Looking through the pig sty, Gyllan finds little incriminating evidence. The pigs have done a thorough job of grinding up any kind of detritus thrown in here. Interestingly, he does find a pile of loose dirt under the pig's feed trough. Digging down, he finds a heavy waterproof oilskin sack that clinks when he withdraws it.
Looking inside, he sees a multitude of silver shields and gold sails, a pair of diamond earrings, and a large beryl stone.
Surprised, he continues searching the wagon yard, finding a tarp that covers the bed folded neatly on a peg.
Ulgrim nods to the messanger, grabs his gear and hustles off to the butcher shop in his uniform. Smashed by a monster last night and back on duty today. The work of a Guardsman never ends. Hopefully this new lot aren't a bunch of hooligan outlaws...
Holding up the heavy, mud-smeared sack, Gyllan responds to Corso with a great, broad smile, "Now that is a find! We should look in pigpens more often, eh? I guess they figured no one would look there, especially not with those angry hogs we fought in the way. We'll be in new boots and more with this haul!"
He sorts through the bag a moment, and says, "What have we got in here? Silver and gold - shields and sails aplenty for all of us, I'd say. And wait, what's this?" He holds up the the diamond earrings and the large gem and says, "Wow, we really struck it! I couldn't even guess what these things are worth. Fingers, you might be able to guess. And Arianna, a beautiful woman like yourself must have seen a few baubles like this before? Any idea what price they'd fetch?"
Arianna smirks, hearing Gyllan's flattery.
"I suppose I can have a look, though I make no guarantees."
Durriken watches Verik as the others get the wagon ready, keeping the ex-guardsman in place. "If you were giving the food away, where did the valuables come from?"
Gyllan prepares the wagon for travel, checking where the brake is and making sure the wheels are all in passable shape. When Durriken speaks to Verik, Gyllan lifts his head, thinking, Now that's a good question! He looks at Verik and awaits his answer.
Squinting at the earrings and the gemstone, Fingers tries to think about value of these things on the open market.
"I'm no 'xpert on them earrin's, but I'd say they'll pull in 3-4 hundred gold easy. The gem on also, quite a peach! I know a guy who'll give 400 sails for a stone like that. Mebbe 700 in total there? Nice haul along with them coins. Tell you one thing, this stone came from someone with money, it ain't yer run o' the mill gemstone."
Vancaskerkin looks at Durriken as if from out of a daze, emotionless. "Not my money. Musta belonged to them Cow Hammer Boys. I ain't seen that much coin since my days working for me da' in Riddleport."
The cart looks to be in good order. There are few dried bloodstains in the back, but otherwise looks serviceable enough.
When Gyllan hears Fingers' evaluation of the jewels they've found, his face lights up with excitement. "Wow, that's great! We can really get some decent gear with that kind of coin! I've never seen so much money, especially not workin' with my da."
At this, he scrutinizes Verik carefully for any signs he's hiding something about the treasure they've found. He then shrugs and begins bundling the man onto the cart, making sure his hands and feet are bound, and lashing him to the cart for good measure, before gagging him and covering him with the tarp.
Looking to his friends, he says "Ready? Let's do this and have it over with. Corso, would you get the gate, please? Durriken, would you mind helping me pull this thing?". Once the gate is open, he moves through it with the cart, heading back to the Marshal.
Arinanna nods, "Yes, let's get going so that we can be done with this."
Durriken grabs the other handle and starts pulling. "Maybe we should buy a mule with that money."
Gyllan has no reason to believe the man is lying. He is quite stoic about the whole thing, and that is a bit troubling, but you don;t see deceit as much as hopelessness in it.
You open the rear gate of All the World's Meat and bid the strange butcher shop a farewell. Suspecting, but not quite sure, what went on there, you are glad to have it behind you. Reaching the street, you turn the cart for Citadel Volshyenek, the HQ of the Korvosan Guard.
Unbeknownst to you, another person has just left the Citadel, headed down the same thoroughfare, looking for you. Ulgrim, having been given directions, set off a few minutes before you did. The guardsman in full uniform starts to notice baleful glances from the dockside workers along the street. A few go so far as to mutter a curse. It certainly appears that the devilishness of last night hasn't been put fully to bed.
The cart with Vancaskerkin rolls long North Shore streets, and the group also notices the unusual number of longshoremen and fishers that are loitering around the edges of what should be a quiet neighborhood. As you get to Five Corners, a well known commercial area, you see the mob has begun to get unruly again. A handful of roughnecks is accosting a nobleman and woman pushing the man and fondling the woman. Several others hoot and holler in the background.
The bartending lass gives you an admiring look from head to toe, and offers to take you around the world when her shift ends. "Maybe you'll see yer friend on that ride?" she says. Unclear exactly what she means, you beat a hasty rereat for Five Corners.
iozif left the bar quickly, confused by what the guard had said and somewhat flustered by the unexpected attention. Soldado is tied up with some problem with a girl and the king? And this is what he's moping around for? Bah... this makes no sense. He flushes red as sudden realization strikes him about the bartender's suggestion. Gods I must be going daft not to have picked that up. I was distracted but still... Casting a slightly regretful look back the way he came, he huffed angrily and turned on towards Five Corners, muttering irritably about worth and payback and Soldado.
