Pharris hands over two platinum pieces and nine gold to Bueller. Then she gives him another little squeeze of thanks and smiles at the rest, "I cannot heal so someone else should have the thinning salves. But the antitoxin sounds useful and the other one, whatever it was called?, could be good, especially if I'm to be bait!"
Looking at the others she gets a little crestfallen, "do we help Nicolai now?"
Laithe hands over the money and thanks "Bueller" for opening the shop for them after hours. He says "I'll take a couple of the healing salves, though Keildrithe has some talent in healing and should also take one. I wouldn't mind taking one of the anti-toxin's as well; anyone likely to get up close to the demon's should have one.""
Laithe nods in response to Pharris' question. "Let's head back to the hotel and then prepare to head out to Nicolai. He must be having a hell of a time with the kobolds by now..."
Keildrithe and Kajetan both claim exhaustion; they will stay at the inn unless their particular skills are needed.
Keildrithe and Kajetan both claim exhaustion; they will stay at the inn unless their particular skills are needed.
As they make their way back to the inn, Laithe discusses the groups options. "If we take out an hour or so for me to commune with Ehlonna, I may be able to gain some magic that could help us get in and out of the city. Things like the ability to climb quickly and competently, to camouflage or to creat fog cover similar to that used by Nicolai at the Freak Show. The problem with a lot of these is that they will only affect one person, and I don't have enough power to cast the spells too many times."
"So our options are to sneak out and then try and swim in, though this may be difficult depending on the ability of the knockers to swim. Or we could find a quiet section of wall and climb over - with the help of ropes this might be the best option? Or is there some other way I'm not thinking of?"
"Could we hide the box in or under the wagon from Stunty?" Pharris muses.
She then turns back to the halfling and druid. "Whatever we do I will have to be separate from you two when we leave, to protect against being spotted in your company. It is a small advantage that no one knows Nicolai and I help you fugitives." She lets out a small laugh at her silly remarks.
"Oh well I guess they will know sooner or later, but I do stand out a little."
"Yes, Laithe and Keildrithe should have the salve. I wouldn't mind having one of the anti-toxins, as I'm likely to be getting close to the demon.
"If we take out an hour or so for me to commune with Ehlonna, I may be able to gain some magic that could help us get in and out of the city.
"Yes, we'll probably be needing every advantage we can get."
"Oh well I guess they will know sooner or later, but I do stand out a little."
Alton chuckles a little. "Indeed you do. They may know eventually, but we should try to keep every advantage we have as long as possible.
"He is was nice, wasn't he?" Pharris looks back at at the alchemists after leaving. She tries to remember the route back, you never know...
The group makes it safely back to The Grumpy Hogfish, and enjoys some supper, courtesy of Hawthorn, while Laithe waits until he can commune with nature to regain his magical abilities.
Soon enough, Laithe feels that the time is right.
"Could we hide the box in or under the wagon from Stunty?" Pharris muses.
She then turns back to the halfling and druid. "Whatever we do I will have to be separate from you two when we leave, to protect against being spotted in your company. It is a small advantage that no one knows Nicolai and I help you fugitives." She lets out a small laugh at her silly remarks.
"Oh well I guess they will know sooner or later, but I do stand out a little."
"They seemed to be searching wagons fairly thoroughly at the gate so I don't like out chances. Plus, I don't really want to bring Stonty any trouble. The gates will also be closed when we leave so it might be best to stay together? though I take your point - we should leverage that advantage as long as possible."
Laithe spends some quiet time up in the rooms in prayer. He'd prefer to be out in nature somewhere, but by shutting the windows and doors in the room he blocks out the bustle of the city sufficiently.
Once done he returns to the others downstairs. "Ok, unless we have a better option, here's the plan. We find a stretch of wall that has some concealment from buildings and isn't particularly close to a watch tower. Ehlonna has granted me some magic which will allow me to get over the wall quickly and easily. I'll then hightail it up to where Nicolai awaits with the knockers. We then return to the same spot and with the help of some rope we get them all in. The danger currently seems to lie in the city - either being spotted by guards, or coming up against the demons. If you two await us at the wall, you will be able to create a distraction with the guards if necessary or be on hand if anything else goes awry. I'm ready to go, except for the part about the rope - does anyone have one? What do you think?"
