Beliza returns to the corner table, the shanty-singing halfling in tow. The lady introduces herself, Moina, and Aghon before asking the halfling to introduce himself. Beliza waves one of the serving wenches over to take the order for another round. Eventually, she gets around to business.
"I need some reconnaissance on a big human fellow called 'the Captain'--Aghon here's healed the lug after a few o' his bar brawls an' might know one o' his favorite haunts," Beliza says. "Word is he's a mean drunk, but I have a friend in need of hired muscle so I need to know if this Captain's dependable. I want you folks to observe him; ain't heard o' him beltin' a woman or one o' the small folk, so you'll likely be safe enough if he don't catch on to you. I'll give you 5 gold each--plenty for food and drink while you're on the job with some left over for your troubles. Interested?"
Augghh sighs in relief and heads back into the kitchen, wondering what he'll do with the gnome.
The Crescent Watch heads into the kitchen as unobtrusively as possible (meaning "not very unobtrusively at all"). There, they ask Aggghhh where the dead gnome is and inquire if there's a rice or potato sack they can use to transport the body elsewhere. Once the corpse has been bundled up and disguised, the Watch sneaks out a back door bearing their grisly load.
One man is thoughtful enough to thank the dwarf cook for his quick thinking but the other two (their eyes running) just want to escape the wizard's overbearing stink.
Agggh waves to the guards, thankfull that he didn't have to indulge in any barbarity.
Moina is glad to see that her 'follower' or whatever that was is gone. Perhaps she imagined it being after her.
Finally they arrive back and after the watch goes into the kitchen she makes her way back to the same table as before, avoiding the goblins. She is agreeable in assisting Beliza. Five gold pieces just to watch someone? Easy money she thinks while she is here.
Hells, for five gold pieces I'll interrogate the guy if you want. Culder's got a mean streak, no doubt, but I think he tries to aim that meanness in a particular direction, if you get my drift? How long do you want us to observe? When should we report back? Where! should we report back? Should we find you, or will you find us? Barmaid! He hollers over the group. Another round over here.
5 gold just to watch a fellow? I'd be an utter bilge rat to turn that down. Seems easy enough, especially with a few others that look a bit shinier than I do.
Aye, seems a reasonable wage for something as dangerous as eavesdroppin' on a mean lugger like your Cap'n. I'm in! Jarvis exclaims as he looks around for his next round.
"Off with yer, now!" Culder hollers at the sailors, never taking his eyes off the bounty hunter.
Once they're out of earshot he asks, "Yer sayin' ye know men what'll pay bounties here in port? I can't 'fford word ta get out that I be takin' bounties, but I could use some coin... in'er'stead in a silent partner? Split the work, ye claim the boun'y 'n' the name, 'n' then we split the gold?"
"Couldn't be too bad, having a bruiser like yourself around." Jordan bites on his thumb a bit, considering the idea. "It's a deal," he says, holding out a hand. "If you hear of any bounties, get word to Jon Banner at the Rusty Drum. He'll be able to get word to me, and he'll be around to contact you."
"Whoa now, I think yer missed me meanin'..." Culder answers taking the archer's hand, "I ain't 'bout to go lookin' fer boun'ies. I'd ne'er find a crew af'er that. If'n ye find boun'ies ye have ole Jon lemme know where ta meet ye to bring 'em in." Now that they're so close he crouches a little and looks inside the hood trying to get a good look at the man's face... ... then releases his hand.
Beliza nods at her three new acquaintances, digs into her belt pouch, and then surreptitiously hands each of them five gold coins.
"I'm told the Cap'n often drops by a dive up the road to the north called the Rusty Drum," the woman says. "He generally sleeps in, but by early afternoon he's usually got a good start on gettin' drunk an' punchin' faces. You can start there. He's also been in fights at Chugg's Place an' the Gulls' Nest Inn."
"Let's say we meet back here--same time--two nights hence," Beliza says as she stands. "You can make your report then."
