(Previously...)

(Natasha takes the cloak and swirls it around herself, playfully yet elegantly. She smiles as she puts it on.)

"Thank you, Jacob. I have been told I look good in Green... then again, I've been told I look good in EVERY color."

(She leaves it on.)

(In present time, she begins to follow the Elf in the Dark Blue Tunic.)

"Yes, let's go see your master. Tell me: Is he single? Just how fabulously wealthy would you say he is? Would you say his place is more of a Mansion or a Palace? A girl has to know these kinds of things, you know..."

(She follows him down the spiral staircase.)

Tial speaks to Natasha but continues to look straight ahead. “I am unaware of where the master lives but he is currently in a suite at the Baernal Arms in the center of the city. He has also arranged lodging for you all at this establishment. We must hurry, the master does not like to be kept waiting.”

The party exits the tower and enters the city proper. You are all instantly bombarded with the strange sights, sounds and smells of a foreign city. The streets are filled with exotically dressed people of all races, most you’ve seen before, but a few you don’t recognize. A beggar approaches the party, but he is shooed away by Tial before he can start his rehearsed plea. Tial tells the party with distain, “Do not give to the pan handlers, they can sense naive newcomers and will rob you blind.” 

As you walk through the city you see different sections like the Temple Square, the Guild Halls, and the Marketplace. Tial doesn’t break his stride, “You will be able to sightsee and shop after your meeting.”

The sun has fully set by the time you finally come upon the Baernal Arms. It is large, high class four story inn. Tial takes you all inside and directly up to the fourth floor. He stops and turns towards the party. “We are here, please go right in, the master is waiting.” He opens the door and steps aside, it is clear he will not be following you in. 

The party steps inside and notice that this suite takes up the entire fourth floor. The room is opulent and obviously designed to impress anyone entering. At the far end of the suite is a roaring fireplace and sitting next to it in an expensive padded chair sits a large and muscular man with long curly blonde hair. He wears a black mask that completely covers his face. He is flanked by a thinner man, that you all recognize as the messenger that first invited you to Lon-Dia. The seated man raises a glass of wine to the party.

“Greetings,” he says, “Please come in.”

What do you want to do?

Jacob scans the room, latent ex-military reflex to case the place for any hiding figures, egress points, and maybe potential improvised weapons - but otherwise enters in stride, nodding to the seated figure but remaining silent.

Perception: 21

You see nothing out of the ordinary. The seated masked man smiles at you. “Once a soldier, always a soldier, hmm Jacob? That’s why I brought you here, because you and your compatriots are professionals. Please have a seat.” He motions to the man standing next to him, and the man brings four chairs from another room and places them in a semicircle around the seated man and the fireplace. “Thank you, Javet.” Says the masked man.

The standing man simply nods and says, “It’s my job.”

Penelope walks in behind Jacob, she peers curiously at the masked man.

Perception check to see if she can make out any details about the man or if his clothes have any symbols that may give away anything about who he may be.

Perception:2

Stone walks in and takes one of the seats that the masked man indicates, arranging himself so that his armor and shield are not uncomfortable. Once comfortably seated he asks the masked man,

"So, what is this all about?"

Penelope scans the mysterious man’s clothes, looking for anything identifiable, but it besides the extreme high quality of the outfit, it seems whoever made these clothes purposely went out of their way to avoid anything that might give away the identity of the wearer.

The masked man turns to Stone. “Ah yes, Mr. Nads, right to the point as always.” The tone of his voice makes the party assume he is smiling beneath his mask. “I asked you all to come here so you could retrieve an artifact for me.”

”I would have asked local talent to complete this task, but this is something I want done discreetly. On an island like this however, everyone knows everyone and everyone talks to everyone.”

“Now, I expected you all to arrive here earlier, but I heard about your airship mishap.  Captain Scarfang informs my people that you were most helpful in getting back on track, I’m impressed. Unfortunately, while we were waiting for your arrival, we had a mishap of our own.” He motions to the messenger, “Javet, if you please.”

Javet reaches into his jacket pocket and removes a scroll. He unrolls it and shows it to the party, it is a drawing of an ancient looking key. “This is the Key of Zahnaria”, the masked man says. “I was planning to give it to you to unlock the Chamber of the Everforge and retrieve my artifact, but while you were delayed, it was stolen.”

“A grubby little ratfolk named Matimer Creel has taken the key and is holed up in the old riverfront docks at the north of the city. Your first task will be to retrieve the key from this filthy creature. Do you have any questions?”

