Ludvic goes one way, the halfling the other, searching for a way out. The rooms all appear to be empty, bare of furniture or decoration. Apparently Solvor had emptied the place thoroughly. Ludvic can hear the flames crackling behind him as the house became engulfed in flames. The heat begins to make the floor uncomfortable.
The third floor Ludvic checks though, has a heavy safe against one wall, tightly closed. Behind a half-open door he sees a small iron staircase as well, spiraling down. It looks old and unused, rusty and pitted.
"Over here, I found the good stuff"
Ludvic will go over to check it out before moving over to open the door to room with the stair case. "I might have found a way out as well. Get that safe open and lets get the hell out of here. Already going to burn when I die, don't want to go out that way as well!"
Tarim rushes in and starts to work on the safe. The floor becomes unbearably hot and flames becomes evident around the door. Smoke billows in, thick and hot.
Tarim wipes his face saying, 'Hard to see. Can you do anything about that fire?"
He will look at the snake poking it's head out of his shirt.
"You got any plans?"
After the familiars blank look he will shrug before walking over to the door and pouring water at the front of it. Walking back over he will pour the rest underneath the halflings legs to help cool him down.
"That's all I got. Didn't expect a fire today.
The heat grows so much Ludvic feels pain.
Tarim curses loudly at the safe, and the door swings open.
"Damn boss, it is empty. They must have known we were coming, it was all a set-up. Let's get out of here."
"Mental note, make sure I beat him with a safe, got it.
He let the halfling go first down the stairs in case those were trapped as well. As they run Ludvic will pull out another one of his cigarettes and light it on one of the stray flames. He was already inhaling smoke, might as well enjoy a bit of it as they made a run for it.
Ludvic and Tarim hit the stairs, the white-hot heat close behind. Cool air is flowing out of the stairway however, providing a brief respite. As their feet press on the metal however, it starts to bend and twist, weak with age.
Faced with no choice, the two hold on as the stairs buckle and break. Ludvic braces himself for the fall...
udvic hits the ground, tumbling to ward off the worst of the damage. Looking up he finds he and Tarim have fallen into a dark basement of some kind, under the burning building. The metal stairs are a heap of ruin, not providing anyway out. The basement has a few doors leading off into the musty darkness. It is cool down here at least, but the stairway above them will soon be filled with burning debris.
By now he was battered and burned from the heat and the fall. On the bright side of things he had manged to avoid snapping his cigarette as he hit the ground. Blowing a heavy puff into the air he will lean up and brush himself off.
"Welp, found the basement. Better keep moving. Lets avoid combat if we can as well, I'm out of most of my spells today.
He assumed his spry little thief would have taken the fall just as well as he had and they had no time to waste with the building on fire.
Tarim pops to his feet and nods, "Let's go.
The basement is dry and dusty, and Tarim has trouble opening the rusted, latched doors, but he manages. They pass a few old casks and flasks of wine and other spirits, apparently forgotten for years.
In a cobwebbed room full of such things, Tarim puts an ear to another stout door.
'Air on the other side. Must be the way out." then he frowns and listen again. "I hear voices, breathing. There are men on the other side. What do you want to do?" the thief asks, knives already out.
His attention will be brought to the wine. He will pull on his gloves of shaping and poke a small hole in the wood, letting some wine flow out into his now empty water skin. After a small sip from it he closed the hole up and offered it to his friend as they got to the door. After he hears of more men he will whisper back.
"Let's check out who it is first."
He will get on his knees and move to the corner of the door. Very slowly he will poke a small hole into the wood with his pinkie, just large enough to poke through with his eye. He wanted to know just what they were dealing with before they even tried to open the door up.
It is hard to see int he shadowy gloom, but it is a group of three or four men, sitting and talking quietly. One of them seems to be doing most of the talking, raising his hands or raising his voices. The words are hard to make out, but it is some kind of lecture of preaching.
They don't seem armed.
They were in no condition for a fight at this point. He could not risk the chance of fighting these people. At the same time, the building was burning down behind them and they both needed to get away.
