Vaddis turns to Baldraggo, "Oh, rat-folk heading toward the gambling house? In the sewers? Tell them not to follow, it would be too dangerous in those tight spaces. "

---

---

Outstanding, Tarrov thought to himself.  Sounded like they might be able to get Choffrey away from the Gaming House with no (or at least limited) bloodshed.  It was the bard's favorite way to do things.  Violence always got so messy.

"Half an hour," Tarrov agreed, responding to the young man's idea.  "The guard won't be a problem, just be ready to go.  On which side of the building will you be dumping?  Out back?"

He turned to Malder.  "Okay, we're set.  Let's go."  Standing up, he gave the bartenders a jaunty wave and headed back out into the street to find the other conspirators.  If all went well, half an hour from now they should be spiriting the newly-freed Choffrey back to the House of Clouds.

Tarrov whistled as they walked, shooting Malder a grin.  Kindness was going down.

---

---

Baldraggo shrugs and walks back to the alley. "Oy," he says to Toke and Selvin, "The big one says hold up."

Vaddis, Toke, and Selvin can see Tarrov and Malder come out of the gaming parlor. You all meet back at the corner.

Toke was contemplating the possible consequences of his decision when he heard Baldraggo call out to him. He breathed out a sigh of relief and, upon noticing Tarrov seemingly empty handed, made his way to the corner. Rather than sound accusatory, he waited until Tarrov or this Malder explained the situation.

Selvin, all "tigered up" and ready to go, looked slightly disappointed at being told not to go down. He thought about going anyway but then Tarrov showed back up. He shrugged and headed closer to hear the news.

---

---

Tarrov strode across the street, appreciating the feel of the fresh air on his face.  Gambling establishments always felt so . . . constricted?  Confined?  Repressed?  Tarrov searched for the right word and couldn't quite find it.  Oh well, he thought.  Hopefully they wouldn't have to deal with this one for too much longer.

He smiled at the others as he arrived at their makeshift command post.  "Good news!"  He informed them.  "We've established contact with Choffrey.  He's going to be out back taking out the garbage in less than half an hour.  All we have to do is slip back there and help to spirit him away."

Tarrov grinned.  "Easy, right?  Now, there will apparently be a guard back there but I think we should be able to take care of one guard with a minimum of commotion.  In fact," Tarrov shot the more excitable members of the group a reproving glance, "I think I should be able to lull him to sleep with no one the wiser and without kicking up a fuss."

The bard looked around.  "So, we just move back there, stay out of sight, knock out his guard, grab the kid, and leave.  Pretty straightforward, really.  Any questions?"

---

---

"Not about the plan. Toke saw several ratfolk heading in the direction of the gambling house through the sewers. Can you illuminate us on them Toke?"

---

---

Tarrov nodded thoughtfully.  "There's a ratman who is supposed to be involved in some sort of prizefight over there within the hour.  Barman said he was late.  Maybe the rats are spectators?  Maybe they're his entourage?  Or perhaps they're there to make sure the fix isn't in?"  Tarrov shrugged.  "Or that it is.  Either way, I hope they hold off on whatever they're planning until we can get Choffrey out of there."  The bard turned to Toke with interest.  "What do you know about them, Toke?"

---

---

Toke's eyes widened, almost as if he was surprised that the spotlight was turned to him. He cast them down as he shrugged, "A lot less than you, I'm afraid. All I saw was a rather large group; around seven, heading towards the Gaming House and using the sewers down there as transit." He said, pointing at the grate where he saw them. "Selvin an I were going to head down there, but it seems that it's good that we didn't." He changed the subject to the more pressing matter. "I had a question, does this Choffrey character actually know we're here to rescue him?"

Toke's question is a good one. Though sadly, the point becomes moot.

A sound like thunder erupts behind you. You see the back door of the gaming hall come flying off it's hinges and land against the side of the building across the street. Smoke pours forth from the hole it has left.

From inside the hall, you hear shouts, screams, and quite soon thereafter, the distinctive sound of steel ringing on steel. The door guards turn to run inside at the same time the first wave of patrons comes streaming out. The half orcs, impatient to get inside and learn what is going on, begin to hack through the patrons like reapers starting the fall harvest.

It seems like the entertainment may have started a tad bit earlier than expected.

---

---

"Holy . . ."  Tarrov's hand went instinctively to his whip.  He looked around at the others as he removed it from his belt.  "Ratmen.  Why'd it have to be ratmen?  Let's get in there and make sure Choffrey's okay."

Choffrey, Tarrov said through his magical link to the boy.  Choffrey, where are you?

---

---

Vaddis draws his sword and straps on his shield and prepares to move in!

Selvin, certainly glad he summoned his ally earlier, bounds towards the back door that's now conveniently open for them, trying to see what's going on and get inside.

Toke is stunned by the chaos and confusion. His mouth sits agape as he numbly watches the guards hack through the crowd. As he comes to his senses he realizes that his group actually expected to go inside that deathtrap! Shaking away what little mental cobwebs remained, he reached down for one of his drugs (Shield) and made sure to keep a tight grip on it as he followed Selvin towards the back door.

Vaddis follows close on their heels, sword at the ready!


23:41, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 15 using 1d20. Initiative.

