10th of Ilcuk; Monsoon Season
Following the impetuous Beuren from the Last Mistake and through the streets to the Sunset Docks, the intrepid band of investigators ruminate on their clues to the mysterious death of a stranger. Something inside them seems drawn to solve her murder and what twisted soul would do such a thing to another person.
As the sun sets to the west, the group follows it, winding through the West District until they bear witness to the lights of the Sunset Docks, the streets growing brighter as if in mockery of Morgald and his ownership of the daylight. No lanternbearers can be seen on the streets of the docks, but the street lights glow brightly despite their absence. Mystic runes and animated illusions glow and dance above the doors or within the windows of the various dens of inequity.
Street stalls and wandering food sellers shout out the quality of their wares. Purveyors of the oldest trade in the world strut and pose to show off their best assets. Sailors, freshly ashore from the merchant vessels in the bay, set off to lose their pay in any number of ways. Even thought the docks, themselves, have only just opened the bouncers of several taverns have already cast out the early drunks and troublemakers, tossing them into the streets like so much garbage.
Speaks With Ghosts points out a likely venue to begin asking about Ava Maihi (Passive Insight Success) and the group make their way inside a tavern called The Pirate's Chalice. The room is heavy with smoke, the center of the room is a stage where several young, veil draped, dancers sway a serpentine dance that can be understandably called sensual. Along the opposite wall the floors are covered in pillows and cushions of various sizes, colors and textures. nearly a dozen patrons are sprawled on them, smoking long metal pipes and barely conscious.
Small tables with no more than three chairs each are scattered across the rest of the tavern, nearly half of which are occupied by foreigner sailors and merchants, many seem to be haggling out business arrangements. Details are difficult to make out in the poorly lit tavern, blue and white orbs float above the stage offering the only light beyond the embers used to light the pipes in the back of the tavern.
Batri nudges Beuren towards a table that has good line of sight. Once seated a small, pudgy man in a thin vest and baggy pants, arrives and takes your orders. Beuren begins to ask the man about Ava Maihi, his nervousness gets the better of the him (Failed Persuasion Check) and he blurts out "Tell me where Ava Maihi is?" the man looks at the philosopher with long suffering patience, Sitra Mor interrupts, apologizing for Beuren and quickly asking a few pointed questions (Investigation Check Success). The proprietor relaxes a bit more and informs Sitra that Ava Maihi is the name of a heroine from an old Elladani tale. Said to be the most beautiful woman in the history of world, she died pursuing ways to make herself even more beautiful instead.
Beuren, in a flash of insight, continues on as the naive tourist, indicating that he had heard of a woman with such a name was here and that she offered...services...for the right price (Insight and Performance Check Success). The proprietor admits he has never heard of such a woman but mentions the name of a woman who may have what he's looking for, Diyosa. He provides directions to her establishment before leaving the table to take the orders of actual paying customers.
Beuren recognizes the name, she was a student of Orcor San Chugem Ava Dyaku, the same mentor he is currently hiding from. She ran a brothel that Dyaku would use to acquire new students. For all he knows she is still one of his students.
Where to now?
