The Boots are a pair of Cat Burglar's Boots
The scrolls are both scrolls of Shield.
By my count you also found 100 gp, 86 sp, 192 cp, a brass comb worth 2 gp, assorted buttons made from semiprecious stones worth 30 gp total, a smokestick, a mithral shortsword, and a set of masterwork thieves tools.
"I am a competent healer, but I think we should invest in some healing potions. I think I know a guy."
"Potions? I mean, I know-know someone who can make potions. He is quite good-good at it, too, you know."
Mikkitar looks over the assorted treasure and makes a wrinkled rat face while clasping his hands.
"We will need spelunking equipment and more ranged weaponry, yes-yes. If one of us has access to demolitions equipment, all the better, too."
|
Nocki replies to Mikkitar "Well, I like a good close-up fight. And I'm not one of the dwarf builders, I'm a merchant. I wouldn't know how to demolish anything. But if you want some time to cook potions, I won't say it's not possible and my curiosity will eventually get to me and I'll just go by myself, hahaha!" The dwarf legitimately thinks what he said is funny.
"That is a fine blade, we may be able to sell it for enough funds for a wand of curative magic." He pauses and sighs, "The same may be true of the ring"
Olander knows of a weaponsmith in this part of the city name Michael Hesperdies.
The group of you travel through the streets to visit his shop.
He scowls a little a the site of such a ragtag group darkening his door, but his attitude changes when he sees the mithril shortsword.
"Fine craftsmanship indeed. I could do no better!" he excclaims.
He scowls again and asks: "There's no going to be a former owner showing up to accuse me of trafficking in stolen goods, is there?"
You assure him there will be no such problems.
After a bit of haggling, he ends up agreeing to a trade of:
The mithril shortsword, 100gp, and a collection of semiprecious stones worth 30gp in exchange for a masterwork, cold-iron warhammer and a masterwork, cold-iron rapier.
"You folk aren't paranoid about faeries, are ya?" he asks with a grin.
"The 'Folk' have a saying. 'Paranoia is better then getting caught with your breeches down. We are just looking for a good belt.
Yes-yes, paranoia is only a thing if they are not out to get you, right-right? If so, that-that is just plain old common sense."
Once the party has decided to buy and sell stuff, Mikkitar sets up his brewing equipment at their room, creating a Cure Light Wounds potion each day for the group.
|
|
Nocki recognizes Michael's attempt to be friendly. He knows the tactic well. He doesn't answer the man's gist about faeries and simply says "They're good weapons. Why wouldn't you want any?"
The warhammer is beautiful, even though it is not dwarf-made. Nocki tests its weight for a bit and decides it is very well built and he begins feeling comfortable with it already. He does feel sad about his old hammer, which didn't sink in the sewers by a measure of luck. However, he asks the man how much he would give for the hammer.
"Tis finely made, that's true." Michael says.
"I could see my way to give you six gold coins for it." he offers.
Olander chooses to hold his previous blade, knowing how lost he'd be without a rapier in his hand.
As fine as any blade I could have had if I hadn't grown horns and red skin... joining the pathfinders was definitely the right choice.
The day after you do your deal with the arms merchant and Mikkitar crafts a couple of healing potions you decide that you are ready to go.
Mistress Heidmarch gives you the name of a boat captain named Conroy Crabfisher who her husband had paid for a couple of harbor trips to examine parts of the Irespan.
She cautions you not to reveal the goal of your trip to Conroy and to keep the existence of the Shard a secret.
In the morning you head down to the harbor and you locate Conroy and his boat the 'Green Wave'. The boat seems to be crewed by his extended family, with three generations swarming about the hull and mast. There is nothing green about the ship however, except her name.
After you ask a hand on the dock, he fetches the captain. A portly man with greasy black hair appears. He, at least, is wearing a green vest.
"Good mornin' to you lads!" he says. "What can Conroy and his folk be doin' for you today?" he asks.
