Staring at the moonlight Cyrene was startled by the message projected to her. Whoever the person was they thought so clearly it was like someone screaming - right in her ears.
Now thoroughly alerted she gently reaches out to shake the still figure next to her. Once Agrimmar stirs she points towards the camp fire, where the guards were now being entertained by a young bard. Putting a finger to her lips she concentrates and begins to weave her will into the young mans words, lulling the guards and hopefully, making them sleepy.
Keve's jaw drops as the elf performs. He begins feeling compelled to drink, himself. "It seems work has caused me to miss some spectacular performances. We might just pull this off." He nudges Kurt as he whispers.
Seeing their attention is elsewhere, Keve prompts Kurt and begins moving closer to the slaves with a wide arc as to stay in the darkness. Waiting for the guards' heads to fall before moving to their targets, they both kneel at the edge of the light.
Keve tosses a small pebble at Cyrene followed by a faint wave to get her attention. If you can here this curious elf girl, we are about to attempt a breakout. You and your companion will come with me, but I don't have room to stash everyone else. If you could inconspicuously alert them to the plan and have them prepared to scatter it would help immensely. Make sure they're extremely quiet and understand they must get as far away from the city as possible. They will only get a few hours head start.
Kurt is likewise impressed by the bard's performance. At Keve's insistence Kurt slides towards the slaves and the hopefully soon to be snoozing guards.
Sticking to the shadowshe keeps a keen lookout for any hidden guards.
I sure hope these guards have some keys
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Whew! I'm a bit worn-out from work tonight. Mind if I take a seat for a minute?" Without waiting for a response, the drowsy bard plopped down on the ground.
Having people directly thoughts at her blindly was starting to get confusing. How can you have a conversation where one person is shouting and doesn't know if you heard them? None-the-less Cyrene manages to absorb the basics of the plan and passes on a mental whisper down the line.
Freedom comes, be ready to run when you are freed.
After being shaken awake, Agrimar sees the elf beside him gesture towards the fire, where a young man was telling a story to the guards. Suddenly, he heard a voice in his head and almost jumped.
It was strange, but Agrimar shook the last remnants of sleep from his head and readied himself for whatever was coming.
The guards don't have any keys on them. Just as Kurt is about to quit looking, he hears soft footsteps approaching. A young, elven woman comes out of the shadows. Her pale skin and red hair catch the firelight as she approaches your group. She takes a pair of keys out from within her plain traveling robes. "You'll need these," she says as she tosses them to the tiefling.
Keve is weary of the woman but knows there is no time to question her. He directs Kurt to begin releasing the elf, then her human friend. As they are released Keve hands them both a cloak and mask identical to the sets worn by the others. "Put these on and begin helping the others. Make sure they know not to make a sound and to make their way to the woods. Then you follow me."
Once they are getting ready to leave Keve turns to the red headed elf, "I don't know who you are, but thank you. There's no time to talk here so please follow us."
"Kurt could you grab Jasper there, seems this was all a bit much for him." He says with a slight smile believing they have just accomplished their goal.
Keve puts out the fire so there is as little light as possible on the now empty slave area. Then leads the way toward the shop.
Searching the guards in vain, Kurt is about to try hewing the chains with his sword when a strange woman tosses him the keys.
"Um... thanks" the normally well, if soft, spoken Kurt manages to stammer upon catching the keys.
Putting confusion aside in sake of expediency he swiftly moves to the leg chain, trying the keys.
When finished, he unshackles the elf and human that caused this stir. Once finished he unshackles the next closest slave and hands them the keys.
"Swiftly," he whispers to the newly freed slave, "you have a shot at freedom. How you use it is up to you. Unlock those who wish freedom and flee. Alas, we cannot do more for you than give you this chance."
Turning to the strange elf and human, in a lower voice the remaining slaves cannot hear. "You two can come with his, but we must move quickly."
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"Kurt could you grab Jasper there, seems this was all a bit much for him."
