[Thieves' World] Murder at the Vulgar Unicorn

[Toric_Arthendain]

OOC: Just wanted to point out that low light vision isn't helping much in this situation. Low light vision requires there to be some form of light, like moonlight or whatever, to be effective. The storm outside of course means that there is no moonlight to be had. The frequent brief flashes of lightning help a little.

IC:
The two people fighting near Daeric no longer appear to be struggling. The merchant is not moving, either dead or unconcious. The other person, dressed in a cloak with the hood pulled over his features, drops the unmoving body of the merchant to the floor. He turns towards Daeric and tosses a dagger which lands nearby. He then moves moves through the darkened, smoky tavern and out the front door into the rainy night.

Carvar stands, putting his chair in front of him, waiting for the thugs to close the distance.

Daeric moves cautiously to the fallen merchant through the darkness and smoke, trying not to trip on anything. Reaching his side, Daeric can see that the man lies in a rapidly spreading pool of blood. The blood is coming from a stab wound very close to the man's heart.

Kensel, Fensel and Brod close the distance with Carvar and Kadramis. Kensel and Fensel stop on either side of Carvar with fists raised. They punch at Carvar but both swing wildly in the dark and smoke. Carver, ready for such an attack, launches a counter attack. His powerful fist smashes into the side of Kensel's head. Kensel staggers under the force of the blow. Brod throws a punch at Kadramis, connecting with his midsection and knocking the wind from him.

Kadramis quickly regains his wind and swings his jug at Brod. The thug ducks the attack and the jug smashes into a wooden support beam shattering into a hundred small pieces.

Cira pushes her chair back until she feels the comfortingly solid wall behind her. She keeps one hand on her dagger hilt and the other holding her cloak closed. Sounds of violence fill the tavern all around her. The woman who had dived under the nearby table remains there, and has not made a sound in the chaos.

 

[MummyKitty]

Kadramis felt foolish, swinging wildly and missing the thug, but seconds later his embarassment turned to rage as old faithful shattered into a hundred pieces against the support beam, showering him and his surroundings with his wine.

"Alright, you're gonna pay for that!" he yelled at the thug.

From what he could see, the big fella nearby was handling this two opponents well. Kadramis silently cursed his brothers, who never had taught him how to brawl... as the youngest, he was the one who had ended up in a humilaiting headlock more that once.

He focused his attention again on the thug and advanced to assault him with his fists. Although he couldn't see in the near total darkness, he listened for any clue as to the location of his opponent's location, this time hoping to place a better considered blow.

 

[Bobitron]

Standing with a smooth motion, Cira moves to the woman under the table, making just enough noise so the woman can hear her coming.

"Let's get you out of here, no?" she whispers calmly. "There must be light in the kitchen, we can leave that way."

 

[bkmanis]

Aware that he is facing two foes Carvar concentrates on the one he has already struck swinging again at the thug. I have to finish this one quick, he thinks to himself.

[OOC: Using Dodge and Prizefighter AC bonus against the opponent I already struck, this gives me a 17 AC against him and 15 with the other thug.]

 

[Dracomeander]

"Damn darkness! Someone get some lights lit again. We need to be able to see in here," Daeric's voice rings out in Sanctan from the darkness as he bends down to check for any signs of life left in the merchant.

If he can find any life left, Daeric will attempt to stanch the flow of blood and start preparing to draw the mana into himself hoping someone can get some light for him to work with. Otherwise he will move quickly to the exit hoping to catch a glimpse of the killer before he manages to disappear into the Maze.

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Daeric stoops down and determines that the merchant is indeed dead from a well-placed knife wound in the chest. He then stands and starts towards the front door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the killer.

Kensel and Fensel both take swings at Carvar again but in the smoky darkness both swing wildly. Brod follows the lead of the other two thugs and punches Kadramis. Kadramis sidesteps the blow and Brod's fist crashes into the same support beam that shattered the jug seconds before. Brod curses, in obvious pain.

