Wilfer received more than his share of free drinks. When he accepted them but they never tasted as good as when he bought his own. That was the bitter pill that Curtis Dron had given him.
"That was quite the parade," says the barkeep, a tiefling with kind eyes.
He slides a clear drink across the bar to Wilfer, who takes it with a forced smile of thanks. The barkeep casually cleans some glasses with a clean rag, which is a good sign at the quality of this tavern, the White Flamingo. The sorcerer takes a sip, surprised to find it is only water. "I'd almost think the Foxshadow mayor was running for reelection already," says the barkeep. "But the word is he fights these parades tooth and nail. Still, they come around every couple of months like clockwork."
Wilfer sets down his water, not really interested in the idle chatter of the barkeep. "Only one other person I can think of that would have the clout to puppet you right through town like that," the tiefling says.
There was no meanness in the man's voice, but it struck Wilfer just the same. Before he can comment, the barkeep leans in with a conspiratorial grin, saying, "Unless you've been throwing those parades for yourself, eh?"
The barkeep gives him a wink and then goes to pour a drink for another barfly who has been kind or drunk enough to not recognize Wilfer. The sorcerer is left to some blessed silence for a while, until the barkeep finds a lull again.
"No, I don't have the impression they are your idea," he says, falling back to cleaning his already clean glasses. "The parades, that is. Nobody celebrates something like what you survived."
The barkeep is irritatingly close to the mark with his idle comments. Wilfer looks at the man hard, when one of his waitresses comes up with an empty tray. "Garrol," she says. "We need Manco in the Purple room. Those sailors are getting handsy with me and the girls."
The barkeep turns to the half-orc at the door. "You hear that, Manco?" he says as the half-orc is already standing up. "No need to bloody them, mate. Just send 'em home."
Manco nods as he walks by but Wilfer is not watching. His eyes are fixed on Garrol. The barkeep looks at him and smiles. "Yeah, I get that sometimes too," he says. "Eventually, at least. You'd think the red-skinned guy wouldn't blend into a crowd but..well, I don't have what you have, my friend. So it usually takes people a little while to place me. Another water or would you like something a little more interesting?"
The guards seem disappointed that this feisty woman has the wrong man.
"Are you sure lady? I'm sure he did something to deserve a tongue-lashing," says one of the guards and a few chuckle in response.
They leave her be, though, and she returns to David and the others. Jafar and Phineas are looking impatient. They might not be cut out for what this gig is going to take, but for now they are along for the ride.
"No what?" Jafar says, lifting himself from leaning against the wall.
Sharvon throws the tiefling his best crooked grin, but it doesn't make it to his eyes.
"How can I not be? I got a full belly, a soft...ish bed to sleep on, and a pal like Tug here to watch my back, and I just got feeling." Sharvon stands "names Sharvon, what brings you down to the docks master Vansic? Just taking a walk down optimism row?" Sharvon says with a grin.
"I am suggesting," Vansic says, tucking the book under his arm but not yet turning to leave, "that there are like-minded fellows in the world. A surplus of them, really. Our kind finds it hard to trust each other, especially after we've been...burned, so to speak. But it would be a shame to waste the talents of said fellows when they could be put towards more productive goals."
From his pocket, the tiefling pulls a wooden, lacquered token. "If you want to meet some of those people, come to the White Flamingo in the dock district after you close shop. I have a proposition that I think you will like."
The tiefling turns and leaves the book shop with a tink of the muted bell.
Tug and Sharvon:
"Something like that," he says with his easy smile. "I own the joint just down the way, after all."
Vansic pauses, raising a finger as if to silence everyone. "Wait...Sharvon. I know that name," he says at last.
The finger taps on his lips as he thinks for a moment. Then he nods. "Fabian the Fence," he says. It is a name that Shavron hasn't heard since his early days. "Too chatty for his own good, that one. Before Curtis Dron packed him off, he let slip that you did the Kember manor back in the day. That was a clever job if it's true."
The tiefling sets back on his heels, impressed. "You really as good as that?"