Kurt nods,"Aye, I'll grab our sleeping beauty here."
Working quickly to flee, Kurt hefts the drowsy bard and flees the scene of the crime.
Jasper laughed tiredly as Kurt went to support him. "Eh, you can at least buy me a drink before going for a squeeze!" He rubbed the sleep from his eyes to little avail before the psychic dropped her focus.
"I'd rather not," the woman says. "But don't worry. We'll see each other again soon." She walks away again, back in the direction of the tavern.
With no time to argue Keve continues to lead the group back to the shop. Opening the door and leading them to the basement where he lights a single lantern. With faces barely visible, he begins with introductions. "I'm Keve, this is Kurt, and the one you made loopy is Jasper. We don't want anything. You don't owe us anything other than to never speak of this again. What are your names?" He studies the human and devotes the majority of his focus on the elf. "What are you?"
Kurt follows the group while supporting Jasper until he can get get his feet under him.
Upon reaching the shop he settles against a wall, simply nodding when he was introduced. Never one for many words he was content to allow his more vociferous companions do the talking.
The big question will be: now what? I had already been thinking I needed to make a change from the stable. This is certainly more interesting. I guess I will have to see where this goes for now.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Still a bit startled at the woman's sleep magic, Jasper being the well-mannered person he was (when he felt like it) made sure to not let Keve's faux-pas pass. "Let's not be rude, Keve!" Jasper shook his head. "He means to say your ancestry seems rather unique. Would you care to tell us more?"
"I'm an elf." comes the reply in all of their minds, "but I'm not from here. My home is far away and home to many strange things. I was sent here by my people - we have been cursed by a plague and I'm seeking the cure. Or at least I was before the slavers took me."
She lapses into introspection for a moment before looking up again. "Thank you all for your aid - we would never have escaped without you."
"I'm Agrimar." He was still sore from the bare, rocky ground where they had been forced to sleep for the past days. He barely knew these people, but they at least seemed to be trustworthy.
"You two will be staying in the basement for a few days until the slavers move on. We will need to work on some disguises if you ever plan on going into the city. There's a good chance someone will recognize you. What do you know of the red head?" He begins pulling out a few spare bedrolls and making them a place to sleep. He goes upstairs for a few minutes before returning with leftover food from earlier in the day. "It isn't much but it's all I have tonight. You'll get a proper meal in the morning. I'll be staying upstairs tonight. I can't have you two running off in the middle of the night with all my work. I'm sorry I still don't know either of you."
"So what's your story Agrimar?" He turns to the human, wondering if it was a good idea to bring him along as well.
"After my father was killed in a mudslide, I wandered through the wilderness for years. I got on a boat across the sea, but after a few days I was attacked in my sleep by those slavers. Ever since, I have been their captive. Thank you, for freeing us."
"I don't understand how they can blatantly kidnap people and not get caught. I've always had a disdain for slavers, but now hearing how regular their practices are it turned into hatred. If you wish, I will help you and Cyrene get revenge. Not today, not tomorrow, but one day after we are prepared." As they are all talking Keve walks upstairs every few minutes, peeking out if a window looking for any commotion or signs the escape had been discovered.
"I don't know what tomorrow will bring us, but you can stay here as long as you need. Kurt, Jasper, that goes for you two as well. It was a great risk and I'm glad I didn't have to attempt it on my own." He pauses for a moment as he thinks hard on his next words. "We made a great team back there, I'm wondering what else we may be capable of. I, for one, am tired of doing the same thing every day. I want to make a difference in peoples' lives just like we did tonight. If any of you are interested, there's an opportunity for fame, fortune, and honor. I want us to become a storied legend. A shining beacon in such dark lands such as Cheliax. A symbol of hope for people that need to know the world isn't only full of terrible people. I want you all to join me on an adventure. I don't know where yet, but we will know when the opportunity arises."
Kurt listens to the young man's empassioned speech with some facination. He seemed to have a lot of passion, and nowhere to channel it to. He would wait to see what will come next from their two new companions. He did venture.
