His hand extends still holding the 6 gold, "I'm feeling the need to stuff a pipe."
Always time fer a smoke. Good day te ye.
Duncan moves off to the side of the gate to allow the guard to make his turn. Once the man is appropriately looking in the other direction he ducks through the gate and cuts away left, out of sight. He waits but a moment for Shinon and Andrea and stomps off along the wall.
Andrea darts in with Duncan and along the wall. Shall we wear our masks for this fight? Andrea has made sure to keep her mask in her 'battle bag' that contains the healing potions.
Shinon steps through the gate and removes a mask from his pack. "Whether you guys wear one of these or not, I'm putting it on. Being a mercenary in this area is bad enough, but being a successful one is worse, and I'd rather not chance that my fame is well known here. If ever I was to find someone I made an enemy of, it would be in this part of the city."
Shinon places the mask over his face, along with adding a top hat with a feather.
(Does Shinon notice anything out of the ordinary?)
Andrea will put her mask on when they closer to the area that the Bastards lair at. Let us hope that the others are not hung up by that guard.
Duncan trots along but allows Shinon to take the lead. The elf was a fine sneak despite lacking durability. He already had his helm (with Ragathiel likeness face plate) on.
Lead on Trigger, let's try to not start the party without everyone else though.
Shinon there is nothing out of the ordinary. You get the usual eyes ofr the street kids, and few groups hanging out together. There are several merchants and smiths open for business, their shops are tattered.
Perhaps Duncan can disguise himself and wait for the others, giving them a wave when they come up the street.
Shinon will approach the church, doing his best to remain unseen by hiding in the alleys and will give it a thorough examination from his hiding spot.
Here is a general map of the city of Westcrown. You can see Vizio's Tavern, where you first met Janiven, the safe house, the stables and lastly where the temple of Erastil is located. Not much detail in the map but it provides points of references.
As you approach the old Temple of Erastil you can see a few old abandonaed and boarded up two-story buildings nearby. The faded signs reveal a chair-carpentar, shoemaker, tailor, and wood carver. There are several ruined building in addition. Roughly 50 feet from the temple is the old hitching post with a roof over it, there are rocks and rubble under the roof which can serve as location to hide.
The temple itself is 45 feet long and 25 feet wide, you can see only one door. There is, also, a 10 by 10 foot bell tower attached to the bottom sturcture and it rises three stories into the air.
Shinon's scouting the area confirms there is only one door.
Shinon nods. "Alright then. Andrea, make me disappear."
As Shinon creeps around the temple to get a closer look he can spy a bow and arrow slit in the bell tower, a symbol of Erastil. There a a few windows roughly 4 feet off the ground but they are grimy and caked with dirt. The bottom 3 feet of the structure is old mortar stone, the remaining structure is weathered wood and clay.
When Shinon is ready, Andrea wiggles her fingers and breathes a prayer.You will have three minutues. Shinon's form goes transparant and then vanishes completley.
Don't dally.
Andrea will be near Shinon, close enought o cast the spell but out of sight.
Shinon grins as he spots the symbol. "Now there's a god who knows how to have a good time," he whispers to himself. After Andrea casts her spell, Shinon creeps slowly up to the front of the temple.
Once Shinon is at the front, he will listen closely to the door, attempting to hear anyone behind it.
If Shinon can hear anyone, he will take a step back and try to open one of the windows and climb through. If Shinon does not hear anyone, he boldly attempts to open the door.
John rejoins Orsin, Janiven, Fiosa, and Larko near the norhtern gate. Their they see 4 guards looking bored manning the gate, there is dual guard house rises up 30 feet into the air. There is bulky Sergeant standing in the right doorway fiddling with the edge of his greataxe.
"Halt, state your business!" One of the guards bellows out as the group approaches.
Shinon the door is a thick weathered oaken door that has carvings of elk, huntsman and farmers. The door looks like it has endured the nature, and the fall of the northern districk relatively well, except for one chuck missing near the upper left side with looks like it had taken an axe chop to it. There is brass plated key hold and handle.
Shinon frowns as he hears something from inside growl at him. "What in the...ah!"
Shinon steps back as he feels a blast of heat coat his entire body. "Why you..." Shinon raises one foot and slams it against the door.
Shinon roll a dex check to see if you stay on your feet or end up on your arse.
Duncan and Andrea can make a perception check sound, for a loud thump coming from the front of the building.
, the temple bell begins to get rung loudly.
Shinon sighs and quickly moves to the other side of the building, standing stock still and waiting for the guard to leave.
Duncan, That was Shinon wasn't it? He did it again didn't he? Let us leave, if he wants keep doing this I will not aid him.
Y'mean ye honestly thought he WOULDN'T start somethin'. I don't call him Triggercause he's a good shot lass. I came specifically cause I knew this would happen. The lad has time. Hopefully he's smart enough to get out. If not....that's why ye got ME.
"Intruders....Intruders...the bell continues to ring.
Well..Andrea will be with Duncan. Near the wood carver? Or Shinon did say he was on a building adjacent to a building adjacent to the temple.
SO most likely there.
Girl we need t'get downstairs now. Cast disguise self on ye, t'look like a Hellknight in armor.
If we need t'run, hopefully they won't chase to hell knights running fer reinforcements, aye?
