OOC: I forgot to mention this earlier. All spellcasters should make their list of spells right now. Really, that's just Solange, but it's worth mentioning.
Merchant's Avenue is as chaotic as always, if not moreso. A few entertainers on stilts weave through the crowds, juggling. Merchants cry out their wares: "Hats! We've got Hats!" and the omnipresent "Freeeeeessssh Fiiiiiiish!".
Still early morning, there is something of a chill on the street, and most of the shoppers have shawls wrapped about their shoulders. Little clouds of condensation escape your mouths as you weave about the groups of people.
Strangely, there are precious few children on the street...
Both Solange and Cepheus spread out to speak to their contacts.
Solange goes to speak to the cheap jewelry merchant she saw last week. The stall has obviously moved down about five impromptu shacks. She doesn't even recognize Solange. "Hey there, madame... you are so PRETTY... but it's a shame no one can see your LOVELY eyes... I have the PERFECT earrings to bring out your eyes..." she begins to rummage through her goods. "HERE they are! There, aren't they GORGEOUS? Only five silvers!"
***
Cepheus hits his contacts, and is amazed that most of them are home... and in tune with the goings-on of Merchant's Avenue.
An old wine vendor shakes his head. "Can't say I've seen Tomas is the last few days - I saw him three days ago, with that pack of kids he presides over... like a KING! But haven't seen him since. Place has been a lot quieter than usual."
A fellow gnome, a bookseller named Tobias, patters around as Cepheus speaks to him. "Tomas? Haint seen 'im. But that Hukk lad! Yer the second person to aks about 'im. Last group were about four strong. Kep' aksing if I sawr 'im, but I know better than to sell the scamp out to folks like 'em. Told 'em I haint seen 'im. I saw him a few hours early, near Grend's shack."
Going to Grend's, you speak to one Mr. Grend - a half-orc weaponseller. "Hukk? Always dropping by with that fair-haired kid.... Tomas? Whatever." he shrugs.
"But, yeah, he was here an hour ago. Asking if I'd seen Tomas, which I haven't, oddly enough. Kid was acting funny - didn't even try to steal one of my daggers! Whatever. Anyways, I sent him off, and he started heading towards the docks."
A few more questions from an old friend of Cepheus' - an armor-maker - confirms that people have been asking about Hukk. "Four of 'em... Quentin, Frezz, Amella, and Porter. Stay away from 'em, Ceph... they're Blacklilies, all of 'em."
[sblock=Knowledge (Local) DC 15]The Blacklilies are an underground thieves' organization that specialize in dockyard hijackings. It is said that they run a fair chunk of Orrusus' underworld.[/sblock]
As above, but the PCs learn that some people - four of them - have been asking around about Hukk (which means the PCs are less likely to be surprised).
[/sblock]
