Coby bows to Gildor.  "Many apologies.  It was weak of me to be drawn in by the nonsense of fools."  He looks to Slove.  "Be silent so our guest can tell us of his needs.  Act your age, for the love of Toril."

"Ah, Coby I see you got to last resort, when all else fail, start ordering people around.  It always works.  Any more order you like me to ignore?"

"Here's an order:  Stop embarrassing yourself and shaming your god with pointless bickering," Jimmy suggests.  "Unless you consider yourself down at the level of a teenage human?  Seriously, you're the least elfish elf I've ever met."

He points at Gildor.  "See him?  Elegant, a bit aloof, but classy.  That's the way elves act.  You're acting more like me than you are like him.  I have an excuse:  I'm young.  If you're so old, how come you're just as childish as I am?"

Tulin opened his mouth and closed it, several times, making him look like a gasping fish as he tried to get a word in. Finally he shook his head softly, turned and departed, muttering about looking for 'professionals'.

He didn't get far.

Silently and smoothly, a few figures detached themselves from the crowd and made a bee-line for Tulin. One, a heavy-set man in leathers and mail with a sword at his hip laid a thick hand on the merchant's shoulder, an apparently friendly gesture. Two more appeared in front of him, one a bored-looking girl with black hair and pale skin, the other a weedy looking man with hungry eyes, both in plain traveller's clothes. Tulin stiffened at the contact, unsure of the newcomers, but then the group began to talk animatedly, though the merchant didn't relax.

Perhaps he'd finally found his professional adventurers?

[Private to Gildor Inglorion: The warrior was tense, ready. One hand was never far from the hilt of his sword, and the other on Tulin's shoulder was in the manner of a thug who wishes to be subtly threatening.]

[Private to Jorn Brightcaller: The bored girl and the weedy man didn't look like much, but then, mages didn't have to. Jorn could see their hands hanging by their sides, fingers crooked ready for spellcasting.]

Coby leans over, straining to listen in.

[Private to DM BadCatMan: Listen +7: 20]

Slove turns to Gildor.
"I think you had better go save our new employer and find out what he want.  There is no point anybody talking to use with me Cody here."
Then Slove sits back but watches Tulin and group he with.

Jorn followed Tulin and tried to slide in smoothly at one side of the man.  Playing the merchant, he interrupted the others, trying to sound as though he was simply picking up an ongoing conversation.

"Please, forgive my friends. They spend too much time in the wilds, and not enough time around civilized folk.  Let me buy you a drink, and we'll talk over your needs.  Once we're on the trail of your problem, I'll vouch for their professionalism."

He looked at Tulin, but tried to keep his peripheral vision on the newcomers in case they were offended by his interruption.

[Private to Coby Koensson: Coby pricked his ears, his training allowing him to easily make out the conversation despite the din of the tavern. Even still, he couldn't make out all the words, but there was enough to get a general understanding of the conversation.

The weedy-looking man introduced himself and his friends as adventurers and said Tulin "looked like a man in need of help."

Tulin agreed, and was relieved to find adventurers "who can behave with professionalism." He introduced himself as a merchant and explained that he  had "misplaced a certain objet d'art... of no intrinsic magical value, only to certain collectors..." He stressed the last part, probably to indicate that said item couldn't be easily stolen and sold independently. "It is a -"

Frustratingly, Jorn interrupted him at this point.]

Tulin looked down at Jorn. "Thank you for the offer, good dwarf, but I believe that I have found some people to help me now." he said, then added "Unless your two groups would like to work together? I am sorry; I am not familiar with adventuring etiquette."

The weedy looking man spoke, in a high, reedy tone. "I find that I and my people work much better alone." He cast a disapproving glare over Jorn. "Else we would only be stepping on eachother's toes."

The warrior butted in, much less subtle. "Yeah, back off short stuff. You snooze, you lose."

Coby springs to his feet, a bright smile on his face.

"Friends, friends, no need to argue!" he interposes himself into the general group.  "Tulin, forgive for my earlier behavior.  It was rude, dishonorable, and there is no excuse for it."

He hangs his head in shame.

"I do not blame you for doubting our professionalism.  I would myself, were I you.  However, I would suggest to you that the more people seeking a lost object, the likelier it is to be discovered!  In this instance, were you to offer the job to both our groups - giving pay only to the group that finds it - your chances of success have doubled at no additional cost to you!"

He looks up, smiling.  "Competition is the heart of commerce!  We will be competing against each other, and therefore, work all the harder to find whatever it is you seek!"


"Plus," he mutters to Tulin.  "An enterprising man could make a fortune taking bets on the outcome of such a venture, regardless of which team finds the goal."

