A maze of broken ships forms an artificial reef blocking Diobel’s harbor. This treacherous and erratic terrain teems with laborers, barge masters, pilots, and port inspectors, who busily conduct their business ferrying goods to and from the Bristles. Beyond the Trawl, seagoing ships wait their turn to offload cargo or pick up new goods. One ship stands out among the others - the freshly touched-up paint on its hull, blue with streaks of white lightning along the hull, marks it as the Blue Dragon’s Bite. It sits moored to a dock jutting from the Trawl, with several crates already offloaded nearby, and many more waiting piled on its deck.
It’s visibly obvious that the area is teeming with dockworkers who are helping to unload the ship. Although you can’t quite see ‘em - you’d have to go up the gangplank first - the voices of a man and woman carry as they argue over customs fees.
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Menarul scowls as the group seems to decide on taking out the shipping lanes instead of the chemist. Before giving up on taking out the source of the whip, Menarul tries to wrangle an agreement that the group would hunt down the formula if they don't have to skip town immediately after securing the already made whip.
"I'm not one to claim I'm smart, but I do have a few ideas of what we could do. I'm crap at sneaking, don't even ask me to try, but I can help in other ways. First I could try proving to be a distraction and let people sneak onto the boat that way. I've also been developing a firework, some people might call it a bomb but they have no understanding of aesthetics..."
Menarul pauses for a moment apparently caught up in a heated memory before blinking a few times. "Where was I? Oh, right, a firework that doesn't hurt people just tangles them up. This might work as a back up plan to plan one. A third option is to place me on a roof top with a clear view of the ship, I can add alchemical substances to my arrows, so I can shoot tangle foot bags or the likes reliably from about 150-160 feet away or unreliably up to 220 feet away. But this does mean I'm shooting the men with arrows and I can only get them to effect the one person."
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"So, we bomb the docks to create a diversion. Slip discreetly on board, locate the captain's cabin - hopefully it says 'Captain' on the door - hoping not to run into a perceptive sailor, get into the cabin, find the papers, recognizing them, and then we get back out discreetly. What could go wrong? I am in, let's go!".
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"Instead of a bomb... since you're all so worried about the law... let me be the diversion... I will go to the end of the docks and draw their attention so you can climb at the other end of the ship..." says the happy man, taking a long drink from a flask of strong whiskey.
Heading to the end of the dock, he proceeds to imitate a drunk that keeps bumping into bollards, pillars, crates... complete with elaborate falls and burps and comical mumbling.
Although most of the sailors were distracted by the argument (gossip is always interesting!), the appearance of a drunkard that happens to be jostling their goods quickly garners their attention. Several sailors converge upon Son of Cayden, several scowling, but none of them violent.
Rather, the first one to get to him offers an arm up, saying, "Let's get you up and out of here, drunk - you're bumping into our merchandise!" The other dockhands all come to help, several chuckling. One mentions to another that there may be a possible dunking if the drunk isn't, ah... compliant.
With the gathering down the way and the sailors' split attention, no one is currently observing the gangplank.
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Menarul gives a sigh as two of the group seem to ignore his words and call his masterpieces bombs. "I tell you they are not bombs! They're hand crafted and lobbed fireworks... that do about the same amount of damage as a bomb, I admit, but calling them such just degrades their beauty. Once you see one, hopefully you'll understand."
Menarul shakes his head to clear it and continues, "Penumbra, I think sneaking on to the ship is exactly what you should be doing. On the other hand, I'm going to have to try doing something else. I can't sneak around very well; my armor and all the glass I'm carrying makes such a racket I doubt I'll be able to get around easily. I'll go see if I can help Son, but I'll try staying close enough that if things go to pot, I can help out with a well placed firework."
Menarul then heads over to the ruckus that Son has created, and tries to help the bumbling drunkard stand and stay level, but in effect only creating more of a problem.
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"And who're you supposed to be?" one of the dockhands rounds on Menarul, a rather suspicious expression in place. It's obvious that he's not really sure where the half-elf came from, causing most of his discomfort.
Penumbra manages to board quietly and stealthily - like a ninja! - but Garzen has less fortune. As he heads towards the gangplank, the sound of his kit attracts the attention of a nearby sailor that had been pretending to work. Only a quick turn behind a crate and a careful moment's quiet gives him the respite to keep going once the sailor gives up and woefully returns to doing what he was paid to do - work.
The two atop the ship are still arguing, gesturing at crates on the other side of the ship - much to their fortune.
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"And who're you supposed to be?" one of the dockhands rounds on Menarul, a rather suspicious expression in place. It's obvious that he's not really sure where the half-elf came from, causing most of his discomfort.
Menarul tries to give the guard what he's tested to be a puzzled look, before rearing up and pointing at Son in what he hopes is a haughty manner. In fluent elven he adds, "Je suis Menarul et cet homme là-bas est voulu chez Idara pour vendre illégalement des perles fausses! Maintenant laissez-moi passer et capturer ma cible." While doing so he gives a brief flash of a small peice of paper and tries to push past the men, trying to lay hands on Son.
"I'm Menarul and that man over there is wanted in Idara for illegally selling fake pearls! Now let me pass and capture my target."
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Domitian and Little Dio both manage to make it aboard. There are stairs to the left that, presumably, lead down below. The conversation has moved on to paperwork - paperwork that's presumably locked up in the captain's quarters, which Penumbra manages to locate after a handful of minutes.
The door, however, is locked! As none of you have keys, perhaps a bit of... gentle, ah... persuasion? You could always break it, of course, but the sound of the door shattering might draw some attention.
