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Seren heals Wesley back up to full health...and once the alchemist is bound with Omnia's rope, she channels some healing into Laszo and stabilizes him...while he groans a bit, he does not yet regain consciousness...
While you debate amongst yourselves what to do with him, Huong casts detect magic and then searches the area...he detects some magical items on Laszo to include a potion and a cloak. You also find he's wearing a fine set of studded leather...
As Huong searches the area, within the small cavern to the south, he discovers a small vial concealed in a test subject’s sleeping pallet...
Elena's search for alchemical equipment turns up countless empty flasks and discarded alchemical ingredients lying on the floor around the statue...and a nearby workbench with several organized but empty flasks and jars...
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Elena warily looks down the passage leading south...but she finds it a dead end as it’s blocked with lots of garbage...
Omnia detects the vial to be unrefined whip...with this discovery, along with the journal you found upon Laszo, you’ve fulfilled the task bestowed upon you by Magali Delroya...and along with it, two of the three tasks, just as you were ordered...
Meanwhile, Laszo remains stable and the four sickly folk still appear to be deep into a drug-induced stupor...
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"I think he would be better to be kept alive and try to get more information out of him... but that would be a matter for the guards. In any case, we can't leave these people here... as I said, rats down here might be hungry. I think we could carry them out between us."
Elena doesn't have a problem taking a bit of that to make sure they are safe.
((If you don't mind, Elena would like to get that cloak for the moment, if it's alright. Her saves suck. ))
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Bibi raises an eyebrow at Seren. "You're not one of those don't-kill-the-murderer-or-you'll-be-just-as-bad types, are you?" she asks. "Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just don't agree with the lifestyle."
She then chuckles through her nose, as if she's said something quite clever.
"Anyway-- come on, guys! Free whip on the ship! Follow us!"
She gestures toward the ladder and waves some of the vials around, hoping they'll follow-- and if they need help, that some of her teammates will lend a hand.
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Seren gives an awkward, embarrassed little smile, ”I don’t know if I’m any kind of type.”
She shrugs apologetically, ”It just doesn’t seem right somehow...” she looks around at the spirit-broken junkies, ”Maybe their families would disagree?”
The cleric looks up at Bibi, ”I guess I’ve never really trusted a knife in the dark. That’s all.” she looks down again, unable to hold Bibi’s gaze.
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*BANG*
Sucking up the surrounding earth, Omnia offers "If you lot can keep him alive, I can push him along for a bit...it just tends to leave bruises."
Turning towards Wesley, he adds "A big strong ox like you should have no issue dragging him along...though it may look a bit odd once we're above ground."
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With the evidence secured that you need to implicate Laszo and the Aspis, you head back to the ship with Laszo and his 'patients' in tow. With Wesley carrying the alchemist and Bibi enticing the addicts along with the enticement of more whip as the rest of you assist them along, you make your way towards the Sixwing Drake. Along the way, you pass by a temple and decide to drop of the sickly as they are best equipped to handle those in their condition...
When you board the ship, the captain greets you at the ganglplank. "Ah, I see you appear to have had some success, yes?" As you debrief him, he nods, saying, "Very well, we will stick this abominable man in the brig for interrogation when we get back to Absalom...in the meantime, you've earned a rest so enjoy our fare, including all the grog you can drink, as you await word from your contact..."
The evening and night passes by with no further word from Delroya Magali and you have a good and uneventful rest throughout the night...
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Around noon on the following day, Fireday, Captain Zendrani calls a meeting on the deck of the Sixwing Drake. “An urchin boy delivered this note just a few minutes ago. I tried to keep him here so we could talk to him, but he slipped away without a word and ran off into the city. I haven’t looked at the note—but it seems to be from Delroya.” The captain hands over the note.
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After a short nap, Bibi spends most of the night on the boat; she doesn't drink ("not without Braniri here to keep track of what I say so I know what to apologize for in the morning, sorry"), but she's generally pretty amiable for chatter, and will gladly chill anyone's drink when asked (though after a couple of these, she pulls a short spear from inside her coat and makes sure it's resting in easy reach over her shoulder).
When the note arrives the next day, Bibi is just getting out of her hammock. She reads it over and bobs her head.
"I suppose we expected something like this anyway. No time to lose, though. Do you think we can stop and grab something to eat on the way if we take it with us? Some bread, maybe. I could go for a club sandwich..."
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"Oh good. Glad we got that settled."
"Warehouse, huh? I suppose we best be getting off. Don't need the villains arriving before us and spoiling the contact's anonymity."
Quickly gathering his items, he gives himself a quick hose off with the sea water before drawing the water out and returning it to the ocean. "You know, I've not spent much time around water before this trip...this could come in handy! It's certainly hygienic."
