Rel is glad to be out of the Marquis' company and working with Jarsali, who she trusts a bit more.

"The brown-haired woman in the violet and gold who seems to be Lord Agustin's right hand will likely discover that we compromised the old Briarwood manor and the tunnels underneath.  If she has placed further ambushes or traps there between then and now, we may bypass at least some of them by taking the waterway instead.  It seems to be a good chance to take.  I only hope that they have not collapsed the tunnels."

Zane says, "Yeah, Rel is right, we don't want to walk into the same trap twice. They may have trapped or collapsed the way from the manor, but I doubt that they would block off all the entrances and exits."

He turns to Jarsali, "You seem to know the entrance. What do we need to use it? Canoes? Air bottles?"

"Also, we should probably go as light as possible - is there a safe place where we can stow our extra stuff until this is over?"

Lana nodded along the lines of others about the water path but agreed with Jersali as well. "If you can send a couple of Zhelezo to enter through the manor, it might help. With all the warnings and means to message, of course. So, we can know if there any activity on that end."

While Bellamy waits for their instructions, Tex thanks again the scholar and archivist, expressing hopes that they will find answers using his afflicted hand to make a longer lasting impression. He stresses that they may summon him in case an investigation of his hand would make sense. Then he prepares Lizzy for their departure.

Bellamy and Tex, The scholar responds eagerly to your answer "I will indeed reach out to hopefully find the answer you seek. Perhaps even some of the Cobalt Soul in Tal'Dorei or Marquet may even have an answer for us. This is truly fascinating and I will start right away. And.... if you do move on from the Seaside Inn, make sure to let us know how to properly reach you. I would hate to find something and then not be able to find you and cure your hand!"

The scholar smiles at the thrill of the research and heads off. Bellamy, as you finish sending your message Jarsali responds very quickly "Yes, we have found our entrance, a waterway in the Gilded Espalande, meet at the auction house. Follow the signs from the library. Thirty Minutes."

You can easily enough follow the signs to the auction house in the Gilded Esplanade and it will not require a check.



Zane, Rel and Lana. Jarsali stops as she recieves a message from your companions and responds in kind (As said above). She then turns to you and says, "We were given five of the Zhelezo, how many do you wish to send off to the manor? If your thoughts come true, and the manor has been compromised to impede our path to the ritual site then we do not want to waste much of our resources on that." She pauses for a moment and rubs her forehead "I personally think we need to take all of our resources straight into the waterway and attack at full strength. I told your companions to meet us at the auction house in half an hour. Lets gather the Zhelezo and decide where they go while we walk." She heads out of the room and makes her way downstairs where the Marquis and five Zhelezo are waiting. Two of which carry crossbow, two of which have shield and sword, and one of which seems to wobble as he stands still and occasionally regains his balance, only to stumble and catch his footing once more. (Seemingly very drunk to anyone who looks upon him)

Zane, Jarasali also adds "If you wish to store anything, rent a room again for the night at the Seaside Inn and store it there. It will be safe"

Rel travels light, especially with her handy haversack.  She offers to store anything inside it in case any of her companions wish.

When she sees the seemingly drunken Zhelezo, the half-drow's grey eyes stare coolly and then turn to Jarsali as if to ask, Really?

Seeking her aasimar father's guidance, Rel walks innocuously near the Zhelezo, as if glancing at their weapons and armor, but actually trying to catch the scent of alcohol.  It is bad enough if one of the five is drunk on the job, but even worse would be if he is a spy and his apparent inebriation is a ruse.

"What was the drink of choice tonight, friend?"

Rel's Perception plus Guidance to catch the scent of alcohol on the man's breath and weigh his answer for deception:  15 + 3 = 18
(If Insight, it would be 2 lower, so 13 + 3 = 16)

Zane whispers to Rel, "We should leave the weird orb behind. Should things go really bad, we don't want it to fall into their hands."

( Is the Seaside Inn on the way to the meeting place? )

Zane greets the Zhelezo, "Welcome to the Expendables! I'm Zane. Pack light, we will be stealthy, but it might take a while. Leave a note for your family in case you don't make it back."

