Fondo doesn't pay attention to most of what Barael is saying, wrapped up as he is with his favorite Varisian flautist. He tunes back in as his blathering turns to frogs. He smirks and laughs. "Here's to Cressida! Kiss a frog and make him prince!" He drains a flagon and staggers over to his flirt with his fetching ta ta.
Later, as the bard pipes the tune to 'The Goat and the Maiden Fair,' Fondo comes stumbling back to the table. He drunkenly says to Barael, "Come brov. I've a lass fer you's almos' 's mannish's yer Cressida, 'n far more willin'. Make you 'er pawn, she will. Come along, lad. Come along."
He gets ahold of Barael and tries to send him into the arms of a strong looking Ulfen woman. He falls down laughing hysterically.
Charlie will leave Cressida and head back to the perfume shop and ask Majenko to see if the crew is still there. If the aren't he'll try his hand at tracking and ask the PD to do a quick circle and see if he can spot them.
Barael does his best to convince Dandi that work can wait for dawn's light.
"Mayhap just one."
Dandi lets herself be convinced by Barael's arguments, joining them for a drink before bed, though his observations bring an unsatisfied twist to her mouth.
The boys' conversation leaves her plenty of time to let her mind and eye wander, though neither finds any relief in the current crowd.
Perhaps we're just not drunk enough for this crowd, Wraith. she eyes Fondo where he sits splayed-legged on the floor, laughing like a fool.
Definitely not drunk enough.
Charlie finds the party with no problem in the pub drinking their night away and, presumably, joins them spending a most pleasant night with friends.
Barael is not quite about his senses when the Ulfen woman grabs him, and spins him round. On the dance floor, Barael is greeted by two swinging saps of breasts, and he immediately sobers upon one good cuff. His wriggles are misconstrued as its own form of dance, and Barael becomes more and more frustrated. In one moment, he is spun a little out of her reach, the next, he is gone. Vanished.
The next thing the table is aware of, Fondo is yelping from his splayed position on the floor, as a newly appeared Barael grabs him by the ear and pulls him up off the floor.
"Brov, that one! She's still got shrapnel in her left tit. You could have at least pat her down before you threw me to the wolves." Barael sits down next to the newly arrived Charlie, and rubs his reddened cheek. "We can go now."
Morning comes early for some, and while quiet is what they require, there is a pounding on the door of the Harrow House.
Fondo collapses on the floor again, as though the tavern bard had cast a spell of laughter.
. . . . .
Three stories up in his tower, Fondo wakes very slowly. Still naked, he walks outside and looks over the top of the roof. "Gods, man, what you going on about? People're trying to sleep here."
Dandi stumbles down stairs, pulling webs from her hair, "Ssshhhh! not so loud. There must be something that can be done about that banging!"
While waiting for Nikolay to try on seemingly every scabbard in the shoppe, Briar will sell the Pipes, Ring, and old Scabbard. He will split the money 6 ways and dole it out.
Briar will buy 375 gp in scribing inks as well.
"Saul? Saul? Would you do me the favor of seeing if you can procure a fine set of craftorium supplies? I want quality pieces too. I'll need the standard Imbuer, magnetic artificer, ponystone, waddlekeeper, Isolabpopitope, and several tables as well as the requisite grinders, powders, and extractors." Briar bites his nail, pondering more.
"And don't hold off on getting a quality Saturating Orrery. Make sure the aura transfuser still works...no gunk in the spray matrix, yeah?"
Briar nods, thinking that about covers it.
* * *
The next morning, Briar will arise early to get to work DOLL.
He ignores the knocking on the door for the simple reason that he's 100+ yards away and securely in his Vellumium and cannot hear it. Not that he would answer the door if he could hear it, mind you.
Briar will work on scribing a scroll of Stone Shape and Summon Monster 3. (-375gp)
Saul smiles. "Fortunately I do have contacts there so it'll be days instead of weeks! Let us say one week to be safe though as you say the Orrery might take a bit more doing. Mayhaps we'll get lucky - ay?"