"Were gonna run for it. We will warn them about the fire and hopefully that will keep them distracted if they are hostile.
With that he will take a deep breath and then open the door.
"Fire, everyone get out of here!"
With that Ludvic will begin to run.
They rush out the door, in among the men. Ludvic sees they are dirty and unkempt, little more then beggars. They stare in shock as Ludvic and Tarim boil out of the door.
'Fire?" but they barely have time to react as the pair rush past them. Tarim careens into one and they both fall over, cursing.
Looking them over he wills stop, waiting for his friend to pick himself up from the ground.
"Yeah, some gentleman set his house to catch fire if he felt like some one was sneaking in. He apparently felt like we were sneaking in. Thanks to that a fire caught. Any chance you know the fellow? He goes by the name of Solvor
"Solvor?" The 'leader' says, then gives an accurate description. "Yeah. A day or so ago they emptied that house next door, took all kinds of stuff. Wait, it is on fire? We have to get out of here."
With that he sprints up the stairs, along with his beggarly fellows.
After watching the beggars begin to run away before reaching over to help the halfling up off the ground.
"Sounds like we met some people who know our target. Lets go talk to them a bit some place that is a bit less dangerous.
With that ludvic will begin to run after the guys, trying not to lose them in the dark basement.
The beggars lead Ludvic and Tarim out of the dank basement, up and into a grimy side alley. Sick plants line the overfilled gutters and it all reeks of garbage. Off tot he side Ludvic can hear the crackle of flames and many shouts and yells but is a safe distance away.
The beggars huddle together but the 'leader' says, 'So, who are you anyway? You with the gangs?" he says, fear in his voice.
"Yeah I'm signed up with the Five Monkeys. Still have to work at getting in. Solvor just tried to have me killed after a little misunderstanding with a friend of his. Now I need to track him down and bring him to the the the head honcho. Don't need to worry about me though. I got no issues with you or your own. Any information you can tell me about Solvor however would be great, and well rewarded if it's good enough as well.
The mention of the Five Monkey's most of the beggars hang back, obviously nervous. It was a name to conjure with, apparently, on the streets.
But one, an old man with no teeth walks forward, 'Reward, you say?"
'I don't know much, but I did hear one of them talking that he had a sister who was renting them a place down by the water. Some sort of brothel or other." The toothless man shrugs. 'That's it."
"Place by the water eh? Don't get anything more? Get me a name and I can double this.
Ludvic will hand the man five gold pieces for the information before speaking again.
"I appreciate the help. When I find Solvor, and I will, I should be getting more clout in the gang. They ever harass you, just let them know you know Ludvic. It should keep them from getting violent with you.
The man eyes the gold coins, 'I think the name was Bresca. Foreign looking fellow." The beggarly man jumps at the money like a man in the desert jumping at water. 'Good luck, finding them."
Ludvic will throw him another five for the name and smile. "Have a good night gentleman."
He would begin to walk away at this point.
"Well that was a wasted night. Fell right into his trap. I need to get some sleep and research this brothel."He will mumble to his burglar.
Tarim shurgs, "It happensm but hopefully not too often. I want to be there when you find these guys. I have a few...pointed remarks of my own." He waves a sharp, glinting dagger.
The thief soon vanishes into the dark streets of Old Cassomir, obviously at home among them.
For now Ludvic will head back to his home to get some sleep. If he gets their with out trouble he will get some food and head to bed. After waking up he will get some breakfast, prepare his spells, and then go looking for the brothel.
Ludvic and Tarim troll the docks, looking for the brothel or information about it. It soon becomes apparent the beggar lied about the name. 'Bresca' is the most common name on the docks, and seems to have been a lie. It must have just been a dig for more money but the bit about the brothel seemed authentic.
One seedy bartender suggest asking the Velvet Dock Gang they would know of any brothel usage. They controlled nearly everyone in the city, and had representatives in every house. At least,t hey would be easy to find.
