For Clifford, Makoa, DM:
"Sorry Cliff.. me got blood on it." He says as he looks at the hole where his chest wound once was, now but a scar.
I tried to post when I could but it didn't work for some reason. Anyway, I believe Ghorum was going to pray and channel some "Good Vibes" to everyone.
"Gather 'round, folks. I think a little prayer of thanks to Lord Cailean is in order. Ahem...oh great Lord, we thank you for......."
"Gather 'round, folks. I think a little prayer of thanks to Lord Cailean is in order. Ahem...oh great Lord, we thank you for......."
You can see the tension ease on Jagor's face. Having been forced to get up off his captive so the gendarmes can take him away, the half-orc is standing, but hasn't otherwise moved. "Thank you, Ghorum. Jagor much better now."
"Me too. Thank you Go-rum." Makoa stands up and returns to work. "I work now."
First , I'll wait for Hezekiah to stop chatting up the help (joke:) and then address her
'Hello , miss . I know you are still a bit shocked but I would like some information. Just for security reasons you understand . Were these ruffians in your section ? '
Sam shakes her head. "They caught me as I was heading out from the bar with my drinks" - she lifts the tray she has somehow managed to keep holding throughout all this - "just a couple of minutes before you arrived. I think they must have been drinking before they found me, because I could smell the fumes on them when they got close, but I didn't serve them and I haven't seen them in here tonight."
In the end, other than missing that the men were drunk when they walked in the door, the system actually seems to have worked fairly well - they were spotted before anything too unpleasant happened. The bigger issue was their weaponry, but if Saul's plan holds, that shouldn't come up again either.
For the DM , Makoa and Jagor
** spoiler omitted **
The following morning, Clifford, Jagor and Makoa head out into town in search of new and less bloodstained apparel, while Hezekiah heads over to the Lodge of Cyphers again.
DM Shisumo:** spoiler omitted **
Back at the Goblin, Ghorum is setting up the bar for the evening.
** spoiler omitted **
Makoa is a bit ignorant if you don't blatantly tell him what's going on, he simply shrugs "I don't know."
As for new clothing, he will be looking for something plain and loose, but not baggy. Something to make him look tougher, and more rugged. Such as a wolf pelt, or just a couple straps of leather to cross his chest.
It did sound to all of you like something of a challenge, but to whom?
Knowledge (local); Diplomacy (1d20-1=11, 1d20-2=9)
When the others return, just before the casino is scheduled to open at noon, they find Ghorum engrossed in conversation with one of the serving women, a short, dark-haired human with a small scar along the top side of her left eyebrow. She is holding a shot of gin, and an empty sits next to her elbow; though at first it would seem a bit early for such things, as soon as the group members notice the Holy Flask of Cayden Cailean etched on one of her (many) earrings it makes a bit more sense.
As the group approaches the bar, they can hear what the woman is saying.
"...what happened last night, and at the tournament too, and I... well, I think I've found the people I'm looking for. I'd like to hire you."
As the group approaches the bar, they can hear what the woman is saying.
"...what happened last night, and at the tournament too, and I... well, I think I've found the people I'm looking for. I'd like to hire you."
Jagor looks at Makoa quizzically, "Why Ghorum want new job? He not like be bartender for Gold Goblin anymore?"
The woman turns at Jagor's words, then smiles. She's not exactly pretty, but her face is striking. "Not for a long term - if I had that kind of money, why would I work here? - but for a single... well, mission, I guess you could call it." Her smile twists into a mischievious grin, as if she's said something funny.
"Basically, you guys are adventuring types, yeah? Well, I'd like you to do something for me, and I'll pay you 200 gold to do it."
The woman turns at Jagor's words, then smiles. She's not exactly pretty, but her face is striking. "Not for a long term - if I had that kind of money, why would I work here? - but for a single... well, mission, I guess you could call it." Her smile twists into a mischievious grin, as if she's said something funny.
"Basically, you guys are adventuring types, yeah? Well, I'd like you to do something for me, and I'll pay you 200 gold to do it."
