Ascension - Mageocracy

Game Master bbangerter

Soliel stood at attention for a brief moment, her right fist to her chest in the traditional salute Friends of the Tower offered Masters when a decision was made. She then relaxed, and a curious look overcame her expression.

A pawn shop in Tiny Town...., she spoke softly, to no one in particular, as she rapidly flipped through pages in journal. Yes, here. Raseb, the Merchant Mercenary's coordinator, gave Brother Tomlin a note after the turnover of the criminal Vaek. This note, which was unfortunately never followed up on, suggested we should talk with the Fizzwinkles, a gnome couple that run a pawn shop in Tiny Town. Raseb believed the Fizzwinkles were targeted for assassination the night Firyin's group attempted to overthrow Diguri as leader on the criminal underground. Firyin would not have targeted the Fizzwinkles unless they were allied with Diguri. This would explain the pawn shop's utilization as a front of the criminal scum. Soliel paused, then continued. Raseb, who seems to know quite a lot about the inner workings of the criminals' enterprise, also mentioned that the Fizzwinkles' have a son named Leandric, who had previously run afoul of the Law. We may need to watch out for him along with whomever of Anthony's group may be present at the pawn shop.

After letting the additional details sink in with the others, Soliel again addressed the group. We should discuss tactics prior to our physical arrival at the pawnshop. A frontal assault that includes kicking in the front door and eliminating any and all affiliated with the criminals the tiefling specifically looked at Ian here as well as burning the entire enterprise to the ground a glance at Edmond are valid main efforts, but perhaps scouting the location and setting the stage first might help, yes? As I previously mentioned, I was acquainted with one of the drow involved with the criminals, and based on the group finding her at one of Diguri's hideouts, we can surmise her allegiance to Anthony and his band as well. Thus, I could utilize a disguise to appear as Cheyle Nayss and assess the situation prior to initiating the main effort. Other thoughts?

Think we are in agreement then to take another shot at the Thieves' Guild crew prior to moving on to the Daemons/Demons. Unlike Roland or (to a lesser extent) Tomlin, Soliel IC doesn't really get excited to impersonate others. She *does* like to murder people who don't even realize she is there or that she is a threat. So as tactics go we can go two ways: 1) Soliel sneaks in, finds an assassination target, and the initiation of her strike becomes the cue for everyone to bust I and start shooting; or 2)Soliel disguises as Cheyle, attempts to gathered addition information and then initiates the assassination attempt signaling the rest of the group to attack. I'm fine with either approach. The second option might yield more data but tends to be more time consuming.

"Soliel, perhaps you do some recon? Edmund as backup? Report back and I can select spells based on what we might be facing."

"Recon never hurt. Me as backup, maybe not the best. I'm no sneak. Though I suppose I can mince words when needed, but not half as good as that one." he says, gesturing to Soleil.

Ian frowns, thinking. "I'd say watch and wait until our targets are inside, then hit them from all angles before they can scurry into another rat-hole. That's my thought, anyway," his outward expression is now flat boredom, but it's clear he's anxious to get going.

Soliel acknowledged Serelina's suggestion, her sharp salute making it clear the tiefling took it as an order. She then turned to Edmond and Ian. Soliel nodded in acknowledgment of the hafling's assertion. Nearby back-up, particularly from one such as yourself who could easily blend in Tiny Town, could be quite beneficial. But only at a distance I would think. Do you have access to the Message spell? That would also be of assistance, if so.

Soleil took in Ian's idea more skeptically. They are certainly rats, but rat holes often go down before they go out. Even a surprise strike that does not adequately consider basement trap doors and the like is at a significant risk to allow survivors. After I have assessed the area, I will return, report back, and we can determine an effective assault strategy, yes?

Assuming no objections.....

Soliel headed towards the gate, waiting for a moment while unseen to cloak herself from the view of others. Idly she thought how easily she could enter such a state. Steady training had honed the unusual genetic heritage from her mother to something Soliel could do as easily as blinking. She maintained hidden until she had moved outside the Tower grounds, then morphed into the disguise of a human housewife, complete with garb suitable for a routine shopping trip. She then headed towards Tiny Town, similarly morphing her guise if she felt some other human female impersonation would fit in better. She then took her time to case the shop, assuming several different yet similarly dressed forms to do a thorough casing of the exterior. After taking in those details, she headed into the pawn shop with a meek expression.

