[sblock=OOC: ]No worries, Salix. Now that we're all here, we can get this show on the road. In the interest of time, I'll assume that Ryland casts detect magic...[/sblock]
Ryland's spell reveals
that the coin is completely nonmagical. There's not a thing that exudes any magic at all, not even the orb.
Satisfied, Ryland places the orb on the table.
Fatwon's eyes go big, but he remains calm. Jobe sets his drink down and moves to the edge of his seat. Brigit looks worriedly at the object that has caused her so much trouble. Fatwon sighs, "Now, after seventeen years..." Fatwon holds the orb in his fat hands, turns it slowly, and strokes and caresses it with lascivious lust. The others salivate at the sight of the valuable, ebony sphere. Kamdar, smiling serenely, pulls out a knife and says, "Just to make sure..." He slowly scrapes the knife over the surface of the orb, peeling away the black paint. After a couple scrapes, he makes it to the lead layer. A few more scrapes and a frustrated look crosses his face.
He repeatedly and frantically scrapes and hacks at the orb with his penknife, marking it and peeling back layers - horribly realizing that its surface can be scarred and that the coated sphere doesn't contain gold or jewels at all. Furious, he bellows, "Fake! It's a phony! It-it's lead! It's lead! It's a fake!"
Jobe looks like he's about to cry. In a hysterical outburst he shouts, "You were tricked, Kamdar! You stole a counterfeit!" Fatwon quivers. Jobe stands and starts railing, "You, it's you who bungled it, you and your stupid attempt to buy it. Khemidrov found out how valuable it was. No wonder we had such an easy time stealing it. You, you imbecile! You bloated idiot! You stupid fathead!" The elf collapses into his chair, blubbering and whimpering. Fatwon's face is bright red. Still standing, he rubs his sweaty neck.
OOC: I'll give you both a chance to interject before I continue.
Devlin has a hard time not smiling at this turn of events. He reaches out to grab the pouches of coins. "Well, you have the item you contracted us for, so I guess this concludes our business."
After grabbing the money, Devlin once again positions himself near the readied crossbows.
Fatwon startles when Devlin grabs for the money. The half-orc also reaches out, and since both were the same distance from the table, they both now have a hold on the pouch. Fatwon attempts to regain his composure, and he smiles politely. Or as politely as a fat half-orc can smile. "Ahem. I'm sorry, but I simply must demand that you return the money. You were paid for delivering a golden, gem encrusted orb, and deliver it you did not." Fatwon glances at Brigit, a suspicious look on his face. Turning back to Devlin he says, "I would not consider it unfair if you were to demand 200 platinum pieces for your time and expenses. Can we agree on that?" The half-orc's grip on the money is tight.
Fatwon startles when Devlin grabs for the money. The half-orc also reaches out, and since both were the same distance from the table, they both now have a hold on the pouch. Fatwon attempts to regain his composure, and he smiles politely. Or as politely as a fat half-orc can smile. "Ahem. I'm sorry, but I simply must demand that you return the money. You were paid for delivering a golden, gem encrusted orb, and deliver it you did not." Fatwon glances at Brigit, a suspicious look on his face. Turning back to Devlin he says, "I would not consider it unfair if you were to demand 200 platinum pieces for your time and expenses. Can we agree on that?" The half-orc's grip on the money is tight.
"Three hundred. 100 for each of us. The young lady has suffered through this ordeal also", the gnome suggests, head tilted to let him keep an eye on all of the players.
OOC: Sorry if that was a lowball for Devlin. Ryland is desperate and greedy
Devlin looks at Fatwon while laughing at Ryland's words. "Excuse my friend, he's of a noble heart. I will settle for half. After all, you contracted us to bring you the orb that Brigit had delivered to the city, and that is what you have in your possession now." Devlin pauses to indicate Ms. O'Shally with a nod of his head. "As for her, you can give her whatever you feel she deserves."
Fatwon's smile disappears. "You will settle for half? I think not, sir. I contracted you, and Ms. O'Shally to bring me a highly prized orb with magical properties, not a ball of lead! You will settle for 200, or you will settle on the floor, good sirs." Fatwon's orcish side suddenly becomes apparent. Jobe, emboldened by his boss' fervor, pulls out a hand crossbow and alternates aiming it at Ryland and Devlin.
Devlin eyes the weasely elf for a second before finally taking two of the smaller pouches. He tosses one to Ryland. "If you insist, Fatwon, I'm certainly not going to get into a war of words with you."
Devlin makes his way back to where the crossbows are hidden, watching Jobe & Fatwon closely.
ooc: Devlin wants to wait until the two are concentrating on something other than him and Jobe puts the hand crossbow away, then he wants to pull one of the crossbows and shoot, hoping for a sneak attack. How much longer until the cops arrive?