Nessa moves over the thug dropped by her spell and drops down to straddle his chest. She bends over and her jaw opens wide as her fangs pop out the instant before she bites the downed thug.
"Well, some o' us aint so int'rest'd in yer blood. But ya know how it is when you travel wit' dangerous folk." Alayna offers a shrug as the prone man's eye bulge out of his head at Nessa's display. Well, if we wanted a reputation as a murderin' group o' ruffians this seems tha' way ta go about it... The conscious thug's attention on Nessa and her endangered charge, Alayna looks to Cameron, eyes alarmed, she nods to the Demon girl and frowns.
Seeing Nessa attacking with fangs and claws his fallen (and former) comrade is enough. The last thug decide to call it a day, and runs away!
Cameron steps back poised to attack with his longspear, should the thug do anything suspicious.
When the man speaks, Cameron looks at him cynically wondering just how scared the man really is.
People, even in Riddleport, seems afraid of and disgusted by Nessa's actions.
Putting an armed thug down , even by magic, is one thing. Trying to kill him while acting like an animal is another.
Cameron sees the last thug running away without any dirty trick, but sense the crowd's tension. The situation could soon get worse, if nothing is done or said.
Nessa spotted the other thug running, and then she realized the stares she was getting from those around her. Coming back to herself she stopped in horror at the spectacle she must be. Oh goddess, what if Sylee saw me like this...I can't... Nessa quickly scrambled back and rose to her feet so she could flee inside to the private room she was headed to before. The horror and self loathing was evident on her face as she ra ninside and moved through in a hurry to said room closing the door behind her.
The mood of the crowd infuriates Cameron and he stands before them bleeding heavily from his chest wound. Despite this and in a surprisingly loud voice he lambastes them, "Some of you might think that that Tiefling went too far eh? No doubt the same ones who where perfectly happy to watch this man get viciously attacked. It's just a bit of local color and entertainment for you lot isn't it? Just incredible, it's only by the grace of the gods those thugs didn't kill him! The show's over, GO HOME!"
He then smartly turns his back on them and attends to the fallen man, whispering, "Song of the spheres and ruler of dreams! I sense this man was sent here for a purpose. Surely he is too young for his thread to be plucked from the tapestry? Oh my mistake he's alive, I suppose I'd better heal myself then."
He lightly touches his butterfly pendant and a warm blue light envelops his hand as he touches the messy wound he received.
"Uuugh..." The young paladin comes to with a splitting headache. He looks around in confusion, seeing a gathered crowd being yelled at by the priest that got gutted. He looks up at the dead thug next to him and blanches.
Well, this is familiar. Feels like when I first undertook my paladin training.
"...uh, well, this is embarrassing." He sighs, sitting up with a *CLANK*.
The young man had just a few bruises, and probably some ribs would hurt, but Cameron spell cures everything
The thug that got enspelled, biten, envenomed and scratched by Nessa tries to get out as quickly and stealthily as possible
Cameron impassionate speech and words of truth manage to scatter part of the crowd, and seeing that they aren't as numerous as they thought they would be, those inclinated to violence finally go away, leaving only murmured threats
Filthy scum from Hell..
Have you seen that fangs?
First the Blot, then that... The streets arent safe.
Cameron helps the man up and asks, "Are you all right? Probably best if we get you off the street, besides it seems you know Alayna. Name's Cameron by the way."
He leads the man, if he's willing, into a back room of the goblin where he can get cleaned up.
Therric gratefully takes Cameron's hand and rises. "Name's Therric. Squire of Sarenrae."
"Yeah, I know Alayna. I was in town, and I thought she might like a visit. Apparently, I arrived at an... awkward time." He scratches his head sheepishly as Cameron leads him indoors. "Thanks for helping, by the way. Even if I did get, well... flashed."
Cameron nods, "That was Nessa. She means well but had an ahm challenging upbringing shall we say, and has some ah... Well a number of unresolved issues. Anyway she's not so bad when you get to know her, and she really does care for that street waif she rescued." A sudden horrible thought hits him and he pales as he adds sadly, "I do hope Sylee didn't see all that, poor thing is confused enough as is."
"Really, now?" Therric brushes some of the dirt off of his armour. "Well, at least nobody's seriously hurt. Well, aside from those thugs, but they looked like they could have used a thumping or two anyway."
