Merill, for a brief moment, seems positively insulted, then again relaxes. Perhaps a bit humbled, if a bit indignant. At the very least, he seems to recognize the crazy cat's words make a strange kind of sense. Although he doesn't buy into the whole breathing trick without some persuasion, the motion that seeming all panicked was what would give them away is enough to force him to calm down a bit.
"...I don't usually do any of that stuff, no. I'm just on the home front. But alright, sounds like a plan. And no, not far- Just where we first met. Let's go then, shall we. Casual, like you said."
---
The dwarf offers a quick smile at Nuria's statement, flipping through some documents. One hand is doing some idle writing even as he talks.
"Oh no, afraid not. No worries though, Pallen is accepting the commission, and he's very grateful. He'll meet you here in the morning to depart together, if that is no issue? He's got some last minute help to press the costs and make it all the more appealing for you as well," he speaks, attention fixed upon the group for the most part, only occasionally glancing down at the papers in front of him.
"If you do want to meet him before tomorrow, he went out for a last drink with friends. I can point you in the right direction to go find him there. Before you go, though- Did your group go to this whole boat incident thing..?"
---
"The letter?" the man asks in response to Kit, already beginning to shake his head, but even as he began to explain he wouldn't have it on him anymore, he begins to doubt himself, and asks for a moment as he begins searching through his satchel. Evidently, if he does have the letter still, it would have been more coincidence than an intentional desire to hold onto it, at least while out. Eventually, he would pull out the letter in question- If slightly crooked from having been lost and forgotten at the bottom of that satchel.
In the meantime, behind them, various matters are developing. The tavernkeeper seems hesitant as he approaches the table with three men that entered earlier, an argument of some kind seeming to start up. Of a few more patrons entering the bar one of them seems to stand out somehow, too- If only because he looked like the kind of man you knew would drink until he had forgotten all that had transpired on that day.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Slick nods and smiles at Merill,
"If friend Merill wants tips on smuggling, Rick is quite good! There are good clothes to wear and bad and bad. Good times to move and bad. Oh, there are good spots to hide things and bad spots."
Persuasion: 27
"Rick promises Merill, breathing is important! Try it!"
He will watch attentively then say,
"Okay, if boss Zed is there Rick will go first. Friend Merill can follow thirty seconds behind. A good smuggling tip from Rick!"
Rick will then head back to the bar completely as normal. Well, normal for him.
Kit takes the letter, spreads it out on the table before her, and absentmindedly traces her finger over the writing. Closing her eyes, she reaches back into her dreams, trying to find some memory or familiarity in the swirl and slant of the script...
"Oh," Nuria says relieved that she had not just missed the meeting. She would have liked to meet the elf beforehand just so she could know if she really wanted to work for him, but she doesn't really want to interrupt his last drink with his friends. If the elf really was sick and potentially dying, it would be rude to intrude on his farewell party, though she will leave that decision up to Oren and Breldo. The girl doesn't answer right away when the dwarf asks if they went to the ship indecent, since she's not sure how that will reflect on her group. However, when Breldo speaks up, she glances at him, then nods to the dwarf.
Merill seems a bit annoyed, but under Slick's insistence of being an expert, takes a few deep breaths. By the end, while he doesn't look like he's going to admit it, it does look as if it might have helped. And soon enough both of them are back en route to "The whale's gut"- The smell doesn't get better even at this hour of the day when things have cooled down or at least it has not been long enough for it to get better. Without issues, they slink inside, and Merill escorts Slick even further in. Before too long they end up within a smaller room in the bowels of the place, dimly lit by only an oil lamp. The scene the Tabaxi arrives upon is one of Marutt clearly uncomfortable, Zed looming over him as he stands up with arms on the table. Things have not devolved into the level of uncomfortableness, but it was obvious that Zed had not been happy about what had happened.
But a smirk does cross his face when he sees Slick.
