0. Prelude

[Das]

"If those leads don't pan out she may be hiding out with her father as well. The reason she joined up with sczarni was a falling out with him. But desperation may have forced her to return home. But I vote we check this Zograthy out."

[tooleychris]

"If this girl fancied herself competent enough to betray one of those families, hopefully she knows how to avoid guards..." Petra adds. "Perhaps Marshal is correct and Zograthy is a good starting point?"

[Alethan]

Ty nods in agreement. "Aye, let's start there. A fortune teller should have information for us, regardless, right?" he adds sarcastically.

[Das]

He rose to his feet patted his belly. "I could use a pre-investigation drink and meal."

[dmw71]

Sheila cocks her head to the side and looks at Marshal with a puzzled look on her face; apparently, the host was unaware of the news of Natalya and her father. After hearing Marshal mention food and drink, Sheila produces a metallic coin of unknown composition bearing her family's sigil. "Keep this chit," she says. "Produce it at any inn or tavern here in the Alabaster District and your meal will be charged to the Heidmarch account." With that, she wishes the group well.

After the group has had their fill, they begin to make their way to pay a visit to the Amazing Zograthy, who lives almost directly south west of Heidmarch Manor, but on the opposite side of Magnimar on Washers’ Row in the Dockway district, near the Underbridge.

Washers’ Row is a tangle of open-air washhouses, launderers, and Varisian wagons and tents. At its southern end, a tattered banner hanging over the entrance to the small side street advertises “Professor Callivario’s Stupendous Exhibition of the Outrageous and Sublime.” Beyond this overly exuberant advertisement is a squalid setup consisting of little more than a series of rundown sideshow booths and carts with assorted games and amusements of the meaner sort. To one side, urchins pitch pennies at lily pads floating in a small, scum-covered fountain while a bored carnie looks on. Nearby, the sound of cats hissing and fighting arises from behind a cart where a small crowd of ne’er-do-wells has gathered to cheer and place bets.

Everywhere lurk faces pinched with suspicion or hunger — expressions worn by carnival workers and visitors alike. This is not the sort of place to be careless with a coin pouch.


Maps
Here is an overview of Magnimar, with north facing up.

!Magnimar.jpg (115.97 KiB) Viewed 595 times

Here is the location of Heidmarch Manor, on the far east side of town.

Heidmarch Manor.png (60.37 KiB) Viewed 595 times

You're heading to the far west side of town, to Washer's Row.

Washer's Row.png (67.34 KiB) Viewed 595 times

[Das]

Marshal cannot help but smile at her puzzled look and nods his thanks as he takes the coin. Marshal is careful with the family coin, since it could feed him and the party for the foreseeable future, or at least till the Pathfinder comes looking for them. He is careful with his items making sure to pat himself down on a regular basis, and cover his nice looking clothing with his travelers cloak so he doesn't look like so much of a easy target, though a armed group walking around shouldn't be that tempting of a target.

"If this is some sort of illusionist or wizard we should be cautious. If something looks out of the ordinary we shouldn't be afraid to say as much. Least we get taken unawares." His words break off as he looks over the collection of motley businesses and never-do-wells. He smirked at the cat fighting but didn't pay it much a mind. He keeps a look out for something that might point them towards the lead. His eyes scan the crowds, the rooftops, the business looking for something of interest. "We need a plan, since we need to be subtle we need a reason not related to the truth for finding our missing lady."

[tooleychris]

Petra lets Shelly rest on her shoulders as they walk through the streets.
She nods at Marshals words. "Aye. Most fortune readers rely on their skill with manipulating the cards, or bones, or whatever is currently popular but illusion is not outside possibility for some. Perhaps we shouldn't all approach the man, either. Some could wait outside or around back...in case he flees. I have a way with people. They tend to listen when I speak and would be willing to engage him, if it's the wish of us all."

[Alethan]

Ty walks casually, but is mindful of anyone coming near him. "I grew up on similar streets. Don't look like a victim and they'll think twice about approaching ya. I'm happy to wait outside and try and watch the rear of the tent if possible."

