Henri doesn't sway too badly as they head out into the streets. They take a detour to the Rayka's dwelling, weaving between the ruined buildings. As they exit, she feels something, her old street senses picking up...danger. This was her neighborhood and she knew it better then she knew herself.
Out of a shadowy corner, three men appear. Two have the heavy-set lumpen look of simple toughs, hired bully boys, all too common in this new, lesser Sosthis. Had it always been like this? Rayka shakes her head. Not the time for philosophy!
The third man is smaller, skinnier, with a narrow face and a rather long beard. He eyes all three of them, focusing on Henri. He glances at Rayka then says, 'Do you speak for this drunk? Are you his manager, perhaps?" he says this with disdain, looking at Rayka's dirty and worn clothes.
Obella grunts at her side, angry, as always, to be passed over as someone of import.
Rayka steps protectively in front of Henri. Drawing herself up to her full height and seems to grow in size. She regards the three men with a steely gaze and her body posture warns them to think twice about doing anything foolish. "I am the bodyguard of this renowned musician. If you want to speak to his manager then you need to speak to her." Rayka motions to Obella.
The man's eyes widen at the idea of a halfling being in charge, but Obella grins widely (giving Rayka a wink).
She puts her hands on her hips and says in clipped tones, "Yeah, I'm in charge. Say your bit and get a move on. We have appointments to keep, not like you gutter bums." She sneers at them, and lays a hand on one of her knives.
The man frowns and says, obviously unsure now, "I am approaching all of the other applicants for this morning's audition at the White Swan. My employer wishes to get the job without much fuss." He pulls out a small bag of coins, "30 gold pieces. Should be a fortune to a slip like you."
The man gains some confidence, apparently becoming convinced he can dominate Obella, "If not, we break your boy's fingers and he never plays again. Seems like a simple choice to me."
Obella glances at Rayka, eyebrows raised.
Rayka's eyes narrow when the man insults Obella. She laughs coldly before her voice takes on a threatening tone. "There will be no fuss if you walk away now. I can guarantee that you and your goons won't be touchin' our applicant. And I'll be breakin' more than your fingers. Seems like a simple choice to me. But please, give me a reason to rearrange the features on your face."
The brawler's hands clench into fists and she takes a warning step forward.
Rayka's tone makes all three men take a step back. The skinny man's eyes widen then he frowns, looking to Obella.
"Does your blood thirsty bodyguard speak for you?"
Obella merely nods disdainfully, moving forward as if to push them aside.
'Fine." the thugs say, eyeing Rayka carefully. "You'll regret this. You made a powerful enemy here."
Henri beams as the men slouch off, vanishing down an alley.
Obella grins again and smacks Rayka on the arm, playfully, "Rayka! Give me warning before you put me front and center like that. But by Sheyln, that felt good!"
"I wasn't expectin' to be makin' friends," Rayka mutters.
Turning to Henri she says, "Please don't tell me that's someone involved with the bribin'. They can afford more money than we have for bribes."
Rayka grins sheepishly when Obella taps her on the arm, "It didn't make sense for me to be bodyguard as well as manager and I didn't have time to discuss it with you. Glad you enjoyed it because you'll have to continue as Henri's manager for the audition."
"We better get goin'. We can't afford any other delays."
Henri shrugs, 'I have no idea who that was. But if you act like you just did, I don't think we'll have too many other problems."
They head down the streets, almost making it to the better parts of town. Obella is just commenting if she should get a 'stage name' when an arrow flies out of an alleyway.
Obella nimbly dodges it, and the arrow slaps harmlessly against the dusty street. Rayka hears a curse and recognizes it as from the skinny man earlier. Apparently he hasn't given up.
Rayka moves to protect Henri and drags Obella behind her as well.
She should have known that their previous encounter wasn't over, that they would act like cowards and try to ambush them.
"How much further do we need to go and how much time do we have? I'm thinkin' you guys should get to the audition while I take care of this."
The brawler begins to advance on the alley were the human 'rat' is hiding.
Rayka pauses mid-step. The first arrow missed but there may be more. And it would probably be better to draw them out rather than to go in after them. She plants herself in front of Henri and Obella. "Quit hidin' like cowards!"
