With a plan made, the party sets out for North Point. Lyla's hands keep diving for her pockets, trying to reassure herself that she didn't forget the key component of the plan--Zellara's Harrow Deck.
Townsfolk give the party a few smiles and nods of acknowledgement as they move along. No one seems inclined to get in their way today.
Once the party reaches Jeggare Circle, Lyla stops and looks back at the others. "Alright--anybody have a way of letting me know when to kick things off?"
Nalun shrugs Perhaps someone casts a light spell on this arrow and I fire it into the sky. He snaps the head off of an arrow and holds it up.
"I can do that."
Lyla eyes the arrow, looking between it and Demitri before nodding. "Alright. I think that'll work--once I get into position, I--"
She pauses, looking around the square. The sounds of marching footsteps approach, coming down Northgate Avenue--they come from an approaching patrol of Korvosan Guardsmen.
Lyla smirks. "Alright. Thanks, boss. Okay, as I was saying, I'll hide in a crowd and get ready to conjure up 'Trinia'. Think you can stick that arrow above an alley, or something? I'll have her run from there, with you guys in hot pursuit."
She starts looking around Jeggare Circle again, searching for a sizable crowd to hide herself in.
Nalun nods and places the arrow somewhere he can easily reach it.
"Got it."
Karri frowns, "I don' think this is exactly what we agreed on. What are we going to do? Kill Trinia and then be questioned by the Hellknights? Which of us will break first. I said we needed disguises to do this thing." She stands feet planted, the scarred woman seems unwilling to negotiate this.
"Karri's right," Ortik says. "This needs to be done in a way that stops this trail cold, one that prevents the Hellknights from coming after anyone. I liked the idea of using Blackjack to do the deed. He could toss down a smoke pellet and then disappear in the confusion. Failing that, what about a random wizard who casts a disintegrate spell? Actually, that's even better - then the Hellknights are chasing someone that doesn't exist!"
"Fine, that works with me. Let us just stop arguing."
Lyla stops and listens to Karri and Ortik, her enthusiasm dampening somewhat.
Hearing Ortik's plan, she looks around some more. "Well... I'm not banking on Blackjack showing up to save the day--and having Trinia be disintegrated sounds like a stretch..."
Lyla's eyes widen as if she's had an epiphany. "Although... son-of-a--why didn't I think of this before?! I do know of a wizard powerful enough to pull that trick off."
She puts Zellara's deck back in her pocket and looks at Karri. "Sunshine, you know about the Acadamae, right? Well, get this--the headmaster, Toff Ornelos, is a really powerful mage--perhaps one of the best in Varisia, if not the rest of the world. He'd be able to disintegrate someone with a sneeze." She sniffs and rubs her nose.
"So if you guys want to get your hands on some disguises to pull this off, I'd say we've got time. And NOBODY would question someone as powerful as the headmaster of the Acadamae--not even the Hellknights would be that suicidal." Lyla grins. "I like the sound of that plan."
"Well, as long as you don't mind the bounty money going to House Ornelos."
"I will consider the lost bounty an investment on our futures."
"We will have to do without it then."
"And what's to keep him from telling the Hellknight - truthfully, I might add - that he didn't dust her? If that's our plan, then I say go for it, then, but it strikes me as having a rather obvious lead."
Lyla sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Then I'll have to think of something later. Right now, this is the best plan I've got--and I'd rather have a good plan today than a great plan tomorrow."
"And I figured you'd pass up the bounty money anyway..." She shrugs. "Anyway, if you need to get disguises together, go for it. Just light the arrow up when you're ready to start--I'll hide in the crowd and handle the rest." She points to the arrow Nalun stuck in the alley wall above the party.
With that, Lyla turns and disappears into a nearby crowd.
Demitri will help whoever is disguising the group. "So who wants to pretend to be a wizard? And does anyone have a spare robe and pointy hat?"
Nalun waits until everyone is ready. And then he will allow Karri to cast light on the arrow before firing it in an arc he hopes causes no one any physical harm.
