Mukluk again fails to conceal his smile as Petrel gets taken down a quick as he can chug a beer.
"That'll do, Petrel...I need you healthy and don't need them to beat up upon you."
MM points the way to his cousin's shop.
"This way. My cousin has a bit of fear for his safety, but I don't know if he's making too much of it. We'll see what you all have to say about it."
And onward...
With the debt of the morning's meal settled, the five of you head downstairs from the drinking hall. Doruk retrieves his armor, and a few minutes pass while he works it onto his strong frame.
What Mukluk says is true. Theldrat's shop is practically around the corner from the Blue Dragon down a narrow street.
While you feel you are a few minutes before the arranged meeting time, you see the shop door is wide open.
Then you notice more. The sound of breaking glass from within and what sounds like muffled voices. There are clearly men already in the shop and they do not sound friendly.
Petrel takes a few steps forward and peeks inside. He spots at least two men who appear to be turning over all of the displays and shelves in the shop and generally making everything a mess. The two men seem to be too involved in their intentional destruction to notice the knife-master.
Mukluk will whisper to the group, his face twisting in a bit of anger.
"I think we may have our first work. Let's not kill them if we can help it. Not sure what their business is here and I'd not like to ruin my cousin's shop with blood."
Mukluk will enter the shop.
"What's all this then? What are you doing to my shop?"
"If your lives, you'll pay for what you're breaking and get out now."
Ready to cast Stumble Gap (DC 16) if they charge or move towards me in a threatening manner. (would prefer to have it 10' away)
C'mon, men, I know I ain't paid you yet, but we had a deal.
"Seems our paymaster is needing rescue, let's show him what Shieldlanders can do."
"May the Blessing of Pelor shine upon you, let the warmth of the Sun fill you with righteous anger and guide you to your foes!"
The two men looting and robbing the shop are dressed in filthy rags. Their odor strikes Mukluk swiftly with a reek more fierce than any mule he's ever tended.
They both carry rusted daggers. One grins at Mukluk. He is missing several teeth.
"'e said the fat dwarf dun open 'is shop til ten."
"Aye, 'e did, best we take care o'this one before 'e thinks e's a 'ero."
Both men grip their daggers and rush at Mukluk.
Initiative
Mukluk 21
Petrel 19
Martigan 11
Aralynn 9
Doruk 5
The Men 3
The wooden floorboards of Theldrat's shop sigh and shudder, causing the toothless man to hesitate for a moment and look down in confusion at the gap he didn't see a moment earlier.
Mukluk is a bit annoyed at seeing 'his' shop upturned.
"Grr."
Forgetting the rest of his magical training, Mukluk pulls out his pick and will smash the first one that comes within his reach.
to hit;
damage.
wherein 01 to 05 = spell failure for the buckler
Someday I'll learn to play this character.
Round 1, init 19
Hearing that there are uninvited guests, Petrel suddenly has a pair of knives out in his hands. He waves Mulmuk over and points out what he sees.
These amateurs are giving thieves a bad name!
Petrel will move forward and try and shank one of these intruders before they have a chance to attack.
Round 1, init 19
Hearing that there are uninvited guests, Petrel suddenly has a pair of knives out in his hands. He waves Mulmuk over and points out what he sees.
These amateurs are giving thieves a bad name!
Petrel will move forward and try and shank one of these intruders before they have a chance to attack.
Mukluk grunts.
Nice strike Petrel.
"Do try to keep one of them alive. They mentioned another might have sent them here and I'd like to know who threatens his meek shop."
Round 1, Init 9
Araylnn dashes in after the others and is disappointed to find the scum inside. Now I see why the pay was so little. She'll slide up to the one still standing, smile, and sudo chop the side of his neck, "Kiai!"
Str, Bless
- Non-lethal (no penalty for monks)
Round 1 Initiative 11
HP = 10
AC = 10
Weapon Equipped = None
Speed = 30'
Cleric Spells Left (CL 1, +4 melee touch, +0 ranged touch):
0 Purify Food and Drink (DC 13), Create Water, Light
1 (D) Cure Light Wounds (DC 14), Sun Metal (DC 14)
Status Effects = None
"Seems these boys wrecked the wrong store."
Round 1, Initiative 4
Weapon Equipped = Guisarme
In the round outside the shop, Doruk will un-peacebound his Guisarme. In the first round of battle he'll rush in and trip (from 10' away) the nearest foe. I assume I can make the attempt without having to fight over someone (-4 cover).
Guisarme trip vs the opponents CMD.
