Cat seems a bit touched by Kelytha's protectiveness and would feel bad if she didn't give the paladin an opportunity to be heroic. So, using Sinak's idea as inspiration, Cat looks around and spots a small chair that is near to the bucket-headed thug. She reaches into her jacket, pulls out a finely-carved wooden wand, and gives it a flick while shouting in gnomish. A pale blue mage hand appears above the aforementioned seat, then grabs onto the backrest and yanks it into the disoriented buckethead's legs in an attempt to trip them up. 

The blind and disoriented gang member now trips on the chair. They are now prone and take 1 falling damage. The bucket is still on their head, they are not having a good time.

You aren’t sure, but it sounds like Joel has started playing the FR equivalent of "Ring My Bell", this provides no direct benefits but may further unsettle the gang members.

The Half-Orc is up.

The Half-Orc knocks out the gang leader. She stands up and shouts 'Thanks for the help. I'll remember this' and starts to head towards the door.

Remaining gang members are up.

Buckethead attempts a Strength check to remove the bucket and fails. They shout out 'Help me'. The unconscious gang leader does nothing but dribble.

The fleeing gang member is now out of the door screaming.

One of the remaining gang members decides with their leader down, another running away and a third shouting for help to take executive action and shouts 'No more buckets, we are leaving'. They move to help Buckethead while the remaining Gang-Member moves to pick up the unconscious leader.

The encounter is over. Well done

“And stay out!”  Sinak shouts at them, as they are leaving.  He walks back to the bar, saluting Durnan and taking his beer off the counter, he turns to Joel and says “You were saying?  I liked that tune by the way, that could be a hit!   Who were you looking for again?  I can keep my out for them…”

After that, he heads back to the table joining everyone else, when he sits down he says “Whew!  Nice teamwork there.  Now Osborne were you mentioning something about a card game?”  He takes a long drink, his eyes continue to scan the room.

Eilla is glad the brawl ended without too much permanent damage done to anyone. She joins Sinak and the others at the table, waiting for the fritters to arrive.

Joel walks up to the party and says 'Well done adventures. The minions of the Mad Beholder are getting more and more aggressive these days, no doubt to avoid his wrath. As a rule I don't like saving Zents, but I'm pleased to see no one was killed this time. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I'm Joel, sometimes called the Rebel Bard, and your friend here was just offering to help me with a little problem of mine' He indicates Sinak. 'I'm more of a wandering bard, but I'm currently doing a stint here in this good tavern as a favour to Durnan. However my erstwhile travelling companion, by name of Emilo Haversack disappeared two nights ago. Now Emilo is somewhat unique, I met him originally on the outer planes, and while he frequently disappears he has never been gone this long before. Like myself he is getting on in years and hasn't learnt to keep out of trouble. I would be grateful for your assistance in this matter. And I can reward you richly if you can find Emilo.'

"The outer planes?", Eilla asks, interested. "Then I suppose he might have a unique appearance. Could you describe, exactly, what the man we may be looking for looks like? And his last known whereabouts? And, I am of course obliged to ask, what are the specifics of this reward?" The fritters come to the table as she is talking, and Eilla helps herself to a few as she waits for a response.

Ballen watched the group disperse after the scuffle before pulling herself back up on her chair. Her eyes casually wandered around the table and the curious gathering again but flickered back and forth toward the nearest exit as well. She was perfectly content to let the gang members beat each other, perhaps even kill each other though she didn't really want to get too dirty herself. Not yet anyway.

Eilla pushes the plate of fritters a bit towards Ballen as she waits for Joel to respond, to see if the tiefling wants any.

Quote from KudosWyvernspur >>

The encounter is over. Well done

"Well... that was fast..."

Quote from Twombley >>

“And stay out!”  Sinak shouts at them, as they are leaving.  He walks back to the bar, saluting Durnan and taking his beer off the counter, he turns to Joel and says “You were saying?  I liked that tune by the way, that could be a hit!   Who were you looking for again?  I can keep my out for them…”

After that, he heads back to the table joining everyone else, when he sits down he says “Whew!  Nice teamwork there.  Now Osborne were you mentioning something about a card game?”  He takes a long drink, his eyes continue to scan the room.