"This will set you back a little though. I'll say 900 gold for the lot - including the Orrery of course! If we're agreed, I'll get started right away. Shall I have the things delivered straight to your house, or do you want to pick them up here? Either way I guarantee no breakage of course."
Disappointed to find himself at the harrow house and not in the warm bed of some nice woman from the bar, Nikolay grabs his sword and scabbard and flops it over his head and shoulder bandilier style as he heads downstairs to the pounding of the door that matches his head. Fully refreshed by the ring, he gets to fully experience each thud. If he is first to the door, he opens it while exlcaiming,
Barael hears the banging on the door, rolls over, and continues dreaming of large women.
If he is first to the door, he opens it while exlcaiming,
Fondo continues shaking his nethers in the cool morning air, waiting for whichever rude awakeners to answer him.
You're faced with a short older woman with just a hint of very fair almost downy facial hair. She has yellowing eyes probably from jaundice and generally messy and dirty appearance. "Good Morning. Is Charlie here?" She looks uncomfortable and worried about something.
There is an overhang over the door, so thankfully the poor lady doesn't get to, ah, enjoy Fondo's swinging nethers.
Fondo curses old goat women and throws on some clothes, descending to join Dandi and Nikolay in the entry hall.
BANG bangbangbang... BANG bangbangbang... ... ... BANG bangbangbang
Why am I still wearing my backback?
BANG bangbangbang... BANG bangbangbang... ... ... BANG bangbangbang
Oh, I came home drunk. Where is my salvation...?
Charlie's backpack falls to the floor with a thud quickly followed by Charlie. He fumbles with the straps until he can sort of maneuver his wineskin from the tangled mess.
"The goddam things empty!"
He drags the whole lot behind him as he moves from wall to wall trying to find the bathroom and then the kitchen.
BANG bangbangbang... BANG bangbangbang... ... ... BANG bangbangbang
Why is the light?!?!?
BANG bangbangbang... BANG bangbangbang... ... ... BANG bangbangbang
Upon hearing his name Charlie makes his way to the foyer. When he hears an unfamiliar voice he attempts to get himself together. It doesn't take.
"Yes?" Coughing ensues for a solid minute and a half.
"Ahem, gurgle gurgle cough "Ahem, yes?
Ahhh, but it is a familiar voice.
Charlie knows her as Eries 'yellow eyes' one of his drinking companions in the Vaults below the city. By day she does work as a fishmonger along the docks, but usually floats from job to job. In her 50's at least, she knows the Vaults like no one else he knows. Once Charlie arrives, along with whatever other party members are around, she begins quietly.
"I'm sorry to bother you at home Charlie, but I'm in a jam and I'm hoping you can get your friends to help out." she hocks up a bit of a loogie herself, swallows hard, and continues. "As in many large cities, the tunnels and sewers beneath Korvosa attract all manner of unsavory elements as you know. Combining elements of the thieves, vermin, and monsters that prowl the reeking depths, the wererats of Korvosa eke out a subtle living from the city’s refuse. Most Korvosans contentedly believe the creatures are nothing but stories to keep children out of trouble, and thus, the lycanthropes and their unwitting hosts have long lived in a kind of oblivious accord. Until now."
"Giving voice and violence to their fear of the plague, a mob of Midland citizens discovered a foolish, alley prowling wererat and publicly executed him with a silver axe. Their misguided violence quickly extended to a few drunken dockworkers braving the sewers to hunt wererats, blaming the plague on the lycanthropes believed to dwell below. Used to fear and abuse, most wererats respond to the attacks by abandoning their dens and hiding elsewhere in the city. One however, a firebrand called Girrigz Ripperclaws, refuses to do so instead calling his kin to war against the weakened humans above."