Feet set, ready to defend himself against further attack, Carvar again lashes out at Kensel but his swing is also wild. Angered by the shattering of his jug, Kadramis punches Brod squarely in the nose. The thug, whose hand was already hurting, rocks backwards on his heels and nearly falls over a chair behind him but somehow keeps his feet.

Cira moves to where the woman is hiding under the table. "Let's get you out of here, no?" she whispers calmly. "There must be light in the kitchen, we can leave that way."

Less than half a minute has passed since the lights went out. Before any further violence can take place, everyone's attention is drawn to the front door where several men with torches appear in the doorway. They wear the patches of the town guard, and already have their weapons drawn. The thin, waxed paper windows on the bottom floor begin to glow with flickering light from the outside, suggesting the guard have the other exits covered as well. The largest of the men in the doorway calls out in a booming voice, "Everyone stop where they are! I'm Captain Macklin. This is a guard matter now!" The quick response indicates that someone must have tipped the guard that there would be trouble here tonight.

With light from the guard torches, the tavern is again illuminated enough to see. The merchant is dead. Not only is there a knife wound in his chest, there is a knife stuck in his back as well. He clutches a scrap of paper in his hand. Another knife sits where it was thrown by the killer, about five feet away from Daeric and on the floor. A plain wet cloak lies between the merchant's body and the front door.

Kensel, Fensel and Brod appear ready to make a run for it. Captain Macklin says, "Easy now, we've got the place surrounded. If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear. The Sharda will know if you're guilty or not."

You all know that the Sharda are a new law enforcement agency in the city known for being incorruptible. They were created by Judge Nevermind in response to corruption in the watch and guard.

The woman comes out from under the table she was hiding under. Kensel, Fensel and Brod relax a bit, appearing resigned to the fact that they are being arrested and will need to go quietly.

Macklin says, "If you'll all hand over your weapons, we'll take you before Judge Nevermind and the Sharda to answer some questions."

 

[Dracomeander]

Daeric stops as the guard enter. After Captain Macklin's pronouncement, Daeric's thoughts turn even grimmer than they were at confirming the merchant's death.

'Someone spent a lot to set this up. I wonder who they're trying to corner. No help for it but to step into the trap and see where it goes,' Daeric thinks trying to remember Captain Macklin's reputation before cautiously moving over to him showing the sheathed short sword for the captain to take.

"Did you stop the man who must have nearly run you over as you were preparing to enter?" Daeric asks. "He's the one who killed that poor man over there," indicating the body on the floor behind him.

 

[MummyKitty]

"That was satisfying," thought Kadramis as he connects with the thug's face. "That's for the wine," he says to the thug. "Now you gotta pay for old faithful.."

The sudden appearance of the guard brings an end to the fight and the opponents eye each other warily. As Captain Macklin talks, Kadramis slowly backs away from Brod and tries to get closer to Carver.

Under his breath he hisses, "Since when does the guard show up this quick to the scene of a crime, and with the victim not even calling out? This was obviously a pro job. We've been set up."

He eyes the Captain carefully. "I'm not going anywhere until this pud gives me a good reason," he thinks.

OOC: Kadramis will try to sense motive (+5) to see if "something is up" with the guard Captain's statements.

 

[Bobitron]

Cira sits back down in her chair, shrugging at the woman under the table. "Too late, it seems."

She takes her dagger from her belt, placing it gently on the table. Her thoughts echo what must be going through the head of every person with sense in the building. The Watch, already? A set up of the worst kind. I have a feeling my innocence will be doubted, she thought, looking at the oaf of a Captain with emotionless eyes that hide feelings of disdain. She wraps the warm cloak tight around her shoulders again, staying put unless asked to move.

 

[bkmanis]

At the Captain’s command Carvar slowly backs away a bit from the thugs that were attacking him, he then places his weapons on the table where his mace already sits.

Under his breath he hisses, "Since when does the guard show up this quick to the scene of a crime, and with the victim not even calling out? This was obviously a pro job. We've been set up."

Carvar glances at Kadramis and shrugs, "What else is new around here?" he whispers back. Carvar then waits for the Captain's next order.