The half elf woman seems relieved when Hal gives her a gold piece, and uses a respectful elfin term when she adress him
Thank you, Old Brother.May I give you this, in exchange? It's not much, but maybe it will bring you luck.
She reverently places a single, long feather in Hal's hand, and goes away after what should pass for a gracious bow
Over the next hours, Dolgrin 'searches' other rooms of the temple and 'questions' their denizens for answers to the groups questions.
Cameron does what he can to aid Ness'a enquiries, but he finds it hard to relax which everyone around picks up on stymieing his efforts to help.
In an unguarded moment later, he confesses, "Sorry Nessa, I think I'm more of a hindrance than anything today..."
It takes you a few hours of cajoling and promising, but your quest for information brings you great rewards.
The man you seek,Beltias Kreun, is more than a little thief. He's a gang leader- a small gang, however- whose base of operation is hidden in Splithog's alley, a poor and decrepit district. Kreun is more known by name than by his face, as he's rumored to be a master of disguise.
There's a small mission of Sarenae's worshippers in that district, Saint Cosperan or something like that. Probably they know more about local gangs.
With some information from Hal Dorel on what you should search, it seems you got two ways of getting uncut gems.
The first one is simple and legal: get into a jeweller's shop and ask to buy uncut gems. Most of them have a stock, big or small, of gems they haven't already worked on.
The second is simple and illegal: get into a jeweller's shop, ask to buy uncut gems, grab the gems and run away. Uncut gems are quite rare in people's pockets or houses, as everyone prefers cut and polished gems.
Having found out all the information that they could here, Nessa searches for any of her companions who have become separated and gathers them together, "I doubt we'll find any more useful information here. We should probably go collect Hal and figure out how we are going to get the money back." Still hanging on Cameron's until they are out of the door, Nessa lets go of him and steps to the side as soon as they leave the temple, "There, the space and lack of flirting you wanted Cameron."
Cameron doesn't reply immediately but after an awkward pause he says, "Thank you for what you did in there Nessa. I won't soon forget... I ah think you're right we should find Hal. Considering what we found out this is going to be more difficult than expected. We should talk to the Sarenrae mission, I think their help will be essential."
Krucina buys some uncut gems, and the group is back together, walking the streets toward the home of Hedarold the Pearl, fence and contact of Hal Dorel, sharing their information, and for some of them, meeting the strange pale faced woman for the first time.
Giving Cameron a flirty little smile she says, "I would certainly hope not, if you did, I didn't do it right." She laughs lightly and looks around for Hal and, upon spotting him, begins walking in his direction still in her undergarments as it hasn't registered to her she should be otherwise. Sauntering up to him, her hips rolling in very pleasing ways, she says, "We found what we needed and I took care of Zith so I think we're done here."
She recounts the information they learned about their thief and says, "Cameron believes out next stop should be the Sarenrae mission, they likely have most of the information we need." She seems to become rather annoyed as she realizes that means she is going there too, "Bunch of fudi duddies if you ask me, but since we have to deal with them."
When the strange woman comes up to the group, Nessa looks her over and walks up to her slowly and with her usual hungry lust bunny demeanor when meeting new people. She circles the woman a moment, trailing a finger along her shoulders lightly before speaking, "My, my, my, you are a striking creature aren't you, I don't suppose you'd like to play with me would you?"
Alayna is relieved to be away from the brothel, but somehow feels like there is something she missed. No matter, we go wa' we needed. When Nessa comments on the Saranrae mission, Alayna wonders aloud "It dannae matter if they ar'a stick in the sand an' nae fun a'tall so long as they ken answer some queries."
Seeing Hal walking with the stranger makes her smile, "Look like yer a'fetchin another hand for our work. Does yer new hand 'ave a name, or is 'Ay! You!' good for her?"
Cameron manages a dirty chuckle in response to Nessa's quip, was it a fraction too late? Perhaps, but it was well intentioned.
