The next building down looks as if it was once boarded up like its neighbor, but without any permanent squatters to defend it, it has been broken into and looted to the frame. Getting in is no problem, as the front door itself has been carried away, half a set of hinges rusting away efficiently in the damp salt air.
The only major feature of the ground floor that Gristav can perceive is a large fireplace, the stones of which are blacked with soot, as drifters have taken advantage of the hearth to light a fire to cook a meal ... or perhaps to burn evidence. There is an open hatch in the ceiling where a staircase once provided access to the second floor, but it has crumbled to a pile of rotten and decaying wood.
Presuming any halfling using the chimney had to have heard Braddon's declaration, and also presuming the chimney might serve (and exit on) the 2nd floor, as well as the first, Gristav is found eyes and arc on the chimney and the hatch (if such is possible).
Sighting Snake, Gris gestures to each of his guesses for hobbit-holes, hoping Snake will cover one of them more directly.
After a brief pause, Braddon pushes a few loose bricks down the chimney. Then he risks a quick look down.
Across the hall is the costume closet. Tendal enters and is beginning to scan the room when he hears a rustling from the back corner of the room. A moment later, a middle-aged woman with hair a thoroughly unnatural shade of bright orange steps out from around the end of the final rack of hanging clothing."Oh!" she says, stopping short as she sees Tendal. "Was there something someone was needing me for?" With a slight effort, the wizard remembers her name: Fiora, the seamstress and part-time costume mistress of the Gold Goblin, who outfitted the tieflings and Hellknights last week.
"Ah, Fiora. No. Thank you there was nothing that I require at present. I appreciate the question however. I look forward to seeing your skills on display this evening." And with that, he begins to close the door, then stops himself and steps back inside the closet. "Fiora, actually, I do have a question. When was the last time that you saw or talked to Larur? I am curious when the last time the staff saw him, becuase his leavetaking was so sudden. I imagine that there must be some sort of gossip among the staff about it." he asked, interested in what the staff knew.
"The dwarf? I don't deal with him directly. He's not with Saul anymore then? I suppose he's taken you on as junior partner instead?" She sets her face into an obsequious moue, fluttering her sparse eyelashes in what's clearly intended to be a flirtatious manner.
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Downstairs on the verandah, Phillip leans against the railing and takes the measure of the Varisian talent. Nearby in the shade are the members of the small band: three men and a woman with a thick braid. In the dancing tent with Thuvalia are two young women and a man who is ostensibly playing the mark. They all appear to be typical caravan performers, without the unpleasant leer or shifty eyes presumed to be the hallmark of the criminal set ... though Phillip has been around the block enough to know that the most successful criminals are those, like Beltias Kreun, who are gifted at not looking the part.
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Both Snake and Gristav break for the fireplace at Braddon's shout, but Gristav, being nearer, arrives the soonest. Looking up, he can see, silhouetted against the rectangle of blue sky at the top of the shaft, a Small form struggling down the interior wall of the chimney.
"I believe you mistook my question. I apologize for the errancy generated by my word choice. But I must now get back to my original purpose, searching for maleficent magical interference. Conspectu!" he says with finality, resetting the spell and turning his gaze upon the small closet and its inhabitant.
Tendal discovers that the costumery contains no more advanced magic than greasepaint and spangles.
Calling out to garner Thuvalia's attention Phillip is initially respectful "Beruna dantzari... when you have a moment?" indicating that he might spend a few moments speaking with her.
Gristav draws a breath, and sighs. The moisture of his breath clouds around his hand sinister, becoming dancing rime and sparkling motes entrained in the rush of wrought wyrd, a ray of frost that streaks skyward, hunting hobbit.
"One left in the chimney, so one left on the upper level, with every window an option." Gristav says to Snake.
Gristav's ray shoots up the chimney and unerringly strikes the halfling. An audible "Oof!" echoes down the shaft, immediately followed by a cry of alarm as the Small man loses his grip and comes hurtling down toward the ground floor.
Finding nothing Tendal dismisses himself from the costume closet and returns to the ground floor to do the remainder of his work.
If I do not find Mr. Hargreaves on the main floor, I will take a moment to see what is transpiring with the entertainment before checking his room. Perhaps he has already completed his inspection of the premisses?
Tendal alight on the main floor, footsteps muffled by the carpet as he stepped out into the casino floor, his magically enhanced gaze ablaze as it swept the proceedings.
