Alfsigr wakes to the smell of eggs and sausages, and the sounds of a growling stomach. She takes a moment to at least make sure she's decent before leaving, but the smell of food and a natural antipathy towards mornings causes her to emerge from her room looking like she just rolled out of bed (which isn't too far from the truth.) She follows her nose to the kitchen and smiles at the cook.
"Smells delicious, now if you can tell me where I can find some mead, and I might just kiss you."
Liara manages to, after acquiring the material, make a single shortbow, the task taking a bit of time to do so.
The cook turns and smiles at Alfsigr and nods. "Well, missy, you're in luck. Ol' Hopser here happens to have a nip of the good stuff here." He pulls a small glass out and sets it out for her before pouring her about two fingers of Riddleport Rum. "So, what'd Boss Saul do to keep you all on? Bribe ya? Have some secrets on ya?" The man grins as he sets out some more food.
At that, an odd noise begins to be heard. "Is that hail?" Hopser raises an eyebrow and looks at the ceiling as he tries to hear what the noise could be.
Devon's curiosity gets the best of him and he goes outside to check out the unseasonable weather.
"Sounds like it." ALfsigr sniffs the drink before sipping it.
"Mm, better than ale at least," she says before turning to the food. The half-elf piles a plate with enough to feed an ogre before saying a quick prayer of thanks and digging in.
"As for what Saul did to keep me, he just offered me a job and a place to stay. Haven't been here long enough to have any secrets. Can't really tell ye about the others though." She says between bites of eggs, bread, and sausage.
Waking up later than she intended, Alia sits up to the sounds of hail outside. Curious, she wanders out to see what's going on, talking to herself as she goes, "I should see Liara. Compare notes. Wonder if they'd let us into the Cyphermage tower to gather more information... can't hurt to... well, I guess it could, with them."
Stepping outside, she peers about to see what the ruckus is all about.
After about a minute, shouts can be heard from around the city. Loud cracks as shingles break, the occasional pane of glass shattering and the bronze dome atop the Gold Goblin begins to even ring out like a bell as the 'hail', now larger in size, come in and start striking things with more force.
"Huh. How odd. It's black hail originating from the Blot... I should chronicle this!" Alia says as she pulls out her notebook and starts making sketches and diagrams with notes in the margins, oblivious to the danger around her.
After about three minutes and a very small amount of property damage, the 'hail' ends. Already folks are showing signs of minor panic, but the Gendarme begin rolling around the city, making sure panic doesn't turn to riots doesn't turn to looting.
Saul, followed by his henchmen, soon arrive from upstairs. Was there any damage? Any?" He's a little flustered though Hans and Beyar look more bored than anything.
Liara comes back into town after the hail stops, not knowing that it had happened in the first place as she was a little too busy working on her shortbow so she could sell it. The woman then heads off to the bowyer to sell her freshly crafted bow, after testing it once of course.
"Hello, I'd like to sell this bow if at all possible," She states to the merchant.
"Only to my ears." Alfsigr says, the ringing getting too loud before she could reply to the cook. The ringing dome had hurt her ears, and when Saul comes down, she's still clutching them.
@Liara: The man takes a look at the bow, noting the way that it worked. Nodding, he turns to you and smiles. "I think I can put this on my shelves. Here you go." He reaches down and pulls out 15 GP, placing it on the counter before you. "Hell of a nasty hail sotrm we had, right?"
@Alfsigr: Saul shoots her a look and then begins looking up at the ceiling. "Let's see..." He walks around, looking up for a few moments then sighs. "Thankfully, nothing bad. Hans, get on the roof and check for damage up there." Hans' eyes go large but he proceeds up the stairs to the upper floor anyway.
That's... very odd. Alia will love this, Devon muses while watching the strange phenomenon.
He goes back inside to tell her, when he stumbles across her pulling out her notebook and sketching. Hey, I guess you've seen-- Watch out! he grabs her and pulls her back just in time when an awning breaks and spills a torrent of the black "hail" where she had just been sitting.
When it finally finished, he strolls around the exterior of the Gold Goblin, checking for signs of damage. If there's the opportunity, he also climbs up on the roof with Hans, less to check for damage and more for the view such a vantage would give him.
@Kariel: The man looks at you, and a moment later he goes wide eyed. "You! You can flys?" Probably not the brightest man...
