It was a typical night for the five of you. You were all well into your drinks at the Blade and Stars in Baldur's Gate, looking for the next victim to fall prey to a game of Baldur's bones. Maggie the half-orc barmaid stops by your table to take any orders, top off any of your drinks as you pass the night for the, what sixth, seventh night in a row? They were starting to blur together. You came to Baldur's Gate to see if there was anything the Flaming Fists couldn't take care of, or some big heist you could join in on... maaybe. But so far? You were coming up empty and getting restless.
That's when a ragged looking human charges through the front door. She's tall, skinny, with long red hair braided down her back. Her common clothes are caked with dirt, looking road worn. The pain in her face is palpable as she tries to get people to listen to her. She pulls on their cloaks and bags, trying to get them to turn and listen, but they just yank their items away from her and turn their backs.
Then she lands at your table. Spreading her palms on the table, she looks at each of you, desperation in her eyes, "Please.. will you help me?" she asks, and before you have a chance to turn her away, she adds, "Happy Jack, he has my son!"
Violet pauses, a drink half-way to her lips. Four of her ten eye stalks turn to look at the woman, along with the large eye in the middle of her face.
"Happy Jack? That sounds like a pleasant fellow," the beholderkin says with a slightly dreamy tone to her voice, clearly oblivious to how dire the situation really is. "Who is he? Is he one of your son's friends? We can certainly go tell him that you want the child back and that it is most rude to keep him out so late... it sounds like Jack's mother should really have a word with him about time management."
There is a distinct feeling that the aberrant girl is not all there in the head... whether because of the type of creature she is or because of her most unorthodox upbringing. Her gray skin glistens with a thin layer of dark-purple slime and and her many eyes almost have a kaleidoscopic color that seems to change depending on how the light hits them. But though the girl may be strange and a bit off-putting, she doesn't seem unsympathetic as she speaks to the distraught mother.
"Happy Jacky, ha! Jacky happy, scrumpy jumpy! Sounds like a cider! 'Appy jack, oh we could go find the jack and take the cider hehehe!" Plan clearly too drink at this point, half hanging off his chair slams another empty mug on the table and hugs the new ale that Maggie had just brought, "wha.. wha's in it for us? S'gottabe like a payment hmmmmm?? Hm!?" He cranes his neck upward and swayingly looks the woman in the eyes, a little drunken realisation washes through the red-faced halfling
"Ohhhhh you're scared.. 'm sorry. come, come, come sit yeah, have a drink an.. an tell us what's going on with the jack and the son, and the cider."
Ashtar finishes taking a swig from his mug, which is steaming purely from the heat of his ash grey skin, before setting it down. He laughs loudly, using his foot to push the empty chair across from him out enough for the woman to sit down. "No need to worry mam! While there's no task to big for the Flaming Fists! There is also non too small!" He says in a tone that's just a little to loud. Those who don't know him might assume this to be the result of his drinking, but his companions know...that's just how he talks. The fire genasi holds himself with an air of pure confidence, but his demeanor shows no arrogance. "Now, tell us about this Happy Jack. Is he a bully of some sort?" He asks, remembering his own childhood. It seems fairly common for the town or school bullies to give themselves that sort of nickname. "Just tell me where they are, and I'll set him and any of his cronies strait. He'll never mess with your boy again once I'm through with him!" He readjusts the sheathed greatsword, which he has hanging of the back off his chair, smiling at the woman. "Trust me my good lady, we can have this taken care of in a jiffy!" A few sparks fly from his flame colored hair, as he focuses his yellow eyes on the scared mother. It does occur too him that she seems a little to scared for this issue to just have something to do with a bully, but nevertheless he maintains his smile. Best not to scare her more. After all, he had been drinking a lot more than usual, so his brain might just be exaggerating the situation.
Nekane leans over the table in order to get a look around Ashtar and the others. He tilts his head to one side as he asks, "What sort of name is Happy Jack?" He lets the question hang for a while before shrugging, and turning his attention to the distraught mother. "Well, we aren't particularly busy right now. Though I think anything will have to wait until my companions are not so drunk..."He blinks a few times, doing his best to hide the fact that the world is spinning a little for him too. He speaks with a strange mixture of an upper class accent covered up by years of street slang--though right now the upper class part seems to be a little exaggerated as he tries to put the frightened woman at ease.
