Antal utters a brief blessing to clear and focus his mind.
Convinced that the stories all add up, Njord simply shrugs.
"Let's make sure that the door's guarded from now on and move on. Even if that beasty was planted in here, whoever did it won't be fool enough to try it again."
Seeing a light dawn in the mage's eyes, Randall thanks the staff for their help and the work they do. "I am afraid we need to be watching each other's backs until we find out exactly what the nature of the threat is. Let one of us know if see something of concern."
He heads out to the front room, aware he has been away from his post too long. When the others follow (not assuming it is immediate), he asks quietly, "So... What do you think?"
Jametor motions for everyone to follow him to a quiet corner of the gaming hall. Once everyone is place, he begins to tell the tale of their employer.
After he finishes telling what he knows, he finishes up by saying, "So I think we probably can assume that Clegg is behind all this. But, I think it might be a really good idea to talk to Saul about this. What do you folks think?"
"I think this is a messy situation and our dear employer has someone who was not a fan, it seems, of him. At least that was the case not too many years ago."
He shrugs. "A man who would call the gendarmes is not someone who says the past is just the proverbial water under the bridge."
Nodding, "Yeah, Saul needs to know about this attack. I was hoping to have more information before we worried him further."
”I think we’ve spent enough time in here. Let’s get back out on the floor. Randal find Saul and let him know what’s happened. I’ll get a guard over here to keep an eye on this door in the future.”
With a salute, Randall heads off to find their single-handed employer.
Randall finds Larur upstairs in the antechamber to Saul's office. "Good evening, Randall. What brings you up here?"
"Hello, Larur. We had another incident. I wanted to let Saul know what happened, especially since we found some clues that may help us identify the inside man."
"What kind of incident? Saul's gone out"—and here Larur winks conspiratorially at Randall and lowers his voice a bit—"between us, I think he's got a lady friend... but don't go saying anything about it, got that?"
His bearded face sobers as he remembers why Randall's there. "So what happened?"
"One of the staff got poisoned by a snake that was snuck into the kitchen. Her scream was ear-splitting. Well, I'll get back to work. Let Saul know, would you?"
He heads back downstairs.
Larur looks stricken. "That's terrible... I'll tell him. You said she... who was it?"
Despite all the hard work, at the end of the week the gaming hall seems to be in about the same shape as it was before the tournament. Larur, looking upset, announces that Saul has cut everyone's pay by two gold this week, and that he apologizes. The burly dwarf sighs and explains that the hall is still losing money.
Just as he finishes handing out everyone's wages, there's a loud yell from downstairs.
Njord frowns at the news but keeps up his spirits.
Eight gold a week is still nothing to scoff at!
Antal sighs and just shakes his head.
Of course...it would have to be an issue with this place.
Neither Antal nor Njord is able to quite make out what's being yelled.
In any event, Njord heads downstairs to see what the commotion is about.
Antal follows after, attempting to keep good speed. "Always another mess to fix in this town."
Njord and Antal arrive downstairs to find a young half-elf woman with wavy red hair and a few Varisian tattoos on her face and neck, being yelled at by one of the door attendants. "Out, I say! Get gone! We don't need no pointy-ears in here, full-blooded or no!"
The woman seems about to reply, but sighs and turns to leave.
”What’s goin’ on?” Njord shouts as he finishes descending the stairs. ”This girl do something wrong?”
"Gentlemen, gentlemen, what seems to be the issue here?" Antal says with a bit of authority as he tries to see around the big man in front of him.
"Made a pest of herself, that's what she did," answers the (female) attendant, clearly upset. "Keeps comin' in here wantin' a job, when I already told 'er a hundred times we ain't got no more."
The half-elf woman turns to watch events unfold, narrowing her eyes slightly at the new arrivals.
Well we did just take a pay cut...
"What do you do sweetheart?" he asks aloud.
The redhead smiles softly at Njord. "I was hoping for a job as a waitress, Sir... at least for a bit, until... well, at least for a bit." She smiles again.
Antal listens intently.
”Well times have been better here at the Goblin but it’s Saul that’ll make the call on hiring folks”, Njord explains to the complaining woman.
Njord gestures for the half-elf to follow him.
”Come on. We’ll see if Saul has a minute.”
The door attendant rolls her eyes exaggeratedly and sighs.
With another of her soft smiles, the half-elf follows Njord. Her voice when she speaks is at soft as her smile. "Thank you."
Saul still isn't in when the two arrive upstairs, and Larur's desk is empty as well. The dwarf comes bustling up the stairs a moment later. "What was all the yelling? And who would this be now?"
Jametor walks up to the door attendant and looks at her.
"Pointy ears? You are just jealous of our perfectly formed ears."
As he turns to follow the group upstairs, he says a word and snaps his fingers and the door attendant grows donkey ears.
Njord gestures toward the half-elf.
”The girl is looking for work. I know times have been lean for the Goblin but we’re going to need all the help we can get when things pick up again right? When’s Saul supposed to be in?”
The dwarf scratches his beard. "He didn't say. You think we should hire her?"
Njord smirks at the half-elf.
”I don’t see why not.”
As Jametor arrives upstairs he hears Larur mention he doesn't know where Saul is or when he's coming back.
"Is it odd that Saul is gone during the day when the place isn't doing well? And before you mention about me being staff and why am I asking questions, I'll remind you of my position and remind you where I once served and my reason for being here. Asking questions is who I am, you'll just get used to them being asked."
Jametor tries to look important.
Larur doesn't look impressed. "Don't know your 'position' or where you used to serve, or why you're here, long-ears, but I don't expect Saul to stay here every waking hour just waiting for things to get better. That's why he hired you, isn't it?"
He turns back to Njord and the half-elf. "Alright, you're hired. Pay's five gold a week. You all mind showing her around?"
The beautiful half-elf is overjoyed at the news, turning around and hugging Njord happily before she realizes what she's doing. "Oops... I'm sorry... I uh... was just so excited, and I'm very grateful to you. And to you as well, Master Dwarf."
Larur returns her smile before waving the group away.
Shield spell
Magic Aura
cooldown on learning hold portal 2/7
”Har! Now don’t make me regret vouching for you”, the big ulfen says with a booming laugh.
”What’d you say your name was?”
Seeing that Njord is handling the new hire, Jametor motions to the others to join him in a conference.