As the two of you are standing outside the door, a horrid stench wafts to your nostrils from inside the store.
Sir Thomas- you can hear some voices inside, but the words are a little garbled to make out.
Sapphire-
as quietly as she can she says" Sir Thomas there are two in there at least, and they are lead by another not here, Iron tusk. They killed the locksmith, lets get'm" she starts to prepare a spell, Bless.
"Yes, let's go." Ignoring the odd stares of the morning crowd, he pulls out and loads his crossbow, holding it at his side.
Unless it is for a trap, then it is 20
Sorry, didn't see the second page. That was my perception roll.
Initiative is
Muttering under his breath, Sir Thomas said, "It is truly a dark time when not even a towns blacksmiths are safe." Next he drew his sword and shield.
Okay bad guys get a perception check to hear you at the door.
Perception
Fortunately they're too busy looting to hear you so you get a surprise round.
Initiative order: Sir Thomas, Sapphire, Luciano
Go Sir Thomas.
Sir Thomas mentally prepares himself for combat and says a quick prayer to Myaheine and kicks open the door and attacks the first threat he sees.
Stepping aside so as not to get trampled...she cast bless. and then starts to prepare another spell. (Sanctuary)
Luciano steps inside, radiating full on malice and, in a booming voice, yells:
"SURRENDER EVIL MEN AND BE SHOWN MERCY. RESIST AND YOUR CHOICE IS SUFFERING!"
Intimidate Check
Sir Thomas crashes through the door, setting the door bell ringing. Two rough men, dressed in what amounts to rags immediately look up and their hands move towards daggers on their belts. But before they can complete the motion, Sir Thomas's blade removes the ofending arm of one of the thugs above the elbow. Blood splases across the room. The man falls to the ground crying for mercy.
The other man looks to resist, but the words of Luciano strike home hard, and you can see the fight go out of him. His eyes speak volumes, I'm outta here.
Sir Thomas, your turn again.
Sir Thomas looks at the other man and turns towards him and says, "I'd surrender before you end up like your friend here. Now explain yourself."
peer in between the legs of Luciano, and say "is it safe, did they give up?"
Turning to Sapphire, "Tend to that wounded man. Don't let him die," turning and looking at the other man, "yet."
Hefting his crossbow at the mans mid-section, "Surrender and be spared further debilitations. If you run, it will be for the last time."
The dagger clatters to the floor from his hand. It's a little hard to tell over the screams of the wounded man, but you believe he just said, "don't shoot, I give up."
Looking around you see the store is in general disarray. However, what really attracts your eye is the corpse of what you presume to be Theldrat, laying on the floor, his throat cut from ear to ear.
Sapphire goes to the wounded man and cast cure light wounds, "why did you do it, were you in fear of Irontusk, or did you need the money, so how much does a person's life go for these days?"
"Sapphire, help me restrain these two. We will get the answers we need from them. Make sure the bonds are tight, it is for their own good that they do not attempt to escape.
Sir Thomas, will you please take this one to the other room so that we can get their stories."
With that, Luciano begins searching both men, relieving them of everything in their possession and making a pile of it on the floor.
Before he goes, Luciano pulls Sir Thomas aside,
"Sir Thomas, you look like a warrior of deep principles. I have no intention of harming these men, much, but we will get more honest answers if they don't know that. For the good of all, I would ask you to play along. We may need to use some trickery upon them to loosen their tongues."
"hey Luciano how can I tie this guys hands together, he only has one, should I tie his other hand to his foot, I bet he will not run then, or maybe his elbows together, and what if some one comes by like the watch or something, I guess I could stand watch and let them know gods work is going on, boy it does stink in here, shame on you two, what did that dwarf ever do to you, I hope his soul has gone to the heavens, now his body just lies here and stinks"
"Sapphire my dear, you are rambling. Tie his hand to his foot. No, not tight, give the rope some length so that his wound does not open again. As for the guards, close the door and bolt it. I don't expect that we will be long with these gentlemen and then we deal with the guards."
He turns to the wounded man with an icy stare. When Luciano looks at someone in that way, there is no real hint of humanity in it. He has been doing this a long time.
"Save us any, let us call them complications, and tell me why you are here, what you are doing, who sent you, and anything else you think that I should know. I will know if you are lying, and this will get very ugly if you keep it up."
