"By Iomedae, I thought only Lamm could be this sick."
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Not finding their prey in the storeroom everyone heads up the stairs slowly as Yselle makes sure it is safe. She thinks it safe to go up and luckly for her it is safe. At the top of the stairs a round table sits surrounded by four wooden chairs. A stack of tattered cards sits on the table. A cabinet to the southwest hangs open, a tangle of dirty clothes and blankets within. Four thin bedrools lie rolled up against the north wall. On the south wall you see a closed door, the only other way out of this room is by two windows on the north wall, a window on each west and east walls and the stairs you came up a few seconds ago. You all hear a loud noise come from behind the closed door, it sounds like glass breaking but you are not quite sure......
Sarastal hisses, "Quick! He must be getting away!" but she shows no inclination to be the first one through the door.
Beren makes for the door, he puts his shoulder into it and readies his mace for what is on the other side.
Yselle runs upstairs, determined to join in the action ...
Thelix since he was alread in the back jumps at the sound of the breaking glass.
"I'll try to cut him off" Thelix shouts, and heads towards the door, determined to run outside and keep their quarry from jumping out the window and running away.
Inros follows Beren as best he can, his bow drawn tight with an arrow ready.
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As the glass continues to break on the floor from in the room Sarastal yelps and says he must be trying to escape to the group. Beren takes action first and shoulders his way into through the door, he sees a man's leg shoot out the window, the last of who ever it was is gone from the room. Thelix races down the stairs and out the front door intent on cutting off their prey. Once outside he notices the person must have gone out one of the back windows, neither second floor window he is looking at is open or broken and then he thinks he's looking at the room at the top of the stairs not the room where the group was about to enter. Inros follows Beren into the room followed by Yselle and Sarastal with Sun out in the other room keeping watch over their backs. Beren dashes over to the window and spots the man jump off the back of the building's roof, the second story to this building not taking up the whole roof area to the main floor.
"Where is he going, Beren?" asks Yselle excitedly.
"Uh...I'm not sure I can follow him. My shoes aren't designed for jumping off of roofs". Indeed, Sarastal's badly-soiled embroidered slippers look rather delicate and unsuited for an urban steeplechase.
Sun jumps out the window to follow.
Beren seeing the figure dash across the rooftop casts 'comand' and orders the traitor to 'halt'.
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The chase begins or one would think so if not for the fact that the dwarven cleric's words brings the man to a halt as soon as he lands on the ground. Yselle inquires to Beren where is the man going not being able to see with him and now Sun pushing past him blocking the window. Sun dashes the rest of the way to the edge of the roof and sees the man frozen in his landing spot. And all the while Sarastal is talking about shoes or some such thing....
Sun points her sword at the frozen man and smiles, "Not really planning on going someplace are you?"
"If Abadar had done as much for our sheep as he does for you, Beren, my father would still have a herd. We prayed and prayed to Abadar, but still our sheep died one by one."
to Inros, "the lawgiver works in ways we cannot comprehend. Had he saved your flock, you would not be here now defending the order in Korvosa."
Beren then climbs out the window and hustles down to where sun and Vancaskerkin (?) await. He will attempt to grapple the traitor.
Sarastal creeps over and gets ready to fire her crossbow at the deserter if he should try to flee again.
Yselle joins Sarastal's sniping position.
Thelix, seeing he is on the wrong side of the building, takes off at a dead run around the building. "he's got to come down sometime" he pants as he runs all out.
Like an out of control bull he dashes through the streets upending wheelbarrows and carts as he goes. He feels a brief moment of regret as he plows over an old woman shuffling down the street. As he gets to the other side of the building he glances up at the rooftops.
If he spots the quarry or any party member he stops, looks up and cheers wildly. "Way to go guys". "I'm on my way up".
If not he continues to rush haphazardly down the street in the last known direction of retreat, bowling over anyone in his way as he goes.
Inros runds down the stairs and out to where Beren and our quarry have run.
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The man stands frozen in place staring with hazy eyes at Sun who just dropped down off the roof to stand next to him with her sword drawn. He looks at her trying to figure out the words she just spoke, with a confused look on his face. Beren drops down next to Sun and easily secures the man and chats with Inros who out of breath from his quick run down the steps to the first floor and around the back of the building. The two girls left up in the second floor room climb out on to the roof to its ledge above the group below, both with weapons aimed at the man if he might escape. In a panic at being on the weong side of the building takes off in a mad dash down the street all of the while looking up at the rooftops trying to locate the fleeing man. His eyes up most of time he trips over small barrels, crashes through a wheelbarrow and into a cart which he pushes aside into a display of old vegetables knocking it over. Regaining his feet he plows over a old frail woman carrying a freshly made pie which ends up half on the road and the other on him. He finally finds an alley way to the back of the buildings and begins his search for the man. After a bit of looking he runs into where Beren and Sun have the man secured. He rushes up out of breath and covered in blackberry pie......
