The one in the corner is the one with the Cbow, the other two currently have whips out.
That's everyone...
Mylvwara waves her hand and under the ground beneath Ori's foe a substance forms on the gound, stretching back to fill the passage behind him.
Stronghand 1 is surprised to see this happen, and jumps in surprise...
and promptly falls flat on his back.
Stronghand 2 will narrow his eyes and try to club Mylvie... prompting an AoOp from Lauranna.
Ori moves up to the man lying on the ground, careful not to step in the slick oil, and holds his blade to his throat. Drop the crossbow slowly or he dies, and then you do shortly afterwards.
Amnur, ready to spring at the slightest agression, charges and bull rushes the man charging at Mylvie (provided he is still standing, I don't think he will be with the way Lauranna has been rolling). If Lauranna doesn't take him down, the dwarf tackling him from behind at knee height certainly will.
Seeing things go from bad to worse, Shilyn quickly picks up an item from one of the shelves. "You just can't take them anywhere," she muses as she holds up the item in her hand. Hoping to at least distract the thugs, she yells out, "Hey! How much you want for this?"
Crossbow man puts his crossbow down and raises his hands into the air.
Lauranna makes sure that noone moves towards her companions with hostile intent.
Seeing the battle well in hand, Flori struts around and winks at the shopkeeper.
You better just kill me. says the one at the wrong end of Ori's blade. It would be a far better fate for us than *she* would do, ahving failed her like this. he finishes with a shudder.
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Carefully putting the item back on the shelf, Shilyn shrugs. "Well, there's a first. We didn't even break anything." she says as she calmly walks over to where Ori has one of the thugs at sword point.
"Well.. let's see if I can convince you to talk." Her voice takes on a sudden ominous tone as she squats down next to the guy and mutters something quietly.
A softly glowing rune appears on the thugs hand and she grins. "Way I see it, you have only an hour or so before your hand starts itching.. a bit later, it'll turn black. As the itch moves up your arm.. well.. you get the idea. May take days to die, but oh well right?"
With a shrug of her shoulders, she continues. "Or, you can talk now and save yourself some pain." Taping her finger against her lip, she adds, almost as an afterthought, "Um.. I hope that's not the hand you use when you use the jacks.. it does spread you know."
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Lauranna listened to Shilyn, and winced as one of her haunts took exceptional glee in knocking something fragile off a nearby shelf. "You just had to tempt them, didn't you Shilyn?"
"As for you, I'd start talking, or this could get very uncomfortable. Right now, none of us has done anything we can't walk away from, but I don't suggest taking it any further. Please, help us to help you, and answer the questions."
"She?", quips the tiefling, his blade unwavering against the man's throat.
"Who's this she? Start talking or I'll take you up on your offer."
Fear in his eyes, he says nothing.
Senzer steps forward and says "I might be able to help you out with those questions... Can we tie the men up and all move into my private rooms in back?" he says, flipping a sign on his window and locking the door.
Everyone clears the weapons and uses various "tactics". The man looks down at his hand, and he isn't sure what "use the jacks means" (nor am I, actually...) but he is clearly afraid of seeing it there.
"Tell them, but tell them everything... I'll make sure to fill in the details, just make sure that .... THING... doesn't spread on my body!"
Taking you into a backroom dwelling, and leaving the "thugs" behind a locked door in some sort of closet area, Senzer wipes his brow and wrings his hands in his leather apron.
“Thank you, Pathfinders. I’ve been expecting you ever since I stopped contact. Tragic illness grips my poor son, Roald, and a woman named Lura Ichon claimed to have a cure. I signed away my entire operation to the heartless wench to cure my son, but I have recently found that the elixirs she sends every day are diluted with cheap rum to the point of being almost useless. In exchange she’s worked me sunup to sundown manufacturing drugs for her little den of vice, the Sanguine Pit. Being so close to Consortium operations for 12 to 16 hours a day, I had no way of contacting the Society without sending off alarms."
“I know she found a real cure for my boy—tiny amounts of it in those elixirs she sends keep him from getting worse— but I can’t march into that bar of hers and demand it. And as soon as she learns what you captured her men, she’ll kill me and Roald, and everyone else involved. I gave the Society everything I had for three years. Now, I need you to return the favor. If you want any help supporting your excavation, yes I know about that, I need that cure for my son, and some guarantee that Lura Ichon won’t dump us in the bay the moment you leave. I'm going to need to come back with you, as once it is learned that I am working with you there is no place for us here anymore. So, don't die, I guess. Do you have any questions about what you are about to face?"