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Seren tries to make herself useful in the ship for a little while but then gives up.
She sips at one drink all night and tries to talk to everyone.
In the morning, after making her own obeisance, she gathers everyone together for a group prayer.
Then, when they are done, she does a Harrow reading for herself.
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A large warehouse looms into view at the end of Gull Street. Its main level sits at the edge of the street above a ten-foot drop to the harbor’s waters below. A door in the western wall of the warehouse opens, and a woman clad in simple leather armor steps out. Her features display a blend of Taldan and Mwangi heritages, and her crisp accent is difficult to place. “I am Magali Delroya. You must come quickly, Pathfinders. We do not wish to be seen.”
Delroya moves briskly, waving off protests or interruptions, and speaks with the rhythm of her steps. “Questions later. Much is at stake. First you must listen.” Her outward display of authority does not entirely mask her fear.
The small room through the warehouse’s western door features a round table and several chairs. “This room is for the guards. They are all too busy dealing with our disruptions, so no one is here for now. That door leads to the docks below,” she says, indicating a door in the southern wall. "Come this way. I will show you the warehouse.” She opens a door in the northern wall, revealing a cavernous storage room.
Haphazard stacks of barrels and crates almost reach the ceiling twenty feet above. Two large skylights in the ceiling provide ample light during the day, and a dozen unlit lanterns are spaced around the room. To the east, a wide opening in the southern wall looks out over the loading bay ten feet below. A freight elevator platform rigged to a complex set of pulleys and ropes and a staircase both lead down to the loading bay.
“As you can see, the Aspis Consortium maintains a sizable operation out of this warehouse, which they rent from the Kortos Consortium’s Locosta family in exchange for alchemical goods. After tonight, I hope that the relationship between Aspis and Kortos will be irreparably damaged.
“We may have delayed the shipment, but my sources tell me that both the Kortos and Aspis consortia are likely to investigate the warehouse later tonight. I had hoped for more time, but I will not able to move the goods until after midnight. I need your help in holding off the agents until everything is in order.
"They are not likely to work together, so you should prepare for multiple groups of agents. While I have no qualms about fighting the Aspis agents, if possible we should avoid further antagonizing the Kortos Consortium. Their agents may be willing to look the other way.
“Because the agents are on high alert, you should stay at the warehouse until they arrive. We wouldn’t want anyone spotted or attacked out in the city before we’re ready. That gives you several hours to prepare. Most of the items in the warehouse are simple trade goods designed to make this outfit look legitimate. You may want to take some time to look around, though—you never know what the Aspis Consortium might have stowed away here.
“I can stay here briefly, if you have questions or need assistance.”
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Magali answers Bibi's and Elena's queries. "The Aspis should have an insignia or pin somewhere prominent, on their right or left breast, in the shape of a serpent...I would suspect that the Kortos agents will arrive first...
"My guess is there'll be 3 to 5 agents each, of the Kortos and the Aspis..."
She purses her lips and ponders before continuing...
“By now you should know that the Aspis Consortium is breaking Diobel’s laws. What we’re doing here is not exactly legal, either, in the views of the Kortos Consortium. I am hoping that we can get through this without drawing their ire, but as a last resort, you can use this document. It should eliminate any questions as to the legality of your actions. If you can avoid having to use it, I would be grateful, but do not hesitate to present it if necessary.”
She hands the document to you:
"Are there any more questions?"
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Delroya nods and answers Bibi and then Elena. ”The Aspis informed the Kortos that something is amiss with the shipment so word is, the Kortis are sending agents to inspect the warehouse...I suggest you stick around though as the Aspis might still come first...you can either come up with a deception as for your presence or you can persuade them. While I’d prefer you to not use the writ of Lord Avid, don’t hesitate to use it with the Kortos if there’s no other way...Ambrus wants to avoid future complications with them, if possible...
“The Kortos will likely leave before the Aspis arrive...unless they turn hostile...they just do the shipping and want plausible deniability of the illicit drugs themselves...”
Magali smirks at Wesley. ”Presumptuous little bugger, aren’t you?”
She ponders for a moment before continuing. ”I met Ambrus several years ago...he was a kind man and tried to recruit me into the Pathfinders...but as I am more of a loner, I respectfully declined...
“I am a wanderer. I call no place my home, and no one my family. I thought that meant that the Aspis Consortium was a good fit, but I was wrong. They have no respect for anyone but themselves.”
After another awkward pause, she says, ”Provided things go as planned, I expect to meet with your venture-captain to settle up my payment when this affair conclude. After our meeting, I do not know where I will go, but your actions in Diobel have certainly given me much to think about. Perhaps the Pathfinders might be a good fit for me after all...I will consider it...
“Any further questions? I need to go soon...”