"Meanwhile... who is this Happy Jack? How long has your son been missing?" He stands up, stumbles a little as he takes his first step, then makes his way around Ashtar and over to the woman's side. Putting one hand on the back of the chair that Ashtar had pushed out from under the table, he pulls it back further and gestures with his free hand. Giving her a measuring smile he says, "Please, take a seat. Tell us everything that happened and we will help however we can."
"Make it rad? Got it." Lozak says as he jumps up onto the great oaken table where they're sitting, his platform boots making a loud thumping sound as he lands. The table wobbles for a second but holds up. He brings around his Axe, the strange sounding, oversized lute that he carried with him everywhere, and slowly starts to play, the odd, distorted sound of the instrument quickly filling the room. "Relax there, little lady. What'd you say your name was? Just take a deep, relaxing breath and listen to me play..."
Lozak's fingers dance up and down the fretboard as he began to pick the tune. His feet tapped up and down, and as they did so, the string instrument also began to produce the rhythm of drums, setting the beat, followed by the underlying roll of bass. The sound wasn't all that sad...it was actually kind of upbeat. Strange, synthesized cords began to play from Axe over the picking of strings, roll of bass, thump of drums...and then he starts to sing...
Dig, if you will, the picture Of you and I engaged in a kiss The sweat of your body covers me Can you, my darling? Can you picture this?
The woman looks at Violet, barely comprehending what she is saying over what the beholderkin looks like. Once it finally registers, she shakes her head and looks at Violet, "No! Not a f&cking bully from school! He has been kidnapped, don't you understand?"
Distressed more at the view of Violet, she turns to Pan and cringes. "No! Not cider god damn it, my child! Do you people not understand?" She starts to go from desperate to complete despair as she can't seem to get through to anyone.
As two of them ready a chair for her, she heaves her small frame into it, and looks up to the loud fire genasi. "No... no bully. I, I mean we're from Fernwood, not too far from here. That is where the playhouse is... where my boy.." she heaves a great sob and takes a moment to collect herself enough to be able to continue.
Looking to the tiefling now, she answers, "Happy Jack? He's a clown of course. Three days! Three long, awful days!! I hope... I hope he's still alive!" And the woman falls into fits of sobbing again.
The boots suddenly springing on the table shocks her a bit to lift her head and see what is going on. She watches the other tiefling now, holding some strange instrument in front of him... she doesn't understand... but trying to answer so that this group may help, "My name? It is Megan."
As he starts to play, she listens... she tries to listen to the words as she is struggling with everything else that is going on, her life spiraling.. and then she actually hears the words. Megan immediately stands up from the chair and glares at Lozak, "What the hell is this? engaged in a kiss? sweat of my body? God damn I thought you all were going to help?!" and she turns to go.
"You know, if she has a son it seems likely that she has a husband as well," Violet points out to Lozak as she takes a sip of whatever drink she is holding. "So perhaps it would be best to refrain from trying to seduce her?"
If you're really that desperate you can have your way with me later,Violet tells Lozak telepathically by way of Awakened Mind, winking at him with one of her many eyes. Then she turns her full attention to what she has just realized is a very serious matter indeed.
"Please, stay a moment..."Violet tells the woman gently, an edge of worry in her voice now. "I am sorry that we misunderstood you... and that it seems my companions have had enough drink to be reduced to total imbeciles. They usually aren't quite this bad."
"A CLOWN!? UGH, F*cking clowns! No! I hate them! The less damnable clowns in the world the better!" Pan slams his ale down on the table which promptly throws off his balance and tips Pans chair completely over throwing him across the floor on his back with a crash.
"We'll take the jorrb!" He slurs, saluting the ceiling as he appears to just accept his new horizontal orientation.
Megan turns around and looks at the beholderkin, still having difficulty understanding what or who she was. But Violet seemed genuine enough, so Megan sits back down and lets out a large sigh.
Pan startles Megan as he curses and then proceeds to crash his chair on the floor. The scene normally would have made the small woman laugh, but in her current state, she just stares at the man. Until he slurs that they'll take the job. Hope floods into her face and she looks at the rest of you, pointedly not at Lozak "You will? You'll help me and the others?"