Yselle giggles at the sight of Inros covered in blue sauce.
"And what happened to you?"
"This is no time to be eating! Now, deserter, tell us where the boss is, or I'll let you have it!"
To the new prisoner, "You are Vancaskerkin, I presume. It would be in your best interest to tell us now so we don't have to use any persuasion techniques." To get the point across he pokes the man in the chest with the end of his mace. "And you should know that as a priest of The Lawgiver I have ben trained in any number of interogation techniques. I also wish to know how many other lackeys are holed up in this shop with you, traitor."
To Beren in his stilted Dwarven: "Beren, we must talk of Abadar's will after we have dealt with this scum. You have given me a lot to think about."
To Yselle with a wink: "That is Thelix under that sauce. I'm not that clumsy." Inros wipes a finger in the blue sauce and takes a taste. "Pretty good, Thelix. Do you have any more?"
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The group surround the man from above and on the ground. The command that halted him wears off as the heroes ask him who he is and where is his boss. He instantly begins to sway as the effects wear off bracing himself against the wall for support as it looks he might not be able to continue standing under his own power. He looks at you with hazy eyes trying to make out the words. After a bit he slurs out, I am Verik Van cask rinnnnnnnnn, who might you be and why are you bothering me on a fine day like.....like.....like, who might yo be little lady, I like my women strong.........Nice sword you got there......hmmmmm His face begins to turn a shade of grey heading towards a pure white as his knees start to buckle under the pressure of keeping himself upright........
"the sod is drunk. Let's get him inside and et his men have a good look at him. Then we can search the building, if his lackey's had a stash i would bet Vancaskerkin did too." Beren grabs the drunk by his elbow and roughly guides him back into the killing room where the other prisoners are.
"I'll keep a watch on the prisoners while you lot search the building."
To Inros, "I will gladly share what wisdom i have about the wil of the lawgiver. Once things have quited down in the city you will have my undivided attention."
"Did he just call Beren a lady?" Yselle asks Sarastal.
Shaking her head, the thief goes back inside to search the second floor rooms.
"I believe he was referring to Sun, although his head was spinning around a bit while he was speaking."
Sarastal assists the rogue with her searching (aid another).
Sun grabs Vancaskerkin's other elbow and helps Beren haul him inside, "Pitiful, not much of a rebel is he."
Once inside Beren ties up Vancaskerkin with his co-conspirators.
"Lets search the place and get back to the garrison."
Inros follows the others inside. "Where do you want to begin searching?"
Thelix sheepishly follows the others back into the shop taking the time to slowly remove the pie from his armor, and stuffing the big pieces in his mouth as he goes. He really is hungry, and the pie is really good. If he sees the woman he plowed over on the way back he will apologize to her and hand her 5 sp for the pie.
"We should start upstairs and search Vancaskerkin's room. Also, we need to check the rest of the ground floor."
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With Verik in tow the group heads back into the building to put him with the other prisoners. Once he sees his men secured sitting on the floor he smiles for some reason. The men were attempting to get out of their bonds when the group enters but quickly stop when they see they have company. Verik says to the group in general in a slurred tone, Who are you folk? Maybe we can come to some kind of arrangement, I have contacts in the city who might be interested in sword arms like you? He quiets down when he sees the scowls from the group but waits for any response from the group. He's a handsome man still dressed in his Korvosan Guard livery and armor even though its seen better days, dirty from stains and a soft stench radiates from him for those who are close to him.
Yselle leaves the group and heads upstairs followed by Sarastal to search around for anything of value or information on Verik's activities. They head into Verik's quarters which are actually the offices of the store but now Verik's resting place. A single large desk stands in the eastern part of this large office, transformed into a makeshift bed by a bedroll and several blankets and pillows. A table and three chairs sit to the west; several papers lie strewn over the table's surface and a chamberpot sits under it. One of the papers is pinned to the tabletop by an esquisite silver dagger. Other than what is described above the room holds nothing more of interest to the ladies searching.
Downstairs the rest of the group watch over the prisoners and search out the rest of the building but find nothing of interest already finding the guards stash. Thelix also takes a moment to go back into the street and meet up with the old lady, giving her some coins for her loss of the tasty pie and a quick apology.
