GM Grey |
The group retreats out the building, Grellik igniting the make-shift wooden "wall" that later turned out to reveal a door which many Zhents were hiding behind. The flames lick up the wooden boards, as the Zhents approach, yelping in surprise.
Guards with crossbows attend the enforcer on the ground, and as the Sharks run out into the storm, the Zhents do not pursue.
Where to? What do?
Adrien Cavell |
Cavell takes a moment to get his bearings, then heads towards the lightning struck house. He'll ask to see the map and navigate via that if need be.
"Come along."
GM Grey |
"Look, thanks and all, but I'm not following you guys anywhere just now. I need to get back to the others." the small figure holding the knife speaks up, looking to the south.
He then perks up a bit, realizing he hasn't introduced himself and that you might not know who he is, and gives the lot of you a sly wave. "Oh right! I'm Creep. Of the Counterwits. What the f#+& were you guys doing there?! Not that I'm complaining, mind."
He appears a bit threadbare and worn, as if doing some hard living for a day or two. He also appears to have no possessions other than the simple, dark clothes on his back, and the dagger. He's even barefoot.
You just started a little war with the Black Network, the Zhentarim. Congratulations. Welcome to level 5
Grellik |
"What were you doing there? Thanks to you..." He shakes his head "We are apparently at war with the Zhentarim, now. A simple see you later is not going to suffice. Come with us a ways, until we are out of immediate danger, and answers a few questions. Then I will have no objections to you doing what you must."
He motions to Ozz "Get him a potion," he says to whoever has the potions, "And lets get moving" He motions in the direction Adrien was indicating
Zhents? we can take em, right guys? right?
Adrien Cavell |
Oddly I have no idea where the potions are or how many we have.
He nods in acknowledgement of Creep.
"You can make it a little further, Ozz. Let's not hang around to see which Zhent is brave enough to call my bluff."
Ozz the Bog Ghost |
Ozz stares at Trissae, his bottom lip quivering. A single tear drops from his wide, round eyes.
It's like you guys can't remember things that happened only 7 months ago ;)
Adrien Cavell |
Aw Triss, give babby Ozz his babby bottle.
Did we use all the ones from that first counterwit stash after our prison break? I think there were 2 and Cavell used one as the 'plague cure'.
GM Grey |
I don't think you're allowed to reproach Ozz for his potion want.
There's the fate of the first of the two potions from earlier. You guzzled one after an adolescent owlbear, Ozz tanked the Zhentarim! Also, the set from kindness isn't on anyone's character sheet. I'm going to have to go through the archive now looking to make sure no one drank one of these!
Trissae Darkwhisper |
Doh I forgot to list healing potion in my inventory.... I have no excuses...
Trissae quickly slides away her weapon and digs through the bag, procuring two healing potions for Ozz to consume.
"Use two, We're still not in the clear." She says with a concerned glance back toward the door. Ozz can catch a quick glimpse of a magical flicker in Trissae's eyes a puff of dark smoke leave her lips. She then glances back at him a small smile and pulls up lyre and starts playing a light tune as they walk.
Song of rest, additional d6 when you spend an HD healing during a short rest
GM Grey |
Some things that I think are worth reminding everyone of
The location of the Counterwits HQ
Grellik has the scroll, taken from the guy who received it from Grimgar. No one has yet looked at it.
A Short rest is an hour, and while I don't mind if you take a stroll while recovering, you'll need much more time than what it would take for you to get to the other potential building listed on Sapphires map. Also, you guys have spent enough time out in the city during the storm to learn that that much time in the streets would be more than enough to have to deal with a possible random encounter. If you plan on avoiding that while taking a short rest, you'll need to get off the streets.
No rest has been taken together since Adrien/Ozz split from Trissae/Grellik, so your stories aren't synchronized. There might be important information worth sharing.
And finally, there is the possible response waiting for you from Grimgar, in the alley not too far away.
GM Grey |
Creep goes arms akimbo, looking at Grellik without following. "I was kidnapped, I'll have you know! I was the Counterwit contact with the Zhents, and the other day, when I came to share some information they locked me up! I didn't know anyone was in the building when I tried to escape, but honestly, if it weren't for whatever the f@+* you guys were doing there, they probably would have caught or killed me."
