DeepBlue's Vagabond - Act 1

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold scratches his head.
"Uh...right. You go on asking that unconscious halfling questions. I'd like to get this little bugger to some sort of holding facility until we can figure out what to do with him. Shall we go?"

[ByeLindgren]

Fargrim frowns at the outcome. "Well, you might want him to talk. On the other hand, it is him. Besides, I bet he can let loose at least a few tricks without the use of his limbs."

[Deepblue706]

"Umm...excuse me?" You look to see Thomas, who stands beside the entrance doors, open by just a crack. "I heard some noises...d-did...you find something?"

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold meanders confidently through the aisles back to where Thomas stands.
"Sure did. Found an irate and maniacal trapsmith and magician. Halfling, too. The others are bringing him."

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare frowns quietly. "We can't turn him over to the authorities. So what can we do? I wonder if letting him go with a warning would work."

[Saterus]

Ritan Drenathy

We can't turn him over to the authorities, but we can leave him here tied up with Thomas. I have no problem letting Thomas take all the glory for catching this guy, suggests Ritan.

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Yeah, so I misread Len's post before and didn't realize the halfling got knocked out. Makes you feel really smart...

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare shakes his head slowly. "That's not what I meant Ritan. We can't give him to people when we know that they'll treat him unfairly. We have to find another way. It would have been easier if we hadn't taken him alive, but there's nothing we can do about now. Why don't we toss him aboard an outbound ship so he can learn the value of hard work and cooperation? If they throw him overboard well... that's their concern."

[Deepblue706]

Thomas seems surprised. "Halfling magician?" He approaches, to get a closer view. His eyes widen, and he whispers, "Oh my..."

He turns to Harold. "I recognize him. He...came to us a while back, and participated in the auditions to one of our current productions. He wasn't accepted...and...and then he sort of went mad. I remember well - I was helping out with the casting at the time. It was hard to forget him - he went on a huge tirade about how 'The Silver Arch would regret shunning his great talent', and how the theatre needed him. He then refused to leave, and started harrassing other performers. Finally, we threw him out, and nobody saw him again. I hadn't suspected he'd ever return."

He takes a deep breath. "Poor fellow...I do think he's rather mad."

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare grimaces. "I don't suppose you could... give him a part?"

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold rolls his eyes.
"Is madness contagious now? This halfling is about as stable as a two-legged table. Any one of a billion little things could send him on a rampage again. No, mate, unless you can find a way of adding the two metaphorical legs on this fellow, you're better off having him locked up."

[ByeLindgren]

"I guess the fact that he'd never again be free to spring traps on me is consolation enough. Let's lock him up." What the crazy little bastard really needs a bit of blunt-force therapy to straighten him out...

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare

Flare nods slowly. "Well, a ship it is then. Think about it. I didn't fight him just to turn him over to the authorities, I won't condone their abuse of power in any way. Besides, if they imprison him then there's always a chance that he'll escape again, he's a pretty clever little guy, picking a lock or bribing a guard shouldn't be difficult for him. Water is a more effective prison." Flare crouches down and picks up the halfling. "I'm going to go see if I can find a captain who will take him, will anyone come with me?"

[ByeLindgren]

Heh, he's going to play a bad trick on the captain, and then water really will be his prison..

"That's fine, too. Still, I doubt this fool has the friends to spring him from prison, and even an unjust institution would do something good by locking Mr. Coppertone up."

[Saterus]

Ritan Drenathy

"As far as finding somebody willing to take someone like this aboard their ship, I think I can talk to some people and work something out."

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I have no idea what kind of check or RP I'd need to do to find this guy a 'home' aboard a ship, so I didn't want to make too many actions.

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare rubs his chin. "Well, he's good at making mechanical things. And he sure is an agile little guy. Maybe he'll calm down and he can find a theater in some other land."

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold scratches the nape of his neck.
"Or maybe he'll do something crazy and stupid and get himself thrown overboard or keel-hauled. You're not doing him any favors by trying this, you know. Let's just turn him in for now. If our lovely friends at the theatre decide he's worth having around again, they can drop charges or whatever. In any case," he remarks, turning to Thomas, "Now that we've caught the little bugger...are you the one we should talk to about recompense, sir?"

