While waiting for Samaritha's answer to his last proposal, Dayn becomes increasingly distracted by the two at the bar. Finally, his eyes sincere and regretful, he tells her [b]"Ah, hey, I'm so sorry, can you stick around for a little bit longer? It's sounding like there may be something going on I should check on.
And with a last look into her eyes, he darts into the kitchen, then heads out the open door if he doesn't see either of the other two. As soon as he gets a chance, he asks one or both of them what's going on.
"I, uh -- all right," Samaritha replies, her mystified eyes following the elf as he runs off.
Braddon runs across the alley, heading for the narrow gaps between buildings their now-captive had tried to use to escape. He is intensely aware of the loss of his boots as his bare feet pad across the packed dirt and scrubby patches of weeds; while the lack of footwear will undoubtedly enhance his stealth, he knows from recent experience what will happen if he steps in broken glass or on a rusty nail or sharp splinter of broken wood in the darkness among the dilapidated buildings.
He is just about to disappear into the shadows on the far side of the alley when he is quietly hailed from behind. He turns to see Daynadrian emerging from the kitchen door of the Gold Goblin and quickly informs him of their quarry.
At the front of the building, the detachment of Gendarmes turns into the courtyard and approaches the porch of the Gold Goblin. Up close, their appearance isn't as regimented as Tendal is used to seeing from a city guard; while their uniforms say 'watchmen,' an occasional hoop earring or tattoo emerging from a sleeve or a collar indicate that these men have a past as sailors, or pirates, and they have a swagger that indicates they're not as strictly disciplined as the Watch he is used to back in Magnimar or even in Sandpoint. Trailing behind them, Tendal recognizes the two men he sent to fetch them, joined now by a fairly inebriated handful of friends and well-wishers.
The lead Gendarme climbs the steps to meet Tendal on the veranda. "Well, now," he grins, exposing a gold tooth, "hear Old Stumpy's had some trouble tonight."
Tendal draws himself up as he looks at what accounts for the local law establishment.
"Good evening. There was a bit of trouble, but it was headed off by Mr. Vankaskerkin's security before things got too out of control. Unfortunately only one of the ruffians survived being...suppressed...so there are several bodies and one live one for you."
Tendal steps over and opens the door for the Gendarme. "Mr. Vankaskerkin wanted me to say that as a law-abiding businessman he wanted to ensure that you were notified in a timely manner so you could see the bandit off to jail. He also wants to pass on his high regard for you and his thanks for your prompt response."
Gah. I am going to give myself a rotten tooth with all this sugar.
Phillip holds position where he has a reasonably clear view of Saul, content to wait out until Saul moves above for their discussion.
Dayn nods as he quickly takes in the situation and replies "You continue that way, I'll try and head her off." drawing his bow once again, Dayn first stops, squats and takes a momenr to try and find any tracks that might have come from the Thulavia's fancy shoes. If he finds any he'll follow them, if not, he'll sprint in the direction she'd have been most likely to jave gone in.
"Thuvalia. Accomplice. Try that way," Braddon barks, barely slowing his stride. He races on trying to cover as much distance as possible.
Having delivered his terse message, Braddon ducks into the shadows and starts to slip carefully between the buildings, barely breathing in the hopes of hearing footsteps and straining his eyes both for glimpses of movement and for hazards to his bare feet in his path.
Dayn kneels down outside the back door to look for any clues his quarry might have left, but between the hard-packed ground and the recent trampling it took from the Gold Goblin patrons evacuating that way, it's impossible for him to pick out any tracks as definitively belonging to her. His mind racing, he remembers his last excursion to the alley: The "Hellknights" had all headed toward the river. Taking the chance that Thuvalia would have gone in the same direction, he gets back to his feet. Braddon is taking the alleys; Dayn rushes north to the road, hoping that the wider field of vision available from the cobblestones will afford him sight of her.
Inside the Gold Goblin, Saul sighs as Daynadrian rushes toward the kitchen. "Larur, you'll have to relieve our friend of Fiora's armor. Bojasc, make sure he knows that if he tries anything clever, you won't mind putting an axe inside him."