"That's a great plan, you clever man." Pharris grabs him tight and cuddles up, "Isn't he the best, isn't he?" She looks down at Alton.
"I love this plan. So simple. It can't go wrong!"
Alton nods "It sounds like it could work. I have some strong rope that should suffice. The only problem could be hiding the knockers in the city, though if Keildrithe or Kaejatan have some sort of arcane glamor to put over them, it'd be easier."
"That's a great plan, you clever man." Pharris grabs him tight and cuddles up, "Isn't he the best, isn't he?" She looks down at Alton.
"I love this plan. So simple. It can't go wrong!"
Caught unawares, Laithe only manages an uncomfortable back-pat in response to Pharris' enthusiastic hug. "Uh, yes...well it's not a perfect plan and I'm sure things could go wrong if we are not careful, but let's hope not."
Alton nods "It sounds like it could work. I have some strong rope that should suffice. The only problem could be hiding the knockers in the city, though if Keildrithe or Kaejatan have some sort of arcane glamor to put over them, it'd be easier."
"Great; the rope will help get the knockers and box over the wall. You are right of course about hiding them. I'm hoping that if we can get them into the hotel under the cover of dark (and using the masks) we can keep them hidden in the rooms during the day and only bring them outside when we are closer to tracking down the demons. Anyway, shall we get going?"
"I can keep a few men busy."
The group sets out into the darkening evening.
The Festival of the Shackling presents strange contrasts in the town at night. Squares and streets outside taverns and other public buildings tend to be filled with small crowds of masked dancers and revellers, well lit by lanterns, torches and outdoor fire places. Major streets are decorated with colourful ribbons and lanterns, and are busy enough with folk travelling towards one party or another.
In contrast, the back streets and alleys seem to be even quieter and more lonely than one would expect of a town of this size – no doubt people are drawn away from these areas to the parties, and the distant sounds of music and laughing just serve to make the quieter streets seem even more lonely. The few people that do have cause to walk these laneways tend to hurry past, and steer well clear of strangers, whilst a few tend to use the anonymity granted by their masks to intimidate passers-by.
It is through these quieter laneways and alleys that the group mainly travels, following directions given by Hawthorn to a poor section of town near the eastern wall, where shacks and shanties might be built up against the walls and Watch patrols tend to be few and far between (although if and when the Watch does patrol such areas at night they tend to do so in large well armed groups).
Through twisted streets, up stairs and down steep lanes, the group eventually reaches Half Moon Street which parallels the wall for some distance. Several run down, temporary looking buildings lean up against the tall stone wall here, with a few narrow alleys running between them to the wall. Given the distance to the nearest watchtower, and the precarious height of the surrounding buildings, Laithe can discern one or two of these wall sections which would likely be out of view of all but the luckiest or most dedicated watcher – at least from the inside.
The wall here is about twenty feet high and constructed of large, uneven stone blocks. It looks as though it would be a fairly challenging but not impossible climb. The jumble-junk buildings that lean against the wall come to between half to three quarters the wall’s height; they may be somewhat easier to climb, but they don’t necessarily look that safe … and residents inside may be alerted by someone pulling themselves up onto their window ledges and roofs…
Nicolai, it comes out during the course of conversation that Lumbie knows little of the knocker’s tongue due to the fact that he was sold by the tribe to Quigley at a young age.
Raspit is unapologetic about this; “Hiss huge! How would we feed him? How would he fit within the tunnelsss?”
It’s hard to read emotion in the reptilian visages (let alone at night), but Lumbie goes very quite when the subject is brought up.
Pharris gets her hands on five wineskins of rotgut and 1 bottle of table wine.
