Fiona takes a break from investigating to check on how Mutt's doing. Seeing that he's wobbling, she steps up behind him.
"Hold on a minute there." She rests a hand on his shoulder and hums a little tune.
Some of Mutt's injuries heal, but he still has several bruises.
Thaddeus' face contorts slightly in disgust at Bofur's question.
"Eech, no. Why, jealous?"
This prompts Old Horn to look up at Thaddeus in annoyance before butting him in the hip.
"Ooooww, don' be so sensitive, Old Horn."
At Thaddeus' lip, Bofur checks out the goat. "Hmm. Old Horn stands a li'l high for me." he replies with a smirk to show he appreciates a little backtalk.
Suddenly, he appears a little alarmed that the animal might understand him as it seemed to understand the newcomer. He checks gives it a good once-over to see if it might not be an animal after all, based on its reactions and expression.
Mutt frowns at the countryman and goat. "I am Mutt. So, Larur sent you to us? What can you do? And why do you have a goat with you? Is that a thing people do where you're from? Have goats follow them everywhere?"
Thaddeus leans back a little, slightly intimidated by the barrage of questions by the beefy angry man.
"Uh, ah kin work a lil' magic, ah guess. Old Horn? He's mah familiar, if'n yeh know what 'dat is. A mite smarter den yer average goat. No less stubborn, though."
Old Horn snorts in reply.
Mutt nods, satisfied with the answers. "Familiar? What is that? And he's smart?" He kneels down to take a closer look in curiosity. "Doesn't look like it." He's never really come across many spellcasters and familiars, it seems.
Mutt breathes a deep sigh of relief as he feels his wounds stitch back together. Mutt looks at Fiona over his shoulder. He looks at her with an appraising eye (and his signature frown on his face) before muttering, "Thank you..." He then leaves awkwardly to continue the investigation. Apparently, he's not used to receiving healing from others all that much.
Old Horn snorts in Mutt's face as he bends down to take a look.
"Old Horn, be nice!"
Mutt stares at Old Horn, a deep frown setting in. He snorts after the goat snorts in his face, showing that he's not backing down. "What kind of name is Old Horn, anyways?"
"'Bout as fine a name as Mutt, Ah reckon. But if'n yer wonderin', Ah call 'im that 'cause he's got dis one horn that's all aged 'n cracked up, but he's only got a few years on 'im."
Fiona nods at Mutt and looks over at the newcomer. "So... Thaddeus, is it? You were sent to assist us?"
As the group starts to converse, they notice some noise and turn down the hall to see the cloisters have been crowded with people from the main floor. An old man, obviously drunk, and probably the priest staggers forwards.
"Dawnflower preserve us... what have you done?! So many dead! What happened?"
Fiona winces. Oh... yeah, this just got really awkward, really quickly.
"Sir, we are on the trail of the Splithog Pauper. We have information that says this place is his headquarters. We are here to put an end to his mistreatment of the poor." She looks down at one of the dead thugs. "I would have preferred a bloodless solution, but unfortunately what's done is done."
As she speaks, she looks the priest over. Hmm... does he match the description we were given?
Bofur ignores the drunkard and takes another half-hearted swing at the door, seemingly as an afterthought.
Chunk
That door is a jerk.
Fiona looks at the old man, if he's disguised it'd have to be a good disguise. It's hard to make out other faces in the crowd.
He totters forwards.
"The Splithog Pauper?! What rubbish are you talking about? You... you won't harm me or my flock? Can you show me?" He sways a little as he speaks, almost babbling. The younger priest Mutt terrified stands behind him, a steadying hand on the old man's shoulder.
Mutt looks up at the Thaddeus. "Mutt is not a name. It's a 'title' given to me when I fought in the gladiatorial coliseums in Kaer Maga. It's also a derogatory term due to my mixed heritage."
When the priest comes up, Mutt stares at him. Naturally suspicious of everyone, Mutt decides to stare him down and see what his game is.
When the priest asks for the team to show him that they're friendly, Mutt looks at Fiona, eyebrow cocked. He's silently asking for what they should do.
The priest does not seem to be lying.
"Sir, we came here to find and speak to the Pauper, and these men attacked us. I am sorry it came to this, and we will see to removing the bodies. However, if you have the keys to these locked doors, we would like to search the rooms to make sure he is not here.
Fiona leads the old priest to the rooms they've already cleared. "More evidence of the Pauper's handiwork. His thugs were intent on killing us, but we prevailed."
Thaddeus was about to respond to Mutt and Fiona, but the arrival of the priest, as well as everyone else, has interrupted the conversation.
Thaddues simply stays where he is. He's not adept enough to try talking, but just randomly wandering off seems rather disrespectful at the moment, so he settles for waiting, seeing how the boarders and priest react.
