As Casey only manages to catch the alchemist coming and going on rare occasion, he raises an eyebrow to his 'nice drinks' comment. Shrugging, he goes to his room and places the majority of his guns away, while leaving out his musket. Pulling out his gunsmithing kit, he gets to work on improving the accuracy of it, spending most of the day at it.
As night falls, Casey spiffy's himself up, making his way upstairs, not uttering a word to anyone unless spoken to first.
Over the next day or so, the gunman also spends his time making himself enough ammo to last him for a while. And in his down time, revisits his upstairs "friends".
Orwen replies to Casey"I can take a look at your chain shirt if you wish, though could offer to make you a more reliable weapon such as a sword or a nice mace?" He ends his question in a snicker.
Next to the other two craftsman between his sparing with the Hammer, he'll clean and up keep any weapons or armor his friends need done. Keeping up his skill for the Iron lord.
"Nope. Just curious is all." As the man of steel makes his joke, Casey just looks at him through narrowed eyes. "You keep your steel, Blackburn. 'Course, not sure whatcha gonna do with an unused weapon, seeing's how I'll be the one killin' all these tail takin' varmits," he says, a wry grin forming.
Orwen pats his knee and replies in a sarcastic tone, "Oh honorable warrior stealing the kills from a man with a limp, your glory knows no bounds........bwahahhahaha. We'll see if that boomstick can keep up with my little cleaver here next time we wrong into one of the tail takers." He hefts up his greatsword as he makes the friendly challenge.
Pulling out a toothpick, "Alright, Blackburn," he starts as he holds the musket by the stock, then flips it over to where the barrel rests upon his shoulder. "May the best man win," he finishes as he reaches up and tips the end of his hat to the Chelaxian, accepting his challenge before returning to the cleaning of his guns.
Orwen holds the blade in front of him and gives Casey of salute, "Don't worry, I WILL." He sets him sword down on his lap and starts to sharpen it with a whetstone.
Casey stopping but a moment at Orwen's declaration, Cocky. Can't help but 'preciate that, he thinks to himself as he continues on with his work.
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The evening is pleasant enough. They are invited to stay for dinner, which is a rather bland paste -- until Mirrender gives it some taste. Each child asks for a different taste, with several of them being disappointed -- Mirrender has simply never tasted many "surface foods".
After dinner, there is the requisite music. Mirrender, it turns out, has a very nice baritone voice that harmonizes well with Mirriam (the young woman who takes care of all these children). His choice of music is a little odd, however. Humorous and a bit morose at the same time.
Eventually Mirrender gets an odd look on his face and then looks at Mel.
"Does M'Lady sing?"
Mellany enjoys the meal. It may not be gourmet fare, but its simplicity is comforting. When Mirrender asks Mellany if she can sing, she starts laughing. "Heavens, no," she answers. "If I could have carried a tune, I'd still be in Shelyn's temple back in West Crown. No, that's not true and not fair to the priests. The temple of Shelyn has an uneasy truce, if you would, in West Crown. The noble houses let the heretic religion practice openly. The priests quietly gather and produce the artworks that delight the Rose and show them to the entire city so they can glimpse a little of the beauty Lady Shelyn promises. Whenever the temple gets a particularly fine piece, the nobles take an interest and launch a pogrom against the infidels. The pogrom lasts until the nobles 'liberate' whatever they wanted and a little more to pay for their trouble."
A wave of melancholy passes over Mellany's face before she continues. "Sometimes the nobles aren't interested in a piece of art. Sometimes one of the children the priests are training catches a noble's fancy. I... I don't know why the vice-mayor would have been interested in me. I wasn't much bigger than this wee one," Mellany gently pats the head of the child sitting next to her. "But for the good of the temple I had to 'run away' before his men came to fetch me."
"Oh, now see what I've done. Spoiled a perfectly fine dinner with a dreary story."
Taurven walks into the living common area, in time to hear the challenge between the Ranger and the Gunner. "Heh. Whichever one of you wins, it's gonna be the Tail-Takers that pay the cost.
Taurven grins. "You are going to have to work on your firing rhythm, there, Casey. It's hard to keep the song in time, with you on random percussion."