Through twisted streets, up stairs and down steep lanes, the group eventually reaches Half Moon Street which parallels the wall for some distance. Several run down, temporary looking buildings lean up against the tall stone wall here, with a few narrow alleys running between them to the wall. Given the distance to the nearest watchtower, and the precarious height of the surrounding buildings, Laithe can discern one or two of these wall sections which would likely be out of view of all but the luckiest or most dedicated watcher – at...
Laithe travels the street nervously, on the look out for any danger. As they arrive at a suitable section of wall he turns to the others. "Getting out should be easy - it will be getting back in that is likely to prove difficult. If you two wait here, I will head out with all haste and meet Nicolai. Be ready here when we return to help haul the box and others over the wall. I'll throw a small stone over or give some other sign when we get back here."
He then looks around at the base of the wall for a moment, and grabs a tiny spider hiding there. "The spider is one of your creatures. Grant me it's power that I might climb this wall swiftly and safely." With that, he eats the spider in his hand and quickly moves over to the wall. Placing his hand on the hard surface, he finds it sticks and keeping low to the wall, he begins climbing quickly up and over the wall.
As soon as he touches the ground on the other side of the wall, Laithe changes to wolf form and speeds off in the direction of Nicolai and the knockers. He attempts to keep to the shadows wherever possible, but once in wolf form focuses more on speed.
Pharris looks around to see if they are likely to be disturbed and where the problems may come from. Trying to inconspicuous, if at all possible.
With the blessing of the Goddess, Laithe scrambles effortlessly up and over the wall. No cries or alarums follow him.
Once over, the Grey Wolf streaks across the countryside, down country lanes, across moonlit fields and occasionally jumping hedges or low stone walls, making towards the copse of trees by the main road into town from the east. At one point he startles a not quite sleeping cow, and a shepherd who was dosing under a hedge will tomorrow swear to his fellows that some great hound bounded over him and raced across the field, right past his flock of sheep … but other than that, Laithe reaches the trees without incident.
There are no doubt a few tense moments once Laithe returns to his human form and approaches, trying to discern if Nicolai and the knockers wait within, whilst those worthies no doubt squint into the night, trying to see if the person who approaches is one of the adventurers, but soon enough Laithe has announced himself and is reunited with the Atuscan mage and the trio of kobolds.
Pharris and Alton lurk at the shadowy end of the alley, by the wall, waiting a few moments at least to ensure that Laithe does not run into trouble.
Pharris looks and listens for all she is worth.
About a minute after Laithe disappears over the wall, Pharris hears a faint scuffing at the mouth of the short alley. Glancing back, she notices two figures approaching. Human men by the look of them, though with the masks it is hard to tell. Both are dressed in fairly typical Lichford town fashion – dark coloured pants with white cloth shirts, shin high boots. One wears a vest, the other a hooded cloak. The cloaked one wears a black cloth half-mask and has a sword at his belt, whilst the other wears a green monster mask and has no visible weaponry.
They appear to have just spotted the pair of you, and seem to be moving in your direction.
Alton casually rests a hand on the hilt of his rapier, partially concealed by his cloak.
Pharris quickly puts the wine bottle down as she reaches for Alton. The opened bottle starts glugging a little out the end.
Meanwhile she grabs the halfling warrior in a passionate embrace, "work with me," she hisses in his ear.
As they get a ittle nearer, they can hear her moaning and giggling.
DM
There are no doubt a few tense moments once Laithe returns to his human form and approaches, trying to discern if Nicolai and the knockers wait within, whilst those worthies no doubt squint into the night, trying to see if the person who approaches is one of the adventurers, but soon enough Laithe has announced himself and is reunited with the Atuscan mage and the trio of kobolds.
Laithe announces himself with a whisper as he arrives back at the campsite. "Fear not; it is just I, Laithe." He nods briefly to the knockers before moving quickly over to Nicolai.
"I'm glad yo see you found your way back here and are well. If you are ready to go, Alton and Pharris await back at the city for our return. We plan to go over the wall. We should hurry - I have used some magic which helped me climb over, and I hope to get back while it's power remains strong, for it will help us get back over quickly."
He waits for the others to get ready to leave.
