Gornak nods. "Okay, if elf cleans, Gornak cleans. Gornak likes money."
He starts hauling bits of garbage outside.
After working through most of the afternoon, Saul Vancaskerkin returns with his bodyguard and almost applauds when he sees all of you at work. "Wonderful! Wonderful! I am glad to see you're not above rolling up the old sleeves and getting your hands dirty. We'll have this place looking up to speed in no time.
"On a related note, you'll be happy to know that after some asking around I found a new group of waitresses and dealers who'll be hopefully showing up tonight. So let us toast to the reopening of the new Gold Goblin under modified management!"
He waddles over to the bard and breaks out a bottle of decent red Chelish wine with a few glasses. Most of them have a few spots on them, but that is not unusual for a place like this.
-----------------------------
Later that evening the Green Goblin opens again to a decidedly sluggish crowd. After last night's upheavals, it seems that most patrons are staying away. Those that do come in are surprised that the Goblin is open at all.
The new wait- and dealer-staff show up (well, most of them at least), with the waitresses dressed somewhat less provocatively then they were for the special event last night. After a few hours all seems to be going smoothly. The dice are rolling at the bounder table, Lixy Parmenter is once again present with her Ghoulette table, the severed head of Dungo the Savage yelling insults at the patrons, and the halfling Wheezar is running his regular Skiffs table.
You're about to settle into this new job of yours, when there is some noise at the front doors. Some drunken louts have pushed their way past the guard at the door and are yelling for the manager.
"Hey, who's in charge in this dump! We want our money back! We got cheated out of our earnings last night and want a full refund. Yeah, a refund!"
The group appears to be lightly armed sailors or dock workers, six in number. They carry short swords and wear studded leather armor, although none of them have drawn their weapons.
Mel is doing greeter duty this evening and is the first person the louts encounter.
"Lost everything you say..now that's a pity" he says smiling "tell you what guys...how about some free play..unless can prove how much you lost off course"
He motions to the girls dishing out chips
"Give these gentlemen 10 silver teeth apiece...and free drinks for the evening"
"That's my first and only offer gentlemen,take or leave it...otherwise...."
He lays his hand on his rapier hilt hoping some of the others are backing him up.
"Gentlemen, Lady Luck smiles on those who appreciate second chances. Please take us up on this offer," says Sevegny pleadingly.
Thumparr walks over to stand near Mel and Sevigny. "A lot of folk lost out last night, fellers. Especially those who tried to rob the Goblin. We gutted most of 'em and gave the live ones to the sharks. Best settle down and either take the lad's offer...or leave."
"Give these gentlemen 10 silver teeth apiece...and free drinks for the evening"
"That's my first and only offer gentlemen,take or leave it...otherwise...."
Gornak looks confused. "Boss Saul didn't say anything about free money and drinks. Can Gornak get free money and drinks too?"
Upon seeing the commotion at the door, Ebenadar moves closer to be in a better position to act should fighting erupt, but says nothing.
Mel grins as the others provide the backup required. He raises an eyebrow at the group before him and asks..
"Well...?"
Mel's comments seem to mollify them at bit and Sevegny's entreaties calm then down, but it isn't until Thumparr subtly threatens them that they truly back down.
"Er, yes," their leader mumbles, "perhaps we better go home then. We didn't actually loose all that much. Come on, lads, back to the ship." A few of the others shoot the dwarf a dirty look as they are leaving, but eventually they all make their way back out the door and down the street, heading towards the docks.
Whilst you are checking to make sure they have truly left, Saul comes out from behind the bar where he has been watching all of this. He climbs onto the short podium that held the treasure chest last night and clears his throat. He then proclaims, "As you can see, ladies and gentlemen, the Gold Goblin in under new management." He points to your group, beaming proudly: "And my new business partners will tolerate no more criminal lawlessness like those dockside ruffians."
His demeanor grows a fraction darker and he continues, "I challenge any of you who might be working for my competitors to go back and tell your bosses that any further acts of hostility will be met by serious opposition. And starting immediately, the Gold Goblin will enforce a strict no-weapons policy."
This final pronouncement is greeted by some grumbling and a light round of applause.
Saul climbs down from the podium and walks over to you. "That was very well done, and not a drop of blood spilled! Much less mess that way and they certainly seemed to get the message."
Lowering his voice, he calls you over to the bar and orders a round. "As of tomorrow, I want all weapons removed at the door. We have a room off the side, we can store everyone's weapons there. We'll give them old chits and they can pick them up when they leave. Sound good?"
