Rohuzar nods easily. "I'm sure Aubrey is inclined to agree to take care of your problem. Your going rate vill not make us friends, however, and our skills could make us appealing friends to have for quite a few people in this city... Vhat could make this better for all of us?" 

intended as a help action for Aubrey to sweet n this pot. 

The young noble gives Raqisat a reassuring nod, intending to convey he trusts this clan not to lead them to their deaths at least.

"Yes, we want to help you of course, but we would have to know everything you know about this creature that has been harrassing you, it's abilities and where it has been active for instance, and also what more you can tell us about these ruins to make sure we are sufficiently prepared to ease the pressure your hunters have from the aberrations above. As mentioned we would want whatever information about any specific areas and places within the ruins noted on our map. Also we would want to be able to seek shelter in your tunnels when absolutely needed." Aubrey says with a polite smile, glancing over at the others in the team for more requests before agreeing to this offer.

Persuasion: 11 Another roll if considered helped by Rohuzar: 15
Insight to determine truthfulness in answers: 10

Cosette could appreciate a good a mentorship when she receives one. Not having been entirely formally educated, she learned what she did by absorbing knowledge like a sponge, and by natural trial and error. While of course it's a competitive game, winning is only necessary if she had something on the line. Cos' heart is always in it for entertainment, and if the King was satisfied with her company, she did her job. Working up a sweat was a bonus. She flashes her opponent a wink when he collects the paddles, along with offering him her hand for a sportsmanship handshake. "Well played."

Dabbing away the sheen of sweat, chest lightly raising and falling some her exertion Cos rejoins the rest of the team. She listens to the follow up discussions and bargaining as she freshens herself up. At one point she couldn't help but lean in to Raqisat to whisper in his ear. "Miss Bruno?"

When Aubrey looks over, Cosette inclines her head in approval. "A working partnership fer mutual benefit, I can do." She summarizes.

     Raqisat is distracted from the follow up discussions and bargaining, a sweaty and heavily breathing Cosette has that affect on him.  Trouble is, she knows it.  And happily uses it against him.  Case in point - she leans in close enough that he can feel the heat of her body upon him, her lips all bust brush against his ear and she whispers...  Totally not what he wants to hear!

     Ugh.

     Still, Raqisat cannot help but chuckle and grin.  "I do," he replies softly.  "At least they appreciate me..."

     Raqisat then follows her eyes and looks over at 'The King' and Aubrey in their discussions.  "Mmmm, yes.  Partnerships can be good," he agrees.  "So long as their are benefits for both..."

The hooded man raises an eyebrow at the banter between Raqisat and Cosette, then turns back to Rohuzar and Aubrey.  

"... Very well.  Take care of this for us, and we will welcome you as brothers and sisters.  Our records of the city will be an open book for you.  We don't keep many maps, but I'm sure our runners can work with your cartographer to put something together based on their experience."  He pats Elton on the shoulder.  "Fill them in on whatever they need to know about the problem."  Then he departs, along with the giant rat.

Elton raises his own eyebrow at Nic, but then addresses the rest of you once he's gone.  "I guess that is that.  You heard the man.  If you kill this thing, then you're as good as part of the crew."

"As far as the monster, there isn't a tremendous amount we know.  We thought we had a vampire spawn loose in the pipes at first.  Rats started showing up drained of blood.  Then a couple of crocs.  Then one of the boys turned up, bone dry.  We sent a team out to hunt this thing.  No dice."  He shakes his head.  "They said it looked like a floating octopus... long tentacles with suckers on the ends.  And they couldn't get close... said the thing had lightning powers."

"The 'where' is easier.  We sealed off the access to the tunnel network it was last seen in.  We can tear down the barricade and let you folk in."

"We just need to know when you're ready to go."

They seem to be on the level about this... do this job for them and they will consider you part of the crew.

Leelan listens to the description given of the monster that’s harassing the survivors. He makes a mental note of each detail:

- Hematophagy

- Floating Octopus with long tendrils with suckers at the end.

- Capacity to channel lightning

Using those pointers, he’ll try to ascertain a guess as to the nature of the beast. He’ll try remembering his pre-expedition studies or perhaps a lecture he attended back in the NTF.

14 (+5 if Arcana, Nature or History. +2 if Religion or Investigation)

Failing that, would then ask Nic if he would allow them to study the bodies of some victims to try to have a better understanding of the creature.

Aubrey bows as the king departs, turning to Elton. "We would like a place to sit down and plan this, to pool our knowledge on what this might be and decide how to best deal with it, we will likely be setting out soon though." He says firmly, then looking to his competent team, Leelan in particular, for any input on needed preparations.

