Agreed. let us go back to the house, look through this gear and decide what to do about it, then perhaps go and sell off some of it, and see about some upgrades. Then we can discuss the plan to investigate the ambassador.
After the party returns to the house and divides up the treasure, the Pelgane brothers spend some time with their sister Alika and help her with whatever she needs. They also go out to the markets, buying the new equipment that they need for tomorrow's trip to Eel's End.
Branahm checks into where the halfling captive Warft ends up. He wants to make sure that he is not just abandoned after his ordeal, and he plans to offer him some gold to get him started.
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Branahm checks into where the halfling captive Warft ends up. He wants to make sure that he is not just abandoned after his ordeal, and he plans to offer him some gold to get him started.
Anju would like to return to her village for a brief visit if possible. She won't go unless she can make it back to the group the next morning.
Anju would take Keth along as well if he wishes as Anju feels that it would be a nice relief from the city for both of them.
As you meet at the guardhouse, the swords-master seems ready to go. He waves you over and prepares to leave, stopping only to Kiss Liz and Anju on the hands and cheeks. He apologizes profusely for not being able to give you a more scenic tour of Old Korvosa, and promises to do so at a later date, but he has a class to teach in but two short hours.
General information (obtained either when shopping, talking to Rags, or from Orsini on the way):
The pier itself is 70 feet long, although its last 30 feet widen into a large square platform on the water. Five ships are moored to the pier—the largest of these is the Eel’s End.Ironically, Eel’s End is actually one of the safer, more stable locations in Korvosa these days. The riots haven’t touched the place, and in fact, the increased need for escapism from the horrors of reality has seen business booming.
As You Walk Up:
DC 15 knowledge nature:
"Another day, another wretched hive of scum and villany. Where should we go?"
"I think that the ship without ornamentation is most likely to hold the King, but we may be able to find out something about him or the Ambassador in one of the other ships. Both strategies have merits."
If we decide to gather information first, Branahm will put his holy symbol out of sight. He doesn't want to bring Torag's name into disrepute or to alert our adversaries to potential trouble.
Keth had headed to the market area of Korvosa fairly quickly...the gold weighing on his mind heavily. After spending the majority of it and sporting a new well fitting chain shirt, the Half Orc proudly carried the nicely balanced spear as he returned to the cottage that was their base of operations...a short time later he stood at the pier with Arius and Branahm and the others and looked down it at the obvious ships that dealt in the vices of man.
"The Ambassadors ship is the big one then...Cheliax wouldnt have sent him without plenty of guards...and we wouldnt be welcome visitors long. Shall we go to see the Spider then, in his web? and decide what actions to take after that?"
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Elizabeth spends the journey conversing with Orsini, arms linked as she laughs at his witicisms. "This one could definately be worth a little time and effort" she thinks to herself.
Once at the boats, she looks straight at the large ship. "That's where we'll most likely find our answers, but if you want to visit the others first then I'll be there. Well except if we go into that one." She says this with a sneer as she poitns at the House of Clouds. "Last time I was here some drunken lech got a Caress to the gut after he tried to fondle me, thinking I was one of the whores. As if Calistria would even bother with filth like them." She spits on the ground in the direction of the Brothel.
"Very well, it sounds as if we'll try the direct approach. Given the 'King''s position, I suspect that unless he seems like an obvious blusterer, we will have more success with negotiation or bribery than with intimidation."
"Elizabeth, I believe that you will be the most persuasive among us. Why don't you take the lead in talking to him?"
Keth takes point and begins to walk toward the ship they decided was The King Of Spiders home and office.
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The largest of the five ships tied off to the pier is a warship bearing the name Eel’s End, its figurehead a coiling eel with a woman’s head. Several drunkards, sailors, and revelers dance and drink on the large open main deck here, while the aft deck is relatively clear. A pair of large double doors bearing a complex painting of a spider allows entrance into the stern section of the main deck. You notice two guards, similar to those where the dock meets the land, these men look alert for trouble. There also appears to be more men asleep in the ship's rigging.
You board the ship easily. In fact, you are left Unchallenged until you approach the door to the inside of the ship, at which point one of the guards cuts you off and says You are only allowed into the ship if Devergo is expecting you
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Bluff Check. (1d20+6=12)
Elizabeth saunters up to the man with a sway in her hips.
"Of course Devergo is expecting us. Do you think we'd come here if he wasn't!" She puts her hands on her hips as if waiting for the man to step aside.
Keth eyes the guards appreciatively, as one warrior to another...and remarks. "He should be expecting us. We have news to share...and If I am not wrong, he probably already knows of our coming"
Bluff Check. (1d20+6=12)
The guard steps aside and says Well, if he's expecting you...This large room, once a captain’s cabin, has been converted into a throne room of sorts. The walls are thick with spiderwebs, in which scuttle dozens of spiders—some as large as a fist but most considerably smaller. These spiders seem content to stay in their webs and do not venture into the room itself, which is furnished with two sturdy oaken tables surrounded by chairs. Aft, a wooden stage supports a large leather chair, itself covered with cobwebs and scampering spiders, man sits here, seemly auditioning the others in the room. A narrow door stands to port, hanging ajar and revealing a flight of stairs leading below. An iron birdcage hangs from the ceiling like a chandelier, inside of which lingers a tiny, tired-looking purple dragon. There are six thugs are seated at the tables, enjoying a sumptuous meal and loudly storytelling. All talking stops as you enter the room. The man on the 'throne' stands and crosses his hands behind his back I was only expecting these 6 today...
DC: 10 spot checkLiz:
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Finally seetling her gaze on the seated figure and taking note of the thugs around him, she bows deeply and says "Greetings Spider King. We come to you this day seeking an audience regarding a matter we find ourselves looking into and your assistance and insight into the matter would be most welcomed." She makes sure to loosen the clasp of her dress slightly as she bows, so as to accentuate her ample talents to the assembled men as she stands back up. She also makes sure to strike a pose somewhere between sultry and imposing.
