Raid on the Goblin - round 2 - concluded
Blossom stumbles towards the door, but can't move fast enough or see well enough to make much out of that motion. She looks like she's stumbling, because she is stumbling even if guided a bit by her familiar.
End of Round 2
Raid on the Goblin - Round 3
21 Bearded Guy
15 Blue Thug (asleep)
10 Trig
8 Purple Thug
7 Green Thug
7 Reva
6 Magnus
6 Thuvalia One-Eye
3 Vris
7 Saphren (blind for 2 rounds) delaying until after Vris
3 Blossom (blind for 2 rounds)
The bearded scroll reader casts this time, and the cage of the imp above the floor opens freeing the demonic beast. He then makes for the exit avoiding contact with any heroes on the way.
Blue Thug continues his magic induced nap.
Raid on the Goblin - Round 3 - continued
Trig finally able to see again as the flashes clear from her vision, uses her earth power to cause a small tremor near the one-eyed bandit, causing her to trip and fall prone.
Purple Thug, hearing the boss lady, steps away from melee and bends to strip of a fancy necklace from a cowering gambler.
Green Thug smarting from his wound, throws down his weapon and runs for the door elicitng an AoO from Magnus on the way.
Magnus swipes with his axe as the thug retreats, but does not strike a killing blow. "Ha! You had better run, human!" he spits, spotting one of the leaders making for the exit. As the bearded man makes for the exit, he finds Magnus' bloodied axe waiting for him.
The white spots from Reva's eyes finally clear and she sees the ruined man at her feet and her bloody sword.
"Thank The Inheritor... what's going on now. Hah! There's that woman. I've got her. Wait, who let the imp out? One thing at a time, focus Reva. You're on a mission. Remember the prayer."
Reva breaks into a dead run, her now-seeing eyes fixated on Thulavia. As she runs, she chants in an ancient tongue. Her eyes flash white as she finishes her prayer. Bringing in the full momentum of her run, she strikes.
"Gaha oiad olpirt ol oiad nazpsad balzizras!"
"By the Light of the Sword I judge you!"
When the imp gets let out of its cage, Trig shouts at the tiny devil, "Oi! You there! Small, dark, and horny! If you don't give us any trouble we won't give you any, sound good?"
Vris spins Saphren around by his shoulder so that the half-orc is now facing back the way he came. "The bearded wizard is four paces ahead of you - charge him now and you'll be flanking him with that dwarf cook." She then pushes the half-orc forward, maneuvering him towards the man with her free hand, readying her own mace for a follow-up attack if necessary...
Raid on the Goblin - Round 3 - continued
In his haste to cut off the magic casting bearded man, Magnus makes a half-hearted lunge at the fleeing thug, missing him before stepping over and cutting off the advance of the casting man, slashing at him with his handaxe. Unfortunately, the attack is magically warded by the surging blue electric field surrounding the robed man (Mage Armor) and it fails to connect.
Her vision returning, Reva takes in the scene and charges after the fallen woman, striking her with the Inheritor's Favor and Judgement and wounding her deeply. The one-eyed Varisian woman falls unconscious to the floor blood pouring from a deep wound in her chest.
With the cleric's guidance Saphren moves blindly ( and trying to not act like it), to attack the bearded wizard.
Sensing the hit he calls out. The rest of you, surrender or I will cut each of you down in turn!
Raid on the Goblin - Round 3 - continued
With Vris steering the way and whispering commands in his ear, the blinded Saphren lashes out with his costume sword. The blow appears to easily miss, but at the last moment, the wizard steps backward, right into the blow which slices him from neck to knees. The bearded man falls face first onto the floor at their feet.
Seeing their leaders both cut down with apparent ease, the remaining two thugs stop running or looting, and throw down weapons. Purple Thug actually throws himself to the ground prone and cries out for mercy.
End of Combat
As the violence in the gambling hall comes to a sudden end, there is a mad dash for the exits. Patrons stuff their pockets with house chips or run blindly for the exits. As the dust clears, only a few staff remain (many of them fled as well).
