J'Sahriel opens her mouth to respond to the comment about the ogre or troll, but stops without saying anything.

She gives the warforged a long, scrutinizing look, trying to determine if he's just messing with her.

His face is completely unreadable.

 "Well, of course he is," mutters Berlyn under her breath. Then turns her attention to the discussion of the expedition. She examines the map, her shoulder tingling. At Trigger's comments about the cogs, she looks up. 

"Don't worry Riel, this sounds more exciting than the Great Hunt in the King's Forest! And all that dueling practice may come in handy." 

Then, turning to professor Daela, she asks, "Anything else you can tell us about this schema or the Cannith Lab, Professor...or Mr. Kant? Like, what it's for or what they were working on down there?"

"The truth is we don't know much about this schema," Professor Daela nods toward Berlyn. "It's a schema, I believe, from an age before our own. I'm particularly interested as it's rumored to have come from Xendrik. It will take me months, possibly a few years, to decode the schema. Translation and arcane trial and error is an arduous process-"

"What the prof means to say is, no we don't know much. This is a Cannith Foundry from a time before the War of the Mark in -493 YK," Haras Kant's eyes seem to gleam as he discusses this. "Unearthing a schema from over a millennium ago. The professor thinks it may even be from the Age of Giants. A marvelous and remarkable find... if it turns out to be what we hope. Of course, we will pay you the same regardless of its authenticity." 

"And could you remind us again, Mr. Kant, exactly how much that is you're willing to pay us for this potentially world-shaking discovery?  Especially since it now also seems riskier than previously anticipated?"

J'Sahriel definitely still looks nervous about the potential dangers in the Cogs, but she's doing her best to not let it show.

"That is fascinating, it really is. It would probably mean something for someone who helped find it, for their reputation, that is." Ignoring the question about more payment, Berlyn eyes shine. "Yes, this sounds like a fine adventure!"

"It does sound like a fine adventure." Emanuel agrees.  "Don't you agree Lily?  Its no stargazing, exact opposite really; but what's life without variation." Eman smiles slyly towards Lily; already hooked for the adventure.

"Hum hum?" Professor Daela scratches his head. "I thought I had told you that, my dear."

"230 galifars." Haras Kant nods. "More than fair, wouldn't you say?"

(If you are trying to negotiate a higher amount, please make your case and roll persuasion. I will allow 1 person to help, but they also must describe it. Only 1 person will roll to persuade. If the roll and argument fail, then the offer will remain the same. Take to Discord if you'd like to strategize!)

J'Sahriel gives Kant a cautiously suspicious look.

"I'm not sure I'd say 'more than fair,' but I don't exactly have the context or experience to argue the point either."

She pauses with a thoughtful sigh.

"But the 230gp is just for the schema, right?  Anything else we find is ours to sell or do with as we please?"

Daela nods. "Just as you said. I'd say the payment is fair. House Deneith charges around that amount for their services in this regard."

Trigger speaks directly to the professor, 

"In that case, I believe all that remains is your approval of the party. We can then requisition supplies and be on our way."

"That's what the man said, Jhess," (Berlyn like to switch up the nicknames), "We'll be fine!" She leans back over the map and while others are talking she is going to mutter something under breath and perform some presumable hand calisthenics for violin playing and casts detect magic.

(mostly for fun to see how many magical objects are in the room and what her party members might be holding. She gets to do this at-will! I am not too concerned with schools of magic.)

Lily listens intently to the discussion, focusing more on reading this man and seeking to understand his motives more than the discussion about payment. "Indeed, Eman, I think this sounds like quite the adventure! While I will miss looking at the skies during this time, it's like you said darling. Life would be boring without something to change it up now and again."

Insight - 22

(Lily knows the offer is fair enough but is still on the lower end. She's had experience in her time schmoozing with adventurers in other personalities. This work can pay a little better than 230 g. In fact, she thinks if she plays her cards right everyone could walk out of here with 60g a piece. Maybe more!)

Lily smirks a bit as she looks over Kant. "Milord, you say that your offer of payment is 'fair', but is it really?" She offers up a bit of a pouty look. "I mean, my colleagues and I will be the ones taking all the risk while the good professor will get the credit of the archaeological find and all the information to be had from such a historical artifact. While you..." She taps her lower lip with a finger, looking momentarily confused. "What exactly do you get from all this, milord? Are you a learned man of history like the professor?" Her eyes light up like she just made a brilliant connection. "Yes! It is quite obvious to me now. So, being such an intelligent man of obvious great import considering your are funding this endeavor, I imagine you stand to make a bit of profit from this as well possibly. Given we will have no vested interest in earning additional funds following our journey below, perhaps you could find it within your not inconsiderably deep pockets to perhaps pay each of us... 60 galifars each? What do you say to that, milord?"

17 - Persuasion

Emanuel smiles at Lily; but keeps quiet.  'She knows what she's doing', he thinks to himself.

"Mr Kant," Berlyn interjects hoping to aid Lily in her negotiation, "it would seem this relic is quite important to you, as well as to the professor. Here before you is quite a competent crew interested in performing the service of its retrieval, but I am sensing a bit of hesitation in light of this new information regarding its location. A little extra, a mere pittance to someone of your station, I believe would greatly increase their motivation." She looks at him intently trying to channel the confidence and resolve she has seen in her father during his negotiations. Though her motivation for retrieving the schema is not monetarily motivated, she realizes now it is the principle of the thing, that they should not be taken advantage of.

The professor looks from you all back to his benefactor. Haras seems to take in what you say. A somewhat skeptical look flashes in his features for a moment, but then he shrugs, "Alright then," he smiles, "if 60 gals is what motivates you, then so be it."

At this point, Berlyn's spell goes off. Spoiler is for Berlyn to know!

Trigger tilts his head slightly and looks directly at Kant for the first time this whole meeting.