Snippet is ready to go, putting some trust in Shago's sincerity. 

Leah silently nods in approval.

"If you don't mind, I have to do some other stuff first... It's in the harbormaster’s office... Last thing, just in case you don't feel betrayed when I tell y'all later, a guide has to be paid to do his job... And of course, the best one has to be paid too." His cocky smile makes it clear he's referring to himself to every single observer. "Five gold a piece a day and a 30-day advance. For that, you get the best guide. For that, you get the mighty Shago!"

"And you're the best?" Spider says with obvious doubt
Insight: 17

"I will pay you for myself and my companions, by providing you with your rations for the trip, I will also stabilize you if you shouldbe dying. I fair trade I believe?" Persuasion (if needed 13)

Grungle scratches his chin with his large hairy hand and looks at the guide with suspicion. “How do we know that you won’t ditch us in the forest once you get your pay? He isn’t the smartest negotiator but handing a salesman full pay without service is usually not a good idea.

Cederick looks at Shago  for a moment his mouth opening and closing a few times as words, for once, fail to come to his lips. Then his face changes, a grin appears, and widens until his face is one large smile. Then he lets out a long laugh that goes on for a few moments. With his eyes watering and a few guffaws still coming out, Cederick says to Shago. "You almost had me there! 150 gold in advance." Shaking his finger at the guide, he adds. "You are quite the jester, sir! Tell you what, how about 10 gold as a retainer, and 2 gold per day payable upon our safe return." Thinking from a moment longer he adds "I'll even add in 10% of my share of whatever we find along the way." With a wink he adds, "for as the ancient text says, 'Travel not into the unknown alone.'"

"Of course I am the best, you can ask any member of the Flaming Fist, they all know me there."

Result to Spider's Insight check:

 He looks down to the small Snippet and chuckles as a response. "Sorry, you're gonna trade my full pay to give me food and care for my health? I kinda really need to decline that offer, I have enough to eat for myself, and I'm way too strong to be needing a little halfling's help..."

To Grungle, whose size impressed Shago, who was also quite tall himself, he gives a cocky smile. "Oh, so you don't trust Shago here to keep his promise? Well, I don't know how I can make you trust me. Well, it's not a way to prevent it, but I live and work here in Port Nyanzaru, you could easily just come back and tell other people if you think I did a bad job. Although, that really never happened, about Shago, only good responses come."

Cederick needs to roll a Persuasion to try to convey his idea to Shago.

Persuasion Roll: 3

"Judge not by size my friend, I know better than most that a mere spore can kill a man or beast if ingested. Talking about size, rations are bulky and heavy, while one of these..." Here I try to bedazzle him by moving and hands around in a mumble jumble manner (Performance 14) and then produces 10 Goodberries when he isn't looking and picking a berry, hands it to him. "...will sustain you for a day, and you don't need to carry any food." I then hand one berry to each member of the party, keeping 4 for myself. 

Leah, having nothing of value to offer, keeps quiet and observes the exchanges. She holds her hands together, fingers down, allowing only her fingertips to touch, as she relaxes her body, clears her mind, and tries to let the natural flow of energy guide her feelings. 

Insight 21

Grungle sits quietly listening to the conversation. He knows they need a guide and they need to get moving on this quest. Grungle suddenly speaks up, “How about you take care of what you need to and meet up wit us after. We will come to terms then.” 

“I’d like to get moving. I’ll sponsor your upfront cost. And we will get you your gold when we return.”

spider plops down 150gold

Quote from NYCowboysFan71 >>

Cederick looks at Shago  for a moment his mouth opening and closing a few times as words, for once, fail to come to his lips. Then his face changes, a grin appears, and widens until his face is one large smile. Then he lets out a long laugh that goes on for a few moments. With his eyes watering and a few guffaws still coming out, Cederick says to Shago. "You almost had me there! 150 gold in advance." Shaking his finger at the guide, he adds. "You are quite the jester, sir! Tell you what, how about 10 gold as a retainer, and 2 gold per day payable upon our safe return." Thinking from a moment longer he adds "I'll even add in 10% of my share of whatever we find along the way." With a wink he adds, "for as the ancient text says, 'Travel not into the unknown alone.'"

Persuasion Roll: 15

Quote from Flyingmatthew >>

"Judge not by size my friend, I know better than most that a mere spore can kill a man or beast if ingested. Talking about size, rations are bulky and heavy, while one of these..." Here I try to bedazzle him by moving and hands around in a mumble jumble manner (Performance 14) and then produces 10 Goodberries when he isn't looking and picking a berry, hands it to him. "...will sustain you for a day, and you don't need to carry any food." I then hand one berry to each member of the party, keeping 4 for myself. 

 It seems the repeated attempts are starting to annoy him, but he shrugs and says. "Look, I don't think neither of you understand... I don't decide the prices here... Any guide you ask around will ask the exact same as me, so if you don't accept my price, you might as well not go with a guide at all..." He stops and shows his bright grin again, not looking so much as happy as just a smug face. "... but since you're all so reluctant, and Shago's feeling specially nice, you can make my offer with 4 coins a day, it's that or the deal's off. The other deal is giving me an equal share of the treasure, but I wouldn't be surprised if you thought that was too much..."

Quote from Goingcrazy614 >>

Grungle sits quietly listening to the conversation. He knows they need a guide and they need to get moving on this quest. Grungle suddenly speaks up, “How about you take care of what you need to and meet up wit us after. We will come to terms then.” 

 "If the group is conflicted, I'm fine letting it for later so you can decide... Just note, that Shago won't be happy if by the time I meet you again, you already have found another guide..."

“Shango, I’m sorry my friends just love a good deal. We mean no disrespect. Here is your gold. We would be absolutely pleased for you to join us. I will pay Your 150gold up front right now” 

he counts it out and plops it on the table. 

“No hard feelings.”

Quote from YoFizz >>

“Shango, I’m sorry my friends just love a good deal. We mean no disrespect. Here is your gold. We would be absolutely pleased for you to join us. I will pay Your 150gold up front right now” 

he counts it out and plops it on the table. 

“No hard feelings.”

Leah opens one eye and peeks at Spider with slight surprise and confusion.

“Time is of the essence my dear Leah. The man is confident. And I trust his skills are at least adequate for our needs and we needn’t waste his time or ours.”

"Agreed" says Cederick. "Now let us be off to the forest. Syndra knows we are headed there, so no need to check back in with her." Cederick gathers his things and prepares to go. "Lead the way, Shago, we shall follow." 

"Sounds like a plan, lead on" Snippet says, trying to mollify the annoyed guide.

"Alrighty, good you've came to accept the offer so easily, it takes a few weeks to convince some..." Shago takes the bag, without counting the money himself, and pockets it in the simple bag on his back. "Just so you know, I still have to be at the harbormaster's office in a few minutes, so if you really want to talk to your friend, Shago's advice is to do exactly that."