The carriages drive on for most of the day, until they suddenly stop in the early evening. The Eeee escorts let the trio out at the side of the road, along with their various weapons, supplies and Waddles. "Follow the road," the Eeee with glowing red eyes suggests, pointing southward where the road dips into fog.. but there are the glimmers of lights suggesting either a town or something with lots of glowing eyes.

Aviri takes a few moments to dress and ensure nothing is missing from his supplies, not even bothering with the glowing lights at the present time.

After exiting the carriage, Lin knocks twice on the concealed driver's cabin and chirps, "Thank's for the ride!" She gathers her gear and gives Waddles a hug after putting the key necklace back on and trying to conceal the key in her chest-fur.

"My butt hurts," Trilup notes, rubbing it to get the circulation going again. "But my legs don't! So.. I guess that evens out, yeah?"

Everything seems to be there, including the food purchased back at the festival. The chill evening air is more noticeable where it sneaks past shorts and pants though, to caress the bare patches of skin underneath.

The carriages turn around with a clatter of hooves and the squeak of axles, and start their way back towards Tempest without further word.

Aviri thanks their hosts and secures his satchel at his side. "Through there?" he asks rhetorically, noting the mist as though for the first time. "Course it is," he mutters, giving the carriages a friendly wave as they depart.

Lin takes a moment to retrieve the Zapper from Waddles and sling it over her shoulder. Before closing the chest, she grabs two corn dogs from a paper bag and hands one to Trilup. "I got us some snacks but you got arrested. They're cold now but should still be good." She turns the handle and starts walking. Soon, her weapon makes a satisfying, yet ominous hum.

The road isn't very well kept, given the number of things laying in wait to stub toes on. The fog itself thickens and thins at random, but after twenty minutes it seems to thin up top and hug the ground more. This gives a view of the lake ahead. None of the adventurers have ever seen a lake before. It's so flat and devoid of trees. And squatting on the shore before them is.. civilization?

Frungible
This settlement on the northern shore of Lake Frunge is ramshackle at best. At worst it's decidedly dilapidated. Many buildings appear to made from larger buildings that were cut in half, and one structure appears to made entirely of attics stacked atop one another. Things are also built at a relatively small scale, like in Stonebarrow. Or it's possible that the structures have just sunk into the ground enough that they just appear to be shorter.

There are large posts alongside the road on the way into the town.. which arch over and have nooses dangling from them. Each one has several worn posters attached, offering up to 50 Shekels for the capture (or death) of Scarlet Scharf. The drawing shows an Akwavi with a very nasty looking smile.. but wearing a really impressive pirate hat. It's got at least six plumes on it, and several buckles, and what appears to be a small perch sticking out of the left side.

Aviri stumbles a bit as he first takes in the view of the lake. He pauses a moment, then says, "Don't know what else I'd have been expecting." His eyes drift to the buildings. "Nobody get arrested, alright?" he jokes. His eyes go from the posters to Lin. "Best keep the hat out of sight, yeah?"

"Wow.. real pirates?" Trilup asks, looking at the poster. "And not dead ones neither! That hat looks like it could eat yours though, Lin."

The posters catch Lin's attention, or it could be the hat. She wanders over to one of the more recent looking posters that hasn't been rained on yet and cuts it down. "Yeah, for now, but I'm deffinitely wearing it if we meet this Scarlet. Prolly best for me to go back to my not incredibly colourful and high visibility clothing for a while anyways." She says, rolling up the poster and placing it, her hat, and her scarf in Waddles.

The very last post before the town offers 10 Shekels per Akwavi hand as well, to be redeemed at Fort Spearhead. Most of the lights in the town come from one relatively large tavern building.

"I'm guessing if she's so wanted, she's probalby not the type to hang around with," Aviri says, wincing at something. He smooths a few wrinkles on his waistcoat and continues walking toward the village. "Maybe they have boats we could rent or something."

"That water looks.. deep!" Trilup says. "How far down do ya' think it goes? Imagine how many Ol' Swampies could be hiding under it.."

"Okay, now that's just sick." Lin notes, pointing her little knife at the hand bounty. She looks around quickly, checking if anyone's watching, and cuts it down. The poster gets crumpled up and tossed in the ditch.

"Yeah.. everyone loves Akwavis!" Trilup claims. "That makes us sound like vermin or sumthin'. Better check for ones looking for Lapi feet too, just in case.."

"I think it's too deep for Old Swampy," Aviri says. "Pretty sure he likes shallower things. Swamps, mostly." He eyes the crumpled poster. "Maybe they've had problems with Akwavis stealing things." He glances pointedly at Lin.

"Eve said this whole place was stolen by the poodles," Trilup says. "So.. anything they have is stolen already, right? Thiefing on thieves isn't stealin'."

Lin sheaths her knife and fidgets with it for a moment to get one of the lockpicks to stop pinching her fur under the leather. "Maybe, but that's no reason to go lopping hands off. If it's that big a deal, they should pay them to test the town's security systems and whatnot."

The sounds of revelry.. or at least drunken bawdiness.. reach Aviri's ears from the direction of the tavern.

Aviri shakes his head at Trilup. "It's still stealing, even if they stole it first. Best keep your hands in your pockets or something." He says that without thinking about whether their clothes even have pockets. "Sounds like most've them are in that building there." He points and makes for the tavern.

Lin grabs the back of Aviri's shirt and digs in her heels. "And maybe we ought to reconsider going and sayin' howdy to a bunch of people who want to cut off our hands for a quick shekel?" Lin barks.

The sign swinging over entry to the tavern claims that it is called 'The Dormouse' and has a faded painting of a Skeek poking its head up out of a beer barrel. There's also a sign that reads 'No Dogs Allowed' next to the door. Aside from the smell of beer, there's a lot of fishy odor wafting from the establishment.

