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When you enter the tavern you find out it's not very popular, at least not at this time of the day.
you notice Shefton Rosk almost immediately.
He is a skinny half-elf with short black greasy hair. he is wearing a worn-out leather armor.
He's now occupied eating porridge with a loaf of black bread and he doesn't seem to notice you as you enter the tavern.
there are seats enough for all of you at his table or the tables near him.
When Tessa spots the half-elf from the descriptions they were given, she turns her back to him and faces the group. She rubs her hands together with a sly smile, "Alright, how we gonna do this?"
Gavin wakes early and heads down for breakfast at Vanderboren manor. After enjoying a plum pastry and fine coffee, the young man says a quick absolution to Cayden Cailean and has an ale in honor of the drunken god. As the others assemble, Gavin greets everyone and wishes them a good morning, and engages in light-hearted banter. When the news of Shefton reaches the group, Gavin excuses himself and dons his armor, the fledgling priest's mood suddenly much more apprehensive.
Taking his flail and giving it a couple of practice swings, he rejoins the others and gets ready to head off. If it comes to it this morning, this time I'll be the puncher and not the punching bag.
Erick looks at Tessa. "My lead, my neck, I'll sit and talk while most of the rest watch my back. Bedu, you've a good eye for liars, if you're willing to risk your neck with me. The rest of you can watch our backs while guarding each others." His voice is a low rumble that carries only a foot or so.
Erick then waits for the others to agree or disagree, before heading over to sit at the table. "I'm Erick, Erick Bonestihl. I've been told you have something to talk to me about?"
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as soon as Erik talks to him he scrambles back on his seat as if someone just poured molten lead on his hand.
He raises his head and looks at you.
he points a finger at you and finally says.
"you must be the one who sent the little urchins around aren't you?" he asks.
"They say you might be interested in giving a little donation in exchange for a few directions"
You don't spot any ambush, none of the locals seems hostile or even battle ready, and Rosk's weapon of choice seems to be an old knife slightly bent. It looks more like a tool than a weapon. it probably cut more purses that people.
Bedu follows and as they approach, he slides round to one side blocking off an escape route. Then he listens and nods with positive bedside manner.
Erick visibly relaxes, either through an act of will, or naturally, or perhaps a mix of both. "Aye, I might. I might at that." His mannerisms change, and so does his speech. His accent takes on a decided shadowshore cant. "If it's good information, ain't payin' for yesterday's fish guts." He pats his coat, the coppers in the pocket clinking. "I might even have more very shiny coin another day, for someone what's good at catching the right fish without gettin' himself hooked, or hookin' someone else." He eyes the man speculatively, keeping his hands visible on the table other than the pat, not making hostile moves. "So, you got fresh fish, or you cuttin' bait on me?"
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Rosk leans forward speaking softly. "The fish is good. I'm helping the fisherman moving some items all week. But did I saw a copper? Hells no. That's why I sell the fish. But it costs you 5 gold, plus another 5 if you want me to point out the hidden trapdoor."
Shefton Rosk leans back to his chair.
"But today's fish is payed with today money. I already have my pockets full of maybes and tomorrows"
Gavin steps outside the tavern and as discreetly as possible offers a prayer to Cayden Cailean, filling his copper cup with a light lager. If you please, nothing too strong, Accidental God. We need Rosk as sober as possible.
Re-entering the tavern, Gavin, sets the copper cup down in front of Shefton, and says, in as gentle a manner as possible. "Compliments of the Drunken God, Mr. Rosk. There's plenty more where that came from."
Gavin then resumes standing watch.
Erick glances at Gavin, and grins. He reaches into his pocket and fishes 5 gold coins into his fingers by touch. Without showing them to anyone, he slides them into a small cloth pouch he takes from his pocket. He tosses the pouch to Rosk. "I don't pay gold for fish, I pay coppers. But they're very shiny new copper coins, I think you'll like them. Five very shiny coins now, for all the information, and if all the information checks out, ten more just as shiny as those five are. You can buy quite a bit of ale with 15 very shiny copper coins..."
