Chapter 1 - The Beginning

Crolwell's performance, after so many attempts actually comes out quite soothing and pleasing. Maybe it's the ale, but he seems to have a musical prowess in this performance.

The hooded man flips down his hood and you see a human that appears to be in his late 30s. His dark black hair and narrow features he may be a Mulan. Generally found more in eastern shore of the inner sea of Faerun. He has one large jagged scar that runs all along one side of his face. Despite his rather gruff appearance his voice comes out almost melodically. "Ah, you must be the bard Aelar, though it looks like the old man is giving you a run for your money. I must say, you do not look the most orthodox of the new recruits I've seen", he finishes his current ale.

"The daggers have put us up in the Inn across the road, perhaps we should gather the rest of your party and head there. I understand we want to move fast to get your friends back safely. I have a plan I think may work, but this...", he looks around the tavern, "...isn't quite the place to discuss such things."

The human comes up behind you Aelar and places his hand on your shoulder. Speaking quietly he whispers to you in Dwarven, "Don't look, but I think we are being watched. The gentlemen at the card table. They've been eyeing me since I arrived. We should leave quickly."

Having seen the group at the table before you know there are 4 men. They have swords on their hips and short bows across their backs. They've been fairly inconspicuous, but Utes, you have indeed noticed the group glancing at the table Aelar was at. It was always fleeting glances between card plays, but they have been looking none-the-less.

The men at the table look between each other. A few of them have their hand on their hip, but as the money hits the table they lighten up a tad and slide some money onto the table as well.

"Aye, old man. We'll deal ye' in a game", one of the men says as he re-shuffles the cards. A grin is crawling across his face as he thinks he has just won a chance at some free coin.

He deals out the cards to everyone at the table, "We'll try an' take it easy on ye', grandfather", he says with a chuckle.

[ GM: Crolwell, give me a performance check. If you can beat a DC15 check you'll win the round of cards. On top of that your character will successfully distract the people so everyone else can leave undetected. If you fail, you lose 5 gold and this distraction is going to have failed. ]

Crolwell's hit sends the man sprawling onto the floor, blood seeping from his nose. The others stand and draw swords in reaction to the hit. They all stand around the table with swords drawn. The man on the floor manages to cough out, "Kill them, kill them all! The Bard said no prisoners."

[ GM: Crolwell does 5 damage total with his unarmed strike. 1 base damage for the strike, plus strength modifier. His hit also knocked the man prone as he was seated at the time. The others are all still standing around the table, swords drawn. I'll go ahead and give initiative to your side since Crolwell caught them off-guard with his action. Crolwell will get to go again for this round, I'll consider the first punch a surprise round. ]

Damage:
Ruffian 1: 5
Ruffian 2: 0
Ruffian 3: 0
Ruffian 4: 0

Utes scorches two of the men with bolts of flame that launch from the small gem on the center of the circlet. The third ducks the shot. As it passes the man it hits the wall behind him and a small portion of the wooden building becomes ignited.

Damage:
Ruffian 1 (prone): 5
Ruffian 2: 0
Ruffian 3: 8
Ruffian 4: 4

As one of the burned men (#4) turns back to sneer at Utes he is met by Aelar brandishing his Rapier. The man manages to twist his way away from the blade as it stabs out towards him.

Damage:
Ruffian 1 (prone): 5
Ruffian 2: 0
Ruffian 3: 8
Ruffian 4: 4

As Xadira waves her arms through the air Crolwell's impassioned speech rings out through the tavern. Though since it is fairly early in the day still and there was only one other patron in the bar aside from the card players, the dagger member, and the bartender, little comes of it. The only other patron was a scraggly old man who was already passed out at his table.

One of the burned men begins laughing. They all break out laughing when suddenly Xadira finishes her spell and one of them slumps into the table and then onto the ground, asleep. The man still prone on the ground also has fallen asleep.

Damage:
Ruffian 1 (prone) (asleep): 5
Ruffian 2: 0
Ruffian 3 (prone) (asleep): 8
Ruffian 4: 4

The member of the daggers hops over the counter of the bar and searches for a water pale, he has seen the wall start on fire and doesn't want this to become a bigger problem then it already is. He grabs a bucked with water and runs over to the end of the bar.

As the ruffians are struck by a wave of effects the one directly across the table from Crolwell (#2) slashes out with his short sword. The one engaged with Aelar (#4) tries to parry past his rapier stab. The other two snooze peacefully on the floor.

[ GM: Back to the heroes turns. ]