Smash It, Stab It, Strike It or Steal It IC

[Silverphantasm]

Edit: Sorry I forgot to actually link to this page

The adventurers/remnants of the the Battle Brigands currently sat at the top of a large sandy dune, a few meager trees provided shade for them, as the sun began to rise from the sand laden horizon. It had been a month since their company had been forcibly disbanded by the order of Tharru Argiob King of Temacol, the kingdom they had been assisting in capturing. Tharru wasn't a bad king, but his views on magic, and those who used it, caused him to be a rather disliked individual to other nations. As such the Lady Magnora leader of Nibalo a country south of Temacol, had marched against him, hiring the Battle Brigands, a highly sought after company of Sellswords, to aid her in the conquest. The conflict had ended largely in defeat due mainly to the Tharru's trickery and dishonor, (attacking after the conclusion of a peaceful meeting of the two leaders). The leaders of the company had been executed as an example to others, but the bulk of the brigade was allowed to leave the nation, as they were simply doing as commanded. Finding themselves in a foreign land without resources to return home most of the company scattered, the group sitting on the hills either knew each other well, or knew of each other, they had been some of the best and most resourceful members of the Brigands. A breeze blew across the dune rustling the 3 papers they had been discussing throughout the night. The trading post they had visisted yesterday had dozens of requests and job offers, they had collected those most suitable spent the little gold they still had for supplies and were now at an impasse.

The contracts they had collected were varied but nothing they had never done before,

The first dealt with a band of a dozen raiders who had been harassing the trading post, and whom had a base in the cliffs just visible in the morning light.
Reward: 500gp/raider head: 6000+

The second was a concern regarding a nearby village and the attacks a strange creature was making once every 3 nights.
Reward 4000 gp

The third dealt with an "explorer" whom had recently found a few ruins and wanted a group of bodyguards for himself and his workers during the exploration.
Reward: 5gp/day, 100gp per incident, and bonuses.

The group pondered about which to take...

[Silverphantasm]

OOC thread
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472041-Smash-It-Stab-It-Strike-It-or-Steal-It-OOC&p=20189859#post20189859

[bhangbhangduc]

"I still say we help out the village. The payment is fair, and it sounds like they're in a real spot of trouble out there. Besides, it's been too long since I've felled a true beast - I'm sick of killing humans, they're too squishy."

Scane sat leaning against the trunk of one of the trees, hunched over as she sharpened her sword.

She's a built half-orc woman, with fairly impressive tusks, and dressed in full armor. Not a lot of it was visible - the whole thing was wrapped in dark red cloth, to keep the heat to a somewhat manageable level.

[caesar193]

Talib was torn. A strange creature with such unusually structured hunting habits was fascinating, and dissecting it would be rather educational, but the ancient ruins promised a taste of history. He sighed at the half-orc's... less-than-intelligent comment.

"So you're basing your entire decision-making process on what's going to be harder to kill?" Talib began. "There's courage and all that crap, and then there's foolhardy danger."

[bhangbhangduc]

Scane sighed heavily, and drew the grindstone down the blade with a bit too much force. And this was why they'd been wasting their night. Looks like they were going to spend their morning on this crap as well.

"Oh, I forgot we were too scared to go up against a single little monster. Numbers matter, twerp."

[caesar193]

"Right, exactly. For example, the number of raiders. Us humans might be too squishy for you, but we have this tendency to, you know, where armor.

Talib grinned. A good debate was always fun, and him annoying people was just an added bonus. Still, he probably shouldn't debate it too hard. Wouldn't want to accidentally convince these imbeciles to actually go take care of the raider problem.

[bhangbhangduc]

"We have a word, in orcish, for men who talk of things already known as if they were great news of the gods, and sow strife where none was before. They are Skvangr. We make a deep but small cut in their gut, and rise them up on a blunted iron spike, driven into the wound."

She pauses her grinding for a moment. "They take hours to die, as their weight drive them down on the spike. Sometimes, if they don't struggle, or sqeual too much, they can last days."

She resumes the sharpening of her blade.

