Jean finds an envelope, only given away by the crease on the flap and the wax seal. It could say anything! Such wonder.
"Pile in. Nothin' to worry about, this thing used to haul loads heavier than us."
When the party has entered, their guide presses a switch at the bottom of the panel. It appears to have been welded in place somewhat more recently than the other switches, each of which indicates a floor of operation. There are five labeled with “F1, F2…” etc. And the label of switch that the guide pulled is scraped out. The steel bars of the elevator are layered at the bottom with panels holding the group up. The elevator shaft is clearly visible from where you stand. Leaning to get a better look causes the apparatus to list slightly. However, there does appear to be some light in here.
"Need a light?" The mysterious guide reclines against the bars.
As the lift chugs to life, a gate closes and the cage descends. Light flickers by as you all pass one door, then another, and another. The trip winds to a stop down deep below the city streets. The gate folds and the door opens to form a path. For the first time in these sewers there seems to be consistent if not dim light to see by. Even better this passage is high enough for the party to stand fully. The way looks more akin to a hall than the sewers above. Indeed, there even looks to be a door not 50 ft. through here. Once more the unknown guide takes the lead, ushering you forward.
”Freddy’s through here. We’ll stop in, say hi, and be own our way in no time. If you have any questions, now’s the time to ask. Don’t be shy.”
"Other than the obvious 'anything we shouldn't say or do to upset him' nah, I think I'm good." Seraphina really didn't want to fight a locallegend.
Jean just nodded and stayed quiet for this part. He knew what kind of attitude he projected and unless they were under his command and he could systematically inure them to his ways, most people did not take very well to him.
If I do, then it’s totally by accident, Said Gwynn, smiling slightly and glancing quickly to Ke’kra. When asked if they had any questions, Gwynn raises her hands, On a scale from one-to-ten, if this goes badly, how badly will this go?
if something does happen, I am not worried. We've been through a considerable amount
Would Freddy have run into the halfling before?
Mindos didn't want to reveal any more than he had to about their mission to Freddy, lest he somehow impedes it, but if they had a prior run in, Mindos could use that to his advantage.
"Awright, in order:"
"Other than the obvious 'anything we shouldn't say or do to upset him.'
"Nothing off the top of my head, Sunshine. Well, he doesn't like when people take his stuff. Don't know why you'd want to though. If he offers you food, it's easier to get it over with and eat."
On a scale from one-to-ten, if this goes badly, how badly will this go?
"Depends what you mean, Red. Leaving a bad impression with Freddy? I dunno, two? The real tricky part'll be after we pass his... we'll go with 'domicile' to describe it. See, things are pretty stable in here, because folks know who's in charge. Once we get past the city grounds, there are disagreements over who owns what. That is where you'll wanna be careful or thing's could get pretty ten-ish if you catch my drift."
Would Freddy have run into the halfling before?
"Sure did, Chief. Introduced the two myself. They met for the same reason you'll meet him; it was the best route to get Stahl were he needed to go." The guide finishes her approach to the door. Her mask turns idly watching a flickering light.
"Figured there'd be some questions about this guy so I thought I'd do you kind folks a favor so you wouldn't be caught off guard when you meet him." She then stretches her back. As she does this, she grows to be roughly five-and-a-half feet tall, her entire body adjusting in moments into a new form under the same suit, complete with a more traditional plantigrade foot shape. She addresses the assembled group with no ceremony about her transformation.
"Gets cramped down here. C'mon." The door has a knocker, and an observer can even make out engravings of heraldry on the metal as the parties guide knocks twice before shoving the door open.
The door sweeps aside almost as if in welcome to it's visitors. The party steps into a spacious room and finds a sight most grotesque. There is old furniture stacked atop boxes and arranged poorly! The room is capped by a dome, and leads off in three directions. One straight ahead blocked by a steel door, and more in right and left paths. Two old sofas are placed against each other with the arms closest to each other removed haphazardly. They're placed close to a radio in remarkably good condition on a pedestal. The most striking feature of the room though, is the layer of clear water covering the entirety of the floor at least knee deep. All the features, including damaged paintings on the wall are held at an elevation that keeps them above the water.
"Hey, Freddy, got some new friends for ya."
A slosh of water sends ripples in from the left pathway as a malformed tendril grasps the frame holding the creatures grotesque form out of sight. Another sinewy tentacle of the monstrosity lurches into sight, this one bearing a small cluster of eyes atop it's end.
"This is Chief." The guide gestures to Mindos.
"Red." To Gwynn.
"Sunshine." To Seraphina.
"Guru." To Abel.
"Skippy." To Jean.
"And Big Girl." To Coco.
