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"Was that rude?" "'Hoy there, lass! Catch a breath a'fore ye pass out -again, an' let yer new friend answer a question 'r three. Pleased t'meet ye, by the by," the sailor says as he makes a sweeping gesture with his tricorn. "Charles Thompkins, at yer service, 'cept only me bless-ed Mum e'r called me by that name. E'ryone else, they call me Jugger."
Growing increasingly frustrated, Jugger slams his fist against the wall of the building as the trio leaves Larur's apartment. "You boys head back t'the Goblin, and see t'Clifford," he growls. "Ye might mention the idea of offerin' a reward to Saul, an'see what he says. I'm goin' t'go help clean up after the weirdness from earlier." With that, Jugger gives a quick salute, and heads off towards the docks. Shisumo:
Spoiler: Actually, he's headed to the dirtiest dock-side grog house he can find.
...then nothing else. "Well, lads, it seems this lot would rather others get skinned t'save their own. May whate'er hells they wake up to keep th'water at their finger tips." Turning towards the other two men, it is apparent that Jugger is barely holding his anger in check. "What about you, Hezekiah? Jagor? Do either of you 'ave an idea?"
"I didn't hear nothing else, though, and it don't pay to get too involved, so I went back to sleep after a bit. That's all I know about your friend, sorry." Jugger reaches into the pocket inside his leather long-coat and pulls out his coin purse. Opening it up, he sifts around a bit, and silently counts out 5 gold. Handing it to the woman, he looks her squarely in the eye and says, "It would have paid better if ye'd gotten more involved." He turns away, and moves towards the next apartment.
** spoiler omitted ** Spoiler: Maybe not enough to use as a reward, but enough to supplement my being able to eat. At some point, I should probably figure out what I'm actually carrying, as far as cash...
** spoiler omitted ** Shisumo: Spoiler: 1d20=3, 1d20=18. This is the place where I would like to point out that I had someone else do the crafting. Hopefully someone with an ability modifier :)
Returning to Larur's appartment building, Jugger once again knocks on the doors to the other residents. If they answer, he will apologize for trying to scare them earlier with his tales of a serial killer being on the loose. "It weren't a nice thing t'do, and I regret doin' it, but Larur was a good friend o'mine, and I'd be glad for any information ye may have. Ther- There may even be a reward in it for ye, if yer information proves right and useful.."
Shisumo:
Spoiler: What would you say the proceeds from the Desna charms have been, and would it be within my perview to use that to fund a reward?
"Jagor help Jugger. Where we go?" Jugger gives the half-orc an appreciative smile as he slows his pace to talk. "Th'only people still breathin' what may have seen somethin' are th'other tenants in Larur's building. They weren't very interested in sharin' what they seen earlier, but perhaps they've had a chance t'see the right of things..." When Hezekiah joins them, Jugger's smile gets bigger, and he claps the mage on the shoulder. "I've enjoyed my time at the Goblin as well, lad, but Larur's done right by me, and I can't let'im go without exhausting any lead..."
... that pretty much leaves us with no real options." "I refuse t'belive that! SOMEONE knows what happened to Larur, and I WILL find out what that was. Larur was a good fri.. He was a good ma.. Larur was a.. No one deserves t'be forgotten." Jugger storms away from the table and leaves the building, grabbing his cloak on the way out.
"No matter who is responsible, I can't see any reason to hope he's alive, Jugger." "We ain't found a body - 'tis plenty to hope for, him bein' such a good friend t'ye. "If them what stuck Larur were sendin' a message, they'd've dropped him on yer door step. Were it a simple robbery, the body'd be wearin' his cloak at the bottom o' the bay. That we found his cloak at Smeed's means either Smeed was involved, or someone was tryin' t'make it look like he was, as Clifford said. "Thing is, if he was attacked on'is way to Smeed's, why was Larur's place trashed? An' if he was attacked in his bunk, why was his cloak out by Smeed's? In either case, why not leave th'body where it'd be found? "Leave's me t'think maybe Larur's alive, and bein' held hostage, or hidin' - and t'get our answers t'that, we need to know who would have'im, or who would hide'im." "And if Larur truly be murdered, then the brigands responsible left us a fairly poor trail to follow, if Smeed's brittle bones were th'only clue."
"He could have told someone else, someone who took advantage of the situation." "Do ye have any ken as to who he may've told? I'm thinkin' that goin' stone t'stone t'find our particular snake is only more likely t'leave Larur wormfood."
** spoiler omitted **
"Well?" he asks. "What happened? Did you find him?" "We found his cloak, and naught else. The moneylender.. expired ..before we could get any answers out of'im. Other than the cloak, there was no sign Larur was ever there."
