Ep. 124 Aid and Abettance

## Watch

Aid and Abettance | Khyber Shards #124 | D&D 5e Actual Play

—Malcolm

## Synopsis

The Stryke Force take Jonas and vacate The Ship's Cat, unintentionally insulting Harysh one last time as Ari offers her money for her troubles again. Solei uses poison to make Jonas unconscious, for easier carrying.

They head out into the forest. It turns to dusk, and Thora finally reaches out, worried because they haven't called her in several hours. Ari updates her about taking Jonas to the Lhazaar Principalities. Thora thinks that they might be able to afford to hire Malcolm if they bring Jonas to the Shadow Marches or Droaam instead.

After a few hours of walking, they emerge from the jungle onto a beach. Zenaida pushes what look like a bunch of dead leaves on a fallen tree, but turns out to be a net covering a large canoe. Once they get going, Zenaida reaches down and touches the edge of the boat, casting a spell. The wood warps and stretches and shapes itself into a catamaran. Solei asks what the trip is about, and Ari shares telepathically that they're trying to get Jonas out of town. Zenaida suggests taking the easier path of dropping him off the side of the boat. Sensing the awkward silence after he declines, he asks about Ilya, which launches Zenaida into a proud recounting of how they were ambushed by Sulatar drow, and Ilya killed two of them.

Finally they cross to Three-Barrel Cove, and the Moonspears hold the boat for them, declining Ari's offer of drinks at the bar while they wait. Inside the bar, Malcolm sits with a drink in conversation with someone, feet propped up on the table. Ari approaches with a hesitant smile. He asks about how open Malcolm would be to taking an unwilling passenger on his vessel, and presents a chest of gold in exchange. Malcolm does point out that that would make him a kidnapper, too. He checks it to make sure it's all there, and comments that the only port in the Shadow Marches is Zarash'ak.

Meanwhile, Esri asked the Moonspears if Nardalee got his gift—the head of Tyris d'Vadalis. Solei isn't sure.

Ari, Pog, and Malcolm return to the group, and they haul everything to Malcolm's ship. It looks like it's seen some repairs since they last visited. Shade okay's killing Jonas if he gives him trouble, with Esri clarifying that they're not paying extra. Pog sees the sparking eyes and hears the hissing of Sam when he brings Jonas into the hold. As they're about to leave, Esri stops them and makes sure Malcolm understands that Jonas needs to be dropped off and not returned. Pog, still in the hold, calls Malcolm down. He says he knows this isn't something Malcolm is really comfortable with, so would throwing a dead body over the side of the ship make it easier? Malcolm is not eager to get into the heaps of trouble that making his ship the location of political hit would bring. The conversation ends with Malcolm ordering him off the ship. The gangplank retracts the second they're off the ship, and he heads out.

It's a long, awkwardly silent boat trip back. They re-hide the boat, and guide them back through the jungle to their camp near the Tents of Rusheme.

They make their way almost the edge of the city, into the northern mark of the marketplace where the Lorsmarch Palace is. Steeljack lets them in. Kirris Sel Shadra is at her desk, with four empty chairs and a cat bed waiting. She's very pleased to hear that he ended up in the Shadow Marches, not the Lhazaar Principalities, where he could have put his skills to use. She feigns disappointment that he abandoned his so very important post, right when Stormreach needs its leaders so badly. She tells Ari that to fill the spot, one would need to get the approval of the other Storm Lords. Esri telepathically tells her about Jonas's deal with the sahuagin, and that his cousin is(or was) in their custody. She thinks that if they wait a few days to investigate, that problem might tragically solve itself.

Pog is confused why everyone seems to be so sad about Jonas and his cousin being hurt. Sel Shadra tells him to get it explained later. Esri continues, telling her that Thuranni is looking for him, as well. According to Kirris, that's Beynar's doing. Kirris continues the appearance of being grieved at Jonas's loss, pretending to take insult When Ari tells her House Tarkanan will be seeking to fill the empty Storm Lord position.

They're getting ready to leave, and Shade stops them to ask if Kirris is going to "discard" them. Kirris helps her understand that even if she were planning on killing them, she wouldn't tell her, and then assures her that she's not planning on killing them. Ari updates Thora.

Esri almost gives Kirris more information on Thuranni, which she's very interested in, but decides against it. She pays them, and they say they'll be in touch.

Esri heads to the marketplace in search of a spell scroll. He asks his friends (minus Ari, who already left for home) for some help covering the cost of his mistake of telling Jonas about Sel Shadra. Shade freely gives hers over; Pog would like a reason first, but hands him two hundred gold.

*"Pog, Shade, do you particularly need or want your money?"
—Esri*
Around the marketplace, Esri spots a conspicuously intact building, with a slightly crooked sign that identifies it as Abracapothecary. A large, lumbering and stooped figure greets Esri when he goes in. He calls back that they have customers, and a middle-aged woman with a witch's hat emerges, and introduces herself as Avalina Lavae. Esri asks for something to remove or change a memory. Avelina and Vivien look around, shooing out some kind of animal, and Avelina produces a very carefully sealed scroll case, which she sets on the counter. She says it's for sale, at the right price—and she won't even ask what he needs it for. This scroll specifically is fourteen-hundred and fifty gold. He offers a trade instead—they give him the scroll, and he'll make them the equivalent worth in potions.

Esri tries giving the names Tom and Michael for the contract, not realizing that Avelina's scroll knows. He tries avoiding the contract altogether, but Avelina doesn't go for his Feywood Ivy. She instead offers him the scroll for the ivy, his six hundred gold, and his true name. Esri tells her the first part of his name. Avelina looms over the counter, looks deep into his eyes, and asks what "her" name is. The Noshaeran part of Esri is strongly against that, and Esri doesn't want to go against her, so he withdraws his offer. Avelina is disappointed, and gives him her business card. He clocks the place as he leaves, but doesn't see any kind of security, leaving him to believe it's all magical.

## Locations

* Abracapothecary
* Lorsmarch Palace
* Three-Barrel Cove

## Spells

* **Zenaida**
	+ Pass Without Trace

## Quotes

"If someone asks you, ever, if you intend to kill them, you should always say no, whether you intend to kill them or not. This way, when you try to kill them, they will not be expecting it."
"I will add that to my notes. But sometimes, when you lie to people, they can tell that you're lying. I've been working on that, and I think I'm getting better."
"Shade. I have no intention of killing you."
*—Kirris and Shade*

"It's a good skill, to be able to know when someone might kill you. It's equally important to be able to identify who could."
*—Kirris*

"What's the opposite of inspiration? Cause you have that, Philip. You have depression."
*—Colin, after the introduction of Abracapothecary*

"You look so competent, and mossy."
*—Avaleena to Esri*