A Kratas Shuffle Options

[Ophis]

Seraph looks across the open doorway,

Well if you keep standing there you'll catch cold, or steam the way you're looking. You don't have some sort of blood oath to only enter if invited do you? Shut the door behind you.

She steps clear of the doorway keeping her eye on the visitor, now behind her, through the mirror that hangs in the hallway.

Korian we have a visitor, I'll pour some brandy, if you could fetch him a towel to wipe himself down with. Oh hang your cloak behind the door if you would. Don't mind the animals, they're perfectly lovely, not safe but lovely.

With that Seraph bounces off the find the drinks, pouring four small glasses of Throalic Brandy.

[fistandantilus4....]

I didn't "steal" any of your money. If it were truely "your" money, don't you think you would have kept a better hand on it? Money isnt' anyones. It's just something that waits to change hands. It's not my fault you wreen't paying attention when it was time to move on.

[Grinder]

Seraph & Korian - inside the house

The man blinks with his eyes. Twice. Appearantly confused by the snappy answer, he enters and does as he's been told.

He's taking a seat on a chair close to the chimney and waits for the brandy.

[Grinder]

Vas - in The Stables

The ork looks dizzied by the answer and needs a moment to bring order into his thoughts.
It was money! Otherwise I wouldn't have it with me! But even if we go along your idea - when it changes hands, something is bought with it, right?

[Metatron]

Korian grabs his sister by the arm as she goes past.

Who is this? He hisses quietly so only Seraph could hear.

[fistandantilus4....]

That's a common misconception. In many parts of the world, you get nothing. You never get something for nothing. But you can get nothing for something. Confounding and frustrating Iknow, but there it is.

[Grinder]

Vas - in The Stables

The ork growls. Your tongues is quick and your words confusing. Trying to give me a headache won't solve our problem, unijort.

[fistandantilus4....]

Well it isn't really our problem, is it friend? I don't have the money. I understand the confusion. I can't rightly tell one ork for another, so I don't really expect you to be able to tell us humans apart. The man you're looking for is my old partner Jango. He's about my height, same hair, but he usually wears it long. we used to double as each other. He's an elf, but his ears barely tip.

Quite frankly it isn't worth my neck to keep that double dealers secrets for him. especially if he's still doubling as me after al this time, getting me in to trouble. He lives just off the warrens, or did, last I saw of him. Go tell him about your money problems.

[Ophis]

Seraph whispers back,

No idea, wants to talk to us, mayhaps it's an offer of work.

She slips her brothers grip and places a glass of brandy into their guests hand. She places one near Korian and another on the mantelpiece she sits cross legged on the floor facing the guest and sips her brandy.

Sooo, master nice eyes, what can I do for you? Or do you require the services of our group? If that's true we should wait for Vas to get back, you do have really nice eyes you know.

Seraph, rests her elbows on her knees and brings her hands together to form a rest beneath her chin. Her glass dangles between finger and thumb. She smiles coyly at the guest.

[Grinder]

Seraph & Korian - inside the house

The human nips on the brandy. He closes his eyes for a short moment and seems relax a little. Even though I do need the help of your entire group, I'm sure that you two can speak on Vas' behalf. I know your group since your arrival Kratas and I kept track of your deeds - well, most of 'em - ever since. From the looks you give me, I doubt you know me.
My name's Traparan Quickhand. I'm one of Garlthik's "helpers".

He smiles again, but this time it has a wolfish aspect hidden in it.
My position has brought me responsibility, influence, wealth and a lot of enemies. But besides what I'm doing day in, day out, I have a family I love. And two ago, dark shadows fell over it: My youngest daughter, Larana, has vanished. She is a careful girl without bad habits, so I doubt that she simply ran off. On top of it, one of my trusted "helpers" accompanied her every time she left our manor - and he's been missing too.
What I want from you is to investigate the fate of Larana. A group of my people is already doing so, but just to conceal that another party will work on it too. My people are well-known, what makes it unlikely that they'll found any hints. That's why I want you.

[Grinder]

Vas - in The Stables

Still a little confused (or with a headache), the ork thinks about Vas' words. It takes a while - in this time his confusion seems to vanish. At the end, he grins and looks the smaller human directly in the eyes.
Vas, trust me when I say that I'm able to keep you humans apart from each other. But if you say that this Jango is responsible for the loss of my money, I'm gonna seek him. Best way to find him would be to have someone handy who knows him. Like you.

[fistandantilus4....]

Oh don't be dragging me in to your trouble. I wouldn't ask you to get stabbed for me, and I expect the same courtesy in turn. Asking a complete stranger to get stabbed for you is pretty dishonorable, wouldn't you say?

While we;re on the subject of things that you said, what was that you were saying about a way to get the money "back"? I'm in no good to get stabbed at for you, but a partnership and a way to earn a bit more coin, that I could be interested in. A little honest work never hurt anyone. I trust that you'd be a more honorable partner than my last one. You ... wou woulnd't be trying to get me to do any thieving would you?

Vas looks at the ork out of the corner of one eye as if he's suddenly suspicious of him.

[Ophis]

Seraph watches Traparan closely as he speaks, her eyes darting from his face to his hands and back, looking for the signs false truth, just as her mother taught her.

