CH. 10: Hard Choices

[spyguy1503]

Ne-Chanz rolls his eyes. Wasn't the meeting supposed to be with him? "Ale" he tells the bartender.

[djhyland]

Arulia's feeling of relief that she doesn't have to further explain leaving with William vanishes at the appearance of the draconians. Stunned, she can only watch as they seize her father. The shock she feels when they strike him, though, jolts her into action. Throwing herself between the draconians and the door, she cries, "Stop! Stop! There must be some kind of mistake! My father hasn't done anything! Let him go!"

[Haahque]

"Umm, well part of the reason I came here was because I was not satisfied with my previous performance spot and I was looking for a new one. Where do you soldiers tend to hang out? Maybe a bar or inn nearby that you often go to in your free time. Or maybe if you're sitting around after a hard day's work and wanted a little light entertainment in your barracks or perhaps you could suggest a spot that would be good."

It sounded like these soldiers were sold on the idea, so Haahqae doesn't need to continue juggling. Better to hide some (all) of his more advanced moves for later performances.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae and Tulbas (Old Keep)
The Baaz shrugs. "There ain't any one place we all visit. No inn or tavern is big enough for all of us. We all have our favorites and some of us cycle through different ones. Except for the ones in the harbor district, though, we leave them to the gobbos."

Kendra Greylock (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
"Sorry," says one of the Baaz. "Our orders come from the prefect himself. You'll have to take it up with him. We're not allowed to say any more than that."

Norris is forcefully escorted out of the building, and taken toward the prefect's mansion.

Gregeddin (Prefect's Mansion)
By some miracle of adrenaline, Gregeddin manages to bend the bars of his cell just enough that he can, if he holds his breath, squeeze through them.

(Gregeddin makes a bend bars check [TN 7%] (1d100): 7, pass.)

Grubnick (Deserted Building)
Grubnick and Delharn spend the next hour going over the entire place. All of the bodies have been removed. Likewise, the food and any other items that weren't damaged or useless have also been taken. But there doesn't appear to be anyone else down here now.

Arulia Seroth (Thoron's Blacksmithy)
"It's no mistake," replies the Baaz. "Orders come from the prefect himself." He points the tip of his short sword at Thoron's throat. "Of course, it'd be a shame if I had to tell the prefect the prisoner resisted and we had to kill him, don't you think?" he asks, making the threat clear.

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Grinning Goat Tavern)
The blonde woman shrugs. "I don't want your coin. What I could use, though, is your muscle. You work out?" she asks, teasingly, reaching over and giving his arm a squeeze. "You look like you can handle yourself in a fight. Is that true?"

The bartender brings Ne-Chanz a pint of ale for two silver. It's not as good as the stuff served at the High Hand, but it's less watered down than the swill at the Tankard.

[chese780]

(OOC: Greg BARELY squeezed out that pass. Pun intended.)

Felran gives out a small sigh of relief. "If you had wanted coins, I would be in a very bad spot."

After getting squeezed, he looks at her. "...And... what reason would you need me for?"

[Chris1234]

Shima sits stock-still, ears flapping like hummingbird's wings.

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin strains and forces a wedge in the centre of the bars, he closes his eye with the effort, not that he could see much anyway, but after feeling around find the bars did actually move much to his own disbelief. "Couldn't this stroke of luck come earlier when I was trying to convince the Prefect?" His conscience moaned in his thoughts. The bard squeezes the air from his lungs and slips himself out through the bars. Now free from the cell, he realises that he's not really sure what to do next. As quietly as he can, he heads to the East, deeper into the prison. He feels around with his hands, not really sure what he is expecting to find here. "A secret passage leading out to the city? You must be dreaming!" His mind mocked him. "Maybe a source of light, maybe a weapon, maybe a place to hide. Either way, I'm finding out what's in this room." He fought back and focuses on exploring the room.

[TristenC]

I guess we're clear here. Let's check outside quick and make sure there isn't anyone looking. If we start a good fire in the basement under the center of the building it should spread slow enough for us to get quite a distance away before it takes the building out. I;m thinking by the time it's noticed it'll be too advanced to stop. What do you think?

Grubnick scouts around outside casually to make sure nobody is watching the place, then prepares to torch it. If the dining room works best, he'll gather chairs for the bonfire.

[Ooc: it looks like the basement is vastly larger than the above-ground section. I'd like to try to destroy as much of both as possible without collapsing nearby buildings.]

[Haahque]

Taking his options, Haahqae decides to do an outdoor performance. It would give enough room for all of his soon-to-be adoring fans and he wouldn't have to be bogged down by performing in an inn, especially since there's no inns near enough to the fort that even the lazy soldiers would consider showing up, if word got out that he's pretty good at juggling.

"I'll hold a performance in the grand market on Monday at Tenth Watch. Everyone invited to attend, but soldiers will have a huge discount on their seat price, to reflect their hard work they do to make this city safe."

This operation might take a few volunteers to pull off. Haahqae hopes that he can find friends in all the right places who are willing to put in the work to make this a success.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra watches the soldiers drag her husband off, and she narrows her eyes slightly. "Damnit," she mutters. She closes up the shop as fast she possibly can. She then quickly walks to the perfect's mansion. She is filled with all sorts of rage, but she knows she has to calm it down if she is going to talk to the perfect about all of this.