Luciano-The man looks terrified. He begins in a shaky voice (you think he's about to cry). "Look it goes like this see. Last night me and my mate here were playing cards at one of the rum-holes down on the dock. One of the guys in the game, a big, ugly half-orc that goes by the name of Irontusk, cause one of his teeth has an iron cap on it, starts bragging about how he did a big job earlier in the morning. Said he ain't ever got paid so much for so little before. He said the guy he killed went down like a stuck pig, he did. Ayway, Irontusk says the guy wasn't even the target really, all he had to was get some key. Anyway, so I start to badger him for some more info and he just says, 'look, it's a locksmiths shop down in the river quarter, go take what you want, it don't matter to me."
"So we deicided to come out this morning and see what we could scavenge, but we didn't kill nobody. You can tell by lookin at that fella, he's been dead for a bit."
Sapphire- your guy has passed out.
Sir Thomas pauses before responding to Luciano, "As long as no further harm comes to them, I will comply. It is my duty to deliver these men to justice, and I intend to do it." Sir Thomas then took a position in the back and watched Luciano do his thing, watching to make sure he didn't have any objection to his methods.
"Hey Luciano, this one is out cold, the door is bared, you think we can open a window maybe...pewww!"
"His story seems plausable"
"Let us turn these two over to the guards and report what has happened here, then we may go find this Irontusk."
Forunately for you all, as you step out the door to summon the watch, you see them headed your way. It seems somebody heard a man screaming...
None the less, the watch gets your stories and not finding any reason to doubt the story of Sir Thomas, (Luciano, they're not so sure about), they tell you that you're free to go after about a hour or so.
"I wish that I had thought to ask those ruffians where this Irontusk lives and what establishments he frequents. I must be slipping.
Let us go down to the waterfront and begin looking for him. Surely he can't be hard to find."
"Hey Luciano why don't we ask the guard, they seamed to know him when he was mentioned, or we could ask the guard if we could talk to those two again, the guard was impressed with Sir Thomas, they would let us."
Sir Thomas thought about a course of action and eventually spoke up with, "Well, I think that instead of going to the guards for answers, I think we should go down to the docks and ask around there as more people are likely to know of him there. I do however, see some potential problems, for one, the docks are usually filled with unsavory characters who could be scared or allied with Irontusk and therefore would not give us any information for fear of their own safety. Also, me being a servant of Mayaheine, and Sapphire being the mouthpiece of Pelor, we would stick out like a sour thumb and attract unneeded attention. That is why I think we should have Luciano go and see what he can gather and come report back to us."
Looking at the two of his companions he said, "What do you think?"
"your going to just stick him out there with no aid? at least we should get all the info we can through the guards. I can sneak with the best of them I volunteer to go in the shadows and help Luciano if I can!" she stands there with a pout on her lips and her arms crossed, she wants to help Luciano.
With a sigh Sir Thomas said, "I agree that we should get all we can out of the guards but you do remember you were assigned to my protection, correct? That being the case I will not allow you go into the slums of Greyhawk, especially sneaking around in the alleys, alone. So that is why you will stay with me, understood?" Sir Thomas did his best to be unphased by the pouting face of Sapphire.
"I am not a child! Don't let my small size fool you Sir Thomas! We wee folk are quite skilled at not being seen, of course that is because you large folk don't pay attention. But you are willing to help Luciano, and I guess I can compromise," She unfolds her arms, but still pouts a little.
"I agree that the two of you, especially you Sir Thomas, will not look correct in that part of town. I will go alone and find this fellow. My presence will certainly be less suspicious. I am capable of handling my self in danger. I will find you if I need you."
Luciano then adjusts his hat and heads out to go down to the docks.
Luciano-You head down through the river gate into the dock ward. The sounds, sights and smells of the area, gulls shrieking, fishmongers selling their wares, the brightly dressed humans known as the Renee, contrasted against the dirt poor old sailors, the smells of rum and vomit and rotting fish, none of that means anything to you. You blend into the crowd and go about finding out what you need to know.
Luciano- It takes you a while to find out what you need to find out. While it could be that truly the people you have spoken to don't know who Irontusk is or where he may be found, your gut tells you that they do know, they're just afraid to speak up.
After a few hours you begin to think you may strike out and as you're standing next to an alleyway you hear a quiet cough behind you. You turn around to see a beggar on the ground. He's human or so you believe, but he's been horribly burned and he's missing his right hand.
"Spare a coin lord?" he asks. "The gods will bless you for it."
"A gold coin for your thoughts then.
Say stranger, do you know where I might find a certain Irontusk? I have business with him yet everyone seems reluctant to point out his location."
Luciano- At the sight of the gold coin the man's eyes wide and he draws in a sharp intake of breath (which sets off a coughing fit). Once he is able to speak again he says, "Bless you lord! So you're looking for Irontusk are ya? Aye I can tell ya where he's generally found, but first let me tll you a story and offer you a bit of advice, it's the least I can do for your kindness."
