The thug aims a blow at Naali as she pulls her bomb, but the blow is slow and clumsy. Naali notes these men are untrained and unused to fighting actual warriors.
Naali's bomb lands squarely on the leader's chest, engulfing him in bright blue flames. They leave searing burns on his arms, chest and face, as he screams in pain.
The unburned thug takes another swing at Naali.
and misses again, obviously disturbed by the flames.
The burning man runs out the door, howling pain. His other thugs follow him, Anna having easily dealt with her own thug.
The man on the table is white-faced but says, shakily, "Thank...thank you. It might not have went well if they had found me like this." he moves the broken arm.
The gnome healer's eyes are wide and she still looks quite scared.
Naali nods. "They seemed pretty cross at you," she turns to the healer, "And you have a boyfriend back in Omesta that would be very sad if you got hurt. I've got a letter from him."
She snuffs a lightly smouldering ash with her shoe as she looks around the room at the quickly hardening strands of tanglefoot bomb, and gives an apologetic smile. "Sorry for all the mess - it should crumble away after a little bit. I didn't know if those men were going to smash more things or hurt you."
She turns back to the wounded man in his seat. "I think the big one recognized me, so as long as I've already been injected into this whole situation - who exactly were they? The Bloody Heads?"
The gnome snatches the letter, having it open in a second. She reads it, obviously eager for news.
The wounded man sighs and sits more upright. "The Blood Heads are a rival smuggler group. There are a number of us that operate here, more or less openly. The elves barely have a presence down here and not even elves are immune to a little bribery." He gives Anna a grin, which is replied to with a serious face. The paladin has little patience with law breakers, doubly so for violent ones.
"Anyway, we each have our our routes and contacts, manage our businesses. But sometimes tensions boil over, like right now. The swamp is in an uproar, stuff leaking in from the Tanglebriar, making everyone nervous. Leads to messes like this." he waves a hand at the smashed items and adds, tot he gnome, "Mastrich will pay for it all."
The gnome waves it off, reading the letter. She is smiling while she reads, a few tears of joy on her face.
'I am part of the Black Dogs, another gang. The best, if you ask me." He grins then winces as he bumps his arm on the table.
Naali brings a finger to her mouth to say shush and nods at the healer. When she seems done reading the letter, Naali continues talking, "The Black Dogs, hmm? I'll have to meet this Mastrich fellow."
The man frowns a bit, "Mastrich doesn't just meet anyway, you have to do something for him. But...saving me just might make the cut." Then he adds, 'Assuming I get this arm healed..."
The gnome comes over, grabbing a wand off a shelf. She points it, speaks a few words and Naali can see the bone and muscles slide back into place. 'Now, you still have to take it easy for a few days. You did lose a lot of blood, inside." But she smiles as she says it and then bursts out, "He got his commission! Now I can move to Omesta and we can be married!" the female gnome does a little twirl in her glee.
'Thank you!" She gushes to Naali, 'Thank you!"
After, the smuggler says, standing up, and flexing his arm, 'Shall we go now?" Then, more darkly, "Let's hope some Heads aren't out there ready to jump us."
"Oh, congratulations! Glad I could be a help."
That's probably for the best - I don't know whether these Bloody Heads would be the type to retaliate against her or her shop.
"I'd lock up when we leave, just in case, though."
"Probably better now rather than when they can get more people together. Lead the way."
The gnome nods, and as they leave, she slides a heavy bolt in place.
There is, at least, no one lurking outside for the three of them. Apparently the Bloody Heads leader's burns required more healing thent hat.
The streets is till filled but Naali notices eyes lingering on them,watchful, careful. 'Word has gotten out." Anna notes over her shoulder, hand on hilt. The alchemist can tell the paladin is uncomfortable in this hive of scum and villainy.
They pass through the market, and Naali seems many illegal and immoral items for sale, illict magic, exotic reagents, and drugs. One booth the shop is selling Slaver Drops, a drug used to keep slaves docile and easy to manage.
At that, Anna shakes her head, 'Slavery is illegal in Kyonin. I can't just walk past that." and the elf heads toward the small, skinny shopkeeper, her stride firm and strong.
