Ayeesha was happy to take a rest, even if it wasn't her first choice, the barracks was fine. She moved with Kyra to find an open bed.

Kraw will make his excuses and get to work on selling off the loot and making a purchase of a CLW wand. After a few hours, he returns to the barracks, having cleaned himself up. He hands a CLW wand to whomever can use it, and passes out 3 sacks of 89gp and 25 sp (the split from the remaining loot). He tells the others "We got 'credit' from the guard for their issued equipment, since it wasn't ours to sell off. Still, it's over 800 gp worth, and I figure that if we are going to do more work for these guys, we can use that credit for specialized equipment, like the saps and manacles I had to get for this caper."

Kyra will take the wand from Kraw. "I'll try to put this to good use."

Unless someone has Use magic device skill, Kyra is the only one that can use it. Anyway, ready to move on.

Figus get some alchemical items and some vials using the guard credit and hands each member some smelling salts, an antitoxin and a vial of acid. "These can be useful. If you need them, you really need them. We still have about 500 in credit if anyone needs something specific."

"I am sure they will come useful, thank you." Kyra stuffs the items in her belt  pouch and sticks the wand of healing under her belt. "Did anyone hear anything new of what is expected of us now?"

The next morning...

Once again the group is brought to Cressida's office but this time she is not alone. Standing next to her is an older gentleman who despite his years appears to be in excellent shape.

For now he stands quietly to the side while Cressida congratulates the group once again.

"Once again thank you for dealing with Vancaskerkin. We will have his trial set up by the end of the week and I expect him to be thrown behind bars for a very long time. Your next assignment is one that our guest here has brought to my attention. For those who don't know, this is Vencarlo Orisini, one of Korvosa's most respected instructors in fencing and swordplay."

Before Cressida can continue Vencarlo bows deeply and smiles broadly.

"The Field Marshall has been telling me about what you did last night and I must say I am very impressed. You were able to overcome a fortified position, well done indeed. That you captured the culprits alive is impressive, most impressive indeed. If only Korvosa had more fine folk such as you we might already be out of this mess."

He reaches out and shakes everyone's hands, making sure to kiss the back of the ones of Kyra and Ayeesha with a sly little wink.

"I would love to witness a demonstration of your fighting capabilities. Perhaps we could teach one another a thing or two, yes?"

Cressida clears her throat and cuts off Vencarlo.

"As much as I would enjoy continuing the conversation, I fear we just don’t have time. Vencarlo has often come to me with news of important changes on the streets, and this is no different. What he’s learned could degrade into sanctions, embargos, or even war against Cheliax if we don’t act now. This problem is a man named Darvayne Gios Amprei. You might have heard of him, he's an ambassador from Cheliax whose disdain for Korvosa is well documented, and yet he's taken great pleasure in what our city has to offer. Even before this recent unrest, this man was ready to recommend to his government a sanction on trade, or perhaps even an embargo. Vencarlo has learned through his own considerable sources that Ambassador Amprei's actual goals are to undermine Korvosa's economy to the point where he can buy up large portions of the city from desperate landholders and establish himself in a position of power here. Whatever the ambassador's reasons, we can't let his bias or personal plans hurt Korvosa. Yet neither can we take drastic action. Not only would killing him be wrong, but it'd simply martyr him in Cheliax's eyes.

Fortunately, Darvayne has his foibles. Again, Vencarlo has learned that Ambassador Amprei has been making fairly regular visits to a place in Old Korvosa called Eel's End. This den of vice is run by a dangerous man named Devargo Barvasi, better known in Korvosa's alleys as the King of Spiders. I'd love to put Barvasi out of business, but he pays his vice taxes regularly and never causes any problems. In fact, since he keeps his business constrained entirely within the five ships moored at Eel's End, he's actually one of the least of my worries. Truth be told, I can't decide whether Devargo is a stirge or a kraken. He seems like a bloodsucking pest most days, but sometimes I fear just how far his tentacles have wormed their way into our great city. In this case though, his insidious web stretching across Korvosa's underworld might prove to our advantage.

