:
'You really aren't used to Riddleport, my friend ! You NEVER pay the first price here , it's expected for you to haggle a little so as to have a more reasonable price. And you might be surprised by what I do know . So do you need the whole 300 gp or could a part of this be helpful for the time being ? '
Hezekiah shrugs. "I'd certainly be surprised. Ideally I'd need ink for three pages of my spellbook, but I could certainly do with less, but not less than materials for one page. Let's see what your contacts would charge you or if you'd just happen to find it lying about."
DM spoiler
Diplomacy (as gather information 27
I 'll also start to check Saul's backstory . I 'll take my time doing so because I don't words of it coming back to him So I'll take 20 if I can ( I know this will take weeks and it's allright).
"Lah-roar, I be honest.. I not very smart for security chief. I be very good bouncer though, know enough about gamble to spot cheater, and was knee-breaker for people in past. I be good floor bouncer."
Larur sighs. "Pity, lad, but I'll trust you to know what you're capable of. We'll just have to hire a security chief, then, since I'm thinking the halfling and the cyphermage aren't likely interested in the job either."
Your investigations are effective, if not exactly satisfying. With what you know about Angvar, it is easy to track him down, but you trace him to a ship named the Iron Needle, which sailed at dawn for Westcrown, in Cheliax.
The doxy is harder, since you only have a description and - after a fair amount of digging into your memory - a first name: Thuvalia. Nevertheless, the eyepatch is distinctive enough that someone remembers her entering the House of the Silken Veil, the main temple of Calistria in the city, late last night, and a few words and some small coins in the hands of a bouncer confirms that she's sought sanctuary there. Shorafa Pamodae will sometimes take in women who are in trouble, though they are inevitably required to "demonstrate their devotion to Calistria" by taking customers at the brothel.
That evening, as you gather together for dinner, Larur announces that he's put out the hiring word, and he expects to start interviewing and hiring tomorrow.
Though he had a reputation as a man of purchasable loyalties in his youth, Vancaskerin’s troubles really began about three years ago, when his son Orik was caught up in some kind of love triangle with a tiefling prostitute called Lavender Lil and an alchemist named Falk. Falk wound up dead and Orik ran out of town, which might not have been such a big deal in Riddleport except that Falk was also the brother of Clegg Zincher, one of the five most powerful persons in the city. Vancaskerin tried to run for it as well, but Zincher cut a deal with Overlord Cromarcky to surround Vancaskerin’s house with gendarmes to arrest him. The plan went awry when the gendarmes realized Vancaskerin’s house was on fire. They put out the fire and caught Vancaskerin in a nearby alley, trying to flee, but Vancaskerin’s wife was already dead. It eventually came out that Vancaskerin had murdered her and set the fire himself in an attempt to buy time to run. The overlord ordered Vancaskerin to hang, but Zincher managed to persuade Cromarcky to reduce the sentence to confiscation of all Vancaskerin’s property, along with the severing of his left hand. Most people don’t think Zincher was showing mercy.
Jagor approaches the halfling and gestures to his apparel .
"Clifford, is this right clothes for spotter? Maybe Jagor needs new clothes?"
Ccome with me then. you 'll want clothes that don't hinder your movement , I guess . But what kind of image do you want to project ?
Ccome with me then. you 'll want clothes that don't hinder your movement , I guess . But what kind of image do you want to project ?
"Um, image? Jagor just want clothes. Not fancy-man clothes. Normal-man clothes. And backpack - can Jagor get backpack, too?
"Hey, La-roar.. What security chief do?"
"Hey, La-roar.. What security chief do?"
Larur shrugs. "Oversees the other guards, makes sure they're doing their jobs, sets up their schedules and determines their posts," replies the dwarf. "The security chief's job is to be responsible for the security of the casino overall, though not specifically for the money - that's on Hans and Beyar, under Saul's direct authority - and not for Saul, because he's got his bodyguard, Bojask. Everything else goes through the security chief, though."
