Devon tries to vault up on one of the gaming tables and hops from table to table to get in reach of the robed man while drawing his rapier. Okay, I'm listening: teach me something, he shouts as he jabs with his rapier, trying to dislodge the wand from the man's grasp.
As the man throws his wild jab at her, Alia takes an opportunity to follow the clumsy punch with a more lethal jab of her dagger.
Continuing to back away from the man swinging wildly, Alia continues to look around for something to help her, spotting the man in green robes running at her with a wand in hand, Uh oh, must be something with a limited range...
With a motion of her hand, she chants and an invisible but tangible field of force surrounds her.
Ulfgar was a man of mighty thew
And with his axe he did hew,
That poor robber as he did cry,
From crown to leg split in two!
Alfsigr continues to sing as she moves closer to the green Robed Man; a smile on her face despite the throbbing pain from the blow and missing her mark.
Liara manages to stick an arrow in 'Thuvalia', who screams out in horror. "Forget it! Run!" She tries to run away. The wizard turns just in time for Devon's rapier to knock the wand from his hand, a look of horror on his face. Seeing the woman running off, he tries to follow suit
The thugs, seeing their bosses hightailing it for the door, try to follow suit. .
About this time, a few patrons have been able to become no longer dazed. Those few begin to stand, scrambling to reclaim their tokens and anyone elses.
Oh, no you don't! Devon shouts at the wizard as he starts to flee.
Rubbing her chest where the missile hit, Alia mutters under her breath, bringing her hand up high and then dropping it sharply, just as a large stone wall appears, cutting off the would be bandit's exit, "Jerks."
Devon's rapier catches the wizard in the leg, making the man stumble for a moment. In that moment, a mysterious wall appears around the group of thugs. The thugs barrel through the 'wall', but the wizard is freaked at it's appearance.
Kariel manages to swoop down and retrieve the wand, a warm sensation emanating from it.
The woman Thuvalia stops and turns back, unable to see the wizard. "Angvar! Get going!"
Alfsigr drops her sword adn pulls out her bow, intending to try and drop the woman, who looked to be the ring leader or one of them anyway. In her haste, though, the shot was sloppy and the first sign of dismay crosses her fair features.
All around the camp just then,
Awakened by the fearsome din
Arose Mighty Ulfgar's Band,
Made of friend and closest kin.
Alia continues to concentrate on her wall, keeping the facade going for as long as it takes for her allies to either intercept the pair or for the pair to make their escape. Otherwise, she continues to kneel behind the Bounder table, using it for total cover, "Angvar! I have some friends that would like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind!"
Devon hops down from his position and pursues the wizard, this time tackling him before he can get through that mysterious wall that appeared.
Alia's shout at Angvar stumbles the man up as he turns to face the Sylph. In doing so, his guard is dropped and Devon slams him into a nearby Skiffs table, tokens scattering everywhere in the area.
Kariel, you note the wand to be a wand of shocking grasp. you watch on as the thugs dash through the front entrance. And you also spot Thuvalia cutting her losses and running for it as well.
Liara pets her animal and watches the chaos that's ensuing. Alfsigr also sees the events playing out, a diddy starting to form in her head (possibly).
"Darn." Alfsigr says in a flat voice seeing the others running for it. She moves her bow to her off hand and scoops up her sword before walking over to where the wizard was now being held by Devon.
"Unless you wish for the little song in my head to end with a certain wizard losing a leg, I suggest you give up. In case you haven't noticed, your friends have left you for dead."
Liara looks down at her tiger, she hadn't thought about having it take an action, though she should've. She makes her way to the wizard as well, taking out her great club and tapping it along the floor as she makes her way over.
When she hears Alfsigir's words she nods with a bright smile on her face.
Well, she was hoping that her great club would be intimidating enough.
Dropping her concentration on the wall, Alia steps through the illusion, sighing as the others get away. Slowly, she walks towards the wizard that her companions have surrounded, weaving her way around the varying gaming tables. A short while later, the illusion finally fades from view as she finally reaches the small group, "Might want to relieve him of his component pouch. Won't stop him entirely, but couldn't hurt," she offers, trying to be of some help. "It wouldn't hurt to cooperate, you know. I mean, looking back? Doesn't it seem kind of silly to rob a casino on opening night in the middle of Riddleport? Especially one with a demon theme? I don't know, seems a little... out there, to me. But I'm sure you guy's had a great plan. You seem like a knowledgeable man... have you noticed the shadow in the sky lately? Ever paid any attention to it, maybe noticed how it..."
A small blue and gold thrush pops it's head from under her robes and starts trilling loudly at the man on the ground, "He's the one who hurt us! He's the one who hurt us!" Alarmed, Alia stuffs him back inside, shooting a look at the giant cat at Liara's side, "Hush!"