I don't remember being optimistic Tug thinks back on his recent words But they don't pay me to remember things. I was happy to see Sharvon, then...he fades away, guessing his dumb act isn't going to work, nor is it needed. I guess if you want to keep saying it, I'll take it a sign you're about to make it happen. So now I'm feeling hopeful that (1) you're going to give us some information and (b) your double mention of yonder joint implies an invitation. Tug will do, Mr Vansic he says as he extends his hand
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & -Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
Savra smiles to David. "What more would I have planned?" She asks. "The first part of our mission is complete, we know who this person is, now it is up to us to keep an eye on him and see if he fits the bill for what we are looking for." She shrugs. "First step was to figure out who he was, now it is to decide if we think him competent or not. Do you have any suggestions for that?"
"I am" Sharvon says the words more as a matter of fact then a boast, but not completely, Sharvon could never turn down a little ego rub. "There some rich man with something your heart just can't live without?" Hope mingled with the question.
Wait, what I thought Tug starts than realizes where we are and shifts to telepathy I thought Dron was the one who knew all the crimes. Are there more like him? We can talk when we get to your bar maybe, but, like, what stuff is Dron and what stuff is something else?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & -Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
As the day comes to a close, Aravor returns to his house in town, where he has one of his servants prepare him a quick meal and he changes into his glamerweave robes. He quickly eats and heads to The White Flamingo.
(Just to be clear, I shouldn't be reading posts directed at others just yet, right? Until we're brought together?)
Wilfer cocks his head slightly before responding slowly, looking around to ensure no one else is around, "People find different things interesting. But I will take another glass of water, thank you. I've heard a few rumors that you and I might be interested in the same thing, regarding a certain puppeteer?"
"Right, so a test? Hhmm...what do we need to test him for? I'm assuming he's not an artificer, so testing if he knows the five most common sigil patterns for magical energy flow control would be a waste of time."
Davidlooks past Savrain the direction of their quarry, considering.
"We want to test his morels or something, or maybe see how good his weapon arm is? This isn't really my area of expertise. I usually just run any new apprentices through some basic tool use and watch them, see what my gut impression is. Heh, not that that has always done me right, now that I think back."
Davidlooks at Savraand the other two.
"I think maybe you would have a better idea how to assess him for recruitment than me."
"I think we decide if he can be of actual use to us or not." Savra says with a shrug. "As I don't know what we need, I don't think there is a good way to do that, and definitly not after a first meeting." She shrugs. "My suggestion is to keep watch on him, and go from there. I don't even know what skills he might have that would be useful, as most of the work we are doing is magical in nature, finding the items needed to build your device. Having an enforcer could be useful, but only if we are expecting to have to be guarded while we work." She shrugs again. "I've identified him for us, now, if we want to check him out further, then someone is going to have to watch him and see what skills he has. This is not something we can walk up and interview him for after all."
The musscle under Sharvons left eye twitch, as it does every time Tug does his telepathy trick. He agrees let's move this conversation some places service!
"Heh, sure we can! Problem is if we don't like him, cant un-tell him about the job, or, well I cant anyway. I hear some powerful wizards have the means to mess with peoples memories, but I've not looked into the possibility from an artifice point of view."
David's smile fades as he grows more serious again.
"Right so do we want to follow him? Maybe see where he goes, what he does? At the very least we might be able to find where he lays his head for the night. Maybe find any friends or family or whatever, it's a start anyway."
"Couldn't hurt." Savra says with a nod. "What we have to figure out is what makes this man special enough to be one of the ones that we need to decide on." She says, talking to herself more than anything. "I just don't know how we do that without interacting with him more fully, or studying him for an extended time. Both seem counter-productive to our efforts."
"Well I can make myself look like someone else, so I don't need to interact with him as myself, if that helps?"
DragonDenn, I'm not sure how much Gin has revealed to the group about her shape-shifting and didn't want to assume, given that she is still going by Savra at the moment. But if she has shared at least a little, let me know.
Everyone can read these with the expectation these stories are shared later.
Tug and Sharvon:
The tiefling chuckles. "Now that you mention it, my heart would be greatly filled by seeing Curtis Dron knocked down a peg or three. If you have a similar inclination, come by the White Flamingo after sundown. These will get you into the VIP room."
He tosses a pair of lacquered wooden tokens to the two men. With a curt nod, he shoves his hands back in his pocket and saunters away in the direction of his riverside club.
Wilfer:
The tiefling purses his lips. "I try to keep that little tidbit to myself and a few close...friends. I wonder who has been talking.
He eyes Wilfer up and down a bit as he places a water in front of the man. Eventually he nods, satisfied by something. "Yes, Dron and I are not...on speaking terms. Frankly, the town could do with a little less of the blowhard."
