GM Elberion's Council of Thieves
Game Master GeraintElberion

Aye, he grins over his soup, I'm not one to delve deep though. Y' get the odd bit a' Barroak and shade maple in the copses on the fringe.

He looks at you thoughtfully: Have y' good carving woods in Shudderwood? I likes lime and blackthorn: hard to get a big blackthorn bush though.

Nicolai thinks a bit. "Hmmm there may be some blackthorn in there There is a lot of oak and elm, to be sure...and great pines; there are a great deal of ancient trees there.

Nicolai's attention drifts back to the ever increasing talk of standing up to the dottari. He turns back to Vitti, Apologies; I beg my leave to consider continuing this conversation at another time."

Nico speaks up after Daxius. "I'd be willing to help. But Daxius, won't breaking out your mentor, a noble thing to be sure, be just as a rancor to the ruling class of this city?"

Daxius nods to Nicolai. "Yes, it will be."

Morosino has been sat up at the look-out position; he calls down to the group: Sclavo! Daphne!

Sclavo nods and rises, heading over to a an apse and disappearing from view.

Janniven nods to you: That'll be news from the courthouse. For every active member we've a handful of sympathisers.

The conversation around the table falls oddly silent, people eat and wait.

Sclavo returns, looking grim: The good news is that the dotarri don't want him.

Mathalen butts in: And the bad news?

Sclavo shakes his head: The Order of the Rack are taking him out of the city tomorrow morning: they're continuing their investigations at Citadel Rivad.

Some of the group turn pale

Sclavo continues: Ten armigers, at least, and a signifier.

Pontia also pales. He knows too much about me, and if I'm implicated they'll go after Master Canario too. Knowledge (Local) +9; automatic success. "That's the group that has him now? Where are they?"

"Sounds pretty grim. Do we know the route they'll take to this Citadel? Ambushing them on the road could be an option, though a tough one with those numbers. I doubt rescuing him tonight would be easy." Hyngrot glances over at Daxius, then thinks to himself. "And what do we do if we can't rescue him? He knows too much. What will Daxius do if I...."

Knowledge(local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Taking down the lock-wagon might be better for all of us, it will keep the trouble off the streets and all good Wiscrani enjoy a chance to laugh at the hellknights.

Kn (local) - untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Daxius knows nothing about the Order of the Rack, but he knows enough about racks to be concerned. With a pained expression, he mutters, "Things are moving very quickly. We must think before we act rashly." He looks at Janniven. "Hyngrot has a promising idea. This lock-wagon - is it a vehicle for prisoner transport? If we know the route, the general timing, and something about this lock-wagon, we can develop a plan."

"I guess me and Pontia need to get going fast then. Is there some spare clothes that the two of us can borrow, and a place with some privacy?"

Astra looks around to see if anyone answers and then focuses on Hyngrot.

"I doubt they're looking for two scrawny bruisers. That's the reason I wanted to borrow your vest."

Hyngrot will lend Astra his vest. "Just you two be careful, you hear me? I only want to be launching one rescue mission tomorrow."

Larko and Rizzardo lead Astra and Pontia through a minor maze of alleys, weaving between warehouses, abandoned buildings and an abattoir.

Eventually they are disgorged onto a busy thoroughfare on the edge of Rego Sacero: the dwindling religious district in Parego Spera.

Larko indicates a ramshackle street cafe: We'll meet you here. Be swift, darkness gathers and the night-beasts stalk these streets.

You have roughly 2 hours to gather your things before nightfall.

Knowledge (local) untrained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Nico blinks at what he knows of the citidel. "Not sure what a signifer is, but if we plan it right, my bombs could take inflict some harm upon the armigers." He blanches a bit at sounding so aggressive, thinking about the armiger they rescued. "Let me run back to my dorm, and get my formula book to prepare for tomorrow."

Nico would slip out as soon as leave is given, and goes back to get the rest of his stuff.

okay, RAW, this is supposed to be a secret check, but just in case.
Disguise (Astra): 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 2 = 8
Disguise (Pontia): 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 2 = 16 (Only if she wants to be disguised, and if it's applicable.)

"We'll stick together, and we'll be careful."

