Merin nods, after taking a measured sip of his own drink, "We're used to traveling abroad. The dangers of the wilds are not new to us, and they don't scare us, either. We'll investigate it for you. But we'll need to discuss the price. There is no need to hurry, however. Stay long enough to finish your drink, and perhaps have something to eat as well. And just out of curiosity, what is the name of the Potter who scares you? It's such an unusual combination, an intimidating potter. My curiosity is piqued."
OOC:
Merin will negotiate using allurement. The effects should still be active from the last activation, which was at the leather shop.
It is not necessary to state mystical talents when negotiating. By default, the best option for the character will be used but not necessarily enhancing items that could multiply the effectiveness. Those must be declared.
The man scratches his head and ruffles his blond hair. Being Centrin, he appears to be about 40 cycles. His hair will likely never lose its color but definitive crow's feet wrinkle his temples from squinting in the sun. "I have never done this before. I am not sure what to offer you in terms of pay. I..."
Sheldon lifts his left hand from the table, causing the man to halt his speech. He interjects very calmly, "Take whatever you pay five of your workers in a tenday and that is what you will pay us each day after we arrive at the site."
"Oh, uh... okay. Uhm, I do not know the Potter's name. Everyone just calls him Potter. He is a big Evipau. He does not wear much for clothing, and he has these designs dyed into his skin. He speaks very quietly but his voice is super deep and seems to rumble like thunder."
Merindell and Sheldon both realize that they have passed the Potter's Wheel several times as it is in the Workman's District very close to Slythe's Place, where they are currently eating.
Sheldon looks and Merindell. "Do you want to visit the potter now or wait until after we look into these killings?"
Claygh's eyes go very wide as he moves his head back and forth, looking at the men.
GM:
Alchemical analysis has not been forgotten. It will be handled in a post after leaving the city.
Merindell: full wellness
Surcoat: 79
Tunic: 56 Sheldon: full wellness
A-tunic: 59
Merin nods, "We should do it now. He is so close by, it would be foolish not to talk to him now, while we have the chance."
Merin smiles at Claygh, and bids him good day, saying that he and Sheldon will let him know what they find. He then proceeds, with Sheldon close behind, to the Potter's Wheel. Upon arrival, Merin smiles at the Potter, and greets him with the Sign of Friendship.
OOC:
Merin would know how to properly greet him. I, the player, have forgotten.
Merin asks, "My friend and I were retained to figure out what has happened to the workers who disappeared recently while gathering clay. What do you know of the area two days west of here? Are there any large, dangerous creatures known to inhabit that area?"
Claygh says that he will wait where he is for the two men to return.
It takes only a few minutes to arrive at the Potter's Wheel. It is a small Centrin boy who greets the two men when they arrive. After learning that the two wish to speak to the potter, he leaves the entry and goes into a back room.
The potter comes out shortly, using a cloth to clean some clay spatter from his face and arms. He is dressed in a loin cloth of a more rudimentary design than the locally worn kilt. The man is a very tall, very muscular, Evipau man of about 50 or so cycles. He greets the man in the common manner and inquires as to their business.
When the loss of clay gathers is mentioned he responds that it is the first he has heard of it. His voice is exactly like has been described. Nothing seems hostile about the man but he makes a very imposing presence. "I have never been to the site where the clay is acquired. I simply pay for what arrives, but I thank you for brining this to my attention. Are you asking me to look into the matter?"
GM:
Alchemical analysis has not been forgotten. It will be handled in a post after leaving the city.
Merindell: full wellness
Surcoat: 79
Tunic: 56 Sheldon: full wellness
A-tunic: 59
Merin replies, "No need for that, we have already told our client that we will look into it. You probably have better things to do. We simply thought you may have knowledge of the area. At any rate, we are glad that our information was helpful to you. We wish you well, and will now go, so as not to take up any more of your time."
Merin nods to Sheldon, and departs, with the intention of telling Claygh that they will leave for the collection field first thing the next morning. The rest of the current day can be spent in preparation, including Alchemical Analysis.
Concluding affirmation with Claygh, Sheldon suggests that the two men take a walk around the city to get a look at the construction of the canal system. Sheldon finds the idea to be ingenious as it will eventually attach to the river system and improve the transport of trade material about the city, which is quite large. The two men have no need to sit and pore over any items that they carry, simply fiddling with one in a idle manner conveys a wealth of information. Feather talismans are simply discarded, as they are no longer of any interest to either man.
The newer items are beyond the talent of Merindell but so for Sheldon. Later, Merin is able to sense what Sheldon explains to him, even though he could not discern such on his own, earlier.
