Chef whispers to the others once they are away frome arshot. Should we try to send a message back to Pat Trone? We're getting real deep here.
I think we ought to wait a little before we risk any communication with the law. We don't really have any information yet; we can't even tell them where the hideout is we just came from. Let's start looking for this guy. Where are we exactly and do I know anyone around here?
Kraull shrugs, apparently he's just long for the ride and perhaps the money, although he hasn't shown any particular personal affiliation with the criminals, "Eh, if you guys know where the roughest bar is, I can probably beat the information out of someone. I mean, brow beat it out of someone with my charming personality."
Hmm..Hmm...I think I know someone at one of the inns who might be able to help. He sees quite a bit of ..er...those of dubious ethics come through.Let us go to the Sleeping Lizard
Rubin and Kraull are unsure where they are currently at. Chef, takes a couple looks around, and most of the building seem generic, but than he sees a stall selling cloth goods. The patterns and color scheme used helps Chef realize that they are currently in Littletown, a small village located North-West of Pitax. The city is chaotic neutral, and is slightly larger than your hometwon of Jasper.
Chef would be correct about Sleeping Lizard having a clientele with "ulterior motives" in life.
The three of you head over to the Sleeping Lizard. There are about 5-6 patrons, a hand barkeep, and a chef in the back barking orders to be picked up. Not a one patron, bats an eyelash as you enter.
"All right, so, eh, maybe Rubin tries the sweet talk first and it that don't work then I'll lay into them hard. That work?" Kraull suggests, his brow creased after this deep thought.
That sounds ok, I can help Rubin..work the crowd. Chef tries chatting up the bartender, trying to get a rapport going with another in the buisness
Rubin tries to be nonchalant as he sidles up to a rough-looking solo customer. Fine day out today, eh? Good day for a stiff drink. what have you got there? Good old ale for me... Rubin continues this inane blather hoping for a positive response. If he gets one, he asks about a local character named Tsai, being as discreet as possible.
Chef and Rubin, each chat up a local patron. The woman, Chef talks to is sweet. She hints at maybe Chef and her having a drink together, and that she has something to help take the edge off. He politely declines, and then moves on to a man in the corner.
The man looks at Chef, Uh, what you want?
Chef breaks the ice, by buying the man another round, and then asks about a good place to gamble.
Hpmh, well you could try the back room. Don't know if they will let you join though. Otherwise, try any back alleyway. You can always find a good dice game.
Chef than asks about Tsai, and the man looks you Chef, He owe you money too?
Rubin, starts a small conversation, after buy the man a shot. Rubin then inquires about Tsai, and the man laughs.
That rat bastard! Hell, if I knew where he was I would go after him myself, he owes me a few coin after losing a bet with me. Nobody will give him any more money, so he has fled. I would presume he has left town, but he knows out in the wild would be a bigger risk than staying here. Try the sewers, maybe since he is a rat, he lives with them down there.
Chef meets with the others. There is gambling going on in the back room but it looks to be for special members or regulars, we might be able to convince them to let us in and then find out something more with a little gambling.
That sounds more appealing than jumping into the sewers. Let's try that first. How much gold can we scratch together? Hmm...I've got over 200 on me. That should get them salivating at least.
Rubin makes his way into the back room (with Chef and Kraull if they are coming). Hey there fellas, my name is Rube and I heard there was some wagering going on back here. Mind if I join in? He jingles his coin bag.
I have about 200 I can spare. Chef follows Rubin. Hey yea, just wanten to know if we can join in the games.
Rubin and Chef take two steps into the room, when from the shadows step two men, rivaling the size and demeanor of Kraull go to flank Rubin and Chef respectively.
There is a man, sitting at the "head" of the circular table who doesn't quit puffing on his cigar, and doesn't even look up. He has grey hair and equaling greying beard and he speaks in a slightly raspy voice.
Usually, when people interrupt my games...they end up dead. So you best have a good reason for interrupting my game
Rubin and Chef, very confidently speak up to why they are there, and the fact they have 200 gold to toss into the middle of the pot.
The older man, looks up as he hears the jingle of the coin bag.
Hmm...really now. Adventurers wish to join my game huh. A 100 gold stake for the two of you huh. And what about tall green and ugly back there? He joining too, because that I would scoff at. But if you two babies wanna join, ante up. If you squelch on the money, I wouldn't wanna be you is all
You sit down at the table, and the game is 5 card poker, deuces wild. The game goes on for about a 2 hours and the conversation includes whiskey, to wine, to woman "conquered" in the days of the youth.
Towards the half way mark, an hour in...a man comes in whispers into the ear of boss.
