039.1 "You probably are the scariest one here."

[Corwin]

[19:41] <Kotono> A day passes. The next morning all but Andrea gather at Whimisical Sweets. It's not open for candy business, though on entering you see Silver and Sylvie restocking various cases. "Josa's upstairs with Simmer," Sylvie calls around and armful of mints and loaves of honeyed elf bread. "Go on, we'll be upstairs in a couple."
[19:42] * Wayland nods at Sylvie and heads upstairs.
[19:42] <Janson> "I hope there's a fun and easy and high paying job waiting up there," Janson sighs wistfully before grinning at the absurdity of his hope, heading up to find out what horrors await.
[19:43] <Aaeru> "I hope it's a challenge," Aaeru says, ready to face anything the world throws at them.
[19:45] <Kotono> You get grins back, as Silver mutters something under her breath. Upstairs you go! Simmer's kicked back in a chair, a red, crystalline longbow on her lap. She's reading a book and waiting. Josa stands before the table, hands clasped, "Ah welcome, welcome, welcome! Do be seated, for our affairs this day wil require great expenditure of air as we debate and talk overmuch."
[19:46] * Aaeru strongly suspects that it is only Josa, but sits down all the same.
[19:47] <Janson> "No jobs, huh?" Janson asks, going to claim a seat.
[19:48] * Wayland sits as well. "What've you got for us?"
[19:49] <Kotono> "Ah, of course there are jobs! I have several jobs, but there are other matters first!" Josa claps his hands together, "First of all, if you haven't heard, Andrea will be leaving tomorrow for a few weeks. She is going with Brent's father to Valandia, to see if Lathander will grant Brent a new dawn and another life in this world. Today she's at a holy holiday of her faith, Alicia's day of ascension.
[19:49] <Kotono> So we will be slightly shortstaffed for the foreseeable future."
[19:50] <Janson> "We'll make do," Janson declares steadfastly. "Was just four of us to start with, after all."
[19:52] <Kotono> "ABsolutely! That is the resolute spirit I was hoping for and I daresay that I expected it from each of you! Excellent! Superb!" Josa nods vigorously to this. "Second of all, the supply closet has been refilled, especially with a batch of Healing Nectars. I do believe all of you have taken several, but do not hesitate to take more at any time. We must mind our health, and sadly the endless
[19:52] <Kotono> vagaries of fate chisel away at our sheltered bud of vitality."
[19:52] * Janson nods, starting to tune out Josa's excessive verbosity.
[19:52] <Kotono> "Which means you got your ass kicked hard enough to not want to die?" Silver calls up the stairs as she flies up, Sylvie following. She takes a chair near Janson, while Silver goes to plop down on the table.
[19:53] <Aaeru> "Do we have a new and dangerous job?" Aaeru decides to risk asking.
[19:55] <Kotono> Josa turns red at that, giving Silver a perilous look. Clearing his throat, "We do have jobs of varying risk." He gestures to the Job Board, "Please, go read and indulge."
[19:55] <Kotono> Simmer shrugs, getting up and going to read the board. Sylvie follows, taking a peek. "I know a few of them, I wrote them up this morning."
[19:56] <Aaeru> At that invitation, Aaeru gets up herself and approaches the board from the side, so as to not block it away for others.
[19:56] * Janson goes across to peek over Sylvie's shoulder at what's on offer!
[19:56] * Wayland stands and has a look. "Anything good?"
[19:58] <Janson> "Someone's harassing Sinnah?" Janson sounds appalled. "I could manage talent scouting, and hunting for roc feathers is convenient for me anyway, but I really don't like the sound of that first one. Has she talked to you about it, Aaeru?"
[19:59] <Aaeru> "Sinnah... is paying us for help?" Aaeru asks out loud, just as shocked. She shakes her head. "No, but we just got back. Maybe it happened while we were gone...."
[19:59] <Kotono> "Doubt it," Sylvie pipes up, "Shec ame by this morning just at dawn. I didn't talk to her, but she looked a bit upset."
[20:00] <Wayland> "She didn't mention it to me, and I just saw her a bit ago."
[20:00] <Wayland> "Must have happened since then."
[20:00] <Aaeru> "I'll help her!" Aaeru says then and there. "But we can't take her money like that, Josa. It's really not right."
[20:01] <Kotono> "Indeed," Josa says, "It is in our interests and our good fortune to help her, for the obvious reasons." Josa nods, "Go help her then, Aaeru. Consider it paying our debts on the affair. Take one other with you to help." Then to the others, "Once that's decided, what jobs appeal?"
[20:01] <Janson> "Her church did resurrect Wayland for free," Janson adds, "It's the least we can do."
[20:01] <Aaeru> "Silver, are you free?"
[20:02] <Wayland> "I agree. I'm personally in debt to them more than I can ever repay. Roc feathers and shocker lizard bounties sound good. Sounds like quick money."
[20:02] <Kotono> "Me?" Silver blink-blinks. "As in go on a job with you?"
[20:02] <Aaeru> "Yes. Except you won't get paid."
[20:03] <Janson> "You probably are the scariest one here," Janson adds supportively for the little fairy.
[20:03] * Aaeru nods.
[20:03] <Kotono> "No payment, possibly dangerous work instead of laying around and snacking on candy? On the other side, no Josa..." She rubs her chin a moment, "Sold! Let's go!"
[20:04] <Aaeru> "Great!" Aaeru glances at Josa. "I'm sorry I couldn't help Gracel, but Sinnah sounds like she's in real danger. Can you tell him that?"
[20:04] <Kotono> Josa takes a long, exhaling breath at that, "Go then. May Tymora bless your every step and ensure nothing but good fortune and profit follow."
[20:05] <Aaeru> "Umm. Okay." Giving the othes a wave, Aaeru heads for the House of Suffering and their non-paying client.

[Corwin]

[20:15] <Kotono> -------
[20:17] <Kotono> With Silver in tow, the two head to the House of Suffering! It's a sunny day, lines of laundry hanging between buildings over the streets. Children play about, dirty and frolicking. Women go to and from the wells, or return from farther away with baskets of fresh produce. On arriving the House of Suffering you find Sinnah there, sitting in a corner with a paper before her. Croger sees to
[20:17] <Kotono> the wounded, a face Aaeru hasn't seen lately is with him. Tara is there, watching his every move.
[20:19] <Aaeru> With Sinnah busy, Aaeru decides not to disturb her just yet. Instead, she heads towards Croger and Tara, smiling at them. "I'm still alive!" she greets the pair brightly.
[20:22] <Kotono> "Ah!" Croger turns, "Praise to Ilmater, for you have returned safely!" Croger gives Aaeru a gentle hug, "Welcome home."
[20:22] <Kotono> "Been awhile," Tara adds breezily, "Ilmater didn't require that big a sacrifice from you, huh?"
[20:23] <Aaeru> "Well, no," Aaeru responds to Tara, returning Croger's hug. "There were devils and we killed them. Then we went home."
[20:24] <Kotono> Silver flutters about, taking it all in. MEanwhile croger smiles, "Blessed be you," he says, "The Triad smiled on you and guided you."
[20:25] <Aaeru> "I think so," Aaeru easily agrees, nodding for good measure. "Did I miss anything?"
[20:27] <Kotono> "Nothing world-changing," Croger shakes his head, then with a long glance over at Sinnah, "I presume you've heard from your boss?"
[20:29] <Aaeru> "Yes. What happened?"
[20:33] <Kotono> "She found the letter pinned to the door here early this morning. She's been shaken up..." Shaking his head, "It's best if you talk to her and read the letter yourself, but it's done in such a way that it's difficult to get the Guard involved. It's vague."
[20:34] <Aaeru> "I'll do that," Aaeru agrees, and with a wave at Tara she drifts over to Sinnah.
[20:37] <Kotono> Sinnah looks up as you approach. "I overheard," she says, offering the letter up to Aaeru. "Whiterose...the only people who would call me by my family name like that are from Malmuth." Silver flutters along, peering over Aaeru's shoulder to get a look.
[20:39] <Aaeru> "Are there people in Malmuth who don't like you?" Aaeru asks, very much doubting such a perverse state of affairs. She accepts the letter and holds it comfortably for Silver to glance at, reading it quietly.
[20:39] <Kotono> The letter reads the following:
[20:39] <Kotono> Whiterose.
[20:39] <Kotono> Don't think your kind can hide. We know. Too many tears have fallen because of your ilk, an accounting comes.
[20:41] <Kotono> "There were old rivalries, but they were dying and dead," Sinnah shakes her head, "Many families in Malmuth lost much in the collapse of the empire. But the enemies were from my stock, the ones who lost everything. I've heard of vendettas against the nobles who kept wealth and power, but not the other way around."
[20:45] * Aaeru nods slowly, and then waits for Silver to finish reading before she asks her, "Can you find those who wrote it?"
[20:46] <Kotono> "That's why I need your help," Sinnah says, "To find who wrote it and why."
[20:47] <Aaeru> "Yes," Aaeru agrees. "I was asking Silver. She can track people. Even in hell!" She gives the nasty yet strangely loveable fairy the evil eye, muttering, "She even found me somehow."
[20:54] <Kotono> "I do need to know who it is - I can't track just off of a letter," Silver shrugs her shoulders, "But you're charming, I bet you can ask around and find it, or do some sorcery to hep?"
[20:54] <Kotono> "Please," Sinnah says quietly, "I worry so much. Someone is making a horrible mistake."
[20:56] <Aaeru> "Of course," Aaeru says, "did you have doubt?" She takes a few moments to think. "If it's someone from Malmuth, they probably just got here. So we can check with the Guard if anyone came yesterday and all that. And you can't go anywhere alone, alright? Just ask Croger to come with you or wait here until I'm back?"
[20:57] <Kotono> "Okay," Sinnah nods up and down, "I will."
[20:58] <Aaeru> "I'll keep that, alright?" Aaeru asks, waving the letter around before folding it for easier carrying.
[20:59] <Kotono> "Take it, I have no need for the hateful thing," Sinnah shakes her head and then buries her face into her hands, "Thank you, Aaeru."
[21:00] * Aaeru rubs Sinnah's shoulder with her free hand. "Don't worry about it. We'll help you."
[21:01] <Kotono> With a wan smile, "If you need any help..."
[21:03] <Aaeru> "I'll ask," Aaeru responds, smiling back.
[21:03] <Aaeru> Since Silver didn't object to her plan it can't be that bad of one, and so Aaeru decides to visit the barracks for the Guard. Merely visiting the various gates probably wouldn't let them meet whoever was on duty recently, so it would be better to just go to the source.
[21:04] <Kotono> As you head out, "You know," Silver observes, "Is this your first and best idea? We're blindly hoping a guardsman has seen someone who MIGHT be suspicious and MIGHT be the person we're looking for. I haven't done the odds but they can't be good."
[21:05] <Aaeru> "Not someone suspicious," Aaeru responds, shaking her head. "Someone from Malmuth, probably looking rich. Foreign nobles leave an impression, you know. It's just like how I could bring Neve and I bet she'd be remembered for days."
[21:07] <Kotono> "Oh yeah, sure," Silver pauses to roll her eyes, "Hello? If I'm some assassin with a grudge who's showing up only now, you think I'd take the time to be discreet on entering the city, or has been here a little while finding her?" Frowning, "How about we start closer first? Ask around a few blocks, see if anyone saw or heard anything suspicious last night? If that bombs out like Josa on a date, then we can go fishing with the Guard?"
[21:08] <Aaeru> "Wait, Josa dates?"
[21:10] <Kotono> "Yes, Ms. Palms," Silver rolls her eyes again, "Be sure to ask him abuot his date with Ms. Palms when we get back."
[21:13] * Aaeru gives Silver a thumbs up, fully intending to follow up on that. "So back to this thing," she says before she drifts too far away. "I kinda didn't think it was an assassin. I mean, it's... not very assassiny? It's more like something the kids at the orphanage would write, but with better spelling." She shrugs. "I guess we can start by the temple, though, since we're here. I know there's a well nearby, and lots of people come there, so how about that?"
[21:14] <Kotono> "Sure, you know the area," Silver says.

[21:16] <Kotono> OOC: Roll GI.
[21:16] <Kotono> OOC: Silver will aid you after your roll.
[21:16] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+10
[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+10 and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[21:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[21:18] <Kotono> OOC: 23 total.

