Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh

Earlier

Brynn was quite proud of themselves for slowing that scout down, and then that scout leading them to a secret passage. While they probably would have found it eventually, it literally opened the door to what was coming next.

She tries to keep her voice only just loud enough for her companions to hear as she solicits opinions on next steps.  "What course shall we take?  Give chase into unseen chambers and risk a further ambush?  Or secure this room first and search for clues before proceeding?"

Moving southwest and west through the living quarters toward the southwest door, Seri utters words in her strangely accented Aquatic Elvish dialect and gestures with her free arm as if raising something up.  Grasping seaweed and sticky, serrated kelp seem to spring from the ground just beyond the secret door that the Scout had fled through, seeking to ensnare them.

Brynn heard Seri's questions. They had been quietly considering the proposed course of actions as they tinkered.

Honeyed hues would look up from restocking and adjusting their prosthetic to shift into another setting, to catch sight of Seri bringing vegetation to life to further slow down the scout. Watching the seaweed and kelp grasp and latch to snare, Brynn feels an involuntary shudder crawl through their body. It made them think of the feeling of it tickling their legs or toes from the depths of a water body, and that was enough to give them a moment of the heebee jeebees. However, that of course didn't stop them from grinning. "Thatta girl." The words leave their mouth before they think of it. The shipwright was thankful the aquatic tendrils were 'on their side', and commending her restraining tactics. 

Darixa also moves quickly into the room, noting the two thugs who had already been dispatched. She keeps just behind Brynn, looking off towards where the scout had vanished. "Given the number of beds, I can only presume there are more than just 3 people around here somewhere. I'd say we should keep moving, but with caution. They know the layout and time will only give them more time to catch us off guard."

She does glance back at those who had already been killed, curious if either of them might have been involved with her sister's death. 

Hearing Darixa's voice behind them, Brynn stands up straighter, broadening their stance to provide cover. They look over their shoulder to her. "Never cleared the upstairs either." They remind gently. "Just gotta keep our head on a swivel-"

He screams out, “Sanbalat it is a gang wielding magic, HELP!!”

Brynn's not entirely sure why, but it was at this point that they were reminded... Weren't they supposed to be 'discrete' and not get caught? They can't help but let out a soft snort from their nose. They were way beyond that now. "Aye, we got a name." They note, perhaps a bit obviously, but it was something.

"D you mentioned somethin' before we came out here. Something 'bout this place havin' a library with old tomes..." They think out loud as their eyes trace back to the unexplored doors. "An' an alchemist." It could be a complete stretch, but this place hasn't been without it's coincidences. "That their name by chance?"

Before they knew it, Cook had already chased after the slaver with Esme following close behind. Soon enough, the screamer was silenced.

As the others fanned out, collecting and searching bodies, investigating the room and gathering valuables, Brynn also would have taken a direction to cover. Those doors, and corresponding rooms. They would have started with confirming any traps or triggers on or around either of them, particularly the one labeled with 'DANGER'. They'd listen for anything beyond them prior to first opening the unmarked door to investigate that room. The 'DANGER' room would be next. They'd take extra caution by looking for, or drilling a peephole if they can, to peek inside before opening it.
(Things were developing quickly and I hadn't a chance to catch up/respond in time before post #175. I had mentioned in OOC that Brynn would be interested in investigating those rooms/doors. Would it be reasonable that they could have done this at the same time as the others did their investigations?)
(Rolled in case... Investigation: 17 | Perception: 17 | Sleight of Hand: 22 + 2 tool proficiency if needed to disarm anything and/or drill peep hole)

Now

Time passes as the room and bodies are searched.  Thistle has reported on the lit passageways and slavers…

A nervous looking ‘slaver’ unarmed approaches from the steps leading up to the cellar,

“Excuse me sir.  Lord Sanbalet wishes to know who and what the hell is going on here?  Whatever your here for perhaps a better deal could be struck?”

-The man looks scared out of his wits.

