Ganner shakes his head at the foolishness of men. He moves toward the enemy and assuming he can get there, hits him upside the head.
for damage!
Dawnilea shrugs and draws her paired sabres, "You're welcome to try," she says with a sigh, then rushes the speaker, using her momentum to deliver a powerful swing.
As Ganner and Dawnilea rush out of the crater toward the speaker, Bardigan spins toward the one who threw a dagger at his back. Shaking his head in disapproval, Bardigan casts a brief spell and starts closing on the speaker's partner. "Looks like your friend over there already has a few dance partners. What say you and I have a go?"
HP: 20/20
AC: 20 (12 T / 18 FF)
CMD: 16
F/R/W: +6/+3/+5
Hellfire strikes used: 0/3
Eldritch Pool used: 0/5
Lvl 1 Spell Slots used: 0/3
Ongoing Effects
+3 to hit metal w/ shocking grasp
shield (1/30 rds): +4 shield bonus to AC
Dawnilea rushes from the crumbling rubble to cut a large gash across the stomach of the speaker. He can only afford to stare agape, before he topples to the ground in a bloody pool.
Ganner moves to the other one, arriving to slam a heavy backhand to the side of the man's head. The man's head jerks to the side as his eyes glaze over, turning slowly back to look at Ganner like he'd never seen a face with eyes on it before. His hands go numb as he drops the weapon he held.
Bardigan moves toward the fight, calling forth a protective ward that hovers defensively before him.
Dawnilea calls out, "Should I try to stop this one from dying? They seem to be looking for the box, and I wouldn't mind knowing who they are and what they know."
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As much as the Silver Ravens would hate for it to be the case, word to those that know how to look for it has led them to the rumor of a connection to the Longroads Coffeehouse. It is this rumor that has led the three strangers to be seated unaware of each others' intentions for being present. Though any one of the three may have spent more than a single day seeking out whatever lead found them there. It's not long on this particular day, that the rumors may have found other ears as well.
The door flies open with little care, as three stride in with both purpose and an eye for suspicious activity. The lead Dottari speaks up, "Who is the proprietor of this establishment?"
Laria, moves out from behind the counter, where she was instructing one of her bakers on the best method for kneading. She wipes her dough and flour dusted hands on her apron, as she approaches the men. "I am. Is there something wrong?"
The man draws a letter from his belt, showing it to Laria, who only gets brief look at it before he returns it to his belt. "We have received word that there is suspicious activity and unsavory practices taking place at this establishment. We are going to have to search the premises."
Laria tries to maintain a stone-faced expression, belying as little as possible about her feelings over the demand. "Sure. Have a look around. Would any of you like a nice hot coffee while you work?"
The Dottari waves off the offer, right as one of the others looked to accept it before looking defeated for the refusal of the other. The lead man then signals to areas about the serving room, directing the team in where to look. In typical Dottari fashion, the search does not begin with a care for maintaining the state of the establishment before they entered.
Krizta surreptitiously casts ghost sound.
<--to hide casting
From outside in the street comes the sound of running feet and several people yelling about a riot at the Opera House.
The Dottari previously ready to take the offer of the warm cup, turns suddenly at the sound from outside. "Did you hear that? You think we should go help out?" The man in charge of the search turns on Laria sharply, while speaking to his fellow guard. "Ignore it. It seems someone is trying to play tricks." He points a finger at the halfling woman, "You! You're staying near me, and keep your hands where I can see them." He directs her to walk toward the counter and the ovens, where she had emerged initially.
The short, unassuming woman, leaning over a piece of paper, raises her head as the door is bashed in. An unwound and somewhat ornate longbow is leaning on the wall next to her. A large cup of coffee, emanating a bouquet of different smells, sits on the table next to a stained inkpot. She bites into the quill's end, scratching her head, and starting to write, before stopping with a frown and crumpling the paper, which joins the other dozen or so similarly discarded papers in the corner of the table. I wonder if this is the place... Tasha Valenti, editor of a rebellious paper. Or a gazette. If only a city in peril managed to push Valenti to produce actual content. She cleans the quill and puts it on the side, taking a long swig of the cup of coffee with a deep sigh.
As the door is busted in by the dottari, Tasha almost jumps out of the seat, then sits back down. Ah, our brave boys and girls in red, finally taking action against small businesses., she thinks, as her eyes jump to the longbow at her side and the coffeeshop owner. Her eyes study the conversation intently, as she bites her lip. Well, it looks like I'm in the right place. Though timing could be better, Valenti. Well, here's hoping they don't find anything...
Bardigan calls back over his shoulder, "Forget him, Dawnilea! If you're really set on asking questions, we've got one over here who already looks a little dizzy."
