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The journey had been for the most part monotonous until it turned treacherous. Weeks in the belly of an ironclad ram undulating across the open sea with not a hint of land on the horizon. The previous night a sea monster twice the size of the ram decided to get friendly with the Iron Duke and took a quarter of its deck crew to the dark below.
Ceragia spotted the torch of the light house at the very moment the lookout cried
”Land ho!”
Slowly the towering fortification came into view, what she thought was a cliff-face was actually a massive concrete structure that jutted out into the surf. The Iron Dukes crew dropped the ships sails and warmed up the ships “gastroons” (the ships massive bio-mechanical engines below) and continued to make for the ever growing structure. As they approached, the details of the larger steel reinforced grates began to take shape. Just as it appeared the entire ship would ram right into the wall, Ceragia was forced to clutched her ears as the sound of massive gears began grinding and massive rusted chains pulled the gate upward to allow access for the vessel to berth.
Although Ceragia had freedom to move about the ship the entire time during the sea-faring journey; as they entered the fortified lock at Batton Easton the ships Captain came to her and requested that she remain in her quarters until contacted…
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Kallus’s profession often required him to work alone. Damn, most of the time he preferred it that way! It was much easier to plan how the job was to get done when you take out all the “unknown” variables associated with other people’s inclinations to be unpredictable, or fool hardy or just plain stupid. But when the job requires you to travel into the Wylds, you usually don’t mind taking on a little help.
If it wasn’t for his particular skill set he might not have found himself in his present situation. Nearly a hundred leagues of travel between this forsaken southeastern coastal outpost and his home in Batton Wycomb. What started out as armored caravan of two post-lentums (armored coaches), two four horse teams to pull them and eight footmen that Kallus had pressed into service or hired over the previous two nights was now down to a single post-lentum, a single horse team and one driver.
The two days of travel had been effortless. They rode hard during the daylight hours and made good distance each day. They had found Battons (fortified shelters) that did not require too much repair each twilight when they decided to make camp along the conduit (roadway). More importantly…nothing tried to eat them in the night!
Well until last night. Even though there was only a few leagues to go to make the outpost, the curtain of night began to fall and the shelter was right there. Reinforced concrete walls, buried underground with a steel reinforced oak portal. Everything was in good condition no repairs needed, hell the previous inhabitants had even left a neat stack of dry firewood and a couple jugs of Nulwine. We set the horses in the outer chamber and went to the inner chamber to get some rest after a long day of travel. In the morning we would make the outpost within a few hours of sunrise.
Kallus sat in the darkness of the coach stroking the beasts’ bloody pelt. Not much bigger than a Tyke Hound it was. Sure, it looked dangerous enough but that still doesn’t explain how it killed half the horses without spooking the others. Couldn’t figure that one out. How it killed the men, well that he saw with his own eyes. Never seen a creature disappear and reappear like that before…clawing the eyes out of one man, then poof…tearing throat out of another.
Kallus stared at the tip of his boot until a knock on the coach door snapped him out of his thoughts. As his driver reported:
”The Iron Duke made port last night. It’s moored right over here at the north lock.”
The man opened the door to the coach and jumped back, eyes wide as he saw the pelt in fear, then caught his breath and regained his composure.
”Should I stay here with the coach and the team or should I come with you?”
Kallus new he had to get to his cargo from that ship without the Empire being aware. The cargo a who and not a what. A young Peshwan female whose family paid a great sum of money to a powerful group of people to make sure she be smuggled into Batton Wycomb without incident.
ceragia paced the deck watching in awe as the huge steel doors slammed shut. she looked towards the dock and wondered what she might find.
im going to have to try and keep a low profile here hopefuly my contact is also as low key.
after a few more looks around she heads down to her cabin and prepares her gear for the journey ahead. the wilds of this continent she had heard were full of beasts and dangers
...time to get to work then...Leaving the pelt on the coach seat while wondering if the Aegis would pay good coin for it, Kallus craned his neck to crack it before stepping out of the post-lentum to address the man.