Aviri yelps and swats Lin's hands away. "Oi, watch the clothes!" He says, fixing the wrinkles and re-tucking-in what got untucked. "Only needed to say 'wait' or something. And it's ten quick sheckles. And what do you plan on doing? The artifact-thing is in the middle of that lake, and we need a boat."

Trilup gets down on all fours and sneaks towards the open doorway to have a peek. "I see a really big otter inside," she comes back to report. "Gots hands too."

Lin shrugs at Aviri's complaints. "I plan on getting in and out, without raising a fuss, and without losing any parts of me that won't grow back." She looks around at the dingy town and shakes her head slightly, "We don't rally need a boat. If you both put your packs in Waddles, Aviri can sit on Waddles while me an' Tril float out to the right spot on our backs. We use Waddles as our home base on the lake and we won't have to worry about losing it 'cause it should always be right above us 'cause of it always tryin' to follow me."

"What about monsters?" Trilup asks. "'Member what happened last time you got Waddles into the water?"

"The right spot?" Aviri says, rolling his eyes. "Right. Well, apparently they don't chop off hands on-sight, but if you're uncomfortable you can wait out here. I'm gonna get a boat." He darts away from Lin to ensure she can't nab his clothes again, and peeks through the tavern window before opening the door and stepping cautiously inside.

The otter spy gives a pained sigh and heads for the waterfront. She finds a spot that isn't too busy and sits on Waddles, nibbling at a saussage roll and looking out into the lake. The humm from the Zapper starts to die down so she gives it a few cranks.

Aviri isn't the smartest-dressed person in immediate view. Lounging near the door is a Khatta dressed even more foppishly, with mirror-polished boots and a fancy hat. It's purple crushed velvet with silver brocade and has three feathers in the band. The rest of the patrons seem to be Skeek and a few Kavis, with the one other standout being the big otter. His back to the door, as he leans on the bar, but his built isn't like an Oggton. He might be more Sniffler stock, with the longer limbs. Next to him on a stool, turned to face the door is the shortest adult Skeek Aviri has ever seen.. not more than two feet tall. It seems to be staring at him and twitching a bit.

Aviri's thankful that he's not over-dressed, and equally thankful that the boistrous sounds don't immeidately die down upon his entry. He gently closes the door behind himself after checking if Trilup was following. It takes him a moment to notice the snort Skeek, and the Lapi's a bit taken aback by that look. He offers it a little wave, and steps to the side of the door to get a good look around before he commits to approaching anyone.

The Skeek stops twitching when Aviri waves, and pokes the big otter next to him. "Tha' guy is wav'n at me!" the short man says, spraying a few flecks of foam when he talks. The big otter looks back over his shoulder and seems to study the Lapi.

Trilup is hunkered down just outside the door to keep watch, with Lin guarding her rear with the Zapper.

Aviri's hand immediately lowers when accused. His eyes flick between the Skeek and the otter, and he chooses the otter to remain the focus of his attention, and offers him a wave with a bit more care in ensuring it remains a friendly one. Or, that's what he tries; the result is closer to it just being a weaker and less sure wave.

As keyed up as Lin is, she immediately notices someone lying in one of the skiffs tied up at the shore (there doesn't seem to be a proper dock). And she can smell beer and fish breath from the figure as well.

The otter watching Aviri turns around fully, while the barkeep keeps stacking mugs on a tray behind him. He then slowly makes a come hither gesture with one webbed finger of his right hand.

The Lapi hesitates there a moment after seeing that gesture. He takes another look around at the patrons, and then decides that the large Awkwavi's as good as anyone, and so obliges. "Is there, uh, any way to rent a boat or something?" he asks.

Lin wrinkles her nose and hopps down, tossing the last third of her saussage roll to Waddles. She quietly eases closer and looks down into the skiff, holding the quietly humming Zapper at her side, not raised, but ready.

"Or something?" the otter asks, and there are some chuckles from the crowd. "You don' look like tha.. typical.. treasure hunter, Mister Ears. Why you need a boat?"

Lying in the skiff is an Akwavi. He doesn't look any older than Lin, and has on a long canvas shirt and knee-length breeches. He's also got a bottle held against his chest with both hands, and is making snoring sounds. Except his eyes are open, and looking at Lin.

"Or something, yes," Aviri says. "As in maybe not rent, but lease, or directions to some lumber to construct my own." The fur on the back of his neck bristles from the attention on him. "Archaeobotany, in answer to your question. There's a region of scholarly interest beneath your lake, and I'd like to do some prospecting, and I dislike my notes getting wet."

Lin gives the aquavi boy a smile and a little wave with her free hand, also relaxing her grip on her weapon. "Hey!" She chirps, "Nice boat."

"Arko-.. buttons.." the big otter works out. "You collect buttons?" It's about then that the Khatta next to the door shifts slightly.. just enough to lay the long chitin rapier he has across his knees. "Naw Jock, he means dead plants," the feline claims.

"Hi there, you smell nice," the supine otter in the skiff replies. "I ain't never smelled you afore though. I'm Daft Wullie. You lookin' to join up?"

Aviri half turns to peer at the Khatta. "Close enough," he says. "Old plants, mostly. A study into how they've adapted, or not, to the sudden presense of lake." He makes vague 'over there' gesutres in a lakewardly direction. "What was that about treasure-hunting?"

"I'm Lin Oggton, an' you smell arf marinated." Lin chirps with a lopsided grin, "Join up with who?" She sits lightly on the edge of the skiff.

"Only folks visit here iffen they looking for Zehn-loot," the big otter says, and then smiles toothily. "Or else thinkin' they can claim a bounty.."

Daft Wullie sits up, and spots what Lin's holding. "Wassat?" he asks, and actually looks past Lin.. to see Waddles. "Oooo-err.." he says. "I guess you be needing to see my big sis then.."

