(INC) Bellows of War- Crafting Thread Part II

[EdgeGrinder]

Bartleby took a look at the note and studied it.

Linguistics
(1d20+12)[29]

"The underline was recently added to this ad and with different ink than the rest." he pointed out.

[Andrew Markham]

At Kamyol's question, the girl adopts a completely blank face. "Do you have a response?" she asks blankly.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

As they are opening the letter, reading what was written Sai tilts her head to see the back of the note.

"Hey... Guys... The back... could that be a lead for what we are looking for with... our recent business?"

She points to the note.

"Raythiel"

[paladin_artea]

"Raythiel...hmm...." Xerex adjusts his glasses and ponders in thought if that name sounded familiar.

Knowledge (Local) check: (1d20+13)[29]

[Wolfykins]

Kamyol gave Sai a strange look, taken aback by the way she stated what he thought was obvious as if it were a revelation. He blinked and looked back at the messenger girl, frowning. Sense motive: (1d20+10)[19]
"A response? To an ad?" he asked dryly. "There's no query in this note, unless I'm missing it. If I knew who was giving us this oh-so-convenient nudge, I might have something to say. I know Trelane is, or at least was in the Guild," he said, not mentioning which guild, but putting meaning to it in the way he subtly, respectfully, emphasized it, "and nomads are no strangers to the Guild of any city we travel to." Kamyol nodded at Nihisk as he spoke.

[Andrew Markham]

Spoiler: DM only

Show

(1d20+5)[16]

The girl says, "It's customary for a messenger to ask if there's a reply. I don't know the contents of the message. I don't assume." She hangs her head even more, basically speaking to the floor.

(1d20+5)[21]

Spoiler: If 15 or higher, Kamyol

Show

You see the girl nod her head ever so slightly upon your mention of the Guild. You realize she is subtly acknowledging you.

[Wolfykins]

Kamyol raised an eyebrow at the girl, having doubts, sure she wasn't being totally forthcoming. But he nodded, recognizing the subtle acknowledgement. He understood why she was being secretive. He thought carefully about what he might say in return. He needed to thank the Guild without giving them opportunity to call in a debt.
"Well, I suppose send our gratitude, and inform them I will let Trelane know they're still around and he should probably check in," he said, a touch of wryness at the end.

[Andrew Markham]

The girl nods, then grins and says, "That'd be smart!" The girl runs off, leaving the table with its two notes.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sai looks to the group.

"So...does anyone have an idea of what we should do next? Did anyone find any leads? or... is this name...Raythiel, our next lead?"

[Wolfykins]

"The caravan was a dead end. They haven't traded the herb externally, and claimed everyone who bought the herb within the caravan recently was accounted for. So either they have nothing to do with it, or they're covering their tracks too well for me to discern it. So unless you guys have any news from your own investigations, it seems this flyer is our only lead. But we should be careful. I have a hunch where this came from, but I don't know how they knew we needed this tip. It concerns me to think we've been observed. We need to be more careful what we say in public. Obviously there are ears around picking things up. Just because they were friendly this time, doesn't mean they will be next time," Kamyol said.

[Andrew Markham]

The group finishes lunch and proceeds into the slums. They follow the directions on the flyer and arrive at Raythiel's shop, which is a small, run down shack in the northeastern part of the slums. There are no identifying marks on the shack that indicate this is a business. Still, subtle signs on the roads indicate that this area is somewhat well traveled and maintained.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sai enters her stance Ready The Draw, her thumb tilts her scabbard forward as she watches the area, still in her red Kimono from earlier that day, Her silver hair unleashed to cascade behind her back.

"well my friends... I am at the ready. Whats the plan?"

[paladin_artea]

"The direct approach?" Xerex suggested, "They did technically invite us," he pointed out.

[Wolfykins]

"Not exactly," Kamyol said dryly. "We don't know who sent us the tip. May or may not be Raythiel themselves. But people don't usually put out advertisements for their business if they don't want people showing up to said business. We may or may not be expected, but we are, theoretically, customers and should be pretty welcome. I rather doubt it's a trap, but if my sister were here, she would very much encourage caution, so, it doesn't hurt to be prepared..." The lad glanced over his shoulder and smiled. He reached back and scratched the side of Kamargal's jaw, gently tugging the enormous black tiger forward as he scratched. He somewhat awkwardly led the tiger up to the door, and tugged downward.


Kamargal obligingly flopped over, looking extremely contented to just laze about on the sidewalk. He blinked his bright blue eyes at Kamyol slowly, whiskers twitching upward in such a way as to give the great cat a smug expression.


With Kamargal so prominently displayed at his side, Kamyol bolstered the confidence to rap smartly on the door. He took a step back and rested his hand on the top of Kamargal's head and waited to see if his knock would be answered.

[Andrew Markham]

After a few moments, the door opens a crack. Kamyol can see a hazel eye looking at him and Kamargal, then bouncing to those behind him. "What do you want?" says a ragged voice.

