Shiv would leap off the back of tak and lock eyes with the tiefling before drawing a scimitar in one hand and pulling the cursed object out of his vest with his other hand, making sure to keep his back to Tak. "Where is Locke?" The viashino will ask with a snarl, keeping the cursed object down by his belt but exposed.

Lazarus keeps his eyes closed tightly as he replies. "You're making a mistake. Kill me, and the Slaine Guild will stop at nothing to eliminate you."

Leaves juggled the Lizard awkwardly.

"...Do I eat this? Are we saving it for breakfast?" It did look tasty!

((OOC: Did I join the party? My character actually haven't been mentioned since we got woke up so I'm wondering where I am.))

"Hi leaves! Don't look at what i have in my hand! You will die buddy!" Shiv will say with a grin as he moves a little closer to the teifling.

As Tak hears Shiv's warning he closes his eyes and moves slowly towards the tiefling breathing in the smell of Lazarus measuring his stance and position with each breath.  He will growl lowly and slowly grasp the ankle of the tiefling in his jaws.  Not trying to break bones or flesh but firmly as a mother would carry her cub.   Then he will swiftly jerk his head attempting to knock the tiefling prone while keeping a firm hold on Lazarus' ankle.

Grapple?: 20

Lazarus, his eyes still closed, is taken off guard and he goes down in a heap.

Jevyn, out of breath, catches up with the party. "Don't eat Esme, Seabeak!" Glancing at the crumpled Lazarus and the back of Shiv's head, Jevyn quickly assessed the situation. "Lazarus, you're only going to get one chance to explain everything. Don't make a mistake." Just to be safe, Jevyn turned his eyes skyward as he took Esme from Leaves' grasp.

Lazarus groans in pain from his position on the ground. "As I'm sure you've noticed by now, the item in that chest is far more powerful than lithmir extract. We were hired by a man to obtain the chest from the Cazanarro Guild. The gods only know who they were delivering it to... The man never showed his face. Wore a black mask during the entire transaction. And his voice... it wasn't natural. It sounded more like this hissing of a snake than any mortal tongue. "

Tak snorts and motions for Shiv to jump on his back as he begins to drag Lazarus back to the cowardly lion for a more private interrogation.

Grapple: 11  if adv for  Lazarus' eyes closed:  17

Lazarus offers no resistance, and you soon return to the Cowardly Lion. Len is drinking a strong cup of coffee and contemplating what to do with the bodies on the floor of his inn.

Shiv will jump on and place the cursed item back in his interior pocked but doesn't let lazarus know it.

Tak still in bear form will drag Lazarus up the stairs to a room without any windows (if possible) then change out of wildshape and blindfold/ bind Lazarus to a chair in the room.  If there are windows he will make sure to shut it and close the shutters.  Pulling out a piece of parchment Tak quickly writes Take the object and place it safely in a bag other than the briefcase, then take a carrot from Len and put it in the briefcase. We may still be able to get 10,000 gold out of this if all goes right. and hands the parchment to Shiv nodding to Jevyn and Leaves.

"Now, let's have a chat Lazarus... we have no idea what this thing is and honestly don't want it because it seems to be well out of our realm of ability.  So I have a proposal for you... we give you the briefcase, you give us our 10,000 gold as well as release Locke and agree to part ways never to darken each other's doorstep.  You get to accomplish your mission for the weird creepy guy and we hold up our end of the deal. Or we could just kill you and leave town."

Persuasion:   4     (adv?)      3

(Shiv wouldn't want to give up the item... keeping it close to his chest tucked under his vest that he wares over his armor.... if that is OK)

(that's fine the bag could be on your person but if you're more comfortable with it in your pocket it still works.  Hopefully we can give em the ole switcheroo since anyone who looks at it dies so they can't inspect it just feel it.)

Lazarus contemplates this offer. "Of course," He muses, "I have no way of knowing that you won't give me a fake. On the other hand, I've got nothing to lose but my boss's coin." 

Someone make a Deception check to convince him that you are giving him the real item.

Insight: 17

Deception:  2

would I have advantage since he can't see my face?

(Shiv is not good at it so he wouldn't have tried lol )

Quote from Xtracrispy07 >>

Deception:  4

would I have advantage since he can't see my face?

 
(Good point, go for it.)

15   (Please......)

(Yes!!!!!!!!!)