Silas walks over to Garreg. "Glad to see you've stayed. His blade stays out as he doesn't trust the man who shot him under the table.
Beth keeps an eye on Garreg and when the guards move out, she points him to the other, warning them of his presence.
"I know where Bonegnaw's lair is. Once you have had a chance to lick yer wounds I kin lead ya there!"
Silas looks Garreg over. "What do you know of Bonegnaw and his lair then?
"Bonegnaw ain't human, he's gnoll. The cove is well protected with only one entrance from the sea, but I know the password. As you kinda need me, I want an equal share."
Sandman removes his mask and returns to normal size, the whirls and stripes of sand on his body drying and starting to dust off and the glowing letters fading. The mask seemed to harden, losing much of it's demonic countenance. It was still unsettling to look at, but somehow when not worn it became simply a decoration.
Looking at Garreg with a quizzical expression, the big Tulita said "You will need to convince us with more than declarations of how much we need you. You have much penance to do for the lives you have helped ruin. Until tonight, you were a part of the group we just fought against. Why would you think you should be rewarded for what you have done? You cannot profit from this trade, and then turn around and profit from that trade's end. You must pick a side."
"Whut? I am a businessman? You don't want my help, find the cove yerself!"
"Very well." Sandman says with a shrug. "None can help those who do not wish it. You have chosen your side."
"Dragoons!" Sandman barks as they are beginning to cart away their prisoners. "A moment please!"
To Garreg he simply says "Sometimes we are not given the luxury of time to make our choices. We must follow our hearts. What does yours tell you now? Run, fight, or change?"
"Sandman, do not be so quick to dismiss information that can prove to be useful. I do not believe that we have not learned all that Garreg has to offer."
Silas looks over the begging Garreg. "You know what you have to do to not end up with either them," he nods towards the dragoons, "Or him," as he nods to Sandman.
Beth raises her hands, palms open to appeal for calm. "Whoa, you're sure I qualify as someone to appeal to? But if you want my thoughts, you'll get them. My friend here is not sure he can trust you and I feel the same. So what I propose is that come mid-morning we meet in my master's temple to discuss about your proposal. Then if we agree, we'll seal it under his gaze to ensure no one plans to screw anyone else. Does it fit everyone?"
Morgan winds his harpoon cord carefully and looks at the chaos caused by the battle. A tavern brawl. A dockside battle. He pulls his hand over his face before staring at the craven Garreg as he speaks to the party.
"I'm not sure Garreg gives a fig for Quell nor his power, and given his actions and past lifestyle I trust him not. I doubt any word he gives is worth a jot. I say feed him to the Mask."
Morgan looks visibly tired and deflated.
"I'm for returning to the Tulita encampment to rest. I will meet you at the temple at the appointed time."
Obi grins. "Ooh! Ooh! We can hang him up over a barrel of starving rats by his toes! That'll help!" At which point, Obi begins to ramble on and on about random ways to get people talking.
But regardless, he tends to get himself back in order and wipes off his hands, before posing heroically. "Onwards, then! To the Quell...cave, temple, thing?!"
OK Beth and Obi are going to the Chapter House for the night and Morgan is going to the Tulita encampment. What about the other three of you? Garreg will agree to meet you there mid-morning.
Silas considers the situation. "Where do you intend to go?" he asks Garreg forcefully, almost idly twitching his blade.
Jequette will return to the Run A Ground and take careful inventory of her belongings. Once rested, she will poor over her precious books and commit to memory words of the spidery language known as magic. Upon completion of morning rituals, she will partake in a light breakfast and head out to the chapter house to meet the others.
Inquiring as to the name and contact of the mage that ensured her items were safeguarded the night before.
Silas considers the situation. "Where do you intend to go?" he asks Garreg forcefully, almost idly twitching his blade.
Putting a hand on Silas arm, Beth try to defuse the situation: "Let him go Silas, you can't force a man to change his ways. It has to come from within, one step after another. And I'm not one to force him to collaborate. If he wants to come, so be it. If not we'll do it our way."
Sandman nods approvingly at Beth's words. He smiles warmly, packs his pipe and goes wherever it is that he goes when no one is watching.
Beth, are you going to do any healing before they all leave? Some may still be hurt. If not you all meet up at the chapter house at 9 AM with a full night rest ready to go see Gregory Bonedeuce.
Day Three.
