Both have their pros and cons. He's probably not going to speak with us unless he has a really good reason to, so let's start at the bottom.
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'So we go straight to the barracks and whack 'em?; Looking at his big friend, Trimin sighs, "I don't doubt that, but I don't know if that will get our questions answered." He looks at the others, "What do you think, start at the top and work our way down, or start at the bottom and work our way up?" He then jerks on Namtar'spants,shorts,kilt,Dangly cloth??? adding "And stop calling me master."
'I hope those adventurers aren't here any longer.' Moving through the familiar streets, Tribim toddles with his friends to the 'Sleeping Peck.' Once the get within sight of the building, he stops, "Well there it is. Do you think the slave quarters are around back? we could go ask them some questions. See if anyone knows anything about digging up some dead slaves."
Namtar'
s for the sleeping peck
Good idea. And we can gauge just how much fear he holds over them.
Regin leads the way out back to see what can be found.
Zummabu's company found a lone, miserable hut in back of the Peck. It stood directly against a wall that had clearly known the water and other leavings of many. Holes gaped in the walls. A tremendous reek rose from it and a small puddle of muck withstood the sun. Within, an aged halfling woman lay on the dirt floor, covered by a blanket that looked like it started life as a sack and ended it with many holes. She stared up at the ceiling and panted, mouth open and eyes unseeing.
Frowning at the sight, Amarekashu ran his odd eyes over the lady. Drugs? A vision? It was difficult to tell sometimes.
Frowning at the sight, Amarekashu ran his odd eyes over the lady. Drugs? A vision? It was difficult to tell sometimes.
[dice=Heal]1d20
Amar isn't sure at all what's wrong with her. There's no visible sign of injury, though she is very thin.
'Poor old woman probably too frail to work, so they just wait until she dies.' Tribim turns to glare at his friend, 'It's not Namtar's fault, he just believes the garbage the gladiator trainers tell him.' But turning quickly, decides that witnessing the truth of slavery is a better teacher.
He walks into the hovel, casting dancing lights so the place is well illuminated, then casting breeze to blow some of the stink out. He drops his pack and begins to pull his blanket out to give to the old woman. He speaks gently as he kneels beside her in the muck. "Good morning grandmother. I apologize for bothering you while you rest. Here, take my blanket, it will help keep you comfortable. Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?"
The woman was in a daze, but the arrival of a fresh blanket roused her somewhat.
"Who? Can't see..." she moaned. "What do you want?"
"Some answers, and to help. What do you need, Elder? Food? Water? Healing?" Amarekashuknelt besides the old woman to offer aid.
"Some answers, and to help. What do you need, Elder? Food? Water? Healing?" Amarekashuknelt besides the old woman to offer aid.
"A new life," the woman said. "To see all my babies again. Ask what you want and let an old woman go to the gods."
Amarekashu looked at the others. He had nothing to offer.
Regin kneels beside her. My companions and I need to know something about the great slave master who frequents here. What is he like, what does he dismiss, what does he dislike, how do we speak with him?
Regin kneels beside her. My companions and I need to know something about the great slave master who frequents here. What is he like, what does he dismiss, what does he dislike, how do we speak with him?
"None of that here. Lugal's. Or the Bed... Only the slaves and guards come here."
'A new life. How bad is ones existence to wish for death.' Realizing the woman want's left alone. "We promised a young slave that we would bury his body with his people. When we went to the grave his people had been dug up and moved. We have reason to believe that the Pit Lord Sumbar's favored slave did the deed. Who would we need to talk to in order to find out?"
'A new life. How bad is ones existence to wish for death.' Realizing the woman want's left alone. "We promised a young slave that we would bury his body with his people. When we went to the grave his people had been dug up and moved. We have reason to believe that the Pit Lord Sumbar's favored slave did the deed. Who would we need to talk to in order to find out?"
[dice=diplomacy]1d20+8
"The white orc, then," the woman said.
And what can you tell us of this White Orc?
