Upstairs, Nethezar reacts with extreme haste.
"Dammit! Take this!" he curses, as he grabs his club (enchanted with
continual flame) and shoves it into Eskard's hands. Picking up his wand, Nethezar turns to the group pressing Eskard. He hisses in a low, ominous tone,
"Would you like to see what my magic can do?"
The few that followed Eskard quickly back away, and Nethezar practically pushes the half-orc down the stairs in front of him.
Downstairs, just before Nethezar and Eskard come down, the merchant practically blows up with rage.
"Lies and trickery! You have the power to easily escape after the elf kills him! You won't TOUCH him without going through me!"
The crowd looks quite ready to keep you from Tarquin. Serving as a coup de grace, Eskard and Nethezar bound down the stairs with club and wand in hand.
"There's the murdering bastard!" a patron shouts, as he flings a mug in Nethezar's direction. It is enough to send the mob mentality over the edge.

[sblock=OOC]Dip checks (I'll use the better of Erdolliel and Kushnak)
Erd: 3+
Kush: 11-
Merchant: (not telling)
So as to not "hide the ball," I'm just going to bluntly tell you that the crowd is "hostile." See
here. It is obvious to all of you that talking isn't going to help now.
On the map, north is up; M is the merchant; T is Tarquin; the numbers are the crowd. Questions? I'm feeling rusty...
Init:
Erdolliel (faster 20, wins tie-breaker)
Bazrim (faster 20)
Kushnak (20)
Merchant (19)
Nethezar (6)
Crowd (all 14 of them) (5)
Eskard (4)[/sblock]