Vansic does not seem concerned to be bad-mouthing Curtis Dron here. As Wilfer looks around, nobody seems to have flinched at the otherwise inflammatory words. "Don;'t worry," says the tiefling. "This place is safe from the likes of Curtis Dron. It might be the only place in Foxshadow that is."
Garrol Vansic pauses as he rapidly calculates the best way to proceed. "Curtis Dron does not tolerate betrayal. He no doubt sees that he has done you great favors by elevating your status in Foxshadow. You can leave here tonight in his good graces. Life will go on. Or," the tiefling says, hesitating. "Or you can burn that bridge to the ground."
Vansic places a lacquered wooden token on the bar and slides it halfway between them. "If you have an itch to light up a bridge or two, this will take you back to the VIP lounge. Have a drink, have a meal...have a conversation..."
Vansic nods to another customer, tosses the dishtowel over his shoulder and knocks on the bar with his knuckles. He grabs a class and walks away to serve another patron.
Everyone as they arrive at the VIP lounge:
The lounge is lush, decorated in reds and blacks with silver trim. A half-elven serving girl comes in and takes your order. The lounge has several booths, all spaced apart from each other, as well as plush chairs and sofas. Small side tables dot the room for easy placement of drinks and food. The corner is reserved for a bard but is presently empty of any performer or equipment.
A large spread has been laid out with enough food for a dozen people. It is during this meal that the four compare notes on how they came to be here, although they are a long way from trusting each other. Still, there is something uniting about the commonalities of their stories and the atmosphere during the second half of the meal becomes fractionally more relaxed.
"Well I can make myself look like someone else, so I don't need to interact with him as myself, if that helps?"
DragonDenn, I'm not sure how much Gin has revealed to the group about her shape-shifting and didn't want to assume, given that she is still going by Savra at the moment. But if she has shared at least a little, let me know.
(As far as the group knows Savra is a bard half-elf, nothing else.)
"Seems like that might be our best option." Savra agrees. "And, if he sees through your disguise, then maybe that is actually a point in his favor." She nods. "So you will approach him and see what you can learn, using a disguise. I will be close by, to help you if you need it."
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Wilfer received more than his share of free drinks. When he accepted them but they never tasted as good as when he bought his own. That was the bitter pill that Curtis Dron had given him.
"That was quite the parade," says the barkeep, a tiefling with kind eyes.
He slides a clear drink across the bar to Wilfer, who takes it with a forced smile of thanks. The barkeep casually cleans some glasses with a clean rag, which is a good sign at the quality of this tavern, the White Flamingo. The sorcerer takes a sip, surprised to find it is only water. "I'd almost think the Foxshadow mayor was running for reelection already," says the barkeep. "But the word is he fights these parades tooth and nail. Still, they come around every couple of months like clockwork."
Wilfer sets down his water, not really interested in the idle chatter of the barkeep. "Only one other person I can think of that would have the clout to puppet you right through town like that," the tiefling says.
There was no meanness in the man's voice, but it struck Wilfer just the same. Before he can comment, the barkeep leans in with a conspiratorial grin, saying, "Unless you've been throwing those parades for yourself, eh?"
The barkeep gives him a wink and then goes to pour a drink for another barfly who has been kind or drunk enough to not recognize Wilfer. The sorcerer is left to some blessed silence for a while, until the barkeep finds a lull again.
"No, I don't have the impression they are your idea," he says, falling back to cleaning his already clean glasses. "The parades, that is. Nobody celebrates something like what you survived."
The barkeep is irritatingly close to the mark with his idle comments. Wilfer looks at the man hard, when one of his waitresses comes up with an empty tray. "Garrol," she says. "We need Manco in the Purple room. Those sailors are getting handsy with me and the girls."
The barkeep turns to the half-orc at the door. "You hear that, Manco?" he says as the half-orc is already standing up. "No need to bloody them, mate. Just send 'em home."
Manco nods as he walks by but Wilfer is not watching. His eyes are fixed on Garrol. The barkeep looks at him and smiles. "Yeah, I get that sometimes too," he says. "Eventually, at least. You'd think the red-skinned guy wouldn't blend into a crowd but..well, I don't have what you have, my friend. So it usually takes people a little while to place me. Another water or would you like something a little more interesting?"
