Not more than maybe twenty minutes have passed since you have reached the Goblin, however Larur suddenly approaches you (Kabal, Corvax and Winter) with an intense look of sorrow on his face.
Shit, what in all the abysses have ye done? A messenger of Croat jus' turned up, promising everyone working at this establishment a painful death?! Hey, Oi dun' care what that stinkin' half-orc has done, but we have alot of women workin' here and Oi can't guarantee everone's safety!
Kabal stopped by the room with the girl and silently handed Lyxi the small pouch of money that they'd taken from the thugs. Then after joining Corvax at the water barrel out back to wash up as best he could and once again benefitting from Winter's healing. He nodded a thanks but waved off the mans compliments since he wasnt used to them and didnt know how to respond. The still angry man then hands over the sack of weapons to Larur as he tells them of Croat's threat.
Arm your other men then Larur and lock this place down as best you can to keep from any more suprises like the snakes this morning. We could take the fight to Croat to keep the danger away from here. He might not be expecting that either since we just returned and he's the one that truly deserves our type of justice.
Larur's eyes widen in disbelief as he listens to you
Oh Desna beware, ye have started a war or what? Boss Croat is bigger than Saul ever was! Oi guess his gang has at least 80 members, 80 very angry half-orcs that do pretty much everythin' this stinkin' scumbag tells'em to do!
Bah! Hire some more men. The way the Goblin has been raking coin that should be no problem. And maybe Saul would work with you on taking out an obviously larger contender. Plus we go on the hunt and cut them down in small groups like we did tonight. Ambush and mayhem. Corvax and I did just this kind of work back in the River Kingdoms.
The mans jaw bunches at the thought of the unleashing his anger on more of the smelly half orc's and he cracks his knuckles before crossing his arms while he listened to the others ideas on the situation.
Can it be right to ignore the unspeakable? Did they have the right to fool us for so many centuries, just to save us from the shame? How long might they have known of their existence and what does that mean to us, the ones that experience their prime today? Am I obliged to stop them, or should I just wait and see how they will begin to defile the lands of the sun?
In [i]Elven [b]"Well, it is something old, even for Elves. I grew up with my mother in Taldor, away from her family's influence, so I am not sure what would shame a generation, such as yours and hers. But the reference to 'defile the land of the sun', I have read through a lot of old tomes, often when I should have been studying something else. But this does strike flint in the back of my thoughts....
The terms "Land of the Sun" and "the unspeakable" remind you of an old legend that circulates through elven society. It speaks of the elves that stayed in Golarion when all others elves fled the coming cataclysm of the Earthfall. These elves, who fled in the Darklands, were transmuted by hatred and the strange rqadiation of Rovagugs body into a race of dark elves.
However, this is nothing more than myst and a tale to panic young elflings...You can't recall all details though of the story...
"Marked how? I want to know, and don't you go trying to spare me the details because I'm a woman."
Bree's jaw clenches and unclenches in sync with her furious braid twirling. She's not speaking to any one of the men in particular, but her gaze lands on Winter when she speaks the last part.
"I think she is hinting at those Elves that fled the Starfall in the Darklands...the Dark Elves..but from what I had always read, that these were just stories mothers told to scare young children...yet she seems scared enough to suggest she found evidence of them...and her murder would perhaps confirm her fears...the two Elves chasing her? Dark Elves?"
"Well then" Winter starts pulling on his gloves "If what you say is true Larur, then I had best go and weed that garden immediately. Perhaps he can see reason."
"Back shortly" Winter chimes casually, as if he is off to the shop for a loaf of bread.
When Winter leaves the room and heads to the main hall, Bree presses Kabal and Corvax to tell her what happened to the men who did this to the girl.
@ Sable:
That term has no particualr meaning for you.
@ Winter:
As you pass the bouncers at the door, Hans addresses you
Hey Win'er, where you going? Did ye hear that one of Croat's half-orc bogtrotters was here?
Corvax shrugs his shoulders at Bree's insistence and finally gives in. "Yer wan' details? Fair enough. Carved 'is crime inta 'is fore'ead with me knife, then cut 'is jacobs off. Oh an' Kabal broke 'is fingers so tha' he can't 'old a sword again, or at leas' not well enough ta figh' with it. When we left I booted im out inta the crowd so they mighta done summin' too but we din't ang around ta find out.
Now, I need a drink afore we start t'evenings work so if yer don't mind.."
Corvax backs out of Lyxi's room and heads for the bar.
Hey Win'er, where you going? Did ye hear that one of Croat's half-orc bogtrotters was here?
Winter pauses a moment.
"Fine, fine... I suppose I can simply send a message."
Winter wanders back to the messenger.
"Could someone please get this man a glass of what pleases him and small repast? He is likely hungry and thirsty after crossing town to deliver and recieve messages... I will require a moment to pen a response to Croat"
Winter pulls out a cut of blank parchment and quill.
