"A correction, Juliare. I'm sure there's plenty of money in it. If this really is a slaving ring, as you say, then Kanto must be making a pretty penny off of it. I'm willing to bet she's got plenty that would make it worth anyone's while to shut her down."
"As for Hessiah, I saw him cast a spell, but I'm not sure what it was. Either way, it seemed to make her a little more friendly. But then she freaked out! Maybe she could tell he cast a spell on her. She was screaming about her head and all. Could've woke the dead!"
Warenhari joined Juliare in ministering to the young girl's needs. He approached cautiously, making eye contact, watching for any signs that he was getting to close for her comfort.
"And what, exactly, do we mean by 'persuade', if 'being nice' resulted in what happened to this young lady?" There was no sarcasm in his voice; it was more Socratic than hypothetical.
He didn't wait for an answer, but gave the majority of his attention to Betsy. Eventually he stood and said, "Well, my friends told me that if I went to the city that something like this was bound to happen sooner or later. So it happened sooner." He shrugged, and the large rat shrugged as well. It wasn't totally clear if the rat was mimic or comedic.
He knelt down out of the thug's reach. "What exactly did happen here? You should tell me now. This fellow looks right ready to put a wallop in your dumpling pouch."
Quick also tries to calm the sobbing Betsy. "There's no reason to be upset. The bad men are all sleeping now. No one is going to bother you anymore. We'll be on our way shortly. Don't forget about that gold piece I gave you earlier. Get something warm to eat tonight.
|
'First thing First !'
'Ok guys , you get the choice : my sap or Brock's axe ... '
"Looks like he wants a piece of you as well, mate."
'Quick , can you please calm Betsy , you seem to understand what happened and you're the one who has dealt with her so far. I'm Juliare . and you are ?
"New around here." Waren grinned. "Warenhari is my nae. Pleasure to meet you."
In a few words, Warenhari, the lady here is Betsy , a streetperson who has given us some informations to help crack a slaver ring. The blondies there have been sent to 'convince' us to stop. No money in it but the satisfaction to stop someone who abuse her power to betray people she is supposed to help.'
"Tch, tch. Well, slaving is it? We don't put much truck with that where I come from either."
"Excellent. I'm Quick. So you're in, then? Want to finish up this lady once and for all? I think with the testimony of these sore gentlemen, as well as whoever else we meet at the so-called church, will clear us of any charges that could be brought against us. I say we storm the place now. I for one don't want to get Dry Gulched walkin' around town."
Betsy dries her tears and tries to compose herself somewhat. "It's all good", she says. "Just get that man out of her. Never been so crowded in my life." A sly smile creeps across her face. "I wouldn't mind some of that hooch, though."
The thugs aren't that forthcoming. "Hey, man, it was just a job. We don't know anything except we were promised a cut of your stuff afterwards. Ask Bjarne what beef he had with you. It's no business of ours."
"Just a job eh? Do you even know who you were working for? And, if I did want to give Bjarne a piece of my mind, where could I find him?"
"We're working for Bjarne, but he said something about some priestess who doesn't like to be bothered. We weren't really paying attention - we're just in it for the loot. You could probably find him in his shack. It's not far from here."
"Thanks, bucko. You're a real sport. I imagine we'll be paying him a visit."
Quick lets a little electricity arc visibly around her hands; it should act as a reminder of the battle just moments ago.
"Say, just for curiosity's sake. How much was he paying you to take us out?"
"Just a share of the spoils, lass. He made it sound real easy too. Give him a good whopping if you see him."
"Well I'm offering you the same right now. You come with us, send him a message, we'll whoop him together. Then, you come with us to the temple and help give this priest lady a bashin'. I'm sure she's got all kinds of junk. And a good deal of coin too. We'll give you a fair share of it, and let you go. Or, we could just turn you in to the watch right now. Your call."
Quick , I aggree to let him go if he show us the house now but we can't trust him in a real fight not to go to the other side .
"I think we've shown pretty well that we're nothing to mess with. In fact, Bjarne practically sent you all to your deaths, and then ran off. I figured they would want some payback, is all. I know I would."
Brock breaths out deep still holding onto his Great Axe unsure as to what course of action is needed of him. His mind races as he calms a bit from the blood lust that boils his blood. Who were these people he thinks, and what's a Rat that big doing in town. When Juliare gives the choice of her sap or his Great Axe, Brock snaps back to reality the ringing in his ears fading as Brock holds his Great Axe out for the men to see, for them to compare it to the sap to help them make the decision.
