Curse of the Crimson Throne - Foxy Quickpaw

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

Briggi mutters about flighty elves as he tries to find them

"Patience. They must be nearly done by now."

"Hey you two, you look like you could use a drink. Don't be strangers, come over!" the guy who pours the drinks on the Eel's End calls over to the dwarves.

Now we are talking! Briggi ambles over for some ale.

A few minutes later, Narciso heads back up, two goblets of wine in hand.
"Here you are, sweetling. Sorry it took so long, there was a line-up."
He hands a goblet to Tisha, hoping she'd had enough time to make her assessment...

Ernhild follows Briggi, a bit reluctantly at first, then with more determination. If they were going to wait, they might as well try to blend in.

With some luck, the drinks wouldn't be too bad either.

"Busy night?" she asks the barman. "I'll have an ale."

As she talks with Narciso Tisha tries to look just past him to determine if the other guards not at the door are just posted at spots to check the crowd or if they are patrolling. She also looks to see if they just watch the people on the deck, or do some of them watch over the side of the ship too.

Thank you dear! This is exactly what I need.
As she is about to take a sip of the drink she whispers into her glass.

Narciso tries to keep his features composed as he thinks. "Why would they come here, they knew that we didn't want to give the criminals an opportunity to associate us a group? They're dwarves, but they aren't that dumb. There must be some sort of a problem..."

He uses his message cantrip (already cast)) to whisper to Tisha:

"Here you go, one ale for the lady, and one for the sir. Can I get you anything else?" The barkeep inquires. "We have only simple food, but if you're hungry I can offer a bowl of stew."

Looking at the dwarves - that sit on the same deck Tischa and Narciso are on - you notice that they fit in quite well. Ok, they are dwarves, but you find there is another one among the bouncers working here. But not many dressed up to be here. Many are armed, some openly, some with the hidden dagger, only the trained eye sees. Quite a few are still wearing their work clothes. And one hopes at least the ones seeking close company in the House of Clouds took the time to wash before visiting.

Come, I want to see the River.

Tisha drags Narciso over to the rail.
As she looks over the River she whispers

As she looks at the River, Tisha looks down to see if there are any ways into the ship on the side that she is standing above. Portholes, gun ports, or doors that have been cut into the ship for loading freight.

Briggi gets an ale as well and quaffs!

The ale is not half bad. Its lacking compared to a good dwarven made brew, but that's hard to come by in this city.

"Here you go, one ale for the lady, and one for the sir. Can I get you anything else?" The barkeep inquires. "We have only simple food, but if you're hungry I can offer a bowl of stew."

Ernhild gives Briggi a side glance. "I think food isn't really on the table tonight."

She takes a sip from her own pint. "Not bad. But it's going to take more to impress me," she adds with a pointed look at Briggi - like a woman who's not quite sure she should have accepted to go on a date with that one 'meh' coworker.

Well let's see if they gave a keg for customers who are willing to drop more than copper. Hey barkeep! Got any special kegs?

Narciso tries to find a spot that is a) within range of the dwarves (130'), b) has line of sight to the dwarves, and c) is minimally exposed (so not many people can see him casting). Once he finds a spot like that, he casts Message, targeting Briggi and Ernhild...

He whispers "This is Narciso, what's gone wrong that you two are here?"

Ernhild slightly turns away from the bar, taking advantage of Briggi's diversion to answer. "Visit at the temple was cut short. Devargo apparently keeps perfect track of his taxes."

"Briggi got restless waiting for you outside."

Being a hero is thirsty work.

Narciso pinches the bridge of his nose and whispers back "Well congratulations on being a dwarven couple on a night out. You have no connection to and will not talk to the elven couple that will be leaving soon. See you at Madame Zellara's."

Then he heads back to Tisha, using message again "Briggi got impatient." Then he sweeps the elven lady into his arms and proposes "Shall we dance?"...

Fine, fine. Briggi finishes his drink and will head out when Ernhild is ready.

""Well congratulations on being a dwarven couple on a night out."

