Searok is afraid to look at the lady. Is she nekkid? He whispers.
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Searok is glad the women are dressed and pushes Shaeda into the room.
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Waiting a breath and then quickly realizing she is apparently supposed to talk. Cause getting stabbed wasn't enough. Taking a calming breath, "Madam Helvara? Hello I am Emma Holt and theses are some companions of mind and we were wanting a chance to talk with you about I little problem we are in."
Stepping further into the room, assuming there is no objection, "See I am looking to have a conversation with someone and your name was the one I kept hearing about when someone needed any help around here."
Keeping her hands at her side and eyes on Helvara, "We need to have a conversation with Darvargo Barvasi and I am really hoping you would be willing to help us facilitate that conversation."
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Helvara isn't used to being addressed so politely, seeing as most of the women she converses with on a daily basis tend to be rather...worldly in their outlook, and who pick up a lot of slang from sailors. She gives Emma a sweet smile.
"I'm certain that can be arranged. Does that deadbeat owe you money too? I swear, if anyone owes him a copper he'll be their shadow until he has it, but when he owes you something he'll vanish from the mortal realm entirely."
"Hmmm, perhaps I should have brought a dwarf with a warhammer to our last negotiation. I brought a ledger, and he suddenly turned illiterate."
Glancing back at Searok and then back at Helvara with a grin, "Well I'm hoping it works for me. I can let you know, if you want."
"I really do appreciate you helping like this." Rubbing her shoulder and wincing at little, "This boat is way better than the one with the gambling. Is there any chance that we could meet with him soon? That way I am not eating up anymore of your of time than necessary."
Helvara taps the tiny woman on the shoulder.
"Prizelle, take these folks over to the Spider's Web. You know the password. Rotten chiseler could do with a good scare."
Prizelle makes a note on her book so she doesn't lose her place, and then takes to the air, gesturing for you to follow. She says something, but only Emma recognizes the language ("Please follow" in Sylvan).
Smiling at Helvara, "Thank you so very much."
Nodding at Prizelle and saying, "Thank you."
"Well done Emma!" Shaeda looks at the others, "Shall we go boys?"
Makall nods and follows curious where this will lead them.
'The Spider's Web? Well then that is not worrisome at all is it?'
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Searok is glad Emma can converse with the woman fully-clothed. He had seen more of Shaeda then he should have and didn't want to see all of Emma as well! He is not even listening until the woman mentions bringing 'a dwarf with a warhammer'. Err...Ahh...I like to punch people in the nose. He stammers. Dang Shaeda! Now he's off his game! He thinks as he follow Emma out.
Prizelle flies above the crowd so she remains visible to you as you follow. Returning to the central ship, she heads back to the aft end and stops in front of two guards blocking the door. The "password" turns out to be more of a tune, which the winged woman hums. The guards nod, and step aside, letting you within the room.
This large room, once a captain’s cabin, has been converted into a throne room of sorts. The walls are thick with spider webs, 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. Aft, a wooden stage supports a large leather chair covered with 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.
Six rough looking men sit around the tables, drinking and joking. Within the cage is a depressed looking House Drake. And on the throne is Devargo Barvasi, the self-styled King of Spiders. He is a tall, muscular man, with shaggy black hair and a fierce glare. Devargo has clearly gone to some effort to display his title proudly; He accents his black leather armor with a steel spider-shaped shoulder baldric and a thick chain crisscrossing his chest, linked together in the shape of a spider. You even see some spiders crawl across his skin, though he takes no notice of them.
Prizelle flies up to him, curtsies, and then indicates the four of you with a sweep of her arm. She then flies back to the door to leave you. The men around the tables make a few rude remarks and look up her dress as she flies past.
"Ignore the bug, boys, she's staff.", says Devargo. "You don't want to mess with fairies; all sweetness and gumdrops one minute, claw your eyes out and steal your teeth the next. And Helvara trusts her with the accounts, ha! No wonder that woman's always pressing me for gold, it probably turns to leaves as soon as she turns her back. Those of you lucky enough to be hired on will soon learn that the associates aren't much better than the customers. "
"Now, what has our illustrious madam sent us? More recruits, or entertainment?"
