Saul used to be a Crime Lord of Riddleport. If you asked anyone they would tell you the Saul of today is very different from when he ran the streets.
Saul was the primary form of money in Riddleport and there was a time when he was thought to be on the verge of overthrowing the Overlord.
Saul was in the business of favors, buying people with loans and then calling on them for dirty deeds when they couldn't pay.
Eventually, the other Crime Lords and Overlord became so fearful of the sway he had amassed over Riddleport that they banded together and over the course of a night burned to the ground all his drug operations, killed his known informants, before massacring his gang and finally killing his wife, child, and cutting off his hand.
Since then Saul has seemed to have a change of heart, and been trying to go legit and help change Riddleport for the better. But whether his newfound attitude is genuine some people still doubt and think if given the chance he'd become the terror of Riddleport he once was again.
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Once the group leaves Saul will turn to Laurer and ask for a medium rare steak.
Then turning to Bojask he asks him "Whatcha think Bo? How many biters do you think they'll send after them?"
Bojask shrugs in response, "Maybe ten?"
Saul immediately throws his hand to Bojask, "Nah, that's not how this goes you know that. Five or six tops."
"Alright." says Saul as he takes out a gold coin and flips it three times.
"Go down to the animal pens and get them a bit riled up. I'm going to go upstairs for a bit, handle a bit of business. If things go how I think they will today we'll be calling in a few favors by the end of the week."
Then Saul heads for the stairs and retreats to his office.
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Shade thinks about the instructions they have been given. When out of sound and sight of Saul she says Better than even odds we get attacked on or from the money changers. Even better odds this is a test of some sort. Best to be ready.
She quickly casts a spell.
Ternock goes stealthly after Saul through the rafters, Finally get to talk face to face with this man. But he is much more than a simple man with money, he knows how to keep his business running smoothly and knows when to pay the right people. He is not to be taken lightly.
Ternock will make his way upstairs being careful to check his corners in the case of Saul trying something.
Ternock will make his way to Sauls doorway if open he will poke his head in slowly, if not he will smack it with his tail.
Saul looks up from his desk as the door is nudged open.
"Ah, the man of the hour has arrived." Saul folds his hands together and rests them on his desk. "So, my scaly friend, tell me what I can do for you."
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Ternock looks to Saul with a curious expression
Man? I am no man Saul. I am a DRAGON! He spreads his wings wide as if trying to be intimidating. As much as a cat sized dragon could be anyway. I may not be a large one but I do command the same respect as one... Reguardless.. Ternock smells the air. So where is this steak that I smell? You of all people should know that you can't do business on a empty stomach. And its not what you can do for me, its what can I do for you? Im a good scout and im quiet for more "delicate" tasks. And seeing as how you said all your current empoyees were at that staff meeting earlier... you are in need of someone that is more... subtle.
Saul folds his arms across his chest apparently suddenly displeased, "You look more like an Iguana with wings to me. "
"Let's get one thing settled here and now, you want respect? Well Riddleport doesn't work that way. I've earned my scars and made my stake in this town."
"You don't get to come into my office and start making demands of me. You're looking for work? Then I'm your employer and you better act like it."
Saul's expression lightens and then he says, "Now let's try that again. You're looking for work, you're sneaky? Well I'm no longer in the business of thievery or spying. So sell yourself to me. Why do I need you? "
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Lilica would continue to sit in a mild haze, simply listening to the others as the effects of her over-eating continued. When Saul asked for them to deliver the money, the elf lazily nodded her consent before eventually getting up and beginning to follow the others. She would snap her fingers before they were able to fully exit the building, however.
"That reminds me, we have some merchandise to sell. Anyone up to carrying some?"
How about we do it at a time we are not on a task in which we are likely to be attacked, hmm. Shade says lazily. We can always see to it later.
She spoke casually but she was focused, looking for threats.
Six week anatomy course keeping me tied up FTW.
** spoiler omitted **
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Ternock simply smiles
I am much more than a winged iguana. I can also talk like this to people within a certain range and I have a potent poison in my tail stinger... and this is a prime example of why I should be under your employment. I'm underestimated...
Even if your not in the underground buisness anymore you should understand that not everyone has shared your change of heart. There are others that will want to take advantage of your honest living, as evident in last nights attempt. If I was a crime lord, your business would be prime cut compared to the rest. And seeing how you won't play their game, well, your simply defending yourself from the inevitable. Slowly being chipped away until there's nothing left.