"Think she should be alone for now?"
Alayna interrupts the budding romance between Therric and Cameron, "Aye ya big lout! Awkward, or fortunate, Desna decides, and Besmara seethes." She looks to Cameron, "I ken vouch for Therric. Keep 'I'm out o' tha riggin' and he's a damned fine marine. And at a good time, too. Me thinks Zilcher won' take us as a mere crosswind after that tussle."
"But back ta you, Therric. Ya rube! Come in an' have a pint on me. Tell me true what've ya been up ta these past weeks?"
Cameron replies in kind in a whisper, "I know, I know. You shouldn't have to... But well. Ah maybe if we set the right example she'll come around? I dunno stranger things have happened at sea..."
Therric blinks in confusion as Alayna addresses him.
...uh...what did she just say?
"Sure, I guess I could go for a drink right now." He shrugs and makes his way to the bar. "This is the first time I've been outta Roderic's Cove--I thought I might stick around for a while, see if I could find some folks to help. Sir Archer would've done the same thing."
"I heard the Gold Goblin was reopening for business, and I decided to pay a visit after a bit. Haven't had much success on the 'helping folks' front, and I thought it'd be a good change of pace if I could see her again."
The guards looks at Cameron and the other with even more respect than before, but they seem a little concerned too by Nessa's actions
Boyar says to Cameron
Wow! She's one tough cookie... She's all right, no? I mean, Nessa...
Hans winks to Alayna
You surely haven't heard the last of Zilcher, now that your beatin" his thugs in the street... Be cautious, pretty one!
You're welcomed as near heroes by the staff, when Saul rattles his cane against the stairs rail. For once, he has a genuine smile on his face.
You surely must be cautious. But fortunes favor the bold and brave! Let's check everything one last time for this evening,then Two Thumbs will give a round of drinks on my own tab. Tonight, it will be a good night for the Gold Goblin! I feel it in my own bones.
Cameron makes his excuses and heads to tend the tables for a shift. While he manages to run the tables in a workmanlike fashion, his mind is clearly elsewhere. On the one hand he's worried about his dysfunctional little 'family' and what Zilcher will do next and then there was the ongoing peculiarity at the roulette table. Just thinking about it made him angry, somebody was likely running around invisible, interfering with the game right under his nose. Cameron paid more attention to the gamblers than usual, he might not be able to see the interloper but chances are he might be able to hear them. Besides there would be signs if they where in cahoots with anyone at the table. Given what had happened outside a thief would be justifiably nervous.
The games are quiet. Cameron spots nothing unusual around the tables.
Some people win, some lose, but it happens everyday.
Alayna and Theric stop a small brawl, but again that's not unusual
The hairs on the back of Cameron's neck stand up and he says, "Let us pause for a moment and give thanks to Lady Luck as is right and proper. Oh great dreamer we thank you for your largesse and humbly request you grant us the wisdom to ride the tides of fate. Let the dice fall where they may." He finishes with a peculiar word holy to desna and looks around.
Cameron arcane senses feel nothing wrong, still he isn't at ease
Nessa took a bit to compose herself, when she finally emerged from the room she was her usual flirty self, if a bit subdued, and showed no sign of nearly having mauled the thug to death. She started making her rounds once more, encouraging the patrons to be reckless on their bets and distracting them so they didn't pay as much attention with her flirtations. She found herself rather confused when Cameron began to pray and drifted over to him to find out what was up. She reached him as his prayer ended and leaned against him, one wing wrapping behind him while she used the other to cover her lips as she kissed his neck then whispered in his ear,
Cameron had been so intent at divining any shenanigans, magic or otherwise from the punters, he hadn't noticed Nessa. When something brushes his neck, his muscles stiffen with surprise. Realizing what happened, he whispers to Nessa, "I felt a cold draft just before the house started loosing, just like the staff told us. Keep an eye on things and maybe we should get some drinks here to loosen a few tongues."
Cameron then deftly disentangle himself before addressing the punters, "Right then! Who's in for another round?"
He does his best to keep tabs on the punters, trying to second guess their motivations. There was a good chance one of them at least was bent but he was distracted by the thought, If it's not magical, maybe it's mechanical?
