"It seems you've done well by yourself, thug. I suppose taking advantage of people and enslaving them by proxy of a drug will do that for you." Voice tight with anger, Iozif steps into the room, feral features adding a snarling menace to the excoriation. Holding up the vial of white liquid between two fingers and waggling it admonishingly, he continues, "Naughty boy, you seem to be misinformed. We're not Pathfinders, just a group of concerned citizens who think thugs and enslavers like you are a filthy smear on our city. As my friend has said, I don't think we'll need more than one box." Returning the vial of milky liquid to his pack, Iozif crosses his arms over his chest, purposefully flaunting his clawed hands.
Ulgrim draws and arrow to his cheek. "What're ye waitin' fer lass?" he whispers to Arianna.
Barvasi Faces the Music - Round 1
20 Arianna
20 Gyllan
20 Ulgrim
15 Corso
15 Iozif
14 Barvasi
9 Durriken
Arianna digs her fingers into her spell pouch, ready to throw sand on the man at a moment's notice should he make an aggressive move. Ulgrim nocks and draws an arrow, waiting on the witch's hex to fire.
Corso begins babbling, beginning his bardic performance, while Iozif flaunts the evidence of the man's drug crimes inflaming him further.
On Ulgrim's urging, Arianna lets loose her hex.
Barvasi Faces The Music
Urged to action by Ulgrim, Arianna starts sprinkling her sleep powder before Gyllan can act. The rest of the group watches in amazement as the loud-mouthed and aggressive Devargo Barvasi falls face first on the desk, snoring loudly.
Ulgrim walks up, and drawing his bow to full strength, puts an arrow right through Barvasi's eye at point-blank range.
Arianna's eyes widen, in realization of what she has enabled as she staggers back a bit, pondering the consequences of her actions.
Just brilliant, Arianna. All of your "tough" talk of ridding the world of another Lamm and what exactly have you done? Become nothing more than an executioner, that's what...
Gathering herself back together the young woman asks, "It's done now, right? Gather what we can and be done with this, or do we yet seek Barvasi's pet?"
"If we're here to do some good for Korvosa, I'm not sure we're done until we know what's behind that door with the spider on it," Gyllan says in response to Arianna. "It's not hard to guess what it is, but if we don't kill the thing, it's bound to do some harm here in the city, unless we want to gamble on it starving to death before someone stumbles upon it."
"We were lucky to take out Barvasi as easily as we did - that was nice work Arianna, grim as it was. Let's ride that luck and finish the job."
Ulgrim grunts and nods, stepping back from the door as far as possible and readying another arrow.
Shocked as Barvasi tumbles to the desk, Iozif casts an appraising look towards Arianna. That was... impressive. To say the least. Clearing his throat, he watches as Ulgrim executes the sleeping thug, frowning slightly. I can't say I'm sad that he's gone, but that was so sudden. Was it right that I was part of this? Confronted with the reality of the path he'd advocated, Iozif finds himself unsure of himself.
Unsettled by the scene and his own uncertainty, he grasps at Gyllan's suggestion like a lifeline. "Yes... yes, we came to kill Barvasi, but another could start his empire anew if we just leave now. Let's finish the job. And no sinking the ship. Who knows what innocent fools are on board knocked senseless by this Shiver that you mention."
Taking a moment to approach Barvasi and ensure he's dead, Iozif searches the criminal's desk for further evidence of his wrongdoing that may be of interest.
Search of the desk and Barvasi's body complete, Iozif strides from the bedroom towards the remaining door at the stern of the ship. Pausing outside for his companions to take position, he listens carefully at the door for signs of movement.
Durriken chuckles softly at Barvarsi's end, glancing absently around the room. When Gyllan suggests opening the spider door, he shrugs and walks over to it, taking a position next to Iozif and nodding his readiness.
Gyllan listens at the door as well, though he's not sure what he can hope to learn from it.
He then turns to his companions and asks quietly, "Any particular preparations you want to make for fighting a spider? I've never done this before."
