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Ep. 18 Deception - Bellum Draconis
106 Plays2 years ago
Nyx's is trusted upon to gain important information on the Jade Blood Drops.
Follow us on our Twitters - @FellowshipTable
Intro written and produced by Joseph McDade
Recommended
Transcript
00:00:00
Speaker
It's nice though, it's nice to have a change. Well, they're all so different from previous, you know, except Callum and he's still playing volume. Oh yeah, fuck off. They've got a lot less attitude.
Setting the Scene
00:00:35
Speaker
Hello everyone, and welcome to this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop Bellum Draconis. We are a live play 5e D&D podcast set in the magical homebrewed world of Aerith in the Kingdom of Sleetguard. My name is Mark, and I am the Dungeon Master. And also with us for this week's episode, we have Callum, who plays the Warforged Artificer, Alpha. Feeling hot, hot, hot. We've got Willy who plays the human cleric, Emron. It's getting hot in here. Darren, who plays the High Elf Artificer, reigns Haddow.
00:01:04
Speaker
It was summer time when the weather was fine. I thought we had one of us. Ian, who plays the Tiefling Warlock, Nick's chorale. Summer, summer, summer time. That's such a lovely theme of heat. Thank you so much, guys, for that. That was gorgeous. Beautiful.
00:01:20
Speaker
I like that there were still many of us wearing our vests. What was it? Vests or less? Vests or less? Vests and Darren. Vests or less? And Darren. Yeah. He's wearing the Woolie Johnson. That's a whole different podcast then. Maybe that'll be our sister pod, not sister pod. Vests for less.
00:01:40
Speaker
Took phones for you, but anyway.
The Rescue Mission Begins
00:01:42
Speaker
Anyway, we are, unfortunately, still Marota-less, as you probably told. I mean, Danny is ready and raring to go. We know that, absolutely. But, unfortunately, we can't really have him back until these guys have rescued Marota, because otherwise it would be very awkward for a while. I think my fan's just doing other stuff for now. Danny's literally there in the wings, twiddling his thumbs, going, come on, guys. I came here to eat tofu and play D&D, and I've eaten all my tofu.
00:02:10
Speaker
And he just can't play the idea. Yes, that is a vegan reference. And yes, because I love you, Danny. But nonetheless, we are waiting on the party to rescue Marota, who is still missing. But last week's episode, what?
00:02:22
Speaker
Aerith's name. What happened last week? What happened last week? Well, normally we would go to our chronicler Danny, but obviously he is unavailable
Shopping for Supplies
00:02:33
Speaker
at the moment. So we're going to pass over to our rules consultant, Will, who's going to fill us in on what happened on the very, very long, very tumultuous, very, very deep episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop from last week.
00:02:45
Speaker
Previously on Sharp Economics Fellowship of the Tabletop. The crew went shopping. They went to the great and bountiful shop of guess-outs, swords and shields. There they met the fine blacksmith, Millbury Ashmore. A man with... missing the odd pinky.
00:03:08
Speaker
So, they went there. There was a lot of haggling. I mean, a lot of haggling. But anyway, we'll move on from that. Eventually, the party, after much haggling and much soul-searching of their purses, where Nyx was still holding back, the party managed to walk away with three shields, some armor and some potions, happy that they were now going to go towards the Elven ear to continue their plan to... eventually rescue Marota.
00:03:56
Speaker
You can see next as you walk past, you can see next, you can see comma, next comma, a familiar
City Journey and Dragon Aftermath
00:04:03
Speaker
figure as you walk through the town as you approach Veta Square. You see on a large number of crates, a halfling, a female halfling with her head tied back tight in a brine bun.
00:04:03
Speaker
Now tune in and see what happens.
00:04:14
Speaker
behind her head wearing a light blue jacket you recognize this as lassari elle who is doing her morning heralding as she shout sight about the the heroes of goldview over and across the group that no one seems to really be paying attention as you walk on through the area
00:04:31
Speaker
The sun is now high in the sky, it's probably about midday at this point, as you've walked from the south at the store that will so astutely describe to us just now, guess how it's Sword and Shield, up towards the exit on one of the internal roads towards the centre of Sleetguard, sorry, the centre of Sleetguard on the Ashcroft Road. Outside the city walls is where you are aiming for. You're looking for the elven ear.
00:04:58
Speaker
And to do that, you need to go out on the Ashcroft Road, past the gates and to a shop on the left, which was told to you by Millbury. You take your left onto Ashbury Road and head up through the busy cargo-filled streets. You notice a lot of internal goods coming in. You also notice, in this area particularly, in the center of town, more and more of the charred buildings, many of which are still destroyed.
00:05:25
Speaker
many of which are not touched nonetheless. It seems to be only specific streets, specific areas that have been badly hit by the dragon attack that only happened a few days ago.
00:05:36
Speaker
You continue along the road until you pass towards the gates of the city. And at the gates of the city, you notice two guards stood at the other side and one member of the abcrisco, you recognize this, from the purple robes and dark blue staff that this chap holds in his hand. The staff has learned against the wall and he has stood cross-armed, chatting and laughing with the two guards. None of them really seem to be paying attention. Most of the time they seem to just be ferrying in and allowing the goods to flow freely in or out of the city.
00:06:03
Speaker
They don't seem to be stopping anyone or asking any questions. The mood is light, the sun is high. We start walking towards the gates. You can probably see them about probably about 100 feet away at this moment as you walk towards them.