Gin and David:
The guards seem disappointed that this feisty woman has the wrong man.
"Are you sure lady? I'm sure he did something to deserve a tongue-lashing," says one of the guards and a few chuckle in response.
They leave her be, though, and she returns to David and the others. Jafar and Phineas are looking impatient. They might not be cut out for what this gig is going to take, but for now they are along for the ride.
"No what?" Jafar says, lifting himself from leaning against the wall.
"Are you suggesting...?"
Sharvon throws the tiefling his best crooked grin, but it doesn't make it to his eyes.
"How can I not be? I got a full belly, a soft...ish bed to sleep on, and a pal like Tug here to watch my back, and I just got feeling." Sharvon stands "names Sharvon, what brings you down to the docks master Vansic? Just taking a walk down optimism row?" Sharvon says with a grin.
David nods at Jafar's question, his eyes on Savra.
"So you know something I don't or you got more shenanigans planned?"
A half smile creeps around the corners of David's mouth, his assumption is more shenanigans.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Aravor:
"I am suggesting," Vansic says, tucking the book under his arm but not yet turning to leave, "that there are like-minded fellows in the world. A surplus of them, really. Our kind finds it hard to trust each other, especially after we've been...burned, so to speak. But it would be a shame to waste the talents of said fellows when they could be put towards more productive goals."
From his pocket, the tiefling pulls a wooden, lacquered token. "If you want to meet some of those people, come to the White Flamingo in the dock district after you close shop. I have a proposition that I think you will like."
The tiefling turns and leaves the book shop with a tink of the muted bell.
Tug and Sharvon:
"Something like that," he says with his easy smile. "I own the joint just down the way, after all."
Vansic pauses, raising a finger as if to silence everyone. "Wait...Sharvon. I know that name," he says at last.
The finger taps on his lips as he thinks for a moment. Then he nods. "Fabian the Fence," he says. It is a name that Shavron hasn't heard since his early days. "Too chatty for his own good, that one. Before Curtis Dron packed him off, he let slip that you did the Kember manor back in the day. That was a clever job if it's true."
The tiefling sets back on his heels, impressed. "You really as good as that?"
I don't remember being optimistic Tug thinks back on his recent words But they don't pay me to remember things. I was happy to see Sharvon, then...he fades away, guessing his dumb act isn't going to work, nor is it needed. I guess if you want to keep saying it, I'll take it a sign you're about to make it happen. So now I'm feeling hopeful that (1) you're going to give us some information and (b) your double mention of yonder joint implies an invitation. Tug will do, Mr Vansic he says as he extends his hand
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
Savra smiles to David. "What more would I have planned?" She asks. "The first part of our mission is complete, we know who this person is, now it is up to us to keep an eye on him and see if he fits the bill for what we are looking for." She shrugs. "First step was to figure out who he was, now it is to decide if we think him competent or not. Do you have any suggestions for that?"
"I am" Sharvon says the words more as a matter of fact then a boast, but not completely, Sharvon could never turn down a little ego rub. "There some rich man with something your heart just can't live without?" Hope mingled with the question.
Wait, what I thought Tug starts than realizes where we are and shifts to telepathy I thought Dron was the one who knew all the crimes. Are there more like him? We can talk when we get to your bar maybe, but, like, what stuff is Dron and what stuff is something else?
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
As the day comes to a close, Aravor returns to his house in town, where he has one of his servants prepare him a quick meal and he changes into his glamerweave robes. He quickly eats and heads to The White Flamingo.
(Just to be clear, I shouldn't be reading posts directed at others just yet, right? Until we're brought together?)
Wilfer cocks his head slightly before responding slowly, looking around to ensure no one else is around, "People find different things interesting. But I will take another glass of water, thank you. I've heard a few rumors that you and I might be interested in the same thing, regarding a certain puppeteer?"
"Right, so a test? Hhmm...what do we need to test him for? I'm assuming he's not an artificer, so testing if he knows the five most common sigil patterns for magical energy flow control would be a waste of time."
David looks past Savra in the direction of their quarry, considering.
"We want to test his morels or something, or maybe see how good his weapon arm is? This isn't really my area of expertise. I usually just run any new apprentices through some basic tool use and watch them, see what my gut impression is. Heh, not that that has always done me right, now that I think back."
David looks at Savra and the other two.
