The situation was worse than Dok had realized as the smoke was working against the group, rather than in their favor!

The Hill Dwarf Cleric of Helm, positioned in the rear, decided to head back out of the Vargorg as fast as he possibly could, to take up a position of defense in a more favorable atmosphere of breathable air.

He was hoping that his deity, Helm, would grace him with favor as he made a dash for breathable freedom, hoping that his comrades had sense enough to  exit the smoky trap, while there was still time to regroup on the other side of the entrance.

So youi are going down the rabbit hole already, but how you descend is your role play to determine!

We probably need your expertise even if you do not kill somebody!

Dok does not have any appropriate spells to deal with the smoke 

Vegas took another bite of his food and slowly washed it down with one of his nourishing drinks, as he methodically weighed his response to Patriot’s question of “What’s next?”

“What’s next is that I am asking for volunteers to go on this head-hunting run for the cee-metal bounty!”

The Dapper Solo looked around the table of assembled guests, before explaining further:

“I suggest that each of us who scores a kill or multi-kills contributes fifty per cent of our bounty to the general fund for Charlie to upgrade our transportation and buy the needed supplies for our operation against the corpo compound that cost Jeannette her life!

“For example, if Ghlahn scores five kills, then he gives half of his bounty to the community kitty for Charlie to fund our expenses and he gets to keep the other half for himself to spend on himself or invest for the benefit of others, however he pleases.

If I score 3 kills, then I contribute half of my bounty and use the other half as I choose to spend my share. All of us benefit from what is added to the community fund for Charlie to finance our collective operation; while the more kills that are recorded to your credit, then the more creds you have to spend for yourself or for the benefit of the group. Strictly your choice as to what you do with the other half of the bounty you personally collect on this cee-metal run!”

As his comrades respond for volunteering to go on the run, the Charismatic Crooner raises a drink to Patriot and adds, “Welcome aboard and enjoy the mayhem that is about to be unleashed on those who deserve to die!”

I will be typing up a post for Vegas this afternoon

Dok suspected that the Goblins would run deeper into the tunnels of the mysterious Blacktooth Ridge, but he had refrained from voicing any contradictions to what his Elf companions had for the most part planned to do at the Vargorg.

The Hill Dwarf Cleric of Helm had silently decided that it was best for his companions to discover first-hand that the Goblins would penetrate deeper into the tunnels of the Ridge, but he also held out a slim hope that he might be wrong and his Elf companions may have been right.

So Dok took up his position at the rear of the company as they decided to enter the Vargorg, making sure there was no suprise attack from the rear, while he also observed how his Elf companions especially would deal with any enemies inside the confines of the Ridge tunnels.

“The hook is,” replied Vegas to the query posed by Patriot, “is that I was held captive and tortured … before I was able to escape. Then while on the lam inside Temecula Heights, I had the good fortune of being aided by one of the residents … Jeannette was her name … “

The Frank Sinatra look-alike trails off his explanation to Patriot as the Charismatic Crooner thinks back to those dark hours that ultimately claimed her life.

“She was murdered by some heavy muscle,” continues the Dapper Solo, “but she was too stubborn to divulge her secret … which cost her …  her life … but I was able to discover the secret she was hiding … before making my escape … so here we are … plotting vengeance and offering you a slice of the pie … for your expertise in publicly exposing the dark secrets housed inside Temecula Heights … “

Vegas tailed off his explanation as he took another bite from his enchilada plate, followed by a long drink of life-sustaining rehydration, before continuing.

“We have another gig to pick up some quick creds,” the Dapper Solo explained, “which as far as I am concerned will serve as a tune-up … before dealing some payback to some dark souls … so are you and your followers in … or out … on publicizing their dark secrets?”

((OOC: Whatever rolls are appropriate to get Patriot on board against the dark souls harbored in Temecula Heights))

Dok decided to take up a position as a rear guard behind the archers to afford protection in case any goblins were returning from a plundering venture.

He was not quite convinced that smoke would cause the goblins to exit into their waiting trap, mainly because of the possibility that the goblins would be able to retreat further into deeper, darker caverns or passageways, but the Hill Dwarf Cleric of Helm kept these musings to himself, as it was better to see how things played out in the immediate future.