Planning a Discreet Movement
00:06:17
Speaker
What would you like to do?
00:06:23
Speaker
Well, being as everyone's going to think marks on a delay, if we keep being quiet for too long, um, um, Ron will look to Nick's and reigns and be a bit like, well, lads, this is, uh, your show as it were from this point on, I think.
00:06:48
Speaker
All right, well, we keep it simple. If you can do that next, we're looking to move some goods. You can decide what from down here, down towards Dredak, and we want to know how we can do it without having to take the main roads. We're looking for the scenic route where people don't tend to ask too many questions. Yeah, sure. Awesome.
00:07:14
Speaker
Just, uh, let's just take a moment here. Okay. Follow my lead. All be okay. Let's just go over what we want, what exactly we want
Smuggling Routes Discussion
00:07:27
Speaker
here. What's the, what's the end game? We need to, first of all, know what routes the jade blood drops can get Marauder out of the city. And, you know, if we were to be able to, uh,
00:07:45
Speaker
know whereabouts they might be old enough that's a bonus but we might struggle to find out from this person but you never know I think that that's about it don't you think reigns yeah I think we're mostly looking for where we can look to surprise these people ourselves in the way that they surprised us on the road a couple of hours from the city no more than that okay okay no problem mr.
00:08:15
Speaker
Let's do, uh, before we go, uh, Raines, do you want to show up so that Alpha and M1 can see exactly why we're here? Was there an advert that you took some sort of weird thing? Oh, yeah. Oh, I mean, I can, I can revisit that. If that, what people would like one second. I mean, they go into the bag of holding, pull out one of the Rubik's cubes, play entry log four to one.
The Theft Job Proposal
00:08:40
Speaker
And what comes up is the notice board. I'm just going to sleep my niece or nope. Will anybody help them nope? They do not own nope. I hate it.
00:08:52
Speaker
And this is my baby. I hate it when items you want don't end up in your house without you having to pay any money for it. Of course, I know this is illegal and I would never commit the crime. If you share my love for the law and not breaking it in any way for massive monetary gains and support of a local merchant, visit my shop and I'll point that at the elven ear. The elven ear. And then dismiss the image and drop the Rubik's kid back in the bag of holding. Okay, so.
00:09:22
Speaker
Follow my lead. Just remember the goals in your head. Act a little bit like you don't want to be there, but at the same time, you are interested in what he's got to say, okay? Okay.
00:09:38
Speaker
I presume we don't want me with my royal sigils on my... About that, maybe Reigns, Alpha, stay outside for just a heartbeat. Everyone come with me and then give it... give it two minutes, and then Reigns come in with Alpha and act like patrons, okay?
00:10:00
Speaker
Okay, it's not a bad idea. We can do that. Okay, everyone. Follow me. Two minutes, guys. Ready? That's cool.
00:10:10
Speaker
You head towards the door of the elven ear and you notice this large almost Tudor-esque building stands out different to the others around it, even to the one next to it. It has a large set out front window, a large heavy set door that stands only slightly ajar compared to other shops whose doors are very much open for business through the day.
Exploring the Elven Ear
00:10:34
Speaker
As you step inside the dusty, dark store, you notice only one or two small candles lit around the space. This whole space is filled with stuff and dust and dirt and just, it feels like a kind of like a storage space really.
00:10:56
Speaker
The only thing that you know for certain makes this not a storage space is the fact that everything has a small card price placed either on or next to it. You look around and there's kind of like literally big, big stacks of things of books and of items all kind of piled up, which stops your view directly through the large store. But you can see directly straight ahead to the far end. And you do see a small
00:11:26
Speaker
relatively old talking kind of in his late 60s man stood there he is hairless aside from two very clear mutton are they mutton chops the ones that just come down the side of your yeah yeah mutton chops yeah two
00:11:41
Speaker
grey mutton chops that come down, perfectly clean-shaven down the central portion, but the rest of us say he's totally bold except just these mutton chops. He's wearing a very polite suit, I would call it, with a tie and a white shirt and a waistcoat upon that, that's all very done up, very tight. The problem being is though that he has a bulging stomach and it means that it pulls heavily and haughtily on all the lower buttons.
00:12:09
Speaker
And he also wears upon his hands two very ornate green gloves as he stands quill in hand writing at the desk behind. He looks up to see you both and smiles. If there's anything you need, please feel free to come and speak to me.
Job Offer from Tristan Greeneye
00:12:26
Speaker
And continues. Oh, absolutely will do. We're just here straight from Clay Peak Hall. We saw your advertisement on the notice board there and we had to come and have a look at this place.
00:12:37
Speaker
He, without making eye contact, puts the pen down and shuffles, literally kind of scuttles over to the door and just quietly pushes the door too slightly. You notice he moves a lot with his hands. His hands seem to gesture a lot around and rest, rest are kind of up underneath his chin, almost resting them, kind of placing them upon where his heart might be in the middle of his chest. I wish he wouldn't say that quite so loud, you know, it might put some other patrons off, but please come, yeah, let's go towards Medesk near the back.
00:13:07
Speaker
Absolutely, sorry, is Claypeak Hall a bad? I'm not from this area, I've just arrived here on the Esmeralda, the big ship in the dock, you might have seen it, but me mentioning Claypeak Hall puts you at unease? Oh no, good sir, not Claypeak Hall in particular, but just the preclutivity of what I put in the note might ruffle some feathers if you get madrift.
