Toke shook his head. "I'll be preparing for the fight while you're inside." He mumbled, almost to himself as he shuffled off. He walked into a nearby alley after making sure it was devoid of neighbors and started preparing his mutagen and extracts for the day.

Int Cognatogen prepared
Shieldx2 Prepared
Cure Light Wounds Prepared
1 Slot Unprepared

Malder grins. "I'll go with you Fancy Man. If ya like..."

Vadis and Selvin, you watch the scouting party move towards the front door. As Tarrov and Malder if Tarrov approves approach the front door, you hear the clack clack of a wagon coming down the street. Odd for this time of night. A single horse drawn contraption comes up the side of the building, stopping along the back. The driver appears to be a lean, tall elf. He jumps down off the wagon and heads to the door on the side of the building.

Toke, you finish up your last batch and cap the vial, testing it's security and checking the color of the mutagen against the moonlight. It looks perfect. It should. You make this stuff often enough. As you stow it away you hear a scraping sound. As you look around you notice a grill to the sewer set in the street near the alley mouth. From inside you hear a chittering sound.

The half orcs look you over Tarrov. They say nothing and the doorman bows before sliding open the doors. Inside you're looking at what clearly used to be an empty warehouse. To your right, running a good fifty feet along the wall, is a long wooden bar. A surly looking dwarf and half orc play bartender. As you watch the half orc pours what appears to be a perfectly made Chelish Navel. It's difficult to get the purples jsut right.  The aisles are quite wide and two rows of gaming tables, set about ten feet apart, run down the center of the room. All of the games seem to be represented. The only interruption to the table rows is the stage in the center of the space that Malder mentioned. It runs almost completely across the hall, leaving only about a ten foot gap between it's edges and the walls. You can see various stains on the surface of the stage. You can only guess what made them.

Past the stage the gaming tables continue for another thirty feet or so before ending in a wall which has clearly been added. You would guess the loading bay door you saw from the outside is just behind the wall.

Toke put away his mutagen, his fingers rubbed along it carefully, habitually. His eyes focused on the grate and the sounds emanating from it. You're asking for it. Toke thought to himself as he edged towards the grate, his curiosity getting the better of him. Curiosity was what got him where he was today, though technically that was sort of a mixed blessing. Still it was probably a rat or something, nothing to be afraid of. Arriving at the edge of the grate, he cautiously peered inside. The tension was killing him!

OOC: 03:42, Today: Toke rolled 17 using 1d20+2. Perception.

The light from the city's lantern posts drips weakly down the drain Toke  . You narrow your eyes as you peer in.

Through the grate you see a sewer line below. It must be one of the side tunnels that filter the run off towards the main lines that run out towards the sea. The tunnel is cramped. Perhaps only four feet across and high enough for someone to crawl through. The ones moving through it now though hve no such impediments. Rat folk. A line of perhaps six rat folk...no. Maybe eight...are heading down the sewer line. The line seems to head towards the gaming house.

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Tarrov straightened his doublet and nodded to Malder.  “That sounds good; I’d appreciate a second set of eyes.  Let’s go.”  He brought a small steel mirror out of an inconspicuous pocket and checked his hair.  Satisfied that he looked the part of the young-gentleman-about-town, he beckoned to Verik’s henchman and set off across the street.

It went pretty much as the bard had expected.  He looked bored as the half-orc bouncers conducted their inspection, as if no one could possibly find a reason to keep him out of a gaming establishment.  He nodded amiably to the doorman as the man let him inside, winked at Malder, and strode into Chi-Dee’s place like he owned it.

Looking quickly around the gaming area, he figured the bar would be the best place to go for information.  He approached the barmen and gave them his best rich-kid-with-money-to-burn smile.

“Gentlemen!”  He said with gusto.  “I’ll have whatever you consider your specialty.  Every barman I know has one, and I’d like to sample yours.”  He leaned over the bar, conspirator-like.  “This is my first time here, although I certainly know this place by its reputation.  Tell me, what is it that sets Chi-Dee’s apart from the other gaming establishments in the City?  Like, say, Devargo’s?”  He gave the room an ostentatiously-skeptical once-over.  “My friends keep on telling me I need to try this place, but they were rather mysterious as to the why.  And to tell you the truth, it looks pretty run-of-the-mill to me.”  He nodded to the stage.  “Is there some sort of entertainment to which I can look forward?”