The trio have just finished stripping the Varisians of their valuables when the sound of heavy booted footsteps are heard from the front steps and the rumble of voices from outside the double doors. "Bojasc," Saul directs, "go open the doors. Larur," he gestures to the four sets of armor, the weapons, and the stolen jewelry, "take this all to the storage room. Wait, you'll never make it in one trip. Here, lad," he beckons to Phillip, "help the dwarf get this upstairs. If the Gendarmes see it, they'll claim it's valuable evidence ... and the more valuable it looks, the more indispensible to their investigation they'll claim it to be, if you get my meaning."
Phil pops up at Saul's request and moves to help Larur with the cargo. He is very particular to move to grab some of the armor first... though as he struggles with the bulky props, he casts a practised eye over the jewelery...
Appraise:
...before stuffing a few handfuls of the median priced finery into the pile of gear he is to take upstairs. To Larur he asks "Lead on, I've no idea where we're headed with this."
"Good evening. There was a bit of trouble, but it was headed off by Mr. Vankaskerkin's security before things got too out of control. Unfortunately only one of the ruffians survived being...suppressed...so there are several bodies and one live one for you."
Tendal steps over and opens the door for the Gendarme. "Mr. Vankaskerkin wanted me to say that as a law-abiding businessman he wanted to ensure that you were notified in a timely manner so you could see the bandit off to jail. He also wants to pass on his high regard for you and his thanks for your prompt response."
Gold-Tooth grins wider. "A bit of trouble? We heard half the house was robbed by his own staff. Doesn't sound like the actions of a law-abiding businessman to me. Who are you, then? Haven't seen you around Riddleport before."
Tendal doesn't realize until he tries to push it open just how heavy the tall doors are. He has only the time to begin to worry about looking the fool in front of the Gendarmes before he feels the door yank away from beneath his hand. Just managing not to stumble in, he sees Saul's bodyguard Bojasc tugging the door open from the inside and tries to play it off as if his own strength had something to do with the door's movement.
To Larur he asks "Lead on, I've no idea where we're headed with this."
The dwarf is sweating nervously. "It's not far, lad; the stairs are off the kitchen," he wheezes, leading the way through the swinging doors and the sitting room recently pressed into service as a morgue. Phillip, of course, was up and down these very stairs with Sarien before the sun set, but he follows his guide with a feigned air of ignorance to the upstairs hallway. Larur wavers between the costume closet and the bare room across the hall for a moment before opting for the empty audition room, the notice about hiring within still tacked to the doorway. He sets down his burden with a grunt and nods for Phillip to do likewise."The name's Larur Felden," he introduces himself as gruffly as he can with his whisper of a voice. "What's yours?"
Following after the dwarf and struggling a little more with the weight, Phillip is contented to allow the his cargo to come down with a thump and crash upon the floor. Rising and stretching out his back, Phillip replies "Well met, and I'm Phillip Hargreaves." extending his hand for a shake.
Eyeing the piles of gear and the relative lack of security Phillip muses "No-one's likely to skive off with the armor... but I can't help but think some of the costumier's accoutrements could find their way easily into a pocket. Should we gather up the baubles for somewhere more secure?" before casting an eye back to where they've come.
Licking his lips and trying to squeeze just a little more luck from his blood, Phillip puts on his best and most responsible voice to venture "I can handle it if you need get back to Saul? Just in case the gendarmes starts causing a hassle with him... Trust ain't a word that comes easy in these parts, but give me a length of rope and I promise I'll not hang myself with it" pulling out all the stops to try and boster an appearance and veneer that he was a lawful, responsible halfling... and not at all a confidence man and sneak thief.
Bluff:
Gold-Tooth grins wider. "A bit of trouble? We heard half the house was robbed by his own staff. Doesn't sound like the actions of a law-abiding businessman to me. Who are you, then? Haven't seen you around Riddleport before."
"I certainly would have been surprised if you had. I mean it is possible that I might have a doppelganger wandering about, but not very likely. I am just recently arrived to Riddleport, and have taken up employ with Mr. Vankaskerkin." Tendal says as he leads the Gendarmes into the Golden Goblin.
"There he is now, and over there is the brigand that was apprehended in one piece." Tendal continues, pointing out Saul and the captive.