"artifact hunting, at least things we can pass off as artifacts to travelers. We have a lead." with that he nods his head towards Mikkitar.
|
|
Nocki comes to the dock a little wary of the boat. He doesn't like the idea of getting on a floating piece of wood with armor as heavy as the one he is wearing at the moment. Still, he is happy that Sandu took the initiative and started talking with the captain. He strokes Bear's head a little bit.
He adds "We'd like you to take us around the Irespan."
The trip back from Absolom my stomach was in knots, but the voyage there didn't have any issues. Hopefully our trip to the Irespan more like the latter.
Indeed to the Irespan. Can you tell us anything about it?
"Aye, me and mine will be going out into the harbor later to take care of some work." he gestures to a collection of lobster traps on the deck.
"Is there something special you are looking for out in the harbor?" he asks. "I've ferried groups out to look at them before. There's always somebody interested in digging around in the old ruins."
"We could be droppin' you off on our way out and then be pickin' you up after we've placed our traps. That would give you some time and you wouldn't have to pay for holding up my ship for the day."
"For that, I'd only have to charge you five gold a head for the round trip. I'll need you to be there when we return though. I don't want to have my ship stranded on the water waiting for you."
|
|
Nocki tells the fishermen that the agreement is a sound one. Still, he has no idea where they would like to poke. He says "Well, what options are there? Which seems like the most interesting?" He chastises himself for not thinking of researching the options first. But since they're there, the sailors could be the most valuable source of information.
The captain cocks his head at Nocki and answers: "Well, you would be wanting one of the big pilings of the bridge. It's known that there are some structures built into the stone. I've never heard of anything too elaborate, but I've always avoided poking around."
"Over the years, crazy hermits and criminal gangs have ben known to set up shop in some of the ruins."
|
|
Nocki thinks for a bit then says "Well, sounds like a good opportunity. If we don't find anything worthwhile, we can at least rid the city of some criminals, uh?" He looks at the others as if it just can't get any better than that.
In reality, he is trying to look positive in an attempt to hide the fact that he isn't very keen on going on a boat.
"Well I've never heard of anyone finding anything valuable out there. If there had been, we would have been overrun by treasure hunters." Captain Conroy replies to the dwarf.
"At least you folk are armed and look to be able to take care of yourselves. If you do run into someone hiding out there, I'm not going to be responsible for trying to rescue you."
"That is the beauty of this venture, we are not selling value, we are selling story, the chance to own you own but of ancient Thasolon that was."
"Well it takes coin to pay for my time. Stories don't go far down here at the docks."
[B]"Five crowns per head seems agreeable yes-yes. Do you have any names of those criminal gang-groups in mind? Might make our job-job easier if we know who to ask-talk for, yes-yes."(/b]
Conroy looks down at Mikkitar like he is surprised the ratfolk spoke: "I'm not in the habit of poking around in those old ruins or consorting with criminal gangs."
"I do know that other captains aren't as worried about who they deal with, but I try to stay clear of deals that might draw the attention of the city watch."
"If you folk are ready and have the coin, then we can set sail in a few moments after the crew is finished stowing the crab pots and lobster traps."
I think we're ready.
Sandu hands over his coin as well.
I was told a Mr. Heidmarch paid already. Olander challenges the request for more coin.
"Ahh, so you know Master Heidmarch. He has used our services in the past, but I haven't heard from him in some time." Conroy answers.
"He paid for our services then, but you'll have to pay us now."
assuming that Olander understands the miscommunication and agrees to hand over the coins, Conroy ushers them aboard as soon as the 'Green Wave' is loaded.
The Crow itself is located just under half a mile from the Dockway.
