Arabelle Adventurers Cottage With Jux RP

From Last Game

 Merry charmed Jux in combat after Jux, H. Trick, and some pet dogs attacked the party. After that, H. Trick begged for mercy before being brutally beaten unconscious by  Ugly.

Conversation With Jux

(This conversation takes place while still in area where battle took place, not far from the church.)

Jux is visibly incredibly pissed with you all. He views  Merry as a trusted friend (for the next 2 hours). That being said, he now views him as a trusted friend who brought jerky friends to the party who BEAT UNCONSCIOUS his pleading (true) best friend. Just because you're good friends doesn't mean he can't be furious with you (which will give you a penalty to Charisma checks to get his help).

Jux's Interrogation

Jux: (stunned and very angry) How could you guys #%!&@ do that to H. Trick?! She was begging for mercy. All she did was try to put you to sleep so we could find the old lady!

Jux: WHAT IN THE WORLD, man? Get out of her pockets! What is your friend doing?! (Talking to  Merry about  Book's scavenging, but staying where he is, somewhat stunned.)

 Nora (slowly catching on): Your friend was, um, obviously not herself. She was accidentally doing magic that could hurt someone? We're trying to keep her and everyone around here safe for now... (looks pleadingly at Merry to pick it up)

 Merry: (Making calming gestures to Jux) Woah woah, hang on, we can get to the bottom of this. I'm sorry that Trick was treated so roughly, but you know this was a lot more than just trying to put us to sleep. Trick sicced those attack dogs on us before she started casting spells, and I came within a papercut's stroke of death when you accidentally hit me with your sword. Ugly looked like he was in a full on barbarian rage after getting hit by her spell, and it makes sense that as soon as he realized I wasn't going to die, he went after the person who did that to him. He didn't try to kill her though, he just knocked her out. As far as taking her stuff, I think that could have been done a lot more tactfully, but you know it isn't safe to leave a spellcaster who recently tried to harm you with all their equipment. Now I know you said you were concerned about telling us a bunch of information about the person who hired you, but maybe it would be best if we all went over to see them and got to the bottom of this? The old lady is a good friend of our acquaintances, and we just want to make sure she is okay.

 Merry: (Aside to  Nora, in a nice tone and concerned look) Can you bandage up that dog? He was just doing what he was told, and he shouldn't die for that. The same goes for my friend here. We should see to his wounds right away!

 Nora heals the dogs and anyone else she's able to, including Jux if he's hurt, with the spells she has left.

GM Text

GM: Nora, you heal Jux for 10 (he's looking perfect) and the dying dog for 9 (he's back at full health). He growls a bit at you, afraid, and walks over to H.Trick. He licks her face and wounds to try to wake her, when she doesn't wake, he lays down and whimpers sadly. Note that Tempest has a minor scratch and Ugly also has a minor scratch, everyone else looks fine besides the sleeping dog which is bloodied, but would be functional when awake soon. Let me know if you want to use your 3 small healing spells further for the dog or the players, etc.

 Nora saves her spells for later use... she'll spend them before bed if anyone still needs them.

 Merry: Much better. Now my friend, we clearly got off on the wrong foot with the rest of these folk. While we figure out where to go from here, why don't you take a moment to introduce yourself to everyone (want to get his name legitimately) and tell us everything you feel comfortable saying without the express authorization of your boss. Of course, anything you tell us will be held in strictest confidence, you know I would never betray your trust. And I'm sure that once your boss realizes that his orders got me tangled up in this by accident, we'll get everything sorted out quick and painlessly.

Jux (to Nora): Hmmm, thanks for the heal. Can you heal H.Trick, too?

OOC (Sarah): Can she be healed within an inch of consciousness? 
If that kind of control is impossible, Nora goes over and makes a show of tending to H.Trick 
without actually casting any spells. She could clean up wounds, etc.)

GM Text

GM: Making a show of tending her is great. This improves Jux's mood.

Jux (to  Merry): (dice clatter) The attack wasn't an accident-- I didn't realize who you were when I sliced your spine so hard with my sword. That wild-eyed woman saved your life with her heal spell, boy was that frustrating before I knew you. I would have splattered you on the road if I hadn't recognized you! That would have sucked, right? I'm Jux. Trick and I are just freelancers. That ambush approach has taken down groups twice your size... not sure what happened this time. Gotta practice some more... Our current client means business. He killed our other friends' parents when she squealed, so I'm not keen on that happening to us!

But that's a great idea to take some of you back to his place! That would really help me, and you're quite a pal for suggesting it. He's got lots of people there who can heal HTrick right up, and his teams could tort... er.. interrogate your friends for information. I'm not sure it's a great idea for you to go, though, Merry. For your own, um, convenience, you should stay behind-- just send these aggressive friends of yours, especially if they know things about that old lady from the Inn. I'll show you the way right now, if you'd like.

