ProfPotts' Legacy of Fire PBP

Game Master Alexander Scott

"Saul sorry call you flower girl, Saul just forget name...

Lavender closes her eyes and waves both her hands in a "don't worry about it" fashion. No worries MR. Saul, its a terribly exotic name, happens all the time...

Lavender readies an action to grease anything this man might draw from his person.

Turning to them and asking, "Did you see anyone else? Were you watched or was he alone?"

I looked around but saw no one

Rashid's eyes flicker open under Keldar's ministrations.

"What..?"

He then groans, as the pain of his head injury jerks him fully awake.

"Thank-you Keldar. I will handle it from here."

CLW on self 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Feeling much better as the soothing energy of the Dawnflower knits his wounds, Rashid pulls himself to his feet, and once Saul and Yousef drag the human inside, he moves over to the doors, and props them closed.

Whilst the others interrogate the human, Rashid will search the bodies of the brutes for anything of value.

"Did you see anyone else? Were you watched or was he alone?"

I looked around but saw no one

"You heard the man! Answer the question! Are you alone? Were we being watched?"

Prostrate and quivering on the marble floor, the robed man - Juluce - shoots a wide-eyed look at Yousef, then Bahram... then Saul...

'Yes! No! I... um... I...' he splutters, before shaking his head, taking a deep breath, and trying again, 'I have no idea if we were being watched - the gnoll patrols are... erratic... at best. In any case, they don't really care if we search these old buildings - they were all cleared out long ago, from what the hyena-men say. There's a couple of places too dangerous to go, but...' he glances up at Saul again, then shakes his head once more, '... but you asked me about being watched: the gnolls, or that demon of theirs, or even Undrella could have seen you, I guess, but I'm not aware of anyone specifically watching, no. As for being alone...' he glances over to where the two brutish goblinoids lay, their cooling blood congealing on the marble, shudders, and finishes quietly, '... I guess I am, now you've murdered those two...'

Rashid heads over to search the fallen brutes...

All except Rashid can make a Perception check:

...So MASTER...You seem to be in a...tight spot...Anything your DEVOTED SLAVE could do to help?

Juluce snorts in derision,

'Too late for that now, girl. I tried to get you out of this predicament you've fallen into, but instead you prefer the company of these common bandits and cut-throats...' adding a muttered, '...I'm starting to wonder if your father didn't sell you to the gnolls himself, just to be rid of such an ill-fortune magnet...'

Meanwhile, Rashid steals from the recently dead, finding: two heavy wooden shields, two sets of brute-sized crude leather armour (too big even for Saul, but could be re-sized with some time and some skill in crafting), two spiked wooden clubs, two crude daggers, a cracked pewter tankard and a worn drinking horn, two (mostly full) wineskins (with some pretty foul smelling wine), a set of knuckle bones (the type used for gambling), a large iron key (on a cord around the 'smarter' one's neck), a half-gnawed human hand sprinkled with pepper and wrapped in a cloth ('for later...'), a primitive carved bone idol (about palm-sized) depicting an exageratedly fat (or maybe pregnant) goblinoid female with huge breasts, and a pouch containing a few coins (fourteen silver shekels), a loose button, and what appears to be a cracked glass eye.

percep 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

perception 1d20 ⇒ 20
Turning to Juluce as Bahram hears his mutterd words, "Well we'll just have to make sure theire elder brother's don't find out now won't we." Bahram says with a grim smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Yousef belts one of the crude daggers at his waist, then takes a pull from the waterskin, Yousef shakes his head. Awe, that's disgusting?" Then turning to Juluce. "Murdered, huh? He kicks him. "I call it self defense. You!" Suddenly the dagger is out and Yousef is holding it up to the the humans throat. " I may murder yet. Now strip!

After a pause, the young half-orc turns to Bahram, "Elder brothers, eh?" He nods his head towards the bugbear corpses. "Those guys? Hmm." He muses as his gaze shifts towards Rashid's scimitar.

perception 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Trying to take advantage of Yousef's actions, Lavender tries to get out of Juluce's earshot. She then turns to team "good cop" Aka Bahram, Keldar, and maybe Rashid. She whispers, I understand the situation, but I'm not super OK with killing this man in this defenseless state. I know we probably have to, but do you think there is anyway we could make him into an inside man with the gnolls? Maybe he can bring us needed equipment and information? We have obviously met on bad terms but the guy just seems like he wants to make a quick shekel...Maybe we can take advantage of that...?