Ludvic will have to write off the lost money as he begins to explore the brothel scene. It was turning out poor until he finally got some information from one of the bar tenders. He will nod his head and thank him before heading off with Tarim.
"Remember, keep your eye on the prize. NO running off with any of the pretty ladies we are bound to meet." He says as he begins to try and track down a representative
of the Velet's.
Tarim looks crestfallen at Ludvic's admonishment. "Friend, I hear they have some Varsian ladies who will do anything for you...anything." The halfling goes on, at length as Ludvic finds a nearby house of pleasure.
The two are led inside to meet with the local 'representative' of the Velvet Dock Gang, a heavyweight woman with iron-gray curls. She takes in Ludvic's story and questions evenly before replying, sipping a small cup of tea.
"Solvor. He has a bounty on his head, I hear. Wanted by the Five Monkeys. A dangerous man, a cornered man. Rumor has it, he is hiring foreign sailors to protect, since no local will stand by him." She sets her cup down.
"And what are you willing to pay for information? More then he would be willing to pay to keep quiet?"
"Yes yes sex is all rather fun, but the violence needs to come first. Then you can do what ever else you would like once we are done.
Once they were lead back he would fold his legs and respond in kind to any questions.
"You are right, he is dangerous and cornered. What ever money he can pay you will run dry. He can not stay here for very long. Either he flees the city or gets himself killed. Either way that gold will pay to what is lost do to your hurt relationship. The Five Monkeys will hold a grudge if you are protecting him. That hurts business and no one in this room likes those words. I think we all know it's best if he is put down as soon as possible. Besides, I will owe you a favor. It's like what I tell my friends, always good to have a wizard in your back pocket for a emergency.
The woman eyes Ludvic then nods, 'But I want the favor first. I have something a wizard can help with, I think." She nods to Tarim, "And a thief."
"Of course she needs something done first. Never can catch a break He thinks to himself before answering.
"Well,lets hear the favor first. Only a fool agrees to something before hearing all of the information."
The gang member nods, 'Makes sense."
She leans back in her chair and steeples her fingers. "I have a client. A man of considerable means, one of the better types who visits here. His name will be given if you agree."
"He is violent. He beats the girls, and boys, whom he hires. He pays enough to cover the damages but..." the older lady bares her teeth, 'I do not like him."
She shrugs then, "I cannot move against him myself, of course. Bad for business. I'd like you to..scare him off. Nothing premeneant now," she waves a finger, 'Too many questions. Frankly, I'd like no one to know either of us were involved, at least by name. Think that is something you and your knife-carrying friend there can pull off?"
Leaning back Ludvic will mull everything over before slowly nodding his head.
"Yes, I think I can do something about that. Always nice to put the fear of god into some one like that. I can give him a good scare, maybe curse him for a day. Just long enough to make him regret his actions. I'll come up with a good disguise and make it so he never wishes to thing about touching another person ever again."
The woman smiles, "Sir Lordan Reich. He owns a manor house in the city." She gives an address. "Again, nothing too spectacular. I don't want him thinking we had anything to do with it. After that, return and I'll tell you what you need to know."
"Ohh, I'll just give him a little reminder that doing it to often can cause some one to go blind. We will give him a scare. I'll get him off your backs and then after we will discuss our business. Anything else I should know about him?
"Like I said, he is a violent man. Always carries a sword with him, and is quick with it. I know he has a few enemies, so he keeps a number of guards around his house. It won';t be an easy place to get into. Other then that, I don't know much about him expect he is rich enough to pay off the House anytime he does something wrong."
Ludvic learns Lordas Reich is a fairly boring man. Every morning he goes for a ride through the streets, often venturing into the countryside on the edge of town, on top of a huge black warhorse. He nearly runs over anyone who gets in his way and uses his riding crop on passing peasants.
The bulk of his day is spent talking to his factors and merchants., Reich, apparently owns many large farms and holdings, and makes considerable sums from selling the vegetables in the city. He has men handle all this for him, but he does spend hour sin counting houses and such, inspecting.