As Tarrov spoke, he looked around carefully, keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of Choffrey or any of the other younger persons who might be pressed into work at the gaming house.  He also tried to spot any patrons who looked like regulars who might be willing to share some of the secrets of the establishment that had taken so much of their money, as well as determine whether the dealers were indeed armed.  In this case, knowledge truly was power.

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This message was last edited by the player at 03:04, Fri 24 Jan 2014.

Selvin moved over to where Toke was at and began summoning his ally once he wouldn't be seen by the bouncers. If this turned into a fight, he wanted to be ready.

After Selvin was finished doing his... thing, Toke called him over. He squatted over the grated and pointed down where he saw the passersby. "While you were busy, I saw a swarm of ratfolk. Normally I wouldn't give a rats ass -heh- but it seemed like they were headed over to Chi Dee's. I can't think of any situation in which this is a good thing. What's your take?" He asked nervously, his eyes looked unfocused as he tried to think of what they should do about this new found discovery.

Vaddis continues to watch the front of the gaming house, waiting for the two inside to come out, or for signs of impending trouble.

After a moment, one of Malder's men peels himself off the wall and moves to stand next to you Vaddis. You think this one is Parns, though the two of them pretty much look and smell the same: messy and unwashed. He stands there a moment, arms crossed, watching the same scene you do. The driver of the cart is waiting and after a moment, a door in back opens and he steps inside. Out front, a few patrons enter and leave. The guards stand there, looking like ugly gargoyles. "This fancy man a' yours," says Parns unexpectedly. "He know what he's doin'?"

---

The half orc behind the bar gives you a blank look Tarrov, then reaches down and begins to pull out bottles which he starts to empty into a shaker. "'s a veritable wonderland. If ya got the skill an' tha guts for it." He drops a small cut of some kind of fruit in after the liquors and then caps the shaker. "Most men don't have either. Or they lack the one and not have any of the other." He times his words, speaking each one in rhthym with the shaker. He uncaps it and places a strainer over the rim. "Course no one ever trumps up to tha truth of it. Everyone comes in thinkin' they're a winner. They got a pouch full of coins...most from their dead end jobs...and they all think that if they strike it big, somehow that opens some secret door in tha wall. And on the other side is some great golden life that the walls been hidin' from 'em up 'til now." He drops a few pomegranate seeds into the glass. The concoction he's just mixed you smells like peaches and looks like blood. "So does it matter how much ya win? When ya already are startin' out a loser? Here's your Sevens Down. " The half orc grins lopsidedly. "Hope ya find your magic door sir..."

---

Selvin, you can hear what Toke is talking about. The sound of people scurrying through the sewer line below. But the sound soon fades. These rat folk do seem to be headed in the direction of the gaming house.

Toke, you see one of Malder's goons...Baldrago is his name you think..peer around the corner into the alley. "What's up?" he mutters.

"Very much so. he's very good at his job. Are you?"

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"Thank you, good sir.  I don't think I caught your name?"  Tarrov slid a platinum piece across the table.  "I see you're something of a philosopher as well as a mixologist."  The bard took a careful sip of his Sevens Down.  "Outstanding."  He nodded.  "I see you, for one, have no issues with professional skill."

"For myself, it depends on who you talk to.  You talk to my father, you'll get one story.  You talk to my lovers?"  Tarrov shrugged, giving the half-orc a conspirator's grin. "You'll get another."

He took another sip of his drink.  "It all depends on who you know and how they know you, am I right?  In my experience, you rarely know the complete person, no matter how close you are.  When it comes to acquaintances or," he raised his glass to the bartender, "new friends, things are even murkier.  For all I know, for example, you're a top-flight musician.  But I'll never know for sure because I've never seen you in that context.  My loss, really."  He sighed theatrically.