Astra changes into the vest away from the others, she uses some of the cloth from her ruined shirt to try and bind her breasts and disguise her more feminine features. She offers to so the same to Pontia, even asking if she can borrow a set of clothes to help sell the disguise.

Once they are out on the streets, Astra whispers to Pontia, "I sure hope you don't live in the high rent district."

I'm guessing we'll head to wherever is closest, Pontia's place, or Astra's. Astra will gather the rest of her gear and don her armor.

If it's a secret check, just use spoilers.

"That would be helpful, Astra. With my hair, I could probably pass if you bound my chest, and wizard's robes are fairly generic. I also know the city quite well, so we're not likely to get lost."

I think it meant secret as in "GM rolls it," but I didn't see where you might have rolled it. That's why I said just in case, it was just in case I needed it.

Astra helps Pontia out using whats left of her shirt to bind Pontia's chest. Roll in previous post.

Once out on the streets, Astra drops her voice and says, "Lead the way."

The wizard murmurs, "You do all the talking."

"Alright, but you probably know where to go better than I do."

Knowledge (local) untrained: 1d20+3

Nico blinks at what he knows of the citidel. "Not sure what a signifer is, but if we plan it right, my bombs could take inflict some harm upon the armigers." He blanches a bit at sounding so aggressive, thinking about the armiger they rescued. "Let me run back to my dorm, and get my formula book to prepare for tomorrow."

Nico would slip out as soon as leave is given, and goes back to get the rest of his stuff.

Sclavo shows you the way out and speaks to his runner whilst waving you off.

You are in a fairly busy street, just off Regio Sacero.

The sun is becoming low in the sky, you have only s few hours before night.

While the others are getting their equipment, Daxius will continue to talk with Janniven about their plans, hoping she knows more about the lock-wagon, its route and timing.

Nicolai Beauturne wrote:

Knowledge (local) untrained: 1d20+3

Nico blinks at what he knows of the citidel. "Not sure what a signifer is, but if we plan it right, my bombs could take inflict some harm upon the armigers." He blanches a bit at sounding so aggressive, thinking about the armiger they rescued. "Let me run back to my dorm, and get my formula book to prepare for tomorrow."

Nico would slip out as soon as leave is given, and goes back to get the rest of his stuff.

Sclavo shows you the way out and speaks to his runner whilst waving you off.

You are in a fairly busy street, just off Regio Sacero.

The sun is becoming low in the sky, you have only s few hours before night.

Nico moves with all haste to his student residence, not stopping to talk to anyone, and with surreptitiousness, looking about to make sure he's not being followed.

Perception1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Bluff (to appear on casual business, if needed) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

I hadn't thought about this yet, but it seems reasonable to me that Pontia still rooms with or near Master Canario in the Rego Scripa, so we wouldn't have that far to go. Even though Master Canario was a teacher of nobles, I couldn't see them letting him live in the Parego Regicona. He's common, after all, no matter how knowledgeable he may be. OTOH, they wouldn't come to him if he lived in the Parego Dospera. Is that OK with you, GME?

"Nicolai, a signifier is a spellcaster in the service of the Hellknights. That one is to be slain or incapacitated quickly."

Pontia, Canario would room and research in Regio Scripa but work in Regicona: he goes to them.

Nicolai keeps it casual and is undisturbed entering his chambers, a few people give him a nod or say hello but nobody questions him or seems surprised.

Janniven talks with Daxius: There's only one road to the citadel, they keep the trees trimmed back from the road so it will be hard to sneak up on them.
She pauses in thought for a moment: There is a bridge though, that might work a choke-point.

Gorvio adds his own insight: Some always take the lead as a mounted patrol, with the wagon behind: we've done some work for them before.

Pontia guides Astra from Regio Sacero to Regio Scripa, trying to avoid looking up lest she see someone she knows. She says as little as possible, since she has no expertise at disguising her voice. (The pebbles that Astra made her put into her boots to force her to walk differently ache, too.)

Daxius ponders for a while, waiting for those getting their gear to return.

When everyone is back, he says, "I suggest an ambush against the lock-wagon transporting Arael tomorrow morning. Since we don't know when, and we're unlikely to find out in time, we must be in position at dawn. It may ne necessary to wait for an extended period of time, so we must be well hidden. I can attack the driver or a horse from a distance, and hopefully slow the conveyance enough to allow us to assault it. We will need crowbars and hack-saws. I would also appreciate the loan of a bow. Mine was lost in the sewer." He seems distinctly uncomfortable admitting this last bit.