"A bounty?" Aviri tilts his head and looks to the otter's hand. "Ah, right. No, not here for either. Wouldn't have much use for 'Zehn-loot', nor would I have any interest in maiming people." He pauses. "As if I even could," he adds quietly for good measure.

"Check 'im out, Wee Mad Arthur," the big otter (Jock, according to the Khatta) says to the Skeek next to him. With a look of glee the little man hops down and rushes up to Aviri. "PutcherHandsUp!" he squeaks.

"Prolly." Lin nods and lifts the Zapper, "This' bottled lightnin' with a trigger. Doesn't go too far, but it makes folks real puffy and twitchy. An' that's Waddles. He doesn't bite... Well, I haven't seen him bite."

The Lapi flinches as the skeek rushes him, and looks at him with a bit of tripedation. "Check me out?" he asks, slowly raising his hands. "What, in case I've got a knife? Trust me: I'm not here to take anyone's hands."

"No prolly 'bout it," Wullie claims. "That wasn't no.. watchercallit.. suggestion. You gotta come see sis now," the boy says, and puts down his bottle.. only to hold out his hand to Lin.

"Iffen you ain't got a knife, then where's your bodyguard?" Jock asks, as the little Skeek busily feels up the Lapi, getting into to every pocket and even climbing up him to get to his shirt and arms (and check inside his ears).

"Hey! That's my Lapi!" Trilup suddenly chimes, entering the tavern. "Only I'm allowed to feel 'im up!"

Lin nods and waggles an eyebrow. "Rigt then. Give me a hand with Waddles here." Lin opens Waddles first and takes out her hat and two of her spicy saussages. She passes Wullie a saussage and puts on her hat. "I've got a couple friends with me up at the Tavern an' prolly gettin' in trouble. They kin handle themselves fer a few hours though. Hope you like spicy snacks."

"Best kind of snacks," Wullie says, and waggles his eyebrows right back at Lin. "Best kind of girls too! I like your hat. Sis is up at the tavern.."

Soon the contents of Aviri's satchel are spread out on the floor in front of him.. including the crystal orb with the compass ring in it. The gem is still blinking yellow, which is hard to miss. "No weapons! 'Cept the girl," Wee Mad Arthur reports, while Trilup stands next to Aviri protectively (although not on the same side the cat with the rapier is on).

Lin smiles and rolls her eyes. "Thanks. There a back entrance to the Tavern then? Those posters on the way into town didn't look all too friendly to us."

Jock comes over to inspect everything. Most of it goes right back into the satchel. The orb he holds out to Aviri though, and asks, "What's this?"

"They put up new posters?" Wullie asks, leading the way back to the tavern. "Cor, that's good news! We was out of bog paper."

Aviri cringes as his things are distributed across the floor, particularly his food items. "That?" he says. "It's how I find the area I'm ... for which I'm looking." He smiles. "It's an archaeobotanological thing. Chose this lake because of certain properties it has as opposed to other lakes." He flashes a smile to Trilup as though he'd been expecting her.

Trilup gives Aviri an odd look. "Whut?" she asks. "That ain't what it is at all.. did they hit you on the head?" she whispers.

"Loads." Lin chirps, "Only one with a bounty fer 'Quavi hands though and I cut that'un down on our way in. Bloody uncivilized's what it is. I'm gonna go out on a limb here an' guess that Big Sis is Scarlet." She whispers the guess to Wullie.

"You're clever and cute, aint'cha?" the Akwavi boy replies to Lin, then swings open the door to the tavern and calls, "Oi, Bro! I find a girl! And I call dibs!"

"Hey, I'm allowed to relax while working," Aviri whispers back. "Botany's how I relax. And there are probably really fascinating plants down there. Archaeobotany."

"My name is Trilup, 'member, not Arkobootaninny," Trilup says, before having to dodge the new arrivals.

"Archaeobotany," Aviri pronounces patiently for Trilup. He's about to say more when Lin and her new friend enters. He looks back to Jock and holds out his hand for the compass.

Lin lightly elbows Wullie in the ribs for the dibs remark and gives him a look that implies he'll pay for that later.

Jock isn't about to hand it over just yet, distracted by Daft Wullie and Lin.. and what follows Lin through the doorway before settling back down to the floor. The entire tavern goes quiet at the sight of Waddles.

"Hey Lin," Trilup says to break the silence. Then in a loud whisper she says, "I think we found the pirates.."

"And these are the friends I was talking about." Lin says to Wullie, unphased by the sudden silence (she must be getting used to it), "In trouble, as I suspected."

"Not in trouble," Aviri counters. "Mr. Jock here just wanted to be sure I wasn't going to cut off his hands." He turns back to Jock, and makes a motion to pick up his satchel to ensure it's packed properly.

"Right.. follow me," Jock says to them. "Keep watch on the door, Dan," he says to the Khatta, then goes to the bar to pick up the platter of mugs. Wee Mad Arthur doesn't seem inclined to carry the satchel, so Aviri is able to pick it up just fine. The Skeek does follow behind them though, along with Daft Wullie. The other patrons are still silent, so the only other noise is that of Waddles walking along with them. The big otter leads them to a back room, where he knocks three times on the door before opening it.

The private dining room has a long table and bench seats, along with fish-oil lamps for light. There aren't any windows though, so the air is a bit smoky. Three Kavi, a Skreek and two burly looking Rath'ani sit on the benches, and at the head of the table with her boots up on it is an Akwavi woman. Like Jock, she seems to take after the Sniffler body type, only more so. She's got hips and other curves (although how much is created by the corset is unclear - but it also serves to hold several obsidian stilettos). Red hair spills out from under the ornate hat, and a chibix roosts on the perch built into it. "Gotcher some booty come walking through the door, sis," Jock says by way of introduction.

