Arriving at the Marsh Gate in the late afternoon, the party were unaware that Rannarsh guardsmen were waiting for them.   Fortunately they were tipped-off by a friend on the wall, Moolsh a rooftop watchman from Thieves' House.  He helped them over the wall and into the Silver Eel where he bought a round of drinks.  They were joined by three others: Quatch and Gib from the Guild, and a black-haired woman named Alyx who seemed to like Valor.  At some point their drinks were poisoned and the party blabbed about their treasures before falling asleep.  Nyx and Valor awoke late the next morning in a room at the Silver Eel, and found their 6 rubies and the Ilthmar tunnel map were missing.  Thymus had managed to stagger away from a hooded robber in back-passages of the Silver Eel and escaped with his 6 rubies.

Thymas went to his home at the Vermin Catcher's Guild to sleep it off.  He hid one ruby in his mother's jewellery box then fell asleep in his room.  He was awoken by a soft popping noise in the pitch dark room.  By the light of his darkvision lantern he saw a lank-haired wizard searching the room.  The wizard cast a hold person spell and Thymus could only watch as his 5 rubies were taken and the wizard disappeared with another soft pop.

At midday the party met at Thieves' House and tried to piece together what had happened.  They found Moolsh asleep in the dormitory of Squill's Tenements next door: he confessed he was hired by their boss, Basharat, to help them over the wall and into the Silver Eel because Rannarsh guards were looking for them.  But that's all, he swears.  He left the inn early because he had watch duty that night.  That alibi was confirmed by Old Dickon, who also said that Quatch used to work as a bodyguard for Basharat but that job was now done by Gib.  Dickon did not speak highly of Basharat, "He's a pimple on a rat's arse."

Returning to the Silver Eel, Braggi the tavern keeper and his serving wenches filled in more of the story.  Moolsh had left early after buying a few rounds.  Alyx tried to chat up Valor but she eventually left with a tall dark handsome stranger.  Quatch never paid for anything but was interested in their story about the treasure house; he passed out before anyone else did and was thrown out into the street.  Gib kept buying the drinks after Moolsh left, and paid for another room next to his room for the party to sleep in, and he helped the tavern wenches carry them upstairs.  Braggi heard nothing after closing, and doubts that anyone would dare poison the drinks in his inn.

Tracking down Alyx, a freelance pickpocket who lives at Turkyl's Tenements, she traded stories with them.  She left last night with General Worlga, commander of the city watch.  This morning she overheard the general's aide saying that someone wanted to sell him a map of Ilthmar.  She had to leave without breakfast because the general wanted to meet with map seller.  When the party shared their tale she advised them "Never trust anyone in Thieves' House."

Nyx and Valor talked their way into the South Barracks, disguised as Lysandra the Red God priestess and Cloppie the new recruit.  Meanwhile, Thymas scouted the rooftops of the barracks.  Worlga likes lady-visitors, so his aide, Lieutenant Fleet, brought afternoon tea for the general and Lysandra while Cloppie waited outside.  Eager to impress Lysandra, Worlga asked her to accompany him to a private auction that evening at the house of Mister Basharat near the Marsh Gate.  He would be bidding for a special map of Ilthmar.  With such inside knowledge he predicted he would be "the most successful general in the field" when the inevitable war with Ilthmar came.  There may even be some pretty jewels on sale for a lady...

The party regrouped and laid a plan to infiltrate the auction.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:01, Sat 02 Feb 2019.