00:13:34
Speaker
Absolutely. Because we are talking about stealing here, aren't we? We are talking below the belt stuff, yes. Right, I didn't expect you to be so open about it. Well, I've shut the door and no one can hear me with the door shut, can they, really? Well, I don't know. There is some unnerving types around here. Are you sure there's no one else in the shop?
00:13:58
Speaker
No, not many people come this far out this early in the morning to my shop. So you are the only... You say there's some other folk outside and he's going to shuffle over and peek through the door. Oh my, there are. Look at those two chaps down there. I might shut the door and lock it just to stop any other folk coming in while we talk. I would because those people out there are more royalty and we're trying to
00:14:26
Speaker
broker a deal with you but we've had to wait a while for the shop to just open up and be free oh my oh my indeedy okay well uh you know what i'll just shut the door i won't lock it hopefully they'll take the message he
Negotiating the Theft Job
00:14:40
Speaker
just shuts the door emron during this has just been stood sort of behind nick sort of got his shield and his hammer on his back and he's actually sort of folded his arms trying to do his best sort of
00:14:52
Speaker
I don't know, muscle kind of, hide muscle kind of act for the moment. I should really introduce myself, shouldn't I? My name's Tristan, Tristan Greeneye, and you are any gestures towards next. Knox.
00:15:12
Speaker
Pleased to meet you, and this is my friend, Fred. Nox and Fred. Nice to meet you both. Nice pseudonyms I think appropriate given the situation. Nox and Fred. Fred is the large one here. You're a very perceptive, intelligent individual already.
00:15:31
Speaker
But I don't. I've never heard of you. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself before we broker any sort of deal and help you in any sort of things that you need helping with? Well, given the clandestine nature of our dealings and our job that's about to take place, young Knox, I think it best I keep most details to myself. Suffice it to say that I am the owner and proprietor of this here shop since my great, great, great, great, great grandfather passed away not too long ago.
00:15:58
Speaker
And I took over from him here. Unfortunately, the place is in dire straits. And unfortunately, legal means does not seem to bring forth the equitable amount of income I require for my lifestyle, which is rather lavish, to say the least, which is to say the most, which is rather lavish in itself. You're quite open about this thing.
00:16:20
Speaker
Well, the door is shut and the store is empty. I thought only best to be honest with you. Sorry, I'm really having fun with this. The store! I like that! I am being honest because, as I mentioned, auditorily, you cannot hear through the oak. Right. So what pushed you to make this advertisement? Because we're the kind of people... Sounds like we could help you out.
00:16:50
Speaker
But we need to know who we're jumping into bed with. Why would you put an advertisement like that into the Clay Peak Hall? The problem being is that the dealings I currently have are with people that are appropriate more in assassinations and summoning devils and demons and the like. And this just wasn't their kind of bird of fish, if you know what I mean. This was something much lighter and actually more pirate based than I would consider the need of assassins or satanic rituals, so to speak, or indeed that of mages or clinics.
00:17:19
Speaker
I have many friends in many circles, but you don't want to bother them with belligerent things about greed, if indeed they are not the greedy types. I do not know many pirates, but I do know lots of dangerous people, you see. So that feelers were put out without putting people out, if you catch my drift. So, on hearing the word pirate, Nix draws himself up to full length and does a little twirl. If you're after pirates, my friend, I'm at your service, Knox Pirell.
00:17:48
Speaker
I am the great pirate from the Esmeralda as I have just said the ship that's currently in the dock and if you are needing a pirate me and my friend here, Fred, he's the quartermaster on our ship, we're here to help you and we need some work.
00:18:08
Speaker
He looks to both of you for a second. Fantastic. Let me just put one final card on the table, so to speak, if you will. Pardon the expression and palaver here. I don't get fucked with. If you mess me over, as I said, I have friends that will kill for much less. So just bear that in mind that I may seem lighthearted and equivocal in the way in which I speak, but I'm rather straight to the point if again you take my meaning.
00:18:35
Speaker
Yes, absolutely. Cards on the table, what is the job you would require us to do? The job is this. There are some rather rare fabrics that are being shipped over from Dralak that have come in, that will be coming in eventually across the Bronze Storm Sea.
00:18:52
Speaker
If these fabrics were to fall off the boat and end up in my stower, I would pay handsomely for the renumeration of these materials that, of course, I would then take and pass back to their rightful owners back in Bat-Dralak in good time for a hefty profit.
00:19:16
Speaker
Well, that's where the silks do come from eventually. They come over on boats. They're heading away, unfortunately, stopping in the Goldview port, then off to the Sanguine Lands. What a waste. Why not keep them here? Why not keep them in Goldview? That's what I say. Make a profit for profit's sake.
00:19:33
Speaker
So you need someone to go and intercept the ship before it reaches the Goldview Harbour? Well, at the Goldview Harbour, whatever your means of transportation and stealing best suits your piracy needs, not Sperrel, whatever works for you is what works for you.
00:19:50
Speaker
I know they'll get in relatively soon in the next couple of days maybe, but it's really your call. Depending on the oceans or how quick those Drelak people really can stack a boat, I don't know how well they can particularly. Sometimes it might take a while. I have had many dealings with them to be honest. What's the reward for such a fine treasure? Because you're asking quite a lot. Is this ship armed?
00:20:15
Speaker
I have no idea. Probably not, it's only a merchant vessel at 560 gold pieces.
