Tippy makes his way back down to the floor and returns to his normal duties about the casino. At some point he will casually make his way over to Clegg to try and engage him in a friendly conversation in an attempt to find out why he's here.
To Clegg: Good evening sir, I hope you find our establishment to your liking. I am Tippello Tabinero, a part owner of the Gold Goblin. If my memory serves, you're an individual of some influence here in Riddleport. It's nice to know that such important persons such as yourself feel at home here. If there's anything I can help you with, please feel free to make use of my skills.
Zincher looks over the halfling cleric with a raised eyebrow (Tippy notices from the corner of his eye that the dealer has let out a sigh of relief at the brief respite), then nods slowly. "Yes," he replies, "I'm Clegg Zincher. I thank you for your welcome, Mr. Tabinero. I just stopped in tonight to see how Saul's new... venture... is proceeding. And to meet his new friends, about whom I have heard so much." He stares down at the halfling, then nods sharply once at him. "That means you." He looks around, as though considering the Goblin, before finishing, "I am... interested in how things turn out here."
"Will do boss." Daelin says to Saul as she returns to the stage.
As the day goes on, Daelin will make her way through the crowd as near as possible to Clegg performing tricks and talking up customers, trying to listen in on his conversations and keep an eye on the man.
Lyre watches the man for a while before getting bored and going back to the more fun task of trying to attract customers.
Clegg departs shortly after speaking to Tippy. After he does so, the door guard comes up to Tipello and holds out several gold pieces. "That man," he says, looking uncomfortable, "Mr. Zincher, gave me this and told me to split it with you and the other new owners. He said it was 'a gesture of respect.'"
The evening continues without incident for another hour or two, all seeming to be normal. The staff returns to their routines, and though Saul maintains his pensive frown, all appears to be well for some time.
All of a sudden, however, a scream from the kitchens pierces the air, and one of the cooks comes racing out of the doors, all but knocking a passing Lyre down. "Help!" cries the woman, "there's a great bloody snake in the kitchen! It got Martha!"
"Big snake?" Lyre asks before heading into the kitchen to get a better look
Takes the proferred gold with a thoughtful frown.
Thanks good sir, you may return to your duties. I'm sure Mr. Zincher didn't mean any harm in his visit.
Hearing the cry for help about a "bloody great big snake", Tippy pulls his starknife from it's hiding spot beneath his cloak and runs for the kitchen.
Initiative roll
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Mario will refuse his share of the tip.
Looking thoughtfully at the proffered coinage, Mario says; "It might be worth having the coins examined by a mage. It wouldn't do to be overheard by a scrying spell or cursed or whatnot that might be hiding in the coin."
Hearing the scream, Mario will make best speed towards the kitchen.
Daelin refuses the coin, though it hurts her to she the money go.
As the scream pierces the crowd of the Gold Goblin, Daelin perks up from her position on the catwalk and makes her way down the stair and into the kitchen. "How big a snake we talkin'?" She asks in an excited voice, her hand resting on her rapier's hilt.
"Hey before we all run in there half cocked let me see if I can handle it first" Lyre says from the doorway "If I mess up.....well then you can all run in half cocked."
Hearing Lyre's admonishment, Tippy bows and profers the stage to her.
By all means, go ahead. But keep in mind, my spells can only heal the living. I'd be saddened if Martha was fatally injured by our tardiness.
EDIT:
As Lyre makes her way into the suddenly quiet kitchen, at first she sees no sign of any snakes, large or otherwise. One of the cooks lies sprawled across the floor, however, a massive bloody gash in her right calf, and the skin around it is already turning an ugly, necrotic purple.
From the corner of her eye, the gnome spots movement to the north, and turns to look. In the ruins of a woven basket, apparenty torn and shredded from the inside out, is possibly the largest snake Lyre has ever seen, as thick around as her chest and probably 25 feet long. It is curled up in the scullery (the northern closet-like room in area 10 on the map), filling the space, and as it spies her, it raises its head, a large hood flaring out around its neck.
Antianel watches the gnome enter the kitchen uncomfortably, clearly wishing he were "rushing in half-cocked" already. He readies his sword, but forces himself to stand outside the kitchen and wait.
DM:
About the time he leaves, of course Tsadok will take the stairs only to come up behind Antaniel
Tsadok, having been quiet all evening, rushes down the stairs to hear word of a snake in the Kitchen. He rushes behind Antaniel, and holds back as he sees Lyre enter the kitchen to handle the problem.
Lyre casts speak with animals on herself and begins to chat with the snake whilst very slowly approaching it. "Hello there. My aren't you a big fella? Now nobody wants to hurt you but you have bitten one of our staff and there is a group of very annoyed people behind me who want very much to cave your head in which I think we can both agree neither one of us really wants. So why don't you just calm down and let these guys in to get the cook and I'll make sure no one tries to hurt you plus I'll get you something nice to eat." she also tries making calming gestures towards it as she slowly approaches.
