The Madam moved the group to a small room on the side of the ship, a tiny porthole providing some daylight. She looked them over deliberately, and carefully. The tiny cabin was cramped with the group and the woman... hard to even fit in, let alone move significantly.
"So, what is this about?" She asked, pushing herself back against one of the boats walls.
Though she wanted to address the immediate issue at hand, Ayedah couldn't help but shake her suspicion of why the workers in Halvarra's employ were so wary today.
"Well...first..I wanted to let you know that two of your friends were nearly taken last night. A woman named Plum and another prostitute. We saved them and arranged for their safe passage to Riddleport, and they have plenty of money to take care of themselves. But..." She looked downwards, ashamed again. "They were attacked because they were askig about my friend. Please, do not look for her any more. I did not wish to place any of you in danger. Besides, they told me where she is now." There was a bit of despair in her voice at the end. Her "sister" still seemed so far away.
"And...there was something else too..." she cautiously began before looking at Zalen. She had to get what she said off of her chest, but what they were about to propose would be even harder to put into convincing words. Being cramped together in such a small space was making her nervous as well, enough to introduce a feeling of clautrophobia to the plainswoman.
Gern stood quietly in the crowded cabin. He wasn't overly concerned with confined spaces, having done a fair bit of tunnel work back home, before moving to the city. It was the way damned thing kept moving with the waters below it that had him off centre.
Ayedah spoke up first, explaining the situation from the last few days. Gern didn't know this woman or anything about her, so he merely held his tongue and waited for the others to explain things. He did keep his axe handy though, wondering what good it would do him such tight quarters, but being comforted in the fact it was by his side. This place made him edgy.
Zalen, about to speak, relented when he realized how important it was to the gentle souled Ayedah to inform Halvara of the welfare of Plum and her friend. After the Barbarian finishes Zalen looks to her and nods, making sure she is finished then says "Perhaps it is we who should be asking that question on you Halvara. As you well know I have been here ma... before, yet this is the only time I have seen your girls ready for war. This looks more like a house of knives than a house of clouds at the moment. What could possible have happens to cause such a stir in your place of pleasure such as this?" His hand nowhere near his rapier at the moment, Zalen crosses his arms and leans back, trying to give Halvara some space in the cramped room and give her no cause for alarm.
The madam looked conflicted as Ayedah told her tale. "I will make sure no longer to look for your friend. I didn't know it would be as dangerous as it turned out to be." Yet Zalen's comment made her grimasse.
"Zalen, I had hope you wouldn't have noticed, but I know you. You're not easy to fool. So lets drop this charade. You're here for a reason. You want my support on something very risky. Now, the way I see things is the following: My girls can either help you get rid of five thugs - less danger in your path, or they can open that door. You're all in this one room with me. A rotten tactical position to be in. So, let's talk about this."
Gern growled low, feeling his ire grow as the woman spoke. She was playing them for all she was worth and they had walked right into this room with no thought of the danger involved. Ye stupid git he breated himself silently shoulda seen thatta comin'
He found his hand had already reached for his axe but he stopped it. Once again, he thought he'd better let the nimble tongued Zalen handle this at first. If the time came for spilling blood, he would act, but there were things occuring here he didn't fully understand.
He breathed out, letting the tension leave his shoulders and loosining his stance, ready to act.
Ayedah could feel the tension in the air, though she was absolutely confused. Does she already know what we are here for then? It sounded as if she was willing to help already, but was still in a position to go in an entirely different direction.
She looked at Zalen, wanting to ask what Halvarra was implying but holding her tongue.
Sensing that the shrewd madam was angling, as always, to try and seek the best profit in whatever was about to happen, Zalen couldn't help but grin. Putting on his most charming smile and gleam in his eye Zalen does his best to use his charm (1d20+6=19) to best advantage
"Now Halvara, you're a fine one to talk about smarts! I never did get how you do that trick of knowing what a man is thinking before he even knows himself! All I did was send an invitation to dine with a beautiful lady along with a small gift to display my interest! It truly is the rare woman you are combing brains and beauty in such a well shaped package as you do to glean so much from just that." with his trademark wink.
