Magda's frown and look of abject terror let Shi know that she, like Marcus, does not dance either. "Lovely plan otherwise." she accepts being a... whatever that is other than a dancer.
The party moves along briskly, or at least, as briskly as the slowest in the group, making their way towards Old Korvosa. They speak quietly to each other and to Vencarlo, who is charming and amiable.
Vencarlo nods at the responses. ”So, many of you are at least familiar with Korvosa. Some from the upper parts of society, and others with the lower. As Magda has said, some people get too big for their corner, and they crowd everyone out - makes the others fight for scraps out of necessity. But, young lady, what I mean is that you shouldn’t trust all are what they seem.” He raises his hands and laughs, ”I guess you don’t know much about me yet, but maybe you’ll learn that I don’t put much stock into station. The average person who lives here is decent beyond compare - but we don’t live in average times.” He grows more serious and adds, ”you folks know as well as I that magic is a powerful tool for deception, so keep a wary eye and collect tools that will let you see the truth. Whenever you can.” He stares into each person’s eyes, before breaking out his smile again, and resuming his walk with a spring in his step.
As if on cue, three small flying creatures appear in the sky above you, whispering quietly and gesturing, then begin laughing uncontrollably. One, apparently more serious appears next to Vera, striking at her with her scorpion-like stinger!
These are imps, a least devil common to Korvosa’s shingles and streets. They are often the cast-off familiars of students at the Acadamae, though they are happy enough to make mischief in the streets.
* Immunity to fire and poison.
* Resistance to acid 10 and cold 10.
* See in Darkness (Su) Some devils can see perfectly in darkness of any kind, even that created by a deeper darkness spell.
* Summon (Sp) Devils share the ability to summon others of their kind, typically another of their type or a small number of less-powerful devils.
* Telepathy.
* Except when otherwise noted, devils speak Celestial, Draconic, and Infernal.
* A devil's natural weapons, as well as any weapons it wields, are treated as lawful and evil for the purpose of resolving damage reduction.
You know imps can resist blows from weapons that are not good or silver (DR 5/good or silver), turn invisible at will, and heal up from most injuries quickly (fast healing 2). Their nests are in the shingles, and though like all devils, they are evil and murderous, they are also cowardly.
Imps may impart minor suggestions into the minds of others (suggestion as a spell-like ability), and their stings can deliver vicious poison to sap the dexterity of any foe. In Korvosa, they are opposed by house drakes, which compete with them for space in the shingles, and are largely resistant to the imp’s attacks and defenses. If you see imps, you can expect to see House drakes soon behind; the benevolent creatures have saved many, many citizens from an ignoble death.
Vera takes a little damage and shakes off the effect of the poison. The imp near her grins, and says, "are you lost, little girl?"
Marcus, Krovax, and Magda all get the sense that actually, they should really start to practice dancing, time is short, after all, and they may need to do it later.
Krovax’s will is stronger than the imps’ magic, though, and he stands his ground. Magda and Marcus, on the other hand, look like they are going to head towards the center of the street for their practice session.
Shi looks confused when they are by a bunch of small flying devils. She is about to try and talk to the things until she sees one attack Vera. She grabs a hold of her blade as she advances and shouts at the creature "Get away from here you dirty hell spawn!"
The imp reels as Shi manages to harm it with her attack. Vencarlo springs into action himself, moving to flank with Shi, and drawing his rapier with a flourish, he attempts to pierce the creature's flesh with as much force as he can muster.
He easily hits the beast, but the creature remains standing. Vencarlo mutters, "these things are so annoying. Try to drive them off if you can - they are likely to turn -"
The imp snarls in pain and realizes she's surrounded, so she mutters something to herself.
Invisibility spell-like ability.
She blinks out of existence, laughing in Shi and Vencarlo's face as she does. The three other imps also disappear, making rude gestures towards the party as they do.
Vencarlo finishes as the laughs echo in the street, "invisible," then sighs, and he looks like he's watching carefully for where they re-emerge.
----------------------------------------------------------
Vera explains what she knows about imps, and then readies her crossbow to attack the first imp she sees.
----------------------------------------------------------
Marcus's attitude towards Vencarlo shifts again. He played with us once to make a point, but he continues to talk around issues instead of being to the point. I hate men like that. Marcus is torn on his opinion; a rare circumstance for him. For one he likes most of Vencarlo's stances on issues, but he hates the roundabout way he talks and makes implications.
Marcus snarls at the imps, but his face goes flat as the magic takes over. He turns to walk away and start dancing...