Bedu follows the conversation, watching and nodding as appropriate."Perhaps you also tell us how you came by such a useful tale. Did the fish just jump into your lap like a desperate or sneaky mermaid?"
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Rosk pockets the coins.
"You don't have to be so secretive you know?" says a moment before taking a coin to his mouth and giving it a bite.
"It's safe here, and these people, they mind their own business. If I wasn't sure of that I wouldn't talk business with you here, I would chose another place"
Says putting the coins in his purse.
"by the way. He hired me a week ago, he needed someone to help him with a smuggling operation. Looks like he is laying low since he doesn't leave the smugglers tunnels under parrot island.
All you need is someone who can point you to the trapdoor to access the tunnels"
Erick nods. "I've been out of town for a few years, still feeling my way back into what places can and can't be trusted. People too." He responds. "So, are you going to be wanting those other 10 coins? By showing us the way to these tunnels?"
Bedu nods in agreement and saves the thought about Rosk being hard to read - for later. The fat halfling tries to watch around for signs of anyone paying too much attention.
"Perhaps you could do this thing now? Strike while the tunnels are filled with no time to waste. I can get the others and meet you both at the docks near to the island. Then there is less chance that the noble will be prepared. Unless this is a trap."
Kutsya listens quietly from the back, trying not to twitch her braids. Rosk appears not to need any of her style of persuasion to talk, and she manages not to be too disappointed at that. Kutsya has no doubt there will be plenty of action later.
"Smugglers' tunnels?" she mutters, trying to catch Bedu or Erick's eye. "Maybe someone we know?" There was already one smuggler who had cause to be very upset at them.
Erick gives Kutsya a simple head bow. Be awful fast turnaround time on his part, if he could put together a trap this fast after we caught him though, but possible. He thinks to himself.
Tessa has been out of earshot, keeping her distance in the crowd. Eying the the entrance/exit points and watching for signs of any trouble. Periodically she shoots a glance over at the group looking for any signals.
What are the chances that Erick will be willing to use the fish ball code again?
The left side of Tessa's lips turn up in a smirk as she pictures the frustration using the code word. The smirk is short lived however as Bedu's comments come flooding back about taking it easy on the grump. She turns back to vigilance and starts another round through the room with her eyes.
When their target stands from the table she tenses slightly, but relaxes when no sign of danger is present.
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Rosk leads you out of the tavern and all the way to the border between cudgel and merchant district.
He asks for you to way as he ask his acquaintance for the boat.
The transition doesn't go as good as he might have hoped as you can hear him call Rosk a rat and a freeloader.
But in the end, seems like he procured a boat and in no time you are on parrot island.
Parrot island is a little more than a rocky outcropping surrounded by 30 foot high cliffs save for the eastern end, where a narrow beach affords an easier approach.
The isle is thickly vegetated, the trees above serving as the roost for hundreds of noisy, brightly colored parrots.
"I think if you pay attention you can see the trail" says Rosk as he points towards a partially overgrown trail in the vegetation.
"Before we proceed, let us be clear... I show you the trapdoor, you give me the gold, and then I go about my business. I won't be there whenever you meet Vanthus and resolve whatever unfinished business you have going. Deal?"
Gavin looks Rosk in the eye, holding his gaze the entire time he speaks. "We wouldn't ask you to do any fighting for us, but, if you wait here with the boat, there'll be 20 gold in it for you when we come back."
Erick nods in agreement with Gavin, and eyes the underbrush. He's never been good at following trails through wilderness. He's much more comfortable following trails of clues from one person to another.
Tessa nods as Rosk speaks, but she looks a little unsure when he mentions leaving immediately. While Gavin is speaking to the man she turns her back to him and leans close to Erick's ear and whispers into his ear, "Do you trust that this isn't a setup? Him turning hide on us sounds awfully suspicious to me. Also, if he is being truthful then having a guide for an unfamiliar place could be quite beneficial to us"
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Rosk seems to lighten up at the mention of 20 gold.
"You mean 20 gold plus the one you will give me for pointing out the trapdoor for you? or in total? Well... I'm in anyway. No problem with waiting at the boat. But .. Just so I know .. do you plan to stay a lot?