Outside, the dockhands are a bit startled by the sudden onslaught of... Well. Not common. Several of them give each other alarmed looks, but no one wants to tangle with an unknown entity. Still, seeing as it looks as though the newcomer is looking to take the drunk off their hands, well. They part like, well. Sailors not wanting to get overly involved in what smells like trouble.
As a reminder, two of you are still at on the dock, distracting while the others are aboard. c:
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Penumbra slips down into the hold, and checks the door out.
Then she looks around to see if a spare key is hidden somewhere close.
"Anyone know how to open this door... or do we force it?".
After listening to the answers:
"I have some acid in a vial, maybe we can burn through the lock, or the hinges?".
If little Dio tries to slip through the cannon hole, Penumbra will help him.
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Garzen's eyes jump around, looking at each of his allies as they join and then following the hushed conversation.
"If my phytokineticist friend was here, he could probably open a hole through that door, or something. I don't know how phytokinesis actually works. I do know, that unless this lock is made of stone or mud, I can't use my powers to open it."
He then takes a long moment to think of Penumbra's plan.
"If you do melt something, melt the lock. It should waste less acid and not cause the door to come crashing down, unlike burning the hinges."
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As the sailors move aside, Menarul in an angry voice calls out, "Vous êtes là, vous êtes recherché pour des crimes contre Kyonin! Maintenant, venez tranquillement!"
After saying his piece, the half-elf takes a charge at Son, but mistimes it, misses the man entirely, and goes sprawling into a stack of barrels behind Son.
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The workers on the dock all ease back a bit, feeling awkward. It's clearly a, er... A scene. And maybe not one any of 'em wants to tangle with.
"D'ya need any help with that?" one particularly brave man ventures to ask the drunk. Despite his words, he obviously doesn't want to get involved in a possible brawl.
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Remembering that Magali Delroya tasked the Pathfinder with getting the papers, not stating that they should be stolen discreetly, and that she preferred to have this done without too much of a disruption, meaning that some disruption is fine, Penumbra looks around to her companions: "If none know how to pour this acid on, let us quickly kick the door in, grab the papers and run, or jump overboard and swim back".
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The Son of Cayden is wondering what's taking so long... Penumbra should have been able to kick that door in and grab the stuff by now... Ah well... it seems I will need to extend this drama here a tad longer...
The happy man looks the 'brave' man straight in the eye, "Why... why yes! you can help me for s-sure.. maaaaaaan! help me push this annoying elf in the water! they're like catszzz... th-they don't like the w-water... maaaaannnnnnnnn..."
Son of Cayden appears to lunge towards the elf and 'slips' on the docks, falling in the water...
Penumbra and Domitian smash into the door, but find that the door is sturdily made - it doesn't so much as bend or buckle from the force of the assault.
On the docks, the other dockhands have renewed interest - the lack of a real scuffle and the realization that all that's required is a quick dunking, well. They don't lose any time for that bit of entertainment!
Two of the dockhands advance, one the one that spoke before and another, their eyes intent on the elfish individual.
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It takes Menarul an moment to extract himself from the barrels and supplies on the docks, but he does so just in time so see his 'quarry' jump off the docks. He turns around to face the other men and in an imperious voice starts shouting out at them, "Je ne peux pas nager facilement, alors j'ai besoin de votre aide avec..."
He stops short when he realizes that the men have turned and are starting to advance on him, after a second he realizes they are trying to toss him off the docks and into the water. With a glance at his clothes and leather gear, he looks up with a genuine hint of fear in his eyes. He pulls out a segmented metal ball with a hole at the top and a tiny glass container and presses the glass to the hole in the ball and makes frantic waving gestures. "Non! Non! Non! Reste en arrière! J'ai besoin d'une arme si nécessaire!"
A moment later he gestures broadly and makes a small boom sound.
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The door finally creaks before a final bash shatters it inward! In the fairly comfortable looking room itself is a desk covered with papers - the very documents you were looking for!
Now you just have to get out to meet with the rest of your party.
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The Son of Cayden climbs back unto the docks, soaking wet.
"By the gods! a bracing dunking is what I needed to clear my head gents! I feel much better, and now realize that this pointy eared fellow is after me because I failed to show up on a date with his ugly sister... you see, the elf had paid me to show his sister a good time, but there wasn't enough wine in Kyonin to make me want to do the deed... thus I fled, but forgot to give him back his money. Come, noble elf! you did right by your sister, and I shouldn't have been in such a hurry to leave your lands, where I am a noble and honored guest! I will give you back your money at the tavern two blocks that way... come! let's leave these honest men to do their work."
The happy man takes his time with the story, pausing for effect, in order to give lots of time for the others to get off the ship...
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Menarul quickly catches onto what Son is trying to do and with a few threatening waves of his explosive, fends off the men between him and the bard. He then starts to advance on the man again, and, in what he hopes is a testy manner, waits for his money, palm extended. When he realizes Son isn't going to pay him he starts to threateningly advance on the man, hoping Son will take the initiative and try to palacate him.
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The Son of Cayden puts an arm around the elf's shoulders.
"Now, let us not do business here on the docks. Money that falls into the sea becomes Besmara's property. Let us go for a fine meal, my treat. We can talk about your compensation there. It's the least I can do to begin repairing the rift I caused between our families for the last 10 months."
The happy man makes sure the others are clear and off the docks, at which point he starts walking off the docks himself, patting Menarul's shoulder.
Penumbra and Garzen make it safely off the ship as the drunk and the half-elf begin to make their way off the docks.
Little Dio manages to sneak out, barely noticeable as he climbs off the ship and to the dock - who'd have thought, but the dockhands are talking amongst themselves as they return to their work, some chatting about the spectacle they've just seen.