Vaddis follows as fast and as best he can.

Once Selvin hears from Tarrov, he gives a nod and starts moving forward. He will not engage unless a fight gets too close to them or someone attacks them. His focus is the boy, not carnage.

The hole in the wall is the nearest entrance. As you step up to it, you see that it appears Chi-Dee's has descended into chaos. A knot of rat folk are swarming towards the stage in the middle of the room. Two of the rat folk near the center appear to be pouring fluids into small phials, stoppering the phials up, and shaking them. Toke, you know of course what they are.

The half orc guards and many of the table dealers have their hands full. Besides the rat folk, various patrons are trying to scoop as much money as they can off the tables before fleeing.

A roulette dealer is swinging a flail while standing on top of her table, trying to keep a pack of greedy elves at bay.

One of the serving wenches who wander among the tables fetching cocktails for the patrons flings her serving tray like it was a discus. The tray speeds through the air and strikes a dwarf in the back of the head. The dwarf drops three large rubies he was holding.

An elderly woman is seated on a stool before an overturned table, clutching a small bucket of coins to her chest. With her other hand she steadies a large crossbow on her knee. She waves it in your direction before deciding a couple of gnomes are a bigger threat.

There are dozens of such scenes playing throughout the club. You see one half orc, a trifle meaner looking than the others, stomping down an aisle barking out orders. He seems to be headed towards the ray folk cluster.

And at the far end of the room, you can see Malder and his cronies. They must have come in the front door. They are engaged in a fight with one of the half orcs, four or five patrons, and about six dealers. How they got involved in that, none of you can guess.

Tarrov, from what you can recall, the dice tables were up near the front of the gaming hall. As you look over that way, you see one of the tables in that vicinity has somehow caught fire. And of course there seems to be some kind of altercation in that area as well.

Possible routes are trying to creep along the outer wall towards the front, down the main aisle which would mean you'll have to clamber over the stage, or down another aisle which puts you pretty close to the rat folks.

Those are the obvious ones anyway. You have about eighty feet to go to get to the dicing tables.

Selvin paused for a second, having expected chaos but seeing more than he had expected. After a moment, he blinked and gave a snort. "Craziness."

He took note of Tarrov's words and nodded. Looking around he shrugged and headed to the outer wall to take it towards the front of the place. The less people they had to fight the better.

Vaddis, not wanting to shed any more blood than necessary, took off behind Selvin for the front of the gaming house to attempt to rescue the boy.

Malder and his crew, as far as Vaddis was concerned, since they didn't follow the plan and engaged themselves in a major fight, were on their own.

---

---

Well, good on you, Malder, Tarrov thought to himself as he spotted their ally and his men engaging what looked like a good portion of the Chi-Dee's staff.  That gave their group entering from the back an opportunity to move along the wall towards the table where Choffrey was hiding; an opportunity that it looked like Selvin had already seized.

Nodding in approval, Tarrov followed Selvin and Vaddis, whip in hand, ready for anything.  All right, we're on our way, the bard sent to Choffrey.  We're about eighty feet away from you.  I'll let you know when it's clear.

---

---

Tarrov, you get no reply.

As you all cruise along the outer wall, you see smoke and flames. One of the tables has caught fire. Another table lays on it's side, dice and coins scattered all over the floor. No one present is paying much attention to the burning table though. There seems to be some kind of stand off going on.

Standing atop the upright table is a woman. She is wearing a nice if cheap party dress which has seen better days. Her long blonde hair has come mostly undone from the tight bun it was curled up into. The shape of her ears seem to indicate she has some elvish blood, though she lacks the sense of true elegance an elf would have. A half elf then. She is clutching a long, elaborately carved wand in front of her and biting her lip.

Standing on the floor nearby are two dealers and a halfling. The dealers are pointing crossbows. One at the woman and one at the halfling. The halfling is holding two sacks, one in each hand, and saying, "Okay. Let's just all back up from the colossal amount of stupid that's about to go down here. "

The woman looks over at you all and holds the wand up. The halfling holds up his arms. "Everybody stop! Let's jus' all be cool. 'kay?"

This seems to be the correct area. Choffrey is either under the overturned table, the one on fire, or the one the woman is standing on.

