Uthal continues the rituals but speaks to Current as he does so. "I am a member of the Church of Light, a belief in the light as a force of good in the world. My praticular brand is a bit different than most. I believe that the light must also exist with the darkness, neither winning out but both in balance. A twilight state seen over by Selune. If anyone asks though, I am a devoted follower of Sune." He reaches into his bag and pulls out the Temple of Light pamphlet he got on the day this adventure began, handing it to Current.

Basement:

The three looked up from the table, as Henry entered with Atal, Anearis, and Austin. Other than a second door on the opposite side of the room, the inhabitants and the table contents were the only thing within it. On the table, between the three were several loose pieces of large parchment with what appeared to be detailed maps of single or a few close-knit buildings. Aside from that, a nearby open sack of gold and silver coins, tipped over and some spilling onto the table itself, a closed leather sack lay next to the halfling woman, and then a few lit lanterns. Otherwise, the room had nothing further, and was completely bare of decor.

The halfling woman wore a dull brown robe, similar to what a very lowly economic scholar may adorn while in a formal learning environment. The thin warforge wore a leather duster jacket, and was the only one of the three sitting at the table, but had the hits of two blades pertruding from behind his shoulders. The dwarf, a reddish haired woman, looked rough around the edges, from her facial expression alone. She wore a full frame-fitted brown studded leather armor, with multiple throwing axes worn about her belt and a black coat. Her fingers were covered in rings of various metals, none with gems of any kind.

When the three looked up, none made any move to adjust or hide anything on the table. The dwarven woman spoke. "I'd be Patty," she said almost demandingly; then settled into the question. "Now who be you?"

WotC:

Edward allowed Uthal and Current to stroll about the shop, doing their own business. He went behind the shop counter and began fiddling with a different contraption, than the one he and Henry were observing when the party first entered. The one was a square flat wooden platform about 2 feet by 2 feet. There were two wooden humoid figures with small metal pieces of armor standing across from each other, both holding up their fists. They lacked great detail. The fists were simply balls and the heads were round caps atop ball joints. Metal rods ran from the figures back and elbows to what appeared to be controls of some point on either end of the platform.

((OOC: During the travels, had anyone choose to do so, there would have been enough time for all to attune, if desired))

"Hello!" Atal says, raising his hand in a wave.  To Austin, he says, "Two-Blades is a very helpful guild member we met before you joined us.  He gave me my first job, the one that earned me the ire of the guards.  It would have been a walk in the park, too, if Zelda Berossus hadn't decided I'd make a wonderful test subject when we first met.  He also helped us escape from that dungeon, way back then."  He looks back at the three at the table.  "If Richter is on good terms with them, then they're good people."  

Stepping forward, he addresses Patty.  "My name is Atalura Naraith.  I arrived in Cathaan recently, and requested to join the guild.  But during that journey, I and my friends Anaeris and Austin," he says, gesturing to each, "got caught up in something much bigger.  A royal plot, involving lots of things which I hope your associates have already told you about.  But if you need, I can provide a brief recap of events.  I seem to be doing that a lot lately."  He pauses.  "Sorry, I'm not great with the social graces.  We're grateful that you're willing to hear us out, so thank you."

Basement:

"If it's all the same, we can skip the story. If the good Doc here is introducing you, means your either a mark or someone useful. Either way, means he's already looked inta you."

Remaining where she stood, as did the other two at the table, who have said and done nothing either than turn towards the party, Patty waved her hand towards the table. "Social graces can be done without. I'm in a bit of a rush, or I'd offa you a seat. But please, what is it, that you need?"

Austin looks to the others, waving her hand in a get on with it gesture. "This was your idea after all..." She comments dryly.

At Austin’s beckoning, Anearis moves forward while staying at a respectable distance from the table where the three figures are standing.

"We need to go to Shinra and stop whatever dark schemes the Berossus family are planning. But they hide in shadow and we do not know the city enough to seek them out efficiently. Time is of the essence and we need to find someone that knows the ins and outs of Shinra. Whatever help you can provide, we will be grateful for it."

Basement:

"So you need a guide in Shinra's city? But you need it to be someone shady and off the record, otherwise, you wouldn't have come here," Patty said folding her arms. "Well what've you got ta trade? I'm short staffed and my services don't come cheap."

Current flips through the pamphlet, very interested in what it has to say. Her faith lies elsewhere, but she was intensely curious about the worshipping rituals and beliefs of landlubber religions. To Uthal she asks, "So you pretend that you are a follower of Sune, but in reality, you follow Selune? Why do you hide your true faith?"