Angvar looks in horror at the group crowding over him, putting his hands up. "I'm... I'm sorry?" He is relieved of his spell pouch as he stands up, hands still up. He looked dismayed, like a child who had been caught with a hand in the cookie jar.
Glancing over at Alia, he raises an eyebrow. "Of course everyone knows about the Blot. Heck, the other day, that Tammerhawk fellow from the cypher mages went and..."
"WHAT IN THE NINE HELLS IS GOING ON HERE!" Saul Vancaskerkin appears, red in the face. He looks over at the party and the captured mage and stomps over, looking at the chaotic mess.
"What happened here?! Tokens everywhere, my men are in a daze, and you have your hands up!" He presses his finger in Angvar's face. "I'm giving you over to the Gendarme! Let Cromarcky sort you out. Boys!" Two large guards grab the mage and haul him towards a side room. About that time, a growing rumble of discontent from the crowd is easily discernible. Saul sighs and speaks up.
"Ladies and gentleman, I apologize for any inconvenience. As a way to make your night a little easier, you may gather your tokens and my lovely little succubi will be happy to pay out your coins plus an additional 10% if you wish to leave now. But stay and you could win big!"
Sauls eyes grow large as the succubi-dressed woman are approached not by a few, but by most of the crowd. After several minutes, most of the patrons are gone, and a few of the girls and a couple of the guards had also quit, walking out with the crowd.
"Gods damned- Gyah!" He turns and after a deep sigh, spots that the chest with the silver coins, the winnings for the evening, was still present. A big smile crosses his face and then he walks over to the party. "Are you all the ones I have to thank for saving me from ruin?"
"Ah, I guess that would be us. Alfsigr Snowborne at your service. I was hoping to gain employment and was told the Gold Goblin might be in need of help," the pale half-elf says with a beaming smile and a slight ulfen accent. The smile fades into a bemused expression, "Of course I thought you might need some entertainment, or someone to fill out the serving staff. I wasn't expecting to have to use my blade nor my bow tonight."
A sudden twinge of pain reminds her of the hammer blow she took to the side.
"Speaking of which, is anyone else hurt? I can help with that if you are."
Devon looks up at the familiar women who surround him and the would-be thief. Hello, ladies, he grins as he holds the man's hands away from the pouches on his belt.
Once Angvar is escorted away, Devon dusts himself off and sheathes his rapier after wiping off the small amount of blood. He stands off to the side with his former fellow bar patrons while the crowd disperses. He gives any of the young wait staff a wink if they look his way.
When Vancaskerkin approaches, Devon bows politely and agrees with Kariel and Alfsigr. Thanks are appreciated, but entirely unnecessary. Devon Prissault, he extends his hand, mindful of the strange key-shaped stump over one arm.
Alia just watches as the man is escorted out, dumbfounded, "But... finally someone... he was about to... wheresmyjournal"
She grabs her journal and quickly scrawls the name Tammerhawk down, Now for the more difficult problem of actually getting in to see the Cyphermage's...
"Hmm? Oh, yes, yes. We helped. I think. I don't know. I was too busy hiding from orbs of pure arcane energy to see what was actually going on. You know me, Saul. Just here about that shadow in the sky. Thanks for the ticket, by the way. Looked like a great turn out. Well, until the end. Guess it didn't end the way you expected it to," Alia remarks to Saul. Turning to Alfsigr, she asks, "Oh, do you know how to treat arcane blunt trauma? If so, I could use a hand here. I'll have to look for Angvar later and thank him properly for that."
Vancaskerkin turns towards Kariel, looking the woman up and down. For a moment it looks like he'd soon try to do something but he shakes his head. "I have little doubt your assistance was necessary, madam."
He turns towards Alfsigr and shrugs. "I'm sure the only people needing and healing would be those no-good soggy plums poor egos." He looks over at the door and screams at the last guard who has quit. "AND GOOD RIDDANCE!" He rubs his eyes before looking towards Devon.
He reaches out and shakes the man's hand,. "Pleasure I'm sure." About that time three men step up. "Bojask, Beyar, Hans, clean this place up and try to convince at least a few of the dealers will stay through at least the end of the week." He looks towards Alia and nods. "Thanks for showing up. And you're right, not how I wanted it to end in any event." He sighs and looks over at Liara and her 'little' pet.
"I hope that thing is trained, yes?"
He turns as a dour little dwarf approaches with some papers. He looks them over then sighs and nods. "Thanks Larur, more good news for a wonderful night..." He rubs his forehead and then looks back the party. "Would you care to join me for a drink and a little chat upstairs. I assure you, it will be worth your time."
