"My name is Bartholomew Ravenman, heir of the noble line of Ravenman. Me and my companions wish to parlay with you, gentlemen, so we may figure a way to share the spoils that we may find in this haunted place today"

Bartholomew turns around and gives the others a confident thumbs up.

”Wert thou not a noble I would bit my thumb at thee! For this writ in my hand clearly states. That I, Sparrowheart Bagshaw, have right to what remains on these premises before it is torn down for one of those accursed skyscrapers!”

"If that's the case, noble Sparrowheart Bagshaw, then mayhaps we may be of service to you and yours, for a justly pay? Surely our effort combines would help stripe this unlucky location of it's valuable, may their serve your family for times to come?"

”Nay, Sir, for thou art still interlopers no matter whence thou camest! I am already to split the spoils with mine Bemused Associates! Prithee Sirrah, may we meet at the tavern on the morrow, but for now, exit my property forthwith, lest we we come to blows!”

"Very well sir, then we shall take our leave. for it is not our intention to offend your noble house. We have not taken anything yet from this place yours, but shall you wish to verify say the word and we'll subject to examination"

Sparky clears his throat.  "Hold a moment good Sirs.  Mister Bagshaw, you say you have a writ to the valuables on this property.  I will not impugn your honor, my Lord.  However, our company likewise has a deed to the same, issued I think by the same benefactor.  Our recovery of such items to be applied to our own significant debt."

Sparky's tone becomes a bit sterner, "We acknowledge your obligations and shall not impede your work so long as you likewise respect ours.  We have no desire to resort to violence in these matters but a mutually beneficial arrangement must be the alternative.  What say you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

Smoot attempts to, quietly, get to work while the others negotiate.

"Get to work" meaning..?

See if 'appraising' things in plain sight turns up anything valuable enough to grab.

Sparky looks back at Bartholomew and shrugs.  He clears his voice and shouts through the peep-hole, "I shall interpret your silence as assent.  We will endeavor to stay out of your way and would appreciate it if you would do the same.  Good day gentlemen."

Bartholomew makes sure to not say anything, building plausible deniability if Sparky's hijacking of his own plan doesn't pan out. He can always throw them all under the bus.

The room is pretty much ruined, Sparky was lucky to find the twine. There’s the cooking pot and ladle of course.

”Come, my Bemused Companions! To the victor goes the spoils!”

”Victor couldn’t make it today, he had a dental appointment, remember?”

”I…never mind. Just go up the stairs!”

Once he is sure that the other group is out of earshot, Bartholomew sighs defeated.

"Why did you have to go an do that? We could have had them loot everything and just ambush them outside. Now we have to compete for the loot, so bothersome... oh well, at least you turned out to be convincing. I would have bet against you, but you seem to have a knack for charming the dimwitted"

Smoot, roll a d20.

20:46, Today: Smoot rolled 14 using 1d20.  SMOOT ROLL A D20!

You find a bag of dried flowers.

[DM]

Zikko, who was inexplicably distracted this entire time, looks up.

”Wait…do I HAVE a brother named Sparrowheart? Did he have an extra finger by any chance?”
This message was last updated by the GM at 18:26, Sat 11 Mar 2023.

[DM]

Warfhand samples a bit of the soup. He drops the ladle then falls down, dead as a dorrnail.

”Boss? BOSS!”

He leans him up and starts shaking him frantically.

”Boss! Wake up! Please!”

Sparky eyes Warfhand's corpse.  "I say!  Must be an especially spicy concoction.  I was a bit peckish but I seem to have lost my appetite."

He turns to the still-closed door, listening intently.  "It seems that our opponents have relented for now but there's no time to lose!  Let's get this door open and begin our search in earnest!"  He makes a pathetic show of lightly nudging the door with his shoulder and then stands back, rubbing it tenderly.

Pangwin blows his nose on his sleeve. He picks up his fallen master’s halberd.

”You want me to do it or the guy with the spikey thing?”

"You can give it a shot. I don't want you to feel useless now that you are masterless"

He charges the door with his poleaxe and smashes the lock open.

”We’ll pick him up before we leave, right?”

Sparky gestures with a flourish of his hand, "A true gentleman never leaves a man behind Sir!  We shall of course collect his remains when our task is complete.  But for now, let us venture forth and beat our opponents to the most valuable loot!"

Sparky takes a tentative step through the doorway and examines the room beyond.