~nodding in appreciation~Thank you Krol, Abosh: Dolgrin Ironstike at your service. Can you point Deadeye out or tell us where he stays while he is here? He may have taken someone we know and he may be a wererat. I know the man we are looking for, who did take someone dear to us and is a wererat, but we don't know his name. We know Deadeye's name, but we have never had anyone point him out, so we don't know if the man we seek is Deadeye or some other person. If Deadeye is the one we seek, you might want to collect on any debts he owes you while you have the chance.
"Never troubled myself to find out where he stays. Might be you could find him in one of the taverns in town: the Angry Illithid, the Blind Bat, or the Dire Den. He's large, 6'6" and 250 lbs or thereabout, and ugly as sin, though that describes just about any mongrelman. Carries a composite longbow and a great sword. You be careful, he's a nasty piece of work not even taking into account the possibility that he's a wererat. And don't start trouble inside the town walls or you may end up in jail, a slave, or dead. Good luck."
To Maqej-We should head to the tower and pay that tax. See if you can find out anything else about Deadeye, wererats, or the slave trade. I'd like to see if Ben is here.
Head over to the tower...
You move over to the tower where a gray haired man with a trimmed salt and pepper beard is seated at a table with a ledger and some bags of coin. Another man, this one middle aged with long reddish hair in a pony tail appears to have just finished a transaction and is walking away towards the gate. Neither fits the description of Deadeye.
The seated man looks up and says:
"Next!"
There is no one else nearby except a couple of guards.
Hi, we just completed a transaction with Krol and Abosh and are here to pay the tax. Say, have you heard of any wererat activity around the area? This is a nice place you got here. We're looking for a friend of ours, name's Deadeye, have you heard of him? That's a nice beard you got there, I wish I could grow one. What time is the slave auction tomorrow? Anything I need to know my most important fellow, hmmm?
*Gonna go with the bluff since intimidate may turn him unfriendly at some point after the fact.
Maq realizes that no one is happy to see the this man as he is the tax collector. So while he is a bit surprised by Maq's friendliness he is quickly won over. The man smiles broadly at Maq as he takes the gold (Dolgrin subtract the tax 90gp if you haven't done so already).
"It's nice to see that some young folk still have manners. I'm Tulk, what's your name lad? Slave auction will be here at the stage tomorrow at mid-day. Wererats? Can't say I've seen any around but from what I've heard some of the guards recently fought off some exceedingly fierce dire rats during a patrol of the town perimeter two nights ago, this was outside the walls mind you. Deadeye? Yes, yes, of course I know him, does business around here quite regularly. He usually hangs out at the Dire Den when he's around, he may have a room there."
He looks around briefly and then lowers his voice to a whisper as he speaks to Maq.
"Probably not my business but as you're young I think I ought to warn you to reconsider your friendship. Deadeye's gone hunting with friends three times before and every time he returned alone. No one knows for sure what happened to his friends and he just laughs when someone asks him about it."
He then raise his voice back to normal.
"Good day to you gentlemen, the township thanks you for paying your taxes promptly."
You are smooth like fresh churned butter Maqej! Looks like you should take us to the Dire Den and work your charms there as well. I'll do the drinking and fierce looking, you do the sweet talking.
"Say we go to the Den and find Deadeye, what are we going to do?"
Yeah, I'm not sure that's the best idea. I don't want to end up as a slave or in prison Dol.
We need to figure out if Deadeye is our nemesis or not. If he's not Ratty McRatterson, everyone else has indicated he knows his way around these parts so maybe he can give us some info or advice about the dire rat situation. I'm open to other ideas. We can just hang out and watch the slave auction and see if Ben is there or not. What else would you have us do? As for ending up a slave Maqej, don't worry I won't let that happen to any of us. Been there, done that; it's not fun.
Well, I just envision you attacking him on the spot. That might not be the best plan. But if we're just information gathering than I'm alright.
"So what's the plan if Deadeye is Ratty McRatterson?"
~looks crossly at Maqej~I'm not as stupid as I am ugly boy! Attacking him in town when you don't know who his friends or enemies are is as sure a way to die as any. Not counting the law & order issues; but we need to KNOW what the hells and who the hells we are/should be chasing. I feel like I've been running through smoke these past few weeks and I'm tired of not knowing what comes next and just reacting to everything.
