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The shopkeeper mutters Colored sand, yea, yeah, there's some right over there. He gestures and his hand tremors slightly as he does. As Stonegrin moves over the "customer" moves over and pretends to look at the shelves in front of him.
As Kulga makes her comment, all 3 of the "customers" give her a surprised look. On spurts We're customers too.
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Garduk wanders casually up the aisle past Oret, making a show of checking out the shelves as he goes.
"Is that all you have in stock? You must have more somewhere. Do you have an assistant or anyone else in the back who might be able to look for more sand?" Garduk emphasizes his real question, hoping the alchemist will understand and find a way to convey whether there are any more of the thugs hiding in the back room.
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"Was it closed then? I had not had that impression since the place was crowded." Oret speaks calmly, but keeps his hand close to his mace while loosely holding his shield. "As a knight of Adabar and occasional city guard, it'd be a shame not to uphold this man's operating hours, why don't we all leave and give this man some peace now." Oret turns and eyes the other folk in the room, insisting they leave, gripping his morningstar's handle, showing he means business.
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Kamda follows the group in, but givesthe other "customers" a stone-hard look, and makes sure his holy symbol of Torag is easily visible.
Ach, ye got any spell components fer a dwarf? Like whiskey? I be needin' a good drink. Been a stressful day.
He makes sure he places himself in between the thugs and the Shopowner, and also makes sure his axe is ready for action.
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Oh yes, says the shop keeper. Well I have is out here, um, assistant, no, only my son who is ill. That is why I am closed.
Then the men blink wildly as you begin to move among them. When Oret makes his suggestion, they seem agreeable.
The customer nearest the shop keep looks at him, Yes, so sorry didn't realize you were closed sir. We'll come back later when you are open. He gives one of the others a shove and begins moving for the door. Staring you down as if to say your coming as well, right.
As he nears the doors, Come on everyone let's leave this man in peace and let him care for his ill son.
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Kamda squarely plants himself in between Kulga and the thugs.
Kulga, ain't no need fer tha'. They can leave, an' we'll be right wit' em. Mr. Shopkeeper, if ye'd be so kind as ta meet us at tha inn we be stayin' at, we'd like ta talk ta ye about some business.
His eyes never leave the thugs, making eye contact with each one as he addresses the shopkeeper and Kulga. The paladin's body language suggests that if anyoke has a problem with his plan, they can take it up with his axe.
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At Kulga's comments, one of the men begins to reach for his sap; and things looks as if they are about to boil over. When Kamda steps in and things calm back down at little bit. Everyone begins to head outside.
And where are you staying? A clearly nervous Senzer asks the group.
The thugs give you all plenty of threatening looks, but eventually, everyone is standing outside the shop. The Cleric of Adabar is last out closing the door behind him.
The men move a little way from the shop but don't go far, instead keeping an eye out that you don't head straight back inside.
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As Oret shuts the door behind him, he closes his eyes for a brief moment and let's out a sigh of relief that no damage befall upon shop. Then he holds his shield high and draws his morningstar turning towards the ruffians. He speaks clearly without hostility but firmly.
"Now, I have it on good authority you men mean ill will to this fine establishment. I assure you, this establishment shall not be touched lest my friends and I stand here. You can leave the easy way, or the hard way. I'm a man of peace but shall resort to swift justice to the lawless. Now, state your intentions."
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When Oret draws his Morningstar and speaks his mind, two of the men begin to reach for their saps; while the third reaches draws his scimitar; the other two see the third man and switch to the scimitar as well.
The man who drew his scimitar first, looks at Oret menacingly, his stare icy.
Look here I'm my own authority and I'll decide were and when I'll be some place. So I guess the hard way cause we're not leaving you are, which probably involves me cutting you down! The man tries to demoralize the Adabarian cleric, the last words spoken with particular venom.
But his words don't phase the stalwart oread.
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Garduk cocks his head and studies the thug who drew his blade first. He grimaces in his version of a smile, showing his tusks, and points his club at each of the three men in turn.
"I wonder which is the most painful death," he says, trying to keep his tone casual. "Having your skin melt off your bones, being frozen into a corpsicle, or having your eyes ripped from their sockets by a creature called from another world entirely? Lucky for me, there are three options, and three of you. It would be very helpful if you wouldn't mind answering a few questions about your experience before you go to meet Pharasma."
Knowing Oret is hoping to avoid bloodshed, Garduk turns to the cleric and shrugs, his face spasming with what might be a wink. "Sorry. I just didn't prepare any non-lethal spells today."
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Kamda rolls his eyes at the new turn of events. He whispers fiercely to the group
Ach! Ye wanted ta not be drawin' attention ta us, an' then ye go an' do this after we had a peaceful-like thing goin' on? Which is it ye want me ta do, fer Torag's sake?! They was about ta leave tha man alone!