She heads back over to Juluce...
Well Mr. Juluce, I'd say it is time you started talking. How did you know who I was? And what were you planning to do with me? I assume ransom but I would like to hear it from you. How much were you going to try to get? Also how connected are you with these gnolls and their society here? Any helpful information at all could help your predicament...Any weaknesses or exploits we can make use of? Anything that we could take advantage of or be weary of in town?
She gives a grim look at Saul and Yousef, expecially Yousef.
I think you better find a way to make yourself real useful, cause truth be told, your more useful to us dead than alive at the moment...

If I get a consensus that it might be worth keeping this man alive, Lavender adds this:
Now you did "buy" me from the gnolls, and I guess I do owe you for the opportunity of getting out of this situation in a way, so let me offer you an opportunity in return. If you are willing to let you and our groups past behind you, let bygones be bygones, and willing to help us in our current situation, I might be able to help you out in the long run with a reward when I return to Katepesh. I might be able to possibly get you more than your ransom asking price. On top of that I could make it seem to my father that your intentions were always honorable since the beginning, and that you were looking out for my well being the whole time! Maybe I could help you out of this rut of a life and into a more respectable role in society, one where you could make a decent honest living...without gnolls.

Diplomacy? 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 + any situational modifiers if any.

When he discovers the 'seasoned' human hand, Rashid gives a muffled curse, and his features will curl in disgust.

By the Dawnflower! I am glad we did not end-up in the cooking pot.

He then wraps up the hand carefully for later burial, and grimly continues to 'work over' the bodies.

After itemising all of their possessions, despite his personal distaste for the creatures, Rashid will nonetheless do his best to 'position' the corpses, closing their eyes, and crossing their arms over their chests before rigor mortis sets in.

I highly doubt that it will find anything, but...

Rashid will mumble a brief prayer to Sarenrae under his breath, and cast Detect Magic. He will focus first on the items taken from the Brutes, and then on Juluce.

Once he is satisfied that there is nothing magical, he will turn to Juluce, his face unreadable, his voice calm and deadly.

"You have the gall to call us murderers? You essentially told those poor creatures to gut Yousef here! They might have spared Lavender because you ordered it, but I highly doubt they would have extended the same courtesy to the rest of us.

Yes, we killed them, but only in self-defense. We are simply trying to survive, whilst you consort with gnolls, and other creatures that consume fellow sentients, finding profit in the pain and suffering of their victims, of your own free will! You only thought to rescue Lavender because it would enable you to turn a quick profit, not out of compassion.

The Dawnflower teaches that all sentients that are not inherently evil should be given at least one shot at redemption, but I am finding it very difficult to fathom why we should extend such courtesy to you...

...Prove to me that you are worth giving a second chance to."

In response to Lavender:

Lavender, I would like to give him a second chance, but our lives are on the line, here. We certainly have nothing to offer him that could out-weigh whatever bounty he would get by betraying us to the Gnolls, and he has no reason to be loyal to us. I don't want to kill him, but now that he knows we are alive, there are two options: We either kill him, or take him with us as a prisoner. Anything else is too risky.

Regarding the items:

I will claim a suit of leather, and one of the clubs. I will also set-aside the key, and the 14 silver shekels.

I would recommend that others claim the two heavy wooden shields, the remaining suit of leather, the remaining club, and the remaining crude dagger... more combat gear is always good :-)

if no one else can use, ill take shield and spiked club. Would one of you sorcerers like a nice staff to use?

"Well we'll just have to make sure theire elder brother's don't find out now won't we."

Juluce casts Bahram a sidelong glance,

'Just the one brother I know of - up in the battle market. I suppose Hurvank may be pissed too...' he shrugs, adding, '... or maybe not, although he does like having people to cheer him on when he's throttling his opponents...'

"Murdered, huh? He kicks him. "I call it self defense. You!" Suddenly the dagger is out and Yousef is holding it up to the the humans throat. " I may murder yet. Now strip!

Wincing at the gratuitous kick, Juluce goes very still when Yousef holds the blade to his throat, then hurridly strips to his undercloth at the half-orc's command. As he does so he reveals a rail-thin body, with his back, left shoulder, and the left side of his face all disfigured by what appear to be old burn scars. Under the turban his hair is quite unkempt, the usual Keleshite dark, but streaked with dirty white in the left side where the scars reach. He sports several day's worth of stubble on the right side of his chin, but none seems to grow where he was burned. His disguarded robes fall heavily to the marble floor, as if they were weighed down with many things in many pockets.