00:20:23
Speaker
That is the reward depending on the quality of the goods obviously if they are bloodstained or ripped and the like or I can see brain matter upon them or any other such destructive features then the price will be knocked down obviously for cleaning purposes as you can imagine but pristine conditions with the amount and weight I'm expecting 560 gold pieces. How many rugs are you or carpets are you looking to?
00:20:49
Speaker
Pilfer, here. He scoffs at this. They're not rugs or carpets, Knox Pirell. They are the finest silks of Dralak, which I will make into fantastic clothes, and actually some curtains as well, thank you very much, and sell for a massive and very tidy profit for myself. How many items of this silk are you requiring?
00:21:11
Speaker
The ship worth, surely not? No, the whole ship, they'll probably opt to in, including three thousand gold pieces worth of materials upon that, but the like of which does not interest me. I'm not interested in what else they have on the ship. The other goods they might have on there, they're yours for all I care. All I want are the silks.
00:21:33
Speaker
And when does this ship come to port? Couple of days, I think. It depends, like I said, on how long it takes for them to stack the ship in Dralak before it comes over
Moral Debate on Stealing
00:21:43
Speaker
here. They'll get rid of some of their cargo here and then take the silks and other things over to the Sangreen lands. What a waste. Keep them here, I say. Let's keep them in sleep, guard.
00:22:00
Speaker
Let me talk to my colleague about this, if you'd be so kind. Of course, take your time. I'll be back there with my wares. And he wanders back and starts making notes. I have to be a shot as well, kind of 10, 15 meters away. I must admit, everyone, he's put me on the back foot with being so open about this. However, we might have been able to procure a bargain here. What say that we take this job?
00:22:31
Speaker
And instead of gold, we ask for information. No. It's a simple job on a ship. I have a ship. I have means to complete this job. I've no, I don't steal from folk. This is more like borrowing. Circle of life. I don't want to steal from folk.
00:22:57
Speaker
So how do you think we should proceed here? Because I'm thinking we could use this as a bargaining tool to get the information that we need and all that's required is a light bit of fingerwork from one vessel to another. I don't want to steal. So am I right in thinking that this is you not stealing is now because of our bond stopping me from stealing?
00:23:28
Speaker
I. How do you suggest we go about getting the information then? I'd just be very forthright and say, look, we're trying to shift stuff. We're not out to do him any favors at the moment. You know, we don't know him. It could be a sell-off.
00:23:51
Speaker
I don't think it's a setup, Emron. This is a pretty standard pirate affair. I've done this. I'm saying that's what you could say. You're concerned that we've been given a gift to us and you don't normally expect a job like this, I would imagine, to come on silver platter. As a man at sea, how often does a job like this come wandering along?
00:24:17
Speaker
Steering them from vessels comes along more than you think. Fine. Let's see what we can do. Hello. Sorry about that. Come to a decision, have we finally? My friend has concerns. He's the strong, silent type, doesn't talk a lot. And when he does, it's very honest.
00:24:38
Speaker
Straight to the point. Oh, dear. What problems does he have? Well, to be fair, he's thinking a job like this for that high a reward doesn't come along very often. So he's he's being cautious and saying, how do we know you're trustworthy, knowledgeable and have dealt in this kind of salubius. Nature before.
00:25:08
Speaker
He pauses for a moment. Well, you don't. That's all part and parcel of dealing with people below the law or above the law, depending on which way you choose to look at it. How many people below the law would you say you've dealt with? Or is this your first time?
00:25:24
Speaker
Because if it is your first time, there is more cause for concern. Well, this is my first time dealing with a piracy, so to speak, but I have had six individual members of different guilds across the lands murdered, if that counts.
00:25:44
Speaker
just throwing it out there. As I mentioned, I have friends in high places when it comes to the salubrious, as you call it, ways around the world. Unfortunately, I don't want to bother them with something as mundane, as piracy, you see. Well, I've heard tell of some group out there when I was drinking in the Clay Peak Hall. The Jade Blood Drops. Why couldn't you ask them?
00:26:09
Speaker
The Jade Blooddrops are people smugglers. They don't deal with the likes of piracy. They barely get on a boat. I don't think they even know how to spell boat, if you ask me. Well, if they smuggle people surely they can smuggle silks.
00:26:24
Speaker
But they don't smuggle across the sea, they smuggle across the land, and they only deal between the borders of the towns, but the places between Dralak preferentially, mainly between Sleekguard and Dralak, and everything to the other side of it, which is probably the Heral Empire, or internally. They stay off the seas, it's not their area of expertise. Why do you ask so much about the jade blood drops all of a sudden?
00:26:51
Speaker
I want to know the kind of person that you are is all.
00:26:57
Speaker
And being a person to this area, I'm trying to gather as much information as possible and talking to the dark people of the underbelly of the city is part of that. And like I said, I've heard about the Jade blood drops being part of this salubrious circle that you seem to be involved in. I need to make sure that I jump into bed with the right people. What do you want me to give you?
00:27:26
Speaker
Please be good. Oh, that jumped. Uh, 13. Hey, Nods. It makes sense. I'm new to you. You're new to me. Absolutely. I hope I've managed to say it to you. Will you take on the job or no? And Nix looks to Emeron. With wide eyes. Like, uh, Puss in Boots.
00:27:55
Speaker
Everyone will just look to Nick's. With a very small shake of his head.
