Daud can't help bur keep his crooked feral grin as his oppenent starts slashing about haphazardly. So to help matters, he throws another punch.
The thug attempts to continue his success as Wednesday punches forward, the blade of the dagger embedding deeply in the man's right shoulder. It is left to quiver there, blood flowing down Wednesday's arm copiously as he lays out the thug with a second punch. The man wobbles, out on his feet, before slowly collapsing onto the table.
Daud is about to throw another punch but stops, his face caught in seeming confusion that his oppened has halted his attack. Oh, wait... He's down...
The King of Spiders claps loudly, laughing. "Oh well done, sir! Certainly not the most strategic game of knivesies played, but the method doesn't matter, only the victory, am I right?" He nods to Wednesday, then to Pyron. "As stated, half the coins go to the victor, half to his side of the table."
Devargo waits for hands to be untied and for the unconscious man to be dragged to a corner of the room before continuing. "Now, where were we? Oh yes, you were wanting something I might have, something of great value to me. Or would you care for another go at knivesies?" He grins, indicating the blood-drenched table.
Tempted to say something as he looks the now empty and forlorn table over he instead defers to the others with an appreciative show of his hand towards Devargo, politely declining.
Hmm got to spend some time with a nice lady, got Courtesan laid, nearly got killed, beat up a guy who probably had it coming, won some money, won Courtesan some money, cost Uprising some money, hopefully helped doing whatever it is we were supposed to be doing here, and with a date later this is turning into a pretty good day.
I knew you could do it Daud. Pyrons shakes his head in amazement. Still, that was impressive, beating a man armed with a knife with your own fist. Pyron then turns to Devargo, Thanks for the entertainment, he says when Daud declines the offer of another round. Pyron looks at Gaius, Let's offer Devargo something he won't want to refuse.
"Thanks, but you were probably the only one." he joked back to Pyron before turning back to Devargo. Glad to have been of amusement."
A short, nondescript man slides out from the shadows to wander unnoticed behind the crowd, "Well, my friend, I sense dark times ahead," he says in a soft voice that might be melodious if it didn't sound so sad. His shadow is his only companion, and it sighs deeply. Times for these two were always dark.
The man and his shadow wander for miles, observing the city without really being observed themselves. Not to worry, Zart, you're used to being looked over.
"LET US HOPE THEY ARE DARK. YOU SEEM MORE COMFORTABLE OUTSIDE OF THE LIGHT," replies the man's shadow, his voice sounding like a cloud giant's booming yell, only from very far off, "BUT YOU HAVE PROMISED ME AND YOURSELF THAT YOU WILL DO MORE FOR THIS CITY. NOT TO MENTION, YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER TO FIND. YOU WILL NEED HELP IF YOU ARE TO SUCCEED."
The two slip away towards the city wall, ascending the steps unnoticed despite the guards on duty there. Night time just felt right for them. Alas, but for every night there is a dawn.
Gaius pats Daud on the back, and moves to take his place.
Step aside--I have to try this myself. Any takers?
A stout young man, quite a bit larger than the first one, silently ascends the table, holding his right arm out to be lashed to Gaius. As the same preparations are made for these two, the betting again starts. Devargo again throws out some money, 10 gp.
He looks positively thrilled at the entertainment. "It's been some time since I've had anyone down here who wasn't one of these ass-lickers or a rich snob type." He laughs. For their part, his hanger-ons appear to have no reaction to his insult.
Pyron throws in ten gold pieces and stands on Gaius's side of the table. I am sure you can do this too Gaius.
A look of wary flitters across Daud's face for a moment as Gaius steps up to the table. Instead of going to place a bet he moves over to Tolenn. "Don't suppose I could trouble milady for some healing while Uprising's machismo gets the better of him?"
As Tolenn looks at him, Wednesday seems quite a mess, sporting at least five wounds oozing copious amounts of blood. It's rather amazing the man hasn't already collapsed.
Zart watches as Raamanti slams the man against the wall. The summoner approaches the pair, and begins to talk in a disinterested tone, "So, you see, we don't really need the information you have. There is no reason to kill you, but Raamanti here may enjoy roughing you up a bit. It has been some time since we've seen proper action. You have nothing to lose from telling us, and much to lose from your silence. Why not loosen those lips a little?"
The man being questioned is called Threnn. He is a cutpurse who generally works the markets. This day, he has the misfortune to have attempted to have stolen Raamanti's hammer. His capture and their subsequent line of questioning lead to a most fruitful discussion for the shadowy pair.
"Very well!" cries an exasperated Threnn, "Lamm is dead, okay? That's why you haven't been able to find him. A group of heroes - or thugs, makes no difference to me - tracked him down and fed him to his own gator. I guess that's why a proper death certificate hasn't been filed: no corpse. The orphans he kept have all either run off back home, or been rounded up by the authorities."
Zart shoots a questioning glance Raamanti's way.
"HE TELLS THE TRUTH," states Zart's shadow confidently, "HE HAS NO MORE INFORMATION TO GIVE. I WILL RELEASE THIS TERRIFIED HUMAN NOW, HE BEGINS TO SMELL." Raamanti drops Threnn unceremoniously in a heap on the ground.
