The evening passes with no food and water, as the four prisoners make preparations for something.
Marcus searches valiantly, but other than their clothes and bodies, the only things available are a number of pieces of dirty straw and insects.
A light knock on the door signals someone is outside, and soon everyone hears a voice from outside, Devargo Barvasi.
”So I figured out a little. One of you is you Kaliyah Tatarescu, a marine. Another is Marcus, sometimes called ‘the dog’. I’ll find what I need eventually it’s just a matter of time. Have a restful day!”
Vera notices she can’t use her object reading power on the silver dagger, and that she can’t figure out the aura of the dagger, though she can at least tell there is an aura.
Another light knock on the door signals that the party’s captors have arrived again. The same metal bar and lock clicking, and in the door looks Devargo, carrying a set of manacles and fetters, with a number of other enforcers are behind him. He shakes the manacles and says, ”who’s first?” and they jingle pleasantly. He glances down at the healthy looking folks and frowns, ”got tricks up your sleeve, I see. One of you, get up, come outside. You. ‘Dog’.” He points at Marcus and gestures for him to stand.
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As Magda rushes out, Cressida and Vera finish their discussion. Cressida says, "well, I suppose that's to be expected. So, Vera, listen, if you can get your friend to follow these instructions, you can do with them what you like. I know a halfling by the name of Dokren Schemp. He's helped the guard sometimes when we need something unlocked, and his fees are very reasonable. A skittish little guy, he likes to ingratiate himself to people, but in a scrap he's quite vicious. He's holed up in a little shack near Riverside House in midland. I'm not sure why he's so afraid, but he always seems to be looking over his shoulder. I think he's from Tien originally, but I can't tell. Tell him Cressida sent you, and show him this slip of paper, and he'll help." She stamps a piece of paper with an insignia she keeps on her ring and folds it in half, handing it to Vera.
She stands up and leads Vera out to a supply closet, which she opens using a key she fishes out of a pocket that didn't seem to exist before, reaches in, and pulls out a handful of scrolls. "Take these, your friends are likely to be in a bad way. Magda can use them to heal, and give you all a fighting chance."
She also grabs a handful of tanglefoot bags and three flasks of acid, and hands them to Vera. It doesn't look like there is much else in the closet, but she fishes out about 100 gold from her own pocket, and gives it to Vera. "This is a loan, Vera. Please pay me back." She sighs, "I hope you can do this. Please try." She hugs Vera, and escorts her to the exit of the citadel.
Vera and Magda make their way to the Midland stealthily, where they eventually approach the rundown little shack matching the description that Cressida provided. Vera knocks on the door quietly, and they both hear a quiet yelp. A moment later, they hear the rough sound of wood sliding, and see a mirror on a stick extending from the dusky interior. A small voice says "w..who..who is it?" Vera explains that Cressida Kroft sent them, in a low voice, and holds up the paper to the mirror. There is no response for a few minutes, and it seems as if he won't help, but then the door opens a crack, and a pale, watery-eyed halfling wearing a dark cloak and a hood over his eyes, emerges. "An...Anything for Cressida. What do you n...need?" He says this quietly. It looks as if he's outfitted quite adroitly, though, with a fine backpack stuffed with supplies. He does not seem to carry a weapon, though.
Vera and Magda quickly explain the plan, and he nods, agreeing to their timeline. He promises to meet them on the next evening, arguing that's the best time for subterfuge of this sort, and they agree, and explaining briefly that he's busy today and that he can't go now.
As they move towards Old Korvosa, Vera and Magda head up to the Shingles, the "District" that lays haphazardly in the roof above the city. Free of the chaos of the streets below, and the lurking menace of the sewers, the Shingles present their own dangers, only mitigated by the presence of the house drakes, who keep the peace and control the imps that infest almost every nook and cranny.
It doesn't take long for Vera and Magda to pass through the territory of some drakes that at least heard of how they helped against the imps. The drakes are friendly and playful, but grow serious when Magda explains that there's a drake that's been captured. They have a cacophony of different ideas, but one of the larger and less capricious drakes that seems to lead them, says "listen to the big softones. They are the helpers and the kinders. They will tell us the plannering, because they know the mostest." The others quiet down, respectful of their leader. Magda then explains the plan to the assembled drakes, and the leader repeats it to the others in the odd singsong and pidgin Draconic and Taldan, to ensure that the other drakes understand. Most nod excitedly, but a handful shrug and fly off, distracted by something that nobody else can see.
Magda tells them to meet them on the next evening, near the Eel's End, following Dokren's request.