Marcus's nostrils flare, and his eyes open wide. COWARD, TRAITOR, YOU DO NOT ABANDON YOUR ALLIES. He stops, shuddering for a moment.
Marcus turns with a snarl, snatching his new bow and pulling back the heavy string to hold an arrow in preparation of when the imps are visible again.
Not as quick as the others to act when the imps appear, Kali manages to get her bow ready to fire just as the creatures all disappear. She spins in a circle looking and listening, trying to pinpoint one. Unable to find one, she readies a shot should one of them reappear.
Krovax draws his blade and keeps an eye out for the imps, prepared to strike down the nearest one to him that appears.
”Everyone circle up! Back to back!”
Magda is not graceful, not at all, a jerky long-limbed chicken, mortified and useless as she 'dances'
Or as least that is how she feels, in truth she isn't doing that badly.
Shi draws a dagger and readies to throw it at the first imp she sees.
Vencarlo moves to guard Vera, nodding at the others, and appears to be readying his blade.
The imps reappear, and the party's actions go off, managing to damage some of the imps, especially the one that pops up between Marcus and Krovax. Krovax's shining blade cuts deep into the creature, but can't find purchase, as its infernal skin shrugs off the effect.
The imps in turn, seem to shrug off the damage, sticking out their tongues and attacking various people!
The assault is surprising, and manages to hurt some in the party, weakening two folks slightly.
Krovax takes a slice at the one between himself and Marcus but fails to connect with his blade.
Marcus is unprepared for the vicious accuracy of the imps stingers, but it doesn't seem to phase him once when the damage goes through. He steels himself for another assault, dropping his bow and drawing his greatsword and also swinging at the one between him and Krovax!
After attacking Marcus steps away, breaking the flanks set up. Krovax will be able to reposition, but this will prevent the imps from easily getting a flank on him.
"I hate imps!" she calls out, firing her bow twice in rapid succession. The annoying pests do such a great job at annoying her that she is able to focus clearly enough to target them with her arrows.
+2 Humans, +2 Korvosa
+2 Humans, +2 Korvosa
Marcus’s blow knocks out one of the imps, but everyone can tell that the little beasts are slowly regaining their health. Vera tries to target the one attacking Kali with a sleep spell.
Magda keeps dancing, seemingly.
The imp stays awake.
Falcor snaps at the nearby imp, putting as much effort as possible into doing damage.
Falcor misses, unfortunately.
Everyone but Shi readies for another round of disappearing nonsense, when from the shingles above, four small Draconic creatures swoop down, viciously charging the imps. They screech in Draconic as they do so.
”Get Zazzlebriz! She’s the one who’s been harassing the children!”
Two charge the tough and sneaky-looking imp, one charges the fallen one, and the last attacks the one adjacent to Marcus.
The unconscious and prone imp is snipped cleanly in two by one of the drakes. The sneaky one takes a vicious blow from another drake. It seems that the natural weapons of these little dragons are able to bypass the innate damage resistance that the imps have.
Shi is concerned when the drakes start to fly in to the fight, but when she sees they seem to only be attacking the imps she jumps to action to help, turning to attack the one the two drakes are on.
Vencarlo sees the particularly sneaky imp has been knocked out by Shi, and he stabs downward with his rapier, finishing her off.
The other imps, cowardly creatures, step away and turn invisible. After a moment, the drakes charge at the space where the imps were, and with cursing in infernal, two more corpses appear. The House drakes turn to the assembled party, and say in squeaky, but polite common ”thanks for softening them up. Good to see you Vencarlo. That one” and the drake points at the seemingly tougher one, ”was hurting kids - it’s been hard to track her down! Lucky they couldn’t help but harass you.” He grins at the party.
Now that battle had died down, it was easier to take a look at the tiny dragons. The eyes of this purple-scaled dragon glint with a mischievous intelligence and the sting of its tail has a silvery sheen.
Vera says, excitedly, ”Oh! House drakes! You are all so pretty.” She smiles happily at them, and looks over the pretty, hovering dragons.
One smiles back at her, and approaches. Vera extends a hand, and the drake nuzzles her. Suddenly she feels healthier!
Vencarlo bows to the little creatures, respectfully. ”No, we are lucky that you were close, little ones.”
Meanwhile, Magda stops dancing after a moment.
Shi puts her blade away as the imps are dealt with and it becomes clear that these house drakes are friendly "I'm glad we could end that vile thing if it was hurting children. What is the deal with the imps anyway why are they just flying around out here to begin with?"
Magda crumbles when her mind is finally her own, holding her knees and shivering more than a little. Shaking her head as the whispers only she can hear try and help. "no... it wasn't. I want to... no! I said No!"
