Recudor: Northern District

The cool ever-present salted breeze from the sea fills the air as Jian and Airgetlam step off the boat and on to the northern docks. Neither of them have been here very often since coming to the city, but they know some of the important locations around the area, like a few of the bars and pubs, inns, and various houses belonging to officials.

Air takes another quick look at the note; it seems like the owner of this address lives on the other side of the northern district, close to where they are constructing the new part of the city. More and more people have been moving in to the harbor city, especially with work around Soiyam being hard to find nowdays.

Remembering the basic layout of the northern district, Air deducts they could either go past the main road, past the inn and the main gate and straight up to the place, or cut through a series of alleyways. It's pretty late, and the sun is almost vanished from the horizon, leaving only the street lights to illuminate their way. Despite being significantly faster, the back alleys might be a bit dangerous, though, the northern district has never been known for its street violence. There are plenty of guards and police everywhere at night, since some of the more richer folk, most notably the duke, lives in the immediate area.

Stepping off the boat, Jian is taking a deeper breath, looking around a little. Nighttime has it's own charm in terms of how the city and streets look, taking that in for a brief moment, he then checks how things work here around this time, what kind of people are there to be seen on the streets and the likes.

"Well, so far so good...", he then says, fairly quiet, just audible enough for Airgetlam to here it.

"So, now that we made it here, which probably was the easiest part, you'll be leading the way. I personally haven't been here much myself, so I probably don't know much more than you do. But you know more than me in terms of safety and self-defense, so yeah... you should guide us to this man's place.", he then says, still analyzing the surroundings well.

Airgetlam steps off the boat and crosses the docks until she gets to the street. She glances at Jian and smiles.

"Well I haven't exactly spent much time here myself, and we're not all that much pressed for time, so we'll just take a stroll until we get to the address proper, kay? I may come here tomorrow and map out more of the alleyways in case I need to navigate them later." She says, and walks off toward a streetlight, beckoning to Jian to follow her.

"I'll keep you safe, don't worry."

The two decide to make their way down the main street, with Jian checking out the people on the way. There aren't many people out and about this late at night, but the few that are look and dress significantly wealthier than in the southern district. The buildings and people in this area are very reminiscent of the southern high-class district, just that it is a lot bigger.

As they move about the main street for a good while, Jian notices two policemen standing infront of a very popular inn here in the northern district. One of the windows is broken and the innkeeper seems to be giving out some information. It strikes Jian as odd that the police would be involved over what seemed like collateral damage during a bar fight. Regardless he takes note and the two continue on their way.

Coming up to the gate, they take a left turn up behind a row of privately owned mansions standing side by side. The houses behind here are modest, and kind of hidden away between the city walls and the mansions and their fancy gardens.

Air stops, checking the address one more time to be sure. This is the place. The house in question is noticeably smaller than the other, and a little less posh looking. In fact, it's very clear that this house has been poorly maintained. Regardless, the lights in the house are on, though some drapes obscure the view inside.

"What an odd building in such an area I'd say...", Jian only manages to say under his mistrust with the situation. He can't help but feel like this house seems a little -too- odd for his liking. He checks his surroundings closely again, biting his lip under the slight nervous feeling he's getting now.

"Mnnh... This whole district has a feeling that doesn't feel right.", he adds a little later. Not that any part of the city was spared from any random events, but at the current time, this district gives the vibe of something going down right now.

"Let's just... be careful from this point out, alright?", he says, finishing his few words he had to say, rather focusing on being on guard rather than finding the proper words to describe the situation properly.

Air looks up at the house from the address and nods to Jian.

"You're right, people here feel a little stiff. Hopefully its not what plagued central - they said it was cleared but some doubt does remain in my mind. Either way, remember where you stowed your knife." She says, now checking where her own blade is on her person, and where the cloaking device is as well.

Moving forward, she keeps her eyes on the windows and door, and she reaches out for the doorbell, ringing it only once so as not to be annoying. Should no-one answer in half a minute, she will ring again.