"Slick! You made it! Not that I ever had any doubt, of course. Don't mind Marutt here, we had a bit of an argument because, well, he thought you and me were best of buds. Not that we're not good buds, of course, but not the best, get what I'm saying?"
"Now... Please do tell me you got a present for me?"
---
Kit's finger traces over the scripts. The brother that stayed away... It could match this one figure from her dreams, yes... The one that fell in love abroad and hence stayed away for so long...
"Zachary," the man confirms, and Kit's seance starts again, proper. Yes... That does sound right, doesn't it? He's found himself a fair maiden there, and that's why he's sticking around for so long...
---
The dwarf at first just gives a simple nod at the confirmation, whatever his reasoning behind asking initially might be an enigma, perhaps a moment of doubt whether their involvement was good or bad. But luckily it turned out to be the former soon enough.
"That's good! I didn't hear too much in the little bit of time, but it seems like you all handled yourself well enough. Right? Gives me a bit more confidence. So if you'd like, I can already give you another job for the way back."
"Only if you want to, of course," he quickly adds, now looking up from his papers proper, shoving what he had been working on to the side. Another paper waits right behind it for his inspection once he was actually done with his guests. "I should also ask what kind of jobs you are interested in, if any. I got two kind of oddball cases I need some curious eyes to investigate... They pay well," he adds, already trying to entice.
"...a love, found long ago. Discovered again in this life. Your brother has met someone. Hearts joined and separated, seeking each other through the darkness. United again at last..."
Kit looks into the eyes of her patron.
"This is what has kept your brother away for so long. When he returns, I think he will not be alone."
"Captain Gilgamesh seemed satisfied with our contribution.", Breldo looks at Nuria and Oren.
"Don't suppose it hurts to hear about other jobs you might have... if we can knock out more than one, that sounds more efficient. As far as types of jobs, I'm a former military scout, myself. Getting sent to investigate odd stuff isn't out of the norm. And paying well is a good start."
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DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rick gives Merill a knowing wink before heading off.
On seeing Marrut Rick will give him double thumbs up,
"Rick is so happy that Marrut made it! Did Marrut see where the ponyman went that abandoned Rick on the sink boat went? Rick needs to have words them."
To Zed, Rick beams,
"Boss Zed made a good choice when Zed picked Rick to save Marrut! Rick understands that Boss Zed and Rick are business buds, Marrut didn't ask much before Rick had him jump away from the sinking boat."
He nods to Marrut,
"Ah, and Rick does have a present for Zed if Zed has payment for Rick! Rick knows it is bad form, but Rick would like to ask for more than was agreed for saving Marrut. Rick had to get by many crazy stabby sailors and glary guards. Rick thinks 50 gold is fair? And Rick would like to continue to work with Boss Zed and talk to Marrut about the crazy on the boat."
"Oh!" does the man start, at first surprised, then a bit of a smile washing over his face. "I mean... That's good then, right? Assuming he comes back and brings her with- Even if only to get us acquainted! Or maybe I should just take the trip myself one of these days? Murghot is not that far a travel..."
The man thanks Kit again, and even throws down a few additional coppers. As he leaves, for a moment it seems that nobody else is going to immediately come forward for a telling... At least until she notices the man that's already poured a few drinks down his throat. Just moments before, he had been looking almost with a look of disdain- Perhaps not specifically for her, but for the act she was performing. And now, he was getting up, perhaps a brief moment looking like trouble... Until he sits down and slaps a silver piece on the table. Sunken eyes stare over the table, his only question a simple, yet strange one.
"Is what we found at sea going to chase us here to Mezzra?"
(Kit and Khond, also give me a perception check.)
---
The dwarf nods, and figures he might as well elaborate more even as he tries to gauge the other's opinion.
"Right. Sounds like the jobs might be one that does require a bit more investigation, so I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. But it pays a lot more than the pittance you get for "go take care of the wolf that has been bothering my sheep", so I suppose it pays off. And both of them are kind of important..." he trails off for a moment, realizes the party is still waiting, goes through another pile of papers, adjusts his glasses, then begins to explain yet more.
