"Pleasse, thiss one iss curiouss. What were planss for creaturess in hold? To take ship and ssail to another port to ssell?"The woman looks to Taishe and the ‘amicable’ Norveg. She deflates a bit
“Look, Vark was waiting to meet another ship. We was to unload all those beasties there and then we was getting mustered out from the payment. That’s all’s I knows”
Taishe tries not to smile, knowing as how that sight unnerves most soft-skins.
"Ah. One ssupossess, ssince you were all on board, that you were to met thiss other ship, tonight?' The kobold asks politely.
"Will do. Anything else before I head back?"Nahuatl ti asks, clearly enjoying the fact that the night has afforded her multiple opportunities to spend swimming.
Lavinia shakes her head
“I am happy to have my family’s ship back in my possession. Although I still owe her docking fees. I don’t suppose you found the 100 platinum coins I gave that scoundrel Sollen Vark?”
She fingers the ring
“No matter, I am sure that there will be wealth in the family vault. Just bid your companions to come hither at breakfast “
"Ah. One ssupossess, ssince you were all on board, that you were to met thiss other ship, tonight?' The kobold asks politely.
The woman nods
“Aye. He wanted that screechy lot and that Rhagadossa off the vessel”
** spoiler omitted **
Narl:
"Ah. One ssupossess, ssince you were all on board, that you were to met thiss other ship, tonight?' The kobold asks politely.The woman nods
“Aye. He wanted that screechy lot and that Rhagadossa off the vessel”
Taishe points a claw at the fallen spider-creature.
"'Rhagadossssa', Ah. One wondered what creature wass called. Where iss it from, pray tell? Oh, yesss,... and what hour iss other ship coming to meet and take cargo?" The kobold asks politely.
"Ah. One ssupossess, ssince you were all on board, that you were to met thiss other ship, tonight?' The kobold asks politely.The woman nods
“Aye. He wanted that screechy lot and that Rhagadossa off the vessel”
Taishe points a claw at the fallen spider-creature.
"'Rhagasossssa', Ah. One wondered what creature wass called. Where iss it from, pray tell? Oh, yesss,... and what hour iss other ship coming to meet and take cargo?" The kobold asks politely.
"I will. See you in the morning. We'll look for the platinum, but make sure the people you send to take possession of the ship know that there is some insect beast out of its cage belowdecks." Nahuatl ti says with a smile bidding Lavinia farewell, before heading back for the docks.
"'Rhagasossssa', Ah. One wondered what creature wass called. Where iss it from, pray tell? Oh, yesss,... and what hour iss other ship coming to meet and take cargo?" The kobold asks politely.
The woman looks surly
“Does I look like a zookeeper? It’s a spider. The Jungle of Skulls, like as not. I don’t know. Alls I know about the ship is it was meeting us in the early hours. Vark didn’t go around telling me his plans”
Hearing the conversation about the spider creature and the name of it he will hold what he has learned for the time being as it won't help at this moment, except for wanting to ask the woman about the cowled man with the skull mask. Which he will quietly ask her when there is a free moment.
Narl:
He looks at the woman and smiles at her.
"What can you tell me of the man who hired Vark and your group. The man with the copper skull mask cowled in black? Perhaps you weren't there but I know how crews talk of such things. Did you hear a name? "
The woman looks perplexed
“I didn’t see no skull mask. I worked for Vark. Vark worked for the ‘arbormaster. Vark tells me we gots a job this evening and I go. It’s as simple as that. “
She looks around at the group
“I know Vark wasn’t on the ups, and he was making side coin. Who doesn’t in this port? But I’m just a sailor he hires when he needs hands to run his job. Nothing more. I can’t give you wots I don’t have “
Taishe looks at Narl, and raises an eyebrow ridge. But addresses the woman.
