Arctyryx shrugs. "I suppose a little splashing out wouldn't be too disordered..." he says cautiously.
"Let's ask Saul for recommendations then," Nemo suggests.
Saul suggests that the Windward District has the nicest restaurants, there to cater to the scholars that are drawn by the Cypher Lodge. The restaurant suggested by Thistle is there, along with a couple elven establishments and one featuring Kellid cuisine.
Arc goes along with the others to the Windward District, mostly just to keep an eye on them, since he doesn't eat in public. During the meal he sits awkwardly, scanning the restaurant.
Thistle thoroughly enjoys the eggplant parmiggiana arrabiata, which is spicier than she'd realized. With a bit of cheese and sauce on her lip, she exclaims, "Mmmm, delicious! Cheliax may be a miserable nation, but Uncle Ayruzi was right, they make some good food.
"You SURE you don't want to try some, Arc? You can have some of mine. Or I'll order you one myself. My treat!"
Arc nods. "I would like to try it, actually. Thank you. Can you leave me some to take back to the Goblin?"
Thistle nods, and swishes a big gulp of Galtan Red around in her mouth, noisily. "Sure, of course, only..."
"If you don't mind my asking, why not eat here while it's hot?"
Arc shrugs. "This is my way. After being with Pan for so long I guess inside steel is just how I do public. Don't worry, I will enjoy it later."
”Don’t really feel up to Chelaxian,” Lana says casually. She turns to Samaritha and asks ”Would you care to join me at one of the Elven establishments?”
Samaritha takes a brief glance at the others before nodding. "I'd like that." She points to a sign in the shape of a large leaf down the street. "Mierani. That's the name of the Elven forest north of here. We can try that, if you'd like."
The Chelaxian restaurant, The Egorian, is a well-appointed establishment decorated in somber reds and dark wood. The booths are recessed, giving the patrons a measure of privacy as they dine.
Mierani has a far more open atmosphere with a décor that evokes a verdant wood. Lana and Samaritha are greeted by a tall elf server who has a series of tattoos running up and down his arms. He leads them to a table and takes their order.
Thistle nods to Arc's statement. I guess we're all weirdos, in one way or another...
To Nemo, she asks, "How's your dish?"
Then looking at them both, "So, we all came to this town to learn about that blot, yeah? I'll be honest, I don't really see what else to do about it but bide my time, and pray to Cladissa for guidance. At least I already worship The Forgiving Failure. I know she wants me to persevere when things aren't working out...and I'll admit, it's nice to get a big pay day, and get to check out this restaurant I heard one of our patrons talking about.
"What about you two? You still thinking about the blot? Or is there something else keeping you here now?"
"I am needed here to stem the tide of chaos. Hellknights are meant to bring order. This place is in sore need of our attention. I am not be powerful enough in our hierarchy to bring more knights here, but I will do what I can alone."
"There's plenty of chaos that could use taming here, alright!" Thistle grins, flashing her yellow needle-like teeth.
"But that reminds me...you're such a decent guy. A bit of weirdo, but we all are, right?"
"You've said you were a hellknight before, and I've been meaning to ask: I know that some hellknights work for the common good...but they also enforce evil laws, right? I mean, I've never been to Cheliax but I hear it's full of devils and slavers. My mom Zoli--adopted of course--is a halfling. If she'd been born in Cheliax, she'd probably have ended up as a slave, instead of saving all of Varisia from an evil runelord.
"Why be part of an organization that enforces such evils?"
"I can only speak for my own order, the Order of the Godclaw. We care nothing for slavery, and devils are only useful as tools of order. Abadar, Asmodeus, Iomedae, Irori, and Torag are the Godclaw. We are their servants. We stand for order and order alone - evil is for fools."
The entire time Arc explains his philosophy, Nemo is busy gulping down water and wine.
To Nemo, she asks, "How's your dish?"
"...Spicy," Nemo wheezes.
Then looking at them both, "So, we all came to this town to learn about that blot, yeah? I'll be honest, I don't really see what else to do about it but bide my time, and pray to Cladissa for guidance. At least I already worship The Forgiving Failure. I know she wants me to persevere when things aren't working out...and I'll admit, it's nice to get a big pay day, and get to check out this restaurant I heard one of our patrons talking about.
"What about you two? You still thinking about the blot? Or is there something else keeping you here now?"
"To be honest, I've long since concluded that studying the Blot is a waste of time. If the Cyphermages haven't figured out anything worthwhile, then we aren't either," Nemo says once she recovers. "The main reason I'm still here is because of you two and Lana."
After mentioning her friend's name, Nemo suddenly becomes rather forlorn.
"I wish Honey could be here," Nemo says. "I bet Lana would be happy to see her again."
The group reunites outside the restaurants and begin their walk back to the Gold Goblin. Riddleport is quiet -- well, as quiet as the seedy pirate town can get. The gendarmes apparently patrol the streets of the Windward District in trios as opposed to the pairs that patrol the Leeward and Dockside districts.
Once everyone crosses the river, the streets are strangely empty as they make their way toward the casino.
You suddenly realize that you recognized some of the faces of those patrolling the Windward District -- You're accustomed to seeing them patrol the streets around the Gold Goblin! And once outside of that district, you see no gendarmes at all!
Arc stops, perking up like a dog on a scent. "Something is not right."
"The guards who normally patrol around the Goblin were in the Windward District instead, and I don't see anyone on patrol here like normal. Someone has made sure the 'authorities' won't see or interfere with what's going to happen here tonight."
"Quickly now, to the Goblin! The forces of Chaos may already be enacting their foul plans!" Arc takes off running towards the casino, on high alert for anything amiss.
"Good eye, Arc!"
Thistle breaks into a run as well.