He'll wait for anyone who wishes to answer before opening the door, then will open it and toss the lighted coin through the door.
And so passes Devargo Barvasi a cancer on the underbelly of Korvosa. A quick search of the body (including magic detection) revels he has the following items on his person:
MW bladed gauntlets x2, MW hand crossbow 20 bolts, 2 keys.
Looking around the room, now that the villain is dead, you see that the wooden chamber is clean and dry. An ornate bed rests against the far wall, while a single dresser and a round table and chair fill out the rest of the room. A wooden sea chest sits at the foot of the bed. The chest is locked. Little else of value appears in the room.
Gyllan moves over to the dresser and searches it, looking on and around the table as well. As he searches, he says, "Iozif, you've got a pretty sharp eye, would you mind taking a look for any surprises on that chest before we try out Barvasi's keys? He seems the type who would be pleased to poison us, even after he's dead."
Pulling out the potions that he finds on Barvasi, Iozif pulls out his portable alchemy kit and spends a few moments tinkering with each of the potions and the smaller vials. Having performed a quick alchemical analysis, Iozif motions to first the blue tinted potion and then the other vials as he says in a lecturing tone, "This potion is a curative, fairly potent in it's effect. The smaller vials contain some form of spider venom. That last one I'm afraid I can't properly identify without better equipment. Perhaps Arianna can have a look at it?"
Analysis complete, Iozif nods to Gyllan, "By all means. He does indeed seem like the sort. Give me a moment and then we can give them a try." Moving to crouch by the chest, Iozif searches the chest thoroughly, looking for signs of any trickery.
Iozif's search of the chest does nor reveal any traps or evidence of foul play, but he's not exactly convinced that means none are present.
Looking at the chest dubiously, Iozif shrugs and looks at Gyllan, "I don't see anything unusual, but with Barvasi's death, I'm not sure I'm in the most fit state of mind. it's embarrassing to say that, of course, but lamentably it's the best I can do for now. Should we attempt to open it now or wait and give it a more thorough examination after we've dealt with whatever is beyond that door?"
"Hey, Iozif, maybe you can teach me a little bit about what to look for when you're checking for traps," says Gyllan, applying his street-sharpened eyes to the chest.
Even though untrained, Gyllan looks intently at the chest and it's locking mechanism. After a small space of time has passed, he looks up declaring that he doesn't see any traps either.
Following Iozif's request, Arianna gives herself a bit of magical assistance before studying the yet to be identified items while the others deal with the chest.
(guidance)
(guidance)
Having determined the results, she tells the others, "The clear liquid will turn the imbiber invisible for a few minutes. Barvasi's armor is enchanted with faint protective magics to make it more durable."
"I got skill with locks as well, if it's needed."
Corso's incantation proves effective in opening the chest and there are, in fact, no traps to worry about.
Inside the sea chest is a jasper studded amulet, a gold necklace fitted with emeralds, a mother-of-pearl horn, a ring with a tiny jade dragonfly, a rolled up vellum parchment with magical writing, a pink elixir in a decorative bottle, 2 pouches filled with glittering dust, and six sacks each filled with 100gp. In addition, you find two more of the salacious love letters between Ambassador Amprei and his lady, a noblewoman named Verania Tvastiox.
Detecting magic reveals that the ring, elixir, scroll, and dust all seem to have magical properties.
Surprised as the key floats into the lock, Iozif gives Corso an appraising glance. More to the noble than meets the eye then. Interesting and it's a requisite reminder that underestimating people can and will surprise you. Taking the potion as it's handed from the chest, Iozif takes a moment to study the pink liquid.
Bemused, Iozif informs the rest of the party, "This potion will cause it's imbiber to become infatuated with the first creature he or she sees after drinking it. Disturbing that Barvasi, of all people, would have such a thing in a chest in his private quarters. I can't say that this is something of particular interest to me."
His searching complete, Iozif moves back to the other door and waits nearby for his companions to join him.