Leaving the city the next day, through the Western Gate, the two men see no reason not to follow the road. Claygh travels with them, which allows the men to ride in the back of a horse drawn wagon. Claygh intends to remain at the current worksite while Merindell and Sheldon investigate the latest corpse. This close to Boga City, there is no real danger of hostilities and travel for the two days is easy.
Veering from the road toward the end of the second day, the sounds of an encampment can be heard before it is seen. The grassy plains had just given some way to the encroachment of smaller trees, when those small trees are forced to recede back from a muddy area of reeds and odd grasses. The workers at the site are a mix of all three species of people, all of whom seem to take no notice of the differences and converse mostly in the, more common, Centrin language. The two men are greeted and invited to dine on the simple fare.
A third victim has been found in the absence of the caravan boss and gory detail is given of the discovery. What can quickly be concluded is that all victims had been alone and a bit away from the other workers.The recent kill was only two days back.
Merindell: full wellness
Surcoat: 79
Tunic: 56 Sheldon: full wellness
A-tunic: 59
Before reaching the main group of workers, Merin smiles and whispers to Sheldon, in Amiradthan, "I have an idea. Why don't you "wander off" from the main worksite, and I will follow you, camouflaged using wayline manipulation. Whenever 'it' decides to attack, it will be surprised to find the two of us, not-so-helpless victims, who have acted as prey, in order to become the predator."
Sheldon smirks at his friend and rolls his eyes. "If it comes to that, I am all for it, but let's check out this last victim and see if we can learn anything more helpful. All kidding aside, playing bait could take too long and there is no guarantee that I could ever be seen as a target."
The next day, two of the workers take Merindell and Sheldon to where the last victim was killed. Claygh stays at the base camp. The workers do not walk directly to the body but point insistently when as near as they care to go.
Having better instincts and much greater experience than common workers, the two men do not immediately approach the remains. Plenty of prints in the soft terrain pollute the area so as to make no definitive evidence. When approaching the remains, what could be called remains, greater information is gathered. The body has been horribly shredded open and ripped apart. Marks on the pieces indicate claws, not weapons. Evidence of smaller animals having chewed on what is left is immediately recognized and discounted. In fact, some ravens flee the scene as the two men approach. Merindell says that the faint smell of blood is everywhere, and Sheldon finds the dark spots of splatter on many blades of grass.
This former oxbow is now a semi-dry marsh, covered in various reeds with a mostly open area of cracked mud in its center. During the rainy season, it is very likely that the place still holds water. Some dead trees remain standing, offering perch for carrion fowl. Merin conveys that he can smell too many different animals and that the acrid clay overrides most other scents, anyway.
Sheldon says, "Whatever can do this cannot be hiding somewhere in this flat. It has to be coming from the forest to the west and roving the edges until it finds a victim. Even though the evidence indicates that it should be some animal, it must be highly intelligent and calculating. Some beast on bloodlust would just rush in and keep killing until it, itself, was killed. This is far more strategic. We should take the hunt to it. let's head into the forest and look around."
Merindell: full wellness
Surcoat: 79
Tunic: 56 Sheldon: full wellness
A-tunic: 59
Merin moves into the forest, searching the treeline for obvious game trails that the "creature" could have used to have ready-access to the clay moor. If he finds such a trail, he will THEN look for relevant tracks, if the ground is soft enough.
Search for game trail: 85
Search for tracks: 49
Extra roll for good measure: 58
The two men move westward, stopping periodically to scan the beginning of the forest. Animals are in many ways like people, efficiently lazy. Once a path is established other follow it. Several game trails are noted with a larger on heading more southerly, back toward the river.
It is not some particular print that alerts the men to a positive progress. It is a partially decayed arm in a small hole just off the trail. The two men look from one another and investigate the find. It would appear that some other small animal, like perhaps a raccoon smelled and uncovered the piece, which had been buried by something bigger. Merindell uses his foot to cover it wanting to reduce the stench that is much more pronounced for him than for Sheldon. Merin conveys to Sheldon that it is canines which bury their food, not felines, suspecting that they may be looking for a wolf.
Sheldon asks, more from the idea of voicing his thoughts than from inquiry. "So where would a large wolf be down during the day?"
Merindell nods. He realizes that they are looking for a burrow or cave or some such and, unless some treefall happens to be near, the most likely place to find such would be along the river, and the path they are on should take them there.
Merindell: full wellness
Surcoat: 79
Tunic: 56 Sheldon: full wellness
A-tunic: 59
