Tulbas' Vignette

[BishGada]

"I hope he doesn't bring troubles with him... if you need me with anything, I'm capable of assisting." says Tulbas looking intensely at his uncle eyes for several heartbeats. "Well, I better be off." Tulbas says as he cheks his packs and pockets one last time, making sure his spellbook is hidden and secured and so does the wand, then he claps his uncle arm strongly. "I guess I'll be back soon." he smiles weakly, then turns and strides out determinedly.
As he gets out to the street he stops, takes a deep breath, look back at the shop once, turns and heads to the docks where he expects to meet Nora

[JadedDM]

Tulbas departs, making his way down to the dock where Nora told him her men would be waiting for him.

Sure enough, he spots two men waiting for him on the dock in question. Both are wearing studded leather armor, grey cloaks and hoods, and are well-armed. They have the look of mercenaries to them. One is tall and lean, the other stout and more muscular; both are clean-shaved and have short, dark hair.

[BishGada]

Tulbas approaches them and after getting their attention gets closer so to keep their conversation private. "Hello. I was to meet you here." he says simply, not revealing too much information and also preparing himself for betrayal as he have no reason to trust Nora yet, nor be sure these guards are not Seekers in disguise.

[JadedDM]

"This him?" asks the shorter one.

The taller one nods. "Fits the description Nora gave us," he says, as if Tulbas wasn't standing right there.

"By the Master, he's just a kid, ain't he?" the shorter one asks.

The taller one shrugs, then finally addresses Tulbas directly. "You ready to start the search?"

[BishGada]

"I am." Tulbas says confidently. "I need all the details you can tell me about the woman. It will help to shorten the search. But first, since we are going to work together for some time, I'm Tulbas, and your names?" Tulbas asks while measuring the mercenaries from top to toe.

[JadedDM]

"You can call me Biggs," says the taller one. He jerks a thumb to his shorter companion. "This here is Wedge."

Wedge nods in greeting. "Nora says you got some way of tracking this girl down, right?"

[BishGada]

"Yes. I can help. I understand you are trying to find her for some time. Let's hope we will do better. What can you tell me about her?" Tulbas says hiding his own skepticism on one hand and his attention to ensure the woman safety if possible on the other hand. 'Things were so much simpler only two days ago...' he thinks to himself and that thought brought back the memory of the black robed mage's piercing look, vivid in his mind.

[JadedDM]

Biggs shrugs. "What did you need to know?"

"We know she's a wizard, and word is quite a looker, too," Wedge volunteers.

[BishGada]

"What description did her father give? Do you know if she is Human or from another race?" Tulbas says acting a bit irritated as if it was obvious that these are required details. Without waiting too long he continues, "You can report these details as we go. Do you have any suggestions where to start the search? Can you tell me where have you already searched?"

[JadedDM]

"She's elven," says Biggs.

"And human," adds Wedge.

"Right, I mean, she's both, I guess," Biggs amends. "As for searching, well, we've been up and down these docks. One of our people said they saw someone that might have been her in the harbor district, so that's all we really know. Nora said you had some way to make the search easier."

[BishGada]

'Half-Elven' Tulbas thinks to himself. 'Well, *Sleep* would be much more effective on her than on Elves, I'll consider it should the search continue tomorrow. I should also ask Raetmal if we had a young Half-Elven woman customer lately...'.

Tulbas looks around searchingly then answers, "Yes, sometimes I can track people by the nature of their practice." Tulbas explains but avoids elaborating about his own magic practice. "Anyway, let's go to the Harbor District. Yesterday evening I traced some signs she might have been in the eastern docks, so we should start there." Tulbas gestures to the mercenaries and starts walking with them to the eastern docks.

After about 50' or so Tulbas suddenly stops, and looks at his companions, makes sure he has their full attention and says, "Important thing, I don't want us to be obvious about sniffing around there, it might scare the woman off, and she might have friends helping her hide so they might notice us too and warn her. So we will act as if we are going on our own businesses there, and when I'll need to concentrate in the search I'll signal you and you will engage business conversation with the locals as any other person there would, giving me the time to look around without being suspicious about it, OK?" Tulbas eyes the men piercingly. After having their agreement he continues their walk.

On the way Tulbas plans his next move, 'We should check if there is a magic shop in the harbor. She will require ingredients for her spells.' then incidentally he asks Biggs, "How long ago have you begun your searches?"

[JadedDM]

As Tulbas met the two men at the docks, they are already at the harbor district. So they head to the eastern docks at his suggestion.

"So we will act as if we are going on our own businesses there, and when I'll need to concentrate in the search I'll signal you and you will engage business conversation with the locals as any other person there would, giving me the time to look around without being suspicious about it, OK?"

"Fair enough, but we aren't letting you out of our sights," Biggs says. "She might attack you, and I doubt you'd stand up long against her magic. We're here for your protection, as much as anything else."

"How long ago have you begun your searches?"

"Wedge and I only joined the search yesterday," Biggs says. "Harbor district's big, though, so we haven't had any luck so far."

[BishGada]

"I appreciate the protection. How long have you been followers of the Master?" Tulbas asks while leading them to where he sensed the traces of magic the evening before.
As they arrive the area Tulbas looks at the surrounding living houses, then turns towards the streets with the shops. "Well, there is a good chance she is hiding in one of those houses, but since we can't enter them, I suggest we will enter some of the stores around. Maybe even a magic shop if there is one here. We will ask for the costs of whatever goods they sell. For now we shouldn't ask about the woman, so we won't raise suspicion. I will try to sense her in the crowd. If someone asks we are preparing to go on a journey. Let's just agree where to. Do you have any suggestion?"

[JadedDM]

"How long have you been followers of the Master?"

"We both joined up at the same time," Wedge says. "'Bout two weeks ago?"

"I think it's three," says Biggs.

"Yeah, that sounds 'bout right," Wedge agrees.

"If someone asks we are preparing to go on a journey. Let's just agree where to. Do you have any suggestion?"

The two men look at each other, a bit confused. "Sounds...complicated," notes Wedge.

Biggs shrugs. "Well, guess he's the expert. Alright, um...how 'bout...Crossing? That's the farthest place I know of."

[BishGada]

"Fine. The crossing. We need to have a reason why do we enter so many stores, that's why we need a cover story."

Tulbas starts walking the merchant roads, entering stores here and there, he is also paying attention for magic shop. He tries to look for young women similar to the description he was given, but knowing wizards can alter their looks, he also uses his lesser abilities of magic detection, especially where there are large crowds.

After some time he asks Wedge and Biggs casually, "So, three weeks. Have you met many followers? How long does the group exists anyway?"

===================================
(OOC: Tulbas casts Cantrips in order to come close to the general area that radiated magic. When there he will use his Detect Magic spell and later the wand if it will be necessary.
When done with the shops Tulbas will lead the company to the living houses streets.)