Well Mr. Juluce, I'd say it is time you started talking. How did you know who I was? And what were you planning to do with me? I assume ransom but I would like to hear it from you. How much were you going to try to get? Also how connected are you with these gnolls and their society here? Any helpful information at all could help your predicament...Any weaknesses or exploits we can make use of? Anything that we could take advantage of or be weary of in town?

She gives a grim look at Saul and Yousef, expecially Yousef.
I think you better find a way to make yourself real useful, cause truth be told, your more useful to us dead than alive at the moment...

Wary of Yousef's dagger, Juluce looks at Lavender as best he can without risking his throat being slit,

'I suspected who you were because there aren't that many elven-bred girls matching your description in these parts, your father's famous, and you're the sort of person merchants gossip about. I had no intention of ransoming you - that would be illegal, and I've learnt the hard way not to cross the guilds of Katapesh... No, I purchased you, fair and square, from those who enslaved you, and meant nothing more than to sell you to those who'd pay the most for you - a hopefully grateful father... sorry, stepfather... or merchant's guild - what they then did with you would hardly be my concern, but I somehow doubt you'd have ended up on the public block... As to amount, well, I was counting on my expenses covered - the cost of your purchase, travel expenses... that sort of thing... and a tidy profit on top - hopefully "daddy's" joy at seeing his little girl alive would have left him a little less shrewd a haggler than his reputation would suggest his is normally. He's so rich I even hoped he'd pay something for the corpse we expected to find when we entered this place... for burial or one of those ridiculously expensive restorative rituals the storytellers say powerful priests can peform - again, not really my concern.' He pauses to swallow, eyes darting to Yousef's ever-present blade, then continues, 'As for the gnolls... well, you're generous to call what they have a "society" - I certainly wouldn't. They're not your usual gnolls - they're one of the tribes of the Carrion King: worshipers of the rough beast - a generally bad lot. My connection to them is minimal, at best. I came here to visit Undrella - she buys alchemical ingredients off me when I'm in these parts... after being kicked out by the Alchemist's Guild (for pricing my goods too low) my choice of customers has... narrowed considerably. Technically the Pactmasters would brand me a smuggler for selling without Guild license... but a man's got to make a living, and it's all I know how to do. The gnolls are new, and their genie master even newer: he turned up a couple of weeks ago, all "wrath of god" and "death to the evil worshippers of Rovagug!" - he walked right through the wall of the battle market, fifteen feet tall, and smote the gnoll's leader with one blow of that stupidly big axe of his! The rest of them scattered... he got a few as they ran, but seemed more concerned about... what was it he said? Oh, yes... "A far older, far greater, evil" that was it - something elsewhere in the town I think he meant. In any case, he strode off, only to come back a few hours later proclaiming himself the new leader of the gnoll tribe! It was all beyond me, to be honest, and I was ready to leave the whole bedlam behind, but he started going on about "re-opening the market" for the gnolls and other beasties in the area, and... well,' Juluce shrugs, 'let's just say when a homicidal genie "asks" you to stay and trade, you generally don't refuse...' He takes a deep breath...

"You have the gall to call us murderers? You essentially told those poor creatures to gut Yousef here! They might have spared Lavender because you ordered it, but I highly doubt they would have extended the same courtesy to the rest of us.

Yes, we killed them, but only in self-defense. We are simply trying to survive, whilst you consort with gnolls, and other creatures that consume fellow sentients, finding profit in the pain and suffering of their victims, of your own free will! You only thought to rescue Lavender because it would enable you to turn a quick profit, not out of compassion.

The Dawnflower teaches that all sentients that are not inherently evil should be given at least one shot at redemption, but I am finding it very difficult to fathom why we should extend such courtesy to you...

...Prove to me that you are worth giving a second chance to."

'Abadar's golden balls...' Juluce mutters, '... you sound like a priest! Don't forget, your orc tried to kill me! Of course I ordered the people I'd paid to be my guards to deal with him - he's clearly unstable... (I guess the time you've all just spent as slaves didn't grant any of you sympathy for others in the situation, since you just let him assault and humiliate me at whim...) In any case, I didn't know he was yours - I assumed he was wild... Besides that I just wanted the girl back, safe and healthy. You're obviously some sort of band of cutthroats - how was I to know she'd fallen in with you all? I was under the impression she was a proper Keleshite princess... my mistake, it seems... You call slaughtering those two self-defense... well, I saw them both die without even swinging their clubs, so I guess I'll have to take your word for it that you'd exhausted all the non-terminal options available to you before your large muscular friend skewered them both... Did I buy the girl to turn a profit? Of course I did! That it would also have saved her if not for your riot I suppose doesn't register to your heightened sense of morality... As for "consorting" and "free will" - well, with all due respect to your orc's knife at my throat and the fact I'm practically naked here, who in the nine hells are you to judge me? You know nothing of what's led to me being here, or my situation - I can tell you I haven't killed anyone - "inherently evil" or not! Nor have I tortured prisoners or robbed dead bodies. I, of course, bow to your moral superiority in such matters, as you are all clearly firm travellers on the path of righteousness...'

