Ryssa uses diplomacy to see if she can get her fellow Calistrian priests to help.
She also sees if she is able to get Meghan to become a member of the Calistrian faith. She acts as Meghan's sponsor.
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Amboy get's himself ready and waits near the Gold Goblin to find and tail Saul.
and waits....
and waits....
But it is soon apparent that Saul has no intention of coming out, if he's still even in there. The Gold Goblin doesn't even reopen for a couple days, but eventually, after a 3 days the Goblin is once again open for business.
As for Ryssa, with her way with words and more importantly, people, she not only secures a temporary stay and welcome to the faith. Word reaches your ears that a large group of thugs were hired at the Gold Goblin, a bit of a shift of staff. That they're not skilled but no pushovers either. They were paid not to ask questions and follow their payer's purse and orders.
Ryssa informs the rest of the group what she has learned.
"Basically, Saul has hired some local thugs for some added muscle. A lot of them it seems. They're not really bright, but they're no pushovers when in a fight. Saul pays them to not ask questions, to protect him, and to follow his orders. They'll probably run if we take out Saul since they're probably the kind that only works for someone as long as they get paid. We've faced worse but we should still be wary when we go in."
"I also was able to convince Shorafa Pamodae to house us temporarily at the House of the Silken Veil while we prepare to go after Saul. It's not permanent mind you but she is behind us along with the rest of the priesthood."
Ryssa asks Meghan how she is liking being a part of Calistria's faithful.
"I think you'll make a great priestess of the Savored Sting, Meghan. You certainly have the looks...not to mention the body to be one."
She winks at Meghan, smiling.
Meghan blushed at Ryssa's words. Although she wasn't inexperienced with the pleasures of the flesh (thanks to her off-and-on dalliances with a charming Riddleport pirate named Zarltan the Black), she hadn't been ready for what awaited her inside the House of the Silken Veils. Her various retraining sessions had been very hands-on...literally.
She'd also become intimately acquainted with the business end of the whip. She was whipped for failing at her lessons; she was whipped when she succeeded. She was whipped regularly, Meghan surmised eventually, as an impetus to get her to learn how to channel positive energy to heal herself.
The clergy's efforts to instill a bonfire of vengeance in the carefree, happy-go-lucky woman hadn't been entirely successful, yet now when Ryssa and Amboy made their reports about Saul Vancaskerkin, that crazy look that sometimes reflected in the blonde woman's eyes flared to life. There was a subtle difference, though. They no longer reflected mere mischief; they now had a dangerous glint to them.
"I have no more doubts that Saul played us all long," she announces to her friends. "And I'll bet poor Larur discovered his treachery, so Saul had him killed. If you folks are intent on getting some payback...count me in!"
Ryssa smiled at the fierceness in Meghan's voice.
"Now, don't forget Meghan, Calistria favors mischief just as she favors vengeance. If you can do both, then do so. And if you can have some fun doing both, then do so as well. Besides, don't worry about getting whipped. Shorafa actually likes you. She whips pretty much everyone to toughen them up, but she does care about all those who work for her and she helps out her fellow Calistrians too. Besides, I think you're coming along great! And I do enjoy the massages I give you."
She liked seeing the human blush from her flirtations. This one is a keeper, she thought to herself.
Unbeugsam will heal himself up and work hard to clean the equipment.
Amboy will continue to watch The Golden Goblin to see what time of day would be best to attack and how many guards Saul has hired.
This would include peeking in windows after hours to see what the layout inside is like.
Taton, from his history, has been a guard so he knows some of the other guards around town. He greases a few palms, speaks to some contacts, and relies on his knowledge of the town.
He has to use muscle and bravado where coin fails, and winds up talking to some people in a rather unsuitable tone to get what he's after.
Long hours of watching and avoiding being watched may have just paid off.
Repairing his items Unbeugsam waits for the scout to return!
Taton, you learn the following.
The guard has noticed that the thugs seem to be hired from Cromarchy, as his forces have been seen making the initial trip over. That means they'll be a bit more organized than normal and run-of-the-mill thieves and brutes.
Intimidation tactics don't seem to go anywhere, but before you piss people off too much, you do also learn that the rumor going around town is that some or all of the "heroes" of the Gold Goblin were to have said to have stolen most of the profits and fled the city.
Amboy, after five days of steady waiting, scouting, and spying, you finally catch a lucky break as you spot Saul step out into the open with a retinue of guards. You follow for only a small while, his direction the market it seems, before you notice a couple thieves moving towards Saul's outer perimeter, looking for possible ambushes and other general paranoid things. You catch sight of him looking at a potion seller's stock before you need to flee before a thief may recognize you.