"Look, if you want the whole story, let's get off the streets. We could head back to the HQ and rest up there, share information. I need to let the others know that the Zhents can't be trusted anymore. Something big is going on. If you don't want to come with me, we'll have to split ways. The Brothers might come looking for me, and instead have their asses locked up!"
I'll need some kind of check to convince Creep to go anywhere but the Counterwit HQ
Ozz the Bog Ghost |
Ozz glowers at the potions, as Trissae hands them to him, but this time he doesn't turn them away. He doesn't drink them either.
"I need rest, more than I need these potions. One of these could save our lives at the right moment... Maybe we should each take one?" He looks down at the three horizontal lines, green, blue, green of Yartar.
Ozz will need a check of some sort to be convinced to drink one potion now, instead of finding a place to lick his wounds. Apparently he has an aversion to potions if he doesn't think he has to drink one.
Adrien Cavell |
More a reference to Ozz' lip quivering and wide eyes ;)
As for the lightning struck house, we're now at war with the people in one of the locations, so let's check the other one. Simple.
@grimgar's response, Triss or Grellik already has it: "In the same place you left a note for the half-orc bogshark, you check for a new one. There is a small scroll, and when flattened it is a nearly incomprehensible paragraph talking about the weather and cats. It's probably written in Thieves Cant."
Cavell stops a little ways away from them, in the shadow of one of the buildings, and draws his bow, keeping watch on the way they came. He readies an arrow, but doesn't pull the string back yet. He waits.
GM Grey |
That's how it was originally, Adrien, but I believe that was a retcon.
---
Trissae: Confused, thought we were going to meet up with Adrien and Ozz since they were near a possible Brundon spot?
Grellik: Which, I believe is supposed to be to meet up with Adrien by the tailors, due to the Brundon hunt location nearby. I recall Grellik musing about their plans never going smoothly
Me: Sorry, I forgot. I am bad DM.
Since Adrien/Ozz are taking the sneaky path, and Trissae/Grellik are not, let's just say Adrien and Ozz see the two on horses as the leave Lola's.
---
No one ever made it to Grimgar's alley. They instead hurried to catch up with you since they were worried you would be getting yourselves into trouble with the Zhents. They were right, but are implicit in all that trouple getting.
----------
New detail to remember. Your horses are tied up somewhere not too far away from the Zhent house/Lola's
Grellik |
Grellik nods his head at Creep. "Yes, we'll head with you to the hideout, I want to hear the whole story, both from outside the compound, and within, and I don't want to head directly to the contact point for Grimgar, in case the Zhentarmim come looking for him. From there we will plan strategy, given our new enemy" He grimaces at the thought of another force working against their meager 4
Well, I was worried that he might run into Brundon and or lackeys of the same, though that may be the Zhents, there was nothing to suggest that at the time.
GM Grey |
So there isn't enough horse to get you all mounted. I'd be fine with a small sized creature sharing the horse with Grellik, so he and Creep could take Rusty. The other, though, would need to carry 3 people which is a bit much. You guys can either move at a slower pace (losing more time), or try to find a work around such as stealing a horse.
Adrien Cavell |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
One of you spellcasters summon Garyl please.
Grellik |
Grellik looks around to see if there are any horses nearby. "We will need to procure additional transport unless we proceed at a much slower pace." If there are no horses in the direct vicinity, he will start moving, putting Creep up on his horse and walking it quickly until a potential mount presents itself.
Adrien Cavell |
"I'll go to the alley to pick up Grimgar's letter. If he wrote his reply in Thieves Cant I'm the only one who can read it anyway. Then I'll make my way to the Wits' hideout," he hesitates a moment, remembering something. "If that's okay with you, Boss," he grins.
Grellik |
Grellik thinks for a moment, then nods. "Yes, agreed. With the stricture that you are not to deviate from this course unless its is the most dire of emergencies. Though do take a potion with you just in case" He mounts up with some trepidation at the split, and tells Creep, "Well, lad, pick your escort." Indicating one of the three mounted sharks. Unless someone has something to say that prevents us from moving on, he will start riding for the hideout. (Just realized that I was inferring that Cavell was going to go on foot. If this is not the case then he would continue his plan to continue on foot until a stealable mount presented itself.)