"Oi, about time ye got back wit' somethin', Jock," Scarlet calls out when the large otter lumbers into her 'court'. "I wuz about t' git Ol' Rob t' sing and dance .. and ye know what dat is like, eh? Wha took ya so .." She trails off there, spotting the lapi and the two tag-along otters. "Wow, seriously? Dey getting' desperate t' send spies and saboteurs of this quality? I be offended," she drolls, rolling her right hand just so to gesture her fingers towards Aviri and Lin. She smiles, but there is no kindness to that smile; it has more of a predatory edge.

Aviri offers the Akwavi woman a wave, friendlier, but still less sure than the one he'd offered Jock. "Botanist, not spy," he says. "If you're the girl on those posters ... you know you're wanted?"

"Yeah," Lin drawls, "Because the Gallees are deffinitely good enough to get three folks from Stonebarrow to spy for them. You ought to know how we feel about them there." She cocks her head to the side, meeting Scarlet's gaze.

"I'm a botanist," Aviri insists. "These two chuckleheads just mess around in water all day or something; I dunno."

"In every port an every' bed, bucko," Scarlet retorts and winks. "Here to try and claim the bounty?" she asks next as she sits up, chair creaking. Lazily, she reaches under the table. When her hand comes back up, she's holding a large, ornate, iron and wood ... weapon of some sort. She idly spins the large center of it and it clicks ominously. "Feelin' lucky, rabbit?" she asks, still smiling. The comment, though, seems to to give her pause and she levels the business end of the weapon right at Lin. "Ten seconds to explain," she says.

Lin holds up her fingers and counts down on them as she talks, "We're courriers from Stonebarrow, got haunted by another messenger and have to find some artifact to complete her quest so she can pass on and get outta our fur, savvy?"

"They gots one of Zehn's magic boxes," Daft Wullie adds.. after moving away from Lin, just in case.

Scarlet sets the gun down on the table. It makes enough of a thump the mugs nearby actually bounce. "Alrigh', y' just earned yerself more time. Now, I happen' t' know Stonebarrow doesn't deal in anything but death, but nice try there," she remarks as she reaches up to give her chibix a little scratch. "Why are ya here? Dis time de truth, eh? Lemme guess, ol' Jack wasn' brave enough to come back dis way, eh? Flashed some money an stories and gotcha to do 'is work?"

Aviri cocks his head, amazed at how people not from Stonebarrow were always so sure what Stonebarrow was doing. He wondered if he was just completely out of every loop in that town, or if everyone but him was crazy. Yes, probably the former.

Scarlet barks and croons in laughter! "Knew it, knew it, knew it!" she cackles. "So, 'ow is dat ol' bastard, anyway?" she asks.

"That jerk's why we're haunted in the first place." Lin snarls, "Had us checkin' out the barrows 'cause he was too prissy to get his loafers smudged. Ran across a fallen airship and now we're off on this crazy quest with everyone thinkin' we're out to kill them... It's actually kinda fun." She winks at Scarlet.

"Wass 'bouth d' boxth?" the Skreek asks. His lips is probably explained by half of his lower jaw being an ironwood prosthetic.. with a really nasty, cudgle-looking knob at the chin.

"You been teachin' Wullie pickup lines, again, Jock?" Scarlet asks of Jock. "Don' think he gots em quite right yet. The ladies are de one wit' a stick."

"Whut they sayin'?" one of the older looking Kavi asks the one sitting next to him, and switches a conch shell from one ear to the other as if trying to hear.

"What, you mean this?" Lin asks, inocently and pokes Wullie with the Zapper and pulls the trigger. She smirks and chirps, "Bottled lightnin', just stuns folks though."

Wullie poofs out and bounces off the ceiling. From the floor he mutters, "OOoo-errrr... spicy..."

This gets a few chuckles, until Jock finally puts the platter of mugs down so the can be passed down the benches.

Wee Mad Arthur jumps up onto the table top, and takes the orb out of Jock's pocket to scurry it over to Scarlet. "Long-ears had this! Says it points to loot!" he claims, holding it out.

"Did not," Aviri says. "Points to the bottom of your lake, which has interesting properties that may or may not result in interesting plants."

"Plants are loot?" Aviri's head tilts the other way. "Huh. Then I guess I am here to get loot!"

"Don't insult their inteligence, 'Viri." Lin chirps, "We don't know quite what it is, but it's what we need to be deliverin' to get un-haunted. If y'all wanna be haunted, yer welcome to it."

"I'm not insulting anyone," Aviri says to Lin. "You might be interested in the delivery and getting unhaunted, but I'm sure there are plants down there ain't nobody's seen or studied for centuries. That's worth ten unhauntings, at least!"

"Lapi, yer a terrible liar," Scarlet remarks calmly. "Y' lucky I be a magnanimous sort. That is pointin' to Zen's Fortress. Be honest wit' us an we be a friendly sort. Treat us like we be stupid, and well, we won't be so friendly." She pauses there and then uses a work Lin used earlier, "Savvy?"

"What ya want done wi' em, Cap?" the reverse-colored (white mask on black fur) and grizzled Kavi next to Scarlet asks.

"Strip 'em. We need t' check em for marks," Scarlet says as she gestures vaguely with her right hand.

Jock's hands come down on the shoulders of Lin and Trilup. "Be best iffen you did this yerselves.." he tells the girls.

Lin swats Aviri on the arm, "Yeah, 'cause you've done such a great job of earnin' their trust." She brushes Jock's hand off her shoulder and chirps, "'Course. Wouldn't want ya to lose any fingers now that we've confirmed we're not here fer your hands."

"Y'know, I kinna like that one. Reminds me of me at dat age," Scarlet remarks to the reverse-colored kavi at her side. She's gesturing towards Lin while speaking.

"What I mean," Aviri says, "is that what we're looking for is in that fortress (for the record, I am mostly interested in the plants), which might also have some kinda treasure. I said I didn't have use for it, but y'all might. We could bring up whatever we find for you."

"Hah!" Trilup says, spinning around and pulling down her shorts. "Already shaved, so they can't be rummaging through our fur!"

