Raist passes all this information to Utar then to Sebastian. "Stay high and tell me if something appears off" Raists eyes go from a milky white back to his normal Grey. To Utar again. "I'm back and Bastian will keep overwatch"
“This is definitely gonna cost you,” the eyes on the peep whole answer before taking several seconds to unlock and then open the heavy door. What you see is a filthy and bedraggled hallfing man who most certainly carries a few diseases and infections on his body. He coughs and launches some phlegm to the side before addressing you once more: "Come on in, you greedy bounty hunters. The name is Bhevek Grimshackle. I run this jail with my stinking brother Ukharim. We'll head inside, meet him, and discuss terms."
Bhevek stays close to the door, waiting for all of you to head inside so he can close and lock the door behind you. Noticing this, Branden Yil announces: "You go on right ahead. I'll stay out here and seek a mode of transportation for our eventual departure. If you can't find me here, be sure to check the barge landing spot a few ways down the river, where we disembarked. I'll see you soon." Bhevek only grunts in response, clearly passing some sort of judgement on the fifth member of your party.
With that, the merchant stays put until proper farewell etiquette is observed. Furthermore, he wouldn't leave without being sure that you all made your way inside.
Utar nods and releases Raist's arm before nodding a farewell to Branden. He steps through the doorway and waits for the rest of CRAP to join him inside the jail.
Though a touch taken aback by the full sight of Bhevek, Doozey soon shook it off with Branden's announcement. "Mm. Be see'm you. Be safe."He gives alongside a thumbs up. Then, he heads straight on inside, only pausing long enough to give Behvek a nod in greeting and an offering of a card that read: 'Doozey Redfoot, Chief Hunter of Chaotic Relief Adventuring Party.' If offered the card back Doozey 'just' suppress the desire to cringe and simple shook his head.
The irony of a prison-for-profit calling them bounty hunters isn't lost on Neya. But she doesn't feel like she needs to broach the issue as she enters the prison grounds.
"Don't take too long," Branden wishes and/or requests of CRAP as the party disappears behind Bhevek's door.
Bhevek takes a good look at each CRAPer as you pass by him on your way into the jail's grounds. Utar receives a judgemental look that says "goody-too-shoes" (passive insight). Raist receives a pitiful look that says "weak fool" (passive insight). Neya receives a disdainful look that says "cocky snob" (passive insight). Doozey receives a dismissive look that says "one of those types..." (passive insight). The hunter is the only one who earns a voiced response, which comes after Bhevek returns the previously written card to Doozey: "Adventuring party? Like I said... bounty hunters."
After locking the door behind you, Bhevek then leads the group across a 40ft-or-so stretch of the overgrown courtyard. As you walk, you notice some ruined stables to your left and a currently unused smithy to your right. Raist had already seen them through his bird's eye view. Utar had heard of them from the elf. Others are seeing it for the first time (see map in post#180 for reference.) As you advance, two human guards in the courtyard train their crossbows on the group. Bhevek offers no explanation.
You arrive at the next door, also closed, also locked. This is the door to the tower itself. After you pass through this next door, you see a large, oddly-shaped hall. It is shaped almost like a quarter-circle, but there is a "tail" along the circumference of this circle serving as a northwest-bound hallway to other parts of the tower's first level. There is a closed door to the east, and another just ahead of you to the north (as if leading to the center of the circle that represents the tower from above). To your left (west), you see a pile of rubble and a fallen wall that previously separated this hall from a bedroom. This wall damage has not prevented the remainder of the room to continue to be used as a bedroom, as evidenced by the unkempt bed and small gathering of personal affects you can see through the damage on the wall. Catching you sparing a glance at the room, Bhevek offers a few words: "My room, don't mind it."
The centerpiece of this hall is a large wooden table with enough seating for six people. Only one of the chairs is currently being used. Another filthy and bedraggled male hallfing occupies it. He cleans his nails with a small knife, but the effort is interrupted by your arrival. One of the courtyard guards follows you into the room and, still pointing his crossbow in your general direction, takes a standing spot near a corner of the room. Bhevek closes the door behind you but does not lock it. He gestures toward the other halfing and offers: "That's me brother, Ukharim." Bhevek takes a second chair on the table, leaving you exactly four vacant ones. You are then invited to sit, as he curtly introduces you to his brother: "Bounty hunters, here to pay a visit to one of ours. That one is a mute."