[21:19] <Kotono> The well has a line of women fetching water. One of them is a goodwoman, a 3 year old child staying close to her. "Hm? You mean last night? Yeah, saw somethin' unusual. Why you ask?"
[21:20] <Aaeru> "Because I'm worried that he is a bad person," Aaeru responds truthfully. "It's a he, right?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "Funny thing," she shakes her head, "Couldn't sleep and I was looking out the window. Didn't get a good luck, but I saw the sliouette of a woman in the shadows of the street.  Didn't get a long look, but one thing did catch my eye. Big ol' scythe on her back, bigger 'n what farmers used. Looked wicked."
[21:24] <Aaeru> "That sounds dangerous, alright."
[21:26] <Kotono> "Which way was she going?" Silver pipes up. The goodwoman gives Silver a momentarily startled look, "A fey!? I've heard the stories that you're changing the elves into fairies!"
[21:27] * Aaeru peers at Silver. "Are you?"
[21:27] <Kotono> "No, the only fairy is Josa," Silver waves a hand, "I'm just a cute nature spirit," Smiling winsomely, "I'm helping Aaeru, so if you could tell us anything more about the scythe woman, we'd be really happy."
[21:28] <Aaeru> "Josa is only half an elf," Aaeru muses slowly, nodding to herself. "Yeah alright. About the woman with the scythe, yes?"
[21:29] <Kotono> "She was heading that way," She points to the north. "I didn't get much of a look, but she was going that way. Moved pretty good, like a sneakthief."
[21:30] <Aaeru> "Umm...." Aaeru desperately thinks of more questions, but only ends up coming up with one. "Was this early? Like, before midnight? Or really late?"
[21:31] <Kotono> "Early, an hour or two before dawn. It's darkest before dawn, and it was really dark," she adds, stepping forward as the well opens up. She kneels and get s abucket of water, filling up.
[21:32] <Aaeru> "Thanks!" Aaeru beams at the helpful goodwoman, and then turns towards Silver. "Let's check a bit to the north? If she's visiting, she's probably staying at some inn, right?"
[21:34] <Kotono> "Probably," Silver agrees, as the sun continues to rise higher in the morning sky...

OOC: Make GI again and declare your terms?
[21:35] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+10 did a woman with a large scythe check into any inns in the area the last couple of days?
[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+10 did a woman with a large scythe check into any inns in the area the last couple of days? and gets 25." [1d20=15]
[21:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 14." [1d20=9]

[21:39] <Kotono> Sea Quay Boarding House is a small enough place. It's tucked away near the docks, an old man running it. "Eh, scythe?" He frowns, cupping his ear forward, "Speak louder, but are you talking about Yuria?"
[21:40] <Aaeru> "I might be if she's from Malmuth and has a large scythe," Aaeru responds, obediently raising her voice so that the old man wouldn't strain himself.
[21:43] <Kotono> "Oh, that's her!" The old man nods, "That's Yuria!"
[21:44] <Aaeru> Lovely! "Where is Yuria?" Aaeru asks him. "She's staying here, right?"
[21:45] <Kotono> "Uh huh. She's out at the docks!" He points northwards. "Spends most of the day there!"
[21:45] <Aaeru> "Is she staying alone?" Aaeru asks, happy at the progress they are making.
[21:47] <Kotono> "Think so!" The old man says back.
[21:48] * Aaeru smiles at him, and whispers to Silver out of the corner of her mouth, "Can you track her now, or do we ask for how she looks like?"
[21:49] <Kotono> "I can do it," Silver says with a quick nod back, "C'mon."
[21:49] <Aaeru> "Thank you!" Aaeru tells the innkeep loudly, and with another smile follows Silver towards the docks.

[Corwin]

[19:19] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The docks bustle. Several tall masted ships rest in harbor, sailors and workers loading or unloading cargo. A buzz of rowdy conversation and colorful curses fill the air from them as they labor. The green waves ofthe Bay of Sparkling Stars laps against the quays as you see the ships. Some are of sturdy human make, sailing the crimson/white flag of the Baronies, or the palm tree flag of the
[19:19] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Fiefdoms, or even the double-sword flag of Kelara.  Amid these big ships are also others - sleeker, made of stained wood that seems to virtually float in the water. Elven ships, bearing the banner of Pallanth. Silver flutters about to and fro, "So any plan on finding her, or just looking around 'till we get lucky?"
[19:20] <Aaeru> "You said you could track her," Aaeru responds with a shrug. "If you're tired and want to lie down for a bit, I can just ask around."
[19:22] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Of course I can track her," Silver sniffs, starting to fly, "I was just wondering if you had an idea!" Her cheeks burn quite red at this, crossing her arms as she flutters. The fey gets a few looks from the dockhands as she flies about, mostly open curiosity and interest.
[19:24] * Aaeru smiles. "You're my idea. You said it before, right? We should pick the fastest choice? Asking around ourselves is just like going to the Guard. It might work, but we should try what we can do first."
[19:26] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Right!" With that Silver leads along. You go out onto one of the long piers, past tall ships. At the end of this pier, staring out into the Bay of Sparkling Stars, is your quarry. She has long blonde hair that is loose, flowing in the wind. She wears no cloak, metal studded leather armor her top. She wears simple gray leggings otherwise, coming together in her center into a short skirt with
[19:26] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> several pouches. Strapped to her back is a long, wicked looking scythe. Her back is to you as she gazes out at the waters.
[19:28] <Aaeru> "Hello," Aaeru greets her pleasantly, walking up to Yuria. She keeps enough of a distance not to invade her personal space, choosing to follow the other blonde's gaze into the sea.
[19:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The bay ahead of you stirs with it's gentle waves, Yuria turning her head. She has blue eyes, face pleasant and smooth, unremarkable. "Hello," she murmurs back, "The waves are nice, aren't they?"
[19:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Silver stays back, flying up and up and up instead.
[19:31] <Aaeru> "I lived here for two years, and I still like to look at them every night that I'm home," Aaeru agrees. "They have that homey feeling."
[19:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "They make me sleepy," Yuria replies, smiling a little bit, "There's another one coming to make that wavecrashing sound."
[19:34] * Aaeru smiles back at Yuria, turning to face her. "I guess they do that." She offers her hand. "I'm Aaeru. Nice to meet you!"
[19:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yuria," Yuria takes it, giving it a strong, steady shake.
[19:39] <Aaeru> "I hope you don't mind. I kinda came here to meet you," Aaeru says, not inclined to mislead the other woman. She brushes her hands down the front of her pants and then asks, "Can we talk a bit? It's about Sinnah Whiterose."
[19:40] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Yuria's hand withdraws back, a look of momentary scorn passing over her face. "Don't know any Sinnah Whiterose."
[19:42] <Aaeru> "Her name makes you very angry," Aaeru says bluntly, shrugging a bit. "I don't think that's right. If you don't want to talk, can you just listen? I think you need to be helped."
[19:47] <Aaeru> "Her name makes you very angry," Aaeru says bluntly, shrugging a bit. "I don't think that's right. If you don't want to talk, can you just listen? I think you need to be helped."
[19:48] <Kotono> "I have no idea what you're talking about," she says, turning away from Aaeru and starting to walk back towards Balmuria. "Don't know any Sinnah." Her voice grows rather colder, disinterested.
[19:52] <Aaeru> "I guess you can not like people without knowing them," Aaeru muses, following her back into the city-proper. "Like, there was once this wizard that kept hurting nature and a few people died? I thought he was a bad person, but he already died when I found him so we never really met." She snaps her fingers. "Oh! But what I mean is that revenge is bad! Hating people is pretty dumb, since it just ruins your life. I mean, like, if you want revenge and then you get it, do you think you will be happy? Because I don't think you will be happy. And it might be too late to change your mind then."
[19:54] <Kotono> "......." You get no reply as Yuria looks back over her shoulder at Aaeru. "What I mean, like,  is that I really don't know what you're, like, talking about."
[19:58] <Aaeru> "Umm, pretending like that is pretty sad," Aaeru says hesitantly. "If even I know you're lying, I mean. Like, don't you feel bad?"
[20:02] <Kotono> "What's sad is that you won't leave me alone. Why don't you go buy some clothes that don't stink of the gutter?" Wrinkling her nose, "You've probably not even bathed in, like, a week. What about that hair? Do you even know what a hairbrush is?"
[20:07] <Aaeru> "This is the suffering part, I suppose," Aaeru mutters, fidgeting self-consciously. "Even when I know you're just saying that it still hurts," she tells Yuria with a frown. "Is it fun be to mean to someone who just wanted to know you better?"
[20:10] <Kotono> "Oh, for fuck's sake." Silver mutters above, facepalming and rubbing her temple. Meanwhile Yuria just frowns back, "Well, when you start talking abouts tupid people I don't know?"
[20:14] <Aaeru> "How do you know she's stupid if you don't know her? She might be very smart!" Aaeru protests, tuning out Silver's customary vulgarities. "Did you fight over dolls as children? I always knew dolls were evil! They stare at you with those large eyes. And they never blink! Not once!" She shakes her head. "That's just not right."
[20:17] <Kotono> "Dolls? Oh sure, I guess she had plenty of dolls," Yuria mutters, eyes narrow now. "Fine!" She turns, scythe drawns! The metal end is pointed at Aaeru, "Know this! Failures like her have to be corrected and punished!"
[20:19] * Aaeru freezes mid-step as her mind tries to wrap around this situation. Is it a success? Or a step back? Her eyes drift towards Silver of their own accord, even as she says, "Okay. Is this an 'I came all this way to spank you' kind of punishing, or an 'I want to cut you up into little ribbons with my huge scythe' sort?"
[20:21] <Kotono> Silver hovers over Yuria, ready to let the honey fury flow! "It's that she's one of the reasons that the Empire fell! She won't escape judgment!"
[20:22] <Aaeru> Was the Empire falling bad? Aaeru didn't know it was bad! She'll have to ask Sylvie later. "But... Sinnah is really poor. And she's, well, she's sorta weak. At fighting, I mean. She really isn't good at that sort of thing. Can you explain why so I understand?"
[20:24] <Kotono> "People like you will never understand!" She snaps, "You're nothing but gutter trash! Look at you! Gutter trash, just like Whiterose!"
[20:25] <Kotono> At this Silver facepalms again, rubbing her temples as she glares down.
[20:25] <Aaeru> "You can't know that!" Aaeru accuses. "I might understand if you explain, but if you don't then I just won't! And then it's all your fault because you didn't even try!"
[20:29] <Kotono> "How's it my fault that you're stupid?" Yuria retorts, "I may be stupid too, but at least I know what's going on!"
[20:30] <Kotono> At this point one can notice some attention has been gotten. A few sailors on the nearby ships are watching, leaning over the rails to listen in and be voyueristic.
[20:32] * Aaeru comes to a realization, right then, and visibly relaxes. How can Yuria possibly be at ease if she's feeling threatened? So she nods. "You know what's going on because you were there. I wasn't there, so I can only know about it if you tell me. Was Sinnah, like, this powerful mage who could save the Empire but didn't, and then she came here instead and, like, decided not to use her magic anymore? Or is she, I dunno, a princess who could stay there and rule but didn't? There's, like, so many options here, so I won't guess on my own."
[20:36] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check here, Aaeru?
[20:36] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+22
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+22 and gets 23." [1d20=1]
[20:39] <Kotono> At all of that Yuria does seem to calm slightly. Just a little bit, "She did nothing while the empire collapsed, like a spoiled brat! She wasted the authority the royal line gave her family, then ran north to live like a peasant instead of trying! King Ferdi, Queen Tant, King Abalasor; she failed all of them!"
[20:44] <Aaeru> "I... think she tried," Aaeru says, thinking back to the time she first met Sinnah and the talks they've had. She didn't like to talk about the past, but some still came through.... "If Sinnah tried and failed, do you still want to punish her? People fail sometimes, even at important things. And sometimes, you can just try harder in the future, since you can't fix what's already broken."
[20:48] <Kotono> With a scowl, "You care about her, huh? Fine then, like, give me a really good reason to give her that chance!"
[20:56] <Aaeru> "Can I give you three?" Aaeru asks, and without waiting for a confirmation goes right on in. "I think you're wrong about Sinnah. I mean, she's like this noble, right? All rich and stuff? But she's not rich now, and it's not because she was tricked or robbed or anything. When she came here, she really didn't have anything. So where did it go?" Aaeru shrugs. "I think she tried to help her home, right? That makes sense. Because if she wanted to betray it, she would, like, run away with all her cash?" She pauses for the briefest of moments to catch her breath. "And there also how she always works very hard. Sinnah is helping sick and poor people so much that she falls ill herself sometimes, and it's a kinda dangerous part of town. Does that sound like someone who is afraid of working hard? Does it sound like someone who runs away from trouble?" The main reason is just ahead, Aaeru having saved it for last. "And I told you already. Revenge is bad for you. I don't know anyone who was happy after, you know, succeeding. I'm Sinnah's friend, but I can be yours too! And that means I don't want you to hurt yourself."
[21:03] <Kotono> At all of this Yuria scowls even more, "Yeah, like, well..." she fumbles for a bit, "Maybe that means she's doing a bad job at it if she's getting sick too? Maybe she needs to work harder so she doesn't get sick!?"
[21:05] <Aaeru> "Well, there's a way to check," Aaeru offers. "Wanna come to the House of Suffering? We can just, like, stay outside and ask the people Sinnah's helping. Like, they'd know best if she's doing a good or bad job, right?"
[21:09] <Kotono> "Hmph." Yuria glowers, before she reluctantly nods. "Fine."
[21:11] * Aaeru nods back at Yuria, offering her a smile.
[21:12] <Kotono> With this the two of you head back to the House of Suffering. It's doors are open, as always...OOC: Go ahead, Aaeru.
[21:13] <Aaeru> Having been there earlier that morning, Aaeru takes a look outside Ilmater's temple upon approach. On the off chance someone she had seen Sinnah treat is there, she would prefer to approach them before actually heading inside.
[21:33] <Kotono> No immediate luck, no one is around right this second.
[21:35] <Aaeru> It's really a shame, but Aaeru deals with disappointment by smiling at Yuria once more and heading inside. On the off chance this is some kind of really smart trick, she would be ready to shield Sinnah or any bystanders with her body from that impressive-looking scythe, but there is no need to be rude and think the worst of Yuria.
[21:35] <Aaeru> Once they are inside, their luck should turn for the better.
[21:43] <Kotono> Yuria hangs outside as Aaeru heads in. Sinnah is seeing to the various ill - a few sick children, a man with a nasty bump on his head, that manner of thing.
[21:44] * Aaeru gives Sinnah a discreet wave, not intending to bother her. Instead, she looks about the temple to see if anyone that Sinnah had helped recently is feeling well enough that Aaeru wouldn't feel bad asking them to step outside for a moment and talk to Yuria.

