OOC: Heh! That was a ridiculously high DC. I'll write up the next step when I get back.

"I, um, think it would, um, be wise to, uh, show the lady the respect she deserves," Kassius, mutters, obviously unconfortable in such situations.

Kassius rolled 4 using 1d20+1. Intimidate?


OOC: is Kibeti allowed to roam the street with him?

The grotesque man stares back at Celene, totally unmoved by her attempt at persuasion. "The performers' entrance is round the back, you should know that!" he says, rolling his eyes and moving to slide the slot closed again.

Kassius reaches up and puts his hand in the slot, stopping it from being slid shut.


OOC: Err, no, that isn't intimidating at all!

The man snarls, showing two large incisors either side of his mouth. He then shoves the slot closed, forcing Kassius to hurriedly jerk his hand back to avoid getting his fingers caught.

16:14, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d20+3. Intimidate against Kassius.
OOC: Well at least Kassius isn't intimidated.

"Oh please, this is painful to watch. The great fame of my extraordinary deeds is often a burden," says Victor as he presses the back of a wrist against his forehead. "But perhaps in this instance it can be put to good use!"

The daintily clad man steps forward and raps on the door with the hilt of his cane. The slot slides back again.

"It is I! Victor Saint-Demain, mightiest sleuth in this city of sails, and I demand entry in the name of truth and justice!"

The man behind the door nods, and a second later there is the sound of bolts being thrown back, followed by a squeak as the door swings open.

"Ah-ha!" chuckles Victor as he walks across the threshold. "My acclaim open doors as usual!"

Behind the door is a great big giant of a man nearly seven feet tall with an ugly scared face. It is clear that his heritage is not entirely human - if anything he looks part ogre - but he is dressed in a well-tailored black waist coat and matching pants. The bouncer smiles in welcome at the silk-clad inquisitor. "Welcome back Mister Saint-Demain. And so soon!" The bouncer gives Victor a small poke with his elbow and a lecherous looking leer. "And on dwarf night even... you sly devil you! Well, the non-members will need to sign in please Mister Saint-Demain. Rules are rules after all."

Angati had quite a bit of trouble following the conversation of the half ogre and Victor. Her experience about places such as this was reduced to second hand gossip, and so she did not think twice about signing in or anything, albeit of course under her role as a shrine acolyte. She was really curious to learn what she would discover inside, but felt a bit anxious about what the half ogre had said about coming so early... 'had something happened in the tavern that they were waiting for Viktor now ?'

The huge bouncer stares at Angati with surprise when she enters. "Madam, are you sure you wish to come in? You are not the typical... age group that this club caters for..."

Angati looked at the bouncer up and down, resting a bit longer on the bulge at his trousers, and couldn't bite her tongue quick enough before saying "Well, I guess you are not the typical ... size either... and there you are hm ?". It might have made for a great retort had she not blushed furiously.

"I will be fine, thank you" She said after she recovered herself somewhat... 'and, anyway, it might well be the only way I get to see certain things before I set my two feet in the grave' she thought bitterly.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:05, Fri 03 Apr 2015.

"What? Huh?!" stammers the bouncer, perhaps not sure if he has heard correctly. That was not the response he was expecting from such an elderly lady.

OOC: Heh heh. That post made me chuckle. There are hidden depths to Angati.



"Oh. OK madam." The bouncer makes way for Angati to sign in. He doesn't take a second look at her staff.

Feeling no need to further aggreviate Victors predicament, Celene simply giggles, while she signs into the guest book.

If Amarilde had in fact lied about being here, Celene guessed that she would at least not be stupid enough to have a full membership, if her presence here would spell such a disaster. Therefore, Celene tries to go over the pages of the guest sign-ins for Amarildes name. Or if any guests even signed in on the day in question - and if so, who.

Celene finds out that the open page of the book covers the last couple of days and is able to take a look at all of the names... It seems that not many people use their real names judging by the silly pseudonyms that are being used, and in fact most just make some sort of cross or mark to indicate that they have come in - the bouncer probably can't even read to check the book anyway.

Amarilde's name is not among the few names that are legible.

Alohan patiently waits for Celene to cease flipping through the book and moves in next to make his mark. He was well versed in Sasserine script but approached the book with the intention of using Nuari. Picking up the quill, Alohan dunked the tip into ink and leaned in over the ledger. 'Pua'a Laho,' he wrote, marking the words in elaborate royal script filled with typical flourishes and accents mandatory for all formal Nuari documents. He chuckled to himself, happy with the irony of it all. Remmi would be proud -Alohan rarely got to practice the formal alphabet especially now with his jaunt to Sasserine. His friend would be proud.

Satisfied, Alohan stepped back from the table and eyed his surroundings. He looked for unmanned exits, possible escape routes, and whatever detail that might get overlooked. One could never be too careful in such seedy environs. Once happy with his results, Alohan looked for the next important detail. Women.