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Amnur listens, ready to help the man until he starts to ask for the favor of three years of paying him everything the dwarf owned for three years straight! Luckily Amnur realized before saying something silly, that the man just wanted help to hear his son, not three years of servitude, phew! "Of course we'll help man... I'm not sure how we'll stop Lura Ichey to leave you be, but if we're lucky she'll attack and we can just kill her while defending ourselves. How many man have you seen in her employ, and do you have a suggestion as to a time we ought to attack? I'm all for barging in, but sometimes me friends get annoyed when I do that." He gives a sheepish grin to those around him, eyes wide and innocent.
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"I'm truly not a violent man, but I think I may have to kill someone.", frowns the tiefling, growing sullen at the travesty towards Roald.
"Where's the Sanguine Pit and how does she fight? I'd like to know how susceptible she is to being stabbed in the back - repeatedly."
"And Amnur, not sure how everyone else feels, but I'm more than willing to make the first move; might be better anyway. We wait to long and she'll get suspicious why her goons haven't returned, them being tied up and all."
Lura is the proprietor of the Sanguine Pit, a seedy bar that is a front for drugs - unfortunately they have recently of my make and design - .
Also they have animal fighting and the occasional - and super illegal - human fighting event. They do have a mean cocktail there... I think they call it the "Mikalveeck." However, your task will be much more dangerous than ordering drinks. She has a bodyguard that stands over 7 feet tall and never leaves her side. There is a rumor that it is her twin, because it looks just like her features, but it is so much larger than her and never talks, that I doubt that is the case.
She is an important trade captain for the Consortium, so once it gets out that you have made an attack on her most of Bloodcove will be after you for the reward, not to mention likely the Consortium itself.
As far as a time, she NEVER leaves the pit, and there are customers during the night - bloodthirsty as they may be - and a whole FLEET of soldiers in the day on patrol during the ... ummm... errr... crafting. he barely gets the last word out, filled with such shame. She has as many soldiers as she wants or needs, but there are much less at night when there are customers, because it makes the patrons uneasy to be drinking around so many guards. Also, the less guards the less "bonuses" she has to give for looking the other way at the drug use and fighting at the bar. She makes a good amount of money off of the ... stuff ... that I make for her, so she has everything that she needs brought to her, and that way she can keep a close eye on everything, and have money to run her operation and give the consortium what's left for their protection. I hate myself for that, knowing that I am the cause of such evil, but I can't seem to get myself to say goodbye to my only son..." Tears well up in his eyes, and he seems to not be able to speak for a minute or so, as he looks down at the ground.
You ask the guards how long before they are missed, and they are on a rotation. If they don't stop in before nightfall then they will be missed . She already suspects Senzer of mistrust. She has been increasing his guard from one to three in the last week, making sure that he isn't up to anything.
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"So, we get the caravan arranged, on the edge of town and ready to go, with Senzer and his son inside a wagon.
Then as night falls, we pay a visit to the Sanguine Pit, the Blood Bath.
We should have some time to scout the place before we start to make ourselves busy too."
I rub my temple thoughtfully, "What do you think?"
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Amnur grins, "And do a bit of scouting eh? Smart lass. Lets get this caravan figured out and Senzer squared away, and then Shi can do some scouting and we'll move in before midnight after the patrols are away from the Pit and before the guards leaning are Senzer are missed." He says all this with much excitement, as if he'd thought of the entire plan himself.
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I'll go with whoever wants to get the caravan going. I'm fresh as a daisy.
Flori hasn't cast so much as a cantrip. She'll accompany whoever wants to secure a caravan or something comparable, and look bodyguard-y. She'll stay close to Senzer.
What do we do with these guys? Just let them go? I say we bind them and leave them in the basement, or a closet, or something. They might escape, but probably not too soon.
Plenty of time til dark. 5 or 6 hours hours until dusk, 7-8 for full night (it's about 1 p.m. our time, give or take).
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I raise an eyebrow and give Amnur a disappointed look.
"Let's head over to the caravan then. Shi can blend in with the Sanguine lot but I am an academic researcher who needs her band of mercenaries to keep her safe."
I turn to Senzer, "Do you need a disguise? How quickly can we fetch your boy?"
As he is gathering his things I ask him quietly,
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Lauranna grimaced at the thought of what she had to do, but it was necessary. Looking each of the trussed up thugs in the eye, she said quietly, "Like as not, after tonight Lura will no longer be of concern to you. However, as you need some plausible deniability and we can't have you getting loose and trying to curry favor with Lura..."
