He has a small but comfortable home in the upscale neighborhood called the Windward District, on the other side of the river from the Gold Goblin, perhaps a mile from the Cypher Lodge. Word on the streets is that Blakely himself is out of town at the moment, however, leaving only his housekeeping staff and whatever magical protections might be in place to guard the residence in his absence. What protections those might be, however, no one seems quite sure, though he doesn't apparently have any ordinary guards in the house.
Tippy lashes out with his starknife as Lorzo attempts to disarm him.
** spoiler omitted **
"Thank you." Lyre says before downing the entire bottle making a little face at the taste.
DM:
Listen & attack again:
Listen:
Attack:
Damage
Miss
Undaunted, however, the cleric draws his mace and swings at Lorzo's kneecap, and the strike hits home, with a sound of breaking bones. Lorzo shouts in pain, and he suddenly pales.
Looking surprised and horrified by Lorzo's wound, Trieste cries out, "Lorzo!" and lunges for Tippello with her knife. The strike is wild and untrained, and Tippello avoids it with little trouble.
Despite his size, Lorzo takes his wound poorly: he stumbles back out of the door, then half-runs, half-falls down the hallway and down the stairs, leaving Tippello alone with a suddenly-terrified Trieste.
"Much better," says Larur, smiling, then standing to take her hand and guide her to his chair, where he seats her before leaning on his desk. "Now, what happened?"
Before Tsadok can strike, the circle is suddenly filled once more, but not by the quasit. A large wolf suddenly fills the space, baring its fangs and growling with supernatural menace. A wave of terror sweeps over Tsadok's mind as he meets its feral gaze.
"Well I was in the arena area downstairs feeding bity when some of the rats got free from those god awfully constructed cages that are downstairs rhet tried to maul me and failed so I decided to try and feed them before moving them to a more secure cage. But that drunken guy you keep down there told me off cause I was ruining them for fighting but who in there right mind wants to see two have starved creatures fighting?" Lyre somehow manages to say all that without tacking a single breath.
"What manner of beast are you?"
"As for Bojask," Larur continues, a frown on his face, "the animals are his specialty, and so he is generally allowed free rein down there. I understand that, like humanoid fighters, a good arena animal needs to be 'hungry,' but what you're telling me seems to suggest something more serious. I will speak with him, and if necessary, with Saul as well. Unfortunately, the matter is delicate - Saul has relied on Bojask for some time, far longer than I have worked for him for certain, so I'm not sure if my words will carry the needed weight. I'll do what I can, however."
The easiest and most obvious avenue of approach is the alley behind the houses, and Daelin moves up to the rear of the brownstone as though she were a ghost. The house is dark and quiet, with no sign of anyone in the area as she approaches the door.
The rear door is locked, and though it takes a few moments, Daelin pops it open with little trouble. Once inside, she can hear a faint snoring from up the rear stairs, where the servants' rooms should be - otherwise, only dark shadows meet her eyes as she looks around what can only be the kitchen. A large pot sits upturned over a hearth, and cabinets around the room probably hold dishes and food items, but there seems to be little of interest beyond that. An area of even deeper darkness ahead probably indicates a doorway to the front of the house.
Daelin moves toward the doorway leading to the front of the house. She will make her way through the first floor as fast as possible to locate the library.
First, tell me why you originally brought me up here, then tell me everything you know or have heard about Saul Vancaskerkin and the Gold Goblin.
Tippy hefts his mace in a ready manner.
"That would be great" Lyre responds before jumping up from her seat "Well back to work" she says as she heads back out
Daelin makes her way through the lower floor quietly, and although the floorboards creak every now and then under her feet, the snoring from above doesn't change. She passes through a small dining room, into a central living area, and then across to a door on the far side. The richly carved wood could hide much from her probing fingers, but she takes her time and finds no sign of traps or other impediment, and she slowly eases the door open.
On the other side of the door she finds a room whose walls are filled with tall shelves, shelves that hold every sort of book and scroll imaginable. They surround a small desk, covered with papers, that also holds a rounded paper column, about 10 inches high and 8 inches across. Next to the desk is a chair on one side and a creepy gargoyle-looking statue, about two feet high, on the other.
"You're Mario Nedraid, yes? Word on the street is that you've hooked up with Saul Vancaskerin. I've come to offer a warning, and maybe make you an offer as well."
She frowns at the questions about Saul, though. "I already told you everything I know about Saul, I promise! He's got a past, and he's probably working some kind of angle! Other than that, all I've heard is that there's a girl working for Sharofa who has some tie to his history - she's staying at the Pleasure House! Her name's Lavender Lil! And I swear that's all I know!"
With this information in hand, Tippello collects his starknife and slips quickly out of the building, his sharp eyes watchful for trouble that doesn't seem to come.
Flurry of Blows with the Kama:
Attack:
Damage
Attack:
Damage
Lyre:
One of Tsadok's kama manages to make contact with the wolf-demon, and his silver weapon sears its flesh. Almost at once, though, the demon's wounds begin to close, and its yellow eyes glare at him with burning hate. It seems to be waiting for him to make another attack.