"yeah! We'll takdajob! Izza perfect wazzithing, uh a sitchiation! We get te kill a clown and you get her son back to the place..." Pan scrambles in his pockets from his position starting at the ceiling and brings out a little 1ft pole, wrapping his legs around the legs of the chair, pan wedges ons end of the pole into the cracks of the floor boards and it looks as if he's about to fail in hauling himself up off the ground, but he shouts out "Taller!" And the pole extends springing pan back upright on the stool where he wobbles and giggles and is now holding a 10ft pole which is swinging close enough to the hanging candelabras to give the barkeeper a panic attack, "hellooo I have returned" he hiccups before ordering more drink.
Ashtar's chair scrapes the tavern floor as he all but leaps to his feet. "Kidnapped?!"He exclaims in his usual loud voice. Stepping to the side as to be able to see past Lozak, he continues, "Of course we'll help! I am not sure about this clown business, but no matter. We will get your son back!" He lifts a hand and makes a grasping motion, punctuating his point. "As well as any other unfortunate souls who have been claimed by this playhouse!" He laughs again at Pan's drunken speech, and grabs his sword off his chair. As he slings it over his back, and secures it into place, he watches the halfling nearly launch himself into the air as he approaches the barkeep. Smiling at the women, he effortlessly reaches up grabs the smaller man by his collar. "Haha! The time for drinking has passed my friend!"He says grinning as he pulls Pan from his perch. Pointing a finger air as he walks, he makes his way towards the door with Pan in tow, "Now! Let us be off! To Fernwood!", he exclaims in a slightly louder voice. Clearly he intends to start this job immediately.
Nekane pats her shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry, we will figure this out..." Only to be interrupted by Lozak's song atop the table. He lets out a sigh, tail twitching slightly in irritation when his comrades nearly scare their client away. He gives Violet an appreciative glance when she manages to turn Megan around rather than hasten her way out the door.
Turning his attention back to Megan he is once more interrupted, this time by both Pan and Ashtar. Forgetting what he was going to say, he looks to Maggie, "No, no more drinks. Write up our tab please." He looks to Pan, "We've got a job now don't we? We can come back once the clown is taken care of yes?" He chuckles as Ashtar pulls Pan from his stool and begins hauling him towards the door.
He smiles at Megan, "We might not look it right now, but we are more than capable of taking care of this kidnapping clown. We'll see your son to safety... wait there are others too?"His expression goes more serious, "Yes, we will help however we can. Meanwhile, tell us everything you can about this... playhouse and the missing children." He gestures towards the door, "If it pleases you, we could step outside where it is quiet."
A delighted "Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Can be heard as Ashtar picks up Pan and starts to exit with the halfling under his arm, Followed by a loud "wait! We dunno wherezit we going, Ooooop nope! Tummy rumbly" and then a chunky vomiting sound.
Megan's demeanor completely changes as the group starts in on rallying themselves to her cause. Rising to her feet, she can't help but smile a little at Ashtar and Pan as they get themselves going because of her story.
She turns to Nekane, "Yes, let's go outside. I'm sure the fresh air.." and then she hears Pan and winces, "will be good for everyone."
"Yes, so Happy Jack, he set up his playhouse in my home town of Fernwood, it's about a day and a half journey from here? Have you heard of it? Well, we all enjoyed it for awhile..a couple days, then things seemed to take a dark turn and.. and...and" her face falls and the sobs start again. She takes a few moments, is able to collect herself to finish, "Eight children are now stuck inside and we don't know how to get them out, including my son!!"
Lozak continues to play, winking back at Violet as the lady has her hissy fit. So uptight.
"And?" He says as the deal is made and he slowly stops playing. "Plenty of married folks out there dipping their pen in the wrong inkwell, so to say. Ah, but very well. It was such a lovely song too." He says, following the others.
The tall genasi stops halfway to the door when Pan mentions that they don't know where they are going. He starts to put the small man down just as he starts to vomit. My shear luck, the putrid bile barely misses his leg and only a small bit lands on his boot. "Haha! Well, you are somewhat correct! We do know where we are going, but how to get there is another matter!" He absentmindedly taps the barf off his boot and turns back to face Megan. "Yes that is a marvelous idea!" He says, then steps over the chunky puddle on the floor without giving it a glance. He holds the door open for Megan and his companions before stepping out himself, close-lipped smile still on his face.
