MEETUP: Chay and the Charn

Not the most likely of places for a meet, the Wayfarer's Inn, but it is enough out of the way that it doesn't draw much attention. Razen had left word that it was time to meet-up and discuss the next part to the plan.

The place was fairly slow - not all that uncommon for the Wayfarer's - with most of the people looking well road-weary and their soles thin. The travelers last stop before entering Alexandira.

The Ale and beer are absolutely average, the bread made within the last week, and the stew exactly what you would expect. In short, their food is nothing short of common-place.

The ranger sitting in the corner by the hearth is a familiar-enough face in this village, and even better known to the other adventurers. Ga'Elian silently balances a stack of three ale-mugs, while keeping a watch on the door.

Daechir enters the inn cautiously and already wearing his disguise as a human man. A little magic and a lot of Yelrona's help to keep him from looking like himself when he walks about. After all, he has become quite notorious at this point. The mul'niessa man looks around the inn and quietly asks for a drink so as to not appear suspicious. Then he finds a corner to sit in and makes himself comfortable there.

Aya may or may not be notorious in her own right, albeit due to other circumstances. Fortunately, in this case, much of her notoriety is within the city. As corner-sitting rangers may be able to attest, she doesn't often wander out so far from the walls. Not without reason, at least, and there is such a reason as she walks into the inn.

As far as Yelrona is concerned, the Wayfarer's is no stranger a place to meet than any other. Ever since the Inquisition began, she's been meeting people in all kinds of odd places... especially places where people don't meet much. This is just another place. She orders the closest approximation of peppermint tea available, which is likely mediocre beer, and sits next to Elian in a very average chair.

The light of the fire is a bit too dim, but not so much that it casts shadows all around. Instead it's only enough to make reading a bit more difficult than usual. The area is otherwise well lit. And there, for no one to see, is Razen.

Because Razen isn't here. He's late... Damn it, and here I thought this would be a /completely/ average night. Instead it's just mostly average.

The tea arrives, not too much flavor but almost too little. The Mul gets an ale that's almost lukewarm but not cold, with a flavor that's exactly what an Inn would provide.

Ga'Elian smiles at Yelrona, and sets his stacked mugs back down. When her tea (or "tea" as the case may be) arrives, he says, "Just bring a couple pitchers and give us a bit of uninterrupted time, okay? He puts a handful of gold coins on her tray, and adds, "Private party and no questions, alright?"

Daechir does not actually drink the ale, but after a long moment he rises and heads to where Yelrona and Ga'Elian are sitting. He offers them a warm grin. "Mind if I join you?" There's a moment's hesitation and then in a lower voice a question. "So what are you doing here?"

"Drinking unexceptional tea," Rona replies to the remarkably average human man who is in no way a Mul'niessa slaver. "And hoping to learn something new."

Aya orders herself some stew and takes a seat at a table adjacent to Ga'elian's, if just to try and maintain a more average distribution in the average inn. Uncertain of whom shall be making an appearance and when, she keeps an ear on the other table, an eye on the stew as she idly stirs it, and the other half of her attention on the room and door.

Ga'Elian asks, "Would you like to try some?" He silently nods at Aya.

It's true!

The human Rona is sitting with isn't a Mul'niessa slaver. There's no slavers here in fact. And the door opens! In walks... a couple of people that look to be running a completely normal trade caravan.

"Hear about the price of wheat?"

Grunts, "Aye, it's gone up."

"Well, at least it's going to be a good haul."

"Yeah. Ale please."

"You can drink the ale here? It's so... so..."

"Average?"

"Yeah."

Yelrona takes a long sip of her tea and adds, to Aya, "Have you heard anything more from your... unwelcome suitor?"

The disguised man offers a friendly smile and leans forward slightly, listening to Yelrona's conversation with the woman sitting at the next table. "Suitor?" Daed's voice sounds interested.

Ga'Elian looks at the 'wheat' traders, looking especially for distinguishing features, maybe anything to recognizes them by if they decide to mask the identities they're displaying at this moment.