"Ah, Thiss iss true. Thiss one will tell you what you DO have though. A ssecond chance. Thiss one iss not adversse to 'sside jobss'. But perhapss, in future, one might pick her employerss more, carefully, yess?" Taishe asks conversationally.
"Anything one CAN remember, that she wass willing to tell freely, would go long way to making ssure she wass not blamed for wrong doingss on stolen ship, yess? Ssuch a one might even find hersself able to leave, and sswim to shore before authoritiess arrive. Perhapss."
Nahuatl ti enjoys the night swim back to the ship, taking her time to climb the anchor chain back up and onto the deck. Dripping wet she rejoins the others. ”Lavinia is very happy we recovered the ship. She will send a group to take control of it soon. She wants us to meet her at her home in the morning.” she announces.
"Anything one CAN remember, that she wass willing to tell freely, would go long way to making ssure she wass not blamed for wrong doingss on stolen ship, yess? Ssuch a one might even find hersself able to leave, and sswim to shore before authoritiess arrive. Perhapss."
The woman laughs sourly
“Keep bailing that leaky scupper for all it’ll do you. I kin make up summat if that’ll make yeh feel like yeh got summat out of me. “
The woman looks at Taishe directly
“I may not know much, but I knows this. Vark WAS a ‘arbormasters deputy. Like, all official like. Now, yeh can prattle about illegal things, but I knows this barge is under lockdown for unpaid ‘arbor fees. Vark was in the wrong fer using it, but ‘es dead yonder. Yeh go to the authorities they’ll likely lock you up in the brig. “
'Ah, well that maybe what Vark told you about this boat. Then again he didn't mention the figure in the copper mask he was hired by either seems he didn't keep you in loop on a great many things. Of course we have on good authority that the unpaid harbor fees were indeed paid to Vark. Yet Vark conveniently "lost" that payment?" he shrugs
" A bit of advice though perhaps you shouldn't antagonizing anyone? You are in a bit of a pickle as I see it. Might be best to lose that attitude and stop trying to play tough honey works better than vinegar with us."
Then he leans in and whispers in her ear. "You might think you are safe with the big orc not wanting you dead ... but I can't say the same for our rat friend over there. He was ready to sacrifice you to his god and honestly I can't say I would stand in the way if the orc needs to take a nap." He smiles and claps her on the shoulder. "Something to think about."
The woman scowls and shudders at Narl’s touch
“Besmara takes care of her own. I’ll sail in her fleet should you drown me.”
She looks away
“If I had anything to tell yeh, Yeh’d know it. Why should I hold aught back? I’m yer captive, an’ I enjoy livin’. I’m doing yeh a courtesy, though yeh don’t seems to realize it, by not spinning up some fairy story about skull masks and sinister plots. “
"Ah." Taishe says calmly, repacking his pipe.
"It iss ass you ssay. Varssk WASS a Harbormassterss deputy. Ussing hiss position to steal feess paid and then the shipss after. Once authorities are notified, we will likely be hailed asss heroes. OR all will go on asss before, and this will be sswept under proverbial rug. Ssuch iss the way of citiess."
Taishe lights his pipe once more, and takes a puff of pure enjoyment.
"Iss funny though. Friend only assked you about man in massk who hired Varsssk. No one mentioned ssinisster plotsss,..."
Taishe puffs his pipe thoughtfully.
When Nahuatl arrives, the kobold gives her a wave of greeting.
"That iss welcome newss. One hopes that new crew arrivess ssoon. Our new friend wass jusst telling uss that they expected to meet with another ship in early morning darknesss. For transsfer of creatures below. One hass had enough excitement for one night. One thinkss."
The woman stares at Taishe
“Foine. Vark was doin’ business with Pirates that like skull masks. They enjoyed pets sos he sold them lots. They live in Argentum town, an’ they sail a red-sailed galleon called the Parrot’s Squawk”
She looks at the kobold
“There, yer determination has wrung the truth from me.”