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The brawler can use this ability again before the duration expires in order to replace the previous combat feat with another choice.
The still hidden man laughs grimly, "Come out so I can get my face caved in?"
Another arrow comes whining in.
It misses, but Rayka feels confident it was no threat to her.
Behind her Obella nd Henri scramble for cover, Obella saying, "I'm not leaving you here!"
Out of one of the alleys, the two toughs come forward, obviously not quite willing to attack until Rayka is hit by an arrow.
Rayka assesses the situation and decides that if Obella wasn't going to leave her then they all needed to leave. They needed to get Henri to his audition.
The brawler signals to Obella and Henri with her head to start moving away. She then begins to back away from the ratfink archer and hoped that his lackeys wouldn't attack while she was unhurt. She keeps her eyes on her would be attackers but continues to back away. "We'll be leavin' now. It would be in your best interest to just let us go."
Another arrow slides past, not even getting close. It smacks into an old stone wall fully three feet above her head. The thugs hang back, unwilling to tangle with her.
With Rayka guarding the back, Obella and Henri hustle out of the alley and into busier streets. They mix with the general crowd and let out a sigh of relief. Even the Chelish would stop open fighting in the main streets.
Obella rolls her eyes and says, "If that is the worst of it, I think we'll be OK. Should have guessed musicians couldn't hire good killers."
'Killers!?" Henri yelps, apparently having actually taken the man at face value that a few broken bones was the worst that could happen.
Soon they are at the entrance of the White Swan, a fine noble tavern that stood here for centuries. Recently though the establishment had been taken over by the Chelish and closed to average citizens. Today there seems to be an exception as there is a massive crowd thronged around the building today. The masses of people seem angry though, not the usual people looking for entertainment.
Obella stares at the packed people then turns to Rayka, ordering imperiously, 'Guard, clear a path! My employee has business inside."
Rayka nods and says with proper deference, "Yes ma'am, right away ma'am."
The brawler takes a deep breath and as she does, she draws herself up to her full height. Her voice bellows over the crowd, The look on her face tells everyone before her that they better move or be helped none too gently.
But the noise in the crowd is greater and the anger of some made them ignore her. She growls, "Since you won't move, I will have to do this the hard way. Move or be moved."
With dogged persistence, Rayka begins to simply pick people up and move them aside. She doesn't toss them, but she isn't overly gentle. Obella grins and encourages her, shouting commands, "That one,t hat fat man, get him aside!"
Henri merely watches nervously.
They make headway and soon the crowd stops resisting, grudgingly giving them space. Rayka hears a many people complaining about the upcoming show. Apparently many of the performers have dropped out or simply failed to appear. While the skinny man seemed a joke to her, perhaps his bribes were enough for other performers.
Quickly, they are at the front of the mass, int he doorway tot he tavern. The place is even more packed inside, but there is a small bubble of empty space around a stage against the wall. Everywhere else, the bar, the tables, even the rafters, are crowded with people.
Seated among them, in an ornate chair that surely didn't belong here, sat a aging Chelish woman in a formal dress, blood red. Her black hair is kept up in formal braids, revealing a stern and heavily make-uped face. At her side stands an impatient man of roughly the same age, with a heavy sword at his belt. He mutters something and the woman responds, laying a fond hand on his arm.
"Lady and Lord Iuncus" Henri says, nodding.
Obella curses and turns her head aside, hissing, 'Rayka, they are going to see what we look like!"
"I'm glad I didn't dismiss Henri's request that we come. He wouldn't have made it if he had been by himself," Rayka murmurs to Obella as they push their way inside. "I don't think we'll be able to let him go off on his own if he wins this audition."
Rayka freezes as she hears Henri address the man and woman as the same thought goes through her head as Obella's. But then she remembers that nobles may look at them but she highly doubted that they'd see them. She leans in and says to Obella quietly, "I doubt they'll remember the 'help'. They're nobles and we ain't. But we can always look at gettin' some disguises for later if that makes you feel better. But for now it's better to hide in plain sight."
Obella frowns but nods.
