CH. 10: Hard Choices

[Haahque]

(OoC: Time for a back-in-time post, Tulbas with the retro-active vocal activity!)

"She was pretty upset when I visited her and we talked about your rescue mission. She focused on how we let a powerful and dangerous renegade escape, but I also feel bad that I nearly got her killed in a mission that didn't defeat the renegade, didn't help her with her financial difficulties and didn't manage to preserve texts that could have been sent to the tower. I feel like I failed her, again, I don't even know if I can fix that."

"So, I'm off to the fortress to perform for the soldiers. They have money, maybe they'll be more generous with it then the patrons at the steel tankard. I'm quite a good juggler and if I can earn some coin, maybe I can be not a total failure and maybe I can not be ashamed to show my face to Ismene again if I have some steel to help her out."

[chese780]

Felran looks at the Dwarf, then to Ne-Chanz. "I have no idea why I am going in first, but fine. Also, you're going to need to cover my expenses, Ne-Chanz. You know that I don't have any real source of steel yet."

Felran goes in and sits down at one of the tables, a little ways from the guard, but close enough to possibly listen to the women at the counter. He would be facing in a way to see the door and the bar.

[TristenC]

This is it. You've a better eye for construction than I do, so you'll have to evaluate it and let me know if the basement will survive. There are a couple storerooms that might have enough lamp oil and such to torch the place... Grubnick says, starting down the stairs carefully listening and watching for any new visitors since the others supposedly told the church about this place.

[HorizonsDream]

"I'll let her know," Kendra says. She heads up stairs, changes into her normal clothing, then makes her way back downstairs.

[BishGada]

"Hmm... I'm sure she wouldn't appreciate you throwing your life for nothing. We were in no condition to fight Belzor and I'm sure she knows it. I'm also very disappointed he got away, but there are still plenty of other things we need to do to help the people of this city." Tulbas suggests. "If I were you, I'd try to talk to her. Try to comfort her. Intrigue her with the good books you read, infact that might be of interest to me too... later see what her plans are and how you can help her with them. I don't think she will ignore you. You two are a rare match after all and it goes both ways." he says a little bit breathlessly while trying to catch up with the kender stride, as he is not in a very good shape.
"What if they don't like your performance?! They might decide that beating you up, or worse, is better entertainment than your juggling. They are beasts after all and you don't know how they think."

*OOC: Back in current time.*

"I'm not a juggler, just speaking with my friend on the way to the market. But I have some time, so maybe I'll watch the show with you guys?" he smiles. "I assure you it is much more funny than throwing stuff in the air. He can make things disappear, as if it was magic. And the best part is where those items pops up from again..." Tulbas thoughts races as Haaques leads them to the mouth of the lion without seeing the danger in it, especially to an elf. Would he be able to help the kender if something goes wrong or would he only hinder him back? Only days ago Haqque risked his neck for him. Can he let him go alone to be surrounded by a bunch of tired draconians just returned from war?

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin does his best to remember the route he is lead down. Unfortunately he didn't notice a handy set of jailers keys dangling anywhere or on the baaz, or maybe he could have tried to slip them up his sleeve.

After a short bout of shouting through the bars, the bard wonders where his things were taken. He then sets about listening for signs of life and feeling around the cell walls with his hands

[spyguy1503]

Ne-Chanz sits down at a table, ordering tea. He waits patiently for anyone to contact him.

[Haahque]

(OoC: okay back in current time!)

Haahqae usually starts his performances with a few jokes, often at his own expense, however he’s not entirely sure what sort of humor baaz have, if they have any at all. Well time to wing it.

“Hmm, right you are. I probably should get someone a lot prettier as my lovely assistant. Any volunteers?”

Unfortunately Haahqae’s taken to not carrying around knives to juggle anymore. Too many baaz think that they’re weapons to chance them at checkpoints. So the juggling materials he has on hand is a trio of torches, which he starts juggling in a basic pattern as he talks.

The trick was to judge the audience’s reaction to the firsts joke to see if he should continue on that strain.
“What do you call a man who asked a baaz to a fistfight?”
He waits an appropriate amount of time before answering the question.
“Pulverised.”
Haahqae will adjust the juggling pattern at this point from a regular cascade to juggling columns.

“What do you call a goblin that thought he was stronger then a baaz?”
Again a short pause before giving the answer, “Stupid.”
Haahqae switches juggling patters again to a flash, clapping while all the balls are in the air.

(OoC: I could continue the performance at this point, if you want me to do that then I want some audience reaction. Alternatively you can do a juggling proficiency check for special tricks, he’s sure to do one or two to try and awe/impress the baaz)

[djhyland]

Arulia takes William's hand in her own and shakes it. "William... My...my name is Arulia," she says, flustered. "But...but you knew that already, I suppose. It's very nice to meet you, too."

Turning to her father, she blushes again. "It's...it's going fine, Father," she stammers. "And you look a lot better. Father, this is William. William, this is my father."

