As they head on their way, Rutter fills in Felgar and Pravlox. "We're trying to find a fellow named Darvayne Gios Amprei. Word is, he has vices that may be leverage to blackmail him. Tonight, I just wanted to scout the area and see if we could spot him and find out his vice before we figure out what's next. I didn't want to deal with Eel's End management if we didn't have to. And I at least wanted to know what we were asking for if we did." Rutter then shares the description of Amprei to the newcomers.
Felgar chuckles, then whilst rubbing his beard in a pose of deep thought, addresses Rutter.
Very good then. I be not well-known for me stealth. Let me know where ya be needin' me.
"Sounds like a wise enough plan. Rex might be able to help with the recon, I tend to not be very good at it myself." Pravlox offers his two cents from the back of his companion.
A sprawl of light and sound marks the last pier of Old Korvosa. Glowing lanterns in the shape of dream spiders and god's eyes hang from pilings or lampposts, flickering through all hours of the night.
The pier itself is about sixty to eighty feet long, although the last half widens into a large square platform on the water. It is at this spot where five ships are moored to the pier, the largest a warship, most likely the Eel's End itself.
The sound of carousing booms from the elegantly painted ships moored to this long pier. Ironically, it appears that in these times of trouble and violence within the city, that Eel's End is actually one of the safer locations in Korvosa. It looks as if the riots haven't even touched the place, as if in times of hardship the people need what the place has to offer more than ever.
As you near, Cressida's orders play out in your memories, making sure you stay focused on the mission. "I’d like you to pay a visit to Eel’s End and secure an audience with Devargo. Find out what he knows about Amprei, get proof of any illicit goings-on the ambassador might be involved with, and bring that proof to me to use to undermine any forthcoming attempts by him to get Cheliax to cut us off. Devargo might not be willing to part with his information easily. I’ll supply you with some gold to bribe him, and whatever’s left over you can keep for yourself."
The coin she supplied was a healthy sum, even now the weight of the thousand gold she gave toward the task, split between you to ease the load, pulls down at you.
Still have the dagger; put it in my profile to match my character sheet.
Sorry, I calculated, I am at a light load (82.14 lbs) for strength of 18 (100 lbs.).
"If we have to talk to Devargo, I think Neva should be the one to take the lead while the rest of us play the part of her guards. Devargo might look at us rougher folk as potential rivals, but might be more forthcoming with a matron who clearly isn't a threat to his enterprise.
But I still want to find out what Amprei is into before we ask for Devargo's help."
Neva, happy to be yer escort!
Felgar looks carefully around the interior for threats and a means to an audience with Devargo.
Perception:
Copper looks about for their target.
Having dismissed Rex so as not to draw unnecessary attention to the party, Pravlox looks around and tries to blend in to the crowd.
Large signs painted in several languages hang from ropes slung between ships or are nailed to pilings.
The closest ship to the east bears a sign that says, "The Twin Tigers - Take the Tiger by the Tail and Try Your Luck!"
Opposite that, to the west, a barge's sign says, "Welcome to the Goldenhawk - No Safer Stay in Old Korvosa!"
Further to the southeast is "Dragon's Breath Corridor - Dream the Dragon's Dreams at Affordable Prices!"
While opposite that is the "House of Clouds - The Caress of Our Lovelies Will Take You Straight to Heaven!"
Only the largest ship, to the south, bears no signage at all. Short rope bridges or gangplanks provide access to the decks of these ships from the pier, or from the decks of other ships. Sailors, thugs, drunkards, prostitutes, and what could even be a few well-dressed nobles carouse on the pier and the decks of all five ships, seemingly oblivious to Korvosa's recent troubles. Here and there, large men dressed in chainmail patrol the area, grim faces in a sea of revelry.
Depite the mix of appearances amongst the group, few of you are given much beyond an initial once over. Felgar, though, gets some suspicious glances.
Felgar notices the stairs and simply returns them with a stern look.
The people act as if they have never laid eyes on a Dwarf! Just stay with Lady Death...
Shall we, Neva?
Neva tried to remember how the high priestess in Magnimar liked to carry herself, but gave up the idea as too grandiose. She simply straightened up, stuck out her chin a bit began looking down her nose.
