Malgar the Mad's page

Hey everyone,

My apologies for the silence over the holidays. I've thought things over and I think I'll withdraw from the campaign for now. I can't get Malgar or Robin to really work out the way I'd want them too, and in general I've been very busy in real life with the COVID treatements and stretched too thin across my current PBP's with my currently available time. I could half-ass it, but that feels disingenuous to everyone here. Malgar can get his just horrible deserts at the hands of the novice executioner after gifting the cloak of elvenkind (stealth +5) to Tiny.

Thank you all for your time and patience, and have a great game.

Until we meet again!

Hey everyone,

It took a bit longer to read up and decide what to do, but I think I'll stick with Malgar for now, and despite a new lockdown in the Netherlands things are reasonably stable on the workload.

For advancing Malgar, I had this idea of taking at least one vigilante level for him, so that he'd have a 'social disguise' of a respectable figure he could use to go out and still be useful. Though, that would require a bit of rewiring of his brain to work narritively.

I had this idea lingering in my head to make Robin a shapeshifting Mesmerist, and that a chance meeting between real robin and Malgar would have her alter his mind to where he'd be at least somewhat sane, more akin to his older self. His social guise would be an Abadaran dwarf merchant while his vigilante side would be real Malgar.

My alternative to doing this would be to have Malgar die and play Mesmerist Robin, who'd arrive too late to save him. Though, for that angle I'd have to think of where she's been, and what race or features would allow her to change shape a lot, so that Malgar thinking Robin could be everyone was actually covered by her abilities.

What do y'all think?

...While being tickled by a feather on the other end...

TarkXT wrote:

Tiny Litsy wrote:

TarkXT wrote:

If you want to find a more conpelling and long term character we can work that out and malgar can be quartered and hung for his crimes.

Quartered and hanged-in that order? Brutal!

With an executioner in training no less!

With only two horses since they couldn't get the full set

...And taking extensive breaks in between :)

Welcome :)

I received a pm stating that the new character will be very like Malgar in some ways. I'm still thinking on what to do with Malgar. On one hand, it seems interesting to have two of them in the group. On the other hand, can the campaign handle that much insanity? :')

I think i'll read the campaign guide again and see what comes to me.

Hey everyone, things have calmed down enough to where I think I could start posting again. If I'm still welcome I'll try and read up on things tomorrow.

I could offer, by the way, to reroll Malgar for a normal, sane character. He's not really working out that well for me from a writing perspective. But if his antics are entertaining to some I could keep going as him.

Hey everyone, I wanted to share this: the COVID-19 infection rate here in the Netherlands is going crazy, with every part of the healthcare sector being affected by both it and the regulations put in place to prevent it. As in, regular sectors are shutting down to have more beds for patients.

As a physician myself, I've been extremely busy handling things and as such I haven't had much spare time or energy to write these last couple of weeks (and, to be fair, I have been prioritising the campaigns I have been in longer with what energy I did have). I'm not sure when things will clear up and I'll have the ability to post regularly again across all campaigns. For this campaign specifically, please don't wait on Malgar to act, and I'd understand If you wanted to recruit someone else with a less busy workload atm.

Malgar remains silent for now, as things seemed to be going well enough. His diversion hadn't been beened and with their attention on his allies, perhaps it was best not to draw it back onto him after his failed ploy...

I think the most important stuff has been said!

Since his diversion failed to produce anything, he's intentionally remaining on the background so as to not antagonize these tengu.

Litsy stares at Malgar in utter disbelief. "They already know he attacked us, and you want them to believe he just went to the happy farm where all tengu friends go right now?! And I can't sneak away when everyone's watching-"

She shakes her head. What is she even doing, trying to argue with Malgar the Mad. It was in his name.

"Tiny. They were all so dumbstruck you could have fired a gun in their face and they wouldn't have noticed, no? Though it seems it doesn't matter as they didn't like the bird anyway. Ah, the disrespect of today's youth, I tell you!"

Muttering, Malgar sulks to the back of the room as his in his mind brilliant diversion went to waste (or more accurately, hadn't been needed) and sides up to Beorn. "So what was that about ale?"

It seemed Borgan has asked the most important question, and he felt he could drink this one out for now.