"Heh. Pretty mark," grunted the bouncer approvingly.

Victor rolled his eyes. "Can we please hurry this up? I don't want to spend all night in here," he groaned, placing his hands on his hips impatiently.

"But we can make your normal table available Mister Saint-Demain," said the bouncer helpfully. "There is no need to leave early, just stay till closing like you normally do!"

Victor's checks coloured and he tried to answer, but just ended up stammering something incomprehensible and falling silent.

OOC: Refer to map in the 'Mermaid's Secret Map' thread.

Please note, Angati also notices that the small area that the bouncer is located in is warded by some powerful anti-magic signals - she realises it will not be possible to cast magic in the area marked blue on the map.

Logan signs in without incident, but the bouncer's eyes bulge when he saw Kassius try and bring Kibeti into the tavern. "Sir, you will have to keep your... giant albino panther... outside!"

Once that was sorted, and Kassius had signed the guest book, the bouncer opened the door into the main room. A wall of steamy heat hit the party and was joined by a pungent wave of stench consisting of sweat, pipe smoke, cooking meat, ale and the sickly-sweet smell of Zzonga juice. The 'Mermaid's Secret' was a large establishment with a common room 150ft north to south and 100 ft east to west. A dozen tables filled the room, each crowded with patrons loudly talking, eating, smoking, singing, chewing Zzonga, arm-wrestling... A surprising number of the patrons were dwarfs - about two thirds of them.

Along the northern wall was a bar with dwarfs and humans jostling two to three deep to get a drink. Harried staff were busy behind the bar taking orders and delivering large tankards of foamy ale to eager customers.



Besides the door they entered through, there was an exit behind the bar, although it looked like this lead into the kitchen. There was a mezzanine floor to the west and on this were half a dozen doors that looked like they led to private rooms. The railing on the mezzanine floor was filled with more customers looking down on the common room below.

At a pinch, Alohan gueseed that the windows might also be a viable exit points since they were on the ground floor. They were all painted black however so it was not possible to be sure.


The Islander studies the room and doesn't see a single woman until a dwarf spilling his ale on another dwarf spirals into a fight involving ten of the diminutive warriors, and opens up a gap in front of to the central stage. On top of this, two dwarven maidens writhe arrhythmically to the accompaniment of a set of drums and a lone bagpipe. The dancers are almost naked, their hairy bodies glistening with sweat as they continue to move, their dead gazes firmly locked on the ceiling and not on the baying crowd that surrounds them.

OOC: Well... it's 'Dwarf Night'

Walking to a table near the back of the room, Logan chuckled at the interaction between the bouncer and their esteemed guest.  "Well, Mr Saint-Demain, I see why you were so eager to accompany us.  Any ideas as to how to get started?"  Logan glanced around, then shrugged his shoulders, figuring in a room full of shouting, drunken dwarves it would be impossible to attract any sort of attention.  "I'm sure the good Ms. Vanderboren doesn't want word spread around here about her possible visit.  Or, at least more word spread around.  We could question the staff and patrons about a customer who looked like her."  Logan nodded his head towards the bouncer.  "Maybe even starting with your friend the bouncer over there."  Logan eyed the bar, with its gaggle of customers.  "Getting in a word in edgewise at the bar seems difficult."  The rogue looked again towards the...interesting display on the stage.  "And this being what it is, I doubt many people here are daily customers."

"Ah-ha! I have it!" exclaims Victor, as though he has come up with the solution to an intractable problem. "I have collected for charity in here, that is why they know me! I do a lot of work for charity you know, for the orphans..." It seems that he has nothing to contribute beyond that. If this mystery is to be solved then the party is going to have to do the leg work.

OOC: Who do you want to start with?

"Master Victor Saint-Demain's pet cat is perfectly tame and properly licensed," Kas lies blithely. "But if you want him to stay out here unattended...I'm sure...I mean I'm pretty sure he won't attack anyone if messed with...I think....and he probably won't scare too many customers away right" he adds injecting a tone of doubt in his voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:14, Wed 08 Apr 2015.

The feeling of helplessness was beginning to press on Alohan. The sweltering heat didn't bother him but the accompanying stench of dwarven and human body mass entwined with the thick smoke, tarty sweet, and rancid stench of drugs, booze, and food had left him a bit weak in the knees. He knew how to enjoy himself but Alohan was finding he was a bit claustrophobic. With only one clear exit from and what may or may not be windows, the native was yearning for the open sky.

He didn't have much to offer in the ways of investigating. While he respected Amarilde's wishes to absolve her of the accusations, Alohan did not even fully understand what the problem was nor how he would go about proving her innocence. The cultural differences were becoming increasingly difficult to manage. He recognized them but failed to find answers. Something wasn't proper with Amarilde being in a place like this although he could scarcely imagine why. Men lusting after women was natural. Granted, Alohan would prefer making love on the beach under a moon lit sky rather than a hole in the wall but to each their own.