As Braddon exists the casino with all haste, Malkith takes a closer look around the bar to see if he can spot any clues that Thuvalia may have left behind. As Daynadrian rushes past the bar and after Braddon, the Varisian gives credit to the idea of giving chase as well, but his slow reactions mean that her other two pursuers are probably already halfway across the block. He also realizes he's got no idea where the woman may have gone or even how to get around in this city himself.
Instead, Malkith decides sits down at the bar. Casting Samaritha an inviting smile to join him, he pulls out his harrow deck and begins shuffling. He pauses their conversation by holding the deck of cards firmly in his hand, facing the bar, and drawing a deep breath. Diverting his attention to thoughts of Thuvalia and the events of tonight, he deliberately deals several cards from the top of the deck. As he reveals them, he focuses on the question of where he can find Thuvalia.
Weighing up speed versus direction, Braddon pauses. Given the man's efforts it seems unlikely anyone recently rushed through in that direction but wanting to be sure he pulls two coppers out. He deliberately clinks them together then holds them up and whispers quietly to the man.
"Psst. Did a posh woman just run past here?"
Braddon bounces on the balls of his feet, ready to toss the coins and rush off again in the required direction.
Darting between the two buildings, Dayn raises his bow and lines up a shot. But before he looses or calls out to her, he takes a quick moment to get a better look at her and what she may be doing or where she may be going.
Eyeing the piles of gear and the relative lack of security Phillip muses "No-one's likely to skive off with the armor... but I can't help but think some of the costumier's accoutrements could find their way easily into a pocket. Should we gather up the baubles for somewhere more secure?" before casting an eye back to where they've come.
Licking his lips and trying to squeeze just a little more luck from his blood, Phillip puts on his best and most responsible voice to venture "I can handle it if you need get back to Saul? Just in case the gendarmes starts causing a hassle with him... Trust ain't a word that comes easy in these parts, but give me a length of rope and I promise I'll not hang myself with it" pulling out all the stops to try and bolster an appearance and veneer that he was a lawful, responsible halfling... and not at all a confidence man and sneak thief.
"Eh," the dwarf gives a glance to the jewelry, "you're right, lad. Better lock that up in Saul's office. It'll be trouble if husbands come back to retrieve their wives' jewelry and we can't produce it." He gathers the stolen goods up himself, then hesitates, eyeing the halfling. "Tell you what you can do.... Saul's hired you on, so it ought to be all right to show you.... Follow me."
Larur walks down the hall to Saul's office and unlocks the door, leading Phil into the waiting area, but instead of crossing to the inner office, he heads to a different door in the southern wall. Lighting a candle from the low gas-lamp, he opens the door and leads Phillip into a dark room. Details aren't visible in the candlelight, but there is a long table and chairs in the middle of the room. Larur sets down the candlestick on the table and moves to a tapestry-hung wall. "Quiet now, lad," he whispers, his lowered voice barely audible, "and no light." He raises one side of the tapestry to reveal a hidden door. Putting a finger to his lips, he beckons Phil to join him behind the thick wall hanging before gently turning the latch.
Beyond is a great open area, the inside of the casino's brass dome. A lattice of catwalks leads out into the expanse; a few feet below these are the swaths of fabric that make up the ceiling of the casino proper. With the lights burning below and the darkness above, all the activity beneath is clearly visible: Phillip can see the blood-stained carpet, Saul and Bojasc, and the denuded Varisian corpses.
"Saul's secret," Larur breathes. "So anyone up here can spot trouble before it happens: cheaters, brawls, anything unusual. My coin says Saul was up here when the damned Sczarni struck; it's how he knew to come rushing back down. From up here, you can keep an eye on the floor, but you have to stay quiet. It gets spread around that this is up here, and folk'll know to do their plotting in the bar or the courtyard; negate the whole expense of setting this up." He nods. "You watch and be my eyes while I see about making these jewels secure."
As Braddon exists the casino with all haste, Malkith takes a closer look around the bar to see if he can spot any clues that Thuvalia may have left behind.