Airgetlam rings the doorbell, and almost instantaneously the door opens, as if someone had been waiting eagerly. A decently clothed man with a friendly clean shaved face stands in the door. On closer inspection, his clothing is a little poorly taken care of, but kept up to date with the latest nobles fashion and decked in fine silks. "Yes hello?" the man asks, before taking a closer look at the two in-front of him. "Oh, mercenaries? Good good, you're here because of my daughter, right?"

He hears Airgetlam's explanation, looking down the street briefly before explaining his own situation. "Well you see, my wife passed away recently... and my daughter has been nothing but trouble since. The poor thing is heartbroken by the passing of her mother, and I fear she has run off with our family heirloom. I've been looking all over the city for her yesterday but supposedly she's been seen in the company of an elderly man, and I worry so much about her." he pauses for a moment. "Yes well, would you like to come inside? or discuss the details here?"

It seems like a realistic scenario, but both Air and Jian notice a slight forcefulness in the way the man talks. Like he isn't entirely sincere.

A few acknowlegding gestures follow the explanation of the man, making clear he's been listening. He then looks over to Air for a moment, his view shifting back to the man.

"I'd rather discuss this here, it's getting late and we would like to get down to it as fast as possible. I appreciate the gesture of hospitality though, very kind of you to offer us such. In any case... You have said you saw your daughter with an elderly man? It'd be very helpful if you could provide any sort of description on what very noticeable traits he might've had. And describing the heirloom's appearance might help too, if that's not a problem."

His words fairly calm, regardless of noticing the man's somewhat forceful behaviour, mask any risk of being caught on not fully trusting the description of the situation. He looks over to Air, tilting his head a little.

"Anything else you personally would like to add, Air?", he asks, then looking back at the man.

"I would prefer here as well, unless staying out here is too compromising for you. If we came inside however it would not be for long, though the hospitality is not unwelcome."

She looks at Jian and nods at the inquiry.

"Would you happen to know your daughter's last known whereabouts in addition to her and the senior's appearance? Where did she often hang around? Is the man possibly malicious?" She blinks and awaits the client's next move.

The man scratches the back of his ear for a moment, looking off to the side somewhat distracted. "Ah well... hmm to be honest I don't remember much of the mans appearance. He carried a gun and that frightened me a good bit. I work almost all day from sunrise till  late into the night, so I don't really know much about my daughters whereabouts. That's why I've hired you." he pauses for a moment, and the very faint sound of footsteps escaping the room behind him. He suddenly seems to realize something and asks the group; "Oh yes! You'll need a description don't you... well... my daughter has um... medium brown hair and a decently small figure, and red eyes. I know they're uncommon down here in the south, so she should be easy to make out."

His eyes shift up for a moment as if he was to think for a moment, then shaking his head, shrugging once.

"Sadly, I have not seen anyone of the likes yet, so I have no clue about the whereabouts. We will keep an eye out though, not everyone does carry a gun around like that, so that will be a big hint for us."
He is lying obviously, but the way he's speaking is masking that quite well aswell, given he knows how to handle people in that regard at least. He looks at Air again, then back at the man.
"I thank you for giving out the information about what you have sighted so far. Unless my partner here is not having any further questions, I'd say that we'll be getting to it as fast as possible."

Airgetlam glances at Jian and looks back at the man, but this time she briefly looks him in the eye. She breaks away and nods.

"Alright, We'll keep an eye out. She shouldn't be too hard to find, and we'll be wary of this man. Do you recall what kind of gun it was?"

It was looking much more like she feared. There is almost no question that this man is lying through their teeth, and that he's looking for Clarent, and the man with the gun highly likely to be Sharpe.

The man thinks for a bit before replying "...I'm not sure... I don't think it was a magic thingie. I'm sure you'll find out. There will be a very rich reward for bringing my daughter back safely." he says before taking a brief look back down the street. "Alright well, uh, I have to prepare dinner for..." he pauses for a moment. "My brother is over, he's visiting from another town. Please bring back my daughter safely." He says and closes the door abruptly.

The whole situation is fishy, and obvious to boot. It's clear that the man has nothing good in mind, but knowing there is a bounty notice out surely complicates things.

Having gotten a decent grasp of the situation the two decide to head back to the house.