For more long moments this inexplicable self-destruction continues, until at last, there are no more birds in the sky whatsoever, and the waters of the bay are full of broken, dead pigeons. Jugger shakes his head, as if trying to wrest himself from a dream, and utters a prayer to Desna to ward off bad luck. "C'mon lads.. I don' know what that was about, but standin' and starin' ain't gunna get t'the bottom of our own mystery. I'm anxious t'see what's happenin' at th'Goblin."
With a frustrated sigh, Jugger turns to his companions. "I guess it's back t'the Goblin, and a word or six with th'boss."
"Damn, we have been used!" "While my own thinkin' has been headed down that path, an' that our employer has used us t'even up his odds, I still think we need t'look into things a bit more..."
That seems to be it - the searchers find no clues to Larur's fate, beyond the ones they already have. "I don't like the feel o'this, boys... Jagor, show us where you got that cloak - maybe we can find some clues there."
Jugger steps gingerly over the fallen man, claps Makoa amiably on the shoulder, and heads to the table in the center of the room, looking for some kind of message or other sign of Lymas's involvement and the whereabouts of Larur.
"Whoever you are, go away! You've no right to be here!" Jugger tries the handle on the door, and says, "We've come on a bit of business, with the same right yer thugs had t'bust in on our friend. It'd be easier if'ye'd answer our questions - ye may get outta this only havin' t'buy a new monkey." Confirming the door is locked, Jugger motions to Jagor to be ready to smash the door open.
Jugger's assault is as abrupt as it is lethal. With an incredulous look back outside, Jugger runs towards the front room and the steps leading upstairs.
"Maybe Jagor and Makoa help Clifford up wall?" "Belay that! From what Clifford'ere said, them what's inside already know we're here, and every second wasted'ere tryin' t'be sneaky is one more inch these leeches can get their knives into Larur's gullet!" I'm goin' t'go in that door and try t'divert this beastie's attention so ye can get up them stairs 'round the front. I'd appreciate a second, but do what ye think is best... " Jugger yanks the door open and rushes into the room, scimitar raised. Shisumo: Spoiler: Edited because he's bad at reading. Init = 12
There is a big guard monkey near the other Jugger's expression becomes one of amused confusion as he turns to Hezekiah and silently mouths, "monkey?"
The door is locked. Seeing Clifford arrive, Jugger relays the information he has, and steps aside so that the professional can work his magic. "Sounds like somethin's pacin' around in there.. Somethin' hungry."
Jugger listens (=18) at the door for anyone approaching, and if not, tries the handle to see if the door is locked. If someone does seem to be coming to the door from inside, he waits to one side for them to come out, cudgel ready.
Upon hearing the noises from inside, Jugger moves from his hiding place, and heads towards the alley where Jagor and Makoa are hiding. When he sees Clifford exit the building, he breaks into a run down that alley towards the back of the building, pointing for the two half-orcs go see if Cliff needs any help. "I'm goin' t'see if there's a back door, an' make sure no one goes runnin' off. Go see what kinda trouble he's kicked up." Shisumo: Spoiler: Once I get back there. Is there a back exit?
As Clifford starts attempting to crack the lock, Jugger shrugs and turns to the others, "Perhaps we should be findin' someplace less obvious to wait?" He then looks around for a reasonable place to hide.
'There is a third way but I have to know: How do you figure we could do this diplomatically?' "Well, we go on in, diplomatically ask them t'hand over Larur, an' wait for'em t'say 'no' so we can pound on'em 'til they change their minds or quit breathin'. I s'pose yer talkin' about sneakin' in as yer third option, which I appreciate - I'm just thinkin' that given our companions' fondness o'bashin' things, we'd be best to leave the sublety behind."
A single door faces the street, and there is no sign of a ground floor window (though there is one such on the second floor, overlooking the street). A pair of narrow alleys give access to the rear of the building. Jugger's usual bellow turns to a conspiratorial whisper. "So.. we gunna go about this diplomatically, or does th'front door make an appointment with my boot?"
"Are you joking there? This is not the kind of town where you are 'mates' with your neighbour here. "It's that kinda thinkin' what's turned this city the way it is. If ye let th'criminals an' slavers an' thugs get what they want without a fight, not only will they take it, but they'll keep takin'. I done enough takin' in my time t'know. Just 'cuz that's how it is, don' mean that's how it should be. Just cuz my skin ain't worth savin' don't mean yours ain't." "An' if the pretty girl's are smilin' at me, it's only cuz they think I'll set'em up with my straw-headed friend, 'ere," Jugger laughs as ruffles Hezekiah's hair.
A problem , Jugger ? "Aye.. Those what would stand silent while a mate comes to harm." "If we find Larur has been laid low, I assure you that these bandy-kneed sons of whores will be held accountable."
