In the center of the front room is a squat ape (Clifford has no idea what kind), a little taller than he is and much heavier. Its back is to him a the moment, but as he peeks in, the beast raises his head and sniffs. It suddenly erupts in shouts and hollering.
Quietly close the door and leave the building
How much time would it take me to lock the front door ?
Clifford closes the door as quietly and carefully as he opened it. A moment later, though, the door rattles under the impact of a body slamming into it from the other side, and an insane howl/cackle noise fills the air. He hears angry shouting - in Common, he thinks, though it is indistinct - from somewhere in the house now too. In a moment, though, he is outside, and the noise fades to a furious buzz.
Instinct shouting and short howling noises are coming from within Smeed's townhouse. A moment later, Clifford appears outside again.
Indistinct shouting and short howling noises are coming from within Smeed's townhouse. A moment later, Clifford appears outside again.
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:
Clifford gives a high five sign to his friends and goes to the back door
Once there he'll take 20 to pick up the lock still trying to be as silent as possible ...
Makoa approaches Cliff, "You need help?" he wispers as best he can..
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.
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.
Jugger hears what sounds like someone running rapidly back and forth across the floor, but not near the door. There is also a repetitive grunting sound. The door is locked.
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."
After two minutes of fiddling, Clifford gets the door unlocked. He is astonishingly silent while doing so.
Jagor picks up Larur's cloak (assuming agreement from Hezekiah - I missed it if he gave it) and brushes it off as best he can, working through his mind why it's here. When the rest rush past him to the back of the building, he roughly folds it and carries it along, slowly growing more concerned.
With a look of concern on his face, Hezekiah sidles up to where Jugger and Clifford are trying to get in, ready for trouble.
Jagor picks up Larur's cloak (assuming agreement from Hezekiah - I missed it if he gave it) and brushes it off as best he can, working through his mind why it's here.
As he does so, Jagor finds what seems like blood on the cloak - mostly dry, but still wet in places.
There is a big guard monkey near the other door.
This door seems less guarded.
clifford will wait a moment for the ruckus inside to stop and then open the door a little to see if the baboon is on sight.
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?"
Clifford eases the door open, but the sight that greets him is not what he hoped; the back room into which this door opens is apparently the ape's "nest," with a pile of straw making a bed and bowls for food and water near one wall. There is also a fireplace, with a length of chain wrapped around the andirons that spills onto the floor.
The ape itself is picking through the food in the bowl, but it lifts its head and begins sniffing almost instantly.
Clifford closes instantly the door and then go back to his companions
He explains the situation more clearly
Clifford closes instantly the door and then go back to his companions
He explains the situation more clearly
Jagor thinks about Clifford's description, but decides that the ape must be something to avoid from Clifford's reaction. He returns to examining the walls for handholds or other ways to avoid the first floor. "Maybe Jagor and Makoa help Clifford up wall?"
"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:
Shisumo: ** spoiler omitted **
The ape turns and starts howling. From somewhere above, a startled shout echoes.
With a bellowing howl of his own, Jugger swings scimitar towards the creature's face. ATK=12 DMG=7
Jugger's assault is as abrupt as it is lethal. Before the ape can do anything but start to bellow a challenge, the sailor's scimitar has done its bloody work, sending the creature's body tumbling to the stone floor.
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.
Jagor follows Jugger into the building and up the stairs.
With a look of apprehension on his face, Hezekiah hurries after Jugger and Jagor.
The party hurries up the stairs, which are old and rickety, making load squeaks and creaks with every step. As they reach the upper landing - a narrow hall that runs the length of the front of the house - the sound of the hall's only door slamming shut and being locked carries clearly.
From the other side, a plaintive voice (as squeaky and creaky as the stairs) shouts, "Whoever you are, go away! You've no right to be here!"
"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.
"Whoever you are, you're making a terrible mistake! I have powerful friends, who will not sit quietly for this! Go back to whichever scumlord sent you, and tell them attacking Lymas Smeed will cost them dearly!"
"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.
Jagor looks back, sees Makoa coming up behind, and shakes his head. "Jugger need Koth." He waves the other half-orc to the front of the group where he can take a crack at the door.
As he steps back, he looks around the landing.
As he steps back, he looks around the landing.
There is a window on the wall, very near the top of the stairs, but it seems to be boarded over. It's the only obvious exit from the dark, dingy hallway other than the locked door.
Clifford has indeed followed everyone inside but seems content to wait for the moment .
"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.
Jagor looks back, sees Makoa coming up behind, and shakes his head. "Jugger need Koth." He waves the other half-orc to the front of the group where he can take a crack at the door.
As he steps back, he looks around the landing.
"You want me smash door?" Makoa asks Jagor
"You want me smash door?" Makoa asks Jagor
The door flies off its hinges at Makoa's astonishingly powerful blow, revealing a cramped and dirty kitchen. Another door, 20 ft down and opposite the stove, is still open, and a man is standing in the doorway. He is short, slightly balding, covered in greasy sweat and sporting a patchy, unkempt beard. One hand holds a scimitar while the other drops a small vial to the floor, but he stares in shock at the shattered door in the middle of his kitchen floor. Then he looks up at the group and reaches to slam the door in front of him.
Earth Breaker, raging, charging (1d20+9=29, 2d6+9=13)
"Waaahhh!!!" Makoa lets out a primal roar as he runs towards the man, letting the man feel the fury of his Koth.. his earth breaker.
Makoa's primal fury is breathtaking - literally, in this instance. With a speed and violence that defies description, his massive earthbreaker shatters the man's skull, sending bits of blood and bone flying around the room. The hammer cleaves completely through his head and into his chest, turning the figure into a bloody, almost-unrecognizable pulp.
Behind the man's fallen body, a messy, cramped bedroom can be seen, with a small storage closet off to one side. A quick look around produces no sign of Larur, living or dead, in case you were hoping to find him here; no sign, in fact, that he was ever here.
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.
Jagor's eyes look like they're going to pop completely out of his head at the display of violence.
He decides to start searching other areas of the building since this room has ample eyes to check it out.
The body itself can indeed be identified as Lymas Smeed, once you search it. Smeed was carrying a high-quality scimitar and wearing very nice armor , along with a pair of vials , a pocket case of 5 cigars (Qadiran, quite expensive), a garnet necklace and a belt pouch with 25 gp and 5 pp in it.
On the table, Jugger finds a well-made crossbow and some bolts - one is nocked and the string already pulled - along with some papers identifying various debts, none apparently connected to the Gold Goblin.
In the storage closet is a locked strongbox; Clifford takes a couple of minutes to work on it, and it opens to reveal another 225 gp in a leather pouch.
That seems to be it - the searchers find no clues to Larur's fate, beyond the ones they already have.
Makoa, now recovering his breath, exhales deeply. "Me sorry guys. Maybe wanted to get answers from him. Not know what come over me."