The rest of the night goes smoothly and quietly in the empty and very large Gold Goblin, as the establishment's newest defenders get to know one another. Lluvia cleans the place well, joined by Shayliss as the young woman picks some arms and armaments off of the men they'd just incapacitated.
Sapphire manages to scavenge a few bits of magical supplies off of the wizard that Lluvia killed, including his spellbook, just before Lluvia and the gendarmes swoop in to clean the restroom and take away the body, respectively.
..and come the gendarmes do, eventually. Though they were unable to capture the other woman-leader, they do gladly take the two live thugs into custody, explaining that "the Overlord will definitely enjoy talking to them".
Eventually, Larur comes out of the back rooms to take an inventory of the PCs, so to speak. "Eh, so you're the new toughs that Vancasterkin got, hm? You'll do, I suppose. I'll find ya tomorror with a list o' the things need doin', but fer now, I suppose ya can take the rooms on the second floor, up there," he points to a cluster of doors above you, on the open second floor, "They'll do for rooming."
"Any questions? Otherwise ya can hang out here or head to bed, whichever you prefer."
Aine growls at Bromsen at his touch, turning to face him. "I hate it when people get in the way of my fun." she jabs a finger at him, accusingly, "Don't you ever do that, if you don't want the same axe in your face." she shoulders past him, grabs a mug from the bar and fills it with ale, before ascending the stairs and claiming a room.
Relverest inclines an eyebrow at the departing Aine and turns to Bromsen. "I don't think it's anything you did," he says softly. He has been tidying and mopping as well, and glows slightly with the exertion.
Shayliss glances around and does her best to break the sudden tension. "Since the big scary Shoanti woman seems to be leaving, is there a place nearby I could find something for self-defense? And are we going to save all this for new employees being hired in the future?"
"I wish everyone a good night ..." Lluvia starts but she interrupts herself as she hears Shay asking for self defense equipment and send her strange knowing, almost mischievous look. "I think that can wait until tomorrow, beautiful. Don't worry, someone will watch over your sleep." She winks and leaves open what she means by that.
Then she disappears in her room. However, she doesn't get ready for bed once there, but opens the window shutters and looks, exploring the way to the roof and gets ready for an in-depth investigation of the building and all its ways in and out; while the way she sleeps into the mornings isn't generally considered professional, she loves the night and considers it her natural time.
Brom's face tightens and his eyes become narrow. He looks back to watch Aine fill her mug and leave.
Relverest inclines an eyebrow at the departing Aine and turns to Bromsen. "I don't think it's anything you did," he says softly.
His face relaxes after Relverest's spoken words. He looks over to Relverest and gives a little nod.
After Shayliss and Llvuvia speak, Brom proceeds to the stack of gear. He crouches down and looks over the gear. "Needs, not wants." Brom starts compiling the arrows, separates 40 arrows out of the rest. He inspects the handy work and craft of the arrows making sure each one is suitable. He then takes the 40 arrows with him. Brom stands up, starts walking, but then pauses for a moment.
Brom, clearly looking somewhere else, speaks, "I understand... Your advice is always helpful, thank you."
Brom walks over to the stairs. Before he ascends the stairs he turns around for a few last words. "No questions at the moment, Larur. I am ready to rest and relax. Have a good night."
Brom claims a empty room and quickly falls asleep for the night.
Shayliss sees everyone turning in and says, "I'm still too excited to sleep just yet... would you mind giving me a tour of the place, Larur? Or I guess if you wanted to save time and just do that in the morning with everyone that'd make more sense wouldn't it."
"I would take a weapon now, Shayliss. Larur, if you do give a tour, count me in--I'll just put my things upstairs."
Relverest finds an unoccupied room and places his belongings, and then, thinking about it, retains his glaive, armor, and violin. He pads around the upstairs, not particularly quietly, and finds Lluvia. He clears his throat softly and speaks.
"I hope you didn't think I was being too rude in speaking earlier," he says quietly. "I am not sure about the motivations of this place, nor this owner, so we share that. I'm just choosing not to speak it publicly. There are many seeming coincidences in this town, ourselves included."
Lluvia grins mildly. "Well, technically... I intend to go out a little, too. Just not through the door. I like to keep my own perspective onto a city. You're welcome to join me if you like - and are not afraid of heights."
She winks to Relverest. "Have you ever given a late night rooftop concert to celebrate the beauty of the night?"
