Luke's Shadow in the Sky Thread (PFRPG) (Inactive)

Game Master Luke

Brenin, Isegrim struck down an old man and a woman on the lower part of the map. The old man might have been under the imps influence. I stabilized them after the fight using a faith trait, so if they are going to die it will be by the laws hands. The two you killed are worm-food.

Sorry for not being clear. The woman's death is indeed on Isegrim's conscience. Brenin slew a man as well. The two men taken down by Isegrim prior to his whacking at the woman were stabilized.

PS, new post coming...

Saul and the gendarme exchange words, then a nod as they come to an agreement. The gendarme doesn't even come back. He tasks some of his men to get a cart to remove the bodies while Saul comes back over with a wink and a grin.

"Sorry for that... what can I say to you? You people saved me alot of money and trouble tonight, that much is sure." He leads you over to the bar, affectionately named the 'Goblin's Tankard' which is on the opposite side of the casino from the cashier's box that everyone's lining up to get to.

He shakes his head sadly and ducks under the bar himself. "F~%%ing kid probably soiled his pants and bolted. Some of them guards will too." He nods over to the kids by the door. The ones who didn't help you then dove out of the way when the woman pointed the side-arm.

He fills a tankard for anyone who's drinking, then fills one for himself and takes a long pull.

Decidedly drinking. "I'll have one of those if you please. Your thieves were counting on that lack of loyalty in your guards for their success. Figured most would cut and run. Sense Motive is 7+2=9.

Feeling a need to fuzz his thoughts, Isegrim guzzles down a mug of ale and fills it up again.

Sense Motive
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

I didn't read that as you wanted a Sense Motive check after your post, but to not hold things up in case you did..

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Trystan is happy to drink on the house, and heartily does, but he also checks to make sure the blond he was chatting with is alright (if still present).

Not interested in virtual booty y'all, just following Tryst's script. Ha!

Lia takes a drink and considers this her lucky night. "So," she says to Saul. "It would seem you are going to be a little short-handed around here, no pun intended." Hopefully he can take a joke. "I don't suppose you have any job openings?"

Trystan, the blondie is nowhere to be seen. She was a short thing, and there is a mass of humanity (and otherwise) near the cashier right now. Most likely she is in the office or has left.

Saul spits beer foam and nearly chokes at Lia's barb. He holds up the key hand with a grin.

"Don't let this thing fool you dear. I'm still a gamer, and so is this place..." he waves his arm to take in the expanse of the game hall, which really is impressive. This hall is old and whoever restored it from its squalor seems to have done a very good job. It feels old without looking or smelling the part.

"But as it stands, I am short staffed. Let's discuss this upstairs, away from prying ears and eyes, eh?"

One of Saul's guards comes over shaking his blond head, his arms filled with a clutch of items taken off the perpetrators.

"Fine Hans. Take those things up to my office, then come back down here and draw six more pints. Bring them upstairs as well. And have Beyar total up and change out these people's chips at 150%, and bring that upstairs as well."

"And have this. It'll help your fortitude." He hands the young man a half pint that is kindly drained and returned. "You boys can finish this off," indicating the tapped barrel, "when those things are done and the last of our guests has left."

He lifts the bar gate to let you follow him upstairs.

I encourage skill rolls for Bluff if you're concealing something when you speak, Sense Motive if you think someone's bullshitting you, Diplomacy to improve attitudes, Intimidate to bully, etc. Sucks to spend ranks on something and never use it. That said, skill DCs are always lower if rolls are delivered with flavorful in-character zeal.

Sense Motive is 3+2=5.
I hand over my remaining three silver teeth and five copper hearts. "My next bet would have cleaned out the coffers of your Ghoulette wheel. I think the head was starting to take a liking to me. Fortunately for you I was interupted by the blinding light." I smile and shrug. Diplomacy check is 11+0=11.

I motion towards the items from the perpetrators. "I'm curious to see what they brought with them. The mage seemed rather well prepared with his bag of tricks." [/ooc]Perception check is 5+2=7 as I try to make out what's in his hands.[/ooc]

Sense motive 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Trystan politely offers his hand to Reese to help her traverse the stairs in her long gown. He glances back once at Brenin to see if it causes any reaction, ever the student of human nature.

"Saul, this place is amazing. A true gem of the city. Pardon me, but I know the last two years haven't been kind. How DID you negotiate this?"