"Corso! Arianna! Fingers!" Gyllan says under his breath. "Start telling everyone we get near this is a plague cart! We've got dead bodies under the tarp, and if they don't clear the path, they'll go the same way! Tell 'em there's dead kids, whatever - just make 'em believe it. Durriken and I will keep things moving and try to help make it look convincing." He then pulls his doublet out from under his chain shirt, to cover his face, trying to make it look like he's avoiding catching the plague.
Arianna nods, doubling up one of her scarves to cover her mouth and nose.
Fingers gets what Gyllan is driving at right away. Clear a path, we have a plague cart coming through. Move ye damn fools, unless ye want ta catch yer deaths."
Despite Fingers attempt, the angry crowd only wavers a bit. A few clear back, but the toughs, the serious threats, only mark you.
"Yew dere! Yew stoop an' turn out yer pocket. Tha' nobleman wit' yew 'as some coin ta share I daresay. Wouldn' 'e wan' ta make a d'nation ta the cause. I'm shore 'is lordship'll want to play, eh boys?" a fat bald man with greasy muttonchop mustaches calls to you.
The leader and 3 burly longshoremen 2 carrying steel pipes of some kind and the third a shovel, move towards Corso who has the fancy clothes on display. The two take position on either side while the third holds out his hands waiting for the nobleman to turn over his purse.
"Betcha ne'er worked an honest day in yer life, 'ave ya, Queen's Man? M'brother had his arm crushed by a barrel o' the Queen's wine in a dock axcident, an' never raised a mug o' ale wit' that arm again. How'd yew like t'same t'happ'n ta yew?" the man's breath is ripe and smells of grog.
"Die, dandypants!" someone calls from the crowd. "Death to the Whore Queen!" calls another.
Durriken starts coughing, a raspy, grating sound. He doubles over and bites his tongue hard enough to draw blood. Grimacing and clutching his stomach as he straightens himself, he spits a wad of phlegm and blood onto the street in front of him.
"I's already got it, so's I'm already dead. I'll kill any of you who get close enough to spread it ta the rest of the city. Now go!" He starts coughing again.
The words from the young nobleman frighten back the roughnecks at first and they step back to allow more room, but as they are hooted down by the mob, they become more emboldened. A group of 6 bars your way, makeshift clubs in hand. These guys are not going to be talked out of a fight.
Mob Fight - Round 1
24 Fingers
21 Corso
20 Gyllan
19 Iozif
17 Purple Thug
13 Durriken
13 Ulgrim
6 Yellow Thug
5 Red Thug
4 Arianna
3 Green Thug
3 Blue Thug
1 White Thug
Seeing that the crowd means to have a fight, and the roughnecks ahead won't be cowed with mere words, Fingers yells at the others. "It's gonna take a scrap ta get these clown out o' t'way. I'm goin' in." He draws his rapier and sets out after the nearest bad guy but his hasty attack misses the wary roughneck.
Gyllan shrugs, I guess we didn't fool 'em with that trick. He releases his hold on the cart's handles, asking, "You boys sure this is what you want?" Without waiting for an answer, he moves to the nearest of the thugs, drawing his greatsword over his shoulder and taking a powerful swing at the man. His strike is very poorly timed, however, and sails through the air in front of the man before Gyllan even gets to him.
Iozif watches the shouting mob with a certain distaste. This queen will likely be no better or worse than the king. They all seem to be self serving, so I don't see why they're so upset. The city itself doesn't serve them justly.
Sighing, he sees the fighting break out and, in a snap judgement, decides that he should get involved or he's no better. He quietly pulls a flask from its pouch on his back and quickly downs its contents. Ignoring the foul taste of the concoction, he tries to remain unobtrusive as the mutagen takes effect. Doubling over slightly, he staggers a few steps closer to the fighting as he feels his muscles writhing and growing. His mouth expands and his teeth grow long and predatory even as his nails grow into bestial claws. Standing erect and smiling in a satisfied (and toothy), he prepares to charge into the fight.
Mob Fight - round 1 - continued
Seeing that it's going to be a fight and not a negotiation, Corso incants in the proper way, and a slippery substance forms on the ground around the feet of a pair of the thugs. Both the men stumble and stagger, but soon they regain their footing, looking dubiously at their feet, as Corso advances to cover Gyllan's flank.
The urban ranger already taking the offensive, slashes at the nearest offender, but his blow is wide of making any mark.
Iozif, unclear exactly what's happening here, knows the tyranny of the mob is never a good thing. He tosses caution aside, and downing one of his concoctions, transforms into a feral monster-man.
Unaware of the monster transforming behind him, Purple Thug advances swinging his board club at Fingers, striking the rogue in the arm and shoulder with a crack.
