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Dimble doesn't think the druggies will be much of a problem, even though they are a little more alert than earlier. They are still pretty out of it.
The party hides awaiting the arrive of The Leper. The hour grows later and finally movement can be heard on the ladder.
Initiative
As Lasko reaches the bottom of the ladder and heads for the alcove, he suddenly dead stops, staring at first Faceshifter, then Kados. He begins to reach for a vial on his belt, but Kados has the jump on him.
Round 1
Kados
Lasko
Dimble
Slaine
Frost Seeker
Faceshifter
Throck
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Dimble darts from the alcove attempting to jump the slug, but instead lands short, the sewer water splashes all over him. Even with his dwarven constitution he can't counteract the chemical smell.
Slaine moves into firing position, as does Frost Seeker who sends an elemental ray at the foe that is clearly off the mark.
Faceshifter leaps into the man's face. The strange masked man's appearance and gravelly threat, clearly shakes the intimidated Leper.
Throck nimbly bumbles forward getting in position to smack Lasko into next week.
Round 2
Kados
Lasko Shaken (1 rnd) - 9 dmg
Dimble Sickened
Slaine
Frost Seeker
Faceshifter
Throck
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Man, I thought Throck smelled bad....spew, spew....when did I eat corn?
I'll delay and use my sling if no one hits him or he's still standing after the attacks. Don't think I can do nonlethal with a sling.
If he dashes by them or over them and I can engage bare handed I'll do that instead. Rolling around in the sewage throwing punches sounds even better.
Delayed attack with sling if needed
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Kados barely misses with his first attack, and glances him with the second.
Lasko doesn't like being cornered and attempts to tumble free past Faceshifter.
He can't get by Faceshifter, and instead tries to drink a vial.
Round 2
Kados
Lasko Shaken (1 rnd) - 11 dmg
Dimble Sickened
Slaine
Frost Seeker
Faceshifter
Throck
Round 3
Kados
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Slaine is tired of this lily-livered no-good, law-breaker and his potion-drinking skulking behavior. While Throck, Face and Kados have him pinned in, Slaine takes a shot to bring him down. Hoping that enough non-lethal damage has already done to make the crook fall unconscious.
(-4 for lack of Precise Shot feat) Attack resolves against touch AC.
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As Lasko fumbles to drink his vial, Kados narrowly misses him with a free punch. The man barely dodges the blow, but can't avoid Faceshifter's rapier that pierces the man's right lung, the blade drives deep. The Leper teeters as Faceshifter withdrawals the blade. He looks close to collapse...BLAMMO! Slaine barely misses with his musket.
Round 2
Kados
Lasko Shaken (1 rnd) - 22 dmg
Dimble Sickened - Delaying action posted
Slaine
Frost Seeker
Faceshifter
Throck Has AAO coming
Round 3
Kados
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Since we have what Delroya sent us for, should we clean up our mess and leave no sign of our being here? We could roll this wretch into the sewer...he deserves no special sentiment.....
I don't see any notes saying where we are to meet up with her or pass over our evidence so I assume she'll contact us after seeing how we've messed up the Aspis plans. Until then, maybe we could go to an inn for a bath and a meal? Be sure to bring along Lasko's items.
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You head off to an inn, days work done. You enjoy a bath, a meal, and some ales. Fireday arrives and you are summoned back to the SixWing Drake. It's around noon and Captain Zendrani calls a meeting on deck.
“An urchin boy delivered this note just a while ago. I tried to keep him here so we could talk to him, but he slipped away without a word and ran off into the city. I haven’t looked at the note—but it seems to be from Delroya.” The captain hands over the note.
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We should be on alert as I suppose she could be luring us into a trap or trying to frame us with her Aspis friends. Hopefully she's true and we're ok. Not a bad idea for faceshifter to stay in the shadows.
Can we figure out how to get to the warehouse? I sure feel and smell better! This is the shipment of drug supplies so be on your toes boys....
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A large warehouse looms into view at the end of Gull Street. Its main level sits at the edge of the street above a ten-foot drop to the harbor’s waters below. Faceshifter disappears into the midday shadows as best he can. As you approach the door in the western wall of the warehouse opens, and a woman clad in simple leather armor steps out. Her features display a blend of Taldan and Mwangi heritages, and her crisp accent is difficult to place.
“I am Magali Delroya. You must come quickly, Pathfinders. We do not wish to be seen.”
Delroya moves briskly, waving off protests or interruptions, and speaks with the rhythm of her steps.
“Questions later. Much is at stake. First you must listen.” Her outward display of authority does not entirely mask her fear.