Searok is glad to let Emma do her talkie thing. He keeps an eye on the four thugs. These are people I understand! Not some nekkid women! he thinks to himself. He gives the four thugs a nod. Not friendly-like and not hostile either. More as an acknowledgment of kindred souls. Souls you can drink a tankard of ale with or punch in the nose depending how circumstances play out.
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Looking around and taking in the space before letting her gaze settle on Devargo. Smiling at him, "Neither actually we are here for business. Would it be possible for us to speak with a few less ears around?"
Devargo gives her a wink. "While I'd be only too happy to spend some alone time with you personally, the four of you come in here armed and ask me to dismiss my bodyguards? Surely you can see how a man could get suspicious when given a proposal like that? We can discuss business with these fine gentlemen present, they're all keen-minded businessmen, isn't that right boys?"
There's a chorus of guffaws and agreements among the gathered thugs.
"Heh, yeah that's right. Taxes and such! Love 'em!"
"And filing cabinets and briefcases! Can't get enough!"
"Yep, and board meetings!"
"Diversified investment portfolios with a high annual yield!"
"Heh, yeah!...What?"
Grinning at his answer and chuckling into the back of her hand at the chorus of the thugs, "I meant no offence but I was not sure if these men" Waving her hand to gesture around to the thugs, "were who you would do business around. I did not mean any offence."
Letting one of her hands fall to the pouch at her hip, "I need information about Amprei. The kind of information that would drive him out of my city for good. We are having enough trouble right now and a man like that will only bring the vultures of war. I love this city and I want to see it heal not fall to Cheliax. And I was told you were the man to come to when I want something like this done."
The mention of the name causes an immediate change in Devargo's demeanor. Suddenly he is as solemn as any card player trying to guess his opponent's hand without betraying his own.
"Information, then. And an appeal to my altruism, well well. Hoping I'll give you what you want for the good of the city. I'm afraid, my friends, you've let your hand slip..."
A dangerously tense pause follows. Sensing the change in mood, the men around the table shift their weight, ready to spring to their feet at an second's notice.
"You are definitely not city guards." Devargo relaxes and leans back in his chair, idly watching a spider walk across his knuckles. "They'd never send someone in here having done that little research. Not unless they want to be rid of you and are trying to save on severance pay. I got no altruism. Hang the city, and hang this thrice damned snot who calls herself our queen."
"Don't know who actually sent you. Nidal, maybe? Andoran? Dear gods you'd better not be frikking Pathfinders. But you want some pull in Cheliax and I can respect that, and I couldn't care less about the politics. Or maybe Amprei himself, trying to cut a deal through middlemen. Wants a one-time payment instead of being slowly bled. Doubt he's smart enough to run the numbers himself, but he can afford someone to do it for him."
"Yeah, I got some goods on our Chelish dandy of an ambassador. But as you can imagine, ours has been a lucrative arrangement. What can you offer that's better?"
Whenever it seems appropriate, Shaeda will have hit Emma with enhanced diplomacy to give her a +2 on a social check.
Holding her hands up with her palms out at head level and her smmile fades becoming as serious as Devargo, "You misunderstand me sir. I came for a business translation."
Letting her hands fall to her side again, "I have coin in exchange for information. I am not a fool and I do not assume that you are going to just hand me what I want for a city that has not done much for you personally."
Her friendly smile comes back to life, "So long as you have information that I can remove him with, for my altruistic reasons, then I am happy to pay for that information."
Smiling up at Devargo, "Well I want him gone so would 500" "work for you?
Devargo steeples his fingers and sucks air through his teeth. "It's not a low enough offer to be insulting, if that's what you mean. I'm sure Amprei will eventually find a way to cover his tracks and render the information I have useless, but that will take time, and I'm sure I can get more than 500 out of him before that happens. But cashing out before that is certainly appealing. Tell you what: 1500."
Searok let's Emma do the negotiating and apparently just keeps his eyes on the thugs.
Sighing before offering an answer, "One thousand. I not assume you have that many people willing to go after him and I am."
Devargo puts his fingers to his lips in contemplation for a moment, before breaking into a smile. "A thousand will suffice. It's more than he's worth to anyone."