[spyguy1503]

Ne-Chanz sips his ale. "Tea would be better." he mumbles. He attempts to catch Felran's eye.

[djhyland]

Arulia swallows the lump in her throat and steps back from the door. "He hasn't done anything," she repeats, but this time her voice is quiet so as to not tip the situation into more violence. "Just...just don't hurt him any more."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae and Tulbas (Old Keep)
The guards direct them to the proper bureaucrat they need to speak with to get permission to hold a production in the market square, as it is city grounds. After it is all said and done, Haahqae is given a piece of paper granting him permission to put on a show in two days.

(OOC: According to the Book of Bards, the costs of the performance will be 1d4 SP for each person attending. So I'll leave it up to you how ambitious you want this thing to be. You can choose how many people you are willing to set up for. The maximum is 2,500. If you choose too high, then you are basically losing money. For instance, if you set things up for 1,000 people and only 500 show up, then the money spent on that extra 500 is wasted. On the other hand, if you choose too low, then not as many people can attend. For instance, if you set things up for 500 people and 1,000 show up, then those extra 500 cannot attend and you don't get their money.)

Kendra Greylock (Prefect's Mansion, Ballroom)
Kendra heads to the prefect's mansion in the noble district. Once she arrives, showing the guards her ID papers, she enters the waiting room just like before. The same old butler is there to greet her. When she tells him she is hear to see Tethys, he says, "Lord Tethys is very busy today. But...he did want to see you, as I recall. Please, this way."

He escorts her to the ballroom. Apparently when parties are not being held here, it serves as a sort of throne room for those petitioning to see the prefect. It's less of a throne, though, as it is a desk and two chairs. So perhaps a very spacious business office.

The desk is covered in papers and scrolls. Tethys is sitting at the desk, writing something down with his quill. A baaz foot soldier stands at attention. "Do you understand?" asks Tethys. "I want a total lockdown of the city. Nobody gets in or out. Not until this mess is taken care of." He finishes scribbling and hands the note to the baaz.

"Yes, sir!" the baaz says, saluting and taking the note. He then quickly leaves.

The butler then says, "Miss Kendra Greylock, to see you, my lord."

"Ah, Kendra," Tethys says, standing and making a welcoming gesture. "What serendipity. I had actually planned on sending for you today, before I got distracted with more urgent business. It is lovely to see you."

Gregeddin (Prefect's Mansion)
Gregeddin finds the east door unlocked, so opens it. Inside is more silent darkness. Feeling his way around, he finds a barrel. On top of it is a candle and a bit of flint and steel. He lights the candle, illuminating the room around him.

The room is 25' x 20' and appears to be some kind of torture room. To the northwest is a traditional rack, for stretching a person's limbs. To the right of that is a small stand with a knife sitting on top of it. It's covered in dried blood. To the right of that is a table and chair. On the table is a vice of some kind and an awl pike.

On the east wall is a weapon rack which contains four spears. On the south wall is a bench. In the southeast corner is the barrel (there are actually two) where he found the candle. There are no other exits here.

Prefect's Basement 02.jpg (124 KiB) Viewed 6264 times

Grubnick (Deserted Building)
"Not so sure your plan will work there, Grubnick or Goldbug or whatever," Delharn says. He thumps the wall with his fist. "Stone walls." Then stomps his foot a couple of times. "Stone floor." Then he looks up. "Stone ceiling. Fire won't spread very far down here. Now upstairs is another story. Only one room, and it's all wood. Should go up in flame pretty easily."

Arulia Seroth (Thoron's Blacksmithy)
The Baaz silently escort Thoron forcefully out the door. Once they are gone, William lets out a breath. "When they burst in here like that...I thought for sure they were here for one or both of us. But why would they arrest your father?" he asks. "And are you okay?"

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Grinning Goat Tavern)
The woman smiles. It's not a warm smile, though. It reminds Felran more of a cat that has cornered a canary. "Before we can talk details, there is the matter of eavesdroppers." She reaches under the table and pulls out a light crossbow, already loaded. She points it right at Shima's head. The bartender pulls out a crossbow himself from under the bar and does likewise. Another two men emerge from the back, both holding crossbows and also point them at Shima.

"Now I suspect the minotaur is with you? You were together last time. But oddly you arrived separately. But this dwarf...was here earlier. He not only gave a false name, but he couldn't be bothered to think of a dwarven one, instead giving a human one. He also hasn't ordered anything, and is very obviously trying to listen in. So I figure either like the minotaur, he's with you...or he's a spy. Possibly for the church or the army. If he is with you, say so now. Otherwise..." She puts her finger on the trigger, ready to pull it without hesitation.

[Chris1234]

Shima shrugs, hands carefully on the tabletop, "Do what you want. Without a source of coin it's only when, not if, one starves.. Seems there's bugger all one can do in this city without joining the army or the church. And I''ll starve first."

[chese780]

Looking around at the armed figures, a small sense of relief is as he tilts his head back. "Her name is Shima, and yes she is with us. We thought that this was a trap, and decided to bring extra help."

"I take it this tavern is against the church and army. ...Wait, then what about the goblin at the table?"