As she does so a reedy man who looks like he is about to be squished by the crowd appears at their side. He eyes Henri, who is getting his lute out of a small bag. The reedy man's eyes light up and he says, with a tone of utter joy, 'Another musician? Thank the Gods, we will at least have three." he grabs Henri's arm and the bard is whisked through the pressing crowd, the man shouting, 'Out of the way, out of the way!"
Obella eyes this and says, "I don't think his bodyguard should accompany him on stage." then her eyes narrow, "Want to get closer, to see the others?"
They fight the crowd and get closer tot he stage. Rayk's imposing physique is the main reason they make progress, although Obella is quite adept at weaving through dense crowds of humans.
Near the stage they spot the other two rival performers. One is a young man dressed in full Chelish regalia, long flowing robes of red, short dark hair, and even the (un)holy symbol of Asmodeus around his neck. Obella snorts in derision and mouths Collaborator. His thin fingers grip a bone flute, and his skin is covered with thick white makeup, to create an illusion of Chelish purity. Judging from his apparent wealth, Rayka guesses this is the man who hired the street toughs.
The other is a average looking woman of indeterminate years. Her clothes are simple but well made, but she keeps her eyes downcast. With dark skin, curly hair she is the picture of a ethnic Osrion. She grips a small, intricate looking horn tightly.
The brawler watches Henri be led away. "Looks like you probably won't be talkin' to the nobles anyways. At least not now. Nothin' to worry about."
Rayka's eyes narrow at the Chelish toff. Her hands form into fists but she stays put. "He looks ridiculous." she groused as she shakes her head.
"Let's hope Henri puts on a good show. But considerin' how everythin's been happenin' today, it be best if we keep our eyes on the crowd."
Rayka and Obella turn to the crowd, keeping an eye for threats. The raucous group seems to have settled slightly now that there are more performers. Apparently they came expected a grand show that would last for hours and showcase some of the best performers in Sosthis and instead got one preening Chelish suck-up and one sad looking woman.
Hneri bows and begins some banter with the audience, clearly a showman. He earns some cheers and cries.
Obella mutters, 'Do we want to sabotage the others?"
Rayka keeps her voice low and close to Obella's ear. "I would love to sabotage the others. Especially that pompous ass who hired an idiot to shoot arrows at me." The brawler assessed the crowd. "The problem is gettin' close enough unnoticed to do so. Even if I 'accidentally' broke his stupid flute, I'd probably get in trouble and cause too much of a commotion."
"But if you have an idea and need help, I got your back and am more than happy to be of service."
Obella rolls her eyes, "You tend to be overly direct. I didn't think you should storm the stage. I was thinking more...subtle Maybe we could energize the crowd to chant against him or something. I don't know, just seems foolish to sit here and hope Henri really is that good."
The reedy man is on stage talking to each of the performers, obviously giving them some sort of instructions.
The two Chelish nobles sit, looking bored at the proceedings. Now inside, Rayka can see a few heavily armed Chelish guards around them, keeping the crowd back.
Rayka gives her friend an unapologetic look. "I can't help it if my first response is to break things. And you know subtlety isn't my strength."
Her look turns mischievous. "But I do like the sound of booin'. Or you're clever with words. Maybe a rhymin' chant against the other two or a catchy one in favor of Henri."
Obella eyes the heaving, sweating masses of people in front of them like the carpenter might consider a fallen tree. She raises an eyebrow and says, 'Got anything in mind? I know I'm the poet, but this is your idea. Besides, those Chelish nobles make me nervous."
Although Rayka has a feeling by 'nervous' Obella means 'angry.
"As much as I would love to hate on that t%## for being Chelish, that probably won't win us any favor with certain people in the crowd. Therefore we'll have to go after their instruments and raise up Henri."
Rayka taps her chin in thought. "How about...'we don't want horns or flutes, we want Henri and his lute' or 'we don't want pure or sad, we want Henri who is rad'. Or we could also just go after the guy and chant 'give the snoot with the flute the boot'. Take your pick but that's all I got." She shrugs, "Or we can just boo the other two."
Obella rolls her eyes at the cheers and actually laughs out loud at 'rad'. 'Rayka, I think my grandmother uses that word. How old are you?" She nudges Rayka's elbow then says, "The other two are pretty good though, let's go with it. I will help but your voice is louder, you'll have to lead."
