Ayako looks over at Nadya to see if she does wish to ask for the dragon.
Drevargo, a further moment of your time please. My companion Nadya's eye has caught the small dragon that dwells beside beside you and she humbly asks if you would gift it to us. We understand how you probably have a connection to it and we are willing to provide compensation, perhaps another bout of knivsies?
Col watches Devargo as he replies to Ayako's offer.
"Oh, I see you've noticed my latest acquisition. Unfortunately I'm grown quite fond of the little guy. It lifts my spirits in these trying times we live in. I simply will not hear of any requests to let it go. It's rather dangerous out there, you know. But if I knew it were going to go to a proper home, I suppose I could sadly depart with my pet for a measly 5,000 gold. Anything less and I'd know that you weren't sincere. Knivesies just won't be enough this time around, I'm afraid." Devargo explains.
Since Ayako initiated the diplomacy, the pseudodragon reaches out to her telepathically. "Please! If you can't afford this mad man's demands, find another way. When he's bored, he puts dream spiders in my cage and forces me to fight for my life. I fear my luck at surviving will soon run out."
When Devargo mentions shiver, the pieces begin to fall into place for Sebastian. So this is where shiver comes from. The King of Spiders moniker, the gaudy hardware, the webs and creepy-crawlies about the place... everything makes sense. A cold lump of hatred begins to solidify in Sebastian's gut and he clenches his jaw, not trusting himself to speak while the others negotiate. He'd already gotten one man killed today. One day, Devargo will pay for his crimes, but today is not that day.
Through clenched teeth, he says to Ayako, "We need to leave. Now."
Ayako lightly places her hand on Sebastion's arm to ease hi.
A high price for such a being, but not unexpected. Such funds are unfortunately beyond out grasp right now, perhaps an offering of services? I have trained at the Pharesmian temple as a healer and can offer wound-tending in return, and have some divine ability to tend to wounds. Perhaps if any of your staff or yourself have suffered injuries, I can provide them aid. Madam Halvara can confirm my abilities.
"If the price is too rich for your blood, we are done here. I have no need for your healing services. Besides the looks on your faces is priceless. I'll sleep better tonight knowing just how much you're agonizing over this sweet little creature." Devargo smiles wickedly.
Devargo then walks over to the pseudodragon's cage and rattles it violently. "And you! I know you're using your mind tricks again! We talked about this. You're going to taking a visit below deck tonight. Maybe that'll teach you some manners."
"Men, show these guests out. They have nothing else to offer me."
The four enforcers each grab one of you by the shoulders and roughly shove you out the door. When the doors are slammed shut, two men wait outside and two remain inside.
You all receive an empathetic feeling of sadness emanating from the despairing pseudodragon as you are escorted away.
After the party moves away from the guards she whispers to them. Perhaps there is a way, Madam Halvara said she wanted to see us fro drinks and also said she would be entertaining Devargo later. Perhaps we can use that as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. If we ask when she plans to go, we can wait until they get started and bushwhack any guards. We will need to be swift and after we rescue the dragon, we can take the opportunity to assault Devargo when he is vulnerable, I suggest this since he would immediately suspect her helping us since she introduced us.
Col listens to Ayako's plan, "I like it. Regardless, Devargo needs to be taken out."
Perhaps get some of her staff to help distract the guards with liquer and other delights. We'll have to compensate her but I believe the benefits would be greater.
Madam Halvara can easily be found outside the House of Clouds. She's leaning over a post advertising all her assets to passerbys. She smiles when she sees you.
"How did it go, honey? Did you get what you were looking for?"
Oh we got the needed information, but there was something else that we are having difficulty with that perhaps we can discuss over those drins you were talking about. Ayako looks over to her compatriots to see if this is the way they want to go.
Col nods his agreement to Ayako.
If every one is on board, Ayako will as Halvara for a private room to speak. She uses low tones and if anyone is particularly paranoid, she will write things down.
We managed to acquire what we sought by playing a game of knivsies, there was something else that came to our attention. Devargo keeps one of Korsova's small pseudo-dragons in a cage next to his seat for his amusement, making it fight dream-spiders and poking it with sticks. It asked us to secure it's release and we petitioned Devargo on it's behalf, offering services since we didn't have enough coin. We were rejected and Devargo made it clear he knew the dragon asked us and was planning on punishing it.
Ayako took a small drink and then continued. What we ask of you is that since you are planning to entertain Devargo tonight is let us know when you begin with him Ayako nods to Nadya. She knows some magic that can help. while he is occupied, we plan on subduing the guards and heading in to free the dragon. Ayako takes a breath for the most difficult part.We are aware that this places you in danger since he may very well suspect you and so while he is indisposed, we can make sure he will no longer be a threat to you or anyone.