"We stole the Gold Goblin's profits??!!" Meghan scoffs in disbelief upon hearing Taton's report. "I didn't know we had any profits! Ooh--I really thought I owed Saul for bringing me in off the streets and protecting me from Croat's goons...now I think I owe ol' Keypaw a hard punch to the groin! Skeevy little runt...when I get my hands on him...*#&$^%!!" Meghan's rant turns into a cascade of swears and obscenities and she wanders away briefly, still muttering under her breath. When she returns, you see that she's used prestidigitation to color her outfit. She is Meghan Goldknickers no more: Her studded leather vest has been colored black with yellow trim, her pants a bright yellow with black stripes.
"So...what's the plan? Do we just kick down the front door or sneak in the back? I've retrained my powers and converted to the principles of the Calistrian faith. I can now inspire our group in combat and use some healing bursts. Once a day, you can choose to have the amount of my healing increased, but only if you willingly submit briefly to the goddess's will...and mine." Meg's hazel eyes seem to flare with a conviction and seduction you've never before seen in the previously happy-go-lucky young woman.
"We can't just kick the doors in. These are trained mercenaries, and the fight would be one we might win, but we also might have some trouble. Not that I mind a fight, but I prefer having the odds." He takes in Meghan's transformation, appraising but not in a lecherous or lewd way. The new ones tend to go all in, will she temper or burn brighter with time? "So, I would advise we sneak in. We know the place better than most, maybe we disguise ourselves, but charging in is asking to get hurt and that's not my method."
Unbeugsam smiles and replies.
"I am all for kick in the door."
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Hey--I've got that trait, too! Too bad I never remember to actually use it!
Amboy watches as Saul returns to The Golden Goblin. Once he is back inside he heads back to the potion sellers shop.
He finds the propreitor, "Saul sent me back to see how many more of the same potions you have and how soon he came pick them up?"
Hey--I've got that trait, too! Too bad I never remember to actually use it!
Ryssa likes the new Meghan although she is quick to remind the human not to abandon her old fun loving self.
"Trust me darling. Your fun loving nature is what I love about you. Still, you can have fun getting revenge on your foes though," she says with a grin.
She decides to help Amboy out some.
The potion seller doesn't seem convinced.
"Right....and I'm sure you'd like my ledger book as well, hmm? Get away you begger."
He takes a longer look at you.
"If Saul wants another arrangement, he'll have to come here himself. I don't deal with lackeys. Especially ones with the wrong information. Get this through your thick skull and scurry back to your boss with this message. That was a one-time thing, and only because it was good coin. Now get out of my face."
It seems this shop person is much to self-important to take the words of a lackey seriously, though he doesn't recognize you from you Gold Goblin or rumor fame.
Unbeugsam ponders on the situation for a moment.
It occurs to you all that trying to ambush Saul outside the Gold Goblin would be the worst course of action. Publically, it would confirm the populaces belief that you are the bad guys and Saul has been taking an escort with him which just focuses his security.
A few idea come to mind for assaulting the Gold Goblin.
1. Full Frontal
The loudest and flashy, but if you wait long enough Saul won't be able to afford all his current security and will downsize to somewhat manageable. If you attack in the day and during business, then civilians will be an issue. If you attack at night, that'd be a bit smarter.
2. Break-in
The windows of a casino are reinforced with iron bars, but some thief prep work could make it so you could try to get in quietly.
3. Walk-in
This one is risky, but if you could get in during normal business hours the normal security will have its hands full with the gamblers and patrons. If anyone recognizes you, your cover will be blown, but business hours are the perfect way to be inside if no one recognizes you. High risk, high reward.
"I say we go in after hours. Less chance of having to deal with the local authorities. I bet we could even get our new friend to create some kind of distraction on the other side of town to keep them busy. Once inside no one outside should be able to hear us."
"I do like the frontal assault, but alas, in a city. Might better to go after hours!"
The dwarf adds.
"I think you have the right of it. We can't endanger civilians or we risk looking the villain, though I should really like to see Saul explain it." Taton grumbles, seemingly without end. He doesn't like the situation at hand.
It seems the groups discussion is leading towards a night assault under stealth, which means preparations are in order.
The current security (after the week-long wait) has resulted in Saul's shifting security of the Casino back to or more normal level.
In the meantime, what sort of tasks would you like to before the assault? If you think you'll need associated rolls, go ahead and roll for them.
"It might not be a bad idea to buy one or two silver weapons, in case Saul's still hiring from the wererat end of the mercenary gene pool," Meghan comments, looking a little antsy.
"Amboy--do you think you can pick the lock on the back door?"
According to the map, there are a couple of windows pretty close to the back door; we could peek through those.
The windows have iron bars installed on them, but there's nothing to say they aren't in prime shape. Of course, filing away at tougher bars without alerting anyone will take time.
Whoever would like to scout the back and see if they can sneakily disable the window defenses, go ahead and make the rolls may do so.
Or if you want to sneak in the backdoor at night, just let me know if you're good to go or want any more recon/supply runs.
The night of the break-in, Meghan creeps up to a window and peers inside, looking for guards or other signs of life.