They depart and move to Old Korvosa, where they head to the training academy run by Vencarlo. He's surprised to see them, but welcomes them in. They explain what happened, and he grows serious. After shaking his head in disappointment, he says "listen, if I help you and your friends, you need to be more circumspect and careful. I've improvised many a plan in my life, but what happened was preventable."
Magda then explains her carefully-laid out plan. Vencarlo grins and chuckles in amusement, and nods. "Now THAT is a plan. I assume you have someone to break out your friends available? No disrespect intended... but you girls don't seem like you're expert locksmiths." They explain briefly that they found an extractor, without giving his name (he seemed very skittish).
Vencarlo claps his hand, and promises to call on Belzer, who will serve as the disguised escort for Vencarlo's debauched fop. He excitedly rummages through a chest nearby, and pulls out a disguise kit that seems dusty, and nods, saying "haven't used this in a while, so it'll be fun to play a part like this. I understand what must be done, young ladies. Please be safe, and do not take any extra risks." They ask him to meet on the evening of the next day, when their extractor will be ready.
Barvasi nods, and puts the manacles on to Marcus, attached to the fetters. He feels like they're especially uncomfortable.
"You, Fox, I didn't give you a chance to speak before, you might as well talk while you're getting these." One of his enforcers passes him a similar set of restraints, and he holds them in his hands and beckons for her to stand up.
Shi and Kaliyah accept the manacles and fetters without question. Devargo has another set and he gestures to Krovax, ”you’re last up, what’s it going to be?” Some of the enforcers look eager for Krovax to start a fight. ”We can do it the easy way or the hard way - for you, of course. It’s easy for me no matter what.” Devargo looks slightly bored, and waits for Krovax’s response.
Devargo shackles Krovax’s arms and feet in the same way, the barbs biting into him slightly as Krovax returns. ”Well, that’s it.” He dusts off his hands and adds, cheerfully, ”Shouldn’t be long now; I’ve got leads on at least some of you, maybe we can all finish our business before too long and be no worse for wear. As I said, I have no wish to kill you all - let’s see if we can avoid it. Honestly, I really don’t know why you’re so upset with me...” He shakes his head and chuckles, the salutes everyone mockingly, and backs out of the door. He accepts two more things from his enforcers, a ceramic jug with water, and a wooden bowl with four pieces of fruit. ”I’ll be back in a day or two - better make this last.” He places them near the door once the party backs away, and closes the door, locking it and securing it with the same heavy mechanism.
.......
Later that day, the prisoners spot a mouse squeeze in from a minuscule hole in the ceiling, The mouse has a small hunk of wood carved into a crude lamb in it’s mouth. On the piece of wood is scrawled something which only Shi can make out, a message that says “magpies 12|10”.
Without waiting for a response to the others she calls out "Guards! I need to speak with the king, please. I think I know a way for him to get what he wants and for us to get out of your hair, but I need to speak with him first."
After a moment, one of the enforcers replies with a muffled, "okay" and you hear whispering, and then thumping away.
A few minutes later, everyone assembled hears the voice of Devargo Barvasi, "Foxy! Glad someone's talking. It'll make this easier. Go ahead."
He waits for a response.
Shi takes a deep breath as she attempts her plow, specifically sticking to the truth. "Look, I've got a friend who we have all worked with before. She is pretty well off and I think she would pay for our release. The problem is she's not a very trusting person, so the only way we could even see about getting her to pay to us all out is if I went and spoke with her. Obviously, I could see where that might be a problem for you, letting me go and all, but you have three of my friends here so if I don't come back or our friend doesn't come to pay for release, then you can still do whatever it is you plan to do with us if no one paid at all. At least this way, you have an actual opportunity to get what you are looking for. Of course, I would need you to tell me what your expectations for payment are so I can pass that along and see if she can come up with the necessary funds. What do you think?"
There is no sound from the outside for a few minutes, and then everyone hear's Barvasi say, "I think you might not be feeding me a bunch of nonsense, so I'll consider it. Got some leads of my own, first. Sit tight; I'll let you know tomorrow morning." There are no more sounds of talking from the other side of the door.
The night passes uncomfortably, but uneventfully. The water and food everyone was provided with at the middle of the day yesterday is gone, and it seems as if the group has been forgotten about, with no additional provisions.
A little before noon, if the bells at the temple of Abadar are any indication the voice of Devargo breaks the monotony of staring at everyone's exhausted face. "Good news! I found out that you lot at some point worked with the guard, and we're negotiating. It should be a few days and we'll be able to let at least one of you out - Fox girl first, then we can accelerate the ransom! Don't care who pays, but someone should. Sit tight!" The voice sounds chipper, happy, and content.