In the morning you meet with Commandant Gregory Bonedeuce at Fort Stormshield. He is a strikingly handsome man, with chiseled features and cool blue eyes like the sea in winter. Always well dressed in his crisp uniform of white and royal blue, Gregory bears several medals and marks of distinction upon his jacket and enjoys a good cigar. He wathes his shoulders in a snow-white silken gentleman’s cape trimmed with blue velvet and is never without his commandant’s hat, also decorated with medals and trimmed with silver. Gregory is an excellent specimen of
warrior, with a lithe frame and panther-like movements. He crops his jet-black hair short and his tanned skin is unblemished.
"My dragoons tell me that you were instrumental in bringing down a smuggling ring that we have sought for quite some time now. You have my thanks and the thanks of the people of Port Shaw. We must dine at the Kraken's Gullet. Shall we say 3 o'clock? It will be a dinner in your honor."
Jequette's thinking, Might need to adjust Silas' order of the day. Hope he can quickly adapt and overcome this new 'honor'."The honor is ours Commandant. As I am new to the city, it will be a pleasure to meet those of importants."
"You have met me so anyone else would be of lesser import, but I am sure we can make introductions!"He takes her hand and gives it a kiss.
Silas has spruced himself up, largely to present a very different image to the dragoons so he can go about his normal business without them paying attention. "Thank you kindly, Commandant. 3 o'clock may be a little early. There is still more to do in closing down this ring and time, as I'm sure you are profoundly aware, is of the essence. A little later in the day perhaps?"
"If you have more information to share then it is important that we meet as early as possible. Besides, the Lt is leaving with the tide and his company would be appreciated. Shall we make it 2 o'clock then?"
"We have more leads to pursue and no idea yet whether they will prove fruitful. I would hardly wish to be late if they did nor turn up looking a state if they prove to need to be dealt with hence a little later would allow us to not show disrespect."
Staying back, Beth keeps to her own as Silas tries to negotiate the time of their meeting with Commandant Bonedeuce.
However, she keeps a close eye, ready to defuse any tension if needs be.
Morgan is dressed as usual in his mix of colonial and Tulita apparel. He is more than slightly confused by the conversation Silas and Gregory are having, but is content to let them converse.
Why are we meeting again later - I thought this breakfast was in our honor. Sorry to be a bit slow, but I'm quite confused!!!
"Lt Commander Trey Perrin at your service sir! I fear that it is my doing that this cannot be delayed. For the lodge has requested that I take the Albatross out on patrol and I leave on the evening tide."
"In the end, the sea is our mistress and it does no good making her wait.", quips Beth.
Bowing to the Commander, she adds: "We'll be there at tow o'clock sharp, Sir. We'll try to follow our leads in the mean time."
"Until two o'clock then. In the meantime I will have my inquisitor see what he can learn from these miscreants!"
With that he takes his leave.
As they walk away Silas makes sure they are out of earshot before he extolls, "That man likes to play with people." He shakes his head.
"Right we need to get ready to go deal with the Barnacle quickly if we're to get things done before this jumped up meal."
Morgan is not surprised by the nature of Bonedeuce, the colonist's culture of greed and gain, hunger and power. It is enough that he must sit here like a servant, his fate incumbent upon this man's depraved whim. Where was the wisdom of the elders, that made best use of information and skill for the good of future generations, rather than the aggrandisment of a few?
He sighs, reflecting on the nature of fate, that regardless of the wisdom of the Tulita, they are still crushed beneath the weight of the colonist's collective pressure - the power of technology and magic intertwined. Black powder and dark arts. And now Dajoba was rising...and hungry. The colonists likely had no magic nor any technology to merit any defence against the Black Shark God.
Musings finished, Morgan snapped to the present.
"Silas - what would you have us do? Return to the Barnacle? It occurs to me that if Barrett took a prisoner in then where did they go? Were they later spirited away, or is there a back room or, perhaps, a hidden space - either above or below? Perhaps we can locate it. Tiki may be of some use there."
"My suspicion is that there are back rooms, but I do not expect to find him alive. I think we need to hit before Barrett has the chance to remove any signs of wrong doing as last night surely spooked him."
"I agree with you for the first part. But I'd prefer to hit the Barnacle at night. If you really want to do that before our dinner, we still need to quickly go to the temple and see Garreg. That should not last long. Besides, he may now more than he told us about Barrett's back rooms."
"Let's talk to Garreg and see if he can offer any more insight. "
Garreg is waiting for the party outside the chapter house upon their return. He suggests heading to a hole in the wall tavern he knows for a more discreet conversation.
"The ring has spies that watch this place."
"I don't mind it but we need to go to some-place where we are out of sight. I need to call for Quell's blessing to assume my friends you're telling the truth and it is a visible spell. If you want and to be fair, I'll do the same for me so you can check my truth-worthiness as well."
In deference to Beth he will forgo the Will save.