"I could do it, Demitri," Ortik says as he washes away the grime that seems to perpetually cling to him. "Kerri might know the arcane words, but it might take the Hellknights longer to figure out the con if the one doing the arcane spells is someone that can't do them at all." He shrugs. "Or they might figure it out quickly and come break down our door tomorrow. Tough call."
"Alright then. Go for it. We'll be back-up."
Karri snatches a old hat and coat from a clothes line in a nearby alley. She smears on some soot, covering a fair portion of her exposed skin and then asks, "Sufficient?"
Judging from the disapproving looks, she frowns, "Fine, any help would be appreciated."
Demitri will help Karri with her disguise. "These clothes look too clean and in too good of condition."
Demitri's efforts improve Karri's disguise... somewhat. It appears her natural presence refuses to be suppressed so easily.
The townsfolk of North Point continue as they always have--hustling and running about, focusing on completing their own errands and remaining ignorant of the affairs of the people around them. Nalun's, Demitri's and Ortik's disguises all hold up well--nobody accosts them, directs unwarranted praise their way, or so much as gives them a second glance. Even Karri's poor disguise goes unquestioned.
Lyla cringes when she sees the team in their disguises from her hiding spot. "Oh boy... well, here goes nothing..." She slips the Harrow deck from her pocket and draws a card.
She focuses on the card, thinking of Trinia... her frightened, disheveled face, the pounding of her footsteps across the rooftops... the raw, utter fear in her eyes... all these things were necessary to complete the effect.
The sound of running feet near the party draws their attention... in the alley marked by the arrow, Trinia (or at least someone who looks like her) can be seen resting her hands on her knees, gasping for breath.
Nalun nods and prepares to do his part.
Ortik "coincidentally" glances down the alleyway, noticing the Trinia illusion with surprise. "By Torag's beard, it's her! Stop, you murderer!" He begins casting a spell, and before long, his eyes glow with a fiery red.
Karri steps forward, feeling a little silly as she brandishes a piece of broken crate, "Guard yourselves, here's the kingslayer herself!"
Demitri draws his blade. "Yes, get her!"
'Trinia' looks up in time to see the disguised party raising their blades and spells. Her face pales and her eyes fill with fear.
She takes off running from the alley, but the commotion raised by the team finally catches the attention of the milling crowd. The guard patrol realizes what's happening and begins to move to apprehend 'Trinia', but the crowd forms a nigh-impenetrable circle around her, calling for her blood.
Chanting cries of "KILL THE B*&&$!" and "MAKE THE KINGSLAYER SUFFER!" (among other, more colourful things) fill the air as the party closes in on her. From within the crowd, Lyla smirks.
Perfect. Now, time for the big finish...
'Trinia's' eyes dart about, searching for a way out. The only way out is where the party is standing. She looks up and to the crowd, as if to plead for her life.
And that's when 'Toff Ornelos' (that is, Ortik's) spell finishes. His eyes glow red... and two red beams strike 'Trinia' squarely in the back.
She only has time for one final scream of terror and pain before her body is reduced to ashes. The crowd immediately stops with its howling...
...and several of them begin backing away from the party, out of fear.
"By the gods..."
"That... that power!"
"Let us through! LET US THROUGH!"
The crowd is beginning to break apart. The guard patrol finally reaches the scene when Ortik steps forward, his magic conjuring forth a dense mist. The cloud covers the gruesome sight!
"Right. Time to go." Lyla says to herself as she puts Zellara's deck back in her pocket.
"Let's move. Now."
Nalun tenses, hands hovering over his weapon's hilt.
"Couldn't agree with you more." Ortik grabs a half-eaten crust of bread off of the ground, chants a few words in Druidic and pops it in his mouth. He swallows it, barely chewing the scrap, and he keeps pace with his teammates as they make their escape.
Run, fleshling, you can't hide what you are no matter what mummer's dance you caper...
