Above & Below

(Can we tell how many Dark Forest folks are moving on/ around the ship?)  

Cadmael can see three or four at a time from above - but they're constantly going in and out of doors that lead down from the main deck. There's been at least eight or nine different members while he's been surveying the ship. You can see as you approach that two additional members, wearing only tiny bits of bone as an indicator, have left the ship and are starting to untie the thickest ropes from the dock. They look younger and less imposing than some of the other members you've encountered. 

Let's forget it, says Brask.  It would be fun to bash 'em, but maybe we stay focused on the mission, right?  That's what good adventurers do.  Sooner we get out of this miserable place and back home, the sooner we can get back to...  I mean, keep saving the world from demons and stuff like that.

"Mm, seems smart," Pip nods. "Too bad whatever those monks were going to give you are probably on that ship, Kurama. But not worth dying over, I'm sure."

"I've survived this long without it, I am sure I will manage." Kurama replied with a slight smile.  "So what do we do now?  Our best lead to the last Sister is about to sail away and we still have the captives in the warehouse to consider as well."   

Let's deal with the captives first, says Brask.  Maybe we can get something useful out of them.  Doubt it, but worth a try.

If no-one has a better plan, Brask will lead the group back to the warehouse.

As you turn the corner to the warehouse entrance, one of your mercs startles and reaches for his blade, then pauses. "Oh...you're back." Inside, you find the other merc with the Dark Forest members, sitting around somberly at swordpoint. 

"Yes.  Unfortunately our mission did not go as planned." Kurama replied to the men as they returned to the warehouse.  Turning towards the tied up men, Kurama walked towards them and asked, "It appears your comrades have escaped on your ship docked in the harbor.  Could you tell us where they might be headed?"  

Brask stands behind Kurama, trying to look intimidating, though possibly this is redundant given the swords and all.

"Across the clouded sea, like always," one of them offers up. "We never been on the voyage...so don't know where exactly. Trading goods, selling goods, buying other things to bring back for the rich folk."

"That's really all we know..." the second one chimes in. "You're going to let us go, right? Take whatever  ye please."

Where on the sea?  Brask asks.  Or, if you don't know, who does?  Come on, be helpful, mate.  It's in your interests.  If you want to live, I mean.  Who knows lots of stuff about the sea and where things are?

"There are lands beyond the clouded sea," the slightly older man seems a bit more knowledgeable and talkative. "Most folks won't venture out that far, especially with a smaller boat. But if you make it there and back, you can make a bit of gold for yourself. I don't know where they are - somewhere out there."  He points his arm in the general direction of the ocean and waves it around vaguely. "Some of the rich folk down at the south end have boats that might be able to make the trip...but rich folk usually don't like takin' risks. Dangers in the water. And probably on land, if you can make it there."

Kurama gave the others a look before motioning them off to the side to talk more privately for a moment.  "So it seems our best path forward is to convince one of the 'rich folk' to take us to the land beyond the clouded sea and hope we find the last Sister there.  Do any of you know how much passage by boat usually costs?  Perhaps we could find someone willing to let us work on their ship in exchange for passage.  I must admit, I've always been curious about what a sea voyage would be like."  (Kurama has 60gp and has never been on a boat before so he has no idea XD) 

"Not cheap," Pip ponders. "There was that fancy dressed man back when we first got into town. Said he had a boat. But probably others around too. Busy dock."

"I suppose that is as good a place as any to begin."  Kurama replied to Pip.  "In addition, we should probably let the monks know as well that we were unable to obtain their stolen items." Kurama added as scratched at his head a slightly abashed manner.  

Brask has no money, but he will grab some off Kurama to pay off the two mercs he hired.  Sorry for wasting your time.  I'll make it up to you next time we're in town.  Sure to have made some new enemies by then.  Now sod off home.

Then he'll let the captured idiots go, untying them and giving them each a powerful kick in the backside as they run out the door.  He's trying to send them sprawling, for his own amusement.  Athletics 21 and 17 for shove attempts.

Right, we need to get going, he says to Kurama, Effort and Pip.  Off to the monks first, you said?  And he starts back to where we last met them.

The first kick grazes his backside, but he stumbles and recovers before running out the door. The second kick connects like you've never connected before. The man goes fully horizontal as he flies out of the open doorway, sliding along the dirt road until he crashes into a comically large pile of horse manure. 

Back at the monk's hideout, you fill them in on the departure of the Dark Forest ship. 

"Oh...that is rather disappointing considering the items they had taken from us. Still, there is nothing to be done about it now. We thank you for trying. Perhaps they have been scared off for awhile thanks to all that transpired at their hideout and warehouse. If we can be of any further service to you, please let us know. We don't have much space, as you can see, but you are welcome to rest here as well."

It's late in the afternoon and the skies have steadily been darkening. Probably prudent to rest up until morning.

You all finish a long rest.

The monks don't have close relationships with any of the wealthier ship owners, but they caution that it will either be expensive to get on one of their boats or they will require you to work throughout the voyage. At the docks, the boats that seem large enough to get out to sea are either owned by wealthy merchants or by fishing companies. The latter look more weathered, of course.

That guy in the church with the rings, Brask said.  Lazar, or something?  Said we should go talk to him if we need a boat.  In... Brask thinks really hard, trying to recall the conversation, the north side of town?  I dunno.  I say we find a fish peasant and get him to take us there.