Swiftwing and Jametor hear the rattling of an upstairs window as they come around the corner, but no one is waiting to greet the group as they make their entry.
Randall taps his ear and motions Firiel toward the east door while he moves to listen at the kitchen door. If either hears nothing, the other will try, too.
Njord follows as the small folks scout ahead, doing his best to move as little as possible.
”The place is empty…” he says in a low whisper.
Randall hears the faint sound of someone's footsteps through the south door, as well as a slightly softer rustle through the east door.
Whispering back to Njord and the others, "I heard a window rattle upstairs before we came in."
Whispering, "There is someone outside each door, I think, both trying to be quiet. We are probably walking into another trap."
Randall thinks back on the doors in question, trying to remember if either of them had an squeak that would give him away if he tried to open one. Moving carefully, he opens the door as quietly as possible just enough to peek through.
Randall peers through into the hallway, but he sees nothing amiss.
Moving in quietly, he motions for Firiel to join him and for someone to hold the door open behind them. He moves to the first door and listens carefully, motioning Firiel to do the same.
He repeats the process at the other door, also, assuming there's not a pressing reason for other action after the first listen.
The sounds in the bar area have quieted, but the sound of someone descending the stairs can be heard from the south door.
He returns to the scullery to quietly share as much with the others.
Njord scratches at his beard.
"So where to first?"
"Wherever Saul is - his apartment? The vault?"
Njord nods. He produces a familiar salve and spreads it on his arm before opening the door.
Jametor pulls Swiftwing out of his pocket and places her on his shoulder, then follows Njord.
"Give us a fifteen count." Looking at Firiel make sure she is ready, Randall will open the door and head that way.
The party heads south through the hallway toward the stairs up to the second floor. The sound of someone descending the stairs is more pronounced now. As everyone files into the hallway, Randall opens the door just in time to see Saul disappearing around the corner into the kitchen. "Help! Intruders!" he yells as he retreats. Hans, one of the Gold Goblin's longtime guards, grins wickedly and hefts his rather large club, barring the door to keep anyone from following Saul.
"Hiya, Hans, what's going on? Where are the intruders?"
Hans looks confused for a moment, then grins evilly. "Thought you could sell out our boss and live, huh? Yer dead meat, shorty."
Seeing that the jig is up, Njord barrels down the hallway to bulldoze the guard.
"We have done nothing against Saul. We walked into a trap he set to get us killed. Again. Saul's been sabotaging the Gold Goblin since day one and he's been trying to kill us for weeks for getting in the way. Think of how many of your friends have died in these raids and remember who stood by you fighting. It wasn't Saul - he is always conveniently away when it happens. Because he paid for it!"
Hans reflexively gets out of Njord's way, having seen the big Ulfen at work before. "Yer lyin', just like you did to get in good with Saul. Now yer gonna die for it."
Jametor points his finger at Hans. A bolt of ice shoots from his finger.
Fíriel draws a dagger and throws it at Hans. "Get out of our way, Hans!" The dagger buries itself hilt-deep in Hans' chest, but the big blond man continues preparing a strike of his own.
Antal dodges into the hallway and touches Randall, then quickly hops back to just outside the doorway where he started.
Hans yells as he's struck by Jametor's ice bolt, swings at Njord and curses loudly as his strike goes wide.
A shadowy figure suddenly appears behind Antal and stabs silently at the halfling. The kitchen door opens and a big guard Njord hasn't seen before comes running in, while another senior guard (Beyar) comes down the stairs and manages to get in a swing at Randall with his spear. Jametor hears movement behind the door to the east.
"I'm not lying, Hans. I did not say anything to get in good with Saul. I bled for him, just like you did. He hired the five of us so he could keep us close and make us his fall guys. Now he knows we know and he's using you just like he's been using us. Stand aside or help us get our answers, but don't stand in our way."
Drawing his dagger, Randall doesn't wait for Hans to answer, using Njord's distraction to attack, but keeping an eye on the other guard on the stairs.
”We’re gunna find out the truth Hans. With or without you”, Njord grunts as he rears back with his blade and takes a swipe.
Hans slumps to the ground clutching his stomach as Randall's dagger opens a hole nearly the size of the halfling's head.
"Sorry, Hans. I'm tired of Saul trying to kill me by proxy."
Jametor turns and his hand begins to glow bright red, with a harsh command word, Jametor's hand flings out directed at the shadowy figure behind Antal. A ray of fire shoots from his index finger.
Jametor's ray ricochets off the wall behind Antal's attacker, barely missing its mark. Fíriel draws another dagger and glances around, not sure what she can do.
Njord steps forward and slices Beyar in half. Drawing his flail, Antal holds it up defensively and looks worried.
The door next to Jametor opens and a new face pokes through, along with a scimitar blade that swings uncomfortably close to the elf's pointy ears. The man near Antal stabs at him ineffectually, and the big tough fellow who just entered from the kitchen growls and follows Njord with a swing of his blade.
The sounds of footsteps and voices can be heard from the gaming area.
Antal chuckles low and quiet, watching the metal in the man's hand heat super hot.
Njord spins and hacks at the man behind him.
"Why are they doin' this? Does Saul have 'em all fooled?"
Njord takes another one down in a bloody mess.
Jametor pulls out his rapier and stabs at the newcomer, barely holding the right end.
[ooc]Consider this part of my action, I was disappointed with my attack roll, forgot to add it.
"We've got more back here folks."