Chapter 2 - Getting to the bottom of it?

[counterkid]

Woody will drink the potion. The others will hide down the tunnel. Woody will light a torch once every one is in position.

[Squirrellord]

Jim looks to Sue. Softly he says "Your investigation. Your call. We hiding or not? Decide now."

[Nocturno]

"Three of us back, try to blend in. Woody, you got the 'Moons for the Payment? Let them start, and follow along with the flow."

[Squirrellord]

Jim gives Sue a quick nod and heads after Darren in the Southwestern tunnel.

[counterkid]

"Sue, no I don't have the moons. Please hand them to me."

[Nocturno]

Sue will had Woody the 'Moons meant for payment. Then will go further down the corridor than the others to help conceal his hiding.

[Chris1234]

The group move back down the southwestern tunnel and Woody drinks the potion.
It tastes like greasy limes.
His appearance shifts slightly and with some coaching from Sue and immense concentration from the mage, a very vague likeness to the deceased, Taffis Bornam, is established.

Just as Woody recieves the harbour moons and Taffis's silver ring

Ring engraving.png (75.3 KiB) Viewed 8216 times

light and then noise is apparent from the northeastern tunnel. The remaining members of the Transitory Band of Wayward Acquaintances Adventuring Company and Darren retreat down the southwestern tunnel.

The group see some half a dozen or so humanoids, evenly mixed in gender, come into view with their lanterns. All wear leather leather armour and sport various blades and bows.
One figure, a human male, decends the ladder, is handed a lantern from above, and disappears into the south eastern tunnel while three, apparently human apart from a half orc, sucessively polevault across to the north western passage to pass from sight.
Perhaps twenty heartbeats later the fellow returns from the southeast, gives a thumbs up to those above him in the northeastern entrance. He hangs the lantern on one of the ladders's rungs and then loads his crossbow.
The light from those above disappears. Presumably their lantern has either been extingished or, more likely, its masking flaps closed.
For another twenty or so heartbeats the shadows move back and forth before a female's voice calls, "Clear here!" from the northwestern tunnel. Their light source is supressed and the shadows stop moving.
The fellow with the readied crossbow looks to be in his late teens. He moves out of sight back down the southeastern tunnel.

What next?

======
Lighting a torch in the southwestern tunnel won't currentlly be noticed by those at the meeting place.

[Nocturno]

Sue settles in uncomfortably seeing how many are surrounding their position.

Relying on his dark vision he will not light any illumination.

[counterkid]

Woody will light a torch and start heading towards the meeting place.

[Squirrellord]

Not liking the situation Jim hunkers down by Darren and waits, senses straining, ready to move if needed.

[Chris1234]

Torch in hand Woody approaches.
The teen with the readied crossbow stands casually on the bank opposite and says in a too-high voice, "You got it?"

[counterkid]

"Yes I do."

[Chris1234]

The teen lets go of the crossbow.
It dangles from a leather strap over his shoulder.
He reaches down for the sewer pole and hangs something tiny on the hooked end.
When the lad swings the pole round to within Woody's reach he can see that the tiny thing is a palm-sized leather pouch with a drawstring.

***
If touched it becomes apparent that the pouch is empty.

[counterkid]

Woody puts the two Harbour Moons in the bag.

[Chris1234]

The soprano swings sewer pole back and takes long, long seconds to retrieve the pouch. "Yep. Real deal!" he announces.
A much deeper voice calls from the NE tunnel above, "Same place, usual time for the goods.."