"They call me sharky and I thought myself a tough man spending a life aboard sailin' ships and all. Last year about this time I was playing some cards out on one of the barges with a couple of mates of mine. Another was there, a big half orc, ugly as sin, missing one of his tusks and the other capped in iron. Anyway, he came to us drunk and during the course of the game he did indeed get himself, three sheets to the wind as we say. And so his "luck' goes south. Not gonna do well if you're too drunk to read see."
"Anyhow, he accuses us of cheating and reaches for the pot. Well, pulled out a dagger and quick as a halfling stuck it in his gut. A blow like that should have put down most men. But not old Irontusk, he laughs, laughs! And then before my eys he seems to get bigger. I admit I kinda froze at that. But not my mates, one o' them grabs a belayin' pin and the other a gaff and go after Irontusk. Didn't do much good. He shrugged off the blow from the pin and took the gaff away from my mate, then he gutted him with it."
"Meanwhile I come to my senses and start reaching for the coin on the table. He pulled the dagger out of his side and slammed it through me hand into the table so hard I couldn't get it out. My other mate seems to try to get away I think, I admit my sight was swimmin a bit at the pain. But Irontusk picked him up and with a great roar slammed him down on the railing. I heard my mates back snap at that."
"Then Irontusk looks at me and I thought it was lights out but instead, he gathers up the coin into a pouch and heads for the gangplank. But before he gets there he grabs a lantern and breaks it on the deck. Then he leaves. Well as you can see, I couldn't avoid all the flame and I had to cut off my own hand to escape. But at least I lived."
"He went through us like we waasn't even there, and that was drunk. I've heard tale of himm killing a half dozen men on a "good day". So that's my story. Now I can tell you're a hard man lord, probably working for the law, but if I was you I wouldn't go down to barge end alone. I'll give you directions and I'll be glad to see that bastard get what's coming to him. I doubt you can get the Watch to come down here, they only come in force once or twice a year see, but if you got some sturdy mates, I'd gather all of them that you can before you go after Irontusk."
"Well, I'll tell you old salt, I'll give you another of these coins if you can point me in the direction of somebody capable of providing me with potent poisons."
Sapphire and Sir Thomas- As your standing around in Theldrats old store you hear a banging at the door. In a flash, Sapphire is up and opening the door, saying something like, "maybe Luciano has changed his mind". She's rewarded for effort by almost being buried by a very surprised watchman.
Once he regains his balance, he looks at the two of you, "still here?", he says. "Afraid you're gonna have to clear out this establishment is closed." He points to a sign he was nailing on the door CLOSED- BY ORDER OF THE CITY WATCH OF THE FREE CITY OF GREYHAWK.
After seeing te two of you out of the store he affixes a lock to the door and then bids you a good day. You stand in the street for a moment at a loss, and then dcide to go get lunch (Sapphires suggestion) at the Blue Dragon across the street.
While the two of you are enjoying some cold eel pie and colder ale, you notice a dwarf across the street, reading the sign. He's well dressed in good, sturdy traveling clothes. He's got auburn hair braided into a single thick braid that comes halfway down his back. His beard is held in place by a fine looking clasp and green eyes peer out from beneath heavy brows. He has a finely carved staff and several pouches as well as a backpack. The hilt of a knife sticks out from his right boot. You notice rings on several of his fingers, as well as earrings in both ears.
After reading the message, he turns and heads into the Blue Dragon. He sits down and removes his hat, slapping it at his side to remove the dust. Then he orders an ale. When the barmaid brings it, you hear him ask if she knows what's happening across the street. She just shrugs and shakes her head before moving on.
Luciano-"Well lord, I don't know nothing about poisons myself. But I did used to know a half-elf lass, goes by the name of Kirra. Not that she was a poisoner, no sir. But she did have dealings with the thieve's guild, so I heard. And if anyone was to have poisons it'd be them. I hear that lately she's taken up residence in the river quarter though."
With that, Luciano heads back to find the rest of the party and relate what he has learned.
Sapphire and Sir Thomas- After a few minutes pass, you see a halfling come up to the dwarf and say "see, I told you I could change the guards mind". The dwarf, who had been packing a pipe simply groans. Then the halfling, quick as a whip, hops up on the table and announces "Ladies and gentlemen, Lucky Baremeadows at your service. You all should consider yourself doubly blessed today for I, ow! What did you hit me for?" he asks with a reproachful look at the dwarf.
"Get down" says the dwarf as he sets his staff back down.