He listens to the woman explain the situation, his expression remaining the same all the while. When she finishes speaking, he places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Worry not mam. While I have not heard of Fernwood or this Happy Jack before, you need only point us in the right direction and we will be on our way. You have my word, my companions and I will get to the bottom of this!"
Violet can't help but smile briefly, imagining what the bard will do to her later...
But now isn't the time to dwell on it. Now is the time to figure out how to murder an evil clown. Violet drifts lazily a few feet in the air as she speaks.
"That is truly aweful, to entice children with fun and games and then snatch them away... do you know what manner of monster he is? Is he truly just a mad human clown or something else entirely? Regardless, I'm sure we have ways to get through the door, but has anyone come out who knows what is on the other side of the door?"
Nekane nods slowly as Megan tells her story, "I see... well, if the playhouse is still there then I suppose that should be our first stop. You wouldn't happen to know if it visited any other towns before Fernwood do you? If not it can't be helped but..." He shakes his head as if what he was about to say was obvious. Then he clasps his hands together and suddenly takes on a more vibrant demeanor, "But never fear, just as my comrades have said already, we will see to it that the matter is resolved."
He fingers the edge of his cloak, thinking for a moment before asking, "If you don't mind me asking, what is your son's name?" He waits for a reply before giving her a measuring pat on the shoulder, "He is lucky to have a mother who loves him as much as you. We'll bring him back." He makes no promises as to whether or not he'll be alive when they return, knowing that after three days the chances might not be in their favor. However, he keeps a hopeful and reassuring look on his face, preferring to stay positive and hoping to reinforce the fact that they will do whatever they can to fight the odds.
"Well, if possible, I for one would like to head out immediately." He looks back to his comrades, "We've had enough idle sitting have we not?! I'm ready to clobber a clown! Human or not, he's gonna regret preying on the innocent." He clenches a fist in front of him, his broad smile showing his fangs.
It was a typical night for the five of you. You were all well into your drinks at the Blade and Stars in Baldur's Gate, looking for the next victim to fall prey to a game of Baldur's bones. Maggie the half-orc barmaid stops by your table to take any orders, top off any of your drinks as you pass the night for the, what sixth, seventh night in a row? They were starting to blur together. You came to Baldur's Gate to see if there was anything the Flaming Fists couldn't take care of, or some big heist you could join in on... maaybe. But so far? You were coming up empty and getting restless.
Violet pauses, a drink half-way to her lips. Four of her ten eye stalks turn to look at the woman, along with the large eye in the middle of her face.
"Happy Jack? That sounds like a pleasant fellow," the beholderkin says with a slightly dreamy tone to her voice, clearly oblivious to how dire the situation really is. "Who is he? Is he one of your son's friends? We can certainly go tell him that you want the child back and that it is most rude to keep him out so late... it sounds like Jack's mother should really have a word with him about time management."
There is a distinct feeling that the aberrant girl is not all there in the head... whether because of the type of creature she is or because of her most unorthodox upbringing. Her gray skin glistens with a thin layer of dark-purple slime and and her many eyes almost have a kaleidoscopic color that seems to change depending on how the light hits them. But though the girl may be strange and a bit off-putting, she doesn't seem unsympathetic as she speaks to the distraught mother.
"Happy Jacky, ha! Jacky happy, scrumpy jumpy! Sounds like a cider! 'Appy jack, oh we could go find the jack and take the cider hehehe!" Plan clearly too drink at this point, half hanging off his chair slams another empty mug on the table and hugs the new ale that Maggie had just brought, "wha.. wha's in it for us? S'gottabe like a payment hmmmmm?? Hm!?" He cranes his neck upward and swayingly looks the woman in the eyes, a little drunken realisation washes through the red-faced halfling
"Ohhhhh you're scared.. 'm sorry. come, come, come sit yeah, have a drink an.. an tell us what's going on with the jack and the son, and the cider."
Travin Tiller, Junk Dweller Bard, AURYN.
The Ironmaiden, Questionable Artificer, Descent into Avernus.
