Marra's words echoing in his head, Panish tilts it to the side and surveys what may generously be called the marina. "I don't think we need to try and accredit ourselves as punters of these planks - so I suggest we proceed straight to the Eel's End; it looks by far the most likely place to find the Spider King."
Perception
Perception
Throughout the walk to the marina Aliandara talked to Orsini, asking him to tell her tales of his life eager to listen but also trying to distract herself from the task at hand. Now that they are the marina and he left she has to focus again.
She does this by first looking at the five boats then focussing on the boat of interest. She looks at the guards, trying to note how many there are and if they are actively patrolling.
Panish walks alongside Donagar and Aliandara. Looking at Aliandara, he nudges Donagar - "Don't you think our little lady here has been especially chipper today? Why, if I didn't know any better there shall be no flirting in the hallway, practice grounds, or otherwise within the jurisdiction of Korvosa."
Throughout the walk to the marina Aliandara talked to Orsini, asking him to tell her tales of his life eager to listen but also trying to distract herself from the task at hand. Now that they are the marina and he left she has to focus again.
She does this by first looking at the five boats then focusing on the boat of interest. She looks at the guards, trying to note how many there are and if they are actively patrolling.
1d20 + 8
Mostly you note the two guards on watch, at what appears to be the Captain's Quarters of the Eel's End. You think you might have seen another on another ship but lost track of the person so you can't confirm. At this range, even your vision is obscured by the fallen dusk.
If Panish is right, Devargo is through those doors...
"Ima fer thinkin tah visit one who seems not tah be wantin visitors."
"Ima goin tah see if we can see this Devargo."
Still hovering over Panish, looking bodyguard-like. He glances around for threats.
Perception:
To Drakus, softly: "Well then, into the spider's web we go - you look after my back, I'll look after yours. Let's try not to get anybody caught up."
As the group walks towards the boat, Aliandara hooks up with Panish, keeping up the light conversation and acting as his company for the evening. “But I wonder dear, what you did to provoke such a concern from the matron.”
"I have heard thar issa drink or two tah be had on this good ship, have yah some ale that I may partake?"
Perception check
Still hovering over Panish, looking bodyguard-like. He glances around for threats.
Perception:
.
"Psst, Panish, you alright?"
The guards have their hands on their weapons with Donagar's search for ale. There be no ale on this ship dwarf, least none for sale, this be Devargo's personal ship, less'n y'ave bus'ness with 'im make your way to the other ships, or we be "escort'n" y'off."
"Aye mighten I see Devargo an bless his meal this evenin?"
Panish finishes some light banter with Aliandara then looks to the guard: "Ah, it's good that we have business then. He'll like to hear that not all is hard in these trying times - sometimes there is a pretty coin to be made." With that, Aliandara in arm, he walks towards the doors; trusting that Sgt. Drakus will be bus a step behind him.
Panish finishes some light banter with Aliandara then looks to the guard: "Ah, it's good that we have business then. He'll like to hear that not all is hard in these trying times - sometimes there is a pretty coin to be made." With that, Aliandara in arm, he walks towards the doors; trusting that Sgt. Drakus will be bus a step behind him.
" HAH! you be a funny one, with all th'misery oot thar, we been havin' lots o'business!"
The guard squints his eyes at Panish, and then uncertainly at the dwarf.
"Devargo be expect'n ya then?"
"Who can ever expect all that life, ale, and tha blessins a wandering cleric o Cayden can bestow upon one."
Diplomacy/bluff check
Sgt. Drakus plays silent and intimidating bodyguard, a step behind Panish.
Perception (threats):
Intimidation:
Apparently me diety granted meself time stop so that I av more actions to meself
"Expecting us? Not unless he's got a diviner by his side. But, he'll want to hear what transaction we have in mind. Would you be the one that denies him this?"
Aliandara keeps quiet, trying not to attract attention from the guard as she doesn’t want her presence to be questioned.
"Transaction huh? Well he be wif some new recruits at th'time, an 'es not t'be disturbed." The guard holds out his hand...expectantly
"Iama jus in tha way o this is between men"
Panish deftly retrieves a few silver from a pocket and shakes the hand, leaving the silvers with the guard. "It is important to know the right people to get things done. I'm glad that I've run into you first - I suspect you'll be able to get us to Devargo faster than anybody else on this deck."
The guard looks incredulously at his hand. Devargo is a busy man, and it's such a long walk down there, and Bilgan here has 5 mouths at home to feed... He says while waving at the other guard, a large lad of no more than 19 summers.
(aside)
"Looks like were tah get our audiance with Devargo afterall"
"Bilgan! What a strapping lad - and no less than 5 mouths to feed? I am impressed." Panish makes sure to get Bilgan's attention with the tinkle of some more silver. "I want to see Devargo, on business. Can you make that happen for me?"
The guard looks at his hand, he appears to want a different type of coin, his eyes narrow, he glances towards one of the other ships, and makes a quick motion with his head, a signal to other guards most likely.
"Devargo is a very busy man, if you're not important enough to be summoned, perhaps you should go." he drops the coins in his pouch and holds his hand out again.