Aya looks to Yelrona and shakes her head, a slim smile curling. "No. I believe that he may have finally taken my response to heart, so I may hear nothing further." A shoulder rolls as her eyes shift to the latest travellers to arrive.

GAME: Ga'Elian rolls Percep/Ioun: aliased to Perception+4: (11)+28+4: 43

Yelrona nods. "Say what you will about having your retinue sliced open by a friendly warrior, it certainly sends a clear message."

As near as you can tell... They are Wheat Traders. But one can never truly tell, can you?

"Whelp, I guess that trip to Veyshan will be a good one."

"Aye, aye. Those scrolls are gonna sell for a small fortune."

"Just wish it wasn't so far to the east."

"Oh it'll be alright." The one man looks to the other, "Only a week by camel once we get there."

Grunt. "Yeah."

Daechir arches an eyebrow at the exchange between Yelrona and Aya, but keeps his thoughts on the subject to himself for the moment. "You mentioned that you were hoping to learn something new tonight. Anything in particular?"

Ga'Elian mutters to those nearby, "Wheat, scrolls... You don't suppose that could be euphemistic code, eh?" <sildanyari>

Yelrona is about to reply to Daechir when she catches Elian's comment, which inspires her to reconsider the traders' exchange. "I don't know," she tells Deachir.

GAME: Yelrona rolls sense motive: (5)+21: 26

They seem well convinced that they are indeed headed off to Veyshan. Possibly with scrolls.

"Oi, you know what?"

Grunt, "What?"

"We need something to haul back. Gotta be something that keeps." Chin-scratch and a tilt of the head. He orders a completely average ale too.

"Eh? Well, yeah I suppose so that'd be a good idea."

"Yep." A frown, "Oh! I got it, raisins."

"Oi, that's an idea. Yeah. They keep, they're dried, sure!"

Dark eyes flicker toward the table and then back to Ga'Elian. "Do you have reason to think so?" Daed leans back again, still smiling slightly and running his fingers over the top of the cup. <sildanyari>

Yelrona finishes her tea and heads back to the bar to order another. On her way back she passes the traders' table and chimes in "I hear the market in Veyshanti silk is pretty hot these days."

"It does," Aya nods to Yelrona, albeit somewhat absently. Her stew is very interesting, and maybe the wheat/scroll/dried fruit traders, too.

"Yeah, I think they got them uh... Orchards? Are grapes orchards or groves or what?"

"Iunno." A shrug. "I suppose they-"

Yelrona interrupts about the silk. "Aye, aye, but we're not headin' that far south. Gotta go to the city to get in on the silk trade." A nod, then a glance toward his companion. "Raisins. I think that really is. Maybe wine. But wine's always so pricy."

"Aye, low profit margins. Ya sure about the silk though?"

"Yeah, I don't wanna get too close to the slavers."

A grunt, "Yeah, alright, I hear ya. Raisins it is."

"Raisins."

Ga'Elian looks at Daed, and replies, "Nothing specific, but one hears talk in this public house of trading in lumber, pelts, wild herbs, and such. Other less frontier commodities tend in my observation to be discussed in more civilized places."

"The problem with wine," Rona continues conversationally, "is that it spoils so readily when transported. I mean, if you're shipping overland. You'd do better with raisins. Or dates." Daechir nods but affects not to notice the traders. "True, or we are wasting our time on fruitless endeavors." He waves a hand and glances toward Yelrona then back again. Then continues in Sildanyar. "Besides if they were something else, do you think them the sort to be smart enough to come up with a complex system for talking about what they are selling?" <sildanari>

Ga'Elian smirks. Then mutters back to Daed, "I find that those with secrets can be amazingly ingenious at masking their real actions or meanings, but no mask is perfect. Liars make mistakes, and the more complex the deception, the more prone it is to flaws." <sildanyari>

Aya considers her stew a moment longer before finally looking up to the hawkers of foodstuffs and speaking to them. "You mentioned scrolls. Are they available for browsing, or do you already have buyers to the east?" she inquires, brow arching. True, scrolls neither spoil nor are weighty, but one might think that coin in hand is better than merely potential.