DM, Peacekeepers of Northmorrah
Ashtar finishes taking a swig from his mug, which is steaming purely from the heat of his ash grey skin, before setting it down. He laughs loudly, using his foot to push the empty chair across from him out enough for the woman to sit down. "No need to worry mam! While there's no task to big for the Flaming Fists! There is also non too small!" He says in a tone that's just a little to loud. Those who don't know him might assume this to be the result of his drinking, but his companions know...that's just how he talks. The fire genasi holds himself with an air of pure confidence, but his demeanor shows no arrogance. "Now, tell us about this Happy Jack. Is he a bully of some sort?" He asks, remembering his own childhood. It seems fairly common for the town or school bullies to give themselves that sort of nickname. "Just tell me where they are, and I'll set him and any of his cronies strait. He'll never mess with your boy again once I'm through with him!" He readjusts the sheathed greatsword, which he has hanging of the back off his chair, smiling at the woman. "Trust me my good lady, we can have this taken care of in a jiffy!" A few sparks fly from his flame colored hair, as he focuses his yellow eyes on the scared mother. It does occur too him that she seems a little to scared for this issue to just have something to do with a bully, but nevertheless he maintains his smile. Best not to scare her more. After all, he had been drinking a lot more than usual, so his brain might just be exaggerating the situation.
Nekane leans over the table in order to get a look around Ashtar and the others. He tilts his head to one side as he asks, "What sort of name is Happy Jack?" He lets the question hang for a while before shrugging, and turning his attention to the distraught mother. "Well, we aren't particularly busy right now. Though I think anything will have to wait until my companions are not so drunk..." He blinks a few times, doing his best to hide the fact that the world is spinning a little for him too. He speaks with a strange mixture of an upper class accent covered up by years of street slang--though right now the upper class part seems to be a little exaggerated as he tries to put the frightened woman at ease.
"Meanwhile... who is this Happy Jack? How long has your son been missing?" He stands up, stumbles a little as he takes his first step, then makes his way around Ashtar and over to the woman's side. Putting one hand on the back of the chair that Ashtar had pushed out from under the table, he pulls it back further and gestures with his free hand. Giving her a measuring smile he says, "Please, take a seat. Tell us everything that happened and we will help however we can."
"hey Loz! We need like some music over here" Pan belches out as he swings on his chair, "make it sad!" He adds with a frown.
Travin Tiller, Junk Dweller Bard, AURYN.
The Ironmaiden, Questionable Artificer, Descent into Avernus.
DM, Peacekeepers of Northmorrah
"Make it rad? Got it." Lozak says as he jumps up onto the great oaken table where they're sitting, his platform boots making a loud thumping sound as he lands. The table wobbles for a second but holds up. He brings around his Axe, the strange sounding, oversized lute that he carried with him everywhere, and slowly starts to play, the odd, distorted sound of the instrument quickly filling the room. "Relax there, little lady. What'd you say your name was? Just take a deep, relaxing breath and listen to me play..."
Lozak's fingers dance up and down the fretboard as he began to pick the tune. His feet tapped up and down, and as they did so, the string instrument also began to produce the rhythm of drums, setting the beat, followed by the underlying roll of bass. The sound wasn't all that sad...it was actually kind of upbeat. Strange, synthesized cords began to play from Axe over the picking of strings, roll of bass, thump of drums...and then he starts to sing...
Dig, if you will, the picture
Of you and I engaged in a kiss
The sweat of your body covers me
Can you, my darling?
Can you picture this?
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
DM of Legacy of NIMH
The woman looks at Violet, barely comprehending what she is saying over what the beholderkin looks like. Once it finally registers, she shakes her head and looks at Violet, "No! Not a f&cking bully from school! He has been kidnapped, don't you understand?"
Distressed more at the view of Violet, she turns to Pan and cringes. "No! Not cider god damn it, my child! Do you people not understand?" She starts to go from desperate to complete despair as she can't seem to get through to anyone.
As two of them ready a chair for her, she heaves her small frame into it, and looks up to the loud fire genasi. "No... no bully. I, I mean we're from Fernwood, not too far from here. That is where the playhouse is... where my boy.." she heaves a great sob and takes a moment to collect herself enough to be able to continue.
Looking to the tiefling now, she answers, "Happy Jack? He's a clown of course. Three days! Three long, awful days!! I hope... I hope he's still alive!" And the woman falls into fits of sobbing again.
The boots suddenly springing on the table shocks her a bit to lift her head and see what is going on. She watches the other tiefling now, holding some strange instrument in front of him... she doesn't understand... but trying to answer so that this group may help, "My name? It is Megan."
