Verik rises. "I think we have an agreement. Come back tomorrow night after you scout out Eel's End. We'll plan an assault and then...we'll talk more."

Malder leads you down the stairs. "Nice place. Eel's End. Tha smokes are good and tha women all got fat bottoms." He turns left instead of right and leads you into the front room of the shop. "You fellas know how ta get there?" You all do, or have a good idea of where it is. Malder laughs as he removes the heavy beam from the outside door with one hand and opens it for you with the other. "Well. I'll wish you a good even' then. Don' let tha bed bugs bite."

---

(Assume all spells are relearned etc)

Kroft booked you some rooms at a small Inn called the Silver Trumpet. The beds were the softest some of you have had in weeks. You woke to the smell of fresh baked bread and enjoyed clean hot water for bathing. Whatever else, working for Kroft has at least a few perks.

You made your ways along the river until you came to another in a long line of dingy, grey piers. The difference is that this one seems to be attractng people. Even this early in the day, men and women laugh and head towards the pier known as Eels End. Some of them wear fine silks and some wear burlap. Some have the suken eyed look of Shiver addicts and some rattle lucky dice in cups. Eels End is a place for almost every kind of vice. It's a place for escapism. These days, people need that.

Ypu come to the end of the alley you are walking down and see the pier. A couple of large, armed men are inspecting visitors as they pass. Beyond, the pier juts out into the brackish water. The smell of fish guts covered by the overpowering reek of cheap perfumes and incense smoke.

Five boats are tied to the pier. Planks stretch from pne to the other, creating bridges between them so the clientele can move quickly from one vice to the next without bothering to set foot on the boardwalk again. The largest ship is tied to the end of the pier. The name Eels End is visible stenciled on it's side. That is probably Devargo's seat of power. The other ships appear to house a brothel, a gaming house, an opium den, maybe an inn of some kind. You see more large men like those at the end of the pier mixed in with the crowd.

"Hmmmm, they appear to have plenty of security. Suggestions?"

"Well," Toke mumbled, partly distracted by the more "attractive" merchandise. Perhaps after this is all through, I might treat myself. "We could always walk in and pretend to be a buyer. Someone much bigger than someone like Devargo would be able to handle, but not someone so big that Mr. Kindness should have already heard of us. Perhaps smugglers of exotic drugs?" He fumbled with his fingers nervously, "When we get past security, we would be able to question him more effectively."

"Perhaps Selvin and I could pose as your security, you other three as the actual trafficers?"

---

---

“Large, armed men,” Tarrov sighed as he looked down at the docks.  “So PREDICTABLE.”  He raised a disappointed eyebrow.  “Doesn’t anyone have any creativity?”

“Huh.”  The bard tapped his fingers on his fine doublet as he looked at the various barges.  “A whorehouse, a casino, a shiver palace, an inn, and Devargo’s headquarters.”  He looked over at Toke.  “I think that’s a good idea, Toke, but I also think we might want to head in there and try to gather some information first.”  He looked at the group.  “We’re just scouting right now, and trying to connect Devargo with Kindness.  If we are going to go in and try to arrange for a direct meeting, I think we might be better served doing it after we’ve scouted the lay of the land.”

“When and if we do go in as drug traffickers, though, Toke, you’re going to be our expert.  So you’re going to need to fill us in on everything you know about the drug trade so that we can be as authentic as possible.”  He nodded at the sunken-eyed man.  “Maybe we can turn Lamm’s curse into a blessing, at least for this limited purpose.”

---

---

Toke rested his chin into his grimy hands and closed his eyes as he tried to remember everything important that he had learned over the last couple of years. He took a deep breath and settled his nerves. He spoke quietly, his voice trembled slightly whenever he noticed eyes on him.

Toke rolled 25 using 1d20+12. Knowledge Local.

"Perhaps, for this time through, we should merely split up and each of us check some of the operation out, looking for security, other entrances, connections between the boats or anything like that for a later assault or whatnot."

He glanced at Toke and mumbled. "It would be a bad idea for some of us to investigate anything to do with Shiver."

---

---

Tarrov nodded at Selvin.  "I think that's a great idea.  Why don't we spend a few hours seeing what we can see and trying to gather information on our own.  Then meet back here, share what we've found, and then use it to help with getting a meet with Devargo."  The bard shrugged.  "Shoot, maybe we'll find out enough to warrant an attack just from doing that.  Although I doubt it."

---

---

Sorry for the delay.

The main tough at the end of the pier looks you over. He manages a semi-friendly smile. At least it would be if he were an Owlbear. But the crowd is happy and laughing and it's easy to ignore him.

Soon you are all standing in the middle of the boats. To no one's surprise, the gaming boat and brothel seem to be doing a fine business. The smell of bitter inscence wafts down from the smoke boat. Aside from a small group of drunks trying to fish off the side, the Inn looks fairly deserted. From the very end of the pier, you hear drunken shouts and coarse shouting from the Eel's End. A never ending part seems to be taking place on it's deck.

You see a few guards milling about. From what you can tell, there is at least one on each boat, though there are a few on the Eel's End. Some 'floaters' are wandering the crowd. Mostly watching for pick pockets or signs of a brawl.

Who's going where?