Richter looks around, a little shifty.
"That feels like it went a little too smooth, at least in my experience. But maybe I'm just paranoid."
”Went good? Good. Hope you eat-murder too.” Iorskan said with a yawn. Stretching his back and wings, the happy little wyrm walked alongside the group.
"The best part is that anyone who makes it off that boat is gonna think the spider monster is at fault. If there's a leader or whatnot, I doubt hes gonna have any more followers after a showing like such. Let's go get paid, eh?"
Nayala walks along with a jaunty step and a smile on her face, happy their caper went off like it did.
The group manages to find an inn that is still open, and manages to get enough rooms to rest until morning.
After the night's rest:
"we should go talk to our employer. I doubt she expected us to complete her task in one night. Plus, if this riddle poem is what I think it is, we may have more work from Lady Vanderboren coming our way soon."
"What do you think the riddle's all about?" Lila asks from the floor of the rented room where the group's all gathered, where she's humming, doing stretching exercises, and (allegedly) clearing her mind and prepping her body so she'll be able to cast a new day's worth of spells.
"Think Lady Lavinia will feed us breakfast?"
"It seems like a combination or puzzle lock. Turn this way and that, multiple times. The signet is supposed to be a key, whisk today there aren't other locks or doors to open."
"While I'm always tempted by brain teasers and the like, and tweaking the nose of nobles, I don't think we should fiddle with that until we consult our new patron. Nobles have killed to keep secrets before."
"...That said, I hope she does provide something to snack on at least. Completely forgot to eat dinner last night."
"I've got some travel food, but I'm sure we can snag you some skewers or a bowl of food on the way, Richter. Let's eat and walk, I think there's a place that does better fried meat sticks outside on the dockside."
The group heads on its way to the Vanderboren estate. There are plenty of vendors selling everything from food to fiddle to flammanbles, so it's easy to grab breakfast. How healthy it is, of course, depends on your tastes. It takes about an hour to walk to the estate, and it hasn't changed during the last night. Even in Sasserine, some things are reliable.
Richter licks the last of the grease off his fingers and grimaces. It was good, but he'd pay for it later.
Once they reach their patron's home, he knocks on the door.
"I hope the Lady is good for her word. I mean, the job wasn't too difficult, but it sets a bad example if we dont get paid right."
Iorskan nodded enthusiastically at that. He didn’t want to think about the possibility of not being paid. How was he supposed to build a hoard without gold?
The door opens, and you see the elderly form of Kova, Lady Vanderboren's mysterious halfling servant. "We see the lady's mercenaries have appeared once more. Have they completed their mission to reclaim the Lady's lost ship and the signet ring?"
"We have the ring, and at least some of the pirates are gone for good. I imagine the others wont be keen on sticking around for too long either."
Nayala bows exaggeratedly, and presents the ring on her palm.
"But the plot thickens, and another mystery arises from this task."
She pulls the parchment from a pocket and holds it up to the halfling also.
"Any idea what an umber hulk is?" Lila asks the halfling, seeking an answer to the part of the riddle that flusters her.
"Not sure, but I'm guessing its some kind of monster. Maybe a sea creature, or something like that?"
"Well, we know it's an ugly brown color, at least. And it's probably pretty big."
Kova looks at Lila, almost mechanically, and her tone switches to a moderate monotone. "Umber Hulk. A larger humanoid creature with four eyes, two humanoid and two insectoid. Dwells underground. Tough skin, thick enough to turn steel. Large claws suitable for digging through rock. Gaze can cause disruption of higher mental processes in most creatures. Hide is usually colored in a brown or rust shade. Intelligent, carnivorous, and makes traps to catch prey, including pits, rockfall, mazes."
Iorskan’s head dropped as he listened to what sounded to be a stronger predator than he.
Kova's tone switches back to a more even level, and she says "If you have no further questions, Kova the Guardian and the Lady Vandeboren are waiting for you. Kova the Maid will follow you there should you need further sustenance, knowledge, or refreshment." Kova the Maid(?) then gestures you forward into the Vanderboren dining room.
"Sustenance? Got any fruit?" Lila asks, having resisted the urge to buy 'mystery-meat-on-a-stick' en route. "And No--no further questions from me at least."
Hmmm... I wonder if all the Kora/Kovas are mind-linked.