"All of you, recruits! Stop yet yammering and stand at attention!" Malgar commands the birds! "You call yourself resistance? Enemies of house Thrune, well how are you going to do that if you can't even gather your own wits! Discipline I say, DISCIPLINE! Like Chough! Oh, he was worth a thousand of you, heading off to fight the devil woshippers all by himself! And for his sacrifice, we will have DISCIPLINE and will! Now stand up, beaks straight! Chestfeathers forward! And share with us what you're doing here!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

After his speech, he throws a quick glance at Tiny to his side. "This would be a good time for someone to sneak away and dispose of the body."

Posting this in all my PBP's: From tomorrow to this friday I'll be attending a congres. That means I probably won't be able to post for three days, from wednesday the 3rd to the evening of friday the fifth. I'll have my phone of course, but posting is probably limited to very short messages and the discussion thread if I even have the opportunity.

See you when I get back!

Suddenly, the dwarf looks up! "Ah, of course! The basement. Never forget the basement, is what we used to say. Next to 'always keep the pantaloons!' So, forward, recruits! Let's clear out this dungeon."

He confidently strides back along the hallways and takes the stairs down, though slightly wary of danger.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Borgan strides after Malgar into the new room and stands besides him.

"It's good they are still light-hearted enough to joke around like that."

"Definitely. I was worried about morale for a while there, but it seems they've sprung back," Malgar replies. He finishes cleaning his rapier and moves up behind Borgan. He then helps searching the northern room for anything useful.

"Any valuables are nice. Staves off the hunger and the loneliness," he says, then his brows sink as he seems to think on something. "...But where can we go next? Was this it...?"

Are there any remaining passages or rooms for us to search? I'm slightly lost on the layout.

Meanwhile, Malgar paces to the door the bird just flew through and carefully peeks around the corner, standing guard for more danger.

"Interesting. That's a lot of expensive stuff on a bird. Don't suppose anyone can read the locket? Script's always been a tad overly fancy for my tastes," Malgar says, cleaning his rapier on a half-gone once curtain.

Which, in effect, only traded the blood for a lot of dust. Couldn't there just be a convenient clothing source nearby for basic weapon maintenance for once?

He sighed. Maybe he was getting too old for this.

Malgar's face hardens as Beorn is hammered. "Fall back!" he calls to the bard sideways. "Everyone else - Crossflank! Variel, north and flank with Borgan. Tiny, we take it from the sides!"

IF Variel 5ft steps noth and Malgar takes his spot with his, everyone except Beorn is flanking. Might matter if the raven survives that 10 damage from Borgan.

Attack, ST, flank: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
damage. ST: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Critical confirm, ST, flank: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
extra crit damage, ST: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"I'll show you a murder of crows, ye pest!" he grumbles at the bird, skewering it only moments after Borgan hits it hard.

Malgar blinks. "What in the name of Cayden's tankard?" he exclaims right before the bird swoops in to strike Borden.

However, reacting quickly, he studied the bird and thrusts with his rapier!

attack, ST: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

If flanking with Borgan is an option, he would 5ft step into flank prior to the attack which would add +2 attack.

init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Just a suggestion for ease of use and speed, wouldn't it be easier for the GM to have a macro with everyone's initiative modifyer and press that once combat starts? That way we can skip everyone rolling seperately and jump right into the fight. Could make it for you if you wish @The abyss.

"Sounds like the boots do suit you, Tiny. I know there's simple magic that removes filth and smells and the like, but the name of it always sounds like some smartass puked up his lunch in the middle of a speech. Maybe Variel knows better." Malgar comments before joining Beorn and Tiny herself at the peering hole.

"Looks messy," He comments with his brilliant respective dwarven observation and commentary skills. "Let's check behind that door up north first. No sense cleaning anything until we're sure the perimeter is clear, recruits!"

He confidently strides forward and heads for the door to the north, studying it just in case.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

If he finds nothing, Malgar opens the door.

"Eh, I hope we don't HAVE to fight that many crocs, and I don't suspect the Damned house of Thrune has taken a liking to them. Just have to make sure we have some underwater grates in place and it'll be fine."

The arguably (?) insane inquisitor looks down at the partically digested loot. "So what do these things actually do?"

Can anyone identify?

survival, studied target: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Malgar grins and steps closer. "Just think of it like a really big fish. With scales. And legs. That can eat you. But once you get past that, same difference! ...You DO know how to gut a fish, don't you youngsters?" If no one else steps forward, he sighs and grabs his knife. "So the trick is that their skin is much softer on the underside, with less to no scales to boot. So you flip 'em on the back and just-"

He takes a massive swipe along the length of the soft underbelly! "-open it like that."

