The hustle and bustle of the docks was not lost upon Lazlo, despite his best to bury himself in the book he was holding as he walked behind his companions. The lights that flared from within the ships, reminded him of the mansions he attended in his old life, needless to say hate was already swaying his already negative opinion of this place.
What hardened the gaze of the supposed locksmith's apprentice was the presence of various dealers and merchants, that bought and sold their merchandise, unconcerned that the bi-product of their transactions was the poisoning of the city the young noble loved. Lazlo's scowl deepend as he tucked the book that had Orcish letters on it away and took in the sight of one of the vice peddlers who was gleefully smiling to one of his customers If only I could purge this poison from Korvosa... Lazlo's knuckles turned wight as he forced himself to look away, not wanting to have their mission delayed because he couldn't control his temper.
.......................................................................
Once in front of the two armed guards Lazlo looked them over, his look not betraying the questions he had about them I wonder who they serve? There is one way to find out
"Excuse me, the man who employed us is looking for a place to enjoy himself, he's a foreigner with money to spend...so I am sure he'd be most generous if you gave us directions to any worthwhile places he should visit" Lied Lazlo, his eyes softening their stare to the impression of someone genuinely seeking help and direction.
The man looks you over and starts blabbering right away. "Well, you've come to the right place, man. Depends on what kinda entertainment you're in for. We got all kinds at Eel's End. From ladies to gambling to drugs, there's something for everyone here. If that's not enough, perhaps something more can be arranged. What is your lord into?"
"He had mentioned all that, but he said that he heard that Eel's End, had much more to offer" Began Lazlo trying to bring to roll his deception through the maze of conversation, hoping to reach something worth while "And that certain services and items could only be found here, I assume he meant whatever your hinting at, could you direct us so we may see if the place would truly be to our employer's expectations" Lazlo gave the men a small smile "We should also not forget the generosity of our dear visitor, may we have your names so he'll know who to thank the helpful and watchful guards of the Eel's End when he arrives?" Reminded the rogue, hoping the promise of gold and reward would dull the suspicions of these guards.
"Aye cap'n!" says the man enthusiastically. "Tell your lord that Wild Bill and Davey Longtooth gave him the directions, eh? If your boss is really looking for the extra special touch, he needs to visit the King o' Spiders on the big boat down there. Barvasi runs the place, and high rollers deal with him directly when they first come aboard."
He points down at the unmarked ship at the end of the pier, which is largest of the five.
"Thank you for your help" Replied Lazlo before he turned to the party behind them "Time to see what the King of Spiders has to offer" He said to them in a neutral manner, preparing to embark as soon as the party was ready to move on.
"Let's go."
Nodding to the wizard, Lazlo turns and steps forward. His first steps on the plank brought with them both the sound of strained wood and a stronger smell of the sea, witch each step and creek of the wooden bridge beneath him Lazlo's eyes caught more of the ships and their wavering reflection upon the surface of the watery mirror they stood on. The former Noble had never seen much of the sea before and he was sure he would have found the sight soothing if he didn't know what these ships held and what kind of activities they hid behind their wooden hulls.
Kalvin shakes his head at the moral swamp he had entered and wondered to himself if these easy sins, these moral pitfalls, weren't sometimes a greater evil than any devil or demon loosed on Golarion.
As the group makes their way to the large ship pointed out by the helpful guardsman, they see that it is clearly the largest of the 5 ships. Formerly a warship. the Eel's End has a figurehead of a coiling eel with a woman's head. Several drunkards, sailors, and revelers dance and drink on the large main deck here, while the aft deck is relatively clear. A pair of large double doors bearing a complex painting of a spider allows entrance to the stern section of the main deck. A pair of well armed guards stand sentinel at these doors.
Along the quay leading to he ship, interspersed among the revelers, you were able to see 4 or 5 more armed soldiers, well built and formidable looking keeping an eye on the place. You saw a misunderstanding lead to a shoving match and watched impressed as two of the guards took out the drunken combatants before, incapacitating them before anyone could get seriously hurt. The guards then dragged the unconscious bodies to the mainland, dumping them unceremoniously in the street.
Looks like these aren't like the rabble we've dealt with a few moments ago Lazlo stepped back and only slightly turned to face his group, hoping to not draw any unneeded attention.
"Let us continue forward, do not speak to these guards unless spoken to, if we are lucky we'll find Barvasi within without having to deal with them" Whispered Lazlo, shifting his eyes towards the door decorated with the overly intricate spider.