Uthal absent-mindedly spins the holy symbol in his hand. "I am already so different from every other follower, both physically and mentally, it is easier to be one of them than stand alone. I am not a born and raised scholar, or even one who was raised in this civilization. I am a follower because I was saved by one and he taught me his ways. His mindset and my own previous one have slowly come together to make the new one that I have now."

Current nods. It is not her place to try and make this man stand up for his beliefs, and everyone has their own way of doing things. With that said, she wanders off to her corner to create the shapes (described above) using ice around her dagger.

Austin crosses her arms over her chest and waits to see what her companion has to offer these people. She doesn't have anything she thinks they would be interested in herself.

"Pockets," Atal says with a grin.  "As I said.  We're on our way to Shinra, with the full approval and blessing of the Right Hand and her cronies.  You need something smuggled in there that normally wouldn't pass through her net, well, here we are."

The three laughed at Atal's response. Though as Patty replied, it was clear that it was at Atal's naivety of something that is generally common knowledge for those from this land, and not of foreigners. "Smuggle something past the Cathaan Right Hand, into Shinra? Fella, you're in Southern Midgar. If I want to get something past her, all I have to do is hold it in my right hand, while my left gives North Midgar and all of Cathaan the middle finger, and just walk out the southern city gate!"

The three had a good laugh at the expense of the party, though not meant to be malicious, simply a 'ribbing' of sorts as an opportunity presented itself. After the laughter died, Patty rubbed her stomach almost in pain from the effort, before crossing her arms again. "If you don't have a problem with trading services though, we can work something out. I don't need anything taken in, but I wouldn't mind something taken out. I'll even send two of ours with you. They'll get you in the city, then transport the price back here themselves."

Atal rolls with it, happy enough to have pried an opportunity out of the jaws of defeat.  "That works for me.  Of course, it's not just me here."  He glances at Austin and Anaeris.  "What do you say?  It sounds like an acceptable deal to me."

Anearis sighs. The whole thing sounds shady, but he takes comfort in knowing that it could be worse. He gives a slight nods as a sign of approval.

Austin sighs but shrugs. "In for a copper, in for a gold." She says." She nods her acceptance as well.

Basement:

When Patty mentioned sending the party with two members of the thieves guild, right after saying she was short staffed, the other two individuals had looked at her quizzically, until the warforged individual spoke, as though coming to Patty's realization. "The boys?" He asked her in a manner in which seemed like he knew the answer already. "The boys." She replied matter-of-factly, before turning back to the party.

"Very well. Then we are in agreement. They will take you to the capital, and even provide introductions to the thieves guild there. In return, you will assist in helping them acquire an item, which they will bring back themselves. And they should be here any minute."

WotC:

The bell rang as the shop's door opened, grabbing Edward's attention from his tinkering. He looked up, though stayed planted behind his counter, watching the newly arrived individuals enter. It was two large crates with feet, or atleast it appeared as such at first notice. Two individuals of short stature entered the shop, each carrying a crate almost the width of the door and just as high. From where Current and Uthal were, all that poked out from behind the boxes were pairs of feet, and stout some fingers wrapped around the crates. The two traversed the store, eventually making their way back counter, and settling right near Edward. Heavy breathing from the two figures made it evident that carrying the crates, in addition to being comical for whomever witnessed it, was likely exhausting for those doing the carrying. "Eddy, ya stuffs 'ere." One of the figures, whom now out from behind the crates appeared to be dwarves, said after setting down the crates. Turning around in the shop, the dwarf that spoke spotted Uthal at the table. Wide-eyed the dwarf elbowed the other and excitedly said "Oy, Nack! Think we know tha' biggin!"

Uthal looks over and sighs. "Oh boy. Look who it is."

Atal grins and nods.  "Then it sounds like we have a deal," he says to Patty.

WotC:

"Who?" The other dwarf said, lazily turning around toward Uthal. "Him, ya dunce!" Nik said smacking Nack in the back of the head. Nack tried to slap his brother back but Nik took off running, and the two chased each other around the table where Uthal sat, before quickly coming to a stop, one standing on either side of the goliath. "And he's got a new basher!" Nack said looking towards the warhammer. "A new smasher?" "A new whomper!" "A new stomper?" "A new whacker!" "A new thwacker!" Back and forth, like two overly excited children, the brothers poured over Uthal's warhammer.

The dwarves both with dirty dark brown hair and beards, wearing the same still common clothing and studded leather armors, though in slightly different shades of brown. Neither had seemed to notice Current as of yet, and had seemingly completely forgotten about Edward altogether.