GM Text

GM to Trav: I'd like to point out that Ugly was very prescient in his decision to knock out H. Trick. It would have been very inconvenient to have her awake during the interrogation of Jux. GM: Quite a great idea, indeed. :) Also very in-character because she did cost him a decent amount of head-bashing time by putting him to sleep. GM: Oh, and for what it's worth, H.Trick is wicked attractive and charismatic, but slightly less so lying unconscious in a pool of her drying blood.

Jux (to  Merry, continuing): You guys took so long saying prayers at the church that we're overdue to get back to report on the old lady. We don't want them to send anyone looking for us, which they could do, surely. Let me take you to see them-- they never mentioned you guys, so it will surely be a shock that you're all mixed-up. But I really gotta go! Ready?

Mahina seems scared of Jux. She doesn't look him in the eye, though she's taken careful note of what he looks like, his equipment & the like. She also takes note of H. Trick and her features, etc.

After Jux mentions taking people back,  Mahina whispers to  Merry, "I'm not going to his bosses' house- the guy is dangerous, a total louse! Perhaps it's better to find more things on our own; clearly the seeds of antithesis have been sown!"

 Merry: Sure. Let's just get everything squared away and take care of the dogs. Don't want to leave that one lying in the street sleeping it off, poor guy. (Leans in speaking in what might appear to Jux to be a quieter voice, but still loud enough for the party to hear) So where are they going? Want to make sure that you and I can meet up later after the boss finishes talking to them. I should probably go most of the way with you to make sure they all stay together and don't get separated. I can wait somewhere nearby.

 Merry: (to Jux) One sec, lemme tell the healer to take care of the dog.

 Merry moves over to the party and does two things: he makes occasional gestures and says occasional words loud enough that Jux can catch them giving the sense that he is giving instructions on getting the dog and getting ready to move. In the undercurrent of that though, he quietly tells them that he doesn't feel he can maintain the charm effectively too much longer and we should be prepared to take him somewhere safe.

 Tempest: (whispering) Take him somewhere safe? Where and how did you have in mind? Do you mean that we should knock him out like Ugly did to Trick and then we interrogate him elsewhere?

 Merry: If it comes down to that, yes. I can try to get him to stop by someplace that we could keep him safe...

 Merry considers whether there is a suitable place that he knows of...

GM Text

GM: Let's see... Merry-- you only know of some inns in town, so your memory isn't giving you many options. Tempest-- your private cottage has a small bedroom that you could maybe seal up. But it has a sturdy woodshed with a lockable metal door (south). Here's a picture. The cottage neighbors a small townguard office to the north, though, for what it's worth. Nora/Book -- You guys also have 3 rooms at the Inn you could make use of somehow. Reminder picture of those. Book is due into work today (in theory) at a mansion he has minor access to, but surely it's not wise to bring thugs/bodies there. Other less likely options are available, but those are some ideas that come to mind.

 Merry: (After  Tempest mentions her shed.) Okay. that should work. Follow my lead. And someone make sure to help Ugly follow along and step in if things get out of hand. My plan is to ask him to check out the shed when we get there to make sure it is a good place to put all the stuff and safe so no one can come in and take it. As soon as he walks in, you guys shove the door shut and throw the bolt. Afterward we can figure out what to do next.

 Merry: (walks back over to Jux) Okay. It took a little convincing, but I told them that we should drop off all their weapons and equipment before we head out. They would only agree to it if they could take them back to the healer's house. Let's stop there quickly and then get going.

 Merry's plan is to convince Jux to go there. He will drill him for as much additional info as he can on the way, using nudges and leading such as asking him what he has been up to and who else he has done work for and if his new boss has disrupted his usual work and old partners or old bosses. If I see any opportunity to get a name rank title or anything else out of him, I'll do my best to get it. I'll also be talking to him about the "old lady" and trying to find out why his boss is interested in her and what he has asked about when Jux reports to him about her. Also how long Jux has been watching her and such.

 Tempest nods in agreement to this plan and will offer to help  Ugly follow along.

Jux: Sure, sure, but we gotta hurry. Trick doesn't look well. I gotta carry her back if she's not going to wake up...

GM Text

Jux attempts to walk towards H. Trick to carry her with you guys "back to the boss". If that's ok, assume he's carrying her as you walk back, if it's not then ask/coerce him differently.

 Tempest: Actually, Ugly here is really strong and won't get tired carrying her. We don't want you to get tired out carrying her all the way back. Why don't you let him carry her for you?

Jux (to  Tempest): But that big Ugly brute beat her senseless just a moment ago. I'm afraid of leaving her alone with him...

 Nora: I'll be with them... Don't worry! (She attempts a reassuring smile)

 Ugly: (Slowly catching on.) Uh, sorry about that. I musta thought she was someone else. But I'm real good at carrying things! Here, let me show ya! (Picks up something heavy.) See! I'm not even dropping it a little!

