Dannad looks at his companions as he re-corks the jug.
"I'd be partial ta taking a night's rest. I'd like to take the opportunity to patch meself up."
"Very well."
Vandis goes back to Arthuro and mutters, "Do not give me a reason to gut you", and picks him up, slinging him over his shoulder.
Galad helps carry the body of Kenneth out, speaking funerary rites under his breath as he goes.
Arthuro looks terribly frightened as Vandis comes down the stairs dressed in Irocar's armor and carrying his sword. He puts up very little struggle but is trying to speak through the gag.
Vandis says, "If you cry out, you will meet the same fate as your friend," before loosening the gag enough for the fence to speak.
"Please, you can't take me outta' here. The Beggar-King'll have me for sure. Or just as bad, he'll give me to Mother Ze'boltha. Let me go and I'll show you something. I'm guessing you haven't found it yet" says Arthuro, once the gag is released.
"Found what?"
"The Beggar King has upset me and got my friend killed," adds Dagobert, looking as grim as his usually benign face can muster.
"You're much better off away from here if you only knew it, you silly chap. Besides, I doubt you have much of interest. No desicants and very poor taste in garbage clearance."
Clearly the otyugh still rankles.
"There's a chest, a special chest. Hard to spot. The beggar-king has the only key, but he trusts me to guard it. I'll show ya' where it is if ya' let me go and spare my life."
Dagobert listens for any hidden undertones.
"I'll show you, I swear. There's some great stuff in it, but the Beggar-King has the only key. Just let me go. I'll even help clean up after ya' when ya' go because I'm just as dead if he finds out exactly what happened!"
"I'll show you, I swear. There's some great stuff in it, but the Beggar-King has the only key. Just let me go. I'll even help clean up after ya' when ya' go because I'm just as dead if he finds out exactly what happened!"
"You have my word no harm will come to you. Now tell us where this chest is."
"It isn't given to everyone to properly appreciate rodents," concedes Dagobert, "and I'm in agreement with Galad. He's made a mess, so he can clean it up. Just like we'll be doing."
He turns his attention to Arthuro. "You're a sorry specimen yourself at the moment, but if you've got anything that will help us clean out your Beggar King, then I'll teach you about rats and their ways. This is not an offer I make to everyone I meet," he adds, slightly unconvincingly.
Arthuro laughs nervously.
"Lets make sure we have the same definition of 'no harm.' You need ta' let me go. I'll help clean up yer' mess and even show you where the chest is, but ya' can't be draggin' me outta' here," responds Arthuro to Galad's statement.
When Dagobert is done speaking, Arthuro just cocks an eyebrow, not sure what to make of the dwarf's offer.
Dagobert ignores Arthuro and looks at his companions.
"I'm not sure I like leaving an otyugh-harbourer free to wander behind our backs if you take my meaning. If he doesn't want to leave, then we should maybe find somewhere safe to put this silly chap until we've finished our work here. After he's cleaned up and told us a bit more about this chest he's so proud of."
Then he looks back at Arthuro.
"I don't wish you any harm, personally. I think you're a bit misguided and I'm offering to put that right for you at some point, but right now, I'm wanting to know how we can stop you scampering off to talk to Mother Whatsit without knocking you out again. Coming with us solves that neatly, but you're making life very difficult for us. We might have to make some hard choices and maybe even painful ones. And that's not something I really want to be doing."
"A common feature of the rodent is a desire to remain in the same nesting site," he concludes.
"You don't understand how things work around here. It's fallin' apart. People are comin' up missin' and I dunno' what's happenin'. Ze'boltha gives me the creeps. All I know is that I have a good business goin' and I don't want it ruined. They're gonna' know ya' were here if ya' take me with ya' and in the time it takes ya' to clean up this place more dog brothers are gonna' show. I can deal with that for a little while."
Arthuro pauses to catch his breath.
"Ya' wanna' kill the Beggar-King? Fine. I say good riddance. Ya' might even stand a chance of doin' it. Spare me and leave me here, and I'll try to keep this under wraps for as long as ya' need ta' rest."
Dagobert sizes up Arthuro once again. "Personally, I'm prepared to believe you. Did anyone ever tell you that you have a very memorable face? I'm sure we can make sure our pathes cross again if we're so minded. And in any case, I'm anxious to explain the merits of rats to you."
"You do not want that." Vandis says with certainty.
"Sure, rodents it is...when you're done with the Beggar-King. Now untie me, I'll show ya' the chest, and then you can leave. I can clean up the mess rather quickly if I call in a few favors."
Then, assuming you untie him or at least lead him ahead, he takes you back to his room where he uses a dagger to pry open a secret panel on the southern wall that you didn't notice during your earlier inspection.
Inside is a large, strangely shaped chest secured by a heavy lock.
"There ya' go, just as promised," says Arthuro.
The halfling thief considers the locked chest for a moment before looking to his companions. Turning back, he considers the chest for a moment longer before turning to Vandis.
"Think ye'd be able to carry this, my mighty acquaintance? I'm wanting to take a crack at it in more secure surroundings."
The halfling thief considers the locked chest for a moment before looking to his companions. Turning back, he considers the chest for a moment longer before turning to Vandis.
"Think ye'd be able to carry this, my mighty acquaintance? I'm wanting to take a crack at it in more secure surroundings."
"We wouldn't be inconspicuous if we tried carrying the chest out of here." Galad turns back to Arthuro. "Do you know what is in there?"
"We wouldn't be inconspicuous if we tried carrying the chest out of here." Galad turns back to Arthuro. "Do you know what is in there?"
"Sorry, sir, but I haven't the foggiest. The Beggar-King has the only key. Not really sure why he insists on keeping it here. I haven't even seem him in months."
Galad raises his holy symbol and frowns. "Nothing good can be contained within this chest. May Delvyr give us the wisdom to choose the right path."
"If a thing doesn't open, you find the key. Our foreign friend may want to kick it in of course, but to my way of thinking, that chest's likely to be trapped. Simpler to kill the Beggar King and then come back for the chest."
A door to your left stands wide open, and dimly lit torches cast light on a large, foul monster that lies dead amongst the rubble. At the end of the alley is a horrible fountain, and from the window on the left, you see bright beams of light poking through the slats of the shutters. Several voices can be heard from inside.
GM:
Arhturo scratches his head.
"I don't THINK there's anything bad in it. Least nothinn' like what you're assumin'."
The fountain's ruby red eyes sparkle and gleam in the dim light.
GM:
While speaking with Arthuro about the chest, you all hear some shuffling sounds of someone trying to sneak through the debris in the bazaar.
Vandis silences the others with a gesture, and moves to intercept the approaching being.
The spirit reforms next to Vandis and both it and Galad follow him.
"If this is a friend of yours, you'd better come along."
Dagobert allows Arthuro to precede him.
Arthuro shrugs.
"I warned ya'. It could be anybody. This is an open market this time of night."
GM:
As you prepare to enter the bazaar, you here a voice call out.
"Samael told me you were a careless lot, but you might at least close doors behind you. You're leaving a trail a blind beggar could follow."
Turning the corner reveals an eladrin with a lowered falchion in hand.
Hawkseer is short for an eladrin, about 5'7" and slim as his race. He is darker-complected than most, with tan skin and golden hair. He wears loose, covering clothing of grays and browns that blends in with backgrounds in Smoke. He wears a heavy weapon belt with a pair of knives and a loop for his falchion, but no armor. He is holding the falchion lowered in one hand.
"You are a friend of Samael's?" Vandis asks warily.