Velani (finished editing)
"Derek, Derek..." Velani says. "I know that name.... yes, you were involved in that attempted theft from Magistrate Bronard last year, right? Yep, we nabbed both your buddies, but never managed to track you down. I must commend you on a job well done." (Combination attempt at history and diplomacy checks to know enough to talk about something only we would know and get them to lower their guard a smidge...)
Slowly, while talking now, Velani begins to walk forward (ending her movement in D2) "Derek, know this. I am Velani Sulianna, Fallcrest Sergeant-At-Arms Retired. We are the specialists sent to recover Fallcrest's stolen people and war trophies. Everything between the front door and this room has fallen to our blades, and I wouldn't mind at all picking up the bounty still on your head. I swear to you - you WILL NOT leave these catacombs alive if you so much as cause that woman one more iota of harm. But you CAN if you turn her over now. This chap here has seen the light ('Haven't you, Mr. Hobgoblin?'). You have 10 seconds to decide." (and finally an Intimidate check - BLAST, and it seemed to be going so well.......)
Deadeye is now in Velani's aura, and she will use it or take an OA if he tries to run for it.
The Sewer Rats were a pain in the backside even when you were still in service, you can confirm that they are supposed to be run by a figure known as the Lady of Shadows- furthermore it is said that the lady is so called because she has spent the whole of her life in the sewers beneath Fallcrest, she has never seen the sun- reason unknown.
The guild members themselves have changed over the years, shaped themselves as and when changes occur in Fallcrest society as a whole. One thing stands out- Sewer Rat's members are quite often little people- adept at getting in to places that normal-sized people would be hard-pressed to enter. In your time there numbers included all manner of humanoids ,but a vast majority were Halflings, Gnomes, a few Dwarves perhaps, and the odd member of some other monstrous humanoid race, for example Goblins and Kobolds.
The Sewer Rats also seem to have an affinity for rats, vermin of all kinds really- no special powers as such, perhaps if you live in the sewers then you get to know your neighbours.
The Sewer Rats were always a mercenary organisation- a ragtag bunch directed as needed by the Lady of Shadows, or else left to their own devices. You have no difficulty believing they somehow have done a deal with someone here at Rivenroar- in fact, that may explain how a group of Goblins got in to the middle of the city to rob the Hall of Great Valour- via the sewers, the rest was distraction.
And at the end of your little speech, Derek is quick to respond.
"Velani, hang on..."
Much in the way of whispered conversation.
"It's alright- we'll do you a deal."
Much more whispered conversation.
"You remember Big Tony?"
Velani flicks back through the various cons she has known and nabbed, Big Tony... ah yes, Big Tony- a second-story guy, actually not so much a guy as a Gnome, a very small Gnome at that- other Gnomes used to laugh at him... Hence Big Tony, funny sense of humour Gnomes.
"Yeah." Velani shouts back.
"He's gone missing, back near the entrance- you find him, fetch him here, fetch me Big Tony and you can have your woman, and more besides- we've got a story to tell, only then we walk... and not in the same direction as you. That's the deal Velani, now I'm going to count to 10, and when I get to 1... she gets it."
A cry from the woman, followed by jagged sobs.
"Ten... Nine..."
"Do we have a deal Velani?"
"Eight...
New Map-
085 Castle Rivenroar- Derek & friends
The chamber beyond Deadeye is indeed a crypt, a swarm of rats scurries at the foot of a statue, another, much larger Dire Rat sits in the middle of the chamber and contemplates life- there are sounds of other rats doing ratty things elsewhere.
The walls have nooks and niches, there are more statues- of female Halflings of all things, lots of places to hide- at the far end of the chamber is an altar, candles lit atop it, tied up and beaten up, before the altar a middle aged woman, you recognise Mirtala the Cook from Eoffram Troyas description- the rats have been at her, she looks... almost lost.
There are lots of places to hide- far too many...
You have eight seconds.
