Dain, having also accepted a cup of tea, sets the tea cup down on its platter and nods to the official. "I am Dain of House Kundarak." He says in greeting, getting to his feet and giving a bow of respect. He settles back into his seat again and picks up the plate the tea cup sits on. "House Kundarak is working to improve our relationships here and we feel helping out with jobs around the citadel is a first step in that process."

Tandor blushes, having failed a basic precept of courtesy.  He stands and bows to Song Min Wen.  "I am Tandor the White, priest of Pelor, from the city of San Citlán. My cat is Gilbert." He indicates the creature by the door. Naturally, Gilbert does not deign to acknowledge.

Mialee bows her head politely.

"I'm Mialee Aloro, at your service. I'm not thirsty, but thank you for your offer."

"Ah, yes. I was sorry to hear of the troubles that House Kundarak has been having with the Concord Jewel, but it is good that you are maintaining a presence here in the Citadel.  Hopefully it can be repaired, and your land can become a more consistent partner in trade."

Song Wen Ming greets each of you in turn, and makes polite conversation based on what you share with him.

After a while, there is a knock at the door, and your host bids the knocker to enter.

The door opens, and ---

-- ((It's either the receptionist leading Alston to your meeting, or food arriving, depending on if Mayhem finds a chance to respond before I do. I have an early morning and training tomorrow, but will post early afternoon when I'm free, unless there's a gap sometime in the morning.))

"how do you do, good sir, I am Liber, and if needs be, I can translate texts and conversations, if a job in the future requires it. for now, I am content with helping deliver a package."

Liber bows, then returns to his seat, drinking his tea. his symbol of Azuth is visible on his person.

"Noted, and well met-"

There is a soft rap at the door, that soon opens, and a server pushes a cart stacked with a small tower of circular trays, all nestled within one another. Song Wen Ming stands and lifts the lid off the first one, revealing dough wrapped parcels, and using a pair of slender sticks, places two on a shallow bowl and hands it to you to pass around, before loading the next. 

The bouncy dough contains a savory vegetable filling, quite tasty. As plates are emptied, additional trays are opened, and other small morsels of food distributed. Each item is fairly small by itself, but there are all sorts of dumplings, buns and other tasty items.

Additional tea is provided throughout. If anyone were to claim to be full or not hungry, Song Wen Ming would offer until you refused at least three times.

"As I perhaps said, it is not a complicated task I ask, merely to take a package to the Market, meet up with a contact and exchange the package for what they give you, then return here. Of course, discretion and subtlety is expected, as well as ensuring safe transport to and from, in the event you run into any... obstacles."

Liber politely accepts, and chews on the proffered dumplings, and thinks over the offer. it seems reasonable, and of course, every courier is expected to be discreet. the question was though...

aside from thieves, what manner of obstacle would be important enough to be concerned over?

Dain listens and considers. "Is it expected that someone may wish this package to not get where it is suppose to be going then?" He asks the official with a narrowing of his eyes. "Best to know such things going in, so we can be prepared for them." He explains.

"Indeed, which is why I mentioned it. Less that it's expected, and more that it is a possibility, and I'd be remiss to send you in without being aware that might be the case."

Mialee finishes off her third bun.

”I understand that you may not wish to divulge the contents of the packages, but are either of them expected to be dangerous or volatile? Should we expect to have to transport them with special treatment? These are delicious, by the way.” 
She takes a dumpling and begins to eat it fastidiously, like a raccoon, as she watches Song Wen Ming.

Tandor takes a bun and two dumplings.  As he begins to eat, Gilbert flows towards him in a white silken ripple and curls up in a ball at his side.

Don't worry, Tandor. I can still hear everything outside the door.  Now...

The priest of Pelor bites into a dumpling which he thought contained chicken. Delicately and discretely, he feeds the chicken to his familiar while he eats the rest.  It's quite good but with a touch too much garlic.  A bit more cooking would've been good, too. Overall, though, very good.

He listens to the others question Song Wen Ming, and wonders if there's anything being left out.  "Forgive any impertinence, sir, but who, or what, might be doing this interfering? Also, you mentioned discretion. We can give that, sure, but we may need to place protecting the package ahead of discretion. Knowing what type of interference could be coming could help with the discretion."

Wow, Tandor, I'm impressed. That's good thinking.

"No, nothing volatile or dangerous in the classic sense."

Gilbert sniffs the offering before informing Tandor that it is mushroom, and that he's not interested.

((You'd know that as there is not room at the Citadel for livestock, most of the the food readily available is vegetarian, as import of meat is under high tariff. You'd imagine that Song Wen Ming and his employer can certainly afford meat, if they wish, but wouldn't be surprised that it wasn't offered as refreshments to potential employees during a meeting.))

"It's not impertinent, my good Tandor, and while I have my suspicions, I'd prefer not to say more. If I were to point out potential parties who may wish to interfere, it may bias, even only subconsciously, your attentions, and if I pointed you in the wrong direction, may give an opportunity for others. If that is still acceptable, I can tell you how to be certain you've made contact with the right person."