Boss...found...business
Boss, we found Tsai. We will take care of business for you sir
Having spent all his money on equipment earlier, Kraull remains in the bar while the others gamble, drinking rotgut whiskey or the equivalent while he waits.
The drink in the bar earlier has addled Rubin's wits, and he quickly loses his buy-in. Oh well, the point isn't to win money, it's to win over these sleazebags and get some information. Wait...what was that he just said? Damn that racket in the bar.
As the conversation proceeds, at some appropriate point, Rubin explains his presence in town: My uncle sent me from New Stetven to find someone named Tsai. Seems my uncle loaned him a hefty chunk of gold to finance a cargo boat on the river. He's had no news from him in four weeks and wants me to make sure his investment is secure. If not, I'm to extract "interest" from him, if you know what I mean. Anybody know where to find him?
Rubin is willing to try another round of cards, if the opportunity arises. If so:
[oocc]Rubin, it would have been a bluff, not diplomacy. It would have been a 20, not a 24.[/ooc]
Rubin, easily fools the men, who are more focused on cards and wiping the floor with you rather than seeing through your fabrications.
Tsai, yeah he is in deep sh*t with us too. Don't worry, he will get his eventually, as he snickers at the thought of his last words.
Chef quickly becomes a nervous wreck during the game, somehow going from Poker to Go Fish in a manner that has the room going quiet in utter shock. He does angle an ear as the minon comes in and bumps Rubin with his elbow.
Er..Maybe this is a good time to just stop while we still have our shirts and skins.. heh..he..Whadda say, Rubin? Just get some air.
Yeah, it seems we're a bit out of our league here. Thank you gents, for the poker lesson, enjoy your winnings, with our compliments.
Rubin excuses himself and rejoins Chef and Kraull in the public room. Well, what now? I turned up 100 gold worth of nothing.
Chef whispers to Rubin and Kraull. I heard one of his men say they found Tsai and offering to go get him. If we follow, we can let them take any other dangers for us and jump in when Tsai is found.
"Yeah, that works. I mean, they'll probably see me coming a mile off, but it's worth a shot." Kraull replies as he then stands up from the bar and belches loudly.
Well let us wait outside for them to leave. Chef will head out as well.
Rubin tags along and skulks with the others in the dark alleyway, waiting for the goons to emerge.
The guy who spoke to the grey haired man, along with another thug leave the inn you were just at. They head north, then down an alleyway, and then open a grate at the end of a dead end. They light a sunrod, and proceed down into the sewers.
You follow behind, but don't get too far behind as to lose them. You head down into the wet, dank, dark sewers. Rats skitter along, darting in and out of the shadows to avoid you. You hear the sounds of water dipping from all directions, making you think that danger could come from anywhere.
You follow a dim light source ahead of you, presuming it to be the thugs from before. You follow for around 10 minutes, occasionally having to enter the muck of the sewers, and regretting every second of it.
At the end of the 10 minutes, you hear the screams ahead. You are positioned behind a wall, and cannot make out any shapes, except for the shadows that flicker on the wall from the sunrod the thugs are carrying.
Chef pats his vials that he is carrying. Well, let us get going! They might have found him!
"Yeah, let's go get 'em." Kraull says with excitement as his particular set of skills appear to finally come into play again. Drawing his greatclub, he makes a beeline for the screaming.
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Rubin readies his crossbow and follows behind the others, and begins singing, infusing his song with his newfound powers.
Kraull and Chef and Rubin
Warriors of Authority
Better watch out cause you been
Made a priority
Inspire Courage +1:
+1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects;
+1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Rubin starts to rally his allies to great deeds. The three of you step around the corner and there is a sight to behold. Before you is a crocodile. You see blood flowing from a man's leg, that appears to be trying to do his best to get out of the way from it.
Init:
Chef
Rubin
Kraull
Thugs
Tsai
Croc
Tracker: round 1
Chef: go
Rubin: go
Croc:
Tsai:
Thugs:
Kraull
What a shock!
A big ol' croc!
And if he don't kill
Those men, we will!
Remember, take Tsai alive!
Rubin feels unexpectedly energized by his own singing. Normally he would be running for the hills at the sight of a beast or dangerous men like these, but now he feels what must be blood lust running through him. He takes a shot at the crocodile. I guess I'll try to take this guy out first. We can deal with the men later. They're already half-dead by the look of it.
Attack--light crossbow
Reload
5-foot step to the side as needed to let Kraull by.
His first shot goes ricocheting off the walls of the sewer, to no effect.
Chef fires off a sling stone at the crocodile as well
The shot goes wild!
