Kaul glares at the water... as if willing Slick to bob up... to no avail.
Sighing the burly half orc mutters "I'll go dredgin Jimmer. My ugly ass will likey frighten away most things... hur... just the hungry and the plain nasty I gots tae worry about hur."
Kaul will slip off his armour and shirt revealing a heavily muscled and inked torso scoured with grooves, scars and ridges.
He then dumps his equipment sack and all weapons in prep for his briney dip...
Keep an eye on Bess eh lads... she gets lonely without me... hur. Any o' youse got a dagger I can borrow... just in case... hur-hur-hur!"
Dibbets is noisily enjoying dinner, cracking the crab legs with his teeth before sucking out their succulent flesh. From a casual onlookers point of view it seems like more food is ending up in his beard than in his stomach.
About halfway through Kaul’s disrobing, there is a frenzied splashing and a gasping voice calls out from below, ”Help…can’t…swim…"
the Groom will brush past during the striptease and step up to the edge. "Can't drown a drowned man." He then steps off the pier to retrieve the catch of the day.
Swim ->
Kaul will ditch Bess and dive in;
Swim
Kaul quickly spots the sinking form of Slick in the water and drags him to the pier with the Groom’s assistance. There he can make out an array of ropes, nets, and old planks that form a series of walk ways and platforms under the pier occupied by a couple Scurvytown refugees and drunks.
The pair manage to get Slick up on a platform and clear his lungs. He is breathing again, but unconscious. He is clad in a sopping fur cloak and very well made black studded leather armor with a dagger and a large leather pouch at his waist.
Jim will keep watch on Kaul's equipment. "Bad timing, Dingus. I didn't realize Kaul was going to cosh the poor bugger, and was just trying to knock him down. By the time either of us knew what the other was doing it was too late." He looks over the edge. "Here, how's he doing?"
"Kaul. Keep your eyes open for Spooks down here. But let's get him up top if we can."
It takes a bit of work, but with a bit of assistance from topside Kaul and the Groom get Slick back on top of the pier with no mishaps.
As the rain picks up a bit you stare down at the unconscious pusher sprawled on his back. It's hard to make out the half-orc's features in the dark, but Kaul assures you this is the same guy that was working for the fat man.
"Hate to waste my energies on this piece of flotsam...was kind of saving them for the snake.
"Best remove the knife and any other weapons before I awake him."
Once he gets the ok, the Groom places a hand upon Slick's forehead. For a moment the familiar brand of the skull and crossbones is seen, but it fades and the knot on Slick's head seems to recede.
"Hate to waste my energies on this piece of flotsam...was kind of saving them for the snake.
"Best remove the knife and any other weapons before I awake him."
Once he gets the ok, the Groom places a hand upon Slick's forehead. For a moment the familiar brand of the skull and crossbones is seen, but it fades and the knot on Slick's head seems to recede.
d8+1
Slick's eyes pop open in a panic and he tried to sit up only to be stopped short by the cloak he is lying on. "Gak!
Kaul pushes the other grey skin back prone with as much force as is required;
"Easy mate. You took a spill, but we saved your hide an we'll be lookin fer some answers in return. So just lie still and listen like a good lad eh? Otherwise we can give ye back tae the Drowner...hur-hur!"
Intimidate:
Slick's skull bounces off the boards under Kaul's shove. He moans and answers, "I'll tell you whatever you want to know, just let me go."
Figuring that Kaul can handle the threatening presence end of things, Jim plays the good cop. He says, in a reasonable tone, "We want to know about the fat man, Slick. And about the East District job. And about what happened to Goyne."
Finishing up his dinner, Dibbets pushes the plates back with a contented burp and wipes the worst of the detritus from his beard. When able he calls for the attention of a waitress to ask for some grog.
He then pulls out his deck of cards and starts playing solitaire while he waits for the return of his mates.
Kaul scowls at his fellow half orc "C'mon Slick... we ain't got all day! Loosen that tongue o' yours lest we chuck yer back in the drink!"
"Give him a minute, Kaul...the Drowner almost had him, there."
”Yeah, give me a minute. I nearly drowned!” He glares at Jim. ”Fat man? Are you talking about Haskins? I thought you were working for him. He’s one of Finn’s enforcers. The job was my idea. You know Beedle, right? He was one of my clients. Owed me some money. He pretty much owed everyone money. Anyway, he starts talking about something important he found. He thought he could auction it at the Aspis’ Consortium Trade House and have enough money to pay everyone off and still be set for life. That caught my attention. Beedle owed a lot of money so this might be something. Unfortunately, it was hidden at his Aunt’s place and she kicked him out after the little bastard tried to poison her.”