Shi quirks her brow as she hears Magda mumbling to herself "Are you ok?"
Looking up at the fox lady, "I... I didn't have any... it made me... inside my head..." she looks back down "No. I'm not." finally answering the question. "The city says I can't stop. Can... wallow , whatever that means, give me a minute... please."
One of the drakes, that spoke earlier, says "oh, they're everywhere. Been here for as long as we have - maybe longer. They next in the shingles!" He grins, "So do we - and we're immune to most of their nonsense, like that dancing stuff."
Another of the drakes cocks its head and flies over to Magda, extending its tongue as if tasting the air. It extends a little claw and Magda feels curative magic extending from the dragon. It doesn't help much, and the little creature looks confused.
Shi looks concerned but leaves Magda to herself as the one dragon speaks up again. She gives him a nod and a smile as she notes "Well, glad you are around to deal with them then. Thanks for the help in dispatching them. I'm Shi by the way. If there are ever more troublesome imps doing harm to the local children or anything else, seek me out and I will do what I can to help."
She turns to look at the rest of her companions and Vencarlo before suggesting "We should get back to the task at hand yes? Continue on to Eel's End?"
Marcus is wary of the tiny dragons; they are strange creatures after all, but that suspicion is obviously curbed by their help in this fight.
Adept at hunting imps, VERY adept. Useful if we're going to be dealing with them more. "If you seek to hunt more of them, I suspect we will find more before our task here is done. We will likely be drawing them out from the shadows." He offers to the drakes.
He turns and scowls at Magda. "Pull yourself together, it was just petty magic."
Krovax sheaths his sword and remained silent with the appearance of the house drakes. He used to be fond of them, but now he just found their antics frustratingly annoying.
”Shall we proceed?” he asks sternly.
"great, now steel walls are giving me advice... not bad advice, which makes it worse... just wait until he gets mind raped into dancing..." Magda forces herself to stand, nodding grimly that she is ready.
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"just wait until he gets mind raped into dancing..."
Shi shakes her head at Marcus's chastising of Magda but doesn't speak up and goes to help the young half-orc to her feet and leans in close to whisper to her "Don't pay any attention to him. I'm glad you're ok, sorry they did that to you. We've got work to do though, you good to keep going?"
Magda gives Shi a small thank ya quirk of her lip, and nods. "Yes, ready, time to stop bad guys."
The party finishes speaking with the drakes, who take flight after thanking the party again, and Vencarlo dusts himself off.
He sees that Vera seems shaken by the ordeal a bit, and says to everyone, "Vera doesn't seem to be doing too well, does she? It might be best if she returns to the citadel. This seems to be taxing her a bit. What do you think, Vera." Vera cocks her head, and then looks a bit crestfallen, muttering to herself, "I've learned a lot though..." and then adding, "I can do it!" She sighs, "okay, so um, you know our friend? She agrees with Vencarlo. She says I should stay away from this... drug den. I know we've already seen way worse..." she grumbles "but our friend is making it a point of order that I sit this one out, maybe a few more, until we can catch up a bit. She recommends that I work on trying to get the deed to our home squared up - so I'll be there, until you need me again..." She looks crestfallen. "It was a privilege to work with you all. Thank you..." She shakes everyone's hands, but approaches Magda, embracing her tightly.
She turns back towards the citadel, not far away, Vencarlo makes a move to follow her, then shakes her head, "I think she will be fine, for a little while. The poor girl." He nods at the party, "shall we? Let's get a move on. I may have someone that I can contact to help you with your magical needs until Vera is ready, and have them meet you at the Eel's End. Just give me a few hours, please." He smiles at them, cheerfully.
Vencarlo and the party (minus Vera) head north, chatting amiably, until they finally cross the Narrows and enter Old Korvosa. At this point Vencarlo tells them they can find Eel’s End to the east, on the first pier after the last bridge over the Narrows. With a swift bow, he spins on a heel and is gone.
The party finds themselves with a few hours until they are intended to meet their replacement arcane user, and about a thirty minute walk to the Eel's End complex.
Shi is sad to see Vera go for now but understands that she needs to see to some of her own affairs. Once they split from Vencarlo and they are close to Eel's End she notes to the others "Maybe we should head that way and see if there is any useful information we can dig up. Maybe see if we can set an appointment to meet with our mark once our arcane support arrives?"
Magda gives Vera an equally tight hug and jokes "it was my dancing wasn't it? stuff of nightmares, it is." it isn't goodbye, just see you later kind of stuff, so Magda is all teary.