On stage the musician are finishing up the practices and are clearly getting ready to play. It appears the woman is going to play first, head bowed, horn raised. The Chelish nobles still seemed bored at all this, but tension is high among the crowd. For many entertainment is a foreign exotic thing.
Rayka gives her friend a serious look. "Haven't you heard? Everythin' old is new again." Then she grins, "And I like your grandmother."
Seeing the woman on stage Rayka sighs, "I guess we start with the first one then because it's the woman."
Turning to the young woman next to her but speaking loudly enough so that everyone around her could hear, Rayka points at the nobles and says. "They look bored already and I don't blame them. Everyone knows that horns and flutes make music for boring, old people. The young, excitin' musicians play the lute."
Raising her voice slightly she begins to chant, "We don't want horns or flutes, we want Henri and his lute!"
The woman next to Rayka seems a bit confused by Rayka's talk of fashion, but the chant is catchy and the crowd is tense and full of emotion. The Chelish have kept the lid on so tight in Sosthis, it doesn't take much to get steam bubbling.
The woman begins playing her horn, a soft low sound. The crowd, restless, is large and has a hard time hearing it. That edge gives Rayka's chant a chance and it takes off, which makes the music even harder to hear, further angering the crowd. The chant is quite loud and echoes off the walls.
The Chelish nobles perk up at the sign of unity from the crowd and their guards shuffle nervously. There are a few scuffles but nothing truly violent as the woman plays then ends her song, perhaps somewhat earlier then she intended.
While the crowd can't hear it Rayka does and she recognizes she drowned out a true talent here.
As she backs away the makeup covered fop strides to center stage. He bows low to Lord and Lady Incus, sweeping his broad-brimmed hat to them. "Now, for something truly special. A performance by Lavia Olso." The name is cliche Chelish, obviously a stage name, chosen to flatter.
The nobles straighten, obviously taken with the abject flattery. The Chelish overlords may be cunning but they are not subtle about playing favorites.
However, that plays right into Rayka's hands. The chants are even louder this time and more in unison. She can see Lavia's hands shake as he is drowned in a sea of shouts and catcalls. The music is poor and badly disrupted. He glares at the crowd, which just engenders more jeers. Rayka fears a riot is going to break out, but eventually the musician bows again and steps back.
Then it is Henri's turn. With a flourish he waves tot he crowd which cheers. By now they seem to equal him with local pride and a symbol of their own achievement (despite him not even looking like a local).
Lute in hand he begins a jaunty tune, which the crowd sings along with. Rayka can tell the Chelish nobles don't care much for this music but he does seem to be the best so far. There is no trace of the drunkenness from earlier, and he is at ease on stage.
A glance at LAvia however, and she grows concerned. The flute player looks furious and digs through his pockets for something. A weapon? A magic item?
Obella notices and says, "We have to do something."
"Yes we do. He's not going to succeed on my watch."
As much as Rayka would have loved to beat Lavia into oblivion, she has enough sense to figure this was not the place to do it. She groans, "I absolutely hate what I'm about to do and if you ever bring it up again, we may not remain friends."
Pushing her way over to the Chelish musician, she pretends that she's approaching Ankraten in order to get into the proper frame of mind. She puts an adoring look on her face - or at least what she hopes is adoring. "Lavia Olso! Over here!" she waves at the flutist. "I can't believe I finally get to meet you," she gushes. "This crowd is absolutely awful treatin' you like they did."
Rayka pulls out her sketch pad and flips to an empty page. "Can you sign this for me? My friends won't believe I was fortunate enough to meet you."
Obella's laughter is lost as Rayka rushes closer to the stage, waving her papers like an idiot. The flute player is totally distracted though, turning from Henri and staring at her.
He actually takes half a step toward her, leaning over the edge of the stage. 'What the...?" he mutter, obviously completely thrown by Rayka's words and actions. At sea, he says, 'Do you have a pencil..."
Signing the papers takes time and soon Henri's act finishes. Whatever act Lavia had planned is foiled and Rayka takes a step back, smiling not at the worthless autograph but at keeping Henri safe.
As the last notes from Henri's lute fall away, the crowd goes silent. They turn, as one, to the two Chelish nobles. Lady Inucus waves a hand and her soldiers clear a path throught he crowd, right next to Rayka actually.
