"Yes gather what you can, then lets make a run for it. We are almost there!"
Doran sheathes his blade and moves to grab the potions, sunrods and gold coins from the chest, before heading towards the exit. "Aye, le's get goin' while the goin's good!"
Dakka grabs the rings off the fallen goblin. He's not familiar with the goblin's weapon but he snags it to be on the safe side. Perhaps it is worth a few coins.
"Indeed. The only thing better than leaving this sewer would be to have never been here."
"I agree lets get moving"
Janiven leads the party down some twists and turns, stomping torbles along the way, before finally stopping at and arrow pointing up. A sewer grate is directly above the arrow.
"We have made it." she says climbing up a latter built into the wall, she quietly removes the grate and peeks her head out.
"The coast is clear, looks like we lost them".
Janiven then heads down the latter, and looks at the party concerned.
"I am very sorry that I had to drag you through all this nonsesnse today, This was not planned"
She looks up at the sunset above.
"It will be dark soon." Janiven puts her head down in shame "If you do not wish to continue, I understand,. as I have allready put you all through enough"
The young lady once again looks up at the open grate.
"I have a bigger task on my hands now, for Arael needs me."
Janiven glances around the room, with a look of sadness and desperation in her eyes.
"And quite frankly, I need all of you. You have all shown you are all capable in battle, something I cannot say about my current bunch, and I fear without Arael, our leader, we will fall apart soon."
"I can house and feed you if you wish to help, but that's about the only payment I am able to offer at this moment."
She extends her hand out in a friendly matter.
"If you do not wish to help, once again I understand and I thank you for your time and ears, I hope you will do the courtesy of keeping are group a secret."
Doran gives the woman a toothy grin. "Ain't my way t' leave a job 'alf done. 'S'long as we can keep th' sewer divin' t' a minimum, I'm 'ere t' stay." He gives a softly chuckle, "But mos' importantly, righ' now, we need t' get topside. I've 'ad enough runnin' through sewers t' last me a year or two, really."
"I have a debt to pay," Yuron said "Arael saved my life, it's only right that I pay the debt by returning the favor. I am with you."
"You may count on my help as well. Though I do hope we don't have to dive through the sewers again anytime soon. I really hope that the housing you spoke of includes water for bathing."
"I will help you human, because I cannot continue to live with things as they are, and nobody else has offered any hope. I profoundly hope that your plan is not a foolish one."
Janiven grins cheek to cheek as she looks at each party member.
"Thank you all, this means alot to me . Once we rescue Arael I think we will have a strong enough group to actually make change in the city"
She begins to head up the ladder to the the street level when she stops midway
"First off lets wash up, then let us rest up , for tomorrow, Arael shall be free!"
The man hole leads to an ally in Rego Sacero (Priest Sector), behind a condemned building. She approaches the boarded up door and knocks three times, after a short while it is clear that it is not indeed a boarded up door but a disguise. The door is opened by a nervous looking man with a lantern, he ushers the party in.
She points behind her to a hallway. "Down this way are the washrooms and bedrooms, Two people per room. Feel free to wash up and get some rest."
Janiven then points to a room to her left. The room has a long large table surrounded by about a dozen people, all of them engaged deeply in a conversation. "If you are hungry, I am sure there is some leftovers from dinner, please help yourself."
She turns around and starts walking into a room to her right. "If you need me, I'll be here in Arael's room, trying to figure out our next move.
Doran thanks the woman again, before heading off to bathe. "Gonna have t' wash 'ese clothes three o' four times 'fore I'm ready t' wear 'em again," he grouses to no one in particular.
Phaedra goes into one of the rooms to wash up. Once done in there, she'll head out to the table with the leftovers and pick up a couple little things to eat.
Dakka takes sometime to wash, fretting dismally over the condition of the dye job on his feathers. After he's done he slips into the common room, doing his best to nab some victuals and eavesdrop on the ongoing conversation without attracting attention.
Yuron slowly bathes himself, fearing the smell from when he stepped into the sludge would never come off. Afterwards, he cleaned his clothes using Prestidigitation, and offered to do the same for anyone else. Finally, he sits down to eat, partly listening to the conversation, partly wondering something in his own mind. Finally his curiosity seemed to get the better of him, and Yuron asked, "If our lights go out, will those things, the shadow beasts, be able to get in here?" He involuntarily shuddered at the thought.
You walk into the large room with the large long table and many chairs. On one side of the room is a make shift kitchen, while a group of eleven people sits at the table. Some look up as you walk in as they continue on their conversation.
