a furrowed brow and lower tusks bared left little doubt as to Sic's mood at Vaek's proclamation... I knew it, didn't I just?..Blood and bloody ashes Vaek. Like its your first damn day in the guild or something.
Sic rose and began pacing as his anger seethed. He was capable of rational thought but sometimes it took a few moments before gears started grinding proper.
You know we were planning on breaking you out today? the brute began almost as if he was speaking to himself but answering Tony's valid question as his thoughts flowed.
But they let you free at the cost of your hand... dark and empty theyre about as evil as we are. Let me check you out.
Muttering under his breath, Sic's spell reached out as he focused on his pal.
Sneering back to Anthony, "With no thanks to you. It would seem I need to do everything myself. I can tell you were in a real hurry to bust me out, its been days since I was put in that hole. Figured you could just take over my crew and no one would think the wiser."
He could feel his anger rising, but there was a certain peace included. A certain sense of comfort being with those he trusted ... for the most part.
Focusing on any magical auras on Vaek you find two of them.
The first is a moderate aura of enchantment surrounding a new scar emblazoned on his forehead.
The second is a moderate aura of enchantment on his shoes.
Frowning once again, the half orc waved a dismissive hand.
Take it down a notch bub. We've all done longer stints than that in a cell. Hells, I used to winter there just to stay off the streets in the cold. And it like we've had it easy since then either.
Huh...that nasty scar and your shoes are ensorcelled Vaek. I'd bet my last coin the scar is the curse eh?
Drovic sits in the corner and takes the scene in. He smiles at Vaek's anger and then listens as the half orc responds.
The scar is a standard witch hex, allowing the witch to affect Vaek with any of her other hexes from up to a mile distance. It would also allowing easy scrying on the thief.
The divination on the shoes is strange, something you have never encountered before but after studying are able to figure out. The magic is a modified locate object, but rather than caster having knowledge of the location of the sought after object, the shoes are broadcasting their location.
Sic spit a rather plemmy lob onto the floor and shook his head.
Damn son, they got you rigged up right nice. We gotta get you out of here pronto, savvy? Them damn shoes of yours are like blaring trumpets to them pesky mages or whoever in the Nine Hells gave 'em to you.
Sic rose from his squat and began pacing.
We could use them to flip the script and set a trap of our own. Lets get out of here so at least this place is safe.
He shot a look at their captives.
You done with them Tony? Cuz we cant be leaving no witnesses. Aint no way in Hell after all we just went through. Tasem, can you all take care of this scum? Feed 'em to hogs or something. Can't be no trace of 'em when you're done.
Sic's pacing had picked up speed and he was already angling towards the exit.
Sneering back to Anthony, "With no thanks to you. It would seem I need to do everything myself. I can tell you were in a real hurry to bust me out, its been days since I was put in that hole. Figured you could just take over my crew and no one would think the wiser."
"Hah!" Anthony spat, a joyless mock laugh. "Like I ever had the ambition or inclination. And for what its worth, noone here was told to do anything. Ive been making suggestion and they have been agreed with." He crossed his arms defiantly. "The choice to leave you in favor of arguably more important matters was a joint decision, so why not be mad at "your crew" instead?"
Tasem speaks up, his voice calm. "Vaek, if you led the mages here you'll be lucky if the Mistress does nothing more than take your other hand. It'd be best if you find a way quick to lead them further on, or hurt them so hard they don't think about ever coming back."
Smet shakes his head grimly at this. "If they were tracking you when you entered that signal will have gone out. A surefire beacon shouting out 'There is something important here'. If they weren't tracking you your the luckiest man alive", he looks at Vaek's missing hand, "but I'm not planning on betting on those odds."
Tasem grunts, "Well what now then boys? The shoes we can leave behind, that scar on your head is going to be another problem. But do we let them just take the place? Make them fight for it? Hope they don't find every hidden room?"
Disgust at Vaek's amateur move and elation at him being free combined to just make Sic angry.
Bah! Better we lead them away from here using the damn shoes. And that means now! We cant waste any more time. The longer you sit still the more likely they are to hone in on us. I got a plan for the shoes.
Sic shot a glance at their prisoners and then one to Tasem.
Get rid of them would you? Permanent like and make sure no one can find the bodies...ever. They done heard way too much.
The half orc strides over and grabs Vaek up under the arm.
You need to get back upstairs quick. Get some drinks in you and a girl. That will account for you for a bit. Then get the hells out of here and head towards the gates. Once there find a wagon heading out and ditch them shoes on it. Savvy?
Sic cracked his neck in unease.
The rest of us can scamper out through the sewers bolting this place down behind us. We just need a place and time to meet back up with our boy here.
