The Maztica Campaign Interlude - That Stinking Sewer...

In which the Player Characters Negotiate for More Money...
 
(What Has Gone Before...)

The Adventuring Party, having disengaged from their bloody investigation of the storm sewers beneath the Gem District of Athkatlos, received rest, healing and recuperation at the Temple of Tymora, Goddess of Luck and Fortune. In addition, they have formed a short-term partnership with a cleric of Helm Hammerhand, the Lawful Good/Lawful Neutral protector deity of Faerûn, who apparently had something of a Divine Fling with Tymora - so, at least someone got lucky.

After consulting with their patron, Voil Guldi - Dwarven Gem Master, they sought to negotiate a 50% increase on their retainer...

Heer Güldi

"What?!" thundered Guldi. "Has the sewer beneath these streets, since first I hired you, grown by half again?" 

"No" said Esparelda the Cranky Gnome. "But your problem has. There's definitely a blockage, and now we know it's caused by kobolds."

"A lot of kobolds..." added João Afonso, the Ranger. "Nasty ones..."

"Very nasty kobolds, indeed..." said Esparelda. "Organised, too."

"If you leave it, this sort of trouble only gets worse...." said João Afonso.

"They're probably sneaking up to the streets at night...stealing..." said Esparelda, ''...valuables."

"...and spreading disease..." said João Afonso. To Esparelda: "Say, do you think kobolds can spread Typhoid?"

"Wouldn't be surprised..." said Esparelda. "Last night, my arm was itching like an iron golem on a rust-monster, before the priestess cured me..."

"All right, All Right, ALL RIGHT!" stormed Guldi. "I know when I'm being wrung through the wine-press." He sighed.  "But you're probably right - the ink on this deal's getting redder as we speak." 

Seeing the puzzled looks on Esparelda and João Afonso, Guldi explained, in a tone generally reserved for thicker-than-usual, "just looking" tourists,  "This is becoming less of an inconvenience and more of a problem." he said.

The dwarf crossed to his ledger, and made a notation with a nearby quill, then drew a handful of gold coins out of a lockbox. One after another, on a chequered board, he counted the coins into two neat stacks of ten, and a half stack of five, each on its own red square.

"Let it not be said that we do things in a miserly way in Athkatlos..." said Guldi, grandly. "Here is your additional advance, 25 danthers, with a balance of 50 danth...IF...you clear the blockage and get rid of those wretched kobolds." He presented a receipt,  "Sign here, please."

The Ranger and Gnome exchanged satisfied looks, collected the coins, thanked their patron, and headed over to the Five Flagons Tavern, where they arranged to meet their new partner - the cleric Osondria - and see about hiring on some men-at-arms.

To be continued...