“I could definitely use a drink, though I think I should’ve been a little more help…” Liara stated. Karry rubbed up against Liara, letting out a low noise before Liara gently rubbed it behind it’s ears.
“It’s trained, for the most part, and Karry is a she,” She stated. The tiger looks up at Saul and lets out a low mewl before scent marking Liara.
You did great, lass, Devon reassures Liara, then heartily agrees. A drink does sound good right now, since the games seem to have ended for this evening. He follows wherever Saul leads.
"Sure, I would love to have a drink. I don't suppose you have any mead?" Alfsigr says with a grin as she falls in with the others.
Smiling and scratching his head with his key-hand, he then beckons over a dour looking dwarf. "Larur, could you get the bottle of Wiscrani from the safe?" Larur, who looks to be a secretary of sorts, nods and walks off. "Please follow me."
Saul walks to a set of stairs leading up to the second floor, guiding the group to a room with plush chairs and a fireplace that is lit. Several moments later, Larur walks in with the bottle and some glasses. Saul motions for him to fill a glass for him and any for anyone who pleases to partake.
"I owe you all for your assistance tonight. Though not a success, I'm not completely ruined. The silver will be put back up for some other date. But lets talk real business." He takes a sip of the drink, smiling some before he continues. "There were a number of patrons this evening that were my prospective future business partners. Now though, all but one wants nothing to do with this place, and even she is able to do only so much. And with a sizeable number of my staff deciding to leave tonight, I find myself in need of even more help. If you wish, I'd like to take you all on as business partners. If people learn the folks who helped stop the robbery work here, they'll feel safer, and safer means they come back with their coin."
Larur pulls out several sheets of parchment, written out contracts for shares in the business. Saul smiles at them and points towards the papers. 7% profit of any earning the casino makes in any given week, though you'll be required to assist in helping pay the staff if the week proves less than profitable. You'll also be given rooms here unless you wish to live elsewhere, and food is on the house."
Smiling even more broadly, Saul has Larur put some pens out. "So, what do you say, friends? A deal like this doesn't come by every day!"
Alfsigr's grin grows wider as everything she needed just falls into her lap. The fact that it could be too good to be true doesn't even cross her mind.
"You, sir, have a deal," she says as she signs her name.
“I could definitely partake in this, it would help, in the long run, fund my research into what I am researching, which would be quite, what’s the word… prosperous for me, Liara stated before she took one of the contracts and signed it as well.
Her tiger curled up next to the chair she had taken seat in and fell into a small slumber.
“Though we do need more workers here, maybe we should post job postings?”
Saul smiles as the ladies begin to accept his business proposition. "Winderful, Ms, uh, Snowborne. Yes, I suspect we'll maje wonderful business partners." He turns towards Liara and nods. "A nice idea. I'll have some people I know put out some notices in the local dives and whatnot. Should get a few takers, I hope."
"Umm, what exactly would our jobs be? I mean, I didn't come thousands of miles to Riddleport looking for a job, Saul, you know that. I'm researching that shadow in the sky that nobody around here seems to care about. Would this proposal interfere with my research? I feel as if I'm on the cusp of a revelation!"
She rubs her chest, "And I'll need some time off to heal, of course, before I could start any serious work. A few days, at least. That Angvar did a number on me with that missile."
Alfsigr nods as he gets her name right, but quickly adds, "You can call me Sig, if that's easier."
"Lemme take care of that." She places the tips of two of her fingers on the spot Alia is rubbing and hums a bright and sweet note that seems to grow into a chord before fading. The tips of her fingers glow with a bluish light, growing and fading with her humming.
"Better?" she asks the wizard once she's done.
Devon leans back in his chair and swirls his glass for a bit. Then he nods with a wide grin. He moves forward and signs his contract after knocking back his drink in one gulp. Sounds like an excellent arrangement to me. This should be a lot of fun.
A business partnership, he thinks. And Uncle never thought I'd amount to anything.
Saul nods at Kariel with a smile. "I'm a reasonable and affable man. You are of course free to not join the partnership if you so please. But I insist you stay here. We have more than enough rooms."
He looks at Alia and scratches his chin. "I'm sorry, I was unaware that any of you had actually been harmed. Larur, you should have said something!" The dwarf goes wide-eyed a bit and speaks up. "Sorry, Saul, I was not sure. My spologies, I should have asked." Saul nods and then snaps his fingers.
"Go grab those potions that priest gave us a few weeks ago for the bouncers. Seeing as we won't be needing them, I would like to gift them to you all." He leaves out he won't need them since most of the bouncers quit, but Larur grunts and walks out of the room.