If not, I guess we will just roleplay it and live/die with the consequences.
"Id just as soon use those boots to ambush whoever is tracking them." Anthony muttered. "We have our full complement of power at our disposal now that Vaek is out, and if they have gone to this trouble to track him, theres no reason to think they will stop just because the boots end up leading them on a goose chase."
Vaek held back his anger with Anthony, there are more important things at the moment. Its time to get down to business, how can we use this new information to our advantage
"The question is, how can we isolate one or two of them to get the quick jump to slay them before their whole group can join the combat. Keep in mind, I am not close to full strength."
Vaek runs his good hand back through his hair. "I guess we can set-up the ambush, and only make our strike if we can have them separated no more then two who may act as the scout. And if there are more, we simply walk away. It is easy for to be the bait, as they can't do anything if I have committed no crime. The question is where?"
"If we have them outnumbered, all the better." Anthony said, nodding. "But either way I think we need to take this chance if we can."
He started pacing as he was want to do, stopping to lean on a nearby wall. "Best bet would probably be somewhere on beggars row." He said, sounding confident. "Bystanders less likely to intervene or get the guard, and it would seem a likely place for a thieves guild."
Knowledge check +8 - to determine an optimal location/building for an ambush
Sic grinned as the plan started coming together but mostly with murderous glee over the idea of wetting their steel with mage guild blood. And waved his hands in an effort to keep voices down and jerked his head towards the door to the common room.
Sorad, get out front and keep an eye on things would ya?
Once the dwarf had exited, the half orc got back to planning
Hey now, No dead ends where we can get trapped. This wont be worth a crap if another one of us gets pinched or taken out of the game like ole Maeltheron right?
"A courtyard in one of the housing areas then?" Anthony muttered in thought. "Pay off the occupants to leave, then strike from the buildings."
in a hushed voice "The question is are we better of hitting inside a building? may be easier to isolate them if they are not in a group. As long as there is a way out through a window or something. Or specifically in the streets, and have some people on top. Either way, I think we are probably agreed that if there is more then 2 of them together, then we call it off."
His desire for revenge was growing, and the opportunity for it pleased him.
"I will need to get some equipment. I can go buy another Wakizashi, I think I will get some poison as well. Either way, you guys should best leave out the back. I will take a round about way to getting these things. I plan to stop by Jamai's shop since he has never seen my face, then pass by the merchants guild house to see if anybody is following me, before making my way to pick up supplies."
Drovic steps forward and addresses Vaek. I think you will see that the group has a better chance now that I provide control over the environment.
Aint no doubt about that Drovic.
Sic cuffed his fellow half orc on the shoulder and then moved towards the door.
Best we get moving. Any number of mage's scum and guards could walking through those doors any minute and here we'll be standing around hen pecking like a bunch of batty wenches. Pick a spot and let's go already.
Drovic turns and accompanies Sic to the door.
"I'll take care of the rat." says Tasem in reference to the drow. "Milah, keep on eye on the tavern and see who comes to visit."
Starting to head out, Kleonna gives Sic a worried look, "What's going on Sic?"
Sic returned Kleonna's worried look as he realized that there was more at stake than just his gang of pals and their secret hold. There was innocent folk who supported them that had a lot to lose too. So he led her away from eavesdroppers and spoke it as plain as he could to his long time friend in a hushed whisper of double talk.
Damn Vaek got magicked shoes that lets the Seven keep tabs on him. We're all headed out to flip the script and catch them in a trap of our own. Be prepared for company asking about him or us. Take care of yourself.
Sic then made a show of typical price haggling for the drinks he had earlier and that he wanted a girl waiting for when he got back from his errand.
Once that was settled he gave Drovic a nod and exited through the back.
Seeing Drovic approach him as he prepares to leave, Vaek looks him up and down. Half jokingly, "You bring home another stray Tony?" he gives Drovic a nod while walking past.
Sorad follows Vaek at a distance, only barely keeping him in sight--sometimes falling behind or moving ahead and using what Vaek said to keep them in the same general area.
Before they leave: if you want, Vaek, I can slip the shoes on while you buy the important stuff and wander around--make them try to figure out what you like so much about dress shops and elven mead--then meet up with you again after. He smiles, Maybe I can implicate some of the merchants as being with the Guild by spending some time talking to them.
"I think that is a great idea. I am not sure what they see when they scry on me. And they likely would have no reason to believe that we have done a bait and switch, unless they are able to physically see us with their magic."
Driving chuckles at Vaek's comment. I was sent to keep you guys from getting your asses kicked again.
He follows Sic out the back.
Wakasashi's not being a common weapon the weapon smith doesn't have one on hand. "Ay' can make ye' one in 'bout a week o' time. If ye likes" says the dwarven smith.