"I am worried that this will lead to an all out war between the two groups! Something must be done before more lives are lost - Girrigz must be convinced to stand down or he must be taken down. I have spoken with him, but he will not listen to me. I was hoping you could talk to him in a way he'll understand. He'll be surrounded by his troops - but I beg of you not to kill any if you can help it. Most are just misguided by Girrigz's speeches and the attacks from above."
She looks up at the assembled few but addresses Charlie, "Will you help?"
She wants us to fight wererats without killing them...???
A slowly wakening Dandi tries to smile at the old woman. Wraith, what think you? I'm not keen on rats, but someone somewhere must be, surely. She turns her gaze to Charlie, waiting to see what he makes of his "friend" at the door.
"Well, let's see. The Wererats are citizens, too. They should not be subject to vigilante justice, however difficult the temptation. What I mean is let's go talk to Girrigz and show him that I will work as a mediator between him and the authorities. Maybe we can see that Midlander Mob brought to justice. Hold on a sec. I have to go throw up."
Charlie hurries back to the bathroom
Um, yeh sorry about that I'll clean up in a minute here. So, where was I... So, can you get me and friends here an audience with him? Oh, um the short answer is yes, I will help. The long answer is all that other stuff."
We have contact with some high muckety mucks and maybe we can expedite things a bit. Before we get started, do you have time for a bite and bit to drink? I'm afraid I'm not much good at the moment without it."
Er, I mean are you guys interested in righting some wrong? I think I need to cleanse my soul from the ill will I was sending out to the misguided healer and the other one. It would be good for all our souls."
Briar arrives late to the party at the front door, nearly stepping in Charlie's regurgitations.
Ah! I see they have already begun consecrating the grounds here in the manner of humans. I should remind them to avoid my sleeping chambers.
"Wererats?" Briar looks around. "Can someone fill me in?"
She watches Charlie vomit as she has seen him do before and makes no comment. When he's done, she continues.
"He's hunkered down in the Vaults. I can tell you how to get there, but I don't think he wants anything to do with me. You might have to get through some of his warriors before you get to him I'm afraid."
"Please do what you can to harm them as little as possible. Poor idiots just don't know any better but that's no reason to cut them down in their youth. What else would you like to know?"
Nikolay prestidigitates Charlie's mess away.
I will never not memorize this while living here.
--Just don't get me or my scabbard to close to him.
Hearing a growing number of voices, Barael puts on his full clothes before heading downstairs.
"Midlands folk, you say? It takes a lot for that lot to lash out so violently. Wererats are closely cousined to their smaller brothers, and maybe as likely to spread disease, eh? Are those lycanthropes more sick down below than those folk up above?" Barael rubs his eyes, trying to focus better in the searing light. "No offense, Charlie, but the Vaults ain't exactly the cleanest places in Korvosa." Barael nods at Nik cleaning the sick on the floor, and rests his case.
Fondo listens, wrapped in his bed linens. He joins Nikolay in magically mopping Charlie's mess.
"Wererats, eh? I think i've heard something about them. They worship the moon, right?"
"Anyhow, we'll see it done. What words can't mend, elves' magic and men's arms shall end."
Charlie will rinse off, get some food refill his holy symbol and stabalize himself. He will then wait quietly by the door until everyone is ready to go.
"We'll need some silver weapons. Only if things go bad that is."
"Midlands folk, you say? It takes a lot for that lot to lash out so violently. Wererats are closely cousined to their smaller brothers, and maybe as likely to spread disease, eh? Are those lycanthropes more sick down below than those folk up above?" Barael rubs his eyes, trying to focus better in the searing light. "No offense, Charlie, but the Vaults ain't exactly the cleanest places in Korvosa." Barael nods at Nik cleaning the sick on the floor, and rests his case.
Eries replies, "The Vaults are vast and incorporate much more than just the sewers. In fact the sewers are really just a small part of the overall that is the Vaults. Still, it is dirty where they are, so you should be prepared for that."
