[LPF] Expansion

[sunshadow21]

The bar is being tended to by a female tengu when you enter, and the place is starting to fill up. After making any orders desired, the party sits down at a table in the middle of the room, and start to make cautious inquiries about the Johnsons.

Most of what they get is basically what they already know, but they do get some additional tidbits here and there throughout the morning. About Thomas, they hear plenty of wild rumors, but nothing that could be confirmed beyond the fact that whatever his sins were, the only ones he has displayed during his time in Tritower are drunkenness, and the very occasional gambling. Otherwise, they just get further confirmation that the man is rather unpleasant to be around, and rarely considers anything that doesn't directly effect him. Samuel is well respected, and though there are a few stories from his youth still circulating, nothing jumps out as being particularly unusual or noteworthy for your concerns. More common are stories about his heir, Nathaniel, but there aren't any that particularly grab your attention there either. Both Samuel and Nathaniel come across as level headed caring employers and patrons who, despite having some inevitable class bias, are respected and mostly liked figures in Tritower society.

 

[Artur Hawkwing]

Audra looks around as discreet inquiries are made. Despite the lack of much new information, at least she feels better upon hearing that Samuel and Nathaniel are well respected. One of these positive responders she will query.

Is there a chief rival for the Johnson family's business?

 

[sunshadow21]

There are several other large whole sellers in town, but each tends to focus on a different item and/or market, so there is little direct competition. The Johnsons focus on collection for local redistribution to the estates and farms to the east of town as well as within the town itself. Two Tails focuses on collecting and preparing general shipments for transport to the Great Delta via ship. In addition to these, there are a handful of others that specialize in particular products and one that does what Two Tails does, except the destination is Venza. The only real commonality is that all focus on either local redistribution or the shipping lanes. No one seriously considers land routes to either Venza or Gith unless the piates force them to go overland or they have a smaller shipment that doesn't justify an entire ship or needs to go immediately.

 

[VVilhem]

"Ariel, time is getting short, perhaps it's time to intensify our inquiries. I will assist in what ways I can."

OOC: Wow...just...wow...Still, we have not learned much by taking 10. Perhaps it's time to gamble with a real roll.

 

[Artur Hawkwing]

"Ariel, time is getting short, perhaps it's time to intensify our inquiries. I will assist in what ways I can."

OOC: Wow...just...wow...Still, we have not learned much by taking 10. Perhaps it's time to gamble with a real roll.

[sblock=Funny Memory Triggered]

OOC: Oh, God. Last time I rolled a 1 on a Diplomacy, my character got his butt kicked, slammed through a sabaac table he had to pay to replace and spent the night in jail. He'd probably still be there if one of his party members wasn't a Princess on the planet who put her, and his, rumps in hock to her father, the King, to get him out of jail. It was a fun fight to hear the GM pull out of thin air though. "Oh, so what you're saying is because you're scruffier than a nerf herder and uglier than a Hutt you don't know anything, fatso?" it was classic. Sorry. Had to kick that out there.

[/sblock]

 

[perrinmiller]

Ariel Esimae, Female Aasimar Cleric

OOC: LOL. That worked. Ariel's taking 10 beats a DC20, so I don't think that's our problem. Good story, Artur.

Having learned all they can while in The Old Clamshell, Ariel shrugs, "We might as well go ask those dance troupe people some questions and grab lunch at the Clockwork Boar."

"Then you can teach me some adult feminine wiles to help me deal with the nobleman. I have no experience in dealing with men like that, but if I don't have to lie or give up my virtue, I can perhaps learn."

[sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +2
AC: 18 (20 with shield, 16 flat-footed, 12 Touch)
HP: 23 Current: 23
CMB: +3 CMD: 15 Fort: +5 Reflex: +4 Will: +7 (+8 vs. Fear)
+1 for all with Resistance
Resistance: 5 Cold, 5 Acid, 5 Electricity

Current Weapon in Hand: None

Fire Bolt: 6/6 Remaining Channel Energy: 5/5 remaining
Deflection Aura: 1/1 remaining
Spells Remaining: Orisons: (Light, Resistance, Guidance, Detect Magic)
1st Level 4/4 (Bless, Doom, Shield of Faith, Burning Hands)
2nd Level 3/3 (Hold Person, Lesser Restoration, Barkskin) [/sblock]___________________________________________

Ariel Esimae

 

[Artur Hawkwing]

Audra has no problem with this plan, as she said, aside from the one discreet inquiry she has kept herself occupied to watching those around them during and after questions. That nothing has surfaced doesn't concern her much. In fact what they have heard thus far is, to some degree, comforting. If their mission for those trade rights go off without a hitch, it is a huge plus for them all. She gets up from her chair and pushes it in, though she carefully finishes her wine before doing so. She will wait for the others to leave and take up "rear guard" so to speak. Keeping an ear and an eye out for anyone who might be following them.

OOC: As last time Audra actually didn't bring any of her extra weaponry with her, just her hands and feet.

[sblock=Funny Memory Follow Up]The really funny part is that two sessions later, we were confronted by The Emperor himself in a dark alley on some backwater planet, he wanted one of our Jedi to replace Vader. My scoundrel pulled his blaster and took a shot at him as he walked away. I rolled a crit and hit the old bastard in the middle of the back. Fortunately the resulting Force Lightning assault didn't kill him. But I got the 'action of the day' award (a bag of small Krunch bars) for that one. The GM was like "You can't hit him, even with all the bonuses you have." then the 20 came up. He paused to take the longest sip from a Pepsi I have ever seen before the Emperor shrieked, spun around, hurled some insults at me in a language I didn't recognize but our Jedis did (we had two, including the Princess from before) and proceeded to give me the "Shock" treatment.[/sblock]

 

[sunshadow21]

After all of your inquiries, you're left with the general impression that the local Johnson clan is your typical merchant family who generally works well with the community and other businessmen to improve both their lot and the lot of the community as a whole. They aren't squeaky clean, but there isn't anything that would really grab any headlines, or at least any headlines would be of interest to non-locals. Heading back to the Clockwork Boar, you find several members of the troupe resting in the common room.

 

[Songdragon]

Therella nods to Ariel. She tags along and watches for any undue attention form other people that are not approached by the other woman in the group.

 

[Artur Hawkwing]

Audra files in last, relieved to see that, as far as she can tell, there was no one tailing them. Once back at the Clockwork Boar she relaxes her guard just a tiny bit. She assesses the members of the troupe as they relax, trying to figure which of them some of her companions will approach. She finally pairs the up in her mind and finds a seat to relax, paying a little attention to that for now, while also keeping an eye on the door.