---

---

"So, what exactly is it that is going on here?"  Tarrov said reasonably, returning his whip to his belt and moving forward, both hands in the air.  "My group, for one, has little interest in whatever is in the bags you are holding, sir.  We are simply here to rescue a child who I believe is caught under either the table on which the lady is standing or, more distressingly, on that table aflame right there."  The bard pointed at the burning table.

"What I would like to do is rescue this child and leave, allowing you to go directly back to," Tarrov gestured with his right hand, "whatever it is you are doing here.  We have zero desire to engage in combat with anyone, but I'm afraid that if we must do so in order to rescue the child, then we will."  Tarrov looked at both parties, attempting to gauge their reaction to what he was saying.  "Unfortunately, the flames over there mean time is of the essence for us.  I would ask for a brief truce while we retrieve the child.  What say you?"

---

---

Toke followed his group as closely as possible, carefully avoiding integrating himself into the melee around him. The violence and noise was incredibly distasteful and dangerous and he missed the nice quiet science of his lab and while there was no lost love between him and his old gang, Toke was seriously regretting leaving them on this accursed quest for revenge and power.

Upon noticing the standoff, Toke reached into his pack with his free hand, never taking his eyes off the crazy broad on the table. He fumbled for a rather large chunk of yellow rock and a thin vial and griped them tightly, careful not to drop them. "Listen to the man, lady. Lets not make this any bloodier than it has to be." He regarded all three parties, holding the catalyst and explosives needed to make his bombs he had reached for up for them to see. "This rather large chunk of rock is Trinitrotoluene, and the small vial contains high grade Nitroglycerin, their resulting mixture creates a rather deadly explosive. The first person to make a move gets one lobbed at their face."

OOC:
Toke rolled 15 using 1d20-2. Intimidate.

Ready action: (If possible) Throw Bomb
Action: Standard
Contingency: An attack (through wand cast or otherwise) is attempted by either the woman, the two dealers, or the halfling.
Hit: Toke rolled 11 using 1d20+4. Bomb to hit.
Damage: Toke rolled 9 using 1d4+6. Damage: (7 Splash [DC 16]).

"I'll get the boy" Vaddis says and quickly moves to the first table the boy might be under and looks.

09:01, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 10 using 1d20. Perception.

Selvin stops moving when everyone else does. His head tilts to the side a bit as the conversation starts but he doesn't leave his combat-ready stance. He waits to see what will happen, ready to pounce if needs be.

OOC: Ready an action to charge and pounce anyone who turns a hostile action on their group.

All of them stare at Toke. The halfling finally says, "Niterwhatacide?"

The woman on the table swings her wand in Toke's direction. She statts to say something but stops. She gpes back to biting her lips.

You see a small arm under the burning table Vaddis. It seems to be attached to a boy who seems to be passed out and bruised, but otherwise unharmed. You need to act quickly though. The fire is over his head now. I'll assume you flip over the table. It's well within your STR so no roll required. You grab the boy's arm. Four fingers on one hand. You have your man.

"What are we payong you people for?!!!" The roar comes from the main aisle. A large half orc is striding down the aisle, a large battle axe in one hand. He seems to be in charge. At least the guards and dealers are reacting to his shouts in a precise, quick fashion. He stops and eyes the lot of you. "What tha hell is this? Everybody drop tha coin. Now!"

"I've got him and he's okay!" Vaddis lifts the boy up and starts for the rest of the party and then the door, if it is possible. "We're leaving now, we have taken no coin, so please do not try to stop us from exiting the building. Keep me covered Toke."

Selvin gives a growling chuckle but stays silent. He takes up rearguard, warily watching the half-orc and the others clustered there for hostile moves against his group.

---

---

Tarrov nodded.  "Indeed.  We have no coin, we were simply rescuing this child who would have BURNED TO DEATH while your men and these," he eyed the woman with the wand, "miscreants threatened each other.  We will now take this child to safety, as your men SHOULD have done, and leave you to handle this . . .," another glance at the woman, "situation."

The bard brushed some ash off his fine coat and gave the half-orc a haughty glare.  "I have to say I am extremely disappointed with your hospitality, sir.  I would like to discuss it with you outside after you are done," Tarrov waved his hand around, indicating the general chaos, "pacifying this situation.  I will see you then."