The cluster of black eyes examine the party momentarily.
"Hello, Freddy. It's nice to finally meet the legend." Seraphina wasn't sure exactly why they'd all gotten nicknames, although giving her glowing tattoos it made sense how she got hers, and wasn't likely to make a point of it in front of there guide.
Gwynn replied to Kek’ra in a whisper, Don’t worry, I’ll just be more discreet.
Gwynn waved, Hello, Freddy, Gwynn said. I’m red, She thought with a bit of a grin. Truly a pleasure.
The eye stalk leans down, then back up in an apparent effort to follow the guides introductions. The abominable beast waddles into full view, towering over the assembled group. He speaks through his jowls as his enormous mouth flaps.
"Hi various guys! I can't believe I get to meet more friends today. Squirmy just came by, but he said he didn't have time to see my new treasures. Do you wanna?"
"Is... Squirmy, by any chance another fellow like you?" Jean asked cautiously. He was frankly not sure what to make of this situation. He had fought and killed things like 'Freddy' over on the continent, usually while they were trying to kill him at the behest of various mages.
Betcha Squirmy is pretty short, and good at squeezing out of people's grips, Seraphina mused. "Well...we're kinda in a rush Freddy, but since it's you, we can spare a minute or two to take a look at your new, I'm sure." She really didn't want to fight the thing, and this way it might help them find that damned Halfling.
Er... What's up?
Squirmy? Maybe he means Stahl, given that he would be in a hurry...
Taking a cue from Seraphina, and not wanting to upset Freddy, he continues, Treasures? Sure, we'd love to! We have a few minutes to spare.
Coco stayed a little quiet, not sure what to make of all of this. until "Freddy" appeared. she had no idea what he, or it was, but it seemed harmless for now.
I guess we can see your stuff. I ain't got much else goin on right at this moment. I would like to learn a little more about you. like what type of creature are you. how did you get here.
she stops at this point hoping she didn't just instigate something bad.
So...um.. what are your Treasures? if i may ask Abel looks curious, perhaps a bit nervous all things considered
"Well, come on in and see! Feel free to use the couch." The creature walks into the room to the right passing the still waterlogged couch. For her part, the guide’s already moved onto the couch.
"You really want to know more about me?"
The guide looks over upon hearing this and quickly gestures “no” while Freddy isn't looking.
It's too late.
"Well, I'm an otyugh. I think that's spelled ‘O-T-Y-U-G…”
The structure the otyugh entered has a generous doorway, as well as shelf upon shelf lining the walls made of some kind of ceramic. One the far end of the room is a set of descending stairs, each one protruding out further than normal. Freddy stops short of the stairwell and begins rummaging through a recessed chest in the concrete wall, before removing three items.
”But we reproduce by budding...."
A glove covered in steel plates jagged protrusions filling out the knuckles of the sleeve.
”Mr. Serious sends me lists of things he wants to get off of the street, and I do that.”
A tarnished silver stake with a leather wrap on the blunt end.
”Sometimes I grab extra stuff….”
And lastly a dart. It sits in fairly good condition but covered in grime. Freddy holds the items carefully between the barbs each tentacle terminates in. As he brings them closer to the group the words “Exclusive Editi-” can be read on the flight end of the dart.
”I’ve been working for the city for a while now. The only other otyugh I’ve met was my dad. Mom? Budder? But anyway they’re not allowed back in the city anymore. I heard from Mr. Serious it was something about racket tea-rings my budder had...”
He continues to speak as he places the items on a workbench nearby.
Coco takes notice of the items as the are brought out, but does not move to grab any of them, yet.
That is very interesting, you reproduce by budding? like a plant?
Coco look at the items without mentioning them, trying not to look rude.
Seraphina glanced at the dart, and the silver dagger. There was something off about the dagger, but she wasn't trained to recognize magical items. It was a lack she was going to have to deal with at some point.
”It’s kind of like plants! I think.” Freddy’s eyestalk follows the party’s eyes. ”Do you like them? You can have them if you want. I kind of ran out of room in my common metals trunk anyway. I hate having to put them in the satin cloth trunk like this. Anyway where was I? Job, budding… right! ” Freddy seems like he’s very capable of continuing to divulge details about himself and his life.
An applicant needs to be given an item like this dart by an existing member before voting members are allowed to even consider letting them join. It’s more useful as a key than for winning dart games.
The House of Ivory is a short distance to the Borealos College by train.
"We'll have to come back and look at some more later," Seraphina replied to the strange figure, and wondering how the hells such a dart would find it's way down here. "I'm afraid we need to catch up with someone else right now. Do you mind if we pop back later?" Seraphina really did intend to do so. Freddy seemed fascinating, as was the stuff he collected. "Maybe I could bring you another trunk to store your extra common metal in?"