Taking a step back from the dagger at his throat, clearly still nervous, but now with anger mitigating his terror, the rail-thin near-naked man spreads his arms wide and sneers,

'So do it if you're going to - murder me and loot what little I own in this world: I can't stop you, but I'll spit on your damned souls in hell, and hope that your Dawnflower joins me in the task, you sons of she-goats!'

Rashid detects no magical auras on either the bugbears' or Juluce's gear.

While the prisoner protests and bleats, Yousef snatches his gear and sheathes the bugbears blade. Then he starts rifling through the pockets for anything that may be of value.

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 if necessary.

After he mentions selling Lavender back to her family:

"You bonehead. You don't sell a princess back to her family. That's a sure way to get yourself killed. You rescue her! Like in the thousand tales!" With that last sentence, an innocent gleam betraying his very harsh demeanor can be detected by a perceptive person who is looking at him.

'Abadar's golden balls...' Juluce mutters, '... you sound like a priest! Don't forget, your orc tried to kill me! Of course I ordered the people I'd paid to be my guards to deal with him - he's clearly unstable.

"Yep. And you'd be lucky if I don't bother to finish the job. As far as I'm concerned, you are one of them." He points outside towards the gnolls. When he finishes going through the robes, he tosses them to Bahram. "I might of missed something."

Then he says to the group. "You know. A couple of bugbear heads spiked outside, facing towards the big brothers camp from the gnoll camp might provide a nice distraction to get the hell out of here."

"Sons of she-goats! Harharhar, Saul like skinny man already. He not so bad when not with pig heads or dog heads. Maybe we take him with. He very funny man. Oh and give skinny man back robe, Saul embarrassed for him."

Yousef leans over and whispers to Saul. "I kind of like him too. He has fire. But we need to make sure he doesn't have any tricks up his sleeve. He may be desperate and willing to work with us."

Sense Motive 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

Lavender has been thought a lot in the last couple of days. What she was not expecting was a guilt trip...

...Look...I understand your situation more now, and you must realize too that we have all just been ripped from our normal lives, losing friends and family, and thrown literally into a pack of hyenas. We are battered, brused, dehydrated, starved and paranoid(at least I am). I am sorry about your... She looks over at the strange bearlike humanoids ...Friends? Is there any chance they might still be...alive? She looks over at Rashid...

Regardless of the state of the bugbears...

...I know it might be hard after what has happened but If you are willing to forgive us maybe we could help each other...If you are willing to assist us in our escape from this place, when we return to katepesh I will speak with my father and get you a reward. I will make it seem to my father that your intentions were always honorable since the beginning, and that you were looking out for my well being the whole time. Then you get a reward and the favor of one of the most powerful and wealthiest men in the city. He might even hire you as a ruin explorer or get the guild to pardon the smuggling charge, or a change of identify. He might even be able to get you a legitimate license, then you don't have to play around here with the dogs to make ends meet...

Diplomacy 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 + situational modifiers if any

Standing with Juluce's robes in his hands Bahram looks contemplative of the situation. Walking up to him he hands him back his robes without searching them.
"Put this back on Julus. What I am most curious about is what a genie would want with this place."

Rashid's features soften slightly.

"Juluce, I will not fault you for doing what you need to do to survive. It sounds like you have been given little choice in the matter.

Please forgive me. I have been enslaved, starved, and beaten, narrowly avoided being put in the cooking pot by the Gnolls, and I am trying to escape this place."

Rashid turns to look at his companions, and frowns slightly.

"I cannot speak for the others, but I am a devotee of the Dawnflower, and I am a Dwarf of my word.

I at least have no intention of killing you simply because you are inconvenient. We simply want to get out of this place. As Lavender suggests, if you aid us (anonymously, of course, so as to not jeopardise your own position here), I am sure that compensation could be arranged when we make it safely back to Katapesh. Of course, you would also be welcome to join us, but I doubt that that would suit your tastes."