Seeing Trystan take Rees' hand, a smile finds its way back onto Isegrim's face. The quickly downed alcoholic beverages are doing their job just fine, taking the sharp edges off of his thoughts and allowing good humor to settle back onto his shoulders.

At that moment he realizes there is an invisible and antagonistic imp unaccounted for. Isegrim loosens the throwing axe in its loop at his right hip and brings up the rear of the group.

Knowing it is likely useless, he strains his ears for the creak of the infernal bastard's leathery wings or the scraping of its clawed feet against the aged wood of the bar...anything that might indicate its presence.

Perception
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Hearing and seeing nothing, Isegrim still can't shake the feeling that this thing is out there. He decides it can't hurt to let the little shit know what will happen to it should it decide to cause any trouble for his friends.

Looking slowly around the main room and in a thunderous timbre, Isegrim bellows,

"Imp, I know you are within earshot so listen close and hear me well. Your best course of action is to be gone from here and never return. Your role in the happenings tonight is known and will not go unpunished should I ever see your wretched form again.

I know your kind and your cowardly, fearful, pathetic nature. But, if you somehow gathered what minuscule specks of courage you possess and thought to attempt to harm me or any of my friends know and believe this; it is an effortless thing for me to tear you into pieces and send you back to whatever hell you call home. I doubt I'd even have to put my beer down."

Intimidate...the description says if you're larger than the target you get +4. Not sure if that applies so I'm not going to include it in the roll. The +4 below is my normal trained bonus

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Lia realizes she might have hurt Saul's feelings with her hasty words. She hangs back a bit and lets the others go ahead. She is startled by Isegrim's bellow. "Damn, man, you nearly made me wet myself! I was thinking the same, but our deliveries are definitely different." All this is said with a laugh. She jokingly offers her arm to him and says, "Shall we join the others?"

My character came here looking for work. She'll use her diplomacy check to that end, when dealing with Saul. 19 + 5 for a 24. How's that for diplomatic, bee-atch!

Lia realizes she might have hurt Saul's feelings with her hasty words. She hangs back a bit and lets the others go ahead. She is startled by Isegrim's bellow. "Damn, man, you nearly made me wet myself! I was thinking the same, but our deliveries are definitely different." All this is said with a laugh. She jokingly offers her arm to him and says, "Shall we join the others?"

My character came here looking for work. She'll use her diplomacy check to that end, when dealing with Saul. 19 + 5 for a 24. How's that for diplomatic, bee-atch!

Isegrim holds the crook of Lia's arm and allows himself to be escorted up the stairs with a smile and low chuckle.

All guilt at dispatching the woman earlier fades away. After all, given a chance that scoundrel would have harmed Trystan or Lia.

Isegrim is a bit surprised at how quickly he has come to consider Lia a friend but it seems natural and he's not one to question instinct.

You guys have probably figured this out, but if you hover over the goblin map a tool-tip should tell you what the room is. Some rooms link to a page that shows the staff of the goblin. Arrows point up stairways, and if you click on a stairway it will take you to the level that the stair leads to.

Saul leads you up a steep winding stairway to the upstairs of the casino. The rooms up here are for Saul and his staff only. He digs into his shirt and produces a ring of keys on a chain around his neck. He selects a key and lets you all into a dark waiting room. Presently lamp light reveals two suede sofas and a table. The furniture has seen better days, but is comfortable enough.

Beyar deposits the small cache of items on the table and goes into Saul's office to get more chairs. The promised ale arrives and a small fire is lit to ward off the chill.

"So, let's see what the boys nicked off our thieves before they were carted out of here."

Everyone's eyes are drawn to a grand disappointment lying there in the center of the pile. The "pistol" that the woman threatened everyone with is a sham. A carved handle of wood with a piece of thin metal to fashion the barrel. A stage prop.

Besides that are a wand, a pair of metal bracers, a spellbook, a light crossbow and 50 gp.

"Of course you all are entitled to this stuff. I was hoping there might be something pointing these folks back to whoever sent them. Sure it's Zincher or Boss Croat. You don't act independently in this town."

"In the end, it doesn't really matter, right? We were looking for exposure tonight and that we got! No one around here's going to doubt that the Gold Goblin is back. Sure, we won't have sold enough alcohol to have broken even tonight, but that's almost not the point. Folks will be talking about the reopening of the Gold Goblin in Korvosa."

"The hard part is the inevitable reflection that the Goblin is not a safe establishment. A tiny bit of that is okay, but too much and we'll end up in the same place the old Gold Goblin was in, the hard-bitten crowd that scares off good money."