Ganner stops from stepping toward the bleeding man and nods. "I've stunned him a bit, but it won't last forever. Should we bind him for questioning?"
Bardigan hops up out of the depression and briefly regards the dazed thug who'd thrown a dagger at his back a breath earlier. He turns to look at Ganner and shakes his head, "He'd have killed me a moment ago if he could have, you know."
Without waiting for a reply, he spins back to the stunned ruffian and punched out with his right hand, popping his would-be assassin square in the nose with the pommel of his rapier.
Dawnilea nods, "Done.". She races over to rejoin her companions, bringing her blades up, "...and I'd be more than happy to return the favor if he keeps fighting back."
Bardigan slugged the stunned man hard, the solidity of his sword pommel adding a force to the punch that knocked the man down and out for the count. The hit was hard enough that the man had a heavy trickle of blood running from his nose.
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The Dottari make no efforts to be either gentle or subtle in their search of the premises, nor is it expected by anyone to be in their nature to do either. At least half of the patrons found quiet reasons to pay their tabs and skulk out from the previously comfortable environs of the coffeehouse. The lead Dottari takes Laria over to the three doors to the Northeast of the shop, and asks her what lies beyond. From left to right she explains that it is just her office and living quarters of her and the staff, a storeroom, and a small blocked alleyway where they feed the oven.
He tells the two men to make sure no one goes in or out the other two doors during their search as he leads Laria toward the leftmost one.
As the thug crumples to the ground, Bardigan sheathes his rapier and grumbles, "That'll teach you to throw daggers at a man's back." He then hauls the man down into the depression, pulling by the man's collar and dragging his legs and hind end across the ruined stone and broken timbers. He then props him roughly up again a large stone, possibly what remains of the building's hearth, and sighs. Shaking his head sardonically, he turns to Dawnilea and Ganner and chuckles, "Well. We sure know how to make friends, don't we?"
Ganner shrugs. "Just start poking around and they come out of the woodwork."
Krizta felt helpless, unable to use her expertise in illusions to assist. She wanted to do *something*... to affect the pattern, she needed to take action. Not rash action, of course, but careful action. Nothing that would just delay the woman's trouble.
A distraction hadn't worked, and attacking would just lead to disaster. She looked around, wondering who else in the room might be part of the rumored underground group. Alone, she didn't know if there was much she could do. She hoped that whatever the woman was hiding was very well hidden.
She decided to just go with what always worked best for her. Playing the annoying government employee.
Boys, could you possibly do the search WITHOUT taking the owner with you? We need some service over here. ... It'd be real sad if the next time you need paperwork done it somehow got lost.
Crumbling yet another sheet of paper, Tasha looks at the elven woman, nodding enthusiastically, then flashing a wink. "What is it you're hoping to find here, anyway?", she asks the Dottari leader. "I'm quite sure there's no mint tea around here.", she grins widely, starting to scribble again. If only they decided to pick a fight with me... Although, that might mean that the Dottari managed to fins out where the headquarters is before I did. Which is quite insulting.
The lead guard whirls around to look at Krizta, who dared to make demands of him. He maintains his grip on Laria by the clothing between her shoulder and collar. Taking a look at the customers assembled still, those that haven't run off, and the staff of the place trying to sort out the mess left by the search thus far. Shoving Laria roughly toward her kitchen, though despite her slight frame she doesn't seem much moved by the push, he responds. "Conduct your business, woman, I'll search the quarters without you. Mengers, you're with me. Theo, you stay and keep an eye on the room here."
Mengers, the Dottari that wanted the offer of coffee earlier, shuffles noncommittally to follow the one in charge. The other stays vigilant in the common room. Theo responds to Tasha, "Citizen, don't you worry yourself about the business of Dottari. You just mind your own affairs."
Zoltan noticed that Laria tried to act nonchalant about the storeroom door, but there was a hint of nervousness when she mentioned it.
"Of course, Dottarius!", answers Tasha with a very wide smile and an arch of the eyebrow. She raises her hand, waving at a serving girl. "Hey, there! Could I please get another coffee?", she raises her mug and waves enthusiastically. "The Abendego blend, please.", she says, then picks up her quill and starts scribbling on another piece of paper. Well, Tasha, Carpe Diem. And hope your hunch is right., she thinks, as the serving girl starts walking towards her.
As the girl sets the tray next to the table, Tasha sends a smile. "Could you pour that for me, please? I've got way too much ink on my hands.", she chuckles, then leans even further over the paper. "Dottari are looking for the same thing I am, but I'm on your side.", she whispers, her eyes remaining on the scribble. "Oh. Just a bit more milk, please.", she exclaims. "Give me a signal when you need me, and I'll join you." "Oh. And... uh... two sugars? No, four.", she sends a smile at the servant. "Got it?"
