On a cool spring evening, Ransom and Nib find themselves in the Yawning Portal tavern, drinking in near silence at a table near the entrance to the Undermountain. Nib often looks like she is trying to think of something to say, to encourage or reassure her friend, but nothing seems to come to mind for the halfling. Bonnie, the friendly human barmaid, brings the two a flagon of ale each. She gives Ransom a sympathetic look as she heads back to the bar.

Just as Nib looks like she’s about to say something, a commotion breaks out at a nearby table. Someone shouts out, “Ya pig! Like killin’ me mates, does ya?” The two turn to see a human man, his shaved head covered in tattoos, swing wildly at a seven-foot-tall half-orc woman. Before either Ransom or Nib can see how the woman reacts, however, their view is blocked by a crowd of spectators.

Nib grabs her quarterstaff and looks to Ransom. What does Ransom do?

Ransom returns a grin to Nib. Nothing like a tavern brawl to liven the mood. Ransom will push through the crowd, making a space for Nib as well. If he can't push through, he will instead stand on a table.

Ransom observes the altercation. If anyone he knows gets involved, he will try to intervene on their behalf (assuming by now he would have recognized either of the two). Otherwise, he will see if anyone is placing bets... and persuade Nib to bet on the half orc. 

Ransom finally gets a good look at the tattooed man after pushing his way through the crowd. The man's shaved head is covered in eye tattoos, a sure sign that he belongs to Xanathar's Guild. He notices this just in time to see the man get knocked to the floor by one of the half-orc woman's punches. She proceeds to pin the man down with one hand, and beat him with her other. While this is going on, four other men begin to approach the half-orc, drawing daggers as they close in.

(At present Ransom has no quarrel with Xanathar's Guild that he knows of, but this might be one moment that pushes that forward... hehe)

Ransom smirks again, having picked the human as the underdog against the half-orc. Now it seems she is outnumbered, turning a fair duel into a gang-up, and that's just bad sportsmanship. Besides, he doesn't know if Nib followed his advice and put money on the half-orc, and wouldn't want that bet to go sour. Ransom quickly draws a dagger and throws it at the nearest approaching cutthroat. Attack: 15 Damage: 7

Ransom's dagger flies true, striking his target in his side. He lets out a yelp of pain, and turns to find the dagger's source. He nudges one of his buddies, and points to Ransom, who has successfully captured the attention of two of the cutthroats.

Roll for initiative!

Half-orc: 8
Gang members: 16

Ransom Initiative: 11
Nib Initiative: 18

Ransom draws his rapier and prepares to meet the oncoming assailants, striking as soon as one is within range. He also glances around for his companion and calls out: Nib, a little help?

Ransom: Ready attack for when first opponent is in range. Rapier Attack: 15 Damage: 6

Nib: Cast Sacred Flame on injured cutthroat. DC 12 DEX save or 8 radiant damage 

The half-orc woman makes two attacks with her fists against the bald, tattooed man.

To hit: 21 Damage: 5
To hit: 23 Damage: 3

The man is knocked out!

Ransom's rapier strikes true, bloodying the cutthroat as they approach.

The cutthroats attack Ransom and Nib.

Vs. Ransom: 5 Damage: 2
Vs. Nib: 7 Damage: 4

The other two attack the half-orc woman.

To hit: 13 Damage: 4
To hit: 19 Damage: 2

 One of them succeeds, cutting the half-orc across her shoulder as she stands up.

The injured cutthroat attempts to dodge Nib's holy flame: 17 And he succeeds.

Ransom continues to duel with the cutthroat, but looks with concern toward Nib who has been bloodied by her attacker. While fighting his own opponent, he will try to taunt Nib's opponent to draw their attacks toward himself. Hey you! Come and get a taste of this, unless you prefer beating on the womenfolk! Intimidation: 18

Ransom: Rapier Attack: 15 Damage: 10

Nib: Cast Cure Wounds on self for 7

(OOC: I've added my skill roll, but let me know how you prefer to do it. It seems most DMs are happy for the players to choose a skill and make a roll and they adjust as required, rather than taking extra time to call for each roll specifically, but I'm happy to do it any way you like)

The half-orc woman pummels the man who cut her.

To hit: 20 Damage: 7
To hit: 6 Damage: 3

Knocking him out!

Ransom seems to draw the attention of the cutthroat who attacked Nib, though he misses with his own attack.

The two cutthroats move to attack Ransom.

To Hit: 7 Damage: 3
To Hit: 14 Damage: 5

While the third conscious cutthroat attacks the half-orc woman once more.

To Hit: 14 Damage: 2

He misses, swinging wide.

Nib backs out of the fray to heal herself a little bit.

The half-orc seems to be taking down the opponents efficiently. Ransom hopes he can keep his opponents at bay long enough for her to finish hers off and come help him.

Ransom with Dodge this round. Let's have Nib come around behind Ransom and Cure Wounds for 8 on him (he might even be unconscious by then).

Ransom can see Durnan at the bar begin to make his way over to the scuffle, rolling up one sleeve. However, before he can make it, shouts of alarm suddenly ring out as a hulking creature climbs up out of the shaft in the middle of the taproom — a monster with warty green skin, a tangled nest of wiry black hair, a long, carrot-shaped nose, and bloodshot eyes. As it bares its yellow teeth and howls, you can see that a half-dozen bat-like creatures are attached to its body, with three more circling above it like flies. Everyone in the tavern reacts in fear except for Durnan, who shouts, “Troll!”