"Stay here for now but be ready to roll out. Just don't go looking ansty. This is a simple pick up."
The brawny man paused and gave the driver a nod before continuing.
You did good last night. Damn nightmare come to life. Let's make sure we make it home right?
Once Kallus was assured the driver still had his back bone and understood the situation he made his way toward the north dock.
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After pacing with anticipation through the night and into the morning the situation had not changed. There was a good deal of commotion as marines came on board to do an inspection of the ship.
Ceragia overheard the conversation outside her cabin between the Captain and the Imperial Harbormaster that entailed a bribe to avoid reporting what contraband may be onboard.
Moments later the Captain unlocked the cabin door (Ceragia realizing that it had been locked to begin with) and stepped in with a tall, slender, close-shaven white haired man wearing an Imperial Naval Uniform; a dark blue Jack Coat decorated with brass buttons golden embroidery and piping, a tall dark blue thrice-high cap sat upon his head; which he immediately removed after seeing that Ceragia was a woman.
He coughed suddenly, extracted a kerchief from his chest pocket and coughed for a few more moments before clearing his throat and saying:
”Ah, I see everything is in order here.”
He pivoted quickly and took one step past the door back into the throughway before arching his head back and saying:
”Captain, please don’t forget to come by my office and pay the required mooring fees and to have your manifest recorded.”
The officer nodded quickly to Ceragia, placed his hat crookedly back upon his head and departed back up the throughway and up the stairs to the main deck.
The Captain watched him leave then turned to Ceragia:
”You should be safe on ship from here on out. I would avoid the main deck during the daylight hours where people might see you. You may want to steer clear anyways as the stevedores have begun to arrive and start unloading and loading cargo before our next voyage.”
He paused for a moment before taking his own hat off, folded it in his hands and saying.
”I’m not sure what your plan is from here on out. My part is finished. My instructions were to get you this far, nothing else. You’re welcome to stay on the ship until nightfall. We won’t be getting any more Imperial visits until we cast off.”
He looked worried and continued to stare at his hat in his hands…he was wringing it…knuckles white with tension…
”Not sure why you would come to a place like this. Most people would pay that kind of money to get away…not to come here…of all places. Good luck, miss”
With that he walked abruptly out of the cabin and disappeared down a ladder to one of the decks below.
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Piebold (the driver) looked down at his boots and and let out an audible sigh of exasperation. Then looking around for a few heartbeats he looked back at Kallus and said:
”Don’t worry about me. I’m going to be just fine. I will pull the coach closer to the lock entry way near the main access incase we need to make a hasty exit. It should be easier for me to see where you are in the lock from there anyways.”
Piebold seemed much more relaxed. He grabbed the reigns and immediately began barking orders at the team to move.
You both get to the entrance at the same time. He stops just outside the massive archway in the wall between the lock and the outpost proper. As you continue inside you see a total of six slips in the lock. The massive outer grates have been closed and the water pumped in to raise the ships to docking level. You never really realized before the drastic security measures that have to be put in place to protect the outpost from monstrous infiltration by sea.
Three of the six ships have vessels moored to them. The very first one as you enter is a long ironclad ram with mercer markings and flying Mylassan Pennants dubbed the The Iron Duke. The lock area is bustling with people. Two Marines with scatter guns and shortswords are stationed at the end of each slip. Stevedores swarm over the slip and ships deck loading and unloading cargo from the holds with block, tackle, pulleys and cargo nets attached to large booms.
What appears to be the ships Captain is on deck barking orders at everyone.
If Kallus was anything it was confident which unfortunately could lead to oversight. His pace didn't slow one clip as he made for the gangplank for the Iron Duke but he made sure to avoid getting in the way of the men working.