"Hell yeah, I'll deal first"

Quote from KudosWyvernspur >>

Joel walks up to the party and says 'Well done adventures. The minions of the Mad Beholder are getting more and more aggressive these days, no doubt to avoid his wrath. As a rule I don't like saving Zents, but I'm pleased to see no one was killed this time. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I'm Joel, sometimes called the Rebel Bard, and your friend here was just offering to help me with a little problem of mine' He indicates Sinak. 'I'm more of a wandering bard, but I'm currently doing a stint here in this good tavern as a favour to Durnan. However my erstwhile travelling companion, by name of Emilo Haversack disappeared two nights ago. Now Emilo is somewhat unique, I met him originally on the outer planes, and while he frequently disappears he has never been gone this long before. Like myself he is getting on in years and hasn't learnt to keep out of trouble. I would be grateful for your assistance in this matter. And I can reward you richly if you can find Emilo.'

"Well, I have been considering an adventuring career... sounds like fun to mem but I ain't doing this alone."

as he looks to the rest of the party.

Quote from JoanBaxter >>

"The outer planes?", Eilla asks, interested. "Then I suppose he might have a unique appearance. Could you describe, exactly, what the man we may be looking for looks like? And his last known whereabouts? And, I am of course obliged to ask, what are the specifics of this reward?" The fritters come to the table as she is talking, and Eilla helps herself to a few as she waits for a response.

"Yeah, she has a lot of good points there. What moola are we getting? Where were they last seen? yada yada yada."

Joel answers 'Well, I recently won the ownership of a substantial property in town from that old rogue Volo in a game of cards. It seems pretty valuable and I had considered converting it into a temple of Finder, but as I said I'm a wandering bard and don't like to stay in one place too long. If you find Emilo the property is yours. I would also consider myself in your debt, I'm not one for fighting these days but I do still have some small influence'.

[OOC] Finder is a minor and underappreciated god. Anyone can roll a history or religion check to see if your character knows about Finder. Or you can ask Joel as he seems pretty open to questions.

Quote from KudosWyvernspur >>

Joel answers 'Well, I recently won the ownership of a substantial property in town from that old rogue Volo in a game of cards. It seems pretty valuable and I had considered converting it into a temple of Finder, but as I said I'm a wandering bard and don't like to stay in one place too long. If you find Emilo the property is yours. I would also consider myself in your debt, I'm not one for fighting these days but I do still have some small influence'.

[OOC] Finder is a minor and underappreciated god. Anyone can roll a history or religion check to see if your character knows about Finder. Or you can ask Joel as he seems pretty open to questions.

History: 10

"Oi, you can win properties while Gambling in this town? Sweet!!! Question, though, how nice is this place? I recently moved into this town and got a small place of my own. If this place you speak of is nicer or as nicer as my own place, then I'd move in for sure! Less rent to pay."

As a gambler Osborne has heard of Finder. He knows that Finder is associated with Tymora and has tossed a coin to Finder in his aspect of 'God of Reckless fools'. He is aware that Finder has something to do with Bards, Art and the Cycle of Life, but never paid too much attention to that.

“Oi, Finder? I recognize that name. I’m not a religious man myself, but I’m familiar with that one.”

'That's good Osborne. And I can say that your odd contribution and dedication to trusting your luck has not gone unnoticed. Well back to your other questions, I haven’t seen the property myself yet. If we can believe Volo, and he is too reliant on luck to lie to me too much, then the property is quite large, has multiple floors and includes a bar and taproom. It sadly doesn't include a shrine to Finder, but any bar with a Bard can be considered a shrine to Finder. It probably does need some work though.'

Kelytha watches the gang members leave, and eyes the door for a few seconds afterwards in case they decide to double back. When they don't, she returns to the table with the others, in time to hear the offer being made.

"Uh, A. I'm not an adventurer. You won't catch me jumping down magic wells. B. The reward is a house? Between 6 of us? I don't even know these three," she indicates Ballen, Osborne and Sinak. "And I'm supposed to take on real estate management with them? Real gold, pal, Dragons, something I can spend, that would be much more enticing. C)... I'll do it. I don't like the sound of someone lost in Waterdeep. This city can be cruel sometimes."

Joel then addresses Eilla 'Well Emilo looks, and acts, a bit like a much older version of our gambler here. He is a bit smaller than your average halfling, is about my age and has a rather impressive top-knot in his hair. He also doesn't have a concept of fear, which leads him into a large amount of trouble as you can imagine. I last saw him two nights ago outside the Skewered Dragon. But let me show you some good faith on my part. Tell me Stormpiercer, is there some way in which I could help you in your current troubles?'

'Thank you Kelytha, your kindness does you credit. May Finder watch over you. The property would be yours to do with as you please as a group. Maybe Volo will buy it back from you, but you would be wise not to place too much trust in his word'

[OOC] Kelytha has regular DM inspiration