"First job. Village of Somra. What they thought at first might be just a few people succumbing to a disease overnight they think might now actually be the work of a serial poisoner. People with no symptoms are dying overnight, every few days, starting a bit over a week ago. Mayor needs external help to figure out what's going on, if anything."
"Second job. Village of Mossley. They're dealing with kid disappearances, little ones being gone in one instance for over an entire day... And then, luckily, returning. Kids claim that they either were just playing in the forest or don't remember any particulars, however, and I do believe some of the parents used persuasive methods to get them to talk, so... Worrying, none the less, even if so far nobody appears hurt. They want someone to figure out what happened to the kids," he finishes, mumbling something indistinct about "Cooped up inside..." after that.
"The centaur?" Marutt asks, evidently confused as to how the horseman mattered in the whole story. "No. I thought it was more important to dodge the guards than watch him," he admits, seeming uncertain on whether or not this was another bad mark on his already failing grades, and soon Slick already continues. He gets a few nods as he explains his troubles, the group seeming curious as to what exactly happened, even if there is a tense feeling that just want him to put the goods down already. And then, he mentions what he thinks he deserves for all his effort.
And the room goes quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop.
Slick gets the distinct sensation that even if he was trying to shoot for the moon then haggle down halfway, his offer was just a bit too high to even hit that moon... And too low to just be excused for a joke. A distinct sensation of that fact lingers, even as Zed speaks up.
"Hah! You're a funny one, Slick- I like you. But if you remember, I did say you were to bring back Marrut whole- So him and his possessions, you dig? So, strictly, you did exactly what got asked. No more, no less," he speaks, his words a matter of fact. But then he continues, now with a side glance toward the Tiefling.
"Although the intention was that Marutt himself took care of the wholeness part of the deal, so I do think you earn a part of his cut."
Marutt grimaces. His annoyed plea that follows seems mostly an attempt to lessen the impact rather than completely avoid it. "Look, I already told you, they were onto me, and I had no chance to go grab it. I figured the smartest thing to do was get out! Would you want to see me captured by the guard? I wouldn't squeal, but still!" he says. All within the room know that the guard know ways to get people to talk if they REALLY want to know.
"Right, right, we all did our best," Zed spoke, his hand waving in a dismissive gesture. "It's just that some people's best got us the goods, and some of it didn't. Now," he continued, a pointed look at Slick, and tapping on the table.
"Show the goods. And, do tell us about all you went through to get here."
---
The sailor softly shakes his head across Kit.
"If you can't tell me, I certainly don't know myself. God, demon, something worse- I don't know. I don't care. I never believed in all... This, but," he stops, hesitates, then just looks straight back to Kit, sunken eyes boring deep into her. He looked almost desperate.
"I don't know, and I'm not sure I want to know. Just... Are we safe? Is it gone?"
Kit considers the sailor. He's clearly a man in need of a comforting lie...and normally she'd be inclined to give one. But gods and demons are not to be trifled with.
She absentmindedly dances her fingertips over the lamp's flame, quick enough keep from burning but slow enough to be painful.
She slides the silver back to him.
"If it was what you think you saw, then trying to read it will only turn it's attention this way. But I may be able to tell you more about what it was, if you can offer more details."
"Serial poisoner, eh? Sounds like we should make sure to have extra rations and full waterskins before stepping foot in Somra. I've dealt with bandaging wounds and the like, but not too knowledgeable and purges and other medical stuff, but if there's some sort of pattern to be sussed out, suppose that isn't necessary."
"Good that the kids have been showing up again, nothing seems different about them once they're back? Not traumatized or injured?"
"I'll admit, it's got me curious. Nuria, you're the one who brought the first job to us. I'm willing to look into things, but I'd say it's your call if we help the kids, the poisoner's future victims, both or neither. If you say we go, and Oren's on board, I am too.", Breldo states, watching Nuria to see how she responds to being handed the responsibility of making a call.