"The wererat population is less sick than those above by a wide margin. They are not immune to disease, but they do have some natural resistance which helps. More than that they've isolated themselves pretty much since this began. That might be it, I don't know. Maybe the disease is more targeted to humans?"
She turns to Nikolay, "Yes silver is definitely required. I don't think they'll take you seriously without it, and in combat without a silver weapon you'll do little but scratch them. You should also be aware that their bite can carry a more virulent form of Filth Fever than you're used to."
She thinks a moment, "Also, their bite can cause you to come down with lycanthropy yourself. So unless you wish to be a were rat, I suggest you avoid their bite!"
Briar listens to the woman's descriptions of lycanthropy and the rats and is intrigued.
"They have moon magic, huh?" Briar rubs his chin. "This should be interesting. Let me get my stuff. Silver, huh? Okay."
Briar runs down to get his bow, traveling pack, and a double helping of silver arrows (storing some extra in his backpack).
Returning to the Harrow House, Briar is ready to go.
Fondo laughs and begins to gesticulate, but remembers he's wrapped in sheets. "No rats here. Spiders, squirrels perhaps. A peacock and rabbit, most certain. But no rats, ma'am."
He returns to his room, magically freshens and preens himself, and attires himself for battle. He straps his fancy silvered mace onto his belt.
Returning to the common area, he suggests, "Perhaps a bit of breakfast on our way, and a visit to Saul's? I'd like to buy a scroll or two, and place an order. Hm. Or fi you're willing, friend elf, perhaps Nethys would approve of you sharing a bit of arcane script with me."
"What? You'll have to be much more specific, Varisian. I know more magics than you can count."
"Have you magics to free a man who's grappled? I've some skill with such a spell, but nice to have more. A scroll to decipher alien scripts. A scroll to suppress enchantments, and one for fear. I'm sure Nethys whispers such secrets to you, and it'd be an honor to speak his words."
. . . . .
As he prepares to depart, Fondo does a quick reading on his unmade bed.
"In this new quest, we're free to show true strength,
no queen nor court to dampen justice done.
In spaces dark we'll turn a foe to friend
and take from struggle victory's rewards."
Nikolay puts on the rest of his clothes and straps on his belt properly. He brings his silver dagger along just in case.
"we're doing this, hmm?" Dandi nods and wanders upstairs to freshen up, run a comb through her hair, and tuck Wraith in safely. Do rats eat spiders? "Better safe than sorry, I suppose. Stay hidden and maybe we will not need to find out." She then takes the time to study Wraith's weavings from the night before, memorizing what she is able. "Is this one new? I don't remember it from before..."
Finally, she heads downstairs, to grab her formula book and reagents to take with her. A weapon or two, and she is as set as she will ever be.
Eries bids her leave and says she'll be back in the morning for news - though Charlie knows where to find her that evening in the usual Vault hangout as well.
The party descends, some of them shakier than others, into the Vaults. Most of the Vaults of Korvosa are formed from natural geological forces of erosion or volcanic activity and some from former civilizations upon which Korvosa is built. It is largely through these areas that you travel today - it is late morning when you finally depart.
Eries directions are perfect and you reach the area Girrigz's forces lie without incident - and avoiding most of the nastier spots in the Vaults as far as sewage goes.
This area though has a stream of effluent running past a tunneled-out gap in the sewer wall. Through the disgustingly visible haze of noxious sewer reek, the flow of unmentionable slop through the sewer tunnel’s filth-slick channel unexpectedly forks. Most continues on its expected path, but a small stream of ooze diverts off through a wide cleft in the moldy masonry wall. The large crack cuts deep into the rock behind the wall, and wisps of thin white smoke issue forth.
The tunnel also continues on and bends to the east after twenty or so feet. You are travelling roughly south by southeast at best guess though with the twisting of the tunnels none of you are really sure.
I'm presuming the party is trying to move quietly as you get close . You are at a bend in the tunnel 40' or so from the entrance. You see no obvious guard, and tracking is not an option in this ever changing terrain.