"I know not what comes next. But I do know that my time working the stables in this town has come to an end. I intend to seek new knowledge, one way or another." turning to Cyrene, "when you have time and by your permission, my lady, I would learn more of you and your homeland. I have learned much but have never seen your like."
Nearly exhausted from to much talking in a single day, Kurt settles back into silence.
The bard is clearly skilled, he may have many new tales for me to hear. The elf is obviously interesting and the young man seems to know the secrets of firearms. regarding Agrimar, I wonder what secrets this one holds
-Posted with Wayfinder
Jasper gave Cyrene a measured look as he finished "listening" to her thought projection. "I'm happy to have helped, but let me offer you one tip I've learned around here: People don't like differences. Compared to your telepathy, my talents with water are more mundane, but they still pushed people away. Looking for this cure by seeking the aid of others might be easier if you use mouth-words instead." The half-elf grinned. "I make a living with my mouth, and I'd be happy to show you how to use yours if you need," he winked. The bard then poured some water on his mirth. "It's a bit obnoxious to have to play around your talents because of others, but that's the way of things. We could make an excellent circus together though!"
The tersely-worded Agrimar didn't leave much to segue into conversation, but Keve gave some speech befitting a general - an uptight one. "Yes, yes - fame fortune and honor for all!" Jasper lifted his fist into the air. "We get that, er, where again? We could be a shining beacon burning at the stake - or maybe at a less-attended funeral pyre afer being driven from these lands." The entertainer sighed and put a hand on the gunslinger's shoulder. "I was on the road - literally - to their same situation, Keve. Cyrene and Agrimar were lucky. Desna must have set us together. A butterfly's path is nothing if not fickle though, and we'd be fools to rely on luck more than we have to. Brennel and I survived and eked out a living here. I'd planned to leave in some time, but that means having means and direction. Right now, I've only got the direction. Little money, no transport, and few provisions doesn't make for a safe trip. Besides, don't you have your father to look after?"
He hesitated before withdrawing his hand. A good heart on him to look after his dad.
"I find your tonuge... difficult..." Cyrene replies in halting common. "I could be mute... one who speaks not?" Her voice is surprisingly deep and quite hoarse, although whether that is simply because of her time with the slavers is a matter of debate.
"I would like to help. Apholine is light and I should be like her. Ranalc works in darkness and if I banish that then I weaken him. That is a good aim." Cyrene doesn't seem aware that she's lapsed back into telepathic communication but it is clearly far more natural to her than actually speaking.
"We must start small Jasper. Our actions tonight brought us one step closer. It will be hard work, and it will be dangerous. But where there is risk, there is reward. As for my father, he is going to stay at my aunts for a while. We had plans to have him go there anyway. It was getting difficult to run the shop and take care of him simultaneously." He reaches in his pouch and then tosses Jasper and Kurt 10 gold each. "This should cover your time off for a while. Consider it a vacation. A most likely dangerous vacation. Let us sleep on it and we will see what opportunities tomorrow brings. You're all welcome to stay here, I have plenty of bedrolls." And with that Keve heads upstairs to his makeshift bed he has spent many nights sleeping on due to long hours working inside.
The group settles down in the basement of Keve's shop. The unease and uncertainly of their situation falls over them as the lights go out. All manner of possible, impossible, and exaggerated outcomes floods their minds, keeping sleep at bay. At point though, they are able to fall asleep, only to be awoken just after sunrise.
Having left a window open to keep an eye on the events outside, Keve is awoken by a loud, but distant shout. The leader of the slave band has found his charges missing and the guards gone. Even from this distance, his rage can be seen in his face.
Keve sprints downstairs as soon as he sees the slavers have awoken. "Wake up! It's showtime." He pulls the tarp off two large crates in the corner. "I don't think it's likely, but if we get searched I need you two to hop in here."