Magda and Vera find themselves on a shore, a few blocks away, with the watery-eyed Dokren who has a little dinghy tied up. Dokren says to the pair, "are you r..r..ready?" He's still unarmed, but his cloak seems to absorb light, the little pale hafling looking more like a lump of rags than a person.
Magda had her big plank lashed together planks with rope handles all ready to go, but grins, setting it aside. "Boats are better, good idea. Yeah, ready as one can be, I guess."
Vera tosses on a charge of her wand onto herself and nods. Dokren hands an oar to Magda, as the stouter of the pair, and they start pushing off. Rowing slowly. It's slow going, as Dokren listens for the sounds that anyone can see their dark craft moving against the black water. They reach a distance of about 100 feet from the entrance that Magda described
Vera sighs and bunches up her loose clothes, tying her hair back, and slips into the water.
She's successfully able to make progress and get to the edge of the ship, though not without some difficulty. Dokren nods at Magda, and gestures for her to descend into the depths and swim for the boat, his swimming gear already on.
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On the pier of the Eel's End complex, a tall, handsome man with salt-and-pepper hair, and a large nose and bushy eyebrows, dressed in antiquated but tasteful clothes, is strolling with his companion, an attractive half-elven woman, dressed in a low-cut outfit. She titters as they pass the different ships. They make their way into the gambling hall, the Twin Tigers, a night of raucous fun ahead.
A dozen purple-scaled dragons, the size of housecats, fly in a ragged formation, gliding from their nests in the shingles, making steady progress towards the glittering lights of the boats in the distance. Their friends, and their cousin, needed them. Many softskins were not to be trusted - but these were kind and goodlings. Goodlings need help. The leader raised her head and barreled onward, snapping at those who fell out of formation from distraction.
"slightly better prepared this time, thanks the city very much" the half orc says to herself, no one and the halfling all at the same time. Then casts a spell, making her feet (and boots) grow huge and webbed, and her fingers longer than... well long.
She slips into the water and moves easily to Vera, where she will stop, look, and listen.
The raucous noise of revelers drowns out anything else, and Dokren approaches silently behind Magda and Vera. With help, they make their way under the pier and into the sodden hold.
This old cargo bay is partially collapsed. Only a soggy section of hull remains in the center of the room. Two doors are present in the southern part of the room.
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Raucous noise comes from the Twin Tigers as the two newcomers seem to be doing well. Cheering comes from the gambling hall, and other patrons gather near the Eel's End. A crowd begins to form, as even more people from Old Korvosa approach, hoping to get in on the action.
A few of the enforcers glance nervously at each other, and then back at Devargo's Ship.
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The parliament of house drakes perches on the roof of a house near the ships, peering curiously and tittering among each other quietly. They listen quietly for the signal.
As they surface again, Vera spends some time drying folks off. If they needed to blend in, it would be easier to do so while dry.
"Which door to choose" says Vera uncertainly.
When Vera tries to climb onto the rotting section of hull, it breaks apart collapses and she slips back into the brackish water.
Vera detects no magic.
"Mmmph!". Vera has to suppress a scream as the hull gives way. "Stupid ship, we should just sink the whole thing!"
She sees if there's anything distinguishing the two doors they can choose from.
"Eenie, meenie, miney, mo!". Pointing to the door on the right, she looks to Magda and Dokren. "How about this one?"
Magda will think while looking for traps and locks. She'd trap the heck out of a back door herself, so why not others.
Dokren swims over to the door Vera mentioned, that Magda searched, and will nod at Magda that it's clear. Magda sees that the door isn't locked, and opens it up.
Murky water floods this filthy bilge, its surface dark and calm. An opening in the ceiling casts pale light onto the surface.
Magda hears something which makes her blood quicken: the distant sound of the church bells of Abadar, ten notes ringing and vibrating the air slightly, marking the hour.
Magda also notices a small piece of slimy rope hanging an inch down from the edge of the opening in the ceiling, but far out of reach.
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Ten notes marks the sound of the hour, and something is afoot at the Eel's End.
Even more folks have gathered, and some are pushing and shoving to be let into the Twin Tigers. Bets flow in the smokey innards as people try to get in on the action. Suddenly, the large-nosed newcomer laughs merrily and takes his date by the hand, stopping his bets. There's a sigh of sadness as the man collects his winnings, his date giggling as she gathers them up as well. Anpugit and Rajeet frown at the man, and whisper to each other, as the crowd files out. He's counting his winnings when he's approached, an enforcer muscling his way into the room. "Hmm..." says the enforcer, nodding at the man, "big winnings. Boss wants to congratulate you." The large-nosed man nods happily after stuffing his fortune into a satchel, and follows, his date on his arm.
The bell finishes ringing, and he approaches the entrance of the Eel's End.
