"I suppose it's up to the group to decide if Fiosa comes or not. But what about Janiven? She can hold her own in battle and we could use all the help that we can get. If the squad idea is out, let's at least bring more than six blades with us. Duncan, do you think Ermolos would come if we asked him to?"
Shinon stops for a moment. "Extra blades, huh?" He hangs his head as he hears an energetic female laugh booming in his mind. "Can't believe I'd even consider inviting her...nah. That's crazy. She's way too reckless for an infiltration and assassination."
Scratching his head, Shinon tries to work out the numbers. "Well, if we have Janiven with us, then obviously Arael would stay behind. So that's me, Janiven, Maurice, Ermolos, Andrea, Duncan, Orsino, and John. Eight soldiers. Eight soldiers and a medic, if Fiosa joins us. Those odds definitely sound better than six."
Andrea looks a little dissapointed in Areal's suggestion that Fiosa say out of combat. Yes you are correct. Fiosa should stay with you and Janiven to keep watch.
I agree with Areal, Janiven has seen where the Bastards stay but not us. Some hidden scouting will be very helpful in seeing where we can strike. My invisibility spell can be useful for say Duncan or Shinon to examine the grounds. Plus we can do a little shopping for the items to capture any Bastards.
Andrea accepts the potions. You are very generous, I must say that I have plenty of the potions you gave me yesterday. A good sign that we didn't need all of them. Andrea smiles lightly and pats her bugling satchel of potions. Thank you for the restoration potions to help cure my sickness. Andrea offers anyone extra potions from her satchel.
As for magic, If we wish to capture I can pray for a spell called 'Hold Person' that can briefly paralyze, or as Duncan has seen, a blast of sound can send them reeling.
Andrea replies to Shinon. If we have such a large group, we might want to be in two squads. of course there is the danger of splitting our forces. As for Maurice, I don't know if he would be available for direct combat, having him stand by with some dottari might be better.
From what I read about that devil our captive talked about, we have a very serious poroblem if he is unable or unwilling to call it off. Remember, he said his family would be the summoners so disposing of him would only make it a certainy of their wrath. I reccomend that we don't seperate ourselves for the forseeable future, Shinon especially since you were so rough with him. I can prepare spells that can bless our weapons but we will have no idea where or when the devil will strike if it is called.
Janiven responds to Shinon's suggestion that she enter the church, "I'm best used with my bow at a distance, that church is not that big. It is going to get mighty cramped inside. I can direct a few of the Brotherhood from a distance to make sure we box them in, no escaping." She looks around.
"I would be surprised if any dottari can actually come with us. Wasn't Maurice off yesterday, so he had time. Duncan or John can ask though at least get us through the North gate without being stopped and questioned, remember there are some less honorable that serve in the dottari"
"Arael can stay back with the other Brotherhood members, no need to put everyone in harms way."
"Wild horses won't keep me out of the fight."
Shinon nods. "Okay, so Janiven and I will stay outside and provide ranged support while Ermolos, Duncan and John can rush inside and beat the tar out of them. Andrea can paralyze people with the will of a god (Glad she's on our side, by the way), and Orsino, you can...er...sing!"
"As for the scouting mission, leave that to me. I promise, I won't do anything stupid this time," he adds quickly, smiling at Andrea. "Andrea and one other person, come with me. When we get near the church, Andrea can cast her spell, and I'll search the grounds. Meanwhile, Andrea and the other person can watch each other's backs and if I need help, they can run in and help me retreat. We will not engage the enemy unless we are literally backed into a corner. Sound good?"
Andrea nods. That sounds agreeable.
"You know I can do a lot more than just 'sing', Shinon. A handful of bisected goblins and a goblin king with a fatally ruptured ear canal are proof of that. Otherwise, yes, sounds good."
Aye, the boy'll come. He can fill any holes wit his Great axe. Speaking o holes. Some talkin tactics might be in order. Nothin more orderly than a dwarven army an I been part o one or two. I'll keep it simple.
Duncan begins to draw on the wall with some chalk.
Outside and outnumbered: Form a box with me and Duncan on the side o enemy advance.
Or if we got walls at our sides or backs, line abreast with Shinon and Andrea at the back.
The idea is protect the casters and archers and.NOT get flanked.
Outside and numbers in our favor: We Surround and Pound.
Inside is our best bet. Especially for this job. Me an John can fill a 10ft corrider pretty well with our Swords and Shields. The rest o ye can work it out but keep at least 1 sword at the back.
Corridors are best for indoors. Enemies can't get t'our casters and Shinon is pretty good at shooting into melee. Keep me an John on our feet and enemy numbers matter a lot less. The weakness is area spells our casters take em out first. Shinon..Readying a bow shot to hit a man as he casts can put him off so he loses the spell.
He wipes his drawings off the wall.
That's enough fer today. We should get ourselves ready. John, ye mind letting Maurice know what'shappening? Me an Shinon can scout the place.a bit today if ye want. I got a spell or two can make me look like a Derugar or another dwarf. Shinon is getting to be a good sneak when he stops threatenin everyone, so we might be best to look about. Or y'know, we canjust assault blind. Wouldn't be the first time. Gotta get me some o them sneaky elf boots or quiet me armor somehow
Andrea listens and is impressed with Duncan's grasp of tactics. I agree scouting is good. I can make myself look like someone completly different with magic similar to what Duncan uses so our identities will be unknown. Once we get closer, I will conceal Shinon for his scouting.
Andrea is ready to go for scouting at least today.
Shinon stares at Orsino in surprise. "Wh- that was ? You're the one who killed the goblin king?! You kill-stealing jackass!" He groans and slams his fist into a wall. "Man, and I totally had that guy too...ah well. Fine, I didn't mean to offend you or anything."
Shinon nods to Andrea. "Alright then. Let's get going before it gets too dark. I can't exactly scout the place out if I can't see and am also being mauled by shadow beasts."
Andrea will head out with Duncan and Shinon. Just tell me when you want to scout, you will have three minutes to looka round.
The three of you get to the northern gate and dottari guard there stop you. A four young guards stop forth with a scrowl on their faces, "Halt! State your business."
This is not the same group that knew Maurice.
John when you arrive at the dottari headquaters you learn that Maurice and his squad are out on assignment.
Orsin, Ermolos, Fiosa, Janiven and Larko leave the safehouse about two hours after the the first group leaves. Providing some time for the others to get to northern gate and scout out a bit.
Lastly, they are masters at stealth.
Shinon frowns and steps forward. "Good afternoon, gentlemen! Is there a problem? We are simply walking through the city. Is the gate closed for some reason?"
The gaurd looks at you and replies, "No access beyond this point by order of the Mayor. Now, beat it."
Shinon frowns. "I can understand why you'd lock the gate to keep those on the other side out, but why won't you let us in? Protecting the safety, prosperity and...cleanliness...of our city is all well and good, but should it really come at the expense of our freedom? Please, sir. My parents are living in the Dhaefelen Marches and this is the quickest way to get there, especially since that commotion at the east gate."
Andrea nods. Indeed sirs, we don't want to cause any worries and are fully aware of any difficulties there might be. Openign the way for just a few momments surely won't cause trouble for you and the city, correct?
"You don't look like the Mayor and certianly don't dress like the Mayor." The others laugh.
"There have been recent disturbances in the northern district, for the safety of everyone including those who are only passing through on the shortest route, the gate remains locked. The punishment if I break my command is harsh." This surly man looks at you, "Besides what's in it for me?"
Shinon frowns. "Oh, I didn't know that there was a real threat up there. Thank you very much for your concern about our safety, guardsman. We're lucky you were posted here. Well then, we'll just find a safer route. Have a nice day!"
Shinon leads the other two into an alley a few blocks away. "Even if we could bribe them to open the gate for us now, there's no guarantee they'd open it when we came back, and there's definitely no guarantee that the guard on shift tomorrow will accept the same bribe, so it's not exactly useful to us to scout this out if we find a conditional method through the gate. The first step of our scouting mission is to find a reliable way through. Did you guys see anything?"
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Just in case
Alright then.
Shinon frowns, trying to make sense of what he just saw. "Well, it doesn't matter. Okay then. Duncan, Andrea, do either of you have any suggestions? This wall is what's keeping us from our raid."