Sootee looked out from his carrying satchel as ceragia begin collecting her gear.
keep your head low little one we are going out and looking for our transportation.
her familiar dug deep into the recesses of his traveling home and curled up for a good nap.
ceragia hefted her back pack and checked all again in her mind to make sure she was mentally prepared for what may come. she stowed her spellbook in her hip pouch and went out on deck. carefully sidestepping the busy crew she made for the gang plank that lead off the ship.
stopping momentarily at the top of the gang plank she looked about to see if the captain was still around then looked into the crowd near the bottom of it.
she pulled her traveling cloak around her and put her hood up to cover her white streaked black hair, said a quick prayer to Alfa and begin walking..
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Moving across the deck to the gangplank was a feat. Ceragia must have been pushed and pulled at least a dozen times in the short distance and yelled at at least half of that. Every step put her in the path with another sailer, stevedore, rigger or wench-man.
Trying to find anybody in this mess was going to be difficult. She swore she could hear the Captain yelling at her but she wasn’t sure. By the time she made it to the top of the plank, it’s all she could do to get off the ship as fast as possible or get run over by another dozen workers making their way on deck.
Ceragia understood now why the Captain said to stay clear of the deck. Making her way down the slip she rounded the end of the slip.
Even though it was a crowded throng of people shoving both ways to get to the dock, she spied two Imperial Marines posted up at the end of the slip not more than 20’ ahead. She stopped in her tracks...but to no avail as the group of people pushing past continued to edge her forward.
The Marines we’re creating a bottle-neck grabbing people and forcing them to face them before pushing them behind to the docking platform. They were obviously canvassing the people coming and going. Looking for someone.
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Kallus made his way through the crowd with the ease of a oxen walking up a raging river with a piece of canvas dragging behind him. People bounced, rolled and slammed straight into him. The only thing that was more comical was the steady flood of curses that poured from his snarling grimace.
Eventually he made it down the dock, on to the slip and on to the deck where he stood just below the Captain. The man squatted on a pallet of stacked sacks of grain. One hand had a marlin spike in it and the other was full of rice that he was grinding into a young longshoremen’s face and yelling:
”This!? This is f&#!ing rice! We just came from the Far East with a hold full of rice! Why do you think I don’t want it in my hold you idiot!”
As you approach the Captain turns his head towards you and says out loud, first under his breath and then louder as you get closer…
”By the first man! What the hell do you want?
Dropping the rice and standing upright he is at least three feet higher than you on the pallet as he reaches back with his free hand and grabs a handful of rigging above and leans back with marlin spike between the two of you.
Unimpressed with the captain's bravado, Kallus was however relieved that they wouldn't be wasting time with pleasantries.
'I'm here to pick something up. Something someone paid a heft lump for you to get to me with no issues. I trust the package is still secure?
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The man squinted his eyes for a moment as his head cocked to one side. After a few heartbeats the man shrugged. He quickly unleashed the rigging, tucked his thimb under his belt at his waist, jammed the spike under the belt and hopped down of the pallet in one motion landing right on you feet. Regaining his balance he looked down at his feet on top of yours and slowly, head raising lifted his gaze to your face...now a foot higher than his.
”Well...erm, this way then!”
He side-steps off to your left and begins barking orders for the workers to make way.
He makes his way quickly down the stairs one level to the passenger deck turns left at the bottom and takes a quick few paces to stand in front of an open door. His jaw drops open and he begins shaking his head. He pulls his hat off his head and begins wringing it in his hands.
”She was in this cabin. I told her I had done what was required and got her this far. Those were my instructions get her to the lock, nothing more. I told her if she new what was best for her she would stay put until nightfall. Well, I guess she’s up to no good then...”
The man threw both arms out to his sides indicating that he gives ups and doesn’t care anymore. He walked back to the stairs and placed his hands on each side rail, turned and turns to look back at you.
”That was about four hours ago. She could have gotten into a heap of trouble by now. Good luck finding her. I hope she’s okay. She was a good passenger. Been paid way less for way worse.”
"I bet you have at that. I'll let those who ask know you did your part."