He makes another trip upstairs to try and see what's going on before heading back down. "Jasper and Kurt you two may want to head to work as if nothing has happened. Try and gather as much information as you can, and then come back tonight. I don't see the guards we knocked out last night. I don't know if they ran or what, but I don't think you'll have to worry about them accusing you, Jasper."
Keve goes back upstairs to keep a look out for anyone that may approach his shop. He opens up the door as if it was any other day of business. Waiting for customers.
Kurt nods at Keve's reasoning. "Aye, I am late as it is."
With that he grabs his gear and makes his way to the stablea, tactfully taking a route that avoids the recently enraged slaver.
Upon reaching the stables he sheds his gear and goes about his normal, orderly chores. Chores formerly soothing in their repetition, now annoying in their tedium. Still, Kurt managed to push annoyance aside and complete them with his usual efficiency, counting hours until the next meeting and more interesting events.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Startled awake by Keve's loud voice, the bard pined for a bit more sleep. Does it have to be so early!?
Resigned to his fate, Jasper rose and stretched. "We'll see. I need to wash." Not the most pleasant person in the morning, he grabbed his cup, conjured some water, and took a swig. The cold fluid helped shock him awake, though he was not looking forward to the tasks of the day.
Cyrene uncurls and stretches like a cat when woken. She moves blearily across the room, gets into the crate as commanded and then falls asleep again almost at once.
Jasper and Kurt leave Keve's shop through the back. They see a group of men working their way down the line of storefronts, pushing their way through doorways and tearing the interiors apart in a search for people they don't know the faces of. They decide to take the long way back to the inn to avoid the slavers' wrath.
They separate before heading into the inn. Kurt heads around back to the stables while Jasper heads back inside and immediately gets assaulted by a broom and the half-whispers, half-shouts of an Syreena. "Where have you been?" she asks.
In the meantime, Keve hears several hard knocks at the front door of his shop.
At the sound of knocking on the door upstairs, Agrimar gets into one of the crates and pulls the tarp back over it.
"Come on in!" Keve yells at the door as he sits down at his bench, trying his best to look busy making repairs on a few old bear traps that were brought in a days before. His pistol is sitting on the bench covered with a dirty rag for easy access. Knowing exactly why they were here Keve plays dumb to the goings on outside as they walk in, "Ah travelers! How may I assist you today?"
The door is opened by a half orc with an array of vials on his belt. He is flanked by a pair of human guards with greatswords. The half orc looks around at the different gadgets in the shop.
"Don't mind us. We're just browsing." The half orc points and the two thugs begin tearing the shop apart.
Keve sits calmly as the three intruders wreck his father's shop. Keeping the anger withheld is no easy task. These slavers must think they're untouchable. Who exactly do they think they are?
"What the hell do you think you're doing? Who are you?" He asks trying to keep his composure the best he can.
"Ah. How rude of me. My name is Tabo. I'm with the trade caravan that came in yesterday. It seems some merchandise has walked off. My associates and I are just trying to find or replace it. You have some interesting stuff here."
Keve: make a bluff check
"So because you can't keep up with your cargo you see it fit to steal from others? I think it's best you leave now. Before the authorities get involved." Keve slowly places his hand on the rag covering his pistol, still contemplating shooting the half Orc where he stood.
"Authorities, huh? No backbone to be had in this town, I guess," the half orc says trying to bait Keve. When he doesn't respond to the taunt, the half orc grows frustrated and orders his men to head out. He follows them out saying that "he's not leaving to the capital empty handed."
As he hears the racket the slavers are making looking for their lost goods Kurt decides that he was going to finish his chores with his amor on, with a single dagger on his belt.
The light chain shirt concealed well enough under his jerkin and a simple dagger would not arouse suspicion like his longsword would.
Hopefully I won't need it, but these guys sound mad and I am different enough to be a target. And as a menial laborer I might seem an easy one at that.
Kurt hopes if that is their intention, he proves much less easy.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Keve stays seated for a few moments after they leave. Once he is comfortable they've gone for good he locks the door and heads downstairs.
