Once her music has drawn in enough attention Kit sets her thelarr on the table and speaks in a practiced voice, not too quiet to be lost in the ambient noise but quiet enough to require the listeners' focused attention.

"Greetings one and all. Tonight you sit in the presence of the last true seer of Mezzra. The stars have aligned, the veil is thin, and for but a few copper I can offer you a glimpse of what is, what has been, and things which may yet be."

Nuria looks a bit oblivious to the fact that she too may be able to get something out of this. She had only been there to help, and she was not expecting any sort of reward so she is not actively looking for one. She barely listens to the conversation, all she really hears is that Oren may be joining the guard rather than helping her with her mission. She fidgets as the others talk. She really needs to get to her meeting. She's never had a real job before, but she knows that being late would be a terrible first impression. However, if Oren doesn't help her, then she's in a major bind. She needs a partner. The halfling maybe? Maybe, but he makes her a bit uncomfortable. Plus she's embarrassed about the music box under the ship thing and Oren was the only one that didn't look at her like she was crazy. He'd been the only one not to give much of a reaction to it. Squeezing her cloak, she glances from the dwarf to the halfling. From her experience with them, both of them seem like good people, and thought Breldo made her uncomfortable she doesn't think he was doing it on purpose. Right now, she just needs one of them to help. So if Oren can't help her, then she will have to ask Breldo. Asking him was better than asking a total stranger anyways. She glances towards wherever she was supposed to meet the elven man, then back to the group. Hopefully this conversation doesn't last much longer.

Merill is left cursing as, somehow, Slick manages to sneak in from behind him. In his narrow alleyway. The Tabaxi had not bothered to go around to pull this stunt, casually asking Merill what he's looking for.

Merill of course responds with a string of expletives and can be seen reaching for his belt as well. Luckily, while his hand grips a dagger for a moment, it loosens significantly once he realizes who it is.

"Why in the gods name would you- You, obviously! What happened? Come on- Let's get back to the boss, right?"

---

Gilgamesh nods in agreement to Breldo, although he adds. "It'd be almost too easy. Amnesia will not be a valid defense against jail time, or worse." before attention turns back to Oren as he answers Maziar's question. The kindly man in turn gives a slight bow, reaching down with a hand for a proper handshake.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Oren Arrasti. And again my condolences for any losses you may have occurred in the tragedy. As to the matter at hand, I would hardly dare call myself a leader of Mezzra! I am but a humble advisor," he starts, for a moment his smile seems to droop ever so slightly even if it, again, never completely fades... Then perks up again.

"But I do have connections of course. With my approval I'd dare say you're already halfway there! The law is over a century old, back from a time we were worried about potential spies and all that. I'm sure we can make an exception. Just not from today to tomorrow. But you said that you all had a potential job lined up already?" he spoke, offering another sympathetic smile. 

"You should take it! It'll be another good point to bring up how you can take some proper work in the name of Mezzra, and maybe we'll have things arranged by the time you're back."

"Indeed," Gilgamesh agrees, then after just a sliver of hesitation continues. "I was hoping to give them something more immediate as well."

"I see where this is going already. I'm playing the act of royal coffers again am I not? Is that all I am to you my dear Gil?"

Despite the tone of his voice appearing almost hurt, he had already pulled out a satchel of his own volition. Fishing out two gold coins for each of the adventurers and offering it in their palms.

"A small boon for your services to Mezzra."

"Regardless... Is that all, then?"

---

Kit starts up her little play, and while the tavern is still only in the progress of filling, it seems that at least a few people are attracted to the act she is putting up. The common rabble, mostly. Those who want to see if for just a few copper coins if they are going to find love, if the wind will be good for fishing tomorrow, what the crop harvest will like, and strangely, several of them asking whether or not the coffee prices are going to go up. But for the most part, nothing exciting, at first.

The only real notable thing that turns a few heads, even though it seems like the persons in question are trying to stay low, is when a set of heavy bootsteps walks through the doors. An elf with long golden blocks, heavily clothed with boots, trenchcoat, gloves- And at first, looking like he's being dragged in, another elf with blonde hair to his left, and a darker-skinned human on his right. At first it might almost look like he's being forced, although closer inspection reveals he's definitely helping, if seemingly a bit uncomfortable with it all. They set down in a chair in the corner, and the human moves to grab the three of them drinks. At her own table does another person take the chair opposite Kit.

