Lyoko sighs, "This task appears to be much larger than I had hoped... but I have given my word that these damned Ducons have my service for one year and at least this promises to get me out of this wretched land for some time. Where do we begin?"
Irulan grins, “Take heart my stout hearted friend,” she says to Lyoko. “If one is about the business of hunting things that don’t belong to them, try talking to some fellow thieves! The Blackguard’s Blessing is a famous house of ill repute and a good starting place for leads on your search. You would be certain to hear some rumors, maybe even a fellow treasure hound there!”
You rest and heal, the jewelry that the couple gave you fetches you 185 gold in the bazaar in the capitol. Naseem give you each 50 gold as a gratuity for saving Irulan.
"Here, coin with the image of our own Grand Ducon on them, newly minted. I suggest you spend it as fast as you can, lest you be haunted by the sight of his protruding lower jaw and exposed teeth." He belly laughs as he hands you the money.
Otho provides the location of the Blackguard's Blessing, a seedy tavern on the western edge of town, near the docks with a neighboring butcher shop and brewery. The tavern is a two story building with stout wooden doors, wrought iron bars coverng windows, and a chimney puffing smoke. The smell of skunky beer and pipe smoke exudes from the structure. Facing the building from a distance, you can simultaneously see a woman on her knees, plying her trade with a sailor who himself takes a long pull from a half-empty wine bottle while swaying. "Oi!," exclaims the woman, exasperated, wiping her mouth and rearing back onto her haunches. "You keep making me follow you back and forth and I'll have to charge extra. Lean against that wall, or something, won't ya?"
In the other alley, a door opens, a man holding it solicitously for a ruddy cheeked young man with the rough clothing of a farmboy. "Right this way, Mr. Barnhill. Yes, this exit is for our winning clientele only." Abruptly, a swarthy faced giant emerges from behind the other side of the door, clubs the young man on the head, and catches him quietly, even gingerly, collecting the coin purse from the youth's hand before it even hits the ground. The brute empties the coin purse into the doorman's hands, who returns a few coins to the purse. The brute deftly puts the coin belt in the broad belt circling the farmhand's waist.
As he counts the money, the doorman says, "Not a bad night for the chap, after collecting our fees, he's still up 5 silver from his night at the card table!"
The thug ducks behind the landing of the alley door, obscuring himself from view before the door even closes.
"Well, this is certainly not the kind of place I've visited before", Folsorm says, wide-eyed as he takes the various scenes of back-ally *******s and muggings. "We should keep our wits about us, and stick together, if anyone runs into trouble they should yell out - For the Ducon!"
"We will almost certainly have to kill someone in here," Lyoko smiles and claps Folsorm on the back as he strides past him confidently toward the door.
The door opens, a massive half-orc awaits just inside. His muscles bulge, and so do his eyes, alarmed at the sight of people who are not regulars.
"Against the wall, if you please", comes a musical voice behind the half-orc. A gnome steps from behind the half-orc bouncer, a wand in hand. Before you can react, the gnome speaks a command word and asks the question: "Are you here to serve a warrant on anyone that might be found here?" You are all compelled by magic to answer the truth, which is "No."
"We would search you for weapons, but those are a privilege we extend to all patrons at the Blackguard's Blessing", says the gnome. "Mind your manners, don't start a fight you aren't willing to finish (in a fight to the death), liquor up front, poker in the back, if you want to poke anything else, make sure you run any arrangement with the girls' madam, Lady Oo-ra-ra. Rooms are available: 1 silver for an hour, 1 gold for a night. Ale is 3 copper, beer is 1 copper, wine is 1 silver.
Three-dragon ante, poker, and dice in the back, the ante is 10 gold for each game. Cheaters will either get killed or get rich, depending on whether they get caught. There's also the odd game of Five Finger Fillet, but that's between you and whoever you talk into a game of that mess. I prefer keeping my fingers and spending my money instead, heh."
A dozen round tables are teeming with rough looking characters: at the bar, you see a flint-eyed human male in his 30s nursing a flagon of drink who at all times keeps at least a thumb on the handle of one of a dozen daggers which sit in a bandolier which crosses his chest, a dwarf with a patch over one eye smokes a pipe and argues with a hobgoblin with a missing ear, a tiefling woman in a leather jerkin and bracers with a mohawk and tattooed red scalp is furiously drinking mug after mug of ale, but her eyes, gleaming with their glaring golden irises look just as sharp and sober as any judge's.
Behind a curtain of beads, you can hear the raucous sounds of gambling on the wall opposite the entrance.
Lyoko strides over bar, and sits down ordering an ale and gives the barkeep 5 cooper, "I'm looking for information on some missing items that might be pretty valuable... anyone here that might have that sort of information?"