Having no time to dodge, Gristav instead extends his arms in an attempt to catch the falling halfling. Unable to react in time, however, he receives a glancing blow that leaves his arm and shoulder briefly numb. A moment later, an ominous rattling from the chimney announces that the halfling is being followed by some loose bricks, perhaps knocked loose from the decrepit stack by his tumble.
"What the...?" Snake moves over near Gristav to see what hit him.
Calling out to garner Thuvalia's attention Phillip is initially respectful "Beruna dantzari... when you have a moment?" indicating that he might spend a few moments speaking with her.
The appellation pleases her. She preens herself visibly, leaving no doubt among the others as to who the first dancer must be. "Very well," she sings out in response. "I will be with you shortly." Turning to the other three, she hisses, "The footwork! And you, try not to look at them when they're picking your pockets. If this were a true Ergela, you'd all be in the town jail already!"
The other dancers roll their eyes behind her back as she climbs the verandah stairs to meet Phillip with an ingratiating smile.
Maintaining an outward air of deference for the benefit of the other dancers, Phillip addresses Thuvalia solely as a colleague "They will suffice?" indicating towards the other varisians.
After hearing her answer Phil continues with a slight playful lilt "Now you might have heard we had a little trouble with the hired help last week... do you think that's likely to recur tonight?"
Tendal tries to find an out-of-the-way niche from which he can scan the casino floor without having his concentration broken by passing workmen. It takes him several moves across the crowded room to survey the area from several angles, but he finally comes to the conclusion that there are no active spell effects on the casino floor or anyone working there.
Having no time to dodge, Gristav instead extends his arms in an attempt to catch the falling halfling. Unable to react in time, however, he receives a glancing blow that leaves his arm and shoulder briefly numb. A moment later, an ominous rattling from the chimney announces that the halfling is being followed by some loose bricks, perhaps knocked loose from the decrepit stack by his tumble.
Half-expecting the little fellow's fall, Gristav thought to exit the fireplace, but the narrowness of the space promised to defeat any adroit departure. Mindful of mercy, Gris thought he'd catch the smaller man, but the flailing spin of the fallen thwarted that hope. And worse, bricks followed, and having been trying to catch, the magus couldn't help but be caught.
And to once again miss his hat.
He stood over the hobbit, a trickle of blood begun from one brick-bit brow, and said in what might have been sincere gentleness, "You're just no end of trouble. Are you going to trouble me to end you?"
The halfling keeps enough of his wits about him to hear the bricks coming as well. He tries to roll out of the way but is hampered by his recent injuries. Hissing with pain from the sudden movement, he takes a direct hit from the brick that missed Gristav and succumbs to unconsciousness.
Gristav and Snake can't tell which of the pair of halflings this is, sprawled on the hearth. He is badly burned, hair and eyebrows almost gone, and his clothing unrecognizable. A sooty chain shirt is visible through the charred tatters of his tunic.
Braddon finally peers down the chimneystack to see the burned halfling sprawled at its bottom and Gristav leaning over the body.
Maintaining an outward air of deference for the benefit of the other dancers, Phillip addresses Thuvalia solely as a colleague "They will suffice?" indicating towards the other varisians.
She twists her shoulder in a sullen half-shrug. "They will do. They are Varisian, and professionals. Not of the best, you understand, but we could only choose from those hanging around Lubbertown. Eskaleak ezin da hautatzailearekin, no?"
"Now you might have heard we had a little trouble with the hired help last week... do you think that's likely to recur tonight?"
"Do you mean, are they Sczarni?" she responds sharply. "Not as far as I know. I am no fool, master halfling. I know only too well there are those ready, at the first sign of disloyalty, to whisk me away -- pouf! -- to Shoreleave, like the deabrua-emakume's solicitous solicitor."
devil-woman
"Aye, one must forge with the iron that one is given" before letting her sharpness wash over him without impact, offering a languid shrug before smoothly answering "Of Sczarni I could care less... and I have more trust in you then I do in most of those at play. There are other powers in Riddleport that might see harm come to the Goblin..." clearly thinking of the whoremistress and Zincher, but not overtly naming them.
Braddon finally peers down the chimneystack to see the burned halfling sprawled at its bottom and Gristav leaning over the body.
"You got him. Well done. Get his knives. They must be magic because he sliced me to ribbons with them. Does he have that guy's purse? If so leave the other and we'll get outta here. I wanna show him to the dwarf."