"Pay 'im no heed, Gunner. He's the sort to wait while I'm hammerin' a nail, so's he can start on another when I'm about done, and finish when I'm about to start, just ta keep the rhythm. Damned unnerving, it was, but we were only drivin' nails. In battle, you'll have to take the shot when you've got the shot. And Taurven, he'll manage. Lad's got a mind for it; a real gift."
Taurven walks into the living common area, in time to hear the challenge between the Ranger and the Gunner. "Heh. Whichever one of you wins, it's gonna be the Tail-Takers that pay the cost.
Casey momentarily takes a break from his work, looking up at the bard. "That's the plan, pardner." he says with a slight grin.
Taurven grins. "You are going to have to work on your firing rhythm, there, Casey. It's hard to keep the song in time, with you on random percussion."
"Pay 'im no heed, Gunner. He's the sort to wait while I'm hammerin' a nail, so's he can start on another when I'm about done, and finish when I'm about to start, just ta keep the rhythm. Damned unnerving, it was, but we were only drivin' nails. In battle, you'll have to take the shot when you've got the shot. And Taurven, he'll manage. Lad's got a mind for it; a real gift."
As he looks down his sight, checking his aim, "Naw. The Singer don't bother me none." He makes a slight adjustment and rechecks his aim. "I know he's only funnin'. 'Sides, we know he could keep time with a broken clock." he says, winking.
"True enough, Gunner. Say, been any sign of our Tatter-Tom, Mister Naboo? For all he's got talents for his chosen acts, it's still a worry to me, I'd have no harm come to him, nor the monkey. And what was that he'd said, about makin' the monkey?"
"Can't says I've seen 'im since he's left. Maybe one o' the others have. As far as the monkey..." he shakes his head, "no idea. Heck, I can't figger out the talkin' doll bit," he shrugs. "But there again, I ain't for tryin' to. It ain't tried to end me so I figger that's good enough."
TIMESKIP TIME!
Jelani spends the next three days hammering at the practice dummies in the training room. His hard work earns him a +1 bonus on melee attack rolls and a +2 bonus on melee damage rolls.
Orwen is kind enough to perform maintenance on some of the Eight's weapons and armor; they will not be degrading any time soon.
Blast spends his time in his room, strange bubbling sounds and chemical smells emanating out of the cracks, and emerges with some potions.
Mirrender and Mellany spend the three days at home, talking about the orphanage and learning about Naboo and Bollo.
Casey Jayne spends his time in his room and emerges with a beautifully deadly piece of weaponry.
Gunser and Taurven With his guise as a carpenter, aided by Gunser's actual skills as a carpenter, the two head off for some information gathering. Your disguise is very successful and you are able to pass entirely unmolested by any guards and undiscovered by any of the tradespeople. Your knowledge of Egorian and the area around the safehous increases significantly, compounded by your earlier forays. Unless you're headed across town, you are able to correctly navigate your way to important landmarks and back home. You still don't have knowledge of the alleys and shortcuts to allow you to be as fast as Bob and as skilled at avoiding the guards.
Gunser becomes acquaintances with two carpenters and a timber salesman; you'll be able to ask them about rumors and common topics of interest. From them, you hear some interesting facts. Apparently, the guardsmen of Cheliax have become suddenly slightly inhospitable to the Tail Takers. Before, the guards generally allowed the Takers to pass by safely, with only the new and the stupid giving them a hard time. But now, compounded by how the Takers have started travelling in groups, some of the smarter guards are taking issue with the Takers, asking where they are going, and what their business is.
This culminated with a short melee where a group of eight Takers took issue with a trio of guards who stopped them near the market. They drew steel, not realizing a party of ten more guards were around the corner. You don't know if this was coincidence or design. The Takers fled, but one was killed, and one arrested. This only happened recently and so no one yet knows the impact this has or will have on Taker presence in the city.
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Jelani is busy examining himself shirtless in the mirror the morning of the fourth day. "Damn I look good. All that working out is paying off." He slips a shirt on and begins to scarf down a breakfast. "Hey dude," he says to Tauvren, "Wanna go check on those contacts we made? That arms dealer guy might've come up with something by now."
"That's not a bad idea. If Tail-Takers and guards are mixing it up, there is bound to be an increase in arms sales. Would be good to know who, and what."
