Both Lubella and Talvek miss their opportunity to strike the retreating dwarf . However they quickly overtake him and pummel him with their blades. He is definitely showing signs of weakening and still shaking from Aldrens taunting.
"I have friends in high places! Guards and DOTTARI ." as he yells.
Vend flutters out and over the east wall to cut off any chance of making the east gate.
"Oh, for the love of skin... He's going to bring all of Cheliax onto our heads if he keeps carrying on like that," the half-elf grumbles before firing back at the dwarf, "You fool. We've dropped your men. You think we're going to stop now just because you 'know someone'?"
Aldren again demoralizes the dwarf, causing visible shaking and sweating, but Kossrani is still in utter disbelief you four can take him down.
If you knew what was good for you, you'd leave now before it is too late.
Arcos the Blue advances and readies to hurl a bolt at the dwarf if he tries to break free again...which he does.
Arcos but misses due to cover.
Lubella swung again as Kossrani moved away for another bow shot.
"Too late for who?" retorts Talvek as he lunges after the dwarf, leading with the tip of his rapier.
And with the two swift strokes, Kossrani drops, a look of disbelief still on his bearded face.
You have him in the alley, a few unconscious thugs in the courtyard and even more, some only asleep, back in the main room. Both doors open.
"Let's get him back inside," Lubella said to Talvek. She sheathed her scimitar (plunging the area back into darkness) and started dragging the dwarf back towards the gate.
"We also need to restrain the guards that are asleep, and check the others to make sure they're stable, and don't bleed to death!"
Aldren sighs as he secures his morningstar, glaring with contempt at the dwarf. "I think we're going to regret not killing them... but maybe the Thrune's and their bootlicks will take care of that for us. You haul them in. I'm going to wait near the gate for a minute to see if anyone comes to investigate that racket." He grabs a piece of clothing from one of the unconscious mercenaries and walks to where he has cover from the gate but can see if anyone comes to investigate.
Lubella listened to Aldren's doubts about sparing the dwarf, but continued with her labor. Perhaps, but I must follow my goddess' example and not give up on those who could be redeemed. Sarenrae continues to patiently talk to evil deities, trying to convince them to give up their dark ways. I can't be sure that this dwarf is beyond hope.
The tanglefoot resin breaks off and crumbles before Aldren scouts the alley in guise of a thug. No signs of any guards coming to investigate the calls of Kossrani.
Arcos and Lubella are winded from dragging the heavy dwarf back to the gates before closing them. The other thugs are easily bound before any regain consciousness. Some sporting worse wounds than the others.
Checking the smaller building to the east appears to be a crude barracks. No movement is seen with the darkness.
The larger salt works building will take further investigation, as it extends beyond the hall to the south.
No immediate signs of the anticipated prisoners.
Lubella checked the unconscious guards to make sure they weren't bleeding.
While she waited for Aldren to some back inside, she looked around the room.
When Aldren returned, she suggested, "Aldren, this might be a good time to channel; almost all of us are wounded. Best to heal up now, in case there are any surprises in store!"
"While you do that, I'll scout ahead." Talvek announces. He hadn't been hurt at all in the fight, a fact that was causing him to behave a little on the cocky side. They couldn't even touch me! he thinks to himself, not a little smug.
He had helped the others drag the unconscious guards in an orderly pile, but now he saunters down the corridor to the rest of the building, not bothering with a light source.
"Be careful; don't go out of earshot!", Lubella urged the young Tiefling. Overconfidence can get you killed! An objective observer might note that she advised caution that she didn't always display herself.
When there is no sign of anyone coming to investigate, Aldren turns and rejoins the others. "We seem to be in the clear for now. Either nobody heard... or nobody cared."
When Lubella mentions healing, he nods in agreement but adds a caveat, "But I'm not including any of them. Tied up or not, to heal them now would be to invite trouble, either attempted escapes or more yelling and screaming." As to whether they could be healed later, Aldren leaves the discussion for that time. "Lady in the Room, grant us your blessing and boundless vigor as we seek vengeance for those wrongly imprisoned..."
He coughs slightly. "Um, Mistress, I don't mean to be ungrateful and I know I have failed miserably in my obeisance of late, but we could use a little more."
He grins lasciviously at something. "Oooh. Yes. Thank you, my Lady. Those who stand in our way shall taste your Sting, I swear it." He adjusts his armor slightly, looks over the others and says, "Now, have you searched these lads yet? The dwarf? Or their barracks? They may have keys or other useful items."
Lubella replied, "Thank you, Aldren. We haven't done a proper search yet, and we haven't been into the barracks, which is what I assume the small building is. I'll go and have a look there."