While Rashid has no qualms about looting the dead, he won't be party to despoiling Juluce. As a show of good faith, will insist that Juluce be given back all of his clothes and items.

In response to Lavender's query about the state of the brutes:

Rashid shakes his head imperceptibly.

sits in corner, just watching. perception1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 any spiders or statues moving?

"Yep. And you'd be lucky if I don't bother to finish the job. As far as I'm concerned, you are one of them."

'Says the orc...' mutters Juluce.

Yousef discovers the curved dagger Juluce cut him with during the escape, a couple of coin-filled purses, a wide selection of small flasks, clay pots, vials, and even pellets which appear to be a variety of alchemical items, and a large key matching the one taken from the dead brute.

... I am sorry about your... Friends? Is there any chance they might still be...alive?

'Hardly "friends",' Juluce shrugs, 'just the only big, tough, guys available to hire who were willing to come with me to search this, and I quote, "giant-spider infested", building. I had to let them drink the last of my anti-toxin before they'd come in here too... Not that it did them much good...'

...I know it might be hard after what has happened but If you are willing to forgive us maybe we could help each other...If you are willing to assist us in our escape from this place, when we return to katepesh I will speak with my father and get you a reward. I will make it seem to my father that your intentions were always honorable since the beginning, and that you were looking out for my well being the whole time. Then you get a reward and the favor of one of the most powerful and wealthiest men in the city. He might even hire you as a ruin explorer or get the guild to pardon the smuggling charge, or a change of identify. He might even be able to get you a legitimate license, then you don't have to play around here with the dogs to make ends meet...

Juluce shifts his feet and rubs his hand over his burn-scarred chin for a moment as he seems to ponder Lavender's offer, then his disdainful sneer appears to fade a little as he nods,

'Well,' he agrees, 'I supposed that way I'd avoid the re-sale tax... yes... yes, I think that could work out nicely!' he offers Lavender a slight smile.

"Put this back on Julus. What I am most curious about is what a genie would want with this place."

Taking back his clothes Juluce shoots Yousef a venomous glance, then quickly dresses once more. Seeming more comfortable now he's not near-naked, the merchant shrugs again,

'All I can say is what I've already told you: he came in like some holy avenger, went off to find some sort of "greater evil" or what-have-you, then came back as the cruel bastard he is today... I wouldn't hazard a guess as to his motivations for any of that - genies are a little beyond my understanding... especially that one, I think...'

"... Please forgive me. I have been enslaved, starved, and beaten, narrowly avoided being put in the cooking pot by the Gnolls, and I am trying to escape this place."

Juluce snorts and shakes his head,

'As are we all, in our own ways...'

"... As Lavender suggests, if you aid us (anonymously, of course, so as to not jeopardise your own position here), I am sure that compensation could be arranged when we make it safely back to Katapesh. Of course, you would also be welcome to join us, but I doubt that that would suit your tastes."

'Join you..? I... ah... I have no taste for banditry... sorry...' Juluce frowns, then quickly adds, '... but I'm sure I can offer some assistance in your escape from this place... and maybe mine as well.'

Assume he does get all his stuff back, then Juluce will relax a little and add...

sits in corner, just watching.

Yousef hands back Juluce his stuff, including the bag of coins, but instead of his curved dagger he gives him the one he took off the bugbear. "Your a desperate m*#*+~*@$&~+, so you can even have your coin back. However, the jambiya is mine. That's my blood on it. So you can have your 'friends' knife instead need you defend yourself. You help us get through this, you can have it back." Yousef is firm as he straps Juluce's jambiya to his own belt. Then he stands there, arms crossed, daring anyone to say something.

A vote on him getting his stuff back? I would point out he may be our only hope so I vote yes.

Knowledge plains 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Edit, or not :) that works for me.

"Saul think ol' Bonegrinder make good pet. Saul think maybe warty hog just misunderstood. Maybe warty hog not like have big tusk and no way to clean them. Course Saul think could be Bonegrinder just mean sum ^%$&@ and need good spearin'. Saul be wrong before though."

So...What assistance can you offer? Would you be able to get us supplies like food and such? If you could exaggerate the rumors going on about the spiders here it would help us out a lot. The more people that stay away while we figure out our game plan, the better...

does anyone else hear that. sounds like crying from the west wing, or screaming. oh no, could it be that creature we keep hearing? maybe this is its lair and that is its snoring noice. maybe we should sneak out of town now?

does anyone else hear that. sounds like crying from the west wing, or screaming. oh no, could it be that creature we keep hearing? maybe this is its lair and that is its snoring noice. maybe we should sneak out of town now?