'Cuse me good sir, would you happen'd to have gotten a ring jus' yesterday. It's a silver band with a lil' emerald in it. 'Twas my weddin' ring.... she trailed off in an expression that said she had little hope it was here.

Soliel will change the ring request if one like she mentioned in obviously there. She is just looking for a reason to be in the store and assess it while not appearing obvious doing so. She take in all the detail she can while not going any where a customer is not allowed.

"No, my messages tend to be of the fiery variety."

Grime street more or less fits its name. A narrow dirt side street in tiny town strewn with trash.

The pawn shop is easy enough to find and Soliel makes her way down the street trying to avoid the few gnomes and halflings in the area. Several give her dark scowls. The place abuts the buildings to either side and behind it, though two dirty windows from a second story look down on the street. Faded red drapes can be seen hanging beyond those windows blocking any further view into the rooms above.

The ceiling is low, forcing Soliel to duck her head slightly. If a fight were to break out inside it would be a little cramped for those not of small size.

Inside a middle aged male gnome looks to the doorway as Soliel enters, a bell tinkling with the opening and closing of the door.

The shop itself is perhaps 20'x15' inside, with crowded shelves lining the walls and running down the middle. The gnome stands behind a small desk like area, and a single small door leads to somewhere in the back.

Rather rudely he responds to her query, "Well, you wasn't in yesterday selling it to me, so no, I do not have such a ring."

@GM: When you say the shop itself abuts buildings to either side, do you mean they are physically connected? Just trying to figure out if it is possible that there are doors/other entryways between the buildings. Also want to determine how big the rest of the building not part of the shop itself Soliel can see is.

Also: is there any way of seeing how one would get to the second story? Maybe from the back of the shop?

Also #2: would medium sized combatants be under full "squeezing" penalties in the shop? Want to determine just how bad it would be.

The pawn shop shares walls with adjacent stores/houses, so hidden passages are a real possibility.

You'd guess the back rooms behind the door are another 15x10' in size (with another building connected on the back side wall) and likely contain the stairs to the second floor.

Medium combatants would take squeezing penalties.

Oh...oh, Ok. I'll...I'll jus' go. Emulating a downcast and dejected expression was made easier by the complicated lay out of the shop. Cramp, with no known way in besides the windows and front door. Difficult, but not impossible. She then departed the store and slowly made her way down the street until out of Tiny Town. Shortly thereafter, when unseen, she ducked into an alleyway and hid. There she changed her disguise to that of a common merchant before making her way back to the Tower. There she relinquished her disguise completely and found Serelina and the rest of the group.

After relaying in detail what she had seen, she looked around at the others regarding a strategy. Fighting inside the shop itself may be very difficult for some, here she looked very deliberately at Ian. Edmond, your size is obviously an asset and I have alchemical means of addressing the concern for myself.

I would suggest a rapid assault that neutralizes the male gnome at the front desk or whomever else is occupying that position at the time as quickly and silently as possible. I doubt whatever entrance the Criminals are using is in the main shop area, meaning it is likely to found in the room beyond. There is also the issue of the second floor room.....

So, thoughts on tactics?

"Assess the back of the shop, if possible, as well as any entrances below, such as to the sewer. Also, did you assess the shops left and right of the target?"

"Did you see any of them? Tony's crew?" Ian frowns.

Soliel shook her head in response to Ian's question. No sign of them at all, you can be sure I would have disclosed such detail. It is a somewhat odd place to work from, given the dislike directed towards non-halflings or gnomes. They leave themselves open to notice.

To Edmond she responded, All of the details of my reconnaissance have been divulged. I returned here to report the data before any further inquiries occurred. Exploring other shops as well as nearby sewer entrances is possible, but accessing the back of the shop while the business is open would nearly impossible without alerting or eliminating the store clerk.

Pausing for a moment to think, the tiefling went on. If it is preferred, I can do more extensive scouting. I would do so at night, when shops are closed and hopefully unmanned. Locks are relatively easy to bypass. I would likely also consider a disguise as Cheyle Nass to ensure that, if I did run into the Criminals, I would have a plausible reason to be there.

Of course, we could simply move against the shop instead of further scouting. Soliel again then looked to the group for input.

Either way is good by me, more scouting vs. assault. Whatever the group decides.