Trissae Darkwhisper |
"Perhaps I should go with Adrien? We probably shouldn't have anybody flying solo with dazers and Frostheight afoot." Triss says with a shrug and a gesture toward the city.
Adrien Cavell |
Cavell's going on foot.
"You worry too much Triss. It's me. I'll be fine," he smirks and heads off at a leisurely pace.
Plenty of time to stop/go with or whatever, he's not rushing off.
Trissae Darkwhisper |
Trissae rolls her eyes and turns toward Grell and Ozz. "Humans...." She says exasperated throwing her arms up, then turns to follow him.
"Drink one of those Ozz! Your healer is away!" She says as she jogs to catch up to Adrien.
Grellik |
Grellik pauses for a second, then shakes his head slightly and starts moving. after out of earshot he quips "Well, there goes the Shark whose story I needed to hear...ah well, let us hope that their errand will be a rarity for us--uneventful"
This jogs his memory, and he pauses to retrieve Grimgar's scroll and read it. Or skim if it is a long read.
Ozz the Bog Ghost |
Ozz glowers at Trissae, then at the potion, then at Creep and Grellik. Thinking that there is a possibility to get attacked by the halfling without time to defend himself, Ozz does has he is bid and drinks one of the potions.
Healing: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7
Saving the empty vial, he looks over at Grellik after his comment. "Cavell's story? What do you want to know?" Ozz says, having been with the human since the party split earlier.
Grellik |
Grellik shakes his head. "Not Cavell, though I would like us all to catch up. I mean Trissae. She came in after this scroll," he holds the scroll up a bit as he unrolls it to indicate exactly which scroll he means,"but, especially after finding out it came from Grimgar, I have no idea why she was so set on it!" He peruses the scroll to see what it contains.
GM Grey |
I can resolve the searching for a horse thing, but it sounds like that might no longer be a need?
The group splits, Trissae and Adrien moving on foot to find Grimgar's alley. Grellik, Ozz, and Creep on horseback to head to the Counterwit hideout.
As they ride, Grellik and Ozz look over the note.
The scroll is written in Orcish, which Ozz will translate. It reads:
'My needs are two. One I already paid for days ago, expecting this need, and for the second I'll use the debt you owe me, Grasper. We shall be even at last, assuming you complete both of these tasks.
The first task... There are imprisoned Bogsharks in the Citadel. I know the dungeons there well, but with the bullywugs infesting the place I cannot easily scout. They know of the passages I escaped through, of course. The f$&%ing things run under the water, of course they found them.
I can't get in there alone, so I won't try. I know you've got contacts of all sorts. I need to know what's going on in there. I have allies in the city who are no longer imprisoned. Get me the information I need to find out what has happened to my comrades within the citadel, and prepare a distraction to draw the frog's attentions, and we'll do the work of springing them ourselves.
Secondly, I need assassins. Preferably armed with the same poison as before, as we might not get a second shot at this. This is a delicate job, and I make no secret of this. I need perfect discretion, Grasper. the men you send cannot know the significance of who they target, in case they are caught. Tell them nothing of me.
I need men staking out The Long Creep, as soon as you can get them together. Time is important, as I expect the target to be there shortly.
The target is a human man, you may have seen his face recently all over town. I think you know of whom I speak. He may be accompanied by others, as you would expect, but they are NOT to be harmed. Target the human alone, retreat if you must, or stalk the prey until an opening presents itself. Have him filled with arrows and poisons. End his life and we are even, Grasper. If your assassins draw a drop of blood of the others with him, I'll hang their hides from my hideout.
-Grimgar'
You are some distance away from the others by the time the note has been fully understood.
------------
Adrien and Trissae make it to Grimgar's alley without obstacle, passing near Dolson's base of operations independent of Frostheight. They retrieve the note from the sack.