Foxy when looking down the outside of the ship, did I see any “back doors” into the ship, or is that guarded door the only way in?

I thought you would never ask. Tisha’s smile is radiant as she is swept off to the dance floor.

P:Dance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Tisha is light as a feather in Narciso’s hands, easily following his lead and putting in flourishes to make both of them look good. Yes they may be drawing more then a few eyes, but she trusts their disguises, and well, sometimes a little attention is not a bad thing.

No other entrances into the inner part of the Eel's End.

After leaving the elves, Briggi will part ways with Ernhild and head back to the barracks to turn in.

There's not much Ernhild can learn while keeping up her cover, and she's rather relieved to exit the ship.

Since she has time before the party regroups, she consults her blue book. No doubt it will provide some interesting information about Eel's End - at least allowing her to blend in more easily.

+2 Knowledge (local), Bluff or Diplomacy checks to gather or use information in Korvosa for 24 hours

As they dance, Narciso whispers to Tisha "Anything else you want to find out, or shall we simply enjoy ourselves for the next couple of hours?"

Tisha whispers back.
Lets enjoy ourselves for an hour or two to see if anyone goes through that door.

After a while a man with a stern expression comes along the pier. You notice because everyone makes way for him immediately. He takes in what is going on in the area and you find that he notices the two elves too. He enters the Eels End and approaches the double door. The guards jump to action to open it for him and close it again after he went inside.

Ready to go? I think I’ve been here long enough.

"Yeah, let's go."

Narciso (and presumably Tisha) head back to Zellara's...

As they head back Tisha and once they get a few blocks away
Well I assume that was Devargo…. Seems we know where he is, and It does not seem a way to meet him without getting past the guards.

Any thing else you saw?

I assume you put yourself to sleep and back to meeting as a group yourself.

Yep

Once they are all back together, So, will we be be going with the entertainer idea?

"I'll admit, I haven't come up with anything better..."

"We might need pretty solid disguises to be let through," Ernhild warns. "We were there only yesterday, and there aren't thousands of dwarves and elves living in Korvosa. Someone might recognise us."

That’s why we went in disguise yesterday…. I doubt anyone will associate us with the elves from last night…. Unless for some reason we are forced to dance.

There were a lot of guards, We could go offering to be muscle I guess.

I could get some leather armor so I look like a proper thug. Get a club and my sap so I look like a bodyguard.

Or we can just walk up and ask to see the boss. Grease some palms and get the the info we need.

Or we can just walk up and ask to see the boss. Grease some palms and get the the info we need.

"That's not the worst idea. Play it straight, flash the bribe money and say we want to cut a deal with your boss; should be enough there to get a hearing. Then tell Devargo we've been engaged by a group of Korvosan patriots to upset this Chelaxian's apple cart, and see where it goes from there..."

"It'd be a more straightforward approach than pretending we're a bunch of entertainers. Certainly sounds more convincing."

If we are going straight in, who is going to negotiate? And are we not saying anything beyond our association with the guard?

If we just offer money, I hope we have enough.

Well count me out. Being charming is not what I am skilled at.

"I suppose it's going to be a tie between you and I," Ernhild answers Tisha. "Neither of the men are used to public speaking."

"I'll admit, I'm not the most charming of men. What I would suggest, is not bring all the money along, nor offer it up front. The only other thing I might suggest is maybe we could research Ambassador Amprei ourselves. It might be cheaper if we knew specifically what illicit dealings of his we wanted to know about."

I could keep my ear out and maybe Ernhild could check his money records or something. Maybe he cheats on his taxes.

"Amprei is a Chelaxian ambassador. I assume most of his taxes would relate to his home country, and therefore there won't be much trace of him in Korvosa's records."

"I was thinking more word on the street stuff."

Narciso looks at Tisha, "You got some contacts, use them..." (K Local)

I have managed to pick up some skill in listening the the word on the street, so I will help Know Local

"Very well. I could help you on where to look." Could use the Blue Book to roll an Aid Another (K local) check