Specifics about the tavern are foggy, but the music jogs MalaKi’s memory a little, and he remembers the place is famous for its unique form of entertainment, said to drive long-term patrons barmy.
MalaKi's gaze rakes over each table and patron with the subtlety of a scavenger waiting for a parched traveler to collapse.
Shenker and Kha-Chik-Chik-Ka separate for a short time, trading food for ammunition when they reunite, with neither commenting on the source of their respective resources. Don’t go looking for tattoos on a stray Inix, as the elves say.
Between the reservoir in the room and her daily allotment of spells, Kha-Chik is able to provide a few days water for the party. Shenker makes a few unenthusiastic attempts to milk Kirrish’s pet kank. Though the animal does not appear amused, the mummified desk jockey certainly does.
Attempting to appear uninterested, you can’t help but overhear the following:
In hushed tones, three half-elf woman are engaged in an animated conversation while waiting in line for bread. You can just make out the words, “runners,” “invisible,” and “amulet.”
A passing undead tells you, “Bbbbllllaaaarrrrrrrr, snork.”
A merchant exclaims loudly to another, “It’s a shame about Tik’s place. The food was awful, but no one could pack an arena like Tik. At least now he has his own monument! Have you heard anything about this gladiator stable of his that was supposed to fight today?” The reply is lost as the other man turns to attend to a customer.
A sun-mad mul with spiral wodes grabs you and yells into your face, “There is no Shell Beach. It doesn’t exist, I’m telling you!” before running off into the crowd.
"Hrrrmmmm.....Radiks been actin weird lately. Think he's possesstered."
Skarsnikt is right behind Kirrish as he enters the bar. However, his attention quickly moves to the maimed dwarf and his odd musical instrument, and he is of no use for info-gathering.
I'll tail those half elven women; see where they go to.
ms r18+10=28
hide r14+10=24
"here, chickadee....take them's arrows an go shoot em at somethin. I'm follering up on a hunch, and I sneaks around best alonleylike."
Kirrish keeps the elf's location in mind but continues to focus on finding Mysterious Contact #3. He never turns his back to the long-ear, however.
Radik's head pounds. The veins in his neck are full to bursting, Rollins-like, and his eyes are practically bugging out of his skull.
"The Maul is a false harbinger. Only Radik and the Sisters can TRULY serve the Iron Maiden."
"Won't you come into my room,
I want show you all my wares...."
"hrrmm..."
Schenker sings to himself a bit; keeps shading the halfelves...
The half-elven women exhibit no knowledge of Shenker’s presence as he stalks them. After a banal afternoon watching the women shop and gossip while trying to stay out of both sight and sun, Shenker shadows the trio back to a noble’s estate, a small, fenced in plantation. Inset into the doors of each gate are a set of Cahulaks, which end up adjacent as the entrance closes.
Kirrish keeps the elf's location in mind but continues to focus on finding Mysterious Contact #3. He never turns his back to the long-ear, however.
Despite standing out in the open for some time, still your contact does not emerge, nor do you see any sign of his presence. The elf appears to be watching you as well.
Skarsnikt is right behind Kirrish as he enters the bar. However, his attention quickly moves to the maimed dwarf and his odd musical instrument, and he is of no use for info-gathering.
The music is beautiful and haunting; you could easily lose an entire day just listening and reflecting. You are broken out of your reverie when an oily-faced, blond human child pokes you in the carapace, nattering something about a “Two drink minimum” as it breezes by and into the kitchen.
He'll hide out; watch the place for a couple hours.
hide r12+10=22
He'll watch for 2 1/2 hours, see if they come out, or anything interesting. Then leave if nothing good happens.
MalaKi will mentally ask Mistress Sable to scan for hostile intent. Wait, that’s way to broad; more like scan for overt and direct hostile intent directed toward anyone in the party.