They then let silence indicate that you should explain your request to both of them.
"It is as your brother and my colleague said. We want to speak to a prisoner of yours. House Sokol brought them in, a capturered bandit who had been plaguing the Iron Route. We're prepared to pay for the priviledge."
Apart from a raised brow at the look given, Doozey soon dismissed any concern almost a moment later. Just as he'd pay just as little obvious mind to the bowman... at least until he followed the group inside the meeting hall. But though he eyed the man suspiciously, he held his tongue and took a seat as took a seat upon being offered one. Whether in a moment to boost his standing with the brothers or merely to try and unnerve the pair(if only a little), he opened his mouth wide just long enough for the pair to further confirm Bhevek's words, before leaning forward in his seat and closely watch the pair.
While all this is going on, Taters happily slept away the mid-afternoon meal in Doozey's pack...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
After taking a quick gander at Doozey's mouth, the brothers turn to pay attention to Utar's words. Bhevek tries to confirm: "House Sokol?" Ukharim shows that he is quick to make stereotypical assumptions. Looking at Utar, he says: "Aye, she is one of ours. Is she your sister or something?"
Once Utar mentions payment again, Ukharim opens a wide grim and makes a crude counteroffer: "Why don't you take your time with her instead of risking not getting enough information during a quick visit? One hundred golden coins and she is yours to take, to question for as long as you want, and to then deliver to the Black Fist, for all I care." Bhevek seems eager to close the deal: "Do we shake hands then?"
While this conversation is going on, Taters sleeps, Doozey listens, and Raist pays close attention to the brothers:
You’d be hard pressed to find more loathsome wretches than this pair. Filthy, bedraggled, and prone to using crude language, you can quickly tell with some certainty that these two are in it for nothing but the money and the opportunity to squeeze it out of needy people.
Utar nods to first brother, "Aye, House Sokol. Has some other merchant house captured a bandit and brought them to you? Because that might be of further interest."
As the second brother speaks, Utar notes that the prisoner is an Orcish female. He shakes his head. "Don't think we're related, no. Assume we just want a little chat and we'll leave her here with you? How much then?"
The brothers stare at Raist as he walks behind Doozey and delivers an inaudible but otherwise obvious message. Bhevek demands: "Why don't you share with the table what secrets you have there? This is a fair and open negotiation."
Ukharim keeps the conversation going with Utar: "Oh, we have plenty of other prisoners from Phlan and the regions about. The most notorious, some nasty pirate captain. You are welcome to pay for him too."When the Tormite insists on just paying for a visit instead of a ransom, Ukharim shows some visible disappointment on his face and answers: "A quick visit will cost you 10gp. Make it 20gp and you can visit the pirate too."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Though left pensive from Raist's whispering, Ukharim's demand ensured Doozey's moment lost in thought stayed a brief one. Following an apologetic smile, Doozey held up a hand in a halting gesture, before breaking out pen, ink, and one of his few blank cards to jot something down. He says in draconic as he worked:
"Noted. But need not you whisper in my ears so directly. My senses sharper than average."
Doozey then slides the card over to Behevek with a small but polite smile. "Sorry. Elf is mew to all vis." He further assured in common. As for the note, it reads as follows:
No secrets or anything worth repeating. The elf is new to the group and getting the hang on thing, and didn't exactly get out much before joining up. So, pay no mind.
We would be curious to know if you've done your own interrogation of prisoners, and if you've personally learned anything of interest from the one we've expressed an interest in. We'll still need to speak with them regardless. But, if there's anything more you and your borther can share about them ahead of time, it could go a long way in convincing my friends here to take them off your hands afterwards anyhow and save you some trouble.
Or even alternatively we could go the extra mile of, eh, advertising your business abit among local adventuring and bounty hunter types in the region in exchange as well, bringing a little more business your way for this added service? Far more profitable in the long run, wouldn't you say?
