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"I believe I can probably be the most effective at the brothel," the bard suggested, winking.  "I've always been pretty good with the ladies.  I can, um, feel them out for what they know about the Eel's End and Devargo.  Plus, I imagine not a few will feel oppressed by the man and want to dish anything they know."  Tarrov nodded to himself.  "After that, I can head over to the gaming boat and do some reconnoitering there."  He looked around.  "Unless you gentlemen have any objections?"

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This message was last edited by the player at 06:17, Thu 19 Dec 2013.

Selvin let out laughter as Tarrov spoke. "Yah, I jus' bet! Feel 'em out. You dog you." He shook his head in mirth, not disagreement. "That's fine. I'm good anywhere but the drug place."

"I will go to the shiv boat and see what there is to see," Vaddis replies. "Then I will check into the brothel as well. I might run across one Tarrov misses," he winks at Tarrov.

Toke had been quiet after Selven's previous comment. It wormed and festered in his mind as they made their way to Eels End. Was he still untrusted? He had been clean for at least two years and had not even had the urge to go back to the accursed drug. As they approached Eel's End, however, his anger and hurt was replaced with resignation. Perhaps Selvin was right, he was sure that although Toke's well being was definitely not in Larst's best interest; however the cohesiveness of the group was.

"I'll stick with Selvin then, perhaps two sets of eyes will be better than one." Toke said, only a little disappointed that the brothel was already taken.

16:58, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 4 using 1d20. Perception.

The sights and sounds distract Vaddis too much from gathering information. He hopes the others have better luck than he.

As you walk up the gangplank to The Dragon's Breath, you noice that it must have once been a magificent ship. Now it is simply a carcass. Not rotten enough to sink but not whole enough to sail. The smell of burnong cinnamon sticks is almost choking as you step aboard. The deck has been leveled. A large sort of tent has been pitched on board. From within you hear sighs and sobs and what sounds like the squeak squeak of rusty wheels.

You push aside the curtain and step inside. A large brazier burns in the middle of the area, giving off that loathsome musk that covers up all kinds of unpleasant smells beneath it. A number of cheap cots are set about the edges of the room. A tall gnome...or maybe a fat halfling...is wheeling around a hookah, burbbling "Get smoked!" in a sort of clipped accent you can't place. He eyes you and points to a sign to your left. "Five coin. Gold. Now. Or go."

The two of you glance around and head up the plank to the Inn, it being the closest at the moment.  Someone has painted Goldenhawk  across one side, though it's not much of a hawk and nowhere close to being golden. The drunks who are fishing over the side pay you little mind. A single masted ship of Chelish design, it looks like it it has seen more repairs than customers as of late. The drunks you saw earlier are fishing over the side and pay you little mind. They seem more intent on staying upright than conversing.

As you step on deck, a door to one of the cabins opens and a man steps out with a slop bucket. He is hairy in all the wrong places. Patchy and not just in his coat. He glares at you before tossing the buckets contents into the sea. He looks at you. "You needin' rooms?"

"How can I help you obtain Nirvana?"

The House of Clouds has set up a grandiose pavilion over it's deck. Inside the space is crammed tight with pillows, semi naked bodies, and patrons who wallow in both. The voice to your left belongs to a young women who sits next to a young man. The man wears nothing but a film of oil and loincloth whoch is so tight it leaves nothing to the imagination. The young woman wears a gauze slip which outlines but restricts a full view. She smiles at you as does the man. Both have bloodshot eyes and a weariness about them at second glance. Business it seems is booming in heaven.

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Tarrov flashed the two his most ingratiating smile; if he was going to get any information out of his visit it would probably start with this pair of gatekeepers.  "It looks like you two could use a dose of heaven yourself," Tarrov responded companionably, leaning against the doorframe.  "Doesn't the boss give any breaks around here?"

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This message was last edited by the player at 04:27, Sat 21 Dec 2013.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 15):

Vaddis scans about then looks at the halfling/gnome, "five gold for this? Is this all there is on this ship? If it is, I'll keep my gold for the brothel."

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 18):

The woman laughs, though there is a bit of a forced quality to it. "But of course. Everything is play here in the House of Clouds."

She stands and lays a hand gently upon your arm. "Would you care for a drink? Or a massage? Both Esu," she gestures at the man, "Are excellent at rubdowns." She manages that with no irony whatsoever.

"You're very handsome..."

"He's gorgeous," says Esu

"Come in. Relax. Any one of us will be happy to serve you." She gestures at a nearby empty pillow.

In reply to Vaddis Sonaden (msg # 19):

"You will spend twice as much for some cheap wine and a fifteen minute swearty grope. Five gold gets you in the door here. And for but a few coins more...you may truly touch the clouds."

The little halflong/gnome looks you over. "You do not look like the usual type. What do you prefer for a smoke?"

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"Why thank you," said Tarrov, smiling as he sketched a small bow to the two courtesans.  "I do believe you will make me blush if you continue carrying on this fashion."  He looked at the woman.  "I may be . . . a little strange, but I enjoy getting to know a woman before she puts her hands on me.  I believe I would very much enjoy a massage.  Would it be possible for us to share a private drink beforehand?"

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Selvin leads the way in to the Inn and looks around. A ship from Cheliax, or perhaps just designed by them. Goldenhawk is apparently the name which Selvin commits to memory just in case. He glances at the fishing drinks but otherwise pays them no mind.

One eyebrow rises up at the manner of the man who 'greets' them. "Apparently, you weren't hired for your politeness and welcoming qualities. Nor your hairlessness. How much are rooms here? And are they by the hour or longer time period?"

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 21):

"Tobacco." and he turns and goes to the next 'ship'.

