Barkot runs back to the group and begins to hurriedly strip off his chainmail.
"Damn Tower Gals cut our boat loose an' took da only udder one lef'. Our boat's still near da dock, but somebody's gotta swim fer it."
Once he has the chainmail off, he puts on the remaining set of masterwork studded leather armor. "I c'n get down dere fast, an' I c'n swim fer da boat if nobody else c'n, but I'd radder keep watch from da dock if one a' youse knows how ta swim."
He straps on his longsword and mace, and slings his crossbow and quiver over his shoulder. "Better hustle before it floats away. If anybody's a strong swimmer, now's da time ta speak up."
"There is no honor amongst thieves, we should have known better," Reillana agrees with Paëral angrily as the figures in the rowboat grow more distant.
"My training at the Spire was for diplomacy rather than seafaring, I don't know how much use I'll be retrieving the rowboat but I'll hold a rope and haul you back if need be, Barkot." Unspooling a loop of rope the elf hands it to Barkot to tie around their waist.
"Moving a dozen prisoners and loot will be next to impossible through here--someone will get dropped to their death, no doubt. Should we check and see if those spiders had an access point to the harbor? A sea-level entrance would be safer, spiders and bats notwithstanding..."
Barkot nods his thanks, ties one end of the rope around his waist, and steps through the illusory wall.
"Here goes nuttin," he mutters, and steps off the ledge .
18 seconds later, he lands at the dock.
Celia giggles a little as the orc and half elf fight over who will retrieve the boat, that's ok...I didn't want to get wet today anyway..even tough I'm probably a stronger swimmer than both of them ...boys can be soo....
Within a couple of minutes, the boat is safely moored again. The girls didn't even throw the oars into the water.
While Paëral is drying off, Barkot looks up at the rope dangling from what must be another illusory wall, then gives the rope a sharp tug to make sure it will hold his weight. Assuming it does, he says, "Keep an eye out fer anyt'in' likely ta try ta kill or eat me, will ya, Paë?" and begins to climb.
Barkot carefully emerges through the illusory wall and finds himself in what appears to be a bed chamber.
Several pieces of modern furniture decorate the room, clashing with ancient carvings of Thassilonian wizards crafting deformed monsters from dead bodies.
Some scraps of crimson fabric hang from nails over the entryway. Recalling crimson drapes hanging in the hallway where he killed Ayala, Barkot steps out and verifies that her blood and gore drenched body is still staining the stone floors.
The rope is tied to a large bed that has shifted from its original position and is now wedged against the bottom of the window.
In the room is a table containing pieces of wall mural, bits of pottery, and a few scattered coins and gems. The stuff on the table appears to have been hastily scraped off leaving behind a few bits that fell to the floor or were missed.
The table also contains several journals.
A quick search of the room shows a chest sticking out from under the bed where it was hidden until the bed shifted position.
Barkot winces at the gory sight of Ayala's remains and lets the curtain fall closed.
Not yer finest moment dere, pal. But she needed killin'.
Shaking off his self-doubt, at least for now, he sweeps the knick-knacks into his pack and picks up the journals. As he is about to open them, something occurs to him and he steps over to the illusory wall and sticks his head through it.
Barkot calls down to Paëral, "Paë! Getcherself up here! Dere's a chest that needs op'nin', and I'd prolly mess it up!"
Turning to look up at where the rest of the party is waiting, he yells, "C'mon back down t'rough dose curtains in da room wit' da fancy doors! Dere's some stuff!"
He settles down on the bed and begins to read the journals.
The journals are Ayala's personal journals, documenting her formation of the Tower Girls and activities since, ending with her increasing frustration at Natalya's betrayal and loss of the magic item.
It wasn't locked.
The chest contains coins. 87gp and 175sp.
Embarrassed, Barkot mutters, "Yeah, well, dere was a book..."
He coughs. "Hey, where are dose guys? Dey shoulda' gotten down here by now, right?"
After a moment leaning against the wall and resting, Reillana checks on the captives while the others explore the chest and chamber.