He sniffs slightly and assured her, "You kept your breathren off my back, I'll make sure Sarenrae's disciples don't proalise you to tears. I'll take one for the team and talk to them."
Realising what he just said, Cameron gulps slightly 'Oh heck what am I letting myself in for, Sarenrae's followers never shut up about redemption and they'll be as moths to Nessa's flame...'
Later when introduced to the newcomer, Cameron finds himself staring. "Apologies Ma'am, I uh don't believe I've ever met anyone quite so, uh... Well actually Nessa is pretty unique too." He trails off lamely, not knowing quite what to say or where to look. In the he gives Alayna a wry smile thinking, 'At least you know where you are with Alayna. Everyone else seems so complicated.'
Immediately upon obtaining the gems sought by her sullen new friend, she hands them over to Hal for inspection and approval. "Will this be enough to tickle the gnome's fancy, do you think? I even got them the boring way...by purchasing them!"The last part she remarks with a smile.
She draws her cowl cowl closer as Hal's friends arrive. With a bow and a small flourish, she addressed the new comers, "Witam! I am called Krucina Johhanna Sarai. I am in debt to your comrade Hal whose reputation and toughness have kept me safe from an unknown attacker."
She is relieved to see more women among them and sighs relief to herself. However, with Nessa's sultry wiggles and jiggles and touch, her pale, yellow eyes go wide.
Dolgrin snorts at Krucina's mention of Hal's reputation and toughness. An elf's reputation? Toughness? Someone has had the wool pulled over their eyes. Ah well, I'm not here to shatter those kind of illusions.
"Well met," the dwarf says. "I am Dolgrin Hammerfist. Welcome to our little group. If you're here to assist in our search, then, should things work out, we ought to be able to get you some regular employment at the Golden Goblin. Pay isn't too shabby, and it staves off boredom."
Guided by Hal Dorel, you walks through Riddleport's streets. Dolgrin is unpleasantly surprised to see that the small group pass near the Hornless Unicorn tavern, one of the most disrespectable place for the lawless pirates and baddest thugs to drink in.
Sounds of fighting come from the inside of the tavern, of course.
Heldarol's place is only three streets later, just at the end of a small and dark dirty backside alley, littered with filth.
But of course, things in Riddleport are rarely simple.
You notice two strange mangy dogs eating what seems to be a human cadaver...and of course, they are between you and the entrance of Heldarol's hideout.
Seeing the extra dog nearby, and not trusting it to leave them alone, Nessa quickly chants and then sends a whirl of colors spraying from her hands, enveloping the nearby dog and pointing it out for everyone to see and then moves away and around to try and put her allies between her and it.
The dogs growls back at Nessa, ruining any chance at an ambush. It's still hidden into filth and waste
Cameron blinks, sniffs and then wishes he hadn't! "Yuck! That's revolting... By the Dreamer we must rid the town of this filth! May your swords be ever sharp and your path clear!"
Somehow Cameron's traditional blessing lends a spring to your step, and you feel ready and raring to go!
Taking a solid grip on his long spear, cameron places him self in front of Nessa and the less armored members of the party so that if the dogs want to attack an 'easy' target they have to go through him first.
.
.
Hal holds his council for the time being. Nodding appreciation to Krucina for her election to not steal when she didn't have to; an admirable trait separating her from most humans who'd do the opposite.
Once greetings are exchanged among the group he leads the way to the little gnome 's hideout. "Between what you learned in that brothel and what Heldarol knows, we should have a better picture of our quarry."
The elf is considering the possibility of turning the ire of more established gangs against this Beltias Kreun. Or perhaps discrediting his reputation as a master of disguise. But his cogitations are cut short by the appearance of the cadaver eating dogs.
"I've not known this gnome to harbor such vile creatures. Guard dogs they are not."
Hal pulls an arrow and knocks it, sighting in on the nearest dog.
》 (sermon, point blank)
》 (sermon, point blank)
Seeing his shot fail utterly, Hal steps back 10 feet.