When Quick asks the Mercenary he just cut down to join him he smiles
"This time my Axe would be with you, not threw you, and we would both prefer this yes?" his smile shows he is already eager for the next battle to come.
"Aye Rat man I am Brock welcome to have you!"
"Excellent. I'm Quick.
"Oh, really? Well, I don't take that long myself. Oh, I'm sorry. Your name, of course."
So you're in, then?
A look at the poor wretches in front of him evoked a sympathetic reaction. "Yeah, I'm in."
Warenhari watched the arc jump around Quick's wrist and smiled. Her enthusiasm for getting some whoopin' and bashin' going was infectious. He found himself looking forward to what was to come in spite of the possible consequences. His friends had told him that people act differently in cities. So far that had turned out to be true.
"Quick ,I agree to let him go if he show us the house now but we can't trust him in a real fight not to go to the other side ."
"I admit, Quick, I share his concern. If he'll turn on his master when the chips are down, he'll certainly turn on us if the opportunity presents itself.
"I think we've shown pretty well that we're nothing to mess with. In fact, Bjarne practically sent you all to your deaths, and then ran off. I figured they would want some payback, is all. I know I would."
Squinting his eyes, he waited to see what the man with the axe had to say.
Brock holds his Great Axe out for the men to see, for them to compare it to the sap to help them make the decision.
"This time my Axe would be with you, not threw you, and we would both prefer this yes?"
"Aye Rat man I am Brock welcome to have you!"
Warenhari had a good long look at the axe and at the man wielding it and put his hand on Brock's shoulder. "Thank you, friend Brock. And my name is Warenhari. Waren is fine."
And my rat," he flourished in Po's direction, "is Po. He showed up one day and has saved my skin a couple of times already back in the forest and on the way here. I'll take 'rat man as a compliment any day." He gave Brock's shoulder a friendly squeeze.
To Betsy: "Where can we take you? Someplace safe? Do you have somewhere to go where you can lay low for awhile with Quick's gold piece?" The tone in Warenhari's voice indicated that that he had no idea about the cost of city living. A gold piece in the forest was a rare sight.
To the rest of the company: "Well, there's a priestess that doesn't want botherin' and a malcontent that needs some whoopin' and bashin'." Po twitched his tail enthusiastically at the idea.
Sooner rather than later, indeed...
So two for and two against . Majority rules ? Hessiah ?
"Greetings, Warenhari. I am Hessiah."
Alright. Hessiah casts one of his "hexes" on one of the thugs.
"What say we you tell us what we need to know?" Hessiah tells the charmed one.
"We can make it worth your while plus you can get even on them for abandoning you."
"Sounds reasonable, yes?"
Alas, it seems that the bird has flown. There is noone at home in the little unkempt shack that reeks of sweat and cheap liquor. The neighbors are happy to tell you that Bjarne was seen just a few minutes ago gathering his belongings and then leaving for parts unknown. It sounds like he won't be missed.
What next?
Hum , Bjorne doesn't seem the type to go report his failure to the temple. I propose we go back to the entrepot, say to Betsy this shack is somewhere she could sleep and go back to our surveillance.
Now if the majority thinks we must go attack the temple now . I'll come with you
A question I forgot to ask the thug. how did they find us at Betsy's place ?
The neighbors are happy to tell you that Bjarne was seen just a few minutes ago gathering his belongings and then leaving for parts unknown. It sounds like he won't be missed.
"I'm truly sorry, Quick, but it looks like there won't be any whoopin'." Warenhari and Po slumped a little. "However," he added, "there is a still a priestess who needs her a little lesson in manners. The evening's not a total loss."
Hum , Bjorne doesn't seem the type to go report his failure to the temple. I propose we go back to the entrepot, say to Betsy this shack is somewhere she could sleep and go back to our surveillance.
Now if the majority thinks we must go attack the temple now . I'll come with you
"Juliare, I agree completely. I doubt the priestess has been warned. What do you say, everyone? Glory ahead and all that?"
Warenhari fumbled and stumbled as he returned his pack to his back and picked up his shield. What he lacked in grace he seemed to make up for with enthusiasm.