Long red dress rippling she rises to her feet and approaches the stage. In the utter silence, Rayka can ever hear her footfalls, heels on the stone floor. Eyes unreadable she walks up to the base of the stage and says, 'Well done. You are a testament to the talent of Sosthis. With our help, your city is once again producing great artists, worthy of performing at the finest homes. Together..."
Her speech cuts off as the horn playing woman suddenly stands up. With a complicated motion she unhinges part of the horn and a gleaming knife falls into her hand. The once downcast eyes are blazing in fury and the woman screams, "Down with Cheliax!" and she throws herself at the noblewoman.
As much as Rayka loathes saving the life of a Chelish noble, if she doesn't then their plan would fail. Reacting quickly, she steps in front of the noblewoman and grapples the knife-wielding woman.
Immediately Rayka begins to drag her towards the back door and away from the Chelish guards. "Don't struggle or they'll kill you!" she hisses in her ear. "There's a larger plan at work and I'd rather you didn't die."
Rayka moves with a liquid speed and slams into the attacking woman. Instantly she wrestles the slight woman into a double arm lock and begins dragging her toward the door. Lady Inucus looks, with real emotion for the first time, startled at this, a hand raised to her mouth.
Her husband bellows a curse and charges through the crowd, a bright sword in his hand. He slashes down several bystanders before they can clear a path. The guards follow suit, trampling through on-lookers, making for the woman and Rayka.
The horn player drops her small knife and says, 'Who...who are you with?" Rayka kicks the back door open and blinks in the bright Osirion sunlight outside. The alley is half-filled with urchins, pickpockets and other street people attracted by the large crowd.
She shoves a scribbled address into the woman's palm, "Go there. Tell them Rayka sent you. Now, elbow me in the nose hard and run. No time for anything else."
The woman seems very confused but she hits Rayka int the nose. Rayka feels a crunch and a searing pain that tells her the nose is broken. The woman scrambles down the streets, people filling in around her.
The Chelish guards run up but Rayka, nose bleeding freely, blocks them enough for the woman to escape. They curse loudly, scaring the various onlookers to run in a panic.
Lady Inucus arrives, in a swirl of red dress. She looks utterly composed now, arms crossed, hair immaculate. Rayka wonders how she can still look so put together after an attempt on her life.
The Chelish noblewoman's dark eyes scan Rayka thoroughly, narrowed. Behind her, still bearing his sword, her husband bursts through the crowd, knocking people aside with abandon.
"You reacted quickly." Lady Inucus says, her voice smooth, refined. "Unlike my guards."
Her eyes flash to them and Rayka seems them visibly wince. She focuses back on Rayka.
"I owe you my life, Osirion. This will not be forgotten, by myself or the Chelish government."
Her husband rushes up, and Rayka seems blood on his blade. His eyes blaze as he realizes he was too late. He grabs his wife by the shoulder, and stares at Rayka, "This is her? Who saved you?"
The noblewoman nods, still considered Rayka, her bleeding nose, and dirty torn clothes. The man nods, then dismisses her, rounding on his guards.
Lady Inucus does not turn however and says, "I am impressed. You will be rewarded. I intend you to be a guest of honor at my house, tomorrow night.' She waves a hand at the stage, where Henri and Lavia still stand, shocked.
"In addition, I choose your friend to be our entertainment. Do not say the Chelish let bravery go unrewarded. Tomorrow night." She nods and turns to her husband and the guards.
Rayka winces as the woman's elbow makes contact with her nose. She had underestimated her strength and won a broken nose because of it.
She stands rigidly and awkwardly as she's addressed by the noblewoman. She makes sure she doesn't make direct eye contact with Lady Iuncus. She has no idea what to do with her hands nor does she know if she's allowed to speak. She shifts uncomfortably under the intense scrutiny of the Lady, painfully aware of how she must look to the noble. Things had just gotten a lot more complicated.
Rayka's eyes narrow slightly when she sees blood on Lord Iuncus' sword. She wonders who he had carelessly, or possibly purposefully, injured or potentially killed under the guise of saving his wife.