Putting on a slightly more serious but somewhat pouty face he continues "...and you wound me Halvara my dear! Here we come like gallant knights and ladies to the rescue of fair damsels in distress yet you greet us with weapons bared! So let us begin again and start as the friends we are shall we?" not waiting for any answer he continues "Good. Now Halvara, you know even better than I do how much trouble Devargo has been for you. And I have heard word of his ever increasing 'protection tax'. We too now have our own reasons to very much desire the Master of Spiders to...seek an early retirement. So we" looking around to his companions "simply thought that perhaps we all could help each other."
Moving in slightly closer and with a measure of more intensity the loquacious rogue finishes with "To put it bluntly to you my dear Mistress of Pleasure, we intend to see the end of Devargo this day. Any means you know of to help us to that end, without endangering you or any of your 'children' of course would only be helping yourself in the end and we would be appreciate it greatly. So what say you, will you help us?"
Halvarra actually smiled at Zalen's words, both amused and a little bit tense. "Zalen, you make it all sound very easy. I have my ways of making a point to Delvargo, and he's... stable in a way. But you're right, I could do without him." She grinned by then "But you also know I've got a lot to lose if you fail, and I look culpable. So, yes. I can help you. But I want Eel's end out of the deal."
The woman actually turned from Zalen, knowing full well he was probably the most important to convince, but at the same time the one most likely to not contradict the rest of the group. "It won't cost you a sliver of silver, and would build nicely on the foundation of understanding we have." She didn't so much purr seductively, but speak in a plain, businesslike tone. Not like someone who wielded seduction like a bludgeon, but rather someone jaded enough, experienced enough to know when to try it, and when to leave it in the hilt.
"Huh. That sounds good to me." Ayedah said quietly to Zalen. To her thinking, Halvarra being in charge of Eel's End would be better for the place as a whole.
She had more questions for Halvarra, but she kept them to herself for the time being.
Talk, double talk and innuendo. These weren't the ways of a dwarf, so Gern spoke bluntly. "How do ye propose we get this done then Lass? Ye want ter help but ye dinnae want ter be caught doin' it. Do ye have a plan or are ye just blowin' air at tha moment so's we stay here a little longer?"
He glowered up at the human woman, his temper starting to rise ever more as the tension of the coming fight mounted. He didn't want a part of hrting any women folk, and to be honest he felt they could use the help. Unfortunately his dwarven stubborness also meant he hated to be tricked. He was struggling between accepting the wisom of some aid and the rejecting it for pride.
Smiling even more genuinely now, both at Halvara's cunning and his Dwarven friend's distaste for this kind of negotiation, Zalen listened to the comments of his partners. Eel's end and everyone in it would certainly benefit more from Halvara running it but he had to say "Halvara, if you feel you can hold Eel's I certainly have no trouble with it being yours to run. Yet Gern, as always, speaks true. You ask for much yet have not offered anything. Let's us speak plainly, how exactly to you propose to aid us?"
The negotiations did not seeem to faze the woman in the slightest Instead, she nodded. 'My offer is simple. I can make sure most of his thugs will be away tonight. Also, everything but one strongbox you take is your. Also, I imagine sooner or later having the owner of Eel's end owe you a favor is not something to scoff at, either"
Sense Motive DC 21:
She knew better than to touch anyone, or become too obvious, but a throwaway glance into Krek's general direction, followed by a nod was obvious enough as to the kind of favor imaginable.
"This sounds good. But what is in the strongbox, and how do we know which one not to loot? And what kind of favor can someone like me expect?"
"This sounds good. But what is in the strongbox, and how do we know which one not to loot? And what kind of favor can someone like me expect?"
Having been throwing his gaze between Zalen and the mistress, Krek now turned to Alandra.
"A night on the house." He took a step towards the negotiating woman. "But I'm sure you can do better, considering the strongbox you could be getting."
Ayedah looked thoughtful. Having help from Halvarra could possibly be useful when the time came to free Sozite, even though she was hesitant to put them at risk again. "That sounds fine to me..." she ventured to the others.
