Swamped

"I need information. On who the players are, at the very least. It would be also good if you knew anyone who could muster a defense against the gas, or convince the city council to do it." You pause. "For that matter, the city council would be responsible for overseeing the festival. Which seems like the sort of event that someone trying to harm Nual might sabotage. So if you have any angle on how we might be able to talk with them..."

Flame frowns.

"The council wants nothing to do with the Guild. Rejected every offer we ever gave them. They don't trust us at all. But I did have someone looking into whether they really didn't want anything to do with our type of business at all, or if it was simply a matter of a rival getting to them first. Someone really good at digging up information. I heard they'd just gotten back into town, and would probably be looking to contact me tomorrow."

"Where would they be tonight?"

"Probably drinking. Or watching a show if there's one on. They tend to follow the crowds, good for eavesdropping."

It seems you may be heading back to Patterson's after all.

"I'll need a name and description, then."

"Ha!" Flame laughs. "Good luck. They're always going by different names and dressing differently. Helps with not drawing too much attention if they go to the same place."

"Then how am I supposed to identify them? You must have some kind of system if you've contacted them before."

"Good guess." He glances around. "But it would be trouble to share this if someone's listening in, so I'll have to be a bit vague. Give me a moment, and I'll tell you what I can safely."