00:28:08
Speaker
Yes, we'll absolutely take on the job. The mix will have the handover. Ah, Fantiny shakes your hand and then wipes his hand off. Fantastic. Like I said, next few days the ship will come in and then it's got some goods on it. Like I said, boxes. Look for the ones of the silks and they're the ones we're looking for. How you doing? Who you kill? I don't give a fuck. Either way. Okay. Just get me my goods. Bring them here. 560 gold pieces. I'll put upon your palm. Good sir. Will they just be the two of you or will there be a larger group joining you?
00:28:39
Speaker
Or is that not of
Plan to Deceive Tristan
00:28:41
Speaker
my concern? I don't really mind. And that's not of your concern. However, what's the ship's name? I don't know the ship's name particularly. Do you just know it's coming from Dralik? I do indeed. There is one every couple of days that comes from Dralik, you see. If you ask down at the docks, I'm sure some of the boys down there would know what we're looking for and what it might be.
00:29:05
Speaker
I believe it comes from Scorchhelm, which is the port area side of Dralak. Yeah. Oh, it speaks. Everyone will look to Nix. Boss, don't we have some of our own stuff we need to shift as well?
00:29:30
Speaker
Yes, but I don't think that this gentleman is the right sort of... I don't know if he does have the knowledge. Oh, excuse me, sorry for being an eavesdropper right there in your conversation, but I'm a very knowledgeable person, I'll have you know. Please, a hulking figure of a man, ask away. If I'm more, I might tell. Everyone, Fred, you feel free to tell...
00:29:57
Speaker
our new friend here, what our problem is. And just before you, everyone, as you step forward, about to say we just quickly pass outside to the waiting figures of Alpha and rain stood outside in the warm sun as passing traffic continues to pass in and out of the city, outside the city gates of Sleekard. Alpha, you're a literary man. When people say, give me a minute,
00:30:24
Speaker
Is that like 60 seconds to you? When do we go in there? I'm confused as to what we're doing right now. This has got away from me. One would assume we indeed wait two minutes. However, from previous reading experiences, we are waiting for a signal or some description. I don't recall any. You're supposed to have perfect memory. I don't recall anything about the signal. There was nothing mentioned. I'm speaking from experiences from reading my books.
00:30:54
Speaker
What do you think is going to happen now? For Nick's going to start waving at the window? Or he's going to wave the shoulders? Or the door's going to blow open? What do you think is going to happen? Exactly. I am unsure. We could confer. No, we're not going to go in there and drop. I am not going in there. And I'm just going to put my hand towards my temple. And I'm going to cast Message as a cantrip directly into Emron. And I'm just going to...
00:31:26
Speaker
speak to him and say, is it time for us to come in yet? If you are in need of assistance, please go near the window. We follow the message through the door, whooping towards everyone just to taking a big breath in to speak to, to speak to a person. Oh, God, I forgot his name. Tristan takes the breath in with that message goes into your head. Everyone. Someone will
00:31:53
Speaker
Open his mouth for a moment. Are there any windows in this place, Mark? There's one large bay window that sits. The door is behind you to the right. The window is behind you to the left. Okay. Just repeat the message for me, Callum. It's time for us to come in yet. If you are in the United of Assistance, please go near the window.
00:32:23
Speaker
take a step and he'll go to listen. Well, what me boss is trying to say is we've got certain stuff that we need to shift down south, if you get my meaning, without us
00:32:52
Speaker
knowing or without fork, who might be interested in it, knowing we're shifting stuff. And everyone will be just as he's talking sort of wondering, and going towards the window as he does this.
00:33:07
Speaker
you are going towards the window yes okay you two outside the window you would have seen emron stand near the window tristan is going to respond and then you guys literally just walk in whenever you want just let me know and you oh it depends on the wares in which you are transporting i have a number of different groups if it's valuables i know i have one group if it's people and i'd have another group it depends what what exactly are you hoping to
00:33:32
Speaker
to, uh, to move something. Oh, I guess we're doing it. Okay. Alpha's going. I guess we're going in. Yeah. Alpha would start to lead the way. He would quickly turn towards Reigns and say, he's gone towards the window. I believe he's in need of assistance. And Alpha would go quickly towards the door, stop himself, almost like complete emergency break style, and then just open the door.
00:33:57
Speaker
Oh, hello. Oh, that was a strange bit of my voice there. May I help you, young sir and other sir? Yes, we are just perusing in the area. We are a fan of
00:34:18
Speaker
bazaars and curiosities and all sorts of strange and wonderful things. And I saw this quirky little shop there over there and I said to my friend here, dear Archibald, wouldn't it be good to go into that shop and just see what sort of quirky curiosities they have with inside? And I was very excited to come in. I couldn't wait. It seemed so lovely.
00:34:42
Speaker
Well, thank you. Please feel free to peruse the wares as long as you wish. I'll be stood here with my two compatriots discussing some important business matters, so please feel free to interrupt us at any time. What sort of stuff does he sell here?
00:34:59
Speaker
reigns could is it what this is performative there is genuine stuff in here that would probably interest reigns there is a whole variety of knickknacks and trinkets small porcelain lots and lots of china and porcelain goods small statues of old gods banished gods banned gods illegal gods
00:35:20
Speaker
god gods, the triumvirate, Akiva on one side, and then everything else you can imagine from dried herbs and spices all the way through to strange books written in tongues and words that are illegible to you, all the way through to glass items, glasses, glasses for your eyes, glasses for your drinks, a selection of alcoholic beverages. I mean, we're talking literally like one of those shops that just the more you search, the more,
00:35:50
Speaker
subcategories you find of things so You searched long enough you'll pretty much find anything
00:36:01
Speaker
As the other two kind of wander off to start looking in the store and Tristram will watch them walk, walk, walk. And when he feels their comfortably out of ear shot turned back. So you were saying some things you needed to move. Let us level with you here. Okay. Do you see the fancy man at the front of the shop? I do. I was thinking of actually trying to rip him off in the moment. Do you wish to join me? No, he's the guy that we're trying to smuggle. He doesn't know it.