Next to Tsadok, Sam hurls another bolt of telekinetic force at the demon.
"Saul is a man with many enemies," the woman begins, "most notably one named Clegg Zincher. Now, while I have meet Saul on occasion and find him a petty, shiftless sort, he and I have no quarrel, save perhaps that I would like to arrange some means by which he would have no more children. Zincher, on the other hand, is a ruthless, pitiless butcher, and I am certain that he will strike at Saul somehow, as soon as he can find a way to do so. He and Saul have a long history, and Zincher never deals in half-measures."
The woman smiles again at Mario, making the torches and candles seem to dim by comparison. "You, on the other hand, I find quite pleasant, and would not want to see any harm come to you. So here is my warning: find another employer, lest you get in Zincher's way and become another casualty of his vengeance."
DM:
"Damnable beast!"
Flurry of Blows with the Kama:
Strike One:
Attack:
Damage
Strike Two:
Attack:
Damage
DM:
Strike one:
Attack:
Damage
Strike two:
Attack:
Damage
Walking the streets with the air of someone who knows their way around, Tippy makes his way through the busy streets back to the relative safety of the Gold Goblin, with new and somewhat disturbing news to mull over.
Nevertheless, Sam's telekinetic assaults and Tsadok's kama continue to pound into the demon, and moments later, it lies unconscious and bleeding in the center of the circle. One final blow from Tsadok's silver kama ends its damned existence forever.
She leans over and gives Mario a searing kiss on the lips. "And, as for you, my lovely Mario, if you ever have some gold burning a hole in your pocket, drop by the Pleasure House and ask for me. I'll make sure you get your money's worth... and much, much more." With one final smile, she slips off the barstool and weaves her way through the crowd and out the door.
** spoiler omitted **
|
He would have to find an appropriate reward for her... later.
Now he had to go back to the casino and talk to Saul and his compadres about someone named... Zincher.
The Oathday of the Goblin's second full week of business is an oddly quiet one - most of the staff, for varous reasons, seems wrapped up in their own thoughts, pondering their recent experiences. Nevertheless, business goes on as usual, and the group is undertaking its ordinary tasks as the afternoon wears on into the evening.
Lyre is doing the usual keeping guests entertained outside and attracting buisness.
"I don't like surprises like this. At least knowing about it makes life easier... even if we'll have to defend our lives and our employees' again. What else have you learned, friend? Anything of import to stopping or, perhaps, defending against the attack?"
Tsadok says, looking at his friend. Tsadok's left forearm has a bandage that looks more like a cast on it but otherwise looks ready for the normal crowd.
DM:
Hmm, yes I was pretty sure this Zincher character probably wouldn't give up after the first attempt. He seems to have a personal vendetta against our friend Saul here.
Turns to look speculatively at Saul
To Saul: Hopefully you've turned over a new leaf and have given up on the bad things you've accomplished in your past. If so, we're here to help you and stand by you in your time of need.
Noticing Tsadok's bandage, Tippy moves over to him.
To Tsadok: It seems you've hurt yourself my friend. Would you like me to take a look at it?
Startled at the appearance of the weird creatures, Daelin takes a step back drawing her rapier and readying to strike.
"Agreed Tipello. Although we shouldn't abandon our posts before the attack, a counterattack may be necessary to just tell him to stop. We don't want a fight, but we'll end any fight that he starts."
Tipello:
Saul looks down at Tippello's words, then back up and nods. "All of that got me nothing but pain," he says slowly. "There's nothing for me in that kind of life anymore. But you're right about Zincher - he probably won't stop at a single attempt. We'll have to be exceptionally vigilant against whatever it is he might try."
He opens his mouth to say somthing else, but nothing comes out, because abruptly, the entire room is filled with a flash of blue light, followed by electric sparks - bolts as thick as a halfling's arm in some cases - leaping from one metallic object to another. The room seems to hum with power, and the searing blue light burns itself onto the vision of all in the room.
As quickly as it began, however, it stops, with nothing seeming the worse for wear. That is only a momentary impression, however; with another second's glance, several bizarre aftereffects become clear. Next to the fireplace, the poker and ash scoop have both swung up to touch the iron stand that holds them, in definace of gravity. Strange metallic clicks and clanks come from within the tableware drawer of the serving cabinet against the wall. The money pouch of everyone in the room has shifted to become seemingly glued to their respective belt buckles.
Distantly, shouts of surprise and alarm seem to be coming from the casino floor as well.
"What in the Nine Hells?" gasps Antianel, as his head jerks back. A necklage around his throat is suddenly pulling back toward the curve blade whose hilt is visible over his shoulder. With a sharp tug, he pulls the necklace off, but it remains attached to the blade of his sword, tangled up like a shed snake skin against the metal of his sword.
Tsadok doesn't even wait for more effects, going directly for the door to the main floor of the casino.
"Not good... not good... not good!!!" He thinks he mutters to himself, it's more of a dull roar to everyone else.