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DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Nuria had been waiting in silence up to this point, Breldo and Oren clearly have had more real world experience than she, so she was perfectly fine with allowing them to make the decisions. Both of them seemed to have had some sort of military experience while she doesn't have even the slightest bit of actual work experience. She starts fidgeting with her cloak again as the dwarf explains what the two other jobs entail. Poisoning and kidnapping. Two things she does not like the sound of, but then again, there are a lot of things she doesn't like. That includes allowing those things to continue. But what can she do about it? Just as that thought crosses her mind, Breldo addresses her. Clearly shocked at the fact that he is putting the decision in her hands, she takes a minute to respond, "I-I... well... I suppose..."She swallows then continues in a slightly more confident tone..that peters off towards the end, "Since you are willing to look into them, then so am I. I-I need a job, and a-at least those two are helping people." ....and hopefully won't involve direct confrontations.
"Rick approves and is sorry for Marrut but Marrut also got a save from Rick and Rick has to swim twice. Also, Rick's best is the best best."
Rick sets the satchel on the table, looks slowly around at the gathered crowd and then with a flourish opens it. He gives the contents a here it is wave of his hand. He will then start digging out of his pockets as he starts talking,
"So, Rick found a big boat out ot the sinking boat. The crew quickly made Rick the captain and, maybe Marrut has already ruined this bit of Rick's story, but a tiny horseman was already onboard. Rick decided he would make a good firstmate. As Rick steered the boat in close Rick notice, because Rick has keen eyes, that the broken boat was not sinking or moving at all. Rick thought this was odd, but since Rick was on a job Rick instead quickly found Marrut. Marrut was fighting with guards so Rick quickly put the horseman in charge and swam over to rescue Marrut."
Rick beams at Marrut then starts digging in his shirt to pull out more and put on the table,
"Rick rescued Marrut successfully and then helped rescue many, many others before going below deck. Rick saw a bunch of sailors with their ears on the ground that screamed like crazies, Rick has heard crazies and it was how the sailors screamed. Rick thought quickly and used Rick's prowess as a climber to climb over the crazies and into the room where Marrut had hidden a bag. It was a big bag and Rick didn't have much space so Rick needed to break some so it would fit in Rick's bag...and other places."
Rick starts reaching into his bag and emptying the roots onto the table.
"As Rick was leaving the crazies went more crazy because some guards and others came down so Rick needed to slide out past crazies and guards. Rick is excellent at gliding out of places."
Rick starts reaching into his pockets and putting the root on the table.
"Once Rick got to the top of the boat that was not sinking but should have been Rick saw that Rick's vessel have been stolen! Marrut maybe told of Marrut's attempts to stop the ponyman's mutiny? Marrut did try to stop the ponyman to wait for Rick, yes?"
Rick looks to Marrut again as he starts digging around in his pants to pull out more of the root and put it on the table.
"Rick needed to ride in a rowboat back to shore and Rick then needed to dodge guards waiting on the docks, which Rick obviously did. Merill, Rick did great yes? Rick found Merill and Rick explained the situation to Merill and then friend Merill brought Rick here!"
Rick will shake his pant legs out and pull out his pockets to make sure he got it all and look expectantly to Zed.
Active Characters: Ernos, Tiefling Warlock in Tests and Trials | Khond Stardancer,Centaur Rogue in The Forgotten Wish | Blumeria "Bolt" Sirgula,Dragonborn Fighter/Sorcerer in Forged In Chaos
Oren pipes up finally after thinking a bit. "A job on the way back would be good, makes a lot of sense actually. The two jobs you listed might take some time. What is the job you mentioned at would bring us back here to the city?"
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"A letter? In his own hand? Do you have it with you?"