The barkeep snatches up Rhogar’s coins. “I like your style, sir. Gold, that’s the prescription for memory loss...”. He wipes a few glasses nonchalantly and then leans over to Lyoko and Rhogar: “Vex just got back from a job in the giant kingdom,” he says, his eyes darting to the tiefling woman. “Oskar and Karg are still trying to figure the split on the take from knocking over a drow raiding party but can’t stay sober enough to count”, he says, glancing at the filthy dwarf and one eared hobgoblin, “I think Kenrick there is keeping his hands on a knife to figure out who to rob first, the dwarf or the hobgoblin” he says, noting the shifty man you saw earlier.
”Some high rollers in the back might be gambling with loot beyond the usual coin, too. Just don’t go in there empty handed.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As the transaction happens at the bar, Stoopeed keeps an attentive look around his friends, arms crossed, making sure no one evesdrops or gets some silly ideas.
At the words "gambling" and "loot", Stoopeed blood starts to boil. I could never resist games of chances. One of the reasons he's not as rich as his cousin Dumby, who cleans the Great Ducon's night bowl. Dumby is the one who made it in the family.
He's however returning his attention to his friends in the meantime, with the uneasy feeling his attention might have drifted away for a moment. But also giving quick glances to the back every 4 seconds or so..
“I might know a rumor or two, but I want to make one thing clear”, she says, pulling a Longsword from thin air, “I’m not the one to double cross.” The weapon disappears again from her hand and she smiles, reassuringly at Lyoko. “Wanna buy me a drink?”
Lyoko assures her that his honor is his most prized possession and that a man has nothing if not his word. He provides the drinks and tells her of the missing weapons that his party is in search of.
Digg procures himself a much-needed mug of ale, taking healthy sips to settle his nerves as he follows the others about the tavern. He "oohs" at the magical appearance of the blade, but otherwise just listens as Lyoko uses his manly charms on the lady.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd) Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist) Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
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Lyoko sighs, "This task appears to be much larger than I had hoped... but I have given my word that these damned Ducons have my service for one year and at least this promises to get me out of this wretched land for some time. Where do we begin?"
Irulan grins, “Take heart my stout hearted friend,” she says to Lyoko. “If one is about the business of hunting things that don’t belong to them, try talking to some fellow thieves! The Blackguard’s Blessing is a famous house of ill repute and a good starting place for leads on your search. You would be certain to hear some rumors, maybe even a fellow treasure hound there!”
Digg gulps, "Thieves and rogues. What have I gotten myself into?" He looks to the others anxiously. "Are we up for this?"
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd)
Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist)
Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
Stoopeed says:
“I’ve bben wronged all my life. By all that os good, I now dedicate my life and energy to this cause. FOR THE D...eeerrr. Never mind. FOR THE PEOPLE!”
You rest and heal, the jewelry that the couple gave you fetches you 185 gold in the bazaar in the capitol. Naseem give you each 50 gold as a gratuity for saving Irulan.
"Here, coin with the image of our own Grand Ducon on them, newly minted. I suggest you spend it as fast as you can, lest you be haunted by the sight of his protruding lower jaw and exposed teeth." He belly laughs as he hands you the money.
Otho provides the location of the Blackguard's Blessing, a seedy tavern on the western edge of town, near the docks with a neighboring butcher shop and brewery. The tavern is a two story building with stout wooden doors, wrought iron bars coverng windows, and a chimney puffing smoke. The smell of skunky beer and pipe smoke exudes from the structure. Facing the building from a distance, you can simultaneously see a woman on her knees, plying her trade with a sailor who himself takes a long pull from a half-empty wine bottle while swaying. "Oi!," exclaims the woman, exasperated, wiping her mouth and rearing back onto her haunches. "You keep making me follow you back and forth and I'll have to charge extra. Lean against that wall, or something, won't ya?"
In the other alley, a door opens, a man holding it solicitously for a ruddy cheeked young man with the rough clothing of a farmboy. "Right this way, Mr. Barnhill. Yes, this exit is for our winning clientele only." Abruptly, a swarthy faced giant emerges from behind the other side of the door, clubs the young man on the head, and catches him quietly, even gingerly, collecting the coin purse from the youth's hand before it even hits the ground. The brute empties the coin purse into the doorman's hands, who returns a few coins to the purse. The brute deftly puts the coin belt in the broad belt circling the farmhand's waist.
As he counts the money, the doorman says, "Not a bad night for the chap, after collecting our fees, he's still up 5 silver from his night at the card table!"
The thug ducks behind the landing of the alley door, obscuring himself from view before the door even closes.
The front door of the tavern lay in front of you.