Tracker: round 1-2
Chef: crossbow misses, round 1, go round 2
Rubin: sling misses round 1, go round 2
Croc (6 damage): bites at Tsai
Tsai: swings at croc
Thugs: swings at croc
Kraull: go round 1
Chef aand Rubin, move forward at let loose a projectile each. Even despite being unaware of the impending attacks, both attacks clink harmlessly off the crocodile's thick hide.
The crocodile then takes another chomp at the man in the corner. The crocodile sinks its teeth deep, but the man is *just* nimble enough to move his leg just enough to allow the teeth to get nothing but armor. Only a scratch is left.
The man along with the two thugs from before ore each take a swing at the viscous beast. Only one thug is able to get by the tough defenses of the angry scaly beast.
Chef shoots another sling bullet at the croc
Drawing his greatclub, Kraull moves straight for the crocodile and tries to bash it.
Tracker: round 1-2
Chef: sling miss round 2
Rubin: go round 2
Croc (20 damage): bites at Tsai
Tsai: swings at croc
Thugs: swings at croc
Kraull: big swing, hit
-----
Kraull moves up, and takes a wild swing at the crocodile. Versus such a large beast, one would think that it might try to take a chomp towards the encroaching Kraull, but luckily for him it doesn't. He raises his greatclub, and contorts his hips to get as much force as possible as he brings the clubs down hard on the beast.
You hear the sickening thud of club on bone, clearly a few "ribs" were cracked from the power of the mighty half-orc.
Rubin continues singing and fires another bolt at the beast, trying to avoid hitting Kraull.
Smash that gator
And we'll eat him later
Kraull does the killin'
And Chef does the grillin'
Rubin takes a shot at the drop, but the bolt sails wide. Tsai takes a swing of his own. His swing hits the croc, but fails to penetrate it's thick hide.
The two thugs each attack the croc, not wanting to get killed so early.
The two thugs each leave a gash in the scaled beast. Despite the croc being angry, it has sustained too much abuse and falls.
After a few moments, all three men look at everyone there.
The thugs look at you three, We will be going now, as the strong arm who you presume to be Tsai and attempt to leave past your group.
Ahheheh..Well now, we didn't rescue all of you to be kind and generous. Tsai, you'll have to come with us, we're not gonna kill you but these two arn't in the deal. So they can walk out or be floating with the croc here.
Rubin reloads his crossbow and for once shuts his mouth and stands back. Chef and Kraull are probably better suited to this particular parley. Which one of these guys should I aim at, I wonder? He scans the scowling trio in his crosshairs.
Initiative:
Chef
Rubin
Kraull
Me
The thugs, appear to be less keen on handing over someone they took the time to track down, and more interested on taking you guys down. They look at you with a menacing gleam in their eye, but everyone is ready for the backstabbery.
Init:
tracker round 1
Chef: go
Kraull: go
Rubin: go
Blue thug:
Red thug:
"You're coming with us Tsai, there ain't no debate about it. I don't want to break any of your teeth, but I won't have no problems doin' it if you ain't cooperative." Kraull growls at the men with a scowl.
Kraull advances on the closest thug and tries to whack him with his greatclub.
Chef drinks his extract of Shield (+4 shield ac so AC 21) and waves his mace as he shuffles forwards ready to step forwards and attack(Drink:Standard, 5' step. Done)
Kraull steps up and clubs the man in front of him so hard...he ponders if he caused any permanent brain damage as he slumps to the floor, on top of the croc.
Chef drinks an extract and moves forward, right to the edge of battle.
Init:
tracker round 1
Chef: extract and done
Kraull: causes stupidity in blue
Rubin: go
Blue thug: permanently stupid...but at least alive
Red thug:
Yea wanna reconsider?
All right, my first chance to try Magic for reals! Rubin waves his hands about and tosses a handful of dust in the direction of Tsai and the conscious thug.
The thug, snickers at Chef, at the proposition to "reconsider" his choice of staying. He visibly starts to shake, and his muscles get slightly bigger as anger seems to boil over. He than takes a mighty swing at Kraull.
Init:
tracker round 2
Chef: go
Kraull: go
Rubin: go, may revise round 1 if you wish
Blue thug: permanently stupid...but at least alive
Red thug:
AC 21
Chef steps up and thwaks
Kraull looks offended by his sudden injuries and retaliates with another swing of his club. As greater than expected pain shoots through his body from the previous attack, he nearly drops his weapon.
Chef steps up and clubs the thug, who glares at him with anger. Luckily for him, Kraull almost looses his grip on his own larger club and misses badly.
Init:
tracker round 2
Chef: hits thug for 3
Kraull: misses badly
Rubin: go round 2
Raging Red thug: