Shadows over Westcrown
Game Master chavamana

Quietly, quickly, as if even now she expects that someone is listening to them. "It shouldn't affect what is going on in the spiral, just a... feeling I got about why she is doing this all when she," her voice turns edged, her eyes brighter, "informed me as to what I needed to do."

Zsz waits for her to continue.

She looks at the group, "I don't suppose any of you have a disguise kit? Mine, well..." She motions in the direction of the pit, "Isn't really in a useable form anymore. I don't particularly want to draw attention and," she motions to herself.

Zsz reaches through her dress and pulls out a small leather satchel. She pauses for a moment, then takes out a metal tube before she hands the rest of the satchel over. "This one looks odd on anything but dark skin," she says as she replaces the tube within her dress.

chavamana wrote:

Quietly, quickly, as if even now she expects that someone is listening to them. "It shouldn't affect what is going on in the spiral, just a... feeling I got about why she is doing this all when she," her voice turns edged, her eyes brighter, "informed me as to what I needed to do."

Zsz waits for her to continue.

"Lozendi was holed up in the room next door... until his untimely demise. His men haven't really gone in there since he died," A shrug, "Either respect or fear, not sure which one, really."

chavamana wrote:

She looks at the group, "I don't suppose any of you have a disguise kit? Mine, well..." She motions in the direction of the pit, "Isn't really in a useable form anymore. I don't particularly want to draw attention and," she motions to herself.

Zsz reaches through her dress and pulls out a small leather satchel. She pauses for a moment, then takes out a metal tube before she hands the rest of the satchel over. "This one looks odd on anything but dark skin," she says as she replaces the tube within her dress.

"Thank you." She starts to pull her long silver hair up into the hideous faux-beehive that she was wearing at the cornucopia. It does an amazingly good job of hiding the horns.

Azhar realizes he's staring, blinks. His head turns almost sideways so he can also see the woman slightly behind him. With a soft reassuring squeeze of the hand he whispers

The Raven watches with interest. It is difficult to discern whether he is interested because the tiefling is attractive or whether he is interested in watching how she uses the disguise kit in hopes of picking up a few tips.

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

As she realizes that some people just seem to be watching her put on her disguise she pauses. "This is going to take a while, I'd rather not rush it when I'm going to have to get past devil and the dottari." A pause, "I've never been into the Spiral myself, so I can't tell you what to expect."

At this point the makeup has dulled her skin into the stark white of a woman with an indoor occupation, her horns are hidden. She looks remarkably human already.

She looks down, just a tad to the side, "Since the people down there were working of the crime of being born with unacceptable heritages, I kept my distance." She turns her back to the group, using a cracked mirror to apply the heavy makeup in more detail.

Zsz looks somewhat confused. "I was actually waiting for what you were trying to tell us to come to some kind of point."

Crosael looks very focused on applying her disguise. "I think I did. Unless there are any questions that you have about the Spiral but, as I said, my information of that area is limited."

Crosael looks very focused on applying her disguise. "I think I did. Unless there are any questions that you have about the Spiral but, as I said, my information of that area is limited."

A beat.

"All right. It's certainly possible that I am simply too stupid to understand what you were getting at. But if that is the case, I would like to ask for some clarification, if you don't mind."

"You got a feeling about why Lady Drovenge was doing this when she spoke to you. This feeling was that she was doing it because ...?"

"Lozendi was holed up in the room next door until he died and his men haven't gone in there since. The implication is that ...?"

Crosael's voice is very calm. "That I really didn't think it was a great idea to go shouting out the secrets of the person I'm betraying, who is blackmailing me, when I'm still in a place surrounded - at least partially by people who work for her."

"That is frankly a fantastic way to loose what little freedom one has left, like the traitor Avahzi routed out after the explosion."

"That either his men respected him enough to not rob anything he had or that they don't think there is anything to rob. That was mostly just letting you know that there isn't anyone in the next room, since you did ask for useful information." Her voice a polite mask.

"You don't have to worry. We might be soulless killers, but we're soulless killers who uphold our side of any bargain." Rygel grins. "Also, Lady Drovenge won't have time to go after you for betrayal. She's going to be too busy dealing with my blades in her kidneys."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

"I see," Zsz says, her own face unreadable. "Apologies for my obtuseness."

("If you tell us using this method, your chances of being overheard are remote. If that is the issue.")

Crosael stops, "Lady Drovenge isn't here. And she is a soulless killer. One that has the ability to get information that was very well hidden. And no compulsion about keeping her side of a bargain." A small smile, "And since you seemed concerned with getting into the Spiral, your blades aren't going to be anywhere near her kidneys for a while, right?" She turns back to the crack, filling in the lines that age her face, creating a very good illusion of the old woman - except for the very unnatural eyes.