A beautiful tian woman looks back at the table. "We are rebels and freedom fighters, I think a name like "The Knights of Westcrown" would suit the group perfectly"
An incredibly muscular human man butts in. "Perhaps but, "The Scions of Aroden", would fit us more. After all we are trying to bring this city back to its glory, as the time of Aroden. I'm sure Arael would approve of this." he turns around in his seat eyeing who came in the room. He then has a look of confusion on his face.
A small female halfling stands up on the table. "I think we would do better off with a less antagonistic name to appeal to everybody. how about "Guardians of Cheliax" ?
A man with green hair, infact the same man from Vizio's Tavern, looks up at the halfling and adds in "We need something more local in my opinion. What about "Childern of Westcrown"?, it is a name even the average wiscrani could appreate."
At that moment, one of the partiicpants, a female gnome with bright yellow hair gets out of her seat and tumbles to the newcomers, with a huge smile she says "Maybe our new friends can help us decide!" she smiles "You see, we are looking for name for this group, a name the city shall know us by so we can keep our individual identities a secret, but we cannot come to an agreement!."
Hmm, for my people something like "Warmers of the Roost" or "Bright Object Holders" would be most inspiring, but I suspect that will not be true for everyone. I would avoid including an explicit political sentiment into your moniker. I suggest something that implies a philanthropic agenda would be best. Dakka speaks while hunting around for the leftovers Janiven mentioned.
In between bites, Yuron made a suggestion. "How about 'The Good Guys'?" He said, half joking.
The gnome looks up at Dakka. "Wow I have never meant one of your kind friend, My name is Yakopulio, and I love your suggestion 'Bright Object Holders'." She smiles.
A thin and wirey woman laughs at Yuron's suggestion "I like it." She looks over at Doran and Phaedra "What about you too any suggestions or names you like?' She sniffs the air "And whats that smell? Something smells like crap!"
Phaedra checks out the bottom of her shoes. "Well, we cleaned up as best we could in the rooms, but I didn't being a spare set of clothes with me. I'm sure my hair is going to stink like those sewers for a week no matter how many times I wash it. Though even that is preferable to having stayed behind to talk to those HellKnights. I doubt they wanted to indulge in any idle chitchat or play pattycake. "
"Oh, sorry, I don't think I introduced myself, my name's Phaedra. As for names for the group, how about something like 'The Bringer's of Light'? Might represent the fight against the Shadowbeasties and shedding light on all the corruption going on in the city.?"
Doran enters the room in his adventurer's outfit, frowning at the cloying scent still clinging to him. He scrubs at his hair with the towel draped over his shoulders.
"Evenin' folks. Sorry 'bout th' smell, all but skinn'd meself in 'ere tryin' to get it off. Name's Doran, nice t' meet'cha." The Taldan man flashes his teeth at all the gathered members, before taking a seat at the table to eat some of the leftovers.
Dakka eyes a beet dubiously, tapping at it with his beak. He bobs his head at the gnome."Tengu mingle very little in Westcrown these days. We are familiar with your people however. We respect that your people too live far away from where you once called home, farther than even us."
Yuron felt a little silly at the realization that he hadn't introduced himself. "I'm Yuron, by the way. Yuron Issen. I'm a recent arrival, from Andoran."
The man with the Green Hair gets up. "Howdy, Yuron, Names Vitti"
An tian woman stands up and introduces herself as Amaya and the halfing introduces her self as Fiosa.
A strong looking man with long hair, says "Ermolos is the Name." He looks over at Phaedra. "Sewers? Hellknights? What in Aroden's name are you talking about my lady?"
Yakopulio give a warm response to Dakka's comment. "Yes perhaps, we do have more in common than we think." She looks over at Yuron as her yellow hair sparkles."Why would you come from such a peaceful free place to this hellhole?"
"It's nice to meet you Ermolos, I'm Phaedra. Janiven had invited us to a meeting which was interrupted by a boy bringing word of someone name Arael being captured and then before we knew it there was a squad of HellKnights banging on the door. So then Janiven leads us through a secret entrance to the sewers where we had to deal with a few assaults by both torbles and goblins. Then we finally made it here without actually running into any of the HellKnights"
Having gotten all that out in a bit of a rush, Phaedra takes a moment to catch her breath.
"Aye, we've had a hell of an evenin'," Doran pipes up, before going back to eating.
Rizzardo gets up angrly. "WHAT?". The Hellknights have Arael WHY?"
A bald man , known as Sclavo, stands up. He looks across the hall, "I'm sure Janiven will know!!"
He makes his way into the hall, and then into the next room, quickly followed by, Amaya, Vitti, and most of the others.
Only Yakooulio, the thin and wiry woman, and another woman, decked out in jewelry remain in the Mess Hall/Kitchen.
"Hmm...should I not have just thrown that out there?"