After telling the older serving girl to put the rest of the party's food and drink for the night on her tab, Beliza bows her head slightly and heads for the door. She stops suddenly, however, returning to the table bearing an impish grin.
"Oh--should your mark catch on to your spyin' an' pummel you all about the head an' shoulders...make your way to the shrine o' Besmara a couple blocks southwest o' the Rusty Drum an' I'll try to see that you all get fixed up again. Good luck!"
With that, the Besmaran lady takes her leave.
The half-orc at the bar swiftly gulps down his drink after Beliza leaves and then departs himself, perhaps a minute later.
"Whoa now, I think yer missed me meanin'..." Culder answers taking the archer's hand, "I ain't 'bout to go lookin' fer boun'ies. I'd ne'er find a crew af'er that. If'n ye find boun'ies ye have ole Jon lemme know where ta meet ye to bring 'em in." Now that they're so close he crouches a little and looks inside the hood trying to get a good look at the man's face... [dice=perception]1d20+5... then releases his hand.
Anzetri Vermardri--half-elven owner of the Frog & Grog--puts in a rare appearance at the establishment. He confronts the dwarven cook Aggghhh in the kitchen.
"Whatever possessed you to serve gnome to those goblin scallawags??!!" he demands of the cook. "Yes, yes--you say that you didn't actually cook the gnome, but you gave that appearance to everyone in the tavern and utterly ruined the fine reputation I've managed to build for the place. Appearance matters more than mere fact in this instance--the rumors have already begun to swirl, and I will not have it!"
"And what is that infernal stench? It seems to be coming from you! There's an old elven saying--'You can judge the quality of a cook's food by his own aroma,' and you, good sir, simply reek! Your personal hygiene reflects poorly on the quality of what comes out of your kitchen, and--in conclusion--you're fired!"
Vermardri pays Aggghhh the wages owed him and demands that the dwarf immediately vacate the premises.
Jarvis tucks his coins into his coin purse before letting the edge of his shirt fall back over it. Glancing around the bar as Beliza leaves, a half-orc that had swept in earlier quickly downs their drink and leaves the bar after Beliza.
Oy, did you two see that? Someone was following our sponsor for the evenin'. I don't reckon that's a good thing, do you? Jarvis says, pointing at the back of the half-orc as they sweep out of the bar.
Takes the halfling songbird's word for it. Or maybe he's a paid bodyguard that keeps his distance? That girl's got a lot more going on than she's willing to admit. I might not know much, but I know that. Aghon takes another long draught of his drink and then gets up to leave, dropping a couple coppers on the table for a tip to the barmaid, who had to put up with quite the ruckus. Well I'd love to stay and chat, but I have to get up early in the morning to do my cleric-ing duties. Good night all. I'll look for you, and Culder, at the Rusty Drum, Chugg's Place, or the Gull's Nest. Fare well! He bellows heartily, and then slides out into the evening back to the shanty his adopted parents called home.
Augier gets all red in the face after he is yelled and and snatches the money before storming out. Blast ding ferp! Saved this place from being burned down by rioting goblins and this is what happens. He stomps particulary hard when exiting a door and sends a tremendous fart back into the inn that clouds the area with paint peeling stink.
Just at that momment, a maid strikes a match to light the cook-fire..
Augier couldn't recall what happened next, he ended up in someone's attic several blocks away with a scorched beard and a bump on his head.
"Whoa now, I think yer missed me meanin'..." Culder answers taking the archer's hand, "I ain't 'bout to go lookin' fer boun'ies. I'd ne'er find a crew af'er that. If'n ye find boun'ies ye have ole Jon lemme know where ta meet ye to bring 'em in." Now that they're so close he crouches a little and looks inside the hood trying to get a good look at the man's face...
Caught off balance, Jordan glares at Culder. "Aye, and is a crew all you're after?"
"Mark me words, Jon," the burly sailor says with a smirk, "I will be captainin' me own ship 'gain one day! 'Til then all I be after is some coin. If I can earn it with ye, so be it, if not I'll be findin' other ways."