Jugger thumps down the stairs, actually leaping the last several feet. Grabbing Hezekiah by the arm, he follows closely behind the other three adventurers, mumbling something about 'cowards and fools' under his breath.
"Ain't seen nobody! GO AWAY!" "Sorry fer the intrusion, ma'am. It's just we've had reports o' jack-skinners runnin' about the area of late, preyin' on the elderly an' leavin' nothin' behind but the eyes." "If ye do hear anything, please inform th'coppers"
"Forgive my intrusion, ma'am. I'm lookin' fer a friend of mine, and I was wonderin' if ye'd seen him t'day?"
When you enter the dilapidated front hall, you see the ground-level door, where Larur lives, closed. "I'll see to speaking with th'other residents t'see if they seen or heard anything, while ye search Larur's flat," Jugger says as he starts looking for the way up.
Finding access to the upper floors, Jugger approaches the closest door and knocks, softly at first.
Saul gives you directions to Smeed's flat on Rat Street in the Leeward District, several blocks to the northeast from the Goblin.
"I'd like you to go check out Smeed's place and see if you can find Larur there; if not, see if you can track him down elsewhere." "Can't say as yer method of getting this place goin' was the wisest of choices, but ye gotta deal with the coin as it falls, I guess. Larur's done alright by me thusfar, an'I see no reason t'leave him t'the likes o' Smeed - or Zincher, fer that matter." This last is said with a meaningful look at Saul's 'hand'.
The charts are exceptionally detailed...
Boats are beached, sealife flops spastically in the streets for hours afterward, and half a dozen dockworkers are swept out to sea in the undertow that follows the surge. Jugger will spend most of his off-hours after this tragedy consoling those who have lost loved ones and helping repair damaged vessels. He listens to the witness' stories for any details as to what may have caused the unusual surge. Profession: Sailor (best of 2)Gather Information
Barking: 1d20+3=11 Wk 2: G/PB - 1d20+8=25 Barking: 1d20+2=17 after 'Reroll' Jugger spends his time moving amongst the players, wishing them luck, and occasionally giving them some. For every customer he touches with the Blessings of Desna, he grants the House the same bonus later. It's always best to keep the odds even, so to speak. During one of his off-shifts, Jugger will go speak with a local metalsmith, and have some inexpensive 'starknife' and butterfly charms made that he can sell through the casino, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the shrine (minus a small percentage for the House).
"Guess we're going," he says, in what might be construed as a farewell. Then, the two of them slip out the door and are gone. Jugger quickly rises from the table, and follows after them. "Lads! A moment, please." "Whatever happened in there with th'caster, know that I meant what I said before - about puttin' a word in for ye, if ye want somethin' honest t'do." The last bit is said with a glance at Knuckles, specifically.
"What do you say?" "First off, call me Jugger - I ain't no one's Father, so far as I know. Second, I'm t'be stranded landside until my ship comes back, so I'd be here tendin' the shrine regular anyway. Can't say for sure when the Captain'll be comin' back, but fer a coupla squares, lodgin' and a regular donation t'the Lady's work, I'm pretty sure the scales'll work out in yer favor. Can't say there won't be some winners along the way, though - the Lady makes her own odds." With that, Jugger takes a coin from his pocket, flips it into the air and catches it. Without looking at the result, he spits into his palm and offers his hand to Saul, "What do YOU say - Boon or Bilge?"
"As for the rest of you, take whatever this man has left here and get it out of my mission. I'll have none of his blood money under my roof." "A'right now.. 'Knuckles' is it? Hand o'er th'bag ye nabbed from upstairs, and we'll set to gettin the three of ye on yer way," says Jugger as he looks to the three more cooperative members of Kreun's gang. Jugger counts what's in the bag, divides it up by the number of total members belonging to the gang and gives Knuckles, the Elf, and the bald guy their share. The rest he turns over to Hezekiah. "I'll have no part of this loot, either, lad," he says, before moving off to help Jagor clean up the bodies, blood, and broken boards that surround the scene of the earlier struggle.
"Father, if ye don't mind, I think it time we send these along to the authorities. Or maybe someone should be sent to fetch'em?"
Shisumo: Spoiler:
"I find it hard to believe the overlord has suddenly become deeply concerned about our little mission here." "Now, what these others are about, I can't say. As I said when we spoke earlier, I came here lookin' for them what has been tryin' t' feed offa the ones that ain't got. Heard a few of the old timer's down at the dockside groghouse talkin' about a fellow name Splitlog Papa or some'ut been bangin'em around fer their copper. Tracked'im back t'yer place, and ye know the rest." "I do apologize for th'ruckus, and will do as I can t'clean up the mess."
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