"I think scouting is in order."

"The owners need arresting or killing, eventually. The drow said he saw Sic, Drovic, and Leandric coming and going from there. I want at least one of them out of this. I say we get in position while you scout again, at night, and stake it out all night if we gotta."

Soliel listened to the provided feedback, then considered for a brief moment before responding. Very well, we will initiate the operation at midnight tonight. We will go as a group to Tiny Town, with the goal of first scouting then assaulting the shop. I will stay one hundred feet in front of our group, and will need you all to stop that distance and out of sight of the pawn shop and connected cluster of buildings. I will move ahead unseen and assess the connected buildings, the second-floor pawn shop windows, room in back of the store and check the walls, floor and ceiling of the shop for other means of egress.

After my reconnaissance is complete, I will report back to the group for assault preparation. Master Serelina, if you would be able to assist with a Message spell, it would be most appreciated. If I encounter complications, I will communicate back to the group. If you hear nothing from me by ten minutes after my departure, initiate the assault immediately. The tiefling paused to look at the group. Any questions or modifications?

@GM: Think we are ready to move ahead to midnight once the plan is agreed on.

Ian nods in agreement then looks to Serelina, waiting for the final say.

Edmon shrugs, nothing to add.

Serelina nods at the plan, "I agree, lets have the good sister scout at night and then take action."

Map

A faint flickering candle light casts a dimple of light out of the second story window of the pawn shop. The adjacent buildings are dark.

Getting past the locked door is a simple matter for Soliel, the door into the back has light peeking through the cracks and across the floor.

How extensive did you want to check the adjoining buildings? Break into them? Or just peer through windows and listen for noises?

After Serelina endorsed the plan, Soliel rendered salute in the typical Friends of the Tower fashion. We re-group at midnight at the Tower grounds exit. With no other farewell, the tiefling headed back to her basement lab to rest and prepare.

Everybody has a couple of hours here to prep...then...

At the Tower gates Soliel met up with the group and proceeded out towards Tiny Town. After making the directions clear and clarifying where the group would remain while she searched, the tiefling was essentially invisible to all DC29 Perception to spot as she ghosted ahead. Upon arrival at the spot the group would wait at, Soliel became visible, appearing out of thin air just in front of Serelina. There she waited until the wizardess cast her Message spell, then once again vanished as she headed out.

Soliel then moved promptly into searching, checking the streets around the cluster of buildings contiguous with the shop for entrances and exits, then proceeded to check the doors of all the adjacent buildings for traps and sounds, then entered each, picking open locks as needed. Inside each she carefully searched for traps and made note of any additional exits or doors.

Afterward, she moved to the pawn shop itself. She checked the front door for traps, then unlocked the front door. Upon seeing a light under the back door, she kept herself to a search of the front room of the pawn shop. This included a check of the back room door for traps as well as listening at the door for sounds. Afterward, Soliel moved back outside, leaving the front door unlocked and proceeded to climb the building to reach the window on the second floor of the pawn shop. There she checked it for traps and locks, then listened carefully, before climbing back down and reporting to the group what she discovered.

Obviously all of this is in Stealth. She'll Take 10 for the base 29 Stealth check. She keeps in mind the self-imposed 10 minute time limit, but otherwise moves slowly and methodically. She's doing a lot of active Perception checks throughout. At doors, the procedure is always: 1) check for traps, 2) listen for noises, 3) open any locks, then enter. The only exceptions are the pawn shop back room door and 2nd floor window (just the first two steps there, though she'll unlock it too if she hears no noises). I'm assuming that somewhere on the greater building complex there is a place where one with a +9 climb check and 50' rope+grappling hook could get up to the second floor with no issues. If not, she could drink her potion of Urban Grace to get to a +13 Climb, if that would help. If something significant happens in the sequence of scouting I outlined, that might change the later actions, but wanted to lay the whole scouting plan out for sake of time.

The western buildings are homes, where several halflings, adults and children, sleep in the western most one. The next one contains two sleeping elderly gnomes.

On the eastern side of the pawn shop seems to be a warehouse of some kind, but most of its contents, at least those you can see, are junk. Possibly a storage area for the pawn shop. A little closer looking around uncovers a hidden door on the west side. It would lead into the pawn shop placing you just behind the counter at the back of the shop proper. I17-I18

The south buildings are three small homes, all two story. More than two dozen gnomes, mostly children, live between the three homes, making for very crowded accommodations.