Those few patrons who haven't fled, are now starting to clamor for a refund of their entrance stake and are gathering around the dais where the Devil's Gold was once held.
Trig jumps on top of a table, trying to calm the crowd. "Oi! Look, we got the bad guys! No more trouble, and not one coin was lost! You can come back now!" She wiggles her tush in the slinky, revealing outfit, trying to entice the gamblers back to the tables.
Shaking her head slightly at the Gnome's impudence, Blossom yet adds, smirking. "I do not dance for cowards!"
Magnus, splatterd with blood, seems a little shaken by Saphren's monstrous attack. "Well struck." he manages gripping his axe tightly as he glowers at the half-orc. He only relaxes a little as he remembers the half-blood is on his side.
As Trig begins her dance, a scandalized Magnus tries to pull her down from the table. "By Bolka the Maiden!" he says, blushing beet-red and raising a finger scoldingly. "Zat is no way for young lady to be behaving. You should not be shaking your hips like that. Is... most improper." he says, shifting uncomfortably as the gnome's gaze turns to him.
As the white-haired woman joins her he buries his face in his hands, sinking into a chair and reaching blindly for the nearest drink.
Reva stares down at her blood-drenched self and takes a moment to forcibly calm herself, wipe off her sword, and sheathe it. She opens her mouth to speak, says nothing, and closes it before she kneels down to check over Thulavia.
"The blood... oh Goddess preserve me, the blood. Was this worth it? I trained so long. There's no glory or valor in this, just blood. That little gnome is -dancing- after this carnage?! She must be mad."
With shaking hands, Reva wipes the gore from her face and stands to look over the room.
As the last thug falls to the floor and begs for mercy, Vris quickly starts trying see which of the wounded would-be-robbers can still be saved from death. Although she's willing to render the mercy of her goddess onto the wounded, she is also careful to kick their weapons well away from them and to roughly bind their hands before staunching any bleeding. To Saphren, Reva and any of the other guards still in the gaming hall, the priestess yells "One of you help me bind these prisoners. The rest of you - get the hall under some sort of control. We don't need a riot on top of an attempted robbery. Someone see to the doors and control the looters."
Blossom actually manages to look a tad sheepish at her friend's chastisement & proceeds to assist her in seeing to the fallen.
Saphren, still blind, but trying not to look it, folds his arms and stands in judgement, his scimitar resting point down on the floor. He is likely covered in blood, and worse from the two critical hits and surely looks intimidating in his costume and green skin. He scowls at the room in general trying to radiate control. Hearing the looting going on he speaks out You have seen what befalls those who steal from this establishment. You have one chance to return the property that is not your own, Failing to do so will earn our wrath!
As his sight slowly returns he almost slumps in relief. He had no way to know how ling he had been blinded. He moves to secure the prisoners and their weapons first and then to the fallen to see what they might be carrying.
Once the room is secure and calm restored he seeks out Vris. I... he awkwardly stammers. You have my thanks, you and your goddess. he finally manages. Without your sight and guidance I would have been worse than useless in that fight. And I think I could feel some diving guidance at the end. Could it be that your lady favored me with her blessing?
"Just trying to give the folks something pleasant to take their minds off... all this. Um, and my mind, too."
She adds something in dwarven.
Hearing Vris speak out Reva seems to snap out of her chance. She sees Vris and Bu stabilizing the downed would-be thieves and decides extra healing isn't needed quite yet. She quickly moves around to gather the fallen weapons before she stakes out a spot by the door, glaring icily at anyone who looks troublesome. She doesn't speak to anyone.
"Strange group of people they hired, but talented and ... I think good-hearted. It will be interesting to see what falls out of this. Guide me in these difficult times, Inheritor."
Despite her best efforts Vris has nonetheless gotten some blood spatter on the dress she borrowed. Now that the wounded have been stabilised, and some of the other staff of The Gold Goblin are beginning to move into action at last, she has a moment to ponder the sticky red stains on the silky white cloth. How am I going to explain this to the Mother Abbess? I just hope that there'll be some kind of reward for foiling the robbery, Otherwise I won't be able to afford to replace the dress...