[Corwin]

[18:17] <Kotono> There's a few people who look more or less mended. A young man leaning back against the wall, drinking water is one. Another is a middle aged woman, gray and tired looking. She rubs a patch of smooth flesh on her arm, unmarred.
[18:20] <Aaeru> The man doesn't look tired, and it is he that Aaeru approaches. "Can I ask you something?" she says once she's close enough. "What did Sinnah help you with?"
[18:24] <Kotono> "The heaving ills," He replies, "I couldn't stop...you know." He gestures vaguely.
[18:28] <Aaeru> "Thank you," Aaeru tells him with a smile, and then moves towards the middle-aged woman to ask her the same set of questions.
[18:29] <Kotono> "Heya, I got my arm gashed open when I slipped and hit the cobblestones wrong," she relies, rubbing it, "Scraped against a jagged one and tore it right open."
[18:30] * Aaeru nods in sympathy. "But you feel alright now?" she asks to make sure.
[18:32] <Kotono> "I'm fine," She says with a ghost of a smile.
[18:33] <Aaeru> "Thank you," Aaeru repeats here as well and leaves the shack to find Yuria.
[18:37] <Kotono> Yuria awaits, leaning against the wall of the building opposite the House of Suffering. Her arms are crossed as she waits, blowing a blonde bang out of her face every so often.
[18:37] <Aaeru> "I just talked to some people and they said Sinnah helped them," Aaeru informs Yuria.
[18:39] <Kotono> "Uh huh, and like, how did it go?" she asks.
[18:41] <Aaeru> "They... said she helped them?" Aaeru repeats with a frown. "Like, no complaints and stuff. Did you hear us? Because if you didn't hear us, you need to come closer. I know it looks kinda dirty, but I go there a lot and I'm just fine."
[18:42] <Kotono> "Like, I'm not su rprised you go somewhere dirty," Wrinkling her nose, "No really, I heard you."
[18:45] <Aaeru> "And again, it hurts," Aaeru mutters. "So like, I asked two people, but I can ask a bunch more if you want. Or I could call Sinnah over for a few, if you're not convinced."
[18:46] <Kotono> Yuria sighs long, shoulder slumping, "You're gonna keep on this, and we're gonna have to fight if you do?"
[18:48] <Aaeru> "If there's no other way," Aaeru confirms. "You seem really nice so I don't want to, but I have to protect innocent people. It's the right thing to do."
[18:49] <Kotono> Yuria's shoulders slump, "It's like kicking a dog..." she mutters, "Last time I did that, I got fleas."
[18:51] <Aaeru> "You really shouldn't!" Aaeru exclaims. "Unless the dog is trying to bite someone."
[18:53] <Kotono> "I know!" Yuria mutters, "But some dogs just need to be kicked. Stupid bitch, that one. Would you belive she, liked, slobbered over my new clean shirt?"
[18:55] <Aaeru> "That's where the fleas came from, I bet," Aaeru comments, seizing upon the important part. "I know a spell to help with that. Want me to teach you?"
[18:56] <Kotono> "The big P spell?" Yuria asks, "Of course I know that one! Only a peasant could live without it!"
[18:57] <Aaeru> "It's very very useful!" Aaeru agrees. "Would you believe how many people never learned it?"
[19:01] <Kotono> "How can you live without it!?" Yuria shakes her head, "Waitamoment, you know it?"
[19:02] <Aaeru> "Sure! I practiced it lots and I can cast it in my sleep!"
[19:02] <Kotono> "Oh! MY! EMPEROR!" she gushes, "Then what are you doing dressed like that?!"
[19:03] * Aaeru scratches her cheek. "It's an Ilmater devotion thing. But I keep them very very very clean!"
[19:04] <Kotono> "You know what," Silver pipes up at this, "I think you have this in hand, Aaeru. I'm gonna go." She starts to fly off, as meanwhile Yuria shakes her head, "Then how about someone that lets you dress with some style, huh?"
[19:06] * Aaeru waves distractedly at Silver, before shrugging. "I never really wore anything like that, so even if people tell me I should or give me sad looks I don't really mind it."
[19:09] <Kotono> "Oh come on! What are you, gutter trash?" Yuria crosses her arms again, "That's disgusting to wear something like that!"
[19:11] <Aaeru> "Did you try it?" Aaeru asks her, crossing her own arms. "You can if you want to."
[19:14] <Kotono> "No, I don't want to wear your clothes!"  Yuria takes several steps back, "Eeeew! I'm going back to the docks...urgh!"
[19:15] * Aaeru snorts, before it becomes full blown laughter. "See you later!" she calls after Yuria. "I'm at Whimsical Sweets if you ever need anything!"
[19:25] <Kotono> Sinnah is sitting within, having tended to the current sick. She looks up at Aaeru as she enters, a question on her face.
[19:26] <Aaeru> "I think you're fine," Aaeru tells her, still smiling. "It was a blonde with a scythe. She wanted to blame you for something from back home, but we convinced her she was wrong so she will stop now. Is that okay?"
[19:29] <Kotono> "That's fine," Sinnah exhales deeply, rubbign her face, "AS long as it's over."
[19:30] <Aaeru> "It should be," Aaeru confirms. "Her name was Yuria. Were you friends? I think she knew you."
[19:31] <Kotono> "No, the name means nothing to me," Sinnah frowns, "I don't think I've ever known a Yuria."
[19:33] <Aaeru> "Maybe she knew you?" Aaeru shrugs. "Don't forget! You can always come to me, and I'll help!"
[19:35] <Kotono> "Thank you, Aaeru. Ilmater bless you," she smiles brightly.
[19:37] <Aaeru> Her own smile just as bright, Aaeru forgets all about the insults to her clothing.
[19:50] <Kotono> Silver is fetched soon enough, flying along as you head up the hill to Luna Del Stronger. "So now what?" she asks.
[19:52] <Aaeru> "We're going to help someone we helped before, so that's nice," Aaeru responds. "Did you have something better to do?"
[19:56] <Kotono> "No, but Sylvie did mention Gracel. To quote her, he's 'Ten pounds of angst in a 1 pound bag'." Flying about and above Aaeru, "Sounds absolutely riveting."
[19:57] <Aaeru> "Would that fit? Ten pounds into a one pound bag?"
[19:59] <Kotono> "Overstuffing himself works for Josa," Silver shrugs eloquently, "So why not?"
[20:01] * Aaeru purses her lips. "I don't think Gracel is like Josa. But hey!" she exclaims, suddenly excited. "If you think he is and you like Josa so much you stay with him, this is the perfect job for you!"
[20:03] <Kotono> OW! Silver plunges straight down, both feet landing hard on Aaeru's head! "Oh yes, I just love Josa!" she drawls, "As much as he loves candy canes, corn on the cob and sodomy. Hmph!"
[20:04] <Aaeru> "Great!" What more endorsement does Aaeru need?
[20:07] <Kotono> Slap. That's the sound of a hand on forehead, as Silver facepalms. "Aaeru, did your parentsa drop you on your head as a child or anything like that?"
[20:09] * Aaeru shakes her head, confident that Silver couldn't possibly be tossed off her perch from something like that. "No. Did yours? Do you have parents?"
[20:11] <Kotono> Twitch, twitch, twitch. Silver groans, but doesn't bother further. On reading Luna Del Stronger you find the magus awaiting you. "Ah," He offers a hand out to Aaeru, "Welcome. So you chose to take the job?"
[20:12] <Aaeru> "Thank you for having us!" Aaeru responds brightly, shaking his hand. "We'll do what we can to help!"
[20:22] <Kotono> "Yes," Nodding along, "To refresh, how muc do you know about Gracel's powers?"
[20:24] <Aaeru> "He's very strong," Aaeru recalls out loud. "Almost like he's, I dunno, drawing his power from someone or somewhere? He can do really impossible stuff. His parents think he might be bad at controlling them, too?"
[20:26] <Kotono> Gallbath nods, "Come with me and I'll explain once we're at my abode." Gallbath lives in the Old City, a large stone house surrounded by a heavy black iron fence. Once inside an austere sitting room tea is served. "Gracel is like a sponge to magic. He absorbs it simply by being around it. In particular, the city of Balmuria is blessed by a mythal over it's bounds..."
[20:28] * Aaeru listens attentively, nodding at his words. "If something could do impossible stuff, it's that," she agrees. "So back home he would just be very strong, but not like here?"
[20:30] <Kotono> "His strength is directly related to how much magic is in the area. If you put him down in the middle of nowhere with no magic, his power is minimal. If you put him in a place with some natural or mabient magic he has capacity, and it grows as the magic of the area gets stronger. In Balmuria, where there's high amounts of magic and the mythal, he can do miraclous things."
[20:32] <Aaeru> "That's... kinda sad," Aaeru muses. "What about his own magic? Can he train that?"
[20:34] <Kotono> "He has some talent, but nothing that can compete with that gift," The magus replies, pursing his lips, "So we train it. In particular, we need to put him through stress tests, to see what the upper limit of his power is."
[20:35] <Aaeru> "What could possibly go wrong?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "Everything," Silver retorts, "Plus things you hadn't even thought of yet."
[20:37] * Aaeru nods. "I kinda figured. Why do you need to see his... umm, upper limit?"
[20:43] <Kotono> "To know how far it goesa nd if it has any effects on him," Gallbath replies smoothly, "It's research."
[20:45] <Aaeru> "It really doesn't sound like a good idea..." Aaeru says uncertainly. "Like, when you studied your magic, you started at the basics and paused each time you learned something new till you got it right, yeah? I did, and I think Sylvie did, so probably all mages do? It makes more sense to teach Gracel slowly and build to that, you know, ultimate power thing."
[20:47] <Kotono> "That's what we've been doing all the while," Gallbath pushes those concerns aside, "It's natural and he learns fast."
[20:47] <Aaeru> "Well, if you're sure." Aaeru shrugs. "So what do we do?"
[20:57] <Kotono> You are escorted back into a room. This room is covered in runes, magic circles and the like. Sitting on a plain stool in the center of it all is Gracel. A look of complete boredom covers his face, looking up as Aaeru and compnay enter.
[20:58] * Aaeru smiles, calling out, "Hi Gracel! How are you?"
[21:01] <Kotono> "You know, whatever," Gracel looks to Aaeru, "Magic this, waiting that. It's all so...lame when I just have to wait."
[21:02] <Aaeru> "Did you think about what miracles you will do once you learn everything here?"
[21:03] <Kotono> "Oh yeah," AT this Gracel picks up, "I can do almost anything, like I said," Brushing his bangs back with a smirk, "Told you."
[21:04] <Aaeru> "That's great! So what's the first thing you'll do?"
[21:05] <Kotono> "How 'bout this?" Gracel waves his hand! Abruptly Aaeru is lifted off the ground, flying about the room in a berserk spin for several seconds before plopping back down!
[21:07] <Aaeru> Her first conscious act is to resist throwing up.
[21:09] <Kotono> Silver grins, coming over, "Say, can you do that to anyone, or just someone nearby?"
[21:10] * Aaeru blinks, clearing her vision. "You want it too?"
[21:10] <Kotono> "Dunno, never tried it on someone out of range," Gracel shrugs, "Why?"
[21:11] <Kotono> "I don't want it...but hey, see if you can make a half elf named Josa go flying about like that."
[21:13] <Aaeru> "It sounds kinda dangerous," Aaeru voices. "Can't you, I dunno, give everyone hungry some food?"
[21:17] <Kotono> Gracel furrows his brow, "Well whatever, I tried," he says, gesturing to make food appear before Aaeru! He takes a breath as Gallbath steps forward. "Ahem," Clearing his throat, "I want you to focus as many non-deletrious enchantments and effects on Aaeru as possible. Keep going as fast and as long as you can."
[21:18] <Aaeru> "Huh?"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Whatever," Gracel shrugs.
[21:21] <Kotono> Gallbath turns to Aaeru, "That's the aid I requested from Whimsical Sweets. I need a hale and hearty subject to have Gracel focus his enchantments on."
[21:22] <Aaeru> "O-kaaay," Aaeru says slowly. "Should I, like, be resisting them and stuff?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "Oh no," Gallbath says, "Just relax. None of them will harm you," he promises.
[21:24] * Aaeru shrugs again. "Okay then!"
[21:30] <Kotono> WIth that Gracel begins! At first Aaeru is surrounded by a dozen, then two dozen clouds of colored light motes! It's a rainbow of color around her, as if she was tossed into a storm of light dots!
[21:31] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+4 spellcraft!
[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+4 spellcraft! and gets 19." [1d20=15]
[21:32] <Kotono> It's Dancing Lights for the moment, en masse.
[21:32] * Aaeru blinks in surprise, but then calls out, "Still okay!"
[21:35] <Kotono> Next comes discs - glowing discs, dozens of them appearing around! A pair lift Aaeru up, whiel others just float around randomly.
[21:36] <Aaeru> "Flying is always fun!" Aaeru reports, giving Gracel a thumbs up sign.
[21:40] <Kotono> "More," Gallbath instructs, as abruptly Aaeru's skin turns to stone! Layer after layer of stone, body toughening!  This makes Gracel's brow furrow and sweat start to trickle, "Try a less strenous spell," Gallbath calls over, as abruptly dozens of celestial bison appear around Aaeru, only to vanish seconds later!
[21:42] * Aaeru watches the ceiling warily in case the celestial cows return unexpectedly, only to plummet on her. "Still fine!"

