Chimon turns to the prisoners. "We will use this exit, but you must be silent. If we cannot keep you from their grasp, we will have to kill you."
"Let us wait until the next guard turns out of sight. We should have a few seconds before the other turns, and that should be enough time for us to run across the grounds. Does this sound acceptable?" he asks the others.
Ok, Folks - Say Jo to the ex-prisioners. Do you have special talents? good at sneaking aroun perhaps?
"Um, yeah, sure! We're good at sneakin'!"
I don't like doing the prisoner thing where it doesn't make sense.
You bring them back to HQ.
"Oh. You actually brought them back alive." Vivian says. He seems surprised you actually went to the trouble.
"Shadowmaster's arranged for a secure meeting place with one of his go-betweens, the guy there will pay you, he says."
He gives you the location of a warehouse on the docks.
He says?
A meeting like...now?
Vivian shrugs.
"Unless you want these two rats sleeping at your place tonight."
Well, this heels are killing me, but well, lets finish this job.
"Come along then." Chimon beckons to the two ex-captives and his associates. As they leave the Mandrigal headquarters, he turns to the latter. "That was quite an exhilarating time. If you ever need assistance with any similar jobs, I would appreciate the opportunity to tag along."
Sure
You meet Shadowmaster's liaison at the warehouse.
"Took you long enough." he says, grumpily.
He gives the two rescued men a look of utter contempt.
"Where's the third one?"
"Um...dead." one of them replies.
"Good. Maybe you won't be dumb enough to get caught again. Next time we won't leave it up to employee discretion. WE will kill you if they don't."
He turns to you, slightly friendlier.
"Here's your payment, and a little extra for getting some of them back alive."
"There's a note in there from the boss. He says it's a 'thank you' for 'exemplary service so far'."
"Thank you as well, sir." Chimon turns to his companions. "I will retire for the night, unless there are any other matters to be addressed."
Thanks to him for the Opportunity
It has come to my attention that one of your members is currently indisposed, leaving you a bit light on muscle.
I have someone in mind, an acquaintance who believes he owes a debt to me for past services rendered. He's not very subtle, but he's certainly suitable for any sort of brute force task you would care to put him on.
If you're interested, his name is Talryn, styles himself as "Ironflesh", which should give you some idea as to his temperament and abilities. I've already instructed him to assist you to the best of his abilities should you ask him to join your crew, whether as a full time member or on a case-by-case basis.
-Shadowmaster
The message explodes with a light *pop* shortly after you finish reading it, dispersing into smoke.
"Let's meet the new guy. I'm tired of being the only one being stabbed"
You head to Talryn's house.
Talryn watches the group when they arrive from nearly shuttered windows in his temporary home in the slums he's become accommodated to.
Well it's about time...
His home is a spartan affair, consisting of a single dresser, a cot, two "rooms" separated by a doorway without a door. In the other room is but a table and a few chairs.
Talryn waits with the door unlatched in a chair, already armored up for the tasks that lay ahead.
Chimon joins the others at Myrial headquarters the next evening and follows them to Talryn's house.
Korak knocks firmly on the door.
"Anyone there?" he says with an impatient voice.
Talryn opens the door and looks the party over for a good deal of time. Then after what seems a while, says out loud to himself, "Yeah, looks like a strange enough group, you must be them. What needs doing?"
Talryn finishes buckling his spiked heavy steel shield onto his arm and waits for an answer.
Jo was not paying attention to Korak or Talryn, she was more interested in how to act the role of the seargent Morrow. Perhaps a little bosy giving orders here and there, perhaps more technical and be interested only in hte facts, uhm, so many posibilities...
Chimon shows him the paper. "We plan to infiltrate the city guards and examine the body of a member of the Myrial organization. I'm Mirow Burrowfoot, this is Alessia Morrow, and the man who knocked is known as 'the Brute.' It's nice to meet you, Officer Darrenby." He proffers a hand.
"I see. Sounds elaborate. I look forward to whatever we need a man known as 'the Brute' for. Officer Darrenby at your service." Instead of shaking, Talryn simply claps the halfling on the shoulder.
Chimon frowns. "Yes, well, Myrial is not unknown for convolution." He looks up at the darkening sky. "May we meet at Myrial HQ tomorrow after the third bell? I will ask Abadar for spells appropriate to our mission, and we will have a chance to get into character."
You arrive at the guard HQ with no problems. You're greeted at the door by a pair of guardsmen wielding pikes.
"Halt! State your business!"
Korak just grunts menacingly.
They noticeably gulp and look uneasily at each other, but stand their ground.
Sergeant Alessia Morrow here, and you better out away those pikes and let us pass. - She say in a bossy tone. 10 for 26 in bluff, intimidate and diplomacy.
Talryn simply moves up ahead and gestures for the Sergeant to pass the guards. "We have important business to attend to. It's classified information men."
The guards hastily step aside at "Alessia's" tone.
"Yes ma'am, sorry ma'am, won't happen again ma'am." they say, cringing a little bit away from her as she passes.
You are unchallenged the rest of the way through the headquarters.
When you reach the morgue, the Coroner is there to greet you.
"Ah! Finally. I caught word you were coming. I was just about to perform the autopsy, but you can feel free to inspect the body first if you wish."