"Little ones," Absinthe says to the children. "One has words for you before you leave. It is only natural for you to want to go, but hear one's words: stay together for now, do not scatter.
Alone, you make targets for Lamm and other monsters like him. Also, seek safety. There is a fortune teller at 3 Lancet Street who is sympathetic to your fates and who may help you. If any of your parents and other family members yet live, she may be able to help you find them.
Should the settled life no longer appeal to you, one recommends one's old gang. Go to the bar on Crown Street, the Decapitated King, and ask for Gillian. Tell her you have been sent to gut fish by Mooneyes. The Dead Fish gang does not torment little ones. One is the living proof of this."
Having said all of this, Absinthe darts off after Segang and the fleeing Yargin.
"And now, let us hasten after our quarry."
The children appear caught between fear and fascination of Absinthe's appearance. Rosa's channeling brings on several 'oohs' and 'ahhs', after which they largely seem more inclined to follow your instructions. The candy helps, too.
Chasing after Yargin, up the stairs and through the door, leads to the upper workfloor. The stink in this room, a mixture of fish and sweat, is enough to make the eyes water. Along the east wall, a large wooden trough holds a hideous mound of half-rancid fish, seaweed and brine. Filthy seawater and fish blood stain the floor around this trough. A pair of wooden chutes lead from the trough through holes and into the vat in the fishery below. Double-doors to the north lead presumably to the loading dock, while a single door to the south follows Yargin's retreat.
Segang finds him in the next room, trying to unlock the front door. This room is empty but for a single desk and a moldy chair. Piles of ratty furs appear to be beds for the dogs.
Yargin spins around, holding forth his wand with a snarl. "Stay back! Don't make me hurt you!" he growls.
Melianthe moves just behind Demitri and Seren, arching an eyebrow and speaking in a sing song childish voice. "Poor dear! All that cowardly running has made him very tired."
Yargin yawns, but shakes it off. "Hexing whore! Leave your parlor tricks for the paying customers!"
Rosa pauses, and looks at Yagrin questioningly. "You know, I have two questions. One, why is it I'm the only one who hasn't been called a whore tonight? And two, why is everyone treating it as some kind of insult?"
"Oh, he'll come around with some weak verbal puffery for you soon enough. You see, they resent that you explicitly make them pay," says Melianthe with a smile. "...but they all pay one way or another. As will you, insignificant worm of a manling. More words out of you and we'll leave you to sing them as a castrato."
Without pause Sagang advances. If he has any fear of the man he does not show it Any sense of compassion is also absent. He allows his rage to take him again and he power attacks.
Raising the sword for another attack he asks a question in a final tone. Your life for Lamm?
Yargin activates the wand as Segang closes, but in his haste fires the acid glob over his shoulder. He lets out a scream as Segang's sword falls, and is suddenly silenced as it shears deep into his shoulder. Yargin's body falls to the floor, gushing blood across the boards.
"I'm gonna go with irony, and the fact that they weren't raised by their mothers." However, before Demitri can move to engage, Segang beats him to it and drops Yargin.
"We need him for information." He moves into the room and casts to stop the blood gushing out from a possible informant.
"Yes, we do," Absinthe says. "Sister Rosa, please. A bit more life for the vile one?"
The tiefling does snatch away the wand and put her rapier to Yargin's throat before Rosa can heal him, however.
Rosa sighs. "Oh, very well. Just bear in mind that the miracles aren't without limit. The Goddess does prefer those who take their own pleasure,"
Absinthe smiles a little. "Ah, one learns new things every day," she murmurs. "One's mother claimed that Calistria favoured those who sought pleasure in each other's arms, rather than in their own hands."
"Is now really the time for that?"
"That depends upon whom one asks," Absinthe says. "Calistria would say yes, one believes."
"Most likely yes. But I and the Inheritor disagree."
"For what it is worth, one agrees with you that it is now time for business which does not belong to the sphere of Calistria's boudoirs," Absinthe says, inclining her head slightly to Demitri.
Provided Yargin still lives, the tiefling gently nudges him with a hoof. "One believes you understand the situation here. Commence answering our questions, unclean one Yargin. Patience is running thin and tempers are fraying."