The bard nodded towards the center of the room.  "So, the stage.  Is there some sort of entertainment scheduled today?  Or have I chosen the wrong time to visit?"

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Parns shoots you a look Vaddis as he says, "Easy now. If you were going into a job with fellas you didn' know, wouldn't you ask a question or three?" He shrugs. "As for me an' my job...yeah. I suppose. They tell me to break this or that guy's head an' I do it. What else is there for me to do?"

---

The half orc doesn't look at the coin. But it still makes it's way into his pocket. He glances at the stage. "Not quite a musical stage. If that's your idea of entertainment. Though those up there do sometimes hit high notes. No. Fights. The pugilist's art if you prefer. There's a bout in a bit. I think we're just waitin' on one a' tha fighters ta arrive."

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"Is that so?"  Tarrov asked with the bartender with interest.  "Who are the scheduled fighters, if you don't mind my asking?"  The bard drummed the fingers of one hand on the bar.  The middle of a fight would be an excellent time to make a move on Chi-Dee's.  It would be almost impossible for a good portion of the people inside, including the guards, not to be distracted by the contest, and the noise would also drown out a lot of the sounds that might be made by a group of raiders.

Unfortunately, such a raid would be pointless if it had no target.  The bard looked around the gaming establishment with a sour expression on his face.  He had been hopeful that visiting the interior of the gaming house would give him a clue as to where to find Choffery.  It would have been nice, for example, if the young man was running around serving customers.  But that would have been too easy, Tarrov signed to himself.

As he waited for the half-orc to answer his question, he looked around to see what Malder was doing and to try and catch his eye.  Maybe Verik's man was having better luck finding some indication of the indentured boy's location.

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This message was last edited by the player at 05:40, Mon 27 Jan 2014.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 16):

Toke looked up then cast his eyes down as he thought about whether or not to trust this man. After all, this could be a perfect situation for Malder and his goons to set himself up with a rival gang. Still, if that was the case, then the worst case scenario was that Selvin and he would disengage, kill their mark, and collect their reward. Tarrov and Vaddis? Well, they knew the risks. "Uh..." He started nervously, standing up from his crouched position. "I saw a large group of rat-people headed towards the Gamin' House. Sounds like trouble to me."

"Just asking, as we don't know you fellas either. Not good to go into a fight with someone that doesn't know his trade, is it?" Detect Evil.

Selvin finished summoning his ally, which enveloped him so he seemed to be surrounded by a semi-transparent tiger-like creature covered in blue flames. "Rat...kin? Perhaps they have...business with...the man we're after? Should we investigate? It also might be...another way in instead of going through the half-orcs."

Malder siddles up next to you Tarrov. "Every one a' tha dealers I saw has a crossbow under their table an' a long knife strapped to their thigh."

You study the crowd. You see one...two...no four total young boys in the crowd. They seem to be working mostly as messangers as they wander around the crowd from table to table. They also seem to be using some kind of signalling system. You note one boy standing by a crad table and he's scratched his nose several times as he walks around. Another taps his right ear. Who they're signalling you aren't sure though.

The bartender starts to pour Malder an ale. "Next bout is in an hour. But it'll be pretty lopsided. Not much book bein' made on it. A rat folk is gonna go up against one a' tha guard."

---

Baldraggo eyes Selvin, then kneels down beside Toke. "That passage seems like a tight fit. Not sure me or Parns or your big friend is gonna squeeze through. You two might though."

---

Parns nods. "Yeah. 's tough havin' to babysit the weak sister."

Vaddis, the man is evil. Not as strong as his two friends. But there's definitely some stains on his soul.

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Well, maybe it was just that easy.  "That's not good news," Tarrov stated the obvious as both men sat, backs to the bar, looking for all the world as if they were discussing what game of chance should have the first opportunity to take their hard-earned gold.  Tarrov watched the bartenders out of the corner of his eye to ensure they were not eavesdropping as he talked in an unobtrusively quiet voice.  "Crossbows AND long knives.  That's too well-armed for my taste."