[Corwin]

[19:11] <Kotono> Silver flies up, "Aaaah!" She gets well above the cow swarms, eyeing Aaeru down below. Meanwhile abruptly an entire wall-weave of webs explode around her in every direction! They're thick enough to block out vision of anything not immediately around her, as if entombing her!
[19:13] <Aaeru> She probably should have trained her ears and the rest of her sense, Aaeru recognizes, rather than focusing solely on her eyes to the exclusion of all else. There is hardly anything she can do at this time to correct it, however, and her muffled voice reports, "I'm fine, I think!"
[19:21] <Kotono> You hear a muffled cry back as the webs vanish! A sthey do, a dozen-hundred phantasmic mage armors form around Aaeru's body! Gracel is concentrating, brow sweaty and eyes focused on her! Another dozen appear over her, all overlapping with one another! OOC: Also, do me a quick favor and make a fortitude save.
[19:22] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+11 (+1 vs spells/SLAs)
[19:22] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+11 (+1 vs spells/SLAs) and gets 14." [1d20=3]
[19:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 15." [1d20=10]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 90." [1d100=90]
[19:28] <Kotono> Gracel continues to concentrate, the mage armors becomign yet more myriad! Gracel is starting to shake, "Aaaah! It...!" Ghostly mage armors spring into beign all around the room, enough to shield an entire army! For a horrible moment her stomach turns as she feels them forming in her! A strangely detached pain fills her body as Aaeru crumples!
[19:32] <Kotono> "Aaeru? Aaeru!" You can hear Silver's voice, dragging you out from a haze of pain and disawareness. You float up from your miserable reverie, eyes opening. Silver flies in front of you, slapping at your face. "Wake up!"
[19:33] <Aaeru> "That didn't feel good," Aaeru groans, feebly batting away at the vague shape buzzing around her head.
[19:36] <Kotono> Ugh...you see the Magus is kneeling before Gracel, checking him. Gracel lies slumped over on the floor, drooling.  "Hey, are you alright?" Aaeru doesn't feel alright - her insides ache, as...hm? Her arm glistens a moment, a band of transparent force simmering in and out of existance briefly. OOC: 6 points of con damage.
[19:38] <Aaeru> "Is Gracel alright?" Aaeru asks worriedly, finally focusing on Silver. Shaking her head helps with that, even as it puts her thoughts into disarray. "Help me get there!"
[19:41] <Kotono> "It's your funeral," Silver shrugs, helping Aaeru get up. Gracel lies there, pallid and weak. Oh, Aaeru's body hurts to move! It feels like she got turned inside out then her innards were given a 21 punch treatment by Wayland and Sylvie.
[19:42] <Aaeru> "I'm too young to die," Aaeru slurs, blinking. "Hey, you're so strong!" Once she gracelessly plops in Gracel's general area, Aaeru reaches out with a shaky hand to use the gift of healing at her disposal in full!
[19:44] <Kotono> OOC: How much?
[19:44] <Aaeru> OOC: I have 9LoH
[19:47] <Kotono> Gracel's condition improves, looking more like he's deeply asleep than utterly broken and dazed. At this effort Aaeru's head spins, the world wobbling around like mad.
[19:48] <Aaeru> "I'll rest now," Aaeru murmurs, resting her cheek against the floor and closing her eyes.
[19:54] <Kotono> Mmmmmm....Aaeru dreams a deep, dreamless sleep. She awakens to the smell of something wonderful. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, juice, toast...all those scents stir her.
[19:55] <Aaeru> What a strange dream! How long has it been since she had eaten a breakfast like this? Lethargically, Aaeru opens her eyes and blinks them a few times to clear her vision.
[19:58] <Kotono> Sunlight. Oh, beautiful sunlight. It fills up the room, a room of fine luxury. Whispy curtains flow in the morning breeze, admitting all the glorious light of Lathander.  She lies on a deep, thick bed. There is a pushcart sitting at the side of the bed, a full breakfast laid out on it. Nearby is a slightly plump middle aged woman, her gray-black hair tied back in a bun. "Ah!" She smiles and
[19:58] <Kotono> bows, "Have you awakened, ma'am?" OOC: 1 point of con damage recovered.
[19:59] <Aaeru> "Still alive," Aaeru reports, choosing not to move just yet. "How's Gracel?"
[20:03] <Kotono> "Master Gracel is recovering," she answers dutifully, another bow. "Pleae eat breakfast, Master Gallbath will be along shortly."
[20:04] <Aaeru> "Thank you!" However can she refuse such a gracious offering? It would surely insult her hosts if she were to do that!
[20:07] <Kotono> The food is magnificent, so rich that Aaeru can barely eat a third of it. Nonetheless it's pleasant to rest here and wait, Aaeru drifting in and out of sleep. It's strange...she dozes, often stirred by a part of her body glistening with ghostly light, like that mage armor magic that was weaved so many times.
[20:10] <Aaeru> One of Sylvie's books said that those who fight monsters should take care not to become them, and Aaeru sincerely hopes it didn't happen to her. But rather than worry, she has faith that Gallbath will explain it when he makes his appearance, and for the time being Aaeru rests and recoups her strength.
[20:22] <Kotono> Sleep. Aaeru sleeps again. The room is still sunny when she awakens, though less so. Besides her bed Gallbath sits in a deep stuffed chair, leafing th rough a book. Aaeru still feels miserable, her body aching - though not quite as much asb efore.
[20:23] <Aaeru> "Did I turn into a ghost?" Aaeru asks after fully waking up.
[20:27] <Kotono> "If you're referring to the manifestations of defensive mage armor, no. You have not. I assure you that you still draw breath." Gallbath marks and closes his book, "Gracel lost control over his power, creating hundreds of instances of the same spell all around you."
[20:28] <Aaeru> "And inside me," Aaeru adds, unable to keep from wincing. "It was very painful."
[20:30] <Kotono> "Yes." Gallbath nods, "I suspect some lingering after-effects are inevitable. I have no reason to believe they'll be deletrious to you, nor will they further endanger your life. In fact, how they settle into you is a matter of some curiosity."
[20:30] * Aaeru is silent for a moment, before nodding. "Okay. Can we talk? About Gracel?"
[20:37] <Kotono> "He's resting and under observation," Gallbath says without missing a beat, "He's fine, though you won't be able to visit him while he recovers."
[20:42] * Aaeru nods once more. "Yeah, I kinda get it. If you have someone better taking care of him, I shouldn't get in the way. I didn't mean that." She pauses for a moment. "Like, I was thinking about this. It hurt too much to move, so that's all I did. Why do we, you know, do things? It's not just because we can, right? Like, the things I'm really proud of are when I helped people or protected people or tried to save people. Even if I fight someone lots stronger, like, on the street or in a bar or something, I won't like feel really proud of it or anything. Because the meaning's all different, you know? It's just different. And yeah, I think it's the same with Gracel. He needs a really great goal. Like, take a Miracle. It's not a Miracle if it just does something you can't normally do. It's really a Miracle when it, like, improves someone's life or lots of someone's lives. You know?"
[20:44] <Kotono> "Ah yes, existential meaning," Gallbath does agree with that as he nods, "As you said in your own parlance, I do know. We can worry about goals once he's recovered. Speaking of, how is your own recovery coming?"
[20:46] <Aaeru> "Still hurts to move," Aaeru responds. "And, well, it's not just a goal. It really helps when your hobby and your job are the same! Like, if you really love books and then you get to work at a book store. If Gracel really liked helping people in Balmuria, I bet his training to do that would go a lot faster!"
[20:51] <Kotono> "I'll take that under advisement," Gallbath says without cracking a smile, "Are you capable of walking, or are you still feeling bedbound?"
[20:53] * Aaeru tries moving her feet.
[20:53] <Kotono> Aaeru's feet move as feet tend to. It stings but she seems functional.
[20:54] <Aaeru> "Ilmater probably approves of this much pain," Aaeru responds. "If my legs fail I can fly or something the rest of the way, I guess."
[20:59] <Kotono> "I can have a servant escort you to your home if you need the help," Gallbath offers, "Or to a temple if you're going to seek mending."
[21:01] <Aaeru> "I, uh... how about Whimsical Sweets?" Aaeru asks. "I'll tell Josa I'm fine. And call me again if you need my help!"
[21:01] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+5
[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[21:10] <Kotono> "I shall, payment will bes ent to Whimisical Sweets," He promises, as Aaeru heads away! OOC: Where are you going? Healing? Home? Something else?
[21:11] <Aaeru> OOC: I'll check in with Josa, but it can be offscreen if you'd like. If he's good with it I could spend a few days at home.
[21:12] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Make another fortitude save?
[21:12] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+11 (+1 for magic)
[21:12] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+11 (+1 for magic) and gets 24." [1d20=13]
[21:13] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 55." [1d100=55]
[21:13] <Kotono> Days of rest pass, Aaeru's injuries mending. As the wounds heal the phantasm light fades to occasional flickers, and yet...