Kali is sad to see Vera leave as well, doing her best interpretation of Marcus and frowning hard.
Magda notices the frown from Kali, for it is a hard frown, and worries it is a spreading disease.
Once they are the place, Magda leans down to the cobblestones, to a grate, holding her hands out for a cockroach to crawl onto it. The half-orc grins big and coos to the thing.
Showing it to the others "She'll go in and check out the place for us first. Clemintine is her name."
After about a half-hour of travel, the party finds itself at the last dock of Old Korvosa. The familiar smell of the sea and old fish has returned to your nostrils.
The sound of carousing booms from the elegantly painted barges moored to this long pier. Large signs painted in several languages are nailed to pilings and hang from ropes slung between barges. The closest barge to the east bears a sign that says, “The Twin Tigers—Take the Tiger by the Tail and Try Your Luck!” Opposite that, to the west, a boat’s sign says, “Welcome to the Goldenhawk—No Safer Stay in Old Korvosa!” Further to the southeast is “Dragon’s Breath Corridor—Dream the Dragon’s Dreams at Affordable Prices!”, while opposite that is the “House of Clouds—The Caress of Our Lovelies Will Take You Straight to Heaven!” Only the largest vessel, an old warship to the south, bears no signage at all. Short rope bridges or gangplanks provide access to the decks of these ships from the pier and from the decks of other ships.
It’s still early in the day, and so the activity is muted compared to what one might expect.
The little insect chirps, waiting patiently in Magda's hand for instructions. She sends the little one towards the eel's end.
It takes a few hours, and nightfall approaches by the time the cockroach returns, whispering in Magda's ear.
The large ship tied off to the pier bears the name Eel’s End; its figurehead is a coiling eel with a woman’s head. Several drunkards, sailors, and revelers dance and drink on the large open main deck here, while the aft deck is relatively clear. A pair of large double doors bearing a complex painting of a spider allows entrance into the stern section of the main deck.
This large room, once a captain’s cabin, has been converted into a throne room of sorts. The walls are thick with spider webs, in which scuttle dozens of spiders, some as large as a fist but most considerably smaller. These spiders seem content to stay in their webs and do not venture into the room itself, which is furnished with two sturdy oaken tables surrounded by chairs. Aft, a wooden stage supports a large leather chair covered with cobwebs and scampering spiders. A narrow door stands to port, hanging ajar and revealing a flight of stairs leading below. An iron birdcage hangs from the ceiling like a chandelier. The stairs lead to the Belowdecks area (a narrow hallway).
Two large wood-burning stoves are built into the curving wall of the ship’s hull here. Each is fitted with an iron bar on which dangle several cauldrons. Firewood is stacked to the north in a haphazard mound. Dozens of empty glass vials sit atop the mantle of each stove.
This foul-smelling room is empty, save for a mound of filthy straw seething with vermin.
Crates and barrels, and furniture in need of repair are scattered
around this cramped hold.
Foul chutes lead from holes in the privies into the Jeggare.
A single low desk sits against the wall of this room. A large wooden door marked with a painting of a spider stands in the southern wall.
This wooden chamber is clean and dry. A four-poster bed with ornately carved posts and gauzy drapes 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.
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 appear to be from humanoid bodies. Some of the webs seem to shimmer and dance, almost as if reflecting rainbows in their silken forms.
Murky water floods this filthy bilge, its surface dark and calm.
This old cargo bay is partially collapsed. Only a soggy section of hull remains in the center of the room.
After about three hours of waiting for the roach to return, a gnome sidles up and looks around, noticing the party hanging out in the designated meeting spot. He bows, and says "Salutations, I am Belzer Frip, Master Orsini said you needed assistance?" He smiles at everyone in a friendly way. Belzer appears to be very tidy looking, and is dressed like many other adventurers, with bits and pieces of gear hanging off of him. He appears to be unarmored, but he wields a buckler and a neat cloak. His hair and moustache are black, and he appears tanned and physically fit, if not especially strong. He carries a small pouch and spellbook at his side, along with a crossbow on his back, and a gauntleted hand.
Magda tells everyone about the rooms her friend tells her about, .
Shi smiles, her somewhat jarring smile with all her teeth, and nods to the gnome. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm Shi. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your capabilities. We are waiting on a bit of scouting before we head in."
Marcus sizes the newcomer up. As far as mages go, this man didn't seem as soft as many others. "Marcus." He says simply. "What's your magic specialty? Evocation, conjuration, illusion?" He asks with a surprising understanding of arcane magic.