"please do. we want to make sure that we do not inadvertently give the package to the wrong sort." Liber has heard tales before, of new couriers giving sensitive contents accidentally to thieves, who were clever enough to masquerade as their recipients, down to wearing the right clothing. He'd rather house Kundarak not join this inglorious group.

"Very well. I would ask that you seek out "Potent Potables", a shop in the market. Your contact is not the proprietor, Kexel Bretae, but instead their assistant, Wirell Llerf. Master Bretae is unaware of the arrangement, and I would like to keep it that way. He runs a fine shop, should you wish to purchase anything from him, but when you are ready, ask Master Bretae if he has any Ataguan chocolate brandy, making sure to do so within earshot of his assistant. After that, you should leave, and Wirell will take her break and find you. As long as she greets you with "Chocolate brandy is rare this season", you're good to go ahead with the transaction. You will give her this box," he lifts a well constructed, but plain looking wooden case, maybe a hand by a hand and a half, and only a few inches deep.

"In return, she will hand you a sealed envelope. Keep the envelope safe on your person while you are in the market, and return it to me when you are back at the Citadel. It would be best if Potent Potables is not the first, nor the last shop you visit, in case there are eyes watching your coming and going."

((He will answer other questions  you pose, but once you are satisfied, will hand the box and four Concord Jewel tokens to one of you and wish you well.))

Tandor nods his thanks for the information and stands up as soon as it's clear there are no more question, signalling his readiness to leave.

Liber nods in acknowledgement, bows, and readies himself as well.

Mialee wipes her mouth with something approaching daintiness, and stands to leave as well.

"I'm ready to get to work if you are, then."

You take your leave of Song Wen Ming, and head up to the Passage. Baring any official business of priority, the Jewels are recalled based on how many people are waiting for them, as well as how long various people have been waiting. It's more efficient than first-come-first-served, but does mean a bit of a wait if the Jewels are busy taking larger groups to and from other planes. In your case it's not too much of an issue, as you're still hopefully waiting for Alston, and your patience is rewarded as your gnomish friend clanks up at a run, leaning on a seat as he puffs to catch his breath.

"Concord Jewel to Siabsungkoh, departing next! Line up for boarding!", one of the Clavigers calls out. 

In the distance, drifting through the Ethereal Plane, you see a ruby jewel drifting closer and closer, eventually resolving into the Concord Jewel to Siabsungkoh, a jewel larger than the building your offices are housed in. It docks to a platform on the Passage of Respite, and you and a dozen others heading down cross over the bridge, either handing over tokens or presenting the passes that Milo gave you to secure your passage aboard. As the passengers approach, the lower facets nearest the platform shimmer and become semi-translucent, a central faceted column remaining solid, except on the nearest face. You pass through the side of the Jewel, always an odd experience as you feel a faint pull of resistance at first, that you soon become accustomed to as you move towards the core. Upon entering, you are buoyed up, and are able to gently step off in one of the passenger compartments, with inward facing benches ringing the outer circumference. The walls at this level are opaque by default, but you can see the shadows of others stepping on through the floor below. Above you, in the core, you can see the Clavigers who will pilot the Jewel down to your destination. 

Once everyone is aboard, you feel a slight drifting sensation as the Jewel moves away from the Passage of Respite. This grows only more pronounced as an sense of gravity and a direction you could call down is lost. Fortunately the interior of the Jewel is equipped with anchor points and clips that you can attach to your belt as you sit, and has similar ways of securing cargo. As you moves farther away from the Radiant Citadel, the glow of the massive diamond through the walls of your ruby capsule dimming.

"Stand by for plane shift!"

You ensure you're seated as the Concord Jewel begins to glow, and with a pulse of ruby light, gravity reasserts itself and as its internal light dims, it is lit from the side by the golden glow suffused through ruby crystal. 

"Beginning landing descent, please remain seated with Concord Jewel is in motion."

The jewel slowly begins lowering, the side facets shimmering to semi-translucence to reveal that you are quite high in the air yet, and amid a vivid patchwork of rural farms and dense mountain jungles stands the bustling, Dyn Singh Night Market. Beyond Siabsungkoh’s regional market district, lush jungles are broken by mountains that with the setting sun are beginning to glow in soft, blue-purple light. Well-kept roads crisscross the region, connecting the populous Dyn Singh Night Market with the scattered communities of the Outer Edges, which border the mountains. The markets is the heart of the valley of Siabsungkoh, and attracts visitors from distant lands with delicious foods, rare treasures, and all manner of unpredictable fortunes. 

As it touches down, the all clear is given to disembark, and you move with the others out onto the stone receptacle that the Jewel docked into. A well tended, paved path extends the quarter mile towards the lively Night Market, which is just starting to get underway.

((Which of you is in possession of the box?))

ooc: We have 2 artificers, a rogue, a wizard and a life cleric. Anyone actually know how to fight? LOL

((Everyone has either a +5 or +6 to hit with weapons, so I'm not worried about you!))