"We have important business to attend to inside, can you please allow us to enter?" Avan's voice was echoed both command and respect, with only a hint of urgency.
The guards look at you, then each other, then back at you again. Then they shrug. "If you want in there, fine. If the King of Spiders doesn't want you in there, I'm sure you'll be the first to know."
And with that, they draw back, actually opening the door for your to allow you to enter.
The doors open into a large room that was once a captain's cabin and has now 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 lingers a tiny, tired-looking purple dragon.
Sitting in the leather chair is a tall man with close cropped black hair. He gives you a warm smile, but his blue eyes look bored and uninterested. He wears black leather armor with a spider-shaped steel baldric criss-crossing his chest. Spiders crawl on the man's arms and chest, seemingly unnoticed by him.
Sitting at one of the tables are a half-dozen Korvosan street toughs. They are right in the middle of feeding their faces with the rough manners common to their lot, when you intrude. They look to the man in the leather chair, and he speaks to you:
"Who are you to boldly walk into my throne room? Don't you know what happens when foolish flies get caught in a spider's web? Perhaps you better re-think your entrance and fly away before it's too late."
Crux hides deep within his hood. As the guards speak he turns his face to them and nods when he passes by them.
Perception
He walks in and immediately dislikes the man sitting on the throne. There's something about him that reminds Crux of Lamm. He stays quiet and hidden within his robes.
Kalvin steps in looking around.
"Flies get eaten when caught in a spider's web," Kalvin responds with a smile. "But wasps on the other hand..."
The young paladin's hand brushes slightly against the hilt of his sword.
"But stingers and fangs are for foes, gold is for friends," Kalvin withdraws a gold coin and flips it to Devargo.
"And with our patron, gold flows freely among friends."
After Giving the room the once over with his eyes, Lazlo halted in his tracks motioned for those behind him to stop and signaled to Kalvin to step back to him "I think it is best to give our host all the room he needs, especially considering the trap door he has in front of him" Said Lazlo before turning to face Barvasi, trying to discern what the so called king of spiders had in stored for them.
Following his studious glance of their host, Lazlo then shifted his green eyes towards his thugs, the sight of one of them eating two chicken legs at the same time caused him to linger a bit more than he has to Will one leg magically disappear if you bit on one first? Mocked the former noble mentally before returning his attention to the owner of the boat they stood in.
"But we'll look past such extreme measures of security, one can't be too careful" Began the rogue, his voice settling on a neutral stance "As my friend have told you, we've come to baring nothing but benefit, and what we ask in return is the location of a customer of yours...I am sure you know Ambassador Amprei" Continues Lazlo, his tone growing into a stern but diplomatic form.
I wonder what is the make of this trap door? Lazlo studies the trap with a few cursory glances in its directions.
The large bruiser smiles at you complacently, "Where this is one gold freely given, there is certainly more, lad. The question is how much more and what would have for it?" His eyes flash at the mention of the trap door, and he gives you a brief nod as if to say 'good for you'.
When Lazlo mentions Amprei, Devargo's eyes narrow and he turns to him. "Do I know you? You look familiar to me, but...out of place somehow. Hmmm. Yes, I know Amprei's location, you should too. He's likely at the Chelish Embassy dining on some young thing, if you take my meaning..."
It appears the thugs in the room are subservient to Barvasi, and that he takes great pains to ignore or belittle them. His motions aren't overly hostile, but mainly bored and disinterested.
EDIT:
He's seen me before? Could he have been At one of the many parties, my family threw? I avoided the ones I could...but I'd certainly remember someone with a spider motif Lazlo collected his thoughts and reaffirmed his conviction, his glance towards the man that stood before them was still diplomatic but it had more steel now.
"I used to be a part of certain social circles" Lazlo walked a little closer but made sure to keep away from the trap door I am taking a risk here, but now I have to know how far do these spider's fangs go in the dealings of nobles...I don't think my brothers would use a man such as him to strike at Andrea, but I can't take that chance.
"Before we continue we just like to make sure that our money will be well spent" Lazlo's began weaving the first web of words that they would hopefully leave them with all the information they would need from Devargo.
"What do you know of the brothers Verrgaio or the Arkona girl who had her claws set firmly in one of the Korvosan guard captains?" Asked Lazlo, in a tone that was not so different from a buyer who measuring the value of an item he was about to purchase.
"Simple queries for a man such as you, but we must insure that this gold is well spent, I am sure you'd agree" Finished Lazlo, as he crossed his arms and continued staring at their bored host.