Eyebrows raised, Jagor stops to listen. "What us do on mishun?"
"Me guess she want us to smash some face. Me not in mash face mood. I break knee instead.." Makoa tells Jagor.
Hezekiah cranes his neck to listen, intrigued.
"Me guess she want us to smash some face. Me not in mash face mood. I break knee instead.." Makoa tells Jagor.
"Heh, OK. Makoa break knee, Jagor smash face. Good team, heh."
"Each?" the woman says, blinking. "I only wish I could afford that sort of money! But if it's money you're looking for, I can guarantee there'll be some in this, and I don't want any part of it.
"My name's Marzielle, by the way. What I'm asking for is simple. There's a man called the 'Splithog Pauper,' who runs a small criminal gang in Splithog Alley, near the borders of the Leeward and Rotgut districts. His real name is Beltias Kreun, and he's a conman and beggarmaster." Marzielle grimaces. "He's also a rapist."
She finishes her gin before continuing. "My mother was a quickwife who worked the Rotgut area, and Beltias decided one night to hire her and her partner - but when the time came, there was no money, only knives and fists. My mother spent two months recovering in the Publican House, and by the time she could walk again, she knew she was pregnant. With me.
"My mother's partner, incidentally, died from what they did to her."
The grin is gone, now, as Marzielle leans toward you all. "I know where Kreun keeps his operation, but I can't get to him there. I'd like to hire you to go in, find him, and bring him to me here, alive. Because I'm going to throw him in the arena downstairs, and then I'm going to gut him myself, while all of Riddleport watches."
At the mention of 'rapist', a dour look washes over Makoa's face. "Jagor, me think we make mush out of this guy."
He looks at the woman, "Me don't mind if I get no money. Give me good meal, and I call it deal. Can't say same for friends though."
At the mention of 'rapist', a dour look washes over Makoa's face. "Jagor, me think we make mush out of this guy."
He looks at the woman, "Me don't mind if I get no money. Give me good meal, and I call it deal. Can't say same for friends though."
Nodding slowly, the stout half-orc agrees, "Jagor help."
Is his gang affiliated with anyone ? Can you give us more details about his gang . Numbers ? Location ?
Is his gang affiliated with anyone ? Can you give us more details about his gang . Numbers ? Location ?
"Kreun's not aligned with anybody. In fact, word is that Avery Slyeg's couriers have been getting jumped moving through Splithog Alley, and Slyeg's looking for the bastard directing the muggings.
"As for his gang, I'm not sure of the size, but their territory's pretty small - I'd guess less than a dozen, give or take. It's hard to say for sure, though, because the center of their operation is a shelter for the poor called St. Casperian's Salvation. It's basically a flophouse and soup kitchen, but somehow the Splithog Pauper's managed to put his people in there. Trouble is, nobody I've talked to knows for sure who's in the gang and who's really there looking for a handout or a roof over their heads."
Is his gang affiliated with anyone ? Can you give us more details about his gang . Numbers ? Location ?"Kreun's not aligned with anybody. In fact, word is that Avery Slyeg's couriers have been getting jumped moving through Splithog Alley, and Slyeg's looking for the bastard directing the muggings.
"As for his gang, I'm not sure of the size, but their territory's pretty small - I'd guess less than a dozen, give or take. It's hard to say for sure, though, because the center of their operation is a shelter for the poor called St. Casperian's Salvation. It's basically a flophouse and soup kitchen, but somehow the Splithog Pauper's managed to put his people in there. Trouble is, nobody I've talked to knows for sure who's in the gang and who's really there looking for a handout or a roof over their heads."
"That sound like place where Jagor used to stay. But Jagor not know any Sait Caspern."
"That sound like place where Jagor used to stay. But Jagor not know any Sait Caspern."
Mavrielle shrugs, "It's just another hole in the wall do-gooder project, or would be except for the Splithog Pauper and his bunch. And I have no idea who Saint Casperian might have been either, but I don't think it matters too much at this point."