[Corwin]

[19:58] <Blondezilla> Neveril sits at the edge of the cove, as the waves lap at her feet. She's seeming in reverie at the moment, resting her mind.
[19:59] <Aaeru> "Hi," Aaeru greets her, moving gingerly to sit by her side. "Busy?"
[20:02] <Blondezilla> "Oh no!" Looking up, "I'm just woolgathering."
[20:05] <Aaeru> "I was in this magical accident thing," Aaeru confides, "and now it sorta hurts to walk. And I was thinking I could take a job that's just about talking to people instead, right? But when I talked to this wizard, it really felt like he was looking down on me and not really listening. It happens, you know, because of how I talk and how I look and stuff. But then I thought, what if you came along with me? I'm sure it'll be great!"
[20:06] <Blondezilla> "Me? What do you mean...you think humans like to look at me more than you?"
[20:07] <Aaeru> "Well, I do," Aaeru responds. "But yeah, I think they'll really listen better if you're there!"
[20:11] <Blondezilla> "I don't mind," Neveril blushes a little bit, "But why don't they listen to you? For a human you're enthralling."
[20:13] <Aaeru> "It's a human thing. The larger the words you use, the more people think you know what you're talking about. But, well, I didn't really read lots of books or anything, so...." Aaeru trails off, shrugging helplessly. "And rich people don't even listen that much since they think my clothes mean that. It can be a pain."
[20:15] <Blondezilla> "Alright,"Neveril agrees, "I'll try it...I'm just worried the humans will pay more attention to me than anything I say."
[20:16] <Aaeru> "Wanna use a disguise? You know a spell like that, right?"
[20:19] <Blondezilla> "I do," Neveril nods, "I'll use it before we reach Balmuria?"
[20:20] <Aaeru> "Okay!"
[20:27] <Blondezilla> With a bit of magic Neveril is much less conspicious! You take her to Whimisical Sweets! Josa and Sylvie are there - the former and latter selling candy to a decently large crowd. They look respectably busy. "Yes yes, enjoy these honeyed fruits!" Josa calls, "Such grand..." as he goes on Sylvie winks, slipping the kids little snacks while Josa isn't looking.
[20:28] * Aaeru gives Sylvie a thumbs up at that, also when Josa isn't looking.
[20:34] <Blondezilla> Sylvie winks, as Josa pauses his ramblings. "Ah Aaeru!" he says, coming over, "Miss Sylvie will attend to all of you now," he declares, coming over. "Come, let us ascond upstairs."
[20:35] <Aaeru> "Huh? Right, upstairs." Smiling, Aaeru gestures for Josa to lead the way.
[20:38] <Blondezilla> Upstairs you go! Josa sits down and puts his feet up, "Ah, splendid, splendid. Our fortunes have been on the rebound! While you have been recovering from your ordeal with Gracel and Gallbath, we have come into several sources of successful income. The opaqucity of poverty is giving way to the glorious translucentricity of success!"
[20:39] <Aaeru> "Really?" Aaeru asks in great interest. "Is it so much success you want to donate a small part of it to Ilmater?"
[20:41] <Blondezilla> "Ah, well...I can give that it's due deliberation in the fullness of thoughtful time and reasoned choices," Josa says, quickly moving on! "How has your recovery gone? Are you well again?"
[20:43] * Aaeru looks briefly confused and then cresftallen, when Josa doesn't produce that same flowery promise to give to the needy. "Well... I can talk," she finally responds. "And I figure, there's a job for that, right? We can help there!"
[20:46] <Blondezilla> "Ah yes, the negotiations," Josa agrees, "Be forewarned, grace, tact and manners are absolutely essential."
[20:47] <Aaeru> "I'm, like, really good at that!" Aaeru promises, beaming at him.
[20:48] <Blondezilla> "She is," Neveril says, "I've ome to help her as well."
[20:48] <Aaeru> "She did!" Aaeru agrees.
[20:54] <Blondezilla> "Ah, I see, I see," Josa gives Neveril a once over, "Per fair chance, who is this maiden? I confess I have not made your acquantance."
[20:54] <Aaeru> "Josa, this is Neveril," Aaeru is only too happy to introduce the two. "Neve, this is Josa the Candymancer!"
[20:56] <Blondezilla> "Charmed," Neveril smiles sweetly.
[20:56] <Blondezilla> Josa smiles back, "Ah, fair Neveril! She is your friend, Aaeru?"
[20:57] <Aaeru> Since everyone is smiling, how could she possibly be left out? "We live together."
[21:08] <Blondezilla> Neveril blushes, as Josa nods and smiles. "Ah...I see, I see. Are you perchance following the example of the Dragon Princess?"
[21:10] <Aaeru> "I... guess so?" Aaeru chances.
[21:12] <Blondezilla> "I understand," Josa says evenly, "Truly so, as long as you bring each other happiness...such is much of the elven way, no?"
[21:13] <Aaeru> "Oh, it is?" Aaeru asks curiously. "Come to think of it, Silver did mention something about you, Josa!"
[21:15] <Blondezilla> "Oh?" Josa scowls, "What did Silver say about me?"
[21:17] <Aaeru> "She said you had a fairy girlfriend," Aaeru responds. "Missis-- oh, what was her name?" She frowns briefly, trying to recall. "You really should bring her around some time to say hi!"
[21:20] <Blondezilla> Josa rubs the bridge of his nose, "I see. I will have to have certain words with Silver. That scalawag continues to vex my abundant good will beyond any fair capacity."
[21:22] <Aaeru> "Aww, you're just saying that," Aaeru says, starting to head down the stairs. "You know, Neve, I used to think that they were together? They're always thinking about each other, even when apart!"
[21:27] <Blondezilla> "WHAT!" Josa sputters at that, "You would think that I would even consider once touching SILVER!?"
[21:28] <Aaeru> "See?" Aaeru uses that as proof. "No one else gets Josa going like that!" She raises her voice to call over to him, "We'll see you later!" as she skips out into the shop-proper, hand-in-hand with Neveril.

[Corwin]

[19:03] <Kotono> The Dawn Chaser is a tall masted ship in the harbor, bearing the banner of the Baronies. You are taken to the captain's quarters. Here a man dressed in florid red awaits, a black beard and mustache as he drinks from a tankard. "And who might you two be?" he challenges, "This is a MAN'S domain!"
[19:06] <Aaeru> "Aaeru, from Whimsical Sweets," she responds, and then gestures at her side with a smile, continuing with, "and this is Neveril. You wanted someone neutral for the negotiations, so it's good I'm not a man, right?"
[19:09] <Kotono> "C-charmed," Neveril bows and blushes at the captain, as he rises to his feet. "Finally! I had just about given up hope of someone taking this damned task!" He slams his tankard down, "You've got bravery coming this far. Got big old balls somewhere in there! So tell me, how well can you negotiate?"
[19:11] <Aaeru> "Well, you know how some nobles have these blood feud things going in between families? I can probably get them to call it off. Is that good enough? Because if it's not, I can try harder!"
[19:15] <Kotono> "Really, eh?" Captain Hamilton rubs his chin as he gives both of you a look. With a smooth motion he draws his scimitar, pointing it at Aaeru, "Then convince me not to throw you off this sacred boat of manliness, woman! If you can talk fast enough to do that, you have the job!"
[19:17] <Aaeru> No, talking fast is bad! If she does, then it's just a string of words that come to mind first and don't make sense to other people, she knows that much! "I had just about given up hope of someone taking this damned task," Aaeru ends up quoting the captain to buy herself a bit of breathing space. "You said that, right? So we're it. And hey, if you don't give us a chance, how do you know we can't help you?"
[19:26] <Kotono> OOC: Make a diplo check, -3?
[19:26] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+19
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+19 and gets 27." [1d20=8]
[19:34] <Kotono> Captain Hamilton scowls, "I thought you had balls, girl! Show me some fire! Anyone could be given a chance - why you?"
[19:39] <Aaeru> She's had plenty of time to think by then, and Aaeru shrugs smoothly in response. "Isn't it obvious? I mean, who else would be neutral at a man's domain? Another man? Please! And if not us, where will you go? Hunt for a housewife or a maid to talk for you? I'm sure that would go real well." She doesn't, really, and it shows clearly on her face. "Also, I can take that sword from you and hit you with the hilt a lot until you agree."
[19:42] <Kotono> "Well now, that's some spirit!" Captain Hamilton grins, "Gimme your bests hot and try and knock this sword again then, GIRL!"
[19:46] <Aaeru> It just figures that she must punch someone to demonstrate her skills at talking to other people. But she has her pride and this man probably needs her help, beneath all that boasting, and so Aaeru shows him some fire by punching straight at his face! Flames trail her fist in its wake, and she waits for the moment where any man would instinctively bring up the weapon he is holding to defend his face, seizing upon his sword arm to hold it locked firmly in place!
[19:47] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+12 grapple?
[19:47] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+12 grapple? and gets 27." [1d20=15]
[20:00] <Aaeru> Her hand latched firmly onto his wrist, Aaeru waits for the trail of fire to dissipate before smiling sweetly. "I can be as literal as you want if you hire me!"
[20:02] <Kotono> Now with a big grin on his face, "That's more like it, woman! You BURN with bravery! Fine then, I'll hire you."
[20:02] <Aaeru> "And Neve."
[20:05] <Kotono> "So be it." He nods, "Unless you want to stay close, you can let go now."
[20:05] <Aaeru> With her goal accomplished, Aaeru does so. She tilts her head slightly, stepping back, and asks, "So what are we negotiating about?"
[20:20] <Kotono> The Captain goes to a cabinet, taking out a bottle of something strong. He cracks it and takes a swig, passing it over to Aaeru, "Elven woodcraft'n'shit. I want that cargo to take it east to Wetwind Harbor and the western kingdoms before the jungle, but elves and I...we don't get along. Prissy little things sometimes, not a scrap o' manliness in them!"
[20:24] <Aaeru> That... might well be true, as much as she knows, not that there is anything wrong with that. Aaeru surreptitiously cleans the bottle's neck when the captain isn't looking, taking a deep drink herself. Whatever it is, it cannot be stronger than dwarven ale so she can take it!
[20:24] <Aaeru> "Does someone else want it, too?" she asks, passing the bottle back.
[20:26] <Kotono> It's strong! It packs a good punch, the Captain taking it and having a deep swig again! "Yeah, some prancing prick named Sanuth. He's making nice with the elves and all that shit, but fuck that! That's MY fucking cargo!"
[20:28] * Aaeru vaguely remembers him! "Okay," she allows. "So... you don't want me to say I'm working for you, and to win the bid? Anything else?"
[20:29] <Kotono> "That's it," Captain Hamilton says, "Do what you gotta do, as long as you don't bring the bleeding Guard down on us."
[20:33] <Aaeru> Well, that sounds easy-- wait a second! "Just how much should I get? And how will you pay the elves?"
[20:40] <Kotono> "You'll give 'em as much gold as it takes to pussyfoot back to Pallanth rich," Captain Hamilton says, "I'll give it to ya."
[20:43] <Aaeru> And here she thought trade was hard, but you just give people enough money until they're happy. How strange!
[20:43] * Aaeru nods and glances at Neve in case she's missed anything, saying, "Alright. Point us the right way and we'll go get you your woodcrafts."
[20:46] <Kotono> Neve nods slightly, "The Elven Mission. Quindala. Honey blonde hair, looks more lik a woman than a man."
[20:48] <Aaeru> "We'll be back!" Aaeru promises, ready to meet the elf in question. The description wouldn't help one bit, but the name would be enough!
[21:12] <Kotono> As you step back out on deck, "...are most human men like that," Neve murmurs.
[21:15] <Aaeru> "Like, I don't think so?" Aaeru responds, frowning slightly. "He seemed kinda strange." She doesn't linger over that too much. "It doesn't really matter, because I know Sanuth. He's not a very good person, and he will probably try to trick the elves, so we have to do better than him."
[21:16] <Kotono> "He was very forceful,"Neveril says, "I didn't like him at all!"
[21:18] <Aaeru> "Do you think I should've just punched him with fire?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "Maybe," Neveril contemplates this, looking out at the water as you go back to the docks, "He reminds me of a satyr with a big ego."
[21:23] * Aaeru laughs. "I guess he does, doesn't he? Who do elves remind you of?"
[21:26] <Kotono> "I haven't met too many...though Josa was flowery and boisterous," Neveril continues further, "Like a whale."
[21:29] <Aaeru> "He's a very strange elf," Aaeru confides in Neve. "I saw a lot more here in the city, and they're all like pretty girls."
[21:34] <Kotono> "Oh, that's lovely!" Neveril smiles, "That's what I heard elves are like, but Josa made me wonder."
[21:36] * Aaeru smiles herself. "I guess there are all sorts? I wonder how Quindala looks!"
[21:41] <Kotono> The Elven Mission is a great expanse within the Old City. Here is a great open park of trees, buildings woven into them like a basketweaver works straw together. The air smells of the forest and of sweet things, faint music heard from within. Signs in Elven are just outside of the entrance, a pair of trees woven together into an arch. Beneath the elven in Common, "The Elven Mission of
[21:41] <Kotono> Pallanth. Those who seek higher culture, enter."
[21:42] * Aaeru sure hopes higher culture involves more signs in Common, making her way inside. They can try asking the first elf looking like she's not busy for directions to Quindala.
[21:45] <Kotono> Just within is an elf. He/she is clad in green, flowing brown hair reaching halfway down his/hear back. He/she is a beautiful creature, moving with natural grace. In slightly accented Common, "Welcome," he/she offers a hand out, "I am Ehansa. What do you seek here, human?"
[21:47] <Aaeru> "Hello, Ehansa," Aaeru tells her, shaking her hand lightly. "I'm Aaeru, and this is Neveril. We were hoping to meet Quindala here?"
[21:48] <Kotono> "Ah, Quindala!" The elf replies, taking the hand with a graceful shake, "Past the Lifewater Fountain are four shops. He resides in the third one."
[21:50] <Aaeru> "Thank you!" Aaeru responds politely with a smile, and decides to proceed further inside. A fountain with a name like that should be pretty easy to spot, so she and Neve can just take their time and enjoy strolling through the park together and take in the sights until they come upon it.
[21:55] <Kotono> The air is clean and the fountain is not far ahead. It's an ornate fountain of chiseled stone, with a great head that sends water flowing up and crashing down. Past it are four wooden buildings b uilt into the trees. Around this place various elves sit. Most of them play lyres, harps or other stuff, while others talk or tumble about.  While some are quite pretty and hard to discern, others
[21:55] <Kotono> are more obviously feminine or masculine, one can note.
[21:57] * Aaeru focuses more on the houses, having seen elves before. "Do you think it's hard to make a house like that?" she asks Neve, remembering not to point with her arm at the last moment and abstaining from that.