Slove sits and keeps his mouth shut.  He good at doing that.

Gildor watched the two men with disdain. He had a bad feeling about them. Without being overtly threatening he dropped his hands in his lap and rested them lightly on the hilts of his swords.

Jorn nodded to Coby's suggestion. "Why not?

He turned back to Tulin and the other adventurers. "If the idea is agreeable to you, why not explain your needs to both groups, and only pay the one that brings back whatever you need?

"The time and effort would surely be too much for the losing party in such an endeavour." the weedy man commented. "Not to mention the effects of the competition..." he added slyly.

Tulin frowned and rubbed his bearded chin as he considered Coby's idea. He wasn't particularly interested in either party, to be honest. The first appeared to be adequate, even if they bickered like children. The others... they were suspect and intimidating. Something bothered him.

The merchant looked around from face to face, considering each one and appraising their nature and capabilities. He stared hard at the two elves, Slove and Gildor, with an uncertain discomfort.

Finally he shook his head. "No, no, I think it would be best if I hired these... gentlemen, and lady, here -"

The warrior's hand, still on his shoulder, patted him heavily, causing the merchant to stagger. "Yeah, he don't want to talk to you lot. Scram, find your own quest-giver."

"An excellent choice. We shall not disappoint. Let us be off." The other adventurers turned and began to steer Tulin away.

Jorn shrugged. "The decision is yours, of course, Saer Fairweather.  But if you get tired of being bullied by those who should be seeking to help you, my friends and I shall be here."

He smiled and bowed slightly to Tulin, then turned back to his table and his drink.

Coby shrugged.  "It's only to be expected, I suppose.  They seem afraid of the competition anyway.  I'll make sure to inform our paladin when he gets back from the restroom."

The others turned and pushed their way through the crowd with Tulin escorted firmly between them. They soon sank into the crowds.

[Private to Coby Koensson: At the last, the pale girl with the raven hair - she'd be cute if she didn't look half-dead - glanced back at Coby, a slight smile cracking her normally expressionless face. She winked, and was gone.

She seemed naggingly familiar...


I rolled you a Diplomacy check earlier - 7 - hence the lack of result. :) ]

Coby discretely slips off after them.

[Private to DM BadCatMan: Moving silent and listening to try and get enough of the gist so that we can go after whatever it is they're hunting and beat them to it.]

Jorn thought for a minute to see if he could help Coby in any way.  Not being over stealthy himself, and not being able to come up with anything he could do to help, he settled back down at the table, trying to follow Tulin and the others with his eyes.

Coby moved deftly through the crowded tavern, ducking waitresses and dodging patrons, and altogether avoiding the blank gaze of the pale girl who occasionally turned around to watch that they weren't followed.

He got close enough to Tulin and his new 'friends' to hear a brief snatch of their conversation - "Perhaps we should go some place quieter?" Tulin nodded his assent "My warehouse, we'll go there." - bfore the din of the common room drowned it out. The group began to head for the exit.

Watching, Jorn saw Coby trailing Tulin and the others towards the exit, but nothing else unusual.

Coby returns briefly.  "I've got a bad feeling about this bunch... and at the very least, we can beat them to whatever prize this guy's looking for.  They're headed for his warehouse - I suggest we follow and try to see what they're all on about."

Slove looks at Jorn.  He really does not trust Coby at all but go if Jorn agrees.

Jorn glanced back at Slove and shrugged. "We'll have to find something to make some money if we're ever going to get home.  Why not this?"

He slid from his seat and followed Coby, but stayed well back, keeping the young human just in sight.

The adventurers swiftly finished their meals and waved for the waitress. Caera was swiftly on the scene to collect plates and coins. "Thank you sirs for dining at Azr Thoth's Tavern. We hope you enjoyed your meal and return in the future."

Coby thought to leave a note for the Helmite priest Duncan Radhe, if he ever returned from the water-closet. It explained that they were off to visit the merchant Tulin Fairweather. Coby left it with Caera, and followed the others out the door.

Outside, it was still raining, heavier and harder than before if such a thing were possible. The city of Furthinghome was washed in grey, and little could be heard beyond the desperate splash and splatter of the rains. Behind them, a peahen honked in abject misery. Nothing could be seen of Tulin Fairweather or his abductors.


OOC: Subtract some coppers for what you think you ate and drank:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equi...#foodDrinkAndLodging

Everyone make Listen checks, at -4 penalty due to the rain.

Slove pays his money and walks outside.  He looks up at rain and smiles.

OOC:
01:52, Today: Slove rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Listen.

Jorn smiled up at the waitress, paid her a bit more than the meal was worth and slipped out into the rain, still trying to follow Coby.

20:36, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 13 using 1d20-4. Listen.