Merill, for a brief moment, seems positively insulted, then again relaxes. Perhaps a bit humbled, if a bit indignant. At the very least, he seems to recognize the crazy cat's words make a strange kind of sense. Although he doesn't buy into the whole breathing trick without some persuasion, the motion that seeming all panicked was what would give them away is enough to force him to calm down a bit.
"...I don't usually do any of that stuff, no. I'm just on the home front. But alright, sounds like a plan. And no, not far- Just where we first met. Let's go then, shall we. Casual, like you said."
---
The dwarf offers a quick smile at Nuria's statement, flipping through some documents. One hand is doing some idle writing even as he talks.
"Oh no, afraid not. No worries though, Pallen is accepting the commission, and he's very grateful. He'll meet you here in the morning to depart together, if that is no issue? He's got some last minute help to press the costs and make it all the more appealing for you as well," he speaks, attention fixed upon the group for the most part, only occasionally glancing down at the papers in front of him.
"If you do want to meet him before tomorrow, he went out for a last drink with friends. I can point you in the right direction to go find him there. Before you go, though- Did your group go to this whole boat incident thing..?"
---
"The letter?" the man asks in response to Kit, already beginning to shake his head, but even as he began to explain he wouldn't have it on him anymore, he begins to doubt himself, and asks for a moment as he begins searching through his satchel. Evidently, if he does have the letter still, it would have been more coincidence than an intentional desire to hold onto it, at least while out. Eventually, he would pull out the letter in question- If slightly crooked from having been lost and forgotten at the bottom of that satchel.
In the meantime, behind them, various matters are developing. The tavernkeeper seems hesitant as he approaches the table with three men that entered earlier, an argument of some kind seeming to start up. Of a few more patrons entering the bar one of them seems to stand out somehow, too- If only because he looked like the kind of man you knew would drink until he had forgotten all that had transpired on that day.
Slick nods and smiles at Merill,
"If friend Merill wants tips on smuggling, Rick is quite good! There are good clothes to wear and bad and bad. Good times to move and bad. Oh, there are good spots to hide things and bad spots."
Persuasion: 27
"Rick promises Merill, breathing is important! Try it!"
He will watch attentively then say,
"Okay, if boss Zed is there Rick will go first. Friend Merill can follow thirty seconds behind. A good smuggling tip from Rick!"
Rick will then head back to the bar completely as normal. Well, normal for him.
Kit takes the letter, spreads it out on the table before her, and absentmindedly traces her finger over the writing. Closing her eyes, she reaches back into her dreams, trying to find some memory or familiarity in the swirl and slant of the script...
"What is your brother's name?"
"Aye... we were.", Breldo confirms.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
"Oh," Nuria says relieved that she had not just missed the meeting. She would have liked to meet the elf beforehand just so she could know if she really wanted to work for him, but she doesn't really want to interrupt his last drink with his friends. If the elf really was sick and potentially dying, it would be rude to intrude on his farewell party, though she will leave that decision up to Oren and Breldo. The girl doesn't answer right away when the dwarf asks if they went to the ship indecent, since she's not sure how that will reflect on her group. However, when Breldo speaks up, she glances at him, then nods to the dwarf.
Merill seems a bit annoyed, but under Slick's insistence of being an expert, takes a few deep breaths. By the end, while he doesn't look like he's going to admit it, it does look as if it might have helped. And soon enough both of them are back en route to "The whale's gut"- The smell doesn't get better even at this hour of the day when things have cooled down or at least it has not been long enough for it to get better. Without issues, they slink inside, and Merill escorts Slick even further in. Before too long they end up within a smaller room in the bowels of the place, dimly lit by only an oil lamp. The scene the Tabaxi arrives upon is one of Marutt clearly uncomfortable, Zed looming over him as he stands up with arms on the table. Things have not devolved into the level of uncomfortableness, but it was obvious that Zed had not been happy about what had happened.
But a smirk does cross his face when he sees Slick.
"Slick! You made it! Not that I ever had any doubt, of course. Don't mind Marutt here, we had a bit of an argument because, well, he thought you and me were best of buds. Not that we're not good buds, of course, but not the best, get what I'm saying?"