"'Ello, luv," Norveg greets Nahuatl when she arrives. "Oi wish 'Er Nibses crew'd get 'ere sooner. We'd best stay aboard an' keep a weather oi out fer red sails."
He points at the captive. "She kin go in the spoider cage so's she don't warn nobody."
Leaning down to speak to her softly, he warns, "If'n it was up to me, ye'd have gone in the drink in 'Anspur's name. Yer soul'da gone ta him an not be sailin' wif Besmara. So don't cross me. Keep quoit an' behave and me shipmates'll make sure ya comes out uv this just foin."
Within an hour a longboat with six men approach. At their head is Lavinia, dressed in working clothes, and with her hair tucked under a tricorne hat.
“I couldn’t wait to see the Nixie, and I figured I should accompany my retainers to assure you they were legitimate. “
The six men begin putting the ship to rights, holy stoning the deck and tossing any bits overboard. They release any flying animals from belowdecks, letting the birds, dinos, and snakes make their way back to their jungle homes. The monkeys and other small terrestrial creatures they bring up in cages and stack in the longboat, taking loads over to the shoreline
Lavina gathers the group
“I want to thank you all for the brave deed you did for me today. You have possibly saved me from bankruptcy and preserved my home and ship. I still have to come up with the fees to pay the harbormaster, but I can keep men aboard for now to insure his minions don’t take control of the Nixie again.
“I have an offer to present you. Come work for me. I will have need of brave hearts and strong blades. I can offer you each a monthly salary of 100 GP. Besides the financial reward, there are many benefits to being allied with House Vellasca. My house may not be as powerful as in centuries past, but it still carries weight, and I aim to restore it to its former glory. “
She looks about the group
“What do you say?”
"I accept." Nahuatl ti replies without hesitation or waiting to see how the others were leaning.
Taishe nods his head to Lavina.
"Mosst generouss offer. One iss honored. I accept, with humble thankss." The kobold also agrees.
"So loik them Jade Ravens? Or was they mercenaries?" Norveg gets all squinty at the thought of that annoying crew.
Lavinia shakes her head at Norveg
“As I mentioned, they have their own loyalties. You would be more like personal retainers. I would ask you to reserve your first loyalty to me. I was thinking you could call yourselves the Sea Lion’s Guard, or something like that. I’ll even pay to make Sword Circle brooches for you”
She looks at the others
“In the morning I will have to visit the Falcon’s Roost to claim my inheritance in the vaults. Even though I hold the ring, thanks to you, I am unsure what I will discover within. I would prefer to have an escort there, not only in case of difficulties, but to maintain appearances for the Arch Duke’s court. One never travels to the Roost without a fitting entourage “
Norveg nods decidedly. "Roit. Oi'm in, luv. Er, mum."
The sum of 100 gold pieces per month immediately catches Tragon's interest. The half-orc puffs up his chest a bit as he says, "At your service, milady."
Norveg rolls his eyes... carefully behind Tragon's back.
Taishe nods.
"Then, an esscort you shall have." he says politely.
The group is rowed back to shore. The female pirate is released on shore with dire warnings about returning. The group heads back into town to seek a nights rest
The morning breaks hot and sultry, but the sky is blue and clear. The dry season is in full effect now. The group makes its way to Lavinia’s manse. They are escorted inside by Lavinia’s halfling retainer. They are seated at the same table, but with a breakfast laid out. It is simpler than the formal dinner they attended yesterday, but the fare is plentiful and varied. Lavinia appears shortly, dressed in a very fancy dress.
“I have eaten, but please avail yourselves. I need to prepare for today. “
Lavinia is wearing the Signet ring on a necklace. It gleams within her décolletage
While nowhere near what high society would consider fancy dress, Nahuatl ti attends dressed every part the sea shaman, wearing far more jeweley and fabric than she would when preparing to dive into the water at any moment.
The shamaness smiles, seeing Lavinia proudly wearing the ring they had retrieved her, ad seeing her so grandly attired is glad of the effort she put into dressing up for what was apparently a momentous occasion.
