The old man sitting at the table transforms once more into the familiar strix once they have privacy. "You're saying Aldous was captured? Damn it. We need to hit that place fast. I have a Scroll of Pass Without Trace that I can use, though it'll only work on one of us. I guess we could buy a few more, though, would last us the hour. Once we get the prisoners out, we'll need something to throw off the scent on all of us. And you say they have guards on the roof? We could take them out. If I can get on another rooftop, I should be able to fly well enough to make it over. Could probably carry Miranda with me too."
"On a random aside, I learned about another person in the slums drained of his blood. Met his fiancee. You might remember the last time I mentioned seeing this also, and I saw fake vampire drain marks. She said she'd let me know if she learned more about what's doing it."
Miranda stares down into the table and frowns, as if she just came to think of something ...
... And it wasn't a happy thought. With a sour look she speaks up again. "What if they have a devil? It could certainly carry missives really quick. *Sigh* Or fetch more reinforcements. Anyone happen to have a devil-proof net?"
"Yes, one can expect these Chelaxians to have a devil available to communicate and also defend the place. This task becomes more difficult."
"So, what do the two have in common, V?" Lily asks as she continues to ponder the situation at hand. They certainly needed a way to get the people out, not least of which the Barrister. "Are they from teh same part of town? The same race? The same sex? Do they frequent a similar location?" she asks, continuing to think out loud.
"I think one of the lowest ranking that could fit that description are the accuser demons. They're able to convey information telepathically and teleport. They're able to fly and often are used in prisons. It would be a likely fit... and a very difficult enemy to overcome. If we target something that can mentally cry out, the whole facility will be on us, and if we target other things, it will have time to escape..." she trails off.
"I could send in another animal friend if we'd like. I could try to coax it into rushing through the building and relaying less information, but more of the setup... we could glean where the prisoners are being kept from there, probably. What do you all think?"
"So, what do the two have in common, V?" Lily asks as she continues to ponder the situation at hand. They certainly needed a way to get the people out, not least of which the Barrister. "Are they from the same part of town? The same race? The same sex? Do they frequent a similar location?" she asks, continuing to think out loud.
They were both found in the Devil's Nursery in Redroof. Both male. The one I saw was a human. I didn't think to ask what race the half-orc's fiance was.
"I think one of the lowest ranking that could fit that description are the accuser demons. They're able to convey information telepathically and teleport. They're able to fly and often are used in prisons. It would be a likely fit... and a very difficult enemy to overcome. If we target something that can mentally cry out, the whole facility will be on us, and if we target other things, it will have time to escape..." she trails off.
"I could send in another animal friend if we'd like. I could try to coax it into rushing through the building and relaying less information, but more of the setup... we could glean where the prisoners are being kept from there, probably. What do you all think?"
"Accuser Devils, yes, that would make sense. They can turn invisible at will and are vulnerable to silver. They would be hard to pin down. So once one of these Accuser Devils catch on to what we're doing, we'll need to evacuate quickly. And I totally agree about getting a good layout of the building using your animal friends."
"Vulnerable to silver?" Miranda ponders and looks around, glancing towards the kitchen. I wonder if they have any silverware ... The prospect of facing a devil with fancy desert spoons wasn't very uplifting - but perhaps they could think of something. Her hands idly went to her new fancy dagger; it being such a fancy material started to make sense. "Hmm. Anyone has any ideas of how to actually deal with the devil? Something for the invisibility and something for the teleportation and the telepathy ... "
As the talk turns to the subject of possible Infernal presences within the prison, Boros falls silent, though he's definitely paying close attention to everything said on the matter. At the mention of silver weapons to deal with such a foe, he perks up and looks thoughtful. "Well, we've got that dagger we found in the cache down below, I recall Miranda claimin' that. For the rest of us, I know o' a compound that can, for a short time, grant our own weapons the traits o' silver."
Aldous' eyebrow raises, a small smile crossing his lips. Kaylee was smart - it was her most attractive quality. Of many attractive qualities. A dozen guards. All human, as far as she can tell. What did the emphasis on the circle mean? A summoning circle? A circle of protection?
