”Buy them back and they will kidnap more for more profit. We will never be rid of them.” Fei snapped. ”We need to make a message. To send a signal. That our wives, sisters, and daughters are NOT commodoties for sale and abuse.” He sighed and rubbed his temple. ”I’m sorry. You mean well. But after you’ve seen children being kidnapped and sold by monsters like these, and to walk free after a few bribes...well, it makes me want a permanent solution.”
Akira had to rely on his charming spells rather than kill people. It turns his stomach that his fellows were willing to turn to violence. "There has to be a better way," he protested. "I've never taken the life of a sentient. I know hurting spells, magic missile being one of them. But I never used it to kill."
Tsume snarls and bares his teeth. "If these 'slavers' do what you say, it is worse than killing!" His tone is angry, but his words slow as he struggles to express his feelings. "Why let them live and do it more?"
@Akira
"Afraid I agree with the others. Whatever solution we come up with, it has to mean that the enslavement of our kind stop. And paying them off won't do that. But, if you come up with any other ideas we will surely give you an audience."
Tally seems a little shocked at Tsume's outburst. He's killed before, but in self defense or matters of survival, never retribution and pursuit of justice. Of course it had never been necessary before. Tribal justice was fair and quick.
"I think we all agree, though, that we will need to scout and we need to hurry. So let's go."
The group head into the watering hole in the dust, its a ramshackle place, a mish-mash of races. After asking around
An old water seller tells you, a group of Slavers with Kitsune where headed to Ingotr the Half Orc slave trader here.
At the Stables, and hand tells you group of Slavers with Kitsune paid gold for a new slave wagon and 4 large lizards to pull it.
The Bar keep for a price will tell you. Ingorts the slaver sold 8 young female Kitsune some just kids to a group of passing slavers, and he is planning to get more for when the come next time.
The Bar keep for a price will tell you as well, some of the slavers who did the buying where odd, like with horns and tails, smelt funny. Kept to themselves one of em was big, and his eyes, they, well they burnered to look at. He says no more seeming to have had a bad time of it.
At Ingorts the slavers, and guard tells you group of Slavers with Kitsune paid Ingort gold for a 8 young female Kitsune some just kids he's back inside with his slave woman talking about getting more. Says he know where they are going next.
OOOO!! You cheater, you looked!! shame on you :P
Tsume shies away from the big nest. So many people in one place makes him (and Kiba) very nervous.
"We will wait here," he says to the others as they draw near.
Call him clueless and blunt which seems to get him nowhere. It reminds him of his VERY short stint in the city near home where he almost got mugged.
Unused to gathering information 'above board', Yuichi soons stops his attempt to let another take over.
"But on the subject of the ambush," Yuichi says, bringing the conversation back up as they wait for intel. "My brother is right about not attempting to kill. The elder told us to bring the slaver in alive if possible. Plus, any type of combat would put the captives in danger. I have some talent in changing my shifting as well, so sneaking in and bluffing our way through is possible. Taking them by force should be our backup plan if all goes wrong."
Eager to find the slavers, Fei took on the face of a bruiser he once saw at a tavern. Trying to imitate the man’s swagger nearly got him knocked senseless. It was, he decided, the wrong approach.
Deciding a different tactic was in order, he calmed down (and rubbed his sore jaw), and then took on a much more pleasant form. It was a merchant he had helped once as a watchman. Asking around with a professional air. It was much, much more effective.
Barman man Looks an as the odd bunch who just walked in.
Before entering Saino warns everyone. "Be careful what you say, the owners might be in liege with the slavers."
Once they're in (with Inari left outside), and having the barman's attention, he picks a random stool to sit at the bar. "Hello, friend. What can be used to wash the dirt of the road?"
Between sip and sip, he tries to break on through. "Lonely place, ah? I guess not much people came here on the last few days, am I wrong?" he asks while leaving some coins on the bar. "Oops! I have more of those, mind you..."
(Whispering): "That Ingor or however will have to be punished as well. He was the one who sold the women to begin with. That will have to wait, though."
the barman takes the gold and says what it paid for.
Tally whispers back, "I don't know. It seems like taking out the source is more important than dealing with one batch of slaves. But we have no idea when the next drop off will happen. Should we capture Ingotr and try to get the information out of him?"
Saino nods. "Yes, taking out the source is very important, since it will stop the slave dealing right away." He makes sure no one else is listening. "However, taking out Ingotr won't get us the slaves we're looking for back, and it will only let the slavers walk away even more. Plus, we don't know how powerful is this Ingotr."
Yuichi nods in agreement and whispers, "The slavers on the road will have information on this Ingorts. But I do not wish to let their captives stay bond any longer than necessary as well. Free them, then come back and take the slaver and source back for judgement together."
"Perhaps I should charm the bartender into giving us more information," Akira muses to Yuichi. "Or maybe I can charm the half-orc."
"I think you just want to show off your magic," Yuichi jokes lightly, nudging his brother with an elbow.
"I think you just want to show off your magic," Yuichi jokes lightly, nudging his brother with an elbow.
"Better to use it than to let it go to waste," says Akira. "So, where is this half-orc?"