As he starts to play, she listens... she tries to listen to the words as she is struggling with everything else that is going on, her life spiraling.. and then she actually hears the words. Megan immediately stands up from the chair and glares at Lozak, "What the hell is this? engaged in a kiss? sweat of my body? God damn I thought you all were going to help?!" and she turns to go.
"You know, if she has a son it seems likely that she has a husband as well," Violet points out to Lozak as she takes a sip of whatever drink she is holding. "So perhaps it would be best to refrain from trying to seduce her?"
If you're really that desperate you can have your way with me later, Violet tells Lozak telepathically by way of Awakened Mind, winking at him with one of her many eyes. Then she turns her full attention to what she has just realized is a very serious matter indeed.
"Please, stay a moment..." Violet tells the woman gently, an edge of worry in her voice now. "I am sorry that we misunderstood you... and that it seems my companions have had enough drink to be reduced to total imbeciles. They usually aren't quite this bad."
"A CLOWN!? UGH, F*cking clowns! No! I hate them! The less damnable clowns in the world the better!" Pan slams his ale down on the table which promptly throws off his balance and tips Pans chair completely over throwing him across the floor on his back with a crash.
"We'll take the jorrb!" He slurs, saluting the ceiling as he appears to just accept his new horizontal orientation.
Travin Tiller, Junk Dweller Bard, AURYN.
The Ironmaiden, Questionable Artificer, Descent into Avernus.
DM, Peacekeepers of Northmorrah
Megan turns around and looks at the beholderkin, still having difficulty understanding what or who she was. But Violet seemed genuine enough, so Megan sits back down and lets out a large sigh.
Pan startles Megan as he curses and then proceeds to crash his chair on the floor. The scene normally would have made the small woman laugh, but in her current state, she just stares at the man. Until he slurs that they'll take the job. Hope floods into her face and she looks at the rest of you, pointedly not at Lozak "You will? You'll help me and the others?"
"yeah! We'll takdajob! Izza perfect wazzithing, uh a sitchiation! We get te kill a clown and you get her son back to the place..." Pan scrambles in his pockets from his position starting at the ceiling and brings out a little 1ft pole, wrapping his legs around the legs of the chair, pan wedges ons end of the pole into the cracks of the floor boards and it looks as if he's about to fail in hauling himself up off the ground, but he shouts out "Taller!" And the pole extends springing pan back upright on the stool where he wobbles and giggles and is now holding a 10ft pole which is swinging close enough to the hanging candelabras to give the barkeeper a panic attack, "hellooo I have returned" he hiccups before ordering more drink.
Travin Tiller, Junk Dweller Bard, AURYN.
The Ironmaiden, Questionable Artificer, Descent into Avernus.
DM, Peacekeepers of Northmorrah
Ashtar's chair scrapes the tavern floor as he all but leaps to his feet. "Kidnapped?!" He exclaims in his usual loud voice. Stepping to the side as to be able to see past Lozak, he continues, "Of course we'll help! I am not sure about this clown business, but no matter. We will get your son back!" He lifts a hand and makes a grasping motion, punctuating his point. "As well as any other unfortunate souls who have been claimed by this playhouse!" He laughs again at Pan's drunken speech, and grabs his sword off his chair. As he slings it over his back, and secures it into place, he watches the halfling nearly launch himself into the air as he approaches the barkeep. Smiling at the women, he effortlessly reaches up grabs the smaller man by his collar. "Haha! The time for drinking has passed my friend!" He says grinning as he pulls Pan from his perch. Pointing a finger air as he walks, he makes his way towards the door with Pan in tow, "Now! Let us be off! To Fernwood!", he exclaims in a slightly louder voice. Clearly he intends to start this job immediately.
Nekane pats her shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry, we will figure this out..." Only to be interrupted by Lozak's song atop the table. He lets out a sigh, tail twitching slightly in irritation when his comrades nearly scare their client away. He gives Violet an appreciative glance when she manages to turn Megan around rather than hasten her way out the door.
Turning his attention back to Megan he is once more interrupted, this time by both Pan and Ashtar. Forgetting what he was going to say, he looks to Maggie, "No, no more drinks. Write up our tab please." He looks to Pan, "We've got a job now don't we? We can come back once the clown is taken care of yes?" He chuckles as Ashtar pulls Pan from his stool and begins hauling him towards the door.
