Standing up, the halfling stares at the Paladin when his two guards block its path "Really? Then what does this package have within? And now..." His attention looks to the cleric "Do you think I care about people who are poor? And I have my means of keeping myself safe and secure. If I must I can take my business and go elsewhere. There are always ways to create profit. Nothing against you but I do not rely on someone else to 'heal my pain'. So absurd. If this disease happened to get within me, are you not going to be infected as well? All of you? Such trival nonsense. You have two options-you can continue to harrass me until my guards throw you off the side. Or know of what is within the box. A plague? That is...." The man coughs several times and he puts a handkershif against his mouth. Really.

Xander watches but doesn't say a word. He doesn't agree with what is going on and they seem to be in danger. He's very smart and knows they have been outplayed. The man has the cards. The elf waits, for now.

Standing tall, the Paladin responds "My Lady Sarenrae protects me from all disease, which is why it is my task to deal with this plague. For all your bluster, that cough of yours could be the first symptoms of the issue we face." Turning to the interposing guard, he adds, "And you two? Are you also feeling some need to cough? Unexpected tiredness? Aches?" then he turns back to the agent, "As far as the contents, we don't know exactly what it contains, just that it holds the key to our solving the illness. I leave it to my betters to apply their own skills to make use of it in a way that helps me solve this dangerous infection. If that is all you feel the need to do is sit there and let people suffer, then we will be off, and know that your coldness has added to the death toll!" He then turns and leaves the doorway, waiting for Lady Loranain to join them so they can try a different tack.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:22, Thu 14 Sept 2023.

"So now I am being insulted because I am doing my job? You are indeed rude. I dob't believe there is even a plaque nor do I care. I strongly suggest you leave immediatly for I tired of drealing with such insulance within my place of business. Of course you seem to not care about it. You walked in without any reason of what is within the package, sending your harlot within to try to have her use her lovely abilites on me which such failed miserable. I prefer a more civil approach and you berated me and want my aid. How does that work? Go on, leave. Be on your way and I hope I do not see you again." He sits down, shooing the cleric as well and puts his hands under the desk.

Thw toe guards steps aside if the cleric chooses to leave but look ready to attack if someone decies to go after him. They look at eachother, shrug and wait. Turning on their boss?

Bad idea.

Kisaiya had put her hands to her mouth in horror at the cough, but said nothing, looking  to Issac for his move.  She nodded as he turned to leave.  She blinked at the term Harlot, momentarily wondering how many harlots this pitiful man had ever met, but did not respond.  How ever, she looked at the two guards, shook her head, then sighed.

"I am most sorry we came too late, and wasted your time, good sir.  Hopefully, you have more time than the poor wretches we have seen."  She glanced at the guards as she turned to walk out.  "You might wish to open the windows, to blow away the diseased humours."

She followed Isaac out, still shaking her head...

The halfling shakes his head and angry hits something beneath his desk. And the floor beneath the cleric drops down into nothing but air! A metal door slams down between the guards and the gunslinger, paladin and wizard.

Pulling out their guns, they aim one at the paladin and the other at the gunslinger from behind the grate where the halfling lies.

"Just business." The halfling spits out, fed up with everyone insulting him all because he's doing his job. He's not a nice guy.

Saying that the floor opening up surprised the half-elf is an understatement.  With a squeak of terror, she fell in to the opening, clearly to her death.  However, she made a quick twist and managed to grip the edge, keeping her from falling.

B-blessed Shelyn... help... me..." she gasped, using her strength and balance to hang on.  Despite what others might think, Clerics of the Lovely One could not fly...

Kisaiya Loranain rolled 23 using 1d20+3.  Reflex Save.

Oh son of a....

The mage watches as the gate came crashing down and the cleric dissapeared from sight. He bites his lip, and goes over to the edge. He swings his legs around, gripping ot tightly and looks at Bucko muttering something under his breath and looks at the goblin "It has been a pleasure." and he drops down off the edge out into the air.

Down two. Two left.

Bucko calls from outside....."Come on now gents, let us try and go our own ways.  No one has been hurts yet!"

Seeing the Priestess disappear into the hole, Isaac is startled then angered by this fool! When Xander goes after her, and knowing there's naught he can do to save her falling and probable death, the Paladin looks at the interposing gate, then the walls beside it, looking for something weaker than the bars to go through. "You trumped up, ignorant, self-serving pencil pusher! Murderer! This will see you hung in the square!"

