The Unseen Servant forums

The shuffling from within the makeshift shelter continues slowly, until "he" arrives. Fenster is a wretched creature, more skin and bone than meat. His flesh is clammy and gray in places, one of his eyes is clouded over with a white film, and his clothing is caked with filth. His breathing is raspy and gurgling and smells of bad meat. He ignores the party and heads directly for his tin. Looking inside, he spies the crossbow bolt and two coins, and, between wet, hacking coughs, dismisses the offering. He simply turns his back and begins to slowly shuffle back towards his little hideout.

Marshal leans down picks up the bolt from the tin and shakes his head as he hands the coins to their owners and loads the crossbow into his weapon. He seems to look at it as he tried to figure something out in his head.

"Well now. How rude. " the witch says. "Someone should teach him some manners."

His mood brightened at that. He turned and mumbled to them


"Listen these girls are criminals. Why don't we just go in....find out what we need and if they put up a fight we deliver them to the guard ooorr their rivals. "

At the witches comment, Fenster, as he continues his slow retreat, mumbles something. All the group is able to make out is the word "cheap."

Athriel

"I'm sorry sir but as the saying goes, beggars can't be choosers. Perhaps as a compromise you take the coins offered, provide us with the information we seek and we pay you additionally based on what you provide?"

"We CAN be generous but are not fools." Petra adds.

Fenster stops his lumbering retreat, steps from returning to his meager abode, and hacks. “Five gold," he spits out between wet coughs. "Then yew gets ta ask what yew want Fenster ta’do.”

"I'm sure I'll regret this..." Whispers the witch as she fishes out 5 gold pennies.

Fenster hears Petra fishing for additional coins and stops his awkward retreat. Turning, he starts his slow return. Collecting the five gold coins, plus anything left from the initial deposits, he reiterates his original offering: "What yew want Fenster ta’do.”

Petra looks around to see if anyone might be dropping eaves.
"Heard you're quite the story teller, Fenster. Tell us a story about Natalya Vancaskerkin. We have a job for someone with her...specific skill set."

Fenster registers familiarity when asked about Natalya, and admits that he’s seen her lurking about in a nearby building -- and that she’s no longer hanging out with the other Tower Girls. In fact, she seemed to be doing her best to stay unobserved. "But nuthin’ in th’Shadow gits by me good peeper!” he says, tapping the sallow cheek under his non-clouded eye.

When the old vagabound came forward the dwarf stepped out of his reach, and out of his stink. "I got something for you old skuttlebutt. I'll give you five gold if you can direct me to a man named Plutivarch. I'll give you the five gold once I have him in my sights."

Unsure just how many questions the old man will answer for the coins already paid, Ty remains quiet, trusting that Petra is asking the right questions about the girl.

Athriel, un-phased by the man's odor from having smelled worse with the chemicals he is used to working with, stands near Petra in case anything goes south.

"Plutivarch," the haggard old man repeats. "Yew ain't gonna fin'em," he starts. "He'll find you!" he says, before spewing phlegm after a wet cough. "Wat yew want wit'ol Pulty anyways?" he asks.

He rubbed the brow of his nose looking at his companions. "I think we should take up a new profession."

Petra pulls out and counts another 5 gold pennies.
"You've been most helpful, Fenster, but tell us..." she says displaying the coins in her palm and running her thumb across their shiny surface. "Which building is Natalya skulking around in? Surely someone is bringing her food if she's in hiding...supplies? How might we find her for the job we have to offer?"