If the gold is good and the food is good, I'd be willing to help with dealing with people who try to start things on your floor. Or run missions with the others, hidden from view to provide a wider range of recon.
Speaking of which it seems your using the group as bait, would this be to trust their loyalty or simply to draw the rats of the city out or testing their mettle?
"Very well, if you want to be counted amongst the others then that's fine. You'll have the same offer I made to them."
"As for their impending ambush, I've known the Crime Lords of this town for far too long and how they operate. They want me gone, but they won't just go straight for me, they'll try to hurt my business first. The heist last night is an example. So when that doesn't go right, the next course of action is to take out my biters."
"Problem with that is, they've never been willing to use too many resources on upstarts. They'll send some troublesome ganger out after them that if he dies in the mission it doesn't matter to them."
"But your cohorts took on a much larger band of gangs than I'm betting they'll be facing today. Call it a calculated risk, I'm betting our boys will be fine, while the gangers will be taken out. After that, hopefully, it buys me some time while the rest of the Crime Lords decide on a new course of action."
It doesn't take long after the group leaves the Gold Goblin that they're forced down a side lane, not long after that they see figures appear at the end of the lane. One such face is familiar to at least Lilica, it's Nicar Rhodes, her escort from the other night.
Nicar whistles, "You lot really have gone and made a mess of things you know that? They want you all dead so bad they've sent ole' Rhodes around to kill you. It's a shame too really, I missed you last night gorgeous, I didn't get to have the fun I paid for. C'est la vie, get to work fellas."
Lilica sighed when she saw Rhodes, shaking her head some as he talked. The Kuthite would reach into her coat, and pull out a glossy-black spiked chain. She would then look Nicar in the eye, a wide smile coming to her face.
"Awwww, what a gentleman," she said, her tone practically dripping sarcasm. "But what do you say to getting to the fun you payed for right now, then? You and me, together in the midst of one of the truest acts of passion in the world.... Of course, I doubt that you'd be man enough regardless, but I suppose I can work with that."
"Let's see how well you talk when you've got steel in your belly, whore."
Nicar charges at Lilica with a pair of punching daggers.
But in his anger he misses.
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A gleam of absolute joy came to Lilica's eyes when Nicar charged her. With his dagger glancing off one of the armor plates of her coat, the Kuthite would swing her chain at him, a greasy black energy forming around the chain as it lashed out.
"Don't even bother, Nicar. You and I both knew from the moment we met who the real b$$~* was, and it's not me. Now run, before I make you even less of a man than you are now."
Nicar's thugs run up on the party, one charges Strigala while the other charges Volk.
Volk looks at the wound and then back at the man with an expressionless face, " That hurt... I wonder if you can take the same. " He steps back opening multiple small fissure in the air around him as shards of dark spikes bombard the one who charged him.
The attack pierces the man's chest in several places and he falls instantly.
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Strigala nods to Lilica about carrying some items and slings a pack of them over her back. She stops when she sees an ambush, then raises an eyebrow as she hears Lilica and the ambush leader exchange pleasantries. She sighs as they talk and takes that opportunity to pull out her morningstar, readied for combat.
"Lilica, could you warn us about any other jilted girlfriends you have? I swear, this one has a more shrill voice and is whinier than a human girl who missed her favorite bard putting on a concert. I can see why you dumped her."
And then comes a charge straight at her, with that cut striking through her armor. Cursing beneath her breath, she takes a five foot step backward and lays her hand on her own chest, looking directly in the eyes as she chanted. Her body began to glow with the nimbus of holy energy, while the malevolent spirits around her screamed in agony from the positive energy she unleashed. And then, she unslung her morningstar and looked her assailant in the face. And she gave an evil grin.
"Do they pay you enough to die painfully?" she asked, her smile getting more and more insane as she focused on scaring him away.
Current AC is 19
Shade sees the thugs start moving towards her, and quickly thinks. She casts a spell, then flings a conjured ball of mud in the face of the enemy most likely to attack her.
And misses badly.
Nicar seems visibly shaken by Lilica's attack but he presses on.
Nicar swings widely and Lilica much better prepared easily dodges his swings.
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Nel steps back and throws another mudball at the sleaze in front of her
The thug facing Strigala will step up and stab at her again, drawing a second sword as he does.
The thug facing Nel will do the same as the one fighting Strigala.
But both of the rogues miss their marks.