     “I find most things die if you poke enough holes in them,” Raqisat says with mock seriousness.

     “Not much experience with flying tentacle monsters though, I do admit “ he adds with a shrug.  

Elton guides you over to a large marble staircase.  It is blocked off at the top - where it presumably leads to the city above.  He suggests you can sit in come chairs near the stairs or on the steps themselves while you plan your expedition.

Leelan has some ideas, and Aubrey is able to confirm them based on some telepathic communication with his bird familiar.  The creature they describe sounds a lot like a rare, lesser variety of beholder... grotesque hovering eyeballs possessed of great magical power.  This particular variety lacks the magical beam attacks of larger beholders, but instead has long tentacles equipped with lamprey-like blood sucking mouths.  They are said to be charged with electricity, such that they can deliver powerful shocks to stun and incapacitate their prey.

Aubrey follows Elton and takes a seat in a chair, waiting for the team to be comfortable and for Elton to leave before listening to what Leelan knows and sharing what he knows about their quarry, suggesting using magic protecting against electricity and to maybe to stop the creature to reach melee before the team can poke enough holes in it as Raqisat so eloquently suggested. Furvus will float ahead etherally to warn the team, hopefully giving it the advantage of surprise. Unless there is more tactical dispositions to discuss, Aubrey is ready to begin the hunt, suggesting trusty Rohuzar takes point as per usual.

     “Huh,” Raqisat adds as he sits a few stairs up and listens.  “I had actually been assuming much of this ‘abberation’  talk was exaggeration.  A few extra eyes, maybe.  Limbs where they don’t belong…  Guess not though?  We are going to see some real live freak show nightmares…”

     “Cool…”

     “I guess I don’t have much to add tactics wise.  I’m a get in close kind of guy.  The whips are as long range as I do.  So if any of you Magic types can do some magic things, be my guest…”

Leelan shares what he can remember as they make their way down the sewer system’s tunnel.

"I would venture a guess that our quarry is part of the beholder family, though thankfully not as powerful as the actual thing. Its electrical conduit abilities make it quite dangerous to fight up close. I can offer some protection against it, and can help slow it down if a confrontation should occur."

Rohuzar is pondering. "How big are tunnels? Narrow or broad? High ceilings? And how... Uh... How far are they? Big area to search?"

Cosette doesn’t sit, she stands at the steps, leaning against the wall. She listens, however doesn’t say much. Should the locals not provide answers to some of Rohuzar’s questions, and if Cos knew some of it from her earlier inspections, she’d share what information she had.

Elton listens to Rohuzar's questions.

He waves his hands in a 'give or take' motion.  "The tunnels vary.  There are a lot of narrow connectors, not more than 5 feet wide, though most are tall enough to pass through without having to hunch.  They say this monster is bigger than a man, but it doesn't have trouble squeezing through the passages."

"There are a lot of larger chambers, too.  Drain pits, sub-cellars... there's even an old chapel down there.  Most rooms don't have ceilings any higher than the tunnels, but a few of the bigger rooms do have a little more head room."

"Altogether, there's maybe half a mile of tunnels?  But don't worry about a long search.  If that thing's still down there, it will find you before too long."

"Thank you Elton, I think we're about ready to head out now if you'd be so kind as to show us the way." Aubrey says with a polite smile, briefly checking his gear and messaging Furvus to be around to scout ahead in the tunnels.

     Raqisat will stand when Aubrey suggests we’re ready to move out.  He makes a few adjustments to his gear, mostly shifting blades and whips to make the steel easier to draw, then nods to indicate he is indeed ready.

Adjusting her attire to see if she could blend into the background as they go, Cosette falls to the back of the group to cover their six while also supporting Grugga’s tinkering. While she didn’t know exactly what he was working on, and how, she knew that the extra work would be worth the effort. What she did know was how Grugga worked methodically. He’d plug away at his work, and when they’d come up upon an ideal location, she’d oversee while he’d set his invention. With each application, they’d fall into a rhythm, becoming more efficient as they go.

Stealth: 15 

Rohuzar will lead the mission into the dark, moving quiet as he can, eyes and ears open for any sign of the terror...

Stealth 6 

Perception 21 

As the team enters the area where their prey is hiding, Aubrey falls into line, Furvus ahead in ethereal form to warn the team about threats.
Perception: 11
Stealth: 4
Furvus perception: 20

(Suggested marching order; Rohuzar, Raqisat, Cosette, Aubrey, Leelan, and Grugga as rear guard for now, possibly placing alarms behind us as we move.)