On the northeast end of town lies the Waterfront, the key to Tideswallow’s prosperity and survival over the many generations it has stood for. A glassy harbor extends for about a mile out from shore, protected from the rougher waters beyond by the jagged spires of the Fiendfall Reef which stands like a thorny bulwark at its mouth.

Rich with fish of all shapes and sizes, the harbor was a godsend for the original settlers who made the hard, unforgiving region their home almost a thousand years ago. Since then, the city has made exclusive use of the harbor; fishing its waters and docking ships there with impunity. No other nation may utilize the city’s waters or docks without the City Council’s official consent. However, with the recent death of Lord Quentin Veraduct, the seat of Lord of Sails has been left conspicuously open. It will soon fall to the city to elect a new candidate to the position... but that is a thought for later.

Around the Waterfront, one can find a few key sites to spend their time.
-The docks
-Sailor taverns and inns
-A small amphitheater where the Lord of Sails typically holds court to hear grievances and requests (temporarily shut down)
-Fish market
-Apothecary shop (Lesser. A higher-end one exists in the Artisan District)
-Seafood eateries of several different varieties and qualities
-Shipwrights and drydocks

One of Veltria’s few deep-water ports on the continent’s eastern coast, Tideswallow’s harbor has been a highly sought-after strategic position for military and trading powers throughout the ages. Currently, the Tenebrian Empire has a tenuous working relationship with the city; enabling them to dock a single large vessel in the harbor at any given time while also permitting Imperial soldiers to move through town without issue. It is not uncommon to encounter Tenebrian soldiers, emissaries, and travelers here.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 04:53, Sun 13 Sept 2020.

Vela walked back up to the docks. By the time she was there she was largely dry. She first would go see at the warehouses if anyone needed haulers. It was the job she preferred and usually could get, because she was strong. The average pinkie didn't like it because it was back-breaking work. Vela saw it as another way to prep for the fight. If this didn't work, then it was the drydocks. Not much going on there these days, but she was here, so it was worth a shot. But first the warehouses. She went down the line, looking for the foremen and asking them one by one if he was hiring for the day.

In reply to Vela (msg # 2):

In reply to Vela (msg # 4):

Over the course of the next few hours you find several potential sources of quick income. A small fishing vessel has returned in to the docks in distress and looking for anyone strong enough to aid in its repair after its mast having snapped under the force of a particularly unpredictable wind this morning. There’s the usual assortment of fishermen willing to pay for anyone willing to help haul their catches to the fish market. Smelly work, but fruitful. Similarly, some of the warehouses near the dry-dock needed crates of materials and piles of timber moved. The pay wouldn’t be quite as good, but you wouldn’t come away smelling of fish and sludge, at the very least. Finally, a dwarven man approaches you directly with a proposition. His face is familiar, you’ve definitely seen him around the Waterfront before, but you don’t know his name. Good enough sort though. Definitely hasn’t ever done you any wrong. Seems he’s had a run-in with some particularly persistent pickpockets who snatched his pulse when he left that morning and are now just waiting near his home to hit him again as he returns. He claims he’d handle it himself, but doesn’t like his odds with it being 3-on-1 and is willing to pay for your protection. And willing to pay more if you could “convince” the thugs to return what’s his.

Getting into a bout with some thugs normally wouldn't worry Vela that much, but the bout was soon and the last thing she needed was to get a knife between the ribs. Added to that, these thugs might be in with the Sunless somehow. And something didn't add up. Why would they hit the dwarf again if they already got his purse? That didn't sound like some random pickpockets, and she said as much along with the advice to the dwarf to just spill the whole thing to her.

In reply to Vela (msg # 4):

Make a Persuasion or Intimidation check depending on how forcefully you’re going about “asking” for him to explain himself here.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:47, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

Vela crossed her arms, her biceps bulging as she leans down over the dwarf, and asks the question very gruffly.

14:24, Today: Vela rolled 20 using 1d20+3.  Intimidation.

