“Thank you, thank you, master. Your generosity is truly appreciated. May the goddess bless you for your kindness!” The beggar says as Natasha drops the coins in his bowl. His voice is raspy and worn, but warm and genuine. Closer now, you see that the beggar's eyes are completely covered in milky white - he is blind. His wrinkled fingers reach into the bowl, touching the coins. You notice there are quite a few buttons in there, mixed in with only two or three real coins.

As Natasha flaunts her purse and Kerra advertises her wealth, you draw quite a few eyes. The scantily dressed tiefling man glances in your direction, while multiple windows open on the upper floors of the dark buildings, heads peeking out. Some of them notice your armor and weapons and quickly retreat inside, closing the shutters. However, a few windows with lit lights still have eyes peeking out, watching you.

The beggar remains oblivious to all this, and earnestly responds to your question about Raheed, “Raheed? Yes, I know him. He comes here often, and always gives me coins.” He touches the buttons again, obviously grateful. He says with a warm smile, “Thank you very much, ladies. Raheed…I don’t know where he is now. But he is close to a laundry woman called Oumayma. Maybe you could ask her. She and her girls work by the river.”

"Thanks, brother." Kerra looked the man up and down, thought for a moment but finally said. "Hate to bring it to you but... take the coin the rich lady left to you in one hand and the "coin" Raheed gave you to another. And check. He might not be an as dear friend to you as you think."

She returned to the group. "We might get a bit too much attention,  be ready to fight for your purses and your lives too. But we know who to ask about Raheed. Let's get to the river and find that laundry woman Oumayma."

Felix listens carefully to the beggar and tries to assess if he can be entirely trust (Insight: 7).

OOC: not sure, does the beggar knows he holds a button ? Or does it seems he is collecting buttons ????

Tasmara, having herself noticed all the scrutiny the group suddenly seemed to be attracting whispered a few arcane words. For a moment a blue nimbus seemed to outline her like an aura before it disappeared from the naked eye.

(Cast Mage Armor)

Natasha adjusts her armor and makes sure her sword is ready to grab if need be. She takes steps forward, since she is the most armored, to get in front of the group completely. 

Felix:

The beggar’s eyes widen in confusion as he struggles to comprehend Kerra's words, his milky white eyes almost pleading for clarity. Slowly and methodically, he starts picking up the coins and buttons from his bowl, his wrinkled fingers fumbling around as he tries to sort them out.

As a group, you continue towards the river, hoping to find the laundry woman the beggar had just told you about, cautious about your surroundings. The tiefling has been watching you, leaning against the wall, puffing on a blunt with ease, a pair of curved horns protruding from his forehead. His tight-fitting leather outfit clings to his lean and muscular frame, accentuating his lithe figure. As you pass by him, his full lips curve into an alluring smile, his piercing yellow eyes following your every move. "Anytime you want a good time, you can look for me, ladies," he says, his voice low and seductive. To Felix, he adds with a sly wink, "And you too, handsome." 

You continue walking, navigating through the narrow and winding streets of the Perfume District. The buildings here are dark and dilapidated, with peeling paint and broken shutters. The air is thick with the smell of spices, herbs, and chemicals, mixed with the stench of rotting garbage and sewage. You keep your guard up, knowing that danger could be lurking around every corner.

As you turn a corner, you come face to face with a group of four men who step out of an alleyway, blocking your path. The leader of the group is a tall, muscular man, carrying a large, spiked club. He has a scruffy beard and wears a dirty leather vest with no shirt underneath. His three followers are similarly dressed in leather armor and carry crude weapons like rusty swords and crossbows.  

"So, you're the group that's looking for that rat Raheed?" the leader says, a strong distaste in his words as he says Raheed’s name. Apparently, words travel fast in the Perfume District, and you were not exactly keeping a low profile. His eyes roam over you all, scanning each of your faces with a mixture of derision and suspicion. He snorts and adds, "What are you, his friends?"

As she passes by the beggar after the group's interaction, Daphyra whispers to him, "May the Goddess Bastet be with you and give you strength."

As they walk through more dilapidated areas, Daphyra touches her amulet and mutters a blessing to herself, too, a Vigilant Blessing.

Coming face to face with the group of men, Daphyra emits a small squeak, and then firms her lips into a line, setting her jaw before speaking up. "Friends? I'm not sure someone like that has friends, does he? We're looking for him, yes. Do you know where he is?"

