"I don't know. Let's take a look. Also, what's in the flask?"
"A potion." replies Flitch, "For healing. At least, that's what i paid for. Fortunately, I haven't had to try it."
Zaza looks over Guntram's shoulder at the forged papers.
Scanning the papers, Zaza concludes that the forgeries should stand up to scrutiny from the guards at the docks.
Guntram offers up the forged papers to anyone who wants to take a look. Seem official to me, but I don't have much of an eye for such things.
Evgeni and more importantly Cheldira values a good piece of mischief. he takes a peek at the documents.
Evgeni confirms that the forgeries will withstand scrutiny.
Whereabouts is this tunnel? Suppose the main concern would be using up time we need to gather the refugees. Flitch, you're the one got the note from Garrla at the Guardhouse. Know anything about the place?
"The entrance to the tunnel to Shard Cove is down here in the sewers. Not too far from here." Flitch replies. "If you want to head all the way out to the cove tonight, I can take you there. But, it will take a couple of hours to reach the cove and there is no way that I can have you back here before curfew begins."
He shrugs, "But, I suppose that the Emerald Guard aren't likely to be looking to find you if you spend the night here. This campsite would be a bit cramped." He gives a glance at Katrina and adds with a grin, "But then, I bet you don't mind getting a bit close, do you?"
When he doesn't receive the desired response, Flitch sighs, then says, "As for the Guardhouse, I know enough about it to stay away from the place. That's where the Emerald Guard are stationed."
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Katrina gives Flitch a look. I think my girlfriend would object if I did that .... and she can be very stabby stabby if you get my drift
She looks around the place. I suppose we could stay here. But we've got an appointment in the morning and I'd rather not go there smelling of sewer. Is it easy enough tae sneak back intae town from the cove?
Katrina gives Flitch a look. I think my girlfriend would object if I did that .... and she can be very stabby stabby if you get my drift
"Your loss," smirks the thief.
"Good point KC. Let's go to the Arcanium Abjurant now then the ministry in the morning. We can check out the rest of the tunnel later tomorrow."
Sneak is ambivalent on the question of where to stay the night
As the others discuss travel plans and sleeping arrangements, the goblin takes a peek at the papers. Her value to the party immediately becomes evident. Despite the aversions to writing common among her ancestors, the sharp-eyed goblin spots a few flaws in the document that her colleagues had overlooked. Sneak Runt concludes that documents provided by Flitch are poor forgeries, but that the flaws could be corrected to make passable ones.
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I'm not really intae the forgery thing myself, but I suppose I can have a look. Katrina replies I usually use my skills for entertaining the masses rather than personal gain, But it's sorta tempting tae forge an entertainment license. These folk really need cheering up.
She looks over to Sneak. It's not geography that's slows things down. It's socialpolitical. All those guards stopping people, asking questions and demanding tae see papers, that's what slows travel around the place. Absalom is nothing like this - tae be honest I'll be glad tae get outta here.
"Your loss," smirks the thief.
Katrina frowns more. Oh great. Another male who's so full of himself, just like that other guy harassing Debboriah. I'd rather cuddle up to Zaza or Sneak, if either of them wanted to, or allowed it. No cuddling without permission though. In fact, if Zaza was my height, she'd look like Reeta. Wonder if she or Sneak can hold their breath as long ....
Katrina grinned and slot a look over to Zaza, as if contemplating.
How dirty are we and how badly do we smell right now? Do we think that heading to the ministry from here would impact our chances to visit with Themolin?
I know I tend to forget about this stuff when I GM if I'm not reminded. It might be about time to hand out a hero point.
I'm not really intae the forgery thing myself, but I suppose I can have a look.
Katrina cannot spot any flaws in the jerk's Flitch's forgeries.
"So, you want to see Shard Cove, then? Not a problem, but it will likely take a couple of hours just to get there." notes Flitch. "Follow me."
As requested, Flitch leads the party through a nearby tunnel, which converges with a main tunnel. He then leads you down one of offshoots, which itself branches into a number of tunnels. As you travel, you spot clear signs that the sewers are home to various forms of vermin, including a number of rats of unusual size. However, the other life forms that you encounter in the tunnels usually skitter into holes, under water, or into other tunnels as you approach, avoiding contact with a group of so many, relatively larger creatures.
The Sczarni takes you down one of the smaller branches of the tunnel until you reach a fissure that leads into a natural tunnel carved out of the rock through erosion. Most of the sewer tunnels are 10 feet tall and five feet wide.
The goblin and the halfling have no difficulty making their way through it, but the others each have to duck their heads and stick close to the wall.
Eventually, the natural tunnel system gives way to a sea cave that opens out onto a sparse beach spilling into the sea cove. As Flitch had predicted, the trip from his lair has taken nearly two hours and the time is now after nightfall.
A full moon shines down on the calm, pure water of the cove. The tide is low. Occasionally, a momentary glimmer or glistening of reflected light can be seen near and around the water line.
"Shard Cove is only navigable to ships at high tide.” Flitch notes. “Navigating the cove at night, even with a full moon is too dangerous. There are jagged crystals lying just beneath the waves, which are nearly impossible to avoid even by day.”
The water at low tide is approximately 25-40 feet deep. No ships can be seen on the horizon.
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It doesn't take long for Katrina to slip out of her armour and into the water. Much to Flitch's disappointment, Katrina has swimming clothes under her armour.
She freedives down to the bottom to investigate those crystals and the others soon discover Kat can stay underwater for several minutes (Breath Control feat). She even offers to demonstrate some simple (for her) underwater escapes and swimming tricks.
It's very clear though, she's having FUN.