In reply to Vela (msg # 6):

Recoiling a bit, the dwarf realizes he’s been caught in his lie instantly. His tone changes from that of a man offering payment for aid, to that of one practically begging for his life. Over the next fe minutes, he explains the situation to you without the slightest hint of his previous lie present. There is indeed someone waiting for him back home  and they have indeed been harrying him  for some time now. However, they aren’t pickpockets, but former employees of his whom he terminated without warning a weeks ago. Since then, their resources had dried up, their families had likely begun to suffer, and the former workers had turned desperate. They came back to claim what they felt he owed them and were now turning to physical intimidation to get it. They weren’t going to follow him to the docks, as they know he’d be in his element there; surrounded by folks who he could talk into aiding him if it came to blows.

With all of this out in the open, he begs for your help in running them off once more...

Vela thought it over with a frown, letting the dwarf sweat a little more. But it sounded easy enough. Quick money.
"Pay up front." She wasn't going to be duped like the others.
"They got weapons?"

In reply to Vela (msg # 8):

He practically forces a bag of 40 silver into your hands.

“Some truncheons, not much more. Blackjacks and whatever they were able to cobble together from pieces of wood in the alleys. Again, if it was just one or two I’d deal with them myself, but 5 of them at once is too much for me to handle on my own.”

Vela looked to make sure the coin was good. A great haul. Would last her until the tournament, easy. For a moment Vela considered getting one of her weapons from her home, but decided against it. She didn't want to kill anyone today. Instead she opted to do the same and find something that would bruise or break and arm, but not kill.
"Fine, I'll get some sort of club on the way. Let's go."

Shivom strode down the gangplank of the Essex Whale thinking how happy he was that this deep water port didn't require schlepping to shore in a dinghy. Getting on board this ship had required a quarter mile rowboat trip. Although he didn't have to do the rowing, it was still a hassle he was happy to skip. He wandered along the docks, following the rough directions his friend had given him. He passed the Salty Seaman on the way out of the waterfront and wondered if it would be worth working it. He'd have to come back at night and see how busy it was.

He headed inland to the entertainment district. It didn't seem like it would be much trouble to find an inn with a room for the night. After dumping his bags he would check out the nightlife and identify some taverns with potential.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:33, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

In reply to Vela (msg # 10):

With a will, he leads you through the streets back toward the direction of the Housing District. His home proves to be a few blocks outside of it, just within the boundaries of the Waterfront. From the spot he picks in an alleyway between two of the wooden buildings leading up to it, you get a good view of the house. A two-story brick-and-wood structure that looks cozy, well-lived-in, and a bit above the means of most residents of the Waterfront. This dwarf has definitely made a decent life for himself.

Sure enough, there are three human men and a goliath woman, all in ragged work clothes, standing about outside of it. Each is equipped with a very visible chunk of wooden weaponry; the majority short blackjacks wrapped in cloth to dull the sound when they strike. The woman, however, is leaning against a large timber beam that’s nearly as tall as she is.

Vela was wrapping her knuckles in the leather strips again, the heavy straight branch which she had plucked earlier and removed of twigs tucked under her shoulder. She looked over the folks at the house. They didn't look off any better then she was. She wondered what they wanted. Maybe they were just angry and wanted to give the dwarf a good beating. Didn't matter. She had been paid for the job, so she needed to see it through. She looked down at her charge.
"Alright. You wanna try talking to them? You know them."

In reply to Vela (msg # 13):

“They ain’t gonna listen to reason... but if ya think it’ll help I uh... I guess I could give it a shot.”
As unsure of the idea as he seems, he’s now considerably more scared of you than he is of them. With a bit of effort, he breaks cover and moves toward the group. They immediate take notice and two of the men begin coming toward him.

“H-Hold on now! I just wanna talk! This ain’t gotta turn any uglier than it already has. I get it, I did ya wrong. But ya have to understand, it weren’t nothing personal. The contract ended prematurely, so I couldn’t keep you lot around. Wasn’t no gold coming in iso I had nothing to pay ya with anywa-“
One of the men immediately throws a bottle he’d be drinking from at the dwarf, striking him in the face with it. He’s lucky enough that I didn’t shatter, but the impact still breaks his concentration. A moment later both men are coming at him with their makeshift clubs at the ready. The dwarf, for his part, fishes a pair of small daggers from his belt and tries his best to ready himself for the attack.