Naali motions for the wounded thug to wait a moment and quickly walks to catch up with Anna and match her speed, but doesn't hold her back. "So am I. So is most of this town. The only friend we have in this town is about to leave, and the only information we can hope to get willingly will come from that smuggler back there."
"If you need to do this, I will back you up - but if we pick this fight, it's not going to end until we leave town."
Anna pauses mid-stride, the other people around them barely avoiding a crash. The elf turns to Naali and she can see the moral struggle on her face. It is not easy for someone sworn to uphold justice and goodness to rub shoulders with evil.
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.” Anna says, quoting some elven thinker or other but does turn aside and sigh.
"Very well, but this place will not be forgotten."
"Nor should it - but we can do more good if we know what we're up against."
They walk back to the man who was guiding them and Naali simply says, "Thought we recognized someone!"
The thug looks skeptical but says, "I'm not proud of everything we do, but it is a hard world."
Carefully he leads them through the market to a squat brick building on the edge of town. Outside the door are a few bully boys, sitting, keeping watch but also playing at cards. They glance up, but at a wave from Naali's guide, they turn back tot heir game. Instead of going inside, he leads her around the building.
The backyard is an archery range, set up with targets tacked to trees and rocks. Standing with his back to them, a dwarf stands with a bow, eyeing a long shot tot he top f an apple tree.
"Boss?" the thug asks just as the dwarf releases the arrow. It misses considerably.
The dwarf, Mastrich, turns, revealing a weathered face, black beard and bright black eyes. He holds the bow with comfortable ease, although there is a bit of exasperation. At least until he sees Naali.
'Well, well, Jaril. I'll forgive it this time." he says the voice friendly, but eyeing Naali. He bows to the alchemist, 'Well met. Are you the hero who saved my lieutenant here?"
Before Naali can say anything he notes Anna and bows to her as well, 'Well met to you as well, sword of justice."
And finally back to Jaril, 'Make sure the healer is paid for any damage done. she has done us good turns in the past." With a nod the thug leaves, nodding to Naali.
The dwarf turns to her, expectantly.
Naali raises an eyebrow, "Word travels fast in a small town. I am. And thanks to my fairly distinctive appearance, I now find myself embroiled in your fighting with the Bloody Heads - what exactly does that entail?"
The dwarf actually laughs, "My fight? I would much rather we didn't do any fighting at all and stuck to smuggling, it makes more money. But alas, the others do not agree." he sounds honestly aggrieved, if sarcastic.
"But you insulted them, so they will be looking for revenge. You didn't face their best fighters, I would be careful if I were you, or get some protection." He smiles then, teeth showing between his bushy beard. "I could be persuaded, for the right price."
Then he adds, 'I hear you have trouble with the Rangers as well. You make friends wherever you go. Care to tell me the details of that?" He plucks the bowstring as if it were a harp.
"I'd imagine for the same reason the Rangers are interested in a dwarf in Kyonin."
Naali offhandedly motions towards the door Jaril left through. "That price has already been paid. I don't plan for staying long either regardless, I have business in Cicatrix."
"Is that the only reason?" Mastrich says musingly. "Maybe, maybe not. I will admit, lying to me may seem safe enough, but it could go poorly for you."
Then his eyes brighten, 'Cicatrix? What business could you have in there? You are no smuggler." He thrums the bow again, pondering Naali and Anna carefully.
"Business. I'm sure you're well aware that information is a commodity, but so far all you've offered is a vague threat."
The dwarf nods then, 'Fair enough. Not very polite of me, was it?" He waves them to the shade of an apple tree. The green leaves are fresh and new, just starting out. Anna looks at it then at Matsrich.
Th dwarf smiles, 'Even my people can enjoy trees, Mistress elf. Perhaps you do not know us that well?'
Under the tree is a small table with a pitcher of water and some stone bowls. He offers bowls to each and fills them with clear water. No chairs, he sits on a massive raised root, bow at his side.
'Very well, then to business. If you are going into Cicatrix, you'll need a map or you'll get eaten alive." he raises a weathered hand, "Some have run it without one but they were lucky. You'll need it. I also know you'll need it in a hurry. The Rangers have few friends here, but someone will try to gain a favor by turning you in. You are no smuggler, no one will avenge you."
