"An escort mission you say?  Hmm. "  He nods and thinks a bit, "That might be good.  Do you already know what city the job goes to and how long the job would take?"

Oren takes a bit of a closer look at the woman, she seems shy and not thrilled with looking someone in the eye, but she showed on the ship that she is at least somewhat proficient with her daggers.  

Khond laugh softly at Kit's warning, "Can't say it's uncommon for there to be at least one drinker whose hands get overly friendly, but I never expect it to be towards me.  I'll be on the lookout, thanks." 

The centaur extends a hand toward Kit, "I'm Khond.  It's a pleasure to meet you, and I hope your other business pays well."

Breldo is bending an ear towards Nuria and the fellow chatting about a possible job.

Kit takes the hand with a firm grip as her brow furrows slightly.

"Khond...Khond...Khond Stargazer? You were here a few years back with Astra Lucaris?"

Steps back and reassess the Centaur with new eyes.

"Crap...I'm going to owe Busar an apology."

Khond beams at Kit's recognition, "It's an honour to have my name known.  The troupe is rightfully well known, but to know even my humble name, truly marvelous."

"I was there nearly every day. The works of Astra Lucaris were in demand for some weeks after after you left. I made it a point to learn as many of them as I could."

Gilgamesh nods to Oren again, figuring that a more than fair statement, although it's obvious there is something more to it than he lets on in the moment. If he wanted to divulge, however, it would need to wait, as the boat pulls onto shore. And Nuria really wants to waste no time getting off, although comes to pause once she's back on "dry" land. Gilgamesh already begins barking out orders to get the group of prisoners detained... All whilst another figure is now seen rapidly approaching the boat, eyes fixated mostly on the captain, although he seems to move in a manner to subtly block the group as a whole of simply leaving. Whoever the man is- Tall, kind of lanky, simple yet fine red robes and a friendly round face that seemed to be stuck in a permanent smile- Gilgamesh recognizes him, and moves to give him priority.

"Gil! Glad to see you whole and hale," does the man start, the eternal smile on his lips seeming to widen. "So they were from Zomaru, right? Did you..?"

The captain shakes his head. "Apologies, Maziar. I did not see either a Halfling or a Tiefling. Well, I did see a Tiefling, but not a female one."

"Ah," the man exclaims, and while even in this instance that somewhat lazy smile upon his lips never seems to truly fade, his expression nonetheless manages to show a great amount of grief. Gilgamesh tries to bring some hope, exclaiming that it might not be the right ship and they should check with the rest of the crew, but to this does the advisor shake his head. He's apparently already heard enough from others to know what he needs to know.

"It is a great shame," he continues, then forces himself to perk up a bit more as he begins to address the group proper again. "Ah, but where are my manners. My name is Maziar, and I am advisor to the duke. A month or so ago a good friend noted to me their intention to visit, and the timeframe for their arrival now matched up, so I feared the worst. And if you've seen naught of them, I suppose the worst came true."

"All the more determined I am to solve this mystery then, of course. So. Did you draw any conclusions yourself?"

Gilgamesh seems to give an almost nervous gulp. He was far too busy with saving who they could to even begin thinking about what the actual series of events that happened on the ship was. He offers only a weak "We've got prisoners to interview later," to which... Again, the smile never disappears, but Maziar is clearly disappointed, his gaze moving over the others to see if anyone else would have more insightful comments.

(Not ignoring the chat about a job, nor Oren looking to join the guard, and Gil will likely chip in as well, but it'll probably happen after some other discussion.)

---

Maziar gives a simple, but apparently agreeing nod to Slick's statement that one shouldn't trust enfeebled people with the time, before continuing to answer the question about Ghurna root with questions of his own. If he finds the line of questioning suspicious, he doesn't show it, even if his own answers are somewhat lacking.

"Well, I'm far from an expert, but for an entire ship I'd figure it would need to be a significant amount. To hear it described as root might be a bit deceptive, I believe it's more like a soft blue wood. It's just that the tree it comes from is massive, so that is why it's more like shavings rather than actual roots. And out here I'd guess it's rather expensive... If one can find a buyer," he states, seeming to subtly try and disincline the Tabaxi from trying to buy any merely to try out. To his later comments about it not being magic does he give a faint chuckle, nodding.