"Now that we've agreed on a price, I can tell you what you've just bought. Darvayne Gios Amprei is not just a snob and a bad dresser, he's a philanderer as well. Nothing wrong with that if you ask me, but he chose his conquests poorly. He's having an affair with the wife of an important Chelish noble, one who outranks him considerably."
"Aware that the walls have ears at any good embassy, he brought his ladyfriend here for a tryst, paying me an awful lot of money for a private room at the House of Clouds one evening, no doubt assuming that anyone who recognized him there would assume the woman was just another strumpet. Not a bad plan really, he could weather rumors of visiting ladies of the evening easily enough, plenty of important people do. Hide a large scandal behind a small one."
"What he didn't count on was me figuring out the woman must be someone important for him to go through so much trouble. While they conducted their extramarital shenanigans, I had one of my associates swipe his keys and then ransack his rooms. Several love letters were found amid his possessions, which are quite racy, and make no secret of his lover's identity. Should her husband become aware, Amprei will lose at minimum his career, and quite possibly his life; as you can imagine, politics in any country that models itself after Hell are literally cutthroat. He's been paying me for months to keep these letters secret, and now he'll be paying you."
"Come along, I keep them below deck, we can fetch them now. Assuming you have the money, of course."
S%&*! S~!$! S~!#! Please Desna don't let me lead everyone to there deaths. Crap.. Did anyone else see that? What in the Abyss was it? Smiling at Devargo, "That would be rather silly of me wouldn't it? Yes, I have the money. I would not waste your time like that. Please lead the way."
"Wonderful. Follow me please."
Devargo leads you through a door on the port side of the room, and downstairs into the lower decks of the Eel's End. You pass a hatch leading down to the bilges, and enter a room with a long table, evidently some sort of meeting chamber.
"I keep the letters in my quarters, through there." He gestures to a door to the north. "I'll fetch them, you get out the cash. Naturally I'll expect you to depart shortly, can't have you walking around with the letters in your pocket."
He goes through the north door.
Nodding, "Of course"
Nodding to the table of thugs, Searok follows the others out of the room keeping an eye open for any dangers.
Once he is gone, Shaeda tells the others, "something is up, any thoughts? I suspect an ambush, what do you think?"
If the others agree that an ambush is incoming, she will cast shield of faith on herself.
Not speaking but nodding at Sheada.
Makall remains in the back following the others lead. 'Well this appears to be moving along quite nicely. It would seem that gold makes new allies everywhere.'
Very well, shield of faith it is.
Searok thinks he hears a muffled conversation being whispered on the other side of the door. One voice is Devargo's. The other is raspy and doesn't sound quite human.
A minute later the door swings open...and it's just Devargo standing there, with a cheerful smile and a bundle of letters. No one else is visible in the room, nor is there any sign of another door.
"Found them. 'Verania Tvastiox', my but the Chellish like their fancy names. I think I caught that once, down south. Has quite a way with words, this young lady. 'Thou art the highwayman of my passion, stationed upon the road of destiny to waylay me on my journey from birth to death, and order me to Stand and Deliver my willing' - ye gods. Maybe Amprei did the world a service getting this tripe out of Cheliax, if the devils got their hands on it Hell would have a new way to torture souls. Anyway, you can read to your heart's content. Pay up."
”How can we be sure the thing isn’t ensorcelled, and won’t disappear once we leave? Mind if I check it out?”
She casts detect magic and takes a look at the papers, she also scans the room, wondering if there is anyone hiding in there.
Searok peers in the room puzzled. I could swear on Torag's beard I heard ye speakin' ta someone. We want ta be discreet after all, an if someone else be knowin' 'bout this, we want ta meet 'em. Searok then quickly adds, Not that we don't trust ye and all, we jest want ta know all who's involved.
Smiling sweetly at Devargo while shrugging, "These are very valid requests. I would hate to pay for this only for him to come right after us."
Devargo holds his hands palms up in a sign of defeat. "Alright, alright, you got me. I assure you, you were in no danger, at least not physically."
He kneels down and places his hand on the floor. A moment later, a spider crawls out from Makall's cloak and climbs onto it.
