"Works for me. I'll feel better about going in fully armored. Let me grab my stuff and pray for Silence before we head out, just in case we want to avoid the noise."
Leo prepares Silence in his last 2nd level spell slot, and fully gears himself out. Using his Hat to also wipe the Tower symbol from his shield as an extra step of precaution for this, he meets back up with the others in his uncharacteristically mysterious white and black outfit, complete with smoked glasses.
"Alright, here's the plan. If we run into Anthony and his crew I'll handle the lot with my one free arm, Ian and Rilumin can provide me with spell support from the rear in case things start to turn against me, and you guys..." he says, nodding toward Serelina and Roland "... Can take bets on how long it'll take before I force them all to surrender."
Leo gives a nervous smile, obviously trying to break the tension of his first raid with impossibilities and snark.
Rilumin listens to the others before chiming in.
"For one thing, unless there is a simple trick latch I can find, I'm s#!& for undoing traps. Two, I don't cast any spells, so I'm not sure how good my spell support will be to you."
Ian stands, grinning to Rilumin. "The kid's nervous, give him a break."
"Ready to move when you lot are."
Roland barks a laugh at Leo's jest. That's the spirit! With an attitude like that the Thieves won't last ten seconds. And if they do, Bellafini here will give you a kiss to make it all better. With a wink to the wizard, Roland looked back to the rest of the group.
Since everyone is ready to go, I say no better time than the present. Everyone grab your gear, we'll go to the set up sight and prepare our other magicks as needed.
A little time spent looking over the guard records indicates there is a post to the northwest, about 450' away from the location.
A guard sergeant looks surprised at the arrival of several members of the tower showing up at the small office location. He immediately comes to attention though, "How may I serve?"
The building is small, a two room affair, the main room has a small cell, empty of prisoners, and a back office where a mess of incomplete paperwork is stacked around and on top of a desk.
"We will be using this post. All personnel will remain outside making certain that none but us enter or leave." With that she arches an eyebrow waiting for compliance.
Once the group is situated she casts a spell, rendering herself invisible, and proceeds to the precise location that Roland indicated. She then Shifts to the secret area to scout the best location to teleport the part to.
Before Serelina leaves the post, Leo speaks to her.
"Be cautious, Wizard Bellafini. I'm not a fan of unreliable information. If Roland's contact means us harm and set us this trap, then they would certainly suspect that we would find this hidden area, difficult to spot or not. Maybe you should take the ring and be ready to switch with one of us if something goes wrong"
"Yes maam" the sergeant salutes and moves outside into the street.
Serelina moves to the window and uses a bit of magic to move the curtain enough to peek in. Seeing the coast is clear, she transports herself inside the room and looks for the mechanism Roland described. If someone approaches, she will simply vanish back to the outside.
Shifting inside, Serelina can hear a low murmur of noises through the door to the main room. Business has picked up a little since Roland and Leo were here earlier today.
Fortunately it only takes her a moment to find the triggering mechanism. What at first simply looks like a loose nail sticking out a quarter inch from the wall, when depressed utters a very soft click and a 5' section of wall slides to the west, opening into a very narrow passage of steps leading west and down. A man in full plate could fit turned sideways, but would likely make a bit of noise doing so.
There is no source of light in the narrow passage and Serelina is unable to see the bottom of the stairs.
Leo paces a bit nervously in the tower, waiting anxiously for Serelina to come back.
"Soo... Have you guys done this a lot then?" He says, trying to break his tension.
Serelina memorizes the layout and figures how she will have to line up her allies before transporting them directly into the cooridor. She then glances out the window and shifts back outside, returning to the party.
Once she arrives, she arranges her companions in a manner to fit into the hallway, recites an incantation and transports the group of them behind the secret door.
I'm quite new myself, Roland responded to Leo, but this does seem to be a habit. No chance of life getting dull!
As Serelina departed, Roland began transforming into his Eidolon form, and at the end emerged as the silver-armored hulk all but Leo had witnessed before. He then proceeded to cast several spells on himself in preparation of the battle ahead.
"Oh!" Leo exclaims in a quiet awe when Roland's summoning has finished. "Protector's Side, that is gorgeous. You've somehow bonded with it, rather than summoning it as an individual entity. Very interesting, how are you bonded with it?" Unless stopped, Leo will politely prod and examine the new form. "Does it posses its own intelligence? Can you feel everything that affects the eidolon?" He knocks a couple of knuckles against the chest-piece for emphasis. He does all of this with the air of a scholar partially restraining himself while facing an object of respect and extreme fascination.
Roland turned to face Leo as his fellow aasimar raised his questions. In a voice that seemed both detached and yet also jovial, Roland responded. Apparently I have a long ago ancestor, an angel of some renown in his day, that has a fondness for me. I call, he comes. So, meet my great-to-the-100th-power-grand dad! As far as I can tell he has no real intelligence of his own anymore, just an impulse to assist me and keep me safe. I can sense when this "shell" is injured, but do not feel it in the same way when someone injures me. Certainly helps to have the extra skin! Roland will answer any other questions Leo has, and does not seem at all put off by his queries.