Turning back to Halvarra, she asked, "What about the Dragon's Breath? We should clear those poisoners out as well." It was clear that her eagerness to destroy the drug den wasn't only because of moral outrage.
Appearing only slightly flustered at the tirade of comments by his friends Zalen thinks 'Do they not understand the finer points of negotiation? Never overwhelm the mark! Besides too many chefs will spoil...ah, but they are making good points anyway though. Maybe we'll just see where this goes...
His sense (1d20+5=23) of people and negotiations in general enabling him to easily understand that Halvara has kept her best cards in her hand still, the cagey rogue simply smiles somewhat enigmatically, crosses his arms and with a slight raise to his eyebrow, waits for Halvara's response.
Gern frowns deeply at the sudden tumult of noise and action in the room. People were saying and yelling things all over the place and the edgy dwarf was itching to draw his axe and try and calm the situation. His cautious nature stopped him though, that and the fact he wasn't really interested in fighting these women.
"We need te stop all this babblin' and start doin' some o' tha work we was plannin' fer."He says firmly into the noisy room.
"The longer we take 'ere, the greater the chance one o' those drogny will see us and inform their boss ye lot are back."
Turning to Halvara he growls "Now then Lass, ye said yer piece and yer askin' fer payment. I fer one dinnae care so much aboot the payment as I do about yer assistance. How exactly are ye gonna take them guards out?" The dwarf suspected it had something to do with "Free" services from the house, but he was interested to see if something else was on offer.
When Ayedah speaks up about the drug den, his eyes nearly bug out of his face. "Oi, one probelm at a time Lass. We dinnae need any more enemies this night!" While he agreed with her take on the drug trade, he was concerned about the number of enemies the group were going to face if this spilled into the drug den as well.
'...and they all call Me the 'talkative' one...so much for one leader one voice...' Zalen muses in genuine good humour to himself and his smile inches up a notch in one corner as he continues to wait for Halvara's next move...
Ayedah looked frustrated at Gern's call for restraint. She was about to protest when she realized his point was valid. She did have a tendency to rush into danger when her anger took her.
She frowned and stared at the floor silently, mollified but embarrassed that she was still letting her passions control her when she knew she had to think things through.
When Ayedah speaks up about the drug den, his eyes nearly bug out of his face. "Oi, one probelm at a time Lass. We dinnae need any more enemies this night!" While he agreed with her take on the drug trade, he was concerned about the number of enemies the group were going to face if this spilled into the drug den as well.
With a snort, Krek replied "Think they're too many? We can take them on!" He was getting a bit excited, anxious to stop the talk and start some action.
Helvarra considered the group for a moment, as if making up her mind on what she could offer them. Her eyes went from person to person, though Krek's open and quite simple answer send a brief smirk to her face.
"I can keep at least four of his men away from him. How I do it is for me to know. Suffice to say they won't be a problem, no matter how many alarms are raised. Possibly two more, but they'll be expensive to buy, and we should split that cost."
Despite the athmosphere growing heavier and more oppressive in the tiny cabin by the heartbeat, the madam seemed unmoved. "Closing the Dragonsbreath is not going to change anything. If we don't provide this service, someone else will. What I can do is make sure we do so in a responsible manner. Keep the material clean, keep people from falling into the harbor, all these things."
Feeling ever more confidant now that they were getting down to actual numbers, gives a brief look to his team members which somehow manages to say ('Ok guys, now let me do my job'. And relax! This is the Fun part!)
