Duke and the Dragon:  Now, you don't get to be the leader of a Crime Lord's Enforcement Squad by being stupid, especially a Beholder Crime Lord with rather powerful enemies.  The Troop of Mounted Brigands surrounding the Barber and Red Man had picked up on subtle nuances during their brief encounter which led them to suspect more was going on here than met the eye.  The depth of the Red Man's tread in the mud, holding immobile a horse by the bridle, the cocky self-assurance and grandiose exclamations, all of those were little warning indicators which caused the seasoned Troop of Black Riders to cast side-long glances at one another.  The horse ridden by the Dark Lady bolted the moment Tet released his hold on the bridle, and galloped back the way they'd come, perhaps the smartest move made by anyone in the Troop.  Rueh's command to have two of the Troop accompany her with Markus seemed a prudent course of action to Duke, who with a glance at Kain and another Rider, Pike sent them to escort her.  That left Duke with eight Enforcers against Lover Boy, an unknown quantity and not necessarily part of their contract, if he could be made to take a leave of absence.  Lifting his spear from the ready thrust position, the Troop Commander addressed the Crimson Fop with sarcasm dripping from his tone and words, saying "Well, my little Sun-Flower, as you just let go the only riderless horse, first option - a) you can put one foot in front of the other, and walk your happy ahs down to the field; or second option - b) these fine lads here will happily drag your ahs down to the field behind our horses."  Right on cue, like a well rehearsed play, some of the Riders, not pointing spears at the disguised Red Dragon, produced coiled lengths of rope with lassos ready for use.  The term 'Sun-Flower' was a code word used to inform the Troop to use extreme measures, and that lethal force was authorized.  Extreme measures meant take no chances use virulent poisons and magical slaying bolts, if violence ensued.  Duke backed his horse from Nicholae so he'd have a clear route to the Sparring Fields, and seating his spear back into its riding cup, more cordially asked "So, what's it to be, your Lordship?  And, if you're thinking about a third option - c) going off in search of your 'ride' and getting the Hell LOST from our sight!  That is perfectly acceptable to us as well.  We'll call it a simple mis-understanding."  The way out had been offered to the Red Man, despite what Dawn had ordered.

---

Dawn and Gideon:  While Duke attended to the annoyance, the Blade ordered "Markus turn around." and using the flat of one wakizashi blade on his right shoulder and gentle pressure to his left shoulder with the point of the other blade, enforced her command.  Dawn pivoted around with him until he was facing back toward his shop, and then commanded "Now walk." removing both blades from contact with him.  The Dark Lady resheathed the blades, and prepared to follow the Barber back to his shop.  Behind them, Kain simply ordered "Pike, the horse." nodding back the direction they'd come from, and then spurred his horse over to the horse railing out front of the shop.  He dismounted, and tied off the mount, checking out the front veranda of the place.  The Rider looked over the morning meal still on the rattan table, and glanced through the windows and doors into the interior while waiting for them.  Pike kicked his horse into a gallop after Reuh's horse to bring it back. ~ ~ ~

Location:  Gideon's Barber Shop;
Time:  Mid-Morning [17th of Summertide (179th day of the year), 1 week after the Red Dragon attack and Weremacht parley];