If/Whenever Behevek looks to Doozey again after reading the note (and hopefully sharing it with his brother), Doozey fights back the urge to show disgust in his own writings to instead give a broader smile of assurance.
You understand this to be an offer to attempt to extract more money from CRAP. That said, the words seems genuine. The Grimshackle Jail likely holds an infamous pirate as the jailers claim.
Doozey apologizes for Raist's well-intended but ultimately impolite action. "Fine." Bhevek says not wanting to linger on the matter. "We all have to train the rookies," he adds, staring in an accusatory fashion at the crossbowman at the corner.
Ukharim is the first to read the ranger's note. He then passes it to his brother while replying: "Aye, we did some questioning. Gotta know who might be coming for our prisoners, who might be interested in paying the ransom. Her name is Half-a-Bell or some such. Has some allegiance to a group of highwaymen... don't know their name, don't care. These robbers rarely come back for their own." He then pauses to indicate that this is all the information he either has or wants to share, then adds: "Now, you can keep your offer to pay for this with 'more exposure,' but I'll take your promise to pay for her full ransom."
Trying to bring the negotiations to a close, Utar claps his hands together and gives them a little rub, as if he feels that a deal is close to the offing.
"I think we might be close to an agreement then, how about this? We pay for a conversation with each prisoner, this Half-a-Bell and your pirate captain. 10 gold per prisioner, plus an additonal 5 gold on top to control how long we speak to each for, we don't want to be hurried off too soon. After that, any prisoner that we choose to take off your hands, we re-negotiate with yourselves for."
Doozey snorts and shook his head with a look of mild amusement on his face, then motioned for Behvek to pass the card back to start writing more while others continued to talk. But as he scribbled away, the stoutling offhandedly say in draconic and a tone that at least sounded a little... sing-song-y? At least roughly so...
"All things considered, could be she's our way in. Be it with the Fist or Bandits."
Raist passes all this information to Utar then to Sebastian. "Stay high and tell me if something appears off" Raists eyes go from a milky white back to his normal Grey. To Utar again. "I'm back and Bastian will keep overwatch"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
"We wish to interrogate a prisoner. We are prepared to pay very well for the trouble!" Neya replies as she holds up the coinpurse.
Extended Signature
“This is definitely gonna cost you,” the eyes on the peep whole answer before taking several seconds to unlock and then open the heavy door. What you see is a filthy and bedraggled hallfing man who most certainly carries a few diseases and infections on his body. He coughs and launches some phlegm to the side before addressing you once more: "Come on in, you greedy bounty hunters. The name is Bhevek Grimshackle. I run this jail with my stinking brother Ukharim. We'll head inside, meet him, and discuss terms."
Bhevek stays close to the door, waiting for all of you to head inside so he can close and lock the door behind you. Noticing this, Branden Yil announces: "You go on right ahead. I'll stay out here and seek a mode of transportation for our eventual departure. If you can't find me here, be sure to check the barge landing spot a few ways down the river, where we disembarked. I'll see you soon." Bhevek only grunts in response, clearly passing some sort of judgement on the fifth member of your party.
With that, the merchant stays put until proper farewell etiquette is observed. Furthermore, he wouldn't leave without being sure that you all made your way inside.
Utar nods and releases Raist's arm before nodding a farewell to Branden. He steps through the doorway and waits for the rest of CRAP to join him inside the jail.
Raist follows leaning heavily on his staff
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Though a touch taken aback by the full sight of Bhevek, Doozey soon shook it off with Branden's announcement. "Mm. Be see'm you. Be safe." He gives alongside a thumbs up. Then, he heads straight on inside, only pausing long enough to give Behvek a nod in greeting and an offering of a card that read: 'Doozey Redfoot, Chief Hunter of Chaotic Relief Adventuring Party.' If offered the card back Doozey 'just' suppress the desire to cringe and simple shook his head.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
The irony of a prison-for-profit calling them bounty hunters isn't lost on Neya. But she doesn't feel like she needs to broach the issue as she enters the prison grounds.
Extended Signature
"Don't take too long," Branden wishes and/or requests of CRAP as the party disappears behind Bhevek's door.