"The wererats are all dead, right? I don't think we can keep them prisoner given their shapeshifting skills--better to end them quickly than to risk further infestation."
Returning to the docks, the party lets Lady Heidmarch's contact know that they will need the boat the next day and starts trudging through the city under the weight of their heavy burdens.
People carrying heavy burdens away from the docks is not uncommon, so the party raises little attention, even though laborers rarely carry so many weapons.
Nearing the edge of Dockway, the party turns a corner into a small square with businesses on either side.
Leaning against the outer wall of a tavern on the other side of the square, positioned so the party can't possibly miss him, is Nikulaie of the Wreckwash Blades.
As the party notices him, he looks up directly at the party. His eyes narrow with displeasure as he regards the scene. Reaching up, he taps the side of his nose, then turns and enters the tavern.
"Do we know that guy?" Squint murmurs nervously.
"Oh, yeah, dat guy." Barkot shakes his head. "What's his problem? We took care a' somet'in' he needed taken care of, right? Don' look like he sees it dat way, but I don' t'ink we're in shape ta get inta a discussion wit' him an' his crew right nows. Keep goin'?"
"Nikulaie," Reillana murmurs back to Squint. "If there is a rival for the Crow, it is his gang. Keep them in mind, but Barkot is right, there's no need to push the issue now."
Celia keeps quiet during the exchange, she's just happy no prisoners were executed and that, the group's plan is to have the Venture Captain send agents to the Crow A.S.A.P. to retrieve the tower-girl prisoners, tied up back in the Crow.
Ignoring Nikulaie, the party continues on toward Heidmarch Manor with no further interruption.
After dropping your loot off with the quartermaster, you are ushered into Lady Heidmarch's study.
Looking up from the books in front of her, Sheila considers the party. "Back again, and apparently none the worse for your adventures. I hear you brought quite a haul back with you.
Does that mean you have good news to report?"
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"I don't think we suggested sending other Pathfinders back to the Crow before we had completed exploring the place," Squint says in response to Celia (before entering Heidmarch manor). "I for one want a chance to complete what we just did - I don't think we need to ask Venture-Captain Heidmarch to send other people to clean up our mess."
X - X - X - X - X - X - X - X - X
Back at Heidmarch Manor, Squint beams when the Venture-Captain reveals that she's been watching them.
"Yes, Venture-Captain! We killed a number of wererats that were leading the Tower Girls gang...." Squint's initial enthusiastic response wilts in response to Sheila Heidmarch's bemused but sharp expression. "Uh....rune-door. Opened. Mmmmmm..." Squint peters out into an emabarrassed squeak.
Inclining her head respectfully, Reillana comes to Squint's rescue. [b]"Venture Captain, we uncovered a section of the bridge concealed by illusions and sealed behind a vault door built entirely of siccatite. Our intention was to obtain appropriate equiment and then return to the Crow."[b]
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"An' by 'propriate equipment, Reillana means we gotta get somet'in' ta deal wit' a couple t'ousan' pi-- I mean angry bats. Ma'am." Barkot leans forward conspiratorially. "I seen a guy once wit' a t'in' strapped onta his back. Musta been fulla oil, 'cause he sprayed it all over da floor a' dis old shack I was squattin' in, see, an' dere wuz alla dese rats. Dis guy sprays oil from his whatchamacallit, den scratches a tindertwig on da wall ta light it and tosses it inta da goop. BOOM!" He waves his hands around to mime the explosion. "I'm gonna get me one a' dose fer da bats."
"Oh yeah, also, I drew some pitchers, an' we foun' da boss rat's diary." Rummaging in his pack, Barkot manages to find a couple of crumpled pieces of parchment with his smudged charcoal stick figure sketches of the Thassalonian murals. He holds them out along with Ayala's journals, offering them to Lady Heidmarch.
Lady Heidmarch listens to the scattered report with a bemused expression. Apparently progress through the Crow has put her in a good mood.
She quickly glances at the journals, then sets them aside. "So, you were able to kill this wererat? Natalya will be pleased, and I am sure these journals will shed some light into the Tower Girls activited."