"Actually, yes..."

(Natasha speaks up, her hand on her hip.)

"What kind of resistance are we likely to run into from this Ratfolk? I'd also like to make sure, if at all possible, that we don't get hassled by the local guards for doing what we set out to do. I assume they're under your, shall we say, influence?"

OOC: apologies for any delays through the 4th - will be under some heavy deadlines.

“Good questions, Natasha. Matimer Creel for all his faults is canny rogue and I have used him on multiple occasions. While he does love gold and other shiny things, he will not risk his life for them if he does not have to. He should be all alone on the old docks, although there have been tales lately of an abnormally large population of rats infesting that crumbling place.”

“As for guards, I haven’t paid off all of them, but I have paid the right ones. If you get into a bind, mention me, The Benefactor. That name carries enough weight in this city to help you out.” 

He looks at the rest of the party, awaiting any other questions.

"While this sounds like it should be straight forward, it is always best to prepare for contingencies. Do you have any health potions you could give us. Also, I hear that there is a special shield on Lon-Dia that makes its bearer impervious. Have you heard of it? Do you have it?

"Do you know anything else about the Old Docks? Any buildings or other areas to make note of, any place he could be hiding? Perhaps a secret route he might take should he sense us coming?"

"Perhaps some alchemists fire, extra oil, things of that nature? Fire was the best defense against swarming rats in my days roughing it out in the trenches. The little shits can get extremely frustrating."

“While I do not have any supplies for you, I do have the gold I promised you for coming all this way. You can purchase everything you need in our marketplace.” The Benefactor waves to Javet and Javet dispenses 50 gp each. “As for this shield you mentioned, I have heard many rumors about magic weapons and armor over the years, but I have never seen a shield like the one you describe.”

He turns towards Penelope, “There is no secret route I know of, but I can give you a little history. The old dockyards once served as the primary center of commerce in Sala. Years ago, political pressure from an influential merchant who wanted the docks to be closer to her business forced shipping concerns to move their docks upriver. The new facility accommodates larger ships, and the old docks fell into disuse. Talk of converting the property into a set of riverside shops died when a rat infestation proved to be an unsolvable problem. Thus, the old dockyards have been decaying for years. Any maps of the layout that might exist and almost definitely out of date due to partial collapse of the docks. I wish I had more information for you, but that is all I possess.”

“Is there anything else?”

Stone stares intently at the masked man.

"Assuming we get this Key of Zahnaria to open your Chamber of the Everforge, what artifact will we be retrieving? Is there anybody else who may be trying to retrieve this artifact or get to the Chamber of the Everforge? Why the mystery? What will you give us if we succeed in this mission"

“The artifact will be in a small magically sealed treasure chest. You’re job will be to retrieve the box for me. As of now, no one knows this chest is in the Everforge besides the people in this room, and I would like to keep it that way.”

“Why the mystery? Because the artifact you are retrieving is very powerful and if used properly could tip the balance of power on this continent. That’s not exactly information you want just floating around.”

“As for rewards, besides being able to keep any other treasure you find beside the key and the box, I will have special magic items for each of you. Unfortunately, none of them are the shield you speak of, Stone.”

He looks out the window at the now darkened sky. “It looks like it’s getting late, you should head out soon if you want to hit the marketplace for gear before you go to the docks. Do you have any more questions or concerns?”

(OOC: I might be a little slow to respond for a few days, I started a new job yesterday and after training, my hours are going to be 4am-1pm. So bear with my while I adjust to my new schedule.)

Stone looks to his companions,

"You guys want to go to the market and get some supplies? I know I would feel better with a few health potions in my pouch."

OOC: Congrats on the new job, Neumie!

(Natasha plays with the pouch that has the 50 gp she has just received, tossing it in the air playfully.)

"Yes, let's get to shopping. A big city like this is sure to have the kind of things I'm looking for. Handling all those tranquilizers reminded me how fun they are."

(She turns to Javet.)

"Would you be a dear and draw us up a quick map of the city if you don't have it already? Thank you, darling..."

"I would enjoy some shopping as well, a check around for any spell components that I may need is in order."

Jacob creaks a bit as he stands again, a few pops and cracks ringing out as he seems to be thinking to himself, making a list in his head. He slowly walks toward the door, making time for Javet to respond about or with a map but making it obvious he's ready to go too.