Quote from LaRue >>

The goblin's ears drop at the mention of something rarer, "No. Nothing rare..." Despite his dejected tone, he perks up as he spots the two kithkin Darnic is with. "Say, say. Are you adventurers? I, Skakan, have lived down here for a long time. Information about people? Information about gangs? Maybe I know something... ask and I will name a price."

 Continuing in Goblin, “Dangers, customs, who to avoid, who to meet. What do we need to know to not be taken by surprise down here?”

"Good questions, good questions... maybe 50 sovereigns to know? For free to show I'm honest, a danger to yourself are largely the thugs and hooligans that live down here. Packs of shifters, the Red Jackals, think they own the place and that they own the sewers. Tryin' to make an honest living n' they ask us for protection money. Bah!"

Darnic waves his hand, ”Very well. You name a fair price. I trust that the information is worth it.” Darnic takes 5 gold coins from his personal stash, splits them between his knuckles, and passes them to the goblin.

Willie huddles next to Yrwin. She doesn't like the smell here, nor the atmosphere. This is a far place from a warm kitchen and fire.

Willie huddles next to Yrwin. She doesn't like the smell here, nor the atmosphere. This is a far place from a warm kitchen and fire.

Yrwin throws an arm around his cuzkin. "Should probably let Darnic and Archy do the talking here for a change. We stick out like an orc in a gourmet kitchen around these parts." He whispers pulling the collar of his shirt up a little.

With his Passive Perception of 16, and his being a Half-Orc, Darnic gives Yrwin a glance that can only mean, “Dude, what?” Before returning to his conversation.

(lmao, +1 inspiration to Darnic... )

Seeing the gold flicker in your hand, the goblin snaps to attention. 

"Oh mister, very generous. Very generous... First, I insist you don't flash too many more coins higher than a crown. No, sir, if you do that you might attract a bad eye. Next-" the goblin looks around to make sure no one is listening in. "Listen to old Skakan, Red Jackals might seem puny. A gang of shifters, but they are as much bite as they are bark. Never trust a Red Jackal, stranger. To them, you easy pickings. First, they ask for a toll and next... they jump you anyway. Untrustworthy shifters they are." He shakes his head like what's the world coming to these days. "You lookin' like adventurers, especially the kithkins there -" Skakan gestures to Yrwin and Willie in particular. "Blend in a little... say, I'll throw in these cloaks for you. No charge. No charge." He hands you two cloaks, kithkin/goblin-sized, that smell a bit, but might help the two of them blend in. 

"Anything else to help you with? Directions? You don't seem to know this place too well. Sharn is very large, you know, and Skakan knows the neighborhood and sewers well."

"How does one pick out a Red Jackal?" Archy asks "I mean, apart from the hair. I assume there are more shifters on this level than there are Jackals." 

"Just about any sneering shifter is a Red Jackal." The goblin replies to Archy, seeing that he's with Darnic. "Truthfully, they mostly roam the sewers scavenging and tricking gullible adventurers. They didn't always come around here, but they recently deposed the local sewer clan."

In Goblin once more, “Oh yeah? Who was that?”

Skakan brings Darnic closer and whispers, "The Quiet Folk. Gobs like me. Peaceful. Just wanted to live in peace. They tried to keep this territory, but the Red Jackals are thugs..."

"I.. I d-don't like the sound of these jackals. I find it rough enough to ask the overly drunk to leave the tavern.." Yrwin whispers to Willie. He puts on the cloak and pulls up the hood. Seemingly out of nowhere he pulls out one of the bisquits from earlier and tosses it to the goblin. "Don't know if food is scarce here, but no-one should go hungry anyway." A sheepish half-smile crosses the kithkins lips as he starts eating a semi-stale biscuit himself.

Willie puts on the cloak gratefully. She doesn't like the smell, but she is a practical girl, and knows the dangers of being caught by a group in a dark alleyway. She's glad to have her friends with her. "Thank you sir!"

The goblin, startled, catches the biscuit as though it were a rock being thrown at him. However, at Yrwin's statement, he sniffs the food. You can see his mouth water as he goes to take a bite. An exquisite expression overtakes Skakan's face as he slowly chews. Swallowing, he compliments in common, "Thank you. Thank you. Oh, taste just like the good smells from Ghallanda on the upper levels...

"No problem at all," Skakan stuffs the rest of the biscuit into his mouth. He mumbles, "I- just- like- helping-"

It is clear to you guys that this is probably the fanciest thing he's ever eaten in his life.

With Skakan fed, what do our heroes do? As a small reminder, your quarry is in the sewers - the E-213 Valve Cluster.

Archy nods to Skakan with a tip of his wide hat, and starts toward what will likely be a long journey.

Yrwin pulls his cloak up and skitters behind Archy as he leaves. "So, cuz. You have any idea where we are going at all? I know you probably are the one of us with most knowledge of these parts of town."

Before they leave, Darnic will ask Skakan one last question, “Before I go, how much for a guide to the E-213 cluster? We have business pertaining to it.”

"The E-213 cluster? Yes, I know of it," Skakan scratches his chin. "The way there is complex. I can lead you there if you'd like, but I will go home once I get you there... Don't want to hang around waiting for those shifters to come to get me. You look smart, you can probably find your way home after that."

“Of course. How much?” Darnic raises an eyebrow.