Dear Mr Croat,We have not yet had the pleasure of meeting one another, however unfortunate circumstances dictated that I met a few of your henchmen acting reprehensibly in the collection of monies owed.
There seems to have been a rather significant gap in understanding between the lender, the debtor, and the collectors - as the debtor was firmly of the belief that the debt owed had been repaid, with the stipulated interest. Clearly there had been an oversight, as you then sent your agents to retrieve the outstanding balance, yet when they got there they decided to act in depraved and subhuman ways.
Regrettably this is how we encountered your agents, and as honour dictates we took umbrage at their conduct and did what any decent gentleman would do.
Should this have all happened without your consent or knowledge then I, and no doubt the former debtor, can understand the difficulties you must have faced using such men and keeping them from acting poorly - as such you may simply pay compensation for damages and suffering they caused to the debtor, a sum of no less than 200 (two hundred) golden sails would be reasonable.
On the other hand, should this have been an action sanctioned by your self then not only was itspectacularly bad business, it was also a blot and a stain upon your honour, and a matter that is going to need satisfaction in an entirely larger magnitude a figure payable to the girl no less than ten times the above (at least two thousand coins) at your earliest convenience.
I deplore the lack of decent Courts in this city, and regret that the Overlord here clearly sees little value in the prosecution of such crime if it has not otherwise disturbed the peace, so I call upon your decency to simply pay rather than make a scene and go unwillingly to jsutice.
On the bright side, my friends and I consider dealing with your errant employees an act of goodwill towards you, and as such we would not be seeking payment for providing you with this service, the least we could do for anyone (including a stranger) is to remove these stains from ones honour. So please accept that as our complimentary gift to you and burden yourself not with thoughts of compensation to us.
I would also note that your current messenger has mistakenly passed on a message threatening the lives and welfare of my friends and colleagues at the Gold Goblin.
Should any of this not be clear, please accept my utter apologies in advance, and simply present yourself to the Goblin in person where perhaps you and I could clear up any misunderstandings.
By the grace of Erastil
Winter
"Kindly return him this message, good day"
The messenger, an ugly half-orc urchin, puts his tongue out at you and after running away some paces, growls
Croat will tie ye te uh stick and roast ye ova open fia milk-man!
Then he runs away and just in time ducks as Hans throws a large cobblestone after him
Bah, I hate Croat's vermin!
Now that his two coppers were given and seeing that Lurur didnt have a reply; Kabal realized that he hadnt eaten all day....damn snakes interupted breakfast... so he wandered back to the kitchen to see if that duck was still available. Although at this point he'd eat just about anything. The cooks looked pretty busy preparing for the evening but this didnt keep him from asking...in as nice a voice as he could muster-
You lasses got anything that I could sate my hunger on?
Remembering how bravely you fought the snakes, Mara and Bonny prepare a basket full of apples, grapes, a loaf of bread and a large bowl of seafood with a bottle of wine on top of all.
"Some food would indeed be a good idea, an abundance of Erastils bounty has been prepared I see. Eat well, and let us prepare for an evening of work"
Thank you ladies He said and he even shot them a rare smile before leaving the kitchen with an arm full of food. He found a seat in the main room with the others and started right in on an apple.
You should eat too Winter. Its been a long day and we aint done yet.
You should eat too Winter. Its been a long day and we aint done yet.
"Very true. Although I remain optimistic that Croat may get my letter and see the error of his ways. We can only rear the sheep to the best of our ability though, we can never plan on it being sensible"
"Croat may be pressed to a poor choice and may yet choose to attack us, and indeed I would keep an eye out for Beltias too... we have made a few new friends who would not have us as family. They don't strike fear into my heart though, they are just opportunistic predators that prey on the old, the young, and the weak."
After Corvax tells Bree of the rapist fate, a faint smile crosses her lips before reaching up and planting a kiss on his cheek. She follows him out of the room and when she finds Kabal and Winter she gives them the same before retrieving something for herself to eat and taking up station behind the bar.
When the others join Sebastian and Sable at the table, Sebastian looks up from the notebook.
"Oh hey guys. Look, you are probably unaware of this but we have a big problem."
Wilting under the astonished if not murderous stares, "Whoa, hey I'm just the messenger in this. That young girl, she was attacked...if you can believe this...by Dark Elves." He ends the last part in a loud whisper.
Kabal almost looked abashed at Bree's gesture...time aboard a ship will do that to a man...but something that Sebastian said caught his ears and took his attention away from what could only be an akward exchange.
Dark elves? No it was half orcs that attacked the girl and it sounds like we'll have a whole army of them breathing down our necks any time now so stay sharp and keep your steel real close from here out.
He was now half way into the bottle of wine and well on his way to finishing the basket of food.