"I go now." Says Makoa, heading directly to Splithog Alley.
"I go now." Says Makoa, heading directly to Splithog Alley.
Wait , Makoa , We have got to discuss what we'll do and how !
"I go now." Says Makoa, heading directly to Splithog Alley.
Jagor catches up to Makoa and puts a hand on the barbarian's shoulder. "Wait, Makoa. Not go without tribe. Let little chief make plan first."
If Makoa insists on going, Jagor will not accompany him, waiting for the rest of the group instead.
Ghorum shakes his head. "Easy, lad. The slip...er...halfling is right. We can't just barge in there. We have to know what we'd be up against."
He looks at Clifford. "My apologies for my slip...um...er...". He blushes, clearly embarassed. He sighs. "I'm sorry", he says.
Mavrielle sighs, shaking her head. "I'm afraid I've told you what I know about what you'd face," she says. "I know enough to know that me trying would just get me killed, and accomplish nothing. You, though, as a group, might have a chance."
Mavrielle sighs, shaking her head. "I'm afraid I've told you what I know about what you'd face," she says. "I know enough to know that me trying would just get me killed, and accomplish nothing. You, though, as a group, might have a chance."
"I know, my dear", says Ghorum, refilling her gin. "I meant a little reconnaisance might be in order, before my rather large friend here runs off. While the good Lord Cailean honors the brave, he merely laughs at the reckless."
Mavrielle sighs, shaking her head. "I'm afraid I've told you what I know about what you'd face," she says. "I know enough to know that me trying would just get me killed, and accomplish nothing. You, though, as a group, might have a chance.""I know, my dear", says Ghorum, refilling her gin. "I meant a little reconnaisance might be in order, before my rather large friend here runs off. While the good Lord Cailean honors the brave, he merely laughs at the reckless."
Jagor screws up his face, "Re-conna-huh? Maybe Jagor go look around while you do that."
Makoa pauses. "Koth break rapist face. That plan. I stop him. That what I do." He looks to the others. "You want more to know? Why? You need reason to stop rapist?" Getting slightly angry, "Pretty lady ask for help," as he glances to the woman with the drink, "so I help." He sighs, calming himself. "What you have me do?" he says looking to Clifford.
Let's discuss our plans in a less public place . Mavrielle my dear , you'll excuse us , I 'm sure
Once we are in a backroom of the golden goblin
" Guys , we have to do several things here !
First , we must check it's not a trap . after all , just hours ago , Saul did indicate to the bosses around they had to get rid of us to attack the Goblin . And just now , here comes a pretty girl follower of Caidean with a sob story with enough pathos in it to motivate any do gooder and even a promess of gold for a little cold avaricious heart like mine ... Her story might be true but it needs to be checked . The easiest way for this is for Ghorum to go check at his temple/bar if the girl is known
Second we need to inform Saul of this. Having all his protectors be away from the Goblin might not please him and I want to keep this cushy job . What's more , if you decide to bring the man alive back here to let Mavrielle cut him to ribbons in Saul's arena , we need Saul's permission! Personnally , I'd prefer to kill him without any fuss
Which bring me to my third point . The rape was years ago . The man got no reason to uspect he will be attacked . I would much prefer ask around to know if he has a favorite tavern or whorehouse and catch him en route to it while he won't have all his cronies around him than attack him in his stronghold . There is no urgency there , we can take our time to set up an ambush ! "
With that , Clifford stops speaking and wait for your reaction ...
"Hmpf." Makoa grunts. "Cliff smart. We make ambush then."
"Yah, Cliff smart. I'm afraid my information-gathering skills tend somewhat more to the abstruse, so I'll leave the reconnoitring to you, Cliff and Ghorum."
*bump*
I'll wait for Ghorum to check Mavrielle's story before planning furthermore
I'll wait for Ghorum to check Mavrielle's story before planning furthermore
I'll wait for Ghorum to check Mavrielle's story before planning furthermore