“Agreed, 10 gold coins seems astronomical. And while we might get this figured out in an afternoon, we may need several days.” Replied the Tabaxi in similar, hushed tones.  ”I am not from near here, but it seems to me that these should be priced more similarly to coaches.” Twigs licked her paws thoughtfully, absentmindedly examining her paw pads. 

It seems to me that they are trying to take advantage of us because we look like tourists, or maybe he’s just hopeful to find a fool. Perhaps we can use one of these to our advantage.... 

“Care (Cor), R (Q), are you more familiar? Any suggestions?”

I wish to roll insight into the deal made by the lizardfolk. I'm trying to determine if he seemed like he was trying to take advantage of our lack of knowledge on the boats.

Insight:12

"I totally agree, I don't have much in the way of gold. Why don't we see if we can strike a bargain? Now Garth you don't seem to be most articulate of people but you know more about business then myself. Why don't you seek to barter with this man. I'll support your decision! Most likely." Cor says with as he pays Garth on his back. "And feel free to offer aid in place of money. I'm not a fan of manual labor but you seem strong. Maybe you can help them with something that will allow us to get a discount!"

For Cor:

 (OOC: because it's not on the map, Box Street is the first left immediately after crossing the bridge, bordering the bank.)

"I don't feel like this man has an ill intent. But he seemed a bit over eager for our patronage. Maybe that'll help you Gart!" Cor says with a thoughtful glance at the lizard man

Garth nodded to Cor and walked back towards the boats.  "Good day, Achuak. 10 gold per boat seems a bit pricey given the going rate for coaches around the city.  I reckon that a boat travelin' the Sunken Quarter is just a floatin' coach.  Any chance you can offer us a different rate?" Garth inquired, flashing a smile at the lizardfolk man.  "Or perhaps there is something that we can trade in exchange for the use of two boats?"

"Ah, yes, yes. Boat is a coach! Smart, friend. Unfortunately, many boats not coming back last two days. Bad business. Need higher price, no? Make up for risk. Box Street safe, though. More boats come back from Box Street. Queen Street... No boats." Achuak explained, raising his hands a bit as if to say there was nothing he could do. "Ten is price. I lose much money already."

When the lizardman explained that boats weren't coming back, Q perked up a bit and said, "Not coming back? Alright. You're on your own. I'm not dyin' cuz some old guy asked me to," and stalked away from the group.

Twig started at the abrupt departure of her smallest companion, surprised  eyes following the little halfling until she was out of sight. Stepping forward towards the lizardman, she raised her voice slightly to be heard “It would appear that we only have need for one vessel. Let’s come up with an agreement. We give you 12 gold now, and you charge us 5 silver per day for use of your boat. When we return your boat as promised, you will return to us the unused portion  of our deposit, still making 50x more money than on a standard fare, but the risk is mitigated. If, as you fear, the boat does not return, you get to keep the full 12 gold instead of 10.  What do you say?” Twig extended her paw to make the agreement. 

Persuasion: 18 

Achuak tried to follow along with the words but had a bit of trouble with the language that the strange cat-lady was using. His head hurt by the end of her schpeel and he just decided to trust her math and take the money.

"Excellent! I accept! You go to casino on Box Street, yes?" Achuak responded, nodding his head and shaking the offered paw with both of his clawed hands.

“We are going somewhere far more interesting,” smiled the Tabaxi as she boarded the skiff, pulling Garth and Cor along with her.

Achuak's smile faltered a bit as he followed the stranger to the boat, placing a clawed foot on the vessel. 

"Interesting? Yes, that is good. Not Queen Street, yes?" He asked eagerly.

“What could be more interesting than our own mystery compounded with disappearing boats? In other words, what could be more interesting than Queen Street? We are most definitely going down Queen Street” the Tabaxi grinned, beckoning Garth and Cor into the boat with her.

Achuak's smile completely disappeared at that point. 

"No. No boat for you. You want boat? You buy boat. Up. Up, up, up." Achuak said, gesturing for the Tabaxi to get out of the skiff and looking over at his human companions.

The humans stood up from their chairs and reached behind the boxes where they all pulled out Crossbow, Lights in an effort to convey what would happen if they tried to take the boat anyway.

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Cor exclaims while raising his hands. "Why such hostility? We have not done anything to warrant such aggressive action. Why don't you put those weapons away and explain why it is you are so adamant that we do not go with the boats? I thought we struck a great agreement."

Persuasion:18

The humans by the crates lowered their crossbows but kept them in-hand while Achuak turned to look over his shoulder at the half-elf. 

"I explain before! Boats on Queen Street no come back. No more lose boats. You go Queen Street, you no get boat. You want buy boat, you can go. Rent boat? No go." Achuak responded coldly, his language becoming more clipped and accented now that he was agitated. 

"Ah but my dear Achuak, I don't think we fully explained what it is we need these boats for. You see, we are on direct assignment by the great Master Arbane. He has personally tasked us with a mission to solve a problem for him in this part of the city. I believe that there may be a correlation between your and his problem. Now I am not saying that to hinder us is to hinder him, but I am saying that to aid and assist us would be to aid and assist him. Just imagine the benefit of having  a man such as him on your side." Cor explains with a big smile on his face.

Persuasion:12

"No. Now leave. No need help. Need to not lose more boats." Achuak responds, shooing you away.

Muttering in Elvish Cor looks at this lizard folk shaking his head and says, "You'll continue to lose boats if you don't seek to solve the problem but merely react but I doubt one such as yourself could understand that.

Come on you two, let'g get out of here. Maybe we can find a better merchant somewhere else."

With this, Cor turns away and starts heading down the road towards where the map shows the lake.

Twig follows Cor. 

"Well, that escalated quickly.  Perhaps a bit of discretion is warranted when we're negotiating our next skiff."  Garth said as they walked away from the bridge. "I bet if we just walk along the water we'll see another lot renting out their skiffs."

As you make your way North along the bank of the river - though it feels more like a shore - you see a number of barges making their way from the lake to the southern half of the city, carrying goods in the afternoon light. As you round the bend, you see a young couple walking hand-in-hand near the edge, alone on the vacant street but they would have been completely oblivious to anything around them with as engrossed in each other as they were. A small skiff, not unlike the ones that Achuak was renting, made its way along the shore behind them. There seems to be a lull in the traffic along the river because it's the only boat you see. Three figures sit in the boat as it sidles up to the shore, hooded despite the heat. One of the figures loops a rope around a tie-off and secures the boat before all three figures climb up the three or four-foot ledge to the street just behind the couple. All three draw long, curved blades from their sides as they approach the couple.

(OOC: The couple and the hooded figures are 60 feet in front of you. It seems that they didn't notice you because you had just turned around the corner. What do you do?)