This..is a great deal we are asking from you, perhaps more than what gold and favors can compensate for. We ask this to aid another sentient being who will be suffering for merely asking for release.
Halvara takes the group into one of her private rooms. One of her girls serves tea and crackers then leaves the five of you alone. Halvara listens to Ayako's plea and responds.
"I am indeed doing to pay Devargo a visit tonight. It was my bargaining chip for getting you in to speak with him. But you are like a daughter to me, Ayako. I helped you because I was glad to see you again. Don't entertain the thought that I'd seek gold for aiding you. I will help you again tonight. All I ask in return is that you be careful. Devargo is a cruel and twisted man. He will not tolerate theft lightly. If you are planning on killing Devargo, I won't say anyone will miss him. He's known on Eel's End for his wickedness, but at the same time, he somehow has maintained the peace. While there have been violent riots in some parts of Korvosa, there have been none around here."
"I won't be heading over there until much later tonight. In the meantime, why don't you spend some time around here on Eel's End. There's plenty of entertainment to be had. Drinking; gambling; sex; drugs; music. People of all walks come around these parts. It's a great place to gather information as well. If you have any questions for me now, I'll be happy to answer them if I can. Otherwise, come back tonight and we can finalize our plan."
Ayako lightly places her hand on Halvara's. Thank you, what you say means a lot. Where does Devargo sleep, and does he have any hazards in particular in his lair?
"I have been aboard Devargo's ship a few times but he doesn't let me wander. I can describe the way to his bedroom, however. I have not seen any hazards but he isn't called the "king of spiders" for nothing. I've heard the chittering of his pets from behind closed doors. Not to mention his body is always crawling with the creatures. It makes the lovemaking with him even more repulsive." Halvara's face scrunches in disgust.
Col listens to the conversation and asks, "Halvara do you know how many men are on board the ship or what creature lies below decks?"
"As far as I know, the only ones Devargo truly trusts are his spiders. It's unlikely you'll encounter any of his enforcers onboard at night. And as I mentioned, I haven't seen what he keeps in the other rooms below deck, but from the sounds I've heard, there is something large down there."
Ayako turns to her comrades. Well then, we should use oru time to prepare perhaps hear whatever scraps of information we can from carouding guards. Unless others have questions, Ayako gives a bow to Halvara and heads out.
You out of the House of Clouds and back onto the long pier where sailors, thugs, drunkards, prostitutes, and nobles all carouse. Besides Eel's End and the House of Clouds, there are three other ships. The ship to the northeast bears a sign that says, "The Twin Tigers—Take the Tiger by the Tail and Try Your Luck!". Opposite that, to the west, a barge's sign says, "Welcome to the Goldenhawk—No Safer Stay in Old Korvosa!". To the southeast is "Dragon's Breath Corridor—Dream the Dragon's Dreams at Affordable Prices!".
Ayako will spend some coin to chat up any off duty guards who might have been inside Devargo's ship in the hopes they might of seen or heard something.
As they wander Eel's End, Sebastian solicits Col's opinion. "He's the one making the shiver. We can end it all tonight! But there's something about that course of action that troubles me. A sense of doom. Halvara said he's responsible for maintaining order here. What do you think?"
Most of the enforcers are reluctant to speak with Ayako, but her charm is able to loosen a few of their lips slightly.
One enforcer says, "Listen, not many people know this, but Devargo maintains a small brig on Eel's End for troublemakers. This one time, I got a little too drunk and a little too aggressive with one of the girls at the House of Clouds. Madam Halvara reported me to Devargo and I spent a month down in a cell before getting released. It was the worst month of my life. He barely fed me, and I couldn't sleep without thinking I'd wake up in a cocoon or something. The walls crawl with spiders down there. I swear, I saw one spider the size of a man wander by once."
A second man mentions, "Devargo breeds dream spiders on board his ship. That's how he makes the shiver. I ain't no alchemist but I'm told shiver is made from dream spider venom. It must be nice being able to control the spiders like he does. Otherwise, that'd be a much more hazardous profession, I'd think."
On a side note, you overhear in passing more than one person mention a rumor that King Eodred II's death wasn't natural. Rumor has it that he was poisoned. Many think the Queen herself did it.
Dream spiders are child-sized spiders with blue-and-yellow-striped abdomens. They lurk in dark places such as jungle canopies or mossy growths. Dream spiders are a treasure unto themselves. Silk spun from dream spider webs is particularly valued although care must be taken in handling the stuff. Those who come in contact with the webs experience strange hallucinations. The primary value of a dream spider, though, is to an alchemist who has mastered the craft of brewing shiver from dream spider venom.
Shiver is taken by mouth, and its effects are swift. After a minute the drinker lapses into a comatose state for 1-4 hours, during which he experiences vivid, bizarre dreams. Shiver is extremely habit-forming. Once addicted, a user suffers withdrawal effects each week he doesn't use it.