Relverest bows. "I'm not the nimblest, dear Lluvia. I have gone out on rooftops, but the kind where one can easily duck through a window and not slide to one's death. I'll leave that to the experts."
Well I for one will retire early. I think Shayliss is right, we should take a tour together later. After all, it was been an exciting night and I expect we would all like to catch our barrings."
Sapphire gathers up the spell book, scroll and bracers. "I believe I can make good use of these. If no one objects, I'll take these leaving the rest for you. I'll see what I can learn from this spell book tomorrow and then you can sell it for even more profit. I get spells, you get gold for gear, seem fair?"
Shayliss shrugs at Sapphire. "I don't suppose anyone else really has any use for that sort of thing."
She then follows everyone else upstairs towards the staff quarters. Seeing the room rather obviously occupied, she checks the next door down, and emits a rather loud and girlish squeal of delight.
"There is a dressing room full of crazy costumes in here!"
Shayliss spends the next several hours throwing together various saucy outfits from what she finds, and parading herself around for the others to see, before finally wearing herself out enough to get some sleep.
The rest of the night goes smoothly and easily, with Larur giving those who wish it a tour of the establishment, quite slowly and thoroughly. "And here's the kitchen. Some terrible food cooked up in here, lemme tell ya. And here's Saul's quarters (don't go in there)..." and the list goes on and on. There are several rooms that Larur notably does NOT show you into, but he says "It's 'fer confidentiality reasons, see." whenever asked.
At the end of the tour, he takes you upstairs and shows off several rooms that any of you are free to take, and then tiredly departs.
No other catastrophe befalls the Gold Goblin that night, and eventually, all fall asleep in the gambling establishment.
Lluvia wakes early, but the rest sleep in, tired from their long night, and they wake to find the Goblin a flurry of activity. Larur, in the early hours of the morning, managed to find a half-dozen new workers for the place, and he and Saul and busy directing the workers to tear down the Devil imagery, clean bloodstains and burnish chipped wood. The Goblin is getting refurbished very quickly.
All of the PCs spend the whole day helping out with this, hanging sumptuous purple draperies and re-finishing tables and re-coating pool tables and other such things. There is a very strange occurrence that day, however. Very near to noon, all metal implements, be they silverware or weapons or anything else, slowly rotate to face north. There they remain, the head of the implement facing towards north, for several minutes before they return to their starting position. Though the occurrence was strange, the night after is restful and quiet as well.
The third day, however, is jam-packed with activity, as that day is the day that the Goblin finally re-opens. With a dozen new employees, and Saul presiding over the grand re-opening, the gambling begins. Shay is a great hit with her Osirion-themed outfit and exotic, alluring dancing, and she has to be defended by bodyguards more than a few times over the course of the night.
Bromsen is invaluable above, watching for cheaters from the observational catwalks, although for several hours he is very distracted, entranced by Shayliss' dancing.
Together, Lluvia and Relverest work in the beginning of the day to manage the huge influx of people, but as the day calms down, Lluvia retires from that job to go above, and to join Bromsen in watching for cheaters. Her elven eyes do her much good in that regard.
One of Saul's biggest mistakes was to put a batch of Sapphire's newest brew on the house for the first customers, as it turns out to be rancid and foul, and the brew loses him some of his new customers. After much pleading, however, he allows her second brew to go on tap, and it is an absolute hit with the clientele. Delicious, strong, and smooth. Mmm.
So goes the first day of business at the Gold Goblin.
Somewhen during forenoon, before the casino opens and every one gets ready Lluvia approaches Shayliss who is already trying her moves on the stage.
"Good morning, beautiful. I have... watched you fight yesterday, listened to your comments... and well, I have a little gift for you, that would befit you in many way."
She holds a small, simple wooden box to Shayliss, like a box one might use to tansport apples or put them on display on the market. About half a foot high and one and a half feet in length and width.
"I have a feeling you can make good use of it when you fight, as well as quite a show when you don't." Lluvia adds with her relatively quiet, but still intense, warm voice and a sparkle from the depth of her mysterious green eyes.
Relverest allows himself a break and plays violin to accompany Shayliss, after wetting his throat with one of Sapphire's finer concoctions.