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 22):

She smiles and leads you to a cushion a bit farther away from the crowd. She wheels over a sort of screen made of gauze to create the illusion of privacy and places a cup of wine in your hand. "I am Tellen," she says.

Tellen settles herself on one side of you and begins to lightly massage your shoulders. "You are new here. Or at least, I haven't seen you before. So you're new to me. Are you a native? Or just here on business?"

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 23):

Chamber Pot guffaws and beams at that one. "Nah. No one outside tha House a' Clouds gets coin from bein' polite. Or by tha hour. Name's Tuggins. " He nods for you to follow him as he garumphs into a doorway. A short flight of stairs descends down into what used to be the hold. Now, half od the space has been walled off, creating a small cramped bar. Tuggins limps over bwhind the bar and pulls out a bottle of cheap wine. "Don' usually get many here this time a' day. Thought you were with Devargo. Lookin' for tha rent. Two rooms? Or yiu just nosin' around Eel's End?"

In reply to Vaddis Sonaden (msg # 24):

You stop a moment on the deck. Not only to get your bearins but also to catch a clean breath. Even the contact high from that place makes your head spin.

As you look over the ships, you see a small group making it's way down the pier. They move differently than the rest of the party goers. Three men. Civillian clothes but two of them definitely seem to have a military gait. Bodyguards perhaps? The third man is a thin, bookish sort. He dresses more ostentatiously than Tarrov and looks more grey than chimney smoke. He is leading the small group to the main ship. That is the actual Eel's End. The well dressed man looks...resolute.

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Tarrov sipped the wine as he enjoyed Tellen's massage.  The spirit's vintage was unexpectedly good and he had not realized how tense the muscles in his shoulders were.  He sighed contentedly, slightly disappointed that he could not enjoy all the establishment had to offer.

Back to work.

"Me?  I'm visiting on business.  I represent a rather large distributor looking for a distribution partner in Korvosa."  He looked over at Kellan.  "Speaking of business, it seems to be booming here."  He made a small gesture that might have indicated the House of Clouds or the entire Eel's End establishment.  "Devargo is quite the entrepreneur.  Do you work directly for Devargo?  I hear he can be a, well, a rough taskmaster.  And you look weary, if you don't mind my saying so.  It would pain me to know that such a beautiful woman had to answer to a man who failed to," Tarrov caressed one of Tellen's hands, "appreciate her many talents."

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This message was last edited by the player at 04:47, Fri 27 Dec 2013.

As Vaddis sees them approach, he steps onto the pier to get within 60' and detects evil on the three men. He then tries to spy out someone nearby to ask if they know who the man in the middle is.


10:42, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 4 using 1d20. Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:42, Fri 27 Dec 2013.

Selvin grinned at the man's explanation and guffaw. "I see. Well Tuggins, I'm Disc and my friend here is Reet." He tossed a wink and then followed after the man.

"Actually...I'm here on behalf of another. He's looking at possibly doin' business with your boss so he wanted me t'give a look around at the operation here an' see what's what." He glanced around. "Business brisk?"

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 28):

Tellen tenses a bit at the mention of Devargo's name. "Oh. I have seen him from time to time. A very kind man." She obviously means none of that. "But Helvara is the madame here," She nods at a lovely older half elf woman who is speaking to a couple of guests. "She is a wonderful woman." That does sound sincere. "It is simply near time for rent. And one does have to make one's rent regardless of profession. Right?"

In reply to Vaddis Sonaden (msg # 29):

The half addled man who was, until a moment ago, leaning over the railing and staring at the play of light on the water blinks and stares at the men you point out. "Huh? Oh. I dunno that rich guy. But..." He scrunches up his face and peers more closely at the bodyguards. "Them's tha Veski brothers. They do a lotta hand cut business."

'Hand Cut'. Assassins. It fits with the aura of evil that hangs about them. The aura on the rich man is even stronger though. While the Brothers are as black as night, the rich man is as black as night's dark heart. You can see him a bit better now. He seems to have ornate ornamnets and that classic, upturned nose. A Chelish nobleman probably.

The party has reached the gangplank leading up to the ship Eel's End. The guard on duty has stopped them. There seems to be an exchange going on. After a moment, the guard signals another guard on the deck. This second huard moves through the party on deck and heads to the cabins in the stern of the ship. You would guess the rich man has asked for an interview with Devargo. It remains to be seen if he'll receive one thoughl

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 30):

Tuggins gives you the steely eye and then pours you bpth a glass of cheap wine. "The Inn business isn't bad. But...that's not tha kind a' business you're talkin' about. Right?" The grungey Inn Keeper pops the cork back in the bottle neck and pushes your cups forward. "So...what kinda business we talkin' here?"

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Tarrov continued to relax into Tellen's expert massage.  He could get used to this.

"Helvara does sound like a pleasure to work for," the bard agreed.  "But it also sounds like your, um, landlord," Tarrov wondered if perhaps there was a more-appropriate word for someone who rented floating properties, "charges an exorbitant rent, if the brisk business I've seen in this well-run establishment is insufficient to meet it."

Tarrov leaned against the woman.  "Now, and I'm just tossing darts at the wall here, if that landlord were to be," he coughed, "taken out of the picture, it seems to me that Helvara and all her employees might be free to operate independently, as they saw fit."  He shot a sidelong glance at the beautiful woman, evaluating her reaction.  "If a third party were, perhaps, interested in performing such a service, it seems like it might be in the best interest for all here on to assist that third party with information regarding Devargo, his habits, practices, businesses, aliases, and so forth, along with the identities of other sympathetic persons who might have similar information."

Tarrov gave Tellen his most-genuine smile.  "Just making conversation, of course.  It certainly is an interesting topic, don't you think?  Have you any thoughts on the subject?"

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