As you all sit around the table talking and breakfasting, a voice interrupts- "Might I interrupt?"
Sitting on one of the side tables is the doll form of Naboo. He waves.
"Some success, some failure, sirs and ah I see lady. I was able to plant a few suggestions with the guards, leading to a ruckus near the market. I believe something may come of that. And I was able to sneak into the Taker base with a little luck and a little skill- here.[b]" He throws a piece of paper towards Gunser. On it is a carefully drawn map.
[b]"It is an interesting little setup. A small entrance passage and on each side is a small room with some magic wands hung on the walls, and holes between the rooms and the passage. I presume someone stands there, points the wands through and causes nasty things to happen to whoever happens to be in there. Quite a clever defense."
"The bottom room to the left held little interest; just a store room, I believe. To the right, however... There is a corridor that proceeds for about fifteen feet. The interesting thing however is the spell of Alarm lying halfway across it. Sadly no one entered or left the room when I was there so I was not able to ascertain the command word, nor proceed pass it- I assumed you fellows did not want me to put them on edge."
"I do have to report some failure, however. I was able to discreetly suggest to a few people in one of the mansions that the Takers held traitorous sympathies and desires. All seemed to be going fairly well when suddenly it stopped. I did not manage to catch the message or the order or whatever it was that spurred the change, but suddenly the nobles and such began saying that the Takers were just a street gang, and that there were no worshipers there. It is quite curious- it is not something that has happened before. It even went to the guards. However, since they killed one of their fellows I expect there to still be some tension or harassment there. But I must conclude that the Tail-Takers will not be taken care of by myself, at least not in the short term. It will take some time before I can ascertain what has happened to cause this change in opinion."
Blast looks up from his tea and bread-with-honey when Naboo speaks. "Ah, our mysterious little friend," he smiles, though his tail flicks almost nervously. I still don't fully trust it...
Listening to Naboo's tale and glancing at the map, Blast frowns. "Strange. It certainly sounds like magic of some sort, but as to what, I have no idea. I should have paid more attention to those lessons in the academy..."
"Well, I'll admit I'm no wizard. But I'm no fool, either, and there were more than a few, and more than a little, mindtwistin' bastards at that fight at the Wall. So it's no great deduction to guess at such powers being applied. And I'll caution you again, Mister Naboo, such as use such powers have senses others lack; beware the hidin' your so confident of, doesn't fail ye, for lack of accounting for such."
"Grand map, Naboo... Where's that bit go there at the bottom? Seems might be a better path in. Or barin' that... might you move those wands? I see you might not be able to bring 'em to us, here. And we'd rather not warn them ahead, but if you might take 'em down from their hooks, and put 'em under a rug or such? Done just ahead of us raidin', fair nasty surprise, and it'd have them distrustin' each the other, especially if we stir that pot a bit. Or season it ahead."
"Ah, but I'm a ramblin' old man. Two points: Can ye move the wands? And, where's that curvin' bit go?
"That's a bit troubling, Naboo. The 'Takers should not have been aware of your efforts, so soon, let alone counter them so easily."
Taurven frowns, tapping his fingers on the table. "They either have a very effective network of informants, or the are being aided by someone who does."
The half-elf goes silent, pondering the meaning of of this new information.
"Bah, I don' give 'em that much credit. I see it more as them havin' trouble, neither knowin' nor carin' if it were our meddlesome moppet, and them usin' their mind-twistin' ta make it better. I don' think they realized he'd made it snow, just went and got out their shovels, when it did. Of course, I've been wrong before, I'll be wrong again. Could be wrong now."
"Oh, and where's me manners?! Mister Mirrender, this here is Mister Naboo, who says he's half the architect of all ye see around you - of the walls and magics and such, not the people, though he's claimed a monkey - and who's half proved it, which we're judging enough now. Mister Naboo, Mister Mirrender, elf from the deeper dark, wizard and wit, and fish out of water. Damn smart and damn fool all at once, and 'til I met him, I'd ha' thought that were mine ta be. Mirry lad, make the introductions for our Mel..."
