Yes, take your time. It is only your friends' lives at stake.

Hmm. I suppose if you really are the only buyer, then I am at your mercy. Then here you are: two keys. The Orc already had the bracer on him when he arrived.

Hmm. I suppose if you really are the only buyer, then I am at your mercy. I'd agree to your bargain if you had that gold on you.

If they're so useless, don't buy. Otherwise, buy at 5000.

I don't care. And I don't like your tone.

As always, it is a joy to feel your gold in my palms. Here: two keys. The Orc already had the bracer on him when he arrived.

3000, because I like you, your story is touching, and I don't want to have to wipe your brains off my hammer.

No.

As always, it is a joy to feel your gold in my palms. Here: two keys. The Orc already had the bracer on him when he arrived.

You should have gotten my letter. Here I have two fine agents of your very fine merchant company, and I request only 5000 drakes for their safe passage back into your hands. They specifically requested you, you know.

Think nothing of it. It was just a job.

Read this. It came in the mail for you. Your boss, the elf, was very worried about it, and I'm a very capable scout, so he asked me to find this place in advance and keep you safe. Feel flattered. Now, I won't insult your abilities: if you think you can handle this thing yourself, that's fine by me. But if you want, we can travel together into this cave and show these bandits what's what.

Your boss, the elf, was very worried about your situation, and I'm a very capable scout, so he asked me to find this place in advance and keep you safe. Feel flattered. Now, I won't insult your abilities: if you think you can handle this thing yourself, that's fine by me. But if you want, we can travel together into this cave and show these bandits what's what.

All our merchants are in the building right now, so your friend is either bluffing or sorely mistaken. This is a highly unpredictable situation. Be careful.

I hope Eorric was of service.

Such a tragedy what happened there.

I'll pray to Stuhn on your behalf. That's about as much as I can help you.

I'm excited for you, %PCName. Heading into parts unknown, negotiating with bandits! That's the stuff of bardsong.

Hmm. You don't suppose those merchants are really Marki clients, do you?

Sorry, %PCName, but my hands are tied. We're on orders to stay here and guard the place. You're like us, though: you have that adventurer blood. You'll be fine.

Sorry, %PCName, but I can't help you. We're on orders from the Emperor himself to stay here and guard the place. Even if we weren't, he wouldn't want us poking around in Indoril territory.

So neither of these hostages was actually an employee of the East Empire Company? What a mess. Let us just say those 2000 drakes were your fee for resolving the situation, and further, note I trust you HAVE resolved the situation. With this Aetia business, I don't have the time to ensure you've crossed the t's and dotted the i's.

We are counting on you to sort this situation out, %PCName.

%PCName, I am an incredibly busy woman, so I will keep this brief and my involvement minimal. Some anonymous outlaw has kidnapped two of our merchants and requested that you, personally, deliver him the five-thousand-drake ransom he wants. I am to understand you can be trusted with the gold, %PCName, but unfortunately, in the wake of this Nemesia debacle, the Company has none to spare. I can only offer you 2000 drakes out of my own pocket. Best of luck, and may Zenithar be with you.

So neither of these hostages was actually an employee of the East Empire Company? Well, I already wrote off all that gold as a Company expense. Just make sure this thing doesn't come back to haunt us.

Go over wherever this is, find out what's going on, and sort things out.

See this strange little note that's just slid across my desk. Go ahead, keep it. Someone wants 5000 drakes for two of our merchants, and he wants YOU to deliver it. Now, I'm told you can be trusted not to just run off with the gold, but we can't spare that much, so take 2000 and figure it out.

That sounds really tough. I'm sorry I can't help you, %PCName.