"Now... Please do tell me you got a present for me?"
---
Kit's finger traces over the scripts. The brother that stayed away... It could match this one figure from her dreams, yes... The one that fell in love abroad and hence stayed away for so long...
"Zachary," the man confirms, and Kit's seance starts again, proper. Yes... That does sound right, doesn't it? He's found himself a fair maiden there, and that's why he's sticking around for so long...
---
The dwarf at first just gives a simple nod at the confirmation, whatever his reasoning behind asking initially might be an enigma, perhaps a moment of doubt whether their involvement was good or bad. But luckily it turned out to be the former soon enough.
"That's good! I didn't hear too much in the little bit of time, but it seems like you all handled yourself well enough. Right? Gives me a bit more confidence. So if you'd like, I can already give you another job for the way back."
"Only if you want to, of course," he quickly adds, now looking up from his papers proper, shoving what he had been working on to the side. Another paper waits right behind it for his inspection once he was actually done with his guests. "I should also ask what kind of jobs you are interested in, if any. I got two kind of oddball cases I need some curious eyes to investigate... They pay well," he adds, already trying to entice.
"Zachary...Zachary..."
Kit's fingers continue to trace over the script.
"...a love, found long ago. Discovered again in this life. Your brother has met someone. Hearts joined and separated, seeking each other through the darkness. United again at last..."
Kit looks into the eyes of her patron.
"This is what has kept your brother away for so long. When he returns, I think he will not be alone."
"Captain Gilgamesh seemed satisfied with our contribution.", Breldo looks at Nuria and Oren.
"Don't suppose it hurts to hear about other jobs you might have... if we can knock out more than one, that sounds more efficient. As far as types of jobs, I'm a former military scout, myself. Getting sent to investigate odd stuff isn't out of the norm. And paying well is a good start."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Rick gives Merill a knowing wink before heading off.
On seeing Marrut Rick will give him double thumbs up,
"Rick is so happy that Marrut made it! Did Marrut see where the ponyman went that abandoned Rick on the sink boat went? Rick needs to have words them."
To Zed, Rick beams,
"Boss Zed made a good choice when Zed picked Rick to save Marrut! Rick understands that Boss Zed and Rick are business buds, Marrut didn't ask much before Rick had him jump away from the sinking boat."
He nods to Marrut,
"Ah, and Rick does have a present for Zed if Zed has payment for Rick! Rick knows it is bad form, but Rick would like to ask for more than was agreed for saving Marrut. Rick had to get by many crazy stabby sailors and glary guards. Rick thinks 50 gold is fair? And Rick would like to continue to work with Boss Zed and talk to Marrut about the crazy on the boat."
Persuasion: 10
He gives his most winning, broken toothed smile.
"Oh!" does the man start, at first surprised, then a bit of a smile washing over his face. "I mean... That's good then, right? Assuming he comes back and brings her with- Even if only to get us acquainted! Or maybe I should just take the trip myself one of these days? Murghot is not that far a travel..."
The man thanks Kit again, and even throws down a few additional coppers. As he leaves, for a moment it seems that nobody else is going to immediately come forward for a telling... At least until she notices the man that's already poured a few drinks down his throat. Just moments before, he had been looking almost with a look of disdain- Perhaps not specifically for her, but for the act she was performing. And now, he was getting up, perhaps a brief moment looking like trouble... Until he sits down and slaps a silver piece on the table. Sunken eyes stare over the table, his only question a simple, yet strange one.
"Is what we found at sea going to chase us here to Mezzra?"
(Kit and Khond, also give me a perception check.)
---
The dwarf nods, and figures he might as well elaborate more even as he tries to gauge the other's opinion.