He goes one by one and extends his hand in greeting.

He then asks the room, "Can we procure some dynamite very quickly?"

Lana was never over-encumbered and did not have anything to leave behind. The drunk soldier got her attention and she joined Rel in questioning. "I think it was more than one "drink of choice". Can you make him sober?" She turned to Jersali. "Or maybe find one that is not drunk?"

Jarsali puts her hand to her forehead and sighs. "You there." She points to the drunk "A little early in the day to be this drunk isn't it?" She barks in frustration. 

The Zhelezo man looks to her dumbfounded "Well...I ughhh... you shee I forgot I wassh on duty today...hic! And I jusht left the bar not more than an hour ago...hic!"

Jarsali slaps him across the face and mutters an incantation, "Feel better you idiot? Now stand up straight and pull yourself together." The man seemingly sobers up as Jarsali casts Lesser Restoration on him. 

Rel, you can tell that the man was indeed telling a truthful story. 

Zane, greeting the others they all offer a handshake as you extend the offering. As for dynamite Jarsali says "They were prepping to demolish the Briarwood Manor, perhaps we can swing by and grab some if they have already begun to set up, if not I fear it will be hard to come by, Black Powder is not as common as it used to be here in Port Damali."

(Also, yes the Seaside in is on the way, very close to where you are now)

Bellamy relays the information to Tex "Lets head to the Auction House Tex" says Bellamy. He then leaves and thanks the scholar. It takes a moment but eventually he find the signs and follows them.

"Oh, let's do it," energetically nodded Lana to Jarsali's idea. "Maybe we can leave a couple of those brave soldiers there as well to go through the tunnels. Or simply check ourselves if the tunnels were collapsed? Would not take much time."

Tex offers Bellamy to mount Lizzy and both of them make haste to the auction house, “I’m a little disappointed that we learned so little at the library but I guess we can be very happy that they agreed to research it for us.”

Rel agrees to leave behind her sack with the strange black orb in it behind at the Seaside Inn, as suggested by Zane.

She lets the others decide about how many of the Zhelezo to send back to the Briarwood Mansion (or to go ourselves) and whether to bring explosives with us.  At this point, she is a little impatient to get on with it.

"Thanks for the ride Tex" says Bellamy as he hops on Lizzy

Lana, Rel and Zane. You briskly walk through town with Zane and Rel quickly storing unneeded items at the Seaside Inn. Continuing to make your way towards the Briarwood Manor in search of dynamite. The sun now overhead as midday approaches, the streets in town are crowded but with five Zhelezo as well as Jarsali, the civilians in the streets quickly part as you briskly jaunt your way uphill to the Crescents. 

Tex and Bellamy, climbing aboard LIzzy you being to follow the path to the Gilded Esplanade as instructed. Suddenly, Bellamy, while riding behind Tex on LIzzy you feel one arm wrap around your waste from behind and a hand, green with sharp nails covers your mouth and pulls your head back. A deep voice grunts as it attempts to pull you from Lizzy to the ground.

Bellamy I need you to make an Athletics or Acrobatics check, contested by this individual . Who rolled a total of 12 athletics. 

Bellamy acrobatics

11

Bellamy, your body is pulled from atop Lizzy and as you tumble to the ground, your mouth covered by the green hand, you are pulled quickly behind a set of crates near the walkway you were on. You hear a voice speak, the voice of Vrakath, "Where are the rest, I would doubt you to be foolish enough to leave yourself this open to an attack. Where are they?" 

Tex, you have high enough Passive Perception to notice the commotion behind as well as the sound of a body hitting the dirt. You can act accordingly on your turn, Lizzy will ahve continued for full movement which is 30 feet from where Vrakath and Bellamy currently are.


Bellamy you are up. You are considered Grappled by Vrakath

Bellamy tries to break free

Acrobatics check

11

Bellamy, Vrakath laughs as you sturggle. Then stumbles over a loose stone as you break free of his grasp. He laughs, "Where are the others little tabaxi, I will finish what you all started..."

Tex and Lizzy are up. On your turn, they are 30 feet away form you. Vrakath is half cover from the crates