Variel casually walks along the floor staff. It's soon apparent that Larur's disappearance has everybody gossiping. However, all of the gossip is speculation. Nobody seems to actually know anything. The conversation between Mutt, Fiona, and Mutt's men seems to be a little more interesting.
Bofur makes his way up to the kitchen for a snack where he finds Thaddeus casually talking to a few of the staff. Thaddeus gets much the same story as Variel; people are certainly interested in Larur's disappearance but nobody knows about him carrying any money for Saul.
Back out on the floor, Michal continues to become defensive, refusing to answer questions.
"I said I didn't know nothing! "
The other guards start giving him sideways glances.
At Michal's outburst, Variel approaches the group. It seems Mutt has unintentionally scared something out of this one. Let's see if maybe an intentional scare will get more.
"I don't believe anyone has accused you of anything ... yet."
Variels pointer finger glows as he points it at Michal.
""
"A man may be dead. A large sum of money is lost or stolen. The Lady in the Room requires justice. If you know anything at all, speak now and be judged in that light."
Michal's eyes go wide as he sees the inquisitor's finger begin to glow. From dealing with his men, Mutt knows that Michal is a little more weak-willed than the rest.
"I don't want the Lady to judge me!" he wails before quickly spilling his guts. "This man, I don't know who, was asking for information, and paying real good, right? I told him that I heard tell of Larur visiting Smeed. Overheard Saulie talking to him. Well that was information so I told him and that was that."
Fiona was about to stop Variel from doing... whatever it was he was going to do to the poor bouncer, but upon seeing the results, she stays her hand.
"Michal, what did this man look like?" She asks, walking up to him and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
...hmm. His goddess gives him the power to get results, does she? Interesting.
Seeing Variel threaten the information out of Michal, Mutt stands and strides over to the elf. "Variel! While we have gotten the information, I will not have you threaten my men! These are my men, my allies! The last thing I want is to make them afraid for their lives!" He looks at Michal. "Easy, Michal. The Lady nor Variel won't judge you. If they do, I'll teach them to back off." He places a heavy hand on Michal's shoulder. "So, breathe, Michal. Just tell us the truth. No one's going to hurt you."
The swinging door to the kitchen opens and Bofur's head pops out, a trencher of venison lodged between his hand and his mouth. He looks out with interest after hearing Michel's outburst and panicked plea.
"Honh-ah-uh-oh-uh-in." he interjects encouragingly.
Variel looks at Mutt, the spell still on his hand. "It is not your place to tell a goddess what she may and may not do. Nor to tell her instrument how to do the job she gave him."
He allows the magic to fade. To Michal he says, "You have chosen wisely. If there is anything else you can add, this is the time to do so."
He then steps back to allow Mutt and Fiona to get whatever else they can from the man, and quietly fills Bofur in on what has happened.
Thaddeus hears the interrogation going on as he snacks with Bofur. He watches Bofur interject, but the meaning of the meat-muffled mumbles elude him.
He listens from where he is, though he stays out of the room for the time being, not believing he has any skill or specialty to add to the procedings.
The disagreement between Mutt and Variel does make him raise an eyebrow, though. Hopefully that's just a one-off thing and not a sign of serious future issues.
Mutt looks at Variel and gives him an even stare. "And when, exactly, did she tell you to basically threaten someone? Let alone one of my men?"
Variel touches the barbed whip at his side. "My badge of office as her inquisitor gives me the right to use whatever means are necessary to see that justice is done. Larur could be in grave danger, and we do not have time to be nice. However, please, be my guest. Coddle the man and get what information you can. It was doing you so well up to this point."
Variel's tone never indicates any anger, beyond a brief flash at being questioned about his manner. He indicates Michal, and waits to see what else can be learned.
Fiona snorts and moves between the two men. "Variel, Mutt, that's enough. You're bickering like firepelts around an auroch's corpse."
She looks at Mutt first, her eyes softening. "Mutt, time is of the essence, and for all we know, Larur may be dead. It's important that we learn all we can about what happened to him, so that we can find him all the sooner. I can't really fault Variel for wanting to help."
"However..." She turns and glares at the elf. "...that doesn't mean you should bully the information you need out of him. Look at him." She nods at the frightened Michal. "The poor man was already a nervous wreck over this before you arrived. You're quite lucky he spoke when he did--if that were anyone else, odds are your head would have been smashed in before you closed your mouth."
Thaddeus remains silent, watching through the doorway from the kitchen. He turns his head slightly to look at Bofur beside him, widening his eyes slightly in a silent gesture of newfound respect for Fiona.
Bofur swallows and returns Thaddeus's glance before speaking softly. "I don't get what the big deal is. The guy snitched on us for money; he had it comin'. Shouldn't he be taught that doin' it again will cost him?"
Mutt is heavily scowling and glaring at Variel. He looks like he's about lunge at the elf... but, then Fiona steps in between them. As she speaks to him, Mutt seems to calm down a bit as her logic takes in. He huffs and looks away.
However, when she addresses Variel and chastises him, Mutt turns his gaze back forward and smirks a bit. When she mentions the elf getting his head smashed in, Mutt's frown returns. He crosses his arms and mutters, "Yeah. And I would have done the smashing."
