Marine stops waving her sword around angrily and sheathes the blade. A smile is plastered on her lips as she calms down.
"Well, why didn't you say so earlier, Fallenta? I'd love to do a bit of fighting - after we had to fight all those terrible, no good ghosts that were immune to my best tricks? No fun at all. Now these smugglers? They sound like good targets to Slam Down."
As Callistro considers casting options in Vyre, Marine adds her own two cents. "Ooh...I've been to Vyre before with the Circus! Let me see what I remember..."
She rattles off a bunch of information about Vyre, some of which might be relevant and most of which was about what she found cool.
When Calistro asks what we know of the Dragonfly Society in Vyre, Dr. Lazarus retrieves a surprisingly well-worn guidebook from his book bag entitled, "Venturing in Vyre".
Fallenta looks abashed, and promises to bring the adventurers into discussions earlier in the future if something similar comes along, and out of guilt for volunteering them for a potentially dangerous mission, she offers the party some of her magic items as thanks--her entertainer’s cincture and her moderate maestro’s violin as thanks.
"I know they're shady, and the practice of blackmail is awful, but the Dragonfly Society did really help me. I understand they help a lot of people, and I do think they do more harm than good. Just... don't make a name for yourself after they've helped you. I do trust Gideon to keep his word."
Lazarus and Marine know quite a bit about Vyre.
Although Kintargo is the capital city of Ravounel, it isn’t the largest—that honor falls to the nearby city of Vyre, located on Vyre Island just to the northwest of Kintargo. Vyre and Kintargo are 70 miles apart with trade and passenger ships alike departing for either port daily. A typical journey between the two cities costs a mere 8 sp and generally takes about 18 hours to complete. Ships typically depart late afternoon, sail through the night, and arrive at their destination the next morning.
Before Ravounel’s secession, Vyre already operated as a city largely outside the jurisdiction of Cheliax, a self-governing free port that promised privacy to those who could pay. A city of drugs, blood sports, gambling, and other hedonistic pleasures, Vyre serves as a place where the mighty can go to unwind, away from the intrigues and pressures of politics. Things have largely remained unchanged in Vyre since Ravounel’s secession.
It’s an open secret that the cult of Norgorber is a power in Vyre.
"The next step is to take a ship to Vyre, then meet with Gideon and a few of his associates at The Seven Apples, a hostel that caters to visiting adventurers. Gideon said he's familiar with your story and is sure he'll recognize you, so all you need to do is show up at the hostel, arrange rooms, and then wait in the hostel’s common area to be contacted."
When Fallenta indicates that the group will need to go to Vyre to meet with Gideon, Jayma exhales softly through her nose, the picture of restrained annoyance. "Vyre," she sighs. "Of course it would be Vyre. The city of sin and secrets. A fitting place to deal with smugglers and blackmailers."
Jayma pauses, glancing at the others. "Still, I suppose we cannot allow these Dragonflies to keep buzzing about. If they truly hold the keys to your past, then this Gideon Shanklett must be dealt with swiftly and properly."
She turns back to Fallenta, her expression softening just a little. "We will go to Vyre, then. But let it be known, I am not going there for their benefit... nor for yours alone. This opera is ours now, and I will not have its debut tarnished by scoundrels."
Doctor Lazarus nods with approval at the thank you gifts. He looks toward Calistro, "I trust you can make use of these, dear boy?"
After lecturing the group on the geo-politics of Vyre, Dr. Lazarus stows his guidebook. When Jayma talks disparagingly about the Dragonfly Society, Lazarus raises an eyebrow, "Jayma dear, it sounds like the Dragonfly Society is not our enemy here." After a short pause, he adds, "And I don't believe our mission is to 'swiftly and properly' deal with Gideon."
The Doctor summarizes, "I believe our job is to deal with a rival smuggler's ring that's causing trouble for the Dragonfly Society. If we help them, Gideon will call it even with Fallenta, is that right?" He looks for confirmation from Fallenta.
Assuming he's correct, the ever-frugal professor asks Fallenta, "Even though the fare to Vyre is not exorbitant, will you be covering our transportation costs? And since we're helping the Society, will they be covering our lodging at The Seven Apples?"
"Well look, so long as there's adventure to be had, I'm ok with dealing with anyone's smuggling ring." Marine is rather alright with having this new job fobbed onto her.