Pontia and Astra weave through the city streets, their passage seemingly unmarked, and reach Pontia's lodgings. The lamps are lit in Titus' study as dusk begins to creep across the city.

In terms of laying an ambush: the gang are clearly non-combatants, although some seem more physically able than other they have no training or experience at the moment. Janniven, however, is willing to lend her aid.

The rest of the gang are willing to do anything they can to help.

Pontia pulls out some spare clothing for Astra (all modest cut, nondescript robes, trews, and tunics), her light crossbow, and her spellbook. "Astra, I need to tell my teacher I'm leaving. I think he's in his study, but I'd like you to come with me and listen for an ambush."

Astra quickly changes and bundles up the clothes she was wearing under her arm.

"Okay, we need to hurry. I still have to get my things."

Perception for an ambush: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Assuming Nicolai is not accosted on his way back...

"Nicolai, a signifier is a spellcaster in the service of the Hellknights. That one is to be slain or incapacitated quickly."

Nico nods. "I see. I only have a working knowledge of magics through alchemy, and not a mage like you. But I will do what is needed."

He looks over at Daxius "Sounds like a good plan - do you mean to take them in the city proper, or well on their way to the citidel. I'd prefer the latter. You may use my crossbow, if you prefer." He unstraps it from his shoulder.

Nicolai is able to gather his equipment undisturbed and sneaks back to the cathedral.

Meanwhile, Pontia approaches her master's study. The door is closed but light comes between cracks in the thin wood.

"I too, would prefer to be outside the city. Of course, the terrain features favorable to ambush will dictate the precise location. Janniven mentioned a bridge, for example. If there is sufficient concealment nearby, that may be a viable option."

When Nicolai offers his crossbow, Daxius politely declines. "You should keep the weapon, as you will likely make better use of it than I. My intention is to move in close to the lock-wagon as soon as practicable. I had hoped there would be a spare weapon here, or amongst those who would not be joining us on the ambush."

Speaking of spare weapons, Daxius suddenly realizes that he's still carrying the dogslicers. He slips them out of his belt and places them on a table, offering them to anyone who could use one. He methodically checks to ensure that his club, which he reclaimed from the armiger, is comfortably in its proper place.

As Nicolai walks briskly back, he looks about in the waning light.

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

While the others do their running, would their be time for Hyngrot to go scout out the bridge?

Astra leans close to Pontia and whispers

"All good so far, just sounds like he's writing."

Pontia pauses outside of the study, visibly conflicted, before knocking gently on the door. "Master Titus?"

** spoiler omitted **

Pontia and Astra are finished at Pontia's residence, now for Astra to take the lead!

Noticing that the sun is dipping ever lower in the sky, Astra hurriedly makes her way to her apartment in one of the poorer regions of town. She has no one to warn, so she just quickly gathers her things and heads back to the place that the others were supposed to meet them at. The whole time she keeps an eye out for anything, or anyone suspicious.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Bluff to appear casual: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

As Pontia and Astra return to Larko and Rizzardo the streets are becoming very quiet and the last rays on sunlight are disappearing over the city rooves.

As you near the cathedral, Astra spots a shadow shifting in the dark alleys near you.

Crap, it'll take too long to don my armor.
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Astra keeps walking, but keeps an on the shadow. Out of the corner of her mouth she whispers to Pontia.

"Keep walking, but I think we're being followed."

Rizzardo turns around: Come on, what you gossiping about?

Again, the shadows move.

Astra keeps her voice low and her eyes open.

"Something is moving in the shadows. I think we're being followed."

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Without looking behind her, Pontia murmurs quietly, "Let's see if we can find someplace lit up."

"Might help, but we have to get back now. Do you have a speel that could light the area up?"

"Not now. I didn't anticipate the need this morning...but then, I doubt either of us anticipated what the day would bring when we got up."

"True." Astra gives Pontia a broad grin.

She again lowers her voice and whispers in the two guides' ears.

"Do you have a plan for being followed?"