Afterward, Roland lines up with the rest of the group as Serelina instructs. Sounds like it will be pitch-black down there to start with. I'll take the lead, as I can see in such darkness. After we are in, we can establish a light source and finish any spell casting.
With a soft pop everyone appears in a very cramped, tight corridor. Roland can see a very narrow door directly in front of him at the bottom of the stairs.
As the group appeared on the staircase, Roland whispered softly. Everyone stay still a moment. There is a door at the bottom of the stairs. I'll check out the door. He then proceeded to the door and listened for sounds on the other side. Afterward, he'll check the door for traps and notify the rest of the party.
Ian scarcely breathes, following instructions promptly and to the letter.
Roland has some difficulty maneuvering to try and check the door, but after a bit of twisting and squeezing to try and be sure, is unable to find any traps.
Before the teleport, Leo explains to everyone about the limitations of the Silence spell, especially how any conversation and verbal components will be impossible within or across this area. It will only last for about half a minute (7 rounds) so he should only cast it when needed, though he can dismiss it early if someone needs. "Ian, it is probably best you stay still until we signal the silence spell as we won't get to use it for long. Once it is on, we'll need to move before it wears off."
Leo Raises one hand, and opens/closes his fist several times while speaking. "If I see anyone doing this while it is going, I'll dismiss the spell early."
"If it is dark on the other side, not only will I be able to see, but I can also cast light so long as I can speak. Wizard Bellafini, you know message? If Roland is taking point can you convey his signals back to me so I know when to either cast Silence or Light without the need to shout? Remember everyone, I cannot cast spells silently. If you need light, let's make sure we can do it before I cast silence or you'll have to provide your own means or hope the gods will provide your way through the dark."
------------
Leo watches Roland, trying to keep his breath steady during one of the most tense moments of his life. He keeps an ear out for his or Serelina's signals.
Not seeing any traps, and presumably not hearing any sounds, he steps back to the group and whispers, time to see what is inside, be ready. He then returns to the door and proceeds to open it.
Ian will wait until silence is up on him to move, or if he's otherwise signaled to move up.
Roland has to put a little strength behind it to push the door open, but it does so silently. It reveals a small unlit room beyond. A couple of crates sit against the southwest wall, and a single bed in the northeast corner. A female drow lies asleep in the bed.
There is a faint smell of cheese.
No other exits are discernible.
Roland paused for a second as the door swung open. Practically the definition of anticlimactic, he thought before raising a hand in the air to motion the rest of the party forward. Leo would see the gesture, and let the others know.
Stepping in the room, he moved quietly over to the bed where the sleeping drow lay. The one interesting bit. Only two female drow we know of in the city, Volundreal and the Mistress. The former is supposedly dead and the latter a much tougher foe than this. Let's see which you are. Roland waited to hear the sound of his companions moving into the room behind him, expecting a light source to emerge in the process as well. Assuming that did not wake the sleeping drow, Roland (in his full eidolon visage), gently tapped the drow on the shoulder. I'd recommend waking up and explaining who you are, and I'd STRONGLY recommend being very quiet doing so.
When Roland signals, Ian steps quickly into the room. Seeing the Drow, he immediately moves to restrain her.
Leo casts light on a copper piece and holds it in his nearly closed hand to provide minor illumination for his allies and whispers to them to move forward slowly.
Rilumin remained still, observing.
A fool not to kill her.
Once in the room with the woman and Roland, Leo will look around the room for the cheese smell and notice the crates. He'll make his way over and take a peak inside them, or see how difficult it would be to open them if they aren't already.
Serelina stands at the background, readying a spell to stun the drow if needed.
The drow awakens as the soft glow of Leo's light spell fills the room. Finding Roland standing over her she shimmys back into the corner of the bed as her eyes dilate, trying to adjust to the light. It takes her a moment to grasp what Roland has asked of her.
With a look of terror in her eyes, she stammers out, "I am... I'm Cheyle."
Looking into the crate you see several blocks of cheese and loaves of bread stacked together. Next to them are several water flasks.
Leo frowns into the crates, thinking silently. He tries to keep the light dim as he scrutinizes the drow's words for truth.
He readies illuminating the room by fully opening his hand if she attempts to escape/attack, hopefully dazing her with the light.
Roland paused briefly after the drow's answer. Option C: none of the above, I see. Great. Very well Cheyle. How about you explain exactly what you are doing here. Keeping in mind my previous directive to not yell or otherwise cause problems, I'd really like a rather thorough explanation of your situation and background. And, of course, whether you side with Firyin or the Mistress.
Cheyle looks down at her hands, twisting them and untwisting them in the thin blanket she had. "Whichever side keeps me alive." she whispers.
You get the sense she has already decided which side is most likely to keep her alive.
"I grew up in Issust Hold. I came here a few years ago because those in the hold are even less tolerant then the people here."
A good deal of truth to that, but not the whole story.
Leo thinks about the room, trying to figure out how many people could comfortably house themselves in here, or spot signs of others inhabiting it.