"A good day's work, eh Sapphire? Mm...this is like a sweet insidious poison. It isn't actually poison, is it?" He takes another sip, decide's it's safe, and continues to play while talking with a tilted chin. "What do you make of the silverware orienting themselves yesterday? Magic? Something in the sky? I thought that it had to do with lodestones, but it was all metal...lodestones only affect iron, don't they?"
He plays on, getting into the tune "The Varisian Who Lost Her Tattoo" with a sprightly bow.
Shayliss grins at the whip. "You know, I was actually thinking of picking one of these up myself when I had the chance! Anything you can twirl around behind you helps costuming wise, and it's nice to have something for when the crowd gets a bit too bold and decides to hop on stage too!"
"Well, I didn't just mean it as a prop... If you handle a whip well you can make your enemies fall where they stand without hurting them. I was quite busy myself at that time but I noticed how you fight. You cast a spell to make everything slippery and then came out of your cover to trip an enemy. No imagine you wouldn't have had to come out of your cover..." Lluvia winks to Shayliss. "Wanna try it? Trip me without hurting me!" She stand in position to make an attack for Shayliss relatively simple.
----
Later, when the casino closes she starts cleaning up a bit, cleans chairs and tables and then tris some of the more daring stage outfits herself, trying to balance sexy with mysterious and toying with long, black silken veils - and little else.
"How was the throughput today Mr. Vancasterkin? And did we find any particularly important customers, trend setters, alpha-animals and the like? We should let those win a bit if we can..."
She listens up as Relverest mentions 'something in the sky'. "Do you know anything about this strange darkness?"
"Nay, not a thing save that it's there and it's magical." Relverest switches to "Tiefling's Hotfoot", nodding with somewhat distracted approval at Lluvia's outfit. "It's a good thing you're trying to trip Lluvia and not Aine...she'd probably punch you in the face even while practicing," he says, adding jeté to the bow.
"Well, I'll keep practicing with it. Anyway, it seemed like we had a pretty good crowd in here last night, considering. Do you suppose the gendarmes there are close to catching whoever tried to rob everyone the other day?"
"Eek!" For a moment Lluvia looks completely flabbergaster and looses her composure.
"Well, that needs a bit training, but I am sure you'll get better at. Using a whip can be fun. I've heard."
Brom continues to walk around the catwalks above.
It is hard to tell whether the faculties of our minds are crazy or not. But if one is crazy by norms and standards, Brom might be crazy.
While he is walking on the catwalks, he seems to be having a one sided conversation. Speaking out loud as if someone is there.
You may call it strange, if you like. But maybe there is a higher purpose in this activity.
After a nights rest, Sapphire prepares Read Magic and reads through the spellbook taken from the wizard. She is disappointed when she finds only one spell she can really use: Identify. After a long day working the bar, fumbling in her new environment and producing a rather foul concoction of drink, Sapphire heads to her room to begin scribing the spell into her owl familiar. She tears out the page, burning it to prepare for a unique brew for Faye to consume.
"How's that taste? It should be a lot better than what I made downstairs." Sapphire asks while Faye drinks up the brew. "As much fun as it was seeing the reactions of all those who drank it, I don't want to jeopardize my employment here."
Faye drinks up the brew quite easily, absorbing it magical properties. "Haha! We did it! Thank you Calistria!" She exclaims while petting Faye. "That didn't seem so difficult. I'm sure the girls back home would be proud of us for our first successful scribe. Now, how about tomorrow we go ahead and sell this useless book off and see what else we can find in the shops?"
Lluvia looks a little puzzled at Sapphire, wondering whether she even wants to know what Sapphire is brewing there. "Calistria? Reactions? Girls? I... you didn't brew lust potions and spread them among the guests, did you?"
"I think I'm getting people riled up enough on my own there. Did you hear how loud they were whistling during that last number?"
Looking up from the mess of materials remaining from the brew to Lluvia, "What? Oh, no I was just having Faye here absorb the spell. That's an excellent idea though." Sapphire chuckles a little at the idea of a hall filled with love-struck drunks. "But I don't think Shayliss would like having a her fans trying to be too friendly with her."
"Well," Shayliss says with a little smirk, "I suppose that really depends on the fan in question."
"And what are the criteria, Shay?" Rel asks, eyes a-twinkle. "on an...unrelated? subject---I believe we are to be paid today. Perhaps we can go shopping..."
"Rich, handsome, kind, and not the sort of guy who's gonna go running off all over and forget about me," comes the quick and cheery reply.