"Swimming, climbing, and a corpse? Yeah, that's a big no for me," Litsy grimaces. "Anyway, Nan was a homeless guy who had to squat a baker's basement, and if he's really not-quite-dead, I'd rather not get my hand chomped off for nothing. Borgan's a better fighter than me, he can go and poke him, see if he stands."

"Aye lass, but I look like a beggar too, and am for the rest of the world. But I have weapons and a cloak on me worth more than the average house. If Variel detects magic on it, I say we wait and help him reach it. Might be worth something. Then we can go explore further," Malgar reasons, and moves up to support Variel.

Unsure how to best assist, but I could lower a rope for him to hold just in case, or keep watch with the bow in case something else shows up. I'll roll a d20 below for either a ranged attack roll or... a str check to hold the rope or such? Both are at a +2.

attack or bracing roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

"Might want to check the body too. Maybe there's something on him worth using. Never leave gear behind, we used to say. 'Course, that was before there were legions of devils teleporting around so quickly we couldn't rereat properly," Malgar states, then moves forward. "Anyone good at swimming or climbing?"

"Hah! Not bad, Borgan. Not bad. Could've used more like you a few decades ago." The aging dwarf grins and walks forward, rapier drawn just in case another croc showed up."Of course, the question now is: if this is supposed to be our hiding place, how did this thing get here, are there more, and can we do anything about new ones getting here?"

If I'm imagining correctly and this is a private reservoir of water for a walled-off complex, there must be a hole in the water supply somewhere large enough to let this thing through, meaning it probably has to be replaced... right?

Malgar moves to a better location and fires his bow! "Cayden... let's liven this place up!"

attack, DF+2, DA-1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
damage, DA +2, DF +2: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

He frowns as he seems to score a glancing hit at best.

If we had time to put on buffs, Malgar would have used his only one (divine favor) when Variel put his on.

"It'll make good target practice, at any rate," Malgar mutters. "It seems my aim is slightly off."

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

"Almost like I'm back at the prison... but at least the jailor's a lot cuter and good at baking treats," Malgar says when the whiffs of fetid *something* reach his nostrils. "Should probably make sure whatever that is, is not in our water supply here. Armies are more often killed by disease than casualties."

He peers around for the source as well.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Just so I understand correctly, this is a walled-off compound and it has a large pool of water inside of it?

Hey everyone, thanks for the support. Things have calmed down here quite a bit and I'll do a bit of reading up to get caught up to the present :) I'll try and make a post somewhere tonight. Thanks for your patience.

Hey everyone,

Wanted to drop a note here explaining my silence the last week. Life has been rather hectic with my infant son having to be operated on again, and stress surrounding my mother-in-law's recent death and my wife not taking it well have worn on me. I haven't had that much time to write in general. For this campaign especially, I also kind of feel responsible for Paquen's departure and Tiny's discomfort from a certain post. I've thus been considering dropping out as well.

That said, I have a little bit of time to write again now that things seem to have settled down slightly. But... I need a bit more time to see how things unfold before comitting either way. You all seem like a group of very passionate writers with long posts and detailed responses to everything, and half-assing it feels disingenuous. I'd like to be given a bit of time to evaluate how real life progresses without the posting commitment, then I'll see in a week or so what I'd do if I'm still welcome at that point.

Kind regards,
Trevor

Malgar, for his part, is mostly comtenplative on the way to the cafe. He pulls his hood over his face as he usually did, obscuring the scarred visage from view. He didn't know how many people alive now could identify him up close as the one who shot Barzillai, but a remnant of common sense told him to do it.

...And it promptly leaves him as the entire group is suddenly shoved into the office of a cafe to discuss starting a rebellion. Yes, a cafe - right? Surely there were no potential security leaks. Maybe Rexus should reconsider this and not speak openly of their findings here.

...But they had cake, and it was good.

He sniffs the pastry with his dwarven nose for potential poison, then eats it as he waits for Rexus to share with her what he was comfortable doing. He'd have done it himself, but eh, people might blame it on him for being too reckless.

Especially the Robin lookalike.

...Wait, was she missing? Where did she go?

He scratches his beard, feeling he was missing something important.

roll: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Ah, Robin! The finest halfling to ever be under his command, easily worth ten Thrunites and a dozen Dorttari a hundred times over! So great was her loss... if only he could see her again...

Well, I'm sorry to see you go so soon. For the record, I feel like there hasn't been much if any time to adapt the posts for the tone you want, and maybe that could have been done in a way that didn't completely drop the humor, as I think you were asking going by the above post. That said, all the best and hopefully we meet in some other adventure one day where I have a more normal character.

I think we'd lose people if Malgar started speaking. ;)

Hey now, he's got a gift with words when it counts! +12 diplomacy at level 1! :)

Could do partizan too, I suppose. His wisdom is 16 as well.

Thanks for taking the effort to compile this, and the loot sheet!

My first choice for Malgar would be the Demagogue assuming it's either cha or con. His con is +3 and it fits his background/personality best, I think. Recruiter is a second choice as it would probably play out roughly the same way.

Malgar sighs and rubs his temples. "Fine. We try it your way, Variel. We go and escort Rexus to his contact and see if we learn anything. We take all the loot with us for now. And after talking to this contact, we can decide how to run things - those of us who decide to try taking this mantle upon ourselves. Maybe none of us are fit to be the sole leader of an operation like this. Then again, we don't need a single one. We could vote for everything we do if we agree to all do your damnest to whatever the outcome is, even if a decision is not one we ourselves would make."

He glances at Paquen and Tiny. "'Course, we don't know who will stay. So I'd suggest going there now and seeing who we have to work with first."

He turns to Rexus and makes to follow him if the man is agreeable to go find his contact. He remembers the earlier discussion about loot distribution on the way out. "I'd like to keep hold of the cloak for now, for use in an emergency. We can decide on a definitive distribution later. I could use the mace too, as Beorn said, but it's a backup weapon for me, at best. Probably better for others."

All right, thanks for the feedback. The ghost approach can definitely work for him (maybe something like a Dimitri-esque narritive from Fire Emblem, if anyone is familiar with those games)! Maybe a list too of specific triggers that trigger PTSD flashbacks as well. I think 'Robin' will be a blank spot in his memory. Someone he knows was important to him in some way but he can't recall anything about that person. Just so that he has another way to be potentially backstabbed by the plot, other than the whole confabulation thing and that whatever he believes is true might not be true.

Regarding the jokes, I'll go and draw that back a bit. To clarify, I wasn't planning on making that particular topic a regular theme or occurence - it was something I wrote as an added joke with no creepy intent. But looking back, I can see why it could be taken as such or that it could put people off.

On the tone of celebration with beer and such, Malgar is a Cayden Cailean worshipper and also a divine caster in his service. I'll be upfront here and admit that every depiction I've seen of them, ever, is his followers partying in a tavern or such with the ale and beer flowing everywhere. Thus, it feels a bit disingenuous to not follow that archetype to me. Maybe that doesn't fit well with the theme of the campaign, but I picked it as the player's guide says house Thrune was allegedly behind the destruction of his church in Kintargo, and that it might have story relevance later. His drinking in a way is part of his continued defiance against house Thrune. But, I'll try and pull that back slightly if it's seen as disruptibe.

Yeah, good posts everyone!

Should we make an excel sheet or such for the loot? That might make things a bit easier to keep track, automating sell value calculation and such. Unfortunately I don't know how to make one and share access rights to others.

By the way, let me know is Malgar ever gets too annoying or disruptive or such. He's an experiment on my part in writing a character stuggling with insanity, while also trying to make him somewhat likeable. Still somewhat figuring out how to do that best in PBP, and he's definitely the hardest one for me to write for me at the moment.

Malgar pauses and looks back, eyes raised slightly as he stares at Paquen, seemingly taken aback. "You're not Robin! You're just a lookalike," he says, eyes narrowing in anger. "So what makes *you* a credible leader, then? Do you even know how to work a crowd, how to recruit and train soldiers? Agents? Organize logistics? All I'm hearing is a lot of complaints, for little input. You act as if you have the answer to everything, that we somehow need to prove ourselves to you. Hah!"

He barks a short laugh. "You say those who followed me got killed. Yes. Because it was so obvious Thrune would bring a legion of devils from f&!$ing nowhere to suddenly end the war. Or how like... nine spread-out Dottari somehow contained a rioting crowd of hundreds. Back in the day, they'd have been swarmed and killed to the last man, held down as they were stabbed through the visors. An average peasant would know how to do it. But I see now what people have grown soft and weak in the decades after the war. Seemingly content to suckle devil t#*% and look the other way from their abuse until a tyrant wakes them up - except for these Silver Ravens, apparently. And now it's on the edge of being too late."