* * *
Karri has stopped sweating by the time they arrive back at Zellara's house, but she is still looking over her shoulder. Any ideas on how to bo 'normal' so we don't draw any extra suspicion?"
"We just act normal and stay inside like nothing has happened."
The mist created by the party is enough to cover their escape with ease. The guard patrol is left bewildered.
-------------
When the party returns to Zellara's home, an odd sight welcomes them--Nadia and Majenko are sitting against the wall, with the pseudodragon perched on the young girl's shoulder. Sitting in a chair opposite them is Trinia, with what appears to be a sketchbook and a stick of charcoal in her hand. She's deep in concentration as her charcoal scratches against the book's pages.
The party's arrival causes the three to look up. Nadia waves at her father while Trinia's expression shifts from deep concentration to an anxious one. "Oh... you're back? How'd things go?"
"As far as we know, it went fine. Trinia Sabor no longer exists in the eyes of the populace." Demitri walks up and glances at the drawing. "This is amazing, what you've done so far. You really are a great artist." He moves to give his daughter a quick kiss on her cheek stepping away so the artist can finish her work.
Trinia's face collapses into an expression of relief, then beams with pride when Demitri compliments her drawing. "Thanks! But I can't take all the credit--Nadia and Majenko have been wonderful models."
Majenko purrs.
Nadia smiles as Demitri kisses her cheek, then remains as still as she can so Trinia can finish. Once the young artist is finished, she stands up and walks over to her father.
"Daddy, does this mean Trinia's going to be okay?" Although she's smiling, her visible eye shows a lot of worry.
"My little girl has always shown a lot of patience for her age." Demitri replies before picking up his child. "Yes. Trinia should be okay. You really like her, don't you? You don't need to worry, I'll make sure she'll be alright."
Nadia nods. "I don't know why anyone would want to hurt her..."
"Yeah, it's a mystery for the ages." Lyla shrugs. "Now, I like the idea of laying low for a few days--give folks time to adjust to Trinia going up in smoke, so to speak. I imagine Kroft's going to hear of this soon enough..."
Trinia pales a little. "'Going up in smoke'? Uh... do I even want to know what happened?"
"Because there are bad people who do bad things. But there are also good people. Like me and everyone else in this room." Demitri turns to Trinia. "Your 'death' was spectacular, let's just leave it at that."
"Yep. And we've got enough witnesses to make sure the whole thing will hold together." Lyla nods. "Although you'll probably need to stay out of the public eye for a long time..."
Trinia doesn't respond, instead looking at the floor. "...now what? I'm an artist who can't show her face publicly..."
She stands up and starts moving to the stairs of Zellara's home. "I... I think I need some time to think about this."
But you are safe, and that is what matters. Perhaps..perhaps you need to leave the city? Nalun says
Trinia stops at the foot of the stairs. "I..."
She takes a shuddering breath, not turning around. "...as much as I don't want to admit it, yes." She looks at Nalun, blinking back a few tears. "I can handle that myself--you've done more than enough for me already."
"As long as you're in danger, we'll help. Do you have a plan for leaving the city?"
Trinia sighs. "...no. That's why I need to think about this."
"Just let us know if you need help. We're here."
Nalun nods to Demitri I appreciate your concern church man. to Trinia Nalun says Do you have anything at your home that you want? Ill go get it, then we book you passage on a boat leaving for Absalom or Almas.
Karri nods, "Yes somewhere south and away from Cheliax; the Queen may have allies there."
"Agreed."
Trinia blinks and looks at her feet before looking back up at Nalun.
"...could you go get my painting supplies? I left them in a bag next to my bed. It's a plain, brown leather bag." Her voice wavers, as if still not believing what she's hearing.
"And Absalom? Really?" She looks up, her eyes bright and happy. "I... I don't know what to say..."
Nalun returns her smile and says Of course, I'll head there right away. Does anyone wish to accompany me?
Against her better judgment Karri says, "I can help you. Oh yes, get him alone and see what he looks like on the inside! Her words are immediately followed by a frown, as if she had bitten into a lemon seed.