EBERRON
01/01/05
SEGMENT 028
STORMS OF DECIET
Boddynoc and Cedious meander through the city of Korranberg trying to confuse the guard with their gibber and gabber. Boddynoc is also hoping for a sign from the Zilargo Trust. Within the bag was a note asking for the return of the goods.
They walk up to the market area to sell some of their loot. It is going to cost a lot to build and operate a lab.
Boddynoc finds a market area that specializes in magical goods with the guard’s help. It is obvious to them that the guard has visited here several times but seems limited in what he knows of the city and where to find certain things.
Boddynoc buys a mule and cart on the way to this market. He hopes to fill it shortly. At Dinkle’s Arcanist Hobby Shop he finds a basic Alchemy kit, tools to work the four most basic materials (leather, wood, glass and some smithing tools). Dinkle is very curious about what the gnome is up to and asks many questions and throws in his own experiences hoping to entice Boddynoc into talking more openly. “Just building stuff. Magic stuff.” He also buys all of the compasses the shop had (5). He hopes to create a means to travel safer through the gray mists.
Cedious spots a shop across the street that has armor and weapons in the front window. Fella’s Swords and Armor has a varied array of weapons and some armor. The guard rolls his eyes as Cedious tries to sell the Glamored armor (from Gallow) for extremely high price. When asked about the blood Cedious tries to smooth it over and finally admits he got it from the Mournlands when fighting for his life. This increases the value to the gnome salesman and he buys it for 1500 gold. Cedious, hoping for real easy money, then shows him the Valenar double-scimitar. “May I touch it?” asks Fella. With a beaming smile, Cedious says okay. Fella experiences the sensation of an open prairie and the wind rushing about him. “It’s Sentient!!!!?” he exclaims with great excitement. “How much?!?”
“errr… 20000 gold.” Tries Cedious. The gnome looks right at him. “I don’t carry that kind of money. How much?”
Cedious looks at the guard whom shrugs his shoulders. Boddynoc, thinking about the lab he is creating ignores Cedious’ newest game for money.
“2000 gold?” offers the gnome.
“4500 gold.” States Cedious having no idea what the real value of the weapon is.
“2000 gold and 1500 gold tomorrow.” Counter offers Fella.
“Nope. Don’t plan on staying.”
With great reluctance, Fella watches the three of them leave with the elven weapon.
“We should try to identify it before you sell it.” Suggests Boddynoc.
“How?”
They go into a few more stores and buy the required components for the spell and also a scroll of Identify. After waiting awhile for any contact from the government, Boddynoc uses the scroll on the weapon. It is a magical sword with the spirit of an elven ranger’s horse in it. It allows for Bless to be caste 3 times a day. Value being about 5000 gold. Low ability scores and Ego score.
Deciding it is of no use to them, they return to the store prepared to sell it for the 2000 gold. Fella’s eyes open in pleasure and surprise. “Oh good you came back. How about this for a deal- 2000 gold and possibly one of my weapons here? I have fine magical weapons.”
Cedious gives Boddynoc and the Cannith guard a smile and turns back looking bored- “any rapiers?”
Twenty minutes later he leaves with 2000 gold and a +1 rapier.
They wait still a while longer and get some food. “Where are they?” wonders Boddynoc.
They go and sell the necklace Cedious stole in Sharn next. He gets some gold for that then they are lost at what to do. Finally Boddynoc returns to the wastebasket where he placed the note.
The Note is still there ….crud
“Uh- if you were giving the stuff to friends of yours then…” begins Cedious.
The guard interrupts- “Why are looking through the trash?”
“Those gnomes ….not of the …. Oh no. oh-no
[Bill gives me the “you are a $*** head….good shot …damned good play]
They immediately begin to search for the two clumsy foolish bumbling gnomes whom made fools out of them. They are looking around and checking faces as they work back to the tavern. The whole time the Cannith guard is perplexed and asking what has happened. He is becoming flustered by the two short folk whom are at this point ignoring him and his questions. Cedious thinks of knifing him more than once. At this point, Boddynoc may not stop him.
“Without that piece, Lady Elaydren will be very unhappy and fire us.” Comments Cedious. Boddynoc was hoping for help from her setting up a lab. If he has lost the piece he doubts she will aid him. They finally reach the tavern. No bumbling gnomes.
With the biggest smile and charm, Cedious goes up to the female bartender again. “Do you remember the gnomes that were sitting in that corner?”
“Gnomes? There are many gnomes in this city.” She says as she continues wiping down the bar. Boddynoc notes her hand is overturned and on cue produces money. Being in no mood to fool around, he gives her a platinum piece!
