Moving to follow Tymbeck, Falen turns the corner into the rear alley behind the candle shop. Affixing two additional belts as makeshift bandoliers, he has attached the sheathed magical daggers (the Dancing Dagger & the Venom Dagger, after having assessed how they work) retrieved from the treasure move to Oakfirst’s manor with the belts. He contemplated one of the hand crossbows as well, but settled for one of the healing potions and two small pouches as spares. All you need for your mission; little more, little else. He recalled one of Max’s admonishments when he had found himself over-encumbered in the past.
Although he is at the rear of the building, Tim catches the faintest whisper of candle scent in the air. The fragrance reminds him of home, specifically, of the candles that his mother used to burn on the large table of the castle's library. For a moment, he misses her dearly. But the moment passes, and he returns his focus to the task at hand.
Big Tim is so nearly lost in thought that he almost doesn't notice that Falen tags along with him to the back of the building. The half-hobgoblin wizard deftly moves between the half-ogre knight and the building and uses his magical abilities to make himself appear to be Nathaniel Aceron.
"We shall see. Note that the front desk clerk possibly knows nothing about the hidden activities."
Custodio nods.
"You're probably right," he replies.
"I'll watch the front."
The Vanquisher cleric scans the streets for any sign of danger. There are workers and citizens going about their daily lives, although Custodio that there is some tension in the air. With the threat of Loyalists and The dusk, it isn't surprising. He notes that there is an open-air stall selling freshly baked bread and finely crafted sweets. The aroma of the bread mixed with that of the burning candles is almost sickly sweet. He takes a step away from the shop to stand at the edge of the street to watch the handful of people buying bread or casually walking the streets.
He notes the guards on duty on the inner wall and by the inner gate. Two guards are having an intense but friendly discussion and there is a halfling guard on duty who Custodio has heard of but hasn't worked alongside of personally.
"Zenpher Stillcloak," he mumbles to himself. He doesn't recognize the other guards with just a glance.
He knows that Ol' Valentine is around somewhere watching the candle shop, but the man is doing a good job hiding himself in plain sight. The captain is not only incredibly honest, but also a great master of disguise. The man is an interesting contradiction of clandestine skills and upstanding morals.
Tellerian Hawke said:
Tim still has his sword sheathed, but holds Rizvan at the ready. He stands next to the tree's trunk, well within the canopy of the tree's shade, his eyes fixed on the back door, watching intently, should it suddenly open. If anyone comes out of this door, Tim intends to lay them out cold with Rizvan, concordant with Oakfirst's command to bring Kelik to him alive, in irons.
Aust Thale said:
Moving around the corner, his visage changes to Nathanial Aceron…for a moment, he contemplates going inside the candle shop. He thinks better of it as he addresses Tym, “No worries Warrior, your eyes are unafflicted. None of you have seen my actual face, and none of you will see it soon. However, should anyone coming from inside recognize the noble turdnugget, it may give us options, insight, or a good chuckle. Anyone who sees me will think Aceron, the added benefit that his family might be additionally sullied by the indignity my half-monstrous impersonation.”
He places his hand on the dancing dagger and the venom dagger, preparing to trick or to maim whoever comes out of the back of the building.
The area around the back of the shop is quite serene and Tim would find it almost relaxing if this mission wasn't so important to the city. He has to force himself from leaning against the tree. The shade it provides cools him as the day gets hotter. He makes note of his surroundings. A matronly woman and her grandson are drawing water from the fountain on the candle shop's plot of land. The young boy looks at Tim wide eyed and with a grand smile.
"Look grandma!" he says while pulling on her skirt and pointing at Tim.
"Do not point, my dear," she chastises him. "It's rude."
"It's the tall man," the boy says excitedly.
"Yes, I see him. Let's not bother him and his friend," she says. The two of them linger at the well and she says a short prayer. The boy can barely contain himself.
While the boy is watch Tim and Falen, Falen is making note of everything on the street. With his back to the wall of the candle shop, he notes the small market sitting in the square. A trader haggles with a customer. A young minstrel sings a happy tune. A town crier is shouting out the latest news. A halfling man pleads for a discount with an old merchant who is seated in a wooden chair. Workers and other common folk are bustling through the street.
There is laughter, but it isn't as jovial as it should be on such a fine day. Falen can sense tension on peoples faces, and when a worker accidentially drops his crate, everyone in the street startles and looks as if they are going to start running. The man apologizes as he checks the crate over and then heaves it back up onto his shoulder. The minstrel tries to lighten the mood with a joke. No one laughs.
