16: All retail prices are non-negotiable

[Ebiris]

[15:42] <@Ebiris> Well rested after their confrontation with the Lady of the Lotus, and perhaps more resolute than ever, the party gathers together once more to plot their next move. Will they descend into the festering slums of Shadowshore to negotiate the services of the arch-alchemist for the nefarious guild of cut-throats, or will they make a stand for their beliefs and refuse to aid such criminal undertakings? The ending to this tale remains to be seen...
[15:44] <@Rudy> "Let's go see this... what was his name again?" asks Rudy, sipping at a cup of coffee.
[15:45] <@Henrietta> "Rabbani Balg, I believe," Henrietta responds, ever-helpful.
[15:46] <@Rudy> "Good gods above, that's not a family I'd want to come from. It's really Balg?"
[15:46] <@Miranda_Altair> "I'm still not sure I'm okay with this. It's like we're indirectly killing people. People who may be innocent and good people, like that nice Guard Captain from the docks!"
[15:46] <@Henrietta> "I didn't name him!" she says defensively.
[15:47] <@Henrietta> "What would your solution be?" Henrietta inquires, quite ready to listen to alternate proposals.
[15:49] <@Miranda_Altair> "Well, I don't know what to do, really." Miranda frowns. "Maybe we should talk to the man first, I suppose. See what his own standards are."
[15:49] <@Rudy> "And then if he says no, we can think of something else?..."
[15:50] <@Henrietta> "Well yes, it's not like we can pressure him."
[15:50] <@Miranda_Altair> "I guess? I don't know. These Lotus Dragon people just rub me the wrong way."
[15:51] <@Henrietta> "I propose staying the course," Henrietta suggests. "Betraying them without a plan leads to our deaths, and that of our employer. I am unwilling to entertain that. If a better option appears, we can always switch to it."
[15:52] * @Miranda_Altair nods. "Okay."
[15:53] <@Rudy> "I just want this job done with," mutters Rudy, shaking his head. "Maybe when we're finished with this business we can take a trip out of Salerno. It looks like it's getting a bit heated," he mutters, standing up.
[15:57] <@Ebiris> Setting off, the foursome plus Myra find themselves taking a long walk down the length of Cudgel District, splitting away from the main road that leads into the heights of the Champion District on a less well maintained and narrower thoroughfare to their destination, a small path between the rising cliffs on one side and the sloshing interior waterways of Salerno on the other, blocked off by a high granite wall and a wide gate, manned by a contingent of the Cudgel District's finest...
[15:57] * Quits: @Henrietta (~corwin@95.35.27.188) (Ping timeout)
[15:58] * Joins: Henrietta (~corwin@95.35.27.188)
[15:58] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Henrietta
[16:06] * @Henrietta decides to ask around about Rabbani Balg once they've made their way into the district proper.
[16:06] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+12 where are you?
[16:06] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+12 where are you? and gets 20." [1d20=8]
[16:08] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+12 aiding
[16:08] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+12 aiding and gets 29." [1d20=17]
[16:10] <@Ebiris> The guardsmen eye you all as you pass, but don't seem inclined to waylay you. Past the smartly attired and attentive guards on one side, you continue past the gate into Shadowshore itself. A pair of less well uniformed and somewhat unkempt guards are seen chatting near the opposite side of the gate, but don't even glance your way as you continue into the narrow and cramped district, ramshackle wooden buildings crowding around on all sides, some extending precariously over the water. People here move quickly and quietly about their business, an aura of suspicion and paranoia seeming to permeate. A few rough looking individuals crack their knuckles and leer at Henrietta and Miranda as they pass, but being in such a large group seems to deter them from trying anything. Asking around for Rabbani doesn't take long to bear fruit, however. A hook-handed and scarred figure leaning against the door into a private club of some sort points you down to the far end of the district where the poisoner maintains his shop. From there it's easily found, squashed in between a butchershop and a fishmonger oddly enough, its windows darkened and impossible to see through, the door closed.
[16:10] * @Henrietta knocks on the door.
[16:11] <@Glenn> "Well those can't be healthy places to buy food from," Glenn notes wrily as he looks at the two shops besides Rabbani's.
[16:11] <@Ebiris> A rough and wizened voice from within barks out a single word in response to the knocking, "Open!"
[16:12] <@Rudy> "I don't think poison applies itself," replies Rudy, rubbing his head.