When Saphren comes over and speaks with her, she smiles at the rough-looking half-orc. "Yes Saphren, my Lady did guide you during the fight, at least a little. I channelled a tiny fragment of her power through me and into you with my touch. There must be something The Eternal Rose finds worthy behind that fearsome visage of yours. If my Lady couldn't find any beauty in your soul, there would have been nothing I could do to aid you. Of course, your own fighting instincts may have had something to do with it too."
She excuses herself with a wink and goes over to where Thuvalia and the wizard are tied up, and starts looking through their gear for the now shrunken chest of coin which was the target of the robbery...
The Eternal Rose... Spahren says quietly in a pondering voice as Vris moves away.
Trig notices that Vris seems distressed by the bloodstained dress, and uses her prestidigitation ability to lift the stains from the fabric. She continues by doing the same for Saphren and Reva, cleaning the blood off their skin and clothing.
Hey, now I am not anywhere near as intimidating. Spahren says in jest. Thanks for the clean-up Trig.
Your spells successfully stabilize all the wounded. The surrendering bandits and the recovering wounded are all trussed up with little chance of escape. After searching them here is what is recovered and piled together:
1) An ebony wand
2) A sickle
3) A set of steel and gold bracers
4) A spellbook
5) A belt pouch with 33gp
6) A set of finely crafted leather armor
7) A rapier
8) A light crossbow and 10 bolts
9) A belt pouch with 17gp
10) 6 short swords
11) 6 saps
12) 6 leather armor
After casting detect magic, the wand (#1) and the bracers (#3) have return magical auras. The rest is mundane.
The crowd continues to act up calling for the return of their money and finally, a sheepish Saul Vancaskerkin appears. He mounts the stage with exaggerated weariness as if the weight of all Golarion itself were on his shoulders.
"My friends, this attempted robbery as taken us all by surprise. Because these criminals have upset our endeavor, and because the Gold Goblin is an honest establishment. We agree to refund you 110% of your chip value. A good deal indeed, since there would've been only one winner if the tournament had continued."
The surly crowd sees the value in this offer and begrudingly begin to queue up by the cashier's cage to get their rewards and depart.
Not long after that, the city's gendarmes arrive and begin taking the would-be robbers into custody.
Saphren would like to try to talk to at least 2 of the prisoners to get information about who they were working for and details on the plan - where they were operating out of, where they were headed after the heist, et. He will talk them privately before they are taken off.
Look, he says leaning over each and speaking in a low voice you are not going away so far that I cannot come and visit you, see. So you had better tell me the details of your plan. I am not the guy you want to be looking over your shoulder worried about for the rest of your short life, so spill it.
Seeing Vris pile up the gear, Reva wanders over, chanting under her breath to cast a detect magic orison. She stares intently at the objects, speaking to those near in her soft, low voice.
"That was unexpected and unpleasant. But none of us have a scratch. Thank you all, it could have gone very badly. This wand and those bracers are magical. The bracers are enchanted to provide armour, and the wand casts shocking grasp."
"Boss, can I keep the sexy outfit?"
Once all of the would-be robbers are stabilized and restrained, Vris will turn to Reva, Saphren and the others. "No, we were very lucky to get out of that without a scratch, so I think we all owe a small prayer to the gods for that." She gestures to the still bloody and wounded prisoners. "If you all don't mind, I should see to their wounds now that the situation is back under control...?"
Saphren - The thugs are typical street hoods found far too often in Riddleport. They roll over easily and tell you that they were offered a big payday by the leader, the bearded wizard, in exchange for helping knock over the Gold Goblin. They had heard about the big gambling tournament and the pile of coins and thought it'd be an easy score, not counting on your group's resistance.
They have little else to add.
Vris - Your channeling the energy of Shelyn produces a barely audible sweet melody that enables and empowers all who hear it. The bandits and their leaders slowly arouse back to consciousness and are chained up and made ready by the gendarmes.
Reva seems soothed by the burst of holy energy. "The Gods do watch over us," she says, her expression still unchanged. Letting out a long, slow breath, Reva steels herself before approaching the bearded wizard as he awakens.
