever it is ye be from, and you help me find Sharktooth Black's lost treasure?"

To anyone who wants to run a game sometime soon, there's a dungeon used by Emperor Julius' grandfather for crazy (and potentially magical) criminals, a several thousand year old abandoned fort, and a mysterious smudge that could be anything- Will totally wants to explore any of these to search for the next clue to Sharktooth Black's treasure.

"Ehh.. I don't know lazt I made ah deal like that it only found me troubol."
His eyes seemed to glaze over a brief second. Then his skin changed color going from the redish brown hue to a light purple. His eyes and energy lines went from orange to silver and his flameing hair turned stiff apeared to harden until it resembled clear glowing crystals.
"Ah, don't mind old'eh Sain.. 'e's knot a bad guy, just a bit..ah.. untrusting. Probably just a bit mad too, but what yeh goin' teh do. Nice to meet you, I'm Sain-toros. We'll aczept that deal."
He grinned and it could probably be told his entire deminor had changed. His accent seemed to be slightly lessened too.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

The flavour instantly gives away the namesake. It's viciously sweet, like honey, but a thousand times more potent. And strong, burning like vodka on the way down. It also has another taste, something that's hard to place a name on, maybe some kind of wildflower.


"Well, I was hiding down in the caverns they got down in the sewers, because I've shielded it from scrying spells. Well, I only saw a brielf glimpse of it, but it was... yellow... and crawling on the floor... I don't know what it was, but it was obviously menacing. It didn't look like it should be able to live..." Geffard ha gone horribly pale at this point, and begins shaking a little.




Naomi taps her finger against her shot-glass. "Yellow, crawling... You mean like a snake, or like a centipede? Shouldn't be able to live... Is that all you can remember?"

If there's any roles I can do to guess the identity of this monster, don't hesitate to tell me!

[dr.cello]

July 1st
Verene, Tavi, Crew of the Dejected Suitor in the Harbor

The captain scribbles a note in his logbook.

"Grand, grand...so that'll be the two crates then, 'bout a hundred pounds, bit more if I can spare it. And eh, we'll settle on a price upon my return? Risky business that..."

It it sounded like Verene was getting the run-around, she was. Since so few ships actually brought Blackthistle up from the south, the price of the stuff was very subjective; i.e. the captain was free to extort however much gold he wanted out of the local dealers.

"It's been a pleasure, Captain. We'll be looking for your return." Verene turns to depart, then freezes as if just thinking of something. "Oh, I know this is a little unorthodox, but is there a chance you could set me up with a meeting with your current buyer? Purely business, of course. I'm certain we could make it worth your while next time you're in town."

Diplomancy: [roll0]

[Arcane Copycat]

Naomi taps her finger against her shot-glass. "Yellow, crawling... You mean like a snake, or like a centipede? Shouldn't be able to live... Is that all you can remember?"

If there's any roles I can do to guess the identity of this monster, don't hesitate to tell me!

"It's not a creature. At least, nothing natural, like a snake. Although it moved along th ground in a similar way." Geffard was very pale, and downed a large pitched of ale all at once. "Pl-pl-please, I can pay y-y-you." He was trembling a little bit, as if the memory of... whatever it was... was going to crawl out of his head and attack him.


Knowledge checks: Nature or Dungeoneering, your call. One might carry a slight penalty, though

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Dungeoneering might make more sense here, I think. I get the same bonus to either. [roll0]

Naomi puts a hand on Geffards shoulder. "Stop panicking! Whatever it is, I'll take care of it, and then you'll have nothing to worry about."

[Arcane Copycat]

Dungeoneering might make more sense here, I think. I get the same bonus to either. [roll0]

Naomi puts a hand on Geffards shoulder. "Stop panicking! Whatever it is, I'll take care of it, and then you'll have nothing to worry about."

As you go mentally go through what it could possibly be that has Geffard all shaken up, one creature keeps popping up as the most likely suspect: an ooze. Mindless creatures that live only to consume, they're not the most serious threat to public safety. But anyone traveling underground, such as a small child or some other poor unsuspecting fellow, it would most likely kill them.

"Th-thank you. Just bring back a part of it as proof, just to be sure. I'll have something prepared for you." Geffard looks relieved that you seem to be taking him seriously, and stops shaking. I saw it in one of the small tunnels of of the main sewage line. There should be a way down near the exit of Lowtown, s it shouldn't be too hard to find."

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

"It's no problem. I'll have some proof by this time tomorrow." Naomi stands up. "How much for those drinks, Cat?"

[Arcane Copycat]

"It's no problem. I'll have some proof by this time tomorrow." Naomi stands up. "How much for those drinks, Cat?"

Cat loks at you, leans in close and in a quit voice, "Considering you've gorten Geffard to quit down for a while, consider those on the house." He flashed a wide toothy grin. Don't expect it too often though, you here?"