so +2 for Merreck since I am guessing that he has the highest modifier
Ruuz looks at Sari and Merreck "Like I said before I am going to start brewing potions for the crew so if you are staying on and would like to make a donation of at least 25 gps to the fund that would be great"
"I will be more than happy to add 25gps to your alchemist's lab. I agree with Ruuz that I think we are done here and that we should get to the alchemy shop."
She walks over to Beren. “Beren, they’re right you know. I don’t think we’ve got the power to take her down - not yet. I agree, she needs to be stopped. But if we get ourselves killed going after her before we’re ready, who’s going to stop her then?” She pauses and smiles. “But I’ll be there to help you when we’re ready to get her, right?”
Beren looks at Valessa, frustration covering his face, “Yeah, I know.” Is all he says, but you don’t know if he was answering your first question, second question, or both.
Later, when the party disperses for dinner and shopping, Beren says, “I am not hungry. I will meet you at the house later. Ruuz you have my share for your potion set.” Beren, determined to learn more about vampires asks around to find the location of a Temple of the Host. Perhaps Aureon or Dol Arrah.
When Beren is alone, before he moves toward the direction of a temple, he walks down to the docks to see what he can find.
“There, there kid, it’ll be alright … she’s gone now,” says Valessa awkwardly, patting the little girl on the head.
“And that means it’ll be alright for us too,” she says to the group, “she’s gone now. Let’s go shopping. Wait, where’s Beren?” she asks looking around. “Oh. He’s gone down to the docks hasn’t he?”
While at the docks, Beren is going to ask around, Harbor Master maybe, regarding the name of the ship, destination, itinerary, cargo. He will produce a gold piece to anyone who seems to have any info.
You find a horrified little girl, still wide eyed and clutching her doll, she says she followed the orc lady to the dock, where she boarded a ship with a Lazarran crew. As soon as the orc boarded she started shouting out orders, and they set out within minutes despite the dark of night and unfavorable tides.
The girl's father is a fisherman, which is how she knows so much about the docks, and her mother has been 'entertaining' Mr. 'hey what's in my pack' for a while, which is why she followed.
Sari looks down at the little girl, she slowly lowers herself down to a squatting position and moves towards the girl. "I know what you saw must have been awful, I am sorry that you had to see that horrible creature. Sari hugs the little girl. Sari releases the little girl and sees that this helped her calm down. "We will find this orc and she will cause you no harm little one." Sari stands back up and turns towards Valessa. "I can not imagine how scary that must have been for that little girl, we must do something to stop all of this! We need to go down to the docks and find Beren. You seem to have some sort of random bond with him and I think that you should go down to the docks to find him. I will be happy to accompany you as two is better than one. Well shall we?" Sari turns to head down to the docks
“Um, a bond?” asks Valessa, the darkness hiding her slight blush. “Well, you know, we’ve been friends for a while…” she trails off.
“Listen, the thing with Beren is, that he gets moody, particularly when it’s something to do with this orc. She killed his mentor you know. He’ll probably prefer to be alone.” She stops to think for a moment. “Of course, the other thing with Beren is that he tends to almost get himself killed.” She sighs. “I guess we should go after him. Well, looks like we won’t be having that second dinner after all. The boys can help Ruuz carry his purchases, we’ll go keep an eye on Beren. I wouldn’t put it past that orc-pire to have set up another trap for him, or, knowing Beren, for some sahuagin to be hanging around the water’s edge…”
Ruuz looks around after talking to several of the citizen about the she-orc. 'Well it looks like she is gone for now, thank the Traveler.'
As everyone disappears in different directions Ruuz decides to head off to get his alchemy gear and meet everyone back at the tavern for dinner.
Ruuz changes into a human male with long blond hair and starts into town 'No matter what people seem a little warmer to humans then changeling to I guess I might as well blend in.'
Ruuz looks around and sees Rokko standing to the side smoking a fat cigar "Hey my green friend do you want to come with me and see what Stormreach has for arcane shops?"
"Capital idea, my grey friend!"
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Alright, not much more to be had for tonight, shopping goes without incident, you secure the basic items you need. Unless someone has a quibble, we will pick up in the morning.
And before you ask Beren, swimming after the ship is probably not going to work, and you haven't nearly enough money to charter a ship to follow them... Would be funny though, jumping on a skiff and yelling "taxi, follow those pirates!"
Beren, realizing that his task has taken a major setback, decides to prepare. He scouts out one of the temples he inquired about to do some research on vampires before returning to the house. On his walk home, he decides that money will be needed for weapons and transportation to find his quarry. During this time he will practice with the blade and earn the gold he needs. He is determined that next time he finds his tutor's killer, she will not escape.
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Beren, realizing that his task has taken a major setback, decides to prepare. He scouts out one of the temples he inquired about to do some research on vampires before returning to the house. On his walk home, he decides that money will be needed for weapons and transportation to find his quarry. During this time he will practice with the blade and earn the gold he needs. He is determined that next time he finds his tutor's killer, she will not escape.
yup
The Jorasco Infirmary takes up most of the first two floors of their enclave here in Stormreach. Continuous magical breezes, and arcanely powered lights keep away the smell and the gloom, and help the innumerable flowers healthy.