The priest frowns, looking at Variel.
"Keys? Nothing is locked here."
Fiona leads the priest to the room which appeared as a torture chamber and he gasps as he stares at the blood-spattered walls and instruments of cruelty.
"I... Gods what has happened here? Beside mine own bed? What... no."
Shaking his head and weeping, he quickly scuttles away. "Deal with what you can! I want no part of this!"
The younger acolyte hurries after his master.
"I don't blame you in the least." Fiona mutters as the priest panics and runs off.
And some call MY people 'savage'...
She looks over at how Bofur's handling the door, and seeing the many gouges in the wood, deduces that he's not having a good time of it.
"Need some help, there?" She walks up to the door and swings her earthbreaker at it.
BANG BANG BANG BANG crunch
With the priests having run off and dispersed, Fiona, Mutt, and Bofur lay into the door and finally punch through the lock.
This room is remarkably clean for the flophouse - and the bed actually looks comfortable; or at least free of lice. Three wardrobe cases lie pushed beneath the bed.
Variel raises an eyebrow as Fiona brings her earthbreaker to bear on the previously solid door. "Well *that* certainly does the trick."
He joins the group in continuing to search the premises.
Mutt stares as the priest runs off, his acolyte behind him. When the door is smashed open by Fiona (which he nods in respect at), Mutt just walks in, silent but ready.
Fiona marches into the room. "Hmm. Of COURSE the Pauper would keep a good room all to himself."
She takes a look around as well.
With the priest and others having run back downstairs, Thaddues follows the group. He hangs back outside while the rest canvas the room, keeping watch for anyone that might be trying to get the drop on them.
He does address Fiona during the search, though. "Ah, yeah, t'answer yer earlier question, Ah was sent by Larur t'give ye all a hand. Seems like yeh kin use all t'help yeh kin get. Was just lookin' fer a job, an' he decided dis was the best use o'my talents."
Bofur speaks over his shoulder as he draws out the wardrobes and looks into them after checking them out for traps.
"Well, I'm not one to turn down help when it's offered. I thought familiars were usually little furry good-for-little critters like cats and mice that wizards kept hidden away in their robes. Old Horn seems a might impractical for that."
"Depends on what sort of land you're going to, I think." Fiona says over her shoulder. "If you're a mountain-dwelling sort, a goat would certainly make a better familiar than a cat."
Mutt nods at Bofur's thoughts on familiars. "I thought that was what familiars were, too."
When Fiona shares her thoughts, Mutt replies with, "Well, if that's the case, then why not have a familiar that can fight? From what I've seen, wizards are usually not melee fighters. If they find themselves in a battle, why not have the familiar fight up close while they cast. A goat is a better fighter than a cat. But why not bond with something bigger?"
"Eeeeh, Ah didn't really git t'pick Old Horn, he just sorta happened. He ain't much of a' scrapper, but he's helped me out a few times. An' butted me in the rear when Ah annoy 'im."
Old Horn snorts, as if punctuating the line.
Thaddeus is a little nervous. The group knows he can cast spells, obviously, so no point in hiding that. And he knows familiars are common among other spellcasters. He still worries that if people know how he got his magical power, problems could arise. But he doesn't want to be a liar, either, as that could be just as bad. Best avoid direct statement, and just generally let people assume what they want.
The group spreads out and begins scouring the floor:
The cases beneath the bed contain some plain street clothing and a masterwork disguise kit, a mirror, and sealing wax. However, Bofur's keen eyes spot a secret compartment. opening it reveals far more useful gear:
- dozens of papers written in some sort of shorthand
- two black potions
- a forked wand
- a pouch of flayleaf, a popular local drug
Variel moves out to check the rest of the rooms:
Rooms 15 - Both of these rooms are empty except for stained mattresses and burned out candles.
- 32 gp
- 256 sp
- 400 cp
- a jewelled short sword
- a silver anklet chain
- a gold ring with a noble family's seal
- an ornate candelabra
- a bronze koncker shaped like a dolphin
- a folding marlin spike
- a set of sailing charts in a leather tube
- an ornate feather in perfect condition
Entering this room, you spot a frail old man surrounded by pigeons. He stares ahead blindly. Behind him is a balcony, which is where the archer and other thief presumably escaped from.
"I heard fighting! Beltias, are you there? Is anybody hurt?"
At Thaddeus's response, Bofur pipes in with a question. "So.... findin' him was more of a coincidence or did he pick you somehow?"
Thrilled at the group finding the secret compartments, he adds, "Hmm, we may not have found the man himself, but deprivin' him of these caches could cripple his operations. We got us some drugs... this ichor is more likely poison than healthy, and look at this funny pronged stick. I don't know what the chicken scratch means on these papers, but if it's juicy enough, we might force him to come to us! Anyone here read gobbledygook?"