"Yes, Felgar. Do lead the way. Try not to let anyone become overly tiresome."
I hope this works...
Before separating, Copper hands his crossbow to Rutter and Pravlox, "Watch this for me, please?"
As the trio walks down the pier towards the first boat, Copper adopts a sort of blank and awe-struck look to his face, and lets his arms hang limp, hands empty, at his sides.
Patrolling the ships, and looking from the docks, bears no sign of the Ambassador amongst any of the revelers. Some accesses were not available with a stroll, namely belowdecks on the Eel's End itself, the 'guest' rooms on the House of Clouds, and a fee is required to enter the smoke filled decks of the Dragon's Breath.
Felgar whispers to Neva and Copper.
Well, should we be seekin' that audience with Devargo now?
Copper responds, still acting the part of Neva's addlebrained lover or son, whichever she would choose to portray him as. "Yes. Oh yes. I think so, yes." he says with an overly excited look on his face.
Pravlox stays at the rear of the group, pretending to be a servant of some kind.
The largest of the five ships tied off to the pier is a warship bearing the name Eel's End, its figurehead a coiling eel with a woman's head. Several drunkards, sailors, and revelers dance and drink on the large open main deck here, while the aft deck is relatively clear. A pair of large double doors bearing a complex painting of a spider allows entrance into the stern section of the main deck. There are two human enforcers standing before the doors, they keep turning people away from the doors.
Felgar again motions Neva down to his and Copper's level so that he can whisper.
Looks like we be needin' to get into the stern beyond yonder guards, no?
Neva nodded in agreement to Felgar and sighed deeply. "Yes, the stern it is." She summoned up the courage she used when faced with an expectant father who thought he knew better. More loudly and with a hint of feigned impatience she added:
"Come, this way."
As you near the stern of the deck, the two guards at the door show signs of tensing in preparation. They stop you at a few feet from the door, and one of them speaks "No one goes in without permission, the King of Spiders has no interest in visitors." he rumbles in a deep voice, his body tensing again.
Neva looks the two burly men up and down with a smile. Copper frowns a little at her lingering look, but says nothing.
Neva responds, "Well then, my lad, I think it would be best if you get me permission to speak to Him. I wouldnt want you fine gentlemen to get into any trouble for me just barging in.", as she reaches up to wipe away a few specks of dust off the collar of the man on the right.
The men seem uncertain, the one on the right looks to the other questioningly, to which he responds with a contented shrug. The first one replies, "Well, Ma'am, I'll announce you just as soon as I can tell him who comes a callin." He puts his hand on the doorknob, ready to turn it once he has something to tell Devargo.
"Tell Him 'The Midwife'" She paused for a moment, gave an uninterested glance at the others and added "And friends."
The guard nods as he opens the door and leans in, his announcement easily overheard, "Devargo, there is a minor noblewoman and her hangers-on out here that wishes to speak with you. She calls herself The Midwife?"
The voice from inside calls out, "Very well, you saw fit to bother me with this, why not continue on with it. Send her in."
The guard holds the door open to let you pass inside, waiting for your entourage to all go in before closing the door behind you. This large room, once a captian's cabin, has been converted into a throne room of sorts. The walls are thick with spiderwebs, in which scuttle dozens of spiders - some as large as a fist but most considerably smaller. These spiders seem content to stay in their webs and do not venture into the room itself, which is furnished with two sturdy oaken tables surrounded by chairs occupied by six rough looking men enjoying a meal and conversation amongst themselves. Aft, a wooden stage supports a large leather chair, itself covered in cobwebs and scampering spiders. A narrow door stands to port, hanging ajar and revealing a flight of stairs leading below. An iron birdcage hangs from the ceiling like a chandelier, inside of which lingers a tiny , tired-looking purple dragon.
As you enter the man on the throne addresses you, "Well, you have an audience with me, what do you want, you sure you aren't looking to talk to Madam Halvara over at the House of Clouds?" he finishes curtly.
Felgar stands at the ready just behind and to the left of Neva.
Pravlox will follow inside, looking as servantish as possible.