Phaedra gets up and follows them towards where she assumes Janiven is.
Amaya looks over at Phaedra walking into the hall. "Don'y worry about them hun, they're not known for there social skills. Besides, sounds like you have had quite the day already."
The group walks into a rather small room, with bookcases and a large table. Janiven is standing in front of the table, covered in maps and papers. She looks up and addresses the approaching group.
"Calm down my brothers and sisters, the new comers had nothing to do with Areal's capture. He was wanted by the dottari for rescuing a family from the guards inhumane ways of "questioning" some weeks ago and the hellknights must of seen this as a work of treason, and when he was apprehended they demanded custody."
She looks around at the group
"I am sure Arael will not talk, and we have lost the hellknights that followed Morosino to Vizio's tavern in the sewers, so for now the rest of our group is safe."
She starts to unravel a map.
"The Order of The Rack maintains a small holding here in Westcrown known as Taranik house, but their main stronghold is Citadel Rivad north of here."
She points at Rega Scripa (Scribe Sector) on a map of Westcrown
"Most likely, they are holding Arael overnight at the Taranik house, and will be transporting him to Citadel Rivad tomorrow. I think our best chance to rescue him would be during this time of transport, out of the dottari's jurisdiction (The city) and when the hellknights are in lesser numbers."
She Looks up at the group.
"We must act bright and early in the morning, I know some people in the Rega Scripa who will keep a lookout on the Taranik house. If anybody needs to prepare or handle unfinished business do so in the early morning, as quick as possible."
Janiven turns to Sclavo
"Speaking of Unfinished business, did the group decide on a name, but more importantly , a uniform? Tomorrow will be our first real act, and we must keep all out identities a secret."
"You mean to attack Hell Knights? You are certainly not lacking in courage, then." Yuron was suddenly starting to wonder if it had been such a good idea to offer his services before he knew the details. Still, he'd given his word, and he was a man of his word.
When Janiven asked again about the name for the group, he was struck with inspiration. "You know, my mother was a pirate captain. She hoped to bring down the government by raiding Chelaxian shipping. She called her ship the Winds of Change, as a reference to her agenda and the family quirk. Maybe that would work as a name?"
"I'm not sure what uniform could conceal the fact there is a tengu among you. Dakka shrugs.
"But if we are to make a morning raid I may have to slink of with my share of the captured goblin trinkets to the Dusk market and buy a few more cartridges."
Scalavo speaks up. "We have not yet agreed to a name my lady. I have, however, acquired Full helms, cloaks and some red cloth, in case we want to go with a uniform we discussed last week."
He looks over to Dakka. "Yes that might be a hard one, but nothing a cloak might hide." He smiles. "Janiven and I agreed for everyone to wear either Hooded Cloaks or Full helms and tie band of red fabric to our arms, to hide our identities and at the same time, giving us a common identity to the public." He stops and looks around. "Anybody disapprove of this?"
Janiven continues to look at maps as she looks up at Yuron.
"I do not wish to attack Hellkinghts any day, but this looks like our only option if we wish to save Arael"
Without looking up she says.
"Get some rest everybody, Tomorrow will be a big day!"
Doran nods at that and heads to one of the free rooms. After removing his boots and storing his equipment, he remembers that he needs to share the things he grabbed off the goblin in the sewer, and stores those items separately.
'is certainly was a hell of a day...
When you awake you find Janiven gone. Sclavo is busy cutting red fabric into strips in the office. He looks up and tells you "Janiven wants us all to be ready in one hour. Get ready, Gorivo will return with his uncles horses shortly."
Doran makes sure to split the gold between his comrades, keeping the potion and one of sunrods, while offering the other sunrod to whoever wants it.
After splitting everything, Doran dons his equipment and readies himself. "Le's do 'is, folks. F'r th' people of Westcrown."
Dakka has four rings worth around 10 gp a piece and a masterwork horse chopper. He intends to sell these at the Dusk Market for whatever he can and split the gold. His share of the funds will go toward procuring as much ammunition as he can buy. With this done he will be ready to go.
Phaedra is careful to hide any signs of her religious affiliation as she prepares for the jailbreak, keeping her holy symbol pendant tucked under her tunic. Knowing how other religions aren't exactly well-tolerated in Cheliax as it is, she doesn't want to cause further problems by making the government think that this could be some sort of religious uprising.
When Janiven Returns she tells you that Arael will be transported out soon. Gorivo returns with the horses Janiven begins to speak.
"We are ready, shall we head to the ambush point"?
"As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose." Yuron said, checking over his crossbow. "You did say something about identity disguising uniforms, right?"
Doran nods, his ever-present grin still firmly in place. "Le's cause us a ruckus."