He pays close attention to the workings of the roulette wheel, looking for anything unusual.
Nessa looked over at the roulette wheels and gave the players a sultry look before turning back and nuzzling Cameron's neck again to whisper,
Cameron whispers, "Worth a try."
Nessa began moving around the roulette table and chose the one who was winning the most. She snatched up a drink from a passing tray with her tail and transferred it to her hand as she said quietly to the girl, "Pass the word to some of the other girls, tell them I want them to help lead some of the players from this table, it's about to happen again." With her wings folded down she walked up and leaned into the rollers personal space a bit as she held the drink out to the player, "You are truly lucky, do you think you could teach me how to play that game over there?" She pointed in the direction of a card game at another table, "Ive always wanted to learn but could never understand it." She laid a hand on the target's shoulder and leaned in closely, "I'd be very grateful if you did." Her tone left no doubt as to how grateful she'd be, after all, there were private rooms available here.
Nessa easily convinces a client to come near tha card game and try his luck at Cameron's table.
With the help of a few scantily clad waitresses, more people come to play cards with the Desnan, and he soon needs to concentrate on his own game, while Nessa uses her charms to keep the clients happy.
Meaning someone else must keep an eye on the roulette.
Well, this is new.
Therric is kept busy keeping rowdy customers from getting out of hand at the Goblin. He's quietly thankful he hasn't yet had to use force--perhaps it was the fact that he towered over most of the patrons and was dressed in thick armour that kept them from making too much of a fuss.
Or perhaps it was something else altogether.
Nevertheless, Therric resolves to be vigilant in ensuring everyone has a good time at the casino. He keeps a sharp eye out for anything unusual--signs of cheating, signs of trouble brewing, and anything else that could perhaps ruin a customer's fun.
No one around the roulette touched the wheel, or the table, so it's not someone cheating.
Whatever happened, the Gold Goblin lost some money again.
When there's a lull in the casino activity, Therric goes looking for Cameron.
"Hey, uh... Cameron? Got a minute? I think I saw some sorta ghostly hand fiddling with one of the roulettes. It pushed the ball in the opposite way of how the wheel was spinning, right before it stopped." He scratches his blonde hair in confusion. "There weren't nobody touching the wheel or the table, so I'm pretty sure nobody was cheating..."
Ever bored, Alayna does try to spot cheaters as well as ruffians from her post on the catwalk.
Cameron smiles warmly and replies quietly, "You have good eyes Therric! Mind you I'm not so there isn't somebody cheating, where there's money there's trouble more often than not... Nessa is a spellcaster perhaps you should describe what you saw to her?"
Cameron asks one of the girls to fetch Nessa, he would have gone himself but sometimes it wasn't wise to head into the danger zone. As the girl goes off, Cameron mutters to Therric, "Besides we need to plan tonight's stakeout. I assume Alayna has filled you in about that."
Cameron briefly considers the religious implications, if any, of what Therric saw.
"Er... Alayna didn't fill me in on what we'd be stakin' out, but I suppose that can wait until later." Therric cringes a little on the inside and waits until Nessa arrives, following one of the scantily-clad serving girls.
When Nessa does show up, he feels a knot form in his stomach. Uh... wow, she's wearing even less than the other girls here. And isn't she the one who... um, 'flashed' me? No, no, don't worry about that now--keep your chin up, eyes on hers, and just tell her what you saw. Everything will be alright.
"Oh... you're Nessa?" Therric clears his throat, feeling a bit silly that he hadn't been introducing himself to the rest of Cameron's pals. "I noticed something weird fiddling with one of the roulettes--it looked like a ghostly hand moving the roulette ball in the opposite way it was spinning, just when it came to a stop. Nobody was touching the table or roulette wheel."
Cameron notices a stiffening in Therrric's posture when Nessa comes out looking sultry, 'Oh dear. I think I know how you feel there Therric. Still it seems you're more of a gentleman than I was. Lets just hope she's not feeling provocative...'