Alayna smirks at the dogs, "Looks like we 'ave a scrap with scrap'n scrap eaters!" The pirate lass unlimbers both her whip and her rapier.
Due to Krucina's position on the corner, she draws a bow of much smaller stature than Hal's and knocks and arrow. Her eyes fixed on the dog beyond the ruined body...
"Bah, these aren't dogs at all... 'Goblin dogs'... more like large filthy rats," Dolgrin growls. "Try not to let them get a bite on you. You wouldn't want the garbage they eat entering your bloodstream."
Not generally one to wait for the action to come to him, the dwarf moves forward, making his way past the startled rodents, swinging his axe at one of them from behind. His only consideration to his own words is to keep his blood from boiling over.
Taking the dogs by surprise, Dolgrin moves toward their canine foes, as Cameron's words gives fuel and accuracy to his muscles.
Krucina readies a short bow as the dwarf's waraxe cuts deeply in the filthy skin of one of the goblin dogs
Alayna draws her rapier and uncoil her whip, spoiling for a fight.
Hal's arrow bounces on a wall, and nearly hits Dolgrin, burying itself in the ground mere inches from his left foot. Some racial tension are to be expected.
Both dogs tries to bite the dwarf, but the most they can do is to hit his big shield
Meanwhile, the last dog rushes toward Nessa, angered by her spell
This was its baddest, and last, idea as the priest's longspear first pierces its flank, and then Alayna puts her rapier deep in its open mouth, killing it instantly.
.
.
.
Hal curses in elvish again and knocks another arrow as Cameron and Alayna combine to kill a third beast. He keeps himself in short range and fires again.
(In Melee | PBS | IC)
(PBS | IC)
Picking one of the dogs as a target, Nessa conjures up a small orb o acid and then sends it flying at one of the dogs.
Alayna sidles up and with a distinct *swashswish* of her rapier, attacks the dog on Dolgrin's right.
for and
However, a stray drain pipe manages to get underfoot and she wobbles briefly as she barely holds her balance.
Cameron continues with his blessings and in a clear voice he holds his holy symbol and cries, "Luck be with you all!"
Dolgrin finishes off the creature before him and steps behind the other dog.
Cameron brings you some good luck, praying to Desna.
Dolgrin finishes the already wounded goblin dog.
Nessa's acid only strike some filth,and Alayna's rapier miss too.
This time, Hal's arrow strikes true, wounding the last dog . Krucina is ready to let out her own arrow, and hopefully will put an end to the dog's life before it could try to bite the dwarf again..
Krucina sees a split second where the mongrel directs his full attention to Dolgrin. She seizes the moment and sets her arrow loose on the last dog still in the fight.
Mam Cię!!
Krucina's arrow fails to hit the dog- and fortunatley, everyone else.
The last dog furiously tries to bite Alayna, but the agile pirate dodges easily
Angered over her miss with the last glob of acid, Nessa scremas out at the dog, "How DARE you dodge my acid you miserable b+%&@!"
Cameron touches Alayna lightly on the shoulder and tells her, "Luck of the dreamer be with you!" His touch sends a gentle tingle down her spine and somehow her thrusts seem more accurate than normal.
"Better lucky 'n good, I've been tol'!" Alayna lines up the still fighting dog and stabs with her rapier. The blade finds a soft spot above the dog's breastbone and slides nearly a foot deep, piercing the poor dog's heart and ending it's life almost before it knows it has been stabbed.
for
for
This is one unlucky dog...
first a blob of acid burns its muzzle...
Then a quick as lightning rapier puts an end to its misery.
That leave you with a corpse in a small and dark street...
Nessa sticks her tongue out at the now dead dog and says spiteful, "Bad dog, no biscuit " She saunters over to the dead body and her tail carefully reaches out and pokes it. With no reaponse she looks at her compatriots and says, "He's dead Cam."
If it's a recent kill Cameron rolls him(?) over by hand. If not well he might use the spear butt. Regardless of who it was, he whispers a prayer to speed the soul onto the afterlife.