"Remember your training, and don't trip and fall on your face this time."
"Tell me everything you know about the Gold Goblin, how you came to concoct this scheme, and if you're financing anything bigger than yourselves. Now. You live on our good patience, which is remarkably thin." Her voice is flat as she stares at the would-be robber with cold, cold eyes.
Saphren moves up behind Reva silently, simply holding the two handed falchion and looking sternly at the one eyed woman.
Trig circulates through the remaining guests, asking them about what they saw and to see if anyone has any other useful information.
Reva and Saphren-
The one-eyed woman, Thuvalia, still recovering from her near death experience and seeing her lover cut down, spills easily enough also. She says that Angvar (you assume she means the dead wizard) met with a man a month or so ago on the docks asking them to set up this job. He then hired the crew -- really just a bunch of roughnecks and roustabouts and started planning. They were supposed to meet this same man tonight at the same docks to deliver the loot and get paid.
Thuvalia has never met the man and doesn't even know where the meet was supposed to take place...
That's about what you can get out of her before the local constabulary hauls the gang away in chains and takes out the dead man on a board.
As the rest of you gather and the crowd as moved on, Saul Vancaskerkin, a short balding swarthy fellow with that key for a hand, advances towards you.
"I owe you heroes a debt. Those criminals would've made off with my 10000 silver sails if it hadn't been for you. And this tournament, well it was to be my last shot, but I have a feeling my luck is changing. I think the Goblin is going to turn around just fine, if you lot stick around to help me see it through." He smiles, revealing a gold tooth and a gleam in his eye that seems out of place for a man who likely lost everything tonight.
"Stick around after this crowd leaves and let's discuss how we---" he points with his good hand all around the group, including himself, "---can make a go of this place after all. It's easy to see your talented, very talented."
He winks, hopeful you'll stay and meet with him, then is off to talk amiably with one of the bigwig gamblers.
Magnus watches the interrogation with disinterest, sullenly cursing his miserable luck as he nurses another brandy. He meets Saul's offer with some a raised eyebrow, skeptical. "More than like he vishes to rob us and recoup his losses." he says, shaking his head with a heavy sigh as he begins to sharpen his axe.
Vris looks at the brooding dwarf and gives him a slightly bemused smile. "Do you automatically assume that everyone who declares that they owe you a debt is out to cheat you of something, Mister Ironfoot? I doubt that all of our current coin combined would cover the cost of that man's daily tailoring bill. But, it pays to be cautious, it's true."
She looks over at Trig and adds "Speaking of debts, thank you for cleaning the blood off this dress for me. I borrowed it from one of the courtesans at The House of Silken Veils, and I doubt a Calistrian priestess would forgive me if I had returned it with those sorts of stains. In any case, it is a beautifully made garment, and deserves better care than I gave it tonight."
"It looks like the gendarmes left the robber's possessions behind - maybe it's intended as some kind of restitution or reward for helping foil the crime? If so, we should discuss the division of spoils, so that at least we don't go home unpaid tonight after all. I know I'm not too proud to take a share, given how light my own purse is at the moment."
Saphren, having not been paid his wages for the day, and expecting some type of bonus for three kills, is not going anywhere. He is rubbing his last two gold coins together through his near empty pouch and perks up when Vris mentions dividing the spoils. I like this priestly woman more and more. he thinks. Here here. he says in deep basso voice. Equal shares I say.
"You're quite welcome -- Vris, is it?"
To magnus, she whispers something in Dwarven.
"I'll take a share of the stuff, but I don't think I need the wand or bracers."
"This is it! He wants me to work for him, I can find everything out that way." Reva turns to look at the bodies being cleaned up. "Inheritor preserve me. Did they deserve to die over this? I will pray tonight."
After Vancaskerkin waddles off Reva turns to everyone gathered around the loot.
"Strange man. And there's no shame in spoils of battle, be they fairly won. How should this be done? Take what you can make best personal use of, and then sell the rest and split the winnings?" Reva looks up at the ceiling. "Whatever happened to the imp they set free?"