"I was just making arrangements with...an associate to have you tailed. I'm curious as to who you are working for. No shame in admitting that; you already know I'm an extortionist, and I assume you are in a similar line of work yourselves, so cards on the table. Can hardly blame me in finding out who'd be willing to drop a grand on a loser like Amprei, especially since you wouldn't have done so unless you had some idea of his activities in the first place."
Ye mean yer were gonna have a bug follow us? Searok asks finally getting the picture. An' tha bug talks to ye? Searok asks incredulously. This is the strangest place I've ever been! Women cavort nekkid and people talk ta bugs! He thinks.
"I am the King of Spiders, am I not? I have an affinity for the creatures. They are the perfect spy; tiny, silent, able to climb walls and ceilings, excellent vision."
"You might wonder why I admit this so freely. By all means, tell people. Most won't believe it, but those who do will respect me and fear me. There are so many rumors about me, I honestly can't remember which ones I've started myself and which just happened. Sometimes I'm a half-fiend, or a retired pirate captain, or an exiled noble from Galt, or a dragon taking human guise."
As he speaks Devargo sets the letters down on the table, and steps out of the room. He stops at a hatch in the floor.
"And that's why men three times my size want to work for me, and why the city guard won't send their agents within five blocks of my dock. So many rumors, no one wants to act against me until they think they know the truth. You understand, you're in the business. We'd all be on stage if it paid as well; the innocent waif, the belligerent dwarf, the sly seductress, dark mysterious fellow with a neatly trimmed goatee. All useful roles. Keep people guessing at the real you and they'll be nervous. Keep them nervous and they'll show respect. Keep them respectful, and you won't have to resort to violence very often. Mind you-"
He lifts the door to the hatch, revealing that it leads down to the ship's bilges. It's full of spider webs and bones. Lots of different bones. Some of them - well, hopefully they were gnomes or halflings.
"-some people just have no respect." He lets the door drop. "Glad we could have this little talk. Enjoy your soppy love letters."
"Your message is well received, King of Spiders." he can't help but gently dust off his clothes as he says this and then waits for Emma to make the exchange.
Searok totally does not hear Devargo speech and is instead pondering the spiders. But they talk to ye? He asks still not sure how good of a conversationalist a spider can be.
”Shall we go? And be sure and ensure we are not followed!”
Tilting her head and watching the spider. Gods that would be so useful. Honest name he has.. And a wide grin forms at being called a innocent waif. Separating for the others and trailing behind Devargo to stare down at the webs and spiders and mumbling, "You could make a chandelier or a throne with all that."
Looking back at the King of Spiders, almost straight up with as close as she let herself get, with a small smile and holding up the bag of coins, "Thank you for being honest about the spy and yourself. And I am sure the letters are bland by my standards but nobles can surprise. Though my entertainment in the letters was not my goal."
Stepping back and offering him a quick bow. Lifting her head and showing him a toothy smile, "It was a pleasure doing business with you. Have a lovely day."
Walking back to her companions, snatching up the letters as she moves, "Well we should get going. I need a new shirt after all."
Devargo accepts the money with a smile.
Leaving Eel's End is easy enough. Perhaps Devargo put out the word that he didn't want you hanging around after your meeting, as the bouncers actually part the crowd to get you out of there faster.
As you leave however, you can't help but overhear some chatter. Someone says "-found the real murderer, only a matter of time", but can pick up no more.
Heading back to Zellara's house, you can't help but feel the tension on the streets, as a new rumor crackles like electricity between people. You witness a couple of heated arguments between people who insist that the culprit who killed the king has been found, and others who insist that the queen was responsible.
Searok shrugs, Whatta ya think they gonna do to 'em? Beheading or dwarn an' quarter'd? He asks to no one in particular.
Arriving back at Zellara's house, you see a street urchin leaning conspicuously against the doorframe. He doesn't appear to notice your approach, but as you draw near he suddenly remembers somewhere he needs to be, and darts past, bumping into Makall as he does so.
Makall now has an envelope in his hand that wasn't there a moment ago.
Makall looks down with surprise going for his coin pouch when he notices a letter now in his hand.
Seeing as the urchin could have done more Makall waits to enter the house and then closes the door before unfolding the letter and reading the contents.