Easily climbing to the second level of the pawn shop a peek through the window shows a middle aged woman working by candle light on paperwork. A curtain hung lengthwise across the room prevents view farther inside.

From inside the lower level of the pawn shop Soliel can hear two voices talking quietly. "She said Radgar has left town, but will likely be back in a week or so. Since he continues to evade the mages she has asked us to set a trap for him on his return. He's simply to much of a wildcard."

"Well one former paladin shouldn't be much of a match for us."

"I don't doubt we can take him Leandric, but let's be very careful about it. He's survived this long without capture."

Any areas I missed?

Few things to clarify....the secret door does NOT lead into the area behind the back door in the shop, but rather to the behind-the-counter section in the front "business" portion of the shop

The female in the window of the second floor of the shop, what race is she? If not gnome/Halfling, how weird would that be?

Is there any obvious way one would get to the upper story of the pawn shop aside from some unknown way in the area beyond the back door inside the shop?

The conversation Soliel overheard, was it while in the "business" area of the shop listening to the back door? Or was it from outside the shop listening to what was being said inside the "business" area?

Am I correct in assuming that whatever door Soliel heard the conversation through is now unlock and not trapped, as best as she could tell?

After completing her scouting mission, Soliel returned to the group. There she succinctly reported what she saw and heard, including a verbatim repeat of the conversation, in her oddly accented Common. Afterward she said, I do not believe that my enemy's enemy is necessarily my friend. They intend to lay a trap for Radgar and know of his movements, but this information we can glean from them under the Question. Regardless, we should not repeat past mistakes, after a hard interrogation execution is the only viable path forward.

Our more immediate concern is an assault plan. If we move quickly we have the element of surprise, though some way to keep it while moving our less stealthy members, she cast a sidelong glance at Ian, might be helpful. We also have the issue of the second floor. We may want to strike there at the same time. What are your thoughts?

She is a gnome.
Yes, it would lead into the front portion of the shop, not the back rooms.
Conversation heard through the door to the back of the shop, which is now unlocked/no traps found.
Second floor is reached through the window, or likely stairs inside the back room.

OK then, the fact that the woman on the second floor is a gnome makes me think she is one of the Fizzwinkle clan.

Based on all the data I'd recommend that Soliel climb back to the second floor out side the window, carefully/slowly/stealth-like open the window just enough to shoot a hand crossbow bolt through and assassinate the gnome woman. She'll use the Message spell to ping back to Serelina just as she shoots.

The party (minus Soliel) will gather just outside the front door of the pawn shop, and when Serelina receives the Message spell ping from Soliel that party charges the back door of the shop. There will be two doors to open to get there, might be best to have Edmond and Ian to open them in the first round allowing Serelina to cast a spell into the room beyond while Edmond's pet charges in to initiate melee.

After Soliel finishes off the upstairs area, she'll head downstairs to join the fight.

Sound good?

and we want to go in and melee while squeezing?

Ian will likely do the most good blocking one of the doors, unless a real knock-down fight drags on. Plan sounds good though.

It's a good point about the squeezing, I'd forgotten about that in my plan. Soliel has an extract of reduce person, so she'll be OK. And of course Edmond will be fine. We had some time before setting out, if we wanted to purchase a scroll of Reduce Person, have Serelina scribe it into her spellbook, then memorize it and cast it, we could maybe do that. Might cause the plan to get backed up a day.

Otherwise, yeah, squeezing is a thing. Only Leandric that we know of from the Criminals group isn't medium sized, so if others are in there they'd be squeezing too. We will need someone willing to go in and melee, unless we want to overhaul the plan. Otherwise, they'll likely use a trapdoor in the back area to just escape.

So, do we want to stick with the plan and accept that Ian and Edmond's pet will be squeezing, hold off on the plan until Serelina can cast Reduce Person on folks who want it, or change the plan to not have our melee'ers charge in?

snake man can squeeze, but if he dies i have some big penalties to casting for 30 days so take that into account

@Edmond: Ouch. 30 days is a LONG time in this campaign, as you know as well as I. That's a big reason not to squeeze if we can help it.