"No, I'd guess you're right in this case, Master Sailor," Blast chuckles. "The Tail-Takers don't strike me as smart or perceptive enough to notice Naboo, or realize their men were enchanted--and even if they did notice magic, they probably wouldn't have immediately been able to link it to anything more than the trouble they've received lately."
Of course, there's always the chance the poppet here is putting us on, and didn't actually work any magic at all... might even be spying for the enemy.
"The 'bit at the bottom', I do not know. The alarm spell prevented me from going any further. As for the wands... From what I saw they were a damned rowdy lot in there; unless they specifically know you're coming it would take at least two minutes to get four men behind the walls with wands at the ready. Plenty of time for you to burst through the entrance passage and out of danger from those. That said..."
Scratching his chin, Naboo adds "If you fellows are going through and do not care about leaving the bar intact perhaps I could simply pocket them intact. I am sure you fellows could use them, whatever spell they cast."
Shrugging to Gunser, he adds "Then again, perhaps I am simply not as skilled at manipulation as I had thought."
Standing, Naboo nods formally to Mirrender. "A pleasure, sir. I indeed had the privilege of arranging the construction of this place for the Eight of old, and I confess some pleasure at seeing you take up their residence."
"Ah, a magical alarm, is what you meant... I see."
"If we make plans for such an assault, we'll make you part of 'em, you can be sure. And why not the stealin' of the wands at the start, or the day before, even? If it were mine to say, though - and I don't claim it is - we'd learn what's past that alarm, first. No desire to raid and have the worst of 'em run off. So it can't be followed from inside, owing to the alarm. Well, where does the building end? Is it likely a sewers pipe? A passage to just some one other place? Might be I'm looking for carpentin' work thereabouts..."
"I felt like we may have underestimated them, after our first battle with them. I still feel it to be so. We know not a thing about Kore. Do we? Not a thing."
Taurven turns to Naboo. "You were able to cause this place to fall into the possession of the original Eight. To me, that seems no mean feat. So, I expected you to have great success at discrediting the Tail-Takers. Instead, the rumors die as quickly as you raise them."
Taurven shakes his head.
"No, there is something going on here. We best figure it out, before we make any decisions about what we do next."
Taurven takes a sip from his mug."Maybe you can go out again, and find out why your rumor mongering has failed you, Naboo. Seems like you might be a bit curious about that yourself."
Naboo raises his hands warningly. "It took months, and it was but a single noble."
Thinking carefully, the doll continues "Be cautious. Wait for information. Do not act rashly; I have heard these words thousands of times in the Chelish houses. Plots fester for decades and every action is precisely calculated. If someone is ending my rumors- which I am still uncertain of- then they will likely be the cautious sort. Rather than playing their game, trying to track down their fingerprints, perhaps a lightning strike would be preferable. Raid the bar or- I think I heard one of the Takers mention that the Gulls live separately- them and make them react to us rather than the opposite."
Pausing, the doll scratches its chin. "Or not. I will aid you, but it will be your lives you will be risking. It is up to you."
"So, a swift strike is advisable?" Blast's tail flicks, and he rubs his chin. "It has been some time since I mixed my bombs, and I'd like to do a little more damage to these Tail-Takers."
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"We could break in and burn the place down, then make sure there are no witnesses. I guess that's kind of evil though. Perhaps Naboo, you could tail a gull home? If we know where one of the gulls live we can attack their residence, take them and interrogate them. Perhaps take out all the gulls one by one, cripple the organization? The only downside would be that then they'd be on high alert at the base and attacking it would be become much more difficult. Perhaps attack a guard post and leave some tail-taker graffiti or something. Make their relationship with the guards even worse. Until we know where Kore is, we can't really take out the gang."
"If we knew of a guard that needed killin', we could do that, and leave a trail to the Takers. It's not the moral high ground, though. And anything that smells of settin' them up for a fall, will also likely have 'em keepin' regular watches, and not the tavern swirl Mister Naboo has described. I reckon he's right, we've more mappin' to do, a lot more watchin', listenin', before we act. Until then, we're just jawbonin'."
"So then, how about this? We hope to get to where we know when there'll be the fewest of them Gulls at the Tavern. The least between us and Kore. And then we go for the heart, one stroke. The Gulls will run, hide, or come after us, and be hunted while they hunt. Maybe the worst of them, we go for just after Kore, depending on how worn we feel."