She wrapped a cloth around her scimitar to dim the light from her spell, crossed the courtyard, and entered the small outbuilding. Removing the cloth from her blade, she looked around inside, keeping an eye out for keys.
Aldren smiles genuinely. "I'd say you're very welcome, but I'm not the one to thank. At least, I won't take credit for it. If I did..." He pantomimes being stung in the ass by an insect then having his throat slit.
If he hasn't been already, Aldren pats down the dwarf to inspect him for anything useful , then follows Talvek. Lubella is too honest to hide anything from us, and Talvek is more likely to run into trouble.
Lubella checks the injured thugs and none appear to be mortally wounded. All are bound and lined up along the wall. This room is used to store shipments of rock salt and smaller sacks of table salt.
As she checks them, she sees each of the thugs had a light mace, studded leather armor, manacles, and a bronze Thrune pendant of some value. Each also has a few gold coins in their pockets.
Aldren returns from his scouting but has nothing out of the ordinary to report. Apparently the Dottari do not pay much attention to this section of the city beyond the gates.
Aldren calls forth the healing power of his sultry mistress, basking those in the room with divine energy to close wounds.
Aldren then searches the dwarf, but beyond the partially equipped dwarven chainmail and the composite longbow he dropped, with a few remaining arrows, he appears to have nothing much more of interest. Likely being waken in the middle of the night led to being less well equipped than would have been otherwise.
Lubella heads towards the barracks and finds the still greasy heavy mace of fine workmanship laying before the door. Stepping over it, she enters the barracks and immediately notices 4 double bunk beds and a bed with a desk.
Arcos stays at the entry of the door should Lubella need assistance. Vendaflek hovers outside, keeping watch for any guards.
Talvek and Aldren search down the hall of the larger building. They encounter doors to the east and south.
They hear muffled cries coming from the first door to the east.
Lubella cast a spell and scanned the items for magic auras.
After she finished searching the barracks, she returned to the others to report her findings.
"Did you hear that? Someone is in need of our aid!" Talvek whispers to Aldren before opening the door to the east, rapier at the ready.
Arcos follows Talvek, ready to provide some magical support.
Lubella detects magic auras on the two potions and the bag before departing to follow Arcos back to the main building.
Talvek pulls his rapier and then lifts the bar on the door to the east.'
Within he finds six prisoners being held in the Salt Works.
Five are human warriors and their onetime leader, who steps forward weakly holding a make-shift club.
I am Forvian Crow. Um...who are you?.
All six appear sickened from conditions in the Salt Works and are in no condition to fight.
Lubella followed the sound of voices to the room with the prisoners.
She greeted Mr. Crow, "Hello Forvian. We are the Silver Ravens; Laria Longroad suggested you might want rescuing. Unless you prefer your steady employment in this establishment!
"We've disabled the guards, so we should be free of unwanted interruptions for now. Are there any more of your group other than those in this room?"
After she talked to the newly released prisoners, she examined the potions and the bag.
"Oh thank you. We thought we'd never be released. Kossrani said he would work us to death and feed our corpses to Thrunes hounds. We must thank Laria...and you. Silver Ravens? I thought they were an old wives tale. Well, whoever you are, we owe you big time. ."
It is obvious they are going to need some help moving, and shy of a heal spell, will take days of proper nutrition to regain their strength.
No additional thugs are found in the rest of the building, including the business office nor the salt pit and its furnace room.
"We're reviving the Silver Ravens; we're setting about to improve social conditions in Kintargo, and we figured your social condition needed improving!" Lubella replied.
"Are you all able to walk? We need to be ready to move out as soon as the curfew is lifted. Gather everything you want to bring with you; you can equip yourselves with the guards' equipment as you see fit."
She turned to her fellow Ravens. "Let's move the guards into the barracks. We can secure the door so they can't follow us, even if they escape their bonds. We've got a little bit of time, so let's make sure we gather everything that we want to take with us."
She lowered her voice, in case one of the guards was somehow conscious and listening. "At 6 o'clock, I'll go and see if Captain Dog Leg McGee is available to take us across to the new harbor. I thought of contacting him earlier, but I figured it was safer not to let him know our plans ahead of time."
Aldren's expression grows dark as he listens to the prisoners' account of their stay here. He glances at Lubella, debating quietly how strongly to press her on the mercy she has shown, then turns to the prisoners and says, "Gather around as you're able. If you can't, let us help you. I am a priest of Calistria, and Her blessings are as kind as Her wrath is terrible. I will pray to Her that she heals you." After the prisoners are all close enough, he prays once more to Calistria for her vigor.
