The Broken 'Corn
Garidan raised a brow at Kara's brusque introduction, seeming to have expected more explanation from the aasimar. "Friends," he addressed his companions, "this is Kara Maren, a recent acquaintance who evidently has gained the interest of our noble patron." The infamous Trader of Horrors, Count Cauchemar, hadn't explained why he'd wanted Garidan and his comrades to meet with Kara. Garidan had some suspicions, knowing the count's proclivities. He hadn't specifically described his companions as being "helpful in adventuring", but he guessed Kara was simply paraphrasing some description Cauchemar had relayed.
"Kara, this is Topaz, Ruin, and Shakrik," Garidan gestured faintly. "And, of course, Ruin's companion, Glimmer." He smiled at the enormous dire wolf, whom Ruin had somehow convinced the tavern's proprietor to allow inside. "I'm afraid our mutual acquaintance provided little explanation. I informed the count that these travelers proved invaluable in assisting with retrieving a certain item he'd asked me to procure, and I presume he referred us to you for a similar task."
Garidan seemed to be clarifying this as much for his companions' sake as for Kara's. Cauchemar's decision to send them to this tavern to meet someone he could easily have introduced himself at his own warehouse seemed uncharacteristically inhospitable of the rakshasa, but one could only assume he had his reasons. Equally puzzling was the referral to Kara, whom Garidan had happened to meet recently. Sigil was populous enough that such coincidences were unusual, and Garidan suspected some unrevealed connection. What was Cauchemar's angle here?