 [ooc - is it still light or are we in darkness by now?]

Felix blushes when the Tiefling talks to him "euh...well...thank you. But I am in a rush here". He quickly closes in with the group and sees now the group questioning about Raheed.
He recalls Inky in his dimensional pocket for protection and gets ready to cast his well prepared spell, nothing good comes from thugs like that. 

"That rat" was exactly the words Kerra would use herself and it was not a friendly call. Not that the three thugs provoke any sympathy but in the case of Raheed, she and they were on the same page. "We just want to talk to the man." She took out her dagger and checked its sharpness with her nail. "If you catch my meaning. Just a few words."

((I would say it's about five in the afternoon. The sun is setting but it's not fully dark yet.))

The leader’s face twists into an angry scowl as he responds to Daphyra's question. "No! That little shit ran away again. ******* rat. He'll regret it when I catch him."

He points a large, calloused finger at Kerra. "Don't try to play me, missy. Everyone saw her," he jerks his thumb in Natasha's direction, "throwing coins at that blind beggar Achraf. And now you want to throw money at that little shit Raheed? He owes me big time, and me and my boys want a payday!" His burly arms cross over his chest, his thick muscles bulging under his grimy leather vest. The three henchmen standing behind him shuffle their feet restlessly, fingers twitching near their crude weapons. "Ha! Now, if you're willing to pay off his debt, I might consider letting you go."

"We don'r have much on us, so I don't think that would work. What about you let us pass and everybody is happy ?". In a second, Felix will make a blue flamme appears in his palm

Kerra's dagger disappeared under her cloak but she did not show her hands again, instead, she did something under the cloak, producing a quiet mechanical sound. "Awww... Aren't you sweet? But if you want to have hands to collect your debt from Raheed, you will let us pass. You did not think we came here unprepared, did you? You can lose more than money here."

Intimidation: 8

(Ready action in case any bandit attacks: Attack: 22 Damage: 6 )

Daphyra spreads her hands placatingly.

"Really, folks, surely it is in everyone's best interest for us to find Raheed? If our mistress here does indeed buy something from the Rat, then we will be happy and you will be close by to ask him for what you owe. And we all leave as friends. Friends--" she casts a glance at Kerra. "--with their hands intact."

persuasion - 21

Natasha doesn’t like being spoken to in this manner, even if it’s for an act. “I will be buying from whoever I choose from… I might even buy from you gentlemen. In fact… how much can I pay you to… say, help us locate Raheed? I’m sure if all of us work together…” She’s trying to take control of the situation. “Like my rabbit servant says… we can all be happy.” The rich woman folds her arms. “And… if not… well I’m sure we can work something else out, yes?” Natasha purrs a bit, trying to emulate the sultry tones of Henna.

(Persuasion to aid Daphy) 4

(Oh no)

The burly man casts a scrutinizing gaze at Felix, obviously unconvinced of your lack of funds.

He lets out a grunt in response to Kerra and Daphyra's words. One of his lackeys steps forward, offering a solution, "Boss, we can get the money from Raheed after they buy what they want from him." The leader stares him down with a scowl, clearly unimpressed, "I don't like this. Raheed is too slippery. He's going to try and run off with the money." He then jabs a meaty finger in the direction of the crony who spoke up, "You! Go with them and make sure Raheed doesn't pull any tricks."

Turning back to the group, the muscular man fixes his attention on you and issues a stern warning, "Tell Raheed that Nassoor wants his money back. And he better pay up."

“Nassoor will get his money back, don’t worry. Our rat seems to owe everyone a lot of things..” Natasha looks to the men, the group, and then the party… and then the man elected to go with the party. “Name?”

Kerra relaxed a bit and looked the new escort up and down (not interrupting Natasha's interrogation, of course). "At least he knows what Raheed looks like" mumbled she almost under her breath. The man could also be good as a (involuntary)shield. But that part Kerra left out.

Peeping out from amongst her taller companions Tasmara glances at the crony, trying to judge what made him tick and how likely he will be to betray the group or simply run off if things turn south. The hallfling sorceress turns on her best, sweetest smile at the stranger. "So, friend what's your story?"

(Insight: 18)

Daphyra looks at their new companion. "Welcome, friend." She attempts to size up the newcomer, her nose twitching as she watches his reactions. insight 17