Handle animal
Lyre casts speak with animals on herself and begins to chat with the snake whilst very slowly approaching it. "Hello there. My aren't you a big fella? Now nobody wants to hurt you but you have bitten one of our staff and there is a group of very annoyed people behind me who want very much to cave your head in which I think we can both agree neither one of us really wants. So why don't you just calm down and let these guys in to get the cook and I'll make sure no one tries to hurt you plus I'll get you something nice to eat." she also tries making calming gestures towards it as she slowly approaches.
Handle animal
1d20 + 7
The snake watches Lyre approach, tongue flickering, as it seems to consider her words. For a moment, the gnome begins to hope she has gotten through to it, but then it lets out a low hiss, a hiss that sounds to her ears like, "You... good... to... eat."
DM:
** spoiler omitted **
Tsadok, having been quiet all evening, rushes down the stairs to hear word of a snake in the Kitchen. He rushes behind Antaniel, and holds back as he sees Lyre enter the kitchen to handle the problem.
"Okay hard way it is then"
Initiative
Lyre begins to cast a sleep spell on the snake
Hearing the creature's hiss, Daelin figures it is not going so well and draws her rapier and moves into the kitchen behind Lyre. "Negotiations not going so well hon?" Daelin comments with a slight grin. "That's got to be the biggest snake ever!" She exclaims with wide eyes.
Hearing Lyre announce that it's time for the hard way, Tippy will make his way into the kitchen. Seeing the cook lying on the floor he sighs and tries to make his way to her side.
Initiative:
Tsadok will ease into the room as well, looking for a way to bring his small friend out of harm's way.
"Don't panic everyone I have the situation entirely under control." You get the general impression that Lyre would probably say the same thing if she had been swallowed by the snake and was standing in it's stomach.
"I may not be able to talk to animals, but that snake looks none to happy." Daelin responds to Lyre, giving her a quizzical look.
Mario rushes into the room, grabbing the unconscious body of Martha the cook and dragging her back across the floor, depositing her at Tippello's feet.
Hearing Lyre announce that it's time for the hard way, Tippy will make his way into the kitchen. Seeing the cook lying on the floor he sighs and tries to make his way to her side.
Not seeing an easy access point to the snake, Daelin draws one of her trusty daggers and throws it toward the coiled serpent.
With the cook directly in front of you, you can dedicate a move action to a diagnosis before you actually take your standard action - I'm going to rule that that's what you did with that Heal check, so you can decide how you want to proceed. Martha is badly poisoned; she has lost half her Constitution, and still faces three more poison checks (DC 17). She has also taken 7 hp worth of damage from the snake's bite. Currently she is at -6, with a maximum hp of 1. Attempting to help her resist the poison or providing first aid (or spellcasting, for that matter) are all standard actions, so it's up to you what you want to do here.
Tippy looks worried as he tends to the venomous gash in Martha's leg, attempting to drain the poison.
Come on Martha, shake it off!
Daelin's dagger skids sideways off the snake's scales, clattering against the scullery wall. The snake doesn't seem to notice it.
Instead, it uncoils, slithering through the scullery door and then rushing forward to strike out at Lyre with its poison-laden fangs.
Seeing Lyre get a huge chunk bit out of her, Daelin yells back at the group. "Lyre is down, someone get her out of here. This snake is powerful!"
"Handle it, Daelin! Get Lyre gone!" Tsadok yells as he moves into the snake's threatened area, hoping to subdue the creature.
Acrobatics to try to avoid AoO:
Standard Attack
"And get that cook up and gone if you can guys, we want all the staff out if we can!" Tsadok yells.
Tsadok slips up next to the snake and strikes out, but distracted as he is by his worries over Lyre and the cook, the attack is clumsy and falls short.
Antianel looks around the room and then at the space behind the snake. "Here we go," he murmurs, and then rushes past the snake, all but daring it to attack him, to duck into the employee lounge, then down the hall past the stairs to the doorway at the far end, where the scullery is. Slamming through the door, he comes up behind the snake, blade ready for a strike.
The snake lunges forward as Antianel runs past.
Tippello looks over Martha, then kneels down to try to draw the poison from her bite. She convulses, but she seems to start breathing easier as well. Nevertheless, the blood continues to flow freely from her leg, and she is fading quickly.
Seeing her chance as Tsadok and Antianel rush in after the snake, Daelin grabs Lyre by her arms and drags her out of the kitchen. "Hold on hon'. We'll get you fixed up in a minute."
Fort save
stabilisation check (previous round)