Memnosyne follows the others into the tent. This isn't the kind of place where one wants to wander off, at least not if you want to keep your cash.
Following up on Oster's lead, she adds, "We can make it worth your while."
Devlin, you can see that a lot of the carnies are casually watching you as you go into the tent.
Memno and Oster : Zograthy grins a toothy grin. "Aaah...Secrets! Perhaps my greatest trade!. As you ask so nicely I will reduce my usual fee of 15gp to 10gp and I'll tell you what I know.
"We might to trade in some of the gems first."
OK we can retcon that - you can sell the gems for 50gp each.
Xango hands over the required 10 gold pieces and nods."Now spill your beans! We are searching for a certain Natalya Vancaskerkin. Members of the Szerni."
Devlin smirks as he watches the unfolding scene. Well this is an interesting technique towards getting what we seek.
Oster keeps smiling at Zograthy, awaiting his response.
Zograthy says, "Ah yes, Natalya Vancaskerkin. She hasn't been heard of among the Sczarni. Many folk along the waterfront, both here and over in Dockway have been disappearing of late - a few each week, in fact, with many simply vanishing from their beds at night. I suspect that Natalya may be among those who have disappeared in this way.
It's not a Sczarni plot, I know that! The Sczarni seem quite interested in solving the vanishings themselves. The leading theory on the street is that its the work of Nidalese slavers but I don't buy it. Natalya was, until recently, a member of the Tower Girls who are themselves searching for her. They say that Natalya went mad before her disappearance.
"Do the Sczarni have any other rivals in town? Anyone who might bear a grudge, say for some 'misunderstanding'? And anyone who would have been a friend of Natalya's in the Tower Girls?"
"Who or what are the Tower Girls?"
Xango leans forward, listening to the answer!
(GM note - the ring in the box is a ring of feather falling0
Zograthy grins again, "The Sczarni is not one race/group my friend but several.
There are 6 major Sczarni gangs: the Creeper's, Doolun's Lads, the Gallowed, the Tower Girls, the Washside Wringers and the Wreckwash Blades. The most powerful group are the Gallowed. In terms of enemies the various gangs are often at war with each other and the Watch is always trying to capture them. In terms of other enemies these slavers could be if the Tower Girls are muscling in on their patch but who knows."
"I've never met Natalaya so I can't answer your question about her friends, certainly the leader of the Tower Girls is someone called Ayala."
Oster keeps smiling, keeping his thoughts from his face.
Damn, but we have to pry tidbits out of this geezer!
"Do the gangs have marked territories? Colours? Who are more aggressive, who can we deal with relaxed-like?"
They don't have marked territories as such, all of them are aggressive, there is perhaps someone who is rumoured to be in tight with the Tower Girls who may be able to help. His name is Fenster the Blight and he lives in Dockway. Provided you give him a gift worth at least 5gp he'll help you. Not sure about the others but the Tower Girls all wear red bandannas. The Gallowed are the most aggressive.
"Fenster, the blight! Noted. Tower girls wear red bandannas. Noted."
Xango looks at the others, and adds."Time to move?"
Lets. If we hang around here much longer I am afraid we might lose more than our coin purses."
You find Fenster the Blight's home - a partially collapsed warehouse on the shoreline, in a particularly filthy stretch where tidal currents often cause the filth and refuse of the city to collect in stinking clots on the shore.
The entrance to this hovel consists of a pair of skiffs leaning against each other to form a triangular arch of sorts from which hangs a mouldering remnant of a ship's sail. Sitting next to the entrance is an old sea chest with a broken lid. A sign leans against the front of the chest and reads - "LEEV A GIFT AND WATE OUTSIDE" A dented tin platter sits on the ground before the sign.
Devlin covers his mouth and nose with his shirt sleeve to help ward off the stench. "This is particularly disgusting and I honestly wish we could have avoided this section of the city." Reaching into his coin purse Devlin drops a couple of coppers into the dinged up platter.
Devlin looks around as he waits trying to see whether or not anyone might be tailing them or preparing to ambush them.
Link : https://bit.ly/2IbKjUu
There is a horrible hacking coughing noise coming from the crude shelter and a strange creature comes out (see picture above). His flesh is clammy and gray in places, one of his eyes is clouded over with a white film and his clothing is caked in filth. His breathing is raspy and gurgling and smells of bead meat.
He comes over and inspects the coppers. As you ask for news of Natalya he says "She's no longer wiv the Tower Girls, she's doin her best to avoid them. She's holed up in a house a little further on from here. As for the Tower Girls, I used to be their landlord but they've moved on somewhere. Still they'll be back."
Devlin, you don't see anyone tailing you.
On the way to the shack, Xango buys a basket and fills it with food and booze worth 5 gps. He then puts it next to the tin platter.
Stepping back he waits for Fenster to pick up his gift.
Fenster thanks you and says you've been very kind. Maybe he'll return the favour at some point.
Moving away from the would be shack if it were in batter shape, Devlin begins looking for the home that creature mentioned.
"If you don't watch yourself you are going to wind up being followed and pestered by every beggar in this city. Especially if you give out booze."
Oster gives Zograthy a polite nod as the group departs and parting words.
"Thank you for an informative chat. We may require another so don't wander off."
******************
Near Fenster's, Oster does not seem bothered by the appalling conditions as he keeps an eye out for trouble.
"Devlin is talking sense, Xango. People living in places like this will keep chancing their arm until you don't pay out, and then maybe try for it anyway. Trust me on that one. But we have a house to investigate so let's go!", he finishes breezily.