The Crow is a massive stone monument that rises from the waters of Magnimar’s harbor. It was once a support for the Irespan, but with that monument’s collapse, the Crow is nothing more than an immense freestanding piling. As with every one of the Irespan’s columns, the Crow is intricately carved and embossed with ancient statuary and bas-reliefs featuring the motif of a specific animal or monster—in this case, hundreds of crowlike gargoyles and carvings and decorations. Like all of the surviving pilings, the Crow is 200 feet wide along its midsection (widening to over 250 feet at the upper section where the piling once supported the Irespan above). The Crow extends 220 feet above sea level.
It takes about half an hour to approach the structure in the harbor as the boatmen fight with the harbor's currents.
As you near, Conroy speaks up: "We can leave you at this chamber that opens onto the water. That's where we took Master Heidmarch a couple years back when he wanted to sketch the place."
A tall lancet arch at water level leads into a chamber at sea level within the side of the Crow. Inside is what was once a small, stepped terrace, now filled with sea water to the level of its top step. Three rowboats are tied off to heavy stones placed on this step. Above, the ceiling rises almost all the way up to the top of the monument—an opening leads off this shaft to the west near the ceiling. At the west end of this room lies a small alcove whose floor shows the stains of countless campfires—the back wall of this alcove has broken through, revealing a passageway beyond.
Seeing this Conroy says: "I've been here a time or two before and that broken wall back there is new. "
Gesturing to the rowboats he says: "It looks as if there's people squatting out here right now. Are you sure you want to get off here? The types that hole up here are probably pretty desperate."
|
|
Nocki is thankful to be able to get out of the boat and is the first to step out. "This will do", he says. He waits for the others to get out as well and before moving anywhere, he looks at the other boats and looks for personal items or anything that might indicate who or how many people came in them.
The dwarf readies his shield and puts Bear somewhere that his shield can easily protect. He looks to the others as if to silently inquire whether they are ready for this.
Nocki, as you advance into the entry hall, you see that rubble from the collapsed wall has been pushed out into the chamber. Traces of recent habitation—bits of trash and rubbish and the odd piece of clothing or equipment—are scattered here and there, though the room now appears to be unused.
Sandu enters, taking a moment to touch his butterfly and cause it to give off a soft light. he enters gripping his crossbow tight, seemingly un aware that is is neither cocked or loaded.
|
|
Nocki walks forward a little carefully, trying to listen. Before stepping towards the rubble, the dwarf notices Sandu sweating next to him. He looks at him accusative and says harshly "Oi, you may want to load that!", pointing to his crossbow. He also says "Relax. This will be easy."
Then, he moves towards the rubble to look into the collapsed stone, trying to evaluate what happened.
Mikkitar also draws and readies his crossbow, staying close to Nocki.
"Yes-yes, be ready to shoot-fire, but do not panic-flee. We will do just fine-fine here."
Olander stands shoulder to shoulder with Nocki, his blade at the ready.
You see alcoves to the south and west, and a curving staircase ascends to the north.
|
|
Nocki first checks the alcoves before trying the stairs. He is sure the others are covering him in case anything goes wrong. He also looks up trying to find anything lurking.
The dwarf spends some time looking. This was the first time he is actively artifact hunting and doesn't want to leave any stone unturned. He can already imagine himself basking in glory of the find. Of course, he will never tell the sewers part, but he feels this is the beginning of an epic journey.
Looking in the alcove to the south you find a small chamber. The foul odor and suspicious stains on the floor reveal that this chamber was used as a privy within the last few weeks. Huddled in one corner are the rotting remains of a small dog.
The glamorous life of an adventurer... Poor beast.
Olander takes a closer look at the dog and trying to avoid the smell. He then moves on with Nocki.
Inspection of the “dog” reveals that it’s actually a donkey rat — a sizable rodent native to the region, with long legs and a bushy tail.
The alcove to the west is less pungent, not having been used as a latrine, but full of trash and rubble.
It's hard to tell exactly what sort of people squatted here.
It definitely looks like armor and weapons were maintained (broken straps, discarded whetstone, etc), food was cooked and eatten (chicken bones and scraps), and people slept here (several areas are smoothed out where someone made a place to put a bedroll).