Smiling with that special gleam in his eyes that only the prospect of money and having to bater for it brings out in him Zalen states briskly "Ok, so you pledge to 'take care' of four, possible six of Devargo's men. This is a good start. How many more men does that Leave the King of Spiders is the more pertinent fact I believe though, yes? The more info you can share with us on the exact set up and numbers of his operation the more sure we'll be able to get you what you want my dear Halvara- Or should I already begin calling you my Queen? Queen of...Clouds perhaps?" the charming rogue adds with a wink
"Now, I believe we are all agreeable to you taking over as the Majesty of Eel's End and thus gaining the massive amount of power and wealth to be had from that position. And I believe you said whatever spoils we gain from Devargo's ship shall be ours to have. Well good then, that sounds fair. Sounds like we have a deal to me my Mistress of the Maidens, yes? Once we have the rest of the tactical information from you on Devargo's operation, why, I believe we can begin putting the crown of Eel's end on your lovely head!" Ending with a megawatt smile, Zalen purposefully ignores any mention of 'the strongbox' (and he hopes his friends do as well) while he waits to hear what else Halvara has to say.
TN
I'm loving the bargaining Terra but as of tomorrow morn I will be away for a couple days and don't know how much net access I will have (or want). I will be back Wednesday night, Eastern Standard time. So I don't know whether you want to speed things up or slow them down but I leave them in your capable hands : )
Catching the look from Zalen, Gern bit off the retort he was about to throw at Krek. The big half orc was getting a little too excited to be thinking clearly as far as the dwarf was concerned. Crossing his thick arms in front of his chest, he harumphed to himself and stood with a scowl on his face.
It was a good thing Zalen was so good with his words. If the dwarf had his way he would have walked out by now and started the attack, with or without Halvara's aid. And given the nature of this group, they probably would have let is spill into the drug den as well. Bah!
Ayedah was about to protest against Halvarra's intent towards the Dragon's Breath, but remembering what a mess her hotheadedness had made of things before and Zalen's gesture for them to not interfere kept her quiet, though she had to clench her jaw to keep her silence.
It was clear that allowing the drug den to stand was hard for her to stomach. Krek's boast that they could handle both problems was deeply tempting to her at the moment. But like Halvarra said, would it really make a difference?
Is that any excuse not to try? She wrestled with warring notions internally as Zalen and Halvarra continued.
Zalen and Helvarra continued to barter, banter and dance around each other for a while longer, but both seemed intent to come to an agreement. Halvarra could guarantee the absence of four of the thugs. She steadfastly remained silent on what exactly planned to do. For the cost of 100 gold pieces each, she would be able to convince two more to abandon their duties. After some haggling, Zalen also convinced her to pay each party member a copper for each golden sail earned in Eel's end.
The tactical situation was straightforward enough. With the lookouts on deck being able to survey the pier well enough, stealth would be hard if not impossible entirely. If you the alarm is sounded, he'll either wait for you in the throne room, or retreat downstairs. He would hole up in his personal quarters, where he had more control of the comings and goings, and more hope of his goons slowing or slaying the assailants.
That den also contains the strongbox Helvarra desired.
Ayedah listened intently to the plans. It was more straightforward than she had dared to hope. This was closer to her element.
Still, the deal that had been cut concerning a cut of Eel's End's profits had her stomach twisting even more. She obviously looked troubled by it, but for the moment, she kept her peace.
"Right. We will wait until nightfall?"
Ayedah listened intently to the plans. It was more straightforward than she had dared to hope. This was closer to her element.
Still, the deal that had been cut concerning a cut of Eel's End's profits had her stomach twisting even more. She obviously looked troubled by it, but for the moment, she kept her peace.
"Right. We will wait until nightfall?"
"If they're up on the deck, they're probably used to watching at night. I don't know how much good waiting will do us. You might have trouble seeing too."
Krek had no trouble seeing at night though. However, he wasn't foolhardy enough to suggest a mad run to the keeper of the place, seeing as he'd a spot to go.
Halvarra nodded. "Yes, I need a few hours of time to prepare everything. You should probably strike close to sunset - when the thugs are already well past weary, and the new hands for the night haven't replaced them yet" She smiled endearingly, and offered a hand. "We have a deal then?"
The dirty deal was going to be easier than they had feared, yet the unexpected opportunity and strange location of the meeting left a slightly ambiguous impression - what would she have done if the meeting hadn't gone down as she had obviously planned.
Over all, Zalen was pleased with how the bargaining had gone. Plus, the thought of all that steady weekly income had his heart racing.