His evenings are spent playing cards and hosting friends, other young nobles, until they all get piss drunk and head off to local brothels, were they beat the girls and throw coins to cover the damages.
Security around the manor home is tight. At least four guards, decent ones, and the doors and windows are locked. Considerable plate and jewelry is kept in the house, so they have an eye to make sure no one robs it.
Reich himself always wears a sword and apparently knows how to use it, or rumor goes.
Now that ludvic had a general idea on how the man goes about his day he will begin his plan. He will start things out by approaching him by the outskirts of town. For this he will actually have Innokas come along just to help with a bit of the intimidation factor. He will have one of the boys shadow him and give him a heads up on what direction the man is heading. Ludvic and Innokas will cut him off in a alley and wait. Once he was close enough he will use summon monster to bring out a giant frog. The plan is to use the frog to grab his horse and keep him still, while Innokas gets close and drags him into the alley way. Once inside Ludvic will already have had a disguise up. That is the plan at least.
Ludvic, with the help of his urchins (who prove very useful during the whole affair), manages to cut the lord off in a narrow alley after he leaves a discussion with a minor grain merchant.
Spotting them, the man raises an eyebrow, and places a hand on his sword hilt. 'What is the meaning of this?" he says, voice imperious. 'Get out of my way or I will ride you down." He seems eager to do it. The other hand strays toward a hunting horn at his belt.
Ludvic will bow slightly and smile at the guy. He will also cast charm person to try and get him a bit more friendly. Dc 16
I am simply a friend who is looking to speak with you a bit. The matter is vary important and can not wait a single second I am afraid."
Ludvic will slowly begin to approach him, looking to get the horn away from him.
The man grunts, and starts to ride Ludvic down, sword swinging. "Get out of my way foul brigand!" He has the horn in hand, but doesn't blow it. He still thinks he can handle Ludvic on his own, and his has a point, astride a huge charger.
Innokas waits in the shadows, following the plan.
Ludvic will sigh as he summons the frog in front of him and commands the frog to grab the man right off the horse.
"This could have went so much easier if you had just listened you tremendous ass."
The frog conjures out of thing air, a lumbering beats, covered with slime and wetness. Reich's eyes widen but he thunders on, sword swinging.
The frog's bite connects, tongue lashing out over ten feet, slapping the rider int he chest, hard.
The tongue grips the noble and hurls him toward it, tossed off the horse. Reich lands near the frog, sword in hand.
Thrashing,t he noble attacks the frog.
As the sword hits, the frog dies and vanishes into the ether. As it does so, Innokas runs forward, short swords out. "How bad do you want him hurt boss?" she yells, a smile on her face.
Ludvic will take this opportunity to attempt to blind the man as well. dc 18
"Beaten and bloody is best. I want him to hear what we have to say. After all, the girls had to deal with the sound of his voice as well. Welcome to go for his family jewels as well.
Ludvic will take pains to stay behind Innokas, away from any wild swings of the man.
The noble shrugs off Ludvic's blindess spell, and settles into a fighting crouch. His sword hangs low, quick and darting.
Innokas spars with him slightly, but neither is able to make much headway. Riech seems to be enjoying himself, fending off the half-elves's blows. He seems to be quite capable.
He raises the horn to his lips and sounds a long, hard note. The nobleman grins, "The Watch, and others, will be here soon. Any last words, thief?" he spits, gaining a small cut from Innokas, but smirks.
The nobleman's horse starts to come up, and the chance of the man re-mounting seems likely.
"I will just have to make this quick then. I just want you to remember one single thing if you survive this. I'm a bit to angry to care about not actually killing you. If I hear that you so much as touch another prostitute again, I will murder you and I will make sure to snuff out your soul myself. Innokas, take a step back.
A ten foot pit will suddenly open up beneath his feet. It will be twenty feet deep.
After which he will summon a hell hound into this pit with him. At that he will tell Innokas it is time to run.