Serelina's player is out for a bit, so we may just need to move ahead. What about this: Soliel initiates the assault upstairs with stealth assassinations while Edmond opens the inside door in the pawn shop and runs back out, hopefully causing those behind the door to charge out after him. Edmond *should* get a surprise action to run back out before initiatives (my opinion). Outside snake-man, Ian and Serelina are waiting to join the fight. Soliel will continue to work her way downstairs, hopefully winding up behind the foes. Thoughts?

Are there any secret trapdoors and such? Can soliel thoroughly search for those whilst undetected?

I'd rather not count on them chasing, awkward if they dont. If they dont have a secret passage then we can focus on boxing them in, but otherwise we have to rely on speed and surprise.

Even with the penalties Ian can still brawl solidly with them.

Pretty sure we've searched as much as we can prior to actually engaging the folks inside. If you have ideas of other areas to search, let me know. The window on the 2nd floor and the door in the back of the shop IMO effectively prevent more undetected searching.

Let's go ahead with the original plan then, since both Ian and snake-man recognize the squeezing issue. I'd agree with Ian that if they don't chase we could ruin our chance. I'd wager there is some type of secret trap door in the area behind the back shop door, so we would be better off securing that fast.

So...assuming everyone's ready. Soliel moves to the 2nd floor window, slowly opens it (stealthy-like) just enough to fire a bolt in, studies the gnome woman for 3 rounds, then fires. While she's getting ready, the group slowly moves into position around the front of the shop. Soliel will Message back to Serelina just as she fires, which will be the signal to the others to charge through the shop to the back door.

@GM: while getting into position and studying her target, Soliel will drink the following elixirs in order: Chameleon Scales, Reduce Person, Urban Grace and Shield. She will also disguise herself to look like the gnomish shop keeper, and will let the party know beforehand about her chosen disguise

Let me make sure I'm clear where everyone is/what they are doing.

Ian, Serelina, Edmond outside somewhere? Which grid locations on the map I provided?

Soliel, 2nd floor of the pawn shop, will need to open the window about a foot (it opens outward) to be able to get a clear shot. Study target for 3 rounds, then assassination attempt to start the engagement?

Sounds like Ian in the warehouse by the (hidden?) back door, with an attack ready should someone come through it.

@GM: correct on Soliel, though since she can look through the window she'll start Study Target while slowly, stealth-ily opening it up.

@Ian: Unless I'm mistaken there is no back door. The mass of buildings in the center haven't been fully "revealed" by the GM, though Soliel has been in each. The north door (F15 on the map) is the only entrance to the shop from the outside (other than Soliel's window). What looks like the "back" door on the map is actually the door in the back of the shop proper that leads to a yet-unseen backroom area. This is where you'll need to get to.

I would recommend that the party keeps to the alleys north of the pawn shop front door (10 D/C and/or 18 D/C) until Soliel gets into position and begins setting up her assassination. We can time this all out with the Message spell. The party would emerge to quietly open the front door of the pawn shop just as Soliel is firing her bolt.

Again, the goal of the main group is to get through the back door of the shop (I16 on the map) as quickly as possible after Soliel assassinate the gnome woman on the second floor

referring to:

"On the eastern side of the pawn shop seems to be a warehouse of some kind, but most of its contents, at least those you can see, are junk. Possibly a storage area for the pawn shop. A little closer looking around uncovers a hidden door on the west side. It would lead into the pawn shop placing you just behind the counter at the back of the shop proper. I17-I18"

That door enters the pawn shop proper as I understand it, not behind the back door.

Anyway, let's just move ahead with the assault. Everybody should just place their PC where they want and let's start.

Correct on the secret door, it won't lead into the back room area.

Soliel climbs up again, drinks several potions, then studies the gnome woman and slips the window open.

Roll to hit with your attack and damage.
Fort save vs death effect. d20 + mods = 20. DC is 19 correct?

The gnome lets out a cry as Soliel initiates the attack.

And everyone roll init for round 1.
Gnome woman init: 21

It's DC 21 for death attack, Base DC 10, +3 for level, +6 for Int, +2 for Ability Focus Feat

Attack 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 versus FF AC

Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

EDIT: Actually add +2 to that to hit chance, for a 22 vs FF AC, which hopefully is more than enough vs an unarmored, flat-footed opponent. The +2 comes from the Reduce Person elixir: +1 for dex increase and +1 for size modifier for being small

init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

In that case the gnome perishes quietly.

