Once it became apparent that these five were going to - for the most part at least - keep their own council, one of the<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">female servants</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/98/79/56/987956ad20d80c7734fdee9ea4b9c142.jpg)</div></div>produced an oud, another - her twin brother from the look of him - produced a set of zills, and together the two of them began filling the empty air with pleasant, gentle music that actually seemed to use the river lapping at the barque's hull as rhythm. For at least a little while, there was an air of rest inside the cabin, as the windows began to show the setting sun on the river...<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Perception DC 15</div><div class="spoiler_body"> ...There were only small port windows on the outside, not these full-length windows you see now. And that fig you just ate... it tasted sort of like an apple... and you're pretty sure the two musicians ARE identical, uncannily so, their genders notwithstanding...</div></div><br/><br/>After a while of this, though, a woman simply steps out of the walls. She's very small;<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">clearly a halfling or a gnome</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/aa/2e/09/aa2e09c1dc99202c97abee1c587f48aa.jpg)</div></div>, though you can't readily tell which. More striking is that she seems to be an albino; not the dull greys of a bleachling gnome, but pale white skin, snowy hair, and pink-hued eyes. Her garb is richly appointed, with rich crimsons, thick down-feather trims, and small flowers of pearls and amethysts adorning here and there.<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Knowledge (local) DC 12</div><div class="spoiler_body">She dresses like lesser Chelish nobility; far from the ostentation of the higher ranks, but still surprising to see on the River Sphinx</div></div><strong>"One, two, three..."</strong>she counts each of you in turn, points to two empty spaces and frowns, shrugging.<strong>"Oh well, it'll do. Thank you for coming.  I apologize for my tardiness, there were some arrangements to be made, interests to be seen to! What can I do for - <em>ah!</em> the Pharasmin's lottery, yes, yes."</strong><br/><br/>The small woman stepped over, and kissed both the musicians on the cheek, before waving for the five of you to join her at a low table nearby.<strong>"Mahoud, Iseema, would you please...?"</strong>Her voice made it clear that the "please" was entirely for appearances, as two of the servants hurried to clear the trays of snacks from the table, leaving the honeyed water. The small woman had a crystal glass of that poured for herself.<strong>"As I'm sure you can tell, I am Canica Russala. Since I have sadly made us all late, I'll cut to the chase."</strong>Here she produces a number of scrolls as a servant - Iseema - hurries over with an inkpot and peacock-feather quill.<br/><br/><strong>"Like you, I have an interest in the contents of the necropolis of Wati. <em>Unlike</em> you, I have enough sense to not go in there myself, and enough gold to persuade others to do so for me."</strong>She offered a smile with her pale lips.<strong>"Also there's... well. I've met High priestess Sebti, and let's say we're unlikely to tangle legs together anytime soon."</strong>She smirked.<strong>"Here's the deal; I will pay your entry into the dead city. In exchange, I demand first option on whatever you drag out of there; I will pay you fairly for that which interests me; Absalom prices, not Wati. There is also an item of particular interest to me that I need retrieved; I'm not at liberty to tell you the specifics <em>just</em> yet," she said with a glance at the scrolls set before each of them, "But I assure you it should be noting too dire to an entourage of"</strong>she glanced at Zamora with more than a little lascivious curiosity in her pink eyes,<strong>"lovely, tough adventure-seekers."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"If the offer interests you, please, feel free to read and sign. If not, well, then you spent an afternoon with beautiful men and women, listening to music and eating pistachios."</strong>She chuckles and folds her hands together.