Lazlo gave the winged beast an inquisitive glance "Rest assured that you are not the only one who would wish death upon this scum but it is as Kalvin says, this criminal is his prisoner and if it wasn't for his decision I would have slit his throat myself after getting the information we needed" After these words Lazlo turned around walked closer to his companions.
"I say we try the double doors first, any other suggestions?" He said bluntly as he walked a bit closer to the double door and the door beside it, and like before he scanned both with his eyes for signs of manipulation, hidden triggers or firmly held strings.
Kelvin hears Grax talk of his spells and channels.
"My meager healing is exhausted, as is my ability to channel my Goddess' wrath at her foes. I recommend we find what we are looking for and we leave," he is then silent for a moment before running to Grax. "What is your opinion Grax? Have I taken in a fool's errand by taking Barvasi captive? Should I have just paid him his money and left or let Lazlo execute justice in his moan or?"
Neither the double doors nor the single door on this end of the hold appear to be trapped.
With a single and quick look to his companions Lazlo opens the door with his left hand and keeps his rapier in position for any attacks that could come from within.
The door opens easily enough, revealing the privy. Three stalls with privacy doors line the ship's wall here each with a tiny-sized hole at the end of a narrow chute, allowing waste to be expelled into the river below.
Nothing of interest is in this room.
Lazlo goes for the double doors next, carefully opening them ready for any kind of opposition they might face.
"Kalvin, I believe you have done right by your goddess and what I know of you. Gorum would have said 'that one' was forfeit for his loss. I agree to what you have done, though it is not what I would have done. Korvasoa is not a kind city and many die by her mericiless edge." He seems sincere and still waits at the back ready for any threats.
The double doors open to reveal a cramped forward hold. The place is heavy with crates, barrels and boxes. A search of the stuff reveals little of actual value, mostly firewood, water and foodstuffs.
Lazlo moves to the southern singles doors and begins showering them with the same studious gaze he had given the previous ones.
Neither of the doors near the bilge entrance appear to be trapped, nor are any sounds heard from inside either portal.
The bilge is filled with smelly, stagnant black-brown water that laps casually against the side of the hold.
Slowly Lazlo's hand turned the handle of the eastern door to reveal...
The door here opens to reveal a meeting room. A single low desk sits against the wall of this room. A large wooden door marked with an intricate painting of a spider is on the southern wall. Another door, unmarked, is in the northern wall.
This room looks like it has seen little use, and while the table is big enough for 4 chairs, only two are pushed against it now.
It was surprising to Lazlo how dull the rest of the ship was compared to the "throne room" of Barvasi, it was now clear without a doubt that Barvasi was a man who only cared about what he presented, but on the inside...he was as common as any thug that walked the street, and that made the former noble wonder how someone like the supposed King of Spiders find his throne.
After the tedious job of searching the room, Lazlo went to the northern door and studied it like he did the previous doors that followed And here I was expecting a man who would turn his whole ship into a death trap if he could, one measly trap door to show his supposed cleverness... The rogue turned his face towards their prisoner, but there was more in his stare then hatred...it was something akin to indifference.
There appear to be no traps on any of the doors leading from this small office, and there is nothing more of value or interest than has already been described.
"Then we should consider not going in there. How will battling that creature help us complete our mission?"
"I agree, the northern door it is" Said Lazlo as he opened the door he mentioned.
Graxton grunts in agreement from what he can hear.
The door opens into a wooden chamber that is clean and dry. An ornate bed rests against the far wall, while a single dresser and a round table and chair fill out the rest of the room. A wooden sea chest sits at the foot of the bed.
The sounds of shifting furniture and footsteps filled the air as Lazlo began searching the room for anything that would interest them, taking extra care in this particular search because of the state of the room and the ornate bed This is Barvasi's room, I doubt he'd have such luxuries for the men he hires Lazlo took of the sheets of the bed, messily discarding on the floor and then looked under it for anything that could catch their attention.
After he was done with the room, Lazlo turned towards the sea chest and studied it from afar, as with the doors he looked for any signs of tampering, and whatever markings left behind by their hosts attempts at securing his belongings.
Lazlo opens the chest and peers at what lies within it.
Lazlo works on disarming the trap.
Lazlo bends to look at the chest. He doesn't notice any traps on the box, and as he works on the lock he is soon frustrated when it doesn't open.
Devargo snickers behind his gag, as you have trouble working his locked sea chest.
Marnos crosses to the other side of the foyer room, guarding the last door.
Lazlo just then remembers the twi metal keys they found, pulls them out and tries them one by one on the chest.
Since Kalvin is holding the leash and Crux is ready to put a new hole in him should be try anything Graxton helps searching for any hidden panels in a section of the wall taking his time.
Graxton does not find any hidden panels or secret rooms in his search but Lazlo does discover that one of the keys fits the seachest.
Opening the chest he finds a variety of items: a jasper studded amulet, a gold necklace fitted with emeralds, a mother of pearl horn, a ring with a tiny jade dragonfly, a scroll, a small elixir in a glass container, two pouches filled with dust, and 6 sacks each holding 100 gp.
Additionally, the chest holds 2 scandalous love letters written to Ambassador Amprei from a woman named Verania Tvastiox, the young wife of a Cheliaxian noble back home. The details in the letter are quite salacious and exacting, leaving little room for misinterpretation. If made public, Amprei would be disgraced and his life may even be in jeopardy.
Detecting magic reveals that the ring, the scroll, the elixir, and the pouches all appear to be magical.
"We have what we came for" Lazlo got up from his crouching position near the chest, in his right hand two letters "We don't need his cooperation or information now" He tucks the letters in his back pack.