Written in Thieves Cant is the following note:
'I'm keeping Feng in an alley nearby. To the west of this alley is a main road that runs from the central market to the southern edge of Yartar. Follow this road and keep an eye open for Dannath's to your left. When you see it, look to your right. There should be a building marked with writing in Thieves Cant, it'll be difficult to spot if you don't bring someone practiced in reading it. Go down this alley, and look for a door with a horseshoe nailed to it. It appears to have been sealed shut by many boards, but it is a ruse. Beneath one of the boards is a keyhole. There is no key, but a skilled hand can open the door. Make your way in, and you'll soon find where I'm keeping Feng, but be cautious, the Dazers behave abnormally, and I don't know what state she'll be in when you find her. If I'm not there, have someone keep an eye out and I'll be around once I'm done with my business.
Boss's luck to you all. I'll see you soon.
-G'
Ozz the Bog Ghost |
After finishing reading the note to Grellik, Ozz's brow furrows. He let Creep drive the horse while he read. Looking over to Grellik, he speaks his concerns.
"Grimgar, hiring assassins? I wonder who his target is... It must be Frostheight... Or maybe Wen? I don't know what he's thinking. His note confuses me, Grellik. Grimgar told me once that people in Yartar owe him favors, and he boasted about it like they were little badges of honor. If he's spending these favors, especially one held with a man of Grasper's position in town, then this assassination must be very important to him."
Ozz leaves it unsaid how their interception of the note, and the fiasco at the Zhent compound, now ruins both of Grimgar's plans. That much is obvious.
Grellik |
Adrien Cavell |
Cavell translates the note for Trissae, reading it aloud.
"Well...let's meet back up with the others."
He'll turn to go unless Triss stops him.
Trissae Darkwhisper |
Triss blinks a few times in awe, and then cricks a smile. "Wow Adrien, I'm genuinely impressed. That looked like complete gibberish to me." She follows behind him as he leads on.
Grellik |
Grellik sighs with some relief, though still apprehensive--something doesn't seem right. He says, "No, no, lets carry on. I just had a, ah, passing thought..."
[ooc]If he indicates that it is Grimgar's alley, then he nods to Creep. "Yes I am sorry--you must go the rest of the way yourself. Ozz, come with me. If I am wrong, then I will be embarrassed, but if I am right, then they may be in danger, if Grimgar is near his contact location." He will fill him in on his suspicion, then ride to intercept Adrien and Trissae
GM Grey |
[spoiler=Horse masks at parties]
Creep thinks, listening to Grellik's description. "Oh yes. Much further south than that. It's nearly to the wall. You'd follow the same road down, but it's quite a few blocks away from there. I wouldn't worry about it."
Grellik and Ozz and Creep get there first, but Adrien and Trissae will be forced to go through the same situation.[b] I'll give a description of the scene you both are independantly coming across, and you tell me how you proceed. Remember, You guys aren't together, so no interaction will happen until you're all within the HQ.
Nearby the cemetery's walls, you see a cluster of little buildings all pressed in close with each other. They are more shacks then they are full restaurants, permanent structures but not by much. A clearing nearby is filled with a bunch of blown over table and chairs, like an outdoor eating area that could seat one or two hundred.
It isn't difficult to see where to go. One building seems to be obviously open, and a few people are standing nearby, looking alert and cautious considering the circumstance in the city. They stand near the light of a window, bright torch light flickering out into the rain.
[b]Big Chucks Little Diner
... is written on the wall in big, half-legible letters. You see a man fill the window, his broad silhouette nearly filling the aperture. He hands something out to someone, who takes it and hurries away, leaving fewer patrons left.
Grellik |
Grellik |
GM Grey |
Damn! That was a bad one!
Creep thinks, listening to Grellik's description. "Oh yes. Much further south than that. It's nearly to the wall. You'd follow the same road down, but it's quite a few blocks away from there. I wouldn't worry about it."
--------------
Grellik and Ozz and Creep get there first, but Adrien and Trissae will be forced to go through the same situation. I'll give a description of the scene you both are independantly coming across, and you tell me how you proceed. Remember, You guys aren't together, so no interaction will happen until you're all within the HQ.
Nearby the cemetery's walls, you see a cluster of little buildings all pressed in close with each other. They are more shacks then they are full restaurants, permanent structures but not by much. A clearing nearby is filled with a bunch of blown over table and chairs, like an outdoor eating area that could seat one or two hundred.