@Devon: You pull Alia back in time to keep her from getting covered in the 'hail' Your inspection from the outside of the Gold Goblin reveal only small dings here and there, two broken windows and the broken awning. Climbing atop the roof, you get a good view of the city and note that there are several people on the roofs as well.
@Devon: As you look around, you look to the west across the river and see someone on their roof suddenly rise up and head towards the Blot. From the flapping edges, you can guess that the man is probably a cyphermage.
And speaking of flying, you also see Kariel!
I'll be careful, Devon says, while shading his eyes and peering at the rising figure. Well, wouldja look at that? Lots of folk flying about today.
As the day goes on, people go about their business, rumor going around the 'storm' was something some Cyphermage did. Wizards, right? No sense of right or wrong.
Saul and Larur, however, approach the group. "I was listening to what you all said last night. Posting up some job offers should start getting some folks to start coming back, both for work and fun." Larur approaches and hands the group some sheets of paper, some nails and a hammer each. "Go around town and put these up, please. Their wanted ads, for the most part. Need people to work the kitchen, clean, run the tables, guards, what not." The papers have a drawing of the Gold Goblin at the top with the following written on it.
GRAND REOPENING THIS STARDAY
GOLD GOBLIN GAMBLING HALL
Help wanted for Grand Reopening
Cooks, strong arms, pretty figures, and more
Speak to Larur Feldin for employment opportunities
GOLD GOBLIN GAMBLING HALL
SAUL VANCASKERKIN - Owner
He smiles at the group. "Get people minds off the odd things going on around here, make them feel better, yes?"
Liara smiles as she is handed the 15 gold and then bows her head.
"Thank you good sir," She stated before raising a brow to what he said.
"Now, I don't think I saw anything, but I wonder what happened..." She murmured before she headed off to find the rest of the group. The girl made her way back to the Gold goblin and when Saul approached her with the papers she looked them over and nodded.
"Alright, I'll get these out," She said, at least her portion of them. The girl headed off to the tavern first, asking if she could post this particular job posting before, if she gets a yes after showing the tavernkeeper the poster posting it up on the looking for jobs board.
Saul slaps Liara on the arm and laughs. "I appreciate it, lass." Larur informs her where a few good places would be to place the flyers, telling her to avoid a rundown little area known as Splithog Alley. "Nothing but thieves and the poor."
A few moments later, the doors to the Gold Goblin open and a woman steps in, walking right up to Saul and Larur, causing Bojask to step forward in front of his employer. "Where is he Saul?" The woman glares down at the Gold Goblin's owner, clearly not impressed with Bojask's attempt to get between the two. "Where'd ya put Dungo?" Saul steps around his bodyguard and smiles up at her.
"Lixy, we were afraid we'd never see your lovely..." The woman puts a finger up.
"I'm not here to play games Saul Vancaskerkin, just where is Dungo?" The woman looks rather pissed, to say the least.
Devon also tries to set the young woman at ease. Easy, luv. We'll find this Dungo for you. What is he, some sort of pet? Saul, help a lady out here.
He smiles easily and tries to out on the charm.
Lixi looks at Kariel and then Devon. "Dungo is the head for the Ghoulette table I ran. I was so shaken from being robbed that I left Dungo here. Now where is he, Saul? Dungo is mine, I found him rightfully and I will get the..."
Saul steps forwards and nods at Kariel and Devon. "Thank you for helping. Lixi, Dungo is still here, we just have the table in the back being cleaned. And I find I need a Ghoulette runner still. What do you say, come back? The folks who kept the robbery from happening work here now." He motions to the party with a wide grin. "Come on, I know you love the crowds, Lixi..."
Lixi looks at the party with a raised eyebrow. "That true? You the lot to keep me from getting bowled over and robbed?"
"That would indeed be us. How may I be of service." Alfsigr says, giving a flamboyant bow as she does so.
Devon smiles brightly. Oh, so that was you with the head! I hadn't had the chance to play at your table before we were so rudely interrupted by that sorry attempt at a robbery. I'd love a chance at a game with you. And yes, don't worry about another robbery; I'm sure word's gotten around by now that there's no profit to try another stunt like that at the Gold Goblin.