"Well, this is certainly not the kind of place I've visited before", Folsorm says, wide-eyed as he takes the various scenes of back-ally *******s and muggings. "We should keep our wits about us, and stick together, if anyone runs into trouble they should yell out - For the Ducon!"
"We will almost certainly have to kill someone in here," Lyoko smiles and claps Folsorm on the back as he strides past him confidently toward the door.
The door opens, a massive half-orc awaits just inside. His muscles bulge, and so do his eyes, alarmed at the sight of people who are not regulars.
"Against the wall, if you please", comes a musical voice behind the half-orc. A gnome steps from behind the half-orc bouncer, a wand in hand. Before you can react, the gnome speaks a command word and asks the question: "Are you here to serve a warrant on anyone that might be found here?" You are all compelled by magic to answer the truth, which is "No."
"We would search you for weapons, but those are a privilege we extend to all patrons at the Blackguard's Blessing", says the gnome. "Mind your manners, don't start a fight you aren't willing to finish (in a fight to the death), liquor up front, poker in the back, if you want to poke anything else, make sure you run any arrangement with the girls' madam, Lady Oo-ra-ra. Rooms are available: 1 silver for an hour, 1 gold for a night. Ale is 3 copper, beer is 1 copper, wine is 1 silver.
Three-dragon ante, poker, and dice in the back, the ante is 10 gold for each game. Cheaters will either get killed or get rich, depending on whether they get caught. There's also the odd game of Five Finger Fillet, but that's between you and whoever you talk into a game of that mess. I prefer keeping my fingers and spending my money instead, heh."
A dozen round tables are teeming with rough looking characters: at the bar, you see a flint-eyed human male in his 30s nursing a flagon of drink who at all times keeps at least a thumb on the handle of one of a dozen daggers which sit in a bandolier which crosses his chest, a dwarf with a patch over one eye smokes a pipe and argues with a hobgoblin with a missing ear, a tiefling woman in a leather jerkin and bracers with a mohawk and tattooed red scalp is furiously drinking mug after mug of ale, but her eyes, gleaming with their glaring golden irises look just as sharp and sober as any judge's.
Behind a curtain of beads, you can hear the raucous sounds of gambling on the wall opposite the entrance.
Lyoko strides over bar, and sits down ordering an ale and gives the barkeep 5 cooper, "I'm looking for information on some missing items that might be pretty valuable... anyone here that might have that sort of information?"
The barkeep frowns, “Not with that kind of coin.”
Rhogar overhears his friend. “Oh, many pardons mine friend. Perhaps this could help jog your memary?”
He places five gold on the counter.
The barkeep snatches up Rhogar’s coins. “I like your style, sir. Gold, that’s the prescription for memory loss...”. He wipes a few glasses nonchalantly and then leans over to Lyoko and Rhogar: “Vex just got back from a job in the giant kingdom,” he says, his eyes darting to the tiefling woman. “Oskar and Karg are still trying to figure the split on the take from knocking over a drow raiding party but can’t stay sober enough to count”, he says, glancing at the filthy dwarf and one eared hobgoblin, “I think Kenrick there is keeping his hands on a knife to figure out who to rob first, the dwarf or the hobgoblin” he says, noting the shifty man you saw earlier.
”Some high rollers in the back might be gambling with loot beyond the usual coin, too. Just don’t go in there empty handed.”
As the transaction happens at the bar, Stoopeed keeps an attentive look around his friends, arms crossed, making sure no one evesdrops or gets some silly ideas.
Perception roll. 23
At the words "gambling" and "loot", Stoopeed blood starts to boil. I could never resist games of chances. One of the reasons he's not as rich as his cousin Dumby, who cleans the Great Ducon's night bowl. Dumby is the one who made it in the family.
He's however returning his attention to his friends in the meantime, with the uneasy feeling his attention might have drifted away for a moment. But also giving quick glances to the back every 4 seconds or so..
Lyoko buys another mug of ale and approaches the tiefling woman. He puts the drink on the table and slides it to her, "Nice hair."
“You’ve got quite a ... mane yourself”, she replies.
"We're looking for some missing items and I'm told that you, Vex, might be able to help us. We will make it worth your time."
“I might know a rumor or two, but I want to make one thing clear”, she says, pulling a Longsword from thin air, “I’m not the one to double cross.” The weapon disappears again from her hand and she smiles, reassuringly at Lyoko. “Wanna buy me a drink?”
Lyoko assures her that his honor is his most prized possession and that a man has nothing if not his word. He provides the drinks and tells her of the missing weapons that his party is in search of.
Digg procures himself a much-needed mug of ale, taking healthy sips to settle his nerves as he follows the others about the tavern. He "oohs" at the magical appearance of the blade, but otherwise just listens as Lyoko uses his manly charms on the lady.
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd)
Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist)
Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)