"Who are these investigators trying to clear your name? Dottari? Some other organization? I'd suggest not speaking to them."
Aldous makes a second copy of his notes, emphasizing Kaylee's testimony where she did. Dozen guards. No out-siders. Circular days.
Standing, Aldous gathers his things and turns to the guard, coughing politely. "Ahem. It seems we have a problem, legally speaking. If I am to be detained without charge, I should have representation. My firm will undoubtedly wish to know my whereabouts, and I would like to retain a colleague. I wish to go to my firm, and will of course return for my detention, as agreed. I understand if you feel I need armed accompanyment."
When Aldous talks to the guard, he seems insecure for a moment, then ready to submit:"I'll tell my superior...certainly he will handle your escort, Mister Beauturne"
He bumps on the door, and it opens. He exchanges a few words with the other guard, who takes his place as he runs out. Not 2 minutes later, a hawk-nosed man with an elaborate mustache and the red-black robes of Asmodean Clergy enters the room:"Mister Beauturne. Surely you remember that you agreed to submit to local rules, and we have sent a messenger to your firm? So this guard must certainly have misunderstood you, when he claims you meant to leave the premises? Be so kind as to tell me, in the exact words you used, what could have confused him so, while I'll escort you to what will be your place of residence for the forseeable future?", he opens the door, inviting Aldous and Kaylee to step out of the room with what looks like a forced smile.
Lily decides to give it another try, sending one of the spirit rats in. It is lucky, as the side door right after the entrance is open, to allow a cart stacked with food trays to pass through.
Before it, a long and wide corridor, with holding pens for livestock to the left and right. In the holding pens, there are several rudimentary beds each, taking up a good amount of the available space of what are, effectively, cells.
Humanoids of several races are being held in these cells, most of them seem hopeless or lethargic, some angry or afraid. In the cells to the right(south), there's woman, in the cells to the left(north) men. They all wear civilian clothing...probably what they got captured in, cleaned using magic.
On a quick account, probably dozens of people. At the end of the corridor, there's 2 more guards, who approach when they realize the food cart has arrived, then begin handing out meals.
Wanting to check the rest of the area before the duration of her ability is over, the rat rushes onwards, finding that a wide corridor leads up towards the holding pens from the main entrance for goods at the front, which is barred with two heavy beams from the inside. Going even further, it finds several tents put up indoors, and off-duty guards relaxing, playing cards, or eating a meal themselves.
It would seem the wide area here was used for a preliminary scan of the goods, before they would go on to the holding pens. Right next to the corridor leading there, there's another wide double-door, but it's closed and seems to be sealed very tight among the edges.
On the other end of the area, near the indoor field camp, there's another door. It is closed as well, but should lead to a place pretty close to the entrance Aldous had used.
----------------
At the meeting, Rexus picks up on the new development:"A devil would make sense, certainly...and would be trouble. We can certainly hope to deal with it, but we probably should not count on taking it down...and those fiends usually have a good memory. We may want to wear masks or something...just in case it gets away, I don't want to see wanted posters of me going up in the city...not while I'm still here, at least-...even so, what if the Devil follows US, instead of revealing itself? Do you think we should try and summon something as well?
Turning to Boros:"This compound, how long does it take to make it? Time, very much, could be of importance. Do not forget that Aldous knows about all of us...if they torture him that could quickly turn deadly for many of us"
Boros' expression is quite grave as he notes Aldous' continued absence. It seems that the wordy fellow has been detained, and that's no good for any of the rebels. Considering Rexus' query, the soldier grunts sourly and shakes his head. "If Aldous has been grabbed by the guards there, then we don't have the time for needed for makin' that compound. It's a week o' work and then some, if all goes perfect at that. Even with me, Nissim, and Varuzhan all poolin' our knowledge and skills, it'd not be that much faster." Pointing to Miranda with a blackened index finger, he comments. "It'll have to be her bladework that does for this devil, or she loans the fancy ratsticker to one o' us, and we handle it instead."
-----------------
Aldous rolls his eyes, hard, into the back of his head. "Give it a rest, and let the lady evacuate herself in peace. What did you fellows do to end up here? Do you need a barrister?"