"Well with the Chelish, I'm never sure if we're talking about sex or cannibalism," Kalvin quips. "As for Amprei, it's not so much his location we're concerned about, but whom he spends his time with, we're not interested in getting rid of the man. But rather turning his interests toward a better, richer Korvosa, one with more disposable income to spend pursuing interests."
Barvasi laughs. "Vimanda Arkona's dalliance with the Guardsman is well known to me, and I guess one could call her a 'girl' if one didn't know any better. A predator may be more fitting. The Arkona's allow and support my existence in Old Korvosa, I will not speak or act against their interests, as that would not be good business. But if you seek dirt on the doings and dealings of Ambassador Amprei, perhaps I could be convinced to help. I have some "delicate" information which might prove useful, but....I am not inclined to share it with just anyone. What's in in it for me?"
Crux moves over to peer into the birdcage, or as far as he is allowed and examines the little purple dragon. "He is a man of rare tastes and elite desires. He has the ability to give what we need."
Diplomacy
|
Chagrined that he did not spot the trap door, Marnos keeps quiet, looking for something to say, but as ever, words fail him.
Spiders that are kept under control. Thugs that are kept under control. Even the Pseudo-dragon is controlled. I'll bet that Barvasi is well aware of who we are and what we have available for him. Bluffing probably won't work. Best to let him think us under his control. At least for now.
"As my companion has stated, we are only interested in insuring that the good ambasador has Korvosa" With these words Lazlo motioned at Barvasi "And its citzens are his sole concern when making any decisions in the future" Lazlo, gave the apathetic looking man a small enigmatic smile.
These words and smile came at a huge effort, as inside of Lazlo a battle of wills was raging, a part of him was screaming in rage as visions of the Arkona's smiles whenever he attended their events and parties flashed before him, those smiles that at the time he took as polite now appeared mocking, but he knew that in time he would wipe away their smiles, in time he would gain enough power to wash away the filth that littered his beloved city As for you Barvasi, I'll burn your ships, cut away the webs that keep you attached to Korvosa...and then we'll find out if a spider can swim or not...
"Depends on the value on the information obviously," Yoshima responds. "What's your normal fee and then lets add a premium to show our appreciation."
Barvasi yawns. "While I was interested for a moment, this is beginning to bore me. Gold Sails might wake me up again, or perhaps you'd like to join in a game of Knivesies to re-earn my interest."
The thugs at the table make choking noises as says this and try to make themselves as small as possible.
"You better not be wasting my time, if you want to buy my dirt on Amprei. I might part with that for the better part of 1500 sails."
Immediately remembering the game Lazlo begins whispering its details to his companions, all the while struggling to keep the diplomatic look on his face.
|
|
Marnos smirks briefly as Lazlo explains the game to him, as he knows of it, but concentrates his attention on Barvasi and his guards. Judging by their reactions, I'd guess he's a past master at knivesies, and probably vicious too. Probably best not to play him. Despite his scrutiny, Marnos is unable to decipher Barvasi's motive.
Crux continues to keep his eyes on the purple dragon as he responds to Barvasi. "1500! We are not rubes, Sir, and Amprei is not that important. We will give you 700 for the information."
Knowledge (arcana) to identify the dragon
Crux easily identifies the pseudodragon as they are a common site in Korvosa and likely he has seen them in his magical education before.
Barvasi grumbles at the counteroffer. "I am not here to dicker with you like a rug merchant, but send one of yours up on the table against on of mine, and I may consider your 700 sails. Which will it be?"
He points to one of the thugs and motions for him to get ready for the game. The man is a burly sort, with lots of muscles but little sense.
"I'll do it, but if I win you'll take 500 sails," Kalvin responds.
The paladin takes his sword off his hip and hands it to Gorum, walks over to the table and jumps up on it.
"There is something off about the way he mentioned his offer, I can't say what but keep your eyes open" Whispers Lazlo to the bounty hunter as he kept his eyes on the impatient crime lord.
"We need sometime to make our decision, I am sure you could extend that to guests who are bearing gifts" Said Lazlo to Barvasi, his voice neutral, but the brows on his head grew closer, indicating his dissatisfaction with the whole situation.
Sorry I ninja'd you Lazlo.
"If I am worthy, the Inheritor will protect me," Kalvin responds with a smile.
Graxton knows better about loosening his tounge when it matters to the group and their endeavors. He still needed to learn more before risking a slip of the tongue. He stays at the back of the group letting his armor and weapons, and height do his talking for him.
