Femi whips out the teleport scroll for the party and you end up at the Summer Court for the festivities. The banquet is even more lavish than the one to start the Cantabrilla Challenge. Both your group and Jierre's group are in attendance as well as Damata and his family and Liss.
The Bruse says, "Well, the challenge was a well fought affair and the Risuri contingent has won. Of course, you did not go through all of that effort for a banquet. Tinker Oddcog will be arriving in an hour to speak to the winners. I and Ber shall not stake any further claim to the gnome."
At the news, Dr. Runemace bowed formally to the Bruse, as courtesy dictated.
Silently he breathed a sigh of relief. As a good Eschatologist, he should be disappointed at the lack of drama; but a successful end to an investigation always felt... right. Even if only to himself.
Cretien nodded, a semi-bow of sorts, before looking at the opposing team.
Sense Motive DC 20
Nope.
The leader of the other team walks over to you and says, "Constables, it seems as though your decision to work with Damata bore fruit. You should not count us out though."
Doctor Runemace stood up and bowed to Lya.
"My Lady. We Eschatologists focus on the endings of things. Even in defeat there can be elegance, grace and especially closure. Our victory should not take anything away from your skill, courage and power." He said gravely.
Cretien will warn the members of his group not to eat, as well as dignitaries.
At Cretien's warning, Doctor Runemace turned widened eyes down to his plate, where the half eaten remains of his dinner lay.
"Ah, Cretien, I can't help but wonder why you would ask..." He started to say.
You hear the sound of Gobnard before you see him, and when you do finally see him, it certainly is not what you might have expected. A very drunk goblin, dressed in mithril is not an every day sight, especially when the goblin has a hammer that looks it weighs almost as much as he would.
"Dwarf! he yells, and runs over to Dr. Runemace. "Dwarves tell the best stories! You have a story to tell Gobnard dwarf?" Once close, the goblin's face shifts. Suddenly instead of eyes clouded by heavy drinking, the goblin's eyes dart back and forth, and hide a keen intellect. "Well met. One must be cautious around here, there are eyes and ears everywhere. Cuttlefish by the way." Then the goblin snaps back to the loud and ignorant drunk.
Where you can hear the goblin in advance, the dark hob.. just appears.
Dressed in brown leather pants and blue silk shirt under a gray vest with many pockets he looks around like an eagle searching for his prey, taking in any information. Two revolvers hang at his belt, with large custom grips in ivory with inlays.
Nodding he takes a seat.
Kortemir started after Cretien (what was that about poison?) but was stopped when a very drunk goblin ran into him demanding a story.
He tried to sidestep the creature, but the goblin kept getting in the way.
”Excuse me sir, but I have urgent business…” He started to stay.
Suddenly instead of eyes clouded by heavy drinking, the goblin's eyes dart back and forth, and hide a keen intellect. "Well met. One must be cautious around here, there are eyes and ears everywhere. Cuttlefish by the way." Then the goblin snaps back to the loud and ignorant drunk.
"Story Dwarf! Story!
Suddenly Kortemir realized that this was a covert contact! Scrambling to remember his training, he stammered as he coughed.
”OH! Ah… (cough, cough)… well then… I seem to remember a story…“Ahem. The Dhampire is Dull in Daylight.” He said significantly, staring at the goblin.
”Well, it all started when they brought this half-orc fellow down from some place on the docks, or so the attendants said. Unreliable fellows, sad to say. Uh, where was I? Oh yes. ‘Twas a half-orc, male, 6’5”, solidly muscled (as many are). The body had just achieved Rigor, indicating death between 12 and 24 hours ago; ligature marks around wrists, ankles and neck. Now the interesting thing was the petechial hemorrhaging…”
The goblin picks his nose, attentively.
One of those not comatose is what looks like a halfling server wearing a somewhat ragged flat cap. In fact, the entire man appears to be somewhat
He puts down his tray at some point along the way and stops next to the goblin. With a quick motion he bats away the goblin's arm, removing the finger from his nose. "Manners!"
The voice is a bit of a hiss, unfitting for the mouth it was uttered from.
The gnoll woman Executore walks over to your group and says, "Constables Dufrene and Constable Doctor Runemace, are my countrymen annoying you?"
"They're certainly... interesting."
The hob looks at the tiefling and shows his teeth.
"Interesting is a nice word. It can mean... many things."
He then offers his hand and replies.
"As you have been introduced... you can call me Ungebrochen!"
"Gobnard!" yells the Goblin belligerently. Then he frowns at the gnoll, "Gobnard never annoying! Usual never annoying. Sometimes not annoying anyway." He winks at Dr. Runemace.
The Executore with her cudgel with fresh blood dripping from the head says, "The Bruse has informed me that Tinker Oddcog is on the premises and he would like to take you to speak with him."
"...are my countrymen annoying you?"
Kortemir quickly shook his head.
"Oh no no no. They were simply curious about some former cases I had worked on."Um... In conclusion, don't get stabbed by an icicle made of poison.
"The Bruse has informed me that Tinker Oddcog is on the premises and he would like to take you to speak with him."
Dr. Runemace jumped to his feet and quickly looked at Cretien.
"Well, we'll also likely need some local witnesses that we haven't harmed Master Oddcog. What say you fellows?" He asked, motioning to Gobnard, Guiverni and Ungebrochen.
"Gobnard is a local witness! Party is boring anyway, Gobnard already tried all the different al-co-hol."
Glaucia shrugs her shoulders and says, "Senores, come with me."
The gnoll administrator of Justice turns on her heel and has you follow her to the Bruse's throne room.
You follow her up the stairs and you see the Bruse, Zarkava, Kenna, and
five court guards look on.