Kappasc raises his head from the current book he had his face burried in while waiting for the night picking up. Seeing his companion defuse the situation, Kap decides its best that he stay out of this. As the rowdy crowd leaves the Goblin, and Saul makes his proclamations about the status of the "new" and "improved" Goblin, Kappasc puts his book away and goes to Saul's side.
"Aye, might be best to remove all armaments to prevent any further hostilities..."
As the rowdy crowd leaves the Goblin, and Saul makes his proclamations about the status of the "new" and "improved" Goblin, Kappasc puts his book away and goes to Saul's side.
"Aye, might be best to remove all armaments to prevent any further hostilities..."
Vancaskerkin turns to the elf, "You mean right now? Hrmmmm, well, yes, I guess I did say immediately. Can you take charge of this, Master Kappasc?"
Beriadan had looked on the situation with a slight smile, this particular batch of miscreants seem much more competent than they first seemed. with that, he pulls himself from the wall where he had kept watch and says, "I will aid my kin, so do not fret Saul, this place will be a safe one yet."
"Bloody good idea..why didn't he think about it before this happened" Mel mutters as Saul makes his announcement
"Thank's for the back up people..that could have gotten nasty"
"You did a splendid job, Mel. All we did was just give those miscreants an extra nudge."
"So...no free money?"
"Thank's for the back up people..that could have gotten nasty"
"Yep, too bad we didn't get to bust a few heads," Thumparr says, cracking his knuckles. "Still, it felt good to put the fear in those scrubs. What's next, Saul?"
Mel speaks quietly to Gornack..."you see mate..it works like this..they come in all fired up we give them a few free bets and a couple of drinks and they go away feeling better..off course the house wins the money back and the drinks are watered down so we don't lose out on the deal but the customers are kept happy..it's all about keeping the customers happy.Now..... you stay here by the door and I'll ask the people to stash their weapons in the check room...we'll put a pretty girl there to hand them back and smile when they leave"
Saul shrugs his shoulders, "Well, now that all the excitement is over, it's just noses to the grindstone! I'll be in my office if anyone needs me." With a nod to everyone and a hand kiss for the priestess of Calistria, he turns and heads back upstairs, his bodyguard in tow.
After he leaves, Larur Feldin makes his way over to you. "There is one thing that needs doing," the dwarf comments. "It's not a rush, but it should be done before the end of the week. A few days ago the guards caught a man trying to cheat at bounders. He's a two-bit thug named Beltias Kreun, and as far as I know he is not associated with any of the criminal organizations here in town."
Clearing his throat he continues, "Erm, chem, yes, well the guards apprehended the man but he gave them the slip before they could give him the solid thrashing he deserves.
"If you wouldn't mind, make your way sometime soon down to his den in Splithog Alley and try to get back the more than 100 gold in chips he manage to swindle from us. Also, make it ... erm ... clear to him that he is no longer welcome at the Goblin.
"Think you can do that?"
"My goddess is the lady of all tricksters, but there is nothing she despises more than the artless cheat. Yes, lets give this boy a good spanking."
Gornak smiles, his crooked teeth not improving his looks any. "This job sounds better than sweeping floor. Gornak will make sure this man learns a lesson."
"Hmm...yes...we ought to give this kid a right beating....Should we expect any trouble out of this kid beyond normal what I've come to ...expect from the Alley Scum of this town?"
"You want us to go mob handed then guv'nr..has this lad got friends then?"
The dwarf shrugs, "I don't know much about the lad or his people. I know he has no part in any of the major town organizations, but that doesn't mean he's without friends. We were so busy setting everything up for the opening night tournament that this matter simply fell off the table, so to speak. See what you can find out first. No sense getting into a situation you can't get out of.
"Normally I'd be able to spare one or two guards, but both Hans and Beyar are busy training the new hires, so you're on your own."
"Yes, it's best to find out what friends he has before we move on him."
Mel takes the time to think over anything he might know about this Kruen and his location.
Mel takes the time to think over anything he might know about this Kruen and his location.
Mel recollects that she has heard of this Beltias Kreun. He is rumored to spend most of his time around St. Caspierian's Mission, a dilapidated house in the poorest section of Riddleport (and that's saying something). Mel knows where this is, and can easily lead everyone there. Mel also knows that Beltias has a gang known as the Pauper's Hands. They're pretty much small-time and restrict themselves to pickpocketing and other such crimes. The St. Caspierian's Mission is a benevolent organization run by a Father Padrick, who tries to help the city's poorest with anything at his meager disposal.
"While I doubt the Pauper's Hands would give us any trouble, I worry that we might be too heavy handed with Beltias I don't want to seem like a bully to Father Padrick. He sounds like a good man."
