The man purses his lips, nodding in thought. "He was a stubborn ass," the man says eventually. "I say that affectionately. It's the reason he was so good at what he did. He demanded perfection from himself and his masons."

The man chuckles a bit, then says. "When Lady Blackwright...and this was years and years ago, you understand...well, she came to Durk to commission rebuilding the foyer of the main entrance to the arena. Durk was honored, naturally. But Lady Blackwright is as fickle as they come, as fickle as Durk about some things. She wanted marble. She wanted colonnades. She wanted a cupola. She wanted stained glass inset windows. She wanted it done in a year."

The man's chuckle bubbles into a laugh. "Durk about picked her up by the scruff of her neck...Lady Blackwright herself...and threw her out of his shop. 'Money is no object,' the good Lady was saying as he...ahem...escorted her to the door, perhaps more roughly than she had ever been handled in her life!"

The man is laughing between words as he tries to finish the story. "But she couldn't be offended because Durk was the best mason in the city...in the country! She had to have him and it would be on his terms, not hers. That foyer took five and a half years to finish and Lady Blackwright did not complain once. She hired him three more times after that before he passed."

The man looks wistfully at the statue as he recalls the great mason. "I don't think anyone else in the city could have manhandled Lady Blackwright out the door and certainly none that would have her coming back for more."

The man turns, planting his cane as he takes a few steps towards the waterfront. "Know what you have, son," the man says. "Know your worth and make sure everyone else knows it too. That's how you become the next Durk Longtooth."

Sharvon stood in wrapped attention, unfeigned laughter escaping as he listens to the story. As the story concludes Sharvon looks up his face beaming "thank you sir, I will remember my worth." He heads off at a brisk pace, for a normal person, head held high in determination.

The mustachio'd man leaves with a tip of his hat, walking to the river and following it towards the city center.

Thus far, the group has learned some things about the square, the statue, and how it is fixed to its base. Is there anything else people hope to discover?

Also Tug points out when we get to comparing notes Our potential Sherlock, Rixton, mentioned Lady Blackwright when musing about our who our boss might be. Smart, he said, but no imagination, and now we know a bit more. I bet we could figure out the identity of this mustachio'd mason if we needed dirt on her Ladyship's foyer for something

Savra would be wandering the square, trying to get an idea of how much policing and/or guards there are about the place.

perception: 27

Wilfer would help Savra as best he can, sometimes wearing his own face, others disguised as a beggar, the same one every time, trying to get people used to seeing him there.

As Savra and Wilfer look busy separately for the next hour, they are subject to an unfortunate happenstance. An entire squad of city watch come through the square, clearly off duty. This draws a number of on duty officers to the square as well. Savra and Wilfer depart, separately, with no good info about the watch presence in the square, except that, once in a while, there are a lot of them.

Anything else before we move on?

not from me

Think I'm good.

Ready to go. I think we'll need David to figure out how to undo those pins and anchors. Probably they could be cut or whatever even before the night in question to ease things a bit - not like the sculpture is gonna move if unbolted...

The group reconvenes late in the night at the White Flamingo. This time, Vansic is waiting for them in the VIP lounge. He looks tired, unwinding after a long day. With him is a lanky half-elf, stolidly ignoring the woman bringing him a drink. He appears to be studying Vansic as neither are speaking. When the first of the party enters the lounge, Vansic livens up immediately.

"Ah!" the club owner says. "Welcome back. I hope you found your scouting mission informative. This is Rixton Pendrift."

Garrol gestures to the half-elf, who has turned his studious gaze on the various members of the party. The half-elf nods.

Vansic continues, saying, "If you have the energy to discuss your findings, we can do so now. But I know it is late. Maybe in brief. What did you learn?"

"That a good many guards happen to be in and about that area." Savra says with a sigh as she takes a seat. She nods to the half elf, though with a rather speculative look in her eyes. She turns those eyes on their host after a moment. "Seems like our little band is growing and growing... What happened to keeping this a small group?"

"We learned the statue is.held down by six anchor bolts,  and three steel pins in the center. Also learned Drum Longtooth was a very serious man, but doubt that helps us much." Sharvon looks up to the new guy, and nods.

RIxton, good to see you again Tug says You can see now why we were evasive. You never mentioned our Mr Vansic as a possible patron - would you estimate he's sufficiently unknown that we are that much less exposed? I gotta say though, Lady Forsythe was keeping us in the dark about her identity - and you gave it away, at least I figured it out, and they say I'm not the heaviest toad in the pond. I appreciate knowing, but, discretion you know? From now on?

Tug nods along with Sharv listing the pins At least that is what the guy said - we did not press. He gives Vansic the description and asks Could you find out who the mustache mason former apprentice to Longtooth is? Wondering why he's giving construction details to random goons like us, although my man seemed pretty quick on his feet with the story punching Sharvon lightly (for him) on the shoulder as a congrats

"Why thank you Tug." Sharvon says nodding his head "I think the man was reliving a bit of his past, it's why I asked him about Longtooth. If he hadn't given us a story I would of wondered why a tight liped man would of given us any info at all.  But when he opened up with his long story, and life advise, my gut says he was more lonely or board and wanted to talk, and influence a young apprentice on his road to greatness!"

Rixton nods at Tug. "Correct. I did not foresee Mr. Vansic's involvement. Nor Lady Forsythe's, for that matter. I did not have enough information to divine your plans...until I saw you enter the White Flamingo. That was the piece I needed to put it all together. It sounds to me like you all have a difficult task ahead of you if the Forsythe statue is your target, though."

"And how many others are putting this all together?" Savra asks with a frown around at those assembled. "We have to be much, much, more careful." She nods to the building around them. "I would suggest we only meet here after taking care to mask our identities and make certain we are not followed."

"There are 8 of us in total," Vansic says, "Including me and Mr. Pendrift here, but not including our financier. A careful process for coming and going is probably warranted at this point. I do have a favor I can call in...let me see what I can do. For now, let us reconvene tomorrow. I will present a plan to you on how to attempt our heist..."

RP what your characters will do until the following evening. I will post after I've seen at least three people post.

Savra turns into Vin, the halfling begger/pickpocket, and will hang around the statue park area for some of the night, watching and paying attention to who comes and goes, and anyone that is paying any attention to the statue itself.