AVB - He of the Long Wait

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

"Come come now, don't be shy," he adds when nobody responds, "I'm here on business."

[Rizban]

One of hte men steps forward, hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Back to snoop around more, eh?"

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

Katoerian smiles.

"If you were going to spend considerable time and effort on a business venture, wouldn't you want to know everything is on the level?" Katoerian asked.

"I was not snooping, I was inspecting," he continued, "I want to make sure anything I send to this warehouse is protected. From what I can see you and your men are doing an excellent job and should be commended for your vigilance."

Spoiler

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flattery will get you everywhere diplomacy take 10 for DC 36
bluff is necessary take 10 for DC30.

"Now, I'm looking to arrange a meeting with the merchant to whom these belong to," he said, gesturing to the beaver carcasses, "are you able to direct me, sir?"

[Rizban]

He looks at you funny.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun


"It was a compliment. I'm working with the city watch and if it's alright with you, I'd like to meet the man in charge if this operation," Katoerian said, pointing to the beaver carcasses.

[Rizban]

The Watchman whom you accompanied saw where things where going when you started talking and made himself scarce before you could drag him into things.

The man talking to you doesn't look impressed.
"Funny. I don't see a Watch uniform."

[Thundercracker]

"What do you mean?" Katoerian asked, "I'm not a member of the watch, I'm working with them. You don't think is be foolish enough to try and impersonate a watch member, do you?"

[Rizban]

"Then what is it you want here? Just because you do business with the Watch doesn't mean that you're doing business here. You're talking in circles, boy. Just spit it out already. I don't have all day."

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

"I want to speak with the owner of these beaver carcasses to find out where they're going, and to propose another, separate business. If you can help me find that information, I will get out of your way," Katoerian replied.

[Rizban]

"They're sent here, cleaned and skinned, and shipped out. What kind of offer you going to make?"

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

"I'm helping to get rid of the vermin, and now I'd like to know what happens to them afterwards," Katoerian replied, "do you know where they're shipped out?"

"As for my other offer, it has to do with trade in enchanted items. Why, are you interested in joining?" Katoerian asked.

[Rizban]

"Yes, I do. The hides are shipped downriver to buyers elsewhere. The rest is disposed of."

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

"I'm not interested in the bodies, more in what they might attract. I am interested to know they're being disposed of properly. I don't suppose you'd be willing to give me a tour of the disposal site?" Katoerian asked.

The young man smiled as reassuringly as he knew how.

Spoiler

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diplomacy take 10 again, 36.
Also, FINALLY getting somewhere. :)

[Rizban]

"Normally, I'd have no problem with it. But... it's not my job. They're turned over to another organization that specializes in that kind of thing."

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

"Not your job," Katoerian said, "how much would you reckon a guide would charge to provide such a service?"

[Rizban]

He smirks.

"I'm sure 100 gold would grant you a mighty fine guide."

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

"But I'm sure he would consider doing the job for fifty," Katoerian replied, also smirking.

Spoiler

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In order to save time, Katoerian thinks the job is worth 50, and he will go up to the original request of 100. Diplomacy/bluff take 10 DC 36 and 30 respectively to haggle.

[Rizban]

You haggle the price down to 65. The man indicates one of the other guards to be your guide. That man approaches.

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

Spoiler

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Will update my sheet when I get home.

"Thank you for your assistance, captain," Katoerian said.

Katoerian nodded to the approaching man.
"Ready when you are," he said.

[Rizban]

He starts to head off towards the north. You notice a strange bundle of paper protruding from his back pocket that seems to be marked all over with multicolored chalks. Once you notice it, you find your eyes drifting back to it again and again.

[Thundercracker]

Follow the guard. Detect magic at will, what's the guard have?

[Rizban]

His armor and weapon seem magical, as does his necklace. Looking at the book in his back pocket, you see nothing. Not a lack of magical aura but rather what can only be described as almost a blank spot in your magical vision. It's almost as if you're looking at a painting with a small hole in the canvas with nothing behind it. You feel a slight pain behind your eyes as your mind tries to process the input it's receiving and fails completely.

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

Katoerian steps up and falls in next to the guard, hoping that removing the item, whatever it was, from his field of vision will help him avoid looking at it and focus on where they're going. It would also help him get a glance at what the guard is wearing about his neck.

"Has anyone else taken this tour recently?" he asked.

[Rizban]

He looks at you with a slight look of disgust.

"Tour? Boy, you're wrong in the head. It's just skinned, rotting carcasses."

Around his neck is an amulet of some kind.

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian Shun

"Just take me there then," he replied, keeping an eye on his surroundings.

[Rizban]

You pass through the Slums north of the Docks. Though heavily patrolled by heavily armed hobgoblins, each sporting a tattooed blue hand on his face, the man escorting you is familiar to them, and you are waved through unmolested. Eventually, you reach a large shack on the north edge of town with a rather pungent odor.

"It's here. We dump the beavers here, and the hobs takeover from there."

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian put a hand up to his nose, as if he could ward off the stench of rotting meat.

"What do they do with them, leave them there?" Katoerian asked.
At the same time, he glanced about for Jasper and listened for the tinkling of the silver bell which the cat should be wearing.

Spoiler

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take 10 on spot and listen

Edit: also wtf don't you sleep?

[Rizban]

Spoiler

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Sleep is for the weak!

Seriously though, sleep and I don't really get along. I usually only sleep about 4 hours a day.

"Hell if I know. I just do the deliveries."

You neither see nor hear the cat anywhere around here.

[Thundercracker]

Katoerian nodded.

"Alright, let's go inside then," he said, tour's not over yet.

[Rizban]

"Do what you want. I ain't going in there. Stinks enough out here."

He points you to the door before he leans up against the wall, pulls out the strange book thing, and starts flipping through it.