[root]

Having tuned out much of the conversation until now, Scirocco opened her eyes. The recent events regarding the disbanding of their mercenary group have been unfortunate, at best, but she was content to just be alive. "Seems like death is a constant companion..." she uttered at half-breath before speaking up to her companions.

"I say we go after the bandits. Sounds simpler, and we can grab all the food and water we need without haggling with some desert snake." Standing up from the lukewarm sand, she stretched with a loud sigh. Barely 3 feet tall and utterly wrapped in sun-bleached desert garb aside from her shaved and deeply tanned head, Si's most notable feature was an intricate tattoo of a crab, covering much of the back of her head, its pincers raised above her ears.

"The beast would be there tomorrow. And another week. Wouldn't be much of a bounty if they could be rid of it that easily", she continued.

[Sgt. Suitable]

Scarvi rolled off of the branch he was lazily laying on and landed in the sand, barefoot, with a dull thump. He was just wearing his breeches and his whole attitude was nonchalant and carefree as can be. Although he hated losing, he was quite content with this newfound freedom and stretched himself out with arms raised greeting the sun. A wicked smile betrayed the elfs energetic and optimistic personality.

"Same logic would go for the brigands I suppose.."

He offers no helpful comment beyond that. Instead he makes a handstand and stretches himself out, this time upside down.

"Bandits." He says after a bit of silence. He gets up again standing on both feet.

[caesar193]

Talib raises an eyebrow at Scane's monologue, before saying: "We have a word for 'em too. We call them '*******s' and then just move on with our day."

Then he acknowledged the rest of the group. "This is our first time together, working alone, yes? At least, it is with me. So if we're gonna work together, let's do a nice, easy assignment to figure each other out and get into our rhythm as a team. So I say we go help out that explorer, which sounds pretty straightforward, or that monster, since four against one is pretty simple, tactically speaking." He paused a bit, then continued. "Not that I care all that much. You people vote amongst yourself, and I, as the ancients learned, will follow your democratic demands."

[Sgt. Suitable]

Scarvi starts getting dressed, pulling the straps of his fine looking breastplate tight for comfort. He fastens his buckler and picks up his large falchion.

"Sound reasoning. Shall we hunt then? Let's make some money.."

[root]

Shrugging, Si picked up her longspear. Her scant possessions barely filled a single pack - she liked to travel light.

"Beast it is. Too bad about the bandits..."

[Silverphantasm]

The group left their sandy dune and progressed southeasterly, the heat while warm wasn't bothering them, it was winter in the desert and the only time when excessive heat didn't persist throughout the day. The journey took most of the day, they trotted into town as the sun was setting. The village was a modest one, they had passed thru a few herds of sheep and cattle as they approached the village, the herders looked hopefully at the group. The village had no perimeter wall, one could move in between the houses as easily as one could the trees in forest. At the center of the town they found a large well 10' across a notice board and the only 2 story building. It was a sandstone building with a worn wooden sign naming it the "Sunken Oasis".

[KuramtheWicked]

Serket a little unnerved as to how unprotected this place is, a little on edge. "I don't think i want to be the first one to go in there." Looking at Scane "If you would please. I would much rather not be in the front."

[root]

"Don't be silly! It only comes once a week. We can rely on information posted on bounty boards, right?"

Si overtook Serket, bravely marching into the village. Perching on top of the well (or the side, I guess), the halfling yelled out:

"Sunken Oasis! Is there anyone who can tell us about this monster?"

[bhangbhangduc]

Scane looms silently in a nearby spot of shade. She was ready to call her weapon to hand at a moment's notice, but it probably wouldn't be neccesary.

"Let's let Sirocco do his thing," she muttered at Serket's request.

[Sgt. Suitable]

Scarvi lights a tobacco pipe while he scans the houses for signs of activity.

[caesar193]

Talib looked around the village fighting back a sigh. A place as poor as this was unlikely to have a library, let alone someone who knew something about anything. Sunken Oasis, though.... Prescence of a well meant at some point they'd found an underground water source, which meant either magic (unlikely given the current political climate), a really good guess, or a geologist...

Well, hydrologist. Same difference, really. Talib quietly opened his book, the one that knew everything, to the proper page, then with a smirk closed it and stowed it back where it came from. But anyway, on to more pressing matters. Namely the people they were supposed to be helping.

