Baguta stands up, and carefully spaces his feet shoulder width apart. He mimics the overhead throw as he ponders.
"Whoever threw that dagger was quite powerful. And look at this shoeprint. It was deepset in the earth. Compared to the size of the foot that must have made it, this person must have had a compact, muscular frame. Also I think our attacker was female."
He bends back down, pulling Tars with him again.
"Also we know she was a dancer from the shoe style. Look how well set this print is; the mark doesn't slide much at all. She must also be quite agile. And look at the edges. The leather is thick, but clean-cut. It must be hide, and very well-made. The slightly crooked, yet tight stitches suggest that it was not a professional shoe-maker, but someone who must make their own, or someone made them for her."
Baguta stands up yet again, noticing the attention he's started getting.
"Whatever that means." He shrugs and steps back from the investigation.
Baron feel free to make another Knowledge local check:
Anyone else with the skill would do well to assist.
Agatha provides a bonus of +2 to Baron already.
The Baron sips a little wine and reponders the clues.
Unfortunately Baron is unable to think of anything that relates to the shoe. Anything else you all want to try?
Vorannia's eyes return to normal. She shrugs as she cannot come up with anything else. Her disdain for the entire project becomes more apparent.
"I doubt that we will find anything more here. I recommend moving on."
"I have a few ideas with the nice, but his shoe ain't giving me nothing. I agree to moving on, maybe we could hit a tavern that would help me figure it out." Baron offers.
Jen hides a slight grimace. Baron, does every plan of yours involve going to a tavern?
"Only the good ones!" Baron replies with a snicker.
Whats the confusion? I subtly told you guys that Milani worshipers were a false lead but I guess you missed that. You should be scouring the entertainment districts of this city for a dancing knife fighter.
Just cause Baguta isn't with us anymore doesn't mean his analysis is irrelevant.
"To a tavern, then, and let's keep things low key as much as we can. We don't want the people we're after to know we're after them until we don't have any say in the matter. Lead on, Baron."
"Maybe we should find some strong dancers." Baguta scratches the side of his head slowly.
"I don't know how someone goes about that, but can't we just... try to hire dancers? I don't know how this works." He shrugs, looking to Baron for guidance.
"I know quite a few dancers my friend, I got a few Ideas as well on a few females that have strong knife skills. I know you all don't hang with my crowd much ,but have any of you all know a young bard by the name of Katalyn. My other lead is Valorie a rogue that sticks her nose in other's business. But before we head off to the taverns those hang, I think I know where a shop sells knives like this one here." Baron lifts up the knife.
"So what do my mates think of me ideas?"
Vorrania looks at the blade.
"How delightfully... delicious. Let's see what we can find out about the blade."
She looks over the knife with an eye for value and craftsmanship.
I think that I prefer my weapons blunt and my wit sharp, but it seems to be the only lead that we have. Now, when you mean a shop, is this a reputable businessman (at least as reputable as one in commerce can be)) or is this a guy hanging out in a back alley with knives tucked in his jacket?
"Sounds like you're our man, then, Baron. Let's get moving," Leon says, then makes ready to depart.
The blade is very unique. You can tell by looking at it that it is not a style you can find in stores.
You all make your way to the entertainment district. It takes a few hours to get there so you are arriving in time for the night life at 7pm. This is when all the festivities begin. The town is alive as people are trying to take the edge of the stress caused by the government.
It is crowded. It would be the equivalent of the
Vegas strip. There are several taverns to hit.
You know of the best of the best taverns in this place and have people you can talk to in these taverns.
Slack Jaw: This tavern boast some of the most impressive talent shows and ales
Lucky Buck: A casino tavern with gabbling
The Squared Circle: This tavern has brawls in the middle of the tavern. Special guest and patrons are allowed to participate.
Brewing Melody: A place with great music.
Boomers: A very.......special tavern
These five taverns are the best in there fields and also as far as you know Baron. You can recommend your favorite or tell everyone about all of them. Your choice.
In the darkness, Vorannia's skin seems to glow again, and seems less parched than it had in the sunlight of only a few hours prior. Her eyes, also, seem more awake and alert to the action around them.
"'Tis a lovely night, I hope someone dares to try and get in our way. I'm still a little hungry."
The tatters of her gown drift elegantly around her in the night breeze.
Jen pretends not to hear the second half of Veronnia's comment.
