What’ll it be, loves?
Is there anything of interest going on around town?
Well, the dwarves have dug some shafts down the hills a bit east of town, darling. And that with them being so shy of water and usually going for the high ranges far from the coast! They pretend to be looking for ore there, but I happened to overhear two dwarves talking about some artifact they want to excavate.
I wonder why the orcs attacked the dwarves, don’t you, love? I mean, there’s nothing in that mine the orcs could value. And on top of it, they can expect the dwarves to take revenge now.
Do you believe in a conspiracy of the Holberkians and the orcs?
No, I don’t, darling! That’s pure hooey!
Say, what do you know about this rat-catcher fellow?
Xebbert keeps the town clean, sweetheart, and he’s got his hands full doing it. You wouldn’t believe the rate rats breed at in a port city. But he’s doing a fine job!
What do you think of the talk about a monster down below the town?
I pay it no mind, darling!
Anything you could tell us about the tradesmaster?
Well, darling, the wealth and influence of that Albernian was a thorn not just in the side of the other merchants, but of a lot of other officials. They must’ve thought they could be rid of him, but Ui Chearghail showed them all right: These days, most of his enemies are pushing up the daisies!
And what do you know about the guild?
Look, love, after the tradesmaster had to go underground, he gathered all the outcasts of the city together and turned them into the guild. Not that they hadn’t been in contact before, but now, under Ui Chearghail, they’ve turned into a dangerous organization with contacts everywhere.
Do you know Tarik?
Sure love, there’s nobody in town doesn’t. You want to know anything in particular, you go see him. All you need is the right amount of cash!
What do you know about Bosper Jarnug?
That judge’s about to bring the whole city under his thumb. If he keeps that up, he’ll run into trouble. But I’m not getting involved there, love: He’ll get what’s coming to him.
They say that Jarnug once had a strange disease?
Not that I’ve heard of… - Oh, you mean the strange attack he had some years ago, don’t you, darling?
There haven’t been any more after that, though.
You know, it was strange, all right: Burning with the fever he was, and shaking with the spasms, and for weeks! No one could find anything wrong with him, though, I couldn’t, and neither could the seeress, and her being magically gifted and all. She said, he ought to be at the peak of health, too! But it was obvious he’d come down with something.
Peraine’s blessings!
I have to get back to my duties now, loves. Peraine’s blessings!