We will keep those init rolls, but depending on events there may be another surprise round you can get in.

Your action to decide how to proceed further.

Soliel only takes a second to admire her handiwork before silently slipping in through the window and fully assessing the room. She remains cloaked, and once immediate safety was confirmed took a moment to send a whisper to Serelina along the Message spell.

Ma'am, first target eliminated. Undetected to this point, recommend delay assault until a commotion is heard or I re-contact.

The tiefling then stuffed the gnome's body underneath the desk or bed while analyzing the dead woman's features and morphing her disguise to look like her. Additionally, I now am guised as a gnomish woman, she advised along the Message spell.

Soliel then examined the room for stairs, doors, etc. while listening for sounds of conversation.

Staying in Stealth the whole time, Taking 10 via Effortless Sneak for 29 Stealth, or 39 if there are actual areas of shadowy light/other sources of cover/concealment she can use in lieu of Hellcat Stealth.

She'll pick the easiest/best hiding place in the room to stuff the gnome's body and then Disguise to look like her. She'll take no penalties on this due to Reduce Person making her small and Chameleon Scales elixir removing penalties for disguising as another race.

Next actions will greatly depend on what she finds in the room. If there are other people in the room she'll still creep into the window via stealth and begin Study Target on them (and skip doing anything with the body yet). If no one else is immediately seen in the room, she'll do as listed above. If there is only one exit out of the room she'll head that way in Stealth, taking a standard action to coat a crossbow bolt in Woundweal poison as she goes. She stays in Stealth despite the disguise, for now

Soliel finds the male name that was running the shop earlier in the day sleeping behind the curtain in the upper room, and quickly dispatches him.

Also behind the curtain is the stairs leading to the lower level. A door at the bottom of the stairs leaks light into the stairway. On the second level itself is also another door leading to further rooms on the second floor. Listening at the door does not reveal anything.

Soliel carefully wiped the blood off her drawn shortsword onto the dead gnome's nightclothes. Ma'am, two targets now eliminated, though neither of high value. Recommend continue holding off assault. There is a stairway down to the main level and a door on this level. I will investigate the door first, then move downstairs. Will report in shortly The tiefling's Message to Serelina was clipped and efficient, effectively devoid of emotion.

After hiding the bodies, Soliel ensured the door in the room was unlocked and untrapped before slowly and silently opening it. She remained cloaked. Afterward she quickly examined the room for potential foes, and if finding none, headed down the stairs to assess the door at the bottom.

If anyone is asleep in the other room, she'll dispatch them too. Likewise, if there are any other doors/egresses in the room she'll check them out before leaving. Afterward, she'll head down stairs in Stealth. She'll listen at the door, then check it for locks and traps.

Soliel slips into the back rooms upstairs to find a spare bedroom, empty of people, and a large number of ledgers. There are no occupants though, leaving just the downstairs.

No traps or locks are found on the door leading out of the stairs, but the voices Soliel heard earlier through the shop door can be heard. "...Sorad and some of the new guys are working on that problem."

A short pause

"So when is Krast supposed to be back?"

"Probably not for another hour or so."

@GM: how many voices does she hear?

As she listened at the door, Soliel made her preparations, silently pulling out bottles of prepared alchemical creations. She drank two, coated herself in another and applied poisons to her short swords. It was then time to begin the battle.

Ma'am, I am at the door to the backroom. No other discernable way in besides the pawn shop door and this one. Begin the assault in 20 seconds.

Remaining cloaked, Soliel then slowly opened the back room door, just enough to gain a view of the occupants while using the door to aid her hidden state. She then began to study her targets....

@Party: The 20 seconds is to give Soliel the 3 rounds needed to assassinate again.

The alchemical supplies used are: Antitoxin, Twitch Tonic, Alchemical Grease, Woundweal poison (on one sword) and Drow Poison (on the other sword). She'll have one sword (with drow poison) drawn with the hand crossbow in the other hand unless her view of the room says she should do otherwise.

Oh shiz, Sorad the flying invisible dwarf monk. aaand... anthony krast?

Keep in mind that neither are in that room. Otherwise, Sorad and Krast wouldn't be referred to in the 3rd person. I think it might work to our advantage that Krast is supposed to be back in an hour: we wrap up this fight and jump him when he returns.