Above & Below

Kurama Perception Check: 27 (Natural 20)

"I really don't think that's nec- Pip!" Kurama exclaimed mid sentence as he noted the goblin trying to snatch the notebooks while he wasn't looking.  "I already told you all.  It'll be fine if I simply don't use them for a while."  Kurama retorted to the others as he held his bag close to himself; his voice and manner growing uncharacteristically animated (at least compared to his mild standards).  "And if I'm being truthful, if you would all simply drop the issue for the time being, then there wouldn't be a concern of drawing undue attention to ourselves."  

Pip leaps back as he's found out. "Sorry, sorry. We're all worried!" He circles back around to join the others.

You notice the caravan starts to ever-so-gently drift from heading directly west to heading more south-southwest. 

Keep an eye on him, Brask says quietly to Pip, though probably still loud enough for most of those nearby to hear.  I reckon those notebooks are more magic crap.  

In a louder, 'public' voice, Brask announces.  Well, are we keeping up with the merchants?  Better not get left behind, eh?

Effort rolls her eyes and sighs, rubbing her forehead and muttering under her breath.  She looks up at Kurama.  "No one is trying to take your belongings from you, Kurama.  I simply wish to examine them for traces of arcane energy.  Perhaps someone put a spell on them.  You can entrust your precious books to me, and I will ensure they come to no harm.  You will get them back soon enough after I have taken a look at them."  (Deception: 17: 15 + 2 Guidance) 

"Pip was only trying to help you, you know.  As are the rest of us.  Now, I agree with Brask... let's get going before we lose the safety of this caravan."

Kurama Insight Check: 27 (Haha Nat20 again!  The dice gods really want Kurama to hold on to these books XD)

Kurama looked at Effort for a moment before turning to Brask and saying, "You're right, we should probably keep up." before promptly moving in the direction the caravan was headed.

Effort twitches, then follows after Kurama, stone-faced.  "This is going to turn into a problem, isn't it," she mutters to Brask, her annoyance shining through very clearly in the flicking of her tail.

You turn with the caravan and start to make your way further into the interior. As you pass by a few wagons, the central market is revealed to you. In the center are a pair of huge, gray beasts with floppy ears and long, curved trunks. Imposing tusks protrude from their faces. Between them, the central tent is held up by a thick floor of wooden planks. Each side is held up by one of these creatures, with the red and blue tent reaching upwards another fifteen or so feet into the sky. At the back, there is a set of steps leading up to the tent, with a gap of a few feet between the ground and the first step.

The horses and wagons are nicer here in the interior, and the stalls seem to be offering at least slightly more attractive foods, weapons, and so on.

Brask is keeping up, and has a wary eye on Kurama, but is also interested in the great beasts at the centre of the market, and wanders over to see if he can pet one.

Give me an animal handling or nature check.

Brask, drawing on his vast experience with animals back in the arena (he is actually proficient in animal handling), attempts to reassure the large creature:  13 

Kurama could feel a strong itch at the back of his mind to reach for a notebook and sketch a diagram of the fascinating creatures in front of him.  Though seriously tempted, he held off for the time being and did his best to memorize everything he would want to remember about them for future documentation.

As you approach the large tent, Brask reaches out gently toward one of the creatures. It turns its head as it continues to slowly walk onward, lowering it slightly and allowing Brask to place his hand on its forehead. The creature seems to warm up to him immediately, pulling up its trunk and flopping it on the minotaur's shoulder in a somehow reassuring way. Its huge ears flap back and forth.

From the back staircase, a pair of elves descend, hop off, and head toward the back of the caravan. "Pleasure doing business with you!" A bald man with a long, gray beard waves from the middle of the staircase. His eyes turn toward you. "Greetings, travelers! Is there anything I can help you with? You won't find stranger and more unique items anywhere on the continent!" The man seems friendly enough, although there are more burly looking guard-types hanging around the sides of the large mobile tent.