It isn't difficult to see where to go. One building seems to be obviously open, and a few people are standing nearby, looking alert and cautious considering the circumstance in the city. They stand near the light of a window, bright torch light flickering out into the rain.
Big Chucks Little Diner
... is written on the wall in big, half-legible letters. You see a man fill the window, his broad silhouette nearly filling the aperture. He hands something out to someone, who takes it and hurries away, leaving fewer patrons left.
----------------
There!
"Alright, hang tight. I'll scout it out and get our permissions. Hang back and follow my lead once it looks clear. Tie the horses up somewhere safe and watch where I go."
Creep hops off of the horse, and walks up to the front of Chucks. He seems to talk, then pays money, slipping a coin into a tip-box on the counter.
Creep waits for a moment, people disappearing with their meals down the streets of Yartar. Creep says something to the counter, gives a wave in your direction, and walks around the back of Chuck's small building.
GM Grey |
WELL! If the other Sister had a name, I can't f*$@ing find it! I shall rename her!
The large man gives Grellik a look as he and Ozz move up, tip, and follow. Behind the small building, a tight squeeze for Grellik as it's nearness to the next little building makes for a skinny alley. However, around back, they see part of the wall popped open in the side of Chuck's, concealed from general view by the small cluster of buildings, their backs facing inward and blocking line of sight from the streets.
Looking through, there is a staircase leading steeply downward. Still, a narrow climb for Grellik, but possible.
At the bottom, the door behind swinging shut by an unseen hand as you go, you hear a whispering voice emerge from the dark corridor ahead. It is a deep, vibrating growl, like a beast of some form. It grows, louder, and forms words
"rrRrRrrRRRRRRRROGUES AND VANDALS DARE NOT TREAD TO-"
You see Creep standing, gesturing you forward and shouting over the words. "SORRY! IT DOES THIS EVERY F*%$ING TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TURN IT OFF."
"- FIND TREASURES, FORBIDDEN TO MORTALS. TURN YOUR FACE AWAY FROM THE DARKNESS AND FLEE, FLEE TO LIVE YET ONE MORE DAY IN A PIT NOT OF SOULLESS WRETCHES."
Creep rolls his eyes, and guides you two. Creep has a small light in the palm of his hand he is navigating by, but yours and Ozz's dark vision are more than enough to see what's up. Creep hops over a section of floor, a cold stone slab, and gestures for you two to do the same.
Pass that in a metal, bolted door set into the underground stone wall. He knocks. "Oy! I'm back. Open up all you ugly bastards and let me in."
"who goes there?!" comes a muffled voice.
"Daring! The second I let you challenge me at the door is the day I'm missing my left arm, leg, and nut! Open the f$#! up." Creep hollers, kicking the door with a bare foot. "F@@+!" he swears, having hurt his toes.
The door opens and you see a young, half-elvish man inside. "Creep? You okay? Who are they?"
"Bogsharks. Lot to do, come on, chop chop." the young man lets the three of you enter.
The inside of the base is warmly lit, an decorated with colorful wall hangings. Several doors branch off of a main meeting room, several squashy couches placed precariously around. There are small tools and make-shift work-tables set up around the room. You can see tables covered with tools made to carve wood, sculpt clays, mold metals, tailor clothes, etc. Everything a counter-fitting gang could need.
"Sharks, this is Brother Daring. An apprentice loaned to us from the other troupe. Twice the height of Coin, but half his wit. We've got other Sharks coming and once they get here we need to have a pow-wow. Lots of stuff goin' on."
Feel free to declare talking to people, (there are a couple of wits around interested to meet you), check out work tables, or declare other things as you wish.
Adrien/Trissae, The diner is one of name alone, it is a small building only large enough for a kitchen. Think of a modern day foodcart. There is a single window which you can talk to the large man through.
There are clever instructions you may have forgotten, about how to gain entrance to the Counterwit hideout. Kindness may have passed it on.
Adrien Cavell |
Cavell fishes the coin from his jacket and shows it to the barman, face up.
"Like this, yeah? We're with the big f#~@in' bugbear," Cavell grins.