He takes a deep breath and calms slightly. "But there is opportunity. The Shining Crusade divides Thrune's attention, and Barzillai is now hated among the people for many reasons. And we now have these statues to talk across great distances. No, I'm not the only choice to follow, and like I said, I'd prefer not to be the leader again at all - If we do this, it would have to be as a united group. But for the love of Cayden, DO get off your high horse until you show you've actually got what it takes to be a leader first. As it stands, I'd follow Tiny over you since she leads something , at least!"

"Why are ye all assuming Variel doesn't know what's at stake, or that he's somehow not taking this seriously? Seems unfair to judge as such. Seems ter me the lad's got his heart in the right place," Malgar slowly ascends the stairs, taking a sip from his tankard and setting it aside.

"That said, if you wanna walk, then walk. No one's stopping you. You can run somewhere far away and abandon whatever you hold dear an'is keeping you here to Barzillai. But can you, having seen how he works? Every day he passes new, crazy laws, that makes the population more angry at him, and when they protests, he slaps them in the face, provoking them, so he can punish them more. This is going to repeat itself over and over, until everyone in the city is broken and forced to sell their soul to Asmodeus for his 'forgiveness'. Believe me, I know how that goes."

He leans back against a dusty pillar. "'Course, maybe I just have it easy. For me, it's personal. All I really want is revenge, and I don't have that much to lose. Forty years in prison for fightin 'on the wrong side' will do that to you. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to give it my best shot! Everything worthwhile doesn't come easy, and it all starts from scratch. Think Malgar's Marauders, the best damn band of hirelings in the whole godsdamned civil war was formed in a day? Hah! Perseverence, recruits, that's the key to success!"

"Well... that, guts, and opportunity. The people are angry. Many lost people or things they cared about to a tyrant. If a worthwhile leader rises up behind the scenes, all it takes it a little push. Not me obviously,'cause I'm too pretty and don't want to deal with the asskissing anymore. Still, these trinkets give us a large advantage. You can coordinate an entire operation with this from a distance. One act of sabotage, then another, gradually undermining Thrune's authority ...it can snowball. We could be that REALLY annoying itch Barzillai can't scratch, until it's too late."

He takes his tankard and takes another swig. "...Or we can be cowards and leave people to their fate."

Something changes in his eyes, and he looks around. "Hm. Good talk, good talk! Say, why aren't we downstairs to search for more treasure, again?"

"For the sake of all the gods! I AM A WOMAN! Female! My name is NOT Robin! It's Paquen! We had never laid eyes on each other before yesterday! Stop it!"

"What did I say wrong?"

"Maybe it's the part where you decided she just had to join your cool team of revolutionaries instead of asking her what she wants?" Litsy hums. "Let people decide for themselves, Variel."

"Hm... don't know. Robin was always one for keeping up pretense. Probably does it just in case someone's listening in. Using fake identities, making us seem less united, pretty deep stuff. She was always a crafty one," Malgar concludes, holding the end of his beard and twisting the strands of hair as he thinks. "

He briefly shakes his head. "That said, in case she's serious, maybe she just doesn't like hiding behind a codename, since she wanted recognition for the Tieflings so badly. But I'm afraid you'll have to ask her in-person. Women are complicated." He summons another jug of alcohol and toasts Beorn and Variel.

appraise pearls d20+3

spellcraft ravens d20+7

Variel lets out a low whistle as Tiny opens up the chests and works on the third. Malgar you are right. ... The cloak is interesting as it may make the most sense to give it to the least stealthy in the hopes that we are able to sneak around as needed. ... Are you wanting the morningstar Beorn? If not I can carry it as I have the ability to make it magical as well should we run into a creature that requires both magic and silver to damage.

"The most dangerous weapon of all... not magic, not a bow, not a spear, but information. Knowing where to strike, how to move, faster than your enemy. A good information network is what makes or breaks an army - and a nation. Or a group of resistance fighters... with these, our chances just got a whole lot better," Malgar muses when he hears about the communication devices, more clear-minded than usual. "The mace is nice. It would be a backup for me too, but I can defenitely use it to bash in some skulls, helmets, and werewolves should we meet 'em. Bastards will be sorry!"

He then looks at the cloak. "There's a third option: we give it to the second most covert person so that you can employ a team of scouts and assassins instead of just one. I can volounteer for that - maybe it'll help me keep pace with Tiny. But perhaps Robin would be a good choice, too. He was always a crafty one," he adds, glancing at Paquen.