She then takes a look at the sketches of the murals. Most of them she sets aside, but the sketch of the woman stabbing a man on the ground catches her eye.
"A beautiful woman, wielding a glaive? This must be Azlanist, the Runelord of Wrath, but I have no idea who this man she is stabbing might be. It must be significant, based on the prominence of the figure."
She studies it for a moment more, then sets the drawing aside. "It is not the best image. Once the structure has been cleared, I will send some artists to make a better rendering. The discovery that the facility is somehow linked to Azlanist is a major find, though and you should be rewarded."
She reaches into her desk and pulls out a bag with 500gp that she hands over to the party. "Canayven will also be very interested in this picture. We will study the image in the library tonight. Stop by in the morning and we may know more.
I understand Canayven has also agreed to pay you for important discoveries like this. You should talk to him about that as well."
As she listens to the rest of the report, her eye gleam with excitement. "So, the doors Natalya mentioned lead into a larger complex? That is fascinating. I look forward to seeing the maps you make with your final report."
At this point the party realizes that nobody in the party has yet taken on the assignment of sketching maps of the Crow. Sheila doesn't notice your nervous expressions, however, as she continues. "What of the secret chamber where Natalya found the Shard? What else was contained there?"
"Errr, well, we founda buncha secret doors in da Crow, Ma'am. Like da one dat opened to da chasm, an' anudder dat went up from a platform, an' da one dat got us to da big T'assalonian pitchers. But I dunno if any a' dose wuz da place where Lady Whacka -- I mean, Natalya foun' da Dingus."
Barkot scratches his head and looks to the other Pathfinders for assistance. "Any a' youse guys know?"
Sheila's pleasant expression begins to slip.
"You were told that there was a secret room that used to contain a major artifact. The person who found the room told you that she didn't get a chance to search it any further. She told you that it was near the big doors, and could probably have given you more specific directions if she had been asked.
With all of this information, you didn't even LOOK for the secret door?!"
She closes her eyes and starts to rub her temples. In a softer voice, she continues. "You are new as Pathfinders, so I will let this slide.
Explore, Report, Cooperate. This is our motto, with 'Explore' being the primary requirement.
Well, that isn't so bad. At least you thought to explore Ayala's lair after you defeated the entire Sczarni gang." She says the last while patting the journals.
Reillana's jaw tightens at Heidemarch's shift in tone, but the elf retains her poise.
"Respectfully, Venture Captain, any secret chambers discovered by Natalya will still be there when we return, and I find it unlikely that two of the Shards were stored in the same chamber. The complex beyond the starmetal vault was our priority since that was the most probable location of the next artifact fragment." She pauses a heartbeat, and then sketches a very shallow bow. "If the debriefing is concluded, we'll refit and be on our way as soon as possible."
Nodding curtly, she cautions. "From the sound of what you found on the other side of that door, it seems that you opened a door into a much larger exploration that you initially envisioned.
With that in mind, establishing a secure base camp is wise. Part of that is making sure that you have cleared the structure behind you of any dangers. These shards have been hidden for thousands of years, a few more hours or days should make little difference."
She looks thoughtful, "I wonder if I should post some guards to make sure no outside parties come in behind you. But, that might draw too much attention. I shall give it some thought."
With a wave, she dismisses you, then rises herself to go in search of her husband.
Celia clears her throat and says to Venture Captain Sheila, We did the best we could mum, we fought and bled till our resources ran dry. Celia stares defiantly, We may be new but we’ve already discovered more about the crow than any Pathfinder before us. I’m sure given the chance, we can complete the mission but, we’ll need to rest and resupply before, another sorte’ Into that ancient stronghold. A little embarrassed by her own boldness, Celia quickly adds, if it pleases the Venture Captain!
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Barkot sleeps badly, uncomfortable at returning to the same place for a second night but unable to resist the siren song of another bath and a night comfortable bed in a safe room. Day breaks eventually, as it almost always does, and the half-orc makes his meandering way back to Heidmarch Manor.