"Strike at the source of infection," Blast says, remembering the few classes on healing he took. "Makes sense, and could put an end to this quickly and easily--relatively speaking. And if worse comes to worst, we could, as Jelani suggests, burn the place down." Blast's eyes flicker into that burning amber color, and his tail curves back and forth.
"We can track down stragglers and kill them off one-by-one easy enough," Mellany says thoughtfully. "But it won't do any good. In this town, bullies and cutthroats are ready made by desperation. Striking at their base would be unexpected and likely to result in fewer deaths in the long-run. If we can pull it off."
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"I'd like it better if we knew for sure Kore was there. Or what Kore even was. What if it's a powerful demon in disguise? Or a number of other things that could easily kill us. Killing Tieflings is great an all if you're an evil gang, but that doesn't pay the bills. How are these Tailtakers making money? Maybe if we approached them in a business sense, we could get an audience with Kore. Set ourselves up as a new, cheaper supply line on whatever they're slingin'. Dope, slaves, whores, weapons, whatever it is that fills their pockets."
"I've never been one for deceit or trickery, I always have taken a direct approach to things." He rubs his crippled knee, "Though that's how I ended up with my knee like this. But you know what got me to stand back up? INSPIRATION AND FAITH, Gorum inspired me to take back what I had lost and seek justice in my own way. I know the eight must remain a secret to the public, but what if rumors started of a rival gang that stood up against bullies and hatemongers that watched over there neighborhoods. I think something like that would inspire my fellow chelaxians to take on injustice themselves and make the streets safe. Of course with our little rumor mill here and a few devastating attacks on the takers we could make this happen" As Orwen finishes he takes a long drink from his mug and looks at them all, "Of course this is just an idea from a simple country blacksmith, though I wouldn't mind storming the base if you guys and gal wish too."
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Mirrender was practicing his fencing when Naboo arived. Mirrender listens and then chuckles at what he hears. Decades of deception? That is nothing compared to the Drow Houses.
"You're just not very good at treachery, are you?"
"Every Great House that plans to survive will have 'sniffers' -- they sniff out deception and treachery and, where possible, track it back to its source. Whereas those like myself make it our jobs to make sure the House can survive Fire, It is their job to make sure that that the House can survive the Shadows."
"If I were to guess, and it's a guess since I'm not a Sniffer, their Sniffer figured out that something was up when She -- or I guess it can be 'He' up here -- picked up on these rumors and immediately snuffed them. Now they know that there is someone else around."
"So we give them someone -- several someones."
"To successfully destroy them we need a two pronged attack, one that attacks the Sniffers as well as the Firefighters and misleads them both."
Mirrender sheaths his weapon and turns to Naboo, bowing slightly. He then starts to introduce Mellany.
"A pleasure to meet you. This is ... Duchess"
Everyone else had a nickname, so why not Mel?
"our touch of class and True Leader."
He turns his attentions back to the group.
"This is a very nice map ... but both too detailed and not detailed enough at the same time. What do we know about the sewers underneath? What do we know about the roof? How about the buildings close by?"
He's thinking, perhaps a bit too fast. He turns to Taurven, the closest thing the Eight have to a Sniffer.
"Now, I think, is a good time to put them off balance. Start rumors of the Return of the Eight at various locations. These, of course, must be put into place by 'anonymous folk', which in turn turn out to be 'Takers'. All of which, of course, are really you and our Naboo, properly hidden from the Sniffers."
"Meanwhile a few things 'disappear' from the Takers. Wands, of course, but also personal effects. Effects that show up at the scene of the Rumors of the Eight. Clues, for the authorities to follow. And more importantly, to throw the Takers off balance ... to begin to suspect each other."
"Then, when the timing is right, Blast blows a hole in the right place -- Roof, Floor, or Wall -- and we do a well prepared night raid. I can try to purchase a few spells, perhaps, to make the plan work out better. Not sure what ... I'll have to research that bit first."
Mirrender frowns for a second and then looks to Gunser.
"Or is that plan 'wrong'?"
Surface society was so confusing.
"I'm with the Oarsman. I say we go after this 'Kore' fella. We put an end to him, the rest scatter like roaches in daylight."