Yes, it is certainly nice, but normally I am not awake to see it. I should be conducting my evening prayers, but I suppose delivering judgement to a killer is substitute enough.
Baguta walks on in silence, tugging his hood more tightly over his brow. He keeps his eyes on the alleyways, trusting his keen night vision to relay any signs of threat.
"Since we hunt a truly skilled fighter, let us start the our hunt at the Squared Circle. It holds brawls they might know where our lovely ladies may hang around." The Baron leads the group to the bar.
"Brawls, you say? That should be interesting, let's get there and start scouting for our elusive lass of an assassin."
"Maybe you can win me some money haha, the Circle will be a good start and women fighters stick out a little. Especially the ones invovling mud, let us be off." Starts to lead the group to the first stop on there bar crawl.
You all wander into the Squared Circle pub. Inside there is a battle ring with a cage surrounding it. Inside is a big toothed Orc with his hands manacled behind his battle fighting against a human who is beating the snot out of his bound foe. People are cheering as the man beats up the orc. Occasionally the brute manages to mount some vicious offense with his entire body or oversize teeth.
Inside you see a blonde man you recognize as Cabe from the Mithrial mug. He was one of the regulars there. Last you heard he and his wife parted ways after he lost his job as foreman during the orc attack. He was often in a good mood in spite of his troubles but on occasion would get drunk and let out his sorrows with some ladies in the Sipper. You are acquaintances at best.
Jen tries to look into the orc's eyes to see if he is actually just one of the bloodthirsty orcs that are raiding Borallas or if he is just being unfairly scapegoated.
She turns to Baron. Are the fights in here usually unfair?
No fights are usually a lot better than this at least fair.
Best you can tell this orc is a POW. However he does seem quite worn out and not happy to be here. Nobody seems to care and in these troubled times, can you truly blame them.
Overhearing Jen, her eyes turn colder. She turns away from watching the fight, hoping that a few drops of blood would escape the cage. "Is it any of our concern?"
Baguta leans in casually between Vorannia and Jen. And chimes in just loudly enough for the group to hear. "Best not to stand out. Let's see to business." With that, Baguta watches the fight, just like everyone else, while keeping his eyes and ears open to events around him.
"I recognize one lost soul in the crowd, so ya'll mingle why I try to get some info. Leon keep an eye out for crazy samurais for me hehe." With that the Baron moves into the crowd and heads to the bar to pick up a drink. He orders an ale, leaving the bartender a nice tip and moves over to Cabe. "Is that Cabe, its your bud from the Mithril Mug." He says masking his voice a little bit. "What brings you here?"
No, I think not. The orc is hardly innocent in this situation either.
Jen faces her hood in the direction of the fight, so that she doesn't seem out of place, but she tries not to watch.
Cabe looks at you. He chuckles. "oh you must be one of the brothel boys that hangs around that old bar they closed down. Good to see one of you still about. I thought they arrests or drove off all people that worked for both places. This is the most entertaining place to be at the moment but what brings you here?"
The fight rages on but soon the man throws a punch right into the orcs face. Much to the surprise of everyone the orc catches the fist in its jaws and bites down so hard that with a swift jerk of his head, he rips the man's hand clean off. Suddenly the spectators break out into a riot and storm the cage. They break in and mob the orc. You can only watch as they literally tear the beast apart. The wounded opponent is now getting his hand bandaged crying out in pain. It takes a moment for the bouncers and the other staff to get control. When they finally clear things up, the orc is nothing but a bloody heap of mess in the middle of the ring. Janitors quickly clean out the mess preparing for the next match.
Cabe relaxes. "Man even when their bound orcs are still dangerous. No wonder were having so much trouble with them. Anyways, back to our conversation."
Vorannia delights in the blood mist spattering from the cage, but even she arches her eyebrows at the orc's slaughter.
"A bit unsportsmanlike, isn't it? I like bloodsport as much as the next person, but I would thing ingenuity would be rewarded rather than ubiquitously decimated."
"Glad ye remember after the closing, whats you drinking? I gotta at least buy my old friend a drink." He waves to the bartender for two fresh drinks and he takes a big gulp out of his. "That orc can fight well, but these two brutes fighting ain't too pleasing on the eyes to stare at. You know if they got any women fighters we can convince to out and fight? haha, just like old times." The Baron takes in the room looking for any of his suspects or a women holding herself a little to paranoid in the room.