Kallus shrugged his shoulders and motioned towards the stairs that the captain was blocking.
'Now if you don't mind. I have four hours of catch up to get to."
Internally the made man was seething... oh I am going to let them know that this fool failed at the babysitting part of this plan... babysitting indeed...what sort of fool ignored his warnings and wandered off on their own...typical woman...
Now realizing the situation she was in ceragia looked around for a larger group hefting loads on the slip near her. Hopefullly she could blend in with a group and duck under a large load.
She dropped to her knees in ready crouch started to look for a side alley cart or something open she could get too.
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Ceragia dropped to avoid being seen and to combat the push of the crowd. Each side of the slip was stacked high with pallets and carts being steadily loaded and unloaded.
The only options that seemed to be available was to either; slip off the edge of the slip and hang above the water. Roll under and hide or grab onto the bottom of a nearby cart or try to hide between a stack of pallets.
None of these options seemed great but they were the only ones that came to mind in the short amount of time she had before being trampled or causing enough of a stir for the Marines to get interested.
ceragia made a direct route for the nearest cart and slid underneath. she looked back at the gang plank for a clear route back on board.
Ceragia started pushing her way back toward the Iron duke.
Move out of my way i've got paces to be!
I need to find this contact but Im not waiting out here those marines look intent and i have a bad feeling about it. maybe i'll wait till its nearer to dark and give it another shot
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Ceragia makes her way back onto the plank and up to the deck. She takes a step towards the stairs when she when she looks up to see a man blocking her way, he immediate starts yelling:
”Oy! Where duh thin yer goin?”
The man stands at the top of the stairs wearing a dingy green jacket and even nastier brown or possibly white pants. A pill-box hat sits on his head hap-hazardoly a large ledger is tucked under his left arm an abacus in his right hand and a pencil is clenched between his teeth...
A grumbling Kallus strode up the steps two at a time to the main deck...four hours head start...damn...this could get sticky quick...
He made a bee line for the gunwale hoping to find a good vantage point to scan the docks.
ceragia smiles at the man and speaks slowly and kindly...
kind sir im returning to my cabin of course. i was nearly swept off the dock by all the workers when i took a walk. i just needed to get on solid land for a few minutes it has been a long 2 weeks aboard the duke.
ceragia takes a moment and breathes then looks into the mans eyes
The captain said i was permitted to come and go as i please. do you know where he is now? i would have a word with him as well. if you wouldn't mind showing me the way....
ceragia continues to smile at the man and moves to get on the ship.
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The dingy mans face contorts as his processes your reply and request. He begins mumbling to himself, which forces him to bite down on the pencil between his teeth...
”Hurmph, Passinjer? Wha passinjer? Passinjer on da mannifust a lass, der nah that I reckon cyan her....grumble...gibberish...inaudible...
The man almost pitches forward as he fumbles to pull out the ledger under his arm and hold the abacus at the same time. He begins riffling through the pages of the book and gets to a stack of loose pages in the center that he begins leafing through.
He takes the chewed up, spittle covered pencil from his mouth kneels down on thecdeck and starts marking up one of the sheets.
”A jus spoke wit da Capn’ sed he was makin’ way tada harbor master ta pay duty an report da ship mannifust. Don member him tellin of any lass passengers ta me doh.
He stops writing, punches the hat further back on his head with his fist and begins scratching his head. A few heartbeats pass, he picks up the sheet and looks at it hard in thought. His face suddenly gets a little more slacked as he looks up at you. Taking in your appearance for a moment and inkling of understand pops into his eyes,,,
”Di ya say where ya wuz hailin’ from der lass?”
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A grumbling Kallus strode up the steps two at a time to the main deck...four hours head start...damn...this could get sticky quick...