The man is fully intimidated, “I was in the window, signaling.  She must’ve seen the light.  Well Lord Sanbalet, he’s not kind and this location isn’t sposed to attract attention.  We’re not runnin a hospice after all.  One thing after another an she ends up dead… I’m sorry.  Shouldn’t have left her there neither, but Sanbalet’s a cruel man an powerful.  Whatever you’ve taken you should go.  Unless you wanna face the real haunt and split the gold formula!  I’d warn ya against fighting Sanbalet, it’ll only shed more blood.”

Esme your connection with Thistle suddenly ends.

When the group is joined by the slaver that descends the stairs, Brynn would be/come near enough to see, and hear. By now, they'd have hopefully collected, catelogued and organized the items gathered by them and their companions. Boot pad forward, eyes scan, ears listen, and fingers prepare. 

"Guys, we need to keep in mind he may just be stalling us." She's hardly the best lookout, but she takes a glance back the way they'd originally came down the stairs to make sure nothing is happening there.

Brynn had found themselves coming to stand near Darixa during the slavers confession of her sister's death. "Or baiting us away." They suggest another consideration as they rest a hand on her shoulder, thinking about what they may have discovered in those rooms. They all may be standing between them, and the thing they may value most in this hidey hole. The shipwright was ready to support what ever insight or confirmation Seri, D, or the others could offer.

As the others focused on keeping watch searching the room and bodies, Brynn did her best to check the other 2 doors in this cellar.  The ‘danger’ door is boarded up and once a hole is drilled through the area beyond is pitch black…

As for the other door the room beyond is unlike the cellar/barracks, this small room holds comfortable furnishings and appears to be well cared for.

A comfortable-looking bed in the northwest corner has a wooden locker at its foot.

A small wooden table stands against the east wall, with a padded leather chair beside it. On the table, a brass three-branch candlestick with three burning candles provides the room with bright light. The candles, though not fresh, are far from spent.

Under the table is a small wooden box and an unlit bullseye lantern with a movable shutter over the lens.

On a shelf above the table sit three books. In the northeast corner is a closed wooden wardrobe.

With her rolls Brynn discovers;  

• A volume of erotic poetry, fully illustrated
• A naval almanac listing tide times for the area of coast around Saltmarsh (a total of one hundred miles of coastline is covered)
• A treatise concerning the demigod Iuz and its minions

Inside the third book is a sheet of parchment featuring a few simple words and phrases in the Common tongue and their equivalents in Goblin. The words include “stop,” “fight,” “lift,” “come,” and so forth.

Bullseye Lantern. You realizes that the lantern is used only infrequently.

The three books are worth 10 gp each. A fancy floor-length oilskin coat (5 gp) hangs in the wardrobe. Its sleeves contain numerous pockets (empty), and it is trimmed in iridescent green silk.

Brynn finds a hidden compartment under the table that holds a spellbook.

The small wooden box holds twelve candles, flint and steel, and a piece of parchment that details a method of communicating with the Sea Ghost.

As the man talks it is clear this group is involved in both smuggling, slave trade, and recovering a valuable treasure beyond the barred door.  He is not aware of Sanbalet’s immediate tactics, whether or not he is a distraction.  

Seri's gaze hardens as it becomes clear the messenger and the group he represents, seemingly led by this Sanbalet, are both smugglers and slavers among other things.  To her knowledge, Procan is ambivalent about smuggling and piracy, though she as former crew of the privateer vessel Dragonfly has learned to oppose both.  But slavers?  Slavery and the removal of freedom it represents is an abomination in the eyes of the Wave Father.

Putting herself on the other side of the messenger, blocking his escape back down the stairs to the seaward caves,  Seri eyes him coldly, trident in hand.

"First, know this.  If you move to flee or call out a warning, by Procan's teeming tide, I shall slay you on the spot, unarmed or no."
(Seri readies True Strike with her trident.)

