Chaku's improvised game of pop-the-poisoned-
zocalti-pod quickly achieves results at the tree to the north east of the main hut. Under his barrage, the pods fall and release their gas, which dissipates harmlessly after a minute or so. None of the other trees seem to have been trapped, but the barbarian amuses himself by continuing to peg the pods with small stones.
Meanwhile, in the hut, Krassus listens to Papolstaanas' comments with a growing look of bafflement. He seems about to respond at several points, but as the kobold plows on obliviously, he waits. When Papolstaanas finally winds down, Krassus sighs.
"Okay, now I think I really get it - why Hedra sent you, I mean. She wanted you to make sure I delivered the beans, strong-arming me if necessary, eh?" He considers this.
"Well, I'm still grateful for your timely arrival, no matter what Hedra was up to.
So she told you I was going to sell the beans behind her back, did she? I don't suppose she told you that about a month ago she decided she didn't want the damn beans, and told me to look for other revenue opportunities - 'find some sucker to dump 'em on', I believe were her exact words. Left that out, did she? Then after I do find another buyer, she sends word that she's changed her mind, now she does want them again?"
He laughs.
"I'm happy to tell you about the other buyer," he says.
"I didn't say anything about him because he doesn't have anything to do with all this - " he waves his hands in a circle -
"and because, well, you didn't ask until now. The other buyer is a gentleman from my homeland, a very prominent citizen. He is a renowned chef whose dishes are popular the length and breadth of the Imperium. He has cooked for the Emperor himself on more than one occasion. He even provided the food for the wedding of the Second Imperial Princess, which was widely regarded as the social event of the last decade. So I think you can see, a man such as he would have had nothing to do with the attack of these savages."
As Krassus talks about this chef, he grows more and more animated. It is clear that his high opinion of the man is heartfelt.
"So as I was trying to tell Hedra, if Chef Balsamae were to make a new zocalti dish, there is a high chance it would become popular in the Imperium. Perhaps extremely popular. The Imperium is a market which dwarfs Daunton and all these piddly little isles. As the supplier of zocalti to that market, the prospects for expansion and profit are practically limitless!" He smacks a fist into a palm once again. He's looking up and away, as if seeing a future full of success and gold stretching out in the corner of the hut.
[sblock=ooc]Just checking in, is talking to Krassus fun for you all? I like to have conversations with NPCs where you have to ask the right questions and/or make some skill checks, rather than simply dumping all the information on you at once. But maybe this could drag a bit in the PbP format... also I imagine it could be frustrating for the PCs without good social skills, which is basically all of you except Jynxx.
But you're doing some great roleplaying, which I'm enjoying very much.
Anyway, we're probably pretty close to moving on now anyway, but please let me know if you're getting antsy at any point.
[/sblock]