With great skill, the piece makes it into her personal pocket and not the apron pocket. “The bumbling fools… yes it would be hard to forget them. They were idiots.”
Rolling their eyes, the two adventurers press their point. “Where did they go? Who were they?” They became quite excited shortly after you left and began to push each other fighting over whom was to give the goodies to the Lady.”
“The Lady?!” says Boddynoc with growing fear. He truly hopes it is NOT Lady Elaydren. “Do you know whom they meant by the Lady?”
“No. Perhaps a noble or a rich person. Even Dragonmarked family members sometimes get the title. Could even be a street name. Why? What happened?”
“Yes- what has happened?” asks the guard. It is becoming obvious to them that this guard is as much an idiot as the two gnomes. Unlike them, they will not underestimate him. Cedious wants to lose him- one way or another. Boddynoc reasons it was not the Lady he knows since the guard was given to him. …of course he is an idiot…..
Angry (with himself as much as anyone) , Boddynoc turns onto the guard. “Do you know any Ladies?” It is obvious he knows one since he squirms and looks uncomfortable.
“Hey- Maybe it is Lady Payne.” Suggests the bartender.
Now the guard is bright red.
Sensing a possible connection- “Where is this Lady Payne?” asks Cedious. He looks directly at the guard, not the bar tender.
“ah….I doubt its her …that did whatever you think she did…” he fumbles and stutters.
“She is about a twenty minute walk from here. She is in the rougher neighborhood of Korranberg. She caters to folks of …unusual wants.” The bar tender adds.
“Really?” says Cedious in an accusing tone to the guard.
“Ten blocks north then one west and another north then around the fountain.” Satisfied she has earned her platinum piece, she moves on but within distance to hear the conversation.
“Lead on.” Cedious says.
“I don’t know where the House of Payne is.” Says the guard whom then suddenly sinks realizing he just admitted it.
They go and indeed it reaches a seedy section of the city. Just the area two bumbling thieves could be hired. There are tattoo parlors and pawnshops. Then more questionable areas. Cedious’ nose inhales as he passes some doorways. Finally they spot a cheap looking hood that is calling to walkers by.
“Girls! Girls! Come in and see the girls!” The sign above him reads the House of Payne.
“Ah good customers- welcome. We cater to all people.” The caller says as he looks at the human guard whom is trying to hide but keep with the two short people he was told to keep after. There are days his job really sucks. Then there are these days….
“Cat house?” says Cedious with a mixed tone of disbelief and stating the obvious.
“A lot of crime originates in an area like this… lets go in and check it out. At the least we can ask about other “ladies” and maybe get rid of a burden.” And with that he shrugs towards the smitten human guard.
The room is a bright and gaudy green with white and red trim. A very old female gnome with a very deep v-neck dress turns to them. “Welcome. Welcome to the House Payne. I am Lady Payne. How may I help you?”
Cedious looks at the guard then at her then at the guard. Beaming with a huge smile, he turns to her. “Our friend here was talking about this place and we thought we would visit and …look around.”
“Oh- don’t be shy baby,” She does an exaggerated walk to the human. “Say- Don’t I recognize you? Why yes! Excellent- a return customer!” Cedious and Boddynoc smirk and nod to each other. They slip her platinum and tell her to give him whatever he wants and can handle….then some. She snaps her fingers with one hand as the platinum quickly disappears from view. Four woman, all gnomes, come out and surround the human and work him away from the others.
“No! I have to be with them. It’s my job damn it!”
“Don’t worry- we will be sampling the girls also and meet you here. Relax. Whatever Lady Elaydren doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
Hearing the reference to lady and remembering the platinum piece, Lady Payne pours on the charm. “What can I do to you?”
Cedious catches the twist of words and thinks about it then remembers the reason for being here.
“Where is the plate?” asks Boddynoc.
“The plate? I am unfamiliar with this.”
“The plate damn it! The two idiots stole it from us and ….” His voice dies off. She is strictly a Madame of a bordello. She is not behind this. In a defeated voice, “Do you know anyone else that goes by the title of Lady?”
If she was offended she doesn’t show it. “Only the best have such titles. Nobles, the rich and …myself.”
Giving a goblin curse he picked up in Darguun, the two leave. “At least we ditched the guard.”
“Okay, we can’t find it. It’s time to give this a spin. We were robbed and lost the plate.”
“She won’t buy it but it’s better than the truth.”
They begin to wander back towards the docks. Boddynoc still hopes a member of The Trust will show up. SOMETHING good has to happen today. It can’t get any worse at least.