The gnome nods, ”well met. I dabble in transmutation, though I do not specialize like most wizards do. Always had a knack for it, most in my family did.” He adds, ”I am a society member - I got most of my experience doing delves and such, but in my off time I help Vencarlo level the playing field. For a short time I can boost someone’s armor, or other abilities. It’s handy when he’s trying to test students’ skill when they are unevenly matched physically.” He pulls his hood down and peers up at everyone, ”I could demonstrate, if you’d like? But maybe not? If we’re storming Devargo’s complex maybe it’d be better to save it.”
He peers at Magda, ”Scouting? Some magic I’d guess? So you’re one of the urban druids? Fascinating - hard to track down, once they’re strong enough. They can look like your best friend!” He cackles, ”though they’re pretty good for Korvosa, as far as I can tell.”
He pulls out a stick of some sort that looks a bit gnawed, and starts chewing it.
Marcus nods. Transmuters didn't tend to be flashy, but they were effective. One of his less disliked schools of magic. "Save it."
Shi nods along as the gnome explains his background and expertise and finally nods to Marcus's suggestion of saving it. "Well glad you can help. Let me fill you in on the plan. So... we know this 'King' likes something new and we came to get intelligence from him. I'm hoping we can avoid a fight, though from what Magda described... it sounds like it wouldn't be a horrible loss if we did have to fight."
She shrugs and then continues "Anyway, we'll seek an audience with the 'king' and offer to show him something he has likely never seen before an intricate dance from my home. If you have any minor spells that could be used to enhance the performance you are more than welcome to assist. Hopefully that all goes well and we can pay the man for the information we need and then move along."
She looks around to the others "Anyone else have anything to add?"
”That seems to be it. And no, don’t waste your resources, Master Mage. They may be needed,” Krovax says as he removes his helm. ”No need to go in itching for a fight, but be prepared to engage if need be. Everyone understand?”
Marcus nods. Normally at this point he would make some sort of point about moderate levels of violence for the sake of intimidation, but based on what he has seen of Krovax that seems an unnecessary role for him to attempt to fill.
"There is a room full of people's bones... and webs... once we are done with being all nice and proper with the murderers, we should burn the ship to the ground... um, sea?... I think." Magda says but agrees "For now, Okay"
Belzer nods amiably, ”I have no problem taking out this guy - but the other people, and the boats themselves, I’d prefer not to start a fire if we can avoid it. You can’t control fires once you start them.” He adds cautiously, ”from what I know about Barvasi, it’d be worthwhile if he wasn’t in charge of the minor crimes around here, but if you completely dismantle the operation - it’ll just move underground and be hard to keep folks safe. I don’t judge what the visitors what to do, ya know? But I’m here to support you, Vencarlo said not to meddle with your decisions. Anyway, ready to do your dance, madam?” He looks up at Shi respectfully.
As the end of the day approaches, the party watches more folks stream onto the boats. Respectable folks, people of ill repute, it seems as if the Eel’s End is popular regardless of class or station. Some are surreptitious, others are brazen, but it doesn’t seem chaotic.
The large ship tied off to the pier bears the name Eel’s End; its figurehead is a coiling eel with a woman’s head. Several drunkards, sailors, and revelers dance and drink on the large open main deck here, while the aft deck is relatively clear. A pair of large double doors bearing a complex painting of a spider allows entrance into the stern section of the main deck.
Two burly-looking human guards stand on either side of the double doors, watching the revelers carefully, but not especially alert or cautious. On the upper aft deck, the space is clear of revelers, but four hammocks, each filled with the bulky form of a similar-looking guard, snore quietly, but with their weapons at the side of their hammocks.
Shi gets into her costume she purchased and leads the group up to the burly humans "Good evening. We have come to entertain the King of Spiders with a dance from the distant lands of Tian Xia and afterwards do some business that will see the King richer. Can we please be seen to the King?"
Magda doesn't know how to act here, not being a sneaking while they are looking type, so she sticks to gawking.
Magda wonders what to do for a moment. She's not good at these things, at all, though she doesn't think she's ever tried either so when she sees the doubt in the lugs eyes, she'll try to help "She's real good and pretty! And has a tail! Soft and fluffy, you just want to... I mean you don't want to be the one to have turned her away and the king hear about it later do you?"
Marcus knows his charming personality isn't going to be much use her, but he can float around the edges of the group and keep an eye out for trouble.
Kali shuffles along with the others, quietly. She keep she bow in her hand ready to draw should trouble arise, which it will of course. No one comes to Eel's End to see the King of Spiders and not expect trouble. It's just a matter of how badly they were going to get themselves entangled in this mess before the fighting broke out.