She starts rummaging in her bag, and draws out a silver coin. "Thank you very much.", she says, passing the coin to the girl, and sending a look towards the others in the room. "I'm not the only one who's not craven about spending a silver for a good coffee.", she says with a smile. "Right?" How very subtle, Miss Valenti., she thinks, taking a sip from her coffee.
Krizta huffs, and walks up to the counter. She motions Laria over, orders some hash browns, and flashes her a smile and a wink before going back to her grumpy role. Then she returns to her table, keeping an eye out for any other way to help that won't get the proprietor arrested, or expose the secret of this place.
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As Bardigan, Ganner, and Dawnilea stand over the slumped form of one of their attackers, the young nobleman sighs. "Well this has been a splendid day just full of triumph. If things continue at this rate, on top of it all, we'll have the dottari knocking down the doors of the coffeehouse!"
Shaking his head, he gestures toward the recovered lockbox. "You want to open that now, Ganner?"
"I'm not much for locks. Let's see how this ones looks." First Ganner checks to make sure it IS locked. Then he sees if he can break it open somehow without significantly damaging whatever is inside.
The serving girl looks over at Tasha curiously when the young woman whispers to her, shaking her head nervously when the mention of a 'signal' is offered. She looks concerned that Tasha may act up. She doesn't say a word, but gives a nod of appreciation for the coin, but is confused but whatever Tasha is hinting at.
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The iron coffer is covered in soot, but looks to have avoided much in the way of damage by whatever pocket allowed it to go hidden in the collapse. It's a little stiff to open at first, but does so relatively easily. Within the box are four rolled parchments and seven vials.
Ganner immediately opens and reads the parchment, looking for tidbits of knowledge!
As Ganner hungrily unfurls the parchment, Bardigan catches the box and the vials it still contains with a strangled grunt. Shaking his head helplessly at Dawnilea, he watches as Ganner reads whatever's written on the pages.
Sighing as the message she sent was misunderstood, Tasha taps on the edge of her coffee cup. So... Worst case scenario., she thinks, her eyes glancing all over the room. There is three of them, and one of me. Ugh. Numbers., she thinks as she glances over the bow. I was hinted at, that displays of public disobedience, while undoubtedly brave and heroic, would be frowned upon and possibly achieve nothing. She sniffs the coffee once more, as her eyes land upon the shining emblems of the Dottari. If they keep brutalising the poor woman, I might step in and shout..., she pouts as the Dottari continue their search.
Sooo... Keep my posterior sat on the chair and keep watching... Almost like a real gazetteer, Valenti., she concludes, as she starts packing her things as if to leave.
Laria seems irritated as the sounds of the Dottari roughly scattering her desk and its contents can be heard, but not worried. She goes about running her business, while keeping an eye on the door he's in. After a time of rummaging, he can be heard giving Mengers orders, "I'm going up here, stay in the doorway and keep an eye on the room. If I call out, I expect you to follow." The sound of his climbing a ladder can be heard as Mengers keeps looking back and forth between the office and the common room.
After waiting for a moment, Laria looks at Mengers, then the storeroom door, and approaches it casually. He calls out, "Hey, what are you doing?" She looks back at him like he asked what color the sky was, "I'm getting more coffee beans, to start a new pot, this is a coffeehouse still. If the Lord-Mayor wants his taxes, I need to keep my business running." She continues toward the door. Mengers looks more and more worried between where the lead Dottari had went, Laria, and where Theo stood. Finally, Theo waves it off, like 'just let her go', which seems to relax Mengers. Given the go ahead, Laria moves into the storage room with haste.
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Unfurling the scrolls reveals no useful information to Ganner, as the text written on it is clearly not any recognizable language, and given the symbols scrawled in among the text, not likely a language at all. The writing is clearly magical in nature, and illegible to the untrained eye.
Krizta, watching the events around her closely, sees the scene at the door to the storeroom and wonders what is in there that Laria might be worried about, but when the guard lets her in without argument or accompaniment, she relaxes, sure that she must have it under control.
"It's magical. I can't read magic. Can either of you?" Ganner disappointedly hands over the scrolls.
Bardigan cracks a half grin and nods, "In fact, I can. Here." He then swaps the box and the vials with Ganner, taking the scrolls in exchange. He then skims over each one while off handedly remarking, "So our friend here looks like he'll be out for quite some time. I don't know how badly each of you want to talk to him, but I don't think carrying him back to the coffeehouse will do at all." He shrugs, looking up from the final scroll, "So what do we do with him and the other one?" He turns his attention back to the scroll after voicing his question.
