Each of the five thugs who weren't devoured by their shadows was wearing a suit of chain mail and wielding a sap. They each also have a potion of cure light wounds, a javelin, and a masterwork warhammer.
"Oh, yeah." Dakkar gave a slightly fatigued, bestial shrug. "The blood frenzy can get out of control from time to time. That's what I meant about preferring to avoid fighting... or at least REALLY fighting. I've at least got a better handle on it than my dad does, so it could be a lot worse."
Dakkar looked at the dead thugs, tail whipping back and forth. "So who do you think these thugs were working for? It'd be nice if all the people who want us dead or captured would sign a list or something."
Vashi laughed. "My guess would be that whoever hired them was a middle-man and that they don't really know who wants us dead. Also, if they carried the bounty on them, then things would be too easy. "
”Let’s get on to our appointment, shall we, perhaps that will yield some answers?”
"Seems a fair enough idea. Got anything you can do about the annoying weakening effect those shadows left?"
As you approach the compound it becomes obvious that Mr. Sarlu has gone all-in on the 'under the sea' theme. The walls are made of slightly pink, rough stone, almost resembling some sort of coral, without any windows to break the outline. Its curved shapes suggest something organic instead of manmade, and there's even some sort of magical lighting projecting rippling wave-like patterns on the walls.
The door opens as you approach, revealing a small, squid-like being with three large black eyes.
"Your reputation seems accurate," he says smoothly, motioning with one tentacle towards the room behind him. "Please, come in. Mr. Sarlu will be seeing you shortly."
Iskender tells Dakkar, ”as odd as it may sound, I actually can assist, but let’s see how this meeting goes first.”
Dilwyn finds himself subconsciously holding his breath because of the water theme. Every so often he has to remind himself to breathe. As such, he's not got much to say as he follows the others into the building. Not to mention the continued oddity of being invited in by a squid.
Dilwyn casually begins to wonder if any of this is even happening, or if he's having a weirdly vivid dream or a complete mental breakdown.
What can I tell about this aquatic butler creature?
Iskender responds to the greeting, "Thank you, you are too kind. Would you be a dear creature and keep an eye out, we underwent some difficulty on our way over, and we would prefer that it remain an isolated incident."
Kit looks at the creature and starts craving seafood. And Ale. Seafood and ale would be great right now. His stomach starts to rumble. As they wait for Mr. Sarlu, he says to the others, Did I ever tell you all of the lass that I once met who told me she was a mermaid? he pauses for a second and adds, I thought her story was fishy! He then laughs a hearty laugh.
Dakkar eyes everything warily, not having much to add at the current time.
Iskender can't really tell more than the obvious about this creature--it probably swims well, and it has a lot of limbs.
The creature waves you into the front atrium of the compound. A variety of sculptures adorn the walls in here, while a large pool on one side has an oddly-designed couch at its edge. Solid ivory doors lead north and south, while a ladder leads up through the ceiling in a corner, likely to one of the towers.
"Do not worry. This entrance is well-guarded," the creature says. "I am Oulek, Mr. Sarlu's... majordomo, I think is the term, yes? Now, tell me, how much did your associate explain to you of the arrangement she negotiated?"
"I do not mean to be rude, but I know enough to say that our business is with Mr. Sarlu, not with his majordomo, and yes, that is the term."
Kit nods in agreement when Iskender speaks all the while thinking of tartar sauce.
"You will not see him without my approval," Oulek states, simply. "So feel free to say nothing and leave. Mr. Sarlu does not want his time wasted, and there is no one else who can allow you through the Red Gate."
"Very well, then let's assume we know nothing, and you can tell us everything." Iskender considers a moment before proceeding, "I know too many tails where a rich or powerful individual has in their employ, one or more trusted lieutenants, who should not be so trusted, and are one hatched plot away from deposing their leader and taking over the entire operation. Discretion is one of the qualities we bring to the table in these endeavors, and discretion does not include divulging plans to anyone but the boss. I truly hope that my bluntness does not offend."
It's rather hard to read a squid's expression, you're finding out. You have no idea if he's impressed by your tenacity or annoyed.
"You wish to go through the Red Gate, and in return you are willing to perform whatever tasks Mr. Sarlu sets before you, yes?"
”We have morals and limits. We will not commit to just anything.”
Dakkar pays some attention to this.
"Possibly. We're not so stupid as to agree to a deal before knowing what we're agreeing to first."
"You can, of course, refuse any of Mr. Sarlu's requests. You'll just have to negotiate for access to the gate some other way."
Kit sighs. Yes, we want to get home. If Mr. Sarlu can get us there, we might do him a favor in return. Just like Mr. Sarlu doesn't want his time wasted, neither do we. You can tell us the task or Mr. Sarlu can and then we will either talk details or be on our way. Sound good?
"Mr. Sarlu is the only one who can give you what you want. Perhaps you had best remember that."
Oulek turns and opens the door to the north.
"This way."
