Hatch went up to the big devil, not really impressed with the thing's appearance considering he was also a red skinned horned being of infernal ancestry, so it wasn't like he didn't see a similar sight in his own reflection.

He thinks he has somewhat gathered the thought processes of Quin and Lia, and has decided to put his own diplomatic spin on it.

"Alright big fella, up and follow me. We'll get you that soul, but we need to get you in touch with the various candidates most inclined to take you up on your offer first. And it'll be good for you too, to get a sense of the person or persons who will be serving you for eternity," he said, as cordial and friendly as a man could be.

And in Infernal he added, "And worse come to worst and we can find nobody else, then it'll be my own soul you'll be buying, but not my companions. You can't possibly lose today."

Finishing off his drink, Lok looks over to Hatch and the others

"Well,despite the slight exhaustion from our last battle" the barbarian said, stretching out his arm.

"Im ready to continue if you guys are." Lok continued, getting up and joining Hatch over by the devil 

the barbarian takes a moment to size up this devil. 

"I would offer you my soul, but unfortunately for you its already spoken for." 

"So I suppose we will just have to find someone who is not us" The barbarain said, glancing over at Hatch.

So... unlimited gold for your soul upon your death, with a guarantee the death won't be prematured. Pretty straightforward; it actually surprised Onyx that the devil had had no takers so far. He put away his writing materials and quill, trying to hide his disappointment that there wasn't some elaborate set of rules he might try to use to outwit the creature. Pity!

The warlock turned and watched the others, trying to listen and intuit their thoughts and follow along. Upon hearing Hatch and Lok offer the fiend a soul, his eyes widened, a little startled. Probably the troglodytes that Lia had mentioned? Still... it might just be the solution to the next portion of the riddle. Feeling that something of importance was about to commence, he smiled eagerly as he waited to see if the devil took them up on the offer.

Quin was surprised that Hatch would offer up his own soul in exchange to the devil for gold. She hoped he had a trick up his sleeve but she had the idea that the paladin was one of those who would offer himself up to save the others. She really didn't think that was a good idea. But seeing as how he was a Tiefling, perhaps he already had plans to join some long lost family. She shook those thoughts from her head because she truly preferred to let one of the other candidates she and at least Lia had in mind be the seller. It seemed like the perfect solution to her. But perhaps there was something about the riddle that wouldn't be satisfied without real sacrifice.

She wondered for a moment if she could bear to sell her soul to a devil. This wasn't the first time this idea had come up in an adventure; only her second adventure and here she was again, being faced with the question of bonding herself to some evil fiend or devil. At least it would be the 9 hells instead of the Abyss. Still, either seemed a terrible option to her. She had left her last post just to avoid being bound to a fiend (who was bound to a lich). Avernus and the Abyss sure did seem to need a lot of souls. Quin knew she didn't want to gives hers up to either.

Bel, Warlord of Avernus, grins a devilish grin, rises from his chair, gathers his chain-bound chests, and says to Hatch: LEAD THE WAY, MORTAL.

Quin suddenly feels the need to find the loo! But she looks at Lia and the others and follows. 

Hatch really hoped that they could get one of the newly summoned up for this curse to give up their souls, or whatever passed for such, than have to risk his own. But there was only one way to find out.

He led the devil down to the pool area to check in on the Troglodytes.

Quin follows. The only troglydytes she has met were ones she had to fight in some mountain so she's pretty sure that putting on her most persuasive smile won't help but she will follow Hatch and the others' lead.

Arriving back in the swimming pool area, Hatch and the others see that little progress has been made in cleaning the place up. The troglodytes still wallow in the filth, sucking on whatever unmentionables continue to float in the slime. Rossmoyne again ambles over but looks rather startled when he sees Bel pass through the doorway dragging his treasure chests.

Greetings again, good sirs. I see you have brought company. <gulp> I confess our progress in sanitising our abode is perfunctory at best, but we still lack sufficient motivation. Have you any further developments with securing either more adequate sustenance or a suitable overlord? At this last Rossmoyne looks apprehensively at Bel, perhaps in the hope that the devil isn't the suggested master designated for him and his people.

Compelled by curiosity as well as self-interest, Onyx followed the group to the pool area.

However, he was less than impressed at the area, wrinkling his nose at the troglodytes and their behaviors. "Who would even WANT these souls?" he couldn't help but think before catching himself.