Ulgrim grumbles to himself as he runs forward, pulling out his longbow as he goes. he shouts at the unruly mob. Not waiting for the unlikely scenario that they will actually listen to him, he draws a blunt arrow from one of the quivers on his back and fires the shaft at one of the thugs closing in on the team he was sent to meet. He aims the shot to do as little damage as possible to the man, hoping he won't have to kill the civilians.
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Durriken takes one step forward, fitting an arrow to the string of the newly acquired bow and lets fly at the most vocal of the members of the mob. Put him down, and the rest will scatter.
Mob Fight - Round 1 - continued
Looking for the vocal leaders of the mob, Durriken targets the boss, hoping to scatter the rest. A good tactic, but his shot flies wide of the mark, only scaring the mob leader but not harming him.
From behind, Ulgrim rushes towards the melee, shouting commands and trying hopelessly to restore order. A blunt arrow fired from his bow whacks the Blue Thug upside the head, knocking him senseless.
Yellow and Red Thug both move to flank Corso and attack the dandyish nobleman with their wooden staves.
Unable to reach Corso to heal his wounds, she attempts the next best thing as she targets one of the thugs closest to the bard with a hex.
Mob Fight - Round 1 - concluded
Arianna falls back on her trusty slumber hex, tossing it wickedly at Green Thug, who yawns deeply, but shakes off the enchantment, trying to gingerly step out of the grease laid down by Corso, but he cannot get enough traction to pull his way out of the grease.
White Thug looks to get inside of Gyllan's guard and hit his unprotected body. A savage blow rings against the head of the young ranger, his vision clouding for moment before recovering.
End of Round 1
Mob Fight - Round 2
24 Fingers
21 Corso
20 Gyllan
19 Iozif (feral)
17 Purple Thug
17 Mob Boss 1
14 Mob Boss 2 (greased)
14 Mob Boss 3
13 Durriken
13 Ulgrim
6 Yellow Thug
5 Red Thug
4 Soldado
4 Arianna
3 Green Thug (greased)
1 White Thug
Taking on two enemies, Fingers lunges with his rapier at one, but a feint by the other cuts his attack short.
His transformation complete, Iozif takes firm hold of his spear and rushes into the fight, bellowing as he goes, "Clear out, thugs, or you'll find yourselves getting hurt!" Rushing through the chaos of the melee, he finds himself thinking that it was a shame human's are so fragile. With that thought still in mind, he strikes at a distracted bandit with the fullness of his bestial strength.
Gyllan shakes his head fiercely for a moment, in an effort to clear his vision and quiet the loud clanging of bells he somehow hears between his ears. "Okay, that's enough," he says, grim determination in his voice. He swings his greatsword in a long, flat arc, cutting one of the thugs deeply.
Mob Fight - round 2 - continued
Arcane energies buzzing on his blade, Corso strikes out at Yellow Thug slicing a mark across his belly, a serious wound, but not fatal.
Sore from the clubbing he received, Gyllan swings his blade two handed down onto White Thug rending him open, and killing him.
Rushing forward into the fight in feral form, Iozif charges with his longspear in front, burying the blade into Red Thug. You see a prone form on the steps of the building there, but don't recognize it as your friend, Soldado, yet.
Moving to a flanking position, Purple Thug swings at Fingers who dodges the first blow. As the Mob Boss' blow falls, the rogue bends out the way of that attack as well.
Stuck in the magical grease, but still upright, the next Mob Boss, tries to step forward to attack the feral Iozif. Instead, the Boss slips and trips, and spends the round, trying not to fall to the ground which nearly happens anyway.
The last Boss is not hindered by the grease, and does swing at Iozif with a steel rod. The pipe rings arcs towards the shape-shifting alchemist and a bone-crunching crack follows as his skull is mashed by the pipe.
CONFIRMED***
Durriken continues forward, drawing another arrow. "I said lay down your f@@!ing weapons! You're all under arrest!" So much for not killing them, he thinks as he releases the razor edged bodkin at one of the mob leader's backs.
_____________________
Durriken growls at the ineffectiveness of the new bow and instead steps up, drawing his two weapons, and swinging wildly with the flat of his blade at the thug flanking Fingers.
Mob Fight - Round 2 - continued
Durriken dual draws, and steps up to help relieve Fingers in the process flanking his foe. Swinging unwieldy with the flat of his blade, causes him to miss.
From the rear still, mostly unheeded so far, Ulgrim advances towards the battle before stopping and firing at the Mob Leader attacking Fingers. The arrows sinks deeply in the back of the man, who whirls yelling in pain, and looking for the perpetrator.
Having taken a serious wound from Corso, the Yellow Thug steps around him, and swings backhanded with his billy club, striking the shoulder of the bard, numbing it a bit.
From the porch of a nearby grocer, a man dressed in the uniform of the Korvosan Guard, but clearly intoxicated stumbles out. "Draw and face me, recreants! I am a King's Man, and I will fight you!" he draws his sword, waving it with a surprising grace and dexterity for one who can hardly walk straight. Stumbling uo to Mob Boss 3 he slashes at the man, with his blade.