Cameron shakes his head, "This city never fails to sicken me. This sort of thing", he indicated the trash and the goblin dogs, "simply shouldn't be allowed." Taking a deep breath, he steadies himself and asks, "Anyone recognize the deceased?"
The dead is quite recent in fact, the man was probably attacked by the dogs a few minutes before you came into the sidestreet, as there is fresh blood on the ground.
Cameron sees nothing of interest,and has no clue about who that man could be.
Hal knows that the door to the gnome's little house is only a few more feet away. He hasn't seen the dead man either before, but it could be one of the fence's client.
.
.
.
Hal stares grimly down at the corpse. To be surprised there are less than this in a dark alley of the Splithog is the real statement. But to have goblin dogs roaming the streets... He gives Inceku a scratch under the chin and commands him to heel and leave the corpses of the dead to their own devices. For his part, the Ridgeback shows no interest in sniffing them up close.
Hal shrugs his bow over his shoulder and eases his dagger in its scabbard. Nodding to the doorway at the end of the alley, he gestures for the group to get moving. "Let me speak first. Hedarold can be affable, but he does maintain an appropriate level of paranoia that keeps him alive in this part of town." A glance at the corpse and he shrugs. "This one didn't."
Wondering if there is anything going of interest on the dead man, Hal stoops down briefly and draws his dagger. Using the weapon he checks for any identifying marks that might allude to who he was or what might have put him in the alley with goblin dogs. The elf's lip curls in disgust at being near a dead human, but it's mitigated by his desire to know more of his surroundings.
(search body)
He sheathes huff dagger and proceeds down the alley, keeping an eye out but intent on checking the door first before entering.
(up to door)
(listen)
If nothing is heard out of the ordinary, Hal will enter.
As Hal remembers well, Hedarold is quite paranoiac. His "home" is more an hole in the ground than anything else, with a low ceiling that forces anyone taller than five feet to bend himself.
Besides, the office is quite small, only two man sized people can enter.
Behind the gnome's desk, two obvious loaded crossbows are pointed towards his "customers". One pressure on a secret button would release the bolts.
The quite white haired gnome with pale skin looks at Hal suspiciously.
Hal Dorel. Been quite some time. What have you to sell, or what do you want to buy?
The gnome's tone is cold and professional
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Hal gestures from the doorway for the others to wait outside. He even gives the signal for Inceku to sit alongside Cameron. The dog low growls in protest but does as commanded.
Next he places a hand to his chin and let's it fall in Krucina's direction. His way of expressing gratitude to the pale humanoid for what's in his palm; one of the jewels from her outing.
With that he enters the shop slowly and carefully, stooping low to not bump his head like he did the first time he'd entered the establishment. In his mind, the gnome enjoyed the requirement of taller beings having to bow. That and the level paranoia in him meant he respected the gnome like few others in the city.
"Trade," Hal replies simply. His hand opens to reveal one of the jewels Krucina had procured. "Beltias Kreun, I know that he's an upstart gang leader, a self-proclaimed master of disguise...." If he lets him, Hal approaches the counter and lays the jewel upon it. "But that is what I know. I'm far more interested in what do you know of him."
"If you allow it, I would like you to know a member of my company." Hal says evenly. The gnome knows that such a statement is odd coming from the elf's lips. Hal never kept company.
Hal stoops further so he can turn back to the door and pokes his head out. "Clan Hawkwinter," he say simply to Cameron and gestures for him to enter.
"Hedarold," Hal says by way of introduction. "...this is Cameron of the Clan Hawkwinter, priest of Desna. He is a friend of ours. "
Hedarold looks at Cameron, as if he was weighting him. He keeps a unreadable face.
A Desnan... and a gambler, I heard. So you're back on a man's hunt, Hal Dorel? And you want to tempt me with some babbles? How nice of you... But you don't come to my house for some information with such meagre presents, I suppose. You know information are worth more than gold or jewels sometimes, to the right person, at the right moment.