Leon averts his eyes from the unfortunate Orc's demise. "That was... unexpected," he says, turning to keep an eye on the Baron as he speaks to his friend.
Perception
Baron, Cabe looks at you with a rather bizarre expression of shock and pleasure. "You want something pleasing to look at? Ho ho I know just who we want to see. I think I saw her in this tavern. If we can get the people to cheer for her she'll come out. She is Gesha a female barbarian gladiator. She is quite a vixen and even better, she's not afaid to show off her goods in the ring if you know what I mean. Extraordinary dancer too." He looks around. "If we can get enough people to chant her name she may come out and fight a match for us." He gestures to the crowd. "Come on lets get her to come out." He then moves into the crowd urging people to chant for Gesha.
If you want Gesha to make an appearance then try and get everyone chanting her her name with diplo checks.
Baron you need to convince your comrades to do the same.
"COME ON PATRONS OF THE CIRCLE! WHO CARES ABOUT THESE UGLY CREATURES FIGHTING, WE WANT BLOOD AND BEAUTY! WE WANT GESHA THE QUEEN OF THE RING!" He cheers towards the crowd. He points to Leon, "YOU SOLDIER BOY YOU WANT TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL BLADED BELL OF BORALLAS, DON'T YOU!" He then looks towards Lady Krellin shooting her a wink, "MISS NOBLE WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO SEE A WOMEN SHOW THESE MEN HOW TO FIGHT!" Baron ends his rant looking towards the crowd, "COME ON PEOPLE OF THE CIRCLE! WHO DO YOU WANT!*Pause for crowd to answer*WHAT DO YOU WANT!BLOOD AND BEAUTY!BLOOD AND BEAUTY!GESHA!BLOOD AND BEAUTY!GESHA!"*Repeats til crowd takes over for him.
Vorannia searches through her belongings to find the silver goblet, and the last few cups of deep red wine. She raises it and proclaims in a loud voice (though not necessarily shouting):
"Let the woman come forth! Demonstrate her prowess for all."
Baguta roams around the room quickly, disguising his voice as he chants for Gesha.
"Yeh get Gesha out here she's nice ter look at!"
"Come on Gesha bring on the pain!"
"Bring out Gesha! WOO!"
Leon looks at Jen as the rest of their companions start cheering, shrugs, and yells "Who is this Gesha!? Let's get her out here and see what she's got, Gesha, Gesha, Gesha!"
Diplomacy
It is now up too Jen. Three out of five of you must succeed the cheer. So far it is a fifty fifty split. Jen's roll will decide.
Jen prays that the raucous words that were forthcoming did not affect her standing with her God, for she would not say things without an important piece of the puzzle on the line. She makes a quick symbol of Erastil asking for forgiveness before proceeding.
Um yes, bring out the amazon...! Let her show that she is stronger than any man!
Lol Jen you remind me in a way of Cornelius from Fifth Element. Don't worry, your blasphemy won't be in vein *chuckle* I will post the results when I get home.
Okay the fruits of your labour are ripe. The tavern air is soon filled with a unified chant. People:"We want Gesha We want Gesha!" As they cheer, a beautiful red head accompanied by one of the tavern MC make there way to the cage. The woman is well built and very attractive in figure and face. Her attire is very...well it barely covers the essentials. She is wearing a loin cloth and has on a torn up tan tank top that seems to only be their for modesty's sake. Her gauntlets are made of hide and white fur. They run all the way up to her elbows. Her shoes are well made hide shoe with a shin guard also made with the shaggy white hair. Of all of your alluring features, her fiery red hair and the shaggy gauntlets and shin guards are the most memorizing as if they were all designed to be the center of attention.
The tavern MC holds his hand up for silence. "Okay calm down everyone. Gesha has seen fit to grace us with a match!" Everyone cheers. MC holds up his hand again. "Now she does need an opponent. Who among you thinks they have what it takes to take on the professional gladiator Gesha? Well any takers?" He scans the audience.
Do any of you want to try your luck in a fight with this chick?
Yes or no.
If you all say no I will simply chuck a Joe Shmo from the audience at her.
Also for your excellent effort and diligence in sticking with me through the long December month, I am awarding you all level 3. Feel free to level before you decide weather to accepts the ladies challenge.