 ~ ~ ~ Hearing about option 'c' was not part of Gideon's hoped for outcome from the confrontation.  He wanted those men dead.  And Nicholae was the perfect instrument for their destruction.  The two escorts and the woman he could handle on his own... hopefully.  As the point of a wakizashi blade was being used to encourage his about face and movement back toward his domicile, the Loremaster, hoping the Dragon had sharp ears to go with his other senses, softly whispered under his breath "Spare the horses, if you can, Nicholae."  The Master Barber hoped the Dragon would understand the implicit meaning of that statement.  He'd all but told Tetanius it was okay to kill them.  Then more audibly for the benefit of the Brigands, the Mocking Man, as he was led away, pleaded in a concerned voice with the Dark Lady, "Please don't hurt him!  Let his Lordship go.  We can talk without any threats of violence about whatever pressing matter has brought you to my doorstep." ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The former Guildmaster already knew why they were here.  They were after the Box, promised to Xanathor.  The Puzzle Box which he'd only just recently recruited a party to find and bring back.  The Black Riders were a little early, no sense of timing, go figure.  Obviously, the Enforcers hadn't taken into account that hostile takeovers in a Thieves Guild, especially Baldur's Gate, were rarely accomplished without a goodly amount of bloodshed, and tended to throw into chaos the best laid plans for acquiring said-promised goods.  Not to mention, the absolute hell of evading Death Squads while trying to salvage and re-locate as much of his luxurious lifestyle and acommodations he'd acummulated over the years to some remote place off the grid.  No consideration given whatsoever to the hardships he'd endured escaping Baldur's Gate, how inconsiderate.  And besides it wasn't like Elmshade was a booming seaport metropolis with wall to wall adventurers.  They were something of a scarcity around these parts.  Well, time to dance with the devils by the pale moonlight once more. ~ ~ ~ 

 ~ ~ ~ And now was his best chance with two to one odds while the other was off chasing the horse.  It was time for some trickery and traps.  Gideon plotted how best to quickly neutralize the Dark Lady and her escort, and went along placidly with them up past the scorched earth and blackened front facsade onto the veranda.  In an effort to be cordial, the Master Barber offered "Care for some fresh tea and crumpets?  I can brew up a fresh pot." ~ ~ ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TET figures he'll piss em off, get dragged to the Spar grounds and there he'll torture and eat them.

He thinks gideon will help make sure the virgin will come over for dinner later. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh they had his attention. The match maker isolated the female rider w/him and left the rest to him. He trusted that the hair-cutter would help deliver her later as foretold. The dinner she promised would be alot more undivided if her little crew of sling blades were out of commision.

He didn't want to give up his identity in the middle of the town if he didn't have to. This little charade was always great fun until they learned the truth of it.

The sparring grounds were pretty secluded... he would try to get them near there like gideon suggested.

His smile was fake as an actor. It was between evil and insulting. "Ha ha ha ha, what a little whelp you've proved to be!  You need to learn some manners dark knight!  In fact...  I don't think you have enough knights to drag me off."  How he hated knights. It just seemed like a natural thing

An idea sparked.

"I dare you to try it, knave."

"You're all bloodthirsty sons of whores in thine eyes.  And I should teach you a lesson in humility!  A pox on you all for opposing regality as sovereign as I!"  

He raises one middle finger, 'this should get them going.'   In the universal symbol of insult, he gives them "the bird"

You can see a slim silver band that adorns the middle digit. His thumb rotates the silver band a half turn, unleashing the dreaded Finger of Death at Duke.

Still smiling he waits to be lassoed and drug off.
He giggled to himself. What a great plan.
He readied the next step of his perfect master design.

Location:  Gideon's Barber Shop;
Time:  Mid-Morning [17th of Summertide (179th day of the year), 1 week after the Red Dragon attack and Weremacht parley];

 ~ ~ ~ Faced with the iminent loss of his freedom of movement, the Loremaster had turned his back to the Enforcer and the radiantly beautiful Dark Lady, when offering them tea and crumpets for refreshment.  Taking advantage of having his hands before him out of view of his captors, the Mocking Man casually flicked away the pearl coverings of his cufflinks, exposing the minute poisoned needles built into their design.  Gideon, knowing what was to come, oriented his wrists into position where pressure on the cufflinks needles would be the greatest from being grabbed, and mockingly 'suggested' "Oh yes, Kain, tie me up and search me good!  This is my favorite game!  You may want to take those leather riding gloves off.  They can be SO clumsy when trying to tie knots or play find the 'salami'.  Search me!  I'm yours!"  Even if the magical suggestion didn't work, then perhaps irritating Kain would make him a little more rough in his treatemen.  In any case, the former Guild Master intended to resist just enough to encourage successful contact with the poisoned needles. ~ ~ ~

Nicholae waited in anticipation to be whisked away to the setting for his dinner date, the Sparring grounds seemed unusual. 'Maybe Amagato was still there. Wouldn't that be novel?'
 