"If we're going by boat to Vyre, will we have a few days to unwind after we're done? I'd rather like to go gambling again in the Gambling Dens. Also, we had better book a boat with animal stables - there's no way I'll fit in the average cabin."
At Thurston's explanation, Jayma waves a gloved hand dismissively. "If the simplest way to rid ourselves of this Gideon person and his Dragonflies is to tidy up their little rivalry, then very well, but if he dares fail to keep his word... then we will have to deal with him rather more directly."
Callistro examines the two items which Fallenta has provided.
They are certainly interesting he says, but I prefer my most marvellous cloak personally. Still, its a nice gesture.
At the mention of Vyre he grin grows, The City of Sin, sounds like my sort of place. I am sure we dont need to quibble over the few silver travel and accommodation will cost old man, he says, teasing the Doctor a little.
"Oh, um, yes, of course I intended to pay your expenses," Fallenta quickly lies, "And I don't see any reason why you wouldn't have a few days, no."
When Fallenta assures the group that expenses are, of course, covered, Dr. Lazarus nods and smiles to Callistro, "You see, my dear boy? As a wise sage once said: If you don't ask, the answer is always no." Turning back to Fallenta, Lazarus checks his notes and says, "Thank you. To confirm: Gideon will contact us at The Seven Apples." Assuming that's correct, "Then we shall depart post-haste."
As an afterthought, he asks, "You said that Gideon will recognize us. We should be sure it's him. Can you give us his description?"
Fallenta nods. "Yes, of course. He's a human man, slight build, though quite strong. And rather, well, attractive. Fair skin, medium-length light brown hair. Blue eyes, and he likes to wear blue as well. He usually wears a very impressive, large hat decorated with peacock feathers." She shrugs. "He likes to stand out, but I suppose that's the trick, isn't it?"
Fallenta gives the party 10 gold, which proves more than enough to pay their fair. Marine finds she has no trouble getting a cabin equipped for her--Vyre is, after all, a particularly diverse place.
The party is able to make any final preparations and board by late afternoon, with the ship scheduled to travel overnight and arrive at her destination in the morning.
Marine spends the night sleeping in a nice big cabin, happy to actually get a bed that fits her.
In the morning, when she wakes up and steps off the boat, she is instantly assaulted by the hustle and bustle of Vyre's shady harbour.
From her high horse, she tries to survey the crowd and look for a glimpse of Gideon.
Callsitro dozes on the deck, watching the stars wheel above them and dreaming of all the things he can get up to in Vyre once they are done with the Dragonflies.
The prospect of a voyage to Vyre leaves a sour taste on Jayma's tongue, but she smooths the expression from her face, replacing it with one of calm determination. Though the sea voyage to Vyre is a short one, traveling by ship has never been one of her favorite activities.
After leaving Fallenta, she goes back to her room and packs her sleeves for the trip before heading with the others to the port. When the ship casts off from Kintargo’s harbor, Jayma grips the railing with white-knuckled hands, her smile fixed in place as the waves rock the vessel in an all-too-familiar rhythm that she loathes. More than once she catches herself muttering the words of a teleportation spell before stopping herself. "No, Jayma. It would be unseemly to abandon the others mid-journey." Instead, she retreats to her cabin. Tomorrow they would be dealing with the seedier elements of an already very seedy city and she would need all her wits about her.
Once the party has arrived in Vyre, locating The Seven Apples nearby is not difficult. It is owned by Molly Mayapple, an elderly halfling who manages a network of guides and advisors who provide affordable aid to guests.
Gideon Shanklett arrives soon after the party does, grinning broadly and giving Molly a flirtatious wink and wave (that she responds to with an eye roll and a dismissive scoff) before he swaggers over to sit at the adventurers’ table. All big smiles, good looks, and sporting a very fashionable wide-brimmed hat adorned with peacock feathers, he certainly doesn’t look the part of a surreptitious smuggler. He shakes or kisses hands with little care to the gender of those he’s greeting. With a snap of his fingers, the two smugglers who accompanied him here as guards take their seats a few tables away.
“And here you are, mighty minions of my old friend Fallenta—or should I say, ‘Imogena,’ since that’s the name I knew her best as back in the day. She seems awfully confident in your abilities, enough to put control of her latest work on the line. You do understand that if you fail to perform my little task for you, your boss belongs to the Dragonfly Society more than ever? Of course you do. Imogena wouldn’t hire fools. Now then... let’s talk about what you’ll be doing for the Dragonflies, hmm?”