Devargo would never let someone he recognizes as an ally of the Guard into Eel's End, but your group's a different case. Ayeesha and Kraw are just adventurers and Figus and Kyra...well no offense but neither of you fit in exactly. I'd like you to pay a visit to Eel’s End and secure an audience with Devargo. Find out what he knows about Amprei, get proof of any illicit goings-on the ambassador might be involved with, and bring that proof to me to use to undermine any forthcoming attempts by him to get Cheliax to cut us off. Devargo might not be willing to part with his information easily. I'll supply you with some gold to bribe him, and whatever's left over you can keep for yourself. Remember: the man is dangerous, but so are you. If things get violent, I wouldn't mourn his passing."


She hands over a pouch of coins containing 1,000gp. She then turns to Figus and Kyra.

Kraw notes wryly "keep up that patronizing attitude and I think Ayeesh's demonstrations about her prowess will be your number one concern." Kraw doesn't care about diplomacy. Kraw adds to Cressida "I believe you mentioned a reward for bringing in the Guardsmen alive last night. As this gold is for bribes, May I ask what reward you had in mind?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:01, Tue 28 May 2019.

Kyra just gives a reserved nod to Vencarlo and waits to hear what else Cressida has to say to them.

Cressida nods at Kraw and pulls out another pouch of gold.

"My apologies, I never intended to withhold your reward..."

Vencarlo smiles and lets out a few soft tsk tsk sounds as the Field Marshal digs around in her desk and produces a second bag of gold, equal to the first.

"As promised for delivering Vancaskerkin alive the thousand gold reward. As for this task..."

She reaches in and pulls out another pouch, this one smaller than the other two.

"I can kick in another 500 gold for a reward given how quickly you were able to complete the last one. 1,500gp that you can use as you like although before you spend it you might want to keep some handy if you wish to approach Eel's End diplomatically. If you plan on going in with swords and sorcery consider the full payment and extra as tokens of my appreciation."

Ayeesha looked at Kraw, wondering what he was bringing up her for. "Not that I ever mind showing off my, um, prowess," she smiled at Cressida, then wider at Vencarlo.

"But I don't mind being called an adventurer. Been called worse, believe me."

She happily took on her share of the reward. "Much obliged."

"Is this another one of those don't kill things mission?" she asked with a frown.

OOC: So 1500 gold divided by 4 is 375 right? I've kind of lost track of my purchases and resources...

Kraw winces. "This might be slightly more difficult than I originally thought. I assume that some people know that Gaedron Lamm is dead. But if any word has escaped about who eliminated him this might be rough. It isn't well known, but Gaedron had connections to DeVargo."

"But, Kyra and myself had nothing to do Gaedron thing, so we may be able to present another face. We need a plan. Why would Devargo would even see us?"

From the side Vencarlo pipes up.

"Why does the King of Spiders do anything? Gold, of course."

He nodded towards the large pouch of coins that the Field Marshall had given them as a bribe for Devargo.

OOC: Can we make Knowledge Local checks to see what we may know about this Devargo guys and his establishment outside what we have been told here? Would it also be possible to Gather Information (Diplomacy) on the same, or do we not have the time?

"I see. So we can go straight in, or sneak, or both. And, the choice is ours. We will do our duty of course."

Figus salutes.

Kyra gives an absentminded salute as well as she tries to remember what she knows about this man Devargo.

In case Knowledge: Local is appropriate:
22:11, Today: Kyra rolled 24 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 13.  Knowledge: Local.

Of course Kyra is familiar with Eel's End. It is a collection of five boats converted into a small red-light district.

The largest of the ship is the Eel's End where the King of Spiders holds his court and where most of the partying and revelry happens. Surrounding it is the Goldenhawk, which has been converted into a makeshift inn for people to sleep off their vices, the Twin Tiger which is a gambling hall, the House of Clouds which has been turned into a brothel and the Dragon's Breath which has been turned into a pesh den.

What the Field Marshal and Vencarlo contributed was accurate, the Devargo is a scumbag but he is a smart one, he knows that as long as he keeps the watch well bribed and the trouble low he's viewed as more of an annoyance than a threat. He has complete control over his little end but also provides an unspoken service to the city by concentrating crime in one known area away from the everyday citizens of Korvosa.

He is ruthless as any crime boss has to be but not unnecessarily so. Basically if you're part of the criminal underworld he can be quite threatening but outsiders like civilians and the watch are usually treated with a modicum of respect to avoid attracting trouble from the watch.