He looks you folks over for a moment and savors the drink in his hand.

Want to briefly discuss xp on the OOC thread.

Trystan takes a corner seat, near Saul on one of the fine couches. He leans in close.

"Tonight will be talked about for a long time to come Saul. Make a few fine adjustments to your staff" he gazes over towards Lia and Isegrim, "and I think you will make yourself a small fortune."

Diplomacy check to try and get Saul into a talkative mood. 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"Yes, that's exactly my way of thinking. I'd like to hire the lot of you. You worked together as a team very effectively. If word gets out that the folks who stopped the heist tonight are the permanent security for the Goblin... we could all make a mint of money."

"I'll cut you directly into the profits... Give you a stake in the place. The tavern desperately needs a personality like yours. Cayden and Desna have always been the patrons of this house. We're short of croupiers and muscle as well. What do you say?"

"I'm available at least for the short term and I could use the cash flow. Who is this Zincher and Boss Croat you speak of? If it turns out the Goblin is under organized assault, it might mean a more proactive approach is necessary. "

"What happened with the guards down there? It looks like corruption runs deep in this town." I try not to appear judgmental, just curious. Diplomacy check is 1d20 ⇒ 4

Isegrim leads Lia to a seat near Trystan and stands between the two of them, arms crossed and an eye on the door. He is trying not to show how unnerved he is at the thought of an invisible devil stalking him.

"Count me in, Saul. I have experience with the ins and outs of gambling and I've a quick eye for those that cheat." She's reluctant to offer help tracking down the perpetrators, however. She's struggled mightily to stay away from thieve's guilds and crime bosses. Unfortunately, she knows people in the business, and that might be useful down the road.

And again Lia muses out loud, "And what happened to Old Scratch? Shouldn't we be concerned for those left downstairs?"

"I have to be honest with you Saul, I have a great job already at the (Publician's) House. It's always busy, the money is great and I trust my fellow brothers implicitly. What might make me leave that and gamble on someone who won't even tell me how he performed this little miracle?" Trystan says as he gestures towards their surroundings. "All we know about you is that you used to have your fingers in a lot of pies around town, then you didn't have a pot to piss in and now... this."

"You might have a devil problem to boot" he ads as his eyes stop on Isegrim.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Trystan's had some epic rolls!
When Trystan mention the "devil problem" Isegrim quickly breaks out of his focus on the door, meeting Trystan's eye with a nod and then turns his attention to Saul and the conversation at hand.

He knows he'll follow where Trystan leads and he trusts his friend to make the right decision for them in these kinds of situations, so for the time being Isegrim remains silent.

He has come to understand over time that his silence often unnerves people into doing or saying things they wouldn't otherwise, even when he's not trying to influence them. Usually he's just thinking of what to say when they start blurting things out or sliding free beers to him. It can be a very handy tool.

Saul turns to Brenin. "Oh? I thought the boys were blinded like the rest of the guests. That's what Hans and Beyar told me. I was upstairs when the mage blinded everyone. I came down when I heard all the screaming."

There's a quick knock on the door. The dwarf peeks in to give Saul a status from downstairs. He also carries your winnings.

"This is Larur. He's floor manager for the casino. Larur's had a tough night, haven't you my friend?"

The dwarf shakes his head ruefully and crosses to offer his hand to each of you.

"Larur Feldin, at your service and grateful for the help tonight. Those young-uns weren't stoppin no one, and I was blinded myself. That b&@~# sure as the hells was skippin with everyone's cash."

He turns to Saul. "Would've been a complete disaster, boss. We'd a been out a business with that much debt to every man-jack in town. Goblin woulda been closin right back down again... after all that work."

Saul offers him the last tankard on the platter and another chair is pulled into the room. A fire is lit and the room starts to liven a little.

"Zincher and Croat?" he says with a smile. "Not from around here at all then?"

"Croat's an old pirate who runs about a third of the city's streets. Zincher's a thug but he's Sczarni, like most of the city. I made the mistake in my past life of running foul of both of them, and it cost me near everything, that much is true."

Feldin nods his head sagely in the corner, foam clinging to his heavy mustache.

"Not everything, though. A smart squirrel spreads his acorns all over the yard and only digs them up if he needs them. I called in a couple of old debts," this with a glance at Feldin, "and scraped together what was left to me for one last throw."

"And this place fell to me cheap! Relative of my wife inherited the place. Bingo, we're back in business, right?"