Tarrov looked at the rest of the party.  "Come with me, gentlemen."  He strode back towards the least-obstructed exit from the establishment.

---

---

"WAIT UP!!!" The half orc points at Choffrey and then at the ground. "Very grateful an' all. But...tha boy's house property. Put 'im down."

Toke was about to put his explosives away but hesitated when the Orc approached him. Nervousness was added to his hesitation as he realized the reason for the Orc's intrusion was for the boy they needed. Beads of sweat started to appear on his forehead as his eyes shifted from the Orc to the items in his hand. "Uh..." He said, trying to find his words before dropping down his volume so that only the group would hear. "Get ready to make a break for it."

OOC:
Ready action: (If possible) Throw Bomb
Action: Standard
Contingency: The Orc moves towards the group.
Hit: Today: Toke rolled 6 using 1d20+4. Bomb to hit. .
Damage: Today: Toke rolled 10 using 1d4+6. Damage: (7 Splash [DC 16]). 

---

---

Tarrov waved his hand in the air, muttering something to himself, before giving the half-orc his most winning smile.  "Is THAT any way to treat the people who have just saved your house's property from burning to death?  We're your FRIENDS, and you're in a war zone here!  We are going to take this CHILD outside for you so that he is not killed by anything ELSE in this house of horrors."

Tarrov nodded, as if concerned with the half-orc's full plate of problems.  "You can deal with these people," the bard waved at the wand-wielding woman and her half-sized companion, "and those people," he gestured over to Malder and his cronies, "and then recover the boy outside after things have calmed down.  Otherwise you're going to be distracted by babysitting duties when you need to be focused on fighting."

Tarrov gave the half-orc a dramatic bow.  "So by your leave, sir, we will take the child outside with us and wait for you there."  He looked down at Choffrey, put a hand on his shoulder, and gave him a surreptitious wink.  "Let's go, son."

OOC:  Tarrov casts Charm Person (DC: 15) on the half-orc.

---

---

Vaddis continues for the door, boy in hand. (He's still holding the boy)

Selvin stays quiet and stays besides Toke. The better to make sure everyone gets out of the half-orc comes after them. He is ready to pounce and then run if needs be soon after.

My dice just love you guys. It's kind of borderline creepy.

The half orc blinks and nods. Then turns back to thewoman on the table, ort of waving a hand in dismissal. "Well hurry tha hell up then. I don't hve the man power ta cover you. And you-" He turns to the woman with the wand. "You have two choices. You can use that wand like a wand or as a..."

Sadly, you are all out of earshot and so may never know what her second choice was. As you approach the front, Malder waves at you all and gestures for the door. He then hs to sidestep a dealer's blade

Outside the crowd has more or less dipersed. You see a contingent of city guardcoming down the street in response to all the pandemonium. "Wow," says the halfling who had fallen in step behind you. "That was easy peasy. Much obliged."

---

---

"Outstanding," Tarrov clapped his hands as the group stepped outside, then rubbed them together, a delighted smile on his face.  "That went well, don't you think?"  He clapped Vaddis on the back.  "Good work getting the boy, my friend.  I admire your initiative."

The bard glanced down the street at the approaching city guardsmen.  "We should probably head out before they," he jerked a thumb in the guards' direction, "get here."

He started as the halfling spoke, having not noticed the smaller man following them out.  "Yes, well, stealing gold from Chi-Dee probably wasn't the brightest idea ever.  You easily could have been killed.  Glad we could help you, though."

He looked at the boy Vaddis carried.  "Are you okay, Choffrey?"  Seeing the boy nod, he ruffled the lad's hair.  "Good to hear."  He gave the child a reassuring smile.  "I told you we would get you out of there."  He winked.  "Ready to go see your sister?"

He looked at the rest of the group, then gestured at down the street away from the approaching guardsmen.  "Shall we, gentlemen?"  With that, he strode away, whistling, as if nothing at all significant had occurred.

---

---

Striding off to where?

OOC:  To reunite Choffrey with his sister at the House of Clouds.

Vaddis puts the boy down on the street but holds onto his hand if he wishes. He follows Tarrov down the street quickly to avoid an encounter with the guard.