Damn it, Jordan curses in his head. Big lug's more perceptive than I gave him credit for. Swallowing his pride, Jordan looks back up at the big man. "And what will it cost you to keep this quiet, Captain?"
"We be partners now, Bain," Culder answers with a nod, "ye cut me in fair on boun'ies 'n' yer secret's safe with me."
Moina was too busy pocketing the gold to notice anything. Quickly stashing it then looking up and around again but missing the what the halfling was pointing at. "I didn't see." Moina says goodbye as Aghon leaves then orders another drink and a hot expensive meal to go with it thanks to the new coin. The night was filled with a couple more drink, one or two too many. Thankfully her room was basically across the street. Why couldn't she walk properly?
Next day she woke with a headache and went down to the common room of the Mermaid's Bucket to get some breakfast.
The wheels were spinning in Jordan's head. "Alright," he said, "I'll give you your cut of the loot, though if you're attracting the attention of Free Captains, we might not need to search too much. You might attract all the trouble we're looking for." Shrugging, Jordan picked up his arrows and shouldered the bow. "Come by for a drink sometime. I've got some thoughts regarding that crew you're looking for."
There's not much of a crowd at the Mermaid's Bucket this morning, and Moina's served by the lanky Mwangi owner, Nefti Unwesha. The stately woman is pleasant while serving the druid, but she, too, expresses reservations about Moina walking alone on the city streets at night, commenting with a motherly smile that she needs to find herself a big strong man. Nefti doesn't have a lot of spare time for chit-chatting, however, as she's also busy running the small rum distillery attached to the west side of her inn.
************************************
The recently-fired and still steaming dwarf cook is walking the city streets when a panting human boy of around 13 rushes up to him and hands him an envelope sealed with red wax into which the skull-and-crossbones holy symbol of Besmara has been pressed.
The letter:
I'm sorry to hear of your termination at the Frog & Grog. That fool Anzetri has no idea what an important service you performed for the island last night...but I do.
A friend tells me you have some magical talent, so I'm going to make you the same offer I made to the three young folk you may have seen at my table last night. I paid them 5 gold pieces to observe an anchor-toting human fellow called the Captain to see if he's suitably reliable as hired muscle. The Captain's a drinker and brawler, so the job's not without a small element of danger. He's been frequenting the Rusty Drum, Chugg's Place, and the Gulls' Nest Inn in recent days, and my other three observers will be watching out for him in those places. If you'd like to help, I would appreciate your time and effort; I will also pay you the same fee once you've reported your findings to me at the Besmaran shrine.
The letter goes on to describe Aghon, Moina, and Jarvis and is signed "Beliza Odabio."
*************************************
Agghh flips the boy a copper and reads the note. Grunting, he decides that any employment right now is good and heads off to The Gull's Nest to see if he can get a lead.
When Jarvis woke in the morning, he flipped a coin to figure out if he should start at the frequent haunt or a fighting haunt. Never one to doubt the indication of a coin-flip, he bundled up his gear and set off through the morning haze to the Rusty Drum.
Gods watch over me. Hopefully I can blend into the background a bit to spy out this galoot the Captain. Bloody bruisers.
Aghon rolls into the Rusty Drum just at twilight, breathing in the sweat, ale, salt and smoke that are such a sweet familiar scent. Thirsty for a good drink, and carrying Beliza's compensation in his coin purse, he adjusts his trident and then heads over to the bar looking for his buddy, the bumbling server, Jon Banner, or for the man of the hour hisself Culder Hargraves.
His business with his new partner completed, the Cap'n shambles back to his hammock. In the morning he has a pint of H&H's thickest ale for breakfast and then heads to fair to spend his free tickets and perhaps earn some coin.
In the evening, with his belly and his pocket both a little fuller, he makes his way to the Rusty Drum. Sitting down at the bar he tugs the corner of his hat and says, "Ev'nin' Jon. One o' the usual, please."