Brom walks in hearing nothing that they said. "My pockets are completely empty besides 4 trail rations, I hope we get paid soon." He faces Shayliss. "Red haired lady... What is your name? I do not remember."
In the midst of the conversation between all of the new employees, Larur emerges from his office on the ground floor of the Goblin. He speaks up in his gruff dwarfly voice. "Folks! Saul wanted me to tell you that the first week of business has gone great. Much better than he could have thought possible - so he's giving you a raise." the dwarf then plonks down five bags of gold for them. Each contains 100 shiny silver pieces and five glittering gold pieces. "Keep up the good work." he says, with a rare smile.
Shayliss stares at Brom for a moment, wondering how he managed not to pick up on her name yet, and making a note to try 'The Mysterious Red Lady' as a future stage name, but is quickly distracted by the payment. A full third of what she managed to sneak away with from her father's store, in just a week!
"Thank you so much! Also, speaking of Mr. Vancaskerkin, do you happen to know how he lost his hand? I'd just ask in person, but, sometimes people are sensitive about those sorts of things."
As Shayliss stares at Brom, Brom's cheeks get flushed red. He feels a tension in his heart.
When she gets distracted, Brom remembers to breath with a gasp of air. "My Gosh!" Brom quickly grabs a bag and walks away.
Shayliss blinks in confusion as Brom flees. "Was it something I said?"
Seeing Brom hurry away red as can be, Sapphire walks up next to Shayliss. "Awww, looks like someone is a little nervous around pretty women. I think you should take his awkward nature as a compliment."
She turns towards the door, putting the payment in her satchel as Faye flies over to perch on her shoulder. "Well I'm off to see what this city has to offer in its stores. Perhaps I will see you some of you later tonight."
Lluvia listens to Shayliss with a knowing smile as she discusses the habits of her customers. "As a dancer in a club like this you'll have to live with your audience not exclusively being attracted by the artistry of your performance, but your radiant beauty and sexual attraction. As long as they just wistle, cheer and gawp... take compliment in it. You're in a way the Red Queen of the Golden Goblin. If they try to touch give them a slap on the fingers and give them a clear no. If they won't." Lluvia grins devilishly and runs her fingertips over the sheath in which she has her rapier. "Let me know."
She turns Larur. That went better than anticipated, indeed. Thank you!"
Shayliss stares at Brom for a moment, wondering how he managed not to pick up on her name yet, and making a note to try 'The Mysterious Red Lady' as a future stage name, but is quickly distracted by the payment. A full third of what she managed to sneak away with from her father's store, in just a week!
"Thank you so much! Also, speaking of Mr. Vancaskerkin, do you happen to know how he lost his hand? I'd just ask in person, but, sometimes people are sensitive about those sorts of things."
Larur leans in close and whispers conspiratorially to Shay, "I wouldn't know for sure, he doesn't talk about it, but I've heard tell it was punishment for some crime. Don't ask him about it, though,. If I had a stump, I wouldn't want folks gossiping about it." He leans back, then, and with a huff, he marches back into his office. "Sorry, folks, but it's about time I got back to work!"
Rel pockets the money with a smile and a quick thank-you to Larur. "No shopping for me--I have what I need at the moment. Although, the moment after that shall arrive soon enough...and I will gladly join the shoppers. There's always the opportunity to spread word about our fine establishment. Who's going besides Sapphire? ...and is Brom coming, or will our archer not allow himself within range of Shay's darts of love?"
"I can't really think of anything I need either, but I haven't really had a chance to show myself around the city."
Brom reaches his room. He opens and shuts the door behind him. He sits on his bed pondering. His mentor appears to him and starts speaking to him, Girl trouble? Her name is Shayliss by the way. Acted quite the fool just a moment ago. I see your bit hesitant of your new found employee friends. Brom lets out a sigh, "Yes, you are always perceptive sensei. I am not sure if I was protecting Releverest from danger or innocent customers from Relverest. He was blind, but he seemed to be willing to kill anything that came close in front of him. Lot of people in one room. Aine has not really talked to me after she got the job. Llvuia and Aine did not have too much of a problem killing either. Lluvia is really mysterious, she did not talk to me at all while we were working up in the catwalks. Sapphire was willing to backstab me, over a word, I can easily imagine what could bring her to the brink. Well, Shayliss... " His Mentor listens intently to what he has to say. You can't read their minds Brom, time will only tell. Killing is not something you should grow to love, but at a place like this you cannot avoid it. You can keep running, but you might have to release an arrow into someone's head sooner or later.You are in the most danger here, the monk code you follow is going to be tested.