"Uh, yeah, thanks Freddy," Jean says taking the dart and slipping it into his jacket.
I expected him to be...scarier? He seems really nice.
May I see the stake for a moment?
He analyses it for a bit, before placing it back with the rest of the items.
Who is Mr Serious? Abel asks curiously, while the others look at items
Who is Mr Serious? Abel asks curiously, while the others look at items
"Mr. Serious is my boss. He tells me to get rid of the garbage in the sewers and in exchange he lets me live down here! And he gives me lists of stuff and where to find them. He's kind of short and his breath looks like it's cold, but it's always warm down here and that's like, crazy right?"
"We'll have to come back and look at some more later," Seraphina replied to the strange figure, and wondering how the hells such a dart would find it's way down here. "I'm afraid we need to catch up with someone else right now. Do you mind if we pop back later?" Seraphina really did intend to do so. Freddy seemed fascinating, as was the stuff he collected. "Maybe I could bring you another trunk to store your extra common metal in?"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+14
"Aww, do you have to Sunshine? I didn't even get to the cold I had last week."
*Ahem* "Freddy?" The guide calls over from the couch.
"Yes, Lady?" Evidently the guide just isn't one for names.
"The nice folks are on a schedule. Remember what I said about our manners?"
"Sorry..." Freddy's tendrils droop momentarily before picking back up.
"Okay! But you have to come back cause you promised. Oh, and keep the glove too. I removed the fingers cause it looks cooler that way. Be careful with it though, you could really hurt someone with the metal parts." He pushes his way past the party to a door in the middle room. It's difficult to imagine there was a door here. It should have been visible from the front entrance, yet it was not. In fact yet another feature of the room has become apparent from the new perspective. A large concrete column in the center of the room. The lumbering Otyugh opens the door to allow the party through without much of a fuss.
"Cheers, Freddy. See you on my next day off." Seraphina waved cheerfully and headed through the door.
Good day Freddy. You've been a wonderful host Abel gives a bow and heads on through
Gwynn bowed to Freddy, Been a time and again, Freddy. Looking forward to next time. She said with a wave.
"Bye sunshine."
"You too Guru."
"Bye Big Girl."
"Bye Red."
"Bye Chief."
"Bye Skippy."
"Bye Lady." Freddy waves as the group exits the door one by one.
The next hall is far from expansive, and only dimly lit. Mercifully it is tall enough for a human to stand up at the very least.
Seraphina gestured for the Halfling to lead the way - or at least direct where to go.
See ya Freddy.
Mindos waves goodbye and steps out into the hall.
"Hey uh. I appreciate you folks being so polite to Freddy. He always wants me to bring people by his little set-up there and it usually goes... well worse. People see whatever he is and think 'oh, scary monster! Better kill it first! Rahr, blah blah.' And is that fair? Yes, pretty much everything that looks like that is way more likely to eat you alive than ask questions. STILL. Freddy's not that kind of blob monster. So, uh... thanks. We gotta get to squirmy. Just keep your eyes peeled out here. We're past the city walls now. Those territory disagreements I mentioned earlier? We'll be coming up to them real soon."
"He seems like a nice enough guy, if a little focused on collecting stuff. Still, given he ain't exactly got a lot of chances to be social, can't really blame him. And he seems harmless enough so long as you don't poach." And who would want to?
"Don't suppose you want to tell us more about these disagreements?"
He seems pretty nice. A little cheerful, I suppose. Almost like a kid.
"Right. So, we're past the city walls at this point. There's a few groups of creepy types that like ta consider themselves the showrunners. Course, there can only be one boss, if ya know what I mean. We're probably gonna run across at least one group. First group calls themselves the Silent, the other goes by the Roark Family. The Roark’s are a bunch a loud slobs that decided it’d be a gas to rob folks an’ establishments alike instead of bathing if you listen to what anyone says about ‘em. An’ sure they have some issues with soap, but they play the game aggressively. If we meet one a them, there’ll be more. Say what you will about ‘em-Old Lord knows I do-, but they stick together like glue. They also have this double-speak they like to use. A code that borders on a second language. If you want, I can take over if, or when it comes up. To be honest, we’re a lot more likely to meet the Roark’s which might be for the best. The Silent were middlemen for contract killers before they decided to break into the world of self-employment. There’s a hell of a lot less of them, but they’re a clean and efficient machine. Both groups like their blackmail and extortion, but you’ll hear the Roarks coming, they want you to. Guess why the Silent went with the name they did? Hopefully they’ll be to busy scheming to strongarm each other to notice us til we’re gone."