First, though, he walks through the familiar streets of Lowcleft, stopping at his usual coffee stall to fill his mug. Feeling flush, he hands the proprietor a silver coin, causing the old man to look up from his grinder.
"Why, thank you, si -- Barkot? Is that you? I don't think I've seen your face out from under that filthy hood in -- Calistria's backside, man, what in the Hells are you wearing? That's real armor! Did you join the damned city guard?"
Embarrassed, Barkot blushes a deep green and mutters, "Somebody else had a bad day. I had a good one." and quickly moves along into the crowded street.
Finally, he reaches the familiar oasis of the Seerspring Garden, and walks through the park. He breaks from his routine to examine the ornamental flowers and stately trees, but finally he arrives at a corner of the garden dominated by a massive block of marble protruding 3 feet from the ground. The top of this block of stone has been meticulously carved into a scale model of the city.
Barkot drops his pack and sits cross-legged on the grass in front of the Mapstone Monument, puts his mug of coffee on the ground in front of him, and closes his eyes. He breathes in all the smells of the city, largely undiluted by the floral scents of the Seerspring Garden. For the next 10 minutes, he thinks about the history of this great city, from its founding through to the present. He contemplates the tens of thousands of people living in Magnimar now.
A few less people today dan dere were yeste'day, he muses. But da ones dat're left're better off, I t'ink.
From Magnimar, City of Monuments, p. 29:
This corner of Seerspring Garden is dominated by a massive block of marble that protrudes 3 feet from the ground. The top of this block of stone has been meticulously carved into a scale model of the city of Magnimar. Touch-ups and additions to the carving are performed yearly to show the rise and fall of buildings in the city by artistic sculptors from the Church of Abadar using stone shape spells. Monument Boon: Meditate for 10 minutes before the Mapstone Monument and make a DC 15 Knowledge (local) check to gain a +1 morale bonus on all Will saves for 24 hours. This bonus increases by +1 for every 10 points by which you exceed the DC 15 Knowledge (local) check.
Meditation complete, Barkot notices an acolyte from the Cathedral of Abadar making notes on a large drawing of the Mapstone - a map of the map. Peering over the youth’s shoulder, the oracle realizes that the student priest is marking off places where there have been changes in the past year in preparation for the annual update of the Mapstone.
"You missed a few," Barkot says. Before the startled acolyte recovers enough to respond, the half-orc has grabbed the inkpen and marked off half a dozen additional changes the sculptors would need to make.
"Dis buildin' here? Burned down ta da groun' more'n six mont's ago. An' over here? Dat empty lot's been taken over by a clapboard shack used as a safe house fer one a' da Sczarni gangs - dey just t'rew it toget'er overnight a while back - callin' it a 'safe house' is pretty funny, when ya t'ink about. An' dis one over here - sheesh, is da only stuff yer takin' notes on up in Alabaster, Capital District, and Naos? Whaddabout Dockway? Lowcleft? Underbridge? Hells, ya ain't even got nuttin down in Keystone?"
He continues to harangue the trainee priest, pointing out errors and omissions in the poorer parts of the city, until he is satisfied that the Abadaran understands the importance of reflecting the entire city in the monument, not only the prosperous districts. He leaves the garden with an almost cheerful wave to the acolyte.
Barkot finally makes his way to Heidmarch Manor, and asks to see Canayven to discuss the sketch Sheila had singled out.
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Squint considers returning to the Nirodin villa in town to sleep but rules this out, wanting to continue to keep a low profile. He instead finds an inn in the Capital District near to the Lord-Mayor's Menagerie, and spends an enjoyable evening perusing the wonders kept within. A hearty meal to fill his belly and a soft feather pillow later, Squint finds himself back in the Alabaster District, marching into Heidmarch Manor, the itch of summoning Ulyi to his side an ever-present reminder of his dependence on the eidolon. Once inside the manor grounds, Squint moves to find the quartermaster to retrieve his new purchase, an emblem of his promise to the Pathfinder faction of his favour.