"Have more respect for the values of others and yield!"
Action already! Excellent. Perhaps this won't be such a boring guard job after all!
Thug 1 Marek vs Petrel (full attack: TWF with daggers)
Thug 2 Flegon vs Aralynn (move: stand, std: attack with 1 dagger)
1----
Mukluk 21 : cast Stumble Gap
Petrel 19 : moves up to Thug 1, 12 dmg
Martigan 11 : (can still ret-con an action here)
Aralynn 9 : moves to Thug 2, 5 non-lethal dmg
Doruk 5 : trips Thug 2
Thug 1 (-12HP) : attacks Petrel (-9HP)
Thug 2 (prone) : provokes AoOs, attacks Aralynn (misses)
Petrel leaps over the fallen debris and lands adeptly next to one of the burglars, plunging the knife deep into the man's gut. Unfortunately, the other rogue brings both of his rusty daggers into Petrel's sides, gouging him.
Aralynn knocks the other man back with a swift blow, while Doruk's guisarme catches the loose rags that cover his legs. With a strong tug, he pulls the thief to the ground. The man tries to stand and feebly stabs at the half-elvish monk, which Aralynn bats aside with ease.
Flegon (Thug 2), scrambling back to his feet, shouts to his companion, "Dammit, I thought 'Tusk said nobody was gonna come snoopin' now we gots these four fools."
Marek (Thug 1), can only narrow his eyes at Petrel, and seeing the knife-master just as bloodied, taunts at him with a grin, "Well this fool's 'bout to die for his mistake."
2----
Everyone to act!
Round 2,Init 21
Mukluk nods as he sees Doruk trip the man (again) faster than a dwarf can scratch his under-beard. And then he smiles as the woman punches some face.
Nice face punch.
"Keep them alive if you can. Here, let me help."
MM incants Daze (DC 13 Will) at the standing foe.
Round 1, Initiative 4, Attack of Opportunity
Weapon Equipped = Guisarme
Conditions = none
Opportunity Attack. Attacking to subdue (-4)
Guisarme attack doing damage.
Round 2 Initiative 11
HP = 10
AC = 10
Weapon Equipped = None
Speed = 30'
Cleric Spells Left (CL 1, +4 melee touch, +0 ranged touch):
0 Purify Food and Drink (DC 13), Create Water, Light
1 (D) Cure Light Wounds (DC 14), Sun Metal (DC 14)
Status Effects = None
"The Sun shines upon us this day!"
Round 1 AoO
Aralynn can't help but smirk as Doruk trips the thug in front of her. Not smart enough to stay down? Okay. Aralynn chops the other side of his neck. Balance in all things. The man still stabs at her, so she slides her right hand across her body to knock the man's wrist away. "Ayyy...
STR, Bless & prone
- Non-lethal
Round 2, Init 9
Aralynn then continues the fluid motion and brings her left hand in front of her also, cracking the forearm now between her two hands. "..yah!" Her left hand stops in front of her body and chops forward to the man's throat. "Saaa."
STR, Bless, Flurry
- Flurry. Lethal. You can't be too nice to people.
- Flurry. Lethal.
Round 2, init 19
Petrel, in a deadly knife fight, has no breath for trading quips. Not yet.
Attack 1:
Attack 2:
Thug 1 Will Save vs Daze:
1----
Doruk AoO: hits for 11 non-lethal on Thug 2
Aralynn AoO: hits for 5 non-lethal on Thug 2, Thug 2 drops
2----
Mukluk 21 : cast Daze
Petrel 19 : hits Thug 1 twice for 2HP total
Martigan 11 : channel heals all for 6HP
Aralynn 9 : flurries for 10 HP (lethal), but Thug 2 is down, could move and hit Thug 1 for 4 lethal, but I'll assume the action is with-held to allow the man to surrender...
Doruk 5 : (no action yet)
Thug 1 (-14HP) : dazed
Thug 2 : bleeds
After his trip, Doruk quickly spins his guisarme ninety degrees and taps the thug on the back of his skull sending the man swerving toward Aralynn. With two swift punches, she knocks the man unconscious to the ground.
The other thug stands dazed as Petrel grazes him with two swift knife attacks. Petrel's own wounds fuse and mend with Martigan's blessing.
As the first thug comes to his senses to act, he cries out, pathetically "I surrender!"
Aralynn turns to Mukluk, "Can we have our silver nobles now? I think we can still make the test at the Mercenaries Guild."
Mukluk smiles both at Aralynn and her question.
"I pay by the day, Lady. If you want half a copper for your work here, I'll be happy to pay, but would prefer that you stay on like we agreed. I will admit that I was not expecting this."
I like the way they fight.
Martigan looks upon the downed thug with little emotion. "Do you wish this one healed, that he face the guard on his feet, or left to bleed out on your floor?"
"I'm ready to go another round with this guy if we need to..."
Petrel waves his knives around menacingly.
Knowledge: Local
"Don't worry about the dying one.. I know a guy. A cleaner."
Doruk re-peacebonds his Guisarme and moves to the door. Before he closes it he takes a quick look on the street to see if anyone noticed the brief commotion.
It wouldn't do to muddy this issue with the town guard just yet, but if they're coming we'd best know and prepare for it.
"I'd prefer they not die here. We can keep them alive, let us do so." Mukluk says as he moves in and closes the door.
"Good friend Martigan, can you get either of these able to talk? There are questions I have."
Mukluk will efficiently greyhawk the bodies, putting gear, gold, and anything else on a table for all to inspect.
@Doruk: It's clear a few observers from the shop across the street witnessed the events that unfolded at Theldrat's lock-smithing shop.
@Mukluk: Your cousin should be around any minute. You felt you were maybe 5-6 minutes early. Your cousin tends to always arrive exactly at the time he states, never a second early or late (convenient isn't it?)
@Petrel: You don't recognize who these guys are. Given they aren't even wearing armor, and are using rusty knives, they are some of the lowest of the low - likely drug addicts or drunks who can never hold onto a copper common for more than a day. If you want a "cleaner", you know of a guy in Old City named Three-Finger Jack who could be of use.
The two thugs between them have four rusty daggers, their dirty rags that pass for clothing, and you dig up 4 silver nobles and 8 copper commons between the two of them. One of them put a couple of Theldrat's locks and a couple shiny iron keys in what could pass for a pocket.
The one that surrendered looks cooperative in any questioning, as long as you spare his life.
He looks at Petrel and he begs, "Please buddy, let me and m'friend go 'fore th' Watch arrives... we jus' needin some right fast nobles to uhhh, eat. Please... We're promised noone's gonna be here."
Martigan moves over to the downed man and attempts to staunch his bleeding.
Failing to stop the bleeding, Martigan will channel healing magic over the entire room.
"Pelor, we are not done with this man yet."
"Your friend is saved. Tell us what you were really doing here."
Good guy. Bad guy. Guess Martigan and Petrel have this covered.
Aralynn will also go to the door/window and look around for the city watch or associates of the thugs.
Mukluk asks the helpful one, "Now, who there was talking about my cousin? Who told you he wouldn't be here until 10? Give me a name and a location and I might have a better mind about all this."
Mukluk tries to be nice.
Diplomacy
The one that surrendered looks cooperative in any questioning, as long as you spare his life.
He looks at Petrel and he begs, "Please buddy, let me and m'friend go 'fore th' Watch arrives... we jus' needin some right fast nobles to uhhh, eat. Please... We're promised noone's gonna be here."
Petrel on the other hand will threaten the guy.. if he doesn't answer Mukluk.
"Listen you shanker, the stompy watch will be here soon. So start talking or they may just find two dead robbers that attacked us with knives. Who sent you and how did you get in."
Intimidate
The shrewder-looking of the two (and the one that is conscious) looks fearful that he may have said too much already, but his tongue loosens for Martigan.
"M-m'cousin was a servant of th' Light. 'E always tried ta git me ta come and listen. Thank ya'll for not killin' me. Roughin' up the shop wasn't m'idea."
As he calms down a little and his wounds mend with Martigan's healing, he becomes even more cooperative.
"W-we were told t'come rob this place after the 'Tusk finished 'is job 'ere. Said we'd find enough valu-bulls to live like kings fer a span."
As the conversation continues, Mukluk's cousin finally makes his appointment and quickly becomes hysterical at the state of his shop. When he realizes Mukluk and Petrel are both present, he calms somewhat.
"Moradin's beard! It looks like they took a hammer to this place!"
Theldrat quickly makes his way to a safe in the back room. Seconds later his howling can be heard echoing throughout the small shop.
"NOOOOO THEY TOOK IT!!! IT'S NOT HERE!!!!"
When he returns to the main room he pulls Mukluk aside.
"Did ye find me special key on those two? 'Twas made o' platinum and bore the city seal o' Greyhawk on it, it did. We mustn't let it fall into the wrong hands!"
Mukluk will ask the group to keep these men talking, especially about 'Tusk, while he talks to his cousin.
"What key? You see all their goods on the table there...I don't recall any key." MM tries to calm down his cousin.
"They did mention that a person named 'Tusk was here before them...he may have it." Mukluk looks concerned.
"What's so valuable about a key? You can make another, right? Ain't no big deal."
* * *
When Theldrat is ready, Mukluk will introduce his hired goons.
"Ah yes, of course, let me make introductions."
Mukluk points out the others.
"That lady there is Aralynn."
"She's a grunter or something...you should hear the sounds she makes when she kicks. I bet she'd be a handful in the cavecot, if you kow what I mean, cousin."
MM elbows Theldrat while he speaks.
Mukluk smiles broadly as he introduces Martigan.
"And he's Martigan, a man marked by the Sun God."
"You know what they say about what awaits us in the Pits of Azak-Zil, cousin, a man like him would be a useful ally."
Finally Mukluk points out Doruk and seems to be at a loss of words to make an introduction.
"... and this Doruk. He seems to know how to handle himself."
"He's not as dumb as I expect his kind to usually be. I got the lots of them for 8 nobles each per day. We should have protection for over a month, if my math is correct."
MM's math is correct. MM's math is always correct. MM likes math.
Mukluk addresses the group.
"This here is my clan mate and the guy who pays the bills, my cousin Theldrat."
"This here is my clan mate and the guy who pays the bills, my cousin Theldrat."
"Theldrat, I'm sorry we didn't arrive sooner and prevent some of this damage. However the watch is sure to come shortly and we'll need to decide what to do. Do you wish that we provide them the story as it happened and turn over the ruffians?"
Honesty is good in an employer, but so is discretion. I wonder what sort of employer we have today?
Doruk stands near the door and watches for the watch out of the shop window.
Tusk, who could that be..
Knowledge: Local
Petrel will give the talking thief a kick. "Hey, how did you and Tusk get in? You didn't have any picks."
After hearing what he has to say...
"I'm gonna have a look around the place, for broken windows or halfy tunnels."
Perception +3
He'll also look out for any unattended key masters and see they go missing. Probably stolen by Tusk, yeah, that's the ticket.
One master key to all the locks, wouldn't that be nice. I'll just plant it on one of Tusk's men once we've had some fun.
Sleight of hand
When he gets back, Petrel will whisper to Mukluk.
"Good thing we got our guards so fast, or these two idiots would have washed the whole place out."
Nod.
Martigan will stand up and back away from the thugs, waiting for the various conversations to resolve themselves and wishing he had his armor and weapons with him.
"After this is resolved I think we should go back to the inn, obviously relying on the town guard to keep us safe was a fantasy, and I'll not be caught without my armor again."
The only whispering that should be going on is that of my arrows through the air.
Theldrat grumbles his reluctant appreciation at the apprehension of the two ragged thieves.
As Mukluk speaks with his cousin in dwarvish, you catch Theldrat chuckling once or twice while looking over Aralynn.
"Har! Ye always give me a laugh 'cos -- even when things seem dark."
He seems hesitant to continue on about why the key is important, but feeling content that none of the others are understanding your conversation in dwarvish, he relays:
"Aye, the key. The key wasn't made by mine own hand. 'Twas magical. Likely made by the mad mage Zagyg, who ye may know used t'be the mayor of Greyhawk."
He wipes some nervous sweat from his brow.
"The key can open any lock within the city limits of Greyhawk. Any lock! Even one enchanted by powerful mages like Tenser or Mordenkainen. ANY LOCK!"
The only 'Tusk you know of is a half-orc thug named Irontusk. He works in Barge End unloading barges and what-not. You're sure he was in the same situation you were - not an official member of the Thieves Guild but looking for a way in.
The one conscious thug says the door was open when he got here. He assumes 'Tusk broke it. He confirms the 'Tusk he is talking about is one and the same with the Irontusk you are aware of.
Your search doesn't turn up much in the way of additional evidence. You can tell the front door was forced open using sheer brute force.
You find a couple untended key masters just lying amidst the debris while you "search" and quickly palm them. Three to be exact.
You hear what Petrel whispered to Mukluk in Common.
Theldrat thanks Doruk and nods at his offer. "Aye, I'd appreciate that much if ye could explain to the Watch what ye know. Hopefully they'll help me recover what was stolen, but I doubt it -- the Watch never has been good at that."