Meeting with Tessik is delayed slightly, as he is seeing doctors, and a gnome is already waiting to see him.
You mill about restlessly for half an hour or so, watching patients come and go, before one of the Halfling nurses comes, and guides you to Tessik’s room, a small but private chamber on the second floor of the infirmary, with a commanding view of the harbor side of the city. The ever-present smell of the sea is here, though miraculously the thin pain of glass seems to hold back the sounds of the city even though it is slightly open.
Tessik lies in the bed, plain white sheets covering him. It is apparent that his legs did not survive the night on the Tethered Wench, no matter how well the rest of him faired. He stares at you for a moment, eyes slightly narrowed, then turns to the side, and addresses the gnome, who at first you did not realize was still here. “Will you recognize them?”
The gnome nods, finishes gathering his things, and just before leaving, “Thank you for your business, Tessik, please let me or any of Sivis know if we can be of further help?”
Then the gnome leaves, a miniscule leather case tucked under his arm.
“Well, what a motley bunch,” he says to you collectively, “I know you,” he nods towards Beren, “were here with me for a time, but I thought it was another of your kind that pulled me from the water. Him I owe my life, and for all of you I have a job.”
He waits patiently while you explain the few details you know of Raustikin’s disappearance, then nodding.
“No matter, I still need the work done, and I won’t be on my feet again soon. I have arranged for transport to Sharn where I will have access to special therapy to undo this,” he wave his bandage swaddled left arm at the bottom half of the bed. “The gnome, Sabas, the one who just left is a member of their barrister’s guild. Among other things he will be overseeing my affairs while I am in Sharn, including seeing to your payment.”
“The task I set upon you is simple. Those thrice-damn sea devils took my legs, and I want justice. And no, before any of you get holier-than-thou I don’t mean revenge, though that would be satisfying enough to me, but I can’t exactly bring the monsters to a court can I. Devourer worshiping dogs that they are, I don’t think the codes and laws of Galifar hold much weight with them.”
“Anyway, as you may, or may not know, I am a bounty hunter. One of their twisted people, a malenti, a Sahuagin mutant born in the shape of a sea going elf, had taken to a life of crime here in the city. I tracked him back to his clan at sea, and tried to take him in for the price on his head. Apparently his family took greater issue than I though with that. This was the result,” he says giving an undignified thump to the space where his thigh should be.
“So, the deal is this, I will give you the location of their old village, though I am sure they have moved on. If you can find the ones who attacked the boat, and capture them alive, the Stormreach court will hear the case. As an added bonus, if you catch the malenti, we’ll split the bounty on his head fifty-fifty.”
He then pauses, weighing you all with his eyes, and waiting for questions.
Beren, holding a grudge against the man in front of him but also carrying the knowledge that earning gold is currently more important, considers the offer. Now he has more information regarding the incident on the ship, and is less angry at what Tessik caused. Beren thinks to himself, 'Well, I need practice hunting down prey anyway.' Not wanting to offer up too much though, Beren simply says, "How much?"
"Straight to the grit, I like shifters. The vig will be five hundred Gold Galifars now, which is on top of your medical bills, and another two thousand if you bring the sea devils in. The bonuses is where it gets interesting, They just put a bounty on the head of Nohuul, the lightning chucking shaman. If you can bring him in, dead or alive, you'll get five thousand gold pieces. And the twisted devil, his bounty is at ten-thousand gold, so he is worth another five thousand to you, and five thousand to me."
He cocks an eyebrow at you, as if challenging you to negotiate.
Another filthy eyebrow move like that, thinks Rokko, and I'll thump him, legs or no legs. But the money sounds good - and negotiation isn't really his strong suit. He waits for the others to have a say.
Sari looks over at Beren to see what expression is on his face. After only being with this group a short time she is pretty sure that Beren will indeed agree to the terms of the contract. Vengeance can be a dirty thing. "I will go with you Beren if that is what you choose to do. You need not remind me of the dangers that may be ahead as I already know."
Ruuz looks at the man in the hospital bed as he talks to Beren about his request for vengeance. 'Well he know who to talk to, Beren of all people should know about wanting to get revenge for a wrong. Lets hope House Cannith doesn't have as much drive as Beren...... Yeah right maybe a genie will appear and grant me some wishes.'
As Tessik waits for a response Ruuz looks around for their newest companion 'He bragged he could talk his way out of anything, lets see if he can get us some more money.'
Beren thinks back to the rumors he heard on the ship regarding Tessik. With these memories of rumors, he starts to question the bounty hunter's motivations. "Tessik, tell me, how is the Tohas Shipping Company involved in all of this. From what I hear, you went a little extreme on hunting the Sea Devils and broke their bank. I just need to know exactly what I am getting in to before I agree to your proposition."