Nevertheless, he draws his axe and shield, and grins menacingly at the thugs.
Jest so ye know, one o' Torag's tenants be ta take no prisoners. I be likin' tha one. A lot.
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They're either racketeers or enforcers. If they're enforcers, he's in danger whether or not we kill these thugs. Their boss can send more when we leave, and they'll be ready for a lot more trouble than these were. If they're racketeers, he's a target of opportunity, and since we're not locals, they can find easier targets without losing face.
Kulga says this as if from long experience with criminals, which doesn't quite match her claims to nobility.
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They're either racketeers or enforcers. If they're enforcers, he's in danger whether or not we kill these thugs. Their boss can send more when we leave, and they'll be ready for a lot more trouble than these were. If they're racketeers, he's a target of opportunity, and since we're not locals, they can find easier targets without losing face.
Kulga says this as if from long experience with criminals, which doesn't quite match her claims to nobility.
Anyways we ain't the man's nanny...
Garduk glances back at the closed door of the alchemist’s shop. It doesn’t look very sturdy. One good kick from one of those guys — racketeer or enforcer — and I bet it will splinter into toothpicks.
Out loud, Garduk says, ”I suppose. But Master Zey did say he wanted us to get the flow of information and potions going again from Senzer to the..." As they retreat, Garduck looks around for eavesdroppers and lowers his voice. "... the team on the Ridge. Hard to do that if these guys slit his throat once we leave him undefended, isn't it?”
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After a few moments the back door opens just a crack, as Senzer peeks through. Seeing Stonegrin he waves him in quickly. Senzer wipes his brow and wrings his hands in his leather apron.
Pathfinders I presume! I am glad to came back I was afraid to leave the shop. I’ve been expecting you ever since I stopped contact.
He looks around outside before shutting the door, as he continues, A tragic illness grips my poor son, Roald, and a woman named Lura Ichon claimed to have a cure. I signed away my entire operation to the heartless wench to cure my son, but the elixirs she sends every day are diluted with cheap rum to the point of being almost useless. In exchange she’s worked me sunup to sundown manufacturing drugs for her little den of vice, the Sanguine Pit.
He pauses for a second, listening to the front of the shop.
I know she found a real cure for my boy —tiny amounts of it in those elixirs she sends keep him from getting worse— but I can’t march into that bar of hers and demand it. And as soon as she learns what here with her men, she’ll kill me and Roald, as sure as you’re standing here. I want to help you, really I do, but I gave the Society everything I had for three years. Now, I need you to return the favor. If you want any help supporting your excavation, I need that cure for my son, and some guarantee that Lura Ichon won’t dump us in the bay the moment you leave.
As he finishes his words you here the jingle of the front door bell, it seems someone has come in the front door.
As Stonegrin peels off back to the shop, you get that uneasy feeling. Rather than head back to the Wandering Way you get out of sight in a place you can see part of the shop. Waiting there for a couple minutes, you soon see three familiar looking thugs making for the shop entrance.
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I figured you won't really want to split the party, hope you don't mind me taking liberties.
Garduk starts running back to the alchemist's shop.
Garduk stops a few feet before the shop entrance and crouches down against the wall. He begins chanting in a low growl, spitting out the guttural syllables like oaths. The fingers of one hand flash through arcane gestures; in the other, he grasps a small cloth bag with the unlit stub of a candle poking out of one end. As the others prepare to enter the shop, Garduk gives them a quick nod to indicate that he will follow as soon as his incantation is complete.
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From the front of the shop you hear, Come on out Senzer, your little friends are gone, I think Lura will want to hear about the special visit. Time to pay her a visit I think.
Senzer looks to you in fear, he tries to speak but the words get stuck in his throat.
You all start moving toward the shop. Once there Garduk will begin to cast.
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Initiative
Senzer fumbles with the wand...Oh my, let's see here. He flicks the wand in Stonegrin's direction.
The wand doesn't activate, Senzer looks in horror at the failed attempted.
The thugs move about the building unaware of the other approach and surprised to see Stonegrin emerge from the doorway. The lead thug moves forward drawing his sap.
What have we here a sneaky one, look alive boys the others might not be far off.
The other 2 draw there scimitars, as the lead man swings his sap at Stonegrin.
He gives the hearty dwarf a solid rap on the head.
Round 1
map
Thugs
Kulga
Bokkah
Garduk casting
Kamda
Stonegrin 7 nl damage
Oret
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Garduk rips open the door before he realizes that the others are still behind him. Seeing the thug just inside the door waiting to strike, Garduk shouts a few words of arcane power, reaches back with one arm and hurls his empty hand forward as though he is throwing a rock.
A speck of white hurtles from his outstretched hand towards the thug, growing into a sphere of snow and ice about six inches in diameter, followed by a trail of mist from the water vapor condensing out of the air due to the sudden magical cold.