He made a bee line for the gunwale hoping to find a good vantage point to scan the docks.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 5
Popping up onto the parapet and with your height you get a commanding view of half of the entire lock from your position. From this vantage point you can see that the amount of people in the area aren’t that numerous as previously thought. The problem seems to be that the areas where the Marines are stationed at the end of the slips are creating bottle necks at all the wrong locations, blocking ingress and egress along the main dock and the slips.
Why? The Marines seem to checking every single person asking for travel papers, searching people, carts and wagons. It’s obvious that they have posted in these areas to canvas everyone coming or going. From here you can also see the Captain of the Iron Duke making his way along the slip to the dock.
From here you can also see Piebold standing outside the archway with the post-lentum and horses. As soon as you see him he motions subtly that he sees you making quick eye contact and a simultaneous nod. He turns away from you, slowly reaches under the fore-horse and unbuckles the breastcollar from the harness, grabs the lead and steps back placing his hand on the beasts rear and gives another nod.
It was easy to see that the marines had the pier on a pretty good lock down... damn sloppy job of it though...
Spotting Piebold with the ready horse, Kallus smirked and swore he was going make sure the man was paid well for this gig...a distraction huh?...damn clever man...just have to get the timing right...well f++# it, now is better than late or never...
Kallus nodded his head back and waved his hand forward above his head giving the Piebold the go ahead before rushing down the gangplank.
The large man kept scanning the crowd as he hurried after the captain... the chump might useful yet... least he can do is help spot the cargo...
ceragia kept a smile on her face and spoke to the man
i am from the city of abbas and was aboard during the aweful attack by that sea monster. i was encouraged to stay in my cabin for most of the trip.
she pulls back her hood and shakes her hair loose for the man.
if you see what i mean my friend
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The mans eyes get wider and he looks obviously disturbed as some of the red color drains from his face. Slowly he begins to raise up from the deck to his feet.
"Oh, ya I see...shur thin' could ya just come with me fer a minute? No complains der missy. I jus wanna make sur' yur no lost."
The man starts walking towards you and towards the gangplank. when he get there he turns and motions for you to follow.
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Just few moments hesitation after your signal, Piebold send the beast on it way. It makes a straight run down the edge of the dock...knocking some people, other animals (pulling carts) and causing cargo to be pushed or into the water, others on the interior are forced to pile on and start trampling each other as they make way for the beast to past the unfortunates just get run over by the horses clod hooves.
As soon as the horse make it forty paces from Piebolds position he immediately starts running after the beast pulling his cap from his head and yelling after it with all manner colorful curses!
"Get back here you stupid nag! What is wrong with you! You flea ridden, half-cocked jack-ass! Look at what you've done!"
Piebold timed it just right... as the horses movements created a cascading pile up as people rushed to clear the animals path not just to where the Iron Duke was located but past the first, second and third slips before the beast finally could go no further without climbing onto the backs of the welling crowd of human flesh before it.
The animal stops and starts running in ever increasing circles inside the crowd continuously forcing more people to lay down and be tramped or make the choice to pitch off the edge to take there chances in the water.
Because of the positions the Marines took up at the edge of the slips; in all three locations the sentry's were the first to be pushed off into the water or forced to take cover under the pushing crowds of people.
The dock area and the slips are now a little more open and accessible as people try to get there wits about them. It won't be long before chaos returns as people start to tend their wounds and take inventory of the damage.
It will take Piebold a few more heartbeats to get down to where the animal is located and try to calm him down and start his phony mea culpa to the crowd...
Kallus preferred order and plans that went off without a hitch and this job was turning out to the exact opposite. The made man had a cousin in Batton Wycomb by the name of Gryft who worked for some rich merchant. He hadn't heard from him in a long time but he remembered him mentioning a Piebold ...but that Peibold was a bloddy idiot by his count and Gryft don't wrong ever...this Peibold though, he's earned his share and then some...