((Dok is hoping to conserve his spells in case any healing is needed, so he is not too eager to cast a Spiritual Weapon spell if it is not necessary. He brandishes his silver-coated battle axe and remains vigilant in regards to anything sneaking up from behind, while also paying attention to the results of his comrades ahead of him))

From my last Post and what Brom posted there were areas of feedback to Vegas making his performance etc, but no one posted any responses, so I will have to take another look in a day or two and see what I can post for Vegas to help move things along if possible

Dok stood watch for a few minutes longer after his friends passed by as they returned to report to the group.

The Hill Dwarf Cleric of Helm was making sure there were no creatures following his companions, before returning as he followed them back to the rest of the group to listen to and evaluate their report.

((OOC: Dok would engage any enemy if necessary, but only if there is no other choice!))

Dok agrees with the plan that Hornet has decided upon, but the Hill Dwarf Cleric of Helm is not one to sit idly by while his partners ready themselves to investigate the door.

After his friends begin making their way towards their objective, Dok cautiously follows from a good distance behind, until he can find a secluded place to provide his friends some backup, or at least serve as a lookout, in case any Goblins show their ugly selves.

Sounds Fine with Me

Thank You Olan 

Thank You Olan

Dok speaks Goblin so if you all want him to follow Hornet then that is okay with me and also if there is an opportunity to capture a Goblin on the way to the Gate it may be better to keep it alive for interrogation than just killing the Goblin!

Dok rests and renews his spells and when the party resumes their quest he will walk at the tail end of the column to protect the group from any surprise attack from the rear.

Vegas seemed to be more invigorated and becoming more and more his usual self, since the news that the mystery-suit plans he had retrieved from Jeannette’s corpse was possibly worth multi-millions to the right buyer!

Ole Blue Eyes realized that it would be a while before a plan of action could be prepared and properly implemented, not to mention dealing some payback to Jeannette’s killer and those responsible for the bruises that the Dapper Solo still carried as a constant reminder of the torture treatment that Vegas had suffered through before his fortunate escape.

Ghalahn had an offer for a CEE-metal job to basically wipe out a bunch of wannabe-netrunner misfits running with the tag of The Tychoons, that Vegas quickly recognized to be the perfect outlet for his own pent-up aggressions, plus a golden opportunity to collect 2000 eddies per head with no questions asked.

Well, at least one series of questions that Vegas posed to Ghalahn, “What do your CEE-metal choombas need for proof of elimination? A right ear from each head? A finger for proof of prints? Or will a photo of each execution be sufficient for collecting 2000 eddies per Tychoon that we eliminate?”

((Assuming an appropriate response from Ghalahn))

“You can count me in,” responded Vegas, “and I will be glad to accompany you on any recon of these Tychoon choombas that may be necessary to ensure the most eddies for our trouble!”

[TIME JUMP]

As the group made their way to their meeting with Patriot, the mind of Vegas was flooded with old memories of how things used to be with him and Casino.

Back in the day, when Vegas seemed to be more bloodthirsty regarding his runs with Casino!

Vegas was not sure if anyone was aware of his new-found blood lust, or if even his longtime partner was aware of the not-so-subtle-change in the inner motivation of the Frank Sinatra look-alike, but it seemed in the mind of Vegas that the Charismatic Crooner had somehow reconnected with the deadlier incarnation that had been so prevalent in his earlier days!

There was a certain song that Vegas used to sing when he was preparing to go out and shed some blood, or deal death while preparing to go on a particular run with his partner Casino.

He found himself subconsciously humming the tune to himself, as they made their way to their meeting with Patriot, so much so that Vegas began mulling over in his mind the best way to alert his partner Casino, that his old-time blood-thirsty partner from earlier days was back in the game!

[TIME JUMP]

Vegas was glad to be out of the heat and it seemed as though Patriot was trustworthy enough.

It had been a long time since the Frank Sinatra look-alike had indulged himself with any kind of dining, fancy or otherwise, so he took a cue from Patriot and ordered the same plate!

“I will have the same as our gracious host here!” exclaimed Vegas, motioning towards Patriot. “Plus, I would like plenty of your best non-alcohol beverage to help me rehydrate from the outside heat index! Also, make sure you add a couple of credits for yourself my dear!”