Rayka is honestly shocked at the pronouncement of her attending the Iuncus manor. Her head snaps up and her mouth falls open. It takes a few seconds before she stammers, "Guest...guest of honor, ma'am? Surely you and your important friends don't want to be havin' me around. I wouldn't want to ruin anythin'."
She looks over to Henri hoping that he is the friend that the Lady was referring to considering the last thing she had been doing was asking Lavia for his signature. "Thank you. Henri won't disappoint you."
Rayka's worry that a mix up between Lavia and Henri is dissuaded as some Chelish toady climbs the stag and begins talking to Henri.
Rayka's stumbling reply to the Chelish noblewoman is ignored, and it is as if the brawler hasn't spoken.
before Rayka can insist, Obella sidles up tugging on Rayka's sleeve, 'Let's go, hero. Before they give us any more honor and glory."
Around them the crowd, excited by the attempted assassination, begins to disperse back into the streets. Henri, beaming, lightly jumps off the stage and says, 'Excellent! We are hired! Drinks on you?"
She begins to move them away from the Chelish and possible eavesdroppers. They make their way back into the street.
"How can you think about drinkin' right now? Things just got a lot more complicated. I can't go to this party and I can't not go to this party. And I ain't dressin' up like one of them and..." Rayka seems on the verge of hysteria as things begin to sink in.
She shakes her head, "I just reacted. I wanted Henri to get hired and I didn't want that musician to die. Now I have to go to their stupid party." Then her eyes went wider, "I saw blood on a few swords. Who were they attackin'?"
Then she looks hopefully at Henri, "They never got my name. Maybe you can just tell them I disappeared and you didn't know me well enough to know where to find me. That way I don't have to go."
She begins to hurry away, "I got to get to the warehouse. Just in case she goes there. She deserves some answers and I don't want to be known as someone who's protectin' the Chelish."
Obella shakes her head sadly at Rayka's remark about the sword. 'They attacked anyone." She says bitterly,"They don't care if they have to kill a few innocent people to get to the other side of the room faster. I saw at last half a dozen get carried out, a few of them won't be able to afford healers or get there in time."
Henri looks nervous at Rayka's rushed plan and says, 'I..I don't know. I mean, they gave you a personal invitation. That is a high honor and they might ask lots of questions."
Obella grabs Rayka's arm, causing the larger woman to stop. 'Stop! Breath Rayka!" She mimes taking deep breaths, 'We need to be calm here. Not panic." She grows sly, 'Maybe this is a good thing. You could be another inside man?"
Rayka takes a few ragged breaths at Obella's insistence. Her mind is still racing but she feels like she can focus again.
"I...I guess that could work. Hopefully no one will want to talk to me and they'll ignore me like they ignore the help. Then I can look around and maybe sketch some of the inside of the house."
But then the next wave of problems surface and she feels herself losing it again. "But what do I wear? And how do I act?" She gasps, "And what if that servant recognizes me?!?"
She looks glumly at the other two, "I'm just goin' to be a dressed up monkey to those guests. Somethin' to be paraded around as if they taught me how to act like a human and then pat themselves on the back for what compassionate people they are. This is beyond awful, even if it is helpful."
Obella rolls her eyes at the mention of clothes, "At worst, we can steal some clothes. Might be good practice?" She laughs at Rayka's shocked expression and says, 'Never mind. But I think Anax and his crew might have some connections."
The halfling seems more amused by the turn of events then Rayka is.
But then she sobers, 'That is true, the servant could be a problem. We don't want to link 'heroic defender' to 'urchin casing the joint'. Tricky."
Henri adds, "So..no drinks?"
'Shut up, Henri." Obella says absently, focusing on the new slate of problems and opportunities.
"It seems clear that the first thing we need to do is make our way to the warehouse. It's the safest place at the moment to discuss options and that's where I sent the knife-weilder."
Rayka looks around the street. "There's probably some people unhappy with how everythin' unfolded so we may want to make sure we ain't followed. I know that Lavia wasn't pleased and still may try to do somethin' to Henri. You'll need to stay with us."
"Maybe if we can clean me up nice, the servant won't really see me. We'll have to see what resources Anax has for this unexpected turn of events."