Lin strips in all of five seconds, being that she was wearing a vest, shorts, and a belt, that's not terribly impressive. She folds her clothes and sets her hat on top. "Yeah, not the first time we've been mistaken fer pirates, assassins, or spies."

Aviri shrugs. "Haven't really had the occasion to find out," he says. "How deep's the fortress?"

"And before you ask.. it was vampires what shaved us, we didn't shave ourselves," Trilup claims.

"He kin do arf a minute easy enough." Lin supplies for Aviri, "He didn't start flailin' or pass out when we had to tow 'im through a flooded tunnel. I'd wager he kin do a bit better'n that, but not much."

"Deeper than a lapi can hold his breath. You won' be salvagin' anything," Scarlet notes to Aviri before her attention turns to the poor shaven backsides of the otters. "Ah, vampires, so paranoid. But at least it makes it easy iffin you enlist."

Avir starts at Trilup's whisper, as though just noticing they were being checked. Again. "Oh, right," he says, and drops his pants enough to display the bald spot. "That's why boats," he says to Scarlet. "These two can breathe water or something like that. If there's an air bubble down we could tie a rope to something down there, and to the boat, and I could go down with rocks or something." He shrugs. "Honestly getting here was mostly on my mind, rather than what to do once we were here."

"That's about the opposite of what I've been thinkin' on." Lin chirps, "Gettin' down is the easy part. Are the ruins colapsed, flooded, magically protected, sealed, haunted, guarded by monsters, or trapped? That's what I've been ponderin'!"

Seemingly satisfied by the presentation of naked buttocks, the akwavi nods. "Lemme lay the situation out for you. We 'own' de lake. We have de best ship on de lake. We have the only diving bell, too," Scarlet ticks off, her red brow arches a bit. "I could have you all killed, take that compass, and then take everything in the fortress below at our leisure. But, dat be hardly sportin', or particularly kind to other akwavi. So ... here is what I offer, you pay me, you tag along as extra crew, and we share in whatever we find. Fair! Now, I bet y' have one question on yer mind right now. What could ol' Scarlet want in payment to be so generous, right?"

Aviri blinks. "I'm more curious as to the question of if you have all this equipment why that fortress isn't already empty."

"This ain't a nat-chu-ral lake," one of the Rath'ani finally speaks. "Bottom is all silty from the flood. Things down there too. Movin' things."

"That had crossed my mind." Lin nods, "I'd been thinkin' our share'd be the item we came for an' a quarter of the treasure. A tenth fer me, a tenth fer Tril, an a twentieth fer Aviri 'cause he's a goof. An' ya don't kill us 'cause we're haunted an' don't want our ghost or our ghosts on yer tail fer the rest of the month, at least."

"A quarter?" Aviri looks at Tril. "What're you gonna do with a quarter of the treasure? Build a skip out of gold? And how're you gonna get it back home?" He rolls his eyes. "Are the things down there undead?" he asks the Rath'ani.

At the mention of her hat, Lin remembers that she's undressed and puts her clothes back on.

The raccoon shrugs. "Dunno. They like to bump the bell though. Too dark to see."

"Pah, ghosts are fun. Dat would be a reason to kill you," Scarlet points out as she waves a bit dismissively. "And well, dere are few things I can ask for 'ere. First ..." Scarlet begins and gestures right towards Waddles. "How about that thing? It be a part of Zehn's treasures, after all. Of course y' do have al alternate option iffin you are attached to it."

"We've got lights," Aviri says. The mention of managing to get rid of Waddles just makes Aviri's day, though! He looks like he's about to say 'deal', but doesn't; it's not his to give away, after all.

Lin takes a condifent half-step back and sits on Waddles. "Let's hear the alternative. Waddles here used to go by Eater of The Dead. We still get the occasional Necromancer over in the Barrow so havin' this around to dispose of 'em will come in handy."

Scarlet is about to ruin Aviri's day. She levels her gaze upon the lapi, then says, "'im. I need a new cabin boy. The last one was too flimsy."

"Aviri's really good at making tea," Trilup says, trying to talk up the Lapi. "That's most of it, right?"

Scarlet waggles her hand. "Most of it," she agrees. That predatory grin is back.

Aviri himself is too caught up in thinking what exactly doomed the previous cabin boy. Obviously she wasn't eating them, despite that grin, or else 'flimsy' wouldn't be the word used to express dissatisfaction.

"From what I know, that's just about all of it." Lin chirps, "News back home is 'Viri doesn't even flirt with anyone. If yer thinkin' what I think yer thinkin', you'd be disapointed. Still though, could work if you're not."

"Oh, I have lots of things in mind," Scarlet remarks. "An' it helps dat he talks like Jack a bit. See, I can get a little frustration relief all 'cause of dat bastard stealin' ... eh. It'll be satisfying, what I have in mind."

"Maybe he can help with the cheese masks," the female Rath'ani says (she and the male could be twins), "if'n he really is a herbalist."

Aviri blinks and seems to come to out of whatever thoughts had been roiling in his head. "Eh? Jack stole something?" He motions to Lin. "She's the one you wanna talk to about that. One, she knows where he is. Two, she's the thieviest of us. Three, I don't think she likes him."

"He's pretty cool, and gave us all gifts though," Trilup says in Jack's defense.

"'Course he stole somethin!" Scarlet declares as she throws her arms upwards! "'He did dat right after I stole from him, the jerk! He's one up on me!"

"Well, if it was a cup," Aviri says to Scarlet, "he immediately lost it again." He blinks. "We ... we never actually got that cup." He looks at Lin with a bit of confusion, and then turns to the the female Rath'ani. "I am a botanist. Guess 'herbalist' would be in the same vein as botany."

"Whut?" the old Kavi asks, switching his hearing-shell to the other ear again. "Jack? He's back? These his little girls?"