The cutthroats that had been fighting Ransom and co., those that are conscious at least, begin to scramble. Even the half-orc woman begins to retreat into the crowd. Durnan, however, draws his greatsword, and makes his way towards the monster. The three bat-like creatures fly into the crowd, in Ransom's direction.

(Keep your initiative, go ahead and post what actions Ransom and Nib take.)

Troll: 3
Durnan: 16
Stirges: 12

(OOC: Will probably need to respond to what the stirges do as they are higher in the initiative order. There are a lot of potential targets in the crowd, so Ransom would probably take the opportunity to heal up a bit)

Ransom: Lay Hands on himself for 5 HP, even if he is attacked

Nib: If attacked, fight back with quarterstaff. Attack: 22 Damage: 9

Durnan takes several swings at the troll.

To hit: 28 Damage: 8
To hit: 21 Damage: 11
To hit: 22 Damage: 8
To hit: 25 Damage: 9

Three of his attacks hit, causing the troll to yell out in pain.

Ransom manages to heal some of the damage he has taken.

Three stirges fly into the crowd, attaching themselves to unwitting patrons. Nib swings at one with her quarterstaff, knocking it off of the woman it was attached to and sending it to the ground, deflated.

The troll takes two swings at Durnan with its claws...

To hit: 10 Damage: 15
To hit: 15 Damage: 11

...successfully hitting the Yawning Portal's proprietor with one arm.

Nib seems to be handling the stirges well enough (next attack: 3 Damage: 2) so Ransom turns his attention to the troll. It's a fearsome foe, so it's not surprising that many of the patrons are fleeing for safety. But there are sure to be others here with the skill to help, so Ransom grabs a nearby lantern, climbs on a table and calls out to the crowd: Any who are friends to Durnan, aid him! (Persuasion? 18) Then Ransom throws the lantern at the troll, having heard they are averse to fire. 

(I hope this is okay... If there is no lantern nearby, then he will just throw anything he can grab and attempt to deal bludgeoning damage. It's more for the show of it to rouse the crowd than for the combat effectiveness. I believe the attack modifier for an improvised thrown weapon that doesn't resemble any other weapon is just my DEX modifier without the proficiency bonus, and 1d4 damage of whatever type you think is best)

Attack: 13 Damage: 4

Durnan takes several more swings at the troll.

To hit: 18 Damage: 10
To hit: 19 Damage: 12
To hit: 24 Damage: 11
To hit: 20 Damage: 10

Again hitting with three, though his attacks are a lot less effective than his first round.

Ransom's words seem to fall on deaf ears as the crowd continues to panic. However, the lantern he pulled from a nearby post flies true, striking the troll, burning it just enough to get its attention. The fearsome foe howls in pain and fear, and begins to make its way back down the entrance to the Undermountain.

Durnan looks to Ransom and nods. "Good thinking," he says.

Meanwhile, Nib kills her second stirge, and as she winds up to strike the third one, she winks to her companion. "Between you and me, my money was on the troll."

Ransom hops down from the table and retorts to Nib with a crooked smile: Well, it looks like its a draw, so you'd have lost your coin, friend. He looks around the room and adds: Those other ruffians all cleared out, I suppose? before going to the unconscious ones and checking if they are alive - if they are he'll call Nib over to see if she can stabilize them. Either way he'll retrieve his dagger, and have a quick check to see if any of their belongings look useful.

The unconscious ruffians are indeed alive, and Nib makes sure they are alright, relatively. Searching their pockets nets Ransom 12 gold coins, and they each have a dagger on their person as well.

"Oh! Oh!" Ransom hears a voice call out over the clamor of the crowd. He turns to see, pushing his way through the crowd, a stout, jovial-looking man with an exquisite mustache and beard, dressed in colorful clothes, topped off with a jaunty cap. "Excuse me, yes! Hello! Oh!" He finally makes it through the crowd, and rushes up to Ransom, taking him by the hand before he could do anything about it, shaking it vigorously. "Most good! That was MOST good! You must be an adventurer, am I right? Oh, please excuse me. My name is Volothamp Geddarm, and I am very much in need of your aid!" He shakes Ransom's hand through the entire introduction.

Volo! Why yes, I've heard of you, replies Ransom with a bit of a forced smile, unable to extract his hand. Er, I might not be the type you're looking for, though. I'm not much for writing books, I'm afraid.

"Oho, that is very kind of you to say! Fear not! I do not need help with writing a book, but with finding a friend! Two nights ago, my dear friend disappeared off the face of Faerun! His name is Floon Blagmaar. He’s got more beauty than brains, and I worry he took a bad way home a couple nights ago and was kidnapped — or worse. If you agree to track him down with all due haste, I can offer you ten dragons apiece now, and I can give you each ten times that when you find Floon. May I prevail upon you in my hour of need?”

A hundred dragons! Each! Although this might not quite be a quest worthy of redemption, it sounds to Ransom like fairly easy money. After all, he knows people, and finding a lost person who was probably mugged by one of his old associates should be fairly simple. And even if the victim doesn't turn up, ten dragons is nothing to sneeze at.

Very well, Mr Geddarm, sir. I take it you've already tried the City Watch and had no luck, so I'll do what I can to locate your friend. Could you perhaps provide us a description of the individual, and his last known location? And how we might contact you if we pick up a lead?