Michal looks at everyone as they argue. He steps a bit away from Variel, although he obviously looks like he just wants to bolt.
"Half-elf, just called himself Stitch. Craggy bastard with a big scar on his jaw. Look - what's gonna happen to me?"
Variel looks at Michal, his large black pupils staring into the man's soul. "That depends on whether the information you sold got a man killed."
With that said, he turns to the others. "Can we agree that finding this 'Stitch' fellow is our next step?"
Fiona nods. "Yes."
Mutt is about to answer Michal's question, but Variel beats him to the punch. Mutt glares at the elf before turning to Michal. "Nothing. Nothing will happen to you. You're not in trouble. You're not fired. You're not going to die. You have a wife and kids. You needed the money. That's understandable. If anyone has to pay, it will be this 'Stitch'."
When Variel suggests the next course of action, Mutt nods.
Bofur swallows and returns Thaddeus's glance before speaking softly. "I don't get what the big deal is. The guy snitched on us for money; he had it comin'. Shouldn't he be taught that doin' it again will cost him?"
"If'n Ah had t'guess," Thaddeus replies, also quietly enough that he hopes the group can't hear him, "Seems like Mutt's got a kinship wit' his boys 'dere. Wolfpack thing, ah guess?"
Michal looks genuinely amazed at Mutt's response, but he nods enthusiastically.
"Sure! Sure! I'll eh, I'll show you where you can find this guy! He's a reg'lar at the bar he is! Can't miss him!"
The other guards seem similarly confused at Mutt's forgiveness of Stitch, the response varies from approving nods to some grumbling.
Mutt looks at the confused bouncers. "If Stitch has something to do with Larur's disappearance, then it is he who will pay, not Michal! I will not hang a man for looking after his family! But justice is demanded and it is Stitch who will answer! For Larur!"
Mutt looks to Michal. "Show us the way."
Variel nods and follows.
The group make their way out of the Gold Goblin and down the street to yet another crummy part of Riddleport. Michal abashedly gestures to one of the endless taverns along the docks, this one called "The Rough Salt", whatever that means. It has the same ambiance of any dive bar in this city, and at this time of day is sparsely populated. The bartender waves in greeting to Michal as he steps in.
"Brought some friends, yeh? Your usual?"
Variel looks around at the few occupants of the bar, including the bartender, and assesses them, waiting to allow Michal or one of the others to take the lead.
Mutt walks in with the group. He stays silent and looks around, waiting for Michal to take them to Stitch. He (somewhat begrudgingly) works with Variel on this.
Fiona opts to let Michal do the talking. Before he does anything, though, she rests a hand on his shoulder.
"I've got your back, don't worry."
She looks around the bar, opting to try to work with Variel in sussing out trouble.
Finishing his snack, Bofur nods to Thaddeus, "Sounds like they might need us to deal with this Stitch half-elf. Shall we?" He lets Thaddeus and Old What's-His-Name through the kitchen door first and heads after the group.
When the reach the bar, before everyone goes in, he says. "I might just take a quick look that there aren't any back entrances to run away through. I'll meet ye inside."
With that he circles the building (or block) to check out the back. If there is a back entrance, he'll enter from that direction. Otherwise, he'll continue circling and enter from the front.
Thaddeus nods with Bofur, pulling Old Horn away from his meal of old cabbages and carrot peelings, after much complaining.
He was about to suggest that some people watch outside, though it seems Bofur beat him to the punch, and already takes a tour.
"Thinkin' Bofur has th'right ideeir thar. Ah'll stay outside 'n watch th'front in case he tries t'bolt."
Unless anyone protests, Thaddeus hangs out close to the front of the bar, though not too close so that he may be mistaken for a bouncer. Not that a bar like this would use one.
Bofur circles the building into the filthy alleyway, which is heaped with trash.
You see a leg sticking out of one of the heaps of trash.
Thaddeus folds his arms and tries to not look like a bumpkin farmer on a dock full of pirates as he keeps an eye out.
Bofur concentrates on figuring out which of the doors belongs to the pub. He trips over a thick piece of trash and kicks it absentmindedly in frustration, his eyes never leaving the outlines of the rear entrances. He continues on, counting doors to find the right one.
As Bofur looks around irrtiably and kicks the a thick piece of trash he's surprised to find a shoe fly out. Inspecting it more closely, he sees what is by all appearances a leg sticking out of the pile of trash. It appears to be attached to the body.
Glancing around to see if anyone noticed his indiscretion, or is keeping watch, Bofur steps into the shadow as much as he can. He considers the shoe... does it look familiar?
He removes the trash covering the body, fearful of finding their employer's right hand, figuratively speaking. However, he knows that a dead body is a sh**hole like Riddleport is nothing unusual... actually, a day when you don't find one is something of an anomaly.
He examines the body to see how its owner met his or her end.
Variel takes a moment to look over the bar carefully. A group of well-armed people walking into the bar has attracted some attention, and several people are staring. The bartender's friendly expression falters a bit as he sees everyone effectively casing the joint. There seems to be no fear or hostility in the crowd though; just suspicion.