Continuing to be fascinated by the tusked creatures - and Brask's sudden connection to them - Kurama was grateful for a distraction when the bearded man came into view and address them.  Turning to the bearded man and said, "Hello!  Perhaps you can help us with something.  We are in search of a particular person and were hoping you or someone from the caravan might be able to help us.  We also have an item whose purpose remains unknown to us if you would be willing to take a look at it as well.  Would it be possible to speak in private?"  

"Step inside my tent, good sir!" He calls out with a slightly raspy voice before heading back inside. 

You follow him up the staircase after hopping up carefully onto the lower step. Inside the tent flaps, you find a square room about 15-20 feet on its sides. It sways gently as it moves along, but you get used to balancing rather easily. Low shelves sit on every wall, containing viles of liquids and potions. Each has its own tiny slot so they aren't shaking around as the caravan moves. Scrolls are tied up and displayed in boxes at the far end, and a small ladder climbs up to a second level which appears to be the man's sleeping quarters. You can at least make out some blankets hanging over the side.

Effort sighs in contentment.  "This seems to be a place of learning," she observes as she steps inside the tent.  The scrolls bring back memories of masquerading as a human in the Temple, and tending to the libraries there, and for a moment Effort is wistful of the peaceful life she once had as a scribe and researcher.  How things have changed, she thinks, her eyes lingering on the tomes of knowledge.  It was likely destined, she figured... no life of true peace could be built on a lie, after all.

Turning to the merchant, she smiles.  "Might we have your name, good sir?  I am Effort, and these are my companions, Kurama, Brask, and Pip.  We are most interested in the wares you have to offer... if the price is right," she adds archly.

"Oh, haha," the man pulls at his beard. "Isn't that always the trick of it! I am Zardeir. Pleased to make your acquaintance. I have much for sale! Potions that will heal, alter, and augment! Scrolls imbued with the very essence of arcane spells! It's a thing to behold. What can I interest you in? And who is this person you're on the search for? Many come through Zardeir's tent."

"I've an interest in both potions and scrolls, as well as a possibly magic dagger to offer in exchange, though perhaps it's best if we allow my friend here to state his business about this individual first," she says, nodding at Kurama.  Turning her head slightly, she squints at the monk.  "Be polite," she tells him directly, in an attempt to help him avoid the same social faux-pas as occurred with the Sister.  Thinking about it, she also reinforces the message with a warning slap on the shoulder, to give him guidance.

Effort, give me a pure d20 luck check to see if Zardeir is carrying a certain scroll you might be interested in. DC12. 

Quote from Enkida >>

"I've an interest in both potions and scrolls, as well as a possibly magic dagger to offer in exchange, though perhaps it's best if we allow my friend here to state his business about this individual first," she says, nodding at Kurama.  Turning her head slightly, she squints at the monk.  "Be polite," she tells him directly, in an attempt to help him avoid the same social faux-pas as occurred with the Sister.  Thinking about it, she also reinforces the message with a warning slap on the shoulder, to give him guidance.

A bit distracted by all the items in the pavilion and wrongly assuming that Effort would bring up the Sisters herself, he was a bit surprised when she pushed him to the forefront.  Nevertheless, he quickly cleared his throat before saying, "Oh!  Yes that.  Well we are on a mission of sorts to find the three Sisters and were told that one of them has been known to travel in this general area.  We were hoping that you, or someone else in the caravan, might've either seen or heard where one of them may have recently been seen."   

After pausing for a moment, his curiosity got the best of him and added, "And I must ask, what are those horned creatures?  I've never heard or seen anything like them!"  (I'm assuming)

• Persuasion if needed? (with advantage due to help): 17/ 10 + 1 = 18

He freezes for a moment when you mention the Sisters. After composing himself, he looks at you with a questioning glance. "Why would you be looking for the Sisters? Around here we consider it a blessing every fortnight we don't cross their path. One of them does travel the plains here, but where she is now is anyone's guess. There was a recent report that perhaps her presence was near but..." He squints as he looks at you. "Is there a reason she'd be seeking you out?"