The nobleman trips and falls into the pit, sword flailing. Ludvic can hear him cursing and swearing revenge. The necromancer sends in a hell hound after him. As he does so, several Watch members round the corner, pointing at Ludvic and Innokas.
The hell hound he summoned will open up with a volley of fire from it's mouth before he begins to bite into the man.
As ludvic and her and running he will turn bout and shout "Run! Oh god run it's some sort of hell beast! Can't you smell the brimstone?! You have to save that poor man!"
He will be looking to keep them distracted long enough for the two of them to run while they try and save the noble.
The Watch men bound forward, but most are distracted by the pit and hellhound. A few probably get a good look at Ludvic and Innokas though, before the two melt into the crowd.
After they are safe, Innokas turns to Ludvic. Her small face has a long gash along the forehead, and Ludvic can see some blood seeping off her left arm.
"Well, that could have went better." She says, a tight grin on her face. Blood drips onto her tight fighting leathers, staining them with a slick red.
Ludvic will be slightly out of breath as they run out of the alley way, leaning against a wall in a attempt to catch it.
"Ehhh what can you do, it's part of the business. Was satisfying hearing him hit the ground though. He will pause slightly seeing that he had got in a couple of hits on her. "Very satisfying. Here, your hurt. You can have one of the potions I picked up in case of a emergency. That must hurt. He will hold out the potion for her, a bit unhappy for some reason that she got hurt in his operation.
Innokas takes the potion and downs it, the skin healing over and blood stopping. She grunts, "I'd had worse in a pit fight. I can handle myself. So, do you think you scared him off or just pissed him off?"
"Well either way his agression will most likely be directed at me if he is still alive. That should at least keep him away from the girls of the town for the time being. Good enough to get my information. Then I can start closing in on my little golden goose. I'm going to go tell the client I've done the job. Your welcome to come along."
To Ludvic's surprise, Innokas blushes, 'Wasn't that a whorehouse...?" Then, obviously flustered she stands up, looking away. 'Of course, boss. I have your back."
As Ludvic and Innokas make their way they are stopped at a street corner by Ludvic's two urchins. They seem breathless with excitement and news.
They quickly tell a story of a Black Flies gang member (a sub gang of the Five Monkey's Gang) killing someone (unknown to the urchins) in broad daylight. The Black Flies was the gang Solvor used to be a part of and run by Anataxes, who Ludvic met in the empty temple. It is big news and fresh off the streets.
He can't help but laugh slightly at her blush. "It appears so. Never been one of my vices thankfully, but it is the down fall of many a man. Those women hear everything going on in this city."
Upon hearing this news he will slightly rub his chin.
"Interesting. I'll get the information from my informant first before I go check things out. It's possible they are cracking down trying to find Solvor. It would look bad if he gets killed before I can get my hands on him though so we better pick up the pace."
With that Ludvic will quicken his step back to the brothel.
Ludvic finds the brothel and his contact inside. Instead of drinking tea however, she is writing various checks and letters of exchange. Judging from the quick glimpse, the House is making a tidy sum.
She smiles, "Do I dare hope for good news?"
"Lets just say that the message has been burned into his memory. He should be of no more trouble to your girls.
The Velvet Dock Gang agent lays down her pen and paper, smiling, 'Good, good. It was a good deed, I'm sure. I look forward to hearing the account.'
She shifts, looking right at Ludvic, 'So, your friend. I asked around. He is hiding in an old abandoned brothel down at Swamp End." a state collection of old buildings at a nearly empty part of the docks. "I heard he has hired a few foreign guards to keep the place safe and a ship is on the way to get him. No average captain will take him, due to risk of reprisal from the gangs. I haven't told anyone else yet, but lots of people are looking for him. the reward on his head is sizable."
The lady judges Innokas then, suddenly, 'Who is your friend? I like her more then the halfling. She has...presence" Her eyes are calculating, speculative.
Innokas turns a very bright shade of red but stands her ground.
Ludvic will lean back in his chair and nod. "I see. I guess people would start looking for him more when the money became apparent. I'll have to work fast if I want to catch him then. No clue as to how many guards he has with him? I'll have to ready mostly aggressive spells if I want to take those guards out as well.
Ludvic will mumble to himself about the plan before he notices the look being given to Innokas.
"Haha while you are right in noticing her beauty I am afraid that your clients would begin to avoid the place after she beats one of them into a girl herself. Innokas is one of the only people keeping me from being butchered by the more brutal people of this city, I don't know what I would do with out her.
Innokas, even brighter red turns to the window as if looking for foes. Ludvic thinks he sees a shadow of a smile flit across her face.
The gang agent shrugs, "In any case, I honestly don't know. The building is an old one, and hangs out over the water, sitting on wooden pilings. It probably takes a few men to cover it well, I'd imagine."