Even the half-elf is somewhat taken aback by the intensity of the energy that is channeled through his prayer. Half-breathless, he intones, "Praise unto you, Lady in the Room. Now, lads, please, is there anything you can tell us or anything you would have us do before we leave? We aim to bring Kossrani and his ilk to their knees... or bleeding out in a gutter. Is there anything you can tell us that would help?"
Talvek is a little surprised at how freely Lubella talks about their group and their identity. Sure, these people had been in need of rescuing, but who was to say that they would keep their secret, gratitude or not? Still, this is not the time or place to discuss such matters, so instead the tiefling busies himself searching the premises.
All of the prisoners are immediately more grateful with the healing of their wounds and sores. Their hunger and salt sickness still weighs heavily on them.
"Many blessings on you all. We cannot walk far. But the hope will carry us as needed. You have saved us from certain death at the hands of these. What are your longer term plans now? Especially for the thugs and this place? Are we free to leave? We owe you and will repay you for your kindness once we are able.." inquires Forvian.
You are able to transfer the thugs into the holding place. Some look with fear while others harbor contempt for you and their now released prisoners.
After the better part of an hour you are able to search the place thoroughly and find business records with Kossrani signature throughout.
Salt seems to be the main treasure beyond the pocket change and simple weapons of the thugs. Kossrani still is unconscious.
Lubella replied to Forvian, "I'm going to try to arrange water transportation to the New Harbor; there's a safe place to stay not too far from there — assuming of course, that you don't have a another place that you'd prefer to go to. You're free to go wherever you choose; there's no conditions attached to your freedom. If you want to learn more about our organization, we can discuss things when we get to a more secure location.
"As for the Salt Works, our priority is to free you, not to shut this place down. We're trying to avoid stirring things up more than we have to, so I'm aiming to avoid killing the thugs. Since they won't have you to do their work for them, they're going to have to do it themselves, if they want to meet whatever quota is expected of them!"
She took Arcos aside (addressing him as 'Blue Warlock'), and asked him, "Do you think there's any value in these business records? I don't know much about this stuff, so I don't know if there's any sort of advantage to be gained."
As the group made their preparations, Lubella kept an eye on the light outside. Dawn would signal that it was time to go and locate Dog Leg McGee. The dawn brings new light indeed!
Lubella was able to determine the potions were of the same type and of moderate curatives.
Arcos is only able to determine a few things from the ledgers. First, Kossrani has been augmenting his meager income by selling salt on the black market, with no taxes being paid to the city government. It appears the prior owner was not fond of paying taxes and seems to have been replaced on the Night of Ashes.
Second, without free use of slave labor of the prisoners, the place would not likely turn much of a profit. Not a large margin in the salt trade these days.
Forvian considers Lubella's words. Well if you are friends of Laria's, then we are willing to work with your group if you will have us. I am not sure what you Silver Ravens do, but if it includes stickin'
it good to ol' Thrune and his cronies, count me in!
Lubella helped the freed prisoners prepare for departure, making sure that the ones in worst shape weren't carrying too much. She also had a second breakfast, since the first one had been far too early.
As dawn approached, she went to speak to the guards, who were still restrained. "Listen up! We did not come here to kill you, but to free those who you had enslaved. I don't imagine your Thrune masters will be very pleased by your failure here, although it's up to you how soon you want to let them know what happened. I imagine you would be able to meet your production targets here yourselves if you put your minds to it; given the condition of the slaves, they can't have been terribly productive anyways.
"Speaking of slavery, you might want to think about the morality of enslaving people very much like yourselves. Imagine if you or your families ended up being owned by someone else.
"We're not leaving quite yet, so don't think about making a racket; we'll hear you before any dottari! Good day."
Vendaflek has fallen asleep perched on one of the piles of salt bags.
For the most part the captured thugs seem to have lost their zeal to fight and just want to escape with their lives in tact.
Kossrani is a different story altogether. You can see his eyes smoldering with hatred and he tries to spit and curse and chew through his gag (if he still has one) while restrained.
The freed mercenaries and Forvian prepare themselves to depart.
Forvian speaks for the others We owe you all. Thanks is not enough.
The others nod in agreement with their leader.
You mentioned a boat? How close will it be? Is it coming already?
The docks here are very close. We cannot walk much further than that. Certainly not into the city.
Lubella noticed Kossrani's expression; she said to him in a low voice. "We looked through the business records, and it seems you haven't been paying all the tax you should have. In fact, it looks like you've been selling some of the salt on the black market! There's no need for that information to find it's way to the authorities, is there? The better that you can keep things quiet, the better I'll be about keeping things quiet. I hope we have an understanding."