He smiles at Megan, "We might not look it right now, but we are more than capable of taking care of this kidnapping clown. We'll see your son to safety... wait there are others too?" His expression goes more serious, "Yes, we will help however we can. Meanwhile, tell us everything you can about this... playhouse and the missing children." He gestures towards the door, "If it pleases you, we could step outside where it is quiet."
A delighted "Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Can be heard as Ashtar picks up Pan and starts to exit with the halfling under his arm, Followed by a loud "wait! We dunno wherezit we going, Ooooop nope! Tummy rumbly" and then a chunky vomiting sound.
Travin Tiller, Junk Dweller Bard, AURYN.
The Ironmaiden, Questionable Artificer, Descent into Avernus.
DM, Peacekeepers of Northmorrah
Megan's demeanor completely changes as the group starts in on rallying themselves to her cause. Rising to her feet, she can't help but smile a little at Ashtar and Pan as they get themselves going because of her story.
She turns to Nekane, "Yes, let's go outside. I'm sure the fresh air.." and then she hears Pan and winces, "will be good for everyone."
"Yes, so Happy Jack, he set up his playhouse in my home town of Fernwood, it's about a day and a half journey from here? Have you heard of it? Well, we all enjoyed it for awhile..a couple days, then things seemed to take a dark turn and.. and...and" her face falls and the sobs start again. She takes a few moments, is able to collect herself to finish, "Eight children are now stuck inside and we don't know how to get them out, including my son!!"
Lozak continues to play, winking back at Violet as the lady has her hissy fit. So uptight.
"And?" He says as the deal is made and he slowly stops playing. "Plenty of married folks out there dipping their pen in the wrong inkwell, so to say. Ah, but very well. It was such a lovely song too." He says, following the others.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
DM of Legacy of NIMH
The tall genasi stops halfway to the door when Pan mentions that they don't know where they are going. He starts to put the small man down just as he starts to vomit. My shear luck, the putrid bile barely misses his leg and only a small bit lands on his boot. "Haha! Well, you are somewhat correct! We do know where we are going, but how to get there is another matter!" He absentmindedly taps the barf off his boot and turns back to face Megan. "Yes that is a marvelous idea!" He says, then steps over the chunky puddle on the floor without giving it a glance. He holds the door open for Megan and his companions before stepping out himself, close-lipped smile still on his face.
He listens to the woman explain the situation, his expression remaining the same all the while. When she finishes speaking, he places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Worry not mam. While I have not heard of Fernwood or this Happy Jack before, you need only point us in the right direction and we will be on our way. You have my word, my companions and I will get to the bottom of this!"
Violet can't help but smile briefly, imagining what the bard will do to her later...
But now isn't the time to dwell on it. Now is the time to figure out how to murder an evil clown. Violet drifts lazily a few feet in the air as she speaks.
"That is truly aweful, to entice children with fun and games and then snatch them away... do you know what manner of monster he is? Is he truly just a mad human clown or something else entirely? Regardless, I'm sure we have ways to get through the door, but has anyone come out who knows what is on the other side of the door?"
Nekane nods slowly as Megan tells her story, "I see... well, if the playhouse is still there then I suppose that should be our first stop. You wouldn't happen to know if it visited any other towns before Fernwood do you? If not it can't be helped but..." He shakes his head as if what he was about to say was obvious. Then he clasps his hands together and suddenly takes on a more vibrant demeanor, "But never fear, just as my comrades have said already, we will see to it that the matter is resolved."
He fingers the edge of his cloak, thinking for a moment before asking, "If you don't mind me asking, what is your son's name?" He waits for a reply before giving her a measuring pat on the shoulder, "He is lucky to have a mother who loves him as much as you. We'll bring him back." He makes no promises as to whether or not he'll be alive when they return, knowing that after three days the chances might not be in their favor. However, he keeps a hopeful and reassuring look on his face, preferring to stay positive and hoping to reinforce the fact that they will do whatever they can to fight the odds.
"Well, if possible, I for one would like to head out immediately." He looks back to his comrades, "We've had enough idle sitting have we not?! I'm ready to clobber a clown! Human or not, he's gonna regret preying on the innocent." He clenches a fist in front of him, his broad smile showing his fangs.