Feldin pipes up from the corner. "The wizard and his woman been hangin round the docks, last four or five days. Runnin jobs for Clegg Zincher. That's what three-eyed Harry told me as we were lockin the doors just now."

Saul turns back to Trystan...

Breaking this into more than one post to minimize the chance of losing it.

"But I'm determined to be shot of that crowd. I'm staying straight with Cromarcky and the genadarmes, Zincher and Croat be damned! Mixing in their worlds cost me nearly everything! My wife dead, my sons exiled... and my hand."

"I'm appealing to you as a man of Cayden Cailean. It wasn't sitting around serving drinks that led him to the Starstone. It was seizing hold of opportunity when it presented itself, and not letting go for anything. I can't promise you that owning a piece of the Gold Goblin will fulfill any purposes. I'd rather steer clear of Zincher and Croat than confront or provoke them."

"But shouldn't you think of the opportunity as a means of spreading the gospel properly? I'd think the brothers of the mug have the Publican House pretty well canvased by now. If another tavern is going to be run, I think Cayden would prefer that it be run competently."

"The devil's run off by now, but he'll be back and I'll have to deal with him. He owes me twelve more favors before he's released. Like I said... I had to call in all my old credits to get back on my feet."

Seeing some sour looks, he goes on.

"I haven't used him for anything nefarious! I'm done with that entirely. But we need all the allies we can get right now, even a compelled one. His little performance was part of the spectacle. Good gods, the stories that will swirl around town tomorrow!"

I just shrug at the mention of the guards.

"Sorry to hear about your losses. Sounds like you've dug up all of your acorns for this final go around. Maybe we can help see to it that things work out better this time."

"What's this Starstone you speak of and who has it?"

I just shrug at the mention of the guards.

"Sorry to hear about your losses. Sounds like you've dug up all of your acorns for this final go around. Maybe we can help see to it that things work out better this time."

"What's this Starstone you speak of and who has it?"

I'd think that's common knowledge.. http://pathfinder.wikia.com/wiki/Starstone. Forgive me if Brenin has a specific reason for asking

Yup. No check necessary. It's the artifact whose test Cayden 'passed' to become a god. It's rumored he did it on a drunken bet.

In Lia's experience, she thinks Saul has reason to be concerned. If he's determined to hold out against Zincher and Croat he'll need a strong group with him. She likes the looks of the dwarf and Brenin seems steady. She leans close to Trystan and says very quietly,

Trystan takes a moment to reflect. He is surprised by how convincing Saul's argument is. The Publician's House has always been his home. He knows he would be on a short list to replace Luther one day. On the other hand, Cayden is well represented there and every facet of the business was established before his arrival 24 years ago. He has always wondered what he could do to build up a new inn. If tonight's crowd at the Goblin is any indicator of the ongoing clientele, this place would offer him more opportunity to continue Cayden's good work and provide a way to test his talents. Maybe it's just the ale in his blood but it strikes him that perhaps he has needed a new adventure for some time now.

He turns his gaze to Lia and lays his hand on top of hers. "Ok Saul, you have my ear. If I were to consider this, we would have to be in agreement about a few things. Your 'security' is unacceptable. It's not safe for your customers, your staff or yourself. This place will undoubtedly draw spies and attacks from your competition on a regular basis. You must have people in place who can identify threats and act to suppress them before the trouble starts" he glances at Brenin and Isegrim. "You will definitely need a pit boss who is smart and sly and most importantly, local, to disseminate the chubs from the shiners" he pats Lia's hand. He looks over towards Reese who has been strangely quiet, "Perhaps the best way to dissuade another event like tonight would be to have a resident caster keeping her eye on the place. Wouldn't hurt if she could really fill out a black dress as well".

"So that leaves me. Just how much control of the day-to-day operations are you willing to give up? I would not come here to play banty rooster with another keeper".

He looks back to Saul. "All this thinking as made me thirsty. What are the chances you have a reserve of whiskey tucked away in your stockroom?".

Isegrim reaches forward to the desk and takes up the fake pistol. When everyone looks at him he shrugs and says, "you never know.. could come in handy. Looks real enough when it's pointed at ya."

Isegrim steps back to his spot and idly turns the 'gun' over in his thick hands. He starts trying to spin it on a finger, and after that proves frustrating he tucks it behind his belt.

Perception to see if there are any identifying marks on the prop gun that might point to a place of origin or manufacture

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

No marks on the pistol. It is a convincing prop, though. And it won't accidentally blow something off when you tuck it in your belt!