As the noise pounded on his temples, Alohan approached Celene. He leaned in to her ear so as to be heard over the din. "Maybe we be askin' about last night specialty. Amarilde be a poor dwarf on dwarf night." the Native shuffled a bit, trying to find the words. "Me... dis not be me cup of colada. Be finding me ill suited in inquiring about oders."

Logan nods to Victor.  "Well, thanks for the help getting in.  It seems that all these people are very eager with their money, a splendid place to collect money for orphans."  Logan looks around the room again, passing over the display at the bar and the dance floor to settle back on the bouncer who has let them in.  "I think our best bet is starting with him.  He has to see everyone everyone coming in, right?"

Logan ventured back over to the enormous bouncer, trying to catch his eye.  "I'm here trying to settle a wager with my friends.  I bet a man like you has a mind like a steel trap for faces, with all you see coming in here, right?  There's a drink in it for you.  Our friend Victor is besotted with a woman he thinks he saw in here in the last few nights."  Logan glances at the mumbling man, making sure Victor doesn't catch the next bit.  "He was more than a little in his cups, and can't remember exactly where he saw her.  If I describe her for you, could you tell me if you've seen her here?"

The bouncer looks at the cat doubtfully. "Is that true Mister Saint-Demain?!"

The inquisitor is looking out across the bar floor, seemingly mesmerised by the slowly gyrating dancers. "But there is just... so... much... hair!" he says in a gagged voice. He shakes his head and half turns back to the bouncer. "What? Oh yes, yes, yes. It's all good."

The bouncer is hardly convinced. "That thing is going to scare a lot more customers if I let INSIDE, and are you sure it won't start biting people?"

OOC: If you really want the cat in the bar, then make a DC10 diplomacy check. A fail indicates that Kibeti is not permitted inside, a pass means he at least gets through the door. If Kassius wants to take the cat further than the entre (marked in blue) then he'll have to make a handle animal check at DC10 otherwise Kibeti will react to the noise and smells... in a way that causes problems.

The bouncer straightens up a little and smiles - it is not a pretty sight as his mouth is full of broken and crooked teeth. "I do my best young master. But yes, I pride myself on recognising all of the members. That is part of the job of being a good doorman."



Victor is still enraptured with the semi naked dwarven maidens on stage, watching with a face revealing both fascination and revulsion. He isn't paying attention.



"I will do my best although sometimes I fear that *cough cough* my memory needs assistance to awaken." The bouncer's face twists into a smug looking smile.

Celene strained to hear the islanders speech, and comprehend what he meant. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea. But I also think Logan is on to something, asking the bouncer. I must admit I feel pretty awkward in this place - I have never been anywhere nearly like this. In fact, I wish I was anywhere else." Taking in the sight of the crowded palace of lust and revel, she shuddered. "Let's see what Logan comes up with first - he's much more at home in a place like this. I think..." she added in a slight wonder. "Depending on what he finds out, I might try to find some regulars, and pursue your line of thought."

Logan gave the bouncer a knowing smile.  "Of course, of course.  A little something to help you remember."  Logan slid his hands into his belt pouch, feeling the coins slide through his fingers, trying not to think about just...giving away the money.  I bet this guy would talk if I took him into a back alley with a dagger at his kidney...  Logan recentered his thoughts, and tried to hide his grimace as he pulled out some coins and passed it to the bouncer.  "Of course, this is worth my friend's happiness."  Logan smiled, and took the bouncer's shoulder, turning him to face the wall, away from the patrons, no matter how enraptured in the dwarves they seemed to be.  "So the woman I'm asking about is..."  Logan described Amarilde.

Give 5gp to bouncer

Angati certainly got her share of 'world' like right on her face. As the male dwarf started dancing right in front of her as soon as she sat next to Viktor. It was all she could do not to gape nor giggle... the feeling was kind of mixed up, but she deffinetly didn't have her mind set on the matter at hand...

... or rather the matter at hand was entirely different.

Still, she saw Logan go back to the bouncer to make some enquiries, and decided to wait a bit before moving... also, her knees didn't feel so steady. She had not felt this nervous in all her life.

OOC: FYI, it was specifically last night that Amarilde was accused on being in here.

The bouncer smiles as the cash clinks into his hand, and then listens carefully to Logan's description, but before the thief gets too far the large man interrupts him. "Ohh! You mean 'All-the-way-Amy'! Why sure, she was in here last night - she's a regular. Mister Saint-Demain should have known that," says the bouncer as he glances back over his shoulder at the inquisitor, but Victor is distracted by the dancers on stage.

"Anyway, I definitely remember her being here last night, especially after the big commotion she caused **chuckle** well, I hope that helped young master. And I hope it was worth five gold crowns too *wink*"



OOC: This has been removed from your cash in the loot thread.