"What do you want me to tell the guards if they come poking about Sic? Admit I've seen Vaek but he continued on his way?"
"I will be back in a week, and make it master work."
Vaek then heads towards the Poison shop.
Vaek then heads towards the Poison shop.
A suitable location within the slums is found where three narrow streets meet , only wide enough for a single wagon, branching off heading north, east, and southwest. Small homes are packed next to one another, most touching, a few with narrow openings between them that a slim person might squeeze between.
Four young children play in the street near the intersection, but quickly move over to the door of one of the homes as the first members of the team approach. They watch with curious eyes.
A couple of the homes flicker with firelight from inside.
There is still plenty of daylight hours left, and a casual glance through windows of many of the homes tells that most folk from this area are still at their places of work in whatever miserable existences their poor conditions might grant them.
In his guise as a burly sell sword, Anthony looked around with an appraising eye. "I think this will do." Looking to the others he gestured at the houses. "Lets make the rounds and get this place cleared out. Give them a decent bribe, we dont want to anger anyone if we can. Never know what stupid ideas someone might get then."
Moving to the children, he knelt down 20 feet from then and waved them over. "oi lads, com'ere a moment." He put on a mischievous kind smile.
"Ok, listen 'ere lads. Me an' ma associates 'ere, we is fixin' ta set a trap for some scum wot got a bounty on 'is 'ead. We be thinkin' 'e be comin' thru 'ere soon. Ya wanna 'elp a bounty 'unter out an' tell me which 'ouses got people 'ome so we can make the rounds and get this place cleared out? Dont want no bystanders gettin' 'urt, savvy?"
As he spoke he fished a set of gold coins out and held them up between the boy as he finished, looking around at them expectantly.
Pairing the children off with his team, he set to work making the rounds, bribing people to leave, stay at an inn for the night or have a night on the town.
"An' if ya got any family wot aint 'ome, be sure ya go and get em. This wont mean anythin' if one of them goes an' wanders in at the wrong time." He said to the last resident as he pressed the coins into his hand, just as he had done with the preceding houses.
Just make sure they leave the opposite way our boy is coming bub.
Sic hailed Tony as the two half orcs entered the alley ways.
Hey now Drovic, we can act the part these here home owners once Tony runs them out.
The half orc tucks his sword into his haversack and dons some tear away clothing to cover his armor. He'd cast a spell to further his disguise as soon as the civilians were clear.
The oldest of the children comes forward cautiously toward Anthony to listen to what he has to say, but then takes the coin and runs into the home behind him where he can be heard conversing briefly with a woman inside.
In a moment an elderly woman comes outside and squints at Anthony, a wooden spoon with sauce from a stew dripping from it. She squints at Anthony in the bright sunlight then gathers up the children. "Let's go for a walk children." her voice cracks a bit with age.
The other homes get a similar response from homely women and a drunken man. Other than a passerby walking down the street every few minutes the streets are quiet.
Vaek positions himself near where the alley T's off.
Leaning against the wall as if impatiently waiting for someone. Occasionally pacing near his location. While being leery of any passer by that isn't apart of the crew.
Whispering with the message spell "Once we have gotten someones attention, I will pretend to flee turning north on the T. And if there are more then 2 of them, may not be worth it to strike. "
Several minutes after getting the area cleared a plain looking human male approaches from the east. His clothes are ragged and moi weapons are visible.
Whispering through their Message spell, Anthony asked everyone to hold "When he passes me I will learn if he possesses any magical auras. A person like that would only do so if he was in disguise. If he does, let us allow him to pass me, see if any more follow. But once he is between us, strike."
Drovic agrees with Sic. Will do.
The half orc gave a moments regard to the ragged man at first thought he at least looked like he belonged in the area but the brute's typical paranoia had him take precautions. As soon as the man passed Sic whispered a spell and disappeared from sight.
Before the figure can get to close to hear him Anthony puts up his magically aided senses and waits for the man to pass while crouched between two buildings behind a small pile of refuse.
No magical auras show up on the man as he comes in range of the spell.
"Hold steady." Anthony whispered. "No auras, looks to be what he looks like, a commoner." He continued to follow the man with his eyes for a bit, then added. "Keep an eye on him though, just in case."
He then took his eyes off him, looking for any new approaches.
Vaek notices the mystery man slowly approaching. He looks at the nearby surroundings to see if he is truly alone. .
With a hushed yell in the direction of the person. "Mr. di Alkanov is that you? Where are the other merchants?".
"Look alive guys, check your blind spots in the event they have anticipated our trap., Vaek whispers with the magic enabled message spell.