Malkith glances at the floor beneath the stool to which the actress had dragged him but sees nothing. He then hops over the bar itself just as she must have done and looks around for anything unusual. On the highest shelf beneath the surface of the bar, the bottles are shoved together rather than being evenly spaced the way Covey Smith has the rest of his potables arranged. Reaching back behind them, Malkith finds a small clay sphere and a vial full of liquid. Looking at the wax sealing the vial, he recognizes the rune etched on it: a symbol used by Varisian alchemists to mark healing potions.
Malkith decides to sit down at the bar. Casting Samaritha an inviting smile to join him, he pulls out his harrow deck and begins shuffling. He pauses their conversation by holding the deck of cards firmly in his hand, facing the bar, and drawing a deep breath. Diverting his attention to thoughts of Thuvalia and the events of tonight, he deliberately deals several cards from the top of the deck. As he reveals them, he focuses on the question of where he can find Thuvalia.
Having joined Malkith at the bar, Samaritha watches with interest as he deals the Harrow cards. The first card he turns over is the Teamster, symbolizing a driving external pressure, undoubtedly the person or persons who hired the Varisians for the Gold Goblin job. The fact that this card presents at the beginning of the reading indicates that whoever the mystery personage is, they will not be going away quietly. Thoughtfully, he shuffles the Teamster back into the deck and deals the spread.
Flipping over the cards that reveal the past, Malkith finds the Winged Serpent a true match. It symbolizes knowing the moment to strike. Thuvalia and her associates certainly seemed to be well-informed about the intricacies of the job they accepted. Could their employer have provided them with inside details about the casino? The Big Sky is also a true match; Malkith remembers the card with uneasiness from his own reading he conducted before the opening. It symbolizes the inability to escape one's past. Is Thuvalia herself shackled by a past that will not let her go?
He looks with eagerness at the column representing the present. The Twin, representing duality of purpose or identity: That Thuvalia is not what she seems comes as no surprise; she has already proven her duplicity. Malkith is more intrigued by the true match at the top of the column: the Survivor. In direct contrast to the Big Sky, it symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings, albeit through difficulty. It appears that the cards believe that Thuvalia has an opportunity to escape her shackles and change her ways.
The column dealing with future events leaves Malkith's brow creased with concern. The Betrayal -- but in the position it is dealt, it represents noble self-sacrifice. The Empty Throne -- the certainty of loss, but uncertainty whether it will lead to good fortune or ill tidings. And finally, frustratingly, the Theater -- the Harrow deck's coy way of reminding him of the unreliability of prophecy in general and the fluidity of future events.
Malkith concludes the reading with the definite impression that Thuvalia Barabbio will continue to be a factor, for good or ill, in the coming days. The Harrow deck seems certain that she will not escape her pursuers -- or, at least, that her path will cross theirs again.
After a respectful silence in which for Malkith to work, Samaritha asks with interest, "What did the cards tell you?"
As Phillip watches from above, Tendal and the Gendarmes enter the casino, and Saul advances across the floor to meet them. "Hugo! They've got you working the night shift, I see. How's that old injury? I've always said that's a mighty uncomfortable place for a man to get burned."
The gold-toothed grin disappears into a scowl. "Never you mind. What's been going on here then? We've had multiple reports of banditry and fighting at this location."
"And I appreciate the alacrity with which you set out down here to take care of matters, I really do," Saul replies. "But as you can see, my staff was able to take the matter in hand. A mite overeager, perhaps," he admits, giving one of the dead Varisians a slight kick, "but you like to see that in a young man; shows he has high spirits. You can't teach enthusiasm, now can you?"
Hugo glances around the room, at the defeated Varisians, at Saul with Bojasc protectively at his shoulder, at Tendal, and at Malkith and Samaritha over at the bar. "Your staff?" he asks. "A dandy, a Varisian card reader, a thug, and a street whore? Whole lot of cattle in here. How do I know this isn't some spat between caravans that got out of hand? You had a Varisian bride once, didn't you? What are you doing, using this business as a cover for her family to settle a score?"