The dwarf's eyes are keen, 'How far are you willing to go for your 'business', whatever it may be?"
Naali sits down at the table, enjoying the shade but not the water. "I wouldn't have taken a job if I didn't plan on completing it, and I do find myself in need of a map. And I'm sure you already have something planned for how I'm going to acquire that map."
'Now, that isn't fair. I don't know how bad you want it. How can I set a price? Perhaps you will only spend a few coppers or maybe you will kill for it." Mastrich says then goes on, 'There is a second option. Take me with you. My payment will be the information I gain with whatever you are doing. What do you say to that?"
Naali leans back and rests her chin on her hands as she eyes the dwarf up and down. "You would leave your smuggling operation to embark on a mystery journey with two strangers, in the off chance of learning something new?"
"I would hazard to guess that things aren't all sunshine and smooth sailing in Isahade, or you're quite the gambling man."
The dwarf grins, "Not just two strangers. Rumors abound about you. The Rangers spread a few crumbs, saying they would look favorably on anyone who would turn you in"
He sighs, 'As for the operation, well, maybe you are right, maybe you are not. Does it matter much to you?"
Naali smirks. "I'm sure you've heard only kind things."
"Cicatrix is dangerous - if we were to take on a third, at some point we would surely need to rely on you, and you on us. It's hard to do so when all you know is the front they put on for others. If you're traveling in hopes of returning to a past life, to escape it, or simply out of boredom - it changes how someone acts."
The dwarf leans back against the tree trunk and takes a cooling drink of water. The day is growing hot and muggy.
"Let us just say business is...chaotic right now. Going with you just might lead to answers that can clear things up. Basically, you might be good for business, or what you reveal will be good for business. I also want to see how Jaril does handling things here without me. A test, you might say."
'You can rely on me in a fight, once we get to the swamps, if that is what you are worried about. if nothing else, if I let you down, even if he live, you'll never trust me again and that would mean we all die. You have to work and trust each other out there...." He waves a short arm to the sea of brownish muck on the edge of sight.
"I'll have to discuss it with Anna."
When Mastrich steps away, Naali turns to her companion. "What do you think? I know you bear no love for the smugglers - we could hope that Jaril isn't as good at all of this as Mastrich. It would be good to have someone who knows their way around Cicatrix."
Anna gives Mastrich a cold eye. "He is playing his own game, Naali, you know that. Do you really trust him in the wild? He will have a great hold on us, but we will have no hold on him, except his greed for information."
The paladin sighs then, 'And do we really want him to know what we are up to?"
"Hmmm, you're right, there are enough people who are fluttering about to try to get in the way, I doubt adding more people to the fray would help. There would be enough to deal with without worrying about another person."
"We'll still need to get that map, and I doubt he will give it up without asking for an arm and a leg - or a favor, and that could be worse."
Anna ponders this and says, "They are smugglers. Surely he has rivals? perhaps we can play them off each other or simply steal a map? I don't think the Gods would mind a little bit of theft from the likes of them." She juts a chin at the dwarf behind Naali, calmly sipping his water and fiddling with an arrow.
"Hmm, well we did meet some rivals, but we've made enemies of them already. We might be able to start a fight between them, but we'll probably end up with two enemies and get involved in a brawl."
Naali sighs, tapping the table with a finger as she glances back towards the distant dwarf.
"An all out brawl might be the best way to get rid of the smugglers in town though, but only if they don't all come after us."
Anna ponders this and offers, 'Maybe we should save that for when we are done in the swamps? I'd hate to be rid of the smugglers but then get lost and die in a swamp full of oozes." The elf turns her long gaze on the misty and smelly wetland.
"I have heard rumors it isn't easy to get through, but we could always just try it on our own."
"No point in delaying the inevitable any longer - we need that map. Let's find out what he wants instead of this little deal."
Naali motions for Mastrich to come over.
"We've decided it's not worth adding a third - we'll move much faster with two and a map, so we'll take that."
The dwarf sighs, his heavy breath blowing his beard. 'You do know this means I'm going to have to spy on you anyway?"
