"This, dear, is a rumor. The kind I do not collect. Even if I did, I value my clients privacy. It is, after all, my business."

Erlan

I look around taking in all there is to see. I make note of the theatre portion of the establishment. After taking note, I will saddle up to the table with Crassus and Violet. I try to swipe a wing from Crassus’s plate. “Looks like the old man is trying to get something a bit personal from the Madam.”

Slight of hand: 20 

"The food here might not be cheap, but it's not so expensive that you need to steal from my plate in order to eat. But yeah, Pict is trying to take care of his personal business and if he wants us to know, he'll let us know."

Crassus will get up from the table "Make sure that he doesn't eat any more of my food." he says to Violet, before walking off to find the madam. "So tell me, why do the people here frown upon the use of magic? Most places I've been to don't really seem to mind it."

Pict scratches his chin, puzzled, but doesn't dwell on it for too long. If the madame can't help him, he was sure someone else here would know what he needed to find out. 

"Thank ye for yer time, madame. I think I'll take me leave now, have a pleasant evenin'."   He said with a slight smile, then turned away to join his companions at the bar.

When he arrives, he sat down next to the others in a bit of a huff. "Well, the madame wasn't of much help. Still don't know where this tattood gentleman that the forest witch spoke of is, and I need to find 'im, quick. Any suggestions?"

"No one has a problem with magic, dear," Madame smiles. "We use it, just like everyone else, there are dozens of enchanter shops and emporia in the Bazaar. In fact, because of this being a travel hub, we have more magi here than I care to count. But most people here have gotten pretty sick of wizards and sorcerers having it out on the streets and causing fires and whatnot. The city is built mostly from wood, you know. It's not a law against magic, it's about safety. Safety of the people who cannot cast wards and shields and can't afford fancy amulets. There are exceptions, of course. When the city was attacked by raiders, all restrictions were temporarily lifted. It was glorious!"

She stared into the distance dreamily for a moment.

"Imagine, a huge shining dome covering the Bazaar, where most of defenseless gathered. Thayans did that, to all of our surprise. Fire roaring as it engulfed raider ships, lightning cracking through the air. The fallen warriors rising to take their revenge on attackers and then slipping back, now peacefully, in eternal slumber. It wasn't just wizards, of course. I remember a few fiends, chasing scared pirates. I recall thinking for the moment one of them was my mom," she chuckled. "I remember the song of the traveling bards that filled city guard with new strength. Even clergy participated," she nodded to a man sitting in the corner.

He was a curious sight, to some, even more curious than a black-scaled Dragonborn woman he was talking with. The man was bare-feet and bare-chested, dressed only in plain pants. Tall and muscular, unnaturally attractive. He seemed to be in his mid forties, but his shoulder-long hair was already grey. On his forearm was a tattoo depicting scarlet lips.

"Yes, he may be one of Sharess own and a whore, but when push came to shove, he packed a mean divine punch. I'm sorry, I'm talking like it was all mages," she smiled apologetically. And nodded her head again, this time to a dark-skinned woman with amber eyes. "They were fewer than I make it sound. The bulk of city's forces was guards, like Morell over there, plus a few mercenary companies city hastily employed. You are looking at the Nyits hero. None slew more pirates than she did that night. But none of the others have produced quite the same effect. Look at me, I'm blabbering already. Are you sure you don't want to check out our... merchandise?"

Sharess - goddess of hedonism and carnal pleasures, also love and other sugary drivel.

Also, sorry, I got a bit carried away when answering question and wrote a lot more than I originally intended, but it's a pity to delete now.

Pict, the fact that Madame refused to talk doesn't mean everyone else will. There are waiters, bartender, there are patrons, there are whores, after all.

"Pict, do you want me to try to talk to her? I would need to know if we intend any harm to the man you're looking for. Also can he know that we are looking for him?"

"I don't want to hurt him, lass, if we can help it. But he may be dangerous. She did mention he was a powerful necromancer after all, and that can't be a good sign.."

Morell is a dark-skinned woman, war hero. The whore-priests name I'm yet to come up with.

" I might have a word with your priest later. Just a word. But right now, there's someone else that I'd like to speak to first." With that, Crassus will walk over to Morell and begin conversing. "I'm told that you're a bit of a hero for the way you defended this city during an attack some time ago. You mind telling me about that attack?"

Violet moves up to Madame Velvet with a friendly smile on her lips. She curtsies and addresses her

"May Sune always smile on your beauty and Waukeen support your business Madame Velvet. Could you please help us. It is very important for my friend to find this Brennan guy and we don't mean him any harm. I understand you are not in the business of rumor collection. But I'm sure there are some people in this city who are.I guess you would know them and they'd  appreciate it if you could maybe tell us where we could find such a person. You might also know who can be trusted and is capable. So is there any chance you could help us, please and what would it take for you to do so?"

"Will you stop pester me with this, dears? I told you, I can't help," tiefling rolls her eyes. "First and foremost, because the knowledge you seek is too far beneath my pay grade, I don't know everyone in the city, especially given the traveler traffic here. Talk to my employees if you must, one of the boys or girls might know something, but if you harass them or continue to harass me, you will leave my club and not come back."

Guys, Madame is unable to help. She is an important NPC and she knows shit about people in the city, which might or might not come in handy later, but she can't possibly know everyone in a large port. Notice how she never asked your names? What makes you think she asks them of her other clients?

If you wish to look for answers here still, decide where you'd like to start and we'll work out way from that point. If not, you could always try other options.

Okay, Crassus, I'll write Morells response in the morning - it's 3 a. m. and I realy should've gone to bed by now. ;)

"I'm sorry to have bothered you Madame. We will look elsewhere."

Guardswoman put down her ale and looked at Crassus.

"You must've spoken to Velvet," she comments. "Look, it was not as heroic as she describes. At least, it didn't seem so to me. Raiders attacked the port in the middle of the night. We knew the attack was coming, just didn't know when exactly. We were still prepared though. Their ship cut though ours at will, but it bought us enough time to regroup and hide those who can't fight under the dome Red Wizards made. When the fighting finally started, it was chaos. Yes, mages covered our defence, but it wasn't until hours into battle when they finally organized and coordinated with us."

She sighed.

"It was chaos. And in a middle of it, a young guardswoman, months out of training. I was just trying to stay alive and protect my home, I  din't think what I was doing, I just went out and threw myself at them. I survived by dumb luck and protection of my friends. Some of them weren't as lucky," she took deep gulp from the mug. "And since I was, I now drink for free here."

"And who were these raiders exactly? Anyone worth knowing about?"

"Dead guys, that's who. They call themselves Felicisima Armada," Morell replies. "Just a loud bunch of nobodies who think that they can do what they want once off solid ground. I know little about them and I don't really care enough to find out."

"Thanks for your assistance."  Then Crassus will walk over to Madame Velvet. "Call up that whore-priest for me. I'd like to speak with him about that raid." I'll also speak to Pict. "One of the whores here also works as a cleric. Maybe he might know something about your tattooed man."

"It is not often that my employees are sought for talking," Velvet smiles. "Very well. Ander, dear. You have a... visitor."

The man breaks off the conversation and gets up from his chair. He's older than most here (save, perhaps, for Pict), but his moves are smooth, almost feline somehow. He walks up to Crassus.

"What can a humble sensate of Sharess help you with today?" he says, smiling. You can't help but feel at ease. This must be magic of some sort, yet Ander cast no spells. Bizarre ways of his goddess, perhaps. "Join me at my table. There we can discuss what I can do to help you discover the greatest of my mistresses gift."