Taishe arrives the next morning, murmurs a thanks and bows to the halfling when admitted inside.
Instead of his greatcoat, the kobold is also dressed 'nicely' in a simple silk jacket that drapes to his knees, and has many tiny buttons up one side of the front. It is dyed a shade of light red that complements his golden scales. (Hey, silk is common where he came from)
It is possible that either he had help with the buttons, or he considers fastening the row of tiny buttons with his claws to be an exercise in patience.
He nods to the others as they arrive, and stands and bows politely to their hostess when she enters.
"You mentioned that one musst have an esscort to the 'Falcon'ss Roosst'. Thiss one iss familiar with the importance of tradition, ceremony, and protocol in matterss of sstate. Doess my Lady require uss to perform any, specific, sservice on thiss trip?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Norveg has either gone shopping or rolled a drunk noble in some back alley. He appears at Lavinia's mansion in his armor, as usual, but it is topped by a lovely dark cloak which trails on the ground by an inch, and a purple hat with a feather on one side, only slightly soiled. A wooden holy symbol of Gozreh hangs on his chest.
He sweeps off his hat and bows to Lavinia. "Mornin' mum."
Tragon hopes that nobody notices he is wearing the same fine clothes he wore to the dinner party. He has added a small, colorful kerchief to his ensemble to distract from this fact. He bows deeply and awkwardly upon arrival.
He takes a generous helping of the offered foods while he listens for what is in store.
Narl is dressed in a formal suit for the occasion in the latest fashion of nobles in the area. He is after all a man of fashion as well as etiquette. He wears a blue vest with silver buttons and a long coat with top hat with a silver buckle with a sea lion upon it in honor of the groups new name. He has a walking stick also with a sea lion handle his raven upon his shoulder and black calf length boots. He dips his hat and bows a bow appropriate to Lady Lavinia's station.
"My Lady thank you for having us once again and putting us to your employ. I look forward to a visit to the Roost I have heard much about it but never had the opportunity for a visit. Do you have any ground rules or things you would like us on the look out for?
Lavinia nods to Narl
“Just keep in mind that it is the Arch Duke’s seat. His ancestors were kings in Dragora before the Bright Empire. We likely will not run into any of the nobility on this sojourn, but even the court functionaries are very touchy about honor and precedence. You are my retainers, and as such will likely be dismissed as servants. Do not take this as an insult. Keep your eyes open and your voice quiet and we shall be fine”
After a hearty breakfast, Lavinia brings the group out to the front of the mansion. A carriage awaits there. It is painted in the Vellasca colors, and sports their heraldry on the door, but when closely looked at, the paint is faded and there are signs of age in the fine teak chassis. It is spacious, and the party travels in style to the Falcon’s Roost, overlooking the city in the Nobles District
The Falcon’s roost is an impressive castle, built as a military fort when Opal was still a ruin of a Xoltec city and the Vellasian refugees were still in tents. Since then the incredible wealth of the city state has transformed the hillside the Roost is built on into a sprawling pile of marble buildings surrounding the original granite keep.
Lavinia’s carriage brings them within the Bailey of the old castle, and they enter. A Court functionary awaits Lavinia, dressed in silks from Seng and a healthy portion of jewelry. He ignores the party, but the ubiquitous Raptors, the Arch Duke’s elite guards keep a watchful eye on them the entire time. He checks Lavinia’s ring, murmuring pleasantries to her as he passes some sort of charm over it. Satisfied, he gestures to a burly guard
“Seven Fox will see you to the vaults. Pleasant day, Lady Vellasca”
The guard leads them to a narrow spiral staircase that leads downward. The party travels deep within the rock of the Roost’s foundations. Eventually they come to a large hemispheric domed room. Green marble floors it, veins of gold running through it. Around the walls are two dozen open doorways leading to narrow hallways. The guard points to one and grunts.