Turning his back slightly toward Halvara at Krek's comment Zalen faces his friends and winks and wiggles his fingers in his gesture for magic saying "I think we'll be able to handle the guards just fine Halvara."
Turning back and staring down at Halvara's dainty hand, Zalen smiled with his mouth only while staring directly into the Madam's eyes, making it clear he expected an answer to his question "You are and excellent negotiator my dear Queen of Eel's End, as I'm sure I don't need to tell you. I think I can speak for all here when I say you have offered a very fine deal indeed. There's just one last tiny detail to settle. What's in the strongbox Halvara?"
Ayedah continued to hold her silence, but at Zalen's suggestion that they could handle all of the guards, her hand wandered to her coinpurse. She started counting them out by touch.
She was confident in herself and her friends, but so much was riding on what was coming, and there was far too much still to be done for them to fall here. The memory of Zalen being shaken by the prospect of his children being left alone burned brightly in her mind.
Ayedah continued to hold her silence, but at Zalen's suggestion that they could handle all of the guards, her hand wandered to her coinpurse. She started counting them out by touch.
She was confident in herself and her friends, but so much was riding on what was coming, and there was far too much still to be done for them to fall here. The memory of Zalen being shaken by the prospect of his children being left alone burned brightly in her mind.
Krek follows suit, counting out 101 gold.
"Here's my share for a guard - and a little food if you've got it."
Alandra also pays her share of the bribe and nods when Zalen mentions the strongbox.
Seeing the rest of the party counting out their gold to pay off the guards, Gern reluctantly pulls out his money pouch and counts out his share. As he hands it over to Zalen he mumbles something to the effect of how expensive taking down a Crime Baron seems to be getting.
Collecting the 40gp from each party member and adding his own share, Zalen puts the 200gp in a small pouch. As he is still waiting for the answer to his last question to Halvara though he doesn't yet hand it over to her...
Halvarra eyed Zalen for a long moment. A very long moment. "Well, freely speaking, it is not your concern. Things I need to assertain I inherit this enterprise." She sensed Zalen would not be entirely satisfied, and added another small morsel. "Documents, encrypted with keys I painstakingly extracted from him. It is trapped, locked and probably enchanted too."
Ayedah whispered in Zalen's ear, "What could be the harm in just giving it to her? It cannot be anything dangerous." At least nothing Ayedah could imagine being kept in a box a brothel owner wanted could be dangerous, but Ayedah could not imagine a lot of things.
Gern nods his head, understanding a little bit about the amount of documentation a business requires to run. This little enterprise was sure to have more than it's fair share of "Client Information" that would prove useful if push came to shove. As far as he was concerned she could have it.
He let his feelings be known to Zalen through a nod.
Alandra shrugs.
Zalen stares back for a moment more at Halvara trying to determine the truth (1d20+5=9) of her words. As she seems to be hiding nothing however he finally breaks into a wide grin and even laughs as he says "Ok then Halvara! I was just making sure you weren't claiming the Lioness' share of the treasure. I'm sure you understand" with a wink and a grin Zalen comfortably drapes his arm around the soon to be Mistress of Eel's end saying "Well then! Here's the gold for the guards and I suppose the last order of business is for you to let us know what time you want us to attack. Perhaps you might then be so kind as to give us a room to finish planning and I'm sure a pint or two to wet everyone's throats and steady the nerves would do us all well!"
Now that negotiations are over and he feels he got them a very good deal Zalen is in a great mood and it shows.
Helvarra nodded grimly, and motioned them back towards the door they had entered. "Well, we are concluded for the moment, then. At sundown, we begin a new chapter in Eel's end."
A tight atmosphere of anticipation had settled over Eel's end come nightfall. The thugs loitering around the ships seemed to feel it. The visitors felt it, judging from their fidgety looks as the group approached. Even the sea had turned calm as a mirror.
One of the bandits briefly nodded towards the group. "The rest is up to you. We'll stay out of your hair."