Without taking her eyes from the man, she continues.  "I had hoped that the information we had of slavers being involved here was a red herring.  Yet it appears true enough.  Coupled with their guilt in the murder of Darixa's sister, I believe they must die.  The rest of them anyway.  This one, I am willing to spare, for his courage in approaching us unarmed, and the slight contrition he was able to muster for Ainura's murder.  What say you all?"

Seri looks to the others for their thoughts, but she is clearly ready to take the battle to the slavers in the caves below, after perhaps binding and knocking out the one they are currently speaking with.

"I was hoping there wouldn't be need to pour it down your throat big man, but if that is what you desire I will hold on to it for you and hope I won't find use for it." The young Rhenee beauty says with a warm smile to the cook, returning the vial it's pocket.

As her contact with the dark fae ends she gets a brief expression of worry, trying to call her associate back to her side but fearing they might have been involuntarily sent back home.

 "Yes, no need to kill this one, yet." Esme agrees, still giving the slaver the eye, although only too keep him convinced that he should better keep cooperating. She herself wasn't really prepared to kill a prisoner but there was no need in sharing that now. "I suggest we tie him up now and I will try to lure this Sanbalet up here under the pretense that we are ready to strike a deal with him."

The man’s eyes are wide as Seri blocks the chambers below.  He bows on the ground as she readies her trident.  When Esme states her intention, he quickly says, “His lust for the treasure is his obsession, I I… he has hobgoblin warriors with him, uhh oh I can fit in my locker I have no key.  I won’t make a sound.  We're only half of the operation.”

As he is talking another voice calls up from below,  “Fellow mages it is me Sanbalet, where is my man?  Have we struck a deal?  Or must we clash?”

"Into your locker you go then." The young Rhenee beauty says, her full lips curving into an amused smile over the thought. A man of such utter subservience might even turn out to be a good little servant in time. She then turns to address Sanbalet. "There is no need for us to clash great Sanbalet, I'm certain we can arrange some kind of deal, but tell us what you want our help to find, and tell us also what will stop you from using your powerful magic to slay us all when you have what you want." She calls down the caves without showing herself, deciding to feed the man's vanity while gathering more information.

Lucky deception: 24

“Excellent, do you know the history of the Makaster Mansion?  If not perhaps you’ve heard of the Philosopher’s Stone?  Sanbalet and Punketah believe its formula is here!  Pray tell if you had your own king’s ransom you could do anything!  You have my word, I will leave you to go your way if you help me clear the Alchemist’s lab, carefully so not to destroy his discovery.”

Makaster Mansion history DC 20

 Philosopher Stone Arcana DC 14

"So we both get the formula for the philospher's stone then? Okay, how do we do this? What can we help you with great Sanbalet?" Esme calls back down, grinning and winking at her companions, motioning for the subservient smuggler to get his butt down into his locker and close it after him.

History: 4
Arcana: 13

(Cook nows nothing about either, nor much of anything else for that matter...)

     As the daft fool offers to climb into his own trunk, Cook is more than willing to accommodate him.

     With Seri having stepped past to take up guard between the caverns and the cellar, Cook moves to the man efficiently. He produces a length of rope and sets to work - hands first, binding them tight and proper, then following it up with a generous wad of rag, stuffed into the man’s mouth and secured firmly in place to keep him quiet. He works quickly, assuming no resistance, while Esme handles the second voice beyond.

     “None of us are wanting more violence, yeah?” Cook murmurs under his breath as he tightens the last knot. He gives the rope a testing tug, satisfied. “It’s the other half we’re worried about.”

    Cook leans in just slightly, voice low but steady.

     “You just stay quiet and keep yourself calm, and we’ll see this all sorted proper, eh?”

Quote from Oberon99 >>

"So we both get the formula for the philospher's stone then? Okay, how do we do this? What can we help you with great Sanbalet?" Esme calls back down…

 ”Well my dear, Sanbalet and his ‘warriors’ (in goblin) will head up to the cellar now and once we are all ready we’ll throw open the entry to the Laboratory, destroy the undead within and recover the priceless formula.”  Two armed and armored hobgoblins enter the cellar from the caverns below…

Scale Mail not as pictured.

also not with weapons drawn.