Radik follows Shenker, keeping one eye on the little man. With the other, he scans the area for danger.
spot Radik: r12+
r12+8=20 spot Radik!!! "hrrmm..."
Just loud enough to be heard by his comrades, Kirrish opines:
"Instruction: We should go; not see one clutch need talk to. Likely not show or trick waiting to......go, quick. Sudden."
Quietly, so only Skarsnikt (and Faindriac, if near) can hear/smell his Thri-kreen:
In kreen
AM I watching the weapons somewhere. Did we split up as planned? Because I have a lot of fleas and lice to pick.
AM I watching the weapons somewhere. Did we split up as planned? Because I have a lot of fleas and lice to pick.
"D...dumb swords. Sh...sh...shut the f...f...frack up."
Just loud enough to be heard by his comrades, Kirrish opines:
"Instruction: We should go; not see one clutch need talk to. Likely not show or trick waiting to......go, quick. Sudden."
Quietly, so only Skarsnikt (and Faindriac, if near) can hear/smell his Thri-kreen:
** spoiler omitted **
Faindriac, while not looking at the Thri-Kreens, nods once under cover of looking at something unpleasant that has attached itself to the bottom of his foot. Then points at a random person on the other side of the bar.
"Perhaps over there?" He says leaning close to Zuko. Then, softer, so the droning of the strange instrument covers him, says.
"Watch to see if anyone follows the Kreen."
Psssst. Over here little man. Don't you wish to be rich...powerful? We could end your new friend in her sleep. At the very least...I'm shiny. Don't your people like shiny things to put in your nests?
"You w...w...wanna get m...m...melted in'a sp...sp...spitoon?
He'll watch for 2 1/2 hours, see if they come out, or anything interesting. Then leave if nothing good happens.
The day-to-day business of the plantation is rather dull. As you monitor the activities you observe exhausted and abrasion-riddled slaves deliver water they aren’t allowed to foul with their touch, a great deal of legitimate and quasi-legitimate goods flow into and out of the compound, and at one point several Templars arrive with a naked, dead body. They question the householders at length, then tap the divine authority of Dregoth to command the corpse to corroborate, before reanimating the husk and leaving with the new employee in tow. All things considered, a typical day.
Radik follows Shenker, keeping one eye on the little man. With the other, he scans the area for danger.
The pair of Thri-Kreen exit the tavern, though no one seems to notice. As they stand outside attempting to appear nonchalant, a passing curtained palanquin held aloft on the strong backs of Muls pauses briefly to inquire if you are seeking employment.
Within, Faindrac and MalaKi manage to spot a free table with a decent overview of the room. The patrons take little notice of you, but the staff appears to be growing agitated.
Filthy vermin! I'll cut out your tongue and use it to whitewash the walls of Raam.
"T...t...toothpick! I'll cr...cr...cr...crap on you."
"I th...th...think you n...n...need s...s...someone."
<He flicks a booger at it.>
"Or you'd b...b...b...be f...f...f...flyin' around."
<Aso sucks dusty snot and boogers down out of his nasal passage and into the back of his throat.>
"NNgnNGngnNNgnGNgnngNgng."
<Walks over to the weapons and dangles a huge loogey off the tip of his tongue and lets it hang over Lady Onyx, pulling it back at the last second.>
"Want s...s...s...some s...s...sauce t...t...toothpick?
You’re cunning for an insipid little ill-bred mongrel. I’m not totally without transportation, mind you, but I’d prefer someone who knows which end of the dagger to hold.
"L...l...l...l..like R...R...Radik? HahahHaHHA. Snort. Hahhhahahahaa. Snort. HahhahahA."
"B...b...b...b*#*@."
"How to f...f...f...frack this b...b...b...butterknife?"
"Perhaps over there?" He says leaning close to Zuko. Then, softer, so the droning of the strange instrument covers him, says.
"Watch to see if anyone follows the Kreen."
Zuko nods. He positions himself at a good vantage point and starts his watch.