Talib eyed his companions. Such fools... The people were no doubt terrified of the monster, and had sought as much shelter as they could. Individual houses weren't strong enough, and there was safety in numbers. The large, sandstone building was the most likely candidate.

So he strode confidently towards the building, and knocked thrice with as much strength as he could of muster.
"We bring you the head of the monster!" he shouted into the building. "I hear there is a bounty on it?"

Okay, first I'm going to roll Know (Local) to find out as much as I can about this village as possible. That check is assured by my consulting my Tome of Worldy Knowledge, since I might as well. Then, since we ain't exactly got any monster heads, a bluff check.

Know (Local): [roll0]
Bluff: [roll1]

[Silverphantasm]

After Talib's words echoed throughout the empty square a low grunting sound was heard from the door of the sunken oasis, an aged Gnome with a beard that touched the ground pulled back the heavy wooden door, and called out in a wispy but experienced voice "In here young sirs if you please, tis dreadfully warm out there." He offers a guiding hand to escort them inside.

If the party goes inside...
They see a stair case that quickly descends into the sandy ground, and upon descent find themselves in a spacious low lit common room. There were room was roughly 50' by 60' and had a dozen of small hallways leading off from various sides. The room contained several tables, a 2 bars a line of cooking pots, and several couches, a notice board rested behind one of the bars, several tattered papers clung to it. About 30 creatures occupied the room mostly gnomes and halflings, but some dwarves, humans and a few elfs were present. The only visible orc was a brutish looking bartender, his lower tusks jutting up past the bottom of his nose. While the outside air wasn't scorching, the temperature of the sublevel was a comfortable 68 degrees.

The aged gnome who had greeted them hobbled over to a nearby table and sat down, he called them over saying that he could tell them about the monster since they clearly didn't have its head.

[bhangbhangduc]

Scane's armour clatters as she takes a seat at the table, drawing the scarlet hood of her robes. There was little need for it now that she was out of the sun.

"Well, do get on with it. You'll have to excuse the *******. We'll do what we can to help out, if nothing else then because of the payday."

[KuramtheWicked]

Serket finding the darkest possible corner, tries to stay out of sight and more or less unnoticed. "Don't mind me I am just gonna stay over here and throw in my 2 cents every now and then."

[caesar193]

Talib ignored Scane's comment, instead concentrating on the elder. As old as he was, he must have accumulated enough stories to fill that impressive beard at the bare minimum.

"Yes, please, elder. Tell us the tale of this fantastic beast, so we may learn how to slay it." Talib sat down, and leant in, hanging on the gnome's every word.

[root]

Sitting down at the corner of the table, Scirocco rested her spear against the wall. She had no delusions of being a master negotiator, largely staying quiet and nodding whenever it was appropriate. Noticing large crowds of halflings, she smiled slightly.

Perhaps slaying this beast would be a worthy deed after all...

[Silverphantasm]

The old gnome chuckled at Scane's comment and replied, "Oh don't worry, understand dear lady, he simply thinks he's the smartest one in the room." He paused, "and he is probably right." "Anyway, to the matter at hand, this beast that plagues over village is something beyond my guards. I am the lord of this land, but more and more I find myself a feeble figure good for telling stories." "This beast appears to be a shadow-cat or as others would call it a Dire Puma, but it is unlike any shadow-cat I have ever seen. It's hide is thicker and more resilient than any I've ever encountered and any wounds we inflict heal with seconds, it is skinny and ragged but has a strength of body and mind that i've never heard of, let alone seen. It appears out of thin air too in the middle of the village, silent as a shadow. Once more it seems to be toying with my men, simply staring at them for half a minute before it begins to attack. But only my men, once we had a human sell-sword who sought the bounty as well. When he went to attack the beast it attacked him instantly, and so savagely he barely stood a chance." The gnome stopped and coughed then looking at the band said, "excuse me, I'm being rude would you like anything to drink or eat?" He turned his head and shouted, "Ogren! Mead and stew for my guests" He turned back to the party smiling and shaking his head, "I have forgotten my manners in my old age. Now back to the beast, that sell-sword lived barely, he is trying to recover his health in one of our guest houses, you may speak to him if you wish." He gestured at the tunneled hallways in the walls of the room. "Our village is entirely connected underground, it is laid out much like a spiders web with most paths either a circle or a line, with this Inn as it's center. Helps when a week long sandstorm is raging for us to be able to easily travel among the village, most of the houses you see above ground are simple storage and airways into our lower levels. And before you ask the beast isn't hiding down here, its never so much as stepped into a house or the Inn." "Now I understand you are hear for the bounty on the beasts head, but I'd like to offer you an additional job if you are willing, i'd pay the same as the first. When the beast started coming round people'd vanish afterwards, never to be seen nor heard from again. At first I chalked it up to fear of the beast but now that some I know well are vanishing I think something else is happening to them. It's the same pattern, beast attacks drags on of my villagers, then a person vanishes without a trace during the next two nights, then the beast is back again." He stopped his talk as 7 bottles of mead and bowls of stew were placed on the table in front of them. "I be addin this to yur tab, Lord Gillak", spoke the bartender as he retreated back behind his counter. Gillak, looked at the food, and then to the band and as he blew on his stew asked, "Any questions?"