The barman nots to a door, a large Human stands in front.
"He's in there its the weekly card game, be him, Ricklus the Gnome spice dealer, Tomtom, the Qucik-medic, Ivey who runs the Cat house, and Willks the begger, but Willks 's late, should be here any time now."
Too many people to charm, thought Akira. He then turned to his brother and smiled. "You're Willks the begger."
"Doesn't he need to know how Willks looks... Wait a sec! A beggar at a weekly card game? I don't understand. Where would a beggar get the money to gamble."
Fei stared at Akira. What was he doing? The bartender named the beggar by name. That meant that the bartender knew him. They weren't going to fool him unless they could take the beggar's face (a real option) but they had to know what he looked like first. He quickly stepped up. But not quick enough to stop Tally from talking.
"Look, not important. What he meant was that he's heard of Willks. Just like how he's heard that this is the place to be to have a good time, and to either make or lose some gold."
"And!" He cut off Tally. "And I, for one, don't care where he gets his gold. Because I..."
With sleight of hand, he pulled out a very shiny gold coin from his sleeve. "...have gold to spend. And if Wiilks can make the bet, I'll take his gold too. Mind letting me in?"
He had to admit, this was a better plan. "Can I watch the game from a fair distance?" Akira asked. Did he want on the action? Certainly not. He was going to charm Ingotr the Half Orc. At a risk for Ingotr the Half Orc falling in love with him. As if that ever happened. The worse that can happen is that Ingotr the Half Orc falling in love with Fei Wan. The charm person spell makes you the best friend of he who enchants you for a while. What is the worse that can happen? Ingotr the Half Orc didn't sound the type to fall in love with him, so Akira let loose an audible sigh of relief.
"These dudes are crazy, but well... It might actually work, who knows..." Saino is not that good at pretending, so he just stays at the bar, sipping some liquor, at the ready for when the plan goes to waste.
Tsume, meanwhile, is mostly trying to keep Kiba from chasing every lizard that he sees.
Looks at the gold,
"yerr Willks he's a mute, and the only dealer in this place anyone trusts, you can lose a lot and he will tell no one."
trying to take the coin,
"But the game is open if you have the coin. Its a 1000 gold buy in"
Leans forward,
"But sem of em tray and cheat so be it your money to lose"
Just then the door opens an a human male comes in, he looks old, and is mouth has a large scar.
"And that's Willks there"
The old man heads to the privit wing doors. Seems he needs the gents before he starts to deal cards.
Things are moving to fast for Tally. Tally likes to plan and think before he acts. Except when he's in a rage, then it's balls out. He looks a bit confused. First there is no Wilkes, then Akira wants her brother to be Wilkes, then Akira dos NOT want his brother be Wilkes, then someone wants to get in the game with Wilkes, and then the real Wilkes arrives.
"Uh!? ... Hey, do they throw bones here or do they use one of those stacks of paper pictures? I'd really like to see that. I hear fancies play all kinds of games with their papers and that the rules can be really complicated."
"Tally, they use cards -- those stacks of paper pictures," explained Akira.
”Ah, Damn. This is going to get us all killed, it we keep going on like this. I have an idea. Meet me north of town in three hours, don’t be seen. And keep the bartender away. I...am going to need him kidnapped. Just trust me on this. I don’t care how you do it, but find a way. Charm him, knock him out, whatever you need. Do it now.”
With that Fei walked into the shadows, changed his face into that of the bartender, took a deep breath, and walked confidently into the room
”Ricklus, Tomtom, Ivey, get out. There’s an emergency, game’s cancelled. You’ll all get twice what you put down to make up for it. Tell Willks to not bother coming in here too. Ingotr, you stay. I *need* to talk to you and it is worth the gold I just dropped.”
Akira charms the bartender using one of his magical tails. He doesn't use the spell in his mind. "Watashi wa anata o miryō suru," Akira says in Tien. Translated as: I charm you.
The bartender has to beat a DC of 16 (10+Int Bonus+Level of the Spell).
@Akira
Tally tries out the word, "Cards" softly, letting it roll of his tongue.
"OK, anyway, I's sure like to see someone play a game with cards."
@Fei Wan
"Huh, what? Keep him away from where? Kidnap him? Oh, get him out of the bar."
While Tally is still parsing the command and trying to come up with a plan, Akira has already moved on it and tries charming him.
There is a moment when the players look at
Fei Wan/bartender but Ingotr nods and waves it hand.
The game never starts as the others walk out the room.
The rest of the party leaves leveing just Ingotr and Fei Wan.
"Co,me Tully, what ya got ta tell me?"
Ingotr walks over to a side booth, and takes a seat waiting.
"And bring me, me drink"
Fei, in the guise of the bartender, took a long look at the half-orc, and then walked back to the bar. Looking around he grabbed the most expensive bottle he could find, and then returned to Ingotr.
He put the drink down, and then stared into the half-orc's eyes.