Agghh flips the boy a copper and reads the note. Grunting, he decides that any employment right now is good and heads off to The Gull's Nest to see if he can get a lead.
There's no sign of the Captain at the Gulls' Nest. Any sort of questioning of the barkeep or serving girls on duty reveals that the anchor-toting lug's been barred from the premises for brawling. They suggest maybe trying the Rusty Drum.
Augier sighs and heads on over to the Rusty Drum, having this odd feeling he might find the person he was looking for there.
Nodding, Jordan fills a mug and heads over to Culder. Setting it down at the Cap'n's table, he wiped the counter and muttered, "How much gold'll are ye expectin' it t'take t'get yer boat?" Leaving Culder to ponder his question, Jordan returned to the bar, continuing to serve drinks.
Jon Banner, m'boy! How are you this fine evening? Aghon says as he sidles up to the bar at a stool right next to Culder. What's good drinks tonight boys? Ale, or how bout some whiskey? Aghon drops a gold piece on the bar as he speaks, to show that he can actually afford said whiskey. How's things Cap'n? No bruises or broken bones for me to heal up tonight, eh? What say you? Wanna join me in a tall glass of the Rusty Drum's finest whiskey? He looks at the Cap'n expectantly.
'bout three gran' fer the boat... prolly a fourth fer provisions 'n' crew...
Culder scowls for a moment at the arrival of the overly friendly cleric, but his attitude quickly improves when talk turns to drinking. He turns to Aghon and says with half a smile, "If yer buyin', I be drinkin'!"
Two whiskeys it is Jon. We'll drink to yer health Cap'n.
Jarvis gets to the Rusty Drum early, and decides against asking around. Given his small stature, he opts to find a spot in a corner and nurse his way through a few bottles of watered mead as he awaits a fellow lugging around an anchor.
Keeping an eye on the bar, it wasn't difficult to spot the quarry when he made his way into the tavern. Keeping to himself, Jarvis watches how Culder interacts with those around him.
The man is clearly a lush! The only time he smiles is when drink flows. Then again, he IS a sailor I suppose. Libation and liberty, they seem to be the only worthwhile currency in this part.
When Aghon arrives and calls out for some whiskey, Jarvis makes his way through the tavern to hop up on a stool a few down from the pair.
Barkeep! Ano'er flagon of that mead iffin ya could. And keep 'er full on strength this time! He calls out jovially, attempting to appear drunker than he actually is.
"Doin' well Aghon, doin' well." Jordan responds, scooping up the gold piece, bringing the drinks to the pair. "Tis noice t'have ye payin' yer tab fer once," the bartender ribs the newcomer.
Hearing the halfling call out, Jordan fills a mug and brings it over to the customer, topping off other drinkers and picking up coins on the way. "And where's yer coin fer the drink, friend?" he asks the tottering halfling.
With a hiccup and a flush of his cheeks, Jarvis fishes around in a pouch on his waistband and plops down a mixed pile of copper and silver coins down on the counter . There y'are, pal. Tinkles for my drink - um - drinkles! Jarvis spouts, a grin spreading across his face.
2. The Bluff skill is normally opposed by the target's Sense Motive check.
3. The only other skill that Jarvis might possibly use to feign drunkenness is Perform (act), but that seems to lean more in the direction of classical acting (as you can earn money using that skill).
4. Perception seems a better fit to me than Sense Motive for determining whether a person's really drunk or not...especially for a barkeep.
5. It bothers me that you guys are wasting rolls of 19 and 20 on this when I know what sort of encounter is in the fairly near future....
6. I'm just gonna wing it, as I don't expect a whole lot of fall-out one way or the other....
You believe that the halfling's not quite so inebriated as he's trying to let on.
"And here y'go, friend," Jordan says after pocketing the change. Setting the drink down, he moves back to continuing to watch over his other customers. Something's up, he ponders, observing the "drunken" halfling. Getting back to work, Jordan decides to make sure no one takes on more drink then they can handle tonight.
