At the Executioner's Run:

The sharp bone shards slice open Reng's arms and Torso, but by simply barreling through the splinters, she maintains her solid seating on the dinosaur, to the loud cheers of the onlookers above, who almost seem like they can taste the blood. The panther is meanwhile bolting as far south and away from the dinosaur as possible, met by hisses from the crowd, particularly those who bet on the panther's racking up a kill count. Fang, the panther is about level with you, but with the entire width of the pit between you.

Fang keeps moving towards the side opposite where he came in. Keeping his eyes out for any variances I’m the ground the could indicate any kind of trap. He’ll keep as much distance from the Dino and the panther as possible. 

Shae would snap her fingers, crystalizing and freezing the water pooled on the ground to create a slippery environment to run through the room.

Spell: Shape Water

Perception: 11 to see if she recognizes Mulligan? Deceived!

At the party:

Outside of the library, you hear a minor commotion and you hear some voices carry above the others: "Where did he go?....  But he was just there before? .... Could this be another trick? ...That would be amazing".

At the same time, a third guard pokes their head into the room: "Mmmm, what's up folks?"

Professor, you're somewhat surprised at the third guard, he must have come from a breakroom nearby. Looking over the larcenous halfling, you don't notice anything hidden or particular about him. That is, apart from what seems to be an ancient rod of some kind stuffed down the front of his shirt now.

Shae, the water freezes, and the merchant prince seems to wink at the display and the revelation that the vase didn't just break accidentally.

Otto, what do you want to do?

Otto makes one more attempt to free himself of the guards' grip (Acrobatics: 15) but either way he doesn't attempt to flee again, knowing he is surrounded by powerful magic-users. Instead he looks down at the rod in his shirt (or takes it out if his hands are free) and says: Oh. Yes. Well, it was interfering with my reflection while I was... It had dust on it and I thought it needed... I think someone had put it in the wrong cabinet, and I was going to put it back in it's rightful... But it's such a very nice-looking little toy, can I keep it? Pleeease?

 The squirming halfling briefly gets a hand free, which he uses for wild gesticulations, but the other guard quickly clamps down in a rather painful hold that blocks his shoulder.

Wakanga gives a cruel smile that doesn't reach his coal-black eyes. Touching one of his rings, with a sapphire inlaid, he says: "Be quiet now and follow the guards."

WIS save: 13

Otto follows along as directed, but continues speaking, and manages to reach his horn with his free hand: Ok, ok. I'll be quiet. Quiet as a mouse. Quiet as a mute mouse with a muzzle. You won't hear a peep out of me, no sir. I'll be as silent as the 'p' in pterodactyl. I'll be as silent as a lute - no strings attached. Honk! Honk! Did you know I used to do a gig as a mime? They gave me the sack, said I wasn't cut out for it. I asked 'Was it something I said?' Honk! Honk! I had another friend that became a mime. I haven't heard from him since. Honk! Honk! I knew this mime once who locked himself in a greenhouse. Was a week before anyone realised he needed help. Honk! Honk! That's reminds me of a riddle: There was a green house. Inside the green house there was a white house Inside the white house there was a red house. Inside the.... What was I talking about again?

     As the guards leave the room, the thief in tow, Mulligan steps in and blocks one with the lesser grip and takes over escorting the prisoner from him.  Firm grip on the Halfling's upper arm, Mulligan does his most serious grumpy guard voice.  "Well done, but there's more of these lousy 'performers' about!  I'll escort this half-pint, you two go down there and make sure he has no collaborators down there!"

     Brusquely dragging the Halfling along the direction it seemed the real guards were intended, Mulligan gives them a "Now!" before looking down at the Halfling and whispering "That was sloppy!"

Couple rolls to determine how well Mulligan does:

     If Mulligan noticed the rod in the Halfling's shirt, Mulligan makes a bit of a show of shaking the other man a bit, trying to pocket said rod himself, unbeknownst to onlookers or the little thief....

Glasses:

Trying to follow what is going on, the hapless Professor says, “Not to be indelicate, Prince, but I believe the miscreant still has the item from the display case on his person.”

Insight on the new guard, fwiw:  6

Wakanga mutters a little curse: "He's a squirmy one...hold him here, if I leave you alone with him, it won't be too long before he convinces you he really owns this palace." If Mulligan and Otto don't resist, the halfling is brought back to the library, and the staff is removed and placed back into the showcase.