[Corwin]

[19:53] <Kotono> "Oh yesee," Neveril agrees, "It would take talking ot the tree spirits and things I'm not so sure about."
[19:54] <Aaeru> "That's a shame. I was thinking of all the houses we could make for people who don't have any. Because there are always trees and stuff around, so...." Aaeru trails off.
[19:57] <Kotono> "If it were that easy, it would have been done already," Neveril remarks.
[19:58] <Aaeru> "Yeah," Aaeru agrees, nodding sadly. "I was kinda thinking that, you know, it wasn't done because of all the greedy people." She keeps herself from sighing, refocusing on their job. "Third house, was it?"
[19:59] <Kotono> "How many greedy people are there?" Neveril asks, as you head to the third house. The door is woven wood, light and almost floating off the ground in it's airy construction.
[20:00] <Aaeru> "I dunno. Lots?" Aaeru shrugs, turning to knock on the door lightly. It certainly looks like too much force would break it, and she wouldn't want to cause that.
[20:04] <Kotono> The door drifts open at the knock! Within are cases made of woven wood, as well as displays of various goods. Woodcraft can be seen of various types, as well as painted works and scupltures. Standing amid them is a tall, slender elf. Honey blonde hair cascades down his shoulders and back, like sunlight on his brown clothes. He approaches over, as much gliding over the ground as walking. HIs
[20:04] <Kotono> voice is a musical lilt, "Welcome, humans."
[20:06] <Aaeru> "Hello," Aaeru greets him back, her gaze lingering on the gliding just a little. "I'm Aaeru and this is Neveril."
[20:08] <Kotono> "Lady Aaeru and Lady Neveril," He takes each one's hands, leaving a gentle kiss there. After, "Are you in the market for woodworkings?"
[20:09] <Aaeru> "Yes," Aaeru responds, briefly taken aback by the gesture. "Are you Quindala?"
[20:15] <Kotono> "The very same," he says, "My reputations precedes me?"
[20:17] * Aaeru nods slightly. "I'm from Whimsical Sweets, you see. We take all sorts of jobs, if they're not bad or, well, from bad people. And this job is about buying your woodworks!" Smiling, Aaeru adds, "We heard they were really good!"
[20:18] <Kotono> "An agreeable job," He says, nodding along, "But what does a candy store have need of woodwork for, if I shall ask?"
[20:20] <Aaeru> "Oh, no, not Josa," Aaeru responds, shaking her head. "Like I said, see, it's a job for a client. He's not a bad person or we wouldn't take it. Do you think it's strange to ask other people to buy things for you?"
[20:23] <Kotono> "Through a broker or a servant? Not at all. Who is your patron?" Quindala replies, brushing back a long golden lock with his hand.
[20:25] <Aaeru> "He asked us not to say," Aaeru responds honestly. "Is this all yours?" she asks, sweeping her arm through the room. "You made everything yourself?"
[20:38] <Kotono> "Yes," H e agrees, "It's my work and the work ofmy immediate family."
[20:39] <Aaeru> "It's very lovely!" Aaeru compliments.
[20:41] <Kotono> "Thank you," Quindala preens, smiling, "Now what sort of pieces are you interested in purchasing?"
[20:43] * Aaeru glances at Neve for confirmation before she speaks. If she makes a mistake here, Neve would hopefully correct her. "Our client is... kinda strange," she responds. "He asked us to buy your entire collection. Really, our job request was to make a bid on it that would make you happy. What would make you happy?"
[20:46] <Kotono> "The entire stock!" Quindala's eyebrows shoot up, "Goodness! Give me a moment!"
[20:47] * Aaeru nods, smiling again. Commerce really can make people happy! Who knew?
[20:51] <Kotono> The elf goes back and checks several cases, nodding to himself before returning, "Well, in such a case, I would accept no less than twelve thousand marks."
[20:55] <Aaeru> It's a lot more than what they've been paid before, but after all, money is just money and their client did say to pay whatever it took.
[20:55] <Aaeru> "Alright," Aaeru responds, still smiling. "We'll return to our client and then bring it back?"
[20:57] <Kotono> "Go ahead," Quindala replies, "Godspeed!"
[20:59] <Aaeru> Taking Neve's hand in hers, Aaeru nods at Quindala in parting and then leaves his lovely tree house.
[21:02] <Kotono> Going back to the Captain is without incident. He receives you in his quarters, kicking back with a bottle of grog. "So what did the nimble nancyboy have to say for the offer?"
[21:03] <Aaeru> Nimble nancyboy, nimble nancyboy-- nimble! Right. "Quindala agreed to sell you all his stock for twelve thousand marks!" Aaeru responds promptly.
[21:09] <Kotono> "TWELVE FUCKING THOUSAND MARKS!?" The Captain's outburst sprays grog all over Aaeru, as he sits bolt upright! "By Umberlee's black tits and Deep Sashelas's bile, that is unbelievable! That sharksucking son of a whale!" Getting up and pacing briefly, Captain Hamilton points at Aaeru, "Go! Go and tel him that I'm offering him four thousand marks, and he'd best be damned happy at the offer
[21:09] <Kotono> since it's more than generous!"
[21:11] <Aaeru> A quick prestidigitation handles that mess, although Aaeru takes care to clean Neve first, if some of the grog got on her as well. "You should've said you had an offer like that!" she accuses him. "I asked you! You said whatever he asked!"
[21:11] <Kotono> Neve blinks at that, "There's nothing wrong with being a son of a whale..." she says, staring.
[21:12] <Aaeru> "There's nothing wrong with being nimble, either," Aaeru tells her, as her outburst of anger is deflated in such a way.
[21:13] <Kotono> "I assumed he wouldn't be greedier than a Waukeenite in a dragon's horde!" Gesturing wildly, "I assumed that he at least had a man's honor, but I was sorely mistaken! I'm going to take a fucking post meridiem walk while you do that, to get the taste of his sallow elven greed out of my mouth!"
[21:14] <Aaeru> Not understanding half the words said to her, Aaeru just moves right on. "Is four thousand your best offer?" she asks bluntly. "If Quindala says no or if someone offers him more, like five thousand or ten thousand, do we leave?"
[21:15] <Kotono> "Leave and come back here," CAptain Hamilton instructs, "Best yet convince him to take the four thousand marks offer!"
[21:16] <Aaeru> "Okay," Aaeru responds. What else can she say? If someone offers more, then it's unfortunate, but part of the request is to make Quindala happy, and he would probably be happier getting more money.
[21:22] <Kotono> Once out Neveril shakes her head, "What a waste," she murmurs, "He's so upset, too."
[21:23] <Aaeru> "It's very strange," Aaeru agrees. "Like, I'm human and I don't get it. Four thousand and twelve thousand are both a lot of money, right? So what does it matter?"
[21:28] <Kotono> "Well, twelve thousand is three times four thousand." Neveril says, slowly working it out, "Logically more is better, yes? More food is better if you're hungry, more water is good if you're thirsty. So more money is good if you're greedy?"
[21:30] <Aaeru> "I guess if you say it that way..." Aaeru allows. "But I don't really get the greediness. Like, how do you know if three thousand is enough? Or three and a half? Or that you really have to get like five or more?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "Good question," Neveril says, "I'm not that familiar with how money wroks."
[21:33] * Aaeru shrugs. "So what do you think? We'll go and see if Quindala wants four thousand or not?"
[21:36] <Kotono> "That makes sense. For the sake of the job, can you sweet talk him?" Neveril says, "We are uspposed ot succeed."
[21:38] <Aaeru> "I can try," Aaeru says dubiously. "He really should've been honest about the job! It was negotiations, and like, I learned about those! You just stay quiet and nod when you have to and try to look like you know everything. Then it works out! But he just wanted someone to buy something for him--" Stopping herself, Aaeru nods firmly. "But you're right. I took the job, and I should do it right. And if I can't do it with, I dunno, grace or whatever, I'll just do it like I know how. Let's go and give it another try?"
[21:53] <Kotono> Thus you return to Quindala! He smiles, "Did you bring the money," he enquires once you come in.
[21:57] <Aaeru> "I'm so sorry!" Aaeru says earnestly. "Our client said he'll pay anything, but when we asked again he said it was too much. Was that your final price? Because I know that in negotiations, there are all sorts of prices and people just trade them until they reach one that both like, and maybe we could do that too?"
[21:58] <Kotono> Now Quindala shakes his head, "If you're looking to haggle, I'm not interested. It's twelve thousand marks or nothing."
[22:01] <Aaeru> "I should still tell you what our client said," Aaeru conveys, disheartened. "He offered four thousand marks. I don't think he meant anything bad with that. He really wants your woodcraft because he likes it, but he can't pay more than that. Do you have someone who's paying you more? Because if you do then we really can't offer more, I guess. But if you don't, maybe you'll be interested?"
[22:06] <Kotono> "As a matter of fact, I have another buyer, yes," He agrees, "He's offering ten thousand marks. With the damage changing my mind would do, twelve thousand is the only possible sum that's reasonable."
[22:10] <Aaeru> "It doesn't seem fair to sell for four thousand if someone is offering ten thousand," Aaeru agrees. "When is he paying you? I don't really think our client has more, but he did change his mind before, so I want to tell him how long he has."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Two days," Quindala answers.
[22:16] <Aaeru> "Thank you." She already has a plan forming, and smiles at Quindala. "It was very nice to meet you!"
[22:20] <Aaeru> It seems unlikely that Captain Hamilton will outbid Sanuth, but they still have some time to check up on Sanuth. He didn't seem very trustworthy or a particularly good person, and he was broke just a few months ago. Maybe he doesn't actually have the money and plans on cheating Quindala, so looking into him might lead them towards success!

[Corwin]

[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: Going to look for Sanuth then?
[20:03] <Aaeru> OOC: We can GI on what he has been doing recently/how he's been financially! I'll take 10 for 20?
[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Do you want Neveril to assist you?
[20:03] <Aaeru> OOC: Sure, why not?
[20:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 7." [1d20=4]

[20:05] <Kotono> A few hours of chattig away in the Commerce Quarter of the city turns up a general impression. Sanuth seems to be on the rebound - he's been spending a lot of money lately, trying to make big deals and backing it up.
[20:07] <Aaeru> Deals with the sort of money that he apparently offered Quindala are more than a rebound. For all that she knows next to nothing about trade and commerce, Aaeru can still recognize that amount as extraordinary. From that point on, it's a matter of determining whether Sannuth's recent large deals actually went through, or if he just made a bunch of them lately. Another point of interest would be where it all started, since he had to have gotten the money from somewhere or someone.