The group rushes back to the Gold Goblin, arriving at its front entrance. From the road, they can see several of the front windows are busted in, and the signs of struggle can be heard within the gaming hall.
Inside, you can see several figures fighting with the bouncers among the gaming tables.
Initiatives
Lana steps just inside of the door, scowling at the chaos going on inside. She grips her staff and begins an intricate set of moves as she calls out ”I am tired of this incessant meddling! You have no idea the forces you are toying with! I have power over death itself!”
As she finishes speaking, a Spectre similar in appearance to the Grim Reaper, as tall as the room and wielding a scimitar seething with otherworldly energies, rises up from the floor! It’s eyes, pinpoints of green flames, looks around menacingly.
”I will give you all ten seconds to get out of this casino before I have my friend here did you of your souls and take them to the Abyss!”
_____________
Arc doesn't even slow his run. He sprints at maximum armored speed towards the doors.
"Drop your weapons and surrender,
Thistle runs right alongside Arc, drawing her scimitar as she does so.
Nemo sighs and begins moving as quickly as she can in her heavy armor towards the casino.
One of the invaders, a half-orc, grabs another raider and shoves him toward the ghostly apparition in true mercenary form. He then turns and brandishes his longsword at Arc and Thistle as they approach.
The "sacrifice" shrieks in horror as he's offered up to Lana's illusion.
His terror dies, however, as he realizes it's not real.
The other raiders, however, break off from fighting with the bouncers and dive through the windows they'd already busted to gain entry.
The bouncers don't pursue, and they also recoil from Lana's horrifying illusion.
Lana continues advancing, rummaging in her component pouch as she does. She brings up her staff and points it the orcs direction before a beam of fire soars his direction.
Arc moves into a flanking position with Thistle, avoiding the half orc's reach.
He levels a quick jab at the merc.
Thistle flinches briefly when she sees Lana summon a demon, and then is disgusted to see one mercenary shove another into it.
She hustles over to flank with Arc, and takes advantage of her position to slash at him.
As she does, she turns to the fellow who was shoved into the illusion, and says, "Hey, if this scumball is going to treat you like that, maybe you want to join us and show him what you think of him trying to sacrifice you?"
The half-orc goes down by the combination of Lana's fire and Thistle's swordsmanship, though Arc wasn't able to connect. The other raider watches as his supposed ally goes down and throws down his sword. He starts backing away, glancing toward the busted windows. "That was one of Croat's caps," he responds to Thistle.
The threats in the main gaming hall seem to be neutralized, but before anyone can catch their breath a scream sounds from the kitchen area.
At the scream, Thistle runs straight for the kitchen.
Lana looks at the man and asks "How many more of you are there?" as her cobra uncoils from beneath her robes and its head peeks out from a sleeve, it's hood opening in a menacing display.
The raider recoils from the implied threat. "I dunno! There's a group going around back, three or four of them! And a mop-up team. Lemme go, please!"
Arc tries to punch the man out, but trips on a loose floorboard and misses completely.
Thistle rushes toward the kitchen and sees a number of Riddleport toughs heading up the stairs to the upper level.
Arc's swing is off, and the raider falls back and tries to get out of the casino through the front door.
Lana rolls her eyes. ”Deal with that rabble, if you can brother,” before taking off behind the goblin.
Thistle rushes into the kitchen, turns to the bare-chested half-orc, and says "Stand down! If you don't drop your weapon and walk out the front door, you're going to regret it."
Nemo follows Thistle to the kitchen, but thanks to her heavy armor, she really has to hustle to get anywhere close.
Arc backhands the crook as he tries to slip past him, sending him to the ground unconscious.
The half-orc Thistle threatened isn't carrying any weapons, but the way his fists were scarred and wrapped in cloth indicate they are all the weapons he needs. He sneers at the goblin's threat and pays for it as Thistle uses one of Zoli's trademark upper thrusts and deeply wounds him.
His deep green skin pales somewhat, but he grunts at the thug with him already up the stairs. "Go! Take care of Vankaskerkin, we'll deal with these!"
He throws two meaty punches at Thistle...
... that the nimble goblin deftly avoids.
The other thug stabs at the goblin with his short sword.
Thistle takes a moment to study the thug she's fighting, hoping to get an edge on him...but when he sends others off to search for Saul she is distracted and nearly loses her grip on her scimitar.
Without a word, Nemo advances into the kitchen (drawing her gandasa as she moves) and swings at the goon attacking Thistle with a short sword.
Arc tries to catch up with his sister and Thistle.
Lana blasts a shimmering ray at the half-orc, but the beam of coruscating colors goes wide.
The ruffian injured by Nemo blanches and takes off running back through the kitchen and out the back door where he'd come in.
The half-orc swears in Orcish at the coward, then throws two fists at Thistle, then steps back into the stairwell to keep from getting surrounded.
Thistle nimbly avoids both punches, and then slashes across the thug's chest again.
As she does, she says to him, "There's no shame in failing, you know...and doubly so given that you're failing at evil deeds. Cladissa showed us that failure can be a path to divinity. Take this as a sign that it is time to change your ways, and you can live another day."
The half-orc doesn't get to ponder Thistle's offer long, as the slash across his chest is too much. He collapses there at the base of the stairs.
Realizing that Saul is probably in danger, Nemo quickly hustles after the goon who previously ran up the stairs.
The team hustles up the stairs after the raider. Nemo catches sight of him just as she reaches the top, but he disappears down the hallway out of her view.
Lana and the others are on Nemo's heels, but then they all hear the scream of Samaritha back down on the first level.
Lana immediately doubles back, running back downstairs as fast as she can.
Thistle groans. "Alright Arc, you going back down too, or shall I?"
"Go with Lana!"
Arc continues chasing after the raider upstairs.