[16:12] * @Henrietta opens the door and steps inside, taking her hat off as she enters.
[16:12] * @Miranda_Altair nods at Rudy.
[16:15] <@Glenn> "Some poisons don't have to be touched or ingested, you know. Fumes could get to the food and such. Although with good enough ventilation, might just mean the people that buy the food in this area gain a nice natural immunity or resistance to some poisons. Cheerful thought," Glenn says.
[16:15] <@Ebiris> Inside you find a cramped room, its roof just too low to be comfortable, threatening to bang one's head if they step to exuberantly, and preventing much stretching. Sawdust covers the wooden floorboards, unidentified stains glimpsed beneath. A short and wide figure stands over behind a counter opposite the door, a dwarf almost as fat as he is tall, face craggy and ancient. Yet his hair remains a thick sooty black, exploding from his head in a wild tangle, matched by his long and unkempt beard. Behind him are rows and rows of shelves, covered in hundreds of bottles, all various shapes and sizes, tiny yellowing labels adorning them. "Welcome, welcome," the dwarven figure rasps, squinting. "Customers, yes? You come to buy poisons for rats and things?"
[16:16] <@Henrietta> "Ah, then you only sell poisons?" Henrietta asks, carefully stepping inside while she keeps her hat safe in her arms. "You aren't interested in purchasing rare components for them?"
[16:17] <@Ebiris> "Maybe so," he replies, scratching his chest underneath his beard. "Good poison needs good ingredient, is so," he nods. "Can do good deal, maybe."
[16:19] <@Henrietta> "We happen to have something along those lines," Henrietta continues. "Would you mind appraising it for authencity?"
[16:20] <@Ebiris> "Bring here, bring here," he waves one of his wide and leathery arms, squinting yellow-flecked eyes at Henrietta. "Eyes not so good these days, need see close."
[16:21] * @Rudy snaps his fingers, and has Myra... pass a wrapped cloth to Henrietta.
[16:21] <@Henrietta> The hat maneuvered to her left hand, Henrietta carefully passes the wrapped package to the poisoner.
[16:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+18
[16:22] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+18 and gets 25." [1d20=7]
[16:24] <@Ebiris> Taking the package, Rabbani carefully unwraps it and leans close to eye the rock fragment, frowning intently. After a moment he picks it up, turning it this way and that to catch the sparse candlelight, glinting off the shiny section. Running his finger over that part, he then licks said finger, his sallow cheeks flushing red a few seconds later. "Yes, is good. Can make good poison, bad for magic rats. One hundred twenty gold," he looks at Henrietta.
[16:24] -> *Glenn* You figure a burnstone that size is worth way more, in the region of 600gp
[16:26] * @Glenn raises an eyebrow, wondering if they have the right man. "You're joking, right? This is worth at -least- 600 gold," Glenn scoffs.
[16:27] <@Henrietta> "Maybe the Lotus Dragons were wrong about who the best person to appraise this was," Henrietta muses, watching for his reaction at the name.
[16:27] <@Ebiris> He turns to Glenn and squints with an air of wounded dignity. "Who you?" he points accusingly. "You know nothing! Try to ruin old Rabbani, play trick on old man, is so? No! Two hundred, that more than it deserve. Only because I nice I go this far."
[16:28] <@Miranda_Altair> "Trick? What trick?" Miranda says.
[16:30] <@Ebiris> "Price gouge trick! Trick to put sick old man in poorhouse! Greedy trick!" he turns on Miranda with the same injured venom. "You think this shop of rich man?"
[16:30] <@Rudy> "It could be the shop of a rich man!"
[16:30] <@Henrietta> "Indeed it could be!"
[16:31] <@Glenn> "I'm an alchemist, old Rabbani. Magic in liquid form is my trade. Potions, oils...poisons. I know enough to know when -I'm- the one being cheated," Glenn points out.
[16:31] <@Ebiris> "Not if I buy at that price! Six hundred!" he spits a greasy wad of phleghm into the sawdust over the counter. "Ptah! You evil wicked bargainer, like devil!" he eyes Glenn balefully.
[16:33] <@Rudy> "He's onto us," whispers Rudy.
[16:33] * @Glenn looks over to Rudy and Henrietta, wondering if they want to step in. It's not like they were meant to -sell- the stone anyhow.
[16:33] <@Miranda_Altair> At that, Como lets out a loud "Caw!"