"Look, you gonna buy something?"
Examining the body, you discover it to be of a heavily-scarred half-elf. A rough looking customer. He's been looted and had his throat slit.
Somewhat frustrated that Michal isn't speaking up, Fiona approaches the bar.
"It's not so much a drink we're looking for, so much as information." She jingles her coin purse and leans over the bar.
"How much would the whereabouts of a man named Stitch go for?"
The bartender smiles encouragingly as Fiona speaks to him in a kinder tone than anyone has in his life, and offers money as well.
"Sure, he's a reg'lar around here. Tough bastard. Stepped out for a piss a few hours back and hasn't come back."
Michal remains mute, nodding slowly.
You're no healer, but it's fairly obvious this half-elf has not been dead for long. He has a sturdy, muscular build and a distinctive long scar along his face.
When Bofur finds Thaddeus in front of the bar, he tells him, "Looks like we might've come to a dead end. Or our quarry did. We'll find out in a moment." With that, he gestures for them to head inside.
"Huh? Howd'ya mean?
Thaddeus and Old Horn follow.
Bofur and Thaddeus wander into the bar. The bartender perks up.
"HEY! No goats allowed!" He allows the moment to hang before he lets out a bark of laughter. "Bah, it's been ages since a good goat's been here. Brings luck it does. What does 'e drink? I bet I know..."
The bartender hurriedly begins preparing some sort of Goat-grog.
Fiona looks up at Bofur and Thaddeus as they enter. "Ah--didn't expect to see you back so soon. Any luck finding him?"
Mutt remains silent throughout the arrival. When Bofur and Thaddeus enter, he looks at them, waiting to hear the news.
"Might be. Might be." He gestures for them to lean in and quietly describes finding a half-elf corpse in the trash behind the bar: long scar on his face, much deeper fresh wound across his throat. "Do we know what this Stitch looks like?"
Michal pales as Bofur speaks.
".. That sounds like Stitches all right."
Mutt frowns at the revelation of Stitch's death. He looks at the bartender and asks, "Was Stitch meeting anyone here? Did anyone hate him?" He puts some edge into his questioning.
The bartender groans as he hears news of Stich's death, and then quickly backs up as Mutt steps in, hovering over him.
"Wait! Hold on! Let's not get violent, one body in my alley is enough, right? Right?"
He takes a moment.
"Stitch met with a few folk here, sounded like they was trading information. He tipped good so I shut up, but if he's dead I don't care no more, see? I dunno who he worked for. I seen him meet with folks who work for different gangs. But nobody said they hate him!"
Variel gives Mutt a strange look, then steps up. "Any information you can give us that would help us find who Stitch might have had recent dealings with would be helpful. He was recently buying information about a colleague of ours who is now missing, and things are getting more and more suspicious."
"HEY! No goats allowed!" He allows the moment to hang before he lets out a bark of laughter. "Bah, it's been ages since a good goat's been here. Brings luck it does. What does 'e drink? I bet I know..."
The bartender hurriedly begins preparing some sort of Goat-grog.
"Drink? Heck if Ah know. Mostly water, really. Can't say Ah've ever had th'urge t'give him a beer. Figure he's ornery enough wit'out bein' drunk as well."
In reply, Old Horn butts Thaddeus in the hip.
"Ow! One o'dese days, Old Horn, yer gonna break mah hip doin' dat. An' yeh heard th'man, yer suppos'd t'be good luck! Ah don't tink good luck charms go 'round buttin' people."
*BAAAAHH*
"You just ate!"
Thaddeus turns away from Old Horn, hearing about the supposed corpse of Stitch found in the trash outside.
He contemplates this news. Leads were rapidly drying up, it seems. Now, was Stitch's death just a result of living life in a city like this, or was somebody trying to cover their tracks?
Mutt nods at the barkeep. "I'm not killing anyone. I just want answers! Why does everyone assume I want to kill them?!" He then remembers his size and his former and current professions. He looks back at the greataxe on his back. "Oh, yeah... that's why..."
The barkeep looks evenly at Variel, frowning. He looks around the nearly empty bar and sighs.
"MABEL! You're on bar! I got some business t'take care of!"
He nods to the rest of you and leads you into a back room.
"Ignore the smell, private rooms around these parts aren't used for the nicest activities."
The bartender closes the door and leans against the wall, staring at all of you. Michal follows mutely, a hunted expression on his face.
"Stitch talked with everyone, get it? Maybe you've heard'a some of these names 'cause I know when someone's agent is in my bar. Shorafa Pamodae. Clegg Zincher. Elias Tammerhawk. Boss Croat. Avery Slyeg. Ya get my drift? This fella was connected. That said, I also don't wanna end up like that poor bastard so I tried my best not to listen in. But if he was an information broker everyone used, then who knows what enemies he had?"
Variel recognizes Shorafa Pamodae as the High Priestess of Calistra, who runs most of the brothels in town. Thaddeus recognizes the name of Elias Tammerhawk, head of the Order of Cyphers. An unusual name to be spoken of in this crime-ridden part of town.