"To the temple? Yes?"
A question I forgot to ask the thug. how did they find us at Betsy's place ?
"Oh, that was easy. You lot stand out like a sore thumb. All we had to do was ask around a bit. You know, people get really helpful if you just know how to ask."
That's good news , that mean the priestress doesn't know we know about the docks !
Brock looks at everyone and finally smiles, "I put my vote to the fight, lets go to the Temple!"
"Well, Brock, we could certainly use your strength now. I would hate for this priestess to send more of her cronies after us, or anyone else. Let's shut her down."
Brock thinks to him self for awhile not sure if he should speak his plan aloud. Brock had never been the brightest of men and he knew this, but it didn't mean that from time to time he might have an idea of his own, even if it was simple and poorly thought out.
"I say we have one of the men, or one of us dress up as a simple civilian, that person runs to the guards askin there assistance, then if, and when they come they leave and separate themselves from the temple, Juliare and I will then take there garb and escort you in under disguise..."
Brock stops then, his face scrunches up "Thats all I really thought out so far".
"Yes to the temple." Hessiah assents enthusiastically.
I'll follow whatever plans you have
"I say we have one of the men, or one of us dress up as a simple civilian, that person runs to the guards askin there assistance, then if, and when they come they leave and separate themselves from the temple, Juliare and I will then take there garb and escort you in under disguise..."
"Clever, clever..." Warenhari murmured to his pet rat as he listened to Brock.
Brock stops then, his face scrunches up "Thats all I really thought out so far".
"Brock, I think that sounds like an excellent start. Once we're inside, perhaps you and Juliare should push us to the floor, tell her to pay up and then see what happens. We might find out something interesting that way."
"On the other hand, Quick might finally get her wish. Whoopin, did she call it?" He winked at the maverick.
"Juliare, what do..." Warenhari cut his question short when he looked at his new friend.
"I'll follow whatever plans you have."
"Juliare?" He looked to see if the others had noticed Juliare's troublesome gesture. "Do you know something we don't? Let not your heart be troubled, my friend. Our intent is for good."
I'm just being prudent , my friend . If this goes badly, I would prefer not to have to fight the militia to flee the town.
Brock the first part is good but I fear the guards all know each other.
"SO should we go?" Brock asks
"There is nothing to fear! We all have the strength to fight this corrupt woman and her lackeys! If you think we should dress up to fool the guards, we can try it your way. I reckon they all have us pretty well memorized by now, however."
We might try to go by the rear entrance
"SO should we go?"
"Yes! Time is wasting!"
"There is nothing to fear! We all have the strength to fight this corrupt woman and her lackeys! If you think we should dress up to fool the guards, we can try it your way. I reckon they all have us pretty well memorized by now, however."
"She has a point. They have probably already made us."
We might try to go by the rear entrance
"That has merit, Juliare, but rather than going around the foe, we should go through him! Forward, Brock! Lead us to glory!" Warenhari brandished his still untried weapon and tried to look tough. He stepped gingerly toward the front entrance, waiting to see if he was alone.
The dire rat next to Warehari tapped his foot, rolled his eyes, sighed, and then acted out the climatic death scene of his favorite character* from the well-known Dunael soap opera, "Dire Circumstances."
Po fenced with an unseen assailant, clutched at an imaginary wound over his heart, bugged his eyes in a very disturbing manner, staggered a few steps, blew a last kiss to his [off-stage] wife, fell onto his back, exhaled heavily, and lay still with his tongue hanging out.
"Why can't I have a normal pet, like everybody else?" Warenhari whispered.
Po opened one eye. "Squeak, squeakity, squeak."
I'm waiting for someone to go to the guards
Well then, you'd all better roll for initiative.
Initiative 1d20=9
Warenhari donned his shield and marched with Brock toward the guards who so badly needed whoopin'. Po kept pace one step behind them.
Thank goodness his new hide armor was noisy. It covered the sound of his knees knocking and his teeth chattering. And suddenly, at one of the most inconvenient times in his young life, he realized his bladder was painfully full.
Init; Ranged Touch Attack for Flame Dart; Flame Dart Damage (1d20+6=18, 1d20+2=10, 1d3=3)
Hessiah flings a flame dart at one of the guards. He hangs back and moves to a flanking position so he can rain spells on the enemy without fear of immediate retribution.