"Can your spirits tell me when my brother will get back to Mezzra?"

(Roll arcana or performance depending on what you think fits most.)

(OOC I misread the above at first and thought she was doing a reading for the group. Would have played it differently if I'd read it correctly. Going to stick with what I already said, though. *Annnnd now I have the pink death banner.)

Kit takes in the group patron carefully, the apparent seriousness and earnestness of the request begs for something far more than parlor tricks. She closes her eyes and reaches out with her mind, seeking for some small sliver of a half forgotten memory...

Kit slides a piece of paper across the table. "Can you write? If so, put you brother's name on here. Do not let me see."

Her dagger slides across next. "Add three drops of your blood. No more, no less. Fold the paper tightly and burn it...and I will see what answers the smoke may reveal."

(OOC, not sure if there's even a roll to make here. Kit's going on pure, sincere, faith in her "abilities". But based on your suggestion, she's using Arcana 24)

Oren excepts the gold with a smile and quickly pockets it.

He stays quiet and waits to see what offer Gilgamesh has for them.  Maybe it will be better than the earlier offer of helping someone with something called the blight disease, but now there will be options.   

"It's turning out to be a good day, after all." he says quietly to the shy woman.

"Why in the Gods name would Rick what? If Merill was looking for Rick it is better to stand out and wave Merill's arms and yell, 'Rick! I, Merill, am here seeking Rick!' or maybe just 'Rick!' over and over until Rick hears rather than to try and stand in an alley and not yell for Rick and hope Rick sees Merill."

Rick straightens and, looking pleased then cross then pleased again, explains,

"Rick saved Marrut and then Rick was betrayed! Has Merill seen a tiny centaur while Merill was standing in the alley not yelling for Rick? Rick must have words with the little centaur about the importance of trust. Once Rick has done that Rick will go see boss Zed about the rest of the money Zed owes Rick plus more money for other services Rick has provided! Rick would also like to talk to Marrut about what happened on the ship."

He blinks at Merill,

"Maybe Merill should come help Rick? Or Merill can go tell Zed that Rick is coming? Where is Zed so Rick can find Zed after Rick has done what Rick must first do?"

Nuria jumps slightly as Gilgamesh holds out the gold for her, shes quite distracted with thinking she needs to get back to the bazaar. After the dragonborn puts it into her palm, she stares at it for a second. She wasn't expecting payment. "Th-thank you." She stutters, then quickly pockets the coins. 

She takes a moment to register that Oren is talking to her, "Oh... yes. I suppose so." She replies just as quietly.

((How widely known is the dwarven tragedy that it seems Oren was a survivor of? Having some connection to mining communities, is this something that Breldo would have heard of? History, if needed. 7))

After the advisor departs...

"Captain, is there anything else that you need assistance with? I've been on hand while folks have been questioned before, but understand if you wish to keep that within the established chain of command. Either way, if there's anything further you need, I plan on being in Mezzra for a bit... unless I find a job that takes me out of the city for a bit...?"

He raises a bushy eyebrow in Nuria's direction.

Nuria looks up as Breldo starts talking, barely catching his glance. She feels the heat rise in her cheeks. She's so stupid, she should have just asked both of them if they would help her. "Uh, well. I think this client wants at least two guards, but I think he will take on as more. H- he might prefer that even. S-so if you need work...." She trails off, brushing a strand of her black hair behind her ear, "I-it would be good to have you."

Breldo's still not quite sure what to make of the girl, she simultaneously seems confident enough to negotiate with a client and recruit a team, but all while seeming entirely unsure of herself. His first inclination would be to write her off entirely, but now his curiosity is up and he wonders what side she'll shake out when it comes to it. She certainly wasn't shy about using her weapons on the boat. Is it all an act? If it's not... then she's sure to end up dead in the wilderness if she gets in over her head. Not really his responsibility, but...

"Sure, can at least see if your client is open to it. They need to meet your crew first, or they willing to take your word on it?"

Might be entertaining if nothing else.

The man across Kit seems to be a bit taken aback by the requirement for some blood, but seems to take it as the whole deal being more genuine in nature. Even if partly seeming to wonder if he actually did want to cut himself just for a prediction on when his brother would be back. Eventually, he submits, however, together with a few copper, and the parchment burns. The smoke rises, forming patterns upon the mirror... Albeit indistinct, chaotic ones. In Kit's expertise, it is a clear sign that the brother is at least alright, although there are far too many variables still at work to predict when he would return. It'd be at least a week. Perhaps even a month.