Scarlet folds her arms across her chest. "So, wut is it? The bunny, the box, or bullets?" the pirate asks rather directly. "An I'll even be fair, the bunny can go free after everything. Probably."

"We'll get the cup later. Bein' haunted took priority... And it's way cooler." Lin reassures Aviri. "An' I could prolly snitch somethin' offa Jack. He really doesn't guard his cabbin too well. Thinks he's clever but I've been settin' and disarmin traps since before I could walk."

Aviri frowns and nods to the woman. "Right. Though you gotta know which plants to get, and where you can get them before you can make any cheese-mask." He turns to Scarlet. "Being honest, I'd rather you take the box one way or another. That thing creeps me out."

"Last vote," Scarlet notes to Trilup. She points to Aviri, then the box, then her gun.

"I like Waddles," Trilup says. "He cleans stuff for you. Oh.. and the undead eating thing too. Lin was right about that. I bet the Witches would give us something really good for brining 'im back."

"An Aviri brushed down Dr. Fether, and she was big, so he should be able to take care o' you, Captain ma'am," Trilup adds.

Scarlet smiles at Aviri. She then gestures for him to approach with a curl of her right forefinger.

"Heheheheh," Wee Mad Arthur suddenly bursts out into giggles, before quaffing from his mug.

Aviri looks at Trilup, obviously a bit surprised, and hitches up his pants. He makes sure to tuck in his shirt and smooth out his waistcoat before walking over to Scarlet. "You save 'em from undead moss-monsters, and get traded for a demon-chest," he mutters.

"I think you'll find that it was I who beat down the skeleton mosses. You were so busy cuddling up to them." Lin corrects him with a wave of her finger.

Scarlet reaches out and cups Aviri's chin with her hand. Her grip is firm, but gentle when she tilts his head this way and that to get a better look at him. "I suppose you don't want earrings," she laments. "And let this be a lesson in life, women, and otters. Boxes over boys," she adds, amused.

Daft Wullie is back to his feet, and grabs up one of the mugs to guzzle a bit. "Oi, so what can you two do?" he asks Lin and Trilup. "Any good with boats?"

"Is that.. like.. a double enter-tender thing?" the boy raccoon asks his sister, who just shrugs.

The Lapi flinches at the grip, but manages to not try to bolt from the room. "Tried earrings once," he says. "Wasn't too fond of 'em. Made my ears too heavy."

"Well, you just found out 'bout part of my skill-set." Lin chirps at Wullie with a smirk, "We're used to swamp boats but I've yet to meet a knot I didn't like." She gestures at her rope belt, buckled with a neat figure 8 knot.

"Oi, that co' be handy," Wullie says with a nod, and offers Lin a sip of his beer. "How about you, Speckles?" he asks Trilup.

"Trilup," the girl notes. "My name, I mean. And.. I can fish. And clean fish. And.. scale fish. Smoke 'em. Jerk 'em.. uh.. mend nets. Okay with a spear. Mostly I'm sneaky though."

"Mebbe she can help ol' One-Eared Earl," Jock notes. "He ain't so spry as Rob Anybody no more."

"Ah, then you might have to try them again," Scarlet tells Aviri as she draws her hand back, "Bowed ears is a proper sign of subservient lapi. I will no' harm you as long as you follow protocol ... an you migh' even enjoy yer time aboard the Bloody Bandersnatch. Now, I expect you will obey any direct order I give, and reply promptly wit' 'Yes Mistress Scarlet, or Yes, Captain.', You will also wear whatever I decide you will wear. Am I clear?" Her brow arches again as she looks Aviri right in the eyes.

Lin covers a chuckle with a soft cough when Trilup claims to be sneaky and takes a sip of the offered beer to wash it down.

The beer tastes terrible, but at least has some bite. And a bit of a fishy taste.

"We should set up a trade route with y'all fer Scumble." Lin notes, grimacing at the beer and handing Wullie's mug back, "We make it back home outta apples... Well, mostly apples."

"Oooo.. you gotta tell me all about it in me hammock," Daft Wullie tells Lin. "It's a biggun! The hammock, I mean. Yer sister here can bunk with Wee Mad Arthur."

As per instruction, Aviri says "Yes, Captain," but frowns, his meticulous brain still trying to sort through the rest of what Scarlet said. "Er, wasn't this trade supposed to happen after the treasure-hunt?" He offers that question at a volume only a hair above 'dead silent'. "Appreciate you trying to be clear, though," he says. "I mean, I say 'no' and you'll ... er ..." he gestures to the gun, not quite sure what it does other than it probably being some kind of weapon, and most likely a deadly one.

"I'll trade you," Trilup whispers to Lin, eyeing the scary if diminutive Skeek. "He's foaming at the mouth a bit.."

"What happens if you say no depends on what you say no to. I highly recommend you do not say such, though," Scarlet warns and that predatory smile is back. "Don' be flimsy, eh?"

Lin looks over Trilup's shoulder then giver her a little grimace. "Think I'll keep mine but you kin borrow the Zapper when we bunk down. Floof him up if he's too crazy." She whispers back.

"He looks the sort to sleep with a stick in his mouth so he don't bite 'is own tongue," Trilup whispers, then smiles and waves to Wee Mad Arthur. The Skeek blinks, then snorts and says, "Cabbages!" before going back to his drink.

"Noted," Aviri says. He bites his lip. "Er, what exactly do you mean by 'flimsy'? I ask only to ensure I can not ... be it. You gonna use me as a shelf or something?"

"Or you kin bunk with Wee Mad Arthur an me an my sis'll borrow yer hammock 'cause yer such a gent." Lin winks at Wullie and gives a little eyebrow waggle.

"I'm a gent?" Wullie asks, puffing up proudly. "Cor.. a gent. Mum would be proud, I bet!"