"In't that what we said? Raisins." The man looks at Yelrona as if she's quite mad.

"Aye, that's what ya said. Raisins." A nod of his head.

"S'what I thought." He turns back to his companion, sipping his completely average ale. And then... another person. "Oi... Is everyone 'round here eavesdroppers?"

"I aint seen no eaves."

"Oh quit your jawin'." A glance toward Aya, "Yeah, already spoken for. Forty scrolls up fer sale out there, 'n' we're not tellin' ya what they are neither. They're -our- market." A nod.

"Aye, but any-un with two coppers would figure it's create water."

"Damn it all! I said it was our secret!"

"I was tryin' ta throw 'em off."

"By tellin' 'em?" He punches the other man in the shoulder.

Aya nods to the men to acknowledge their response while rolling a shoulder. "You are hardly quiet, and my curiosity was simply piqued by a potential business opportunity."

Daechir arches an eyebrow at Ga'Elian as though to say 'see?' They hardly seem to be the sort that can hide any sort of secrets, but Daed smiles in amusement anyways. Amused by his companions suspicious natures.

Ga'Elian shrugs and refills one of his mugs from the pitcher.

Constantin comes in through the door, looking drab - far drabber than usual. Everything is shades of brown, from his hair to the dust on his boots.

Yelrona waves to Constantin as he enters, and takes her tea refill from the bar. She puts it on her table and steps outside for a minute, looking around for any sign of Razen's presence. Then she comes back in and looks Constantin over as she sips her tea. "New look?"

Constantin gets a tea for himself, and nods. "Protective colouration." He wraps his hands around the steaming mug, and sits down with a happy sigh.

"Idjit." The one trader punches the other in the shoulder again.

"Fine, fine, next rounds on me."

"Damn straight it is. Next /four/ and you're guidin' the wagon -tonight- to the docks."

Sigh. "Times are tough."

"No they aint."

Daechir nods a greeting to the newest addition to their group and eyes Yelrona's tea over his untouched pint of watery ale. He waits for her to sit down before meeting her gaze. "You never answered my question - what is it that you were hoping to learn tonight?"

"Protective coloration?" Rona echoes Constantin curiously.

"Oh, that reminds me," she adds to the traders, "does your ship to Veyshan have any cargo space on it left? There are a few items I wouldn't mind shipping there this week."

To Daechir she replies "Like I said, I don't know." Which is true enough... she's here for a meet Razen scheduled, but the man himself hasn't arrived. But she doesn't feel like explaining that where she might be overheard.

Constantin lifts his eyes from the tea's surface. "Sometimes, I just don't want to stand out?" He turns his head, idly scanning the traders, looking for familiar faces.

Ga'Elian says, "I can understand that."

Yelrona laughs. "Well. In _that_ outfit you'll stand out pretty much anywhere in the city," she tells Elian.

"Raisins." The man says with a nod.

"Suppose we're late for the shipment?"

"Of Raisins?"

"Aye. What do ya do ifn they aint there?"

"I 'spect we'll have to ask around then." A chin scratch, "Maybe we could find some other thin to bring back, that way we have a good reason to keep doin' the round."

"Aye."

Daechir is clearly curious, but not rude enough to pry. Instead he laughs a little at Yelrona's comment about Ga'Elian's comment. "I would say they both stand out."

"Are you expecting a shipment?" Aya, being the inquisitive dropper of eaves that she is, inquires. "Didn't you only just decide to take them?" They are certainly more interesting than her stew; she's just not entirely decided how much more.

Ga'Elian stands up and takes an appraising look at himself. He sits back down and says, "Well, it works out in the forest."

A squint off at Aya, "Yeah, and if'n we can't find any, we'll have to investigate why not!" A mutter, "Some people buttin' in on how to do business. Next they'll be askin' how ta know when ta buy 'n' sell."

"Aye." Slurp.