While swimming, Katrina nearly swims into the jagged edge of one of the clear crystals near the surface, which she discovers is the tip of an immense, fractured piece of crystal that juts up approximately forty feet from the seafloor below. She concludes the edge could have given her a sizable cut, but that the sharp edge could be blunted with proper tools and techniques.
Passing glints of moonlight on the surface suggests that many more such crystals lie beneath the waves of the cove.
When the party has completed its look at the water, it makes it way back to an area of the sewers for rest and some forging of travel papers. After about 30 minutes of time, Zaza produces a fine-looking fake.
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Katrina can hold her breath for (5+1)*25 = 150 rounds before she has to worry. So after nearly bumping against a crystal, she decides she is going to collect a few samples, just to see if anyone back in Absalom knows what mineral it is. Besides, they look pretty - and who knows they might be useful. So, while underwater, she attempts to get a few samples.
Hopefully she can find some small, loose ones, then ... now she knows where the crystals are, she can practice her freediving, cavorting in the water mermaid style.
With the aid of rope, chains etc and an assistant, she will also show off her skills in escaping from restraints while underwater ... and not using the sharp crystal edges to cheat.
(She also has Unfetted Halfling)
... as well as being able to swim etc while tied and and foot (Navy Seal style) before escaping. (part of her circus act).
Once she's had enough of that she'll join Zaza in making the forgery, while still in her two piece outfit, after being encouraged to do so.
Basically she's really enjoying herself and having fun.
. So, while underwater, she attempts to get a few samples.
Katrina manages to scrape off a few samples, but her efforts fail to dull the crystal's sharp edges. She does, however, seem to have fun taking the samples.
Guntram, however, is able to scrape the edges without causing crystals to further fracture and dulls the edge of one of the numerous crystals lying beneath the waves.
The samples taken are such that it would like take further investigation to ascertain their nature.
Sneak searches the surface of the cove for anything interesting or hidden. Other than that she mostly just hides in case something suddenly attacks
"I wonder how dangerous it will be to get our people from the beach to the ship?"
While Zaza ponders aloud, Sneak Runt catches the glimpse of several fish jumping out the water. Their behavior suggests to her that one or more, fairly large predators must, at least on occasional hunt, near the shore.
Despite the difficulties of tracking the arrival of the morning sun within the sewers, the party is able to get themselves relatively cleaned up and presentable for the appointment at the Ministry of Tithes. Arriving on time, approximately two hours the ringing of first bell, the party spies a familiar receptionist, who smiles when she sees Katrina.
"I hope you brought more treats." she says, with a smile, before ushering you through the sea of bureaucrats tending their paperwork. She pauses before a desk covered in several stacks of papers, some nearly toppling from the heavy wooden desk upon which they are perched, and announces, "Your morning appointment, Thelomin."
She then flashes Katrina another smile before heading back to the reception area.
From behind the stack of papers, emerges a wiry man with spectacles. “I-I understand that y-you’ve made an appointment to s-see me. H-how may I b-be of assistance?” he stammers as he hesitantly rises to his feet.
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Sneak makes sure to tell her friends to watch out for a violent animal the next time they return to the cove.
“At dawn on the fourth day after your arrival in Xin-Edasseril, the ship, Rolanna’s Prayer, will arrive in a bay just outside the city: Shard Cove. The boat can accommodate five clients, providing an excellent opportunity to escape undetected. One of the clients, Flitch, knows a secret tunnel to Shard Cove."“Once the clients are aboard ship, return to the city. Any remaining clients that you weren’t able to smuggle out by sea will have to be smuggled out of the city with you, which means you’ll have to get them past the guards at the docks." she stresses. "Your ship, The Merry Mayfly, must depart the docks once your papers have expired.”
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From behind the stack of papers, emerges a wiry man with spectacles. “I-I understand that y-you’ve made an appointment to s-see me. H-how may I b-be of assistance?” he stammers as he hesitantly rises to his feet.
Zaza looks around to make sure that nobody is near enough to overhear the conversation.
"Actually I think that we will be assisting you. Are you packed and ready to leave?"
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Guntram doesn't make himself quite as presentable as the rest of the group, but that's no different that usual.
He accompanies the group to the Ministry and seems to be in a fairly pleasant mood despite spending the night in the sewer.
I wonder if Yuleg was surprised not to see us last night, he muses on the way.
Once at the Ministry, he follows along with the group and waits to hear Thelomin's response to Zaza.
Zaza looks around to make sure that nobody is near enough to overhear the conversation.
"Actually I think that we will be assisting you. Are you packed and ready to leave?"
"I-I'm afraid that I don't kn-know what you are t-talking about." Themolin replies somewhat loudly, clearly uneasy at the mentioning of 'packed' and 'ready to leave'.
Although Themolin is obviously nervous, the man makes no effort to summon the guard at the door or alert the others working at their desks nearby.
"Y-you see, I am the A-assistant M-minister of Audits. I handle audits. Th-that is wh-what I do here. If you h-have an issue with a r-recent audit finding or a question r-regarding accounts, th-then I am h-happy to converse w-with y-you here. Otherwise, I am a-afraid th-that I w-won't be of m-much help to you."
While Zaza speaks with the auditor, Guntram attempts to spot anything that might assist in communicating with him.
Guntram spots an item of interest on among the objects on Themolin’s desk. It is an an affidavit of sale bearing the name, "Ellvard", a name that he has heard previously.
Yeah .. well ... the person that needs auditing asked for you ... and in this case, it's more logical tae bring the auditor tae the accounts, rather than the other way round.
"I-I d-don't know. This is all v-very unusual." Themolin replies. "Not at all th-the way thing are n-normally done."
Through a combination of winks, nods and whispers, Guntram draws Zaza's attention to the affidavit.