00:36:31
Speaker
We have befriended him and we are trying to smuggle him. He's wanted in Dralak and we need to find him safe passage to the way there. I was told that you might know people about this. Now, the good thing is you've already told me what you deal with and I am very interested in the pirate job, but I also have a job of my own.
00:36:58
Speaker
try and keep this under your hat he is unaware that he is a prisoner at the moment we have done quite a good job Fred and I and I'd like to keep it that way Tristan takes a moment he looks up and down the mark that you've picked who is the other one a bodyguard of some sort or one of your men he's one of Fred's mates friends
00:37:27
Speaker
And he's totally unaware? He's not all sentient, so yes. Oh, I meant the one we're capturing, the one that we're smuggling down. Oh, no, he's all there in the mind. But unaware of the plight of his future. He's unaware. He's unaware.
00:37:53
Speaker
So work your charm, don't let him know. I feel like we're quite similar people just trying to make our way in life without a law bringing us down. This is why you asked me about the jade blood drops.
00:38:10
Speaker
It's exactly why I asked you about the J. Blood drops. I see, I see. It'll cost you ten gold pieces for the information I'm going to give you. Knox Perrell. But if I take on the pirate job, surely I shouldn't have to pay you money for information.
00:38:27
Speaker
I don't deal with could and woulds in the future. I deal with here and now. I have information in my brain. I need payment for that information. Fine, but if I send someone in to do the pirate job for you, I expect 10 more gold added to the contract. How about this? You can take everything else on the boat, as I said, up to 3,000 gold pieces worth of other supplies that are all yours if you can carry them.
00:38:55
Speaker
Fair enough. Here's 10 gold and Nick will just slide it over.
00:39:12
Speaker
However, if you can get him there... Now, there's one of two ways we can do this. One, I knock him out with McCain, and he picks up a cane, I smack him over the back of the head, and we drag him down, and we take him to where the Jade Blood drops take their people and they pass them over. Or, if he's on a... It takes a long moment at that, just to kind of... Okay.
00:39:35
Speaker
Oh, the other option is we call the Jade Blood Drops and we wait five or six days as they finish up whatever crap they're doing at the moment to come and capture the man we're looking at and then take them down and eventually blah, blah, blah, wasting my time, wasting yours. The other option is you just go to the Jade Blood Drops. You go to where they do the transfer. You tell them you came from me. You tell them, you know, Tristan, drink green eye. You tell them you're one of my men.
00:40:01
Speaker
You can go in that way and then you can just drop him off there under their care.
Directions to Jade Blood Drops
00:40:05
Speaker
They might take a payment. They might not. That's their call. That's the business of being under or above the law, you see. And then there you go. They pass on. They transfer down to Dralak. You get your money. I get mine. Okay. How do we go about finding this place? Well, it's quite straightforward, really. I tell you the directions and then you go there. Okay. Give us the directions then. I've given you the money.
00:40:32
Speaker
OK. Yes. Option B. Option B. I'm trying to... Option C. That's the third one. The second one was the one where we call them in and they then take them from here. I see your meaning. You want to go to Catherine's Old Mill, which is, if you go on the...
00:40:48
Speaker
Matt, I haven't given you. On the Union Pass Road out of town, and you go on that for about half a day, as you get along the road, you see a broken-down windmill and an old abandoned farm there. If you go around the back of the windmill, there is a passage leading underground to a very large area, which are a number of jail cells, which the jade blood drops use to transfer people from that area across the border, you see. It's underground, so people don't really see it.
00:41:15
Speaker
And because it's at that end of the town, you see, it's quite close to the border with Dralak in about half a day's walk, if you're quick at night to get to the border. And then when you pass the border into the sandlands, they can't touch you. This is exactly why I came to you. I'm glad to see you lived up to the legend. One more thing. So he doesn't suspect anything.
00:41:45
Speaker
Can you find him something in this shop for him to buy? He likes gadgets and tinkering. Anything to keep his hands busy while we take him across the journey. He's interested in everything. You might make some coin. He smiles a toothy grin at this and you can see a few teeth missing in his otherwise pristine and porcelain face. Let me see what I can do. Thank you. But apart from that, we're still on for the silk job, correct?
00:42:13
Speaker
If all goes well, you should have a person called Facile come into this shop.
00:42:22
Speaker
He writes that down. For Seal, I will look for him or her, and await their arrival, and the arrival of my silks. Just a reminder, Knox, Perrel. I am not one to be fucked around with. Bear that in mind. I don't normally work in futures and things that might and could and should happen in the past and in the future. I'm going out on a limb here. Do not disappoint me. Sorry, Knox, Perrel.
00:42:49
Speaker
That was a genuine faux pas, that wasn't that... Oh bugger, fuck that, I'm joking. Sorry, I'm reading the nerds. Knox Parell. That was a genuine slip-up, he doesn't know your name at all. It's interesting, it goes two ways. If I find the information you've given me as any sort of falsehood, you won't be breathing the next day.
