Alexander goes into the nearest with Rileng and looks around. He goes up to the bar to get a drink.
Froth waits around, walking an extra loop around the block before heading into the same tavern as Rileng. The extra time gives him the chance to check out how busy the streets are, have a lookout for the local watch, or anyone else that might be armed guards, as well as To make sure no one associates him with Rileng for now. Best to allow the man to work without a seven foot muscle-man making everyone nervous.
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Behind the illusion that is covering his form and concealing his weapons, Froth keeps his main set of eyes, the only pair visible through the image of him as a human seaman, downcast and tired in appearance. His other eyes however, take in the whole room and every face and costume he can spy out. He heads to an open spot at the bar, seemingly ignoring all the other patrons, and orders himself a common drink.
@The Bait Bucket.
Rileng and Alexander enter the tavern unimpeded. As froth enters his giant size is noted by a burly bouncer with a cudgel. He doesn't see through your disguise but warns you all the same. "Keep it funny in there big fella, don't want any trouble."
As you all sit at the bar, you notice the distinct smell of fish, and most of the patrons seem to be fishermen. There is a raucous and rowdy group at a table to the left of you. They are pretty obviously pirates in that they look different than most of the fishermen and some of them are armed.
@Krog's Grog
Alexi and Pain enter Krog's Grog to the sound of loud and vile laughter which immediately stops when they enter. Everyone looks up. There are only seven people in this bar. An old half orc tending the bar (presumably Krog) and 3 half orcs along with 3 orcs. The patrons are all pirates, they bare tattoos and one even has an eye patch.
Krog speaks with a rude tone. "Orc kind only tonight."
@The Old Salt
Virgil enter The Old Salt. It would be clear to any who had seen the inside of all three taverns that while not upscale this one was the nicest. Inside there is light whimsical music playing. Young nobles, of lesser houses you would guess judging from the fancy but hand me down styling of their clothes, gather around 4 men who look like pirates but may not be. There are 10 nobles.
Alexi looks to pain. "I guess we're not wanted here. What do you say to that?" he says giving his comrade a sadistic grin.
Looks like there they are. A tables' worth. I expected more. They must have split up into the other taverns.
Using the noise Alexander tries to hide the casting of a spell on himself.
Rileng makes his way closer to the pirates, remaining as natural in the setting as possible. while he did not appear it, before and now. He was a practiced sneak sense childhood and part of that was being ignorable while in sight. He would make himself as unassuming and plain in ways that most did not notice but reacted through instinct. None the less he would watch and listen while the gap was closer and words could be herd over the crowd.
Rileng slips closer while Alexander and Froth watch from the bar. Rileng's unassuming cloak and nature make him seem like a harmless patron meandering about the room with a drink making small talk.
At Krog's grog, Alexi, right inside the door with Pain in the shadows just outside. Says "I guess I'm not wanted here." One of the half-orcs at the bar stands up and walks threateningly toward you. "Oh ye guess that do ye, what gave it up? Was it when e' told ye to get the 'ell out of here? You a damned genius are ye?"
The bartender brings Virgil his drink and Virgil continues to watch the Nobles. They seem to be having a good time and doing a bit of haggling with the four pirates.
Having gained some information he lets it fall over his vast knowledge while waiting to hear more.
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Virgil mostly bides his time, watching for any changes in behavior, particularly any indication that a fight would happen or that they would leave.
During his examination he tries to determine who the leader of each group is.
He also periodically looks out the window to make sure he doesn't see people running to a ship, possibly on fire.
Pain is keeping an eye on who comes in and goes out of the door. He also frequently checks in the direction of the other taverns, waiting for something to happen.
While eying the room, Alexander will cast a silent Detect Magic and searches the whole room, focusing on any magic auras that he finds. If he detects anything he will whisper the results to Rileng and Froth through his message spell.
Hope he's getting something. I really wanna kill something...
@The Bait Bucket.
Alexander detects no magic in this room full of uneducated louts.
Rileng blends so skillfully in with the crowd that he is nearly on top of the table without garnering their notice.
They continue to talk, the same drunk who got kicked continues to talk. "Just saying that our friends in receiving will get to have all the fun." The one who seems to be the leader raises his voice. "I told you to SHUT IT! Smith." he yells angrily.
@Krogs Grog.
Pain notices a few more Orcs coming down the road, the pub no doubt their destination.
Inside, the perturbed green men start putting hands to weapons and moving slowly toward Alexi.
@ The Old Salt.
Virgil discerns the "pirate with the 3 corner hat to be taking the lead in the dealings with the nobles.
He studies them and goes over his extended knowledge while unnoticed. Seemed this smith was making his life easier, he would have to remember to return the favor. Be it a quick death or an extended debt over death. It was always good to have a variety of cards in one's hand.
"I think we can avoid bloodshed my friends. I only came in for a drink, and I refuse to pay the other grotesque establishments for their watered ale. Your business is of no concern to me I assure you."
"Nothing magical in here except OUR possessions. Should we take out these seven? I will move in and render as many unconscious for you as I can. With all this noise no one will notice it was me." he whispers to Froth and Rileng, "Then you two can take them out and I'll stop anyone else from interfering."
Not breaking his cover or appearing as doing anything more then sipping his drink he responds via the spell without being noticed or heard.
"I already warned you of a brawl, it won't matter if it goes unnoticed. Everyone will start fighting anyone they don't know. Sailors are superstitious as well, any magic will bring deadly intent above the normal beating. I am gaining information as to a possible storehouse for their goods."
It seemed he had found something good. Best share what he knew with his two comrades and take action accordingly. He carefully and assumingly moved away from the so called pirates. Whispering to Alexander via the spell.
"Let us meet outside, relay that to Froth as well. Do not draw attention to yourself and avoid being seen if you can."
Information had been gained, now Froth would get his action. It was the nature that was of concern now.
"Froth, Rileng has something. Let's meet outside for a moment."
The image of the tall dark skinned sailor at the bar that Froth is wearing finishes off his drink, and pays his tab with a smile. He rises slowly, still putting on the appearance of a man tired after a long day's labour. Slowly, he makes his way out of the bar, moving to a clear spot on the street outside. Once there, he pulls a pipe from his pouch and makes as if prepping it for a nice leisurely smoke in the evening air.
In Krog's Grog, the orcs seem to reconsider attacking Alexi. "He knows where to come for good Grog." one of them says. They all laugh and return to their drinks. Ignoring Alexi for the time being. The orcs outside are now about 40ft from Pain and approaching.
The Bait Bucket is still loud from inside. You step out into the dimly lit street. It is cooler than it had been in the day but not in any way uncomfortable. Froth lights his pipe.
Once outside, clear from view and anyone else he speaks quietly none the less to his comrades. While keeping an eye on the tavern, just in case the group left.
"It seems not only did we find our pirates, but we found chelexian soldiers. This may be a move by the nation to weaken the syndicate's power or partners. Or it may simply be them moving in, targeting those that are not their allies. Ideally I would like to gain more information to bring back, but I think at this point. Not only is their death a priority but an example should be made for their master's. Any thoughts or ideas on this?"
Froth responds from his position on the street, able to talk with the others despite their apparent non-involvement with each other, and the distance between them. To any observer, he was simply standing alone, enjoying a relaxing smoke. To a close observer, he might at most appear to be mumbling to himself.
"Couldn't tell you yet what the Syndicate thinks about taking the initiative. Wouldn't want to get slapped back down for getting involved in something that doesn't concern folks at our pay grade. Management types tend to get real uppity when the lower down guys mess up their plans... I got no qualms about squishin' a few chelax heads, but I don't want to spoil the perks of this job by messing up on the first day either. I don't know, what's your read?"
"Yes I think we should stick to taking out the pirates. If some others get caught in the crossfire then I think that's ok and not our problem."
Alexi smiles at the patrons, before placing a gold piece on the counter. "Make it strong if you don't mind. If it concerns you too much, I speak many languages but the Orc tongue isn't one of them." Alexi takes the mug from the bartender and takes a secluded table. He reaches for a book under his hooded vest, his spellbook. Alexi flips through the pages, quietly contemplating how to mass murder the patrons.
"You misundertsnad, the pirates are the soldiers. It turns out our targets are chelexian soldiers pretending to be pirates. Chelexian soldiers don't become pirates in mass, not when they hunt pirates more then any other nation. There is more to their raiding. I do not think the syndicate is aware of this, I doubt they would send us if they were."
"Interesting. The chelax bastards are playing at pirate in order to mess up Syndicate business, and we get to kill them for it. This could be fun!"
The big man pauses for a moment to take a few puffs on his pipe.
"So, what's our gameplan? Hit that place and kill them all, or just kill a few, maim a few more, and then follow the survivors back to their ship?"
"Personally I would like to take one alive to gain information, the rest can be killed and strung up as a warning. Both to pirates that interfere in syndicate business and the chelexian masters that control this group. Any preferences on how to go about that?"
"Let me get close to them and with one spell I can make them all unconscious. Then you two can kill or take prisoners as you like."
The Orcs approaching Krog's Grog find Pain on the stoop of their favorite watering hole. On says, "I fink you've stumbled into the wrong gutter lil' bilge rat!"
"Hmm, Sleep, or maybe Colour Spray? Wouldn't count on them all going down too easy. Chelaxians may be over confident buffoons, but I imagine they would have selected men for this job they at least thought had a decent chance of pulling it off. They have to know whose toes it is they're stepping on. 'Spose it doesn't matter too much; if they don't go down the easy way, then we get to put them down the hard way!"
"Do we want to let any of the other teams know what we're doing? There appeared to be at least one table of possible pirates in the Bait Bucket, and those Orcs coming down the road could be headed to either place. We don't want everyone tearing off as soon as there's trouble; then we wouldn't get to kill 'em, like is proper."
"You'll keep walking, if you know what's good for you."
Froth keeps still across the street. His eyes never moving from from the apparent task of keeping his pipe lit and enjoying his smoke. His hidden eyes however keep a keen eye on Pain, his new friends, and the rest of his own gang. He strains his ears to try and keep abreast of anything being said by the confrontation of folk across the street.
At Pain's remark, they all chuckle and the lead orc says, "Big words rat, to bad they're your last."
Pain feels the world slow around him, his reflexes sensing the Orc's muscles tightening and hands reaching for axes.
"How many times do I have to say it, we want to avoid a brawl. At best the chelaxians and tavern bouncers will be after you. At worst, them and anyone near by. The numbers are too large, I suggest we wait until they leave. I have identified them and once away from others they will be easier to deal with and go unnoticed."
Shit, mistook these guys for common orcs. Oh well, they started it, though I'd better end it fast.
Pain twitches his fingers before tumbling away, striking the tougher of the two orcs on his arm. As he recovers from the somersault, he draws his greatsword and stands guard 15 feet away from the two ugly brutes.
EDIT:
Pain focuses his attention on the orc he struck, and tighten's his grip on his sword, readying himself for the orc's response.
The Half-Orc winces for a moment at Pain's touch but shakes it off in the end. All three take out their axes and approach. Two standing in front of you and one going around to flank. The start roaring and jeering you.
Pain smirks as the brute rushes at him. He slashes his sword across his torso, then rotates the blade towards his front and prepares to heave forward with a powerful stab.
The blade gashes across the armor of the Half-Orc, drawing blood. Dark red oozes through the links of mail.
Rileng's alert senses pick something out in the distance. By Norberger, he was cursed with a fool. Let it be the last. He relays what he see's to the others.
"Should we help him before he draws more attention or leave him to his folly?"
Three half orc's ganging up on a man was hardly an uncommon sight. Still thing's could get worse. He would not risk himself alone to help the novice though.
Swiftly, with his sword held in a prepped position for a jabbing thrust, Pain slides around his studied target, sandwiching it between himself and the other half-orc.
He jabs his sword forward, rotating his grip so that the sword replaces itself into its natural position in his grasp.