Big Trouble In Little Punjar — (RAPID URBAN FUNNEL PbP)

[ProdigalWilliam]

Tommy notices the street with a 1. Travis is spotting something with a 14. Lala is taking a thorough record for future visits with a (19-2) 17.

[ProdigalWilliam]

If Ninnim knows about any sort of code or password that would allow us to pass as members of Oll Zen's company, then I think that's a good plan, Jeff, otherwise I feel like it's going to unravel quickly.

If we ask for an exotic looking woman as a companion for our "husband to be," we might get a chance to see Other Molly without too much difficulty.

(Trying not to let BTiLC steer my choices too heavily, but I seem to remember Kurt Russell as a nerdy business man doing something like this? It's been a while since I've seen the movie. I'll wait until we clear this adventure to watch it again.)

[GnomeBoy]

Travis, Lala (and perhaps others) notice that the casual looks from the Cloister's front-line employees include a certain amount of 'sizing up'. You are immediately reminded of the looks some of the toughs gave you all, just before the clash broke out earlier... They aren't just looking at you as if you might be potential customers, and what angle might they use to draw you in -- they are certainly taking stock of you, as in how best to best you if you were trouble.

There is also clearly no recognition. They don't know who you are in the slightest.

[Fenris Ulfhamr]

Int checks; Brun:11 Gunnar:6 Kylie:17

The bridal party idea sounds good, especially if the group can pull off the proper trying to salvage the situation vibe to sell it

[jeff c]

Flea, Ivan and Zeppo hold back and are content to hear the others' analysis of the employees.

If we're all agreed on the bridal party idea, do we need to "borrow" anything to sell it like clothes?

[ProdigalWilliam]

Flea, Ivan and Zeppo hold back and are content to hear the others' analysis of the employees.

If we're all agreed on the bridal party idea, do we need to "borrow" anything to sell it like clothes?

Travis can feel the eyes of the Cloister guards scanning his party. He can feel them underestimating him, and hopefully everyone else. "We may not have to use our weapons here," he thinks to himself and adds only in earshot of the party,"I think we can get inside if we pretend to be celebrating something - like a bridal party. We've seen enough of those come through the Boot to know how they go. It's time to be loud and boisterous and lascivious." The last word hangs for a moment, Travis has forgotten to tailor his vocabulary to his audience, a half day of no drinking and several deaths has sobered him right quick. "Lecherous."

Lala is eager to chime in, jumping on the plan as much as on a hope tucked deep inside of her, "I'm the bride-to-be, remember?" She is facing little Kylie but she hopes the guards of the Cloister are paying attention. "We're going to have fun today, no matter what happened earlier!" Lala can see Tommy start to talk and quickly shakes her head. She turns to Brun and Flea expectantly.

[Fenris Ulfhamr]

Kylie grins ear to ear, making a game of the situation, and begins dancing around Lacey. Brun fakes a drunkard 's slur and swings one arm over Gunnar (to stiffle the uneasy look again spreading on his face) and another around Lacey and stumbles forward toward the Cloister ...
Brun: "C'mon, y'old grump! What we need is a few more drinks and some fun! This is STILL Lacey's big day, after all!"

[jeff c]

Ivan whips out his wineskin, and begins drinking, but upon glancing at Zeppo who seems to be in a funk, hands it to him: "here, kid. Drink up." Then he grabs Zeppo by the neck and pushes him forward. Flea follows, shouting: "Make way! Make way for the bride! Welcome her on this happiest of occasions! Wedding gifts and congratulations in the form of coin is appreciated!" He applies a little seed money to Zeppo's wooden chest and then thrusts it out to each passerby as they approach the Cloister. "A contribution to the happy future of our blushing bride?"

[ProdigalWilliam]

Lacey is a little crestfallen that no one has taken the cue to be her pretend husband other than the stinky cheese man - who also reeks of desperation and some third sour scent she can't place at the moment. She pinches her cheeks as a stand in for rouge and adjusts her posture in a way she thinks befits radiance. "Gunny sweetie, don't brood and spoil our last day of fun!" She tickles Gunnar under the chin, assuming a closeness they have never shared.

Travis clasps his hand heartily on Gunnar's shoulder. "My dear Lala, Gunnar is simply pondering about whom he might spend his last night of freedom. Aren't ya, Gunnar? Thinking about someone who looks nothing like your lovely bride to shake things up? I hear the Cloister might have just the girl for you!"