"Very well. I thank you for all of your help. Now I have one other question as well. I hear that your gang is branching out into the real estate business. I'm currently in search of a home myself. Do you think you could assist me in finding a place to call my own?
The woman ponders, 'How much do you want to spend? There is always a market, depends on the coin. Any thing special you need?"
"I will most likely be using the reward off his head for it. I was hoping for a nice laboratory as well as a room I could use to hold some trophies. I enjoy creating collections so it will have to be spacious. Something I could add on to would also be appreciated.
She purses her lips, "I think I have place. Give me your current residence, and I'll send along word if I think I can find it."
He will give him the address before heading back to it to rest up. After gathering his thoughts and preparing his spells for the next day he will collect innokas and head out for the mans residence. He will stake it out with her at first.
[ooc]it went well. Had to pull out a few tricks for it but he seemed to make a point[/b]
The abandoned brothel is a, old building, crabbed with a swayed roof, bent with age. the shingles are rough and rotting, and old, dead vines cling to the dirty exterior.
It is fairly defensible, having no buildings next to it, and at the very edge of the harbor. Indeed, part of the building stands on large pilings reaching into the slightly rough waters. A small dock is half-visible in the murk but it looks long unused.
After watching the place, Ludvic spots about half a dozen different guards, all seeming to be foreign sailors, coming and going on fairly regular shifts. There is no sign of Solvor.
Do any of the guards go off by themselves or do they come as a group?
Sometimes pairs, sometimes alone. They are mostly going to and from a few seedy taverns and inns along the rougher parts of the docks.
Hmm, his plan is to abduct one of the guards, get any passwords, then disguise himself to get inside.
Innokas and him will hide in one of the alley ways and wait. Once we see one of the guards pass near by we will attempt to jump him and drag him in to interrogate.
Hiding in one of the alleys, Innokas tosses a knife hand to hand, waiting.
'I heard two Black Flies killed each other in a bar brawl last night. Very odd, apparently they were the best of friends before. Something is up. Any ideas, Ludvic?"
After Ludvic answers
One of the guards comes around a corner. To his credit, he manages to mark Innokas with a long knife before she subdues him, pounding his face in and holding her knife to his throat. The bleeding and beaten face starts to swell instantly, and the sailors gasps and wriggles like a dying fish.
"I don't know. It feels like their is a power struggle starting up in the city. Could have been a enchanter who dominated one of them, or maybe it was just about money. It might be worth looking into if we have the time."
Once they had the guard in hand though ludvick will pull out his familiar, letting the snake begin to crawl down into the mans pants.
"hello friend, I've heard that you are currently working for a gentleman whom I have a interest in. I would appreciate it if you would tell me everything you know about the lay out of his base, along with any passwords or codes that the guards use to tell each other apart. I suggest you speak quickly and honestly before I have my little friend here do something to your own trouser snake."
"I don't know. It feels like their is a power struggle starting up in the city. Could have been a enchanter who dominated one of them, or maybe it was just about money. It might be worth looking into if we have the time."
Once they had the guard in hand though ludvick will pull out his familiar, letting the snake begin to crawl down into the mans pants.
"hello friend, I've heard that you are currently working for a gentleman whom I have a interest in. I would appreciate it if you would tell me everything you know about the lay out of his base, along with any passwords or codes that the guards use to tell each other apart. I suggest you speak quickly and honestly before I have my little friend here do something to your own trouser snake."
The sailor stares at Ludvic, shaking his head. He starts to yell and cry in some foreign tongue and frantically tries to writhe away. It becomes apparent he doesn't speak Common and is terrified out of his mind.
"What do we do with him?" Innokas asks.
"Ugh, what a pain, Least this will be one guard out of the way. Show him some mercy."He says with a against his own neck as his snake slithers back out. Once the man was hidden behind some rubbish in the alleyway he would turn back to her. "Looks like were just going to have to sneak in from the back. Lets try and scope out the most unguarded area and then I will prepare my spells.
The man's babbles for mercy are cut off as Innokas snaps his neck, effortlessly. The fighter hides him in some garbage in a narrow alley.
The pair sneak around, but the 'back' is above the sea, providing no easy access. There is a wide porch that wraps around, giving good ocean views. The piles are about 10 feet above the waves, covered with barnacles and seaweed. The tide is low, ebbing out. There are no guards, that either of them can spot.
As long as their are no guards around he and innokas will begin to creep forward towards the porch from the beach. Once at it he will let her climb up onto his shoulders to get a good view before he has her lower down some rope.
Carefully they move in, trying to get close. They an inching in, when they hear a voice calling, "Hey, you!"
Ludvic's heart freezes for a moment before he realizes the guard isn't talking to them, but instead a fisherman along the beach, carrying a small catch home.