"While you might have been quite the attraction at the Executioner's Run tomorrow, I can use men of a strong mind. You seem to want my staff. I have an offer for the Professor and Lady Shae. Should they accept, there might be a way for you to earn what you tried to steal...

Before he continues, he looks at the Professor and Shae: "Forgive me for presuming, but I take it you know how to handle someone like him, you both seemed ready to come to my defence." Then, looking at all three, he continues:

"Lady Shae, I might be able to grant your wish. An associate of mine, Silas Sunderspear, was meant to receive part of the shipment of the Empress for their ongoing campaigns to rid Chult of the undead. Without their weapons, one of their outposts was overrun two weeks ago. I heard news that a group managed to fight their way out and set up camp further south, but their situation is dire. I ask you and your associates to make for Camp Vengeance, near the spring of the Soshenstar River. Know that having a merchant prince as a friend and ally is a very good situation to be in, but that I am also happy to help fund your next expedition, or else provide you half that amount to live like princes in the city. Shall you accept, you will be leaving in three days. What say you?"

     Mulligan walks the halfling back into the room, staying as close to the door as possible.  He listens avidly to the discussion and wonders what Waking may want with a caught thief other than food for his pets, so this is something he definitely wants to hear.  So he keeps a hold of Otto, so nobody else feels the need to, and stays, watching everyone closely...

Glasses:

“What task would you have us accomplish upon arrival at this  Camp Vengeance, and what is their purpose in traveling so deeply into the jungle?” asks the Professor warily, already forcefully reminded of Faekin’s betrayal when faced with the prospect of a deceptive *ally* in their ranks.

”I am already inclined to agree, especially if this ‘provisioning’ includes aid with a few vexing issues with which I have been dealing,” Snively adds, not to seem ungrateful.

When Wakanga would say he has an offer for them, turning around to look, Shae would pause in place like she was getting caught. She had begun picking up the pieces of the vase she knocked over when the Prince was busy retrieving his rod from the halfling. Now the bundle of shards were in a held out layer of her dress and Shae was making her way back to the Professor to ask him to mend it for her.

Shae would still reach out to give Snively a gentle tap to help her out. Once the vase was repaired, she would use her magic to unfreeze the water and return it to the vase. She'd gingerly collect the flowers and return it all to its rightful place. As she listened to Prince Wakanga, Shae would smooth out her dress. He'd been addressing her as Lady... 'Lady of the Amethyst Order'... She has never been addressed by that.

Stepping forward, Shae would move closer to the Merchant Prince, blue eyes locking onto his. "I say you found a job that aligns with some interests." She'd pause to pat her nose before gesturing. "What else can I expect from a Merchant Prince in three days?"

Glasses:

”But of course,” says the Professor absentmindedly, mending the base with a simple cantrip, though his focus remains on the prince.

Wakanga seems to delight at your assent: "My associate asked in particular for medical supplies for their sick and indicated that there was another local issue that they needed help with. If I wasn't tied up with my political affairs here in the city, I'd have half a mind of going there myself, but alas, I am not able. And the defence of Port Nyanzaru is one thing, but the Order of the Gauntlet has set their sights on dealing with the threat of the undead permanently, and for that they are pushing ever further into the jungle to find the source of this scourge." Shae, as far as you can tell, the merchant prince seems forthright with his information, and not like he is trying to hide anything, now that you both agreed in principal to have the odd halfling accompany you.

Wakanga then turns to Shae: "Many provisions are the remit of other merchant princes. Most travelling gear and other items such as raincatchers I can organise for you easily enough, as Ekene-Afa is a friend and ally in the council. I don't think you'll need a guide, as the way to the camp is reasonably well explored and I can provide you with maps, but if you wish to hire one, I can make introductions to Jobal, so that you'll get a good guide, rather than a charlatan. As for rations, medical supplies and insect repellent though" he sighs, "that's Kwayothé's business and she's likely to refuse your request just out of spite. But I'm willing to make the introduction to her too. She's most likely going to be at the Executioner's run tomorrow, after she condemned four people for the trial. The coming carnage is likely to have her in a better than normal mood. Even if she doesn't agree to sell you the items requested, I have enough medical supplies in my own stores to satisfy Silas' request, but I have few other means for your own party, unfortunately."