[20:13] <Kotono> OOC: Make another GI check.
[20:13] <Aaeru> OOC: I'll take 10 for 20 again
[20:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Neveril continues to aid.
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Neveril continues to aid. and gets 7." [1d20=4]

[20:17] <Kotono> Ah, Neveril. It's adorable how she tries to help! Somehow she says the wrong thing all the time, but it's so cute! Despite that Aaeru is able to gather up a little more information. He bought a bit shipment of alchemical items from the temples of Mystra and Gond, then fine silks from the Desert. Now he's moving onto elven woodworking, apparently. He started with the Mystra and Gond deal,
[20:17] <Kotono> though there's no indication on where his money came from.
[20:19] <Kotono> You also hear Sanuth has a nice, big rented place in the Commerce District. It takes good coin to have lodgings there like that.
[20:20] <Aaeru> It is the thought that counts, and seeing someone trying so adorably is such a lovely bonus! "I think we should just go and ask him," Aaeru suggests to Neve. "He is a bad person who stabbed a girl and didn't even try to help her after! And now he has a lot of money, so maybe he did something bad to get it. Last time I met him, he was being blackmailed, so maybe he's doing it to someone else himself? If he is, we have to find out and do something."
[20:22] <Kotono> "He sounds like a fiend!" Neveril gasps, shaking her head back and forth, "Or like a vicious Unseelie! You're right, we need to do this."
[20:24] <Aaeru> "It's like negotiations," Aaeru adds. "We pretend like we know more than we do, you know, like we understand everything. And just be there and let him talk. We should learn something that way!"
[20:25] <Kotono> "You know the humans better, so if tha tworks," Neveril agrees as you head along!
[20:30] <Kotono> It overlooks Merchant's Way - a grand building of four stories, regal and rich. A good oak door is ahead, decorated with carvings of the four elemental forces.
[20:30] <Aaeru> Ah, finally a door she can knock on without worry! Aaeru promptly does so.
[20:34] <Kotono> The door is knocked! After a few moments it opens, a young, sprightly maid in a short dress appearing! She gives Aaeru a beaming smile for a moment, a bow following. "Good day. How can I help you?"
[20:35] <Aaeru> "Hello!" Aaeru greets her, since the maid is quite likely innocent of any wrong-doings. "We are here to see Sanuth. Is he in?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "Master Sanuth is in today," She smiles, "Do you have an appointment?"
[20:37] <Aaeru> "Please tell him it's about his offer for woodcraft?" Aaeru ventures. It is both true and might get them in without that appointment.
[20:40] <Kotono> The maid smiles again, giving Aaeru a look over! "Oh, of course, you're a messenger!" With a charming smile, "I'm sorry, I thought you were a beggar! Please wait while I go talk to the master." She gently closes the door then, leaving the two of you outside.
[20:41] * Aaeru frowns slightly, telling Neve quietly, "See? Just like I said."
[20:42] <Kotono> "How rude of her!" Neveril blushes at that!
[20:44] * Aaeru shifts in place, stretching her arms behind her before she lets them drop.
[20:49] <Kotono> What is it, about five minutes? By that time both you and Neveril are a little antsy, but the door opens! The maid smiles, "Please come in," she says, "Make sure to wipe your feet on the mat before you do, then please follow me."
[20:51] * Aaeru twitches slightly, but follows the maid's instructions. She deviates from them in only one thing, by pausing slightly as she wipes her feet and looking beyond the surface. If something truly vile exists in this house, she will surely see it!
[20:55] <Kotono> Stunningly, the maid does not radiate evil! Thus you head upstairs, up three flights of stairs. Here is one great, expanded study! Row after row of tall bookshelves loom, a rolling ladder sitting to the side. A huge crackling fireplace sits idle for the moment. The floor is deeply carpeted, paintings and works of art all about. Overstuffed chairs are about, and in one sits Sanuth. He wears
[20:55] <Kotono> fancy looking blue clothes, a cup of wine held in one hand, with the glass stem slipped between two fingers and the glass proper in his palm. His feet are up on an ottoman, as he looks up, "Ah, so you are coming from Quin..." He stops, blinking, "Wait a moment, I know you. I remember you...that candy store, right? Whimsical Sweets?"
[20:57] <Aaeru> Her own clothing is also blue, and perfectly serviceable! "Yes, Whimsical Sweets," Aaeru responds, not missing a beat even as she peers at Sanuth.
[20:57] <Kotono> He drinks from the wineglass and sits back in his chair, "So are you working for Quindala now?"
[20:58] <Kotono> Neveril hangs back, watching him.
[20:58] <Kotono> The maid bows once and leaves the room quietly.
[21:02] <Aaeru> "We're looking into your fortune," Aaeru responds, mentally frowning. "It's very sudden. Like, just two months ago, you had nothing."
[21:03] <Kotono> "I've come into some good fortune." Smiling, "Isn't it funny how things work out? That entire miserable affair happened and it's propelled me to even higher wealth!" He drinks again from his wine, "Make a few good trades, have a little bit of luck and you're right back into the game!"
[21:05] <Aaeru> "Makes sense," she agrees, keeping her own expression neutral. "But even then... if you start with nothing, you get nowhere. It's not like luck would give you the money to start over."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Speaking of money," Sanuth goes on smoothly from that, "What DOES Quindala want? I had the impression everything was going well."
[21:07] <Kotono> Neveril frowns slightly, watching for the moment.
[21:10] <Aaeru> "Oh, it is," Aaeru agrees, hopefully just as smoothly, before she bluntly states, "But I know you. If there's a choice between right and easy, you'd choose easy, no matter who gets hurt. So who got hurt for your fortune?"
[21:10] <Aaeru> She really doesn't have much to stand on, here, so all Aaeru can do is watch for Sanuth's reaction to the accusation to decide her future course.
[21:11] <Kotono> Oh, Sanuth scowls. He gives you a nasty look, "Do you have anything to this at all, or are you disturbing me to slop mud on my shoes?"
[21:15] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+7
[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+7 and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[21:17] <Aaeru> "We're looking into you, like our client wants," Aaeru responds evenly. "Tell us to leave and we do. But then I'll know you're guilty, and I won't stop looking. Even if the client doesn't care, I'll still keep searching, because it's important."
[21:21] <Kotono> "I'm going to be honest," Sanuth scowls again, draining his wine, "You are a bully. Either I tell you all sorts of business that's absolutely none of yours, and that isn't the evil conspiracy that you dreamed up it was, or I rightfully tell you to get the hell out before I have the Guard arrest you for tresspassing and harrassment, and you go on some silly crusade against me." He pauses
[21:21] <Kotono> then, taking in a long breath, "Get out."
[21:22] <Aaeru> "If you say so," Aaeru responds, intent on showing herself out.
[21:23] <Kotono> The maid isa waiting outside the door, bowing again, "You're done? This way, please."
[21:23] <Kotono> Neveril follows, face screwed up into an irritated grimace.
[21:24] <Aaeru> "We are," Aaeru agrees, just as content to be shown out by the maid.
[21:25] <Kotono> Once out the door is shut behind you, Neveril frowning, "That man!" She exhales after, "That was so, so... so...why be like that unless you have something to hide?"
[21:26] <Aaeru> "He does have something to hide," Aaeru tells her quietly, starting to lead the way to Whimsical Sweets. "But... he's also right on something. Maybe it's not horrible, just... bad?"
[21:28] <Kotono> "Maybe," Neveril agrees, "So now what do we do?"
[21:29] <Aaeru> "We talk to Sylvie. She's, like, lived here her whole life. And she knows lots more about trading than me. If we can find anything, she'll tell us how."
[21:32] <Kotono> Sylvie takes some finding to do. She's on the roof of Whimisical Sweets, painting the roof a merry candy cane striped white and red. She wears an old tunic and pants, paint splattered all over. Wiping her brow clear of sweat as she turns, "Oh Aaeru. Coming up to help, by any chance?"
[21:32] <Aaeru> "I... could do that," Aaeru responds, briefly taken aback but not letting it stop her! "Can we talk while I help?"
[21:34] <Kotono> "Sure," Sylvie says, passing a brush over, "This part's red striped, so don't get any white paint on it." Neveril hangs back, sitting at the edge of the unpainted side of the roof.
[21:39] <Aaeru> Red paint. If she's slow and careful about it, Aaeru should do this job properly. "It's about our job with Captain Hamilton," she begins, elaborating on the situation itself first so Sylvie could have some background. "And finally, there we are. Sanuth is offering ten thousand, while the Captain only has, like, four out of the twelve. And it's fine, but then I got thinking. Just, like, two months ago, Sanuth had nothing. And Neve and I asked around for most of the day, and no one knows, you know, where he got so much gold all of a sudden. So then we went to visit Sanuth, and when I told him I knew he did something bad to get the money... I know I was right! He... it's hard to explain, he did this thing with his eye, like a blink but not? You remember Sanuth, right? If he did something bad, we should find out what and fix it. Maybe it's not even his money! Then he can't pay for the woodcraft and Captain Hamilton gets them."
[21:45] <Kotono> "So you want to track down the source of the money, right?" Sylvie asks, furrowing her brow as she paints. She puts her brush down, "I'm guessing you don't know how to actually do that?"
[21:46] <Aaeru> "No," Aaeru admits, knowing her limitations. "And it's probably gonna be harder, now that I went and talked to him. But it felt wrong to look too much without being sure myself!"
[21:49] <Kotono> "Alright. The easiest way would be to get your hands on his records. Of course, that would probably require bulgarly and other things you won't do." Sylvie looks up to the sky as she rubs her chin, "So that's out. There's always magic, but it's unreliable short of truly powerful magic, expensive and could be warded against. It's not realistic here, so let's rule that out. So the hard way is
[21:49] <Kotono> ahead. You said he did a couple of other deals? Go find out who conducted them on the side of the temples and the silks. See if you can get anything out of them at all, any sort of lead. If Sanuth said something he shouldn't, or they know something from dealing with him, that could be a clue to tracking down his money."
[21:51] <Aaeru> "I don't know how to track down the desert silk trader, but the temples of Mystra and Gond might work. He started there, so it should do it?" Aaeru muses, keeping her own brush safely away from the white as she thinks out loud.
[21:52] <Kotono> "Exactly." Sylvie nods, "You're not really tracking Sanuth, you're tracking his money. Go to places where he's spent it and pry for information. See ifyou can find a clue or two there."
[21:53] <Aaeru> "Just one thing," Aaeru says, struggling with herself briefly before she just goes and asks. "Do you think it's wrong to do it? Like, he called me a bully, but I think he's up to something bad."
[22:02] <Kotono> "Hell if I know," Sylvie shrugs her shoulders again, "You're just doing your job. Do I look like a priest?" She says the last with a half smile, "Though I have been practicing..."
[22:02] <Aaeru> "Would you do it?"
[22:03] <Kotono> "I'd see if I could break in safely," Sylvie admits, "What's a bit of breaking and entering against finding out if he's a real son of a bitch? Of course, I'm nowhere near your unique moral fiber."
[22:05] <Aaeru> "Thanks. Well, wish us luck with Mystra's temple?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "Sure thing," Sylvie says, "Here's hoping you find your goal without getting turned into a toad!"
[22:08] <Aaeru> "A toad?"
[22:08] <Kotono> "Or a rabbit or a mouse. Whatever," Sylvie cracks a smile, "Just don't get turned into something, okay?"
[22:09] * Aaeru gives Sylvie a mock salute!
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC: Going to head over to Mystra's temple now? Any plans or just gonna show up and ask around?
[22:12] * Aaeru decides to bet that a temple to Mystra has good and law-abiding priests. All she wants is to track down a few details on the trade in question to get a name, and then she could ask for that priest once she reaches the temple.
[22:12] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+10 GI, who did Sanuth deal with at the temple?
[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+10 GI, who did Sanuth deal with at the temple? and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[22:14] <Kotono> Oh, you talk around. Near the Temple of Mystra is a small open air eatery. A middle aged man with a welcome smile is who you chat with, wearing Mystra's holy symbol and robes. "Ah, Sanuth? As a matter of fact, you're talking to him!" He pauses from devouring his late lunch, "Sit down and get something if you wanna talk. There's fresh fish in from the bay, as well as sharksteaks."
[22:16] <Aaeru> "Ah, alright," Aaeru responds, sitting down politely. "I'm actually fasting, but thanks."
[22:17] <Kotono> Neveril sits, "I'm okay, I just had some candy."
[22:18] <Kotono> To this the large man shrugs, a brown beard adorning a chin slowly sagging into two with weight. "So what are you looking for with Sanuth, anyway?"
[22:20] <Aaeru> "I'm Aaeru, from Whimsical Sweets," she belatedly introduces herself. "And this is Neveril. To be honest, we met Sanuth just a few weeks ago. He lost everything. And I mean everything. He couldn't, like, pay a debt for a few hundred marks. And now he's buying for ten thousand like it's nothing? It's just... weird. And I just asked around on a whim, and it's like no one knows where that money came from, you know?"
[22:23] <Kotono> "Hello!" Neveril says politely, smiling to him. "It is weird, and we need to figure out why."
[22:24] <Kotono> To this the man shakes his head, "Oh yes, I'm Rimard." He goes on after that anda nother bite of his lunch, "Now that you mention it, Sanuth did mention he was in the middle of a comeback after some financial difficulty."
[22:28] <Aaeru> "I'm not, like, a merchant," Aaeru admits, "but is it really that easy? Like, I know if you're a soldier or a mercenary, you can go and discover treasure or something like that and get a lot of money quickly. But merchants need some cash to trade, don't they? And I don't think anyone would really give him the gold after he tried to lie to people and run away from his debts. It doesn't make sense, does it? So, like, it feels really bad. Like, he maybe got involved in something illegal, like with bandits, or smuggling things, because that's a way to get a lot of money quickly? I don't really want to just go to the Guard and accuse people, because maybe he does have this really good reason, so we're trying to talk to the people he talked. You know, find out if he said anything? Like, if it's inheritance, we can check on that really easily!"
[22:30] <Kotono> "It is unusual," Rimard says around another mouthful, pointing his fork at Aaeru, "But his backer sure put up the money quickly. So that explains that. Must've convinced someone he was a gamble worth taking."
[22:31] <Aaeru> "His backer?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "Yeah, it's who supplied the gold. Don't got a name for it, I only heard it referred to in passing. It's also a woman, sounds like, he referred to her as a she." More pause to eat.
[22:35] * Aaeru blinks. "Didn't you see her when she brought the gold over?"
[22:37] <Kotono> "No, he brought it over himself." Shaking his head back and forth, "One more thing - I got the impression she wasn't local. Just the way he spoke about her when he did. I'd pin it on a foreign noblewoman myself. Maybe he's banging her."
[22:39] <Aaeru> "I... see," Aaeru says awkwardly. "Umm. So, like, I heard he bought this alchemical stuff? So much he went to the temple of Gond, too? What's so much of it good for?"
[22:41] <Kotono> "Well, he bought a lot of everything. From twindertwigs to alchemist's fire to sunrods." He pauses and shrugs again, "In that quantity, he's probably looking to sell them somewhere. Maybe someone want sto open up a magic shop?"
[22:43] <Aaeru> "Maybe," Aaeru agrees. "Or he's shipping them somewhere? I heard, I think, that he traded for like silks from the Desert and stuff? Do you know with who? Because maybe that's who wanted them."