"Look, Hugo, I admire your investigative spirit, honestly I do," Saul replies. "But I've summoned you here as a favor, really. These lads came down here from Lubbertown to do a job under the Overlord's nose. The one who's still standing as good as admitted to being Sczarni. Now you know and I know that the Overlord tolerates Sczarni activity in Lubbertown, but he won't sanction any operations in Riddleport proper. These boys, they're a new development, one the Overlord should be made aware of. Now, either he needs to work a new deal with the Sczarni where they agree to his terms or he needs to make an example of them, but if Sczarni are allowed to operate in town without his permission? Well, it doesn't look good, Hugo, not good at all. Looks like the Overlord is getting weak. And when blood's in the water, the sharks start to circle. Now I appreciate a strong hand at the tiller; I want to do what little I can to support the captain of our fair city. But if the Sczarni are making a move to expand into Riddleport and the Overlord finds out he could have put a stop to it but wasn't informed due to one of his Gendarmes playing detective? Well, I don't think he'd like that at all, do you?"
"Good hunting," he waves and darts off in the other direction.
Dayn lines up his shot, has the traitorous woman in his sights, hesitates, and then swears profusely. "Gods dqmn it! I ain't never shot a woman and I'm not about to start now, especially not for the likes of Saul Vankaskerkin!"
Continuing to swear, the frustrated Elf instead takes off afer his quarry at a full run this time.
The woman cannot help but hear the footsteps coming up quickly behind her, as well as your cursing under your breath. She swings around, her eyes wide, but can't clearly focus on your shape coming out of the dim light until you are almost upon her. Just as you are ready to seize her, one hand dips into a pouch at her waist, and she points at you, speaking what you recognize as words of arcane power. Without even waiting to see if you succumb, she turns away and continues to flee to the north.
Tendal listens intently as Saul manipulates the Gendarme into accepting his story.
He is certainly good. Of course he has been at it a lot longer...probably shouldn't play cards with him, now that I think about it.
With a scowl, his gold tooth no longer evident, the head Gendarme angrily motions to his fellows to gather up the Varisians. The dead and unconscious ones are slung over shoulders, while the sullen captive is locked into iron manacles and prodded toward the door. "Watch yourself, Stumpy," Hugo spits as he follows his men toward the exit. "I can't think of a soul in Riddleport who'd shed a tear to see you ruined, once and for all. Your old pal Zincher could probably sell tickets."
"What can I say?" Saul grins expansively. "I'm a showman. Bojasc, shut the door behind our friends when they leave."
Upstairs, the secret door behind Phillip opens once again. The dwarf, holding a finger to his lips, gestures for the halfling to come back through the tapestry. Once the door is securely closed and the covering dropped over it, Larur picks up the candlestick and leads the way back to the waiting room. "Well?" he asks. "Did Saul have any trouble with them?"
Will save: (+2 if enchantment)
Phillip is momentarily disappointed when he realizes that he won't have an opportunity to life some jewelry from the pile... but the feeling soon subsides when he realizes that Larur has trusted him with something far more valuable. Not only a means for silent watching without being seen... but also a back-entry into Saul's office. His palms grow slick and heartrate begins to race as he ponders what use could be made of such knowledge. It is all he can do to comport himself and nod assent to serving as Larur's watchman.
Observing Saul at work as he deals with the gendarmes, Phillip feels as though there are fractured pieces of a puzzle at play... but he is unsure of what the larger picture is yet by far. Noticing Larur's return, Phil follows him out of the secret bolthole and slicks his hair back with one hand before replying "The peacocks seemed to strut their feathers, but Saul was clearly the victor of the exchange. The gendarme were cowed for now and Bojasc has shown them out."
Samaritha's words pull Malkith from his revery. He looks at her, attempting to smile, but failing. "We haven't seen the last of Thuvalia. She's running from something in her past, or being driven by it. Something that isn't done yet. Hopefully Braddon and the elf can bring her back," he glances at the bodies being hauled off by the gendarme, "still capable of answering questions."
The Varisian meets the gaze of the lead gendarme as he passes out of view of the bar. He ponders his next act for a moment. Finally, he gently pats Samaritha's hand, "I believe I still owe you a reading, maitea lore. Why don't you grab us a couple glasses of something from behind the bar while I reshuffle the cards?