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"We sound like a herd of cats. If we're to be an effective unit, eight minds must act as one. We need to elect a leader whose decisions will be followed without question. Not to say that we can't sit around and discuss things as we are doing now. But this conversation has no end. I vote the old man lead us." Jelani says, pointing to Gunser. "I'm too violent and he likes to take things slow and careful. He also likes to make sure we don't become completely evil. I think everyone can agree that Kore is our real target, yes?"
Blast shakes his head at Jelani's suggestion of a sole leader. "The reason that we're the Eight is because there are Eight of us, working together, as equals--it's not the Seven-and-One, it's the Eight. A leader is all well and good, in concept, but following without question? That's what's put Cheliax where it is now, and I don't intend to do anything of that sort."
Blast stands up, and the invisible servants, recognizing his intent, sweep more-or-less untouched bread away to be disposed, though his tail brings the teacup and saucer to his hands, and he takes a sip. "I agree with both Gunser and Mirrender. We need to strike the base, but not too fast--I can attest to the wisdom of patience, I've had enough mishaps with the more volatile mixtures to know that much. We should strike at the heart of the Tail-Takers, but if we overdraw ourselves, move into something without being ready for it, we're like to get ourselves killed, and then there'll be the Zero to stand up against Cheliax's tyranny and corruption."
The tiefling sets the tea down on the table once more, and when he looks up again, his eyes flicker with anger. "As for morality, I think our enemies have proven themselves to be truly wicked--I see no way to justify taking my people's tails and nailing them to walls, no matter what an individual tiefling may have committed. There is no high ground to worry about here, as our foe has stooped lower than any man or woman ought contemplate. If we found a wall covered in arms, or legs, there would be no talk of morality; only action."
Blast turns to Mirrender. "I agree that we should find out what we might of the building, including its surroundings. Depending on the material used, I may even be able to blow a hole in the wall or roof or floor, given time to prepare, and that might give the advantage of surprise that could make the difference in a fight."
"Duchess is it? I'll have you know the madame at the last house I worked at styled herself 'Duchess'. And it's a pleasure to meet you, Naboo. You've done way more than I would have expected from a stranger. Thank you. And beware of loose strings, Cat likes to nibble on them if you leave them unattended."
"Anyways, I think the Captain's hand will be as steady as any other's at the helm. Perchance the first course we should steer is learning who or what this Kore is before we go traipsing into her lair."
"A herd of cats. That's funny."
"Seems like we mostly agree that we should strike at the heart. Drop Kore and the rest scatter."
Taurven takes another sip from his mug. It is a dark ale he found down by the docks; bitter and strong, he quite likes the flavor of it.
"Problem is: We don't know who or where he is."
"So, we find out. We have two options, I suggest we use both."
First, we continue with the development of informants and listening to rumors. Second an operation of force. We capture a Gull."
Taurven swirls the liquid in his mug around and breathes the aroma of the ale. "Ahh. That is very nice."
Then he continues. "Perhaps you have a spell that would help us interrogate the prisoner, Mirrender?"
Taurven shrugs. "I mean if that is what we want to do... I'm open to all suggestions."
"There aren't so many of us that any ought be set at all above. If what I say has merit to any of you, do us both the honor of having that merit come from the thing said, and not from any station nor badge of office."
"I've more questions, Mister Naboo. Was there among the Takers a little magician, a gnome he looked when we fought last? I'm sure we'd all favor him as a prisoner. There was another, a weedy fellow, or a great blue beast when his magics are up, a beast big enough to ride. Any sign of either of those? That weedy or blue fellow, the gnome wanted him dead, and we tried to tell him that. Might be there, you drive your wedge. Might be the blue can be turned. He's a mage, built for power, and he's seen his power humbled, and out-of-hand."
"We've spoken of you looting from the Takers. If we're planning to make them doubt themselves, that would be part of any such plot. I would ask you not risk yourself, but we're not going to agree, I can tell, on when you'd be steppin' over that line, so I'll settle for wishing you well, and asking our magicians to wrack their brains for tricks that add to your safety."