With three mighty blows, she slams the haft of her heavy baridiche into the head of each man, aiming to knock them unconscious, rather than kill them.
Finishing that, she straightened and moved to Senzer's side. Pulling small scroll from her belt, she handed it to him. In a quiet voice, she said "This is for you. It will not matter unless we can succeed in pulling you and your son out from the influence of this druglord, but I urge you to consider it carefully."
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"Well, I guess that's settled then," she says with a roll of her eyes toward Lauranna. "Nothing like a little forced nap time to keep the children happy." With a shrug of her shoulders, she gives the other woman a big grin.
Looking at the others she continues, "Ok, so we're going to load wagons first then scout the drug den?"
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Amnur nods curtly, glad to be back in action --as he didn't get much exercise their last skirmish, "Righto missy, lets go load a wagon!" and starts to walk out of the shop towards the wagons. Getting outside he looks one way and then the other, then sticks his head back inside, "Anybody know which direction we ought to go?"
Mylvie. Yes he does, and he shows you where, free of charge.
He looks quizically at Amnur for a second, and then watches Lauranna punk 3 guys into dreamland, and that is somewhat unsettling and satisfying at the same time...
At Ori and Amnur's suggestion of *where* to go, he seems to wake up out of whatever phase he was temporarily in and shakes his head quickly as though to clear his head.
Raimondo? Oh I'm sure you will find him in his hole in a wall place of operations, or most likely in the Wandering Way, lately. I don't know if you know much about him, but Raimondo used to be a highly placed trade captain of the Consortium, but he was a little too good for his job, and not even close to cutthroat enough. He got very wealthy, and a little softhearted as to the treatment of the people here in Bloodcove. He was particularly sweet on a lady about a half a year ago. Unbeknownst to him, they burnt her place down because her family wouldn't pay their "protection fees." They also took her into custody, and well... you can imagine. She came out later, but wanted nothing to do with him for his position. Figured he was behind it all.
He told his superiors a few things in a rage and they beat him to within an inch of his life, robbed him blind, and cut off one of his pinkies. They told him they would finish the job, if he ever saw him on property again. Last I heard he was at the inn renting a broomcloset of a room, drinking himself into a stupor, and trying to win money off of anything that moves to afford the next ride out of here. Yeah, he's probably there.
The humid stink of Bloodcove mingles with the reek of sweat
and the sickly-sweet odor of tropical plants and exotic tobaccos.
The foyer of the guild house looks more like a tavern than a
place of business, with tables carved from dark jungle woods
and overstuffed cushions. Older men and women mingle or
brood over their drinks, while strapping young toughs claim the
area around the cold hearth.
Across the room, a swarthy, moustachioed man bellows in anger. He sweeps an arm across the tabletop shared with a redcheeked companion, spilling drinks and playing cards onto the carpet. “You bashterd,” he drunkenly shrieks, “You cheating Li'l bashterd, Elanzo! I need thoshe animalsh! I have a client whoshe paid fer my caravan!”
The broad man wrings the remains of his drink out of his shirt. “No one cares, Scevola. Those were the stakes, and your horses will be chow for my men before we set sail in the morning!”
“You shlipped shomethin in mah drink! You’re taking my horshesh over mah dead body!”
Elanzo simply shrugs at this and snaps his fingers. The large brutes gathered by the hearth stand up and begin moving toward the pair.
Map up. Surprise Round.
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Finishing that, she straightened and moved to Senzer's side. Pulling small scroll from her belt, she handed it to him. In a quiet voice, she said "This is for you. It will not matter unless we can succeed in pulling you and your son out from the influence of this druglord, but I urge you to consider it carefully."
Flori nods. It's a great opportunity. We've got to get you both out of here, first.
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Lauranna's murky eyes took in the smoky atmosphere as she waded into the sea of humanity. Her ears, much sharper than her eyes, heard the commotion, and her blood froze at the sound of the man's name. Swiftly, she stepped forward, holding her baridiche in a very non-threatening manner.
"Excuse me, but did I just hear you call this man Scevola? As in Raimondo Scevola? Thank the stars and the Sword Lady. I have been looking for him everywhere. They told me he would likely be srunk, but no one said he'd be drunk stupid. How in the nine hells is he supposed to act as my driver when he's like this, I'd like to know. Perhaps we can work something out?"
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Amnur strides along purposefully on their way to the Wandering Way, a mostly-permanent sneer on his face. But it turns out the sneer just makes him look like a half-wit, little does he know.
Amnur follow close on Lauranna's heels to take in the same scene, quickly catching her tactic and trying to help -in his own special Amnur way.
