IC: Dichotomy's Age of Worms Redux, Part III

[michael_noah]

"Is it that much more costly..." Kushnak wonders to himself. After thinking a moment he responds, "No, I believe she would be quite dissatisfied were she to return to this life and find herself a goblin. We need to find a more wealthy town in order to make use of most of our spoils in any case."

"Let's go get paid."

[sblock=ooc]I haven't actually asked Ti about whether Erdolliel would have expressed any desire about this before - this is just what I/Kushnak has gathered about her from the interaction here. So... if it's in direct contradiction with something, maybe Ti will let us know.[/sblock]

 

[o3caudata]

Obviously confused, Eskard struggles to ask, "Someone is paying us for her?"

 

[Dichotomy]

Nethezar turns to Eskard and speaks without even a trace of impatience. "No, friend. That fat man, Balabar Smenk, should be paying us for the work we did. We should also get paid for the treasure we found. Out of that money, we will have to take care of Erdolliel. If we try to bring her back from the afterlife, we will need to get 1,000 gold worth of oils for are quick fix or 5,000 gold worth of diamonds to bring her back almost just like she is now." The cleric smiles kindly at the half-orc.

 

[michael_noah]

"There is more to the sword than the cut, my friend," says Kushnak to Eskard, disgusted. "Let's be off."

Kushnak gathers up the packs and heads toward Smenk's manor. There he leaves most of the goods in a safe place before leading the group in to collect their due.

 

[worthley]

Bazrim follows Kushnak's lead down the road. "You know, with some rare pearls, I will be able to tell what all our findings do. We should be able to find some in town here."

 

[o3caudata]

Eskard follows Kushnak toward Smenk's.

 

[Dichotomy]

The group makes its way back to the run-down mansion of Balabar Smenk.

Just as before, you find the front door wide open, but you still recall the chained apes awaiting within. As you approach, you see the apes catch your scent and stretch on their chains as close to the door as possible.

Their huffing and growling catch the attention of a familiar man. Soon Gregor comes steadily walking toward the entrance, and the apes back away from him after giving the man a good sniff.

"Umm... I... ah, figured you were dead," he says, appearing genuinely shocked. He seems lost for a moment, but he quickly regains composure and nods for you to follow him.

Gregor leads you back up to Smenk's office, but stops short outside the door. "Wait here just a moment." The man steps inside, closing the door behind him, and leaving you facing two dumb-looking oafs as bodyguards.

All is quite for what seems like a very full couple minutes. The door opens again, and Gregor steps out just far enough to wave you inside.

Again, the large Smenk sits behind his desk, which has an assortment of food and a mug of ale spread on it. If the fat man himself had any shock at seeing you back in one piece, he apparently got over it quickly.

"What news? Did you oust them?"

 

[worthley]

"That cavern has been cleared, and our friend paid with her life. We would have made it back sooner, but some planar outsider destroyed the elevator." Bazrim changes his attention to Kushnak, waiting him to take over the conversation as the groups unspoken leader.

 

[michael_noah]

Kushnak approaches closer, though not enough to threaten the overly large man. He states, "That about covers it. All three churches are destroyed. I'd suggest you take to a safer lifestyle, as I believe the priests have friends. As for us, we came to be paid and to be out of here."
[sblock=ooc]sorry, had meetings off site for work yesterday and today, with dinners afterward.[/sblock]

 

[Dichotomy]

"What do you mean 'safer lifestyle?'" Smenk retorts. "What did you find down there?" You somehow managed to capture the fat man's attention, as he has, momentarily, stopped grabbing food off his plate.