The paladin draws his glaive, Hang on, I shall get you out of here or die trying. You have my oath. He thinks to the psuedodragon, and then slashes out with his glaive.
Nicolai will take a 5 foot step forward and open the cage door, allowing the pseudodragon to perch on his shoulder.
-Round 1-
Sera chants to her god, bringing blessings to her comrades, as the sounds of battle begin clashing around her.
Krojun tromps heavily towards the stunned thugs, swinging heftily at Thug 3 and putting a deep gash in the man's chest, who slumps to the floor in his dazed state. "Aaaugh!" The thug shouts in pain.
Nicolai reaches for the cage, provoking a look of panic from Thug #5. "No! That's Barvasi's pet! Don't touch that!" The thug swings at Nicolai while the wizard is occupied trying to undo the latch, but whiffs.
The cage soon becomes open, and the pseudodragon within flies out, cheering. Draconic: [b]"Free! Free!"
"Oh! Thank you! Thank you!"
Angered by his failure, the thug strikes again, this time scoring a light blow, before the pseudodragon flies at him tail first, catching the man in the neck. Seconds later, the thug collapses like a sack of bricks, brought to sleep by the poison.
Silvio and Staryth are led to believe they have Devargo cornered, but as they both swing at the man in practiced unison, he deftly avoids both of their attacks, ducking beneath Staryth's glaive with astounding agility and just barely managed to block Silvio's attack with one deftly drawn bladed gauntlet, the sword nicking his palm but inflicting no real damage. "You lot just made me angry. You shouldn't have done that," he snarls.
Figuring that the large Shoanti presents the greatest threat, Devargo tumbles over next to him. "I'll show you idiots what happens to those who mess with the King of Spiders!"
Thug 1, seeing the King coming from behind, decides to earn himself some street cred and attacks from the opposite side.
Devargo lands a solid blow into Krojun's right side, sinking his bladed gauntlet into the barbarian's flesh. Krojun feels a sting coursing up from the wound, and a slight numbness over his body. From the other side, the thug scores a light hit, nothing that Krojun can't shrug off.
Nicolai takes a 5' step back to where he started from and pulls out a wand. He shouts "Magicae Telum" as a bolt of arcane force springs forth from the wand to strike Devargo in the back.
Deciding that Devargo is too cagey to deal with now, Slivio moves to one of the stunned thugs and strikes! ; .
Though he's not a backstabber by nature, the paladin isn't about to let brave Krojun face Devargo alone. He thrusts moves forward just enough and lashes out with his glaive again.
The goon next to her asleep from the pseudodragon, Sera quickly chants a spell of healing, her hand glowing with divine light. She then steps in an gets a hand on Krojun's shoulder, revitalizing him.
-Round 2-
Sera successfully applies her healing to Krojun, his wounds lessening in severity.
After being struck by the magic missile, Devargo avoids Staryth's attack without breaking focus from Krojun. Drawing a second blade, he swings again for the barbarian, just as the latter slices a deep gash into Thug 1's chest.
Thug 1, panicked by the huge gash now open on his chest, runs for the door. "This isn't worth dying!"
The thug provokes AoOs from both Krojun and Sera, though it is clear that he has no more intentions to fight.
Silvio's dueling sword finds flesh in Thug two's gut, who, possessing only some measure of clarity, clutches at it and slouches against the table nearby.
Majenko flies to pester Devargo, attempting to sting his former tormentor. The King of Spiders laughs, batting the pseudodragon away. "Get lost, pest!"
Nicolai lets loose with another bolt from the wand.
Sera lashes out at Devargo with her morningstar before darting behind Krojun, fighting back to back with the fierce Shoanti.
Staryth sees his friend in dire straits, and the poor pseudodragon being swatted away, "Enough of you, and your evil, Devargo! Shelyn, your aid I pray!" The paladin's eyes are filled with a holy light.
And then lashes out with his glaive
I can't see the map, but Silvio will try to cover Krojun's flank if possible, and strike another stunned thug.
;
-Round 3-
Krojun strikes at Devargo, whose successive strikes had left with a cocky attitude. As the barbarian lifts his axe with a roar, Devargo can't seem to decide whether he should leap to the left or the right, he is then distracted by Nicolai's missile and Sera's nearby attack, and ends up receiving a thunderous blow, leaving a gaping wound in his chest. Next comes Staryth's strike, which Devargo just barely dodges in panic; the glaive, bright with holy power, scrapes against his leather armor, leaving a deep mark; it was nearly a fatal blow.
Silvio strikes at one of the thugs, who barely has the consciousness to avoid the attack. Thug 2, waking up from his daze, flees for the door.
Suddenly quite frightened, Devargo looks for an escape route.
Rolling across the ground, splattering blood on his way, Devargo makes for the upper ground of the stage, and draws a vial of a crimson liquid, pulling the cork and preparing to drink.
Nicolai: The winds of fate blow towards you as Devargo approaches his throne and the switch. You do not know what lurks within the pit beneath the trap door, but one thing is certain...
"The dance comes as a sign of harmony and cooperation. In the dance, one must follow their fellow dancer in perfect step, and know his place, as stepping out of the pattern would prove dangerous. You may, in time, find yourself faced with an unexpected menace, but, working in harmony with your group, you will escape unscathed."
... whatever the unexpected menace Zellara spoke of was, it lurks within.
Majenko makes a beeline for the bottle, attempting to snatch it out of Devargo's hand.
He manages to bite Devargo's hand, but the King of Spiders shakes him off, narrowly avoiding having his potion nabbed.
Thug 5, the one known as Peg Leg, comes to his senses, and attempts to attack Silvio in retaliation. However, his strike is clumsy, and Silvio avoids it with ease.