Kisaiya pulled herself up slightly, trying to get a better grip, then glanced over her shoulder to see what was below.  She forced herself to slow her breathing, and simply focus on her situation.  If it was a drop to death, then she needed to move fast.  If it was a short drop, then she needed to consider her options.  She was not sure she could pull herself up, but she felt strong enough to try.

Bucko takes his musket looking for some mechanism or weak point of the gate where it is weak and could be taken down..
This message was last edited by the player at 00:04, Sun 17 Sept 2023.

The wizard looks like he is falling but shoots off. He keeps out of sight seeing the cleric dangling there and about to fall. His eyes narrow and sighs. At this rate he should charge her for saving her life. Second time. He whispers "Scream and fall."

No one notices the wizard within the office. Smiling, the halfling pushes another button and the area outside the office-the walls seem to cackle and warm up. Slowly. What is he doing?

Seeing what appears to be yet another defense for this useless dock officer's minor position, Isaac says to Bucko "Come, let's leave this self-important halfling to his fate. I will make sure he get's no succor from my church, and we will report his murderous attack to the Council." and then proceeds to leave to find where Xander flew off to, mourning the loss of the Lady Loranain and dreading his having to tell her own Church of the event.

Bucko had long decided to not fire his musket without direction from someone and in this case the only remaining person to listen to had indicated that a report needed to be filed...

Bucko puts his musket away and follows the Paladin...

"Xander made Bucko flys, so might be both fly and safe from harms..."

Bucko follows the Paladin away from the docks...

Kisaiya hesitated, then did just what was said.  Her fingers slipped, then she let out a scream and fell, making it look very realistic.

She felt foolish doing it, but then again, this whole affair was turning into a fool's errand.  And in her mind, she was the fool.

In reply to Bucko Rackingclaw (msg # 122):

Pausing for a moment, Isaac nods in agreement, then continues. "True enough. Let's check the underside. I'm still going to report this evil halfwit to the Council and church for his murder, even if it turns out to only be attempted. He cna't get away with such unwarranted brutality!" Looking for a way to see the underside, once out of sight of the office, he tries to locate hopefully both of them.

Bucko shakes his head...
"Bucko nots cares bouts legalistyism theory, Bucko jus hopes friends is flown to safe space."

Unfortunatly for the paladin, when he decided to go underneath it was a bad time. The walls cackled out and the paladin was gripping the wall. A nasty joilt fires out slamming into the paladin and sending him out into the air and downwards. He connects with some platforms and bounces off and off another railing to his death. Xander was too busy saving the cleric as well and didn't see the paladin drop. The wizard lets her fall for a moment and with some speed grabs her and pulls her away from the trapdoor so neither can be seen. Its like Superman.

Bucko is left alone with the crackling walls moving towards him. The bridge is fine. Perhaps its just another defence of the office. Whatever is going on its not good. Not good at all.

"The hells with this place!"

Bucko heads across the bridge determined to never return to the  docks again!!!
Which he will forget fairly soon....

Kisaiya gave a slight 'eep' as she was caught, and turned to look aat Xander.  "Well, thank you, kind sir.  Where in Hades are we?"

She was blinking, slowing her heart to see where they were now trapped.

"Below the city. We need to go. Now." The elf hovers for a moment and flies away from the building. He lands right in front of Bucko as he gets across the bridge and away from the bloody building. The wizard puts the cleric down a good distance from the building. For a moment he's silent but speaks up "Where is the paladin?" Across tbe bridge, the two guards watch them intently but doesn't draw their guns or even move. Probably ordered to stay where they are. The cackling 'building' stops and the door inside is now closed.

So much is going on-missing people, constructs going nuts, the man in the office. The plague.

Bucko shrugs when asked about the paladin...
"Probably deads, he is...... Goes somewhere safes?"

Bucko's floppy feet moves him away from the guards and the bridge as he can get at a fairly quick pace.....

"Thank you, I think."  She looks around.  "Paladin's dead?  How?  And I'm starting to wonder what safe looks like."

She looks back at the building.  "That didn't go well..."

"We're on a flying city. Nothing is 'safe'." The elf rubs his chin "Finding this item what does it solve? Take someone words and hope they are correct? He's using us and I dislike it. Logically, what does the disease and my missing friend as well as the constructs going beserk have in common?" He's obviously frustrated as the group keeps losing people.

Bucko rubs his chin...
"Constructs gots diseases too?"