The small room through the warehouse’s western door features a round table and several chairs. “This room is for the guards. They are all too busy dealing with our disruptions, so no one is here for now. That door leads to the docks below,” she says, indicating a door in the southern wall. “Come this way. I will show you the warehouse.”
She opens a door in the northern wall, revealing a cavernous storage room. Haphazard stacks of barrels and crates almost reach the ceiling twenty feet above.
Two large skylights in the ceiling provide ample light during the day, and a dozen unlit lanterns are spaced around the room. To the east, a wide opening in the southern wall looks out over the
loading bay ten feet below. A freight elevator platform rigged to a complex set of pulleys and ropes and a staircase both lead down to the loading bay.
“As you can see, the Aspis Consortium maintains a sizable operation out of this warehouse, which they rent from the Kortos Consortium’s Locosta family in exchange for alchemical goods. After tonight, I hope that the relationship between Aspis and Kortos will be irreparably damaged."
“We may have delayed the shipment, but my sources tell me that both the Kortos and Aspis consortia are likely to investigate the warehouse later tonight. I had hoped for more time, but I will not able to move the goods until after midnight. I need your help in holding off the agents until everything is in order. They are not likely to work together, so you should prepare for multiple groups of agents. While I have no qualms about fighting the Aspis agents, if possible we should avoid further antagonizing the Kortos consortium. Their agents may be willing to look the other way.”
“Because the agents are on high alert, you should stay at the warehouse until they arrive. We wouldn’t want anyone spotted or attacked out in the city before we’re ready. That gives you several hours to prepare. Most of the items in the warehouse are simple trade goods designed to make this outfit look legitimate. You may want to take some time to look around, though—you never know what the Aspis Consortium might have stowed away here.”
“I can stay here briefly, if you have questions or need assistance.”
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How are we to distinguish the Aspis from the Kortos agents? Will they be expecting anyone to be here, guards, etc. or will they be expecting quiet and dark?
Door on west side is entrance from street. Door on south of guard room leading to dock and large door opening to dock and harbor. Can any of the doors be secured to limit how they come in?
Do you happen to have any helpful resources for us or will you be aiding us defend your warehouse?
On a side-note, why can't we dump the material in the harbor now?
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Delroya attempts to answer all Dimble's questions.
Well it's not always that easy to tell them. Aspis agents sometimes wear there serpent emblem pins, but not always, they tend to wear them out of site. But a lot of the local Aspis agents look like dockworkers or toughs.
Kortos agents from the Locosta family tend to wear scarlet shirts, but not always. But that's probably the easiest way to tell them. Some might wear a bronze alligator insignia as well.
I don't think they will be expecting anyone. But they are likely to be on alert with all that you did to put them off.
Most the doors are already locked, but you might be able to barricade some of them, if you want.
There's bound to be useful items around the warehouse; if I get any good information, I'll try to return to let you know.
The warehouse and many of the goods inside it belong to the Kortos Consortium, not the Aspis Consortium. We do not want to make them our enemies, if possible. As for the drugs, they are mixed in with a large number of goods that belong to the Kortos Consortium. It would take days to sort through all these crates— something I intend to do later, once they’re moved to a secure location. But there’s no time now. As for destroying the shipment, that’s out of the question. The drug is far too unpredictable. There’s no telling what effect it might have if we burn it or dump it in the harbor. So, we must deal with it later, in a way that puts no one in harm’s way.
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Delroya reaches into her pouch pulling out a piece of parchment.
If you don't have any further questions, I'll be on my way to make final preparations to move the shipment.
Handing the parchment to Dimble, By now you should know that the Aspis Consortium is breaking Diobel’s laws. What we’re doing here is not exactly legal, either, in the views of the Kortos Consortium. I am hoping that we can get through this without drawing their ire, but as a last resort, you can use this document. It should eliminate any questions as to the legality of your actions. If you can avoid having to use it, I would be grateful, but do not hesitate to present it if necessary. Neither Consortium is likely to give it much true consideration, but it could give the Kortos agents pause.
With that she departs.
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Kados and Slaine begin looking for useful items and the first one is hard to miss. Very nearby you begin to hear grows. You soon find the source a hungry looking fighting dog growls at you from within a locked cage (the key rests right on top of the cage in plain sight).
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Dimble moves about checking out the warehouse.
Can anyone convince that dog to be on our side? It looks like it would be good in a spat but would hate to have it turn on us. At any rate, we should release it or try and find it a home so it doesn't have to fight for a living anymore.
Should we wait in between the stacks and try and take these guys by surprise?