[16:33] * @Henrietta likewise glances at Rudy curiously at his words.
[16:35] * @Miranda_Altair turns and shushes the bird quickly, then looks over at Rudy and Henrietta.
[16:36] * Quits: @Henrietta (~corwin@95.35.27.188) (Quit: )
[16:36] * @Rudy looks at everyone, and blinks. "Uh... hey, how about you get it for no coins at all?" he asks, taking it in stride.
[16:37] -obsidian.ab.ca.lunarnet.org:@#dunes- Rudy invited Cidward into the channel.
[16:37] <@Ebiris> The old poisoner blinks and looks at Rudy in surprise. "That best price... must be a catch, is so. What you want from old Rabbani?" he peers intently at the summoner.
[16:40] <@Rudy> "Well, I have it on trusted authority that you can make the good stuff," replies Rudy. "What we're looking for here is for your exclusive services."
[16:42] * Joins: Cidward (~Melanchth@pool-71-178-101-137.washdc.east.verizon.net)
[16:42] <@Ebiris> That gets him to frown and look between the group in his shop. "Exclusive? Why should I want to work for you people?" Glenn gets a particularly nasty look, "Especially greedy ones who'd try to cheat an old man?"
[16:43] <@Rudy> "Might I ask, are you a man who enjoys his work, Mr. Balg?"
[16:44] <@Ebiris> "Is good job. Make good things," he draws himself up proudly, having no trouble doing that despite the low-hanging roof thanks to his own stature. "Valuable service."
[16:45] * Ui is now known as Henrietta
[16:46] <@Glenn> "Yes, magical rats are very pesky," Glenn interjects in a serious voice nodding firmly before he can stop himself. He pauses after that and looks towards Rudy. "Sorry, carry on."
[16:46] <@Ebiris> "You the one who is rat!" he points angrily at Glenn, getting riled up again.
[16:47] <@Rudy> "Well, I'm not an alchemist, but I am a builder, and the way I see it that," he responds, with a nod at the bundle- "Isn't the most common of materials. I'd be supposing that taking us up would give you the opportunity to work with all sorts of things, mixing up the mixtures that you wouldn't see every day."
[16:48] <@Ebiris> OOC: make a diplo check, Rudy?
[16:48] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+12
[16:48] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+12 and gets 21." [1d20=9]
[16:50] <@Ebiris> Rudy's words seem to cool down the irascible old alchemist, who looks at the burnstone then at Rudy. "You can get more like this? For free if I make poisons for you?" he clarifies, chewing his cracked lip thoughtfully. "Is good, but with no other customers... is poor old alchemist. Can't eat poison parts, no."
[16:50] <@Henrietta> "Why are you independant to begin with?" Henrietta inquires. "I would have assumed you would have thrown your lot with one group or another over the years."
[16:53] <@Ebiris> "Valuable service," he repeats, before emphasising, "Public service! Good for any who can pay. Don't work for just one, work for anyone with money... but, some groups still interested, is so. One group, they protect Rabbani shop. Keep 'accidents' from happening, get money and poisons back. Would not like losing Rabbani shop, I think."
[16:54] <@Henrietta> "Oh, really? Which group would that be?"
[16:54] <@Ebiris> "Cobra Fangs," the grizzled old dwarf replies, "Is good name, I think. Not so good people."
[16:55] <@Henrietta> "It sounds very... impressive," Henrietta agrees with only the briefest of pauses. "The people who gave us this," she continues, indicating the package they had delivered, "are the Lotus Dragons, as you might have surmised. I hope you have no grudge against them?"
[16:57] <@Ebiris> He shrugs. "Never met them. Sounds like gang. Dragon bigger than snake, I hope?" he leans on his counter. "If you want Rabbani to work for dragon, need to gobble up snake. Then I feel safe, know you good to work for. Otherwise Cobras come, break shop. Maybe break Rabbani."
[16:58] <@Henrietta> "And we never met the Cobras. Could you tell us anything about them, you think?"
[17:01] <@Ebiris> He rubs at his chin, mussing his tangled beard further. "Not just name, have giant cobra. Scary, big poisonous fangs. Heard other gang brag about killing it once... few days later, gang all dead, cobra still there. Use it for most fighting, muscle mostly just watch. Not big gang, but mean, is so. Shops next door pay as well. All street, even."