...

Perception 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

...I don't hear anything... Lavender mutters in a curious tone...

Bahram strains his ears trying to hear what Keldar describes.

perception 1d20 ⇒ 18

"... However, the jambiya is mine. That's my blood on it. So you can have your 'friends' knife instead need you defend yourself. You help us get through this, you can have it back."

So...What assistance can you offer? Would you be able to get us supplies like food and such? If you could exaggerate the rumors going on about the spiders here it would help us out a lot. The more people that stay away while we figure out our game plan, the better...

Juluce glares at Yousef, refusing to take the brutish goblinoid's dagger when it's proffered. Eyes still on Yousef he replies to Lavender,

'I can offer no assistance of that kind if your orc keeps trying to get me killed. What, you think if I walk back to the battle market alone, with one of the brothers' daggers, I won't get my head twisted off my neck? This orc is obviously a creature of the gutters - he knows how these things work. Not only does he offer me grave insult by stealing from me, he's hoping that "elder brother" will finish what he started - in short, he's trying to send me to my death.'

Staring Yousef in the eye, the merchant holds out a steady hand,

'My dagger, if you please.' he demands.

does anyone else hear that. sounds like crying from the west wing, or screaming. oh no, could it be that creature we keep hearing? maybe this is its lair and that is its snoring noice. maybe we should sneak out of town now?

Still awaiting the return of his property, Juluce spares Keldar a glance,

'Whatever you heard it wasn't the demon Kezurkian: he doesn't sleep, and has no "lair". As for your chances of "sneaking" out of town... well, I've told you what awaits on your path, but the choice is yours, of course...'

Bahram strains his ears trying to hear what Keldar describes.

Quote:

"...

'Whatever you heard it wasn't the demon Kezurkian: he doesn't sleep, and has no "lair".

de de demon!!!!! great, just great. we're doomed man doomed!!!!

Yousef draws the dagger out and looks Juluce in the eyes. Then he reaches out and grabs Juluce's hand.

Attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
.
I assume...
He then holds the knife over the slavers hand and asks.

"The only way you are getting this back is through blood. It took mine. If you let it take yours, you can have it." Yousef's tone suggests he would rather use the knife to carve out a second mouth then to make a little slash across his palm. While Juluce decides what to say next, he says to the group.

"Yeah. I'm from the gutters and I know his kind. We can't trust him beyond our sight. He will attempt to kidnap Lavender again and kill the rest of us with his bugbear buddies. We are a solid group, and don't need the likes of him. If you don't have the stomach...well, you don't have to know. Just leave me alone with him." Yousef's tone is grin. No humor or pleasure can be detected in his tone. Only the voice of a man who has submitted himself to some unpleasant, distasteful business.

"Yeah. I'm from the gutters and I know his kind. We can't trust him beyond our sight. He will attempt to kidnap Lavender again and kill the rest of us with his bugbear buddies. We are a solid group, and don't need the likes of him. If you don't have the stomach...well, you don't have to know. Just leave me alone with him." Yousef's tone is grin. No humor or pleasure can be detected in his tone. Only the voice of a man who has submitted himself to some unpleasant, distasteful business.

Lavender looks at the two, and with an awkward smile turns to look towards Rashid, with an obvious "what should we do" look on her face...

Rashid sighs.

"Yousef, I may not have grown-up in the gutter, but I certainly spent a lot of time there - since probably before you were born, in fact.

I think he should be given at least one chance to prove that he is an honorable man. If he betrays our trust, then by all means, kill him, but not before."

Whilst saying this, he walks over to Yousef, and puts his hand on the half-orc's shoulder.

"Please, give him his dagger back. I agree that the bugbears' brother would probably recognise their daggers, and we don't want to sign his death warrant."

He then pauses for a moment.

"Of course, we *could* come to a compromise - if Yousef opens a cut on your palm, I can heal it again through the grace of the Dawnflower."

Offering to Channel Energy

Regarding Keldar's comments:

Eh? What's that?

Perception take 10 = 13

"I am reluctant to go up-stairs - we would probably have to tangle with that statue again, since it seems that 'guests' are not allowed up-stairs... Although, if someone is in trouble..."

(Whispered, so Juluce does not overhear)

"I think we should leave town as soon as possible. Avoiding that demon-thing would probably be a good idea, although we might be able to handle the 'tribe mascot'.