[Wolfykins]

"Are you Raythiel?" Kamyol asked. "We saw a flyer..."


Kamargal rolled into a more upright position, but remained laying down. He cocked his ears forward, nostrils flaring, more alert now in the presence of an unknown. Perception+scent: (1d20+7)[16]

[Andrew Markham]

"A flyer?!?" the voice barks. "A flyer for what...?" There is an air of expectation about the question.

[Wolfykins]

"Well it said 'anything you seek' could be found, and listed this address. So are you Raythiel? May we enter your shop and see your wares?" Kamyol inquired.

[Andrew Markham]

The eye narrows. "You're not from around here, are you? Not one of my regulars either. But you found the flyer...why don't you tell me your business, and I'll let you know if I have what you're looking for."

[Wolfykins]

Kamyol took a moment to consider how to answer. He raked a hand through his shaggy hair.
"No, I'm not from around here. I'm not from anywhere. I'm a nomad. An oracle. I've dabbled in alchemy a bit here and there, mostly in making potions now. I'm interested in whatever rare and unusual ingredients you might have," he said finally.

[EdgeGrinder]

Bartleby stroked his beard. "We are small group of craftsmen." the dwarf said.

[Andrew Markham]

"That's a very nice excuse, lad. But seriously, what do you want?"

[Wolfykins]

Kamyol crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "Look, do you want our business or not?" he asked, sounding slightly exasperated. "You're the one who's advertising! And if you have the kinds of things your flyer implied, why the heck do you expect prospective customers to discuss their needs out in the open where they could be overheard and find themselves in trouble?" On a whim, Kamyol lifted his hand as if waving it in annoyance, but he was really flashing his clan's hand sign.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sai looked to be getting frustrated, this going back and forth with no result. Neither moving.

"Excuse me honorable Buisness Man, I believe what we both seek is..."

Sai took a step forward but she blinked out of existance (Fading Leap) She reapeared just behind the man, on the other side of the door, Still facing the same way, her back to him, looking inside his room.

"..Some Transparency"

She Inhaled as she smelled the room.

"I believe you to be akin to... Yakuza of my home. a man of Buisness."

She pulled from her purse, 10 Platinum coins and rubbed them as she let them flip around in her palm.

"May I convince you to open your shop, and help us hunt what we are seeking?"

[Andrew Markham]

With a grunt, the eye disappears from the window, turning around to face Sai. Then she speaks, and from outside, nothing can be heard for a moment. Then the voice says, "Now you're speaking my language." There is a sound of clinking coins, then a chuckle. The door opens, revealing an aged man. He wears dirty robes, and has grey hair and a hunchback. He beckons the group inside, then shuts the door.

Inside is a nearly empty, undecorated hut. To the immediate left of the door is a dirty cot, and in the back of the room is a wood stove. The man, presumably Raythiel, locks the door behind you. "Your lord must be new to this, if he didn't know to give you the proper code phrase. I will pay good coin if you tell me their name. Information is always an exotic good."

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sai Shifts her stance to (Spirit Hunting Stance). Sniffing the air again.

"We... are not interesting in selling, but In buying today."

She tilts her head as she follows the scent of Herbs in the room.

"But tell me... who did your hair dye and fake hump?... I could make you better perhaps?... But I would have expected perhaps you could have gotten better over the decades... young elf?"

She seems to shake her head again, sniffing the air... seeking out a specific scent.

"But i suppose... I could pay you very well for some names. As they are.... an exotic good. and you deal in... Exotic Goods...."

[Wolfykins]

Kamyol sighed in resignation and entered the shop. He began looking around, keeping an eye out for the Indigo Dreams, and paused to study the proprietor in particular after Sai's comments. Perception: (1d20+11)[14]
Now that he had a clear enough view, he tried to get a sense of what kind of person the other man was. Sense motive: (1d20+10)[19] Size up: (1d20+9)[20]

[Andrew Markham]

The hunchback sighs, then straightens up slightly. "I thought you were here for alchemical ingredients. Kindly make up your mind."

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sai walks over to the cot and takes a moment to pay that area some particular attention.

(1d20+16)[36] Perception

Spoiler: DM

Show

If Sai is able to see a door/latch/way to open beneath the cot, she will open the entry

"Oh, I am interested in your Alchemical ingredients, but when you made mention of information and names, you peeked my interest. But first, The herbs. Indigo Dreams I believe they are called, yes?"

[Andrew Markham]

Sai leans down and examines the floor underneath the cot. The man starts slightly as indigo dreams is mentioned. "It's indigo dreams you seek? A powerful ingredient, and not a cheap one. I hope your Lord..." The man trails off as Sai pries open a trap door underneath the cot. The room fills with the smell of various plants as an underground chamber is revealed full of plants. Raythiel stands up fully, allowing his fake hunchback to fall to the floor, and points a finger at Sai. "You will cease breaking into my goods or you will be made to regret it," in a more quiet, but firm voice.