"Ah, I'm not sure I agree with that statement, but then again I am a bit of a fool. Perhaps when you come visit we shall discuss that in more depth!" he grinned, seeming absolutely elated with the prospect of it.

(Perception check has not been used yet)

---

Khond and Kit meet in the tavern, not... Quite getting along, at first, as both fight over the right to perform. Busar at least some amicable to Kit, agreeing that she can have a table for a while. Enough to get that night's rent, at least. Besides that, their conversation seems to be going mostly amicable, though the tavern keeper does speak up very briefly.

"...Probably the only centaur you've seen in your entire life and you did not recognize him?"

Rick will go in and give Maziar an oily hug,

"Rick thanks you for the information! Rick and Maziar will solve this."

Sleight of hand: 23 (23)

He steps back and nods,

"Rick will see Maziar again soon, Rick is sure! Rick will get right to our investigation, first Rick needs to yell at a ponyman."

Rick then waves, smiles broadly and turns in the direction Maziar first indicated having seen Khond, eyes peeled for his nemesis.

Scoffs at Busar. "Like you've never mistaken two Dwarves because 'they had the same beard'? Tell me, has Krog Ironfist ever been back? Or what about those Tiefling sisters? What a fine comedy of errors that was! Perhaps we should all assume that every centaur we meet is someone we saw from the cheap seats years ago."

Turning back to Khond, "My apologies for Busar, sometimes he can be very...human."

Khond offers a grin, "Well, if you've only ever seen one centaur then it would be hard to know how to recognise us.  Not that recognising the upper half is any different from humans, but still, wise of you not to make assumptions."

"Thank you, that's helpful advice," Kit responds, speaking as much to Busar as to Khond, "after all, the ears don't make the elf."

Turning directly to Khond, she continues. "Would you be so kind as to give me...a few minutes, less than a quarter hour at best. Once I get my things set up and draw in my first reading I should be fine, but if you start before me I doubt anyone will take interest in lowly seer...even one with the true sight."

"Um. Yes....well.... sort of." Nuria stutters. "I'm supposed to be meeting the client soon, we'll sort out the details then." She looks at the shadows trying to get an idea of what time it is and how long it's been since she talked with the guild master. "Uh...would you happen to have a horse or donkey? It's not required but we'd get payed more if one of us did. The client is suffering from the wasting, so he has a hard time walking."

(Sorry for the late response. I've been swamped with homework this week :'D)

"Nope, I don't have a pack animal.  But maybe we can rent one, if the increase in pay will be worth it."  

After a pause he adds, "Well, without a bit more of detail, i cannot promise I'll be up for the job.  But I am more than willing to talk to this employer and see what he has to offer."

"Certainly, miss.  It's only right to make sure I don't ruin another's work."

Kit heads to her room and opens the trunk with her personal effects. Ink, inkpen, and the scroll case with the paper in it. Sealing wax, the steel mirror, her lamp...a candle would work better...

Kit nods to herself, assured that she has all she needs. She reaches out with the sight, and sighs. There is little indication that she will succeed, and yet none that she will be cast out to the stables. Not the confidence one needs when begining a night of reading for strangers...

Heading down to the tavern, Kit finds the table that Busar has set aside. A corner table, suitably dark and mysterious. He's done well by her. She lights the lamp and placed the mirror underneath to reflect the flame. After spreading out her other paraphernalia, Kit draws out a crudely carved thelarr and starts to play a soft, mournful tune...

[Rolled in campaign because I'm working from mobile. Not sure if Dex or Cha is the appropriate attribute. Roll was 16, bonus is +4 for Dex or +2 for Cha]

Rick slips in a small piece of many wood shavings into a pocket on Maziar's robe. The man seems none the wiser as it drops in together with something else already in there, before victorious exclamations about how, together, they will solve this case.

"If nothing else, I believe it may be very interesting to hold a friendly debate with you. Good luck with finding back this pony man of yours," he states, and with that the Tabaxi is off, intent off heading down main street. He doesn't get too far before noticing someone else nearby, however. Merill, the half-elf, one of Zed's friends. Partially obscured in a nearby alleyway, he is none the less scanning down the docks, but doesn't seem to have actually noticed Slick... Yet.