Duncan completes his spell and suddenly he appears as a 5'8 hellknight in plate. Short for a human, but tall enough to appearhuman at least. His bastard sword looks like a hellish themed Greatsword. His helm, however is unchanged.
Leave something Trigger will recognize out of the illusion.
I didn't memorize a disguise spell because I had a charm spell for the prisoner. Andrea gritted her teeth. If Shionon hadn't of screwed up I wouldn't have needed one anyway. Andrea gets off the roof with Duncan and removes her mask if need be. If we walk together then we can still make it, you are escorting a prisoner or I am your healer.
The tiefling in the bell tower is looking through the arrow slits at the various buildings.
He stopped ringing the bell and yells out.
Andrea swears Shinon, you utter moron. Time to run Duncan.
Shinon will also make a dash for the gate. Hopefully he should be able to get there in 9 rounds.
As soon as they hit the ground, Duncan smacks Andrea on the rump and says, Go Lass, run from cover to cover so they can't shoot ye in the back.
He pumps his Dwarven legs as fast as they will carry him,
He powers along, Ignoring the weight of his armor. Should they make it to near the gate, he pulls off to the side, out of the gate's line of sight.
Wasp, with me. Hopefully they be battening down the hatches, should be safe.
Andrea picks up her hem and runs into cover so she won't get an arrow in the back. As they near the gate, Andrea pulls aside with Duncan. Theya re probably running out the back door after setting a fire. I really doubt the Bastards would fight Hellknights.
Duncan laughs, Let's hope they leave their valuables then.
"Two are runing like scared pigs."
As Orsin and the others approach the gate, he swears that he heard some strange commotion from far on the other side. His well-trained ears pick apart the distracting noises and zero in on the source of the ruckus.
Orsin you har a chruch bell ringing. There is not rhythm to it, it seems a bit frantic and certainly not on the the hour or half hour chime.
Andrea and Duncan make a perception check please.
Orsin exchanges a worried glance with the others and approaches the guards.
"Pardon us, but we need to get by!"
Janiven tugs Orsin's kerchief down as you approach. Don't look suspicious.
The first guard responds.
There are a few snickers, then another person responds,
A third member joins in the fun,
A fourth interrupts, The whole squad is laughing at your expense.
"Step aside dandy and move along back to the safe opera district."
Duncan, when and if Shinon rejoins us, hold him down. I am going to box his ears.
Andrea looks very disgusted. They are going to either be gone or fortified for who knows how long.
Andrea points the droplets out to Duncan. Is that blood trail moving? It is headed towards the gate. That might be Shinon. If Duncan wants to follow, so will Andra.
Shinon will reappear a few rounds later next to the gate, glancing around for any signs of his allies. "Well...that could have gone better," he mutters, taking his hat off and slipping his mask from his face.
Andrea will start following the blood trail with the determination that would make a bloodhound woof in approval. When she sees Shinon, she has a very unpleasant look on her face and starts chasing after him. Shinonnnnnnnnn!
Shinon grimaces in anticipation. "Oh crap! Um, hiii Andrea! Fancy meeting you here!" He quickly ducks behind a pillar.
A few seconds later, a young humanoid with a slender build wearing slightly singed studded leather armor and a rather familiar-looking cloak steps from out of the shadows. Who it is, no one can be sure, for the person's face is hidden by a strange mask.
"Why hello, young acolyte of faith," the being says, its voice betraying its gender as male, which Andrea could not have known otherwise due to the power of his mask. "Seek you the half-elf who was just here? I fear he has made haste towards the Market District. That way," He raises one cloaked wrist, his fingers emerging to point in a direction beyond the gate.
Andrea thuds into you, her hands boxing your pointy ears and making your head ring.
What was that all about? We were just going to have a look and then geteveryonenotalerteveryBatards inthere.! Whack thud smack. You promised you wouldn't do anythinglikelast time this is the %#&@%@ third time!
*biff*
*pow*
*uppercut*
Thirdtime THIRD time! Back at thetavern where you got an axe in your head and in the sewer where you took off with the bandit and LET THE RATS STRIP THE FLESH OFF MY LEGS!
Andrea leaves the beaten ranger in the dirt and stomps back tot he gate.
"Look, we haven't much time, so I take it there's a...toll that must be paid for us to get through?"
Duncan sees the blood once it is pointed out to him and drops the illusion. He follows and seeing Shinon's attempt to deflect Andrea's anger barrels in and stands VERY close.
Ye are REAL quiet when ye wish ta be lad. But ye keep making stupid choices that put us at risk as well an I swear I'll make ye a foot shorter so's then ye'll know how te keep ye head down. Scoutin means watching and listening and learning due foe's routine and weakness. It does not mean try and break in on ye own an leave yer backup outside where they can't help ye. Next time you feel like doin that go by yeself and save me walking along.
The guard stammers a bit.
Then a Sergeant steps out and intercedes in the matter, I see six well armed mercenaries needing access through this gate, perhaps you are following a dwarf, a half-elf and a woman?" He shrugs. "Don't know what your purpose is ...perhaps, you are chasing a bounty, perhaps a fugitive but YES it has a mild toll to get through the gate." He is puffing on a cigar, "Seems you are in a hurry and the long way around the outside of the wall would only cause delay and possible escape of your querry...I'm happy to open the gate for a modest $25 gold per head." His brown smile is crooked.