"Any other ways in or out, besides there?" He asks the drow, pointing at the way the group came in.
Answer or not, he'll cast Detect Magic and focus on the Drow, seeing if she has any current auras.
Roland looked at the drow flatly after she answered, saying nothing long enough for Leo to pose his query. Cheyle, now I'm going to need a little more than that. Here you are, sleeping in a known Anthony hide out when you could be a lot of places. That alone would get you in a lot of trouble with a lot of people. Let's try that "thorough" explanation again, with a focus on your association with Firyin and/or the Mistress. Frankly, neither has a great track record of keeping friends alive recently. Roland will cast Detect Magic as well, scanning both the drow and the room.
"This is just a safe house down here. Only way out is the way you came in."
A lie.
Cheyle's eyes dart back and forth to those in the room. "I worked with Ilvaria till she tried to take over. Then I was with Firyin for a short time. His attention is to divided though, so he didn't finish the job. He had something going on with a priest from Gumlat, but I don't know what."
All truth so far.
"My current employer is the Mistress. Which so far has been spying on a few of Firyin's men on the Beggar's Road. I'm..." her brow furrows, "unclear on what she is waiting for or looking for."
There is a bit of reverence and awe in her voice as she speaks of the Mistress, and some fear as well. Her words are still that of truth though.
The only way in you say? Hmm...are you sure? Would you be willing to stake your life on that. You see, a few of us here a rather good at ferretting out secret entrance and the like. If we found one after you were lying to us.... He let the threat hang in the air.
You are quite the little allegiance-hopper aren't you! Why leave Firyin's side just as things are getting good? You certainly sound as if you think the world of the Mistress, why the change of heart?
Now, let's talk names and descriptions. I'll need the names of all of Firyin's men you were spying on, what they look like and where you find them on Beggar's Road. Roland thought back for a moment about Tomlin's notes. Oh, and the priest you mentioned Firyin working with, would he happen to be a balding guy named Bannali?
Oh, and one more thing. We'll need directions to all of the hideouts you know of belonging to the Mistress or Firyin. And the location of the Mistress herself. We really must say hello. We met Anthony before, but for me it was a very brief encounter. I suppose he was quite busy as he didn't stay long. So I do hope he might be there too!
A short sword lies on the floor, in its scabbard, at the foot of the bed. Next to it is a dagger. Along with some simple clothing and a full hooded cloak.
The drow growls in frustration. "There is a hidden door on the south wall there."
"There was nothing going good for Firyin. He's allied him self with the merchant's guild, hoping to hide under cover of them."
She seems overly eager to drop that little hint.
"But for Firyin's goons, sure. Zam the half-elf. Bit overweight, blonde hair, green eyes. About his height." she points at Leo. "Spends most of his time brooding in 157."
"Abel. He's a pure blooded human. Spends most of his time in the back alleys behind 157, dressed as a beggar. Lot of folks come and go to talk to him though, passing him messages, and receiving them. He's a thin man, but quick with his hands."
"Another is the tiefling Cedric. Short and fat he is. Always dressed as a common worker. His clothes often have red rock dust on em."
"I don't know the name of the last one, a human woman. She's a wizard of some kind. I've seen her use teleportation magic. Only I don't think it was a spell, more like an innate ability she had. She didn't say any words or wave her hands around like wizards normally do. She was just standing there, then popped out of existence. Fancy clothes on her, though a bit revealing." Cheyle gives a grimace of disgust.
"Bannali? I think that is his name. But yes, the priest was balding."
"I haven't seen Anthony since yesterday afternoon. And the Mistress does not tell me her whereabouts."
All truth.
"Only other hide out I know the location of is near the western wall. There is an inn right next to the wall itself."
Also truth, but she doesn't seem to think the information is valuable.
"I know there is one in the docks area somewhere, but I've never been given the location."
Leo checks everything in the room, minus his allies, for magical auras, and if no one else heads there before he finishes he'll head to the wall she pointed out and search for the hidden door.
Serelina smiles coldly. When he sets his mind to it Roland can be quite effective. Too bad he so rarely does.
"And what will we find behind this hidden door?"
Roland waited for Cheyle to answer Serelina's question about what is beyond the hidden door before going on with a few more queries of his own. Well now we are getting somewhere! So this Inn on the Western Wall, what's the name? And do please elaborate on where the specific entrance is to this hide out. And of course we would love to hear a bit more on exactly what we would find when entering that hideout entrance. Thinking a moment more he added, You say you don't know where the Mistress is. But then how do you communicate with her? When and where did you last meet? A bit more thinking. Ah, now we know that Anthony used sewer routes to get to some place safe. Do share what you know what the sewer tunnels, and course a map would be lovely! He says the last while producing a piece of parchment and a quill from his pack. Now, you said you don't know where the Mistress is, but perhaps you know where Firyin is, yes? After all, you don't care about protecting him right? I'd certainly be appreciative of knowing where he sleeps at night, and any hideouts of his you remember from when the two of you were...close.
Oh, one other thing. What happened to Volundreal?