With a simple cantrip, Bardigan is able to make sense of the words on the scrolls, revealing what each one is. They are all apparently divine in nature, a Cure Moderate Wounds, Daylight, Remove Blindness/Deafness, and Remove Disease.
Dawnilea says, "That seems valuable... But I don't think those two were just looking for valuables... Think there must be something more..."
"I think they're a couple of idiot thugs who thought too highly of themselves that saw a chance to rob a trio of decent folk. What more do you think there is, Dawnilea?" His tone is genuine as he turns to Dawnilea, as he wonders if she's found some insight onto the affair that he himself had missed.
She shrugs, "Sort of thought they were agents returning to the scene after destroying it - meaning they were looking for something specific. I guess it's possible they're just thugs taking advantage of the situation.". She shrugs again, then adds, "Still, you took that one alive, we can threaten to cut him open and see what story spills out."
Bardigan chuckles, "We'll be waiting awhile. Turns out this fellow," he nudges the unconscious man with a stab of his foot, "has a jaw made of glass."
--------------
The lead Dottari is upstairs for some time; every once in a while a crash or thud can be heard. Who knows what state the rooms will be in when he's finished with them. After some more time, the thunk of heavy boots on the rungs of the ladder. The man reenters the main room of the coffeehouse, a self-satisfied smirk on his face as he dusts his hands off. "Well, it appears that it's clear up there, but I noticed there's a lot more occupied bunks than you have employees. Who are the other ones for?" He asks.
Laria seems to think on it for a moment, before responding, "Oh, those. Whenever I get some of my supplies, my sellers sometimes need a place to rest their head for a night. I put them up here, and can get a decent price off the top of the product for it." This last she adds in feigned secret behind the back of her hand held to left side of her mouth. "Usually they spend the day out shopping, running errands, or organizing their shipments on the way out."
The Dottari seems unconcerned by the answer, as he continues on to the next door. Here Laria looks worried again, but she busies herself by moving over to prepare another batch of pastries, eyeballing the man as she kneads some dough. He enters the room, and begins to rummage harshly through it, much like the others. Before long a call comes out, "Well, what do we have here? Where's this hatch lead?"
She stiffens at the call, "Oh, that's just my cold cellar. Nothing but supplies down there."
"Well, we're going down there." He responds matter of factly.
"I mean, there's not really much there. I'm sure you have better things to do with your time?" She suggests.
"If there's nothing to it, then it shouldn't take long. C'mon Mengers." The sound of a hatch opening can be heard, as steps descend. Laria, grows more worried as she kneads distractedly.
Krizta watches the events closely, fearing that the Dottari have found something incriminating. She waits, still wondering how she can help without making things worse.
"What do we do with that thug? Just leave the body there to rot, right in the street?"
"I doubt anyone will care much, honestly. But we could always hide the corpse if you want."
Hiding behind her cup of coffee, Tasha's eyes dart left and right as the Dottari and the owner have their verbal spar. Uh-huh. Do you need a cold cellar for a coffeeshop? I don't imagine milk spoils that quickly, and aren't coffee beans like normal beans?, she muses. Am I really actually thinking proper storage methods for coffee right now?, she mentally scolds herself with a self-deprecative eyeroll.
Okay, Tasha. Options., she thinks, fingers starting to drum on the table. They can find something, or they don't find something. If they do find something, and they start arresting people... Well, you wanted to join a rebellion., she sighs, looking at one of the dottari, the guy who deeply considered having a cup of coffee. It can't all be shooting at message boards. You'll have to shoot at people. Or you could simply go to your loft and continue scribbling scribbles nobody reads, until you get arrested for them.
She sighs once again, as she pulls the strap of her bag on her shoulder, feathered arrows visible under the flap. If it is the rebellion..., she decides, putting the mug down and waiting for the result of the search.
Jarvis End holds much of the city's nightlife, so finding an inn within the vicinity shouldn't be too difficult, if you don't mind a slight price gouge intended for foreigners and desperate party-goers needing a place to sleep off their revelry.
--------------
The search continues for a while, as Laria nervously kneads until one of her workers takes over to keep her from overdoing it. Before long, the noise and bustle of crates and barrels being opened and rummaged through ceases. The heavy footsteps can be heard coming back up the ladder, as the two Dottari exit the storeroom. Laria looks relieved when the head Dottari explains, "Well, you're lucky we didn't find anything, but don't think you're in the clear. This place is on my map now, and you never know when I just might stop by. Watch yourself. I'm willing to bet you're hiding something, and just because I didn't find it today, doesn't mean I won't tomorrow, or the next day."
She only nods in understanding, and shrugs in confusion as he declares that he's sure she's got a secret. He waves the others to follow, as he heads to the door, and the three of them stomp out into the street. As they do, Laria let's out a breath she didn't realize she was even holding.