Then, Wakanga turns to Otto: "I am not a vengeful or a cruel man. If you prove that you can be trusted despite your oddities, I am willing to compensate you similar to the Professor and the Lady Shae and we forget this unfortunate incident. What say you?"

     Mulligan loosens his grip on Otto.  Not such as others would notice but Otto would definitely note the change from fingers biting into his arm to merely resting upon him and know that he was, in effect, loose.  At the same time Mulligan whispers to his captive "That certainly sounds better than the Executioner's Run."

     Mulligan is still a bit unsure about what is going on here but he quickly realized he's standing amidst people who are not your typical gala attending marks.  Still, funding and compensation sound like they are being tossed around freely...

     Then again, Camp Vengeance doesn't necessarily sound like the most hospital place...

     On the other hand, he has been thinking he may have made too much of a name for himself here lately.  Never good to have too much attention on you...

     Yet traveling with this Shae did not sound bad...

     Though... undead?  When does that get fun?

     And there is the whole lack of a way in...  But one could always talk away that bother....

The threat of the Executioner's Run certainly got Otto's attention, but then he struggled to see how keeping the rod was connected to the grumpy gnome and the pretty lady accepting something. He tried to listen, and was interested up to the point when the prince told the lady "I might be able to grant your wish", but then things got boring after that. Otto spent the next minute or so pondering what it was the lady might be wishing for, and what magnificent power the Prince had that he could grant wishes. Maybe he controlled a djinni. Maybe he owned a magic wishing ring. Maybe he...

Otto's thoughts were interrupted with a shake from the guard's hand on his shoulder, who indicates that Otto has just been asked a question. Somehow Otto remembers having heard something about an 'unfortunate incident', and thinks it's something to do with the broken vase. Still not really understanding what's going on, but somehow aware that he has been offered money, Otto says:

That's okay, your grace, I'd rather keep the staff than take your money. Not that I would mind a bit of money. I'm always a little short. Honk Honk. You might say that I'm 'not afraid of change'. Honk Honk. The only place I ever find 'money' is in the dictionary. Honk Honk. I might be better at magic if I was a witch-man. Honk Honk.

Otto is only getting cold stares now, so he decides to quit with the jokes. He has the vague idea that he's just agreed to something...

Shae would listen intently to Wakanga as he lay out further details. There were a few points that caught her attention, though she wouldn't interrupt, even when the halfling would continue his bit. It bought her time to mull over her thoughts and although the honking could get old fast, she couldn't deny that some of his jokes were landing.

"I wonder if it's related to the same undead we saved the others from..." Murmuring under her breath, Shae would cast a glance to the Professor nibbling on the inside of her lip before looking back to the Merchant Prince.

"Seeing as we are taking this jokester off your hands," She'd gesture to the halfling. "I trust my right to choose the rest of our crew will be honoured?" Shae would smile sweetly.

Without her notebook on her person, the scholar would have to make a mental note of their promised provisions and potential options. As she reviewed the information the Prince presented, her hand would tilt at her wrist, slender fingers tracing with the smallest of motions as she did, as if scribing in her mind.

Shae would nod respectfully to Wakanga breaking her silence. "Mission supplies, raincatchers and maps." She'd confirm what the Prince will be providing. "Minimal starting provisions. An optional guide should we choose, and a not so promising business meeting with Kwayothé." She'd summarize. Blue hues would search the Merchant Prince some more, "Besides carnage, is there any other means of putting ourselves in her favour?" It was worth the ask if they wanted to sweeten Kwayothé up or get on her good side. Shae preferred to come prepared.

Wakanga displays a wide smile: "Of course! Anything to get you there fast and in one piece!" When the subject matter turned to Kwayothé, his smile faded:"Anything that would strengthen her positionamong the merchant princes. She has an open rivalry with Zhanti, and a more indirect one with me. If you want to get entangled in the politics of Port Nyanzaru, there might be a way to get on her good side, though I don't know why you'd want to. Oh, but there's one thing- She's a gambler, but she cares for her name, and she's based her power on the support of the people. You might be able to use that to your advantage."

Glasses:

”I think a trusted guide would be most useful, though we have a companion who is well-versed in jungle lore if we can convince him to join us.  Supplies for the journey—both for us, and a greater amount for the fort, would travel well with magically light containers.  In addition, there are a few items I wish to discuss of a more personal nature with you, Prince Wakanga, now that we have agreed to this expedition, if I may beg your indulgence,” says the Professor.