Saul stands and takes up his ale again.

"I'll cede the tavern portion of this establishment to your care entirely. You make the call on who stays and who goes, what gets stocked and tapped and what does not. A private kingdom where you may wage never-ending war upon staid sobriety." This is delivered with a belch.

"There's also the business of the Red Room, downstairs. Why don't I show you around this place, eh?"

Anyone object to a whirl-wind tour of the establishment?

Isegrim nods and waits to bring up the rear. He is intrigued by the large key Saul has for a hand and he looks around the office to see if the matching lock is evident.

was the lock on the chest we recovered operated with his hand-key?

Perception
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

And despite Saul's insistence that the devil is under his control, Isegrim keeps an eye out and occasionally jumps slightly if an odd breeze stirs the hairs on the back of his neck.

I won't slow the tour down talking to Saul, fire away

Trystan spits on whichever hand matches Saul's shakable hand, and offers it to him as he stands up.

"Too success, and excess!"

sorry guys, Ive been super busy with kid stuff. and you guys seemed to be doing great on the rolls.

Saul, I'll take my whiskey neat, and I'm in for the short term, I could use a little adventure. May I take a look at the spellbook? I lean over to pick it up. I think to myself, my other friends probably need a little cooling off period anyway. Distance makes the heart grow fonder so they say. I wonder if this post comes with a room. I look over at Brenin, Hey Bren, are you still interested in my feather? You and I may need to chat about some stuff...

I won't slow the tour down talking to Saul, fire away

Trystan spits on whichever hand matches Saul's shakable hand, and offers it to him as he stands up.

"Too success, and excess!"

"Here, here!!" exclaims Isegrim and he drains the final drops from his pewter tankard. He reties it to the leather thong at his hip, making a mental note to rinse it out later to keep it from stinking.

Pulling a silver-chased ebony pipe and matching tamper from a case in his belt pouch he packs the bowl with an expert touch.

He removes a sliver of wood from a small bundle he keeps for the purpose and lights it in the lamp on the desk. He uses the small brand to give the top of the smokeweed an even char and lets it go out.

He re-fires it and gives the pipe its final light, puffing on it enjoyably and exhaling the occasional perfect ring of blue smoke. It's clear that for the first time tonight, Isegrim is actually at ease.

To Rees. "Very much so. I came into town looking for information on the blot and I was told to seek you out. Any information you have would be greatly appreciated."

I'll leave the negotiations to Trystan and Saul. "We'll need to work out some signals, create a set of policies for handling situations and convey the necessary information back to the staff. We can probably stop most problems before they even start by being more organized."

It seems we're all in!

Lia is hyped and up for anything. Looking around, talking. She realizes she owes Trystan a conversation and will look for a convenient opening where they can chat without others overhearing. No one likes strangers looking at their dirty drawers.

Rees, after careful consideration of witch rules, I don't think the spellbook helps you. Scrolls would, since they represent a nearly completed casting of a spell. But you don't particularly care how this criminal wizard cast his spells.

To learn what the spells in the book are, you need to prepare read magic after some sleepy time or make a bunch of DC 16 Spellcraft checks after you have a chance to study the book.

There's a wand there as well.

Isegrim lets fly a particularly large smoke ring, watching it briefly with pride.

Motioning towards the desk with the stem of his pipe, he says,"you all might want to grab some of that stuff too. We earned it, after a fashion. I'm content with this little beauty as my share," motioning towards the fake gun at his belt," and you ladies can fight over the pretty little bracelets there." He says the last with a chuckle.

I move closer to Lia laughing Hey Lia, maybe we COULD wrestle for the bracelets. I bet that would draw a crowd and some cash.. What do you think Isegrim? I'm seeing a new form of entertainment here at the Goblin.

To Lia againUnless I miss my mark sister, you and I may both be able to use the wand. [I elbow her a little.] After a little shut eye, I can see if any of these things are magical or what the spells and wand may do for us. Maybe it will be something fun.

With the sudden interest in the recovered items, Trystan casts detect magic on the wand, the metal bracers and the crossbow.

He can sense that Lia might want to continue their conversation but his mind is racing with the potentially life changing decision he just made, how he plans to run the bar, what to stock and so on. Right now he wants to better look at this place. After that, he will try to speak with her alone.

Whoo! Sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day.