Sebastian looks around, seeing no half-orcs. "Half-orcs? I think she would know the difference. Look right here." He taps the notebook page and spins it around for the others.
"Defilers of the Lands of the Sun. Doesn't that smack of something coming up from..you know." He nods his head to the side a couple of times with his eyes looking down at the floor or perhaps what was below it.
"She knew something. Something that scared her. Something they attacked her for. This isn't about flipping tables over in a casino, this could be big....By and by, have they been here flipping tables, you guys look a little beat up?" He looks around again this time looking for suspicious elves.
"A rough day of rough justice unfortunately Sebastian, but touch wood the seeds of hope that have been so loosely planted might grow into the hearts of the poor and the downtrodden or Riddleport"
"Whats the story of Dark Elves?"
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Sable looks over the bruises of Winter, Kabal and Corvax as he idly runs his hands lightly over Korax's feathers. "Rest your wings a bit while the crowds move in, for I think we're in for an even rougher night. The flocks of our enemies grow thick while the ones we ally ourselves with are being scattered to the winds. We must all wing together, and let any obstacle or foe we encounter face us all. May Erastil keep our flock together and Desna grant us a bit of luck so we may yet again all wake to see each other."
"So there were Half-orcs? Weird." Sebastian spins the book around and goes to read from it, but pauses. "We are talking about Aethari right? We got this notebook from her room, well from the thief that was trying to steal it from her room for those Elves."
He then reads the passage for the others. Can it be right to ignore the unspeakable? Did they have the right to fool us for so many centuries, just to save us from the shame? How long might they have known of their existence and what does that mean to us, the ones that experience their prime today? Am I obliged to stop them, or should I just wait and see how they will begin to defile the lands of the sun?
"I am guessing she discovered something or someones, and was killed to keep her silent. I am hoping this book will tell more. Winter, I would like you to hold onto it, till I get off my shift. I don't want to leave it in my room, nor take it with me out on the street. Lots can happen out there, and I don't want to loose it, or have you lose me and the book."
Sebastian slides the book across the table. Hopefully tonight, something can be made from her notes.
"Ahh Sebastian we mix the seeds of news and our garden of understanding is growing a strange crop! Kabal Corvax and I heeded the call of a maiden in distress, and there was little time to spare waiting for reinforcement when her predicament was so dire. As it was we arrived later than I can bear thinking about, and had to rescue her under clash of steel. Croat is the one who sends his dogs to maul poor children, and I feel he has taken the dispatching of his men rather poorly. I hope my letter clears up that misunderstanding for him."
Winter takes the book from Sebastian...
"I was curious about that Elf, but thought the leads into her misfortune scattered upon her death. Perhaps if what you are saying is correct then the apparent attempted thefts and cold murder indicate something darker growing unseen to our eyes"
As the night moves on, Bree disappears from the bar for a few moments every couple of hours to check on the young girl.
Your discussion is soon interrupted by the first customers of the gambling hall. With already a little bit of routine you take your positions and handle your tasks, like you did in the nights before.
The night seems to be a rather quiet one, the hall is only about half full at midnight and Saul makes a sad face whenever he feels unobserved. But suddenly things come thick and fast after Larur had a short chat with a local urchin.
The colour of his face shifts from cherry to milk and he's quick to call you together.
Great news he eyes Winter, Korvax and Kabal and continues oi ws jus' telled, dat Croat is comin'...abou' fifty of his bastards have sealed off the hood an' Oi guess they'll attack us in waves! Oi nee' a plan, now, fast! Win'er, you position ev'yone an' say a noice prayer, Oi see if we got potions or sumthin' left and will bring the women in the cellar...
"I guess he didn't get the letter, unreliable messenger that one, I thought he might lose it"
Winter awaits anything 'discovered' in the basement.
"Stay close, lets create a 'weak spot' for them to break into, one that will lead them into a bottleneck... we want to put them in a bad position once they get in, so overturned tables and chairs in the main area can hamper them running around freely. Shape their waves and disrupt them, and alls the better for the fighting"
Kabal takes the news in stride as tactics of all sorts filtered through his thick head.
LEts get as many of the patrons out the kitchen before we bar and barricade the back door so they all have to come in the front. THe less civilians we have to worry about the better. Winters plan of funneleing them into a bottle neck is a good one as well. Should have some of the women filling buckets with water before they all run and hide as well in case those pig boys try to just set fire to the place.
Bree clenches her jaw and grumbles to herself about getting involved in other peoples crap but goes about helping to barricade following the others lead. Once there are no more preparations to make, and she has checked that each of her blades is unobstructed, she draws one in each hand and waits.