Alton wraps his arms around Pharris, laughing with her.
The masked men seem to stare for a moment at the seemingly merry (mismatched in height) pair, before the armed one calls out something in Thuringian, in a harsh sounding voice.
Pharris briefly smiles at Alton. "What they saying?" she whispers.
Pharris briefly smiles at Alton. "What they saying?" she whispers.
"I uh don't know." Alton replies in a whisper "I don't speak Thuringian"
The unarmed man bends to pick up a loose cobblestone from the ground. The other man calls out again, in Atuscan this time. “I said what are you doing with one of our women kneebiter?”
Laithe arrives just as Nicolai's patience with Lumbie reaches its limit. He throws his arms up in disgust and loudly announces a 15-minute break.
It's at this point that he hears a voice emerge from the woods behind him. He spins and immediately brings forth an image of arcane gestures into his mind, ready to devastate this new foe with a potent fire spell.
At the last second, Nicolai finally recognizes the source of the voice and quickly cuts short the incantation. "Laithe! Took you long enough! Nothing against these fellas, but I've been starved for human conversation."
He pauses to listen to Laithe's plan and then starts packing up his belongings, encouraging the kobolds to do the same. "You're planning to carry the box over the wall? Won't it be too heavy? You know, I could probably walk right past the guards with it during the day time. As far as I know, there's no law against wooden boxes and they didn't seem to give me a second glance at the gate when I was leaving...You'd probably have to smuggle in the lizard-folk however."
He looks disapprovingly at Lumbie and continues, "I'm not sure they can all be trusted to keep their cover."
As an afterthought, he adds, "I was doing some experimentation while I was waiting. I'm able to create a disk of force that could transport myself, the box, and either Lumbie or the other two. It hovers a foot or two above the ground, and can even be used over water. If you still want to consider the river plan, we might be able to go that route without getting the box wet. It might be difficult to do that without being spotted though...and I would need to wait until tomorrow to cast the spell."
His voice trails off as he packs the last of his things. Despite his suggestions, Nicolai is prepared to move out and try to scale the wall, especially if the others are already sitting on the other side waiting.
Looking at the box now, Nicolai kind of regrets having already cast his disk spell. "Do we carry it? I was hoping to see the others as well. It will be a long march to the wall if it's just us...are you sure you want to get it back to town tonight?"
Pharris briefly looks at Alton questioningly. Then continues embracing him.
Looking at the box now, Nicolai kind of regrets having already cast his disk spell. "Do we carry it? I was hoping to see the others as well. It will be a long march to the wall if it's just us...are you sure you want to get it back to town tonight?"
Laithe listens to Nicolai's thoughts and nods. "You are right; there may be a better way to get this in. However, Pharris and Alton are waiting by the wall for us. And with dead bodies turning up in the city, I am loathe to waste any more time - we need to dedicate some time to tracking down these demons. I reckon we try and get it in now."
He looks at the box, considering it's weight. "I'm hoping with the aid of my magic I will be able to haul it over the wall, perhaps if it is tied to me. Otherwise, we can use the rope and Pharris and Alton on the other side can help haul it over. Your spell will be great for helping us get to the wall though. Let's get moving; I hope to make it back before our magic runs out."
'Well damn, this is going south.'
"She and I were just enjoying the night. Same as any other couple. And besides, we're just travelers. She's not one of 'your' women."
'Well damn, this is going south.'
"She and I were just enjoying the night. Same as any other couple. And besides, we're just travelers. She's not one of 'your' women."
The men stare at you for a moment, their expressions unreadable beneath the masks… until one of them suddenly bursts out laughing, clapping his companion on the back.
“Ah, you look right silly there kneebiter, but I don’t blame you for trying! A stepladder might help … good luck to you kneebiter … you’ll need it if you wish to be Shackled to one such as her!”
Still guffawing, he leads his companion off into the night.
Alton gets a proper kiss for that. "You are my hero," she adds releasing her firm hold.
Looking around, Pharris picks up the wine bottle a takes a drink. Then she hands it over to the halfling.