Quote from Tybard>>

Putting herself on the other side of the messenger, blocking his escape back down the stairs to the seaward caves,  Seri eyes him coldly, trident in hand.

((Wouldn't Seri also be blocking the entrance to the cellar from these new people?  Cook only left his post doing that because he (I) thought she stepped past him and was even closer to the caves than he...))

Correct Seri would block them from entering the barrack/cellar.  If she restricts them from entering they grumble in goblin, as they wait for instructions…

Seri was blocking the unarmed messenger's exit.  As soon as he's tied up and secured, she remains for at least a few more moments...

She does look askance at Esme, trying to comprehend what the Rhenee woman is up to.  She does not relish the thought of a potential three-way battle between Sanbalet and his hobgoblin warriors on one side, the party on another, and whatever is beyond the barred door.

Seri's History:  18
Seri's Arcana:  20 (dirty)

(Before the hobgoblins enter):  "I have no idea what the erstwhile owner of this mansion was up to, though it seems obvious that it did not end well."  Seri keeps her voice low so as only to be heard by her companions.  "But everything I have read about the Philosopher's Stone from the tomes in the Temple of Procan in Seaton tells me it is a red herring.  A hoax.  An impossibility that intelligent but unwise people of greed and ambition chase compulsively."

However, Seri does not directly interfere with Esme's gambit.  As the hobgoblins approach, she holds up a finger at them in the universal symbol for 'wait a minute.'  Then turns and mouths silently at the rest of the party, jaw tight, Sanbalet is a slaver ringleader and must die.

From that point onward, she takes her cue from Esme, Cook and the others as to whether she should remain blocking the door or not. (?)

     Once the locker is stuffed Cook retraces his steps and goes back to the door separating the cellar and and caves.  He gives a bit of a nod to Seri and will interpose himself between her and the doorway if she allows - stepping into the doorway to face the hobgoblins if she steps back and makes room.  As he does so he uses druidcraft to create the odor of a skunk between the two hobs.  He doesn't mention the oder other than to scrunch up his nose a bit but it amuses him...  Otherwise he just stands there ready and waits to see what the talkers can negotiate.

During Brynn's Search

Seri steps aside and back into the room as Cook takes her place.  She looks to the others, mainly Esme as the Rhenee has been the one doing the talking.

In a low voice she whispers, trying to understand the plan:  "We are slaying this Sanbalet the moment he steps inside, correct?  Cook or I can cut off the door to the caves as a choke point if he calls for reinforcements.  And if he refuses to step inside, then no deal.  As I said, there is no Philosopher's Stone, and even if Sanbalet believes there is, I do not think he will allow himself to be manipulated to weaken his forces when we do not weaken ours?"

There is a bit of a question at the end of Seri's final statement, as even she would acknowledge that there is no way for her to be certain of any of this.

(OOC - Sorry, just catching up. Hopefully will get there soon and post more fully.

History: 12
Arcana: 11)

Darixa had remained listening as the others dealt with both is messenger and this Sanbalet from a distance. She was a bit curious at Seri's continued insistence on killing the slaver, though she certainly did not oppose such action. Especially in light of them likely having killed Ainura.  As she looks for confirmation, she would give her a slight affirmative nod. 

The appearance of the hobgoblins puts her a bit on alert. (OOC - not sure if we've resolved if they came into the room or if they were stopped?)  As they approach, they have her attention and she watches them warily. 

They are outside the room currently confused by the smell of ‘skunk’ Cook placed between them.  “What’s the hold up, let’s get to it if we’re both going to be rich as kings!  Fighters up front casters in the back.  Oh do you have a healer in your group?”

In goblin- “Go in now!”

The hobgoblins look at Cook ready to push him aside if necessary…

If Cook resists we'll roll initiative if not they will enter the cellar and move towards the ‘danger’ room.

If Brynn opens the danger room, we will start initiative.  If she looks without opening the door, searching through Sanbalet’s quarters first we’ll skip down to Cook’s choice…