Rayka claps Henri on the back. "By the way, well done. And I will moderately celebrate with you with a drink or two...but we need to figure out a few things first. So just hang in there."
Henri seems mollified as they head back. Rayka keeps an eye open for anyone tailing them but doesn't see anyone.
Without event, they find the warehouse. Rayka is pleased to find a few subtle White Jackal guards on the street, posing as beggars or loiters.
She finds Nefti and Anax inside, discussing something in hushed voices. When they see Rayka they look at Henri's lute and ask, "Well, do we have an inside man?"
Rayka nods slowly, looking morose. "We actually have two."
She cranes her neck as if looking for someone or something, "Did you catch anyone pokin' around here? I sent someone here but she may not have taken me seriously considerin' the circumstances at the time."
The two gang members look at each other and shake heads, 'No one has been around, at least, no one noticed. Who is the mysterious person? Our second inside man?"
Nefti looks at Henri and then says, 'Come on, tell us what happened. Good for the plan, right?"
The brawler sighs, "I'm the second inside man."
Seeing the looks on their faces she assures them, "No, not as another musician but worse...as a guest." Surprise turns to disbelief and Rayka adds disgustedly, "But I had to save the life of a Chelish noble to do so."
"The mysterious person is the one who tried to kill Lady Iuncus but I never got her name. I ended up stoppin' her because I figured Henri would never get hired if there was a death. I dragged her out of the buildin' so she could escape and not get killed and I gave her this address. If she was willin' to die to kill one Chelish then maybe she'd be helpful. As a reward for my actions, Lady Iuncus declared that I would attend the party as her guest of honor. And now you all have to slap lipstick on a pig and make me all presentable-like."
Almost as a second thought she tells Henri's side of things. "Henri did wonderfully. There was a Chelish dandy who bribed or threatened most of the other musicians not to show. It was good we were with him because otherwise he'd be havin' some broken fingers.
But Obella and me got Henri to the audition and got the crowd on his side and he's been hired. The Chelish musician was furious at that."
Utter silence greets Rayka's words. Everyone stares at her until Anax says, slowly,"So, a busy day?"
Nefti starts laughing on the 'lipstick on a pig remark'. Her voice is clear and light, quite unlike her stern (and often dismissive personality).
Henri bows at the appropriate part declaring, 'Neither threat of violence nor dark of shadow will prevent us from taking the stage by storm. We shall be a great success."
Anax rubs his chin, "So tomorrow night then? we make the play?"
Obella nods then looks to Rayka, 'Um, right?"
"Busy and not at all like I was expectin'."
Rayka glances around the warehouse for the first time, taking in her surroundings. "So, anythin' in here that can help me out tomorrow night?"
"I...I guess tomorrow is showtime. I was hopin' to have tomorrow to gather info and pick another party night to go in. But with me actually invited into the house, it makes sense to do it tomorrow and then disappear. It shouldn't be too hard to distract the guards from one of the doors. I just hope everyone treats me as dismissively as they did today."
There seemed to be a lot of things to finalize now that they were going to put their plan into motion the next day. "Do we have a way to get the stuff out of the manor? Are we going by land or by water?"
Obella digs in Rayka's pack and pulls out a sketch of the manor. She lays it out, flattening it with her hands.
Everyone stares at it, silent for a moment, as if suddenly confronted with the magnitude of the endevour. They were going to steal from some of the most powerful people in the land, backed by the full weight of the ruthless and violent Chelish government.
After that silence passed, Nefti replies, 'We could do either. There are hundreds of bargemen that could be hired for a job. It has extra risks though. Another member, another issue of timing..."
Obella counters, 'Yes, but it also means a faster get away, avoiding the crowds. Depending on our distraction, the doors may be blocked with people."
"I take it then that no one here knows how to steer a boat? I agree with Nefti that addin' another person could make things even more complicated than they already are. But I think it's the better option for gettin' stuff out, especially if it's heavy."
Rayka's face screws up in intense thought. "Or what about clean up after the party? I ain't been to somethin' this fancy before...do rich people make a mess? Maybe we could sneak stuff out with garbage?"
"Oh! I almost forgot. There's also dogs and an oread. Although neither may be a problem durin' the party. I doubt they'd have guard dogs in the same area as guests."