“That’s yours m’lady. Good day”
The guard departs up the stairs, leaving the party alone. Lavinia leads the way down the indicated hallway. The narrow passage leads out about 50 feet before ending in a huge iron door. Inscribed on its face is the Vellasca coat of arms, and also a stylized compass
DC12 K(Local)
There is a depression in the door with a place to put the signet ring. Lavinia does so and the door’s edges flash blue and it makes a loud noise as hidden boots withdraw within it. Lavinia looks excited
“Well, here we go”
.
Norveg keeps quiet and remains within the entourage, eyeing the place and its people.
Tragon has lived under the shadow of the Roost his entire life. The formidable structure loomed large in the imagination of the young half-orc. Such a place was not for people like him. But now he is inside.
He walks stiffly and proudly, trying to control his urge to gawk at the pomp and finery. Occasionally, he nearly forgets his purpose and has to remind himself to be vigilant and play the part of dutiful bodyguard.
The sight of the vaults awes him, and he eagerly awaits what comes next.
Taishe touches the carriage and looks at it for a moment as the others enter it, noting the beauty and craftsmanship, but also the current signs of wear and lack of recent upkeep. He gives thr carriage a gentle pat and climbs inside.
Taishe seems to enjoy the carriage ride. (It is hard to tell sometimes, His reptilian features do not lend themselves to subtle expressions.)
Once they disembark at the Roost, as the shortest of the entourage, he moves silently to Lavinia's side. Or JUST a step behind her, on the left. He subtly tugs on Norveg's sleeve to indicate he should join him, pointing a claw at Lavinia's other side.
He maintains a calm, almost bored,demeanor. But his sharp gaze misses very little. And he studies the Raptors as closely as they watch the group.
Taishe follows Lavinia, ever the dutiful servant, as they descend the spiral staircase. Even the features of the kobold reveal his initial shock at the splendor of the dome-shaped room. Meaning his eyes widen noticeably.
At the vault door, Taishe notices the inscription, and compass symbol.
As Lavinia uses the ring to unlock the vault door, Taishe leans in slowly as the door swings open, betraying his eagerness to see what lies beyond,....
Nahuatl ti follows along silently, taking in the grandeur of their surroundings, and trying to remain alert, though extremely out of her element.
Narl keeps quiet as asked but he has an air about him that indeed he does belong here among these people despite him only being a retainer others might easily mistake him as something much more. He has an easy way about him that could be mistaken as arrogance or just knowing what it is like to be in places like this and how to act.
Narl takes a closer look at the blue flashing to see what sort of magic it was.
Narl notes an aura of abjuration magic around the door. It is a powerful aura, woven into the iron itself
Lavinia pushes the door open. It pivots in silently, revealing a thickness of about a meter. Recessed bolts can be seen in it.
Within is a dark room. The green marble floor continues and the ceiling in this room is also domed like the entry room. The main room had been lit by magical light globes, but this room is dark. Lavinia looks nervous
“I can’t really see anything within. Could someone go ahead and light the way?”
Narl casts light upon his walking stick.
"Yes I have some light to help out."
"Sorry, mum, Oi doesn't need loit so Oi doesn't prepare it. But Oi'm happy to go in first wif Narl."
Norveg smiles(?) at Lavinia and steps into the room.
Nahuatl ti makes a brief gesture, uttering an odd phrase as a quartet of pulsing orbs of light bob and float around Lavinia. moving with her in a manner reminiscent of objects floating on the sea.
"Ah. Mosst handy." Taishe says with a nod as Narl & Nuhuatl bring forth magical light sources.
Taishe moves forward, standing a little away from his well-lit friends, on the opposite side from Norveg.
"Thiss one can alsso ssee well in low light. I will accompany Narl." He says to Lavinia with a bow-bob of his head.
Tragon stands near the vault door, close to Lavinia, and looks in.