Wretched hive

We arrived, finally. Many people would say, "better late than never," but at this point it might as well have been never. Dame Gold has been kidnapped, along with some others (we still are not sure who left the party safely and who was kidnapped), and the kidnappers are either long gone or dug in so deep we can't find them. Not to mention they probably know we are here because of the ship we came in on (assuming the strange crewman who died on the voyage was actually working for...whoever).

You know, at least when we were sacking the temple we knew who the bad guys were. The temple is here and the bad guys live there. Hommlet is here, that's where the good guys are (including us). We go from the the good place with the good people to the bad place with the bad people, fight them and break their toys, and that's how heroes are made.

Elredd is dirty with a capital D. The bay is littered with trash, debris, dead fish, you name it. On the approach, we had to fish through the water with long poles to keep the worst of the debris from damaging the ship. Even so, some garbage managed to latch itself on to the hull. Captain Wolffe said they usually end up spreading debris all over the coast. There really is no regional govenor in the area like a duke or a king (that's why they call it the Wild Coast), so each town is left to its own devices. That means no one is going to bother cleaning up the bay.

Abandoned ships remained anchored docked to piers that looked like they could fall into the drink at any minute. Some of them were taking on water, and a few had already sunk to a point that only the top of their masts were visible. In spite of having the award for the dirtiest and nastiest harbor in the Flanaess, the place was bustling with activity. Boats came and went, many of which in no better condition than the maze of boats anchored at the docks. Some had supplies on deck that threatened to spill into the bay. No one acknowledged us in anyway or gave us the slightest notice. And no ship had purple sails.

We docked at a pier that seemed relatively clear of debris and abandoned boats. The crew went right to work. They didn't look happy.

"We do not be liking this place," Captain Wolffe said. "Elredd be a bloody awful port. Ye'll not find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."

I suppressed a snicker. "So why do you keep coming here?"

"They pay well," the Captain said.

"Who's they?" Anna asked.

He spat in the water. "Only they know who they are."

"You may not know who 'they' are," Audry said, "but you can make some guesses as to their intentions. They did try to sink your ship after all."

Captain Wolffe nodded grimly. We all knew that storm we encountered was probably not natural. "Aye, lass, this be true."

"I might suggest a change of venue," Marc said. "Perhaps along the Velverdyva."

"Danger be everywhere, even on the trade rivers," Captain Wolffe said, "but ye may be right." He looked at each of us. "Tis a wicked place, I tell ye. Aye, a leaking bilge o' rat-water or me Ewe's nae the swiftest o' this coast."

"Well, it appears we have little choice, Captain," Saul said. "Farewell."

"And ye," the Captain said. We all bid our farewells and headed for downtown Elredd.

I've never seen a town like this. Even Nulb wasn't this bad. Every damn building looked like it was that close to just tipping over. I thought at any moment we'd see a domino effect on the scale of several storied buildings. Hells, if I wanted to bring the whole town down, I'd just lean against a wall. Trash covered the street and was kicked aside thoughtlessly by the inhabitants as they wandered miserably through town to do whatever they needed to do.

The citizens are just as ramshackle and worthless as the buildings. They spell trouble T-R-U-B-I-L. And if you try to correct them, they'll kill you. Frankly, it's in your best interest not to talk to these people unless you're paying them money. Or if you're from the streets. That's why we let Anna and Saul do the talking.

"Look friend," Saul said. "You afraid of jink or something? I'm trying to fill your pockets, all you gotta do is share the dark of the matter."

The man glared at Saul. Saul and I stayed together while Marc, Audry, and Anna went elsewhere. We didn't want to split up, but we felt it was the best way to cover more ground.

"Look, berk," the man said. He smelled like a sailor and he looked like he was hit with every ugly stick in town. "I ain't seen no cutters come this way with who you says you's looking for."

We sat in a tavern, one of dozens in this town. I couldn't remember the name of it. The place smelled as bad as any other tavern. I was starving, but I was terrified to try any of the food or drink the water. The last thing I needed was a case of dysentery or food poisoning. Saul seemed to refrain as well.

"Bartender says you owe him money," Saul said. "Says you owe him coin and what not. He says he'll pay us to get the money out of you, or give you a reminder."

The man glanced toward the bar, though he could see nothing through the throng of people. "You turn me in, berk?"

Saul shrugged. "I'd hate to do the that, considering we can help each other."

The man showed a knife. "How about I pen ya in the dead book before ye--"

He stopped when I showed him what I had under my cloak. My sword was much bigger than his little rat-sticker. Neither Saul or I flinched. The message was clear. Spill it, now.

"Aye," the man said. He rubbed his grizzled chin. "Aye, mayhap I could help."

He looked at his empty mug, but we had already bought him two. We weren't about to buy him another. He shrugged and continued. "There be talk at the Broken Rudder."

"The what?" I asked.

"A tavern along the docks," he said. "I...work for people there when they be needin' stuff done without no one knowin'."

"A working man," Saul said. "I can appreciate that." He pulled out a bag of coin and set it on the table out of view of the surrounding people but easily within view of our new "friend."

"Aye, you know how it is," the man said, eying the bag of coins. "That be copper?"

"Silver," Saul said. "And it's yours if you rattle your jaw right."

"The Broken Rudder," the man said. "A man I work for be bragging about some rich lass he acquired. Plans on selling her to the slavelords."

"Do you know when," I said.

"Whene'er they come to port," the man said. "I know not when that be."

"Is this man keeping his slaves at the Rudder?" Saul asked.

"No, he not be so foolish," the man asked. "I know not where he keep his slaves, but here in Elredd, if ye wish to sell or buy slaves, ye be going to the Broken Rudder."

Saul shrugged and gestured to the small bag of silver on the table. The man reached for it, and when he did, Saul grabbed him firmly by the wrist. Saul has what can only be described as a GI Joe kung fu grip, and you would too if you could see the look on this scroungy man's face.

"You did not see us," Saul said. "Your windfall fell out of the sky. Understand?"

The man nodded quickly. When Saul let him go, the man nursed his wrist briefly before grabbing the silver. He did not go to the bartender to pay his tab. He simply left.

"Follow?" I asked.

"Absolutely," Saul said.

We tailed the man. He went straight to the docks area. He boarded a ship, what looked like a regular ship, and he didn't leave. The ship remained at the dock.

"Think he's telling the truth?" I asked.

Saul shrugged. "Let's wait for Marc and the girls to get back. See what they found."

We went back to our room. We rented one on the far west side of town, away from the docks. The deal was to meet back there by nightfall. The girls still have some time before they get back. Hopefully, they'll get back before too long.

More later.