----------
Lubella replied to Forvian, "I'm going now to arrange transport. We couldn't take the risk of setting things up ahead of time; one of the captains might have been tempted to betray us. I should be able to get someone to take us from the docks. Hang tight for a few minutes longer."
The party makes busy with getting prepared to depart and gathering items. The freed slaves take the maces, but are too weak to don armor from the thugs.
Once everyone was finished interacting with the guards in the barracks, Lubella made sure the door to the barracks couldn't be opened easily from the inside. She wrote a couple of notes reading "Guards in the barracks", posting one on the outside of the door from the courtyard into the main building, and leaving the other on the card game table.
At the break of dawn, Lubella said a quick prayer to her goddess. "Back in a few," she told the others. She removed her bandana, and slipped out the back gate, checking first to see that no one was watching.
Still in the disguise of a male halfling, she made her way to the docks and inquired about hiring a boat or two.
Some of Kossrani's equipment was high quality, and Talvek is tempted to be thrifty and take it for selling, but the risk is too great that it would be traced back to them. As Lubella talks to the guards, he hangs back and out of sight - as one of the most recognizable members of their little gang he doesn't want to remind them of his existence.
The same considerent applies when Lubella goes to hire a boat, so he passes the time by chatting to Forvian and his men, trying to find out more about them, telling them a bit of the history of the Silver Ravens and seeing if there's anything they know that might help them in the fight against Thrune.
Lubella is able to slip out at dawn, not being noticed by any of the groggy eyed locals showing up for work on the docks.
She is able to find a couple boats, but they start asking too many questions for her comfort and she moves on. The Thrune has a way of making people suspicious in these times.
She finally tracks down a couple boat captains loading and trimming their vessels. One barge captain in particular, Lucky Louie, said could handle all 10 passengers without issue. He offered to throw in some fishy tarps for free.
After an hour she is able to return back to the Sallix Salt Works.
***
Talvek and the others hang back speaking with the mercenaries. Besides their continued gratitude, they do not know where they will go next. Forvian has suggested to them to help the Silver Ravens in a week or two once they recover.
They probably could form a team to be recruited next week. Which reminds you, this is the day the teams report back on their status recruiting and fund-raising for the cause. Getting back to Longroads will be important.
***
Lubella returns. Most of the thugs figure they would rather bug out than to work the Salt Works on their own. That is Kossrani's problem. We are just hired out. We will skip town or find someplace else to work. Most seem likely to keep their word. A couple you sense may come back for revenge if given the chance. Kossrani is no exception and continues to be a PITA as best he can under the circumstances.
Lubella agreed to hire the barge. "Yes, that sounds suitable. The passengers will be here to meet the vessel when it arrives."
On her way back, she noted the best route to move the sickened former prisoner. She entered discreetly through the back entrance and announced, "Good news — there's a barge that can fit everyone. We need to be at the docks in 30 minutes! Is everyone ready?"
While Lubella is away, Talvek is fiddling with his disguise, trying to mask that he is a tiefling. No sense in making their group easy to trace, for they are quite a striking bunch - tiefling, elf, halfling... well, he supposes Arcos would not normally stand out that much, except for his Blue Warlock persona.
Aldren mostly keeps to himself, tired and exhausted, his typically bombastic mood muted and subdued. Before they leave, he does offer one thought, "So, we have that page of records implicating Kossrani, right? Let's leave it on the front gate for the dottari to find."
Otherwise, he is ready to go.
"I was thinking of hanging onto the ledgers, as a guarantee of his good behavior," Lubella suggested. "The dottari might not understand what they're looking at; I know I wouldn't! He'd probably talk them into giving them back to him."
At Lubella's words, Aldren arches a lazy brow and a wry grin touches his lips. "A guarantee of good behavior? We are talking about the same dwarven slave master, right?"
He shakes his head and sighs but all with the same smile. "You're too kind, Lubella. Truly. I'd expect a halfling would understand what lies in a slaver's heart more than most. The harm they inflict on their victims and their families is immeasurable, and that one is wholly committed to his ways. But, okay, we can try it your way. But if we run into Kossrani again doing anything other than spreading love and kindness, I'm going to kill him." He winks, the friendly gesture discordant with the grim words, then prepares to depart.
"Well, I'm hoping that some fear will help him resist his worst impulses," Lubella replied to the half-elf. She wasn't sure herself that the dwarf could be reached. "But I understand what you're saying — if he cannot be redeemed by words, he will need to be redeemed by the sword!"