Gyllan has little to contribute to identifying the items they've found, though he's happy enough to think about the other valuables and how much gold they'll bring in.
When his companions have finished their sorting and studying, he moves back to the spider door and draws his sword. When all are ready, he'll open the door and toss the lighted coin into the room.
Arianna looks over the remaining unidentified items, providing herself with a bit of guidance prior to studying each item.
After a brief study, Arianna looks up, frustrated.
"The ring will allow its wearer to fall as gently as a feather, should such calamity strike. As to the scroll and the dust, I am not certain."
Not able to be of any help with the items, Durriken joins Gyllan with his sword and dagger drawn.
Ulgrims arms begin to shake as he holds his bow drawn and ready. "Is one of yeh's gonna open the door, or is my shoulder goin' ter pop out of socket?"
Gyllan opens the door and sees that this dark chamber is riddled with dizzying tunnels and twisting corridors formed by thick cobwebs. The floor is a sticky, lumpy mass of webbing and dozens, if not hundreds, of bones --many of which seem to be from humanoid bodies. Some of the webs seem to shimmer and dance, almost as if reflecting rainbows in their silken form.
A voice calls to you in hissing, sibilant voice "Who calls on poor Chittersnap? Who makes dinner for my sweets? Come in and have a bite!" A horrifying gurgling sound you take as laughter emanates from the room.
Ulgrim readies his shot for the first thing that comes into sight out of the arachnoid chamber of horrors. "Lots of spiders in there folks," he says.
"Yep, I see 'em too, Ulgrim, busier in there than I expected. Looks like someone on two legs, a spider big as me and probably 3-4 other spiders in there too. Wonder if we could distract them by tossing in what's left of Barvasi?"
He flicks a glance at Corso and says, "Fire would be a good idea, except we'll burn the ship to the water for sure. Not exactly the kind of order we're hoping to restore to Korvosa, I'd think. But I'd sure rather fight them out here than in there. Maybe if we put enough arrows into them, they'll come join us for a proper, stand-up fight?"
"Good idea." Durriken mutters. "Dream spiders. I don't see them, but their webs are there. Don't touch them." Taking a step back, Durriken sheathes his sword and dagger, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow instead.
Gazing into the room with distaste, Iozif mutters, "I'm glad the rest of you have such excellent sight, because I see only the one. Fighting on our terms does seem to be the better way to be about things. And fire, as tempting a proposition as it is, doesn't seem to mesh well with the wooden boat we're currently on as Gyllan has pointed out." Retrieving his sling from his belt, Iozif fits a stone and prepares to fire at any threats that emerge.
Spider Hold - Round 1
23 Durriken
22 Corso
21 Dream Spider 1
20 Giant Spider 1
18 Dream Spider 4
17 Chittersnap
16 Ulgrim
14 Gyllan
13 Arianna
9 Giant Spider 2
9 Dream Spider 2
6 Dream Spider 3
6 Iozif
Spider Hold - Round 1
Not really seeing any of the targets clearly, Durriken holds his shot, until something appears in the clear.
Corso goes to retrieve the fallen body of Devargo Barvasi, thinking to use the corpse as bait or at least a distraction.
While you watch, a thin-legged, small-sized spider leaps out of the web-covered nest near the ceiling hatch, and advances towards the door, its terrible mandibles clicking. Durriken fires his readied shot at the spider, squelching it into a pile of goo with the arrow.
From the far side of the room, a large spider, bigger than a man, pokes his head out and advances towards the noise and light near the door, stopping just shy of normal weapon's reach.
Another small spider rushes forward from the stern, working it's way to the door on the shimmering reflective threads of the Dream Spiders.
Lastly, the strange bi-pedal creature speaks again in a chittering, unintelligble voice, encouraging and praising his 8-legged allies. "Yesss, my lovliessss. Take them and ssssuck their marrow." he cries to the spiders on the move.
You see him move slightly to the rear of the room, hiding even beter in the webs and shadows.