He nods at Bjorn "Good question. The docks in 'Anchorage are unpatrolled, not like the policed and inspected Harbour here. Likely be a death sentence to send the Citizen's Brigade down there, in numbers I can currently afford anyways. Plus, if this artifact turns out to be Ubtaon and can provide insight to the curse, I'd prefer it be in our hands rather than the Merchant Princes."
That night you wash the ship's voyage out of your soul with a hot bath. Or perhaps you black out drunk after vomiting all over a prostitute. Maybe instead you spend the night protecting the streets from crime. Regardless, you are quite ready to get going in the morning.
With Davin's guidance you arrive at a large storefront bearing a sign written in both Common and the native Chultan tongue. It reads: “The Weave of Life”. Davin was here yesterday, its the establishment of the Lord's Alliance contact: Klevin Van'Sheran.
Greeting you all the young Tethyrian human male with dark hair and green eyes waves you in and shuts the door tightly behind "Youre the one's Blackleaf mentioned, yes? You must be, with that armor! Really now, we should get you into a more comfortable garment. Have you tried these?" he holds up a pair of unusual pants "You'll love them! But I digress...to business..."
"There's power flowing through the Serpent's Coil: illegal and stolen merchandise smuggled through the Harbor. The amount of thefts and black market goods has increased over the past few tendays, noticeably affecting the prosperity of the tradesfolk within the city...that might be bad enough, but..."
"Word from one of my contacts is that there is some sort of dangerous artifact being smuggled into the city. They're using a secret passage that leads from the docks in Tiriki Anchorage all the way to the Harbour. While you missed me yesterday I acquired a tip as to the exact location of where this passage exits on the smuggler's side."
"I want you all to get in there and strike. Find out what this artifact is, and shut down the smuggling operation."
Bjorn shrugs and cracks the knuckles on his ham-sized fists. ”I’m happy to provide a little dockside justice. Where do you expect these smugglers to show up?”
Bhoors listens interestedly. When the man finishes he nods, "We have a map I think. Who has the map the harbor master gave us."
"West end of the docks near the city walls. Grate on the floor, likely locked and guarded...leads down to the Serpent's Coil, some kind of cavern system for running the goods. They ain't gonna give up something so lucrative without a fight. Here...paid well for this, keep it safe..." he passes you a little black note with the directions.
The heat is slowly rising in the morning as you prod towards Tiryki Anchorage. This district east of the city is populated by animal trainers, river folk, explorers who need inexpensive lodging, and other rough-and-tumble sorts. Smugglers prefer the unregulated docks of the anchorage over the policed and inspected docks of the harbor, despite the shortage of dock workers and beast-powered cranes to assist in loading and unloading.
Unlike Malar’s Throat and the Old City, Tiryki Anchorage has no fortified temple or ancient stone ziggurats where residents can take shelter against undead or carnivores. Most people dash for Tiryki Gate when the alarm sounds and hope to get through before it’s locked ahead of them. Fortunately, the animals in their pens are more sensitive to approaching enemies than humans are, so few creatures are able to sneak into the area undetected.
Most of the beasts of burden in the city were trained out here, and they’re penned up at night. Ankylosauruses and triceratopses seem to be the most common in that role. Dinosaurs trained for street racing are also stabled here.
Following Klevin's directions is easy enough, he has the careful practiced handwriting of a 9 year old princess. You near the alley way he mentioned and hear the muffled sounds of men nearby (maybe 5), throwing craps it sounds like.
Davin pulls back as he hears the men in front of the group.
"Ok, this looks like the place. You, slick, you any good with dice?", he says quietly, speaking to Bhoors.
Bhoors smiles whispers back "That's how I got my armor. You want me keeping their eyes there where they are or try to draw them over this way?"
Should we have some kind of marching order here?
Nella nods solemnly and looks around at the rest of the group.
** spoiler omitted **
Spike looks around confused for a moment before realizing the voice belonged to a Nella. On the walk he tells her, Only in small ways. But, the small things are important too. Although, I hope our current task helps in more consequential ways.
Davin pulls back as he hears the men in front of the group.
"Ok, this looks like the place. You, slick, you any good with dice?", he says quietly, speaking to Bhoors.
Are we assuming these folks are sitting on the entrance to the caves?
Bhoors peaks around the corner to get a look at the alley.
"Yeah, at least that's what the map looks like." Bhoors whispers. "I can try to draw them this way, but with one guy on that catwalk its unlikely that more than 2 would leave their posts. Of course that means that you'd have a few seconds with just one or 2 guys before alarm was raised or the 3rd guy would come check on things either." He shrugs, "No guarantees in cases like this but they have thought this through. That's why they have a sniper posted."
Nella listens intently to Spike, tilting her head slightly back and forth slowly.
Seeing the party planning for something to happen, she drifts up behind Bhoors and reaches up to lay a small hand on his upper back. In a small voice she speaks
He Who Must Be guides you.
Bhoors winks at Nella, "Thanks Luv."
Bhoors puts a hand to his chest and looks hurt at Dwarlar before shrugging it off, still keeping his voice down he "Are we not gonna be friends?." He grows more serious, "So am I keeping them busy or reeling them in."
Nella considers quietly for a moment before contributing.
They are not here to play dice. They are guards and lookouts, spending the time in dice. They will not let us pass peacefully.
She smiles slightly and looks mischievously at Bhoors.
Unless we are very convincing.
Her face sobers.
But even then, they will be behind us should things go wrong. Let the smiling man distract them and confirm who they are while we prepare to subdue them.