A pair of Watch arrive on scene, kicking around some of the shattered glass as they come in and take a written report. The second watchman, a shorter man with a bit of a look of a rookie manacles the two thieves.
The taller one, an Oerdian with a hint of grey in his short well-kept beard does all the writing.
"So they broke in?" Scribbles. "You all work for Theldrat here?" More scribbles. "Nothing reported missing?"
Theldrat hesitates, gives everyone a knowing look and then answers, "No, nothing to report yet. I'll let ye know once I take inventory."
The guard nods.
"Any of ye two at the Library last night?" The one conscious thief looks bewildered and answers that he wasn't.
More scribbles.
"You lot have anything else to add? I suspect this will be a quick sentencing."
Mukluk begins to swear up a storm, both in Common and Dwarvish and tossing in a bit of Terran and Undercommon as well.
"Petrel, dammit! They stole the KEY! *THE* key! We may have more work cut out for us."
Mukluk thinks for a moment before talking again to Theldrat.
"You mean, all those locks you've been opening have been as a result of a magical key? Where did you get that? And why weren't you a bit smarter about how you used it?"
Mukluk swears again in Undercommon and Terran. (If any of you are balefully polymorphed half-drow/half-galeb dour, your ears are burning.)
"You lot have anything else to add?"
"That covers it, sir. I'm Aralynn Huntinghawk and my friends and I are always happy to be of assistance. Perhaps we shall meet again."
"Sounds like you'll need some more assistance. I don't believe 'key retrieval' was agreed to in our original agreement."
As the Watch departs, Theldrat quickly closes up the door to his shop and attempts to lock it. Then, he realizes the lock has been smashed to the Nine Hells, grabs a fresh one from a shelf and applies it to the latch.
He now appears to be more ready to share the details of what has happened with everyone present.
"Aye, this key has been my secret all this time. Without it, I'd be ruined! Ye must get it back, whatever it takes. And no telling what harm it can do in the wrong hands."
Theldrat looks quite forlorn, but he is hopeful still as he turns to Mukluk.
"If ye have the help of these folks, ye must figure out who'd rob me. I mean, they only took the key. Everything else is here! How'd they know?"
He looks at Mukluk and half-whispers.
"Magic?"
"Wasn't there a crowd around the great library? Peoples were talking about it at the Blue Dragon."
Petrel considers for a long moment.
"Hey maybes your magic key was used to steal from all those powerful wizards!"
Mukluk was about to say something, but that changed when Theldrat spoke.
Mukluk has a few words with Theldrat in dwarven.
"Are you sure? You must have it back? I'll get it for you, but you'll pay me like you do the rest. We be dwarves and we do what's best for the clan."
Mukluk scratches his short braided beard.
"You heard the man, Aralynn. We have work to do. This isn't guard duty no more. This is real work and we'll need more than just watchful eyes and quick weapons, we'll need street skills..." Mukluk signals to Petrel before continuing, "...and the rest of you as well. Since this deal is over, I suppose we should negotiate anew."
Mukluk looks at Theldrat again as if to be sure he wants to do this.
"I pay 1 gold orb a day, and we split any spoils we get 5 ways or 2 orbs day and I keep all the external loot. I be a dwarf of the clan Highforge and this be what I say."
"I pay 1 gold orb a day, and we split any spoils we get 5 ways or 2 orbs day and I keep all the external loot. I be a dwarf of the clan Highforge and this be what I say."
Aralynn ponders the offer. Sounds fair to share, but I'll wait for Martigan this time."
The only 'Tusk you know of is a half-orc thug named Irontusk. He works in Barge End unloading barges and what-not. You're sure he was in the same situation you were - not an official member of the Thieves Guild but looking for a way in.
The one conscious thug says the door was open when he got here. He assumes 'Tusk broke it. He confirms the 'Tusk he is talking about is one and the same with the Irontusk you are aware of.
So if this Tusk tough nabbed the key, he might be kitted out with loot from a big score by now. Going for a snatch and sprint would be too risky. Better bring these blades for hire.
"Hey boss, Mukluk. Something those robbers said tickles my memory. There's a guy named Irontusk I heard of, half man, half orc. A real tough guy, and not in a good way like our guards. He might be the 'tusk we are looking for."
"One orb a day and 5 shares of loot is acceptable to me, assuming my companions agree I believe we have a deal."
I must learn to speak Dwarf. And his language as well.
"I too agree to the 1 orb/equal share agreement."
Shares are, almost, always preferable.
"So we'll start by talking to the Irontusk fellow?"