"Right. Sounds like the jobs might be one that does require a bit more investigation, so I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. But it pays a lot more than the pittance you get for "go take care of the wolf that has been bothering my sheep", so I suppose it pays off. And both of them are kind of important..." he trails off for a moment, realizes the party is still waiting, goes through another pile of papers, adjusts his glasses, then begins to explain yet more.
"First job. Village of Somra. What they thought at first might be just a few people succumbing to a disease overnight they think might now actually be the work of a serial poisoner. People with no symptoms are dying overnight, every few days, starting a bit over a week ago. Mayor needs external help to figure out what's going on, if anything."
"Second job. Village of Mossley. They're dealing with kid disappearances, little ones being gone in one instance for over an entire day... And then, luckily, returning. Kids claim that they either were just playing in the forest or don't remember any particulars, however, and I do believe some of the parents used persuasive methods to get them to talk, so... Worrying, none the less, even if so far nobody appears hurt. They want someone to figure out what happened to the kids," he finishes, mumbling something indistinct about "Cooped up inside..." after that.
Perception 9
Kit appraises the new patron cautiously.
"What did you find at sea?"
"The centaur?" Marutt asks, evidently confused as to how the horseman mattered in the whole story. "No. I thought it was more important to dodge the guards than watch him," he admits, seeming uncertain on whether or not this was another bad mark on his already failing grades, and soon Slick already continues. He gets a few nods as he explains his troubles, the group seeming curious as to what exactly happened, even if there is a tense feeling that just want him to put the goods down already. And then, he mentions what he thinks he deserves for all his effort.
And the room goes quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop.
Slick gets the distinct sensation that even if he was trying to shoot for the moon then haggle down halfway, his offer was just a bit too high to even hit that moon... And too low to just be excused for a joke. A distinct sensation of that fact lingers, even as Zed speaks up.
"Hah! You're a funny one, Slick- I like you. But if you remember, I did say you were to bring back Marrut whole- So him and his possessions, you dig? So, strictly, you did exactly what got asked. No more, no less," he speaks, his words a matter of fact. But then he continues, now with a side glance toward the Tiefling.
"Although the intention was that Marutt himself took care of the wholeness part of the deal, so I do think you earn a part of his cut."
Marutt grimaces. His annoyed plea that follows seems mostly an attempt to lessen the impact rather than completely avoid it. "Look, I already told you, they were onto me, and I had no chance to go grab it. I figured the smartest thing to do was get out! Would you want to see me captured by the guard? I wouldn't squeal, but still!" he says. All within the room know that the guard know ways to get people to talk if they REALLY want to know.
"Right, right, we all did our best," Zed spoke, his hand waving in a dismissive gesture. "It's just that some people's best got us the goods, and some of it didn't. Now," he continued, a pointed look at Slick, and tapping on the table.
"Show the goods. And, do tell us about all you went through to get here."
---
The sailor softly shakes his head across Kit.
"If you can't tell me, I certainly don't know myself. God, demon, something worse- I don't know. I don't care. I never believed in all... This, but," he stops, hesitates, then just looks straight back to Kit, sunken eyes boring deep into her. He looked almost desperate.
"I don't know, and I'm not sure I want to know. Just... Are we safe? Is it gone?"
Kit considers the sailor. He's clearly a man in need of a comforting lie...and normally she'd be inclined to give one. But gods and demons are not to be trifled with.
She absentmindedly dances her fingertips over the lamp's flame, quick enough keep from burning but slow enough to be painful.
She slides the silver back to him.
"If it was what you think you saw, then trying to read it will only turn it's attention this way. But I may be able to tell you more about what it was, if you can offer more details."
"Serial poisoner, eh? Sounds like we should make sure to have extra rations and full waterskins before stepping foot in Somra. I've dealt with bandaging wounds and the like, but not too knowledgeable and purges and other medical stuff, but if there's some sort of pattern to be sussed out, suppose that isn't necessary."
"Good that the kids have been showing up again, nothing seems different about them once they're back? Not traumatized or injured?"