"I think maybe you would have a better idea how to assess him for recruitment than me."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
"I think we decide if he can be of actual use to us or not." Savra says with a shrug. "As I don't know what we need, I don't think there is a good way to do that, and definitly not after a first meeting." She shrugs. "My suggestion is to keep watch on him, and go from there. I don't even know what skills he might have that would be useful, as most of the work we are doing is magical in nature, finding the items needed to build your device. Having an enforcer could be useful, but only if we are expecting to have to be guarded while we work." She shrugs again. "I've identified him for us, now, if we want to check him out further, then someone is going to have to watch him and see what skills he has. This is not something we can walk up and interview him for after all."
The musscle under Sharvons left eye twitch, as it does every time Tug does his telepathy trick. He agrees let's move this conversation some places service!
"Heh, sure we can! Problem is if we don't like him, cant un-tell him about the job, or, well I cant anyway. I hear some powerful wizards have the means to mess with peoples memories, but I've not looked into the possibility from an artifice point of view."
David's smile fades as he grows more serious again.
"Right so do we want to follow him? Maybe see where he goes, what he does? At the very least we might be able to find where he lays his head for the night. Maybe find any friends or family or whatever, it's a start anyway."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
"Couldn't hurt." Savra says with a nod. "What we have to figure out is what makes this man special enough to be one of the ones that we need to decide on." She says, talking to herself more than anything. "I just don't know how we do that without interacting with him more fully, or studying him for an extended time. Both seem counter-productive to our efforts."
"Well I can make myself look like someone else, so I don't need to interact with him as myself, if that helps?"
DragonDenn, I'm not sure how much Gin has revealed to the group about her shape-shifting and didn't want to assume, given that she is still going by Savra at the moment. But if she has shared at least a little, let me know.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Everyone can read these with the expectation these stories are shared later.
Tug and Sharvon:
The tiefling chuckles. "Now that you mention it, my heart would be greatly filled by seeing Curtis Dron knocked down a peg or three. If you have a similar inclination, come by the White Flamingo after sundown. These will get you into the VIP room."
He tosses a pair of lacquered wooden tokens to the two men. With a curt nod, he shoves his hands back in his pocket and saunters away in the direction of his riverside club.
Wilfer:
The tiefling purses his lips. "I try to keep that little tidbit to myself and a few close...friends. I wonder who has been talking.
He eyes Wilfer up and down a bit as he places a water in front of the man. Eventually he nods, satisfied by something. "Yes, Dron and I are not...on speaking terms. Frankly, the town could do with a little less of the blowhard."
Vansic does not seem concerned to be bad-mouthing Curtis Dron here. As Wilfer looks around, nobody seems to have flinched at the otherwise inflammatory words. "Don;'t worry," says the tiefling. "This place is safe from the likes of Curtis Dron. It might be the only place in Foxshadow that is."
Garrol Vansic pauses as he rapidly calculates the best way to proceed. "Curtis Dron does not tolerate betrayal. He no doubt sees that he has done you great favors by elevating your status in Foxshadow. You can leave here tonight in his good graces. Life will go on. Or," the tiefling says, hesitating. "Or you can burn that bridge to the ground."
Vansic places a lacquered wooden token on the bar and slides it halfway between them. "If you have an itch to light up a bridge or two, this will take you back to the VIP lounge. Have a drink, have a meal...have a conversation..."
Vansic nods to another customer, tosses the dishtowel over his shoulder and knocks on the bar with his knuckles. He grabs a class and walks away to serve another patron.
Everyone as they arrive at the VIP lounge:
The lounge is lush, decorated in reds and blacks with silver trim. A half-elven serving girl comes in and takes your order. The lounge has several booths, all spaced apart from each other, as well as plush chairs and sofas. Small side tables dot the room for easy placement of drinks and food. The corner is reserved for a bard but is presently empty of any performer or equipment.
A large spread has been laid out with enough food for a dozen people. It is during this meal that the four compare notes on how they came to be here, although they are a long way from trusting each other. Still, there is something uniting about the commonalities of their stories and the atmosphere during the second half of the meal becomes fractionally more relaxed.
(As far as the group knows Savra is a bard half-elf, nothing else.)
"Seems like that might be our best option." Savra agrees. "And, if he sees through your disguise, then maybe that is actually a point in his favor." She nods. "So you will approach him and see what you can learn, using a disguise. I will be close by, to help you if you need it."