Yelrona watches the door as she drinks her second tea. When she finishes it, she shakes her head and stands up. "Well. It's been lovely to see you all," she says to her colleagues, "but I need to see a man about a man. Be well." She heads out the door, intending to head to the docks, paying attention to any signs of Razen's passage on the way.

Daechir laughs again and finally takes a small drink. Immediately he looks as though he regrets it and sets it aside. He watches Yelrona leave and then lowers his voice somewhat. "Do either of you know why she was here in the first place?"

Ga'Elian looks at Daed, and says, "I don't rightly know, but she's often here and there on matters pertaining to her inquisition. Oh, and if you're heading back to the City, I'd be glad to give you a ride on Erithamiel."

Aya decides that she may have butted eaves into business enough for one evening and leaves the merchants to their rounds. She exhales a sigh and mutters, almost to herself, "Either they are professionals with performances worthy of a high court bards, or they are only the amateur adepts at buffoonery that they appear..." <sildanyari>

The mul'niessa man in disguise smiles at Ga'Elian. "In a moment perhaps. First allow me to sate my curiosity." Daed rises to his feet and walks to the bartender, offering the same friendly smile to the man there. "Hello. My friend left abruptly as you may have noticed. She mentioned before she left that she was waiting. Do you perchance know whom or what she was waiting for?" He allows a coin to drop onto the counter.

Constantin glances slidelong at Aya, then just retreats into his tea. He slouches down a little lower, eyes half-lidding.

The bartender wipes down another glass. Furrows a brow, "Nope. Don't even know who that was to be honest." He gives a shrug. "And if he's lookin' for a patron, he hasn't returned. At least, I haven't seen the bloke return."

Ga'Elian watches from his table as Disguised-Daed plies the barkeep for information. He glances at Aya and Constantin, blankly. His focus returns to Daed.

Daechir looks at the bartender curiously, then adds another coin to the one on the bar. "If you can tell me what this person who did not return looks like... I will double the money I have put down here."

"What? Oh, his name was Razen." The bartender says, wiping down the counter, "Not like he was sayin' ta keep it a secret." He shrugs, "I think he might've been waitin' for someone actually. Then he stepped outside, never came back in. Must've found who he was lookin' for, he's still got the room through the day."

Constantin stays holed up in the corner, sipping tea, propping his feet up. After all, they're a ways walk from most places here.

Ga'Elian perks up at the Barkeep's reply. He stands up and walks up to join the Disguised-Daed at the bar. He says, "Perhaps Razen left your package in his room?"

Daechir nods and adds more coins to the pile. His promised price and a few extra. "Can you tell me his room number so that I can check for my package?"

A suspicious look is given to the man, "Aye..." He takes the gold, then motions up the stairs, "He's in room number four."

Ga'Elian nods and says, "There now."

Daechir doesn't hesitate, fully curious now and heads for the stairs. Once he gets up he heads directly for room number four and tries the handle.

Ga'Elian follows along

It doesn't take long to figure it out that Razen -was- here, but now he's not. In his effects he has a list of notes, chief among them is:

"He's here! He's here! I found out who the spy in the adventurer's guild is. I'm going to try and follow him.

If I'm not back by the time you're reading this - I've probably been taken. But it's alright, just look for the ship Galleons of Gold that's the ship he's been using to get the Charn into the city!

-Razen"

Daechir arches one dark eyebrow and offers the note for Ga'Elian to read in turn. "It seems that this man has gotten himself kidnapped by the slavers." He sounds... angry, and the look in his dark eyes matches the tone of his voice. "And it seems we have little choice but to gather the others and go after him lest he find himself trapped... permanently."

Ga'Elian glances at the note and nods. He says, "Well, Daed, I think Erithamiel can have us at the seaport in good time. Perhaps we can catch them before they sail. Shall we go now? He's waiting outside, just in back of this pub."

Daechir smiles a small savage smile and nods. "Let us hope we reach him in time Ga'Elian." His tone seemed to suggest that it was not only Razen that was in danger this night. Those that had taken him would find little mercy from the Mul'niessa man. He leads the way back down the stairs quickly and lightly, the sound of a bell following in his wake.

-End-