Trencher nods when Mixtli speaks up, and he continues following the others as they walk.  

"How far away is this delivery we are making?   Nearby or is this a longer trek?"

ooc: Hi y'all! Yeah, sorry I hadn't responded lately- work got busy but ill be checking regularly again now.

Mialee would of course see to it that the gold is evenly distributed; as there are five of us, that seems to be 30 gp each.

"The delivery shouldn't be too far- I'm more intrigued at what might be in it, it's all been secretive so far. But Tandor nixed snooping, so we'll just have to keep an open eye when we drop off the letter."

Liber follows along.

(i forget, do i keep 30gp or did i not pay the fine and have 45 gp total?)

((Kusa and Lamai covered your fine, see top? post of previous page))

((If Mialee is handing out 30 to each, it would seem she views Liber's fine was just 'cost of doing business' and that he's entitled to a cut of the eventual profits, rather than dividing the pay among 4. You had only negotiated the 100 gp and free meals from Kusa, but since the party managed to repair their budding friendship that Kasem had set awry, Lamai matched Kusa's offer.))

"If no one else minds, I think we should make it a rule that everyone gets a fair cut regardless of costs incurred during jobs; seems unfair for one of us to lose out on some gold just because the local constabulary took a harsh look at our actions. Could happen to anyone, I'm sure; and perhaps we ought to start a common fund to pay for any such future fines?"

Mialee, ever innocent and above board, would very much like this to be a future practice. :D

"Also, Tandor, you've not lost the package, have you? We ought to drop it off as soon as possible; we're meant to give it to Song Wen Ming, I believe. Back where they gave us the box."

Tandor shakes his head, "No, I've still got it." He pats his pouch.  "Yes, that's what we need to do.  Let's be about it."

"All good to me, although Liber, maybe keep the lightning breath inside when in public and busy places?"

"yes, well, i do need to work on my temper, i admit that." Liber makes sure tha all his things are sussed and sorted, then goes "on with the job then, nothing to do for what was, but to focus on what could be."

The party in agreement, you traverse the bustle around the Passage of Respite where the Concord Jewel docked, and progress into the Citadel, heading for the Speakers' offices. Entering in, you are greeted by a different receptionist than when  you initially took the job, and upon hearing that Song Wen Ming is expecting you, has you wait until they are available after their current meeting. There are various couriers, functionaries and visitors moving about from where you sit in the waiting area, but it is not too long before the receptionist summons a page to lead you down to Song Wen Ming's offices, where you are admitted after a knock and announcement.

"Welcome!", he says, his warm eyes scanning the group and lingering a half a beat on Mixtli and Trencher, as well as glancing past you as if looking for someone expected but not present. He gestures to the available seating in his office, before having a seat behind his desk an shuffling a few papers and a writing brush to the side.

"I'm sure that the Market had more delights available than my humble offerings, but if any of you are hungry, I can send for some dishes, and make a fresh pot of tea?"

Noticing that the man knows that he and Mixtli weren't originally in the meeting for this job, he will sit quietly and try to not cause any attention towards himself.

Tandor nods.  "Tea would be welcome, and thank you."  Noticing Song Wen Ming's glances, Tandor fills him in. "Dain found something else to occupy his attention but we ran into Mixtli and Trencher who agreed to help escort the package back."

He gives a nod of understanding, before standing and setting a pot to heat and getting a few small cups around while the tea steeps. He pours for Tandor and anyone else who would care for tea before pouring for himself and sitting down again, seemingly in no hurry to push you on the outcome of the job. With tea poured, he blows on his cup before taking a sip and looking at the cleric expectantly.

Liber just meditates in his seat.

Tandor thanks Song Wen Ming again, then sips his tea for a few moments, complimenting it.  Then he sketches in the details of the meeting and exchange, mentions briefly the contacts they made in the market without providing details of their escapades.  Then reaches under his armor, pulls out the package, and hands it over.

"Ah, excellent! Did you run into any difficulties in making the exchange?"

{I'm realizing I don't think I ever inserted an intended encounter, so going to insert that as flashback here!}

Cue time reversal music...

As you leave the market under loose escort by Sid Squid, you end up waiting with some others looking to return to the Citadel. After Sid leaves, and only a pair of his assistants remain, an tall, spectacled figure sidles up near Tandor, but doesn't look in his direction.

"If a priest were to have picked something up at Potent Potables, it would save me a great deal of effort to be able to purchase it from him instead of returning to the market. Say... 500 gold for the envelope you carry? That number IS negotiable, if you feel your efforts thus far warrant more.", he says, loud enough that Tandor and the rest of the party can hear, but not in a voice intended to carry beyond the close vicinity.

((How did you respond in the recent past to the offer?))

Mialee scans him- does he look Yongjing, or clearly of another group from the Citadel?

Perception/investigation: 23

She also questions his motives and truthfulness; 500 gold is too high to trust for such a seemingly cheap job. She's suspecting a plant, maybe placed by the speaker to test them and their truthfulness; or if not, fears an ambush.

Insight: 9

Tandor glances at the man.  "As you can see, I am a priest of Pelor so my promises have a certain value to me. That's even assuming I have this thing you're asking about." He turns away, "You have a good night, now."

He glances around, scanning for danger, having Gilbert do the same.

Perception 19 ooc: Getting Help action from Gilbert

Only recently joining the mission, Mixtli follows the lead of the others.