Saul looks at the axe stuck in the wall, then back at the Dwarf. "Perhaps I was a bit precipitous in the decision. Still, it will be necessary for one of you to take over Feldin's job while he is missing. We can continue the search for Feldin, but it is entirely possible that he is gone without any trace besides what you've already found. There are any number of ways for a body to disappear without a trace in this town, Mr. Boulderback. His body could have gone into the Boneyard, or he may have landed in the river. He might be in somebody's stew pot, or maybe he's feeding somebody's pet. We don't know, and we may never know."
Pulling the axe out of the wall with some effort, Saul hands it to Skorabor and then sits behind the desk. [b]"I don't recommend taking on Boss Croat. His compound in the Leeward District is heavily fortified, and he keeps many guards. Even you might have trouble getting in to see him. I shall set a search in motion, but for now we should continue as I've already stated. Is that acceptable to you?"
"Fine", Skorabor mutters as he recieves the axe. "But make it quick. A dwarf's life is at stake, by Torag!"
Moonchaser nuzzles Skorabors hand affectionately, sensing his anguish & tension and seeking to comfort him.
Skorabor softens noticeable as the wolf pokes his hand. Appearently the dwarf is unable to stay angry as Moonchaser tries to cheer him up, although he tries his best.
"Indeed there is much to do perhaps later this evening we might be able to get some gossip out of local riff-raff that points in tha right direction."
Several days go past without much in the way of return on finding Feldin. Skorabor finds several people to rough up, but none of them are very forthcoming. Barnabus manages to find somebody who thought he saw a big, mean-looking fellow in that neighborhood, but nothing specific enough to go on. Strangely, Saul seems to have no luck at all.
About a week after Feldin's disappearance, Saul sends word asking you all to meet in his office the next morning. when you arrive, he's sitting in the chair behind his desk expectantly. A tapestry has been found to cover the axe-hole in the wall behind him.
"Well, my friends, things have been fairly quiet. No news from my sources on Feldin's disappearance. I do fear he may have gone the way many a poor soul does in this town. But that's only part of why I called you here. We have a shipment of fine, exotic wines and liquors that just arrived. I ordered it a long time ago for the Cheat the Devil tournament, but it seems it was delayed. It's currently waiting for pick-up at the wharf, but I don't want to send just anybody. I wouldn't put it past one of the crime-bosses in town to try and steal the stuff out from under me. I'd like you three to retrieve it for the Gold Goblin, if it wouldn't take too much time from your other duties."
"Maybe we should do this, an take a few employees to help with tha liftin part o things."
After Feldin? Best not to trouble them. Our security chief has all the carrying muscle we could ever need. Ready Skor?
"Or we send tha employees like thay area goin an we go in secret maybe get a chance tah catch Whoever got Feldin red-handed tryin tah do somethin tah tha others!"
I have no wish to gamble with the lives of our employees... Saul? Skor? Your thoughts gentlemen?
Skorabor has been a pain to deal with in the last few days following Feldrin's disappearence. Fueled with disappointment from his unsuccessful investigations (which has mostly consisted of ruffing up lowlife's and beggers in Riddleport's back alleys) has been inclined to take out his foul mood on the rest of the staff. He has continued this behavoir well into this meeting, but now his mood started to shift.
Skorabor, equipped with a simple mind, has a limited attention span unable to concentrate on numerous tasks at one time. The dwarf lights up as Saul mentions the Riddleport crime bosses possible theft of the cargo. His confidence grows noticeable as he's old worldview starts to settle into place. He is the hero and he has to defeat the villians.
"So, you reckon the bosses will try to get their filthy hands on your cargo? Well, they best think again cause that cargo is under the protection of Skorabor Skalfgrin Boulderback! When do we leave?"
"Right now, if you're ready. You can take a few of the bouncers with you if you feel you need them, but I'd ask that you leave me some to watch the place while you're gone."
"A few extra hands to carry the cargo wouldn't hurt. Let's go!"
"With shortswords at least, bouncers expect a bit o rough an tumble ever once in awhile.
"Shortswords, ha!", Skorabor bellows. "Won't make more than bumps and scratches with one of those. Now a strudy dwarven war axe, that's another thing. You'll get through a wall with one of those!" Skorabor continues cheerfully and then suddenly stops. He casts a glance at the tapestry and a hint of shame runs across his face. "Well.... let's not waste any more time here, there's protectin' to be done!", he says and walks out the door.