The Loyalists and The Dusk are spreading fear among the people.
Neurotic said:
Entering the shop, Akos stops for a moment to let his eyes adjust to the relative darkness inside. He smiles at the halfling woman and steps boldly forward
"Hello, hello, good lady. We're here for some candles, some for my religious rituals, some for something extra, but what's more for some obscure lore regarding candles. I'll take your advice on the first part. And I would like to set up a meeting with Mr. Winton to discuss candle esoterica if possible."
Vinny and Tuck follow the Loremaster inside, and they try to look around the shop casually. There is no one else in the shop besides them, Akos, and the halfling clerk.
Miss Nelie beams a grand smile at Akos and greets him warmly, "Welcome to the Crossed Candles, Loremaster Akos. Your reputation precedes you in all matters. I am more than happy to help you find what you are looking for."
Akos can tell the halfling woman's happy demeanour is quite genuine and that she loves her work. She steps onto a small footstool so that she isn't hidden behind the counter.
Neurotic said:
He pauses for effect and to give the halfling woman a chance to greet him, but he doesn't wait long and interrupts anything beyond simple welcome.
"I'd like candles that burn with a summer scent, something reminiscent of late summer, fields after harvest, freshly mowed grass, meadow in the summer or earth and forest after the summer downpour."
Again waiting just enough for the shop keeper to open her mouth.
"And for Mr Winton, I don't know if he's into such things, but everybody says he's a wizard with the candles, and I was hoping for some arcane minutiae on components of the summoning candles and ritual candles and other such exotica. Please, please tell me he's available soon, we're kind a busy with, you know, city troubles, but I just had to come as we were in the neighbourhood. And if it's not too much trouble I'd like to see the...special...offer, not the common ones presented here."
She listens to him thoughtfully and begins to write down everything Akos says. She nods thoughtfully and her eyes are bright and cheerful. she waits for Akos to finish and doesn't interrupt him.
"Oh my, what a wonderful list. We have almost everything you want and more. Our forest scents, in particular, are quite refreshing. And while we rarely deal in magical candles, I do have a few candles that could be used for rituals." She pauses and clasps her hands together. "I'm more than happy to show you everything we have in the shop and a few rare specimens in the back. They are quite heavenly and we have several intense scents meant for binding, love spells, and all sorts of exotic needs."
She bounces down off the step with her list in her hands and moves towards the door leading to the back of the shop. "I'm sure Mr. Winton won't mind me letting you see our rarer Summerdawn candles and the heady beeswax candles that we import from the southern lands." She pauses. "They are quite expensive."
Akos is surprised to find that the door to the back room isn't locked. She leads him into the room while Tuck and Vinny stay in the main room to... look around. She is either very trusting or feels that no one would try to rob her.
"I'm afraid Mr. Winton isn't here right now," Nelie tells Akos as she rummages through several crates. "He's doing a special delivery, but I can have a messenger send for him. Hmm?"
Akos finds the back room to be very well organized. There is a wash basin, a table with two chairs, a red rug, and a doorway leading to another room. The floors are wooden instead of marble and there is a red curtain that divides the two rooms. Nelie is so engrossed in her work that she doesn't notice Akos take a peek into the other room. The room is someone's sleeping quarters.
"Ah ha! I found them!" she exclaims with glee. She turns and brings them to Akos. She is unconcerned that he is standing next to the curtained doorway. "These are from Khemit! The finest ritual candles from the Twilit Continent!"
She beams with pride as she holds out a set of three fine red and yellow candles that are tied together with a sturdy string. "These are 600 gold for the set, but I assure you that you won't find better ritual candles anywhere in Old City. Now, I can't say that there won't be something better in the Wizard District, but who would want to go shopping in that
stuffy part of Bluffside."
She scrunches up her face and then laughs.
Neurotic said:
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OOC:
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The idea is to keep her flustered if possible and fast-talk her into letting me see the hidden room.
Bluff +23, Diplomacy +25 if this comes more as a persuasion than fast talk.
Social recovery skill trick allows me to roll Bluff at +13 (-10 penalty) if the first version fails for some reason to recover.
Also, if she reacts with something along the lines "I don't have authority to let you in" - imply that she should immediately contact the owner or let Akos know where he can do so. If she seems cagey (Sense motive +9), he is ready to go with Suggestion power
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OOC:
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No bluff is needed vs. her at this point. She is quite a lovely and genuine person, which is probably why Kelik uses her as the face of the candle shop.
I'm going to roll Search checks for both Tuck and Vinny and post the results on the OOC thread... either a bit later or early tomorrow.
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