Malvoisin's Savage Tide, Act 1 - There Is No Honor

[hafrogman]

Keoni nods at the words of the others. His friends make much sense, the half-elf is a shifty one, but he obviously knows something.

"A trap is only such when the target is unaware. If we go in looking for trouble, it may find us, and then we can set Chongo upon the trouble to squeeze information out of it. I can put in a coin to move things along here."

 

[Voadam]

Kalen whispers back to Col "If we grab him, tie him up in secluded quarters and I have room and time to work unhindered I could charm him into telling us what he knows, but the hypnotic displays I used upon Vark's man would be obvious and chancy if used in a bar."

 

[Voadam]

"I say we use our new guide and just remain aware then. Did he say he has a boat to take us there?"

 

[stonegod]

Col mutters to himself, "I still say we should be enchant'n his brain, but if ye want to regret it, it be yer doom."

 

[Malvoisin]

With Kalen having decided against trying to ensorcel the mind of Shefton, the group reaches a consensus...to allow the half-elf to guide them to the smuggler's tunnels under Parrot Island. Waving Shefton back over to the table, Col asks if the expedition could depart on the morrow. Shefton agrees, "Sure thing, mate, that'll give me time to rustle up a boat. 'Course, there's the small detail of payment for services rendered, righty?" (Each character subtract 1 gold and 3 silvers from funds, please).

The group agrees to meet around sunrise the following day at the docks of Shadowshore, and Shefton saunters away, pleased with the jingle of new coins in his pockets. The party spends the evening relaxing and readying themselves for the mysteries of the island. (stonegod, go ahead and update Col's spells)

At sunrise, everyone assembles at the appointed place and time. Shefton seems particularly lighthearted, though no cleaner. He hums a little ditty as he prepares the boat for launch. Once all is ready, the group begins to row west.

Parrot Island is little more than a rocky outcropping surrounded by 30-foot-high cliffs, save for the eastern end, where a narrow beach affords a relatively easy approach. The isle is thickly vegetated, the trees above serving as the roost for hundreds of noisy, brightly colored parrots. Shefton points out an overgrown trail leading up from the beach to a small clearing at the center of the isle. Just as the half-elf claimed, the trail would have been somewhat difficult to find without prior knowledge of its existence.

Shefton kicks some dirt and brush at the south end of the clearing, and reveals a stone trap door. It too was extremely well hidden. The party realizes that, while they might eventually have found the trail and trap door, Shefton certainly saved them a lot of time at the least. Shefton grabs a ring set in the trap door, and hauls it open, revealing a five-foot-wide shaft leading down into the darkness below. A rope hangs from a hook in the wall, providing a method of descent.

"Well there, mates, you see...coin well spent, if I do say so myself. You'll find what you're looking for in the tunnels below."

 

[Legildur]

Bael bites his lip as the stone trap door opens. No doubt Shefton has led them truly, but what happens once they enter the shaft? Is it a trap? Can they get out if the door is closed? Can they leave the island if Shefton leaves? With these concerns in mind, the elven mage gestures for the one with the sharpest wit about them - Mad Col - to join him, where he whispers his concerns to the archivist. ".... what if we take him with us?" whispers Bael. "And hide his boat - if possible."

 

[stonegod]

Col is not happy the following morning. He was sure this was all folly. Should have pried open that shifty half elf with a hot iron or something. It didn't smell right, this business, but no one listens to the old man.

When they all gather, he gives a bleary eye at Shefton, but does not say much during the ride. He grunts when Shefton 'finds' the trail, harumphs when Shefton 'uncovers' the stone door, and grumbles at Shefton's invitation to descend. Absorbed in his rant, he doesn't see Bael's crooked finger, and instead stomps up to Shefton.

The old man glares at the half-elf again, gets up right to his face and says, "I do be know'n who you be, Master Shefton, and I'll be seeing you in the Abyss if this be some hookum." He eyes the man once more to make his point.

".... what if we take him with us?" whispers Bael. "And hide his boat - if possible."

A cough from Bael gets the old man's attention, and he walks over sourly. Col nods once at the mage's words, then turns to the rest. "I not be goin' down first." An evil grin splits his face. "Why donna our guide be our guest." To Bael, he whispers, "Best be gett'n Kalen to beguile the fool if we are going to be mov'n anythin'."

 

[Legildur]

To Bael, he whispers, "Best be gett'n Kalen to beguile the fool if we are going to be mov'n anythin'."

The elven mage nods his head in agreement as he scratches his chin in thought.

 

[Malvoisin]

The old man glares at the half-elf again, gets up right to his face and says, "I do be know'n who you be, Master Shefton, and I'll be seeing you in the Abyss if this be some hookum." He eyes the man once more to make his point.

"Hookum?! What are you talkin' bout, mate? I've done naught but given you what you wanted, and it was a pleasure doin' business with you, indeed. I've no idea what you're all steamed up about."

 

[Rhun]

Anar Tovanni

"Come now, friends. There is no need to bicker." The rogue eyes Shefton and Col sternly.

At the trapdoor, Anar looks down into the shaft, wondering what waits below. "So, Shefton, have you been down there? What can we expect on Vanthus and his associates?"