"I will go with you Beren if that is what you choose to do. You need not remind me of the dangers that may be ahead as I already know."
Beren looks over at Sari and nods. A warrior's acceptance of aid.
“Well,” says Valessa, “I like the sound of that sort of money – and we need money if we’re going to keep our digs. And from the sounds of things, Sahuagin take their revenge seriously, and we’re probably on their hit list now too, after the boat thing. So we might have to deal with them sooner or later anyway.
“What I don’t like the sound of is traipsing around under water looking for Sea Devils. Doesn’t sound real smart to me, let alone the whole ‘how are we going to breathe’ issue. Unless I’m mistaken, and their village is not under the sea?”
"The toe fuzz what?" he responds initialy, but your incredulous look changes his tune.
"I brought the heads I captured to Tohas, everyone did, but I wasn't the one that took so many as to bankrupt the vengeful fool."
"And don't be dispariging me, if they can be drug into the Stormreach harbor, they will be held accountible by what passes for the law here, and not just for my legs, but for the whole attack on the ' Wench"
“So Tessik, how’d you get to their village then, first time around? Swim? Magic? Submersible? I assume the village is underwater?”
"Ever been in the teeth girl? Lots of rocks, some above the surface, some below... Their village was on a shelf, the high side was above the water, the rest was below. I doubt they are still there, but that is your problem now. So is breathing. Maybe the Cannith witch-weavers could make you something."
“Sailed through them on the way here…” Valessa shrugs. The ship’s captain had dealt with a sahuagin tribe on the journey over, but Valessa had had other things on her mind than looking out for fish folk villages.
“Well, I suppose we can give it a go, if you let us know where the village is. And if you set it up with Sivas to get you your share of the bounty, we’ll see that it goes your way. But you understand we can’t promise we’ll find them.”
"Fair enough, I can't guarantee you'll survive, let alone succeed. Now please, I am getting tired, and need to be on a boat in a few hours, so ask any other questions you have and be on your way."
If you have more questions, go ahead and ask, otherwise he indicates a packet on the table nearby, in which is contained a map, a Kundarak voucher for 500gp, and descriptions and names of several Sahuagin, notable the malenti 'Parasi' and the Shaman 'Nohuul'.
I expect more questions so don't feel put out.
For Beren:
When eventually the group turns to leave, "Shifter, stay a moment."
When everyone else has left.
"To you shifter I owe a special thanks, it is you and your missing race brother that truely came to my aid, and without you I would have perished and the Devourer's pets' hands. Here, take this, it is all I have left to give you."
He hands you a potion bracer with three potions of cure light wounds in it.
"Transportation. We will need means to get there. Any suggestions?"
For DM
Tessik looks at you as though you are a dullard, then looks out the window at the docks, where you can see dozens of masts, and even a few elementally powered ships. It is a good indicator, you are on your own for transportation.
"Potions of Waterbreathing should do the trick on the breathing underwater front. Can you make those, yet, Ruuz?"
"I was thinking the same thing but I don't think I have had the practice for one of those, If I try it now I might end up turning everyone into a fish....forever."
"Hmm, could be a purchase, then."
“Do the Malenti – or the shaman for that matter – have any distinguishing features? Yeah, I know, malenti look like sea elves, but what if there’s more than one?”
“Do the Malenti – or the shaman for that matter – have any distinguishing features? Yeah, I know, malenti look like sea elves, but what if there’s more than one?”
"There are descriptions in the packet, and longer ones available at the bounty house."
Brick pauses.
"I have an idea."
Coming from Brick, this is news.
"I could find the village for you. Since I don't have to breathe, I can just wander until I'm there. Then I can make hand-shinies to show you from under the water."
The warforged stops again, looking around expectantly.
Valessa looks at Brick in some surprise. “You know … that’s a really good idea! We’ll still need some means to breath underwater I suppose, but that might help us out a lot.”
"It strikes me that this is a task that will require both careful forethought and considerable investment to pull off. I wonder if we ought to consider an interim source of employment before we tackle this task - something less capital intensive. I have heard rumours of a strange cleft that has arisen in the earth a few miles outside of the city - maybe we should see if it needs exploring, and whether it might contain enough reward for us to consider tackling the sahuagin with the proceeds?"
"I think that is a good plan, lets find something else to do and I can start looking into making some potions and stuff for our underwater exploration later."
Ruuz looks towards Sari "Since you have that dragonmark is there any high paying gigs that you can get through the Deneith enclave? Pull a couple stings that sort of thing?"
"I think that is a good plan, lets find something else to do and I can start looking into making some potions and stuff for our underwater exploration later."
Ruuz looks towards Sari "Since you have that dragonmark is there any high paying gigs that you can get through the Deneith enclave? Pull a couple stings that sort of thing?"
"I could go and check to see what may be available for me to do. I haven't been back for all that long and there is some tension between the enclave and I but that is a long story. I will go there and see what I can come up with."