[GnomeBoy]

To best of your abilities, you assume the guise of a jovial, somewhat drunken party celebrating upcoming nuptials. The irony of the disguise slowly seeps in for a few of you, but you quickly cast it aside lest it distract you from the task at hand. What few passers-by there are skirt around you, some bemused, some too lost in thought to even register who or what you are... One figure, seeming a bit better off than others based on his clothing, chips a couple of copper into the chest, an expression of resentful obligation on his face.

As you approach The Cloister, the employees out front perk up, and begin 'working' with more enthusiasm, opening not-so-fresh bottles of charm. They seem overly welcoming and sweep up groups of you into the courtyard, angling to secure your patronage before you can change your minds. From inside you can see various other employees, of all stripes and colors, lounging on the upper stories in front of small doorways. Think of an economy hotel, the sort with the swimming pool in the center and all rooms facing onto that; each level has a walkway in front of the rooms all the way around, and stairs at two opposing corners of the building. That's the same basic arrangement here, though the rooms are obviously smaller. The ground floor is not built out with more than a few rooms (presumably for the management), the rest turned over to open space with a few meager chairs and tables and a couple of large potted plants (there's no pool, to be clear).

Each of the rooms has one employee in front of it, except for 5 rooms, which are 'unoccupied'... two on the middle floor and three on the top. Logically, the three employees that have ushered you in belong to three of those rooms.

You are all encouraged to take your pick, choose your favorite from those lounging above, who have shifted to give you a better view of themselves and to entice you to choose them. None of them is Other Molly, that much is for sure.

[ProdigalWilliam]

Travis is looking around for someone who might be the "mother" of the house, someone in charge or at least knows all of the other "employees."

[GnomeBoy]

Travis sees a woman in one of the small, ground floor rooms. The candle light in the room is dim, but she seems to have stopped whatever she was doing and is watching the entry of your group and making sure her employees do as they should.

There may be a figure in the gloom behind her, but it's not certain.

[ProdigalWilliam]

Travis is standing near Gunnar inspecting the female employees, playing as a sort of scandalous match maker for the beau. Pretending it's amplified by alcohol he speaks in a voice loud enough that all this can be overheard by the woman and whomever may or may not be behind her. "Yes, you're lovely too, but we're looking for someone more... how would I put it?... exotic than our lucky man's bride to be. We want this to be memorable for him and we'll pay extra to make sure it is." Out of the corner of his eye he's watching for movement in that office.

Tommy has settled on one of the women who led him into the Cloister, greedily eating up all the canned flattery. He has all but forgotten about the mission as well as the current plot.

Lala is going on and on about the fake wedding plans with little Kylie - a spring nymph-like dress, cut flowers, a hired horn section, etc. - all the while, her head is turned by several scantily clad men and women.

[Fenris Ulfhamr]

Gunnar looks from Brun and Travis to Lacey, at last taking the hint. Casting a meaningful gaze at his "wife to be",
Gunnar: "Do watch Kylie, hon. She's my favorite niece, you know."
He pulls a silver medallion carved with a wolf's head from his cloak and clutches it, murmuring a prayer to Variag under his breath before he approaches the group gathered by the door on the way in.
Gunnar: "It'll take an rare beauty indeed to set my mind at ease after today- and to divert my attentions from this vision that will be mine tomorrow... what sorts of lovelies do you have for us this evening?"

ooc; I actually tried to post this hours ago while the group was still outside. but apparently it didn't post! since edited for sense

[ProdigalWilliam]

Gunnar looks from Brun and Travis to Lacey, at last taking the hint. Casting a meaningful gaze at his "wife to be",
Gunnar: "Do watch Kylie, hon. She's my favorite niece, you know."

ooc; I actually tried to post this hours ago while the group was still outside. but apparently it didn't post! since edited for sense

(ret-conned response)

Lala turns to Kylie with a smirk, "I'll be your favorite Auntie in no time!" and pats her on the head.

[GnomeBoy]

...Out of the corner of his eye he's watching for movement in that office.

They do not seem to take this bait.


At this point, it's up to you guys...They are literally waiting for you to make a move.

At a minimum, you know they aren't trotting out some drugged-up Other Molly for whomever wanders in this place. If you want to get at more, it'll take action on your part.