Vegas was expecting the others, especially his partner Casino, to realize from his order that the Dapper Solo had indeed fully recovered from his recent ordeal, at least physically, if not fully mentally!

((Vegas is spending a total of 37 credits, including the 2 credits for the waitress, making sure that he is fully hydrated before going back outside. That should be 20 credits for the Enchilada Plate and 15 credits for some extra non-alcohol rehydration. Vegas should have a balance of 330 credits remaining from the 367 eddies that was the previous balance from the 2000 he had received from Casino.))

Once the other orders were received and the waitress had left their table to submit their orders, Vegas decided that it was time to more than subtly ‘tip off’ his partner, as to where his head and heart was now at, as they prepared for their next run!

Ole Blue Eyes graciously stood to his feet, cleared his throat with a nod to his partner Casino, as the Charismatic Crooner began to belt out an old familiar tune, that served as a ‘Coded Message’ for Casino from the earlier days of their partnership:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82kJH69HnHA

At the end of the song, the Charismatic Crooner paused to bask in the applause, whether it be real from the group assembled at the table, or just imagined in his own mind, before returning to his seat.

As he sat down, the Dapper Solo gave a nod to his partner Casino, with the briefest of punctuations:

“Macky Is Back In Town!”

Been thinking about writing something all afternoon and now it is night

Since Brom updated I have more to ponder, so perhaps Monday or Tuesday for a Post about Vegas

I will write another Vegas Post either later tonight or Sunday for Vegas to go with Ghalan on a recon mission

How healed up is Vegas to be able to accompany Ghlahn on a recon? Do not want him to go if he is still too weak or if his reflexes are too low, thus making him a detriment for going on recon!

Dok needs enough rest to replenish his spells [especially his Spiritual Weapon] and is willing to follow Boris and hopefully someone else is more capable of opening doors and locating traps!

According to dragon Vegas has 367 in change left over after funding the med tech, so just apply the 367 to whatever is needed to supply the van with med supplies

Dok chooses to follow the group from the rear in an attempt to be able to pray to his deity Helm to replenish his spells!

Also, to keep his eyes focused both on Boris, making sure the group was not being led into a trap, plus providing protection as a first line of defense from any attack from the rear!

Dok is brandishing his battle axe to reduce the possibility of being unprepared in case of a surprise attack from any quarter!

Vegas nodded his approval as Ghalahn laid out his cards regarding the possible job.

“Deal me in!”

Then the Dapper Solo turned to the rest of the group, asking them to consider any plan of action, no matter how reasonable or unreasonable their idea might seem to be, so that Vegas could consider the input from every member of the group.

Then he approached Ghalahn to have a discussion about what information he had that would help in formulating a plan of action to ‘send the right message!’

((OOC: Okay Brom, whatever roll and information can be provided for Vegas to help lead the group to ‘send the right message’ for the gig that Ghalahn has acquired from his alt-cult))

The hug from Casino was well received and seemed long overdue, but neither of the Solos ever seemed to go out of their way to express their deep affections as true heart friends.

“It seemed like an eternity and more while they had me chained and hanging in their torture chamber. I seemed to hallucinate and re-live all of our past adventures dozens of times over, which seemed to help me to focus through the indescribable pain and hold out hope that I would somehow escape to have some new adventures with my long-time partner.”

Vegas pondered the question from Casino, before nodding an affirmative realization that the group leader position was still an option for the Frank Sinatra look-alike.

“As long as the rest of the group are cool with following my orders or lead, then I am ready to once again be the group leader. As for Charlie, there is plenty of room to make this work out for the best.”

The Dapper Solo was glad to hear that Casino was cool with stepping back from leading the group, in favor of the Charismatic Crooner.

“I appreciate your backing my play as the group leader my friend,” responded Vegas with a sly smile as he added, “and a couch of my own sounds much better than where I have been trying to sleep the past few weeks! Glad to hear you and Echo are an item. I been thinking about settling down a bit, especially after meeting and losing Jeannette in a matter of hours. Maybe we can get a place together that will provide me some space, just in case I get lucky like you and Echo.”