After the move to soemwhere else. It looks like we will need to find a different way in. I believe Maurice did talk about how we could travel through a more round about route when we fought the goblins but it would take longer. Perhaps we should try that way?
Plus we are being watched by a man in a window who is perhaps signaling someone else. Andrea whiseprs. So We should try another route or come back when the gaurd that are friendly to Maurice are here so we can pass through. Our scouting mission is comprimised most likely and I wouldn't be surprised if The Bastards have an accomplise here.
Shinon frowns. "Well, we're already here. Let's go ahead and try this other route. Hmmm...now then, I bet if we could find a map of the city we could plan our way around it."
(Is there anywhere around here that sells maps of Westcrown?)
Ye dolts! He said what's in it fer me? And the e looked to the boss fer a price. I bet ye if we make Iman offer he'll let us through.
Shinon you recall seeing a cartographer's shop "Longgy's and Latty's" about a half mile south of the gatehouse.
Ye dolts! He said what's in it fer me? And the e looked to the boss fer a price. I bet ye if we make Iman offer he'll let us through.
Shinon narrowed his eyes. "As I said, Duncan, we could bribe him, but that won't help us get past the gate tomorrow. It could be a different guardsman, someone who won't take the bribe. We can't take that chance. The entire point of the scouting mission is so there are no surprises and the real mission goes smoothly. We've run into this problem, now we have to solve it. And we can't solve it by bribing the guard."
I have 15 gold that we can use to get in. I don't know if it will be enought ot get out.
"Very well, Could you leave them a message that John wants to talk to them."
Shinon narrowed his eyes. "As I said, Duncan, we could bribe him, but that won't help us get past the gate tomorrow. It could be a different guardsman, someone who won't take the bribe. We can't take that chance. The entire point of the scouting mission is so there are no surprises and the real mission goes smoothly. We've run into this problem, now we have to solve it. And we can't solve it by bribing the guard."
Ye kiddin' right? Kid this place has LAWS that govern bribes. Actual written laws. He can take one if the crime is small and gives is boss a cut.
We can look around if ye want, but a bribe is as likely to work tomorrow as now.
Shinon nods. "Alright. Duncan, you're the only one of us who has a steady job with an employer that you don't owe some five thousand gold to. Care to make this gentleman an offer?"
Orsin grabs a red kerchief from the safehouse to wrap around the lower half of his face for when the mission begins. Turning down the renewal of his contract in Egorian for a life of freelancing in Westcrown has made his popularity in the opera circuit unsteady. Orsin doesn't need to add scandal to his growing list of problems.
He waits patiently with the others. Turning to Janiven he asks, "So...your friend Amaya...is she part of....all this?"
Shinon nods. "Alright. Duncan, you're the only one of us who has a steady job with an employer that you don't owe some five thousand gold to. Care to make this gentleman an offer?"
Andrea hands over a pouch with 15 GP and 12 PP to Shinon/Duncan. This is all I have left besides copper. The rest was spent on the loan, tithe to Areal and supplies for scrollcrafting.
Keep yer gold lass.Duncan grabs some coin from his pocket.
Duncan walks up to the guard, Shinon and Andrea in tow.
Sorry bout the pretty time wasting words, soldier. We be chasing a bounty behind that gate.
How's about 2 gold per head fer letting us through? If we have luck in there, more than happy t'pay fer coming back later. If we don't have luck, well then ye made 6 gold and we ain't
troubling ye again. Fair enough?
Duncan holds out a hand as though to shake it, palming the gold.
Janiven smiles, "Why yes, Amaya the glass blower, is part of this small but righteous group." Amaya seems to have struck a chord with this young man.
He stares at you and cooly replies, "Bribing a guard is crime but worse than that is insulting a guard with such a nominal amount. Now, I can turn my back on an open gate for say 15 GP per head." His charcoal eyes not blinking.
"Very well, Could you leave them a message that John wants to talk to them."
The duty guard takes down the message and slips it in a box with squad number printed on it, presumably it is their message box.
Andrea bumps Duncan and puts 5 PP into his hand wether or not he wants it.
Course, I wouldn't want to insult a guard o the most lawful city in the inner sea. 5platinum fer ye to go have a smoke fer a moment and remove the slight.
He holds out his hand again.