"Interesting. That our assailant psychoported could explain your missing stonemasons. That they are all stonemasons tells me that likely their captors need them to build something. Something large."
Kiana looks thoughtful. "Perhaps a deal can be worked out then, a few days on their roof, watching their building, in exchange for using it."
Tawk shakes himself free of whatever assailed him.
"Gaaah. Sorry. Let us hope this day improves. At least for me..."
Pierce listens to the conversation when all he really wants to do is check the underground passage beneath the building that he and his friends nearly burned down. He remains silent waiting for the guards to move along before offering anything further.
Kiana makes a face. "I've been underground for weeks, unless you think you'll need a flying archer under the ground, I will remain here and get to work on the maps we need for the mapmaker. I will see if the stonemasons will allow me to perch on their roof for the next few days."
Tawk lifts his mask, and rubs his youthful face, almost completely at odds to his ornate and baroque armor and mask.
"Hmm. Well, at least make sure someone, at least one, stays with you while you finish your scrivening. I'm up for subterranea."
"I'm quite worried about running into even more trouble, Kiana. We were unable to even stop one man; I fear what's below. I can understand if you still feel the need to stretch your wings, though. What were you able to do as far as the maps go?"
"I can stay with Kiana if needed," says Atsu. Then he squints. "Though I can't fly. I can climb a bit. So maybe I can get on the roof."
Kiana looks at Viktor. "As I said earlier, I was able to negotiate with the map maker an exchange, new and accurate maps of some of the places I've been, in exchange for the maps we want. Otherwise, it will be several hundred gold pieces. If you don't want to wait, I'll need gold, as I do not have that much on me. If you can wait, it will take me three days to make the maps for the exchange." She glances at Atsu, then shrugs. "There was an assassin who tried to kill the map seller, we dealt with the situation. The map seller is well disposed toward us at the moment for saving his life. I think it worthwhile to uphold the bargain, he could be a good source of information later if we need information in the future."
"Three days eh Kiana? I think we can afford to wait and honor the deal you made. This place is dangerous, more dangerous than I thought it would be.
As much as you are right Viktor, I hate to leave that tunnel underground alone. I would bet that these kidnapped stonemasons are being forced to build it to smuggle these drugs to Sharn and all of Breland from there.
Let us rest and find lodgings, perhaps if we put our heads together we can find some way to enter these tunnels and disrupt these operations and maybe save a few local lives in the process".
"I agree, waiting is no issue. I certainly don't have the gold to dictate otherwise. I can stay here as well."
Shatter would spend nights patrolling the building where Kiana is working. During the daytime, he would have been plying his trade as a tattooist, sightseeing, or perusing the markets for items or reagents of interest.
8 a.m. would be about the time in the morning that Shatter finishes his last patrol and decides to stroll into the city, as the city's activity should be spinning up.
Kiana would have been up at dawn (probably 6ish), done a 5 mile flight to warm up her body, then done training kata's and target practice for 30 minutes before buying some breakfast. Once done eating, she'd begin working on her maps, so she's probably sitting on the roof drawing.
Tawk will be near either Pierce (1-3) or Shatter (4-6), nominally shadowing them to see if they are indeed the warforged he is interested in finding.
"Hey Shatter, mind if I accompany you? I have an avid interest in ink and skinscribing..."
"Certainly, accompany me if you wish."
Shatter moves inside the door and attempts to observe the approach of the creature through a window or slot or leaves the door open a crack to view the approach.
Kiana squints a bit, and sighs. "It would appear the town is under attack by a giant bee. I don't do bees. Do arrows work on bees? Would an illusion of a giant flower attract it? Or perhaps one of a giant fly swatter send it buzzing away?" She gathers up her bow and arrows, looking rather annoyed.
When the bees arrive, he gives a heavy sigh. "This town's got some problems," he says.
Kiana takes to the air, her wings beating strongly. She maneuvers up and back, so that the bee will have to fly over Atsu to attack her, giving him a good belly shot at the thing. Then she flurries arrows.
Tawk gapes at the oncoming creatures, thankful that his mask hides his opened mouth. He recovers masterfully. He pulls his head back in the doorway.
"Bugs. Why does it have to be bugs?"
Like a good merc, Tawk is spurred into action by the approach of enemies - he quickly shakes his heavy flail and his whole form judders and shimmers as he is filled with fearsome power. Now enriched, he casts a spell to stymie his group's foes...
Swift Action: Initiate inimica - Stricken.
Standard Action: Cast bane.
Knowledge Nature
Knowledge Nature
"That bee is acting unnaturally!" Pierce shouts.
Initiative
Pierce will also step into the building, "Let's get underground! Fighting these creatures is foolish, it is their controllers we need be concerned with!"
"Hum.. Atsu, how much do you weigh, including equipment?" Kiana asks as she draws her bow and fires at the Bee again. She attempts to make sure any misses will land outside the city, or baring that, where there are no people.
"Heavier than I thought, but not too heavy. Don't wiggle, I suspect we'll need to go assist the others as soon as the bee is dead, I hear angry buzzing in another direction. I would be willing to bet it is them, likely being mauled." She blinks. "Can metal men be mauled? I guess it would be smashed or broken instead?"
"Ah, what the hell..." he mutters, then, flail raised high and swinging he yells madly and rushes the burrowing insect...
Full Round Action: Charge burrowing bug.
[+3 BAB, +1 enchantment, +1 Str, +2 charge] [-2 to bug's AC due to stricken]
[+1 Str, +1 enchantment]
Kiana drops down a foot or two and grabs Atsu by the back of his breastplate, and then her wings pound hard and the duo take to the air after the bee.
"Hold on, we'll make sure it's leaving the city."