~looks over at Char a little less angrily~Make no mistake Char, if Deadeye is Ratty he may as well just drop the 'eye' from his name. It might not be anytime soon, but I'll see his life blood on my blades before I see the Stone. Of coure it won't break my heart if it's sooner than later...~looks away almost longingly in anticiaption~
~back to Maqjej~Let's go sweet tounge. Show dazzle us with your wagging brand.
You head in the direction of the Dire Den which you learned is located in the South section of town along the wall. As you near the Den you notice that the town is somewhat segregated and that the area by the Den is mostly populated with mongrel men. The bar is directly ahead.
Head into the bar...
Maq leads the group into the bar, pushing open a couple of swinging saloon style doors. The inside is dimly lit and there are about a dozen tables half of which are open and a large wooden bar with 8 stools with 6 open. With the exception of 2 half-orcs seated at one of the tables everyone in the place is a mongrelman.
A bartender is serving a mug of ale to one of the guys sitting at the bar. He looks up at you for a second then back down to his customer. "Have you heard this one? An ifrit, a dwarf and a hobgoblin walk into a bar..." He then looks up at you again. "Sit where you'd like. What'll it be? Ale, wine, food?"
Ale and food, thanks.
-seat ourselves at a table-
A few minutes later the bartender brings over 3 pints and 3 bowls of stew with some hot bread. Your mouth's water as the food smells better than anything you've eaten since before the snow and quakes came. "The ale is 1 silver each, the meal is 2 silver each, 9 silver total, just pay before you leave. Let me know if you need anything else."
~struggling to contain his hatred for the half-orcs, Dolgrin quickly and quietly consumes the delicious fare keeping an eye out for anyone familiar and any mention of 'Deadeye' or rats~
You are not sure you would recognize Deadeye if he were seated next to you. You have only seen him in his hybrid form and even that was at a good distance. Its even more complicated by the fact that the mongrelmen all look hideously malformed to you and it's difficult for you to tell them apart.
Most of the conversations going on that you can overhear appear to be guys griping about work and women.
Sit around for an hour or so hoping to pick omething up of use, then find a place to stay till the slave auction.
After an ineventful while the bartender comes by your table again.
"Need anything else?"
Yes, if it please you sir, we need a place to spend the night, and we don't need anything fancy. Not sleeping on rocks will be a pleasant change for once. We plan on attending the slave auction tomorrow to see if anything catches our fancy but don't know the town that well. Is there a place you would reccomend? Marvelous stew by the way; my highest compliments to the cook.
"We've rooms here, I've one that will sleep three easily, 5 silver for the night, that would bring your total to 14 silver."
Assuming you want the room he hands you a key when you hand him the silver. You go up some stairs and its the last room at the end of the hall, you can bar the door to the room if you want. The hallway had 6 other doors presumably rooms, three on the left and three on the right. Any actions before bedding down? Gonna set watch as normal?
Unless the rest of the party has other ideas, pay the innkeeper and rest; door barred and watch set.
The next day grab some breakfast (hopefully as good as the stew!) and set up by the slave auction. Want to get a good view of those coming and going and as well as be able to see all the slaves on display (looking for Ben).
As each of you stand watch you occasionally hear the floor in the hall outside your room creak as someone walks down it but as best you can tell no one approaches your door.
You wake up early and head to breakfast which runs a silver each and consists of fresh bread and some sort of eggs scrambled with bacon and potatoes.
After breakfast you head to the tower where the auction will take place but you still have a couple of hours before it starts if you want to do anything.
Good thing there aren't towns all over; we'd be broke from all this soft living!
Keep an eye out for DE and/or any other unusual activity.
"If Ben is here, do we plan to buy him back? How much gold have we got?"
~quietly so no one can overhear Probably not enough. Only 600 gold plus this emerald. I'm hoping whoever buys him we can just follow them out of town and kill the owner, freeing Ben. If it was up to me, we'd kill all those involved with the slaving trade and call it a day...
"Are you ready to take on the whole town?"
I don't think my Color Spray will affect that many...
@CharNot yet, but I like to think the gods give Dwarves long lives for a reason. I'll take every opportunity I have to kill slavers-the filth. As for now we wait for the auction and see what happens. Maybe I will have some happy day later that will allow me to kill all of these bastards.