You take your place near the throne and then you see a soldier escort reaching the Summer Court (using the main entrance,
not the labyrinth), and they march the jittery Tinker upstairs to the Bruse’s
throne room, which has a balcony that leads to the bleachers that overlooks the labyrinth.
The Bruse then says, "Zarkava, please prepare the teleportation circle for our Risuri friends to go back to Slate. They most likely would like to take Tinker back with them."
Zarkava leaves the throne room. He then says, "Risuri team, I am delighted to introduce you to Tinker Oddcog."
Tinker says, "Nice to see you again." looking at Chretien.
Dr. Runemace doffed his hat to Oddcog.
"Doctor Kortemir Runemace, at your service. Honored to make your aquaintence Master Oddcog." He said courteously.
Gobnard, who was standing behind Chretien says,"Gobnard thinks this Tinker fellow is mistaken, Gobnard has never met him before. Gobnard does not want to be rude, but it is hard to mistake Gobnard for other people. Perhaps eyes don't work? If so, Gobnard would be happy to see things for you, attcha service!"
The Bruse says, "I will be going out on my balcony so that you may get even further acquainted." and with that he goes out on his balcony.
Tinker, who is a gnome, shrugs his shoulders and says,"I was not referring to you. But Risuris what is your pitch?"
The hobgoblin just smirks and bows down to Gobnard.
"That one is a smarty. Thinks using smart words will make you feel inferior. He clearly has no idea!"
With a chuckle Ungebrochen shows his teeth and raises one eyebrow. Just one! Two would be too much.
"With us, keep it simple. We are of the people, we talk like the scum. But we also fight like cornered rats!"
Cretien nods, "And in more peaceful circumstance, no doubt." is his response to Oddcog.
Tinker shrugs off the comments and says, "I really do not have much time to waste, what is your proposal?"
Ungebrochen looks at the guest from Risur.
"This is your show, we are just the cavalery!"
Gobnard hates horses. Can Gobnard be the brains instead of the cavalery?
Dr. Runemace harumphed and wished the team had their face man here. But, time was wasting and he stepped forward.
Taking off his hat, he looked at Oddcog critically.
"Master Oddcog, Risur has found itself under threat of a titanic technological golem. We need whatever knowledge you may possess to counteract it and whoever built it. To get that knowledge, we are authorized to make a deal with you making you very, very wealthy; and then we go our separate ways.
"But our monarch believes that our nation has been overshadowed by these technological advances, and therefore need a new department, a team of people at the furthest bleeding edge of theoretical and practical engineering, backed by the financial power of a nation. And who would best fit such a position but someone like Tinker Oddcog? A LEADERSHIP position?
"That is in essence our proposal to you. I would assume that there might be something you want beyond financial. We are prepared to listen." Kortemir said his piece as directly as he could, trying not to leave anything out that might be helpful from what he could remember of his briefing.
"That's the long and short of it. One day, I will likely be assigned to that department as well. It wouldn't be surprising, anyway. With that, you would also have a perpetual stream of your researchers willing to look into things you don't have time to, in addition to plenty of wrench-turners." Cretien says, matter-of-factly. He looks quite the technical marvel, with a pair of additional arms and an additional head built from technological components, armor and shield of no mean make, and several firearms that stand above what is commonly available thanks to modifications made under his own hand.
The gnome looks at you intensely as he listens to your pitch,
then gets nervous and apologetic, as he says, "What this entity is about to do, is not something me, Tinker Oddcog, wants to do. I suggest you leave. This entity is being compelled."
He then stands up and shouts to the Bruse, "The Bruse I need to speak with you."
and when the minotaur comes over the gnome announces, "I am refusing to go with the Risuri nor the Danorans and I want everyone else but the Bruse to leave, and I will give y'all to the count of …"— and he pulls out a pocket
out his watch — "sixteen."
'Whuh oh! Counting backwards has never lead to a positive outcome in Gobnard's experience."
Kortemir looked around confused.
"What now? Neither of us?" He asked aloud.
Tinker says, "Actually, I wasn't going to start from sixteen but rather one. So arumpadumpadump... ONE!"
Kortemir took a step back.
"Well, I suppose we can..." He said, stuttering nervously.
He took another step back.
"... come back later, with different proposal..." He continued.
He took another step back.
"... good day to you sir!" He finished, then hustled back the way he came it.
[b]"We running now?"[b/] asks Gobnard in a stage whisper as he backs away with Dr. Runemace.
"What entity? And the count of 16 or else what?"
Guiverni and Ungebrochen
Looking at the strange situation Ungebrochen just chuckles. And follows Gobnard
"Let us see how this unfolds!"
Initiative: Shantus , Elite Guardsmen , Kenna
Initiative Order: Ungebrochen, Chretien, Tinker, Guardsmen, Kenna, Gobnard, Kort, The Bruse Shantus
Ungebrochen and Chretien inquisitively look at Tinker wondering what he is going to do.
On Tinker’s turn, he pokes himself on his chest with an audible click.
A panel pops open, revealing him to be hollow and made of metal, and
he reaches in, producing a comical black bomb. As he pulls it out, the fuse lights, and Tinker grins and giggles as it burns
down to an imminent explosion.
The guardsmen nearest the Bruse move towards their king. Kennas also moves closer to the Bruse shouting "You wacky gnome get away from the Bruse!" but aren't close enough to wrestle the bomb away.
Gobnard, Kort
Perception DC 28
incoming artillery shell.
"Get clear. GET CLEAR!" Shouted Kortemir as he hustled for the exit, or something heavy to put between him and what looked like a bomb.
Double move to the exit?