He watched the rider with the rope about his neck speed off. The ping of the rope breaking surprised him a bit. His anger rose slightly, "Un-fuggin-believable. I'm surrounded by ineptness."
 
The rope incinerated from his neck and fell away as ash. 'Stupid slackjawed skinbags. I will have to get there under my own power.'
 
The rider giving orders fell over like a vampiric heart attack. Man he hated knights. Ideological idiots thay they were.
 
Several un-enchanted weapons hit him and fell flat at his feet, he paid them no mind outside of the ignorant insult they represent.
 
The thought of the young woman kept his spirits up. She was no country handmaiden but she was still unspoiled and still inexperienced enough to have that special something that made them so worth the trouble.
 
His middle finger folded. "So be it. I shall walk lilke a dog does to the Sparring Grounds."

But not with out a lively snack.

His strides are very quick and carry him an unusual distance per pace. Without purpose he walked thru the remains of their general or whatever he was crushing his helm like a beer can.  He gestures as he passes a rider, a single finger pokes into the horse's skull stabbing its brain with instant hot death.  As it falls under its own weight he snatches the rider by the neck, his hot fingers scald a thin blister upon it. 

---

[Loki - Stopped your post here in order to find out how the attacks might alter the second portion of your post.  Please feel free to use incorporate the unused portions into your revised post.]

Enforcers and the Dragon:  Equally as surprised as the Dragon by the snapping of the rope, the Black Riders normally enjoyed dragging their victims behind their horses for sport.  Never before had any man sized opponent draped with their lassos withstood the sharp jerk when the charging horse snapped the rope taut.  However, the spears bouncing off of a victim had happened before often against workers of magic, because of something called a Stoneskin.  And now with the death of their commander by clearly magical means, there could be little doubt that the Red Man was, if not in fact an actual worker of magic, then possessed similar abilities.  The incineration of the rope still dangling about the Fop's neck only added to the body of evidence about what they faced.  With the death of their commander and the absence of Kain, leadership of the Black Riders fell to Dihn.  And they were not ready to capitulate.  The Troop of Black Riders exchanged knowing glances, and with a simple nod from Dihn, readied new attacks with even more lethal weaponry, as the Red Man attacked Winn the Lassoer and his horse.

With clear purpose and practical past experience, the four Enforcers, who'd previously launched spears at the disguised Red Dragon, lifted pre-cranked, heavy crossbows from their saddle mounts, and set about fitting specially designed magical bolts, would which bring instant death to any magic users hit by them. And even if the magic bolts didn't kill, then perhaps the coating of very potent poison might just do the trick [F type, death / 20 hps].

While the other Enforcers readied their heavy crossbows, the previous two Riders, who failed in their attempted lassoing, dropped their ropes in favor of new weapons.  The weapons drawn were throwing stars imbued with minor enchantments [+1] and coated with enough virulent poison [F type, death / 20 hps] to drop a hill giant.  If they were up against some magic user protected by the Stoneskins, only multiple successful attacks would eliminate this protection.  From horseback, each man launched three of the sharp, pointed disks at the retreating back of the Red Man.  Only two of the six small flying blades struck Nicholae, one in the back of each thigh [dmg 3 & 2 hps respectively (if adequately enchanted), X2 sv vs psn (if not immune)].  One of the stars flew past the disguised Dragon, hitting the horse of Winn, and burying its points in the animal's stomach, helped Tet to end its life.