Diplomacy Check. (1d20+9=14)
Keth moves in and and goes to stand towards the front near Liz, letting her do the talking. His eyes cant help but take in the spiders around the area.
The Man on the throne cocks his head and looks at Liz. As I remember it, I kicked you out of my cozy little realm here last time you decided to visit, Ms. Danflor, Why should I listen to you now? Just because you have some muscle behind you? Very well... make your request He waves you forward.
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She puffs up a little at his statement, but settles back down quickly.
"You and I both know that drunkard was out of line and deserved my Caress. But that's not what we're here for and I'm willing to forget about it if you are."
"Word myself and my friends are hearing is that you've been using the boys over at All the World's Meat for a little bit of extra butchering than what they're normally into. Now you know me and normally I wouldn't care that much, except for some of the merchandise aren't the usual no hopers and dead enders you'd normally expect. That and of course there's the fact that they've been feeding that merchandise to the poor in the area and that just doesn't sit right with us." She indicates the rest of the party, making sure to put emphasis onto Keth, who is obviously itching to tear into the thugs.
"Now I'm sure you had good reasons and all, but we just want to know if the word came from you or from higher up. We also hear tell that there's been other interested parties using the Butcher's unusual talents and would be much obliged if you could fill us in on some details in that regard as well."
She turns to Branham. "Anything I've missed?" She then turns back to watch Devargo's reaction.
Ha, I hired them to deal with a competitor who had decided they were going to hire some boat captains to float them closely enough to hurl alchemist's fire onto my ships' decks.My friends here He motions to the spiders and spiderwebs around him don't enjoy fire at all. Those were my only instructions, they said that they would get it done. That was 3 days ago, and I'm still waiting on the announcement that he's missing...
Branahm mutters "Amprei?" in a low voice.
Branahm mutters "Amprei?" in a low voice.
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Elizabeth listens to the man's explaination, and nods. "OK, that's fair enough. As long as you had no active part in butchering of the people then I suppose we can accept that you just had a business deal with them. I'm afraifd however they might not be in any fit state to make good on that deal. After we were through with them they didn't put up much of a fight by the time the watch came by to see what the commotion was about. Of course we were long gone by then."
She takes Branahm's cue and continues her questions. "I'll tell you what though, word on the street is you're keeping some pretty highly placed but strange company these days. Ambassador Amprei from Cheliax if I'm not mistaken. I hear tell that he's not one for liking Korvosa as much else but a pile of rubble. What's a smart man such as yourself doing hanging around with him? I would have thought that keeping Korvosa semi-stable would have been in your best interests. What's the deal you've got going with him?"
Branahm keeps his eyes on the King of Spiders and his men. He thinks that the man will probably respect a show of confidence as long as it doesn't directly challenge his authority.
Arius smiles and tries to look like a competent minion. Perhaps he and his comrades might finally be dealing with someone who wasn't going to attempt to murder them... at least not yet.
Devargo looks over to you and smiles.. We have a... business arrangement... albeit one that is more advantageous to me than to him. What is he to you, and what do you want with him
As Liz continues to negotiate, Branahm watches Devargo closely for any signs of lying.
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"To me, he's less than nothing, but to an aquaintance of ours," she indicates the party, "he represents a possible risk to his business and he's asked us to look into it. Any chance that you can be persuaded to give us some information and ease our minds a little." She pats her dress at her hip and the clink of coin can clearly be heard across the room.
Diplomacy Check. (1d20+9=14)
You amuse me, and your antics with the children and my past business partners were not lost on me. I Do keep up on the news you know. He steps down from the throne I do have some evidence you seek, but it is profitable to me, I'm not just going to hand it over to you. I'll need some repayment, and possibly some entertainment. Do any f you know how to play knivesies?
Keth snarls as he says "No. Ive never played. I have heard of it though. If it will get us the information we seek. Ill happily give a beating to one of your men."
Set it up men! As the thugs are setting up the table for knivesies, he looks back at Liz So Miss Danaflor, you are looking for something fairly valuable to me.. how do you plan on repaying me?
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She watches the knivesies game being set up and contemplates giving it a go herself after Keth.
As Devargo calls to her, she deftly reaches under a flap of her dress and produces a gold coin, flipping it through the air to be caught easily by the King of Spiders.
"I have some more under here if you're interested. Shall we discuss it while we watch the match?" The ambiguous way she motions to what lies under her dress could be taken to mean more gold, or it could be taken in other ways...
"Good luck, Keth."
Arius places a neat stack of gold coins at his companion's end of the table.
Keth sets his spear down on the floor near Arius and his shield atop that. "Please see these back to me"
He then moves over to look at the table...pushing on it to make sure how sturdy it is
"So if I understand the game. Game ends when one is dead, unconscious or touches the floor right? Winner is whose still on the table? The one with the most gold in their pockets only comes into it if they are both still on the table?"
That is mostly correct, if all of the money is grabbed from the table, than this also the end of the game The thug prepares himself...Flexing and stretching.
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"Good luck, Keth."
Arius places a neat stack of gold coins at his companion's end of the table.
Not really understanding what is about to take place Anju watches the actions of the others. She sees Arius put money down on Keth's end of the table and follows suit putting down 10 gold and whispering to Keth "Good luck friend." She hopes that if there is any bloodshed it will be on the side of the thugs.
Keth sets his spear down on the floor near Arius and his shield atop that. "Please see these back to me"
"Assuredly."
Arius keeps a eye on Keth's opponent to see if he's taking any potions or otherwise opening the door to magical interference. He begins fiddling with his ring, then stops himself.