"I just wanted to make sure that these people are all part of this smuggling. I am not wanting to kill everything we come across...is there some way to disable them? I have no fear of taking the "hard way", but would rather do this quietly. Anyone with spells that could help?"
Bhoors noods, still whispering, "I think I saw a ladder to the north over that way. If someone wants to get the high ground on the man on the catwalk. I will keep them busy. If you here me yell 'I rolled a hard 6' it means I need help."
With that Bhoors takes a few steps back away from the enemy before starting to whistle a casual tune and he starts a sauntering care free almost dance walk around the corner and down the alley toward the guards.
He rounds the corner still whispering his tune and shuffling. He continues into the alley. As he gets closer Bhoors smiles claps his hands. "You all look to be passing the time and looking to make some ends doing so. Can I get in on the action?"
"I could help distract them with a bit of noise coming from the opposite end of the alley. Make it sound like a party of knights approaching so their attention is focused elsewhere?" Shaldinari says quietly. She nods further down the unoccupied alley. "I'd need to be a bit closer, but it looks easy enough to slip around the other side of the building."
Bhoors gets a good look at them without being noticed.
"Beat it, punk." one of them grumbles at Bhoors approach.
"Hold on now, Ted. Look, he got a coin or two. Come on, have a game!
Here now, got the stones to throw in a gold?"
Spike is talking to everyone but Bhoors, who is otherwise occupied, "Shaldinari, if you feel that you could distract these fools so that we could sneak by and avoid violence, I would prefer that. But, if violence is necessary, I could be of some small help."
"I got a coin or 2. What do you say 1 gold for an ante in." He approaches and pulls out a few coins. He kisses one and rolls it down the back of his fingers. When its his turn he takes up the dice. "Here we go."
"Not bad."
"Darn it. Can I get a shot at making it back."
"He up there on the perch. You in on this action. Join in the fun here." He looks around at the others laughing. "He the serious one."
"So close. You got me that time." He claps the winner on the back in a friendly manner.
"How bouts we go again huh."
While in a break between throws Bhoors looks about, "What has you lads in this back way midday. Just shooting? I mean not one to pry but I am always looking for opportunities lets face it some jobs pay better than others. If your willing to get your hands bloody."
Hearing the gruff voice of the men, Nella pulls out a small sling of a bluish leather and places a bullet in it while she holds a small sprig of holly in her other hand.
While Bhoors is "charming" the guards on the ground, Davin moves to a location where he can easily get a shot off at the guard on the catwalk. He waits to see what happens with Bhoors and the men below.
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Shaldinari smiles at Spike at gives him a knowing nod, then while Bhoors joins the game, she slips quietly down the northern alley and quickly climbs up to the roof of the large warehouse. Poking her head just over the peak, she focuses on a point to the southeast, beyond the corner of the workshop across from her vantage point.
Closing her eyes, she mutters a few syllables in an ancient fae tongue while her finger draws several small patterns in the roof. Patterns the glow with a faint purple energy.
After a few heartbeat the sound of a half dozen heavy armed men clumsily making their way down the street grows louder. Shaldinari changes the tone of her chant slightly and a voice calls out from the same area. "Hold up you louts!" Shouts a voice, a mix of Devin's angry tones and Bjorn's deep northern accent. "You, fancy boy! Put down that lute and point out the way to the tunnels."
"Oh yes, sir." Says a dry, mocking, higher pitched voice. "It should be to your left....no sir....you're other left."
"Right! Draw steel and let's clear this nest before the rain starts again."
The stomping noises then continue and grow louder.
Bhoors, one of the men's eyes narrow at your question "Hrmph...I like you better when you ain't asking questions. Just play the game and we won't have any troub-"
About the same time, Shaldinari's spell triggers and they leap into action, clearly startled...
...now could be your chance to strike.
Round 1:
All PCs <--UP
Enemies
Bhoors laughs it off. "Not gonna share. Tsk tsk tsk Its almost like you all are guarding a secret entrance to a smuggling tunnel. Your betting you can handle what comes next. Sometimes YOU HAVE TO ROLL THE HARD 6."
Even before Bhoors finishes the sound fron down the alley take his attention. He squints. Sounds like heats on to it.
He takes a few steps back toward where he left his allies. But he starts to run through some lines of a song, "And she shines in the night like a beacon."
Readying his boy, Davin has the thug on the catwalk sighted and is ready to drop him if needed.
Nella moves into the alley and slings a bullet at one of the men who are lit up.
Nella, as you step out and take your shot, you alone notice one of them has a small key on a necklace around their neck.
Two of the brigands glow with an otherworldy light, as you gaze in their direction your perspective seems to focus onto their very being.
Bjorn's fist crashes into the smugglers face, nearly breaking the sound barrier on the way in.
Nellas Chondalwood ancestors guide a her sling fire masterfully crushing the exposed adam's apple, sending him heaving and choking...
Round 1:
Bhoors, Dwalar, Bjorn, Davin, Nella, Shal, Spike <--UP
Enemy
Together Nella and Bjorn's assault, combined with the enchantment of the fey brings one of the brigands down hard on the moldy cold stone.
Bhoors laughs it off. "Not gonna share. Tsk tsk tsk Its almost like you all are guarding a secret entrance to a smuggling tunnel. Your betting you can handle what comes next. Sometimes YOU HAVE TO ROLL THE HARD 6."
Even before Bhoors finishes the sound fron down the alley take his attention. He squints. Sounds like heats on to it.
He takes a few steps back toward where he left his allies. But he starts to run through some lines of a song, "And she shines in the night like a beacon."
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