"Hey now - I wouldn't stick a rat with silver! They get the pewter ware at best!" Miranda raises her hands defensively then lets out a brief chuckle. Very brief. Naw torture of your companions really kills the mood so quick! *Sigh*. "All right. Masks. That's something. I could wrap a bit of my cape around my head I guess. Because I'm not sure I could stab something invisible and teleporting to death. Not sure if any of us could so we probably can't plan for that."
"And it is hard to fix anything fancy with so little time. Hmh. Maybe that's the first question. Do we strike now at very really morning or do we want to wait?" Miranda winces. "I really would love to have something more solid - but I'm not sure how much of Aldous that's left tomorrow. And if they figure out about this place ..."
"So! If we go now - at least we have the cover of darkness. Unless - of course - they have some tieflings or devils or something on watch. So maybe darkness to slip close at least. That means we might not have to deal with the roof-guards. Or if we do deal with the roof guards they might not notice. Hmm..." Miranda sighs again and starts to rub her temple. "All-right. We have somehow disposed or ignored the guards on the roof. Where do we want to go in?"
"The main door is closest to the cells. But I doubt they'll open it for us ... But if they did we could be in and out real quickly!"
"The south-western door is also guarded and really far away from the cells. I'm not sure why we would want to go in there ... Maybe if we could pretend to be new deliveries or something?"
"The south-eastern door is also far away. But at least it isn't guarded - except if any of the guards in the bed accidentally throw a glance our way. Or if we make any noise ... If we had time and so we might be able to poke away the bar barring the entrance. But I can't really imagine us doing that quietly."
"And then there are the two roof entrances. If we have already dealt with the roof guards they might be the easiest access points. But ... we don't know where they lead. And it is going to be really rough if we have to flee..."
"I don't know which one is best - but if we manage to get in - the first thing we should probably make sure to do is find a quick way out, if things get hairy. And we are going to need one anyhow ... Also! Some way to throw off our scent when we leave is going to be helpful. Path trough the sewers or some decoy smell?"
"Well... once we have a way in, there are plenty of ways out. Remember, nearly all of the entrances and exits." she says tapping each in turn that qualify, "Are barred from the inside. That hardly slows us down when we're leaving, only when we're entering. So exiting via rooftop doesn't seem quite so likely as exiting via the front or side doors. It's rather the opposite of most problems where getting in is easy and getting out is harder. It's just a measure of deciding which we should choose to use in our egress and knowing how to deal with what may come as a result."
Varuzhan has spent a great deal of time scratching his feathers. The complexities of attacking this installation were infuriating, and so much rode in the balance.
"Attacking now seems smart. Curfew will end soon, so it's easier to melt into the crowd."
"We're definitely taking out the roof guards, and the roof guards hopefully have a roof key to get inside. That is, if the roof even needs a key. Seems like the best way to get inside unnoticed. I like the roof entrance on the East myself, because it lets us attack the floor guards from a direction they are not expecting."
"We then hit the guards at the northeast and free the prisoners. I'd suggest bringing a cache of weapons so we can arm the prisoners."
"Then it's out through the main entrance. Shortest way out of the building."
"Once we're through, I like the suggestion to find a sewer. Do we already know of any sewers in the area? That'll throw off the scent and give us a maze of paths to go."
"How does any of this sound?"
Rexus waits a while, but when nobody else speaks up, rises from his seat again, pointing at the makeshift map:"I agree that we will have to take out the roof guards...even if we can approach in some other way, they would see us when we leave...so might as well start with them. That should give us two points to enter the complex through, here and here", he points at the trapdoors on the roof:"If we manage to get in, we could try and secure one of the exits as well. I mean, either we have to go past one of those guarded exits, or we'll come in somewhere near the one only barred."
He paces a bit, lost in thought:"It's unlikely we can get all the inmates to safety, but then, we probably would not want that - there might be spies and real criminals, as well as opportunists who would sell us out the moment they can. I am not even sure we should bring them right here...Maybe we set all of them free, let them fend for themselves, and each of us picks out one or two we take along, then make our own exit through the sewers?"
