S05E02

## Wolves in the Pit

Another week in the fighting pits on the Isle of Strife had them fighting a pack of vicious wolves. And with them came two new slaves, Haju, an amnesiac thief, and Keyko Fonexio, a Braavosi musician with no talent for music.

The animals approached and Christor dashed in front of his friends to protect them. Keyko took the opportunity to run up beside Christor and begin to sing, trying to sooth the beasts with music. The wolves were not abated.

One jumped and bit Christor - so he crushed it skull with a single, brutal punch. Torrhen used his skinchanging ability to command one of the wolves to attack another. Minnie hacked at the animals with her axe and Haju made clumsy use of a sword she had been given at the last minute. Soon the wolves were dead and the slaves were taken back to their cage.

## Killing Adario

When the group returned to their confinement, Keyko revealed that he had hidden a length of stiff wire inside his mandola. Haju quickly took it and went to the gate of their cage. She successfully used the wire to pick the lock, but not without their master Adario seeing her fiddle with it.

"Get away from there," he said, "I treat you so well and this is how you treat me?" He sighed and continued, "I have good news for you. You've done so well in the fighting pits that your prices have shot up. So, I've sold you to Lady Halaya, a much more prestigious slave driver and pit mistress."

"Will Lady Halaya let us buy our freedom the way you do?" Christor asked.

"Um," Adario stuttered. "Well, probably."

With that, Christor kicked the open gate into Adario's face, stunning him. Keyko moved in and swung his mandola at Adario. The instrument connected right at the temple, shattering Adario's skull and killing him instantly.

The group jumped into action, covertly burying Adario in a shallow grave and giving Keyko his clothes. Minnie skinchanged into her pet bird to scan the area. She saw two ways to the docks: between patrols of guards and crocodile infested jungle, or through a party and across a safe walkway. They decided to take their chances with the party.

## Crashing the Party

A long silk tent had been set up for several of the slave owners to relax after the evening's competitions. They lazed around wooden tables, drinking fine wine and discussing the slave trade. When the group entered, they were a sorry sight. They were dressed in slave clothes, except for Keyko who was dressed in Adario's bloody attire. They did their best to blend in, but they were stopped and interrogated by many of the guests. But with a combination of stealth, intimidation and persuasion they made their way through.

The queen bee of the party was a Lady named Fossina, who was tall and beautiful with Valyrian features. She stopped Haju and Torrhen in their tracks, furious that lower types had infiltrated the party. But then Adario sidled up to her, and spoke to her in his velvety Braavosi accent. She was charmed and they were soon on their way.

## Gambling for Passage

As they approached the docks, Keyko spotted a guard helping to load a ship. This was a man he knew, a man named Bellos who had spent time with Keyko, mostly gambling. They were friends of a sort. Keyko got Bellos's attention and led him into a covered area where the others were hiding. The group considered killing Bellos and stowing away on the ship.

Bellos said, "I can get you onto the Spice Wind fair and square for fifty gold apiece." But the group had very little gold between them. To which Bellos said, "That's fine. We'll gamble for it. What have you got for collateral?"

They came up with Adario's stiletto, Keyko's mandola and forty gold that Haju had stolen from Adario's corpse. The actual card game was a simple affair. Minnie skinchanged into her bird and sat behind Bellos, reading his cards on every hand. They made short work of Bellos and had soon won passage for all five of them.

## Ships at Chase

Captain Vargen welcomed the group onto the Spice Wind and put them on duties in accordance with their talents. The ship was on its way to Tyrosh through the pirate-infested waters of the Stepstone Islands. And sure enough, they found themselves being pursued by a pirate ship. The group did all they could to rig the sails and keep the ship going as fast as possible. Torrhen took up a bow and launched a shot into one of the distant pirates. The pirates launched a hail of arrows in return, wounding Minnie. The ships lurched and gained on each other in fits and starts for a few miles, until the Spice Wind gained a resounding lead over the pirate ship. Soon the pirates were lost over the horizon.

## Arrival in Tyrosh

The group arrived in Tyrsoh, a beautiful island ringed with fields of colourful snails. Those snails were used to sell expensive dyes all over the world. Tyroshi nobility even used the bright dyes in their hair and beards. Tired, hungry, injured and penniless, they found the island a harsh and selfish place. They wandered the colonnades and alleys of the city, trying to figure out to do next, when they caught the inviting smell of well-spiced food and the inviting ring of a bell. A line of street people was taking free food, at a Red Temple.

## Experience

Each character gained 3 Experience

.