Brom replies, "I... I... have only used my bow for only sustenance reasons.... rabbits and such..."
When the time comes I will personally instruct you. Let go of your fears. His mentor then disappears.
Brom then lays down on his bed. He continues to ponder. What Brom does not know is that the mentor is himself. This is not magic, but the power of the mind. Insanity may have ups as well as downs. If you call this insanity.
"Don't show too much, Shay; this is Riddleport, after all. Although it appears that Lluvia is your appointed protector," says Relverest. "Hm...I think Brom left. Was he muttering to himself?"
Lluvia takes the money with a friendly smile and puts it away. “Thank you.” she simply says and puts the money away. Her eyes follow Bromsen as he leaves and she nods respectfully to him. There is a little spark of curiosity in her eyes as she does so.
She turns to Relverest and Shayliss with a nonchalant half smile: “It is true, I am probably more fond of you than I should be; and if anyone wants to take more from you than you're willing to give, they'll have to deal with me. Just let me know whenever attention is undesired. I wouldn't wanna threaten a boy you actually like. However, dancing like this throughout the city outside of our own turf is inclined to incite misunderstandings…”
She pauses for a moment and her thoughts drift of to various scenes of dancing throughout her life, especially the dances with her late husband and her relatively unburdened youth. Inevitably her eye turn to the north-west the direction of the Mierani Forest.
“I miss dancing in a long gown in full moonlight...” she whispers softly and strangly distant as though she was in an entirely different world. But then she focuses Shayliss again and smiles. “Maybe we could make up a grand ball event. It wouldn’t be quite the same in this filthy city but it would be amusing to see how all the pirates try to conduct courtly. Besides, maybe some folks are more inclined to place bigger bets when we make them feel like lords.”
"A ball would be wonderful," agrees Relverest. "The interactions of courtly love are a delightful mix of ardor and diplomacy, not to mention music and a fine meal. And Lluvia, I myself am fond of fondness, as is my Lady Shelyn. If it is reciprocated, then the burden is light as it is carried by two people. If it is not, rest the other end upon the poet's scroll and write down words of love." He starts humming the tune "The Tanner's Daughter and the Errant Knight" absently.
"Well, if nothing else that sounds like it might get some classier people in here for a change."
Lluvia considers this thought for a moment. “I wouldn’t get my hopes up high… In the end this is still just a refurbished pirate harbor warehouse and decorations that imitate the flair of a ball hall in a palace or a magical grove in an elven court doesn’t really make it become that. We shouldn’t be expecting any more of our guests… but, if you know anyone of some class you like to invite it may be a good chance.”
In Lluvia’s mind she twists and turns the word 'classy', trying to figure out what to make out of it. She herself has represented the court of the elves in Mierani in Absalom for about fifteen years, accompanied or represented the ambassador to many court banquets and balls. That didn’t stop her from living in the filth for a long time, a person who doesn’t hesitate to kill another who doesn’t even employ deadly tactics with her blade if she feels the situation demands it. And many hands of classy people she had shaken and faces to which she had smiled honestly turned out to be that of schemers and enemies deadlier than any assassin with poisoned blades.
She raises an eyebrow to Relverest: “True beauty comes from the inside.” However, the way she pronounces it it is apparent she means more by that than the words suggest.
After an hour or so, Brom leaves his to room to go up to the second floor. He lowers himself down on part of the catwalks. He sits down with his leg crossed with the intention of meditating. He consciously controls the flow of his breath, breathing through his nose and out his mouth. His eyes close with a straight sitting posture. Brom would not want future back injuries.
He lets out a hum. "Ommmmmmm..." He lets out the sound in till he needs another deep slow inhale. He replicates the sound again using the same technique. "Ommmmmmmm..." He repeats the sound, making each one louder than the previous one. After 3 more of these, his mind is the void, calm and centered. He stops the humming and remains silent.
Brom sings the short song, "Monk On Hollowed Ground."
"On this hollowed ground."
"Meditation can be found."
"Half the time is in the dark."
"Let a monk light the spark."
"The other half can be bright."
"Then it must return to night."
"A balanced life will bring."
"Good hearts and good things."
"So that is why a monk sits down."
"Balanced on the hollowed ground."