Bhevek takes a good look at each CRAPer as you pass by him on your way into the jail's grounds. Utar receives a judgemental look that says "goody-too-shoes" (passive insight). Raist receives a pitiful look that says "weak fool" (passive insight). Neya receives a disdainful look that says "cocky snob" (passive insight). Doozey receives a dismissive look that says "one of those types..." (passive insight). The hunter is the only one who earns a voiced response, which comes after Bhevek returns the previously written card to Doozey: "Adventuring party? Like I said... bounty hunters."
After locking the door behind you, Bhevek then leads the group across a 40ft-or-so stretch of the overgrown courtyard. As you walk, you notice some ruined stables to your left and a currently unused smithy to your right. Raist had already seen them through his bird's eye view. Utar had heard of them from the elf. Others are seeing it for the first time (see map in post#180 for reference.) As you advance, two human guards in the courtyard train their crossbows on the group. Bhevek offers no explanation.
You arrive at the next door, also closed, also locked. This is the door to the tower itself. After you pass through this next door, you see a large, oddly-shaped hall. It is shaped almost like a quarter-circle, but there is a "tail" along the circumference of this circle serving as a northwest-bound hallway to other parts of the tower's first level. There is a closed door to the east, and another just ahead of you to the north (as if leading to the center of the circle that represents the tower from above). To your left (west), you see a pile of rubble and a fallen wall that previously separated this hall from a bedroom. This wall damage has not prevented the remainder of the room to continue to be used as a bedroom, as evidenced by the unkempt bed and small gathering of personal affects you can see through the damage on the wall. Catching you sparing a glance at the room, Bhevek offers a few words: "My room, don't mind it."
The centerpiece of this hall is a large wooden table with enough seating for six people. Only one of the chairs is currently being used. Another filthy and bedraggled male hallfing occupies it. He cleans his nails with a small knife, but the effort is interrupted by your arrival. One of the courtyard guards follows you into the room and, still pointing his crossbow in your general direction, takes a standing spot near a corner of the room. Bhevek closes the door behind you but does not lock it. He gestures toward the other halfing and offers: "That's me brother, Ukharim." Bhevek takes a second chair on the table, leaving you exactly four vacant ones. You are then invited to sit, as he curtly introduces you to his brother: "Bounty hunters, here to pay a visit to one of ours. That one is a mute."
They then let silence indicate that you should explain your request to both of them.
"It is as your brother and my colleague said. We want to speak to a prisoner of yours. House Sokol brought them in, a capturered bandit who had been plaguing the Iron Route. We're prepared to pay for the priviledge."
Raist says nothing but stares intently at the 2 half lings
Perception : 18
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Apart from a raised brow at the look given, Doozey soon dismissed any concern almost a moment later. Just as he'd pay just as little obvious mind to the bowman... at least until he followed the group inside the meeting hall. But though he eyed the man suspiciously, he held his tongue and took a seat as took a seat upon being offered one. Whether in a moment to boost his standing with the brothers or merely to try and unnerve the pair(if only a little), he opened his mouth wide just long enough for the pair to further confirm Bhevek's words, before leaning forward in his seat and closely watch the pair.
While all this is going on, Taters happily slept away the mid-afternoon meal in Doozey's pack...
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
After taking a quick gander at Doozey's mouth, the brothers turn to pay attention to Utar's words. Bhevek tries to confirm: "House Sokol?" Ukharim shows that he is quick to make stereotypical assumptions. Looking at Utar, he says: "Aye, she is one of ours. Is she your sister or something?"
Once Utar mentions payment again, Ukharim opens a wide grim and makes a crude counteroffer: "Why don't you take your time with her instead of risking not getting enough information during a quick visit? One hundred golden coins and she is yours to take, to question for as long as you want, and to then deliver to the Black Fist, for all I care." Bhevek seems eager to close the deal: "Do we shake hands then?"
While this conversation is going on, Taters sleeps, Doozey listens, and Raist pays close attention to the brothers:
@Raist (insight check):
You’d be hard pressed to find more loathsome wretches than this pair. Filthy, bedraggled, and prone to using crude language, you can quickly tell with some certainty that these two are in it for nothing but the money and the opportunity to squeeze it out of needy people.