[Corwin]

[19:44] <Kozzz> "'fraid not," He shakes his jowls again, taking a few more bites of food. "For what it's worth, business is business...but if he ends upw ith a setback..." Shrugging his big shoulders, "I didn't really like him. He felt like an opportunist. The type who leaps aboard without any real dedication or faith besides to himself."
[19:48] <Aaeru> That an opportunist not a single person she has talked to liked ended up getting incredible financial support continues to feel off to Aaeru. If it's nothing illegal, why hide it?
[19:48] <Aaeru> "Then I should go and have a talk with whoever he traded with at Gond's temple," she muses. "Maybe they'll know something!"
[19:54] <Kozzz> "That I can help you with. Artificer Nassor of Gond, he should be at the Wonderworks or nearby working on something. Good guy, if you ignore the explosions and experiments."
[19:55] <Aaeru> "Thanks!"
[20:01] <Aaeru> Perhaps Artificer Nassor would know more about Sanuth's mysterious benefactor? Aaeru intends to chase down the leads available to her in the time she has until she either runs out of either, or determines the source of Sanuth's rebound.
[20:04] <Kotono> Finding Artificer Nassor isn't hard...in fact, on finding his home, it looks familiar. Near the Wonderworks lies a tall fenced home. It's one flat story, surrounded by a well kept, six foot tall privacy fence of fieldstone. It's irregular but polished, the harsh edges worn away. An ironwrought gate leads further within, a plaque set into the left side of the gate. Written in Common in it is
[20:04] <Kotono> 'Warning! Do not allow small animals or children within! Danger ahead!'
[20:05] <Aaeru> "I was here before!" Aaeru exclaims happily, pushing the gate aside to walk up to the door which she would knock upon.
[20:06] <Kotono> "It looks a little strange," Neveril looks about, "Why can't children or animals come here?"
[20:07] <Aaeru> "Because of the explosions," Aaeru responds, indeed knocking. "Also, he had like these swords on springs, and then can come off and go fly into... things. But I'm sure we'll be fine!"
[20:07] <Kotono> Chimes sound on that knock, echoing about! They have a faintly metallic undertone to them! Opening the door is Nassor, who smiles and rubs his left ear, "Well, if it isn't Aaeru! I remember you and your friends with those troubleshooters! Are you here for some equipment?"
[20:09] * Aaeru almost laughs at the joke until she realizes that he is serious and just shuffles awkwardly in place for a moment. "Umm, actually? Can we talk to you for a bit? We're looking into this merchant, Sanuth, and we hope you'll help us."
[20:09] <Kotono> "Eh?" Cupping his ear with his hand, "Say that again? Had an explosion today, my ears are ringing!"
[20:10] <Aaeru> "Oh, really?" Aaeru asks in surprise, speaking up. "I had one yesterday, and I couldn't walk for a bit!"
[20:11] <Kotono> "When did you have an explosion?" Neveril blink-blinks at that, while Nassor nods, "Oh, okay!" His voice raises, "SO TELL ME, WHY ARE YOU VISITING?"
[20:13] <Aaeru> "It was a job. This mage wanted another mage to test all sorts of spells on me and see if I'm alright after. I don't think it was a very smart job, but it paid really well," Aaeru fills Neve in, before trying again with the Artificer. "It's about Sanuth," she says sufficiently loudly. "You traded with him recently? Did he mention, like, a woman?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "Oh, that was more than a day ago," Nodding to that, Neveril listens otherwise for now.
[20:15] <Kotono> "OH, SANUTH? A WOMAN? D'YOU MEAN SENARIL?" Nassor calls, rooting a finger into his ear and thwapping the side of his head,
[20:17] <Aaeru> "What-- oh, don't do that!" Aaeru exclaims, pulling Nassor's hand away and placing her own over his ears. She can't heal as well as Croger or Andrea, but she can certainly contribute her share!
[20:17] <Kotono> OOC: How much healing?
[20:17] <Aaeru> OOC: I have 9
[20:18] <Kotono> "HUH? Hey!" Nassor blinks, "That's better. Thanks." Rubbing his bald head again, "So anyway, you were asking about Sanuth and a woman? He mentioned a Senaril."
[20:18] <Aaeru> "Senaril? Do you know who's that?"
[20:19] <Kotono> "No idea," Nassor says, leaning against the doorframe, "Just mentioned her in passing and moved onwhen I asked about it."
[20:20] <Aaeru> "Do you know if she gave him the gold?" Aaeru wonders out loud, trying to think it over.
[20:21] <Kotono> "Gave him what gold?" Nassor frowns, "Like the gold he used to pay for the goods, or some other gold?"
[20:21] <Kotono> "The gold he paid with," Neveril says, "We're afraid he's up to no good."
[20:22] <Kotono> "Oh. No idea," Nassor waves a hand up and down, "See, he paid and he also mentioned this Senaril in passing, but not connected to the money. So I have no idea. The name doesn't mean much of anything to me, don't know any Senarils."
[20:23] <Aaeru> "What about the trader from the desert he bought silk from?" Aaeru asks hopefully. "Did he mention, you know, wanting to buy that stuff?"
[20:26] <Kotono> "No. We talked about alchemical good and the purchase. To be honest, I don't deal with common alchemical goods that much, it's not quite my field. But I was filling in for a friend. Don't know why he'd want silks after that, u nless he was gonna go haul them somewhere in trade."
[20:27] <Aaeru> Now almost desperate, Aaeru asks, "And the... alchemical stuffs? He just bought them, and you don't know, like, what he did with them all?"
[20:28] <Kotono> "No," Shaking his head again, "He didn't mention and I didn't ask. Most of it was sunrods and that sort of thing. Nothing dangerous like alchemist's fire, though he did mention that he got some of those from Mystra's church. Oh, what's his name...Rimald? Rimard? He's a big boned priest over there who did the sale. We sort of know each other. He might know."
[20:28] <Aaeru> "I think he didn't?" Aaeru blinks. "Neve, did we ask?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "I don't think we did directly, though he didn't act like he knew," Neveril says after thinking, a cute little pout on her face, "So he's not telling anyone what he needs them for."
[20:33] <Aaeru> "When was it? The sunrods he bought and the rest?" Aaeru asks Nassor. "We can check dates! And... and did it cost really a lot? Because that's money and we can follow it!"
[20:33] <Kotono> "He paid in trade bars and gold coins," Nassor says, "He gave me the money himself."
[20:35] <Aaeru> "Local bars and coins?" Aaeru asks on a hunch. This myserious backer is foreign, apparently, and if she brought her currency with her from home....
[20:36] <Kotono> "A mix," He answers, "The silver trade bars were Balmurian issue, but the coins were from Pallanth and Tauret."
[20:40] <Aaeru> Where else can they follow the money-- "Oh! He's renting, like, a really expensive place now!" Aaeru says suddenly. "Maybe we can check if he did that before all these deals? Maybe this woman paid for that too?"
[20:51] <Kotono> "I'm not sure how you could," Neveril says, "Do humans keep records of all of that?"
[20:53] <Aaeru> "I... don't really know," Aaeru admits. "But, like, if you're renting a place, I think it's in someone's name? And the person who collects the money might remember who paid for what? Oh! If it's a pretty woman or a foreign woman or a pretty foreign woman, they'll totally remember!"
[20:55] <Kotono> "Right, but how do we find that person?" Frowning to herself, "I just don't know. Do your friends know?"
[20:56] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+4 K:L
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+4 K:L and gets 17." [1d20=13]
[20:57] <Kotono> City Hall in the New City, definintely. Writs of property are kept there.
[20:58] <Aaeru> "City Hall," Aaeru answers after a few moments of thought. "Thank you," she tells Nassor, smiling gratefully. "If I can help you with something, just let me know?"
[20:59] <Kotono> "Sure," Nassor says, as Aaeru heads off and away!
[21:00] <Kotono> It's late in the afternoon as you arrive at City Hall. It's a classical styled building with pillars and columns, all pleasant to the eye. Within is a big waiting room, a few dozen people about. Several smiling women are there, behind desks. Of course there's a line to even get to see them, about six people long and showing no signs of immediately moving.
[21:05] <Aaeru> Aaeru steps into the line, turning halfway so she can talk to Neve easily. "I thought about this on the way," she says. "She might be his girlfriend, or his sponsor, or anything like that. But if she's real, then she has to, like, talk to him and stuff from time to time, yes? So she'll either have a place somewhere in the city, or she'll be coming through once in a while. She's giving him lots and lots of gold, so it's not like she can just carry it all in a bag. That means, maybe, a cart or a caravan. Either the gate guards or Waukeen's temple could maybe remember it, if she did it more than once? Hey, do you think that's also what Sylvie meant when she said to follow the money?"
[21:06] <Kotono> "It must be," Neveril says. The line moves slooowly, ten minutes per person up there. After they go to sit, as the minutes craaaaawl by. "Or someone has to, anyway."
[21:08] <Aaeru> "Wanna help me out tomorrow, too? If we don't find anything by then, we don't really have to hurry since it'd be too late for the client."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Okay," Neveril agrees as the line draaags by! One more to go, when one of the women stands up, "We're at capacity for the rest of the afternoon. If you haven't been seated yet, please come back tomorrow. Thank you."
[21:11] <Aaeru> "Can I just ask a really small question?" Aaeru asks the woman brightly.
[21:13] <Kotono> "What is it?" she asks.
[21:17] <Aaeru> Rattling off the address for Sanuth's home for the present, Aaeru asks, "Can you please tell me if it's Senaril's place?"
[21:17] <Kotono> "I'm sorry, you'll have to come back tomorrow for a property inquiry," The woman smiles politely. "Thank you."
[21:19] <Aaeru> Tomorrow it is, then. For now, they'll have to report their lack of progress to Captain Hamilton.
[21:20] <Kotono> Captain Hamilton is found in his quarters, feet up as he awaits, "Aaeru, my hearty! Have you dealt with the problem?"
[21:22] <Aaeru> "Not yet," Aaeru admits. "Sanuth is offering, like, ten thousand for the whole thing. I'm trying to see if his fortune is illegal and stuff, but if I can't find anything tomorrow we might lose this one."
[21:24] <Kotono> "So you think this dainty dickfucker is a criminal?" Captain Hamilton growls, taking another swig of his grog, "So some little son of a barnacle wants to tangle with Captain Hamilton? FUCK the elf woodwork! I want you and your company to expose this son of a bitch! No one crosses me and runs off like this!"
[21:26] <Aaeru> Not deciphering a full third of that and not wishing to touch another third, Aaeru chooses to nod. "It's, like, I don't like to say bad things about people? But everyone, like everyone who met Sanuth think he's up to no good. And I feel that. There's something off, here." She snaps her fingers. "Hey! You knew he was bidding, too, so maybe you know stuff about him? Like when he made his other trades, or if he has a wife or girlfriend or mistress?"
[21:28] <Kotono> "I don't consort with trash like that!" Captain Hamilton drains his bottle dry, slamming it hard to the ground! Glass explodes outward as he stands, "I want you to dig up every little detail! I want you to find out everything from his ill begotton, whoring parentage to his latest assfucking adventures, and everything in between!"
[21:29] <Aaeru> "--okay!"
[21:31] <Kotono> Neveri takes several steps back, as the Captain continues on! "And I. Mean. EVERYTHING!" Stomping the remnants of the bottle beneath his boots, "Nothing is off limits! I don't care if he likes to have dwarven dykes defecate on him! EVERYTHING!" Pointing to the door, "GO! Tell your little fat fucker of a boss that this is TOP priority starting NOW!"
[21:32] <Aaeru> He is not a bad person, Aaeru repeats in her head as a mantra, retreating after Neve. He is not a bad person!
[21:40] <Kotono> Thus Aaeru and Neveril hurry away, to rest for tomorrow!