The guide divulges information as the path onward gives way eventually to a circular drain. This drainage area is disused, the algae-filled standing water taking up at least ten square feet in the center of the sloped room makes this much clear. The room itself has a surprisingly spacious 30-ft radius with three paths stretching into the darkness, kept barely lit by the bulbs in the halls. One on the left, the right, and dead ahead.
”Hows the crack?!”
From seemingly nowhere, a man as well concealed under clothing as the guide makes himself known in the center path.
"Wha’ are the ports?" It seems like he expects an answer.
"Lights just flicked off down the left handside," Seraphina murmured as she glowed gently in the dark.
Jean kept his revolver at his side but it was easy to spot in the weak light.
"Depends on who's asking," he said carefully. He glanced to their guide. "Friends?"
"Depends on who's asking," he said carefully. He glanced to their guide. "Friends?"
"Not even a little bit, Skippy."
The speaking man steps back just a bit at the immediate threat of violence.
”Give a butcher’s to the angry bloke o’er ‘ere. Ya ain’t the only one who’s all sixes an’ sevens are ya Lady? Always wondered why ya were on yer Jack Malone all the time, freak er not.”
“Get to yer Elbow Mick.” The guides playful tone of voice has been replaced with impatience.
”Ooh, you know it already, doncha? Twenty loaves an’ twenty-five rolls, ya had yer fun. Natural selection happens if ya have yer kettle or not.”
“Twenty -five?! I ain’t out grabbin’ jam jars! What happened to-”
“Law an’ arrest, I’m afraid. Did ya think yer new bodyguards would scare off yer dear family?“
So in summary; the guide, and by extension the party, is being extorted for 500 gp she owes the Roark Family. The party it seems, is being mistaken for hired muscle.
"You seem to be suffering under a misguided sense of confidence. We're not here for the charming patter and we're not hirelings. Now, you clearly have the terrain advantage and probably some extra bodies lurking out of sight, but I'll promise you this, even if your goons do beat us into submission, I'm going to personally make sure you don't live to see it. Piss off."
Seraphina's face pulled itself into a strange smile as she clicked as to what was going on. "Someone left out a couple of details on the situation, it seems." She glanced down at the guide. Looking to the others, she added, "Look, we got some business of our own to deal with. Once she's done our little friend here will be in a position to sort out her dealings with you. No one here fancies having an Unscheduled Meeting. Dodgy House to Let."
Mindos looks towards the end of the rightmost path. He gestures for the figure there to come forward. So, are you going to introduce yourself, or are you just going to stand there in the dark in a pile of s++#?
So, are you going to introduce yourself, or are you just going to stand there in the dark in a pile of s!#*?
The kneeling figure’s head rises upon being discovered. Mindos notices their head turn around the corner and nod over to the room in which this meeting is taking place. The figure walks forward. His footfalls revealing him to be a half-orc to the rest of the party as he straightens out his jacket.
And from behind him emerges a goblin in similarly drab clothing minus the jacket.
And another. And another. A total of 5 members of the family emerge from the rightmost path cutting off the dry walking space to the center path opposite the party.
The first goblin leans towards the half-orc and whispers ”Told ya your form was s#*~e.”
"Look, we got some business of our own to deal with. Once she's done our little friend here will be in a position to sort out her dealings with you. No one here fancies having an Unscheduled Meeting. Dodgy House to Let."
”Agreed with ya there pretty lady, but we’ve been waitin long enough. A paw’s a claw, an’ jewels ‘re tools.”
"Now, you clearly have the terrain advantage and probably some extra bodies lurking out of sight, but I'll promise you this, even if your goons do beat us into submission, I'm going to personally make sure you don't live to see it. Piss off."
Mick returns Jeans threat. ”Oh trust me, boyo. When we’re done with you, there will be plenty o’ extra bodies layin’ out of sight.”
Just before he turns around to run.
You’ve arrived to the round room with a 10-ft wide puddle of murk in the center. It’s hard to tell how deep down that goes without checking the hard way. This leaves about 20-ft of space for you to maneuver in the left side of the room. There's 10 feet of space between Abel and the line of thugs blocking the right half of the room. Three goblins and one half-orc stand in the way with a fourth goblin behind them. They brandish weapons varying from a (likely stolen) police club, to a length of chain, to the particularly massive knife the orckin pulls from his coat pocket.
”Oi, you couldn’t just pay me huh? Look do whatever ya gotta do to defend yourselves, but don’t kill anyone. Trust me this is gonna get a lot more complicated if you do.” The guide advises her new bodyguards.
"Really? Rules are rules. Right-o..."