Intimidate:
Bluff:
"The peacocks seemed to strut their feathers, but Saul was clearly the victor of the exchange. The gendarme were cowed for now and Bojasc has shown them out."
Larur half-grunts, half-chuckles in response. "Oh, he can talk, can Saul. Could sell a rock to a dwarf or a sack of leaves to an elf. Half the time I think I'm lucky to have him on my side, and the other half I'm counting the coins in my purse."
Taking up the candlestick, the dwarf uses it to begin to light gas lamps in sconces around the walls, revealing the room in further detail. The long table in the middle of the room has seating for ten, and there is a buffet in the corner. Between the lamps, all of the walls are hung with tapestries; Phillip takes a good look at the design on the one from which he just emerged so that he can remember which hides the secret door. The door by which they entered from the waiting area is in the northern wall; there is another door in the southern wall at the far end of the table. "Suppose Saul'll be wanting this room for a meeting and a late meal. Go back downstairs if you please, Master Hargreaves, and let him know I'm getting it ready."
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The Varisian meets the gaze of the lead gendarme as he passes out of view of the bar. He ponders his next act for a moment. Finally, he gently pats Samaritha's hand, "I believe I still owe you a reading, maitea lore. Why don't you grab us a couple glasses of something from behind the bar while I reshuffle the cards?
Samaritha smiles, considers the high counter of the bar and the voluminous skirts of her robes, and decides to walk around the long-but-modest way through the kitchen rather than simply hopping over. After a few moments, she emerges behind the bar from the back corridor and pokes around the shelves inquisitively. Settling on a traditional Varisian ale, she fills two glasses and sets them on the surface of the bar. "First, the Choosing, right?" she asks, with palpable anticipation. Holding out her hand, she waits for Malkith to offer her the deck and selects a card. "The Carnival," she says hopefully, turning it over to reveal its face. "That sounds ... fun?" She looks at Malkith for assurance. "Wait, I'll be right there; don't start without me." She hurries back through the corridor to return through the kitchen to the stool side of the bar.
As Bojasc closes the door behind the Gendarmes, Saul grins with exhilaration. He raises his arms as if to rub his hands together in glee, and then a strange look of sudden remembrance crosses his face momentarily as he stares at his key-stub. He quickly recovers his good humor and enthusiasm, however. "Ha! Well done, lad, well done," he slaps Tendal on the back in congratulation. "It's the end of the night, and we're still in business. Bojasc, bar the doors! Where have those elven boys got to? I could do with a bit of supper."
Malkith waits patiently for Samaritha to reemerge from the kitchen. His mind is racing to figure out how to spin the meaning of the Carnival so as not to disappoint the hopeful young woman. His face is ponderous when their eyes meet again. He pats the seat next to him as invitation for her to sit close.
He masks his own trepidation with a deep sigh, hoping it will look like he's attempting to return his focus to the cards. "The Carnival," he reminds her, "It represents illusions and...unrealized goals. What you seek or that which you desire may be serving as a distraction from your true potential." Feeling himself settling once again into the role of diviner, he pauses to gauge her reaction. With a grim smile, he begins dealing out the cards, "Lets see if we can't figure out what that potential might be, shall we?"
Phil gives a wry grin and a nod to Larur's words before heading downstairs to pass the message on to Saul. Finding him engaged with Tendal, Phil waits slightly to one side and waits until Saul takes notice.
Tendal shakes his head at Saul's glee.
"Good gods! I hope every night is not quite so...entertaining. That was certainly a bit much. Of course, if you aren't being challenged, you can't say that you are rising to your full potential. So a bit of adversity couldn't hurt that much, even if it was on the first day of business."
"I will go and see about getting dinner set up if you want, sir. I think that I could eat a troll at this point. Besides, I think that you have someone waiting to talk to you." Tendal says, pointing at Phillip.
"Of course," Saul waves Tendal through to the kitchen. "Should be leftovers from the gala, and I had some loaves of bread and cold meat set aside for an early morning meal after our doors closed. Of course, I wasn't expecting such a large party," he grins, seemingly delighted to have so many unexpected guests, "but we should be able to manage with what's in the larder. What is it, lad?" he turns to Phillip. "All the armor and the contents of our Hellknights' pockets stowed?"