---

Busar starts stammering over his words, only getting out a "That's not what I meant-" before figuring he's only digging his hole deeper and shuts up. A brief but now pleasant conversation takes place between the two, as Khond agrees to let Kit play for a bit first. Busar takes that moment to apologize by lieu of serving the centaur his ale, with no additional comment, and Kit is soon set out on a nearby, but secluded table. Beginning to play to try and attract customers. 

(It would be a performance roll. I'll take the 16, but can you quickly clarify what kind of fortune telling she is performing?)

---

Maziar looks expectantly upon the trio that had assisted Gilgamesh, and... Just sighs as they talk about their next job instead. Gilgamesh intercedes on their behalf.

"My apologies sir, but all of us have been far too busy dealing with the mess to even begin thinking about the how or why. I was planning to interrogate to find things out myself only back on dry land. So far from what I've caught, my expectations are something along the lines of the storm starting up a mutiny and things escalating from there," he speaks, and gives a half shrug "But maybe these folks that started the mutiny partook in a bit too much Ghurna root. They need to be sobered up before proper interrogation."

"Besides," he continues, "Knowing yourself, you just want confirmation of the own theory you are already forming, do you not?"

"Tsk, tsk," does the advisor note in response, even if he never let's his smile falter. "You know I care about evidence first, Gil! But you're not wrong that I have already formed a theory of what happened. Not nearly as exciting as I hoped, but it would explain everything."

"But, ah, if your accomplices here do not hold more insight, I've no reason to hold them. Thank you for your services to Mezzra, and do enjoy the rest of your day," the man states, his posture shifting ever so subtly to no longer block the three adventurers. His behavior seems almost childish, where he seemed to lose interest in the group the moment they did not immediately provide him what he desired. But before they can actually use that opening to move away, does the Dragonborn intercede on their behalf yet again.

"I should mention they did exemplary service," he starts, his tone seeming to suggest to the group to stick around just a little bit longer "And I'd want to talk to you about Oren here in particular, as he has an interest in joining the guard."

The advisor turns to look at the dwarf, for one moment appearing confused as to why this concerns him, then the instant after seeming to connect the dots.

"Ah, I believe I see the issue. You were one of the dwarves from Gerach's pass, yes? I've heard about the terrible tragedy, though have not met many in person. Mezzra is glad to have your presence, of course, but that means you've only been here for an half a year or so? And we have a law in the books that requires guards to have been inhabitants for at least two years."

"It's an old law, of course, not really as applicable nowadays. And you did say all these good folk proved themselves capable?" the man asks, as much to Gilgamesh as the group as a whole.

Nuria realizes that while their adventure on the ship was shorter than it actually seemed, the boats back and forth took some notable time. It is slowly approaching evening, the sun moving toward the far edge of the horizon.

Rick sees Merrill and considers his options and plans.

Zed owes him money, but he'll probably also want to talk meaning the ponyman would have more time to escape justice.

Although it's a tough decision Rick decides to talk to Merrill. Rick will try to sneak up to him though, since he seems to be hiding from someone.

Sneak: 8

((Presuming that 26 is enough to sneak up and behind Merrill))

Slick leans over Merrill's shoulder and whispers,

"Rick wonders what Merrill is looking for?"

"The affected fellows didn't seem to be in their right mind. It will be interesting to see how they respond once whatever was affecting them has finished running its course. Though it might be kindest if they recall nothing of what transpired.", Breldo contributes.

Oren just listens to the exchange, staying quiet.  Then suddenly when the conversation changes a bit to sounding like those that helped might actually get something out of this, he began to listen and much more attentively.  Maybe they would get some sort of accommodation from the city's leaders.  When the talk switched to him and Gerach's Pass, he blushes a bit, the memory of the  landslides making him emotional, but him not wanting to show it.  "Yes, about six months...in two weeks it will be exactly six months.  Mezzra has been welcoming.  Are you a leader of the city?" he asks looking at the man in front of him.  He puts out his hand, "I am Oren Arrasti, sir."  As he says his name he also nods at the other two who helped on the ship who he hasn't yet introduced himself to.