He looks over at Sig and gives the Half-Elf a wry grin. "A healer? I'm sure the folks we hire would love having you around. Soothes folks knowing any brawls won't leave cut up and bloody."
He reaches out and takes Devon's contract, taking one last swig from his own drink once he does so. "To new business opportunities!" He goes to grab the bottle of Wiscrani to pour himself and anyone else a drink.
“Hmmm, you know, I might need a little training in any job though that you’re wanting us to do, well unless it’s the bouncer, and on that note I’d be more than willing to club someone out,” She said before chuckling some. She hands Saul her contract signed already before leaning back in her seat some, her hand falling to pet Karry.
“Hmmm, speaking of food though, I’m sure Karry here is hungry, does she also come in the agreement? I mean, she is my companion animal.”
After several minutes, Larur returns, a small pack in hand. "Wonderful! Please, use these as you all see fit." Saul has Larur walk to each of you, handing you one potion of cure light wounds each.
"May this be the beginning to a wonderful partnership!" He raises his glass high in a toast for everyone.
Once all is said and done, he has Larur guide you to areas 19. "You all can take your pick of these rooms. Keys to them are inside."
Alia smiles gratefully at Alfsigr, but seems unsatisfied with Saul's refusal to answer her question, "Saul, you know why I'm here. This... partnership... will not interfere with my research, will it?"
Saul turns to Alia and nods. "I think so. We aren't too far from the Cypher's lodge, and very close to the Cyphergate as well, so you can do your research fairly easily. The Cyphergate is the best location, in my opinion, for you to inspect the Blot."
"Sadly I can only do that once or twice a day. Singing, though, I can do that all day," she says with a weary smile before turning to the others.
"Is anyone else hurt?"
Alfsigr picks on of the rooms without a fireplace and unpacks all of her gear before getting ready for a good night's sleep. As she takes off her armor, she cringes as a sharp pain shoots up her side.
After healing her own wounds, she collapses into the bed and falls asleep barely a minute later.
"You know Alia, I am researching the blot together, maybe we can combine our research efforts and figure out what that thing is... together mayhaps?" Liara asked. She followed Saul and nodded to what he said, that information could be useful, maybe there was a lead there. She hadn't really gotten anywhere herself.
--- In her own Room now ---
The girl walked into the room she had chosen, though she likely wouldn't stay in it too often, sometimes it was nice to sleep in a bed. She climbed into her bed and her tiger joined her up on it before she fell asleep.
When Kariel steps out into the night, she hears the clearing of a throat. Devon is standing outside in the shadows, leaning against the building and swirling the last glass of the Wiscrani in his hand. You leaving us, luv?
He chuckles lightly. Can't say as I blame you. Riddleport is... he pauses, searching for the right word, dirty. Someone like Saul, I bet he's got some serious dirt underneath his fingernails. Probably be the right thing to walk away.
He steps forward a bit, into the low light of the evening. Thing is, Lee, Alia, Alfsigr, they don't strike me as dirty. They jumped at his offer, probably not knowing there might be some skeletons in ol' Saul's closet. So I'm going to stay, sort of watch out for them. And look for a little profit along the way, he adds with a smile, knowing Kariel is not likely to believe he's entirely altruistic.
What I'm saying is, I hope you decide to stop by from time to time, and check up on us. Devon finishes his drink and turns to head inside to his chosen room, where he kicks off his boots and lies on the bed. He stares at the ceiling for a long time before he goes to sleep.
With that, the party retires for the evening.
The next day is a cool and drizzly, the Blot hanging like an ill omen over the City of Cyphers. Slowly, despite the weather, the city begins to come to life as workers move around the city, sailors head to the docks, and the quickwifes and easy lads begin to slowly ply their work.
Those of your who remained at the Gold Goblin find that one cook seemed to have stayed on, as the smell of cooking sausages and eggs rise over the stale scent of old ale stained into the floors.
Devon is typically a late riser, but the smell of cooked food brings him out of his room earlier than usual. He is still likely the last one to wake, though. He eats his fill and chats amiably with the others, recounting yesterday's fight. In the chaos of the spells and fleeing bodies, he never really did get a good picture of everybody's heroics.
Before being called to work on whatever task may present itself, Devon explores the Gold Goblin Gambling Hall as thoroughly as he's allowed.
@Kariel: You draw a number of stares, but no more than you are used to by now, as you approach the Gold Goblin. The rain is cool, but it isn't really unpleasant either. After several minutes, you manage to arrive at the casino, though somewhat wet.
@Devon: Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21 on the main floor and areas 22, 23 and 24 on the upper floor are open for you to poke around at. Is there anything in particular you want to look for or any room you have questions on?
As dawn approaches Liara is up and heads out to the woods to collect some wood