[Das]

Marshal smiled. "Why don't you and someone else go in there to see how your desires to get married will play out? That way at least you will be with someone else. Don't want anyone going in solo."

[tooleychris]

"This is a solid plan as far as getting inside." muses Petra. "But how to bring up our true inquiry...? "

[ybn1197]

Athriel looks more towards the ground than towards his compatriots. "I can accompany Petra and attempt to ascertain if the fortune teller is on the level or merely a charlatan. But I fear my ability to mislead others is sorely lacking. I think we should play it by ear. If a true gift this fortune teller has then there will doubtless be no need to hide the truth. But a charlatan may make us wary and should be approached with caution."

[tooleychris]

Petra laughs. "Indeed let us hope he is false, lest he be aware of our coming subterfuge. "

[dmw71]

A questionable carnie passes by the group and, when asked about Amazing Zograthy, a crooked finger points to a small, well-patched tent, crudely painted with mystical symbols and decorated with chicken bones and other dangling oddments.

Ty and Marshal wait outside while and watch as Petra and Athriel cautiously enter the tent, under the clever ruse of hoping to determine the marriage-worthiness of them as a couple, hoping to find an opportunity to pose their real question.

---

Inside the stuffy, cluttered tent is a table covered in blue velvet stitched with moons, stars, and arcane symbols. A dusty crystal ball and a dog-eared harrow deck sit upon it. Behind this table sits an aged, bald, Varisian man with threadbare purple robes and piercing eyes.

Amazing Zograthy.jpg (32.17 KiB) Viewed 576 times

As Petra and Athriel enter, he gestures broadly and states in a tremulous voice, “The Amazing Zograthy sees all and knows all. A double fist of silver for a turn of the cards or a vision in the crystal; a treble fist of gold for the secrets of the multiverse.”

[Das]

While they go in he'll nod to his companion, check his weapon hidden in his sleeve than go for a walk about the tent to see if there are any escape routes or the like. Trying to seem harmless while doing it.

[dmw71]

I still need actions from just about everyone.

ybn1197, I see you've been updating in other games. I am going to need a more consistent effort from you or I will have no choice but to seek a replacement.

[Alethan]

While Marshall handles the rear, Ty sits down on the ground opposite side of the street of the fortune teller. He pretends to busy himself with fixing something on his boot, but he instead heels an eye out for anyone tailing them or anyone otherwise interested in their presence in the area.

[tooleychris]

"Well isn't this quaint. Isn't this quaint, darling?" Petra asks Athriel, hugging him from the side.
She looks the place over then the amazing man himself.
"And you sir..." she addresses Zograthy, "You are just as I hoped. Wise with age and eagle sharp eyes. Splendid!"

Trying to improve his attitude toward Petra using Diplomacy Skill. If this doesn't work, maybe we can bribe him with new clothes.

[ybn1197]

Athriel smiles weakly and hugs Petra back. "Very quaint my dear." He looks towards Zograthy, "We do so hope that you will be able to tell us what we need to know."

[dmw71]

Zograthy watches Petra and Athriel as they enter, and sits quietly as the couple hug and compliment his abode, whether their praise is genuine or not. "Quaint." he says after a moment, still in his tremulous voice. "Just the look I was going for."

"Now..." he says, gesturing for the couple to take a seat and join him at the table with the crystal ball. "My premonitions become much more accurate after receiving a payment," he hints after Athriel mentions their hope he can tell them what they want to know. The seer reminds the pair that a Tarot card reading will be a double fist of silver, and a vision in the crystal ball will be a treble fist of gold.

---

Outside, Marshal conceals his weapon up his sleeve and casually strolls around the fortune teller's tent, learning that there is just the single entrance. Ty sits down on the ground on the opposite side of the street of the fortune teller and pretends to fixing something on his boot. He does not suspect the group has been followed, and don't appear to be attracting any unusual amount of attention.

[Das]

Returning to the front of the tent he gave a discrete thumbs up letting it be known that the tent has no rear entrances and seems clear.