"WE SHOULD GET DONNA NOW. SHE WILL BE WITH THE AUTHORITIES, CAUSING TROUBLE NO DOUBT. THEN WE MUST FIND THESE HEROES," Zart shoots Raamanti a curious look and the shadowy eidolon simply continues, "WE SHOULD AT LEAST THANK THEM. HOPEFULLY, THEY HAVE MORE GOOD TO DO IN THE CITY. THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS OFFER YOUR ASSISTANCE."
Seeing Daud fight the thug....and win! It made Tolenn feel proud of the tortured man, though his bloodthirstiness did, as usual bring a bit of disquiet to her mind.
Maintaining her stoic facade, Tolenn looks to Gaius for his approval, but he us already being bound yo his adversary. With a shrug, she turns to Daud and begins to examine his wounds...
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
A small child, no more than eight years of age, runs for the two shadowy individuals standing at the threshold of the Temple of the Dawnflower. Her face is muddy, but her clothes are clean and an elated grin lights up her otherwise pale face, "Father! Uncle Raamanti! You came for me!"
Raamanti leans down and enfolds the child in his shadowy arms, "OF COURSE WE DID, DONNA. YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE NIGHT'S SLEEP SINCE YOU WENT MISSING."
Donna screws up her nose skeptically, "You never sleep at night anyway!" she says accusingly to the eidolon, before leaning in close, "It is good to see you, uncle, but could you perhaps let my father and I have a discussion in private?"
"OF COURSE, LITTLE ONE," Raamanti replies, "I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON." Raamanti steps slowly towards Zart, even appearing to step through the man. As he continues along, he loses his dimensions. It is hard to tell when Raamanti disappears and when Zart has a regular shadow once more, but eventually the light plays off the summoner as nature intended, and Raamanti is gone.
"Was that a tentacle I felt on Raamanti's chest, father?" asks Donna immediately once the shadow is once more a shadow, "What possessed you?"
Zart tries hard, and fails, to suppress a tear, "It gladdens my hear to hear you so... so normal after your ordeal. It is wonderful to see you!" Zart kneels down and wraps his daughter up in as firm a hug as his frail arms can manage, "I thought the tentacle might come in handy. He has trouble hitting things with that hammer of his when they get too close to him. We'll see. I may remove it if it proves less useful than I expected."
Donna nods, seeming for all the world as though she has the final say on such things. Zart smiles a rare smile before adopting a serious expression once more, "What became of the heroes who freed you? I must find them and thank them."
"Oh, they come back to visit from time to time," says Donna, brightening as she talks of the group who removed Lamm from this world forever, "They are very rich. One left a pouch of platinum pieces here to help the priests look after us! The guard who drinks too much led them here, " noticing Zart's quizzical look, she adds, "The one who really drinks too much. I'll show him to you. He's usually stationed not far from the temple."
Not long after, Zart has taken his daughter home and locked her safely indoors. His regular shadow is gone once more as he has returned with Raamanti to question the drunken guard. A flask of Ulfen Gulping whisky is all it took to loosen the guard's tongue.
”They went to shee the Field Marsshhall, Cresshh-Cresshhida Bonasshh… erm… no… Croft *" the guard asserts, after finally coming to the point (and having almost finished the flask), "Sssshee'sh prob'ly shtill awake, alwaysh doing paperwork that one. She'sh jusht up that tower over there. Good luck wif her, though, she'sh a real bitcsh."
Without so much as a glance back in the direction of the guard, Zart makes straight for the tower.
"My thanks." he humbly says as the Paladin examines his wounds.
Devargo leans forward in his seat, eager as he yells, "Go!"
"Whatcha want?"
"My thanks." he humbly says as the Paladin examines his wounds.
The 'bodyguard's touch is firm but gentle as she wraps some spare strips of cloth and leather around Daud's chest, keeping some of the more gaping wounds from bleeding out.
She pats his shoulder as she stands, meeting his eyes with a promise of Sarenae's grace once she's freed from her ruse.
She then turns back to the battle about to ensue...
"Hello there, I won't take up too much of your busy time. It is clear that you are stretched thin and overworked. Please direct me to Cressida Croft's office and I shall bother you no more," perhaps sensing the guard's response to this, perhaps anticipating it, the cowled Zart continues in the same sad, matter-of-fact voice, "I would like to see her about the heroes who dealt with that Gaedren Lamm fellow. I wish to offer my sincere thanks to them and aid them in their endeavors. If they are working for Field Marshall Croft, then I guess I will be offering to toss my hat in the ring also. With volunteers like me and Raamanti here helping, there will hopefully be less work for poor guardsmen like yourself."
Zart manages to smile at the man, but cannot hold it for long. He creases his brow, his sincere desire to alleviate this man's workload is plain for all to see.
And while you're at it, why don't you shine his shoes?
Raamanti restrains himself and waits patiently and silently behind his master - every bit the man's shadow.
She looks up from her stacks of documents, her tone neutral, "What's this about?"
In an unsurprising replay of the previous game of knivesies, the thug quickly reaches down with his left hand, yanking the knife from the table, then tries to bury it into his Gaius-sheath.
