Streekvok/History

take it, referencing the greatsword Gaten had pulled from the tree. When Gaten suggested
getting reinforcements to destroy the tree, Streekvok asked what was in it for
him. Gaten replied with the same question and Streekvok said nothing was in it
for them so it’d be better to leave the tree to others.

Arina asked what he was doing there and Streekvok said he
was passing by and heard a commotion. They claimed to be a fisherman who rarely
came so inland, but the party saw through the lie. Perrin confronted them and they
said they were cautious of strangers, admitting they were
here for the Tower. Streekvok had enrolled in a program
and hired companions to enter the Tower together.

Streekvok
told them they had stumbled upon the party while looking for the
archaeologists. They had been hired to aid them and looking to meet with them. Streekvok
did search the bodies and found some items.

Gaten gave Streekvok the health signet ring so they could
all keep an eye on each other. While the group made their way out, Streekvok
saw a chalk mark at the blocked doorway they recognized to mean “unexplored,
return later”. Streekvok told the party so, wanting to gain their trust. The group
cleared the rubble and entered the room, Streekvok searching but failing to
locate any traps. They were confused and concerned when they heard a strange
noise from within Gaten, actually Pietro in his compartment. Arina introduced
her pet and was horrified when Streekvok commented he would be good with sauce,
thinking he was livestock. Streekvok told her to let them know if she changed
her mind as he would be great with mustard.

Streekvok offered to climb the steel girder in the room and
scout ahead. They accidentally hit a piece of rebar, which clanked down and
ruined their attempt at stealth. There did not seem to be any enemies, which
Streekvok claimed was due to using the rebar as a distraction. They carved a
rune in thieves’ cant warning of the Gulthias tree in the ruins.

### Heading to the City

Streekvok witnessed the party give the twig to the witch,
who was waiting for them, and Gaten told them of the deal. Streekvok asked if
they were hired and when told no, commented they were paid in gratitude. They were
confused when Gaten said they weren’t paid but did it because it was the right
thing to do. Strekvok pointed out they had taken the risks and empowered a
deceptive magical being but didn’t get any pay. Gaten said they’d helped someone
and Arina said they now had to help Melusina.

As they continued to talk about doing the right thing,
Streekvok smelled smoke and pointed it out to the party. The smell came from the
direction the Tower had been but the Tower was gone, having traveled again. Streekvok
watched the party discuss recent events with Erzu and was introduced to him just
before they parted ways. Streekvok was invited to travel with the party and
they accepted, finding it safer than going alone.

As they traveled to Vehir Oras, Gaten asked Streekvok where they
came from. Streekvok told them he was from Molat, further upstream. Upon questioning,
they told them they cleared two Tower floors in the Soul Spire and remembered
the first. Arina offered them her Marking Stone and they confirmed their Tower
Mark was in Rogue. They were pleased to know what they had suspected, valuing
sneakiness and subtlety.

Perrin asked Streekvok how they knew the archaeologists. Streekvok
told him the group was called the Tunnel Ghouls and they were often hired to smuggle
items they found. They showed the figurines they got off the bodies to the
party and Gaten identified them as the gods Dawn and Arawa. Perrin said the
figurines were likely quite valuable and Streekvok suggested they could lie
about the figurines having magical traits, wait for the buyer to be killed by
someone after the figurines, and loot the body. A disbelieving Perrin asked if
they were suggested getting someone killed for the figurines and Streekvok said
they were suggesting getting more coin for them. Gaten asked if they gave that counsel
to the archaeologists and Streekvok scoffed no one needed to give counsel to Silas
Gesart to go into dangerous situations for treasure. Streekvok told the party
Silas was the human leader of the Tunnel Ghouls and had three to five levels.

Streekvok told the group that while they looked down on
sneaking around and lying, no one was willing to invest in goblins due to their
short lifespan so they had to take what they could get. Gaten offered to teach
them any skills he knew, as did Arina. Arina said she was sorry people weren’t
nice and Streekvok replied that it was life, and life wasn’t nice. They were
shocked to learn Arina was nearly a century old. Arina told them how she didn’t
want to run the family business and Streekvok said they were mirrors of each
other, as they wanted to take over the family business but were pushed to go
into the Towers. When Arina asked if they had wanted to be a fisherman,
Streekvok awkwardly laughed and agreed he wanted to be a “fisherman”. Arina pressed
and Streekvok admitted their family were smugglers, the finest in the area in
their opinion.

Gaten asked Streekvok if they had discerned the cause of
death of the Tunnel Ghouls. Streekvok recalled stab wounds as well as marks of burns
and disintegration.

The kobolds turned the boat around when Arina saw a light ahead
of them, a decision Streekvok agreed with since Perrin said the water was
dangerous. Streekvok immediately moved to hide, something the rest of the group
followed in suit. Streekvok was amazed the party had survived so long, telling
them there was always a trap and they needed to be more careful and discreet. They
pointed out there needed to be communication as party members kept acting on
their own and endangering others. They established rules for Gaten on when was
appropriate to stab things.

### Vehir Oras

When they arrived in Vehir Oras, Streekvok tried to hurry
the party along when Gaten’s antics attracted the attention of two wardens. The
wardens tried to trick the party into paying them a “dock fee” but Perrin
pushed back, to Streekvok’s alarm. Gaten made a distraction and the party
bolted. Streekvok was quickly caught by one of them and tried to talk them into
letting them go. Streekvok managed to convince the warden not to pursue and
reluctantly paid a gold for all four of the party. As the party left, Streekvok
told the party they paid two gold for each member and received more than they
gave.

Streekvok rebuked Gaten for catching the attention of the corrupt
guards, saying they were called Corpses for a reason as they were useless. They
told the party the real criminals were the guards and underground with other criminals
was safer. Arina asked if they didn’t want the guards to be better, which they
found hysterical. Gaten asked for the fastest way to reach the Ebon Claw and
Streekvok replied that fastest wasn’t safest. Streekvok told him off for
grabbing them and said they could move fast or safe. Perrin opted for the safe
way and Streekvok led them into the sewers.

When Arina burned herself looking at the underground heating
system, Streekvok told her everything was a trap and suggested using her jeweler’s
tools when she checked things. Arina managed to remove a piece and Streekvok suggested
making a weapon with it. Arina told them she wasn’t sure of her full capabilities,
showing them the glowing flower she’d made before.

Streekvok led the party to the temple of the Raven Queen,
the base of the Ebon Claw. They proudly told the party they had arrived safely
and that the best way to deal with guards was to make a contract with someone
higher up so underlings can’t bother you. They told Gaten and Arina the entire
system was built on exploitation. Arina expressed a desire to stop such
exploitation and both Streekvok and Gaten said it wasn’t likely, though Gaten pointed
out he and Arina had long lifespans to do such work.

As the party approached the temple, Streekvok cautiously lingered
behind them. They took note of the various offerings at the altar, much of
which was food.