Whilst I am not too keen on 'morally questionable' individuals, additional allies could be useful, so this Undrella might be a fantastic asset if we can get her on-side.

I still feel that our ultimate goal should be to set-up a base of operations outside the town."

Rashid gestures towards the floor map.

"I had a good look at that map on the floor, and I think I recognised some of the surrounding sites: There is a monastery dedicated to the Dawnflower near here, as well as a ruined temple to Nethys, God of Magic, a ruined fort, and a 'haunted' waterfall.

Personally, I would prefer to have the monastery as our ultimate goal - I for one would feel safer there."

Rashid sighs.

[
"I had a good look at that map on the floor, and I think I recognised some of the surrounding sites: There is a monastery dedicated to the Dawnflower near here, as well as a ruined temple to Nethys, God of Magic, a ruined fort, and a 'haunted' waterfall.

Personally, I would prefer to have the monastery as our ultimate goal - I for one would feel safer there."

which ever direction is fine by me, long as its out of this crazy town

Juluce's fear once more flickers into his eyes as Yousef grabs him, but the emotion seems to quickly harden into contempt as the half-orc speaks his part...

"Of course, we *could* come to a compromise - if Yousef opens a cut on your palm, I can heal it again through the grace of the Dawnflower."

'Well,' Juluce sneers, 'if that's the way we're playing it, does that mean I get to bash this orc's head in with a rock - just to make us "even"? Don't worry... you can always heal him afterwards... or not, if you've finally recognised him for the rabid animal he is...'

Taking 10 on knowledge plains = 16

Feeling quite sereene after pondering Julus's words for a few moments Bahram interrupts in a quiet and calm maner as the situation seem a little clearer to him.

"It is a strange Janni who worships Rovagug, and his glowing eyes make no sence to me eather." Bahram says contemplatively. Looking up at Julus he adds, "Hmm? Yes, I am learnead in the ways of the plains and I recognize him as Janni. He can walk through walls, resist fire, turn invisible, fly, change his and others size and speak with animals."

Looking thoughtfull again he continues in a more somber tone. "Apparantly he can comunicate telepathicaly with the harpy as well, I noticed that during our 'introduction' erlier. Tell me Julus, does she really resent him enough to brave his wrath?"

"Yousef, please. Alies are few and far between here. We should accept the help offerd. I don't ask that you trust him implicitly, but trust his need for alies here is as much as ours."

To Rashid he says "What Keldar is hearing is the faint sound of screaming and laughter. It is coming from upstairs in the west wing. I, myself, am lothe to leave this building not explored to the fullest. In the least we should put to rest what haunts the floors above."

After listening to Rashid's response, Yousef laughs. "Dwarf, you take the fun out of things. YOU, " Yousef pulls on Juluce towards hims and aims the knife at his eye. "You can bet that if you betray us, I am coming for you. Not your body guards or hired thugs." Then he tosses the jambiya away to the side, not bothering to look where it lands. "Come on Saul, lets see what this hubbub above us is all about." He picks up his spear and turns to head up stairs.

Juluce stands stock still as Yousef threatens him... again... and for a few moments after the half-orc has turned and walked away, then (for those who are still watching him) he visibly shudders and slumps a little - the ordeal obviously having quite the effect on him. Slowly, he walks over to where Yousef disguarded his dagger and retrieves it, tucking the blade somewhere beneath his robes. Stepping close to Rashid and Lavender he mutters quietly,

'You need to keep a tight leash on that one, or none of us will get out of here in one piece...'

Rashid gives Juluce a sympathetic smile, and comments

"I agree, we will need to keep an eye on him, but I won't judge him too harshly just yet - growing up on the streets can do strange things to anyone. As long as we are around to... curb... his excesses, it should be manageable."

Take care Juluce. Keep up your side of the bargain and there will be a reward waiting for you in Katapesh. and Sorry... about everything.

Once Juluce leaves Lavender turns to look Towards were the sound that everyone hears.

What now? Are we investigating the strange noise from upstairs before we leave?

If possible, Lavender strains to listen again for this sound everyone says is coming from the west wing.

Perception 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Bahram steps to Julus and claps him gently on the shoulder, "Comon Julus, let's live through this."

Stepping past him to follow Yousef, "Comon people, let's see what else this guild house can offer us."

Juluce seems to relax a bit more, even smiling when Bahram claps him on the shoulder, but as the group start to head upstairs he asks,

'Um... do you want me to go with you, or to head back to the battle market? If I go back I'll need to tell the brutes' big brother something, but...' he turns thoughtful for a moment, then offers, '... but I think I could get him to come here alone, if that would help?'