At Zsz's whisper, she laughs, the sound broken. Looks at Cassian, "Would that method have any chance of staying secret from you?"

At Zsz's whisper, she laughs, the sound broken. Looks at Cassian, "Would that method have any chance of staying secret from you?"

"Kitten, nothing stays secret from me for very long."

Azhar realizes he's staring, blinks. His head turns almost sideways so he can also see the woman slightly behind him. With a soft reassuring squeeze of the hand he whispers

"Uh huh, of course." Amaya's voice is mild, but her purple eyes flash a bit.

A half-smile and quietly back,

The Room Next Door - When you are done with Crosael

Checking the room next door, you find the contents of this storage room have been removed, leaving behind nothing but empty shelves. An old bedroll and a stained sack sit on the floor.

The sack contains nothing more interesting than spoiling cheese and bread.

The Room Next Door - When you are done with Crosael

Checking the room next door, you find the contents of this storage room have been removed, leaving behind nothing but empty shelves. An old bedroll and a stained sack sit on the floor.

The sack contains nothing more interesting than spoiling cheese and bread.

Cassia pries up a loose floorboard in the northern wall and hauls out two leather bags stuffed with loot. He reaches in and pulls out a mithral longsword. "Ugh. Didn't like that," he says, putting it down, looking a little sick to his stomach.

"I'm not fond of it either," Zsz comments as she performs what is likely a fairly redundant Detect Magic on the blade.

"So ... down into the Spiral?"

"Uh huh, of course." Amaya's voice is mild, but her purple eyes flash a bit.

A half-smile and quietly back, ** spoiler omitted ** A shrug.

Azhar grins, perhaps a little more playful than would be wise.

"I'm not fond of it either," Zsz comments as she performs what is likely a fairly redundant Detect Magic on the blade.

"So ... down into the Spiral?"

The corner of his mouth quirks slightly, "Well. Does somebody want to use it? I mean mithral is usually a nice metal for someone in our trade. Maybe you just need to stay somewhat away from Cassian and Zsz?"

"I'm not fond of it either," Zsz comments as she performs what is likely a fairly redundant Detect Magic on the blade.

"So ... down into the Spiral?"

"Let's go," Cassian says with an eager nod.

The group heads outside, the skin at the back of their necks pricking at the feeling of being watched, despite the absence of any of the enemies that made themselves more... present in the night. At the towering black stone door, six feet wide and fourteen feet tall, this time it glows as you approach - a keyhole appearing exactly in the middle of the otherwise blank surface.

They key that Zsz carries also glows with a red, infernal light. Key turns easily in the lock, the huge door turning insubstantial, allowing light to pour down into the darkness below. Down thirty feet of stairs, four men dressed in dark leathers shade their eyes against the brightness momentarily surprised at the unexpected opening.

At the bottom of the stairs, the room (with the four guards) is decorated with banners of the circled crimson cross of Cheliax that drape from ceiling to floor. Until the door was opened to let in the morning light, it was illuminated only by a single lantern hanging from a peg.

The human men at the bottom of the stairs are wearing dark leather armor, they have rapiers (which are currently sheathed) and hand crossbows (leaning against one of the walls). At the moment they look shocked and surprised.

And the key is still in Zsz's hand - not stuck in the door.

Cassian flashes a wolflike grin. Rygel bounces a little on his shoulder, letting out an excited squeak. "Well, look who we have here. If it isn't Mr. Council of Thieves himself. How's tricks, Gibbs?"

At the bottom of the stairs one of the men, the oldest and by far the one with the largest (poorly restrained) beer belly, squints. Trying to make out the shadowed shapes at the top of the stairs, he coughs once. "Hey now. Don'tcha brin' that up here, now. Did the bosses finally send someone over the de-magik the door?"

"'bout time, that damn b*&+* has already killed off a good quarter of us."

While more focused people are talking to Crosael

chavamana wrote:

"Uh huh, of course." Amaya's voice is mild, but her purple eyes flash a bit.

A half-smile and quietly back. A shrug.

Azhar grins, perhaps a little more playful than would be wise.

Amaya glares up at him. "Very may happen you know."

At the bottom of the stairs one of the men, the oldest and by far the one with the largest (poorly restrained) beer belly, squints. Trying to make out the shadowed shapes at the top of the stairs, he coughs once. "Hey now. Don'tcha brin' that up here, now. Did the bosses finally send someone over the de-magik the door?"

"'bout time, that damn b#&!% has already killed off a good quarter of us."

"Well, step aside son," Cassian says. He leads the way into the room.

Zsz follows after without a trace of uncertainty.

While more focused people are talking to Crosael
"..and I'm okay with that."

stairs
Azhar follows as well.

"And why do you have a bunch of sheilas wit you?" His voice not suspicious, just curious.

"Cesar. The locksmith," Cassian says. "My team. I got the call in the middle of a little celebration, and what, I'm supposed to leave them behind just because they have more violent specialties?"

Cassian kneels in front of the door, ready to check it over. After a moment, he cocks his head, and without turning around. "You still here, Gibbs? I got to spell it out? F+$& off and guard the front, will you? I have this well in hand." Rygel punctuates this with a shooing motion.

Looking mostly confused the quartet of thieves looks up the stairs, moving out of the way of the larger group. One of the not-Gibbs ones happily confirms, "You all are replacements? Fantastic." He quickly grabs up his gear as bolts up the stairs, perfectly happy to be away from the place.

One of the others shrugs, commenting as he heads up the stairs, "His name was next on the list to head into the engine proper, once the high and might b%~@% gets what she wants off of the spy."

Once the men are well out of earshot, Zsz comments, ("We may want to watch for an ambush on the way out. Best case scenario is we're in and out long before it happens, but eventually someone's who's seen the Council of Thieves org chart and knows we're not on it is probably going to check in with them.")

("Onward?")

Zsz will identify the sword as a +1 mithral axiomatic longsword.

"Doors unlocked and untrapped," Cassian says.

"Doors unlocked and untrapped," Cassian says.

Zsz will quietly open one.

The door Zsz opens reveals a long unlit corridor which widens (for those with darkvision) into a room at the very end, with much of the room still out of sight. Two doors lead out of the hallway on the left, the first twenty feet away and the second forty feet down.

Everyone (except maybe Zsz) can hear a loud panting coming from the room at the far end of the hallway. From that end there is a curious quiet bark.

"Anybody got some jerky? I'd rather not kill a dog unless I have to."

Zsz shakes her head no.

"Anybody got some jerky? I'd rather not kill a dog unless I have to."

Azhar smiles, "I do. And if that is a normal dog, I will see if something can be done." He casually reaches back to scratch the fur around Mithra's neck. ..and finds nothing as the cat is for some reason tarrying near the back, rubbing up against Amaya, but looking slightly agitated. Mithra does not appear to be very pleased with whatever is ahead.

"Then by all means let us approach with your jerky at the ready."

Azhar produces said jerky, if it ends up being appropriate.

Azhar smiles, "I do. And if that is a normal dog, I will see if something can be done." He casually reaches back to scratch the fur around Mithra's neck. ..and finds nothing as the cat is for some reason tarrying near the back, rubbing up against Amaya, but looking slightly agitated. Mithra does not appear to be very pleased with whatever is ahead.

Cassian turns to Rygel. "When did we get a cat?"

Rygel chirps.

"Oh."

The Spiral - Guardians at the Gate
Listening at each of the door reveals ... silence. Either very quiet occupants or empty rooms.

The group head, very quietly, down the hallway. As the room at the end of the hall clarifies in the dark, you can make out an empty weapons rack that stretches along the back wall. The excited dogs signs rise in pitch, claws scratching on the ground as the dogs move excitedly.

Around the corner, Azhar - beef jerky near to hand - spots the canines.

The skin stripped from their muscular frames, one dog stands as you get to the corner. The other, there is one curious head focused on the corner, a second looking back at the other dog, and a last, third, head sniffs at the ground in front of it.

The first head starts to growl, its red-rimmed eyes glaring at the intruders.

Guardians at the Gate - Pre-Combat
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███████═███
███████D○○█
███████○○○█
███████○D○█
███═███○○○█
JYiMGZCA○○█
███████████
D = Doggies!

A = Azhar
C = Cassian (w/Rygel)
G = Gravlax
Z = Zsz

M = Mathalen
i = Mithra (the cat)
Y = Amaya
J = Janiven

"Best get out another piece of jerky," The Raven says. "Those dogs need something that will stick to their ribs."

"Best get out another piece of jerky," The Raven says. "Those dogs need something that will stick to their ribs."

"Sorry," Azhar looks down at the jerky dubiously, "don't think there was enough meat on the whole dang cow to help those things sorry condition."

Guardians at the Gate - Pre-Combat
Azhar tosses the jerky past the first dog, mostly to just get it out of his hand and possibly buy a few seconds.