Looking at Varuzhan, he nods:"I had to go through things myself, but yeah, sounds kinda like what you suggested. Mostly. Anybody opposed or having a better idea? Otherwise we'll go with that plan...", his voice trails off.
On the way to the cell, after Aldous repeats his statement, the cleric seems deep in thought, before inquiring: "Be so good to explain to me what you meant with your firm wishing to know your whereabouts - we did send a ..messenger to them earlier, as they were the only ones you mentioned you wanted notified?
In the cell, the man slowly turns to Aldous:"And just why would I do that? ", he shouts towards the other cell. The dwarf doesn't move...luckily he is slowly breathing, otherwise Aldous would have been worried. The other man bares a grin missing some teeth"Now, fella doesn't speak much, but me? They thought I did something bad. Might or might not be true. But you're the new guy here introducing himself, right? I mean, what's a barrister doing here?" He looks over to the woman and makes some obsene hand gestures.
"Aldous and his friend. Them and set the rest free, that might be our best plan yeah." Miranda nodded. "I'm not sure we can risk any more now, since we don't really have anywhere to put them. Maybe if we had some expendable safehouses ..."
"Oh! And we might be able to make some simple weapons like clubs. Better then nothing and I think bulk-ordering swords just before a prison break might raise unwanted attention. Also ... I don't think I can afford that many swords."
Varuzhan nods in agreement. "A bunch of wooden clubs is better than nothing at all. Also, I wouldn't write all of the prisoners off. Aldous probably has found a few good men and women by now that we might want to recruit." Left unsaid was the worrisome thought of what else could've happened to the barrister.
"If we have time to pick them out, I suppose!"
Frowning as he looks to the priest, Aldous takes in the man's demeanor, looking for any signs to divine the man's intentions. "I'd rather notify them myself, all things considered. I believe firmly in dotting my own "i"s and crossing my own "t"s."
Aldous' outlook gets more gloomy as the barrister sits in the cell. It had become more and more obvious that the barrister had somehow been manipulated by this Bester fellow. Which could be a blessing, all things considered. The laws regarding magical coercion were nothing short of vague. Still, one hated to lose one's will, regardless of the eventual outcome. They would be onto Crissali's at the very least.
Pushing his glasses up his nose, Aldous grimaced as the man yelled at the woman across the way. "Sir, I sincerely doubt that SUSAN loves the attention. Think for a minute about how SUSAN feels. She's likely hungry, scared, perhaps cold. She's not talked to friends or family in how many days? Why on Golarian's green gables would it be her first priority to give you a show?"
"Anyways, I came here for my client. If you told me what you are accused of doing, I could perhaps help you as well. And our friends across the way there. Tell me, Susan and friend, what are you accused of doing, to end up in this place?"
Laria, who had been standing by silently until now, mostly just listening and keeping glasses filled(probably because she was used to it), clears her throat, drawing attention:"I figured cracking that warehouse might not be easy. As you probably know, us Bellflowers helped Halflings escape their bonds, find a new life elsewhere. Well, lets just say we made use of the tools available to us..."she opens her purse and places 3 scrolls on the map - "I made contact with my old supplier...the only one left, and he made these for me...that is a significant investment from my rather tight budget, so don't go waste them...make them count. But I feel you are our best hope, and want to contribute my part to your success-"
Rexus whistles: "Now that should make things a bit easier...if we need them. Anybody else got something to say about what is, to be perfectly honest, mostly V's plan?
_____________
The man laughs at the question: "Well, exactly because she's all lonely for all these days, and I'm the only man left in this cell. Besides, I make sure to give her a good show EVERY TIME!"
Moments after he shouts again, the heavy boots of one of the guards can be heared...he rushed towards the cell, well in the middle of the corridor, and levels a crossbow at the man:"What did I tell you?"
The man does not answer, but steps away from the bars.