After introducing the two, Arulia chews nervously at her lower lip. "Father, I've finished repairing William's shield," she begins. "And...um...William is...is new to town, and he...uh...he asked me to show him to the High Hand. He's going to stay at the High Hand. Would you...would you mind if I showed him the way?"

[JadedDM]

Haahqae and Tulbas (Old Keep)
"Once the brothel opens up, we'll get all of the entertainment we'll need," says the guard. "But until then, let's see what you got."

Haahqae begins his performance, juggling and telling bad jokes. But they seem to amuse the guards. One even shouts out, "Damn straight!" after his second joke.

"Heh, okay, you are pretty good, I guess," says one guard. "Where do you want to hold these performances?"

Kendra Greylock (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
Kendra heads upstairs, removes her armor and weapons, and changes into her civilian clothes. Once done, she heads back downstairs. Just as she arrives, she hears a loud slam as the door swings open, followed by yelling.

Hurrying into the front, she finds a group of six Baaz soldiers. One has forced Norris to his knees and is tying his hands behind his back. "Norris Greylock, you are under arrest," he says.

"What's this about? I haven't done anything wrong!" Norris objects.

"Yeah, that's what they all say."

Gregeddin (Prefect's Mansion)
Gregeddin feels around the size of his cell, but also uses his memory from when he was brought in and could actually see. There are three cells, all next to each other. He's in the middle one. Outside of the cells are two doors, one to the west and one to the east. He was brought in from the west. The only sounds he hears are the occasional rat scurrying around.

Prefect's Basement 01.jpg (76.51 KiB) Viewed 6391 times

Grubnick (Deserted Building)
The two descend the stairs, entering the guard room. At once, Grubnick notices the difference. The bodies are all gone. The dried blood on the floors and walls are the only evidence they were ever here in the first place.

"Your work, yeah?" asks Delharn, pointing to some scorch marks on the floor.

Arulia Seroth (Thoron's Blacksmithy)
After being introduced, William and Thoron shake hands and exchange pleasantries.

"Sure," Thoron says in answer to Arulia's request. "I think I can hold things down here. You kids have fun." Then, as an afterthought he adds quietly, to her, "But not too much fun."

However, at this point the door slams open and six baaz soldiers march in. "Everyone freeze!" one shouts.

William, clutching his shield, starts to inch toward the anvil, where Arulia left the hammer she used. But a guard sees him and points at him. "I said don't move, human!" Gritting his teeth, William stops.

"You Thoron Seroth?" asks one guard.

"Uh...yes, what is this about?" her father asks.

"You are under arrest. You're coming with us." The guard gestures for the others to seize him. A guard grabs his arms from behind and starts to tie his hands together.

Thoron struggles. "Wait, I haven't done anything. What am I being charged with? I have a family, please--!" He is cut short when a guard slugs him in the mouth, which forces him to his knees. Thoron's mouth openly bleeds and he spits some of the excess on the floor.

"That's enough out of you. You're coming with us. Or maybe I should bring your whole family in?" asks the guard. Thoron offers no further resistance as they force him to his feet. "That's what I thought."

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Grinning Goat Tavern)
The bartender gives Ne-Chanz a funny look. "Tea? We got booze and more booze. Take your pick."

The blonde woman at the bar orders another drink, then carries it over to Felran's table and sits down there. "Morning handsome," she says. "I see you got my message." She pushes the drink toward him. "I know where to find the women you're looking for."

[TristenC]

Grubnick stops short when he notices the bodies are gone. Hmm? he says distractedly. Oh, yeah... some of the blood too... We didn't move the bodies, though. I'm beginning to think there's no point trying to salvage the lower area... too many of the wrong people know about it to do any good... Let's be careful and make sure nobody is here, then torch the place. It might be watched, we should check around nearby beforehand so we don't get nabbed... Grubnick will remove his hood and listen carefully/peeking before moving further into the complex so as not to stumble on any guards or scavengers.

[chese780]

Felran was slightly surprised that the person being sought was himself, not the minotaur who brought him there in the first place. He doesn't show this, but he takes a minute to look at her, then to the drink.

"Well... I can guess you were listening last time then. As for the women, I can already bet that It's going to take a fair bit of coin, won't it."

(OOC: By that image, totally a thief.)

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin feels his way over to the door of the cell, he tries the handle. "Maybe they forgot to lock it..." The bard thinks silently to himself.

If he is not successful in opening the door the conventional way, he feels around the bars trying to figure out if the door is on hinges, if the bars are wide enough for him to slip through - "Another wishful thought Gregeddin" his conscience tells him, or if any of the bard feel particularly bendy. He will try and use his strength to force his way out (Either pulling the door off it's hinges, or if no hinges are to be found, bending the bars)

[Chris1234]

Shima, seated near Felran, remains quiet, still hoping to find out what, by all the hairs on Reorx's bearded backside, is going on.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra stands in the living area, staring at soldiers arresting her husband, with an almost dumbfounding expression on her face. "...W-wait!" she manages to stutter out. "I'm a soldier in the army, and I haven't heard anything about arrests. What is this all about?"