I guess that's your call... Lavender looks at the group making their way to the staircase, despite the obvious dangers. ...But I have a feeling we're going to be in a lot of dangerous situations from here on out. Is it possible to get a hold of some magical equipment at the battle mart? If you can acquire some wands and healing affects that could be useful, and if we can find anything worth trading I can see what I can do to make it worth the effort for you. I recommend that you suggest that this place is swarming with giant spiders and the brutes were overwhelmed. ...What are you suggesting by bringing the brutes brother here? She gives Juluce a quizzical look.

...What are you suggesting by bringing the brutes brother here? She gives Juluce a quizzical look.

Yousef looks over his shoulder at Lavender and Juluce. "Ha ha. Now I know why I had that bad feeling about you. It wasn't that you bought one of us. It's that you think like me! Ha ! Lavvy, he means to bring the big brother here for us to defeat. Then we march Saul in carrying some bugbear heads, and suddenly we have the new leader of whatever tribe or gang o'boy recruited his goons from. I like it!" Yousef smiles big and grim. He doesn't even seem angry anymore.

Taking 10 on knowledge plains = 16

"It is a strange Janni who worships Rovagug, and his glowing eyes make no sence to me eather." Bahram says contemplatively. Looking up at Julus he adds, "Hmm? Yes, I am learnead in the ways of the plains and I recognize him as Janni. He can walk through walls, resist fire, turn invisible, fly, change his and others size and speak with animals."

great a demon, now a wicked jann,and probably the king of the bugbears. just great, great, i was better off with the wicked witch of the mountains i think, now that one was crazy, that it, she effected me some how and now im crazy/ must be, since im following them up these stairs when i should be running. crazy i tell you, thats it, so it dont matter i guess, cant help myself. im crazy. well lets go upstairs. what could be the problem/ maybe a dragon, the way things are going. rants on some under his breath.

...What are you suggesting by bringing the brutes brother here?

... he means to bring the big brother here for us to defeat. Then we march Saul in carrying some bugbear heads, and suddenly we have the new leader of whatever tribe or gang o'boy recruited his goons from...

Juluce goes a little pale after hearing Yousef's words and quickly holds up his hands and shakes his head,

'No! No severing heads! For crying out loud...' he sighs, '... there's no "tribe" of those brutes anyway - just the three of them, fans of The Strangler. It's just that if I go back and say that these two,' he gestures towards the two dead brutes, 'are dead then there's both a good chance their big brother will kill me anyway, and that he'll come down here with whatever reinforcements he can get to check for himself. He's the...' Juluce mulls over his choice of words for a moment, '... "smartest" isn't really the right word,' he admits, 'of the three - more like the most experienced... harder to fool. If I say nothing, or tell him these two went off somewhere then he'll be even more suspicious. However, if I tell him that his brothers are waiting for him here with... I don't know... some treasure they found or something... some lure to make sure he comes here alone, and doesn't discuss it with anyone, then the three of them vanishing is actually less suspicious than just two.'

Shrugging, Juluce turns to Lavender,

'As for "wands" and "potions of healing" or whatever it was you were thinking about... well, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, princess, but outside of the circles your father moves in, those things aren't as common as you might expect. I have some alchemical items I could sell you... and Undrella's been known to brew up the occassional elixir if you want to visit her...' his eyes drift over to Bahram, and a rather sly smile crosses his face as he adds, '... and if you get that handsome fellow to ask her nicely she may well cut you a good deal too!'

Blushing a little at Julus's implication as it brings to mind the lewd look the harpy gave him on their first 'encounter', Bahram is a little flustered at the thought. 'Umm, ehh... I'm sure I don't know what you mean!'

'Umm, ehh... I'm sure I don't know what you mean!'

Juluce actually laughs out loud at that as, grinning, he suggests,

'Ask the orc... I'm sure he can explain the basics to you!'

Smiling, Yousef says, "He means that you can use your home grown magic wand and an elixer of your own brewing to get a nice discount."

Flushing with anger at the ridicule Bahram glares at his 'assailants', "I am not a child!" he says indignantly, "I know perfectly well what you are suggesting, I'm just not thrilled at the though of a HARPY making 'Elixirs' with my 'Wand'!"

Pffft!
Lavender hunches over, trying to stifle laughter...but it takes a minute...Ha...Well this conversation turned serious quite quickly...