May 15th

The Troll raises an eyebrow. "So you just want to rob him of one particular artifact. Any idea what it is or looks like? And, if I may, how we'd fit into the picture? Cuz it sounds like you ain't exactly interested in payin'."

Rory brings a hand up to his temple. By the gods, just take your earnings from the vault and then blame us, I don't care. "Fine. If taking what he's got stashed away is too beneath you, then yes, we will pay you, on behalf of the Exchange. You'll like us, we remember our friends very well. And our allies. Right, Logan?"

Seemingly finding his words a bit awkwardly on the matter, speaking this underworld lingo is new to Rory, as the position he once held within the Exchange was a fully martial one.

Diplomacy +Higaide (spending my Non-Combat AP regardless. I want him to be into this.)
Appealing to an opportunity to open communications and a hopeful alliance with a fellow bloc.

Higaide shrugs - "Sure. Probably with the money we'll get from the vault, but sure."

The man's smile slowly fades and his demeanor of playfulness vanishes. "You're with the Exchange?"

"Is that a problem?" - he asks genuinely

There's a significant pause as the various individuals look at each other. "Not sure how the politics of working for the enemy work," 'Bob' admits with a bit of a puzzled tone.

The man wrinkles his nose a bit. "You have an odd concept of enemies, sir. Wasn't aware you had to be at each other's throats in the throes of violence to be enemies. But," he shrugs, "seeing as who your benefactors are I guess it's okay to work with even the Exchange." A beat. "Although, I wouldn't mind knowing what coup you're talking about."

I'll tell you after we sort this "friend or foe" business, "Bob".

"The Exchange is not openly hostile to every bloc it comes across, and I don't believe the Exchange has had dealings with any blocs in Naverre that I know of," Rory huffs. "So I don't see how we could be enemies unless you've already decided we should be."

"But one of the Exchange's goals is to fill in the economic sinkhole created after the Undermarket got crushed. I don't fully understand what that means, but I do know that it hurt everyone pretty damn bad. We should all want to get that back, shouldn't we? It worked, everyone benefited, and the nations had to tolerate it because it was vital. Or am I mistaken?"

"I don't know the details about the coup, or whatever it was. I was never much into politics. They had a Corvette, though."

"Bob" waves his hand dismissively. "If you're here to try and preach the joys of the Exchange," he gestures towards the door. "If you're here to discuss robbing a local, 'for their own good'," he can't help but snicker a bit, "then why don't we discuss the plan you no doubt have ready to sell us on?"

[Okay, that's embarrassing, and upsetting.]

You're the ones who let something dangerous slip into the hands of some rich fool under your watch. 'For their own good' is what it's come to thanks to you.

No, do NOT say that. "We need to hire an expert infiltrator and someone who can disable traps and magic alarms. This was just making contact, seeing if you'd be up for it. We'll discuss the plan when we're sure that we've decided we can trust you. Sound good?"

Deception
Rory has no information on the layout and hasn't cased the building, so there's no way that they're ready. He was hoping that the Naverre Raiders might have looked into it themselves.

"Sadly, believe it or not, we haven't looked into robbing the most secure vault in the area." 'Bob' still seems slightly amused, but you hear the professional tone creep in. "Getting some kind of layout and idea of security, traps, and postings is something that's well within our boundaries though. As for hiring a sneak?" He considers a moment. "I know a couple people who might be down. Both of these wouldn't be free, of course."

Higaide pipes up - "I can sneak."

[Whoever we bring along to disarm traps or fool alarms and such needs to be as good as we are at sneaking, if not better.]

At least he hasn't told us to screw off. Pity for the amateur race now joining their nations?

"We'll pay for whatever you can find out, and for some hired help. They need to be a good sneak, but being able to get past locks and lookouts with us and stop traps and alarms from triggering would be the clincher."

'Bob' waves a dismissive hand. "Traps aren't an issue. Magic traps are... a lot more of an issue, but doable at least. Why don't you come back in, say, two days and I'll see what info I have for you?"

Deception
Is the guy being straight about this?

The guy is clearly being deceptive, but you're not sure about what exactly.

Diplomacy

Higaide sighs - "In two days you'll have heard of the place either having been successfully robbed, or security having been heightened due to our failed attempt, and there goes your score."

He lets that sink in.

"Despite my friend's door kicking habits over here - which he'll pick up the tab for, we are being forthcoming with you. You're not reciprocating. Now, we can do this dance of trying to outplay each other and see where the chips fall, or we can try some damn cooperation, and maybe all get something out of it. Your call."

'Bob' slowly raises an eyebrow. "We don't have any information to give you," he says rather flatly. "We aren't in the habit of robbing our own territories. And I'm not entirely certain you're on the level either; I have only your word that this so-called artifact is dangerous. What would you be doing with it after you procured it, then?"

"Take it back to the people who hired us. They'll dispose of it. And no, they'll have no interest in using it themselves, nor could they." - he explains - "The artifact is dangerous, because it was made by the most dangerous man you'll ever know. The same person who tried to detonate the Ley Lines a while back. I'm not sure what' it's for, and it'll have no value to you, aside from attracting the kind of attention i'm sure you have no interest in."

In short, you can tell they don't believe your story at all. But, shrugging, they agree to what they already agreed to with an air of 'sure, don't tell us'.