When Aldous expleins he is here for his client, the man, once again, laughs out loudly:"Nope, you are here because you're an enemy of Thrune. Or dangerous. Or both. There ARE no barristers here. Ones that are not locked up, anyway-", he grins:"You're not getting out of here...mark my words. Me, I'm here because I got into a fight with some Dottari. Silent guy over there tried to scale the walls...to get INTO this cesspit of a City...well he did, but he doesn't look any happier for it. Susan over there is a WHORE, and they picked her up after curfew. Got some Silvers? Throw em over and ask for a show. And her friend over there? Her boyfriend was one of those rebel fools got himself slaughtered in Aria Park, they took her in just to be save."
"Oh! We should probably try to take a look at our escape route trough the sewers if we can. And if we can't we should make sure to bring a crowbar to quickly bypass locked gates, a bit of chain and padlocks to block the path behind us and maybe a compass so we can make sure we are going in the right direction."
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"In through the roof, out through the front - or side - door, then down into the sewers will probably work. We'll have to deal with the likelihood of contagion from going that route, but it can't realistically be helped. It may even fool the animals for us. I'm -most- worried about the tattle-tale devil following us, though. An ability to perfectly trace our steps would be exceedingly problematic if he didn't just run off. We'll have to keep our ears trained for him following us." Lily shares.
"Do we have any ideas for nonlethal ways to go about it? Do we want to make a plan for when it becomes okay to use Boros's gun? Is it possible for you to craft silver bullets?" she asks the foreigner.
Boros gives Lily's question a bit of thought, then nods slowly. "Aye, silver bullets are easy enough, an' a fair sight quicker to make too. I can have a decent amount o' 'em ready in hours." Sitting up in his seat, the gunslinger loosens his back with a few twisting motions that produce faint popping sounds. "So, looks as though that roof there is our point o' entry? We'll need to pop the guards quick then, just mob 'em hard and fast. Too much chance o' missin', or only woundin' if we try to do it at range."
"Well, sitting around here and staring at the map will not provide any more insights-", Rexus exclaims when no one else speaks up, tapping at the positions of the roof guards.:"We'll take them out first...inside, we'll have to roll with the punches, see what our options are. We have a rough understanding of the layout of the place, which is good, but we can't hope that any elaborate plan we come up with will work out like that...if there's any preparations you want done, get them done, if you want to go home and hug someone, do that. We'll meet 2 streets over, here, in about an hour, then approach together."
When Nissim goes back home, hoping to pick up what he had worked on in those past few days, he finds 2 Dottari observing the shop entrance...he remembers what Kesin had told him...and decides to not risk anything. It was way past curfew - and this endangered both his family, and the budding rebellion.
There was no question about it, his family's business was under surveillance. It would certainly be best to lay low for a while...at least until nobody working for thrune was interested in the Siverto family apothecary any more-
Everybody else, however, makes it. There were more patrols enforcing curfew in the early evening, and the early morning. In the middle of the night, as it was now, the Dottari seemed to be maintaining a token prsence in the streets:"One we go in, we'll want to take out those guards without giving them much of a chance to warn the others. We can try and climb up, use a neighboring building...use magic? I know planning is over, but work with me here as we approach, as we need to be on the same page with these things...
"I can fly in, carrying Miranda since she's light, as long as we get to the rooftop of a neighboring building. I may not be able to fly up so well with these wings, but I can still stay level well enough. If we can find a spot to hide on the roof, maybe we could even set up a rope to get the rest of you up."
Varuzhan looks for a direction that they could approach from without being seen, and a place to hide once on the roof.
Seeing Nissim's absence, it doesn't take long to figure out that he's elected to bow out for some reason, and Boros sees the others in their shrinking revolution come to the same realization. "Well, seems as though another o' our number has decided that the risk is too much. Better now, I suppose, than later when we really need his skills." With that, he drops the matter to focus on liberating one of their remaining members.
Boros' ideas own getting to the roof come to a crashing halt when Varuzhan reminds them of his wings, and a broad smile splits the soldier's face. "Oh, now that there sounds like a right fine idea to me. But a rooftop'll put us right on the guards' level for seein', if one turns a head at a bad time. The dark'll help, o' course, but only so much. And less still, if there's one with the night-eyes or cavesight watchin'. Can one o' ya maybe magic up somethin', some way o' lookin' like nothin' is happenin'?"