Something else had come to mind as Hatch had led the devil down to the Troglodytes, something that Willagee had said that hadn't quite percolated until he had already led the way down here. Willagee had said that despite all that gold in all those chests he had not paid for his room. In essence, Bel had yet to buy his own way in this world. They had all been so sure that the devil must buy a soul that they never thought the infernal creature may have an outstanding debt of his own! Perhaps there was a way out of this without risking anyone's soul at all.

After all, even these disgusting things still deserved better.

"Perhaps, perhaps not. After all, there's several matters to contend with. We did promise you a leader capable of disciplining you, but we have two leaders to choose from do we not? One genie sultan and this devilish gentleman right here. Both may serve the purpose, but you can only follow one correct? So what we need to do is establish who among them can be trusted by you. And I just so happen to know how to settle these matters," Hatch stated with conviction.

"First we must convince your two potential leaders that you are worth their time and effort to lead. Lia if you would be so kind as to convince our resident genie to come down here I believe that we can witness just what these Troglodytes are capable of doing." Hatch asked, his face conveying he did indeed have a plan.

"Now, with Lord Bel here and hopefully soon the sultan watching, I as an impartial party shall take it upon myself to play the part of master, leading you in the charge of cleaning up this area. I do hope that you can obey me so that you may impress both potential masters and have your pick. Now, all that said," and here Hatch used his thaumaturgy (cantrip) to make his voice inhumanly booming to finish with, "NOW GET TO WORK YOU TROGS!"

Persuasion 16

Intimidation 16

(obviously the plan is to have the genie and devil to compete to prove they are to be trusted as leaders - and that means Bel will have to prove his worthiness by paying his debt to Willagee which hopefully will suffice for the four buys portion of the curse. Maybe roll Wisdom or Insight to intuit Hatch's plan here, or just trust in his process)

Quin wonders why the devil, Bel carries around 3 chained chests. 

She trusts Hatch to know what he's doing and figures rolling for Insight can't hurt.

14

Lia nods and heads back up the stairs, knocking again on the genie's door. Assuming Rivervale answers the door; "Hello Rivervale. May I request an audience with the Sultan?" She gives a slight curtsy, and a wink.

Throm finally leaves the cellar after cleaning up down here a bit. He recovered as many spent bolts he could, did finally light the torches in as many sconces as he could find, burned as much of the webs away being careful to not start any fires, and dragged the corpses into a pile for later disposal. Being curious and in not too much of a hurry to go back upstairs, he spent some time investigating, perceiving, and searching the corpses while cleaning up. (Use or ignore As appropriate.)

Perception: 8
Perception: 11
Perception: 14
Perception: 20

Investigation: 0
Investigation: 0
Investigation: 10
Investigation: 10

Throm will gather any loot and head upstairs to inquire the location of the others and then join up with the team.

((Glad to see you back!).

Quin never even thought of looking for loot or even information. She kept feeling phantom spider webs on her face.  

(Thanks. Beautiful weather in Boise. Sad trip, though.)

Hatch's thunderous voice is more than sufficient to startle the troglodytes into action, and they quickly rise from the muck and commence scraping the filth off to either side of the room. Hatch and Onyx watch on and begin to have some hope, but after a few short minutes their motivation begins to wane. Before long most have returned to lounging in the slime, with only one or two making a token effort to move some mud from one place to the next and back again.

Quin watches Bel carefully during this episode. He seems largely unimpressed with the quality of these creatures, but she also gets the sense that he is desperate. "Beggars can't be choosers" is written on his countenance. She also hears him half-whisper to himself something to the effect of: I'M NOT REALLY IN THE MARKET FOR SLAVES. I JUST WANT A FEW SOULS, REALLY. From this Quin gathers that Bel had hoped to purchase as many as three souls, and that each chest is intended for one individual.

In the basement, Throm searches thoroughly among the corpses and the webs. Besides from the hotel's supplies, the only items of any interest are the drider's weapons, the sword and the bow, which are of rather exotic workmanship, but no more functional than those found on the surface. However, he does find that the poison leaking from the spiders' fangs is sufficiently sticky to coat the tips of his crossbow bolts, and may provide some extra advantage to future combat.