"I'll admit, it's got me curious. Nuria, you're the one who brought the first job to us. I'm willing to look into things, but I'd say it's your call if we help the kids, the poisoner's future victims, both or neither. If you say we go, and Oren's on board, I am too.", Breldo states, watching Nuria to see how she responds to being handed the responsibility of making a call.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Nuria had been waiting in silence up to this point, Breldo and Oren clearly have had more real world experience than she, so she was perfectly fine with allowing them to make the decisions. Both of them seemed to have had some sort of military experience while she doesn't have even the slightest bit of actual work experience. She starts fidgeting with her cloak again as the dwarf explains what the two other jobs entail. Poisoning and kidnapping. Two things she does not like the sound of, but then again, there are a lot of things she doesn't like. That includes allowing those things to continue. But what can she do about it? Just as that thought crosses her mind, Breldo addresses her. Clearly shocked at the fact that he is putting the decision in her hands, she takes a minute to respond, "I-I... well... I suppose..." She swallows then continues in a slightly more confident tone..that peters off towards the end, "Since you are willing to look into them, then so am I. I-I need a job, and a-at least those two are helping people." ....and hopefully won't involve direct confrontations.
Rick shrugs,
"Rick approves and is sorry for Marrut but Marrut also got a save from Rick and Rick has to swim twice. Also, Rick's best is the best best."
Rick sets the satchel on the table, looks slowly around at the gathered crowd and then with a flourish opens it. He gives the contents a here it is wave of his hand. He will then start digging out of his pockets as he starts talking,
"So, Rick found a big boat out ot the sinking boat. The crew quickly made Rick the captain and, maybe Marrut has already ruined this bit of Rick's story, but a tiny horseman was already onboard. Rick decided he would make a good firstmate. As Rick steered the boat in close Rick notice, because Rick has keen eyes, that the broken boat was not sinking or moving at all. Rick thought this was odd, but since Rick was on a job Rick instead quickly found Marrut. Marrut was fighting with guards so Rick quickly put the horseman in charge and swam over to rescue Marrut."
Rick beams at Marrut then starts digging in his shirt to pull out more and put on the table,
"Rick rescued Marrut successfully and then helped rescue many, many others before going below deck. Rick saw a bunch of sailors with their ears on the ground that screamed like crazies, Rick has heard crazies and it was how the sailors screamed. Rick thought quickly and used Rick's prowess as a climber to climb over the crazies and into the room where Marrut had hidden a bag. It was a big bag and Rick didn't have much space so Rick needed to break some so it would fit in Rick's bag...and other places."
Rick starts reaching into his bag and emptying the roots onto the table.
"As Rick was leaving the crazies went more crazy because some guards and others came down so Rick needed to slide out past crazies and guards. Rick is excellent at gliding out of places."
Rick starts reaching into his pockets and putting the root on the table.
"Once Rick got to the top of the boat that was not sinking but should have been Rick saw that Rick's vessel have been stolen! Marrut maybe told of Marrut's attempts to stop the ponyman's mutiny? Marrut did try to stop the ponyman to wait for Rick, yes?"
Rick looks to Marrut again as he starts digging around in his pants to pull out more of the root and put it on the table.
"Rick needed to ride in a rowboat back to shore and Rick then needed to dodge guards waiting on the docks, which Rick obviously did. Merill, Rick did great yes? Rick found Merill and Rick explained the situation to Merill and then friend Merill brought Rick here!"
Rick will shake his pant legs out and pull out his pockets to make sure he got it all and look expectantly to Zed.
Khond Perception: 12
Active Characters:
Ernos, Tiefling Warlock in Tests and Trials | Khond Stardancer, Centaur Rogue in The Forgotten Wish | Blumeria "Bolt" Sirgula, Dragonborn Fighter/Sorcerer in Forged In Chaos
Oren pipes up finally after thinking a bit. "A job on the way back would be good, makes a lot of sense actually. The two jobs you listed might take some time. What is the job you mentioned at would bring us back here to the city?"