---------------------------------------------------
The drakes hear the signal, and begin the approach, flying in their loose formation, and waiting for their moment. They spot the noseman approaching the door, and the leader nods.
Magda frowns up at the rope hanging down from above. She could jump for it, throw her own grapple, or... "any magic you have to get that up there?" she asks Vera and Dokren.
Dokren nods when Magda points out the little bit of rope, and gestures, and a force grabs the slimy, knotted rope, and it flops quietly, the end resting just above the water.
Madga with her freakishly long fingers climbs up first , pausing at the lip of the opening to first listen and then peak.
Magda climbs silently up the dangling rope, and peeks over the edge, spotting two of the Eel's End enforcers standing quietly, paying little attention to their surroundings.
They haven't spotted Magda
The large-nosed man enters the throne room of Devargo Barvasi, and blinks in surprise. Barvasi's leering goons sit at the tables nearby, ogling the lovely women, who clutches her purse to her front. The man bows to Barvasi and says, "good day sir!" in a thick, Chelaxian accent. "I trust there's no problem?" he says, standing near the door.
Barvasi sizes him up for a moment.
Barvasi nods, "Sir, you've had quite a string of lucky breaks. When that happens, we like to bring people in to congratulate them" He gestures, "step forward, so I can get a look at you!" Smiling, Devargo Barvasi is charming and pleasant.
The noseman shakes his head, "if you please sir, I'd like to just go, once I collect my winnings, is that here?" Barvasi gives him a steely look, a look which lasts forever.
The drakes see an open door, and see their moment. A dozen of the little dragons zoom in from high up, flooding into the throne room of the king of spiders. They breathe their silver mist over the thugs, and Barvasi in a flurry.
Every single thug, enforcer, and Devargo Barvasi are utterly baffled and confused, and the drake in the cage shrieks in delight.
It is utter chaos, and the large-nosed man stands aside, backing out and gesturing to the two enforcers. "What kind of racket are you running!?" The two enforcers move into the room, shouting, and waving their saps at the tiny dragons.
--------------------------------------
Magda hears a commotion of shrieks, gibbering, and yelling from around a corner in the hold. The enforcers she's watching hear the same, and look towards the hallway, doubtfully.
Magda slips down, "Okay, two guards, brig right to the left before them, where our friends are. We need to get the door open them free and these weapons in their hands" she pats the satchel with daggers and clubs. "We have to hurry, no idea how much time the commotion will hold. I can summon a wad of spiders to mess them up and then guard our friend as he opens the door. Unless you got anything that will send them away Vera?"
"I have something that'll keep them disoriented for a while, I hope" says Vera.
As they find themselves remarkably close to the guards, Vera conjures some magics, and a dazzle of colors flies forth from her hands!
The four prisoners hear the sound of commotion from somewhere and .... a familiar voice, whispering an incantation.
The two enforcers stand there, as the flash of light covers them, and are still on their feet, though it appears they cannot see.
Dokren scrambles up behind you and punches one of them in the kidneys with his little fist.
He whispers, "c'mon! knock them out!" then adds, "Or spiders! whatever you want!"
Magda scurries up and slams the shaft of her spear into the head of the guard the halfling is working on.
The guard looks as if he's headed toward his last legs.
Dokren nods, moves to the next guy and tries to put a little nonlethal on him.
"Sorry, nothing personal," says Vera quietly, as she draws an obsidian wand and fires a magic missile from it!
Dokren punches his target one more time. The enforcer boggles. The sound of a commotion is obvious, coming from upstairs.
With a thud, the last of the two guards falls unconscious. The halfling grins morosely, and steps over to the door, drawing a lockpick seemingly made of solid darkness from his cloak.
He wipes his forehead gently. "c'mon, y... you two... get the bar off." He tries again, using a different pick made of shadow.
The bar on the door is heavy iron, and held in place by a spring-loaded iron latch, seemingly there as an extra layer of reinforcement beyond the lock.
Vera positions herself on what looks like the easier end, knowing she was not exactly strong. "Ready on three?"
If Magda agrees, Vera begins to count. "One . . . two . . ."
"Three yes, On three or after three, oh okay now."
Everyone in the brig can hear the sounds of whispering outside, and that heavy bar being removed. There's also clicking coming from a lock.
Krovax furthermore, hears the faint sound of shouting, seemingly from directly above their heads.
Dokren tries again.
Sweating, he pops the lock with his shadow picks and says, "th...there. I got it open." He sniffs and pulls the door open.
Inside, Vera and Magda see the prone forms of Marcus, Kaliyah, Krovax, and Shi Ni, backs against the walls of the cramped cell, each wearing fetters and manacles.