To any trained in the skills
A knowledge nature check
A knowledge religion check

To any wishing to add more to the reward
A diplomacy or intimidate check.

To everyone,
Any other skill or action you wish to do please have fun.

[caesar193]

Talib smiled and nodded when the gnome acknowledged his brilliance. Then he started listening gnome. When he named the beast, Talib turned thoughtful. Muttering under his breath about Dire Pumas, he pulled out his Tome of Worldly Memory slowly, and consulted it for its knowledge.

Then he smirked, and closed the book and returned it into his pack.

Then he listened to the rest with rapt attention.

"Wait, the cat left the merc alive?" Talib said. "And it eyes its prey before attacking? Hmm... Probably under someone's control via magic, and it waits to attack so that the puppeteer can determine who the victim is... That'd explain how people are disappearing as well, if not why. He's using the cat to terrify and explain away the people's disappearance, so you don't suspect..." Talib furrowed his brow, before standing, the food ignored. "Where is the human sell-sword? I have a few questions for him."

Know (Nature): [roll0]

Oh, and since I believe I'm the face of the group and the only one who's invested in diplomacy, sorry guys for not trying to haggle for more money. Talib is simply fascinated with this cat.

[Sgt. Suitable]

"Any questions?"


Scarvi sits down without much bothering with politeness. He grabs a spoon and looks at the bartender.

"Just one. What's in the stew?"

[Silverphantasm]

"A good question," Gillak spoke, he raised a spoonful of broth to his lips and slurped down the liquid, then dipping the spoon back into the bowl he lifted some of the stews contents to eye level and examined them, "barley, garlic, a bit of parsley, salt, pepper, some ground acorn, peas, carrots, onions either turnips or potatoes, I'm not sure which, and two meats camel and" after sticking the spoon in his mouth chewing and swallowing "Hippopotamus" he proclaimed. He turned his gaze back to Talib, "Yes, as I said you may see the sellsword. He is down that hallway, turn left after 3 crossings then take your second right, knock before entering and you can question him all you like." Gillak eyed the group at large, "When that man first showed up, he could fought five of my men at once and won. Now he could barely go toe to toe with our basic recruits. Whatever that beast did ta him is serious and sa'far as I can tell permanent.

[root]

Unconcerned with a long list of strange ingredients in the stew, Scirocco attacked her plate with a spoon with impunity.

This was far better than any food she'd had at the monastery - and her time in the mercenary troop taught her not to scoff on free food. Anything is better than field rations...

Lifting up her face when she heard the mention of mangled sellsword, she blurted out:

"That poor soul. Mayhaps we can help with his injuries, if he's willing to tell us more about the beast."

Giving it a few more moments of consideration, she turned to the gnome and added:

"Are you saying that bodies of other victims have never been found, Lord Gillak? Not even bones? It's troubling..."


This dire puma seems spooky. I wonder if knowledge:religion may help?

[roll0] to see if anything pops up. A mysterious animal, seemingly ragged and yet capable of great savagery... probably not undead or messenger from gods, but you never know?