Taking advantage of the well timed chaos, Kallus thundered down the gangplank with his heavy tread and pushed his way through the frightened people in his ever continuing hunt for his cargo ...well that captain said it was a woman...so best to be finding the one that looks lost...hah!.. don't they all?.. If he happened to accidentally push more people into the drink he didn't look back to worry about it.
ceragia moves to the base of the gangplank going up onto the ship. keeping a smile on her face and her cowl pulled back she looks around at the chaos on the slip and starts to walk up on to the iron duke.
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Kallus preferred order and plans that went off without a hitch and this job was turning out to the exact opposite. The made man had a cousin in Batton Wycomb by the name of Gryft who worked for some rich merchant. He hadn't heard from him in a long time but he remembered him mentioning a Piebold ...but that Peibold was a bloddy idiot by his count and Gryft don't wrong ever...this Peibold though, he's earned his share and then some...
Taking advantage of the well timed chaos, Kallus thundered down the gangplank with his heavy tread and pushed his way through the frightened people in his ever continuing hunt for his cargo ...well that captain said it was a woman...so best to be finding the one that looks lost...hah!.. don't they all?.. If he happened to accidentally push more people into the drink he didn't look back to worry about it.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 5
Kallus finds himself at the end of the slip in a few heartbeats and long strides. The area is a little better for the moment to transverse. Scanning the area you can take everything in alright. You can pick out a great deal of women in the crowd however none of them seem to fit the description you have been given.
A few shouted words from a nearby conversation taking place between what looks like a disheveled imperial customs inspector and pair of Marines peaks your interest...
"Bold she wuz! Jus' stepped forwud'and removed her hood en' said her I am? A bloom blightin' Peshwan Ashmonger! In the flesh. We knew she wuz' a cumin' see we bin' canvassin' the place pretty tough! I thought ta ma self she may slip through da cracks...but to jus offer her self up like dat? Its kind got me worried!"
One of the Marines extends a hand and tries to calm the man down.
"You've had enough excitement for one day there pal. You did the right thing by coming a getting us first. Don't worry she not a threat to anyone now. When the Septons and the Grand Inquisitor get through with her, she will be begging for mercy."
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Lochlin sits there in the cell of his own design, head in hands and thinking to himself…
I am sick of this run down squalid, no count little coastal hive of slinks. I wasted my whole existence in this place. I’ve worn out my welcome. They all know who I am, what I have done and what I am capable of. First chance I get, I am leaving this place and never looking back.
Lochlin picked up his head and scanned the cell.
Three solid concrete walls, concrete ceiling and concrete floor, no means of egress, well not without a grenade anyhow.
Lochlin laughed to himself.
No that wouldn’t be good enough, that would just paint these walls with my entrails. I would need a half keg of powder to blow through one of these walls.
Lochlin placed his hands that were still held out in front of him where he was cradling his skull on his knees and pushed up with speed to stand. Moving over to the bars on the fourth wall he grasped the two vertical steel shafts on either side of the locking mechanism and gave a good tug. As expected it did not budge.
He peered up and down the hall and at the empty cell across from him before making any further moves. He was all alone. Looking above and crouching down to check the bars he could see they were set deep into the concrete above, below and on both sidewalls. No sign of corrosion or previous attempts to release them had been made. Lochlin stood upright and began to inspect the door. With one glance, he mouthed to himself.
Not happening.
Lochlin began to investigate the lock mechanism. It was a superior lock for sure. Nothing on it to manipulate with the exception of the aperture to receive the key. Lochlin reached to the edge of his jacket and felt for the Skeleton Key he had sewn in the material behind one of his jack coats metal clasps to help conceal it.
Sloppy for the authorities not to find it…but para-lictors were always sloppy.
Lochlin would have to wait for the right time to attempt to work the lock. Just because he may be able to get it open does not mean he would be able to get out of the building he was in and if he got the lock open he might not necessarily be able to get it closed should the para-lictors or lictors return.
Just then a commotion erupted through the door down the end of the hall. A pair of Marines with a Lictor came in with a fourth person that was covered in a blanket. Through all the commotion, Lochlin could hear very little about what was happening.