Not complaining... just asking about your plans. Rosk says as he leads the way through the path.
Rosk leads you to a clearing near the center of the island.
He moves some foliage from the rocky surface revealing to you a stone trapdoor.
He opens it up and you can see there is a five foot wide shaft leading down into the darkness. A rope hangs from a hook in the wall providing a relatively safe method of descent.
It doesn't seem particularly deep but there is really no way to make sure without a light.
"So... this is the end of the line for me ... Vanthus is hiding down there in those tunnels. I wish you best of luck and I will wait for you at the boat as promised. I guess there is no way to have an advance payment right? you know... in case... " Says Rosk letting his phrase hanging.
Kutsya follows Rosk with a sniff and an inner sneer. She knew all about needing gold, but he seemed far too desperate for her tastes. In her bones this felt like an elaborate trap -- whether set by Vanthus or by Vark's buyer. Not that it mattered much to her. She didn't avoid traps -- she broke through them.
Once they arrived at the trap door, she focused for a moment and warded herself with a spell. Once finished, she peered down into the darkness, allowing her Dwarven senses to take over.
Erick chuckles. "We both have to gamble on that one, Rosk." He pauses. "Although, if we don't come out after 8 hours, if you go to the Lady Vanderboran, and let her know we died, and where and when, and I'm sure she'll give you a few gold pieces. Not as much as if we come back alive, but some." He checks his gun and blade and armor, then follows Kutsya. "Just to let you know, I can't see in the dark, so someone else will have to lead and I'll follow."
Erick grins. "The family wishes to have a family meeting, and Vanthus is being a spoiled brat and refusing to show up for the reading of the will. So we're going to drag his scrawny ass back so the lawyer can read the will with him present."
Erick looks down. "How far down is it?" He asks, contemplating just jumping in, rather than chancing his luck trying to climb down a rope, in armor, in the dark.
"Thirty feet down to an empty room. You want I should go first?"
Erick shakes his head, and pulls some rope out of his pack. "Nah, I can go first, but I need someone to drop me down. I'm not fool enough to think I can climb down a rope in the dark in this armor." He loops the rope around a nearby tree, loops it around his chest, and then gives the end to Kutsya. "Just keep me from falling at speed." Once Kutsya gives him a nod, he steps off into the darkness, letting the rope go taught to the tree. He grunts when the slack is taken up, and then rides down into the darkness.
Gavin reaches down and pulls a branch from a nearby scrub-bush. Gripping the branch in one hand, he waves his other hand over it, offering a quick supplication to the Drunken God, and the tip of the branch begins to glow. "You need not go down there in the dark, Erick. Tie this branch to your armor and let Cayden Cailean show you the way."
Kutsya helps to lower Erick, then watches as Gavin descends into the tunnel. Then she follows down the rope, using both arms and all eight braids on the climb.
Tessa watches the others descend and says, "Don't start the fun without me!" She begins to climb the rope down and join the others. Once she reaches the bottom she withdraws her weapon and looks around the new area for any signs of a trap or trouble.
The halfling stares down at the drop and hesitates as Rosk is still around. Why has he stayed here? Not gone to the boat while they all headed down. I mean its deep and dark and I dislike that. I do not trust him.
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"what? are you afraid of the dark?"
Rosk looks at the hesitant halfling and speaking in a mocking voice.
"I'll need to put the leaves back on the trapdoor when you enter, so that the passage remains hidden, I don't want for any fishermen to find the way to the tunnels. And most of all, I don't want to be the one blamed for it."
Tessa looks back up at the rope from down below. She says, "Bedu, you coming? What's going on up there?"
It's a trap.
Still not trusting Rosk, she hesitantly grabs the rope and puts a foot on the wall. She says softly, "Perhaps I should go back up and see if everything is ok?"
Erick tugs his own rope back down, now that he's at the bottom, and begins coiling it up. "If it is a trap, we'll be better served setting it off. If someone is trying to kill us, it means we've garnered their notice. Easier to take them in their own trap." He looks up at the hole. "Worst case scenario, Kutsya can climb up with her hair, tie off my rope, and we all climb back up that way." He says in a soft voice to Tessa.