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Volk sees the situation and chooses this time to try and free up Strigala to go assist Lilica. He rushed around and attempted to tumble past that Thug and then almost mimicking the weapon Lilica used, lashed at Nicar from behind, with a scything motion.
Lilica snorted at Strigala's comment. However, that was all the response the half-elf was going to get. There was no way she was going to divide her attention from this guy, especially since she had both angered him and terrified him in a short span of time. No telling what he might decide was a good idea after that. So the half-elf would continue to keep him off guard and in as much pain as possible.
Between Lilica and Volk's lashing Nicar is overcome with pain and passes out.
Volk's movements were so clumsy the rogue misses because he strikes where Volk should have been instead of where he ended up being.
Kertria pulls out her Curved Blade and slashes her would be attacker.
Kertria easily dispatches her foe with a flick of her large sword.
The four thugs accompanying Nicar die from their injuries, while Nicar himself is heavily wounded but only unconscious.
On their bodies you find:
2x Masterwork punching daggers
Chain shirt
8x Short swords
4x Studded Leather
50gp
And two letters.
The first letter reads:
"Nicar, old Saul managed to bust up the heist from last night. It might have gone more successfully if you had actually been helping instead of taking along a whore and running at the first sign of trouble."
"But I'm a forgiving man Nicar, take your boys down to the end of West End tomorrow morning. If I know Saul the dumb bastard will send his new boys out around the town to show them off as a display of power. "
"You make sure it goes badly for them and leave the other piece of paper here on their bodies."
"Do it and all is forgiven, if not, don't forget that Croat knows where your bed sleeps."
"In good trust, C. Z"
The other letter is a crude drawing of Saul appearing to be missing both hands with the writing underneath, "Trying to go for two, Saul? Pack up your things and get out of town."
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As soon as the others flee (and after Nel and Kertria act), Strigala looks down to the body and raises an eyebrow.
"Does someone have a piece of paper and a pen handy? Or just a tiny stick and this guy's blood will do. I've got an idea..."
She gives an evil grin. "Just want to send someone a message..."
She walks over to touch Volk, chanting under her breath as she calls upon power. She feels that ever-joyful nimbus of positive energy and the way the dark spirits around her writhe in pain as she unleashes the healing spell upon him. She had seen him get struck earlier.
She then looks to the others, head slightly lulling and eyes partially glazed over from the holy bliss. "Anyone else need healing before I leave this note?"
Saul says to Ternock, "Your steak should be done by now, go down to the kitchens and see Laurer. Afterwards go find Bojask, he'll be downstairs. He knows what to do with you."
Volk looks at the wound and then back at the man with an expressionless face, " That hurt... I wonder if you can take the same. " He steps back opening multiple small fissure in the air around him as shards of dark spikes bombard the one who charged him.
Void blast (Piercing): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 211d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Volk looks at the wound and then back at the man with an expressionless face, " That hurt... I wonder if you can take the same. " He steps back opening multiple small fissure in the air around him as shards of dark spikes bombard the one who charged him.
Void blast (Piercing): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 211d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Ternocks expression lights up at the sound of steak... Then turns sour.
Volk shudders a bit as Strigala's healing touch caresses his soul. He was in awe her face was amazing, he wanted to see that face again, and then enemy was.. well dead. " What can I do to make you make that face again Miss Strigala? Do you do that every time you heal? " He shakes his head and looks to Lilica too " Your face too, was quite nice, These men were sent after us. Sadly they failed much like the Robbers. We should hurry to get this cash back to Saul. "
"You're going down to see Bojask so he can assess what you're capable of."
Saul seemingly annoyed snaps his fingers and a flying devil like creature appears behind him in his chair.
"You're talking to a man who owns Devils, "dragon" If I wanted to own one of your kind I'd go and get the real thing."
"I again remind you of your place here. If you cannot be civil to me then you will not find the Gold Goblin to be as accommodating to your intrusion as it has been so far."
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"Look?" Strigala asks, slightly confused.
And then a look of horror crosses her face as she realizes exactly what look Volk is talking about and she straightens her head, her face taking on a more serious look. Her eyes remain slightly unfocused for the moment, being slow to recover.
"It comes from any positive energy spell. A side-effect of how I cast them." Or, more specifically, how the spirits react to the excess energy I call.
She coughs, then looks around for a tiny stick she can use for writing with, hoping she can find one to leave the note she wants to leave.