Panish bursts out laughing, "Why didn't you just say so?" Turning to the lady by his arm, "I'm sorry my dear, apparently there will be a delay in the transactions; the lady in crimson will not be amused." Nodding to Sgt Drakus, then towards the shore, he starts heading back to the mainland. "It seems we're to make ourselves be summoned. Very well." While walking Panish grips into his pocket repeatedly, pulling forth several handful of gold coin and scattering them carelessly about - some falling to the deck, some into the waters below.
Speaking loud enough to be heard by several nearby: "If Devargo is interested in hearing our proposals, a runner will find us at Orsini Academy until dusk. After that there won't be negotiations any more."
With that Panish, Aliandara in arm (and hopefully Sgt Drakus and Donagar in tow) exeunt and make for the fencing academy.
"Contrats tah yerself a coin inna hand is betterin three in tha water I always say"
Donagar leves as well his full-plate armor reflecting the suns rays as he to heads for shore...
When Panish turns towards her and speaks of the lady in crimson she responds with: “Or pleased” then glares at the guard and struts off with Panish, hoping there will be a summons.
Startled by the action for a moment, Sgt. Drakus follows closely; professional bodyguard to the core.
Once out of earshot he comments; "I was hoping you were going somewhere with the loose change. I was afraid you were just too cheap to spend the right kind of garnish."
The guard's jaw drops, as he looks at the coins on the ground...
Panish nods to Sgt Drakus, "I do take your meaning, but I feel uncomfortable giving a blatant bribe; what I gave was a token of good will. Enough to eat well for several days, and the promise of more should he get us an audience before Devargo - what more could he reasonably want? No, I think he was out for the shake down and looking for a cheap and dirty way to enrich himself." Going into greater detail: "If we're lucky, Devargo is intrigued or greedy and will call for us - then we meet him in a position of power; rather than as intruders. If we're even luckier, we can convince him that there is a greater reward to get; and that spilling the beans on one client is but a small price to pay to show good will. I'm worried that this man will not be lured by the shine of gold alone though. Rumors abound of his ruthless actions and sadistic streak." Pausing for a moment, then: "Naturally, if we don't hear from him by nightfall, we'll have to prepare to take him on directly. Perhaps an hour before dawn when few revelers and other innocents remain."
After a couple hours waiting, a messenger finally arrives with a note requesting your presence on the Eel's End. It's signed by Devargo himself.
"An I was fraid we ed ave tah invit ourselves tah tha party"
"I feel restless at these events unless Ima dancing o drinkin"
DM X
Go ahead and cast longstrider to bring speed up to 40 for the next 3 hours.....
Donagar casts a spell throwing a pinch of dirt on his feet and heads out the door for the Eel's End.
"Ima fer guessin ther fer makin an entrance stead o goin is head first"
There's a reason I didn't level you up just yet...I wanted you to feel vulnerable for this scene, it makes it more dramatic don't you think?
Panish reads the note carefully, then tugs it away. "Well then, so far so good. Let's hope that whatever the King of Spiders is looking for, we can provide. Remember: we're trying to sell him the dream." Towards Donagar: "Drinking and dancing you say? I'm up for that."
You return to the ship, there appears to have been a guard change since you were here earlier.
Panish has a closer look at what happened and how the scene appears different. Furthermore, he gives a minute to let the scene instill a sense of mood on him - trying to see if he can pick up vibes of intended violence or anxiety.
"Panish, with us comin tah call earlier, a messanger arrivin tah make tha invitation..an tha impression yerself made onna guard likely there was a signal tah them tellin em all we err here so why put off any longer?"
"I figure soon nas we stepped out there was a mirror up high flashing or a bell ringing err somethin so hes knowin we ave arrived"
After looking around for a few minutes, you see one of the other guards on another ship. The new guards are standing guard on the Captain's quarters.
"Devargo's expecting you."
Donagar:Your inspection of the ships indicates that there is no chance these ships are near seaworthy currently.
You're led into the large room, once a captain’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.
Aft, a wooden stage supports a large leather chair, itself 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, inside of which clingers a tiny, tired-looking purple dragon. One of the pseudo dragons so common in Korvosa. What must be Devargo stands at the cage, prodding at the little with a dagger.
Two contestants stand on opposite ends of a long wooden table. Their right hands are strapped together with a boiled leather strap, belt pouches are fitted to their waists, and a dagger is stuck in the tabletop between them. The game begins after a count of ten, and four other rogues begin tossing gold onto the table and standing at the end of the table where their chosen fighter stands.
Devargo turns, and makes his way over to the fighters on the table, oblivious to your entry...he stands behind one of the nameless rogues and tosses several coins on the table as well.
Donagar steps inside the room and wuickly shuffles to the left along the back wall of the room.
Perception check (and count of people)
Panish walks towards the long table, Aliandara in arm. His posture is leisurely, but he keenly observes the game.
Sgt. Drakus marches behind Panish and Aliandara, bodyguard ready.
Donagar steps inside the room and wuickly shuffles to the left along the back wall of the room.
Perception check (and count of people)
1d20+10
Everything is as it seems