'The white orc?' Looking from the old lady to Regin Ald, Tribim ponders the paladins question.
"The big one. Likes to kill."
Tribim knows she means Kuluk, a heavily-tattooed half-orc who works for Pit Lord Sumbar. He's usually found around the Peck toward evening, when he likes to drink heavily and shed blood in about similar quantities. He's rarely without a few of his friends, one of whom is some kind of outlander priest.
'Kuluk, travels with that outlander priest and few other lackeys' Looking at the others quickly, he nods "Kuluk, she means Kuluk."turning back to the blind halfling, Tribim continues, "Thank you for the information, grandmother. One last request; tell me your name, I will say a prayer to the old ones, for your quick release from this mortal coil." Beginning to leave, 'I may have money to help soon.' He turns back. "Do you have any children alive? Name them, If I can help with their freedom, I will."
'Kuluk, travels with that outlander priest and few other lackeys' Looking at the others quickly, he nods "Kuluk, she means Kuluk."turning back to the blind halfling, Tribim continues, "Thank you for the information, grandmother. One last request; tell me your name, I will say a prayer to the old ones, for your quick release from this mortal coil." Beginning to leave, 'I may have money to help soon.' He turns back. "Do you have any children alive? Name them, If I can help with their freedom, I will."
The old woman moaned, clearly in more than physical pain.
"All my babies are long gone. They stole them from me! You pray for Eana, tell Ishtar to sharpen her knives for all the Pit Lords."
As an initiate of Ishtar, I can do that. Thank you for talking with us.
'Separating parents and children, is there anything more cruel?' Shaking his head as they walk away from the old woman, Tribim expounds on the half orc she named. "The one she mentioned, Kuluk, he's a heavily-tattooed half-orc who works for Pit Lord Sumbar. Earned himself quite a reputation for drinking and fighting. He usually has a few similar sorts with him, one that is some kind of priest." Tribim stops, and looks up at Namtar and smiles. "He's usually found around the Peck toward evening." Then to the others, "So what do you gentleman want to do until later this evening?"
'Separating parents and children, is there anything more cruel?'
'Separating parents and children, is there anything more cruel?' Shaking his head as they walk away from the old woman, Tribim expounds on the half orc she named. "The one she mentioned, Kuluk, he's a heavily-tattooed half-orc who works for Pit Lord Sumbar. Earned himself quite a reputation for drinking and fighting. He usually has a few similar sorts with him, one that is some kind of priest." Tribim stops, and looks up at Namtar and smiles. "He's usually found around the Peck toward evening." Then to the others, "So what do you gentleman want to do until later this evening?"
Namtar grins and cracks his knuckles. "I will stain the sands of the Peck with his blood for the glory of the God of Sky and the City!
I have some praying to do. A request from a follower of Ishtar should not be ignored.
Arundel stands toward the back, quiet and pensive. After they've left the old woman, the elf gently pats on Trib's shoulder. "You did well with her, Trib. You're a good man." When asked what to do until this evening, Arundel simply shrugs. "I have no pressing plans."
Nodding his head to acknowledge Arundel's compliment, he looks toward the front doors of the establishment.'I'm not sure I want to hang out the entire day at a place where I rolled a drunk just a couple of days before.' He looks at the others, "Is there anything else we need to do? Or should we go in the 'Peck' and have a seat and wait?"
Nodding his head to acknowledge Arundel's compliment, he looks toward the front doors of the establishment.'I'm not sure I want to hang out the entire day at a place where I rolled a drunk just a couple of days before.' He looks at the others, "Is there anything else we need to do? Or should we go in the 'Peck' and have a seat and wait?"
Nodding his head to acknowledge Arundel's compliment, he looks toward the front doors of the establishment.'I'm not sure I want to hang out the entire day at a place where I rolled a drunk just a couple of days before.' He looks at the others, "Is there anything else we need to do? Or should we go in the 'Peck' and have a seat and wait?"
"Yes, let us continue," Amarekashu agreed. It bothered him that he hadn't been able to help the old woman, for some reason.