[KuramtheWicked]

Serket a little unnerved at the accuracy of the wizened gnomes list of ingredients but slightly impressed takes his own fill of stew.

Thinking quietly to himself tries to recall anything of note based off of the information given.


Knowledge Nature[roll0]

[caesar193]

Talib smiled, and nodded. "Anyone wanna come chat with him with me?" he asked the group. If no one responds, he swallows, shrugs, and heads off on his way.

Simple enough directions to follow. He strolled down the indicated corridors, whistling as he went, before reaching the door and knocking.

If invited in, Talib smiles and walks in as if he owns the place- which he should, since he's the smartest man alive and deserves to own the place.

"So," Talib begins. "I hear you had some problems with a kitty. Care to tell me about 'em?"

[Sgt. Suitable]

Scarvi downs his stew, loudly, slurping the last bits with flair. He tosses the empty bowl on the table and sits back relaxed.

Not feeling for visiting a sickbed he answers Talib.
"No I'm fine, I'll stay here and keep these people safe. Damn good stew!"

[root]

"I'll come along. Someone's gonna have to weight you down, Talib..."

Leaving her spear and her empty bowl at the table, Si followed Talib to the wounded mercenary's room.

[KuramtheWicked]

Serket quietly follows the others.

[Silverphantasm]

As Talib, Si, and Serket enter the room, they find a middle aged Human male sitting upon a wooden bedframe, beside him sat a hand and a half sword (Bastard Sword), it's blade entwined with veins of silver, and its pommel containing a large red gem. In the man's hands being sharpened by a whetstone sat a battle axe, its dull gray appearance making it seem lack luster compared to the sword. He raised his head and spoke, "Oy Gillak what do you want of me know?......OH? Who are you lot?" Upon hearing Talib's statement, the man laid aside the axe and stared at his hands. "I dunno what that beast was, but it tweren't anything natural I'can tell ya that. I'd heard about the bounty same as you I figure." His eyes scanned the group. "I've fought big critters before, but this'n had strength beyond anything, and its bite, I doubt I'll ever be the same. Used to be I could take half a dozen sword swings without a problem, and wield both me sword and axe at the same time. Now... Now I can't even use the bloody sword without missing my target or cutting myself with it, and a single stab or smack by another's blade or stick and i'm hard pressed to survive. That blasted cat, it ignored me till I laid it a good smack with my sword, seemed to deal a good amount of damage too, but then he turned on me, feral as a mad dog. He smacked me with both 'is paws and then he bit me arm and clamped down, felt like me very life was leaving me bones when he did that, held onto me almost 20 seconds like that, then he seemed to lose interest in me. He dropped me, grabbed up a gnome who was standing nearby and ran off with him. I was bleedin out and had pretty much given up, when ol' Gillak poured an elixer down me gullet. He had me hauled in here and let me rest up, it was strange, for almost a day I was near death, then that night I seemed like I might get my strength back, but then it just collapsed, I forgot how to sharpen and maintain a blade, and how to wield both me weapons. It seems like I've lost 20 years of my life, and I whats more I didn't even get paid for it." He stared aimlessly at the ax by his side, then returned his attention to the group, "I'm Mert by the way, Mert of Yuslag".

[caesar193]

"So, you're weak in the day, strong at night... extremely strong feline... And a bite, you mentioned? A bite that sucked your life out? Hmm..." Talib mused to himself.

Then he began to smile, a dark, evil smile. "And here I thought this job was going to be boring," Talib said. "Just two more questions for ya. First off, anything you can tell me about what the creature looked like? As descriptive as possible, please. And second, anything you can tell me about the elixer Gillak gave you at the time of the event?"

[KuramtheWicked]

"And can we get a couple of those!" Serket added, kind of nervous about the whole story.

[BBDuc 2E]

"That sounds like my kind of beast to hunt. I am glad that we went here after all. The villagers are much in need of our help, also. This is good work."

Scane is content. Her belly is full, and there's meaningful battle ahead.

[Silverphantasm]

Mert's eyes closed as he began detailing the beast that had crippled him, "Its fur is black tar, with bony spikes jutting out along its spine, its taller and longer than a horse, but silent as mouse, glowing red eyes, its fangs white as snow and so long they're visible even when its jaw is shut."