Hmm hands steady, a little tense maybe, sweaty but his eyes show no lie. Tension is probably worry, but his daughter is in danger so that makes sense. Probably telling truth, and I'm not willing to let a girl die because I don't trust him. Plus only a fool would claim close allegiance to Garlthrik like that in Kratas.

Seraph twists round, a surreptitious hand signal tells Korian she trust the man. She turns back towards Traparan, she drains her glass. With the drink goes her flighty childishness. The look she gives him is pure business.

First Impression

[ Spoiler ]

step 12 Karma req d10+d12+d6 = 19 should be good

Okay, lets say we take this job. Whats in it for us? I'm all for saving innocents but we don't work for free, even for someone with eyes as nice as yours.

Okay not pure business, but definitely more grown up.

[Metatron]

Korian watches all this with a concerned eye.

I really don't know how she does it. I was never good with words. I'd best not say much, unless asked.

[Grinder]

The man allows a small smile to slip over his face. Well, I can get my hands on many interesting things - interesting for an adept. Tell me what you want and I 'll try to get it. I don't want to upset you with such uninteresting offers like gold. Let me say that I'm willing to pay you 1,000 silver pieces for expensives you might have and I don't care how and why you spent it, as long as you find my daughter.

He leans back in his chair and nips on his drink. What do you say?

[Grinder]

Vas - in The Stables

I'm as honorable as a man in this times can be. He scratched his head, obviously confused and hard-thinking at the same time.

So what do you suggest?

[Ophis]

I presume we're talking about an item a piece right? Thread Item each, none of which are thread plate, or other items of similar values? We allow you a few days to deliver the items once we've saved your daughter. If that sounds good to you we're working for you. If not lets continue to deal.

Confidence rings through her voice, suggesting to Traparan that the rumours he's heard about these two's parents may be true. Seraph glances a Korian to check he agrees. After he nods she continues.

Of course we'll need a little while to think about exact items. It would be sensible for us to each name two or three items and then you can see what is available, in the, ahem, local market. Nothing with a current thread in it please, or one swiftly unravelling. Oh and you help get us reasonable sale prices on anything we aquire in our work.

[fistandantilus4....]

Well it seems to me that your primary concern here is the money that was formally yours. I suggest, rather than going forth with the spilling of blood, which, incidentally, isn't worth anything, we work on your new endevor. You said you had a way to get some more coin. I assume that since you wre wanting me to do it, you didn't have the necessary resources to handle it yourself. Perhaps by pooling our resources, we could both come out of this little misunderstanding ahead. What did you have in mind?

[Grinder]

Is it so hard to understand for you that I want my money back? The ork looks confused and angry at the same time. He doesn't move his hands to his weapons or in Vas' direction, though.
I've said, how I want it to do: you and me go to this guy, beat him up and grab the money he stole from me. You know, the guy who looks to similar to you...

[Grinder]

Seraph & Korian - inside the house

It is not difficult for a skilled Weaponsmith adept to create a Thread Item with specific powers - all one needs is time. One month per item, to be exact. If you want to wait so long, it shall be done. If you want an item that may not be exactly what you want, you can get your hands on it earlier. As soon as you have found and rescued my daughter.
One Thread Item for each of you is fine for me. What do you think? That I'm gonna haggle for hours with you when my daughter is in danger?

[Ophis]

Seraph smiles at the man's reaction. She stands up from her cross legged position with out using her hands, simply shifting and straightening her legs.

My apologies for delaying things my friend. I wanted terms to be certain to avoid any bad blood in future. Now all you need to do is furnish us with some details of you daughter, appearance, any perfumes she may have been wearing. How old she is would be helpful, and anything on your 'helper', like how much did you trust him? Don't worry if she can be found she will be bought back to you.

Seraph's eyes show a firmness of purpose, almost firmer than a promise sealed by Bloodoath.

Families should be together. We can reunite this one. We can. Passions help us please.

Her eyes waver briefly as she extends a hand to shake on the deal.

[fistandantilus4....]

Vas throws his hands up in the air. Fine! By Chorollis you really .... ah to Death's Sea wuith it all! Let's go.

Vas guestures for the ork to lead the way, hoping to get the ork just a bit of head start to give him a shot.

[ Spoiler ]

What do I have to do draw a blade unseen? I'm done playing with this guy.

[Grinder]

Seraph & Korian - inside the house

Traparan shakes Seraph's hand and takes out a folded letter from a bag inside his tunic. He unfolds it and gives it to Seraph. It shows a very detailed (and very good) portrait of a young human woman of 20 or 21 years. She has the same eyes as her father, while her hair is longer and curlier. The smile on her face underlines her well-swung mouth and full lips. Undoubtly, she's a very good-looking woman.

It makes me happy that we've come to an agreement so far. You have all my trust.
Well, about my helpers? I trust them, I really do, at least when it comes to dealing of personal matters like my famliy. I once made a statement about involving my family into the business I'm in and I'm sure that they got it across. I'll give you a rundown on the people who are suspicious to me.

[Grinder]

Vas - in The Stables

You first - I know how things run with people like you.

[ Spoiler ]

To draw a blade unseen? Uff. Conceal Weapon would be helpful. Or simply a roll on Dexterity, while the orks rolls on Perception against the result.

[Ophis]

Seraph studies the picture carefully,I trust we'll be allowed to keep this. Excuse my interruption. She continues to listen, all the time studying the picture and any sheets with it.

Were's Vas, got himself too? I hope he's okay.