The area becomes crowded as the auction begins. There are over 100 people in the vicinity of the stage, mostly humans, half-orcs, and mongrelmen, but there are a few gnomes and a party of four drow. There is even a small group of protesters off to the right of the stage trying to engage individuals in the crowd to discuss the evils of slavery and advocating for the town to ban it.
A mongrelman and a half-Orc bring out the first person for auction. There is a human auctioneer also on the stage who begins his spiel. "Our first specimen is a fine looking dwarf with skills to boot, he's strong and sturdy enough to work a mine but can craft arms and armor as well." The dwarf stands silently and stares straight ahead.
A voice from the crowd shouts out: "300 gold."
The tax man from the othet day has his desk set up again and gives a wave to Maq. There are also 8 guards standing by.
Any actions?
Trying to keep my temper under control, look to see who bid on the Dwarf (do I recognize him?; the Dwarf that is) and also for Deadeye/Ratty.
Do we know how many slaves will be auctioned today? If not, I ask Maqej to inqure.
You definitely do not recognize the dwarf, he can't be from your clan. A rich looking human is the main bidder on the dwarf, he started the bidding and has countered every other bid. He ends up buying the dwarf at 1200 gold. The man is finely dressed and you also notice he is wearing 4 rings, and a long sword with a finely detailed scabbard it also appears that he is accompanied by a half-orc and another human. To your surprise the dwarf actually gives an almost imperceptible nod to the man. (Nice perception roll)
You do not see Deadeye/Ratty. The crowd is about 25% mongrelmen so your best guess is that IF he is present that he is one of them.
The slaves are being brought out of the tower, one at a time for the bidding. You did not previously inquire with anyone about the number and no one has mentioned the number to be auctioned in your presence.
I'll make my way over to the tax man, if possible. "Hi, this is kinda exciting huh? Do you know how many are being auctioned off today?"
The man looks up from his ledger and smiles at Maq. "I do believe there are 22 today, but sometimes the number changes at the last minute, sometimes some are in rough shape and don't make it to auction. Excuse me I must get back to work."
"Thanks, have a great day!"
I try to keep an eye out for what the finely dressed man does that purchased the dwarf. Certainly keep track of any other bids he makes, when he leaves, who he associates with, etc.
Slaves two through five are all human men. The auctioneer does not mention any special skills but essentially bills them as laborers. They are sold for 500 gold each to different buyers.
Slave six is an older human probably in his 60's with a long white beard, the auctioneer says that he is a librarian and a sage. The finely dressed man purchases him for 250 gold. His opening bid went unopposed.
Slave seven is Ben. The auctioneer describes him as a fine young lad with newly discovered magical talents. A creepy looking half-orc opens the bidding at 200 gold. The finely dressed man ups the bid to 300 gold. The half-orc quickly counters at 350 gold.
Party's action.
Wait, and look to see if the finely dressed man bids up from 350. If he does not, bid 400.
Char or Maqjej any sense motive or thoughts?
"I think he wants to buy him."
"I say we bid as high as we can. Other than that, see how things play out and pay as much attention as possible. You never know what little tidbit will help us out."
Sorry for ruining.your game. Ben cannot be a slave
I tried to kill him. I will fight for this. Most likely die. I attacked a boy and his warden.
Alternative bid.
Really. For this filth. 425.
"I can't discern any special motivations for the bidders so I have to agree with Maq, they want to buy Ben."
While the trio consults about the potential motivations of the bidders and Dol considers a bid of 400, the auction continues. The finely dressed man bids 400 and the half-orc bids 425.
Ben stands quietly upon the stage, he has not seen the party.
Party's action.
Wait to see if the finely dressed man bids again, if he does not (and certainly before the bidding closes) we bid 450. We'll keep bidding in small increments up to 600GP (against the 1/2 orc; if it's the man let me know).
The man bids 450 and then the half-orc bids 475.
The man bids 500, and the 1/2 orc shakes his head in disgust but does not make another bid. It looks like Ben will be sold to the finely dressed man unless you want to enter the bidding.
Party's action.
Move closer to the man (forcefully if neccessary) and try and get to his attention, Hey there! The Ben's a friend of ours; one I thought we had lost. If you let me win this bid, I'll owe you a favor. ; flashing a grin at Ben.
The man frowns at Dolgrin, "you are new here, your offer is improper and interferes with the auction. If I stop bidding now it will appear as if you bought me off."
To the auctioneer: "550!"