"Then we are in accord," he says in what almost sounds like a purr. "Good. You know, it's almost daylight. Once the curfew is lifted, if you all can survive without me for a few hours," the grin makes clear this is a jest and not true arrogance, "I'm going to find a cathouse, if any are still open in this city, give My Lady's blessings, and pass out in a warm bed with warm company."
”The Blue Warlock is ready to depart. We might try to let Kossrani go, but of all the thugs here he is by far the least redeemable and most likely to spread secrets about us.”
"I'm going to do a little napping myself, if I can manage it, " Lubella replied to Aldren. She hadn't slept very well, and getting up at 4 AM hadn't helped. She was running on adrenaline now, but she knew that wasn't going to last.
"Two can play at that game; I've got a few secrets to spread myself, if he gets out of line!", she said to Arcos, patting one of the ledgers.
At around 7 bells in the morning, the barge arrives as scheduled. The released mercenaries wait for the signal and then shuffle off in the direction of the docks.
Your group retains a few items of worth and note from the exchange, leaving the thugs and their one-time leader, Kossrani, bound in the Sallix Salt Works.
The look on their faces is priceless as the tables were turned on their little operation.
The mercenaries approach the barge.
Lucky Louie calls out.
Step lively, I ain'ts gots all day! This job is risking much. Get aboard and cover up. Quickly. You'll have the Dottari on our heads!
He ushers them aboard the barge and his crew of two throw the tarps over Forvian and his men.
Lucky Louie is all smiles when he sees Lubella approach. Well little master. We are all loaded. Give the word and we will ship out.
All lines released, sir! one of the crew throws the last rope into the barge and jumps aboard.
As the polemen push away from the dock, Lucky Louie grins.
I hope your pockets don't run dry before we get to the other side. Quick. Dottari start to patrol outside the gate by 8 bells. I don't want to be nowhere near here.
The barge slowly treads across the Yolubilis River, and eventually reaches the north bank, close to the Cage and other docks where you recently had the crates of textiles loaded.
Land ho! the crew yells as you approach the docks.
He jumps to the dock and tethers the barge.
Well, here you be! Did I tell you Lucky Louie ain't never gone wrong? Well did I? I just need the other 5 gold crowns and we will be on our way. he smiles as he holds out a hand for the other half of the payment.
You are back in north Kintargo and the mercenaries are standing on the docks with smiles and helping each other as they thank you.
Forvian waves. It may take us a bit, but we will repay you. Tell Laria we said thanks to her too!
"Thank you Lucky Louie," Lubella said as she paid the rest of the fare.
Once they were all ashore, she asked Forvian, "Do any of you need a place to stay and rest up? I'm sure you have families you want to get back to, but I have to ask; I can't leave anyone on the street with no place to go!"
No, we are good. You have done enough already. Forvian bows as best he can.
Where can we find you once we are better?
Or should we just contact Laria at the Longroads?
Lubella bowed in return. She felt a little funny not introducing herself properly, but it seemed prudent to stay in disguise for now. "Yes, if you contact Laria, we'll get the message. Let us know if you need anything."
She bid Forvian and the rest of the mercenaries farewell, and headed back to the Long Roads Coffee House. Just before reaching it, she ducked into a back alley (being careful not to be observed), and removed her disguise, stuffing it in her backpack).
She walked into the the coffee house and sought out the group's usual table. She hailed their host, "Good morning Laria, I believe we could all use some breakfast!" (which was technically her third breakfast, although the other two had been small).
When Laria came over, she said, careful to make sure none of the other customers overheard, "Mission accomplished! Forvian sends his regards. The mercenaries are going to rest up for a few days; I expect Forvian will stop by here when he's feeling better."
When the group retired to the Wasp's Nest, she could talk more freely. "I want to congratulate everyone on a job well done — we couldn't have expected the mission to go more smoothly than that. Excellent teamwork!"
Similar to Lubella, Talvek ducks in an alleyway near the docks to remove his disguise, then loiters for a while before joining the others for breakfast.
"Phew! That was a lot of studying I did last night, I could use some of your magic brew to perk me up, Mistress Laria!" He announces loudly as he enters, stretching theatrically.
As they repair to the Nest, he nods emphatically at Lubella's praise. "Yes, that went very well and we worked great together! We should add the captured funds to the Silver Ravens treasury, once the amount for the boat captain's services has been deducted. And Vendalfek did great, too, with all those spells!" The tiefling gives a chuckle as he recalls the comedy moments of thugs slipping on the floor, greased weapons slipping from their grasp.