Ccome with me then. you 'll want clothes that don't hinder your movement , I guess . But what kind of image do you want to project ?"Um, image? Jagor just want clothes. Not fancy-man clothes. Normal-man clothes. And backpack - can Jagor get backpack, too?
Yes , Jagor . But still there are many choices there . you can use clothes that say to the world 'I'm a warrior , I kick ass !' or some 'I'm stupid , underestimate me' or either 'I'm cool ! Let's be friend' . so which ones do you want ?
Yes , Jagor . But still there are many choices there . you can use clothes that say to the world 'I'm a warrior , I kick ass !' or some 'I'm stupid , underestimate me' or either 'I'm cool ! Let's be friend' . so which ones do you want ?
"Um, Jagor prefer to be friend, but not mind people who think him stupid. Jagor not as dumb as people think." This last is accompanied by a big, toothy grin.
" So shall we say
Hezekiah as spotter .
Makoa as bouncer or dealer , your choice makoa
Ghorum as bartender
Jagor as spotter or dealer
I'll alternate as either a pit boss/greeter or I 'll go drum some business outside.
In the discussion thread , this implicated diplomacy rolls but if you want to do it...
During the next couple of days, the staff of the Gold Goblin begins to reassemble itself, and you start fitting into your positions at the casino as well. Larur and Clifford work together to complete the hiring on Starday, and by Sunday, the staff has largely come together. In addition to Harv, the floor security staff grows by 11, including 10 humans and 1 half-elf. All but two are guys, and together, they are placed under Makoa's authority. The waitstaff is also returned to a full staffing of 12, and is largely under the shared authority of Ghorum and Mirri Salassa, with Ghorum having the penultimate word (second only to Saul himself).
The croupiers are the hardest to replace, partly because there are more of them needed - there are roughly 20 games going at any time, so there are almost 40 dealers to be hired - and partly because the hiring has to be more thorough, since they are directly connected to the money. Nevertheless, by Sunday's end, Larur and Clifford together have assembled the staff (mostly human, though there is a halfling, two half-elves, and an elf in the bunch), while Saul has been working with Makoa to make the security staff help with repairs and cleanup after the attack.
By Moonday, the Goblin is ready once again to open its doors, and Saul seems quite pleased with the situation. At noon, the casino's usual opening time, the doors are unlocked, and people begin to stream in.
Many, as it turns out, are competitors in the tournament who fled before the fight ended and Saul made his offer - they have returned to cash in their chips. Several of these want the 10% bonus they've heard rumors of (some ask for 15%, 20%, or even 50% bonuses - perhaps word about your deal has gotten around?), but Saul is adamant that the bonus was for those patrons who remained only. "They're lucky I don't hold them to the half-value clause they signed up for," he tells Larur as the first of these starts complaining. "They get face value, nothing more." The complaints continue, but at the same time, the games begin to pick up, and soon the floor is nicely busy, if nothing like as crowded as it was for the tournament.
Unless you guys indicate otherwise , consider I'll sell the wand and the scroll monday
Ghorum sets about serving up a plethora of drinks, hoping to soothe the grumpy elements of the evenings clientele. He appears to be enjoying his work immensely.
Ghorum goes to work behind the bar, showing a flair for the work that had gone unsuspected until now, and patrons are all but lining up to be blessed by the holy liquor of the Accidental God. Makoa and his bouncers lurk around the edges of the room, while in the catwalks above the false ceiling, Jagor, in his nice new suit, watches the crowd for cheats and troublemakers. Hezekiah does the same from ground level, but his raven Gilbert has found a high perch to watch as well. In the midst of the action, Clifford stands atop a stool, working as a skiffs dealer. The presence of a halfling, despite his small size, seems to be attracting a fairly discerning clientele, and business is brisk here too.
Clifford has a brisk game going on urging patrons not to take to much time playing when his attention is ...
Gilbert is busy preening his feathers at the moment.
Jagor stalks around the catwalks, looking for those doing what they oughtn't.
Makoa walks around the gambling hall, keeping an eye on potential cheaters and suspicious characters.