"Of Sczarni I could care less... and I have more trust in you then I do in most of those at play. There are other powers in Riddleport that might see harm come to the Goblin..." clearly thinking of the whoremistress and Zincher, but not overtly naming them.
Somewhat mollified, she asks, "You think someone went before us and purchased agents in Lubbertown for us to hire? Or watched who was hired and then suborned them?"
Braddon finally peers down the chimneystack to see the burned halfling sprawled at its bottom and Gristav leaning over the body."You got him. Well done."
"You didn't leave much to do...", Gristav regretfully praises. "Bit of ice, and his hand slipped. Turnabout fairplay."
"Get his knives. They must be magic because he sliced me to ribbons with them. Does he have that guy's purse? If so leave the other and we'll get outta here. I wanna show him to the dwarf."
"Look for the other, better both and the whole story, than one and the story get out.", Gristav answers up the chimney, pointing with a hand at the presumed path the first must have taken from the chimney, out the 2nd floor fireplace.
"Watch for the other.", Gris suggests of Snake.
Then he turns an opening awareness on the unconscious assailant.
Smirking slightly he replies "In honesty no... I can think of a dozen easier ways to cause anguish without going to that extent... and yet" shrugging "Just be aware?" stiffening his back and giving a short bow "Beruna dantzari" and waiting until he's dismissed before moving away.
Thuvalia purses her lips thoughtfully, gives Phillip a nod, and turns back toward the steps down to the courtyard.
Thuvalia thusly entreated Phillip moves away...
Mollified by the mundane state of the Goblin, Tendal weaves his way across the games' floor toward the main door.
I would place a wager that Madame Barabbio is outside, screeching like a fishwife about this or that. I truely don't want to have to deal with her again today...I would likely need a bit of fortification first. Which gives me an idea of how to go about getting Mr. Hargreaves down to the wine cellar to discretely discuss my concerns.
Opening the main door, and stepping through, he nearly bowls over Phillip as the halfling heads in the opposite direction. Tendal comes to a halt, using his cane and the door lintel to arrest his forward progress. A quick glance at Thuvalia's back retreating to the entertainer's tent fills in the remainder of Tendal's picture.
"Mr Hargreaves, I see you have already talked to Madame Barabbio. I am assuming that she is on task and will be ready in time, with no more of her...issues?" Tendal asks hoping that the harridan hasn't found yet another way to become a nuisance.
Picking up on the nuance in Tendal's speech Phillip smirks "Aye Magnimar, words have been exchanged..." half starting a thought before pausing to refine it and adding "I wouldn't worry on Thuvalia... I think that any trouble that comes will have walked through the doors with the crowd tonight."
Braddon starts carefully down the chimney, keeping an eye out and a weapon close lest he become trapped like his predecessor.
"Purses pay so well?", Gristav asks of the combatant hobbit, hors de combat. "I suppose, in quantity? Wolves are, made from rabbits."
Gristav begins a general disarming and looting. "If only you'd ever questioned our request...", he says, as if the little man might be conscious to hear him. Or perhaps, as if the other might be near enough? "...I might feel badly for you. But you knew what we meant. The purse might have solved the matter. I'll grant you, first blood is a clouded issue, and perhaps, from that, the moral high ground, but you took the contest to a combative high ground with that thrown blade, and then the second... and others? Poor wisdom, to cross that half-elf, and not cross him off. Not that I've place, to speak of wisdom. Witness, I'm likely to leave you alive..."
Snake stares at Gristav with little to no expression. "Who are you talking to? Just take his stuff and let's move. And for the record, I sure hope any future bad guys we run into possess your gift of monologuing. We'll have 'em beat for sure if that's the case."
"Try to be more thoughtful. Our third is still descending, their second is still at large, probably also still descending. I'd rather not leave either of them behind. Here, you do the looting, (we want the armor), I'll try to be otherwise useful. The silence of my stalk should suit you."
Gristav passes Snake a full hand of half-daggers, tucks the purse under his own armor, and moves to find a better angle on the hatch-hole.
