((Barrow is with Oliff at this point anyway, so that works out.))
Once Keranos and Galen square away the deal with the printer with the assurance that Oliff's office will dispatch someone to deliver their funds, they turn back to rendezvous with the others.
Barrow looks exhausted, but pleased with himself, and proudly proclaims that he's cracked more noggins than he has in a dog's age, and that the Chamber Lunus vote on the matter is secure. It almost seems superfluous at this point, as the Endowed have nearly run the table on the other chambers: Yarl, Narn, Ance, and Mafun are listed alongside Lunus all on Oliff's slate as being in favor of the legislation, meaning the vote of two Houses is in their favor. Combined with the potential of swaying Ossc with the flyers commissioned by Galen and Keranos, they may even have a backup just in case one of the Chambers reneges on their deal.
Oliff is effervescent in his good humor, no doubt augmented by the distilled spirits he's drinking that smell faintly of mushrooms. He continually offers Talbot a taste, but seems to forget that she has declined only ten minutes later when he asks again. Talbot's reaction is more muted, but she can't seem to stop grinning at the prospect of her long-time goal about to be realized.
The warning of potential outside interference--well, more so than usual--into the process by person or persons unknown seems to sober Oliff up. More than a might bit suspicious, he says, tugging on his beard in an anxious nervous tic. Praise be Moradin that the plan did not work in the end. And the one down in the lower levels was a worshipper of Lolth, was she? He turns his eyes to Talbot. Anyone you know?
Talbot purses her lips. No, she replies. I know not all the Drow refugees from the Underdark are Eilistrean--there are any number of reasons one would seek to escape the wrath of the Empire--but I do not believe there are a significant number of them. And I certainly dont know any personally.
Oliff leans forward, resting his elbows on his desk and lacing his fingers in front of his mouth. Hm, he muses. We at least have the benefit of knowing that the crystal or crystals exist, and what their effects are. We might be able to sweep the city and suss them all out. If theres one thing thats likely to get unanimous support, its rooting out outside interference. Even Mafun might take a second look at this informant of theirs if they think she might be linked to this crystal nonsense.
He reclines in his chair once more, a smile on his bearded face. Lets see, thats 2,500 on the fliers, 270 on the potion for the tall one, and 50 for our fledgling asset in the chamber of Ossc. Opening his desk, he pulls out a ledger and scribbles on it before tearing it out of the book and sliding it across the table.
That leaves us with just under 2,200 of our original bribery fund. Id say you lot are entitled to half of that, considering the work you put in today. Present this voucher at the bank, and theyll settle you up.
As the celebration winds down, Vess bows out with her pair of Drow body guards. Oliff shoos everyone out of his office, pointing out that even with their lobbying effort complete, he still has much he must do on his end before morning rolls around.
It is surprisingly late when everyone finally leaves; the absence of the sun makes it difficult to gauge the passage of time in the constantly lit interior of the mountain, and the populus seems to be divided into multiple shifts so that the hustle and bustle of the town never really stops.
Its past midnight by the time everyone returns to the inn, but Peaseblossom is still absent.
((1,100 to be split however you like. Also, everyone levels up!))
((Since I was slacking and didnt actually publish updates, heres a whole bunch of codex updates!))
Codex updates:
