"Aw, man! Now why did you tell him that, Dro? He's a dirty dwarf, who cares who screwed him!? Bah!... damn my sensitive pirate heart! Okaaay... I'll help him. Screw that witch! She is nasty and tricksy and I guess I hate her more than dwarves... but I say we get a percentage of the brewery's profits forever after if we do this!"
Scotty she acted just like a drow female would act and nothing will stop me from killing her for that. I just thought it would be best to make sure the rest of you were being paid for my urge to kill. You know beyond the pleasure of killing and anything she had on hand.
"Dro... isn't it like, super taboo for you to hate drow women? Aren't they like... your leaders? I have not had too much dealing with drow, but it always seems that a woman was in charge. A sexy one usually... hehe. I suppose this explain why you are up top with The League then. Ah, well. You are a mystery Drovik. A blood thirsty mystery. So, I'm on board to kill her."
Gnarled Hammerfist awakes with a look of utter confusion.
"I... what? She stole the deed? It... it makes sense. She must have been planning to simply take my brewery ever since I met her! *ROOOOAR!* She must be destroyed! She has brought shame upon me and my family and this dwarf will not stand for it! I will gladly give you all a stock in my company, you would be partners, if only you kill her and return my deeds and my recipe and set this right! If I was still young, I would come with you and kill her myself!"
Already feels like this whole affair has gone on far too long anyways, this was supposed to be a quick knee-break and go home deal... he had research to do dammit! Still, he couldn't deny that there was no small amount of appeal to be found in killing drow, any drow, and this one was a con artist, someone who deliberately takes advantage of the law while simultaneously scoffing at it. Such a person was a greater threat to order than any normal rule breaker.
"... Assuming we commit too this, I propose we attack as soon as possible. She must at least be planning or have planned defensive strategies. The more time we give her to enact those strategies, the greater our disadvantage. I propose a plan, thusly: Scotty will sneak in through the back or a rear window and take our foes from behind after we have distracted the target. You, Drovic and you, Jamako, will enter through the front door. Jamako will fill the shop with enough fire, followed by Drovic himself. Once Drovic has Charged, you, Scotty, will begin your assault. Silver and I shall stay back and provide assistance as necessary. I only have three more spells prepared this day, none of which are of reasonable combat value unless the target tries to escape, and even then only if she comes my way. Dips his head in apology. I can grease an area to make it slippery, Enlarge one individual, spray acid and, as a last resort, shield myself from blows. I can cast Enlarge on Drovic, granting him greater strength. If she runs my way, I will grease the area in an attempt too slow her. I can do naught much else. Deliberately fails to mention that he can cast just about any spell he's studied through his staff... intends too keep that trick up his sleeve in case Drovic or Scotty decide they havn't killed enough people in a given day.
Jamako grins and nods, hopping aboard his gecko and buckling himself into his throne-like (in appearance not in quality) seat. "Lets get to it shall we?"
Ignoring Scotty's rambling foolish idea's about Drow society Drovic mulls over Harland's words for a moment.
Ok I think that's a fine plan. But I would like to add a small expenditure in the form of a scroll of magic weapon, Harland can cast it on me before we head to the house.
As you all begin walking back towards the tavern to formulate your plans for witch killing, Drovic comes to a real heartfelt conclusion: He hates these people! He is a noble Drow champion, and gods damnit, he is better than this! With he huff, he shoulder's his sword, flips Scotty the bird, and then starts out the opposite direction mumbling something about how you all are entirely too slow in your killing, and he is just going to go slaughter some poor innocents.
Confused, dejected, and a little sad, you all kinda shrug and then keep walking. In your confusion, you get a little bit lost in the slums of this part of town. Soon, you are in an entirely unknown street with little to no lights. That is, save the bright light of a burning forge coming through a large door of what appears to be some sort of shop... the pounding of a smithing hammer is clearly heard. Taking a peek inside, you see a burly dwarf working away into the midnight hours at his forge...
Did... did Drovik really just f' off like that? I thought we were becoming friends... ah well. More loot for us, right? Amiright? and what in the HELL is that awful banging racket? I am entirely too sober for all this nonsense
I'm not surprised, frankly... it's unfortunate, though, that he was the only one who had any sense of direction. And unless I'm mistaken, that would be a smith at work. Shielding his sensitive drow eyes against the light, he would approach the forge and knock on the door, trying to get the smith's attention. He was curious as to what project would be important enough to work on through the night.
Hello, good sir! What manner of craft compels you this night? You work all day for little to no thanks, and then you work all night?
Scotty eyes the smith up and down for a moment or two, until he is satisfied he isn't just some dwarf playing a dirty dwarf trick.
"Well... you look like a dwarf alright, but I guess I can be glad your a Duergar. You folks are alright, its them damn surface dwarves... greedy bastards... anyways, *ahem*. Nice to see another night owl like ourselves. We was just passing through... have some business with this b**** named Winter who tricked us into doing her dirty work and ended up stealing this fellers brewery... actually he was a dwarf but... well it just ain't right yano? Not even one of them deserves to get screwed that hard, especially if some wanna be puppeteer is trying to use us as her pawns, you know what I mean? Yano... we just lost our muscle. We represent a group of "treasure finders" called the League of Gentlemen Looking for Things in Holes, or LGLTH if you will... how would ya like to make a bit extra money. I can't imagine the smithy gig is really satisfying yer gold itch?"
As he talks, Scotty nonchalantly flips his butterfly knives around, half looking the smith in the eye and half getting distracted by the blades gleaming in the moonlight.
Isn't entirely sure there even was such a thing as a surface dwarf, they all came out of smelly holes in the ground anyways... As for the dwarf being a duergar, Harland just frowns. This is, of course, exactly like all the other times he`s frowned, which is usually at everything.
"The night brings us closer to ...THE BEYOND!"
Jamako sits near the rear of the party lounging comfortably in his seat with his gaze resting for most of the conversation on the fire behind the dwarf. "Aha, I think I like the new guy already. I enjoy blacksmithing of course, though strictly as a spectator of course." The kobold grins. "Flailing around with giant pieces of metal isn't my strong suit. Good timing stumbling into you just as the dour meatbag in our employ pissed off.. I am Jamako, kin of the dragons. What shall we call you?"
The kobold ponders the question briefly. "I suppose I'm indifferent, but perhaps sooner than later would be best."
Scotty's eyes gleam.
"Ah... well gold ye shall have matey. As soon as we put this Winter b*$@! in the ground, we'll be taking back the gold we brought her, as well as whatever else we find around her shop. With that in mind, I would suggest we leave right away for the night is done. Best not let the wench get prepared! This dwarf, Hammerfist, we will give him back the title to his brewery and his stolen ale recipe. The man is a drunk... his ale must be good then right? Anyways, I believe there was talk about giving him some gold as well to help get his business up and running again... because ol' Harland here is gonna draft up some paperwork to make us part owners of the brewery, as our own reward for helping this dwarf out!"
"Your reasoning is ...bizarrely fascinating!"
Thank you Dr. Silver. Your opinion, as always, is of the highest value. How is THE BEYOND! doing? Are the Great Ones appeased?"
"The Great Old Ones are awesome and horrible ...but they are mere denizens of ...THE BEYOND!"
Dr. Silver, did you eat paint chips as a kid?"
"Boy ...when you look up on a night like this ...and see the countless stars ...do you know each is a sun like ours? Contemplate that next time you clean your little knives
Did you know there are worlds with life even in our sunsystem? "
"Speaking of stars, Silver... Something I've never been sure of. Do Beyond...ers? Beyondists? Do you believe in the stars, the space between the stars, the ether that comprises both? What, precisely, is the core of your faith? You have already indicated that it is not a "god" in the traditional sense."
"THE BEYOND ...it is all that and more ...it is infinite and surrounds us all the Old Ones ...the powerful stars ...limitless worlds and creatures ...it is depths of cold and fire that could boil steel."
"Well they sure choose wisely when they choose their clerics, eh?"
Scotty chuckles, not one for religious talk. At least not seriously.
"Ah, I see. So your "god" is a concept. I can accept that, however grudgingly." *Marches off too "meet" winter.*
"It is not so much a god that I worship as an endless power I seek to become closer to. Religion is so ...tawdry. "
You all arrive outside of Winter's place. Her storefront is on the bottom floor with a second floor apartment above it. There is a front entrance to the shop and a back entrance on the ground floor, and some stairs leading up to a second floor entrance in the back. Also, various windows on both floors. The windows on the top floor sit above intricate awnings with serve as little garden beds where it appears various herbs are growing. It is the middle of the night and you see no lights on inside.
Speaking almost in a stage whisper: Assuming, sir Gravelheart, that you know how to use that... Indicating the rifle he carries. I'm guessing that you like having enough space too use it. From our previous encounter, the target had a singular bodyguard. The previous plan was too engage them, with Scotty sneaking through the house to get behind them while Jamako indicating the kobold and our previous comrade assaulted the building in a standard siege pattern: Burn everything. Our new plan, too account for our comrade leaving, should be too lure them outside instead, and allow you too pick them off at your leisure while we hold them in one place. Or, with your shield, would you prefer to be in the thick of it while Jamako and I assail them with magic, while Scotty flanks her? Leaving the choice up to the dwarf; he knew where his strengths lay.
"It seems as solid a plan as any. Harland, why don't you sneak up with me and we can see if she has any traps laying about? If I know this sort of rough neighborhood as well as I think I do, I bet she has had to deal with would-be-intruders before, and would be prepared. If all looks good, I could climb up onto those planters and try to get in upstairs to surround her? Catch her with her knickers down so to speak... or maybe literally. Hopefully. She was a pretty one..."
I wouldn't wish to get in the way, but very well. Pulls a small pebble from his pocket and casts Light upon it, closing his hand too keep it from blinding them and passing it over too Scotty, then casting Detect Magic upon himself, ready to try and detect any hidden magical traps.
He heads to the front door and examaines it for a moment, checking for magic, before testing the door gently too see if it's locked.
Jamako, you'll need to hold back your fire; while burning down the building with them in it is easiest, we don't want an entire street full of people looking for someone to blame for their houses burning down. Jamako and myself shall wait outside, the rest of you should try drawing them out somehow... if you cannot do so, break a window. That will be our signal to come charging in.
Silver turns to Jamako. "But it's not a bad plan B."
You should go in with them... they might need someone able to handle a few hits.
Jamako chuckles and nods: "Always the thinker, hm? A good point of course, plus I'd rather not rather put my scales in harms way unnecessarily." He grins. "I HAVE been looking forward to trying out something though.."
Scotty and Harland take a quick glance around, Harland detecting magic and Scotty for traps. It soon becomes obvious to Harland all the doors and windows on the lower level have been magicked with some sort of alarm spell. He isn't sure, but he can't seem to detect any magic on the upper floor windows. Scott elects to climb up there, and try to sneak down to open the door from the inside, hopefully bypassing the trap.
Scotty gives a nod and a wink to the party:
"Alright then, enough lolly gagging, let's do this!"
He then scampers off to the side of the building and nimbly climbs his way up to the second story. He takes a peek inside one of the windows, but it is too dark to really see anything. He carefully manages to get the window open and sneak inside, carefully exposing some of the light from Jamako's shiny, and get a better look at the room.
All of a sudden, You all hear a startled scream from upstairs and some loud shuffling noises! You also think you can pick out some of Scotty's curses flying out the window.
While all of this is happening, Aurora, you, living in neighboring apartment and tending to be a night owl, hear this as well.
Jamako's eyebrows raise at the sound of the **** hitting the fan, the kobold quickly goading his gecko into action. The sorcerer would steer his mount to the same window Scotty climbed into, hoping to see what on earth was going on.
When reared from birth, the following animals can easily be ridden by Small or Medium humanoids, depending on the riding animal's size. In addition, most of these animals can be purchased already trained for combat. The animals are listed here for convenience when referencing the Ride skill, but are also listed on the Goods & Services Animals and Gear page.