"Good." When Yargin wakes up, Demitri will walk over to him and start interrogating. "I will only repeat myself once today. Where is Lamm!?" He growls.
Rosa rolls her eyes. "It's not all about what goes on in the boudoir, you know. For example, this very errand pleases Her quite a bit, considering why we're all here. And I suspect She will be far more pleased once we know where Lamm is, so we can get on with it." The last is suddenly screamed at the hopefully-awakening man.
Out of enemies, Sagang's face looses much of his emotion of this fight. More emotionally drained than physically, be begins to search the room almost frantically, looking for clues.
Someone bring the prisoner and kids up here. Lets have a sit down and see what we know, collectively.
Seeing the adversaries constrained, Seren moves to check the eastern doors.
"Ah, religion. Shall we discuss politics next? Or what is in this fishery, and where is Lamm. Do tell, little man, or we will leave you wishing for death."
After Yargin regains consciousness, he is still pale and suffering from his wounds. "You want Lamm?" he responds in a hoarse voice. "Bugger him. I'll tell you where he is... just let me go free."
"My, what an equitable offer," Lym murmurs. "However, one suggests some guarantees against lies and betrayal."
Melianthe uses Detect Magic on Yargin to check the amulet.
"Seren, I think this wand is yours...and Yargin, do tell. And what does this key unlock?"
Yargin gives Melianthe a sour look before turning away. "Cabinet in the workroom," he spits, sullenly.
"Be of good cheer, Yargin," Absinthe says. "We could have broken your legs and fingers prior to commencing the questioning. Instead, you have a chance of getting out of this engagement alive and under your own power."
"I was wondering where I put that, thanks Mel."
Seren pockets the wand and heads to the cabinet.
"Any traps you wanna self identify!?" Seren calls back from the workroom.
"One shall assist you, friend Seren, provided someone will take one's place," Absinthe calls. Provided someone else does put steel to Yargin's throat, she clip-clops over to Seren, making more noise than usual to draw attention to her hooves.
If no one else is doing so Sagang will go and gather up the prisoner and kids to talk to them too. Come children, let us see if your old master is willing to try to lie to us with you watching.
The children make no move to follow Segang, giving him ill-disguised looks of dislike or fear.
Rosa shakes her head at Segang. "It might be best to leave them out of this...they've been through enough."
"I agree with Rosa. The children don't need to be involved anymore than they already have." Demitri will help keep Yargin still.
Realizing the effect he is having on the kids he change his approach. The barbarian puts away his sword and takes a seat on the catwalk letting his legs swing. [b]I know all this is scary to you, but things are going to be ok. Its hard to believe, but 6 years ago I was where you are. I was one of you. Lamm picked took me from my family. I am here now to put a stop to Lamm. To make sure he never hurts a child in this town again. So, can any of you explain what all you were doing here for Lamm and Yargin and when the last time you saw Lamm was?
As a whole, they seem unimpressed with Segang's story. Most of the Lambs sit huddled in a group, whispering to themselves. Only Kester replies. "You bet'r get Lamm, 'cus he'll jus' round us all up 'gain an' hav'is way. More like'll end up goin' b'low t'feed ol' Gobblegut." He gestures towards the open bay on the floor of the fishery.
"What's Gobblegut?" Demitri asks the children.
"A shark, most likely." There is a slight shake in Melianthe's voice.
"Seren, the key?"
Kester shakes his head, as if a savant surrounded by idiots. "Gobbleguts ain'ta shark, 's a 'gator! Lamm's pet 'e keeps n's playground."
"That would make sense."
"Well then, we shouldn't keep either scaly predator waiting." Demitri will re-knock out Yargin before heading through the open bay door. "We'll figure out what to do with him after we deal with Lamm."
Seren will take 20 to search for traps. With Absinthes help, that's 28.
to help with the amulet.
"Sure, Mel ... once we determine ... or make ... the cabinet trap free.
"That's that, then," Absinthe says, clip-clopping back over to Yargin. "Now. Lamm's location, if you please." The 'please' is underlined rather nastily by the fact that the tiefling is holding the tip of her blade just in front of Yargin's left eye...