Seemingly oblivious to the Stormblade's venomous glances, Daxur marches straight back to the tavern's back room, assuming of course that his comrades are right behind him.
Engineer maintains his "bodyguard" pose and enters the back room just ahead of Daxur.
EVERYONE " the captain says in slurred speech I wiiish that thisss was aaa mmmm social visit. The goblin problem isss to much for mmee and my meeen. Find how the goblinss are getting in Cauldron. Soo what doo you say."
"Good evening, Captain. Of course, I'm glad to help. I didn't know the goblins are causing so much trouble. What can you tell us about the situation: what kind of crimes are the goblins committing? where are the problems the worst? Any info can help us."
he replies "they are everywhere robbing and painting building allll oover Caulldron. the watch has been killing about 10-18 a night. I have ben paying for goblin ears all week long spent about a 1000 galifars all ready. Find where thye hiding and run them out."
"ok, we'll see what we can do."
Zevon remarks: "about this reward for goblin ears: are you not afraid that respectable goblins like for instance Daxur will be the victim of that?"
"I was just about to ask the same thing...then I realized there aren't too many "respectable" goblins around , besides me and Blue that is. Anyway, Zevon, you'll protect me from the slavering mob, right?" Daxur says, hoisting himself up onto a chair.
"This sounds like an opportune moment for Daxur and possibly our new friend to intervene. I will assist in this task, and gladly. "
Sitting up a bit straighter "Well Daxur and Blue are well know here by the towns people, the goblin that are attacking are deformed and are as tall as my self mingles with regular sized ones as well. Daxur if I were you to be safe have an escort. I knew that you would help." the captain picks up a small silver bell and rings it, a chubby brown haired woman walks in the room. The captain says 'tell them what you told me please." She looks at you and says "I saw a couple of golbins walking out of Orak's bathhouse last night I think his hiding the goblins."
When the woman has left again, Zevon turns to the captain and remarks: "Orak's place seems the ideal starting point of our investigation. Has the watch done anything with this information?"
Zevon continues:
"I think Orak's is not so far from the locksmith: I wonder if there is a connection"
the captain says "yes and came up with nothing to say that the goblins are being assisted by Orak"
"Has anyone noticed that Orak's been missing or absent from his usual activities? Or it could be a situation similar to Ghelve's....blackmail!" Daxur says, finally getting himself sited on the chair.
"Well he has been seen in and out of the bathhouse he would not be one to be blackmailed fight first ask questions later type" as the captain thinks about this a bit
"So off to this Orak's, then?"
"Hold one second, Three." Daxur says, his brow furrowed in thought "Get that lady back in here." and reaches over and rings the bell.
When the woman returns, Daxur stands on his chair and addresses her "You said you saw goblins walking out of Orak's...from the front door or a back door? It really matters, my dear."
she replies "yes at night through the front door, can have an ear sir?"
Zevon replies to #3:
"yes, to Orak's. But I like to watch the place first for a while to look for suspicious signs, before going in & confronting the owner."
she replies "yes at night through the front door, can have an ear sir?"
An ear? Did you say you want one of my ears....or just to tell me something?" Daxur says, his eyes darkening.
I would like one of your ears to feed my family of seven only if you agree. Beg your pardon if I offended you sir. she looks toward the floor, as she ides her shame for asking
"I'm sorry, but my friend's ears will stay on his head"
Zevon rummages in his pockets and hands over a few galifars to the woman: "here is something for your information. If it proves to be valuable, I'll give you some more."
she begins to cry and starts kissing your hand saying "Thank you dear sir thank you"
A wild thrill goes through Lumen as she returns the kiss with fierce intensity, a mixture of physical lust, awareness of acute danger, and the thrill that comes from potential battle combining to send an intense rush through the warrior woman’s body.
She didn’t trust this man at al, and realized it was quite likely she might have to kill him in self defense, but she would definitely find out what he was planning and in doing that she would enjoy what he had to offer.
"My squad, an old commander, a few friends here and there, a girls got to have contacts in high and low places." she purrs.
Lumen shakes her head as the woman heads off.
”I’m definitely going to have to keep you nearby with this ear crap.” she mutters to Daxur.
"Be at ease, Daxur. No-one will collect your ears while I still function."
"Yes, we need both of them attached so that you may hear as much as possible what is transpiring & that wonderful clockwork-like intellect of yours can derive suspicions from the gathered impressions." Beauregard adds, his own ratiocination lending a dispassion & acerbity to his rather mild tones.
Beauregard, pensive, refrains from adding further to the discussion. For now...
Lumen's purr becomes a lust filled growl as Naju lifts her off the ground.
"You're wearing too many clothes," she says as her hands rip his shirt from his body and work their way down his body. Her body practically thrums with both arousal and adrenaline as she grabs him and pulls him in.
"It heartens me that you all are just at attached to my ears as I!" Daxur exclaims after his shock at the woman's temerity wore off.
"Well, if these ne'er-do-well cousins of mine are entering and leaving Orak's openly, I can only assume one of three things: he's on it, the blackmail is so compelling that fightings not an answer, or it's not him." Daxur says, counting options off on his fingers.
After the woman leaves:
"So, how do we tackle this? Do we first try to ambush a goblin party when they have left Oraks, or do we immediately confront Orak?"
"If they are active outside Orak's, we would do well to observe the locale & determine if we might possibly question some of them before committing to another such...
adventure." Beauregard's features screw up to indicate how little pleasure he derived from the recollection.
"Indeed, Beauregard. Intelligence on the movements and locations of our targets should be our primary objective. Once obtained, we may formulate a plan to engage them through diplomacy, subterfuge, or conflict."
The captain says "Let me know once the problem is taken care of and good hunting. I think its time for me to go home." as he slowly gets up nods to everyone and exits the door.
"A gift from my friend who's left for a while. She's got quite the talent with magical tattoos. It definitely gets people's attention."
As Naju dresses to leave she smiles, "See you around sometime soon, I could definitely use more workouts like that one."
A short while after he leaves she gathers up her clothing and weapons and dresses, heading for the group's meeting.
"Another option is that I could go in as a patron of the bath house to see if anything seems unusual from the inside, while you all watch from outside." Lumen muses.
"Unless you have a fool-proof means of concealing your identity, that seems unwise." Beauregard replies. "We are all of us noted as 'Swords of Valor' or whatever heroic tripe the populous has decided to saddle us with. The description I recall hearing of you was...
excessively idealistic,
but still entirely too close for you to simply walk in without expecting to be noticed & remarked upon."
"The sort of activity you are considering is best done by someone capable of operating below notice..."
"In case you haven't noticed, I've also cultivated quite the reputation as a hedonist. Just the type of person you'd expect to find enjoying a local bathhouse." Lumen replies with a smile.
"perhaps my newly acquired hat of disguise can help as well?"
"I would recommend we determine what we can through less...
invasive means,
at least to start with. In my experience it is far easier to escalate an action than it is to...
retard."
Zevon nods at Beauregard's remarks:
"Good points. So we first observe Orak's from the outside for a while, and if the opportunity presents itself we try to ambush and/or capture some goblins. Shall we go?"
"Sound plan. Let us proceed."
EVERYONE Once you all head out into the dark streets, you notice a few short lived skirmishes between the city watch and goblins. A mix of normal looking goblins and deformed average human sized goblins in packs 3-6. The deformities range from hunched backs, oversized limbs, and contortion of the body itself, as boils, blistering and burn markings can be seen openly. Also give off a horrid stench. The closer you get to Orak's bathhouse the more watch member seem to be patrolling.