"Yes, let us continue," Amarekashu agreed. It bothered him that he hadn't been able to help the old woman, for some reason.
"Master, I could make a distraction. I could.. boast about the weakness of his fighters. It would mean he is weak and poor." Namtar shrugs, sending his massive muscles rippling through his body. "He would need to send his warriors to defend his honor--or come himself, or he would lose the respect and fear of the people." He tries to hide his excited grin.
scratching his head, Tribim looks at Namtar, "That would probably work, but by the time he heard about your accusations, he probably would be coming in for beverage anyway." Shrugging Tribim heads to 'the Peck' "We may as well have a seat and wait." Tuning back to the gladiator, "And stop calling me Master."
"Shall we eat?" It seemed as reasonable a way to spend the time as any other.
"Shall we eat?" It seemed as reasonable a way to spend the time as any other.
An enslaved boy came to the table that Zummabu's company chose after a considerable length of time, propelled from the kitchen by a kick.
"What do you want?" he said flatly, looking at them with wary eyes.
Arundel frowns about the boy's treatment as he approaches, but gives the lad a smile when he gets to the table. I wish I could do more for him, but I can at least give a smile and some kindness... "A nice spiced wine would be excellent, if you have it. What is your name, boy?"
Regin goes to pray at a temple of Ishtar before joining the others. He gave his word, after all.
'What I want is to not get hanged for theft, but I doubt this waif can help with that, finding a seat, tribim asks. "Do you happen to have any Nan–e Berenji? He leans over the Arundel, "I get a sweet tooth when I'm nervous."
Namtar stands to the side, staying out of the way, but with watchful eyes gazing around the common room. He's a slave, and can't sit with the others. But, he could still be useful and look like a guard.
"What does the kitchen have that is fresh and well made?" Amarekashu asked.
"What does the kitchen have that is fresh and well made?" Amarekashu asked.
The boy took the group in a second time.
"We don't have any wine. There's bread, not too much mold, some...meat. Some beer," he paused just long enough for it to be marked. "Best beer in Dalath."
Maybe were in the wrong business, I'm sure a tavern that served sweet pastries could be very successful.' Looking slightly disappointed, Tribim shrugs his shoulders, and orders, "Well, I'll have a beer then."
"Beer," Amarekashu agreed, slipping the coins over the table.
Namtar ignored his grumbling stomach. Servants didn't eat with their masters. He needed to go hungry to keep up the ruse.
"Beer," Amarekashu agreed, slipping the coins over the table.
The boy took the coins and returned with the requisite cups of a yellowish, cloudy liquid. About the best that could be said for it was that nothing dead floated inside.
As Zummabu's company drank, Tirra came into the Peck. She spotted Tribim and stepped over.
"Want to throw knives again? I could use more of that coin of yours."
'Blast, Tirra, Abilsin's and Kassu's associate, I hope Abilsin isn't right behind her this time. I need to let the others know who we've run into.' Smiling, Tribim spreads his hands and shakes his head. "My apologies, Tirra. Alas, I have not replenished my supply of gold yet. So I must decline. However let me introduce you to my friends."
He nods his head where Namtar is standing, "Of course you remember Namtar. These other fine gentlemen are Amarekashu the Bronze, The elf Arundel and Regin Ald."
He gestures toward the woman, "Gentlemen this is Tirra, knife thrower and gambler extraordinaire."
He smiles and inquires, "If I remember correctly you and Abilsin were headed out of town for a couple of days. What was it you said, "Unless we find something Kassu likes." How did your search go?"
Amarekashu looked at the pathetic beer mournfully. There was nothing floating in it now, but the state suggested it was inferior beer that had been stored poorly. There were almost certainly a few dead rats floating in it.
Nudging it gently to the side he looked at the knife thrower. One of the people who had been racing them to the Tomb?
Namtar flexes as he's introduced, and his glower deepens. For some reason, Tiribm didn't want to see Tira, that meant he needed to make her want to be some place else.