Finally there are rumors that his nickname is more than just a name. It is said he has the blood of fiends running through him and can command spiders to do his bidding. As such his favorite tactics involve feeding people to giant spiders or using spider venom coated weapons.

"Lovely," she shivered as Kyra recounted the love affair Devargo had with his spiders.

"Guess we need to make friends with this upstanding citizen. I wonder, apart from the money, what might a kind of spiders want, hmm? More spiders? Dare we try to bluff him with the promise of a large colony of dream spiders? Or is that more dangerous than simply offering cash? The problem with walking into a heavily armed underworld den with large amounts of cash is the risk that you never walk out again."

She shrugged, thinking out loud.

"either way, as Kraw says, we should go buy some new clothes, finery appropriate for a trip to a brothel and den of vice. It would be wise to prepare ourselves for swarms of spiders as well. My sword does little against tiny vermin. Some anti-venom as Figus suggests as well."

OOC: buying say 200 gp worth of clothes for +2 masterwork tool bonus to social skills, as well as what four vials of antitoxin for another 200? Anything else?

OOC: 4 sets of swarm suits? Alchemists fire and oil to combat swarms?

OOC: Make sure you're updating your equipment and loot thread

As the group prepares to leave Vencarlo speaks up.

"I happen to be traveling back to my academy and our paths happen to be the same until we reach Old Korvosa. I'd love to walk with you, if you'll have me."

Vencarlo Orisini is a tall man of advanced years, yet with a twinkle in his eye and a bounce to his step that hints at a vibrancy and inner fire of a man under half his age. He wears his salt-and-pepper hair pulled back tightly into a bravo’s top-knot. His eyes are a cast of deep green like the ocean after a storm. He is of Old Chelish blood, and it shows. Orisini wears black leather gloves to ensure the oils of his skin don’t rust the pommel of his shining steel rapier. This rapier is his pride, and he speaks of it in tones normally reserved for a loved one.


He talks about his time teaching the youth of Korvosa the way of the sword and he has an energetic charm in talking about his obvious passion. His smile fades a bit when he started telling a humorous story about a couple recent apprentices of his and quickly halts mid-conversation before completely switching the subject to the party.



"So, what has brought you to the watch? I mean no offense but none of you seem like the kind of sort to be very happy patrolling the streets for drunkards or chasing off thieves. All of you seem to have spark for adventure beating in your hearts to be taking on these kinds of missions without question. What keeps your feet moving towards danger instead of away like a sane person's?"

He says that last little comment with a friendly grin and a joking tone.

Figus nods his head. "I got tired. Tired of not getting any respect. No one likes a half breed. Not in this town. If my father was perhaps just a 'normal' elf, perhaps I would have gotten away with it, but as is ... Its the first thing people notice. Joining the guard was a way up, a way to get respect. I can't help that I am better at these sort of things than marching in step. Just glad the guard can use my abilities. I guess am not that sane"

Figus looks at Vencarlo to see if he gets a reaction from that.

Kraw says to Vencarlo "I wouldn't mind some pointers in fencing. I use the twin blade style myself. Oh, and as for what DeVargo might want other than gold is Influence, either through information or leverage. He might not know that Lamm is dead. As I still have Lamm's books, I'm betting that one or more of them lists either his assets or the names and amounts of the people he bribed. A Crime Lord is always looking to expand his empire."

"Oh, it was the spiffy uniforms that made me join." Kyra answers to Vencario with a perfectly straight face.

DM, is it possible for Kyra to take a quick look at those books, if only to try to determine what they are about?

Vencarlo laughs at Figus' comment.

"Maybe. Maybe sanity is in short supply but it  makes life so much more exciting."

At Kraw's comment he pats his rapier.

"I would greatly enjoy putting your skills to the test. While I prefer a longer blade I am sure there are lessons to be learned for any fighting style."

To Kyra he just laughs and nods.

"Oh yes, nothing but the height of fashion for Korvosa's guards. Although rumor has it the Queen is looking to redesign them to better match her Southern sensibilities."

When he turns to Ayeesha he frowns, noting the sweaty sheen on her forehead.

"Are... are you okay tall one? You do not look too well."