Jock does not comment on whether their mother would be proud or not. "I'll go wet Wretched Dan's throat, Cap'n," he says. "And let 'im know he won't be burying no bodies tonight."

Aviri's brow arches. "Oh," is all he says. He does his best to offer a smile to the Awkwavi captain. He reaches a hand up to his head to ensure his ears stay down against his neck, mostly in the attempt to prevent Scarlet from putting holes in them.

"Better?" Lin whispers to Trilup with a sly grin. "Treatin' 'Viri alright over there, Cap'n?" She chirps as Jock leaves.

"Night's still young. Depends on if Gallis decides to be stupid or not yet, eh?" Scarlet remarks to Jack, but nods all the same. "But yah, kinna glad, really. Didn' wan to shoot dem t' make a point. Dat would have been so anti-climatic," she adds and gestures to Aviri, Lin, and Trilup.

"S'not like you'd know what to do wit' a girl anyway, Wullie," one of the Kavi's notes.

"Wha.. I do so! You.. uh.." the boy claims, before looking confused. "Well, I know there's huggin' involved. And.. fish.."

Scarlet is all smiles to Lin. "I promise 'is time servin' me will be memorable," she claims.

Aviri decides to not mention that the vast majority of everything is memorable to him. "Oh, my name's Aviri, if you care," he says. "Aviri Chalk."

Trilup tugs on Lin's elbow and whispers, "I don't wanna look dumb.. but wassa Bandersnatch?"

"Chalk, is it? Well, I won' have t' worry about chafing, den," Scarlet remarks with a smirk.

"Oi, we gonna tat their butts?" Wullie asks suddenly. "Seems a waste not too, what with them being all shaved and such.."

Lin thinks for a second then whispers back, "Mythical creature, I think. Some kinda spiky bear-cat thing."

The inside of Aviri's cheeks go red, and he looks away toward his companions. Or the floor. Probably a mixture of both; it's hard to tell.

"I suppose Wee Mad Arthur could get out 'is tattoo gear," Scarlet offers. "'cuz if I do it, yer part of the crew permanently..."

The otter spy spins back around to face Wullie and pokes the Zapper against his chest. "Let's forgo the tattoos fer now, alright?" She asks, sweetly, though perhaps with too many teeth showing in her smile.

"A tattoo of a fish might be.." Trilup starts to say, until it's mentioned that the extremely twitchy Skeek would be doing it.

"Butts!" Wee Mad Arthur declares, gurgles a bit, and then sticks his head into his mug.

"'Is mum dropped 'im on his head a lot when he was small," Scarlet admits. "Er, smaller."

"Anyway.. I guess this all worked out fer the best," Trilup says to Lin. "A boat, wi' a.. thingy.. to go down deep and all, and it ain't costin' us nothing."

"If we don't find ze treasure, can shtill get 40 coins fer yer hands, too," the Skreek notes. There's no way for his expression to not look sinister. "Aye, don't spook 'em yet, Billy," Rob Anybody chides.

"If you're really gonna let me go after servicing you," Aviri whispers to Scarlet, still looking at the floor, "you should find a way to take that chest."

"You know, most people don't act like they're going to a funeral when dey are around me," Scarlet remarks, dryly.

Lin pats Wullie on the arm with a regular smile and lets the Zapper hang at her side again. "Yeah, looks like a much better plan than flipping Waddles over an' tying rocks to it to get to the bottom with Aviri." She admits. "Now, speaking of that bounty, what should we know about the local Gallees and are you expectin' any trouble with them? 50 shekels seems like a pretty playful sum fer a bounty so you mustn't be on terrible terms with 'em."

Aviri looks up at Scarlet, trying to see if she was talking to him with that funeral remark. "Sorry; just not really ..." He makes vague gestures in an attempt to encompass the whole tavern, and maybe even the whole region in which the taven sits. "It's all new to me."

"Hah! Dey are just cheap bastards," Scarlet claims as she retrieves her gun. "I sunk at least twenty Gallesian ships by now and blew the floppily-doppelies off de last Captain dat dared to sail against me. They don' even leave de fort anymore."

At this point, Daft Wullie takes it upon himself to introduce the crew. "Rob Anybody is the First Mate, came wi' the boat an all," he says, gesturing to white-masked old Kavi next to Scarlet. "My brother is Medium Sized Jock, on account of him being smaller than Big Jock what is our oldest brother but he stayed at home. The stripey-tails are Big Yan and Big Aggie, they handles the serendip and the Magic Cheese, and break heads when needed. The ratty is Bad Billy Bigchin, on account.. he's got a big chin.."

"The dogs stay in their kennel and bark at us," Rob Anybody says of the Gallisians. "We let some of their supplies get to them. Gotta keep 'em around, so's more supplies get sent, ye ken? So.. if'n you be scouts for the Bloodfurs, don't think o' taking out that garrison, get me?"

Lin chuckles and nods, "I figgured they were missin' a zero or three." She nods in turn to each of the crew. "So, even though they're holed up, they're still well armed an' prolly more than a little peeved 'bout you strangling their supply chain. Gotcha. I'm surprised they even put out the new wanted posters if you've got 'em all rounded up."

"Whut?" the other old Kavi asks. Daft Wullie points him out as One-Eared Earl, who is the deckmaster - he doles out the work. The other Kavi is Tulgy Woods, the cook and assistant Cheese Wrangler on account he can't smell things. Which makes him a terrible cook. "You can always smell him coming though," the boy adds, as if that were a virtue. "And the lanky cat out front is Wretched Dan Handsome, and he'll gut you like a fish if he's bored, so what him. He's got ironwood teeth, and uses 'em too."

"The got a printing press thinger," Rob notes. "And it makes it look like they's doing something, I guess. Their boss don't come 'round, so why should they try harder, eh?"

"You can't pose for 'em," Medium Sized Jock notes, having just returned. "It'd be scanty.. less.. scandalous. What if Ma got hold of one?"

