Seren's new found 'friends' explain that if you can't afford the 'toll', you'd have to gain enough notoriety to get Barvasi's attention.
"Given all of this, one recommends we be at our most diplomatic," Absinthe murmurs, "and - businesslike. Show no emotion."
"Agreed. I don't feel like being tortured today."
"Right." Rosa sighs. "Looks like we either pay the tax, or we go with our usual Plan B."
"Run and stab things?" Absinthe suggests.
"In a way, yes Abby."
Rosa thinks for awhile before she just sighs. "This probably isn't the place to discuss this," she finally says.
Seren will stumble over to the Eels End finding the nearest guard-like individual.
"So wuzzit cost to get on this ship ... hiccup?"
"Piss off, drunkard," the man replies.
"No, no, seriously ... I have money." Seren begins to dig around in his money pouch, making excessive coin noise.
Segang leans close into Absinthe like he is familiar with her and whispers. Those oafs at the door to the Eel will likely not know their master's business. Simply explain to them that we are expected. Your quick wit will surely dazzle them.
"One shall endeavour to meet the needs before us," Absinthe says, but she sounds slightly hesitant.
Despite this, the tiefling tucks away her tail and sashays up to the guards, swinging her hips with a bit more allure than usual.
"This is a group of entertainers, sent for the amusement of the King of the Spiders by... an associate of his as a sign of respect," she says. There is a sudden, and rather uncomfortable Infernal accent in her voice, which laces the innocent-seeming words with darkness.
"We desire introduction and safe conduct to the King's court. Delay would be... unfortunate and... undiplomatic."
The man gives Seren a blank look, but holds out his open hand.
***
The man rolls his eyes at Absinthe's 'entertainers' label, but her accent shift brings him to attention. He gives her a hard look, then nods. "Two of you can go onboard... that's it." He doesn't appear open to negotiation.
Demitri looks at Absinthe and then at Segang. "You two go, the rest of us will stay out here then."
We can't properly entertain without the rest of our talent. Explain it to him Rosa.
Rosa doesn't miss a beat. "I'm sure we can do quite a bit better if a few more of us are along..."
Seren pulls out 5 platinum and begins to reach out to the man, but studies him carefully to see if he intends to let the "drunk pirate" in.
Seren has no idea what the man's intentions are.
***
To Rosa's suggestion, he only shakes his head firmly. "Rules is rules. I don't want my head on a pike just so you can 'do better'."
Absinthe snaps her fingers at Rosa. "You," she says, the Infernal accent still strong in her voice. "Heel." She casts a brief, meaningful glance at the others. "Hold positions here. Be alert and silent."
Rosa emits a delicious purr and wraps an arm around Absinthe from behind, sliding into the assigned role like a comfortable outfit.
Demitri lets out a light chuckle. "So, Mel, Segang. How did you want to pass the time?"
Absinthe casually reaches back and seizes Rosa by the back of the neck, guiding her along as she walks onto the King's floating Court...
Seren passes the guard the coin. "Ill give you the same on the way out. Thanksh!"
Seren proceeds forward.
Call out if you need help little one. Segang says to Absinthe, obviously not happy with the arrangement. He takes a few steps away turns back and begins to scan around for ways past the guards.
Demitri lets out a light chuckle. "So, Mel, Segang. How did you want to pass the time?"
Separately, Seren and then Absinthe and Rosa are granted access to the deck of the Eel's End. The largest of the five ships tied to the pier, it is an old warship, its figurehead a coiling eel with a woman's head. Several drunkards, sailors, and revelers dance and drink on the open main deck, while the aft deck is relatively clear. A pair of large double doors bearing a complex painting of a spider allows entrance into the stern section of the main deck.
Absinthe releases Rosa's neck and strolls towards the double doors; one hand on the hilt of her rapier, the other around Rosa's waist.
Absinthe proceeds to open the doors, if at all possible.