I will probably not be able to post again until late-afternoon or evening on Sunday. So we can take it 'slow' and you can work out course of action... It's an option to opt out of this location, too, if you think you've already gotten what you can get from it...

[ProdigalWilliam]

How many guards are there in sight? Do we want to move toward the office and the manager and extra person in the gloom?

[Fenris Ulfhamr]

The extra person is probably a guard that can't pass off as something else, or a client who wishes anonymity. Maybe Gunnar could go up to the office manager and ask for a gal with unusual eyes like one he saw before while peeking in on the shady person, if we want to be that direct about it.

[ProdigalWilliam]

That was going to be my suggestion too. It seems like we might be in for a fight unless we walk away as satisfied patrons.

[Fenris Ulfhamr]

Gunnar and Brun stroll over to the manager's office io ask about such a girl.
Brun: "There used to be a pretty little thing would come to the taproom from time to time. Had one eye green, the other blue. never had the nerve to talk her up m'self, but I saw ole Gunn give her a couple long looks and no one else but Lacey here. Got one like that, do ya?"
Gunnar gazes unexpectedly into the gloom of the office as if he hopes she'll walk out any moment, but really half expects ambush.
If it matters, both men roll 3s on any relevant check to bluff/notice/etc., Gunnar has +1 to Int and Per

[jeff c]

Flea pretends to be checking out the employees while keeping near Lala in case things go sour. Zeppo and Ivan head to the second story, also pretending to weigh possibilities. They have a grappling hook but is there anything at all around here that could function as a rope?

[ProdigalWilliam]

Maybe the flattering words don't quite fit or Tommy can sense some of his friends tensing up and this breaks the spell the temporary companion has held on him. He excuses himself from his company, for a moment, he promises, and moves over to join Travis, Gunnar, and Brun. Travis is standing with Gunnar, leering at women standing at several points of the room, as if deciding which will join him, but attempting to catch any movement from guards.

Lala flashes Flea a look and continues to rattle off to little Kylie elements of her dream wedding, adding the title "my little niece" every now and again.

[GnomeBoy]

There are no guards in sight, though those going up to the second floor find an 'idle' fellow on the landing between floors. He seems wiry and bored and scooches out of your way as you pass.

Zeppo and Ivan scan the area for any rope-like things... On the second floor it becomes clear that all the doorways are hung with curtains. There is a strand of not-quite-rope (heavy twine? might hold a man's weight for a moment or two?) hung at the edge of the walkway toward the courtyard, with small lanterns hanging from it (simple hooks over the strand). They have not yet been lit.

They pass one room that has no one in front of it, presumably whoever is assigned to it is not present or is one of the three employees from the front, now down in the courtyard, with Flea, Lala and Kylie. There does not seem to be anyone inside, as seen through the diaphanous curtain.

Gunnar, with Travis behind him, gazes into the gloom of the little office and finds a man standing next to a table. Among some scattered papers is a ring of keys. Brun is two steps into the room talking to the Matron about a girl with one blue eye and one green eye. No one else is in the office. Slowly it dawns on Gunnar that this man is one of the toughs from the street fight earlier -- this is at about the same speed that it dawns on the tough that you were one of the crowd he and his cohorts were trying to eject from the scene. Burn has finished his inquiry at that moment, the matron starts to reply there is no such girl here, and Tommy strides up. Travis is not in as good a position to identify the man.

The man plays it off like he doesn't recognize you, but there was an obvious flash of recognition that he quickly hid.

[Fenris Ulfhamr]

Gunnar also pretends not to recognize the man as well, but doesn't fail to notice him. He grabs Bruns shoulder and says, chuckling...
Gunnar: "Believe it or not, I can pick 'em myself without so much help from you and Travis. Let's go have a look upstairs, all the pretties in this room are already paid for, I think."
He let's the final sarcastic remark fall where it may without directly regarding the tough. He moves to head back to the courtyard area, ushering Brun and Travis with him.

ooc: So due to jetlag, sleep dep, and the distraction that is my existence, I somehow missed the fact that our gang (we ARE kinda a gang, yes?) instigated the initial brawl at the Favela. I thought we just walked into a riot outside the Taphouse, lol. Time to turn up the heat a bit!

[ProdigalWilliam]

My characters are watching the other party members and are ready to act on their decisions (based on not noticing anything in particular).