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"May friends fly through this foul wind together. If we can get the vultures funneling through the front door, I shall pick off what I can with my crossbow before moving up and joining the fray. I'll have Korax wait above the door with a waterskin full of oil in case the winds turn against us, he can douse the half-breeds while I alight them with flame. Winter, the bigger you are, the harder they'll fall so if you can stretch your wings again it would be appreciated. If any of you are severely wounded, do what you can to make your way to the back so we can keep your wings flapping as long as possible with curatives or if any of us have the energy to spare to close a few slices. Also whenever you can spare a moment, keep your wits about your surroundings lest the magpies steal another way into our nest." As Sable searches for oil he calls out to Saul, "My dear kestrel if you have any hidden eggs now is the time to hatch them."
Sable spends the next few moments overturning tables and chairs, moving the employees into the bedrooms, explaining his plan to Korax, loading his crossbow, and preparing for all Nine to break loose.
"We got anything toacover t'windows up with? A good throwin' arm an' a brick could turn any o'the windows inta a new door. Get someone up onta tha roof too. Take a few potshots at'em when they turn up an' give us advance warnin'. Oh an' there any polearms lyin' about in a back room? Make it much harder for'em to get near the bottleneck if people on the sides are jabbin' at'em with pointed things."
Corvax joins in the work of overturning the tables and building makeshift barricades. If at all possible he also uses some nails and random bits and pieces to board up as many windows as he can before Croat's thugs arrive. Once he has done all he can, Corvax unslings his shield and blade and stands ready at the mouth of the bottleneck.
Larur and Saul shoo all customers outside and usher the employees who are not able to fight, into the basement.
There Larur finds 2 potions of cure light wounds for everyone, which he deals out to you. There are some nails and a hammer in the basement too, but no polearms.
Corvax spends the remainder of his time before the raid nailing shut as many windows as he can manage and then returns to the bottleneck.
The very serious looking Kabal tucked the two potions away where theyd be easy to retrieve in the coming battle and checked out their preperations...50 feckin orcs is gonna stink this place right up...
Corvax, thats a good idea of having some initial potshots to thin the herd and get them nervous.
Larur! Send a couple of crossbowmen up on the roof to do as me pal says. It should be easy pickins for them. Did you send someone after the Gendarmes? The law should clearly be on our side in this.
He'll then help Corvax with nailing wood across the windows and making damn sure the back door is impassable until its time to draw steel and spill blood.
"I got a better idea." Sebastian heads to the bar collecting liquor bottles and bar rags. "From the roof. If they bring fire, I say we make it hot for them...otherwise, we won't use them...don't want to give them the idea, just if they think of it, make them think its a bad one."
He will carry they up in a few trips, but then take a station in the gambling hall.
"Perhaps I should take to the roof as well, since I do have a crossbow? Are there any extra bolts around?"
Here, take mine. I wont be needing them down here. You can take my crossbow too and one or two of those others to help shoot. Make sure you have a safe quick way down off of there also.
Motioning to a couple of other men with crossbows to join her, Bree takes what he hands her before heading to the roof, making sure the path back down is clear as well. Once on the roof, she immediately looks for a fire escape or other way of getting down if the way up becomes blocked.
"It wont be fifty we fight, surely, as once they start taking real losses I expect them to turn tail and rout early. Similarly Croat wouldn't wish to see the end of such a sizeable amount of his fighting force, because that would leave him weakened and he'd likely find other enemies use the time to do the same to him and strike in numbers. Be just and fear not, for we shall send them back from this place fleeing for their lives in short order."
"Stick together, gang up where you can, inflicty swift casualties and these weeds will soon be plucked from the garden"
Winter gets to work boarding up the windows.
I dont doubt some of their cowardly hides will turn tail as we start slaying their fellows. I aso dont know if I like letting so many in here before they meet resistance. Should we maybe bottle them up closer to the door?
@ Bree:
A single small stairway leads up to the roof and as you poke your hat out of the hatch on the roof, you can already see a large group of men with torches surrounding the gambling hall. Cautiously you climb out of the hatch and sit down on the domed roof, not to fall down.
@ Downstairs:
You've managed to nail about 50% of the windows shut as suddenly a cobblestone flies though the main entrance, two or three seconds nothing happens, then there is a full lunged cry, followed by many others and Croat's gang storm in!
Brutish half-orcs, swinging sabres, short swords, maces and hand axes, wearing simple or no armour, yet in there overwhelming numbers they make your blood freeze!
Order:
Sebastian
Thugs
Bree
Sable
Winter
Corvax
Kabal
The scowling soldier was just a little taken back by the very agressive nature of the orcs entry. But as usual his blood went ice cold as his grip tightened on sword and shield and he focused on the battle before him.
Hold your positions! Lets give them Hell!
Winter holds his position, ready to crunch the first entrant with his greatsword...
Corvax holds himself back from charging the mob of half orcs and readies himself to meet the onslaught, shield up and sword poised.