The bouncers do have shortswords they can bring with you. Otis and Lumps say that they will accompany you, and Frush and Tubbs say they'll come if you think you need extra hands.
Skorabor points to Frush and Tubbs and says in a commanding voice. "You two, grab your gear. You're coming with us."
"Tis agreed then!"
The bouncers grab their gear, then follow your lead as you head to the wharves. It's not a long journey to where the [i]Foamrunner awaits. As you approach, the cargo is just being offloaded, under the watchful eye of a stout Dwarf with an air of command about him. In between shouted commands, he is exchanging words with a tall Human wearing armor and with a shield slung over his back. A sword rides at his left hip. A handful of stevedores are rolling the casks towards a small cart guarded by two squat, brick-like Human toughs. As you walk down the plank to the wharf proper, the tall Human hands a small sack to the Dwarf, then turns and spots you. He stops, smiling at the sight of your party.[/i]
"Looks like someones backin out o a bargain an sellin our casks tah someone else."
"Top o tha mornin to yah! I am glad yah got here afore anythin bad could happen tah tha prescious cargo."
The tall man walks toward you. "Gud marnin', sirs. Yess, it's a wunerful gud thing we got here fore anythin' culd happen ta tha cargo. What brings ya here? I were sent ta collect it already."
In the background, the stevedores continue to carefully load the casks onto the small cart guarded by the toughs. The captain is closely watching the tall man.
"I had heard how hard yah ave been workin an thought it best if I were tah give yah a hand, where were we takin this cargo again?"
whispers to the man...
"I heard tha someone yah trust might be tryin tah assassinate yah, I wanted to warn yah in person tah keep an eye on yer fellows just in case."
Also leaning in close now, "Ya don say? Hmph. An' Clegg tole me I culd trust 'em."
the man shakes his head, then takes a second look at you and your fellows. "Hang on. I don know any of yu. Who are ya?"
"Clegg was mistaken one o them fellers is not who he seems tah be. I am Barnabus."
Skorabor seems to be just at the verge of beginning one of his "My name is Skorabor Skalfgrin Boulderback and i..."-speeches before Barnabus steps up and greets the stranger. The dwarves eyes starts to dart back and forth in confusion between the two as they start to converse.
Davlamin quietly moves his steed behind Skorabor and casts Shield of Faith upon the Dwarf and Guidance upon himself.
Best be ready for trouble eh...
"Barnabus, eh? Braddikar Faje, atchyer service." The man bows low, then looks again. "And who're yer friends there? Introduce us, Barnabus."
"Mah short friends be skorabor an Davlamin, they has more formal names, an titles, but tha first names will do well amongst friends."
"Maybe you could wave yer captain o'r an maybe I ken tell if he means any harm."
"Mah short friends be skorabor an Davlamin, they has more formal names, an titles, but tha first names will do well amongst friends."
"Maybe you could wave yer captain o'r an maybe I ken tell if he means any harm."
"Skorabor? Davlamin? Don' they werk fer old Saul? Are ye shure ye ken trust 'em?"
Skorabor gives a disgruntled grunt at the strangers words and steps up. He steadies his gaze into the mans eyes."Are you call me a liar, lad?"
Faje's attitude begins to sour. "Might be I am. Who's yer boss, Skorbalor?"
Skorabor's eyes darkens and his nostrils start to flare. You can tell that an outbreak is imminent as the dwarf takes a step forward. "Did you just call me Skorbalor? My name is Skorabor Skalfgrin Boulderback, son of Kargunt Boulderback the warlord of Stoneshire! I'm head of security of the Golden Goblin and i have come to claim this cargo!", the dwarf roars
"In truth my friends an I are business partners. We own tha Gold Goblin an we have no boss. Perchance friend you would like steady work inside not guarding carts o crap, ye could work for me, I have a floor manager job tha would be good for one such as yerself with both brains an brawn."
Faje steps back from the Dwarf at the outburst. "The Gold Goblin. I thought ye might be werkin' there. What's this 'bout ye three owning the place? What happened ta old Saul? If he's gone and ye three're in charge, mayhaps I will come werk fer ya. If ya can pay me more'n Clegg does."
Noticing what's going on where you are, the two toughs at the cart whisper together for a bit, then one of them begins heading in your direction.
The dwarf eyes flares even more as Skorabor is steadily working up to a frenzy. "You insult me and my family name and then you have the guts to ask for a job AND a raise?! I wouldn't even hire you to empty the latrines at the goblin! Now step aside unless you plan on helpin' us unload the cargo!"