Yes, it is unfortunate Beltias is most likely simply a victim of this town...Perhaps a gentle approach would be the best choice.
"Gentle?" Gornak blows a wet raspberry. "We go now, teach lesson."
Thumpar agrees with the half-orc. "Some folks feel they can just take advantage of others and cheat to get by. Those folks need te be taught a lesson!"
Somewhat at odds with how exactly to approach this situation, you make your way to St. Caspierian's Mission. Squatting halfway down this muck-smeared alley, sandwiched between a derelict wainwright's shop and a bakery, stands a dilapidated tenement. A crooked belltower rises from teh building's rear, and a half-dozen grease-smeared, cracked, and boarded-over windows gaze out from walls that might have once been white. A small sign hangs over the building's battered oak front doors: "St. Caspieran's Salvation -- All Welcome."
Sevegny makes sure that her holy symbol of Calistria hangs prominently from her neck.
"Are we ready, my friends?"
She knocks on the door.
Ebenadar cracks his knuckles and nods at the much taller woman. "Aye, let's 'ave at it!"
"Hold on a minute..lets check the lay of the land first shall we..no point all bursting in the front door and them leaving through the back is there?"
Gornak snorts in disgust at the timidity of his co-workers. He barges in the front door and bellows: "BELTIAS!! GET OUT HERE!!"
Kappasc rolls his eyes at half-orcs roar..."Savages..." he mumbles.
With a faux smile, Kappasc attempts to convince the party a kinder approach may be suitable, "Now I'll admit sometimes these...wretches cannot learn a lesson 'less it be through an altercation, please, give me one chance to diffuse this situation before it erupts into something that may reflect bad upon our employer."
With that, Kappasc rummages through the scroll case that hangs hidden at his side and pulls out a rolled piece of yellow parchment.
Noting Mel's suggestion as a good one, Ebe runs around to the back as quick as he can, then hides in a spot where he has a clear view to the back door (assuming he finds one).
With a dry chuckle, the former tribesman looks up at Gornak with a grin while fingering his crossbow anxiously.
"Ngozi thinks it's better to stalk prey a little. Still, calling them out can be fun, too, yeh?"
"Alternatively we could just give the whole town warning..well done Gornak..now everyone knows who we are after"
Mel rolls his eyes..
"Best be ready for some dancing, people"
Sevegny slaps her forehead.
"Oh no ..."
"Let me guess..you forgot your dancing shoes"
"Maybe Gornak will dance on his face. Who knows?" the half-orc says philosophically.
When you first approached the building you noticed some movement from a greasy window above the main entrance. A few moments later the mission bell begins to ring, its tinny gonging echoing out across the alleyways.
Ebenadar moves north around the building, finding plenty of boarded-up or dirty, opaque windows but no door. Coming around the north-eastern corner of the house, he notices that the mission has two stories. The back (western part) of the building looks like it holds a chapel, with a balcony on its roof. The balcony seems to lead to the second floor. There are a set of boarded-up double doors which lead to the chapel, but they look quite well secured. On the other hand, there is an old oak tree which overhangs the roof of the chapel, and which looks like it wouldn't be too difficult to climb; for an experienced climber that is. The oak stands in a small, stone-walled courtyard, overgrown with years of weeds. A path leads through a rusted iron gate and up to a pair of boarded doors.
Back at the front of the building, there is the sound of shuffling feet coming from the inside. A young man's voice calls out from the inside, "Yeah, what do you want?"
"If you're Beltias we just wanna little chat..about some money you owe..nobodies gonna get violent.. are we boys and girls"
A small slide opens in the front door, revealing the eyes of a young man, probably still in his teens. He looks at all of you suspiciously, "What do you want? We are full and aren't accepting anyone else today, come back tomorrow!"
"Ah, no, young man, we are not here seeking alms. We'd like to meet the good priest who runs this house of mercy. May we come in?"
"So why dont you just let us in like a good lad" Mel smiles at the young man "We just want to clear a few things up with him that's all"
Kappasc's fingers fiddle idly as he nods at the greeter. Kap keeps his mouth shut, though, knowing he's not normally skilled in these sort of situations.
The youth eyes you suspiciously through the doorway, "Yeah, he's here. Hold on ... let me get him." He closes the viewport in the door and can be heard walking off. A few seconds later you hear the shuffling of feet and the door opens a hair, revealing a very old man in the dirty white vestments of a priest of Iomedae.
"Yes, my children, can I help you? What is it you seek?"
"Father Padrick? We would like to speak to you about Beltias Kreun. We understand he's in a bit of trouble and would like to help. May we come in?"