Walking at an awkward angle in order to avoid coming close to Barvasi's trap dor, Lazlo makes his way to their opponents champion and gives him a mock studious glance.
"Yes you are about the same size of his previous opponent, poor man left with a broken arm...well good luck" Said Lazlo to the thug before walking back diwn the same path he used to get here.
"Oh you'll fight and you'll fight now. I will take the 700 sails and maybe your ass too, boy! if you want my information, that's the least it can be if you fight well. If you fight like the pansy you look like, it'll be more."
As Lazlo asks for more time, Barvasi thunders:"Gods no! I want blood and I want it now!"
The other man, the thug fighter, gingerly climbs aboard the table. Eyes darting back to Barvasi fearfully. Another thug takes a leather thong and binds Kalvin's left arm to the thug's left. Barvasi walks over and sprinkles a shower of gold coins on the table, then jams his dagger blade down into the table top in the center.
"Start already!" the King of Spiders shouts impatiently.
Knivesies - Round 1
17 Thug
10 Kalvin
The Thug reaches back and tries to slug Kalvin, throwing all his weight behind the punch. The result is a quick, hard jab to the nose of the youth, which erupts in a shower of blood.
From his spidery throne, Barvasi laughs as if it's the funniest thing he's ever seen.
Kalvin absorbs the blow and steels himself.
Kalvin swings back.
This won't end well, we need a distraction... It was during his thought process that Lazlo noticed he was looking outside the window Of course... Then with deliberate steps he got closer to the window, stayed there for a moment, banged his fist against its frame and turned an angry look on his face "Bloody guards are in the area!! What kind of game are you playing Barvasi?!!" shouted Lazlo, as he pointed an accusing finger at the so called King of Spiders.
Barvasi's attention turns from the fight on the tabletop to the rogue at the window. "What!" he roars. "There better not be any Guard here. My payments to Arkona are too dear for that to happen." He brushes past the fight and shoves Lazlo from the window looking for himself.
"Stop that man. He's casting something." says Barvasi pointing at Marnos as he brushes past. Two of the thugs from the behind the table, get up and come toward Marnos, ready to rumble.
On the table, round 2 begins. The man lunges for the dagger, trying to pick it up before the paladin can.
"Deals off!" Said Lazlo, a sign of anger in his voice that may not have been false "Get off from that table we are leaving! We came here for information not to rot in a cell!!" He continues before turning to the goons that grabbed Marnos.
"You might want to let go off him you idiots he was casting a spell to sense if there were any guards around!!" He practically roars at the thugs who stood by the bounty hunter.
As the man lunges for the dagger, Kalvin drives to drive his knee through his face.
If that hits damage
Kalvin shouts at Lazlo and the others; "If they're guards handle them. But I'm not getting punched in the face for nothing."
As the fighting thug bends for the knife, Kalvin gives him a sharp knee to the face striking him hard as a squelching crunch emanates from the man's broken nose. His hand does wrap around the knife hilt pulling it free, and standing, if a little unsteadily back on his feet.
"Oh, the deal is most definitely off." Barvasi growls through clenched teeth, turning back from his gaze out the porthole. "There are no guards out there. I don't know what you are pulling, but I've had enough. Get them all boys! Don't leave them alive!"
And with that mass melee ensues.
Throne of Spiders - Round 1
23 Blue Thug
22 Barvasi
21 Lazlo
15 Marnos
14 Kalvin
13 Crux
13 Green Thug
12 White Thug
10 Orange Thug
10 Graxton
9 Red Thug
9 Purple Thug
It's pretty close quarters as the fight breaks out. Kalvin and the Green Thug are still on the table top. The rest of the thugs all have chain mail and swords. Barvasi has 2 bladed gauntlets at his belt, and a small hand crossbow.
Blue Thug launches himself at Marnos, without drawing a blade, trying to grapple the half-elf before weapons can get drawn. He manages to hold the inquisitor for a moment before Marnos can wriggle free.
Across the cabin, Barvasi begins laughing sadistically, arming himself with those razor-sharp gauntlets.
"That is fine" Answer Lazlo in a cool manner, despite the stern look on his face "I had planned to come back and kill you" The rapier leaves its sheath with a whisper of metal scraping against leather "This saves time...scum"
Without another word Lazlo swings his drawn rapier at his opponent's head, but before the sword could even touch Devargo's brow, It retracted and returned to its position in Lazlo's defensive stance.
"Beware! Barvasi's weapons are poisoned."