He leads you into a comfortably-appointed sitting room, with painted sculptures and a variety of shapes of seating scattered around it in what you suppose is an aesthetic fashion. Doors lead out in each of the cardinal directions. Unless one of you objects, he closes the door to the south after you all enter.
"Wait here. I will confer with Mr. Sarlu on whether or not he will see you."
Oulek goes through the door to the east, closing it behind him.
After the swimmer leaves, Iskender turns to his friends, "so, fish boy is a bit of a prick!"
Gah! I hate dealing with middle men! Especially those that look like they should be served at some seedy waterfront tavern with bad ale. Kit thinks for a moment. I should know. I have been in plenty of those taverns!
Vashi is a little too preoccupied with her surroundings to notice the conversation around her.
Dilwyn tries sitting down on one of the least objectionable shapes. "I think you might have been a hair overly antagonistic towards the squid, but then again it's been a frustrating...," he trails off thinking. "Month? How long has it even been? I dunno. It's been frustrating."
Dakkar curled up on whichever cushion looked most durable to wait.
"...So, do we want to discuss how we're going about talking to this Sarlu person? Or just wing it? Might be good to at least agree on a common front or minimum standards or something."
After what seems like far too long, Oulek opens the door again.
"Please, come in," he says, waving you forward.
On the other side is another fancifully decorated room. Rich tiling covers the floor, while huge murals of aquatic life decorate the walls. The eastern half of the room holds a pool of murky green water, too deep to see the bottom of. A bizzare machine with numerous barrels, valves, and pipes sits nearby it, three tubes reaching from it into the water. In the south, a large painted sculpture of... something sits next to an aquarium on wheels, which is also filled with green water. Five folding chairs and one large stool sit near the pond.
"Take a seat. Mr. Sarlu will speak with you," Oulek states after all of you have entered. That said, he leaves, shutting the door behind him.
After a moment of silence, a silken voice sounds in your heads. "Make yourselves comfortable, friends. Enjoy the seating Oulek has provided. I understand you require use of my Red Gate, and I'm happy to oblige, but first you must tell me more about yourselves. What led you here and what is it you seek on the other side?"
Iskender smiles, ”your information is somewhat true. As we understand it, you stand to gain more from our help than we are likely to get from you. While you may have access, exclusive or otherwise, to the Red Gate, you don’t have it fully functional. And you need it functional to use as the basis for your own Coterie. Now, I don’t know the first thing about getting one of these gates running, but I’ll bet you do, or you have someone who does, and somehow we can help make that happen. We’re certainly willing to listen, and probably to help, but obviously we have needs too.”
Kit nods along to everything Iskender says.
Kit nods along to everything Iskender says.
"The gate works perfectly well for sending people... which is what you need, correct? Else you would not be here," the voice replies. "I am quite willing to allow you through it once you do my tasks, but I am curious. What could be on the other side of the gate you would want so much to be willing to go when return may not be an option?"
"Adventure and alcohol mostly."
Kit continues to nod his head in agreement and adds, Definitely the alcohol!
Dakkar shrugs.
"I'm mostly along for the ride. I don't even know what this place is, but it's better than a prison cell."
"I'm here more for the adventure part, but don't think I'm a lightweight when it comes to drinking."
A transparent lie, but no matter, Mr. Sarlu 'says'. If you cannot return, it's hardly important what's on the other side, and if you do, well, you will tell me then, agreed? It is only reasonable that I know what is on the other side of my gate.
Now, I understand that you ran into some trouble with one of the coteries on the way here, yes? Have you had any incidents with them before?
"Wait! So you are saying that your gate is functional, you've just never sent someone through it yet?"
A number of people have gone through. None have returned. Was that not clear before? Your person seemed to know this already.
”It wasn’t quite clear, but it is now.”
Dakkar looked mildly annoyed.
"Hey, even I caught that much from the explanation. All part of the usual 'horribly dangerous task' business, right? Still, going into a gate that nobody's ever come out of beats doing nothing."
"Is gate travel two-way?" Dilwyn asks, suddenly. He's been thinking about the problem for a while now. "I can turn into various animals and such. If the problem is that the other side is submerged, or something equally hazardous, I can scout it, quickly turn into something that can handle it, then report back so we can better prepare as a group. Going in blind is probably the downfall of everyone else, I'd guess. But this idea only works if the gates normally work such that you can step through and then right back through. The only gate I went through intentionally was to escape a place, so I didn't even think to try it."
I would hope that the gate take us home, but as long as the place has good ale, I'm game!
We are fairly certain that it is the gate itself that has difficulties, the voice replies. While there are none with the knowledge of the ancients left to build and repair them, there is enough still known for my man to tell that it truly is sending people away, but is not capable of bringing people back. Does this change your willingness to enter this agreement?
Now, I understand you had some difficulties with one of the other coteries' men on the way in. Have they given you any trouble before?
”Functional, but not functional then. None of us are portal fixers. You have an expert to come with?”