[17:03] * @Henrietta rolls her eyes at the results of empty boasting between gangs. "If, say, the Dragons wanted to make life safer for all involved, including yourself, where would they find this snake and most of the gang? We could ask ourselves, of course, but if we left here and started looking into things like that, it wouldn't look particularly good for you, I am thinking."
[17:04] * Ko-FightingNightmareKappa is now known as Kofootball
[17:06] <@Ebiris> "Don't know where hideout is - hidden, yes?" Rabbani shrugs, "But rum brewery up end of street? They hang out there a lot, that where people go if want to talk to gang."
[17:07] <@Miranda_Altair> "Sounds like a good enough place to start as any." Miranda nods.
[17:07] <@Henrietta> "That's a place," Henrietta agrees. "Do they have a front man as well?"
[17:09] <@Ebiris> "Guy called Chekick, he their 'people person'. Not in charge, think that the big huge guy Herman. Only see him when someone about to get hurt."
[17:10] <@Rudy> "You know if anyone's about to get hurt?" asks Rudy, twirling a stray lock of hair.
[17:10] <@Henrietta> "People person. Lovely," Henrietta drawls, before she's drawn entirely to Rudy's question.
[17:11] <@Ebiris> "Snake not far behind when he show up, is so," Rabbani nods seriously to Rudy. "You want buy antitoxin? Rabbani think it useful."
[17:11] <@Rudy> "Haha! I'll be alright!" replies Rudy, patting Myra on the shoulder.
[17:17] <@Rudy> "'course, there's a simple way 'round all this," muses Rudy, leaning on the counter. "When's your next payment due, old man?"
[17:19] <@Ebiris> "Day after tomorrow," Rabbani replies. "You thinking of ambushing collector? She good looking girl... be shame, but keeping money and poison make up for it, is so."
[17:19] <@Rudy> "Nah, not her. The ones who come after," replies Rudy, though he pauses. "Good looking, you say."
[17:20] * @Henrietta gives Rudy a dubious look.
[17:20] <@Ebiris> That gets Rabbani to pause. "You saying I should not pay, then wait for them to come and make accident happen before you do anything?"
[17:23] <@Rudy> "Accident? What accident'd happen?" asks Rudy, with a shrug. "We wanna get at the meat of 'em. Best way to make 'em show up, but your goods'd be protected," he replies. "'course, we'd make sure you're out of harm's way. I could... keep shop for you when she shows up, if you like."
[17:23] <@Ebiris> OOC: another diplo check, Rudy?
[17:24] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+12
[17:24] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+12 and gets 26." [1d20=14]
[17:26] <@Ebiris> He looks dubiously around at his tiny shop before focusing on Rudy. "This dangerous plan for me and shop. Don't think I like it," he shakes his head. "If your gang so strong, go and smash little snake, not sneak around Rabbani shop. Don't want to be in snake's jaws if dragon loses."
[17:28] <@Henrietta> "We could just make it seem like we twisted your arm," Henrietta offers.
[17:33] <@Ebiris> That earns a somewhat alarmed look from the poisoner to Henrietta. "Gangs, too much trouble..." he mutters and wipes at his brow. "Think cobra might be more than you can handle. Maybe tell them of this talk, see what happen then. Safer to stick with devil I know, maybe so."
[17:36] <@Henrietta> "Too much trouble it is," Henrietta relents. "How about you keep that sample as a gesture of good faith? If we end up delivering on what we've mentioned, all the better for you. If we fail, you'll still come out of it richer."
[17:36] <@Rudy> "Shame if you're thinking that way," remarks Rudy. "Well, I'd say give it a couple days. See what happens. You never know," he adds.
[17:37] <@Ebiris> He wraps the stone back up in its cloth and puts it under the counter. "I wait and see, not get involved," he nods. "Keep mouth quiet and wait. If cobras go away, then maybe work for dragon. If dragon go away, keep same as always."
[17:38] <@Henrietta> "And if you hear something interesting about the cobra or their people person, maybe you pass it along?"
[17:39] <@Ebiris> "Pass along how? Who do I see and where would I find them?" he asks, squinting at Henrietta.
[17:40] <@Henrietta> "One of us could stop by in a day or two?" Henrietta muses, glancing at Myra.
[17:40] <@Rudy> Myra shyly turns away, and holds her claws behind her back.
[17:42] <@Ebiris> "I wait and see," he repeats. "Maybe so, tell you if hear anything."
[17:42] <@Henrietta> "That's all we can ask for."