Ayako has no idea where she is but remembers something about singing halflings on a road made of gold.
As they wander Eel's End, Sebastian solicits Col's opinion. "He's the one making the shiver. We can end it all tonight! But there's something about that course of action that troubles me. A sense of doom. Halvara said he's responsible for maintaining order here. What do you think?"
Col considers for a moment, who or what will fill the void if we remove Devargo? In the end he decides it doesn't matter and replies with a grin, "We take him out and make him regret being born."
We must not linger over the end result, gloating gives another chance to escape.
The group decides not to mingle much with the locals and waits quietly until midnight to meet back up with Halvara. The glowing dream spider lanterns are now lit and flicker dancing shadows along the pier. Eel's End is a place that never truly sleeps and the pier is even busier now than it was this afternoon.
"So I'm going to rendezvous with Devargo shortly. Is there anything I should know? Or would it be better that I didn't?" Halvara inquires.
Two enforcers stand guard outside the entrance to Devargo's ship. You count six other patrolling the pier, lazily wandering on and off the five ships docked here. Four more are asleep in hammocks in the rigging above. If you are stealthy, you might be able to take out the two door guards. However, if you create a ruckus, all the enforcers will likely be alerted.
We'll try to free the small dragon first and then mov eup to the room where you will be with Devargo. Ayako looks to Col and Sebastion. I am not very stealthy so it maks sense both of you take the lead, we must strike swiftly and concentrate on each one to take them down as quickly as possible.
Sebastian nods grimly, his fingers subconsciously brushing the hilt of his sword. This was no time for a crisis of conscious - those who lived by the sword would die by the sword. "Col and I will go first. We'll walk up the pier and take them by surprise. I'll take the one on the left." Sebastian glances sideways at Col for acknowledgment.
Col nods his head in affirmation and removes a vial from his belt pouch and consumes it. He draws his rapier and stealthily makes his way up the gang plank.
The guards admit Halvara without issue. A few minutes later you head up to the door yourselves.
One enforcer holds a hand out for you to stop. "Halt! Devargo made it clear that you aren't welcome here anymore. Your business with him is through."
Col approaches the guard on the right and attempts to thrust the blade of his rapier into his oponents midsection.
Rd 1 Effect Bless (2 minutes)
Ayako steps up and slashes at the one Col is engaging with her sickle
Col and Ayako slash at the enforcer on the right, both hitting, but he still stands strong under the assault.
Nadya casts sleep on the two guards.
"A pity. I thought I'd play another game of knivesies." Sebastian draws his dagger and attacks. He falters at the last moment, and his blade bites into the wood.
Abandoning the dagger, Sebastian throws himself against the other man, pressing a hand against his mouth as he tries to pin him to the wall.
Col swings his rapier at the thugs abdomen a feels it dig in deep.
Rd 1
Effects:Bless
If the unpinned guard is still up, Ayako will slash
If he has been downed, then Ayako shifts her attack tot he other man.
Sebastian grabs one guard while Col and Ayako mercilessly kill the second. Seconds later, Nadya's spell goes off and the guard that Sebastian is holding, slumps asleep in his arms.
With the guards out of the way, you have no trouble slipping inside. The throne room is just as it was before, except that the bird cage that held the psuedodragon is no longer hanging here. Devargo must have moved it somewhere else. Countless spiders crawl along the ceiling and walls; luckily none in this room are larger than a coin and are of little threat to you, or so you assume. The door at the top of the stairs sits slightly ajar.
Ayako makes sure to drag the bodies inside ad away from prying eyes.
No dragon, perhaps Devargo has it in his quarters, Ayako whispers and points to where they need to head.
Nadya points out, "My sleep spell will only last two minutes. We'll either need to be really quick, or deal with this guard now."
Kick him in the face a few times to make sure he stays out.
Once the thugs are dragged inside Col ties up the one that is sleeping and then kicks him in the head until he is unconscious.
After Col binds and beats the second thug, the party turns towards the stairs down. It is pitch black down below save for a sliver of light outlining a door at the far end of the hallway directly ahead. It's hard to make out in the darkness but you're sure the spiders continue to infest this area as well.
Col asks, "Ayako, how about a little light?
Ayako casts light.
Ayako casts light and heads down the stairs. You can now see that the corridor turns to the right at the end and leads into a wider hallway. Facing into the larger hallway, the door to the immediately left also emanates light from within, indicating it may be part of the same room. The rest of the doors that you can see are cold and silent. (Double doors to the north; a door to the northeast; a door to the southeast; and a door to the southwest). Besides the doors, there is a closed 10-foot-wide hatch to the south covering a hole in the floor.
You can hear the muffled sound of Devargo laughing directly ahead through the eastern wall which corresponds to where Halvara described his bedroom to be.
Ayako points to the east and whispers Devargo