Cceragia continues forward and heads back to her room on the ship. She pays no attention to where or what the man is doing
Spitting to the worn dock boards in disgust, Callus then dragged a hand over his short cropped hair wondering where this job had gone wrong...oh I will till you old friend...its that damn broad that decided to leave her berth before the pick up...
He shook his head thinking about how his uncle had told him long ago that women were the cause of all the worlds problems unless they stayed pregnant and in the kitchen...cant wait to tell him just how bloody right he was...
Kallus wasted no more time reminiscing and lamenting ill wrought plans. He had to keep his head in the game and finish the job.
His ears perked up at the conversation he overheard and shook his head again hearing his package presented herself boldly to the guards...Dark and Empty this broad is trying to get pinched by the pigs!...I out to just cut and run but that aint how we operate...
The tracker made himself look busy as he kept listening to and watching the customs agents. If they didnt offer any more information soon he would bring Piebold up to speed before setting off to find the errant package.
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Cceragia continues forward and heads back to her room on the ship. She pays no attention to where or what the man is doing
Ceragia returns to her quarters closes the door behind her grabs a deck brush from a nearby bucket and begins to sweep the floor clean. Afterword she paces the room in opposing circular motions while whispering incantations and stretching out her arms back and forth. Anon she undoes the brooch at her cloak, removes it and produces a blue wax treated leather pouch from under her tabard. Carefully untying it from her neck she begins to pour out its contents out onto the floor to create a complex geometrical pattern of sigils and runes. Two quick spells are cast to seal the marking on the floor to protect them from being disturbed and a second spell placed on a nearby stowing hook sheds ample arcane blue light upon the room.
Placing herself in the center of the circle and sitting cross legged she pulls her grimoire from the buckled satchel at her side (that she never removes) speaks a few more words and the tome begins to float just before her chest and above her lap. Silently she sits studying its contents, practicing somantic hand and finger movements, tracing patterns in the air before her and reciting incantations and cantrips. The air begins to crackle with energy and becomes very warm as the rooms light flickers from red to orange to green and so on as the magical energies in the room fluctuate wildly.Ceragia prepares herself for the day ahead which may be challenging.
How much time passes is never a given thing when arcane rituals are invoked, regardless the warmth and excessive concentration and excitement from the day slowly makes Ceragia begin drifting off to a light slumber.
Or maybe it’s just the gas coming in slowly from under the door…
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Spitting to the worn dock boards in disgust, Callus then dragged a hand over his short cropped hair wondering where this job had gone wrong...oh I will till you old friend...its that damn broad that decided to leave her berth before the pick up...
He shook his head thinking about how his uncle had told him long ago that women were the cause of all the worlds problems unless they stayed pregnant and in the kitchen...cant wait to tell him just how bloody right he was...Kallus wasted no more time reminiscing and lamenting ill wrought plans. He had to keep his head in the game and finish the job.
His ears perked up at the conversation he overheard and shook his head again hearing his package presented herself boldly to the guards...Dark and Empty this broad is trying to get pinched by the pigs!...I out to just cut and run but that aint how we operate...
The tracker made himself look busy as he kept listening to and watching the customs agents. If they didnt offer any more information soon he would bring Piebold up to speed before setting off to find the errant package.
After a few more moments of banter betwixt the Marines and the Imperial Customs Inspector the group disbands with no further mention of the mark.
Ahead, you spot Piebold finally clearing away the last of the spectators from the chaos around the horse’s outburst. He appears to have calmed the animal and a number of nearby merchants, pedestrians and dock workers are walking away from him counting piles of coins in their palms. Including two Marines that are tossing a fist sized pouch of coins between themselves and laughing, you can actually hear the *chink* of the coins in the pouch carrying from there to where you stand.
All that remains is an older woman that appears to have lost her basket of produce that was trampled during the beasts’ momentary lapse of “reason”. Piebold is acting overly apologetic to the woman and is consistently pushing more silver sequins inter her hand as she complains and counts simultaneously.
