(Write-Up co-written with Byerly, Rebecca, Tress) After the adventure, Something Afoul in The Sewers)
Shortly after briefing Unknown at the Unknown, Erzsi, Agga, Lorsan, and Usil made their way back to the sewers. Their intent was clear - to retrieve whatever they could from the abandoned smuggler’s cache.
Minus the occasional stone body part floating among the sewage, the trip remained uneventful. Before long, they returned to the smugglers' den.
Upon reaching the door, the four found no resistance getting into the smuggler’s cache. The door wasn’t even locked. With a wave of her hand, Agga ignited the torches and lanterns remaining in the room. The warm yellow light spilled over a nearly empty space. The contraband had clearly been moved not too long ago, the smoldering ashes still warm in the room’s braziers. Several crates and barrels were scattered around the space, the remaining goods that didn’t make the cut in the smuggler’s emergency move.
Several bolts of fabric rest upon hastily upturned crates. Lorsan rested a hand upon bolts, testing the texture between his fingers. A lofted brow and sly grin hinted at the quality to the others. “That’s… real nice stuff,” Usil muttered as they leaned in, their curiosity piqued.
“Quality silks, probably from somewhere exotic.” Lorsan responded. “I haven’t seen anything this nice since Ciara’s wares at the festival last fall.”
Erzsi whistled low in surprised admiration, “Damn, that’s fancy! I don’t imagine a small operation would have gotten their hands on shit this nice.”
Agga drew their attention lower, pointing out the faintly illuminated markings stenciled on the crates. “We knew they were dim. They didn’t have to prove it.” The four of them leaned in closer as Erzsi provided a clearer source of light. Merchant logos and maker’s marks, seemingly local. Bills of lading found among the remaining goods hinted that crews would come to retrieve the rest in a few days' time.
Lorsan flipped through the papers quickly, glancing around to see what remained. “Well, if we’re going to roll them, now's the time.” he said. “I don’t think we’re going to get another trip.”
Usil nodded sagely in response. “Payment for services rendered, surely!”
“Surely.” Lorsan smiled in return.
Agga cleared space on a low bench and began laying out her arcane components. Working her ritual, she searched the room for any signs of remaining magic.. Completing her work, she glanced around the room, disappointed. “Nothing shiny, just normal things.” she relayed to the other two.
Lorsan looked over his shoulder, pausing at trussing up the bolts of silk like a school boy with his books. “Normal things can still be really nice.” he grinned. “Just have to avoid the heavier things I guess.”
Erzsi laughed and smiled wide, “We certainly don’t have to avoid them; as long as it isn’t too unwieldy to carry in the tunnels I can carry it!”
“I bet they won’t like that. Did they not like it enough to protect their stuff?” asked Agga.
Lorsan hoisted the bundle, getting a feel for its weight. “I for one don’t intend to hang around and find out.”
“Looks like it just didn’t make the cut,” Usil chimed back, while walking through what remained. Occasionally they peeked into a chest or crate. “Less valuable? Not as urgent? A generous gift?”
Erzsi raised an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty optimistic outlook, ”she said with a wry grin.
“That’s the best outlook to have!” Lorsan laughed, walking around the space looking for another crate from the paperwork.
Usil nodded, talking through a mouthful of dried dates. “Yesh, an’ mebbe we can gib tha’ fol’ at Th’ Dour D’am ah tashte of fanshy dinin’?” They offered fistfuls of the abandoned treats to the others, before plucking through a few other fruits, hoping to find an errant seed to grow or tend to. Content with what they found, they shrugged and tucked a letter into one of the abandoned crates.
Some time later, heavily laden with their twice-stolen goods, they left the hideout. Agga snuffed each of the lights as they exited. They trudged back through the sewers, hefting the heavy materials as Agga “led the way”.
“Okay, so I don’t need whole bolts of material, but I will need a sample of each material for my scrapbook. Also, I’ve heard of this thing called a ‘bag of holding’ and my portable museum concept would be so much more tenable if I could get one of those. Are they expensive? Can you buy one in this town? Can I have one made out of fancy cave material? Also, I’m going to need bits of floor from each room at the Harpies House. Do I need to do that in secret or can I just ask?” Agga prattled on merrily, occasionally checking the path ahead as she walked and talked. Usil grinned widely at the ceaseless inquiry, offering a shrug or quip in response.
The party waited for the last bits of sunlight to fade from The Underhang, celebrating their haul, before returning to the Celaeno House.