Jagor stalks around the catwalks, looking for those doing what they oughtn't.
Jagor and Clifford:
I'll let another dealer take my place , collect Makoa and head down there . While approaching , I'll keep my ears open to have an idea of the situation
'Is anything the problem , gentlemen ? '
Jagor will hustle down to the floor to assist the lady, but seeing Clifford and Makoa closing in on the situation, he will try to work his way to a position somewhat between the four men and the front door. He will not be obviously prepared for a fight (clenched fist, boxer's stance, etc.), but he's watching for one.
In his new clothes, he can't really blend in, so he won't even try, greeting people with a smile .
As Clifford and Makoa approach the men, they hear part of the conversation:
"...is all we're askin' for. Just what everyone else got. Whyzzat so hard to manage, eh?" says one.
The woman pulls back, bumping against the wall. "I told you, I only serve the drinks. If you'll just let me go, I'll get you boys another round, and you can talk-"
Another of the men interrupts. "Done talking. Hey, howzabout you take me and the boys out back, make us feel a little better 'bout this whole thing, whaddaya say?"
'Is anything the problem , gentlemen ? '
The men turn toward you, and the woman's eyes fix on yours, pleading silently. "Not your concern, slip," says the one in the middle. "Go back to playin' with yer little boats or whatever it is yer doin', and leave this to the men." One of the others cuts in, "Less you can get us our extra fifty percent from the tournament, that is."
The smell of alcohol is thick in the air around them.
"Me security. You my problem. Soon, you be Koth's problem if you don't leave. That only warning me give you." Makoa says with a big toothy grin, arms crossed, ready for a fight.
In case you don't remember , makoa here is the one who did explode the head of one of the thugs . You'd better hear him
Clifford speaks too softly to really help Makoa intimidate the thugs
If Jagor successfully makes it around the room to a position between the thugs and the door and they are still trading witty banter with Clifford and Makoa, he will slowly work his way closer to the confrontation. Trying to appear as though that's not where he's really going, he will continue to say hello and smile at visitors .
Ghorum, hearing some voices raising somewhere in the place, stops filling the mug in his hand for a moment. Straining to hear, any possible sound is drowned out by the cheers from a nearby craps table. Shaking his head, he resumes filling the mug and giving it to a customer, but not before he licks a drop from the back of his hand...
Although distracted by the half-orc and halfling in front of them, the men do seem to notice Jagor's approach, and a couple eye him with apparent awareness that he could be a threat.
For the most part, however, they are looking at Makoa, and their response to his words is not what he might have hoped. "You threatin' us, pigface?" says one. "We don't care too much for bein' threatened, do we?" The other men shake their heads. All are facing Clifford and Makoa at this point.
"We wuz tryin' to have a quiet chat with the lady," says another, "but it looks like we gonna have to get kinda rude now." With that, all four draw shortswords from their belts.
Ghorum, hearing some voices raising somewhere in the place, stops filling the mug in his hand for a moment. Straining to hear, any possible sound is drowned out by the cheers from a nearby craps table. Shaking his head, he resumes filling the mug and giving it to a customer, but not before he licks a drop from the back of his hand...
The men are wearing leather jackets, dyed black and covered with metal studs, and carrying shortswords . They all have hip quivers, but no bows are in evidence to go along with them. The jackets' close resemblance to one another might indicate some sort of gang or criminal organization affiliation.
Patrons scatter as violence breaks out, leaving the men facing off against Makoa, Clifford, and Jagor. Behind them, the tattooed half-elf is pressed against the wall, licking her lips and trying desperately to find some direction to run.
Jagor will move to the closest thug without invoking an attack of opportunity, preferring #1 if possible. Fighting defensively, he will attack his target, trying for nonlethal damage.
Jagor will move to the closest thug without invoking an attack of opportunity, preferring #1 if possible. Fighting defensively, he will attack his target, trying for nonlethal damage.
Jagor steps up to the men and delivers a solid blow to one's jaw, rocking him back and sending a few drops of blood spattering from his nose. He looks shocked and surprised by the attack's potency.