"I have better news."  The bard nodded towards the nine-fingered kid he's spotted minutes earlier.  "There's Choffrey.  Now all we need to do is figure how to get him out of this place without having to fight through two score armed men to do it.  Ideally we'd be able to get him away from the main room before we made an overt move."

Tarrov tapped his fingers against his empty glass as he thought.  "One plus is that there's going to be a fight on that big stage in about an hour.  That's a ready-made distraction for the kind of snatch-and-grab operation we'll need to pull."  He glanced at the grizzled former guardsman.  "Any ideas on the least risky way to pull it?"

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This message was last edited by the player at 08:57, Tue 28 Jan 2014.

Vaddis looks at the man next to him in a quizzical way. "You know, it's never too late to change your way of life. There is much good left in you, perhaps you should embrace it before it is too late."

09:35, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 11 using 1d20+7. Diplomacy. Terrible roll!!!

Malder thumps one of his big thumbs against his chin. "There's a back door...though I would suppose Chi-Dee keeps hisself back there. I'm thinkin' one team to come in an' try ta spirit the kid off an' a second team ta make a ruckus at the front door to make with the distraction."

---

Parns glances at you. "You're one a' them holy guys then? Wanna save tha world types?" He looks back at the gaming house. "I think it's too late for me. But thanks. I hope you find somethin' worth savin'. "

Selvin nodded at Baldraggo. "Please go get Vaddis and bring him here. I would have him know what's going on."

He looked at Toke. "You want to investigate with me? Or you keen to stay here?"

"No one is beyond redemption my friend, but of your group, you would be the easiest salvation. Perhaps you should ponder it a bit, before it is too late."

Toke pondered the situation he was in. If he were to follow Selvin, he would leave his back nice an open for a knife should a betrayal arise. However, he doubted he could take on Verik on his own, especially if his men are planning a betrayal. Toke didn't like the position he was in, but decided that his best chances were with someone he trusted. "Yeah..." He mumbled, almost to himself. His eyes focused and he spoke more firmly. "Yes, I'll go with you."

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Tarrov scratched the side of his face skeptically as Malder outlined his dual-pronged plan.  It sounded a little risky to the bard.  Fortunately he had access to another person who might have information that would aid in the boy's rescue:  Choffrey himself.

Tarrov surreptitiously moved his hands and mumbled the words that allowed him to speak privately with another over a distance.  When he had completed casting his spell on Choffrey, he began with the following:

Choffrey.  No, don't look around.  Just continue with whatever you're supposed to be doing.  My name is Tarrov, and I'm here on your brother's behalf.  Helvara at the House of Clouds sent me to get you away from here and reunite you with him.

I would like to get you out of here with as little fuss as possible.  Is there ever a time when you go outside?  Say, to dump the garbage or perform other tasks?  If so, can you tell me when and where that would be?  We can get you out then.  Otherwise, do you have anything you can tell me about when the best time might be to attempt a rescue?  I have many armed men with me but I'd rather not get in a knock-down drag-out fight if I can help it.

Just whisper your response and I'll be able to hear it.  I look forward to meeting you face-to-face soon.

Tarrov stopped speaking and waited to hear what Choffrey might have to add to the plan for his own rescue.

OOC:  Casts Message on Choffrey.

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In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 31):

Parns begins to say something Vaddis. But his eyes cut behind you and he closes his mouth. The other flunkie, Baldraggo, comes siddling up, jerking a thumb over hisshoulder towards the alley Selvin and Toke went to in order to make their 'preperations'. "Your lot saw some rat kin down in a sewer tunnel. They think the ratters 's headed towards the gaming house. They're goin' ta folow 'em I think."

---

Selvin and Toke, you lift the grate up. The pipe will be a tight fit but you can manage. It's about an eight foot drop down to the tunnel below. Neither of you can hear anything further from the rat kin. Are you waiting for Vaddis?

---

Choffrey freezes and looks around wildly as your message begins Tarrov. But he settles down and soon starts scanning the crowd. You see him glance at a player seated in front of him and make a sign at the dealer.

"I...my brother..." Choffrey is quiet a second and then whispers "I can switch up trash draggin' chores with Ophet. But there'll be a guard watchin' me. Half an hour?"