Aghon chuckles. Aye Jon! 't's good to have some coin with which to pay my tab. He raises his whiskey toward Captain Culder in salute. Here's to yer health Culder, may the wind be always at your back, and the maidens always at your door! With that he chugs the entire glass of whiskey in one swill. Heya! That's good drinks.
place is awful full t'nite... an' folks seem over chatty... I s'ppose free drinks're a fair trade fer not bein' able to drink in peace... fer now. If it gets much friendlier in here I'mma have to show meself to another bar...
Culder gives one corner of his hat a quick tug towards Aghon then casually downs the whiskey like a small glass of water.
The scent is what assails everyone first. Then the echo of the flimsy door slamming open (and some splinters flying free). The previous stench of sour mash and the unwashed sweat of weeks doesn't begin to overpower the reek that the somewhat singed dwarf exudes. Everything halts to stillness in the formerly rowdy bar.
Augier looks around and hrumphs, heading for a table.
Moina hangs around a little bit until she is feeling normal again before a late breakfast then heading out to explore again. She decided to buy herself a book and chronicle her adventures since leaving her village. She spends much of the day remembering and writing down her boat trip here.
Eventually it is evening time and she remembers one of the names of the places that she was meant to check out. The rusty bucket? No, it was the rusty drum. She sees one slightly familiar face and heads to the half-ling's table to say hello. "Hey, this place getting interesting yet?" She says to Jarvis. She orders a drink but drinks very slowly this time, hoping to avoid a repeat of this morning and stays at the table near the bar watching the others as well as 'the Captain'.
As the barkeep passes by wiping down the bar and gathering coins, Culder asks in a surprisingly quiet voice, "awful crowded in her t'night, Jon... what's the 'ccasion?"
"Couldn't say," Jordan mutters, "But y'should probably keep yerself from gettin' too far into th'drink in case trouble breaks out."
Frowning to himself momentarily, Jordan thought for a second. What was different about tonight? He decided he'd try and pay a little more attention to his customers and the rumors that would hopefully be flying around.
Walking through the bar, he caught a whiff of....something dead or dying. Seeing the gruff looking dwarf, Jordan decided if he never had to smell that again, he'd be happy.
Moving back behind the bar, Jordan begins putting some of the more expensive bottles away. Not that he didn't like his customers buying the good stuff, but he couldn't sell it if it got broken.
Jordan was taking advantage of the busy night to search for rulers. Now that he was working with Culder, that should give him a better chance of taking down targets. Not to mention, the man mentioned getting a boat. Jordan hadn't been able to get any information of his prey for a while now, and he was getting antsy. Enough good scores might be able to land him a spot on the "Cap'n's" ship.
It's not in your usual area of expertise, but the big news on the island is that the mighty mastiff that's won the last three Dogfight Championship Tournaments at Bloodknuckle's Pit has apparently been stolen. The beast belongs to Bloodknuckle himself, and he's offering a 100 gp reward for its return (plus the name and/or corpse of the thief) before the tournament gets underway.
Taking another mug over to Culder, Jordan comments, "Culder, ye're a sportin' man, right? When y'get the chance, ye should head over t'Bloodknuckle's. I hear a man can make a decent bit o' coin from th' place on a night like this." Filling up Culder's and Aghon's mugs, he nods at the two and says, "I'll be off in about an hour, so if there's anythin' else ye want, ye should call fer it now or ye'll have t'wait fer my replacement."
Augier makes note of the large anchor wielding man. He was unsure on how to approach him if he was supposed to and guessed that maybe following him around and seeing if he gets into a fight would be a good move.
Well Cap'n, I do appreciate you sharing a drink with me. Aghon motions to Jon to bring another round. He also becomes exceedingly aware that the captain is getting irritated, and since his mission from Beliza is to see if Culder is more than just an angry drunk, he decides to press the issue, with the hopes that those others Beliza paid would come to his rescue if that is needed. I do wonder though? ... Seems kind of pointless to keep the title captain when you've no ship to steer. I mean, you've got the anchor sure 'nough, but nothing to anchor it to.