Raist slowly walks behind where Doozy is sitting still staring at the brothers. He bends and whispers in his ear using draconic
All these two care about is gold and how to get the most of it
Finishing he steps back keeping the brothers and the crossbowman in direct sight
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Utar nods to first brother, "Aye, House Sokol. Has some other merchant house captured a bandit and brought them to you? Because that might be of further interest."
As the second brother speaks, Utar notes that the prisoner is an Orcish female. He shakes his head. "Don't think we're related, no. Assume we just want a little chat and we'll leave her here with you? How much then?"
The brothers stare at Raist as he walks behind Doozey and delivers an inaudible but otherwise obvious message. Bhevek demands: "Why don't you share with the table what secrets you have there? This is a fair and open negotiation."
Ukharim keeps the conversation going with Utar: "Oh, we have plenty of other prisoners from Phlan and the regions about. The most notorious, some nasty pirate captain. You are welcome to pay for him too." When the Tormite insists on just paying for a visit instead of a ransom, Ukharim shows some visible disappointment on his face and answers: "A quick visit will cost you 10gp. Make it 20gp and you can visit the pirate too."
Neya gauges them to see if the sea captain interrogation was a serious offer or they were just messing with CRAP.
Insight: 25 (25)
Extended Signature
Though left pensive from Raist's whispering, Ukharim's demand ensured Doozey's moment lost in thought stayed a brief one. Following an apologetic smile, Doozey held up a hand in a halting gesture, before breaking out pen, ink, and one of his few blank cards to jot something down. He says in draconic as he worked:
"Noted. But need not you whisper in my ears so directly. My senses sharper than average."
Doozey then slides the card over to Behevek with a small but polite smile. "Sorry. Elf is mew to all vis." He further assured in common. As for the note, it reads as follows:
No secrets or anything worth repeating. The elf is new to the group and getting the hang on thing, and didn't exactly get out much before joining up. So, pay no mind.
If/Whenever Behevek looks to Doozey again after reading the note (and hopefully sharing it with his brother), Doozey fights back the urge to show disgust in his own writings to instead give a broader smile of assurance.
-Persuasion: 21. (if necessary)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
As the conversation continues, Neya focuses on the brothers' words concerning the pirate. (@Drache: please give me a history check as well.)
@Neya (insight):
You understand this to be an offer to attempt to extract more money from CRAP. That said, the words seems genuine. The Grimshackle Jail likely holds an infamous pirate as the jailers claim.
Doozey apologizes for Raist's well-intended but ultimately impolite action. "Fine." Bhevek says not wanting to linger on the matter. "We all have to train the rookies," he adds, staring in an accusatory fashion at the crossbowman at the corner.
Ukharim is the first to read the ranger's note. He then passes it to his brother while replying: "Aye, we did some questioning. Gotta know who might be coming for our prisoners, who might be interested in paying the ransom. Her name is Half-a-Bell or some such. Has some allegiance to a group of highwaymen... don't know their name, don't care. These robbers rarely come back for their own." He then pauses to indicate that this is all the information he either has or wants to share, then adds: "Now, you can keep your offer to pay for this with 'more exposure,' but I'll take your promise to pay for her full ransom."
Trying to bring the negotiations to a close, Utar claps his hands together and gives them a little rub, as if he feels that a deal is close to the offing.
"I think we might be close to an agreement then, how about this? We pay for a conversation with each prisoner, this Half-a-Bell and your pirate captain. 10 gold per prisioner, plus an additonal 5 gold on top to control how long we speak to each for, we don't want to be hurried off too soon. After that, any prisoner that we choose to take off your hands, we re-negotiate with yourselves for."
Doozey snorts and shook his head with a look of mild amusement on his face, then motioned for Behvek to pass the card back to start writing more while others continued to talk. But as he scribbled away, the stoutling offhandedly say in draconic and a tone that at least sounded a little... sing-song-y? At least roughly so...
"All things considered, could be she's our way in. Be it with the Fist or Bandits."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.