As the group listens their own background knowledge combined with Mert's description reveals:
HD:48-72
Attacks:Bite(Primary),2 Claws(Secondary), 2 rake(secondary)
Damage:1d8+str,1d6+1/2str,1d6+1/2str
AC:16, FF:13, Tc:12
Special: Improved grab, rake, pounce
Habitat: Warm hills most likely a cave or burrow

The group also has realized that this creature is most likely vampiric which grants it additional qualities (4 from knowledge religion)
DR 10/magic and silver
fast healing 5
An increase in physical abilities (Various Attributes and Natural Armor)
2 Negative levels/round if a primary attack hits

[root]

"That sounds horrid." Si shuddered. "I knew we should have gone after the bandits... At least with people, you know where you are."

[caesar193]

"No... no, not really," muttered Talib after Si's comment. Then he looked at Mert. "Wish I could help you with, well, your condition. But I am no mage, however much I'd like to be, so you are on your own. But I will try my best to give you its head or something so you can tell everyone you know that you killed it in a glorious battle, how about that, eh?"

Talib stood up and nodded, turning to leave. "Let's go have a chat with ol' Gillak."

[BBDuc 2E]

"You do that. I will go look for a weapon that can pierce the beast's skin, and stake through its heart." Scane will be looking forward to this fight.

"I will meet you here once I find what I am looking for."

She leaves the house, on the lookout for something like a temple that might carry the scrolls she's after, or a weaponsmith.

[Silverphantasm]

Upon seeing Talib, Serket and Si re-enter the room Gillak rises from the table, proceeds towards the bar, fumbling with a coin pouch as he walks. "Did Mert tell ye all you wanted ta know? He's a good lad he is, it's to bad he seems to have lost himself." Extracting some coins he placed 3 gold on the counter, and called to Ogren, "I know I still owed you for da mornin meal, so here's what I owe for it, the stew for me and my fine friends and this mead." Finished paying he reaches over the counter and grabs a bottle of mead, its label color a deep, rich amber, and a label of faded Ink with a patch of reeds and cat tails. "Reed Mead" the gnome chuckled as he tried to pull the stopper from the top of the bottle, "Best stuff fur a hundred leagues in any direction." He continues his efforts to remove the stopper. "If you lot get rid of that confangled cat tonight, I'll not only pay you, but give you a barrel of this stuff too.... Oh dagnabit its stuck."

[Silverphantasm]

The doors of Inn clatter shut as Scane passed through them, the midday sun hot and bright upon her face, the circular pattern of the village helped to prevent dust and wind from raging throughout it, but the low buildings did little for the light. However, there were two buildings with different roof architecture than their neighbors, the first was close-bye upon the roof sat a large chunk of rock, that glittered and shined with bright yellow flecks. The second was towards the northwest side of the village, it had a large metal pole twenty feet high, with an bison's skull attached to its summit.

[KuramtheWicked]

Serket follows Scane outside into the hot midday sun. Not entirely comfortable being in an enclosed room.

"So i am assuming a blacksmith would be the best option?" Serket says to Scane.

[BBDuc 2E]

"Yeah. It's probably that one." She points at the building with the metal pole & skull in front. "So. What do you think of this creature? I wonder where it came from."

Scane isn't that practiced with smalltalk yet, but she does her best as they make for the blacksmith.

[Silverphantasm]

Upon entering the the structure with the large pole atop its roof, Scane and Serket see a male Gnome with a short dark beard, he was wearing a set of dark goggles and is holding a small vial of yellow liquid in one hand and a small jar with green powder in the other. As the door shuts he looks up and at them, "Be just'a moment, I need to make sure this works." He places a small amount of powder in a glass orb, then places the vial in the orb as well then used wax to seal the orb shut. He promptly turned and hurled the orb to the ground, when it broke an acrid scent filled the room, but nothing else occurred, the green powder shards of glass and yellow liquid covered a small portion of the floor. "Confound it!" The gnome bellowed as he pulled a dustpan and brush from behind the counter and proceeded to clean the mess. "Sorry bout that sir 'n' miss," he returned to behind the counter and asked, "What can ole' Heward do fur ya?"