The half orcs at the front door ignore you as you all head down the side to the back door. A thick cloud of smoke wafts your way and you all drive through it. Toke,you can taste the phosphers and alkalines in the grit the cloud leaves on your teeth. Someone in your line of business supplied the smoke. And probably the casino shaking ka-boom.

Vaddis and Selvin, you arrive first at the back door, followed closely by Malder and Parns. Tarrov, Toke, and Baldraggo are bringing up the rear. As you reach the door, a half orc comes stumbling out. There are at least three ratfolk attached to aprts of his body and each is stabhing or gnawing on him in a manner thay looks uncomfortable. The half orc drops to the ground and begins to roll, as if he were putting out a fire.

Another half orc comes put of the door, a battle axe on his hands. He glares at you all. "We're closed," he barks as you approach.

---

---

"My good sir," Tarrov said, "we have family who was patronizing your establishment.  We are planning on going in and rescuing them.  We would be happy to assist you with your," he raised an eyebrow at the half-orc flailing on the ground, "rat problem.  But you need to allow us inside so that we may assist both you and our endangered family members."

---

---

"Die you disgusting rats!" Vaddis yells as he intentionallt swings at the half-orc on the ground.


17:35, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 14 using 1d20+6. to hit.
17:36, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 4 using 1d8+3. damage.

Selvin didn't slow down. He didn't care what the half-orc said. He let out a growl. "Move outta the way or die!" He kept on barreling to move towards the back door or the half-orc if he didn't move out of the way.

There was an interesting set of rolls with this. So...

The half orc blinks at Tarrov. "What? They probably left-" But before he can finish, Vaddis' blade finds a soft part on the downed half orc. Unfortunately...of fortunately, depending on the point of view...he manages to shave off one of the ratfolks tails as he slices into the half orc's belly. The half orc and rat man scream, one's deep basso somehow harmonizing with the rat man's alto in a disturbing way.

The guard at the door jerks his head around at the sound. "Hey! Stop that!" he shouts as Selvin and friend step up. He blinks at the conglomerate that is the summoner and brings his axe up. "Is he with you?" he asks the bard.

Go ahead and give me init when you state your action, even if it is non violent, please.

_{"Sorry Mister Ratman, just trying to rid the world of an orc."} He says, hopefully, only loud enough for the group rolling on the ground.

---

---

"But they haven't left, they're still inside!"  Tarrov let a note of concerned panic creep into his voice as he worked on persuading the guard to let them enter.

Tarrov looked on in dawning horror as Vaddis waded into combat and Selvin barreled forward with a threat on his lips.  He shrugged in response to the half-orc's vague question, looking bewildered.  "I have absolutely no idea who that man is," he lied smoothly while pointing at Vaddis, perhaps because at this point he half-wished it were true.

He gave the half-orc his most helpful look.  "There are a lot of people out here concerned about their loved ones inside.  As you can see, this concern is causing them to act out in . . . unfortunate ways."  Tarrov shot Selvin a sidelong glance.  "You can either harness this by letting them in to help or hinder it and deal with a riot without along with the ratmen within."  The bard let the specter of such a two-front conflict hang in the air.  "I myself think the wise move is to harness the help.  But of course," Tarrov sketched a short bow, "it is your call.  I'm sure your superiors won't have anything to say about a riot instigated by your actions."

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 08:40, Thu 06 Feb 2014.

Toke reached into his pockets with his free hand and picked out the Kitchen Knife he had found earlier. He held it to his chest with the blade pointing out; more as a deterrent than anything else, while using the hand with his extract to support it.


His body shook, as if in terror, as he made his way towards Garrik's left, approaching cautiously. As he reached Garrik's immediate left he nudged the man with his elbow. "Are they going to let us in? It's not safe in there! What are we going to do?" He asked, hoping he sounded like a desperate family member. Still, even if it didn't work, he was close enough to flank the Orc, being that this was definitely neither the time nor place for his improvised explosives.

Selvin, unfortunately, did want the orc to come up behind them later or block their way when they tried to make their escape with the boy later.

07:47, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 17 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

Toke, you take your position as Tarrov states his case. The half orc covered in ratfolk begins to roll sideways. Two of the ratfolk on him leap off while the one gnawing on his ear goes along for the ride.

The one whose tail is hanging half off Vaddis, hisses at you. "You sonuvawhore! Watch what you're doing!"

Selvin  You go first. Wasn't quite sure what action you wanted to take. Sorry.

The half orc on the doorway pushes past Tarrov . "Go away! Your people will be out front! Go look there!"

He looks over his shoulder. "Jab! Get that table over the grill! They can just keep coming up if we don't close it off!" With an almost negligent swing of his arm, he slams his axe into the half tailed rat man, finishing the job Vaddis  had started.

As he moves out of the way of the door, you can see inside. The room beyond is fairly wide, almost like the receiving dock of a warehouse than the back portion of a casino. There is a thin wooden wall seperating this area from the gaming house and a large hole has been blasted into it. You hear another explosion in the gaming area and more screaming.

Two more half orcs are facing off against a half dozen rat folk just inside the door. About twenty feet in, there is a large hole in the floor. A metal grille which obviously used to cover the hole lays next to it. A green sort of goop covers portions of the grille and it's metal bars sizzle as the sludge drips along them.

One of the half orcs inside neatly dislocates a rat man's shoulder with a well aimed kick, then moves towards a nearby table. Jab it seems is moving to cover the hole.