Gavin looks a little sheepish. "Well, if we're going down this hallway, I think I should be in the middle. Not because I'm afraid or anything. I just - well, if we get ambushed, I can call on Cayden's help to heal us, and its best I can get to everyone quickly."
Looking quickly to Erick, he says, "Trust me - if we get in a fight, I'll pull my weight this time."
Unable to leave the others, Bedu ignores the slights and makes one last attempt to convince the hardbitten Shefton.
"I am a simple little halfling. But do you know about the packet of chilli powder we give to betrayers in Katapesh? No, the packet is thin so that warmth and wetness make it dissolve. Then the powder begins to warm and sting. Placed correctly the pain grows for many minutes until the infidel dies screaming. Of course the hands must be tied. But this does not truly matter when the packet goes into the pink part of your bottom, does it?"
Bedu gives Rosk one last look then heads down after his friends.
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Rosk takes a few steps back.
"Hey... come on little man, I'm as much invested on you as you are if I want to gain those 20 gold your friend promised."
Bedu finally descends and the party is reunited at the bottom of the pit.
As you get ready to explore the tunnels you can hear the surprised gasp of Shefton Rosk above the trapdoor. You can hear Shefton ask "Wait... what are you..." before the phrase gets interrupted by a wet cough.
Before you ever turn to the trapdoor the body of Shefton Rosk is tossed down with you quickly followed by the ropes.
Shefton is dead, the stab wound trough his chest would have killed him in a few minutes anyway but the impact of the fall cracked his skull and neck hastening his demise.
Above you a young man with a familiar face smiles sarcastically at you.
"I have heard you were looking for me..." says Vanthus Vanderboren sheathing his rapier and dagger.
Erick pulls his pistol and trains it on the man. "I do not appreciate you killing someone I owe money to." *BLAM* "I also do not appreciate your attitude, or how you treated your sister, nor the way you killed your parents." He takes a shot in the dark, both literally and figuratively, seeing if he can rattle the boy into an admission of his suspicions.
Tessa moves out of the way as the body of Rosk slams into the ground, screaming "No!" uselesly.
IknewitIknewitIknewit
Tessa eyes the surface of the pit in an attempt to determine if she can climb up, placing her hands and feet directly on the walls and trying to secure herself.
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Erick's bullet barely misses it's mark. The young noble it's a little unnerved by the near hit but he immediately regains his grit.
"I would spare my bullets if I where you. That would be a quicker and relatively painless way to go. You should have never messed around MY sister." he says with contempt.
Vanthus places a hand on the trapdoor
"While you are there, say hello to Penkus on my behalf!"
Vanthus slams the trapdoor shut.
A few moments later you hear a way too obvious grinding noise above the trapdoor, as if someone was dragging a big boulder over it's stone surface.
You can half-hear what sound to be additional threats and mockery, then nothing more disturbs you.
The only way you see is the humid tunnel ahead of you, slightly illuminated by the magically enhanced branch.
Tessa determines its a wasted effort and turns back to look down the tunnel. Without looking directly at Erick she says to no one in particular with fire under her breath, "Well I guess we sure fell into this quite easily, now didn't we. No use huffing about, let's get to it then."
Tessa starts by examining the area they are in closely and searching over Rosk for signs of life. If there are none to be had she will search his body for useful items.
Erick grimaces. "I need to reset my sights, it seems." He reloads the gun methodically. "I think we can assume he means his sister harm, and I believe he did have something to do with his parents deaths or disappearances, as he did not bat an eye at the accusation of being involved in it." He finishes reloading his gun. "Well then, I believe we have two choices. We can follow this humid tunnel he wants us to follow... or... I can place enough of my gunpowder at the trap door's hinges to blow them off. That will cause the door, and the boulder on it, to fall in hopefully, and we then ascend here and give chase to our employer's homocidal brother."
Erick watches Tessa. "If you use his shirt, we can bundle up his belongings for his next of kin, if any. He was in our employee when he was murdered, we owe them at least that. And a body if we can manage it."
Bedu stands alone, visibly upset and angry as his goatee twitches. He watches Tessa pat the corpse down, using the time to cool down.