Seren moves to stay within eyesight and earshot of Absinthe and Rosa, but not hanging "with" them, yet. He'll engage in meaningless drivel with nearby drunks.
Segang stomps around looking unhappy, and in general like he might try something stupid...
"C'mon. Let's go get a drink or something." Demitri looks at the unhappy barbarian.
The doors open into a large room, once a captain's cabin, now 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 in 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 throne is Devargo Barvasi, a tall man with close-cropped black hair, pale skin and blue eyes. He wears black leather armor, accented with a steel spider-shaped baldric and thick chains crossing his chest in a web-like pattern. Now and then, spiders clamber over his skin, but he takes no notice of them.
Six roguish men are seated at the tables, enjoying a sumptuous meal and sharing boastful stories loudly. They stumble into silence as you enter. Barvasi greets you with a warm smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "Welcome, friends. To what do we owe this unannounced visit?"
Absinthe sketches a courteous bow towards Devargo Barvasi.
"To one of the best reasons for unnanounced visits in Korvosa, Your Mayesty," she says, the Infernal accent softer, more subservient now. "An opportunity for profit -- and the chance to secure your income. May we approach?"
;
"Ah, here we are again. Segang, Demitri, we really ought to invest in a small battering ram, as we are usually relegated to skulking out of doors. That, and a deck of cards that isn't haunted."
"We really should, or learn a hobby of some kind."
"An opportunity for profit -- and the chance to secure your income. May we approach?"
"No, you may not. But close the door and state your business. I'll give you a minute to convince me of this 'opportunity', before I have you thrown out." The men at the table glance back and forth between you and Barvasi, nervously awaiting the outcome.
Absinthe snaps her fingers at Rosa, then waggles them at the door, all without breaking eye contact with Barvasi.
"Your Majesty," she says, "would you agree that, while chaos and war present opportunities for high, short-term profit, peace and the undisrupted continuation of peaceful international relations and trade represent the best chance for long-term profit and stability for those who travel in such circles as ours? And that, therefore, it is logical and desirable to prevent people from disturbing such peaceful international relationships and trade in as expedient a manner as possible?"
Rosa takes a deep breath, and not just to emphasize her figure. "I'm sure a man with your tastes..." she glances around meaningfully at the spider's webbing "...can appreciate Korvosa's true nature. This isn't Riddleport, after all. We're not uncivilized about things. All of us are businesspeople here. As long as you pay your taxes, and make sure the connections are right, business stays good."
"But. . . we've heard that some of your connections are, in the long run, maybe not in things for the good of the city. They'd like to unravel the web for a silk gown. And really, what good is a silk gown on an ugly southern lady?" A rather lascivious grin follows that.
"It'll never work of course, and I'm sure you're aware of it. But with the recent shakeups, playing the edges probably isn't as safe as it once was, if you follow. A simple trade now could leave you in a better position. Nothing to connect you to new trouble the city doesn't need, a quiet favor from people who might keep further issues off your back. . . "
Seren will attempt to stay close to be able to eavesdrop.
Barvasi's glance hardens towards Rosa, and he appears less than impressed. "You chewed up a lot of words there, and most of your minute. Who the hell are you and what the hell are you talking about? Succintly, this time."
Should Rosa actually come to the doors, Seren will use Secret Signs to signal her to follow his lead and cast asilent image of the doors shutting, hopefully timed with her movements.
Seren will use Secret Signs to disguise his somatic gestures and will attempt to wave off questions about what he's saying as if he were drunk and mumbling.
"Most simply? We're working for people who can shut all this down if they have to." Rosa says. "But that would be messy, so we're asking nicely. You're blackmailing someone, we want the evidence before he does something that could force that issue. Trust me, while Korvosa would probably survive that, and you might, your business here wouldn't."
Barvasi's face darkens further as Rosa pushes her threat. "I'll trade nicely for nicely. Please leave my ship, and quickly, before I have you removed."