"I could create an illusionary box or something for us to hide behind." Miranda suggests, already on board with the plan to fly! That'll be amazing! "But then the guards might suspect something ..."
"Hmm. I could make Varuzhan Invisible - and maybe I could just try and stay low? What do you think of that?" Her second suggestion felt better but not perfect. But maybe that's how good they would get.
Aldous sighs and taking his book from his satchel, begins to read, but he finds the concentraion needed difficult. Sighing again, the barrister takes his shoes off and flexes his toes, taking slight satisfaction in that they don't smell good to him; therefore, they must smell awful to Susan's antagonist.
I wonder what the others are up to?
"Hm...from earlier surveillance, it seemed the roof is flat, with a low parapet and few other things on top. We should probably not waste a lot of time in taking the two guys out. Of course, someone could distract them."
Interpreting the lack of inmediate volunteering to mean nobody feels like being bait, Rexus shrugs..."Guess might as well be me. Just make sure you hurry..."
Aldous takes his shoes off...and while they certainly don't smell great, it seems to Aldous that this whole place had a...weird smell to it. Probably some cheap kind of oil providing a fragrance that overrides most other smells present. Considering the bucket for toilet business, that was probably a merfyful way of handling things.
"We'll try to give you a signal when we're ready for you to go." Lily offers. "Just be sure to stay safe." she adds, not having a lot in the way of ideas or personal abilities to leverage now that things were rolling.
Varuzhan points to the abandoned building. "Let's head toward that rooftop over there. From there, we'll be able to snipe the enemies and I can use that as a flying perch."
Miranda looked up at the building Varuzhan pointed at. "That could work. Also - I'm wondering if we should use the Silence scroll early, just so they can't raise the alarm even if there is a scuffle ... Thoughts?"
After considering the matter of the scroll, Boros nods sharply. "Aye, use it for that. No point in gettin' up there sneaky and quiet, only to make a show for everyone in takin' the guards down."
The group splits up, most making their way over to the seemingly abandoned Kontor, Rexus splitting off to the other direction, presumably somewhere from where he can see the building.
As it's the building next to the Blacksite you are trying to enter, the group needs to get the door open and cross the street, preferably without drawing attention to themselves.
If you make it inside, you'll find that the place is in a decent state, probably only having been abandoned after the lockdown of the city was announced. It's not hard to find stairs and go up to the level of your choice(1st level is a significant bit lower then the roof of the blacksite, 2nd level is a good bit higher), or even the roof(another lock, but all the time in the world to work on that, and no match for Miranda).
Miranda quickly dashed trough the shadows towards the door. She could feel her heart racing - she never really had done anything like this. Sneaking around alone was one thing but now people were relying on her! There was already cold sweat all over her back.
Biting her lip she tried to get the lock open as quickly as possible. Too hasty! she winced as her pick slipped and reset the tumbler. She was going too fast and sloppy!
With intense concentration she forced herself to take a deep breath and slow down. It went better. She almost got it open! So close! Quickly wiping her brow she continued to poke around in the lock. So so so very close!
Deep breaths! There! It's open! The Tiefling deflated visibly and sighed in relief. Quietly she opened the door and slipped into the building. If her first fumbles hadn't screwed it all up things were looking good!
As soon as he sees Miranda swing the door open, Varuzhan motions for everyone to make the crossing. He does his best to blend in with the night and help the others remain hidden.
After some internal debate, Boros elects to follow Rexus, being singularly unsuited for the sort of quiet needed to break into a building unnoticed. As he walks, he mutters softly to his companion. "So what're we doin' for this distraction you got in mind? We just goin' to start punchin' and screamin' at each other? It'll have to be good to get those two lookin' our way, but not enough to get more than that." Having said that, Boros is genuinely curious about how Rexus intends to pull off his mission, and what part the soldier will play in the process.
Lily likewise slips across and to the building... uncertain of how exactly she planned to get across, but figuring she was better off inside than out.
With a few simple gestures, he explains to Aldous that he is under a vow of silence. Pointing to your other cellmate, making a 'babbling' gesture, he rolls his eyes.