Suspicious, Variel nods to Fiona to help him assess the old man. They did say he used disguises, and an old blind man would be an effective one ...
"We are here to protect the poor of this town from the Pauper. If you are one of them, you may consider us your liberators. "
Fiona is silent as she examines the man...
When Bofur goes over what he found, Mutt nods. "Very good. That should help us. I can't read anything except Common."
When Fiona reveals the cache, Mutt grins. "Quite the haul these thugs have put together." He picks up the anklet and looks it over.
After his inspection, he silently tosses the anklet to Fiona.
Mutt narrows his eyes at the old guy, judging him.
[ooc]Wow. That stinks...[/dice]
The group all stare at the old man, but if he's disguised, it's extremely convincing.
"Beltias helps me with my pigeons... I send messages for him. I know what he does is not good, but I don't have anyone else."
The old man stares ahead. His voice quavers as you speak. He seems to be telling the truth, and is frightened and confused.
"Stay here then. We are cleansing this place of its filth. When it is done, we will tell the priests to see to you."
Variel looks to the others, but none seem to see any deceit in the man.
Thaddeus remains in the halls as the group cases the area, still keeping a watch.
"So.... findin' him was more of a coincidence or did he pick you somehow?"
"Can't rightly say fer' certain, but Ah'd assume th' latter. He helps me out, but even a goat has his secrets t'keep from others."
Thaddeus realizes the phrasing of that line was rather questionable. He hopes to avert further questioning by assisting with the search.
"Hmm? Might as well take a lil' look-see at 'dem papers, there."
Thaddeus sees the old man, and gives him a quick one-over.
"Helps with yer pigeons?" Thaddeus says to the old man, "What kind o'help? Just gettin' food? Somethin' else? Ah'm sure we can arrange somethin' fer yer pigeons."
Fiona catches the anklet Mutt tosses to her. "Oh--thank you."
She offers the warrior a smile before moving on.
--------------------
Fiona nods at Variel. "Let's keep looking." She leaves the room to start searching the rest of the upper floors.
Mutt raises his brow, but nods. "Figured you'd want that."
Mutt nods at Variel and Fiona's suggestions and follows.
Fiona and Mutt take off to start searching the rest of the floor. Thaddeus stays to talk to the old man, looking him over. After a thorough look he's convinced that the old man is not the Pauper. However, as he spots the man, he looks over past the balcony to the outside. There, he sees an old blind beggar he saw amongst the crowd peering up at the balcony from the shadows. As he looks over the beggar, he notices that the beggar is staring directly at him - not the sign of someone blind. The beggar slinks off around the east side of the building.
"I was a messenger for many years... came here and Beltias gave me work. He makes sure my pigeons have food and water, and I send his messages, whatever they may be."
Leaving Thaddeus, the rest of the group make their way up to the bell tower. A bell riddled with faint cracks hangs within this drafty loft, a rope pull cord dangling through a hole in the floor allowing the bell to be rung from below. Slatted arches in the tower’s walls allow sound to escape, while keeping most of the harsh weather out. The waxy stumps of several candles, a coil of rope, and a metal grapnel lie discarded upon the floor
"Uhhh... Guys? Think Ah found somebody o' interest!" Thaddeus calls up the belltower. "Got a 'blind' beggar keepin' a close eye on us from outside. Just went around th' east side."
Thaddeus turns back to the old man. "Mite busy at th'moment, but Ah don't intend to deprive a man of his livelihood an' leavin' him high and dry. Ah'll be back t'make sure you and yer pigeons get what'cha need. 'Sides, Ah'm shore dere be others that 'kin make use o'such a service, sendin' messages around th' city."
While looking over the rooms, Variel casts a spell. His black elven eyes glow briefly as he checks for any signs of magical auras.
"We should confiscate the valuables. We can take a fee and then give the rest to the priest to help the people the Pauper has been fleecing."
- - - -
"An observant blind man, eh? That seems suspicious. Let's see if he's hanging around."
Variel quickly moves downstairs, waiting at the front door to make sure the others are with him. Peeking out, he tries to find any evidence of the person Thaddeus described.
When Thaddeus gives his observations about the seeing blind man, Mutt springs into action. He moves down the stairs and out, looking for the guy.
Fiona clenches a fist. "Dammit... let's go get him."
She follows Mutt outside, looking around as well.
The group all charge outside, looking around wildly. Mutt quickly spies the old beggar leaning against the next building in the alley, holding out a cup and staring ahead blankly. His mannerisms seem very similar to the old man tending the pigeons upstairs.
Thaddues follows the group, making sure the beggar Mutt points out was the one he saw from upstairs.