"Yeah! Plus I got me a big, nasty bone to pick with Mr Scevalo, or Scevola I mean. We'd be owing you one if you let us take him off your hands!
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Sneaking up to the Wandering Way and taking point, Oriandor overhears the exchange and immediately moves and tries to talk down the brutes while moving in; at the very least he'll get close enough to ensure Raimondo isn't slain while diffusing the situation.
"Now now, gentlemen. I'd hate to interrupt your game, but I am Mr. Scevola's client. You must understand that we need our driver in good shape and he needs his animals to provide the service we hired him to perform. As a fellow businessman, I'm sure you will understand why it would be best to leave Scevola alone; he'll be much more valuable to work and associate with after completing his services."
Flori, movement check = disguise check. I actually need 1 more of these from you, and the roll that you gave me just barely is fine, no need to reroll that one with bonuses applied (ie, you made it on that one). I didn't get one from you the last go around, however. See description below.
As you walk through the crowds (some inconspicuosly, some not so much...) you hear slight whispers and pointing from some in the crowd. Nothing to alarm you, but it just seems like people are a little more wary and untrustworthy of you.
Sneaking up to the Wandering Way and taking point, Oriandor overhears the exchange and immediately moves and tries to talk down the brutes while moving in; at the very least he'll get close enough to ensure Raimondo isn't slain while diffusing the situation.
"Now now, gentlemen. I'd hate to interrupt your game, but I am Mr. Scevola's client. You must understand that we need our driver in good shape and he needs his animals to provide the service we hired him to perform. As a fellow businessman, I'm sure you will understand why it would be best to leave Scevola alone; he'll be much more valuable to work and associate with after completing his services."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Bluff to pose as a merchant: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Lauranna's murky eyes took in the smoky atmosphere as she waded into the sea of humanity. Her ears, much sharper than her eyes, heard the commotion, and her blood froze at the sound of the man's name. Swiftly, she stepped forward, holding her baridiche in a very non-threatening manner. Hearing Ori's attempt to sway him she joins in to back him up on his claims. "Excuse me, but did I just hear you call this man Scevola? As in Raimondo Scevola? Thank the stars and the Sword Lady. I have been looking for him everywhere. They told me he would likely be srunk, but no one said he'd be drunk stupid. How in the nine hells is he supposed to act as my driver when he's like this, I'd like to know. Perhaps we can work something out?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
The rest of the group chimes in as well.
At first the burly man looks at you with anger in his eyes, as if he might order his men to attack you instead. But upon pondering your words, he tells them "Stand down, men. At the ready... . They stop advancing towards Raimondo and turn to face you, looking disappointed at the opportunity perhaps lost to pummel someone. They watch your interaction with him to see if you all might take Raimondos place with the pummelings instead.
He lets go of the Raimondo and strolls over to you, very confident."I guess he wasn't lying about his business with you. Never can tell with this poor wretch, nowadays. It seems like we have ourselves a predicament here. I have just won the horses off of your man here fair and square. I bet my ship against them, so it was a fair offer of mine against his...
"You cheated!" yells Scevola from behind the line of men.
"And you didn't?" he says back to the man.
"Anyways... I have some winnings here that will buy dinner for my and my first, and some entertainment. I have horses that will either fetch a price, or be food. I don't care either way. So, if we are done here, you can see if he will sober up enough to pack whatever goods you have to put on his own back and carry. IF you'll excuse me..." and he motions for his men to leave. He is making it pretty obvious that he doesn't intend to leave just yet, and is basically waiting to see whether or not you will say anything to him. His men don't move. It is pretty clear that they have seen this before, and are waiting for him to actually leave before they go.
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Amnur looks to his well-mannered counterparts and then speaks up, "You folks seem to enjoy a game, what about you wager your winnings against us? Could have ourselves a contest or match of somekind? If you've got the stones for it a'course!" The dwarf barks a laugh, taking the edge off his harsh words.
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"Ahhh, my associates have arrived! What good timing, my dear fellows!", as Oriandor motions his outstretched arm to the now burgeoning group. Listening to Amnur's bravdo, the tiefling shakes his head and politely replies, "No need for that good fellow, I think this can be resolved much more efficiently." He then turns back to Elanzo.
"Captain, we indeed are in a predicament. For my man, Mr. Scevola, to do his job, he needs those horses. Again, as a fellow businessman, you must know that one does not do well here in Bloodcove by simply playing nice... and I do believe my associates and I do outnumber you. So why don't you just call this a friendly game and go about your day.", his hand now outstretched to Elanzo to accept.