Two guards head down tot he water's edge, very close to Ludvic and Innokas. They begin to question the fishermen, eventually taking his catch and walking back, right toward where Ludvic and Innokas are hiding.
The two of them will stay hidden for now, but as soon as the men get close enough Ludvic will cast a spell from hiding, making the ground open up from underneath their feet.
Both men fall into the pit, sand flying as they topple onto the edge. Ludvic can hear them hit the hard bottom, like a man running into a door. Soon, loud curses and shouts begin to echo up, and rustling as they try to climb the sides.
Ludvic will turn to Innokas. "Did you by chance bring the bow? It will be a simple matter of shooting fish in a barrel with the two of them down their like that. May not be much of a fight, but it is entertaining."
She shakes her head, "No, no bow. But we best think of something, the others will hear them." The shouts grow louder, along with some loud whistling, above the waves.
"I was hoping to save this, but at least it makes it easy.
Ludvic will cast summon monster to conjure up a hell hound into the pit. The hell hound will then breath fire onto the two of them.
reflex 14 for half.
The hellhound easily dispatches the men, the fire turning some of the sand into sparkling shards of glass. Innokas nods firmly, "Well done"
Together they sneak closer and soon they are on the rough, unpainted boards of the porch. There are two doors, that Ludvic can see. One facing the sea and one facing the little street. Both are shut, no idea if they are locked. The necromancer can hear the murmur of a few voices inside.
Ludvic will motion for her to stay quiet as he presses his finger against one of the wooden boards of the door. With his gloves, he should be able to mold a small hole quietly enough to at least get a look inside from near the door facing the sea.
Carefully, Ludvic peers in. The room is dark, with the windows shuttered and covered. It is fairly large, a few old chairs and pillows. A moldy looking bookcase sits against one wall, sagging in the salt air.
Four men sit around, playing some game of dice by lamplight. In a far corner Solvor sits at a small writing desk, obviously busily with pen and paper. He looks desperate and frustrated.
Ludvic will nod before moving back a bit to cast shield and mage armor on himself. After getting his defensive spells up he will peer back into the hole before casting summon monster 2 to bring up a Reefclaw next to our friend Solvor. Once the creature is inside Ludvic will tell her to kick down the door as he begins to come in after her.
[ooc]dc13 to resist the poison, one for each claw.[/dice]
The reefclaw appears out thin air, causing the men to jump up and curse, drawing a variety of clubs and knives. The creature attacks Solvor, landing two hits and grappling him. Before the men had time to do more the gawp, Innokas kicks the door in and charges.
Yelling madly she throws herself in the fray. She has surprise, and judging from her blows the skill, but they do have numbers. Ludvic also hears thumping coming up a hallway. More men coming.
Solovr is still fighting back against the reefclaw but he looks quite the worse for wear.
Ludvic will keep the reefclaw on Solvor while Ludvic walks into the building and takes in the fighting.
"Listen here boys! Your boy Solvor is the only one I'm after. I've already killed three of your number and I am not afraid to increase that numbers. Now I'm sure he promised you all payment, and I am not one to deny payment for a job done. You will receive what you were promised and I will take the money from the dead. If you want to risk your lives for this garbage then it is not my place to change that, but just remember that I am offering you all the chance to walk out of here unharmed with gold in your pocket! If you wish to surrender come down here with a cloth in your hand and our weapons dropped."
It is easy to tell who can speak Common. Those bolt for the doors and make a run for it. Two of the formally dice men dash off, but another tackles Innokas, temporarily holding her down.
The last lunges at Ludvic, a rusty knife waving.
In the corner the reefclaw pummels Solvor some more, who looks on the edge of passing out...or worse.
Thanks to his magic armor the knife will bounce off his defensive spells. Ludvic will take a step back from the man before waving his hand and attempting to make the man go blind. dc 18 fort.
The reefclaw will attempt to maintain his grab.
The man goes blind and promptly falls over, screaming in some unknown tongue. Innokas subdues her assailant and disarms him.
"Want me to tie him up or...?" she asks, suggestively, waving a knife.
Solvor is pinned by the reefclaw and finally locks eyes with Ludvic. 'Call...call off the beast. I can tell you things. Please, let me live and you can be rich!"
Ludvic will scratch his head as he steps over the blind man. "Eh I suppose I'm feeling nice. with a wave he will dismiss the creature. After innokas ties him up Ludvic will wait to hear any information that Solvor feels would be worth his life. He will tell her not to put the knife away just yet.
The man is tied up while the blind man moans in terror and falls to the ground, cursing in varied languages.
The reefclaw gone, Solvor sits up, blood visible. He stares at Ludvic with utter hatred. 'So you want to be rich then,e h?" he says, trying to regain his calm.