Piebold only breaks character once as the woman is distracted to make eye contact with you and pantomime in Cantus.
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Lochlin ~ The Marines drag the figure under the blanket to the cell across from you and pause at the door. The one closest to you gives you a stern look not to make any funny moves. Both of their arms are wrapped up like a pretzel in the blanketed figures armpits and elbows. The para-lictor that locked you up earlier is making his way down the hall with the ring of keys, fumbling through them to find the one that opens the lock to the adjacent cell.
The hallway is narrow enough that the two Marines no matter how hard they try with a third person between them forces the Marine on your side close to the bars where you are standing. As they fight to keep the unconscious prisoner from falling to the floor the closest Marines musket that is sling over his shoulder and pistol hanging at his waist are rapping the bars of you cell right there where you stand.
Is now the appropriate time? Hard to say because a fight woulkd be inevitable to make a move now. But I would be armed and have the keys t exit the building. I have not seen anyone but these men come through here all day.
Kallus raised an eyebrow as he didnt quite understand what Piebold was trying to tell him. He hoped the man intended on getting the horse back to the carriage and ready to roll should he be able to secure the troublesome package...although its looking like it is going to be a giant pain in the ass at this point...how could one woman be worth all this effort?...
He pantomined back in Cantus to Piebold that he intended to scout the area and find their quarry...
... and set off to do just that. He watched the marines closely to see if it was worth following them. If they headed back to the docks he would cut the other way towards the buildings where the jail had to be located.
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This particular trip to jail had left Lochlin feeling extremely restless, but not wanting to try his luck, he slipped away from the bars of his cell and watched the events unfold in silence.
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The para-lictor fumbles with the keys as he makes his way down the corridor. He miraculously finds the right one on the first try and twists it into the locking aperture. Swinging the door inward the two Marines barrel into the room with their charge in tow and unceremoniously deposit the blanketed figure onto the sleeping pallet.
The para-lictor steps back into the corridor minding his proximity to you and watches as they rifle through the prisoners belongings. After a few heartbeats one of them speaks…
I think this is it!
The two soldiers appear to be shaking and shaking something they pulled out of a backpack. They appear to be frustrated…
How do you get this damn thing open?
Your eyes too intent on the Marines going about their business you missed the para-lictor moving backwards down the hall. He stands about 10’ past your cell door towards the entrance to the main room. His face is white with fear. His eyes are as wide as they could possibly get and his mouth is hanging open in shock.
Suddenly, the bright-bloom in the lantern dims momentarily…or does it? Something filters across the floor maybe at the mans feet before he lets out a croak. His skin seems to grow tight his face gets sunken in and he collapses on the floor.
ZZZZZZZZZZZs
What the hell thought Lochlin as he saw the guard with the keys drop to the ground. He moved back to the entrance of his cell, reaching into his jacket for the skeleton key. If this isn't the right time to go, then I'm never getting out of here
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Lochlin move forward and withdraws the skeleton key from his jacket with as swiftly as he can without drawing to much attention to his actions. As he approaches he sees a two dimensional, vaguely humanoid looking shadowy figure move across the floor where the body now lies start making its way, slowly down the corridor in complete silence.
Lochlin watches in terror for a heartbeat then as he realizes the Marines still are rifling through the prisoners belongings and have not even noticed the death of the constable and the silent killer slowly maneuvering their direction.
As soon as he saw the shadowy figure, Lochlin threw himself against the wall, instinctively trying to stay out of sight. He couldn't fathom what the creature wanted or even what it was, but he knew better than to try and confront it so he stayed in his now protective feeling cell. He suspiciously glanced back at his own shadow, wary that his dark mimic may be having treacherous thoughts, but quickly look back to the guards still going through the prisoners belongings. He still had thoughts of escape, so he didn't do anything to warn the guards, and stayed ready to use his his key and get out as fast as possible.