"You should send them a better one sometime." Lin chirps, "If you're gonna have yer picture up all over, may as well have it look good. That bit about their boss worries me though. Are you in the habbit of keepin' a watch on their ships an' roads to their keep so you kin get an early warnin' if they get a kick in the pants from higher up?"

Scarlet's ear twitches. "Ma' still thinks I be at University," she grumbles, "and ooooo, all proper ladylike!" The otter goes 'bleach!' muzzle screwed, teeth exposed, and tongue extended.

Aviri just stands there, ocassionally brushing his head to ensure his ears don't get pierced, watching the crowd like a hawk. Or ... interested rabbit, which is surprisingly similar to that of a hawk.

"The townies spy on 'em for us," Rob says with a grin. Looking to Scarlet, he notes, "Now that's a pose for the posters, yup!"

"Once some of the town girls made us a pie," Daft Wullie whispers aside to Lin, as if that were like getting a golden statue.

Lin giggles, "Yeah, that'd get you another zero fer sure." She looks impressed at Wullie and raises her eyebrows. "An' ya didn't even have to nick it off a windowsill, they must like you."

Scarlet regains her composure .. and promptly drapes an arm around Aviri's shoulders ... then pinches one of his ears. "Oh relax already! I don' bite ... much!" she claims.

"Somethin' tells me she an' Jack went to university together an' their relationship is a step or five more complicated than him havin' stollen somethin' of hers." Lin whispers to Trilup while Scarlet's distracted with Aviri's ears.

"It had three kinds o' fish in it, and some kinda bugs and mushrooms too," Wullie notes, a fond look of remembrance in his eye.

Aviri stiffens at the touch, and squeaks when she pinches him. "Yes, Captain," he says, and lets out his breath with a measured wooosh. At least he managed to mostly relax. "Y-you like tea?" he asks seemingly out of the blue. "Don't know yet what plants're around here, but with time I could probably put a decent brew together."

"So.. Scarlet is full of book learnin' and stuff?" Trilup whispers back, eyeing the Captain. "She seems to have done a lot better than Jack. Granny's still trying to marry Emmett's sister off on him I think.."

"I'm gettin' the impression she dropped out an' turned to piracy. Prolly used her ma's money from classes she never took to fund the start of her pirate outfit." Lin continues in whisper.

"'Course I like tea. I have tea from all over de world, bun," Scarlet remarks to Aviri ... and yes, her arm is still around his shoulder. "You should' try de stuff from Jadai iffin you want an experience in Tea. The lizzies have at least fifty versions of a green tea. Granted some taste like suckin' on the sock of a skreek, but eh."

"That hat must have cost a lot," Trilup agrees. "Shiny boots too. And that squeazy-vest thing.."

"Wet sock is a noble flavor," Aviri claims with an attempted grin. "The bonemarrow mushroom's the key to that."

"Wow.. he did smile," Trilup says, in awe of Scarlet. "Maybe she's got some Witch learning too?" she suggests to Lin.

"I smile plenty!" Aviri claims, looking offended at Trilup. He shifts uncomfortably under Scarlet's arm. "That Jadai stuff sounds good, though."

"Jus' you see," Scarlet adds, "By de end of de trip, 'ell have studs up an down each ear!" She punctuates this by licking Aviri's left ear.

"Could be, they teach all sorts of stuff at that University, right?" Lin chirps, then whispers, "I'm guessin' she burned through her university money gettin' established here an' has been using the Gallee supply wagons to support her crew after that ran out. Doubt there'd be a whole lotta money in supply wagons through so she's prolly startin' to hurt fer real money. She didn't haggle me down on our share of the treasure so she's either sittin' on a really big lump of gold somewhere or needs the money from the treasure bad enough to not want to get on our bad side."

"Maybe her folks are rich, if they could send her to the capitol and all," Trilup whispers back. "Maybe she got her letters in piracy is all. Since she's pirating off the Gallisians, doesn't that make her.. uh.. a private pirate? Privateer?"

Aviri's whole bodty twitches just once upon contact with Scarlet's tongue. He doesn't flee, though. He clenches his eyes, and even relaxes a bit. "You like studs, eh?"

"But her mom still thinks she's at university. So, privateer or pirate, she's off someone's rails." Lin asserts, still whispering.

This causes Scarlet's brow to go up. "Well now," the pirate remarks as she resists the urge to cackle. She decides to take it easy on the lapi and withdraws her arm finally. "You'll find out plenty in time," she whispers right into his ear, then slips away. "All right, das enough chit chat an yabblebabble! Any more business for court tonight? If no, we should withdraw t' the Bloody Bandersnatch and work out the charts. The treasure issa itchin' and I t'ink it time we be doing some scratchin'."

"That's what I like ta hear, Cap'n!" Lin chirps, "So, where's that ship hidin'? I didn't spot it when I was down by the waterfront."

"A real ship," Trilup says, vibrating a bit. "And did you see that? I gotta try that ear thing.."

It might be possible Aviri didn't mean his words that way. But judging from the little smirk, it wasn't accidental. He glances at Lin and Trilup, having managed to pick up most of their whispers when his ears hadn't been filled with the sound of his own heart. "Sounds like a plan," he says, leaving that, too, ambiguous as to which of Scarlet's comments he was referring.

"Oh, you never see the Bloody Bandersnatch until it is bearing down on you in a shrieking gale," Scarlet claims as she tilts her hat down, drawing her eyes into shadow ... and eliciting a squawk of complaint from the chibix hanging from her hat. "We kin make a banshee wet de bed."

"I'll make sure to add that one to the next edition of the Scout Seduction Manual." Lin agrees with Trilup, "We really should see 'bout gettin' a printing press though. Getting the scouts to copy them out as punishments is... Well, it's a good way to memorize them at least."

"Let's get our stuff and.. wait.. did Daft Wullie say something about magic cheese?" she asks.