00:43:09
Speaker
And that I understand too, and I appreciate your candanocks, thank you very much. Excuse me, sir. Sir, over there, with the lovely jacket on. Hello there. Anything that's taken your interest or your perusal of late.
00:43:25
Speaker
Oh, well, I assume my friend here, Archibald, he's more of a construct, a servant. It's a long, we have this thing in shadow, man. I won't bore you with it. But we don't know the area. And we, these two people said that they come in here before us, they're like our guides. And they're just, they said they'd find me somewhere where I could find some novelty. And this appears to be the place I was admiring your statues of the deities.
00:43:56
Speaker
didn't see any of the shadowmen. I didn't see Sol or Selen anywhere along there, but that's okay. Is there anyone in particular you recommend? Oh, I'm so sorry. Unfortunately, some of the gods, especially in the more the quieter kingdoms, so to speak, sometimes don't like to export many of their religious, sacrilegious items, you see. But, and he pauses for a second. Don't worry about it. Don't, well...
00:44:19
Speaker
You sent me, wait a second, or? It was just, it was just, he was pointing for a second, he was going to scan over. And there's a question to you, Darren, specifically. Is NC, is he out and about? Is he? No, he's in the bag holding. He's in the bag holding. Again, he wouldn't have been out at all once you entered the store. I wouldn't have brought him in the shop.
00:44:38
Speaker
He's very very we were supposed to be giving the fact that there is that I'm not necessarily who I say I am and he is Completely identifiable to me. Yeah, I'm not to say no he's in the bag of holding as a problem He's going to quickly take a second look you up and down either
00:44:53
Speaker
you tell you what I'm doing a special deal at the moment with these items here and he points to a number of white porcelain statues on the side but these are all crap for those normal tourists you get here and around you see this is the one for you my friend and he pulls out a statue and it's a statue of a it seems like a billowing cloud and upon inside the billowing cloud is that comes like a figure of a large silhouette of a tall man wearing armor and an axe on his shoulder
00:45:23
Speaker
you
00:45:24
Speaker
This is a shrine, a small namesake, if you will, a keepsake, to one of the newer religions that have come back into the order for a Kiva, you see. It's quite a lovely piece. This one is not part of the deal that I'm currently running. But if you notice, and he pulls it back, it's got a little area here where you could put all your sweeties within it and close it back up again. It's all made of 100% definitely real sleep guardian porcelain, you see. And I'll sell it to you for the grand old price of
00:45:54
Speaker
Four silver pieces. Four silver pieces. This is such a lovely shop. There is a fifth.
00:46:03
Speaker
Fifth silver piece, just for you. Oh, you are too kind, good sir. And please, let me throw in this snack bar that I have, a specialist, just a sleep guard, you see. Let me just go and get
Keeping Up Appearances
00:46:15
Speaker
it for you. And he ponders back and comes back with a small oat bar thing. Why'd I throw this? Anyway, and he slowly folds like a dried leaf over and around it. It's a specialty of our type round here. It's quite fruity on the nose, actually, and will really keep you sated through the day and night.
00:46:34
Speaker
That is most kind of you. Thank you. Not a problem. Your customers always welcome at the Elvenia. Well, Archibald, I do believe that our business is done here. Yes, absolutely. I would say that, have you got everything you need, my friend? Yes, I am content. Good. Did this shop
00:47:01
Speaker
Hold up and live up to what we said, me and Fred. I sincerely hope so. What about you, Archibald? What do you think, Archibald? This shop is indeed most fascinating. I temporarily disabled my audio communication device.
00:47:25
Speaker
Well there you go, I couldn't have said it better myself. We have other places in Goldview to show you. We must not dally here. Come on, let's go. May I ask, where are you off to next then, good sir? Have you ever heard of the pub? The half hoof inn.
00:47:46
Speaker
All I have is this way of taking this fine gentleman next at a very good place and actually fits in nicely with the Akiva little penchant we used to sport as well. Oh well, happy days! We're going the half of him! Well won't that be just a dim light experience? And you say he keeps in with this God here thing that I've got. Oh absolutely, you take it there they might even throw in an extra pint of ale.
00:48:12
Speaker
that is fascinating and what is this god what does he do because we only have two gods in shadow man and if you look out your window you'll see soul he's blazing in the sky shutting down all of us on this found day and selen as you know well we might not know but that's the moon you see and the moon and the sun are married and then there's like a dawn we call it the god's passing and that's when selen anyway i'm born
00:48:35
Speaker
Sounds very confusing, but it sounds very important at the same time. Well, it's quite simple. Sun in the sky, solar rolls to night. Day, moon in the sky, so then rolls to night. It's simple. I don't believe I'm qualified to really speak about the gods. I'm not a particularly religious man, more than the services I must do to my triumvirate when and when I must. When it comes to Akiva, to be honest, I'm not down with the kids as it comes to this type of new religion they're bringing in at the moment. It's a new religion.
00:49:05
Speaker
Well, it's an old and a new one. It's gone out of fashion, so to speak. But let me not keep you from the half hoof in. Lovely to meet you, sir. Any hands like a few fingers to shake the hand of Raines? Ah, dandy as cotton candy. Lovely to meet you too, my man. Oh, what a lovely expression. And you? Was it an Archie, Archibald? Lovely to meet you. Call him Archie. Archie.