"Ingotr. We don't have much time. I've found us a buyer who is going to make us rich enough to leave this backwater behind. But we need to act fast, because I guarantee that there are other people already moving. Now..." He motioned for the half-orc to drink. "...you know that slaver who is coming to see you? The one with the kitsune? Well..." He smiled, trying his best to imitate the mannerisms of the bartender from their limited interaction "...he's made some enemies in Cheliax. I don't know what he did, but they want him alive. I promised that I could deliver him and his goods. The problem is, I can't do this alone, and I don't trust anyone here as much as I do you. So tell me, you ready to get your hands a little bloody for one last big score?"
Tsume, by now getting bored, has and idea. He starts looking around for any signs of kitsune passing through the area--strands of dropped fur, or maybe pawprints. He doesn't think it very likely he'll find anything, but he figured it was better than standing around.
He takes a sip and of his drink.
"Best drink, humm Tully, you only bring that out when your on the up and up."
He takes a drink
"Cheliax gold is as good as anyone's and that Cheliax Noble needs to be took down a pag or two. Him coming on all strong in my own gaff, So you say bloody what you means by that."
The barman seems subdued and follows you
Good work, Akira!
Other than that thought, Tally keeps quiet, though he is strung pretty tightly as he has seen the results of a charm person gone bad. He looks longingly towards the exit, where he left his longspear, as he usually does when entering a building or out for a stroll.
Fangs and claws will do if there is trouble, Tally.
[dice=Survival]1d20+8
Tsume scots the small settlement but find little to many have passed over the streets BUT outside he finds something interesting the road splits and it seems some waggons stopped there for a while only a few days ago. There is large gecko poop and a toy, a small Kitsune rag doll in the dust. There is sent on it and that sent points to path to the yellow pool. A waterhole out on the bad lands. That is the road they took.
"Well, it's nice to see you today," said Akira. "How would you like to show me around?"
Tsume makes sure Kiba also has the scent from the doll, then studies the area carefully. He tries to get a picture of how large the group is, how many animals, how many hunters, how many... 'slaves', from the tracks remaining.
But the ground here does not hold good tracks. He can tell little from the remaining signs.
"Well, it's nice to see you today," said Akira. "How would you like to show me around?"
"Ill show you the place, not much to see"
So he dose showing you the sights
Talks
"Its a plan Tully the only bad news is they ant coming back this way for half a year, but you CAN get me at yellow pool they will be hold up there while the desert bands come and fell what fox-kin they got. Say about a week. And before you ask I an't sending may of my men with ya, this is all on you. You crew up and get em ya self. BUT I want 40% for loss of biz understood, you pay or I came get it from your skin."
He downs his drink and gets up.
"This is all on you, but you pay understood"
and then he walks out
"Well, it's nice to see you today," said Akira. "How would you like to show me around?"
"Ill show you the place, not much to see"
So he dose showing you the sights
"There may not be much to see, but I'd like to see them none the less," Akira says.
Tully nods happily and walks you over to the stables, then turns and asks.
"You want to see the slave pens?"
Tsume makes sure Kiba also has the scent from the doll, then studies the area carefully. He tries to get a picture of how large the group is, how many animals, how many hunters, how many... 'slaves', from the tracks remaining.
[dice=Survival]1d20+8
But the ground here does not hold good tracks. He can tell little from the remaining signs.
As you look you spot something very odd, there are normal boot marks in the dust but also Hoves, Bipedal hoves. Something on two legs was walking around with hoved feet. More than one jn fact you make out three sets of tacks. They all seemed to have mounted a wagon and gone with the caravan. One set of hoves is large, very large.
"Yes, we would like that very much."
Tally plasters a grin on his face, still not understanding the lure of having a slave.
"Do you have any slaves?"
Tsume frowns, and bends down to inspect the tracks. He doesn't know what walks on two legs and has hooves, but the big one is probably trouble. He'll have to tell the rest of his pack when they're done in the big nest.
Kiba, meanwhile, wanders around the area aimlessly, waiting for his brother to finish looking at the boring ground.
Tsume spends a bit longer looking around the area for anything of interest.
Yuichi holds his bile in as the man casually mentions the slave pens. Sure, he had seen worse during his time training, but the thought that other Kitsune had been imprisoned here was what got to him. The man's flippant attitude was starting to get to him.
"I'll...just go and take a break real fast," Yuichi says, struggling to come up with a good enough reason. Sorry, bro. You're on your own. Why do your spells always end up like this?
Moving away back toward the tavern, Yuichi spots Tsume...or rather, he spots his 'brother' and realizes the man next to him studying the ground is Tsume. Yuichi simply nods at him and stands near them a bit awkwardly. I'll take awkward over disturbing any day, though. I'll need to learn the others' guises soon, too.
"So... What are you doing out here?"
Kiba trills, and Tsume looks up, recognizing it is not an alarm. He sees one of his new pack-mates approaching, and watches him approach. When Yuichi asks his question Tsume points at the ground.
"They came here," he says, bending down again. He points at one of the large hoofprints. "I do not know this. It is large. It is dangerous?"
Tully nods happily and walks you over to the stables, then turns and asks.
"You want to see the slave pens?"
"Bring them on," said Akira. "Show me the slave pens."