Fondo quietly points to the fissure that's emitting smoke. He lights up his buckler and quietly moves to see if it looks wide enough to walk down.
Briar unwraps his plague-gear from his face as he goes down into the sewers only to re-wrap it as he gets a whiff of the stench from below.
I thought this city smelled bad on the outside.
Briar will follow in the back, his bow out, the other hand free.
"Are you sure you want to come down here? It's going to reeeeeek."
* * *
Edit:
Briar considers the Varisian's request.
"Sure. It'll take me a few days to accomplish this..and you'll have to pay for materials, but I can make it happen."
Briar gives a small smile.
later...
"Ugh. It's just as bad! I should have stayed up top. Ahh well, nothing for it now."
He casts Prestidigitation and tries to keep his face in a cloud of flowery smells. He keeps missing though and has to flap around to different people to catch it again as you walk.
Fondo, the passage is large enough to pass through, though it will be a squeeze. You're still 10' away from the entrance and you hear nothing.
Nikolay prepares spells for a day where no one is supposed to be killed.
Status
Init +2; Senses Perception +2
Speed 30 ft. (Masterwork Chain shirt)
--------------------
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 43 (5d8+10)
Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +4
--------------------
2 (3/day) Glitterdust, Invisibility, Frigid Touch
1 (5/day) Shocking Grasp, True Strike, Shield, color spray(DC 14), Vanish
0 (at will) Prestidigitation (DC 13), Read Magic, Light, Detect Magic
--------------------
Arcane Pool 6/6 remaining
Black blade's arcane pool 2/2 remaining
Wand of Magic missiles (23 charges remaining)
Pearl of Power - Not used today
Fondo sneaks up to the entrance. With his cloak, he tries to shield some of the light of his shield from falling directly on the fissure.
With the rest of the party well back, you sneak up to the entrance and peer inside. The walkway is slick, but moving at half speed you can negotiate it without difficulty (so you're moving at quarter speed just now for stealth and footing).
The flow of sewer filth oozes into a rough-hewn stone cave, pooling near its center before continuing through a crude channel in the eastern wall. Fat black mushrooms and other disgusting fungus grow thick around the pool of slime. Several low alcoves are cut into the walls, each filled with moldering hay, filthy furs, and tiny rat bones.
Fondo waits for Barael, Briar and the others to join him before moving further. He whispers, "Do you see anything you deem a hazard, outside of the normal risks of sewage?"
"Hey Barael. Barael!" Briar whispers to the man.
"Do you think we should have brought a few 10lb. wheels of cheese with us as a peace offering? Or we could have poisoned it up too? Either one could have worked, right?"
Briar looks ahead.
Perception
Barael regrets not procuring the fine mithral blade languishing in the Church of Aroden.
***
Barael looks bemused by the elf's dip into sabotage.
Barael looks inquiringly at the smoking fissure, and takes Fondo's cue to investigate. He readies the silver dagger in the wrist sheath.
Dandi first drinks her mutagen, then casts mage armor on herself before sneaking over to join her companions trying to look down the fissure. She holds her silver mace ready, just in case.
AC:18
HP:35
mutagen active dex/wis
weapon out: MW Silver Mace
spells/formula active: Mage armor, Ant hall
spells/formula for today:
Alchemist Spells Prepared (CL 2):
1 (3/day) Expeditious Retreat, Cure Light Wounds, Ant Haul (used)(DC 14)
Witch Spells Prepared (CL 5):
2 (2/day) Web (DC 15), Glide
1 (3/day) Shield of Faith, Mage Armor(used), Bungle (DC 14)
0 (at will) Resistance, Stabilize, Read Magic, Guidance
The perception checks reveal nothing new in the chamber beyond. Barael thinks he hears something further in the complex, but it's hard to know with the sound of dripping and rushing water and the echoes throughout the cavern you're in.
Fondo tests the depth of the water running into the passageway with is rapier, and enters if it doesn't seem too deep.