Taking in subdued voice as they go over the plan one last time Zalen says "Ok Gern, Alandra and I will go to find a place where we can cast on any guards outside without being seen, we'll be team A. Krek and Ayedah will place themselves somewhere they can run to back you up at a moments notice, they're team B. I'll send you a message that only you'll be able to hear Gern when we're all in place. You then make your way to the main door or entryway to Devargo's ship and come up with something to engage the guards. We'll zap 'em and hopefully they'll go down without too much of a fight. I may also be able to distract them too so don't be surprised if you hear Devargo's voice. We all join you as quick as possible on deck and once there, bust in and make our way to Devargo with all speed. Gern you take the lead with Ayedah and Krek behind you to give directions and provide a strong front. Alandra and I will bring up the rear."
Zalen takes a breath and continues "Once we're inside though folks, all planning pretty much goes out the window and for all we know we could be expected so be prepared for anything. Let's all take our Anti-toixin now and if either of you" indicating Krek and Alandra "have any spells you want to cast before-hand now's the time. We're doing the right thing here folks, Devargo's as bad as they come so I feel the Gods will be on our side ('damn it! We should have consulted Zellara's deck! Oh well, no time for that now, no point bringing it up to the troops' ) but the Spider-Man is a tough customer so I don't expect an easy fight on our hands. Look sharp and let's watch each others backs. Does anyone have anything else to add?" Although not quite as confident inside as he tries to appear ' I've never cast a spell in my life before and now the team will be counting on my "magic"....Gods I hope those dreams we're real!' Zalen is nonetheless ready for this fight and his adrenaline is running high which causes, unbeknownst to him, subtle crackles of electricity to occasionally pass across his eyes
Waiting for anyone who wants to speak to do so, when done Zalen looks for the best spot for the two teams to position themselves making sure he and Alandra are within spell range of the guards. Once everyone is in place he casts Message sending a whisper to Gern and team B that all is ready and to begin...
Gern listens to Zalens plan and nods along as he agrees. When he ses the flicker of lightning across the mans eyes, he steps backwards a little. "Dinnae go an' blow yerself up Lad. Yer beginnin' ter spark up a little!"
When all is ready, the dwarf merely walks on to the deck of Devargo's ship. He stares calmly at the thug who tells him he'll not get involved, though his back is starting to itch as if someone were staring intently at it, crossbow loaded.
The moment someone starts to challenge him, he stops and asks simply. "Which of ye little men do I need te see aboot gettin' a job. With all ye pansy lookin' types standin' aboot, I figre Devargo could use some real muscle on this 'ere boat o' his."
He hoped his friends spells would work.
The Half-Orc stands behind Gern on the edge of the deck, waiting for the night to become exciting.
Ayedah placed a hand on Zalen's shoulder, smiling softly. "I am ready when everyone else is." She coughed, somewhat embarrassed at what she was about to request. "Just tell me where to stand and I will wait as long as you need." She was still feeling guilty about giving away her and Alandra's position the night before during the attempted ambush on Verik's men.
She then waited in her spot, her legs tensed and ready to carry her to her friends at a moment's notice.
Zalen's strategem was sound enough, and the group swiftly dispatched the single thug that actually tried to put up any resistance to them. Two others preferred to stay out of their way - maybe these were the ones Helvarra had bought off, and instead saved their hides by a leap from the ship to the pier. They landed among creaking planks, and darted off into the evening.
The throne of spiders was deserted when the party entered. Merely the myriad of arachnid eyes glittered in the dim light. The caged pseudodragon was trying to flap its wings, but it had suffered in the groups absence, and looked sickly and faded.
Suddenly, the spiders on the throne, as if reacting to some distant beacon, began to coalesce into a body of hairy legs and miniscule bodies. Some of the larger ones formed the head, their front legs raised menacingly.
Shuddering in revulsion at the real Spider-'man', Zalen reacts without thinking and reaches forward with his arm causing a dazzling cone of colours to spring forth from his hand, bathing the arachnids in it's multi-hued light.
(Color Spray, Will Save DC14)
Alandra starts to scream, then cuts herself off, not wanting to sound cowardly especially in front of Gern and Krek. She grips her holy symbol tightly.