You don't see or hear anything as you progress to the house that Fenster mentioned.
The house has clearly seen better days. Its clapboard sides are dark with mildew and marred by scorch marks. In places fire has gutted portions of the roof's moss-covered tile shingles, but the building appears to be structurally intact. The building stands near the stark wall of the Seacleft and scree from decades of minor rockfalls has piled up along its southern face. There is a front door and another to the side along a back alley.
From the front door you can hear the occasional shuffling of feet and low talking. From the side door you can hear the occasional flow and drip of liquid.
Memnosyne nods to the back door. "We should put someone on the back door in case she tries to bolt."
Oster nods.
"A fine idea. Xango, my friend, would you care to cover the alley door? Or at least go in through there? I'm a quiet man when I want to be, so I'm fine with trying the front."
If left to his own devices, Oster will make for the front door and listen to it carefully.
Ok so Xango covers the back door.
Oster the door appears to be closed but not locked. You hear two male voices who appear to be talking to each other,
"Natalya's spending a lot of the time in her lair and those goblins are annoying, Still she's promised us wealth so I'm sticking by her."
"Me too, this is easy money..."
Oster turns to the others and whispers.
"Two lads talking, who work for Natalya. Let's enter and ask them what they know and where her 'lair' is. If they give us any guff, well, we can ask *impolitely*."
You open the door and come face to face with two thuggish looking guys wielding morningstars.
"Ere - what are you doing here", says one.
Map: https://goo.gl/hGxKwk
GM note- main door is in A1 with the 2 thugs right by it
Side door is at A2,
Oster steps into the room as if he owns the place, no weapons in hand - yet.
"A good day, gentlemen. I am Oster, and my friends and I need to find your boss for a quiet word. And it would be in both our best interests if you make it quick."
Devlin slips just inside the front door following Oster. "Gentleman, we're waiting." By the Gods I hope they buy this ruse.
"We have a proposition for her that would prove mutually beneficial, possibly to you, as well," she says,offering the brightest smile she can muster.
The room is littered with fresh garbage and the debris of recent habitation.
The two thugs are initially sceptical but they are swayed by Memnosyne and Oster's words.
"All right, if you want to see the boss you'll have to go in through the side door, it's the only way up to her. Watch out the sewer is particularly stinking today, oh and watch out for the snake when you get to the top level. We have to stay and guard here- orders you know how it is."
GM note- Other than gold from now on I need to know who is carrying what items/treasure you find.
Xango joins the others and smiles.
"Why has it to be snakes. A well a snake is at least dumb."
Devlin hangs his head and gives it a shake as the thug mentions the sewer. "What kind of snake are we talking about gentleman?
"Thank you for your cooperation gentlemen. Do you happen to know if there's a way to keep the snake calm and not trying to eat faces? A phrase or something to that effect?"
Memnosyne is glad to have avoided unnecessary violence. She waits to hear what the 'guards' have to say about this snake. Fore warned is fore armed.
The guards say they're not aware of any way of keeping the snake calm, it actually severely injured two of their companions. Natalya manages to keep it out of her way by using magic.
Opening the side door you find the following:
The entire floor of this chamber has collapsed into the pool of water five feet below. The earthen walls of this flooded subcellar ooze with foul rivulets, and the smell is abominable. Two oozing sewer pipes protrude through the east wall of this pit just above the level of the sewage. Part of the ceiling above the entrance has collapsed, revealing an attic crawlspace above; a rickety ladder leads up from the water into the crawlspace. A door stands in the far wall across the sludge pit. A wooden plank balanced between both doors makes a precarious bridge between the two doors.
Oster muses:
"Can any of you fine folk lull a snake to sleep? Or stun it? I have a handy sap if it comes to it, in case we want to keep Natalya on side and a dead snake would bring troubles. But she can't complain too much right?"
He looks around the foul room.
"Not exactly a palace eh? I'll try the far door. See what's around before we go up."
He starts walking towards the plank, intending to cross. Or leap if the plank starts giving him problems.
Xango shuckles and patts his earthbreaker.
"Oh I have something to lull the snake into sleep. Eternal sleep."
The plank is slightly slippery and wet due to the sludge below but Oster manages to make his way across to the door which is closed.
(Acrobatics 1d20 +10 = 5+10 =15)
From the pipes to the west you can hear the sounds of twittering and booted feet.
What do the rest of you do?
"Snake or no snake, I'd rather not remain here longer than necessary," Memnosyne says checking out the ladder.
"Does this thing look sturdy enough to hold one of us?" she asks the others.
Devlin looks at the unsteady plank with unease. He then gingerly and excruciatingly slowly makes his wake across the plank. Please don't give way.
"This is no way to make a living. Why did we say yes to this task?"
Devlin you manage to make your way safely across the plank.
Memno you can see immediately that the ladder is not strong enough to be able to use.
At this point 3 Goblins appear from the pipes to the right. Can everyone roll initiative.
Goblins (1d20+1 = 7+6) =13
Xango takes his sling and studies the middle goblin
You can reach them if you wade through the sewer sludge- it's about 3 feet deep.
Oster it is your action first.
The goblins are coming and seem to be holding bags in one hand (about the size of a tanglefoot bag)
A thin smile crosses Oster's face as he slips a sling into his hands, and a bullet into that sling. Said bullet is soon hurtling through the air towards the nearest goblin.
Oster's sling bullet misses.
Xango you are next