Tess in the Cage, next day 1027/01/23 Sar Decoding
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Tess disguised as Rikail Ogremail to orc goes with and Sar the scribe to the 
Fortune's Wheel to do the decoding. Sar will stick close to Tes, slightly 
behind him. He is remaining silent. Before they go in, Tess will check roughly 
what price Sar might ask - or arrange that Sar will tell him after initial 
look at the size of the document, for negotiation purposes. Sar will tell Tess 
after he has a look at it.

Ogier is there, talking with a group. When he sees Rikail, he excuses himself 
and wanders off to get a drink, by himself. Tess will wander over to near 
where Ogier is and wait until he indicates he sees Tess and wishes to talk.
Ogier gestures for Tess to come over. Tess comes over and introduces Sar, 
"Greetings sir. This gentleman will be able to decode the document. If we 
could see the document to judge the length and time if will take to decode it 
please." 

He nods, and pulls out a tube. He hands it to Sar, who unrolls the piece of
paper. Sar glances over it, frowning. Aside to Tess, Sar says, "Not an easy 
job. I'd charge a thousand gold for this, 500 more if I can't talk about it. 
He looks like he can afford that. It's going to take me a day or three to 
solve it."
[Tess has a 15% cut, +50% of anything Tess bargain's above Sar's price.]

Tess bargains with Ogier, "Given the difficulty of decoding this document we 
will require possibly up to four days. As I'm sure you'd prefer things were 
discreet, we will not discuss this outside of course ... and there's the 
significance of the device you seek ... 2500 gold would seem appropriate 
payment." Ogiers eyes gleam as the bargaining begins. Ogier is obviously 
experienced at this this, but he really wants this.  He agrees to 2100 gp, 
with the condition to not tell anyone else the translation. Sar looks on, not
saying anything (but seems happy).

Ogier hands Tess the paper, "Guard this carefully."
Tess replies, "We will." [Tess' cut is 525gp = 1500*0.15 + 600*0.5.] 

Tess will hang out with Sar during the next (however) many days, while 
translating takes place. Given opportunity which won't be discovered, Tess 
will use the copy spell to make a copy for himself of the original, and of the 
translation if possible. Tess will be interested to read the translation ... 
curious whether that is coded too. Filching it will be easy, since Sar will 
ask for Tess opinion on the final result. Tess will have a careful look at the 
final result. The decoded page appears to be a roundabout way of saying where 
to find an item. A path through various gates. Tess has an idea of where to 
start, but isn't sure of some of the specifics along the way - seeing it would
make it easier. Sar doesn't know. It took Sar two days to decode it.

**1027/01/23 -> 1027/01/25**
On 1027/01/25 morning Tess and Sar head to we drop the translation back to 
Ogier at the Fortune's Wheel. Tess hung around with Sar, so he wasn't able
to do much during the day. Tess waits for Ogier. After a while, he turns up,
entering from across the room.

A few other people tense when Ogier comes in. Some of those people have 
weapons under their cloaks. You spot the apparently random movements of half 
a dozen people are going to bring them close to Ogier as they move around the
room. Sar is with Tess (disguised as Rikail), slightly behind him. He doesn't
seem to have noticed anything, nor has Ogier.

Tess does his best to intervene, yelling "Watch out!" and leaps across a
chair to stand near Ogier. Ogier jumps in startlement. The people look around 
curious...and keep walking past. "Sorry, just paranoid I guess ..." Tess will 
take a careful look as those people go on by. Conversation in the room stops 
as people look over at Tess. The people with weapons move off in apparently 
random groups, releasing their hands on their weapons under their cloaks. 
Some of them look at Tess (in disguise) as if noting his features.

Ogier looks around. "What?" Tess quietly notes what happened to Ogier. Ogier
says, "Who them? They had weapons? Thank you." Tess nods. A dragon's head 
moves past you to chat to some other people in the bar. The dragon gives Tess
a toothy grin as it passes. Tess gives an Orcish grin in response.

Tess will wait until he and Ogier can chat somewhere without others looking 
on. Tess will open the translation for Ogier to look at briefly, and ask for 
the payment. Ogier, shielding the paper with his body, examines it, frowning.
Tess says, "It appears to be a somewhat oblique description of the path to 
take." 

Ogier then hands Tess a bag of platinum, saying, "This is the translation, so
here is your gold." Tess detects magic, checking that the platinum is legit, 
then taking his cut, passes the rest on to Sar Sar stows his money away under 
his cloak as does Tessarael.

Tess asks, "Do you wish any further help? Given the 'friends' here ..." 
Ogier relies, "I should be fine. I have bodyguards outside. Surprised anyone 
tried anything inside," and then to both Sar and Rikail says, "Thank you, lets
do business again sometime."

Tess replies, "Yes ... be careful. Thank you sir for your business."

Ogier says in parting, "If you need help with anything Rikal, let me know." 

Rikail nods and thanks Ogier once again. Ogier gets up and scurries away. Sar 
nodes to Tess and they leave.

Sar says, "Lets also do business again sometime. Let me know how it goes 
finding the item in question." Sar smiles. 

Tess smiles, "Take care, thank you for your help." Sar nods. You leave, people
in the crows outside watch you but no one follows. Tess will wend his way very
cautiously for a while.