"Aye, a good haul! Not some flimsy potions or trinkets, even. Even if we don't find anything else belonging to the Silver Ravens - or have to wash or clothes for days - it was worth coming here," Malgar says, grinning, as he watches Tiny open the locked contents of the second crate."What can I say but 'I love it when a plan comes together', right, Robin?"

"Notice how I never said anything, you gross-arsed morons!" Litsy sing-songs over her shoulder. "And you know why? Because young ladies aren't going to share private stuff with dirty old guys-especially in front of all your men, Malgar! I'm shocked that a man of your standing could ever do something so improper!"

"Shhh, Tiny! I am trying to concentrate here!" The old dwarf mumbles, too heavily invested in scanning for magic to really notice her protests - probably. He was grinning, after all...

"A ha! Three magic thingymagiks, one in each crate! Won't have to go hungry tonight, men, so let's get to it!"

"Hey, you're the one who started talking about oiled-up orcs, not me!" Litsy laughs at Malgar. "You trying to tell Borgan and Beorn something? 'Cause I think our esteemed diva is all ears," she gives Beorn a playful shove.

"Ah, moving on to man-on-man now, as well? I hear that's popular amongst kids these days. And vampires! Vampire men? Where do they come up with this stuff..." Malgar mutters, then shakes his head. "Well, we can discuss these fantasies of yours later, my girl. For now, business before pleasure and all that! Right, Variel?" he asks, then stands back at Beorn muscles his way through the opening.

When they enter, Malgar lingers near the back and tries to sense the room for latent magics.

He casts detect magic over the room, taking his sweet time, and tries to pinpoint locations of whatever he finds. If he detects nothing, he begins searching the bunks, kitchen, walls and floor for hidden items and compartments, rolled below.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Sorry, had a very tiring day. I'll continue posting tomorrow.

"Of course I can, Tiny! Not knowing the language of your enemy is a fatal mistake. Let me see what these buggers wrote... wouldn't be surprised if it's gibberish script praising Asmodeus just to throw off Dottari that did get down here," Malgar responds, moving up to read the script. Does he learn anything concrete from them if he takes longer than a cursory glance?

"...Because this refuse is a deception, as Robin no doubt already figured," he continues. "See them tunnels near the top? I can see rooms behind them, and a small crawhole to get to hem. Have to wiggle yerself REAL tightly, but even Borgan could squeeze through - probably. If not, we just oil him up. Seems fitting for what could have been some secret Calistrian meeting site, with her faith being outlawed and all. Ah... such a waste."

Then he pauses and looks at Tiny strangely. "Wait. Why are we talking about this, young lady? You mean to say you're into oiled-up orcs at your age...?"

Malgar, perhaps you can take the lead with myself backing you up? Then Litsy, Paquen, Variel and then Borgan?

"Eh? What's that? Cannae here you from down here! What's keeping ye young lads? Robin, whip them into shape with that spiked chain of yers, will ye?" Malgar calls back, having already gone down.

Once he reaches the basement, he whistles. "Wonder if the butcher was into secret fun times with the Calistrians down here. Let's see what these pillars are for... I'd expect ter find some hidden way forward from here. Somethin' built just in case the most determined lackey ever dared defy his nose long enough to get here."

He looks through the room for hidden dangers, leaving the symbols for others with light sources to check out, starting with the path to these pillars and the pillars themselves.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Fixed it just for you :)

Malgar's reply leaves Paquen wondering what particular excuse there is for why she wasn't offered anything either.

Hey now, he asked an open question on if anyone else wanted any! Women and their selective hearing ;)

Clank. Clank.

Click.

"Oh, look at that!" Litsy exclaims, in falsely cheerful tone. "It's open! How fortunate that i]one[/i] worthy member of the party," she deliberately makes eye contact with Variel. "Just got the job done, while everyone else is getting drunk and pocketing stuff without telling her!"

"Hey, I object ter that notion! I'm just drinking, is all. An' I know where my limits lie. It's called delegation, recruit! But good job anyway. I'd offer you a pint as well but you seem a wee bit young," He toasts Beorn and variel, then smiles at the rogue with a nod and heads down the newly revealed stairs after drawing his buckler.

AC 19/ FF17 while his shield is out.

perception, check stairs for traps and dangers below?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19