00:49:30
Speaker
I am Archie, and yeah, I'm just going to meet his hand. He just repeats his name, fantastic. And he looks over and his kind of falsetto smile drops slightly. Lovely to see you two again. Please don't be a stranger here. And oh, Knox, I'd be very excited to see you again in a few days in particular. Absolutely. Thank you very much for your business. It's a pleasure as always.
00:50:00
Speaker
Goodbye, enjoy the lovely Slit Guardian day! You have a soul-bless day. Good sir, a soul-bless day. Okay, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go. Come on, the times are wasting. Farewell, this has been a mighty fan-venture. And you leave the store as a four, with him still stood there waving and smiling rather sardonically at you all.
00:50:24
Speaker
What the hell was that? Oh, we got a lot to explain. You guys came in a bit late. I was hoping that you would be coming in earlier. We were we were we were deliberating what a couple of minutes went and Alpha went for the literal. I went for the metaphorical and then eventually he said Enron stood in the window and for some reason that's when we decided to come in.
Plan to Find Marota
00:50:45
Speaker
Regardless we were, and actually Nick looks at the door and then kind of makes the motion to shimmy people along the road. I would have said that once we were well away, I wouldn't have said that while we were in this. So we've got ourselves a...
00:51:04
Speaker
Clear. The blood drops keep fork. Nick's is going to walk because he's ushering the group. He's walking south down towards the docks area. But that's just I know that's further away. But that's just east. So he's walking east towards the docks area. But as we're all in deep conversation, he's just kind of moving along that area. We need to add out of city towards Mill.
00:51:32
Speaker
And that's where they keep underground. They have cells down there where they keep for it that are going to shift. That could be where Marauder is. Well, hopefully it's where Marauder's heading. We can get there first and pay those fuckers back for the ambush that they did for us. Given that we stayed overnight, I reckon that they're probably there before us. No, no, no. Chap, the guy who was helping us, he said two days. Maybe that was two days before they shifted itself.
00:52:02
Speaker
going down to Dralak. That's just my understanding too. So I reckon if she's anywhere, she's there. So I reckon now we've got away from that place. We should make our way there. He said, How the hell did you get that information out of them? It took a long story. Put it this way, he wanted us to do something we weren't going to do. So we had to come up with something else.
00:52:31
Speaker
Something we're definitely not going to do. Are we, Nix? I will not get you involved whatsoever, Aemron. Basically, Reigns, we offered you up as bait. He thinks that you are our captive and we are in need to smuggle you out of the city.
00:52:51
Speaker
Okay, fair enough. It worked really well, and I must say you played your parts exceptionally well. Everyone, you're a little bit too close to your own character sometimes, but we can... We can work on that. Don't know what you're talking about. I was just me. So while we head into the city, if we need to be heading out... I think we were just given the impression we were heading towards our full fight. How about we turn about and head towards Kethriath Mill then? I do not wish to hesitate any longer. No.
00:53:20
Speaker
I agree. I believe that haste and haste must be had. Unfortunately, I must bid adieu to you and I will catch you up down the road. I won't be long, but I need to go and check on my ship and make sure that everything is okay there, especially after the fire. And with the show coming up, like you said earlier, Rains, although I'm not part of the cast,
00:53:48
Speaker
It probably would be good for me just to check on in and make sure that they don't need me for the upcoming festivals and play. We're not from around here, so perhaps we should just come with you. It's probably better than sticking this thing up. If you don't want to wait haste, then... I see no harm in him going back to his ship and catching it up. I mean, that's always it. Marauder is his friend. I'm sure he's okay with delaying slightly.
00:54:14
Speaker
won't be delaying. I trust you guys to get there as soon as possible. This is what teamwork's all about, right? Sure. I will catch you up. I will be there before you even. I'm very fast. I just need to check in. Literally won't be long. Okay.
00:54:37
Speaker
And as Nix leaves the stunned three with a plan ready in motion, ready to go, a name, a place to find and finally get back your fifth member Marota from the Jade Blood drops.
Nix's Solo Task
00:54:48
Speaker
Nix is chosen to party split. We leave the three shadow Mendians stunned, stood on the streets of Goldview as Nix dives down an alleyway towards his ship, the Esmeralda and the docks and maybe his comeuppance. And that's what we're going to leave it for this week's episode of the Fellowship of the Tabletop.
00:55:06
Speaker
Good stuff, guys. We've got a place to go. That was nice. Nice. Well played, guys. Well played. Oh, Nick. What, Nick? I know what you're going to do. Damn right. Everyone's going to break your horseshoe.
00:55:27
Speaker
We're going to see what happens. And thank you very much for tuning in and listening and making us a party every day. We love you for it. If you wanted to keep up to date with the podcast, you can do so on one of our various social media pages. We have a Twitter page, which is at Fellowship Table. We have a Facebook, which is Fellowship Table. And we have an internet address thing, which is fellowshiptabletop.com.
00:55:51
Speaker
We've got an internet thing. We've got an internet thing. We've got the internet. Make sure that no one is on the phone when you access it, okay? If you wanted to go one step further and follow us individually, you can do so on our individual Twitter pages that we individually have.
00:56:15
Speaker
My individual Twitter page is at Iroder1. Callum's individual Twitter page is at TheD20Gamer. Will's individual Twitter page can be found at at Natural20Will.
00:56:32
Speaker
Happy times Darren's individual Twitter page can be found at... Happy times Darren! Darren page 06. All both really. One I use on the weekends. And our incredible DM can be found at... Hastily Rolled DM. Until next time guys! Farewell! Farewell!