The inquisitor's armor is enough to turn the blow aside, thankfully, as Devargo and his cronies laugh at the turn of events.
"Thanks again," he says as he leans in towards the paladin while keeping his head tilted to view the fight. "You know the reason I did that was so none of you would have to? Let's hope they don't get too riled up and demand you and Courtesan fight."
"Field Marshall Croft, Sir, thank you for seeing me," says Zart, snapping his feet together and giving a shallow bow in what he hopes to be proper military style, and I really hope this Croft is the kind of macho woman who prefers "sir" to "ma'am", "My name is Zart, and I am a summoner of moderate ability. This is my planar companion, Raamanti. I won't bore you with too many of the details, but my own daughter was one of the children kidnapped and forced into service by Gaedren Lamm. She is now safe at home, in large part because of the actions of a group of heroes who I believe you know. If the whisperings I have heard are correct, they are lending their aid to our beleaguered city - and to you in particular.
"I would like to thank them personally, and also pitch in and help them, you, the Queen and this great city of Korvosa," Zart pauses to gauge Croft's reaction before continuing, "So, if I am correct (and you will have me) and you know their location, please point me in their direction and I will let you get back to your documentation. I would genuinely just love to help."
Raamanti mimics Zart's bow to the best of his ability.
Best to be silent. I don't think I can add to that. I've never seen my master so impassioned.
** spoiler omitted **
She continues listening, her expression growing warm. "I appreciate your earnestness, Zart. And Raamanti." She adds, looking to the eidolon before going back to the fetchling. "They are performing a task of a...delicate nature for me right now. One that the sudden arrival of a newcomer might compromise. However, they have proven quite efficient up until now. You are welcome to wait here for them, when I can make a proper introduction."
"That is very kind of you, Sir," Zart nods his head in thanks. I really hope I got that 'Sir' right - she seemed to take it in stride the first time, "I understand fully that it is best not to interfere with their current task, and very much appreciate your offer to wait here. I can help you with paperwork if you like. I doubt I know enough of the intricacies of city politics to help with advice, but I can at least sort the piles for you or file anything you have finished with."
As with the guard, Zart preempts any negative response, "Or we are equally happy to wait on that seat I saw just outside your office."
Why does my master keep calling that woman 'sir'? Does he want to start a fight?
Ramanti's black, featureless face remains as impassive as ever.
Gaius disregards the man's knife and sweeps some coins off the table, smirking.
Guess that's a draw. Care to put that knife back and play again, double or nothing?
Note to self: Do not shout out "wuss" in a crowd of likely easily angered thugs. Do not. Don't. Don't...
Pyron looks shocked and surprised, but he maintains his composure.
The thug stands there awkwardly, holding the knife in his left hand as he looks to the King of Spiders for direction. Devargo does not look pleased. In fact, he looks positively pissed. His voice is calm and level, however. "I was expecting a much better performance, considering the brawl your friend just gave us. Start again, and leave the knife in poor Jubrak's hand. I'm sure he was thrilled to death to actually get it this time." He smirks at Gaius, eyes blazing.
Pyron puts a hand on Gaius. Speaking quietly but not exactly whispering, Please don't piss him off again. Make a good show for everyone. Then he smiles at Devargo and resumes his position.
Very well, let's continue.
Gaius fakes a grab for some coins, trying to catch the brute off guard.
At Gaius' words, the thug wastes no time, slashing across at Gaius. His aim is hasty, and Gaius jerks back as the dagger flashes harmlessly in front of him.
Jubrak then falls hook, line, and sinker for the inquisitor's feint, caught completely off balance.
Gaius follows the feint with an eye gouge, trying to frustrate his opponent.
The thug, off balance, attempts to slash at Gaius again. He is apparently unnerved by the half-elf's confident swagger.
Gaius then attempts to gouge at the man's eye, but his hand-eye coordination is lacking.
The thug, interestingly enough, swings again. Seeing the inquisitor go for the eyes startles him and he ends up nowhere close.
I need to show them blood, his or mine, or they'll get bored and do something drastic. Gaius thinks. He makes a lunge for the dagger in the big man's hand.
As Gaius lunges for the dagger, the brute stabs at him viciously. Being the big dumb fool he is, he again misses badly.
As the man is extended forward, Gaius deftly bends the man's wrist back, catching the dagger as it falls out of his grasp.
Eyes widening with fear, the fool attempts to push Gaius back. The inquisitor plants his feet and stands his ground.
Gaius drives the flat of the blade in a punching motion towards the man's face, then uses the opportunity to sweep some coins into his bag to deter his foe from ending the fight early.
We're not done yet, Jubrak he says in a mocking tone.
Gaius makes the man pay for his attempted push, a spray of blood erupting from the thug's nose as the half-elf drives the flat of his blade into the man's face.
Seeing the end, the thug desperately tries to grab Gaius to entangle his limbs. Again, his luck and strength fail him against the wily man.
Gaius strikes again and again, trying to put the man down quickly.
You should stick to spectating, 'knivesies' isn't for everyone.
So says the guy who kicked the coins off the table when he didn't get the knife first try.