"I wouldn't mind some water, but other than I'm well taken care of. We should report to Lady Vanderboren as soon as we can."
Kova then motions you in, and you enter Lady Vandboren's estate
"This place is super big and super empty for just one lady and her twin-servant halfling people. I wonder if shes got plans to pad out the family line. That's what nobles do, right? Marry around and have kids and keep the name producing?"
Nayala's words bring a scowl to Lila's usually happy and friendly face. "That's the usual plan, yes."
Kova leads to you to Lady Vanderboren's table. Lavinia sits, there. A medium sized breakfast is prepared, lying ready for those who need a repast. Lavinia looks up as you enter, and says "Hello, my friends. Please sit, have something to eat, and we can discuss how your mission went. Try the passion fruit. It's quite good when covered with honey."
Nayala settles down at the table and takes some breakfast foods, smiling as she eats.
"You're right, very good with honey."
She leans back and slides the ring and parchment across the table.
"We got your signet, plus this riddle parchment thing. Oh yeah, and those pirates had all kinds of exotic animals in their hold. One of them got loose and caused all kinds of damage, we made it out in the chaos."
"Should be nothing to be traced back to you, or us, unless there was some kind of observer we couldn't lay our own eyes on."
"I mean, people might have seen some street walkers get invited on board, then nothing. We went over the side like phantoms and I'm very confident noone was anywhere close enough to hear us."
Lila takes Lavinia up on her suggestion, and the passion fruit with honey proves to be divine. She lets Nayala and Richter do all the talking while she finishes off the treat, even licking some remnant honey off her fingers. She glances at Mokhai expecting to be on the receiving end of one of his trademark glares, but instead the half-orc seems to be almost smiling at her unladylike antics.
"It's likely Vark and his men were using your ship to smuggle exotic animals into the city," the teen finally chimes in.
Lavinia looks pained at the party's comments. "I knew Vark was corrupt, but I had no idea he would smuggle dangerous beasts and exotic animals under the nose of the harbormaster! Well better that he's dealt with and my property regained. Once we're done with breakfast, we can adjourn to the city vaults and I can get your payment ready once I draw money from my family's account.
"Excellent, excellent. Did you get a chance to look at this parchment? As my best guess, it's a coded cypher for a lock of some sort. Directions and markings suggest a turn dial, and that means a lock or gate or something. Perhaps something that would require further assistance from a skilled and capable team of adventurers?"
At Nayala's question, Lila's one good eye widens a bit. She ceases licking her fingers, straightens and sits up in her chair, and tries to look more professional. Stealing a quick glance at Mokhai, she sees the half-orc give just the faintest hint of a nod.
Lavinia looks at Nayala and says, "My family's vaults may have traps and safeguards on them, so a group of stalwart troubleshooters would be welcome. That riddle might be a clue to how to access them. I also notice that Mr. Nico isn't here. Did he leave or not survive the encounter with Vark and his thugs?"
"We didn't have any losses on our end. I didn't think we even took a scratch on the boat, to be honest. Maybe he decided to go elsewhere for employment? Or he got hammered and forgot what we were doing? No matter, I bet we can replace him easily enough."
Lila nods to affirm Nayala's words. Then she looks down at Iorskan, scratching the bridge of his nose playfully to make sure he's not taking another nap.
Hmm...it's probably best not to tell Lavinia that Iorskan dined on a bit of smuggler tartare during the raid last night....
Lavinia says "That's unfortunate, but I know some stout hearted substitutes that may be of interest to your group. In any event, we should proceed to the vaults for your payment and we can see what this list Nayala found is." With that, Lavinia gets up and motions to Kova. Kova moves out to the back of the room, opening a set of doors that leads further into the estate.
Lila hops up from the table, blithely following Kova #Whatever into the next room. She doesn't notice Mokhai lagging behind to quietly ask Lavinia some questions.
"OH, great! If you know them its even easier than us hunting them down and signing them up. Let's go get paid, eh?"
Nagaland follows the half line alongside Lila.
Richter follows along without saying much, but keeps his eyes open for any sudden betrayals.
Kova and Lavinia lead you out of the house to a carriage waiting outside. Two matched grey geldings are attached to it, while yet another wizened female halfling, dressed in coach man's livery stands holding the door of the carriage open.