Alton looks a little surprised, but recovers and grins at her, bowing in an exaggerated manner. "I live to serve." he says, taking the proferred bottle.
"If your magic can carry the box, all the better. If not, I should be able to shoulder it for the way back." Laithe hurries the group along, getting the knockers up and moving. "We have to move quickly and stealthily in the city, as others may not take kindly to your presence inside the walls." he says to them. "Once inside, don the masks and keep things quiet."
"I bet you say that to all the girls! What a sport you are Alton. And a kisser too."
Pharris copies his bow and winks in appreciation before resuming her vigil.
Sorry my post wasn't clear. My force disk is not active.
"I thought we were going to meet her and spend the night in the woods. I didn't realize the immediate plan was to head back into the city. Actually, I didn't realize we were going to bring the box into the city at all. Unfortunately, I cast my disk spell earlier to see how much it could carry, and I won't have another use of the spell until the morrow."
Nicolai goes on to explain that his experimentation revealed that the disk could carry the box, himself, and either Lumbie or the other two kobolds. It could carry all three. Alternatively, it could carry all three kobolds and the box, and follow Nicolai wherever he goes.
Having dispensed with the explanation, Nicolai follows Laithe to the gate. He tries to get the kobolds do the lifting, while he "stands guard", but will assume his share of the load if pressed by Laithe.
If Nocolai is disappointed that his experimentation with the force disk will not help them with this current task after all, he hides it well as the small band make their way under the starry sky back towards the city walls.
Between them, Laithe and Raspit can carry the box well enough – it is not that heavy, just somewhat awkwardly sized. However, the druid’s focus is on speed – getting back to the wall before his climbing spell expires, and between that, the fairly large group and particularly Lumbie stumbling and clumping about, the return trip is not particularly stealthy. Still, there are few about to note the passing; a few semi-distant farmhouses still show light in their windows, and there are shepherds and such about minding their flocks, but no alarms come from the tall watchtowers spaced sporadically around the town walls.
Soon enough, the odd band reaches the spot under the wall where Laithe climbed before. He can feel the spell beginning to wane, but he thinks he still has a minute or two left before it is gone – easily enough time to get over the wall, probably more than once if necessary.
Soon enough, the odd band reaches the spot under the wall where Laithe climbed before. He can feel the spell beginning to wane, but he thinks he still has a minute or two left before it is gone – easily enough time to get over the wall, probably more than once if necessary.
Laithe takes the rope from where it has been stowed over his shoulder and passes it to Nicolai. "Can you secure the box as best you can?" I'll carry a couple of the knockers over while my magic remains and then we can haul you, the box and Lumbie over.
Laithe looks towards Raspit and crouching down says to the knocker "Grab a hold around my neck and I'll climb you over". A small shiver runs through him at the leathery touch of the creatures skin, but he hides his discomfort as best he can. With the knocker gripping on, he starts up and as he makes it over the top, he whispers his arrival to Alton and Pharris.
Putting Raspit down on the inside of the walls, he immediately starts back over again, this time grabbing the loose end of the rope and then makes the same offer to Chupo. Once he get's over the wall the second time, he will call Pharris and Alton over to help him haul the box up over the wall.
Pharris takes the rope and passes the end to Alton.
"Everything alright, Laithe?"
Pharris takes the rope and passes the end to Alton.
"Everything alright, Laithe?"
"Yes - how about with you? Any trouble? Let's get everyone over quickly before the guards see what we're up to."
"Yes - how about with you? Any trouble? Let's get everyone over quickly before the guards see what we're up to."Pharris takes the rope and passes the end to Alton.
"Everything alright, Laithe?"
Alton takes the end of the rope, saying "No, just a minor disturbance, but it was taken care of. A few curious locals is all."
Sorry I haven't posted for the last few days.
Alton takes the end of the rope, saying "No, just a minor disturbance, but it was taken care of. A few curious locals is all."
Laithe looks to the halfling at his response, but with no further details forth-coming and some urgency required, he doesn't press him for more information.