[caesar193]

"Oh, he told us just enough," Talib said easily. "And you're paying us enough all ready! And besides..."

Talib leans in next to Gillak and whispers "I'm fairly sure that the rest of 'em will finish a barrel by tonight and I'll have to drag them on to the next place that needs help."

He smiles mischievously and leans back. "But I do have one last question. You got any idea where I can find the rest of my comrades? I have to fill them in on my plan."

[Sgt. Suitable]

"That sounds like my kind of beast to hunt. I am glad that we went here after all. The villagers are much in need of our help, also. This is good work."


Scarvi, very much sharing the sentiment nods happily and walks over to the others at the blacksmith as he whistles a happy tune.

[root]

"Still here, Talib." Si speaks up in between large mouthfuls of soup. "I'd go out to the blacksmith's but the free grub is too much of a draw. A soup like this ought to be enjoyed."
"It's a great joint ya got there, Gillak, we'll make sure it'll stay safe."

[KuramtheWicked]

"Well this lady here would like some sort of weapon...I am not exactly sure what kind just here to accompany her. I am assuming that the weapon she wants is sharp and pointy, but thats just a guess."

[Silverphantasm]

"I can definitely do sharp and pointy, I can also do flat and smashy, or pointy and smashy....I can even do stabby." Looking at Scane, "So miss what can I get fur ya'? You look like a two handed fighter, I got greatswords, great axe's and great clubs, and even a couple of polearms. They're even sized for someone of yur uh...size.....meanin' no offense miss, just most'a me customers be gnomes. " The gnome pulls up a large book, and plops it onto the table, dozens of little multicolored marks are poking out of it, as he opens the first page he asks, "What particular weapon would ye be interested in? I've got magic ones, big ones, little ones, some made with special exotic materials and a few with names etched on em."

In Stock???
Weapon: 1d10, if result is a 4 he doesn't have any of that kind in stock (ex. Great Ax)
Magic: 1d6, if result is a 1, he doesn't have any of the above weapon type that is magic (ex. +1,+2..etc)
Material: 1d12, 1-2 normal material, 3-6 silver, 6-8 adamantine, 9 cold iron, 10-12 bonus any type.
Special: 1d4 (Each number has a special correlation, to be revealed after rolls and purchase
Price: 1d4: 4= 30% off DMG price, 3=10% off DMG price, 2=110%*DMG cost, 1=free, but side quest after current quest.

[caesar193]

Talib sighed. "Can't they wait to go shopping till after we get our pay?" he grumbled to himself. "Wait here, I'll go grab them and drag 'em back so we can discuss, or as is the more likely case, I discuss at you all the plan, so we can set out while the sun is still high."

So saying, he steps out into the blinding sun. The annoyance he feels towards his imbeciles shades his eyes from the sun's harsh glow. He takes in the village, figures out where his comrades would likely think the blacksmith's was, and then heads for it.

"Are you all done shopping yet? We have the kitty to kill, if you remember," he says as sweetly as he can muster.

[KuramtheWicked]

"Ah yes!" Serket mutters. "Lets go kill a big kitty."

[Silverphantasm]

As night approaches the general mood of the village tenses, the doors of all of the surface buildings are secured, and no one besides the group and Gillak remained outside, Gillak was standing in the doorway of the Inn, "I'll let you fella's take care of this kitty, I'll keep my men inside so they don't get in your way." As night began to fall in earnest, the group patrolled the streets of the town, around the witching hour, a low growl permeated the night, and from the north, like a hulking shadow, a gaunt figure large as a horse stalked towards them.

All narration assumes the party doesn't need to do anything first, and they don't prepare an ambush, if you want to do anything please post the actions.
Initiative [roll0]

[caesar193]

"What a beauty!" murmured Talib under his breath, before realizing the situation. "Right! Let's kill this thing!" he shouted. "Scane, Si, Scarvi, frontal assault, Serket, sneak around and flank it. I'll cover you guys. Now MOVE!"

Initiative: [roll0]
Know(Nature), to get Knowledge Devotion feat bonuses: [roll1]