Nicolai continues his barrage of missiles
Realizing he is attempting an escape, Silvio decides to return his focus on Devargo.
;
The paladin races towards his departing target and swings once more, the glow of divine fury still upon him.
Sera sees the spider reducing to scavenging for what was either a potion of invisibility or healing. Either way she moves in and tries to club the man into submission before he could succeed.
Against all odds, Devargo escapes the barrage of attacks unscathed save for a minor scrape with Nicolai's missile, deftly weaving between the party's weapons.
"You people are really starting to piss me off!" Devargo snarls.
Then, he notices where Krojun is standing, and a cruel grin traces itself on his traits.
"Have fun down there, big guy. Hahaha!" The King of Spiders calls out, flicking the switch on his throne. The floor gives beneath Krojun's feet...
... but he expected such a trap, and catches on to the edge of the pit, holding himself up by one hand, keeping hold of his axe with the other.
Swearing as his trap fails on him, Devargo looks at the potion in his hand and the three foes surrounding him; he clearly doesn't like his odds, and attemps to make for the pit himself. From the lighting now shining down onto the lower room, down in the ship's hull, the party sees a thick maze of spiderwebs.
Watch out! There are some odd threads blended with the webbing! yells Sera as she nearly brains herself with her weapon.
;
;
"Damn it!" Silvio misses completely. "Look - some of the web strands shimmer! What does that mean?"
"I've no idea," The Paladin says. In truth, he wouldn't have noticed them if not told.
From his position near the door Nicolai is unaware of the webs until the others point them out. He wracks his brain about what type of creature could have spun the prismatic webs, but his academy training lent itself to the more esoteric pursuits.
"Beware, Something evil lurks below. I can't put my finger on it but it's just a feeling I've got."
Taking a step away and pulling out her wand, she barks the command word and lets its light wash over Krojun.
Krojun: It wouldn't help. 15 is the standard DC for hoisting oneself up from a ledge. A party member can help you up, though.
Ducking and weaving between Sera and Silvio's strikes, Devargo leaps down into the dimly lit room, visibly careful about where he's setting foot.
The thugs, seeing The King of Spiders himself fleeing, scatter, the less injured and more aware ones dragging the stunned ones away.
Careful! the mental voice of Majenko warns the party. I don't know what it keeps down there, but going by the screams we heard last week when he dropped someone down, it must be very dangerous.
"A question, why do we pursue hm? Majenko is free, and we have what we need. The man might plot revenge, true, but I'm not sure that is any more a risk than pursuing him down a hole."
Silvio is still concerned. "Did we really get what we needed? What do those letters we got actually say?"
The three guards who earlier "welcomed" the party come up to the door, alerted by the fleeing thugs. Inspecting the state of the room, the open trap, and the absense of their boss, they turn back without saying anything.
The bundle contains two letters, each of them letters from a female whose name suggests Cheliax nobility. They imply very scandalous things, and mentions are made of the Ambassador's own writings to the woman. "My husband will never find out." appears at least once.
The size of the bundle implies there may have been more letters. No doubt, Devargo had been selling them back to Darvayne for a lump sum, one by one.
Oh! Thank you! Thank you for saving me! Majenko jubilates, fluttering around the party.
Would you allow me to accompany you for a time? I wish to repay the great favor you have done me! For one year, if you wish, I will help you, all of you! My brethren and myself call the roofs and belfry of Korvosa home, and it would be an honor to help defend the city!
"Thank you for the offer, but I do not think we freed you so you could perish in a difficult fight. If you wish to serve me, you can assist the others of your kind and watch over this fine city." Sera will make sure any Knocked out thugs are tied securely before releasing a pulse of healing across the group
"Thank you for your kind offer, friend. If you feel you must work off whatever debt you think you owe us who am I to dissuade you, but it is not necessary and as Sera has said our work for the city might prove dangerous and deadly for us as well as you. You may wish to reconsider your offer, though."
Looking at the others Nicolai seems confused "If I remember correctly Kressida mentioned that Devargo is the main supplier of Shiver to the city. Supplier to likes of the late Gaedren Lamm and others like him. Wouldn't it be better for the city to put a stop to him now, rather than give him a chance to escape and come after us later? You heard Vencarlo, he's not the type of man to forgive insults lightly"
"True enough. Would you see such a man as him escape, Krojun?" As he says this, Silvio looks for a long stick and tries poking at the web strands that seem to shimmer, to see what happens.
If possible, he'll see if he can understand the webs and avoid attracting the attention of spiders.
It can't be disabled as a trap. The strands are part of the thick webbing that zigzags the room about ten feet below. You estimate that one can avoid them by moving with care. Devargo visibly didn't hesitate to hop down, himself.
Majenko appears disappointed, but nods in understanding. Thank you again, friends! He mentally calls out to each member of the party, before flying for the door and vanishing into the evening sky.
"Fair enough - I don't much like the look of these spider webs anyway." Silvio searches the place to see if they can get their payment back, and any other items or wealth.
Be well, friend, you can no doubt find me at the temple of Shelyn when I'm not helping folks here should you need food or a place to dwell. The paladin smiles and waves as the pseudodragon flies off.
"Let's move on then, I think the city will not be entirely pleased by this, but we did what we felt was right."
The trip out of Eel's End is relatively unhindered. Devargo's enforcers appear skittish as the party walks by them, letting them go without trouble.
Unhindered, the party sets off for the guard citadel, where Kressida is most likely waiting for them to return.
"Ah, the heroes have returned! Don't keep me waiting," Kressida smiles, "How did things go?"