---

Merill winces audibly when Rick begins actually yelling to demonstrate how the half-elf SHOULD have handled the situation, ignoring any attempts for him to pipe down. The whole story he does next, mostly leaving the half-elf... Confused. The man must be thinking for a moment that the Tabaxi was making up some kind of overcomplicated lie to get out of trouble, before remembering that he actually came to him first. There is an long, uncomfortable pause, as the man considers the fact, before speaking up.

"I wasn't trying to hide from you as just prying eyes in general, okay?! I got a good spot at everyone leaving the boats from here, but," he trailed off, not seemign to have realized Slick's slick escape. A pause before he begins answering actual questions. "Tiny centaur? Well... I did, but- Look, that's not important. You can go deal with that after you report to the boss, okay? Did you find Marutt? Maybe... Anything else?" he spoke, at the very least not seeming to agree with the order of things Rick wanted to do. "You can't just go running off before that's resolved-"

---

Breldo would probably have heard about the accident , although doesn't know the fine details. He knows that Gerach's pass wasn't particularly big, but got pretty much shut down completely with what happened about half a year ago.

Maziar gives another humble "No, thank you," upon the various signs of appreciation, but then, as the group begins properly discussing the job Nuria might have,  slowly exits stage right after idling just long enough to make sure that he is no longer needed. Gilgamesh sticks around a while longer, just to make sure that the group wouldn't need anything else, and shakes his head at Breldo's offer.

"It is appreciated, but I presume things will be fine now. Unless you're a master interrogator, we can deal with what comes next. Unless you wish to become a guard as well?"

"Not that I would mind catching up proper when I'm off duty and talk about your previous company days, we sadly never quite got around to that. And if any of you are curious what we end up concluding out of this entire mess... Well, ask again in a few days when we hopefully have answers. I figure you'd deserve to know. But for now, I'd see no reason to not take up this job your friend has if it sounds interesting. I suppose you should be going if you still need to see the guild master?"

Kit slides the coppers back to her patron...

"This I can not accept. The signs are too vague...the future too uncertain. Your brother is well...and should he remain so he will return before the passing of a moon. No more can I tell you."

Kit cocks her head slightly as she contemplates the patron further, intrigued by the mystery behind the mystery, "May I ask where your brother has gone?"

Rick waves his hand,

"Wait Merill- Rick saw Marrut on the same boat as the tiny centaur. Did Merill miss Marrut like Merill missed Rick? Merill really needs to just stand and shout like Rick suggested."

His ears, what is left of the, lay back in irritation,

"Merill, why would Rick go to Zed if Marrut didn't make it back? Zed will just be angry at Rick and Rick won't get the rest of Rick's money!"

Rick then lowers his voice and leans in,

"Rick did find something else Merill..."

Rick casts a furtive look around and then reaches into a pouch and pulls out his new fuzzy object,

"Rick found this on the boat, Merill may nuzzle it if Merill wants - but only a little!"

He'll push the fuzzy toward Merril and then, as an after thought, he'll dig out some bark and hand it to Merill,

"Oh, and Rick found a bag of this."

He will then nuzzle his fuzzy himself while Merill considers before then stuffing it (the fuzzy) back into a pouch and saying,

"But both Rick's fuzzy and the other stuff were not part of Zed's original job for Rick. Rick risked much to rescue both, and Marrut, and Rick needs to be compensated, doesn't Merill agree? Merill can keep that bit, since Rick likes Merill."

Nuria shakes her head, "I-I don't know. I think he would rather meet everyone at once, but I'm not sure. He probably wouldn't care if even if we recruited more help, though if we did our individual pay would decrease. Our pay is going to be a bit less anyway since none of us have a mount. The client can't walk very well so he's going to have to buy one since we don't have one." She fiddles with her hair, "I-I would rather us all go meet him and the guild master. I'm rather n-new at this so I don't feel co-comfortable speaking for all of us."

She glances at Gilgamesh and nods. She's not sure if she wants to know what was going on with those sailors or not. The whole ordeal had rattled her up quite a bit, and she really just wants to forget about it.