In the cell opposite, Susan and her companion use the quiet to get some rest themselves.
Neither of the Guards notices as the stealthy Miranda makes her way across the street, works on the door, gets it open and lets the others in. That whole affair would probably have been even easier, had it not been for the curfew which was in effect.
But possibly because they knew what was at stake, everybody did their best to remain hidden. The inside of the Kontor was deserted. A little bit of dust settled, but it was clean otherwise. In the center of the building, there was a large mechanical elevator probably used to move goods to different levels, but without the animals to pull it, it was not functional. At large gates at the side of the waterfront, there were cranes designed to swivel, and be operated by two people.
Intending to utilize the height of the building, towering over the neighboring blacksite, Varuzhan, Miranda and Lily make their way up the stairs. There's a trapdoor leading to the roof, but the lock is simple, and on on inside, not stopping Miranda for more than a few seconds.
The night sky is overcast, and the wind is cold.
Stealthily making their way to the parapet, they can see the two guards on the roof of the blacksite, moving between the corners focusing on the streets below. Somewhere, in the dark, Rexus and Boros are probably hidden, waiting for a signal.
Rexus considers for a moment as the two men sneak through the dark back-alley: "Could work, yes. I did mention I picked up some magic on my travels, right? Meant to use some of that to make them want to take a closer look. But putting on an act could work even better. Of course, with the Curfew, there's not many options that would ONLY get them looking..."
Gently touching the rim of his hat, Rexus's clothing and form become that of a Dottari.
"That said, we could hide in plain sight. Walk right up to them and adress them. Say you are a suspected rebel to be transferred to the site. I mean, how's that for a convincing bluff, I wouldn't even have to lie? And it would put you close enough to them to help the others if there's trouble..."
Rexus squats down, opening his backpack, retrieving a pair of manacles and a vial of acid:"Wouldn't lock them on your hands, and that vial, you could hold hidden, and throw without alerting everybody to our presence", he looks at Gnollsplasher as he says so. The gun would have it's time during the raid, certainly, but not while they tried to approach stealthily...
"Brr ..." Miranda shuddered, but she wasn't entirely the shiver that went up her spine was caused just by the weather. At least it was dark enough that the guards would have an hard time spotting them.
"Okay. Signal for the distraction then try to make it over and take out whomever that doesn't seem the most distracted? And the scroll just before that so we are silent?"
She dropped down her rope and looked for a place to secure one end of it. "When we get this over it should just be to hang on to something and you'll be over too - worst comes to it maybe we could try and escape this way if we need..." Miranda notes to Lily.
Lily nods, "Though, then we rely upon the others to climb this building then climb across, when we could instead simply have them climb the rope on the side of the building if we let it dangle down from the warehouse, and pull it up behind us. Do you have any magic to untie the other end once we're over so patrols don't notice?" she asks as she fidgets with some of the buckles on her new armor through her clothes.
"It's gonna rain soon," whispers Varuzhan. "I'd think that'd make it harder for the guards and their hounds to track us when we make our getaway."
As the group discusses the details, Varuzhan nods in agreement with Miranda's plan. In response to Lily, he suggests: "Once we take out the guards you all are across, I can fly back and untie the rope."
Chuckling, the soldier shrugs slightly as he follows along just a few steps behind Rexus. "I figured a drunken argument would suffice, but I suppose pretendin' to be a prisoner'd be a good enough way o' gettin' in." Looking around as Rexus fixes the restraints convincingly in place, Boros sniffs slightly and frowns in thought. "Best we get done soon though, I'm smellin' rain. It'll be great for washin' out our tracks, but gettin' caught down in the sewers with a storm surge o' water lappin' at our heels ain't a good idea."
After that, he lets Rexus push him along toward the converted warehouse, snarlingly angrily in his native tongue at the "guard" prodding him onward. He makes as much of an effort as he can to look properly subdued and scared, casting his words as empty blustering than actual promises. "<How dare you treat me so, you armored goblin spawn?!? Just because I don't fawn all over that mad dog you call 'Master', you think that gives you the right to harass honest travelers? I'll see you flogged for this, by my own hand or your superior's!>"