Items found of value in the building other than the stash found earlier include:
4 sets chainmail worn by the guards
3 Heavy steel shields
3 longswords
4 light crossbows
1 warhammer
30 bolts
1 masterwork chainmail
1 masterwork spear
1 masterwork composite longbow
20 +1 arrows
1 vial holding somekind of blue liquid
Yselle plucks out the silver dagger from the table.
"Mine! I saw it first!"
She then reads through the papers, paying special attention to the sheet that was held down by the dagger.
Sun stays to watch over the prisoners. Her mind wanders to the logistics of moving so many across town through the city.
"Should we get these deserters back to the Field Marshall?"
Seeing the arrows that look much nicer than his own, Inros asks the others "Anyone mind if I take those fancy arrows?"
Sarastal's face takes on a shrewd look.
"Why don't we determine the value of these items first? Then we can each get a share of equal value, and if you want to take those arrows or that dagger as your share, you're welcome to."
She thinks, Yes! I'm going to be eating hot food tonight!
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The prisoners sit and wait for the group to decide what to do next and the answer to their bosses question to the dwarf and the group in general. Yselle looks over the papers on the desk, reading as much as she can quickly. All of the papers look old from the past owners who ran the place in a proper manner by keeping records of sales and shipments recieved. Other than that nothing of interest is found as Yselle grabs up the dagger before Sarastal can. She makes a face at Yselle stating they should talk over the split with the group before they begin claiming things. While the girls are up stairs searching Inros spots the quiver of arrows once own by Verik knowing where he's going he won't need them anymore and asks if anyone minds he takes them. Sun's thoughts are on more important matters, like how are they going to get the prisoners back to the safety of the Citadel. They have the whole of the Jeggare River waterfront to march before they reach their distination.
Thelix scowls at the prisoners with his most intimidating look. "Boy are you guys gonna get it when we get back to the Citadel". "It's bad enough deserting in a time of crisis, but if my guess is right, and you've been feeding humanoid creatures to the citizens"..."I'll bet you'll all get the Tall knife".
"So if there's anything you guys want to get off your chests before we leave..."
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Thelix decides to try again to get more information out of the prisoners. They seem more receptive now that their boss has been caught too. They look around at each other and one of them says, "We were just trying to make a little extra coin on the side. with all of the riots and chaos everyone is going to need to eat so Verik thought it would be good to take over this vacant business, the owners died in jail over a year ago so it was easy to move in and open up for business. Verik has some contacts who helped get us started and supplied. We don't know who his contacts are because he's drunk most of the time as you can see for yourself and won't share with us. We have been doing most of the work for the past few days." The one prisoner leaves off at that, Verik is slowly drifting off to sleep as he stands there looking at his captors waiting to see if they will take up his offer.....
Beren searches to see if there is a wagon or something that they could transport the prisoners in.
"Would it be easier to send someone to the garrison and have them bring back some guards to help us move the prisoners?"
As Beren looks over the pile of loot, his mind starts calculating the value of the items and how much his share should be, and how much should go to the church.
"I see no reason that Inros should not have the arrows, we can deduct there value from his share when we get the prisoners transferred. I fear that he may have need of them before we get to the garrison."
The rogue tosses the silver dagger onto the pile of valuables.
"Yea. Someone should go back and get a cart. Or we should tie them to each other by the neck and march them back."
"I agree. Throwing them into the back of a cart makes sense. I'll look around the outside of the shop."
With that, Inros goes out and walks around the butcher shop, looking for a cart for the prisoners.
Sarastal helps search for a cart.
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The cart to transport the prisoners is actually easier found than the group thought it might be. In the storage shed sits a small cart normally pulled by a mule or maybe even a horse if the past owner had the coin to own one. It will be able to fit only four of the prisoners though and must be pulled as there is no animals around to pull it. Once the prisoners are hearded into the cart with the loot found the group is ready to go back to the citadel. The trip is actually an easy one, most of the city folks are inside for the night either safe in their homes or in taverns trying to forget the past couple of days problems. The streets are still heavily patroled but you have no problems with them as you slowly pull the cart with the prisoners and Verik on foot tied to the back. Once you arrive at the citadel, guards come and take the prisoners away from you and tell you to report to the Field Marshal. She's in her office alone taking care of the endless paper work that goes with the job. She smiles and says, I hear you were successful in bring back Verik and his whole gang in piece! Good Job! Here is the reward I promised and I also set up lodging for you at the Three Rings Tavern in Five Corners. I set up a credit line for you while you work for us there, I know the owner really well, her name is Theandra Darklight. Go and get some rest and refresh yourselves after a long day, a bath would be good too. Come back in the morning and we will chat about your next assignment. She pushes the coin pouch(1000 gp) over to the closes person to her desk all the while crinkling her nose at the smell in her office.....