Looking back to Breldo and Oren, she says, "If you are interested, then we should get go. I-I can take you to the guild master." Once the other two give some sort of sign that they are coming, she turns and starts leading them to the guild master. The other two would notice that her path tends to avoid main roads unless absolutely necessary, and the girl herself looks to be on high alert. She glances down every street and alley as she passes; something that seems second nature; and tends to look a bit nervous when passing guards; though she visibly tries to hide that fact.

The halfling grimaces a bit at the Captain's question of if he intends to join the guard. 

"I spent too much time standing about just watching folks to be wanting to jump into a guard position, no offence. Thinking more 'contract work' and the like, never was one to spend much time in cities, more at home on the road, when I can."

Breldo shrugs and shoulders his pack.

"Captain, it looks like we might be taking a job, I wish you luck in getting to the root of things, and will check back in when we return."

Seeing Kit get her first client going, Khond finishes his drink, then heads for whatever open space will suffice for a stage for his own performances.  To begin, he  pulls a flute from his packs and starts off with a jaunty tune, one usually played to keep the audiences entertained while waiting for a play to start.

Performance: 18

Kit slides the coppers back, revealing her statement that she would not accept the coin with the uncertainty the flame revealed. The man hesitates, then shrugs- And shoves the coins back. If nothing else, he takes the fact Kit would have given them back as legitmate enough that he wants to pay regardless.

"Oh, it's nothing too special... He went to visit Mhurgot, was planning on working there for smith for a while, then come back and ply the trade here. But it's been over a year now... I got a letter, but no way to return one. Seems big city life got to him," the man notes, shrugs, then manages to give at least a slight smile. "But if he's still alive then I don't need to worry about that, at least."

Barring Kit keeps the man hanging, he soon gets up, table empty for a moment as other patrons seem mostly to idle for the time being. Eventually Khond starting up his performance as well, even if it is only in the beginning stages, earning only a few glances...

---

Merill seems confused when Slick mentions that Marutt must have slipped away as well, as he mumbles under his breath. "I'm watching people leaving the boats! Why is everyone sneaking?! What the hell happened?! Look, I'm sure Marutt went off on his own, so if we go to Zed we'll find them both-"

He gets his answer in part, at first very confused as he gets offered the plushie, giving it  a tentative squeeze, mostly out of sheer confusion... And again winces when the cat brings up illicit goods oh so casually, hands quickly trying to get it stowed away in the satchel again- Except for the little piece given, which he puts away in his own cloak.

"Are you- Are you actually just-" Merill starts, practically frothing, and it becomes very obvious he's going to say something not so nice, stopping himself only in the last second. Taking a very deep breath.

"Look, you obviously did a great job. If you think you should get more for it, take it up with the boss- By the sounds of it, it might be warranted, yeah. Now I don't know what is the matter with this pony man of yours, but this-" he speaks, pointing out the satchel he presumes holds all of the goods. "Needs to go to Zed, straight away. If you really need to go after that centaur, I can take it for you, and you'll be paid when you come back, but you can't go running off with it."

---

The captain gives a shrug, along with a smile, as Breldo admits he's interested in anything but a guard position. "Just offering. One of the few things I could really help with. But none the less, I wish you all good luck on this job, and I shall share the findings with you upon your return. If you're interested in some cash, you may as well go with them," he briefly says, turning to Oren. "Going to be a while before we can get this law sorted out, so hopefully by the time you'd be back we got good news."

Oren seems agreeable enough to that, and soon enough the three of them are off to meet with the guildmaster again. Even with it getting later, the dwarf seems to be behind the counter of the little "job store" that Nuria had visited earlier that day.

"Oh, there you are. New friends?"

Rick watches Merill with curiosity and offers helpfully,

"Merill, Rick wonders if Merill has ever smuggled before? The less Rick looks like Rick is trying to hide something the less attention Rick will attract. Merill should take a deep breath and hold it, then slowly let it out. Watch Rick-"

Rick demonstrates for Merill.

He then preens at being acknowledged for his good works.

"Rick hates leaving a debt unpaid but if Zed is so desperate Rick figures Rick will go to boss Zed, get paid, then Rick will hunt down the the pony centaur. Merill can lead - and remember Merill, calm! Is Zed far?"

"Y-yes!" Nuria replies a little to quickly. "I thought it would be best if I had a little more help. I-is....uh....the client here?" Her face reddens when she realizes that she has already forgotten the elf's name.