"I suggest we leave, unless you plan to burn the ship...which would be better done from the outside" Said the former noble, his green eyes shifting towards Barvasi and then the rest of the group.
Kalvin nods.
"Leave him his treasures," Kalvin suggests. "We have what was stolen from the Ambassador. We leave you with your ship, your treasure and your life. My price for your release are these documents."
Kalvin releases the man, but does not unbind him or ungag him.
"I need some fresh air and we have a reformed thug to pay."
"Enjoy your kingdom" Lazlo walked out of the room and began his trek to the exit.
"I doubt it will happen, but I hope you will let this go. I fully believe it is the best thing for everyone involved." Crux goes with the others.
As you leave the now-dethroned King of Spiders in his bedchamber, bound and gagged still, his eyes burn with a barely concealed rage. It is not hard to tell the smouldering need for revenge there, and you imagine this is not the last you've seen of Devargo Barvasi.
With the letters in tow, you head back to the now-empty throne room. From there back to the deck of the Eel's End. A few guards stand in a knot around the door, but when you open it, they all step back, hands in the air.
"You'll get no fight from us, lads." says the sergeant of the guardsmen. "We'll keep the riff-raff away, but none of us are trained to deal with killers such as yourselves. If you can handle Barvasi, then we'll not trouble you except to leave us in peace."
He bows low and motions for you to disembark back to the long pier if you choose.
Silence came over Lazlo, he stared at the speaker and the rest of the supposedly surrendering guards; studying their movements and facial expressions for any hints of deception, his ears heard their words and tone, looking for signs of lies; the stretching of certain words, or an attempt to hide a shaky tone.
Before leaving Barvasi and to put a point to Crux's argument, Graxton slams his greatsword into the floor board near his head. "I know you will want revenge for this, but be glad we stand to our morales of our paladin. Your life is forfeit by Gorum's rules, if you do come after us I will take all that they let you have and more. Beware your actions."
He pulls out his sword with little difficulty and follows his companions out. He wants to know more about their new friend, "So little dragon, what should we call you? Will you be staying with us for very long?"
_________
As they leave Graxton is last. His greatsword resting lightly in his hands and one of his shoulders. He was actually looking for another fight and willingly waits for them to strike.
Kelvin approaches the Orange thug and hands him a small coin purse filled with 100 gold.
"Barvasi it's alive and tied up in the belly of his ship, this gold should be more than enough for you to get out of the city and live comfortably before Barvasi starts to look for you, but don't dawdle here long, I've no doubt the Guardsmen will release Barvasi soon."
Kelvin nods to the guards as he exits. Motioning back to the thug behind him.
"This ones with us, Barvasi's alive, bruised and bound, but alive. Be careful, there's a giant spider down there with him that we didn't have time to squish."
Neither Lazlo nor Marnos has any reason to doubt the sincerity of the over-awed guardsmen. They allow you to pass freely, including the Orange Thug who takes the sack of coins and hurries off, the only survivor of his crew.
The guardsmen give you wide berth as you leave the pleasure pier at Eel's End. The trip back to Citadel Volshyenek is uneventful and soon you are at the door to Field Marshal Kroft's private office.
As you shown in, the Field Marshal rises in welcome. "You are back! Were you successful in obtaining some leverage against Amprei?"
Relief was not something Lazlo felt very often these days, but when he left the docks and entered a more reputable area of the city, it washed over him like a flood. His face relaxed ever so slightly before regaining its usual grim expression upon entering the citadel. He walked to the Field Marshal with purpose clear in his footsteps and immediately upon hearing her inquiry his hand deftly unveiled the letters they had "acquired" from Barvasi.
"I think you will find all the evidence you need within these letters, and you'll be happy to know that we did not need to give that scum any coins for him to spend on further poisoning Korvosa" Lazlo handed the letters Kroft, his eyes set on the Field Marshal's own.
Graxton took the time from the eel's end to the citadel to check each of his allies on their wounds and to make sure nothing was infected.
Taking a 10, he has 17 on a heal check for each of them. He takes extra care looking at those hit by Barvaski and his poisoned blades.
If met with resistance he will say something to the like of, "Stop your fussing unless you want to lose that leg."
"I think it important to point out that any future dealings with Barvasi may prove more difficult due to the way in which we obtained the evidence. But, as he mentioned, we are returning with a full purse."
Cressida Kroft blushes as she reads the scandalous letters and quickly passes them to adjutant for safe-keeping. "These should work perfectly to position Amprei where we want him. He should no longer be a viable threat against the city."
She offers you each a gold royal ingot bar, worth 100gp. "This is further reward in addition to any of the funds offered for your use previously. I am glad the King of Spiders had a set-back, it is well-deserved, and gives us an opportunity to clean up the rackets at Eel's End before he gets too powerful again."
"As of this moment, I don't have an immediate assignment for you. Go, then, and spend your money wisely. I will be sure to reach out to you when I have need of your special services once again."
With the weight of many gold pieces weighing you down, you depart Citadel Volshyenek for some well-deserved R&R. What do you do?
"Thank you for allowing me to help my city" Said Lazlo, sincerity clear as a newly minted coin in every word he spoke "Since you have no need for us now I will take my leave"
..........................................................................
After spending a decent amount of what he had on better equipment in anticipation for their next assignment, Lazlo walked into the inn that pretty much served as his home, ignoring the hustle and bustle of the customers and and giving a polite nod to the owner on his way to his room.
After locking the door, taking off his armor, bag, weapons and propping his rapier against the wall just within arms reach, he climbed into bed and waited for sleep to take him.