The Lassoer and the Dragon:  When the perfectly sound rope cinched about the Red Man's neck snapped in twain, the Lassoer pulled his horse about, and looked from the frayed, unwoven end of the lasso still wound about his saddle horn to the other end.  Like the rest of the Riders, Winn was also astounded, when the Red Man wasn't jerked off his feet, and used to plow a nice lovely furrow through the mud and snow perfect for planting behind his galloping horse.  The Enforcer watched as the section of his lasso about the Nicholae's throat went up in smoke, and glanced at the other Riders, wondering if the rest of them were thinking about cutting and running like he was.

However, when the throwing stars started flying at the back of the disguised Red Dragon and himself, it seemed clear that the rest were still in the mood for a fight.  Ducking down to avoid the whizzing blades, Winn's horse started bucking out of control, when one of poisoned stars struck it.  Winn struggled to maintain control of the animal, so didn't notice as Tetanius closed the distance between them, crunching through the crumbly dessicated husk of their former commander.  Thankfully, the hot, pointy, kung-fu, finger strike of the diguised Red Dragon helped permanently calm the wildly bucking horse into a lifeless repose.  Winn attemped to leap from the horse, when it screamed out its death knell and disjointedly convulsed from having its brain poked with a searing hot finger.

However, Winn had his own problems, as the Red Man snatched him out of the air, searing the flesh about his neck and illiciting his own screams of pain.  Dangled aloft in the blistering grasp of the disguised Red Dragon, the Lassoer grabbed hold of Tet's wrist with a leather-gauntleted hand to steady himself, and fumbled free his most prized and dangerous possession.  In desparation, the Enforcer's screams turned defiant "Aah!!  Aaah!  I'll kill you!!" as he hoped to escape by attacking the arm holding him off the ground.

Winn, an expert with the very radiant magical dagger, made three practiced attacks with the poisoned blade [Type F, death / 20 hps].  The first attack 'pierced' as easily a knife through jelly into the underside of the Red Dragon's 'forearm' [12 hps, sv vs psn (unless immune), force of will to maintain grasp (WIS chk)].  The second strike missed cutting across Nicholae's 'bicep'.  But the third attack plunged the blade, this time from the top, once more into the flesh of the Red Dragon's forearm [10 hps, sv vs psn (unless immune), force of will to maintain grasp (WIS chk)]. 

• Body Count:  Duke - 7th lvl FTR;
• Damage Inflicted:  27 hps total potential;

---

Dawn and Gideon:  Part and parcel of being an Enforcers was a penchance for violence.  And Kain was no different in that regard, especially when being taunted.  The Black Rider, unknowingly succumbing to the Loremaster's suggestion spell [save failed], whipped off his riding gloves, throwing them to the floor.  Kain quickly grabbed Gideon by the back of the head with his right hand, and viciously snarled into his ear "Don't go telling me my business... "  The Enforcer then snatched the Barber's left wrist, poison cufflinks and all, away from the table, and forcibly slammed his face down against the rattan table [3 hps], causing the serving set to jump and rattle. "... you stinking, poof-dah!"  As Kain brought the Barber's other arm around behind his back to begin tying his hands, he felt the sharp stabbing pain of the Death Adder poison [failed 2nd save] travelling up his arms to ultimately paralyze the neuro transmitters which tell the heart to beat, and the lungs to breath.  Death came quickly from the two small puncture marks in the palms of the Enforcer's hands.  The Black Rider toppled over in an apopyleptic fit of wheezing, gasping and spitting amongst the overturned chairs and table of the veranda before stillness finally claimed him.

While Kain was outside dying, Rueh checked out the interior of the Barber's Shop, looking inside the closet to the left of the main entrance in the foyer.  She then crossed over exotic woven rug of vibrant rich hues, and carefully opened the double doors in the right wall of the foyer.  The Blade briefly scanned the Loremaster's library for any other occupants in the establishment.  The Dark Lady went from room to room, upstairs and down, making sure they had the place all to themselves before returning to check on Kain and their Prisoner.