“He knew enough magic to be plenty scared of her and by then the Syndicate was after him as well so he asked me to hit her place. I wasn’t gonna do that alone so I asked Goyne if he wanted in on the action. He went and ratted to Dunbar and the next thing I know Finn’s got Haskins and your group in there as well! Damn Goyne! Well, I made the best of the situation. I pointed out the spot the box was hidden once your group went upstairs and Goyne tried to pry up the stone. Next thing that witch’s ghost or something showed up hurling that big cauldrom at Goyne’s head and sending Haskins screaming out of the house. I finished that bastard Goyne off and hid until your bunch left the house. Then I took off."
Jim scratches his chin pensively. "Yeah, that makes sense. So what happened to the box?"
"Uh, what box? Did I say box? Um, I guess I forgot all about it in the hubbub."
Jim looks a little disgusted. "I'm a reasonable man, Slick. Ol' Keelhaul, though--he's not. I'm going to ask you again, politely. So what happened to the box?"
Dingus walks closer to and looks at the captured 1/2 orc. "Hold him here". "I'll go get the snake".
"Oh, that's not good. I think you'd better have a real answer before he gets back here."
"Snake?!"
"Yes, snake. The Groom called it a Mediogalti fer-de-lance...fairly large...very dangerous. Is there something you're not telling me? You're not making this very easy, you know."
"Here. Use his own knife to cut out his tongue and we can feed it to the snake as an appetizer."
"Nuh-uh." Slick clenches his jaw and shakes his head defiantly, but beads of sweat appear on his brow.
Then the half orc thug's notched ears visibly twitch as if he catches something on the wind;
"Hur. Hey Groom, what's in the pouch you lifted offa "mister dashin our buttons" here..."
Kauls scarred brow knots in a deeper scowl;
"Enough o' this jabbering Slick. Talk square on EVERYTHING or it's the snake fer you... As a fellow greyskin I'm throwin you a bone here... the creepy human's are addled like... can't account fer them nor their actions! "
Slick responds in a harsh guttural language.
Kaul mugs a gargoyle grin at Slick's gutteral comment and returns with one of his own;
"Hur-hur-hur. Mighty tempted but will have to pass... these short teeth have bad ju-ju and I'm marked by the Drowner and her servant... the one called the Groom. Iffin we get the key from yer boat how abouts I try and let em keep your life an some coin fer yer troubles?"
:
the Groom responds to Kaul's request. He opens the pouch while the two half-orcs proceed to grunting at each other.
Slick sighs resignedly,
the Groom can’t really see inside the pouch without more light, but he feels an etched box, cool to the touch and about a foot long and four inches wide along with a number of coins and a couple smaller bags.
"Ho! We have a box, imagine that." the Groom will pull out the box and the smaller bags as well.
Dibbets orders himself another round of grog and starts singing to himself quietly as he continues to play solitaire. "With cat-like tread, Upon our prey we steal; In silence dread, Our cautious way we feel..."
Gathering up his cards, Dibbets flicks a few sails at the serving wench "Keep the table free fer us, we might be back" before winking at her.
He then follows Dingus out into the night to where Slick is interred.
"I think perhaps we can be persuaded not to mention we saw you, should we chance to meet any Hell Hounds. You might want to lay low for a few weeks, though...Vinari and Dolo weren't terribly happy about Goyne."
The rain falls more steadily as Dingus and Dibbets make their way down the pier through the dark. In response to Jim’s advice Slick mumbles, “I already have Haskins and some weirdo in yellow after me. The others will have to wait in line.”
At the sight of Dingus and his sack of snake, Slick becomes more helpful and addresses Kaul, “I’ve got a rowboat under the pier. If you want the key to the box, I can take you over to my sloop and then I’m out of here. Honestly, you can have the box. I’ll live longer without the damned thing.”
Kaul nods, says a word or two in gutteral Orc and offers his fellow half orc a paw up;
"Done. The box is ours then... no messin us around Slick an on the way you can tell us more 'bout this wierdo in yellow..."
"I swear you'll go free. For what my honours worth hur!"
The beleaguered pusher nods his thanks to Kaul. Looking at the Groom he asks, ”Can I get the rest of my stuff back. Those small bags are my trade: Flay and Zerk.” He then leads the way under the dock and through the makeshift platforms and walkways to a row boat. A slight chop rocks the boat as you pull in the line and head back into the rain and across to the next pier.
While he rows, Slick answers Kaul’s question, ”A couple of my contacts said a short Garundi man in yellow robes was asking around about me. They said he had a bit of a lisp, kinda swishy if you know what I mean, and an intense look. Had a dwarf all covered in black robes with him- or something. My contact just said it was about the size of a dwarf, but skinnier and walked funny. Like with crutches or something. Couldn’t tell with all those robes and veils. Doesn’t sound like he’s working for Finn. Maybe Beedle tipped off one of those Consortium types about the box. ”
Fishing around in the sack of gear he took from Beedle's, Dibbets pulls out the pouch of flayleaf. He hands it to Slick "Here have Beedle's stash as well, he ain't needin it no more"