Kellen

Climbing in the boat, Kellen takes off his cap and tell Joell'n Get us the hell out of here, I need a drink and a good night's sleep. He stares out over the water...with the luck these guys seem to have, he wouldn't be surprised to see a huge tentacle come crashing down on him.

Unless you have further business here, Joell'n silently nods and raises his sail.

The waters are black, but relatively calm. It's a short sail back to the docks. Even at this wee hour of the morning, there are still many sailors awake on the wharves, mostly huddled on their decks, or around small braziers on the wharf, keeping warm, cooking, socializing, and looking for business, even at this hour. Many are in various states of intoxication.

(Where to? What next?)

Gerrard:

Sighing in relief that the kraken has not attacked the city, Gerrard hopes the threat is truly gone for good.

 “Perhaps we can get passage to Seaton and sleep on the ship?” asks Gerrard, “Or maybe we should check in with our allies first.  Call me soft, but I would be reassured by some indication that the threat to the Styes has passed and your city is on the mend, Master Kei.”

Kellen

Kellen nods to Joell'n in silent thanks, and bends down to pick up his pack. As he does, he slips a small bag of 25gp into a crate that clutters the ship's deck. (sleight of hand 23)

He looks Gerrard up and down. Just make sure you're near plenty of water. You don't want to get caught away from it when that starts to itch. You can go check in with your people....I'll go find us some passage. He swings his pack over his shoulder, makes sure his mandolin is secure, and sets off again, wondering exactly what he was going to tell Amos this time.

Gerrard:

”Right,” says Gerrard, making sure his heavy cloak is properly wet.  “Off to Master Refrum, then, shall we,” he asks of Kei.

"Alms?" halfheartedly grunts a hunchbacked beggar squatting in the dark at the edge of the wharf, to Kellen. He holds a grimy black hat with a few coppers in it. He looks drunk.

"Psst," he calls to Kei and Gerrard, quietly. It's Melody. "Councillor says 'hi'. Whatcha need? Boats? Bombs? Goons? We gotcha covered. No charge." 

Gerrard:

Taking out a few coins and sprinkling them into the hat in case any passers by are looking, Gerrard says, “Curse removal is currently my most immediate need, Melody.  Is the threat of undead from the Tammaraut neutralized as well, or does that task remain?”

Kei 

Kei stays close by Gerrard, constantly checking on his hydration level. When Melody's gruff voice he turns to face the imitation beggar. "I'm sure" he says condescendingly in reply to the councillor's alleged greeting. "Thanks for your help earlier. I admit, I was surprised to see you there. Now though, we need that cure".

Kellen

About to start questioning the beggar, knowing the streets of the Styes pretty well and never having seen this one, Kellen hears him whisper to the others and drops back. Seems that he won't have to wake up Amos after all...and these guys might have terrible luck, but decent benefactors it seemed.

"Cures, hmph," grunts Melody. "Well if your friend's got house guests again," he nods toward Kei, "boss says 'tough luck.' But she's feelin' generous. What else ye' need? Big knives? Poison snakes? Chain? Pipe? Siege towers? Swine? Cake? Whatcha need? Whatcha need? A bigger boat maybe? A softer bed? Greasy peas? Tammaraut bein' worked on, I'm told. No news, no news. What you got t' tell? Word is a certain warehouse owner succumbed to his ills, an' a bunch o' brain slave cultists got freed. Seems ye' picked up one." He nods to Kellen. "Whatcha got? Whatcha need?" 

Gerrard:

"The curse removal is for me--a byproduct of close physical contact with the deep sea aberration who led the cult before we killed it," says Gerrard, "which will be hopefully much more straightforward than the last issue."

"Of the warehouse owner, your information is correct.  The freeing of the brain slave cultists makes sense now that the cult leader is slain," Gerrard continues, "And it seems the colossal kraken--now free of the cult influence--it intended to demolish the city with has departed as well."

Kellen

Brain slave cul-starts Kellen, looking mildly offended, but he stops himself. He remembers that indeed, his brain was enslaved a very short while ago, so lets the comment slide.

Kei 

Taking Melody's chant-like rhetoric in stride, Kei plucks at the only useful bit of information. "If she is feeling generous, and right she should, then tell her we demand assistance in curing one of the city's saviours. If she's unable, incapable or otherwise not in agreeance then perhaps she can secure us safe passage to Seaton?" His disdain for Melody's employer evident.

Persuasion if needed 18

"No more cures. She made that abundantly clear. She did, she did. Boat to Seaton? That can be done, sure, sure. What kind? Disguise-y fishing boat? Official envoy? Warship? Goons and ballistas? And when, when? Now? Tomorrow? Next week? And what's this kraken business? You need overland passage? What else? Whatcha need?"

Gerrard:

”I would think a low profile approach would be good,” says Gerrard, “with a hope that the Procan priest in Seaton can grant a cure.”

To Kei and Kellen, he adds, “The priest of Procan who perished soon after we arrived at the Styes had the vision of the wreck of the Tammaraut.  Perhaps if we deal with that on the way we will stand a better chance of getting a cure for me.”

Kei 

"You know what, you're current...um, state, might be of advantage if we're to tackle something underwater. At a minimum we won't have to worry about keeping your skin wet" says Kei in response to Gerrard's statement. 

"Fishin' boat, then," mutters Melody, still squatting at the edge of the dark wharf. The night is black, the city quiet. "I can have you out o' here within the hour dependin' on whatcha need on it. Whatcha need? What else ye' need? I ain't comin' with ye' so make yer needs known. No charge, no charge."

Gerrard:

”A boat with captain and crew who ask few questions and know the way to Seaton and the site of the Tammaraut wreck,” says Gerrard, “Weapons that might work well underwater, especially at range.  Maybe some healing potions.”

”If we leave yet tonight, we should be able to rest well enough in transit,” suggests the young noble to his companions.

Melody pauses for a moment, thinking. "Yer goin' on the Gloom, then. Cap'n Edrik. That oughta have what ye' need. They're ready t' go I think."

He stands with a grunt. "Follow me." He heads shoreward, back toward the city. "Best if we keep our heads down an' don't dawdle."

Gerrard:

”Let’s get moving, then,” says the sodden young noble, following the unexpected ally to the ship.  He checks to make sure Kellen and Kei follow, then adds as an afterthought, “Please tell Mistress Alcor and Master Fenwader where we have gone.  I should like to think they will join us again eventually.”