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare shrugs. "I'm not trying to do him any favors. But at least he has a chance to change his ways. If he doesn't, then I really don't care what happens to him. It's out of my hands."

[Deepblue706]

Thomas shakes his head. "I do not have your reward, good sir. Could you return here tomorrow? Mr. Gortana was eager to get back to performances as soon as possible - I can inform him of your success, and he will no doubt be here, inspecting the grounds to ensure it's truly rid of the menace. One he's sure there will be no more disturbances, he will provide you with your compensation."

He clasps his hands. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold taps a finger on his chin.
"Well, now that you mention it...I'm something of a thespian myself, and I was wondering if I could help myself to one or two costumes, if you'd show me the room?"

[Deepblue706]

Thomas scratches his head. "You...you want costumes? I'm afraid I don't own anything here, sir. I don't really have a say in that..."

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare

"I don't suppose you could point us to a convenient asylum for the mentally ill? That might be an acceptable alternative."

[Deepblue706]

Thomas rubs his chin. "Well, there are a few establishments like that about the city, but this halfling seems a bit too violent for any normal asylum. I think that Crowhaven place has special housing for the more dangerous mad folk, like him."

[EvilRoeSlade]

Flare

Alright. I'll just take him there then. Want to come with me Len? Anyone else? Flare glances around and hoists the halfling under his shoulder, leaving with any who would follow.

[Deepblue706]

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With the lack of responses, I'll presume this is the agreed course of action.

You successfully reach Crowhaven without problems, delivering the mad halfling to the warden, a middle-aged man called Burke, who seems pleased for your efforts. You walk with him back towards the entrance, as he expresses his gratitude. "Our society owes you a debt for bringing that maniac in. Apparently, he has a history, and has been caught in similar acts before. It's good that we can finally keep imprisoned in a suitable place of holding, and hopefully *ahem* rehabilitate him." You reach the gates, and he reaches for a pouch at his belt. "Your reward is here - a hundred gold coins, for you to divide amongst yourselves." He presents it before Harold. "It's a fair payment - do you not agree?"

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I should note you each got 200xp for all of this

[The Great Skenardo]

Harold Betruger
Harold nods and accepts the bag with a bow.
"That's quite generous. Thank you, sir, and good day."

After the group takes its leave, Harold walks down the street thoughtfully.
"our next move is back to the theater, I think. Wouldn't want our friend the owner to suddenly forget what he owes us..."

[EvilRoeSlade]

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I would have liked to see if he had anything interesting we could confiscate before turning him in.

Flare bows his head. It was our pleasure, sir. I suppose we'll be going then, unless you have word of any other madmen that need to be brought here for reward.

[Deepblue706]

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I suppose we can do that retroactively, but please express that kind of interest sooner, from now on. Otherwise, I'll just rule it as oversight. You may each make a search check, if you like.

The warden ponders on Flare's words, and thoughtfully replies, "There are indeed other men about that pose a threat to Porto Giedion, but I think you should take this as more of a warning, rather than an employment opportunity: a man known as Kurt "The Black" recently escaped from holding, and is loose within the city. The watch has patrols at each of the city's entrances, to keep him from escaping, but we don't quite have as many men actively searching for him as we'd like. He's quite dangerous, and remarkably resourceful...he's killed two investigators already. If you want to hunt him down, you can find more information on him on countless boards around the city - but trust me, you'd be much better off alerting the guards if you see him, instead of trying to take him in." He shrugs. "But, I suppose if you can manage to drag him here, we'd pay you well."

[EvilRoeSlade]

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Well I was going to do it as soon as I figured out where we were taking him, you zipped us to the asylum kind of fast though.

Take 20 on search, 22

Flare nods his head. Thanks for the warning. Have a good evening Burke. Outside he glances to the others and rubs his side with a grimace. I've been banged up pretty badly. I'm going to turn in early after we're done at the theater.

[Deepblue706]

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Sorry, there was a lack of activity, so I thought it was appropriate to bump things forward. You find he had only one item of any real value, a plain-looking ring made of copper.

[Deepblue706]

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Is it alright to move everyone back to the theatre? It looked like you guys wanted to go there next...