He shrugs, "Very well. As it happens, I do need a favor. I need you to pose as an independent smuggler, with a hot item you want sent through the swamp. Offer this to the leader of the Blood heads, say you want it delivered to the Red Erl. He is a major dealer on the other side."
The dwarf takes a long draft of water before adding, 'There is a catch, but it won't happen to you."
Naali scoffs, amused. "I'll take the bait, what's the catch? Because if you needed something delivered, you can use your own men for that."
"No catch for you." Matrisch says smoothly, "And obviously I need my rival to handle this run. It is petty internal smuggler politics. Nothing to concern yourself about. Besides, even if something did go wrong later, you'll be long gone, right?"
Naali simply crosses her arms and waits.
The dwarf grumbles and says, 'Just wait here." The smuggler chief stands up and goes inside. Anna mutters, 'What are we getting ourselves into?"
In a few moments Mastrich returns, carrying a heavy leather tome in his hands. It is locked shut with a iron clasp, cinched tight. On the cover is a written in red ink, Dorkruvams Tome of Most Useful Spells for the Patient Mind.
'I wouldn't try reading it." the dwarf says, holding it up. "This is it. I promise no harm will come to you."
"So you want to deliver a - most likely dangerous - book to your rival, and you don't want anybody to know you sent it, or you don't even care if it arrives to Red Erl. And you can't send your men, because they'd be recognized. That about right?"
"You're right, you do need my help, but I'm not going to be your delivery girl. I can disguise your men and they can do the delivery - same plan, same results, and they're already well equipped to pose as someone who actually needs something smuggled. I stuck my neck out to save Jaril, if you want my help you're taking the same risk as I."
The dwarf shakes his head, "He'll see through any illusions. He handles magic merchandise all the time, he has to be able to see the truth. A magic set of glasses, I think. Besides, you have the perfect cover. You are real and are the talk of the town. Any fake people we make will not have that."
The dwarf lays down the book in front of Naali and folds his arms, 'The way I see it, you have little choice. You want the map, you have to play by my rules. I gave your two options. Do this little job, or take me with you. Frankly, I think I am being generous."
"A talk of the town that's already made an enemy of his men, I'll remind you! He's not going to do anything for me for free. If I'm doing this, you're paying for whatever bribes I need to pay, too."
'Of course!"[/n] the smuggler dwarf says, [b]"No fees on your parts. besides, this deal will be so juicy, he won't be able to pass it up, trust me."
He pauses and goes on, eyes bright, 'So you will do it then? If we are just bartering over costs..."
Anna is immobile, looking at the dark book sitting on the tree root. It looks heavy and old.
Naali sighs. The dwarf's excitement meant he was surely getting something more out of the bargain, but the fate of the duo's journey was murky if they tried to wander aimlessly around the swamps. They needed that map.
"Fine, fine."
The dwarf grins and hands Naali the heavy magical tome. "Don't worry, it won't bite."
"The Bloody Head's main building is at the swamp edge of town, a big rambling old fort. Nice place, if a bit drafty. Just show up and they will handle the rest."
Naali turns the book over in her hands, trailing her fingers along the edge. It won't bite, but I shouldn't try to read it, Naali notes to herself. It of course made her want to open the book up even more.
"We'll need the map ready soon, I don't plan on staying in town long."
"Looks like we're delivering a book instead of taking him along." She makes an unhappy face. "There's very clearly more going on than that, but it's better than having another person to keep track of. The bad news is that we need to go talk with the smugglers we dealt with earlier."
Anna shakes her head, "You'll be very popular. Let's hope the one you burned isn't guarding the door." She eyes the heavy book.
'Any ideas about the book? You are the scholar, after all." The elf says with a bit of a grin. "Without reading it, do you know anything/"
Naali scans the book, peering at it carefully. She uses her extensive knowledge of the arcane, as well as a lifetime of experience dealing with such objects.
She can tell it is a potent object of magic itself. Not just the carrier of spells, it too pulses with some kind of magic. And not a very nice one, she can see that. And it also tugs at the back of her mind, the name...something dark but nothing defined.