"Now, thas most unfortunate. Ye see, we already unloaded the cargo. I just paid the captain fer it, right afore ye arrived, Mr. Boulderback, so I do believe it's our cargo now. I can' jus' let ya take it from us. My employer wouldn't like that. As fer the job, I didn' ask fer one. Yer friend, here, Mr. Barnabus, offered the job ta me. I were just settin' mah terms. Twould be foolish of me ta leave a high-paying job fer a lower-paying one, now wouldn't it? Would ye do that, in my shoes?"
"Old Saul is still around he is lookin tah reture one day unfortunately you would ave tah get along with mah friends since they have just as much ownership as I do."
Barnabus notices tho ones headed over and takes out a set of manacles, ready an action to cast beguiling gift....
Skorabor stops for a moment and looks confused at Barnabus. He had clearly not been paying any attention to anything else than the affront of his name by Faje. Then he manages to shake of the confusion and returns his gaze to Clegg's man, the hatered almost burning a hole in his eye sockets.
"I don't care if you paid or not, those crates belong to the Goblin! If you value your shoes or indeed the very feet you keep in them you'll start unloadin' that stuff now!"
As the tough from the cart walks up, he tries to make himself taller so he can whisper in Faje's ear. Faje turns, and the two engage in a quick conversation.
Faje laughs at whatever was whispered in his ear. "Oh, it may be a mite late fer that, Hops. Ye see, this be Barnabus. He and his pals seem to be co-owners of the Goblin, and they want us ta give them the cargo. I tried tellin' em we already paid fer it, but yon Dwarf seems to want those casks bad. Whaddaya think, Hops? Me, I think we should give them the goods afore the Boulderback decides ta take our feet off."
"But Boss, we're supposed to take the stuff. We're not supposed to hand it over to them."
"Aye, Hops, we were supposed ta take the goods. Unfortunately, the Dwarf makes a good case. Go get the cart, and start unloadin' those casks."
Faje gives the man a shove in the direction of the cart, then turns back to the group. "My companion says we should jus' take yer stuff and go. I tole him ta go and unload your gear, and then we'll take our stuff and be off. I hope ye won't look unkindly on them. They're jus' tryin' ta follow directions. No hard feelins, I hope?"
"Faje, perhaps if you were to correctly name my Friend Repeat after me, Skorabor...."[b]
Waits for Faje to say it correctly
[b]"Skalfgrin"
again waits for the man to say it correctly....
"Boulderback"
"Not a common name tah men but a great family among dwarves tha world over...."
"That's right!", Skorabor declares in triumph. "Lads, help them unload our barrels!", he calls out to the Golden Goblin Bouncers.
Then the armored dwarf moves up to the ships captain with purposeful strides and gazes up at the man. "Seems to be that you've been given payment for somethin' you didn't have to sell. You best be handin' back the money to them."
Faje repeats the name dutifully, then moves to supervise the unloading of the casks. The bouncers move to help with the operation. As Skorabor walks up to the captain, the man retreats a few steps. "Perhaps so. I don't see how that's any concern of yours, though, Master Boulderback. Faje and I were engaged in a business transaction. What happened after that transaction was complete is no concern of mine."
"My patience with this thuggery is streched thin already, don't push it any further!", Skorabor bellows in is usual blunt manner. "It is my business when you've tried to sell of the goods that belong to the Goblin, gods that you're not in a position to sell! Now you've got one chance to give the man back his gold 'cause i'm gettin' really tired of talkin'!"
The man takes several steps back, then quickly removes the sack of coins from his belt and tosses it to Skorabor. "I didn't mean any trouble, sir. Just tryin' to make some money, is all. Just tryin' to run a business. I'm sorry."
With that, he scrambles back up onto the ship and gets as far away from the Dwarf as he can. Shortly after that, Faje comes over. "Well, we've got yer cargo unloaded. 'haps we should be goin' now, eh?"
"Don't let me catch you runnin' your illegitimate business here again!", Skorabor shouts after the sea captain. The dwarf then inspects that the cargo is unloaded and then turns to Faje. "Fine", Skorabor mutters and flings the sack of coins to the man. "Be on your way. I hope for your sake that our paths don't cross again."
"All right. Let's get these barrels loaded and then we're off to the Goblin!", he calls out to the bouncers.
Well done, both of you. Davlamin says approvingly, patting both Skor and Barnabus on the back. You've done yourselves proud today.