Supply and Demand

Part 1: The Bitter Brothel Business

Ondra’s Gift

The Salty Mast

Street thugs are harassing the prostitutes and clients at the Salty Mast. Maea, the proprietress, would like to put an end to it, but the agitators may have their own grievances. After (optionally) sampling the unique nightlife available in Ondra’s Gift’s more seedy part of town, a talk with the owner of the Salty Mast (1) reveals she’s been having problems with a group of Harassing Thugs annoying her clients and courtesans. Offer to help, and get to the bottom of who is organizing them.

New Quest: Supply and Demand

Objective: Find and confront the thugs

You won’t have to wander long to find these thugs; simply exit Salty Mast and head west and then north, toward the dockside square with the statue. The Harassing Thugs are beneath the statue (2) and approach you menacingly. Any conversation choice leads to a fracas. Once the thugs have fallen, be sure to loot all of the corpses, as one contains a helpful key: Rusty Bronze Key.

The key opens a house on the northeastern side of the main wharf. Dash past Pallegina and her own troubles, and reach this small cottage (3). You can:

• [Mechanics 9, Lockpicks 10 or Mechanics 10] Use your Mechanics and/or Lockpicks to open the door.
• [Rusty Bronze Key] Or open the locked door using the key you just appropriated.

Part 2: The Price of Bitter Squash

You stumble into a meeting where four Harassing Thugs and their leader Aefre are wearing defiant expressions and talking. She asks your business. Explain your mission from Maea, and Aefre explains the aumana is crooked, and drove up the prices so only the rich can afford her establishment. You can:

• [Attack] Side with Maea, ignoring Aefre’s points, and the conversation degenerates into combat. Afterward, you can report back to Maea that the threat is abated and begin Part 3.
• [Intellect 15 or Resolve 16] Persuade Aefre to stop her harassment, or take Aefre prisoner for harassing the citizens of Ondra’s Gift. Begin Part 3.

Agree that Aefre has some salient points, and agree to try and get Maea to lower her prices. The quest updates:

Quest Updated

Objective: Confront Maea at the brothel in Ondra’s Gift

The Salty Mast

Back at the Salty Mast (1), speak to Maea, who admits she has raised her prices, but this is due to the price of bitter squash, a commodity controlled by the powerful Doemenel family. Though you can threaten or persuade Maea to lower her prices, a more profitable plan is to agree to talk to the Doemenels about this price hike.

Brackenbury

House Doemenel

Visit Brackenbury, and head to the north-central manor house where the Doemenels reside (4). Tell the guard in the anteroom that you are here to speak with Bricanta Doemenel. Climb to the upper floor, following the grand corridor southeast and northeast to Bricanta’s chamber (5). The house matriarch is receptive to your questioning but isn’t going to reduce her prices until you’ve done her a favor.

With the task completed, request that the price of bitter squash be reduced, and she holds up her end of the bargain.

Quest Updated

Objective: Report to Maea at the brothel in Ondra’s Gift

Part 3: Conclusion: A Sour Taste at the Salty Mast?

You may now finally return to Maea inside the Salty Mast (1) and conclude this quest. Depending upon your actions, you have differing rewards to claim. You can:

• Slay Aefre, take Aefre prisoner, or persuade her to stop harassing folk, and report back to Maea that the thugs won’t harass her anymore.
  • Reward: 600 cp
  • Reactivity: An increase in nobles is seen inside the Salty Mast.
• Return to Maea and use threats or persuasion to lower her prices.
  • Reward: Nothing
  • Reactivity [Defiance Bay Reputation+]: An increase in commoner patrons is seen inside the Salty Mast. Aefre is also visible in this location, and the prices of the brothel are reduced.
• Return to Maea after completing the task for Bricanta Doemenel, and let her know the Doemenels will be lowering the price of bitter squash for her.
• Reward: 600 cp
• Reactivity [Defiance Bay Reputation+]: An increase in commoner patrons is seen inside the Salty Mast. Aefre is also visible in this location, and the prices of the brothel are reduced.