Saul gestures to the door behind him. "This is my office. The room we're in is just another waiting room where I like to host casual conversations like this one. The staff meets here a couple of times a week as well."

"Through here is the staff dining room," leading you through the door to the south. There are several chairs around a rather nicked up but evidently rich dining table. The walls are lined with tapestries of nymphs and such. Saul crosses the room to a glass fronted case and pulls back the tapestry beside it to reveal a concealed pocket door.

"Now here's a surprise for most of you I would bet..." as he opens the door. Beyond is a large dark room - apparently filling the entire underside of the brass-plated dome. The 'floor' of the room, several feet below the entrance, consists of a red gauze material stretched tight to form the red cloth ceiling seen from below.

"Down there," Saul points through the material to a part of the game floor still illuminated by the last lamp burning, "the material is completely opaque. No lights are allowed up here."

The entire room is crisscrossed by catwalks supported from the ceiling by a complicated framework of beams. Saul steps out on to the catwalk and walks out over the gaming floor, lamp held high. "Obviously, from here a spotter has a great way of watching for cheaters - when he's not holding a lamp that is."

He gives you a few moments to ponder the view, then continues with the tour. "Really the rest of this upper floor is staff quarters, though half the space is unoccupied."

The room south of the dining area is a living area complete with 4 bunk beds, dressers, a desk and a fireplace. It also has a thick layer of dust on most of its surfaces.

"Haven't even used this room yet. Not enough hands to justify it. The other staff quarters by the stairs is where Hans and the boys are lodging. I try not to go in there very often - they don't get much privacy as it is."

He leads you back downstairs to the ground floor, stopping in the tavern to retrieve the requested whiskey.

Feel free to interject anywhere in that sequence if you like. I'll continue the tour in tomorrow night's post.

Trystan, your focus on the items entitles you to some rolls. The wand and the bracers radiate faint magical auras. Knowledge(arcana) will tell you their school, and subsequent spellcraft checks will identify the items positively.

Otherwise it's identify or my favorite, blind use.

I just realized where all the bracelet talk is coming from. While I am the person most in favor of a wrestling match, there are actually no bracelets to be had. They are bracers. Kind of like arm greaves.

Yeah, I just wanted to find out what was magic for now. Might need Rees to figure them out.

Trystan would take the light crossbow if it weren't for the fact he has one almost brand new leaning up in his closet at home. He eyed the bracers for a moment but lost some hope as those are rarely intended for men of slight build like him.

"Rather than actually split it up those coins like some kind of savages, what say we blow it on a party for the remaining staff tomorrow night? After we fire all the dead weight that is." he laughs and fixes his eye on the newly arrived whiskey bottle.

Party!!! Excellent idea Trystan. I will have to get some sleep in order to identify some of those magic items. Perhaps tomorrow.

Saul pours himself a healthy tumbler and leaves the bottle with Trystan. He spreads his arms and smiles, taking in the tavern. The oak bar itself has seen its fair share but wears its age very well. The stock behind the bar is fair to poor. Saul shrugs apologetically.

"There's wine in the cellar and more stocks in the back room, but I won't lie to you. The Publican House probably has no problem drawing stocks from local tradesmen, but things aren't so easy when you're the new guy in town."

"I made an agreement with a runner named Camber Tosk, captain of the Foamrunner who claimed to be able to deliver Imperial Firewhiskey from Westcrown in time for tonight's tournament. That was obviously too good to be true."

He hooks the lamp on his key-hand and takes the whiskey is his other, then leads you back onto the gaming floor. Over by the locked front doors one of the guards sits on a stool and smokes.

"Evening boss!" he calls across the room. Leaning on the stool beside him is a wooden bat.

Saul leads you over to the attendant's desk and the door to the hotel wing.

"Nine rooms, most of them with a fireplace. Two of them taken tonight, so we'll refrain from poking around too much."

He leads you around the inside of the floor, ducking in to show you the kitchens, dining rooms and cashier's cage.

"This is Larur's domain. He runs the books and is going to make sure we stay solvent." Larur takes the lead here, unlocking the guard door next to the cashier's grill. Another guard sits here. In the room beyond an older woman sits counting stacks of copper and making tally marks on a sheet.

"Just finishing up, sir." She says as Larur leads you all into the counting room. "Just about to lock it all up and go home." Behind her is the vault which you all get a brief glimpse of before Larur ushers everyone out.

"Sorry, but interruptions are how mistakes happen."

"So, shall we look at the lower levels?" Saul asks.