 Tempest: (to Jux) He's kinda slow, so I'm not surprised that he thought she was someone else.

 Ugly is still holding the heavy thing.

Jux: Your mule has quite a kick. Let's go then, just be very careful with her, she's been through a lot today. Normally I'm the one taking the punches from the bad brutes...

 Ugly is still holding the heavy thing.

 Tempest: Ugly, you can put down the heavy thing now and *gently* carry Trick? (Pointing to the unconscious spellcaster.)

 Ugly: (Snaps out of his reverie.) Oh, uh, what were you saying? (Thinks back a little, then tosses the heavy thing ungently on the ground.) Ok, no problem, Tempest (only struggles a little with the name now).

 Ugly gently picks up H. Trick, making sure she's facing so that when she wakes up she won't see  Ugly's ugly face.

Jux follows you as you walk towards  Tempest's loaned cottage. The sort of things you hear from him:

• Boss's place is west on the outside of town
• He's really sure the boss will send people to find him and H Trick if "we all don't get back soon".
• The boss just wanted to bring Landa in for "questioning", but Jux knows that usually when his clients ask for that, he doesn't see much of those people ever again. He makes a joke about that, finds it really funny.
• He probably is just a pawn and doesn't know a lot more that he'd be willing to reveal (due to fear for his life).
•  Merry gets the impression that if H.Trick overheard anything in the church, she hasn't yet told Jux about it.
• Jux goes on a long talk about how H. Trick is an animal lover, but had too much of a knack for magic to ignore it. He's quite smitten with her.

The party gets to the cottage. See picture if it helps.

 Merry: (to Jux) Okay, we made good time getting here, if you could go in and check the room carefully to make sure it is secure then we can dump the stuff and get back you to the boss quickly.

(As/If Jux moves in,  Merry will motion to  Ugly to shut the door.  Merry is also keeping a close eye on Jux and begins reciting a peaceful bit of poetry in an off-hand manner. If it looks like Jux might spoil the plan by moving back out too quickly or being wary, then  Merry will be ready to put magic behind the poem either Fascinate or Lullaby or Daze.)

OOC (Trav): So what you're saying is that you're moving Jux to position?
OOC (Brandy): *groan* and *facepalm*
OOC (Helen): *LOL!*
OOC (Sarah): Nice one!!

GM Text

GM: Trav: -10 xp for the hurt of the pun, reluctant +15 xp for the cleverness.

Jux's Capture

Jux is used to taking orders and doesn't even really think about it when he walks in. He checks out the shed. He is summarily locked inside.

Jux (muffled inside): What in the world? You shut me in here! The door is locked! Hello?!

H. Trick's dog, sensing danger, starts barking at the shed and at  Ugly for closing it. Or maybe at  Ugly for slamming the door shut quickly while effortlessly still carrying the dog's unconscious master.

Dog: BARK BARK BARK

 Ugly growls at the dog.

GM Text

GM: (dice clatter) Your Intimidate check succeeds. The dog is cowed for (dice clatter) 20 minutes.

H. Trick's dog stops barking and looks intimidated by Ugly.

Jux (muffled, concerned nearing anger): Hello? Is anyone out there?

 Ugly: Yup. Can't you hear us talking?

Conversation at the Cottage

 Merry: Ugly, please keep an eye on the door. Shout at us if he manages to get it open or anything and try to stop him.

 Merry: Let's step over here a bit so he can't possibly hear us. Okay. so what do we do? Should we attempt to turn him over to authorities for attacking us? Or we could tell him we intend to do so and I suspect we might be able to dredge out the last remaining bits of info from him in exchange for letting him go to attempt to flee the wrath of his boss. I'm a bit reluctant to kill him in cold blood at this point, but I suspect that he is going to be a pain for us in the longer term if he is alive, free or not. We also have to deal with Trick who I am much more worried about being a spell caster and clearly the more important part of this duo.

OOC (Brandy): Tempest doesn't know this, but Merry noticed earlier that Jux fancies Trick, so...  
she could be leverage to get him to talk?  Also, Tempest is going to recommend binding Trick's hands and
interrogating her separately.
OOC (Daniel): Merry isn't too concerned with trying to get more out of Jux because it seems 
he doesn't really have much more.  We could break him for a name, but I'm not even sure that 
the name would give us a lot at this point.

 Ugly stares intently at the door.

 Mahina sits unceremoniously down, in front of the door, leaning her back against it for good measure. She pulls a notebook from her backpack and starts scribbling in it.

GM Text

GM: FWIW, Jux is really well-muffled in there. He's shouting but only Mahina and Ugly are close enough to hear him (without a Listen check).

 Book: I am going to suggest that, whatever the outcome of our deliberations, that we murder those two at the end of them. They'd have done the same for us, directly or by proxy, and Jux even takes some pleasure in disappearing people. Disappearing them in return might even seem like justice, to one inclined to view the universe through such a lens.