Nessa leaned into the serving girl who came to her, wrapping a wing around her as the message was delivered. She walked back with the woman, one of her hands on the server's opposite hip and leaning into her with the wing still draped around them both. When she reached Therric and Cameron looked at the newcomer and realized he looked familiar but she couldn't tell why. She leaned into the serving girl and whispered in her ear before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and released her grip. She looked at Therric as he spoke, her hips cocked to one side and her hands on them as she folded her wings down around her shoulders like a cloak. When he finished she looked to Cameron and asked, "Who is this and can I keep him? He's delicious." She looked him over suggestively for a moment before continuing, "I guess I can stand here and look pretty for a while while I watch for it. I'll keep a spell up to see magic while I do. I need you to stand with me and point out if you see it again." She quickly loops an arm through Therrick's and sidles up next to him at the table without waiting for his response. A few muttered words and a gesture that seemed to indicate revealing the unseen causing her eyes to glow a brighter red than before as she stands there watching the table and leaning against Therric.
Alayna spots no new trouble, fortunatly
Nessa has a really hard time concentrating on the magic fluxes, probably because of the warm, firm, male body right beside her.
Therric clears his throat and tries to keep himself from blushing. He might as well try to stop the sun from setting while he's at it, because judging from the burning he feels in his cheeks, it's happening anyway.
"Er--I'm Therric, miss. You might remember me as... well, the, um, the young man you hit with a flashy-sorta spell that put me on my back." He trails off as Nessa takes his arm and starts looking over the roulette table with reddened eyes.
"...so, do ya really need my arm for this?" He shifts from foot to mailed foot, but he doesn't take his arm away from Nessa.
Nessa considered his introduction, "Hmmm, you must have been the other one, you don't have the claw and teeth marks on you." She looked a tad sheepish, "I won't say I'm sorry bout that, but I'm glad you're alright." She enjoyed his discomfiture, he was going to prove to be a lot of fun for her. She giggled and let her tail slide along his leg as she replied to his question, "Yes, it's for appearances after all, and appearances can be everything." Sadly Nessa wasn't spotting anything with her spell, no sign of magic at work, though she maintained her vigil.
Seeing the man's reaction to Nessa's tail, Cameron decided to interveans, "Ahhm! What? Just clearing my throat. Anyway I'm beginning to think this place is haunted. Some sort of poltergeist would fit what we've seen, the only question is why. I have a funny feeling our employer Saul might know." Cameron finishes darkly, not relishing the prospect of that conversation. He's quiet for a moment before adding in a slightly lighter tone, "So about the plan for this evening. I assume it's more of the same?" Seeing a flicker of something in Therric's eye, Cameron clarifies, "Gonna capture us a murder, or at least try." He then fills Therric's in on recent events.
Therric is at once silently thankful and resentful for Cameron's intervention.
He listens attentively to Cameron's explanation of what's been happening recently. ...prostitutes being murdered? Dammit, why wasn't I told of this earlier?
"Alrighty then--anything specific I can do to help?"
Nope. I only bought this place a few months ago, so maybe someone died here before but no one told me, of course. I guess every old house and building in Riddleport has its part of mistery and has "seen" a few deaths. Don't remember if someone was killed during the attempted robbery you stopped... Hey, wait, there was this poor sod who tried to run away with some of my money and died cause one of the guards at the door hit him a lil" too hard ! But he was just an old bugger, no?
Sounding resigned to a plan he mislikes, Cameron tells Therric, "Well the ladies decided they'd pretend to be working girls and act as bait, as horrible as that might sound we couldn't think of a better way. The rest of us are going to be near by, keeping watch and ready to come to their aid. Could probably do with another good arm and pair of eyes."
Nessa gave cameron a rather rude look at his interruption but her tail slid away from Therric as she said, "Cameron only partly tells the truth," she pointed at Krucina and Alayna and said, "they're pretending to be working girls, I am a working girl." She grins mischievously as she trailed her talons up Therric's chest to his chin and said in a throaty voice, "For you though, I might work for free." She giggled wickedly as she watched for Therric's reaction. "I agree with Cameron though another pair of eyes would be good, especially since it seems that Uncle Izzie's disappeared."
Therric blinks in surprise when Nessa points out the odd-looking shadowy lady in the corner. "Huh... didn't even know she was there."
"For you though, I might work for free."
The young man's cheeks turn pink again.
"Really?" He replies (and hastily, at that).
His eyes widen when he realizes exactly what he just said. "Er--uh--well--"