"We seem agreed, Kore is our target. We're also agreed, more learning is wise. If in the course of that learning, we find a chance to strike well, I expect we'll take it. So Mister Naboo, if you're not able, or not likely, to be able to fetch those wands and whatever other oddments, on short notice, and that means largely living and workin' among us as a resident here... If you can't be here to hear a call to action, then yes, please do remove from them what power you can, as you can, with your makin' confusion."
"On the matter of the Eight. We know we're the Eight. We've no need for others to know it. So if we do go about in the guise of any group, let it be some other name they're called by. It would not do to call any attention from any enemies the Eight may still have."
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"So we all agree, striking their base before we know who and where Kore is would be dumb. They'll just scatter like roaches in the light and then regroup somewhere else. Tauvren and I should go check on our contacts first, see what they have to say. While we're doing that, Naboo can go try to find out everything he can about Kore. Then we'll come back and Tauvren and Gunser can go out as carpenters again, to see what they can find about Kore. That should only take a couple days. After that we can see what information we have about Kore. If it is enough, THEN we can strike at their base, or wherever he happens to be hiding. Right?"
"The building is from one of the older eras. It has four stories but no connection to the sewers, as the cesspits and pisshouse out the back testifies. The floor directly above the bar seems to be in use; I overheard some comments that made me believe it was rooms which the Takers use to recover or take prostitutes up to- though apparently the Gulls frown on the latter. I may not have indicated where the stairs are, let me have a look at that map..."
Pulling out some stationary from his tiny backpack, Naboo makes some changes.
"I do not remember seeing any weedy fellow or blue beast, or gnome.The home of one of the gulls... it should not be too hard to find one, if you wish me to. I may not be able to get any detailed floorplans for their houses, however. You fellows seem to describe some moderately-powered casters as the underlings, if the Gulls share even a little of their magical power I suspect their houses will be warded like that back room. If you fellows want me to avoid all detection I would not risk entering like I did the bar."
"If he's through the corridor- not if I want to remain hidden. I did not see him for the twenty-odd hours I surveiled the place, even though the fellows in the bar seemed to think he was back there. If he's that mysterious and that formidable, he might have a secret exit or entrance, and I will not be able to find that."
"Aye."
"Don't risk exposure, Mister Naboo. None of us need to risk ourselves singly; we'll do it all together, soon enough." Gunser grins. "Let's give ourselves another week, but no more, unless the Takers have more losses in then. I'm reckonin' on the risk born by other tieflings. The Takers might be set back on their heels just now, but the takin' of tails is their name and the flag of their tribe, they'll get back to wavin' it all too soon."
"So, one week. Are we agreed? I favor Storm'sday for assaults, but it's no great matter, whatever day suits your rest."
Leaning over the map, Gunser points with an extended carpenter's rule.
"These front doors, likely unlocked while they're passing through... Naboo, might we walk on through, or are there guards outside?"
"Once past them, are the inner doors barred or bar-able? What sort of endurance do you expect, against Mister Jelani's great whackin' hammer?"
"And we'll be askin' you to steal or to hide those wands..."
"We might be tempted to make a line, and defend the door-hall, but the casters among 'em make that unwise, we'd be clustered for their magics. Don't take more than a moment of Jelani being confused, and any of the rest of us might be laid low. That's a praise, Mister Jelani, if you'd had any doubt."
"So while we'll want you magicians in support of each other, at least myself will be rushin' into the fray, huntin' the casters first. Any spare arts for turnin' blades or such, I'll welcome. I'll try to be mindful of Blast's bombs, and leavin' the biggest group of them for him. If there's any here don't feel they've much real power for assault, acids or tangle-bombs or caltrops or similar can all work a treat to break their lines, and make more of a hazard for 'em, movin' to engage our magi and gunman."
"Any of that sound wrong?"
"There are no guards outside, but people are coming and going fairly often. I believe they rely upon their own reputations."
"The outer door is bar-able; the inner one less so. The entrance chamber seems to have been put together later by a carpenter who did not do the best job."
"The inner doors could not be barred against MIster Hammer."
"The wands can be hidden."
"Smoke." Says Taurven. "After Jelani knocks on the front door, we use smoke sticks, and lots of them."
"A week seems a reasonable time to prepare. Storm'sday sounds fine to me."