(If desired, Throm can add 1d4 poison damage to his next 20 shots of the crossbow)

Rivervale nods and smiles gratefully to Lia, but maintains her professional manner as she glides back into the room. The mermaid returns momentarily and beckons Lia to enter and follow. Lia is ushered into a small but exquisitely furnished apartment, with adornments like nothing she has ever seen. Silk curtains in tasteful hues of purple and blue line the room, velvent cushions and expertly woven rugs are placed throughout, with slender painted screens marking the room off into sections. Ceramic vases, crystal decanters and goblets, and other glass ornaments rest on carved tables with gold and silver trim. And amongst it all, lounging in a fountain of water inlaid with fine mosaics of pearl, jasper, and turquoise is the sultan himself, the water-genie Booragoon. He speaks in what is presumably the elemental language of Aquan, which Rivervale translates to Lia. Peace be upon you, efendim, he says with a gracious wave of his hand. What boon would you have of me?

Lia flashes a smile to Rivervale, before turning her attention to the genie. "And upon you."

"Great Sultan Booragoon," she begins, taking a deep bow, "I come as a humble messenger. The foolish Lord Bel of Avernus has challenged you, as to prove who of you are more worthy of the unending devotion of a mass of hard-working people who want nothing but a master to serve. They've already begun the arduous task of cleaning the pool downstairs, but I fear for their motivation without your esteemed presence. He awaits you there with the challenge master, Hatch, who is entirely impartial; something I personally cannot fathom."

As Rivervale translates Lia's message, the piscine eyes of the genie widen and waves of prideful indignation ripple across its scaly chest. The genie rises from its fountain, its legs transforming into a column of water, and it speaks a few words in Aquan to Rivervale before gliding out the door. Rivervale explains to that the genie wishes for Lia to follow while Rivervale herself is commanded to remain. The genie flies so swiftly that Lia is hard-pressed to keep up, and she arrives as the pool just in time to witness what comes next.

Those in the pool area are startled somewhat as the marid bursts into the room, flinging the doors wide. It glances only briefly at the devil lord before surveying the pool area, taking in the lazing troglodytes who are also somewhat roused by the sudden appearance of the majestic figure. The genie quietly casts a spell, faces the troglodytes, and then... with a voice like the storm waves crashing onto the rocky shore, the genie's voice booms out, not with the magical enhancement of Hatch's attempt, but with a commanding tone that none would dare disobey, and not in any particular language, but yet magically understood by all: Who would serve the great Booragoon, Sultan of the Isles of Kusadasi and Lord of Aydin Atoll? Let each one of you display your obesiance, and demonstrate your fealty by making this place a worthy domain of your new lord and master.

Once again the troglodytes leap into action, but this time the marid circulates among them, magically supplying fresh water to aid the cleansing process, and striking at any troglodyte than shows any sign of shirking the chore. In remarkable time a full third of the room has been cleared of muck and the underlying tiles are starting to show their original color. The water of the pool itself gradually dilutes into something almost transparent, and the filth gradually vanishes into places unknown. The commotion seems to have attracted the attention of the other residents of the hotel, and gradually an audience builds in the pool area, headed by Willagee, Bentley and Kardinya.

Three troglodytes step forward, one of whom the group recognises as Rossmoyne, who says to the genie: Oh great and powerful sultan. We would be most privileged to serve you, if you would have us as your devoted servants. Your firm hand will direct us, and lend us strength, and we in turn will glorify you for your nobility and generosity. Please accept our fealty, or I fear we will be forced to accept the lordship of less lofty origins. Rossmoyne glances toward Bel as he says this last. He then adds: Only one request we would humbly ask, your eminence, and that is that your servants hunger for food. Their appetite is great, but our means are so little. If thou would feed us, thou would have our everlasting loyalty.

The genie turns to Bel and says: Do you concede the challenge? Do I not invoke greater mastery over these minions than thou? to which Bel quietly nods. As the genie turns away, Bel can be seen wiping his brow in apparent relief at not having to be encumbered with troglodyte servants.

The genie then turns to Willagee and says: Goodman of the house, do you have sufficient provender to supply the needs of these my loyal subjects? to which Willagee stammers his reply: Enough food I have, sir, indeed. But I regret to say that it doesn't come cheap. If you have the coin, sir, to pay for it, I can feed your, er, subjects well enough.

The genie replies: Coin I have none, but what I have I would gladly offer. Would you accept some of my collection of precious and valuable artworks? to which Willagee replies: Begging your pardon, sir, but I'd find them difficult to trade with. Coin of the realms is all I can accept I'm afraid.

(A pause for any to interject thus far. Also I'm out of time, haha.)