Alia just watches the exchange, a look of wonder in her eye, "I'm sorry... but Jungo is an actual head? Like, an actual, animated head of some deceased person? I thought it was just a construct, but never got a chance to examine it..."
Lixi nods. "Found Dungo's head a couple of months ago, he was spouting off a string of obscenities and I just couldn't help but laugh. Came up with Ghoulette myself. Was going to be a good job here with it, until the robbery."
She looks at them and nods. "I won't work here if all that's protecting me from some grog-blossom is his worthless goons. But if you all are here..." She scratches her chin for a bit and then looks at Devon before putting her hand out towards him. "I'll come back. But I want an extra gold a week." She looks over at Saul. "For insurance."
"How... interesting. A talking head. Would you... would you mind if I studied it? I'd be very interested in having a look at Munjo," Alia asks, the wonder brighter and alive in her eyes. "So many odd things to see in this city! I wonder if it's some discard from the Cyphermages, though. You can't really trust them, and the magics that may or may not be affecting your Bunjo may or may not be dangerous ones."
Liara is out putting up the posters for the jobs needed for the Gold Goblin.
Lixi looks at Alia like one might look at someone incapable of speaking a language properly. "Their name is Dungo. As for studying? I don't mind, so long as you don't, I'unno, break him. And he's no discard. From what I guess, he was eaten by ghouls but didn't become one or something. But he is a bit funny."
@Liara: After about two hours, your flyers are done being put up.
Devon shrugs. Well, I'd say that's a pretty good arrangement. Lixi here gets a job, the Gold Goblin gets a feature no other gaming hall can boast, and our curious wizard here gets something new to study. Whaddya say, Saul?
Saul grins at Devon and nods. "Yep, the Gold Goblin gets something no else has: Lixi. Oh, and I guess Dungo, too." He laughs loudly and looks at Larur. "Get her back on the books, friend."
Larur nods and looks at Lixi. "Come along, lass. Same as last time, just need your signature. I'll take you to Dungo too." Lixi gets all smiles and follows the dwarf book-keeper.
Alfsigr leaves shortly after hearing about ghouls. She places her flyers where ever she can find a nice spot for them, singing and dancing in the squares and markets.
I gotta remember to talk to Saul about getting some mead, the rum is okay, but it's really hard on the voice!
Saul nods and agrees to have a supply of mead ready by the reoppening for Alfsigr. Sadly, he keeps the place readily closed up. But the next day there are several people back, requesting to be hired on. Rumors that the 'Gold Goblin Saviors' are running the place now seems to have put many of them at ease, and Larur and Saul soon have it staffed sufficiently by that Starday.
Rather than a grand event with a huge grand prize, Saul keeps the silver coins he has left from the Cheat the Devil debacle. One thing that remains, though, is the imp, Old Scratch, in the cage. By this point, you all know the imp owes Saul a debt, and the Cheat the Devil event and the reopening are helping to shave time off his servitude.
As the night begins to proceed, the night is slow but steady. People appear nervous but are spending their money, if conservatively.
Saul walks over to you all, a somewhat worried look on his face. "This is almost as bad as the event. Listen, can you all think of anything to help boost the spending out there?"
With the 15 gold the Liara had made the other day she makes her way over to the Ghoulette table, after a nice rest. She decides to place a bet for 11 to see if she can win anything. 3 Coppers are bet.
Several players place their bets as well, and Dungo, ever grinning, cackles with glee. Lixi Parmenter, now in some unique makeup and wearing a purple overcoat, spins the device. After several seconds, Dungo faces 'Hygiene'. "Well, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear you all bathe in pig wallow! OINK OINK OINK!" Lixi grins and presses a small button, the coins skittering away into a small trap below.
"Any other takers right now?" Lixi places a hand atop Dungo's head who laughs wildly, looking at Liara. "Yeah, you, feel your 'brains' are up to it?"
Liara cursed slightly when she lost but she wasn't going to give up hope on this one. This time she bet on 10, blew on her gold and then waited.
Alfsigr decides to take to the stage. Most of the songs she knows are either elven or ulfen, but she does know some in taldane. The one she sings is risque enough that she likely gets some glares from the more straight-laced of the crew, but it's a lively song and easy enough to sing to that it should loosen some purse strings.
As she sings, she begins to wonder it someone's been watering down the mead, since her voice is still not where she liked it.