Having no headroom to walk upright, Braddon has to crouch as he descends the chimney, moving downward on hands and feet that cling to the crumbling brick as if it were a cobblestoned street. Poking his head out at the hearth on the upper story, he sees a vista not unlike what his companions see on the ground floor -- a building stripped of everything that might have use or value somewhere else: furniture, doors, even the panes from the windows. Having been protected from at least part of the district's predation by the destruction of the staircase, the interior walls of this story are largely intact, save for a few places where someone put a fist through one recreationally. There are two broken-out windows in the back wall and another across the room staring across a narrow alley at the next house, and an open doorway opens into another room in the wall to the left. There is no immediate sign of the second halfling.
Braddon makes his way down to the ground and extricates himself from the chimney.
"No sign of the smarter halfling. We should grab this loser and go. I promised the dwarf I'd show him his handiwork. Didn't so much save my life as cost him his."
Braddon kicks the unconscious halfling, more to show who he's talking about than to do any real damage.
Braddon makes his way down to the ground and extricates himself from the chimney.
"No sign of the smarter halfling. We should grab this loser and go. I promised the dwarf I'd show him his handiwork. Didn't so much save my life as cost him his."
Braddon kicks the unconscious halfling, more to show who he's talking about than to do any real damage.
"We haven't yet done what we set out to do.", Gristav reminds, then raises his voice. "Liam is in our hands. Please, don't force us to pursue you further. Bring us the purse, or come tell us your side, and let the rest of the day be done with words, better than blade or spell. All three are ready, but we started with the words, remember?"
There is no immediate response to Gristav's offer.
"Alright", Gristav says in a more normal tone. "We'll take him to show-and-tell. Maybe he'll tell us where to find the other one, and we can close this account." Turning to Snake, Gris logics aloud, "You can exit their rooms faster than the rest of us; are you opposed to running back for that chest? There is some potential, the purse is in it, you see?"
"Or should we all go together?"
Shaking his head in frustration as he rubs his eyes, "You know what, Gristav, YOU can waste your time looking for a nobody all you want. I'm done with this. I say we take that purse you have tucked under your arm and see if that's the one. If it is, great. If not, then too bad. We gave it our best shot and it's time to move on. At least, that's what I'll be doing. I'm gonna go get 'im and get this over with." Snake walks out of the building and looks around for the victim, waving him down if he spots him.
"Hey, bub, we found a purse. Follow me and let us know if this is the one your missing." He then leads him back into the building.
"A sour fellow, isn't he?", Gristav asks Braddon. "I'd like proof, we were on the right side. I can live without it, but not because I haven't tried. Besides, the chest might have more than the purse. Perhaps, funds to replace our consumables?"
"I'm happy to grab the lockbox," Braddon bravely volunteers.
He tucks the fallen halfing under an arm, with all the care one would give a sack of horse manure.
"And of course we were on the right side. We won."
Braddon's grin returns with astonishing speed as he sets out for the room in the next building.
Picking up on the nuance in Tendal's speech Phillip smirks "Aye Magnimar, words have been exchanged..." half starting a thought before pausing to refine it and adding "I wouldn't worry on Thuvalia... I think that any trouble that comes will have walked through the doors with the crowd tonight."
Or is already has its seed planted here in the casino... Tendal amends.
"Good enough then." he responds, his habitual frown back on his face. "I would like you to take a look at something with me. I am not certain if I am just being overly cautious, but with our affairs the way they are, I think it cannot hurt to be somewhat suspicious" he concludes, absently tapping his cane against the flagstones of the Gold Goblin's entryway.
"If you would come with me. I would rather discuss this out of a public area." Tendal says, before ducking back through the doors and making a beeline across the casino floor toward the stairs down into the bowels of the Goblin.
Intrigued Phillip gives a curt nod before gesturing Tendal forward and following.
Recalling that, while he and Gristav had gone to the street in front of the house, the stranger with the crossbow had remained in the back alley, Snake exits to the rear but finds the alley empty. Perhaps the man circled around to the street to follow the others. Or, the back door to the halfling's lair is still ajar; perhaps he went in to search for his stolen purse on his own.
Gristav accompanies Braddon and his brigandish burden, returning to the lockbox' location...
Carrying the fallen halfling, Braddon emerges into the back alley and heads back into the original building. Quickly crossing the straw-strewn floor, he and Gristav climb the stairs, step over the dead monkey, and go back into the room the halflings shared and the closet whose lock Snake picked earlier. The lockbox is still in place on a stack of crates. There is no sign of the stranger.
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Tendal leads Phillip across the busy casino floor, into the kitchen, and down the stairs into the basement.