"Looks like they're gone. Luckily, they didn't expect anything. You two can get out of those crates and stretch your legs a bit. I know it's uncomfortable. Let's just hope they leave the city soon." He says to the two crates still covered with the tarp before fetching some food and drink for his guests.
After a little bit of talking Keve heads back upstairs, unlocks the door, and stands in the doorway to watch the slavers and any other commotion in town. He also uses this opportunity to show Jasper and Kurt that everything is all good, should they catch a glimpse of them.
Once he is done standing in the doorway he will go back inside and spend an hour cleaning the shop before beginning his work like it was any other day.
Going about his day as usual, Jasper gathered wood from the outskirts of the town in his handcart. He'd been thinking of the prospects of leaving as he went about his work. The bard had always planned to leave this place after a time, yet earnings were slow as the population was poor. Besides, I'd have to leave Brennel... The half-elf had strong feelings for his foster brother, and separating from him would be hard. This place was better suited to Brennel's skill in the outdoors. Other than in swimming, Jasper was more cosmopolitan.
On his was back before dinner, he would need to pay Keve a visit to ensure they were not tracked from yesterday's incident. Such a tag could complicate things...
As Jasper returns to the inn a few hours after the incident at Keve's shop, he opens the door to find Brennel talking to the half orc that was tossing the town shops. "So, you must be Jasper. I quite enjoyed your show last night. And I've heard that most of your performances are even more splendid. I was just talking to your brother and he was saying that you ended up disappearing last night."
Jasper make a spellcraft roll.
Jasper notices a slight glaze to Brennel's eyes. The effect reminds him of something from one of his stories about a wizard who could befriend anyone with only a few words.
"Well, I almost fell asleep during that story. Did you want to hear more about Durk?" asked Jasper excitedly.
"Maybe another time. I'm working right now and can't afford to be drinking. I would much rather hear the story about where the local magical talent went to the night the slaves and guards disappeared."
A short while after the incident with the half orc and some time spent working, Keve goes back downstairs to talk with Cyrene and Agrimar.
After helping Agrimar out of his crate Keve offers him some food and drink. He begins, "Don't worry about the ruckus upstairs, I just had a few unwelcome visitors. Apparently they're a bit angry their merchandise didn't want to stick around." He gives a little smirk. " I'm curious, what are your plans, if any, from here? I mean, you're welcome to stay here as long as you need, but you must have had thoughts as to what you would do if you could escape." He finishes setting up a makeshift table and places the food upon it. Pulling up a chair for himself and Agrimar, attempting to look as hospitable as possible. After all, after the treatment they received, Keve believed they deserved to feel respected and welcome for a change.
"You'd have to find them, for that story is not a tale known to me! If you've seen my shows, you'd know I deal in water, and little more than cantrips at that." Jasper was irate the man seemed to have an enchantment upon Brennel, but he was so underinformed about the nature of their town's inhabitants, the situation was almost comical underneath the anger.
Climbing out of the crate, Agrimar sits down at the table and accepts the offered food and drink. "Thank you. I've not planned too far in the future. Nearly all hope of escape was beaten out of me months ago. I must say, though, your talk of shining beacons and adventure was inspiring. For years now, I have been wandering, searching for a purpose, but just trying to survive. Now that I am free, helping others against the likes of those slavers seems to me a cause worth fighting for."
"No one knows what happened to the runaways. What a surprise. I guess I'll just have to find some new wares to sell." The half orc looks over the muscular Brennel. "Follow me, boy," he says. Brennel gets up from the chair he was sitting in and says "sure thing," as if the enforcer was his best friend in the world. Then, the slaver turns to Jasper and says, "If you want him back, you'll find my wayward product." The two of them begin to walk out of the inn.
Brennel's response made Jasper furious and fearful at the same time. His foster brother would never give in to something like that quietly (or willingly), and that meant the halfbreed had indeed worked some magic on him. However, a hold that complete would need to be strong; he was doing something so much against his nature, the sorcery would have to be potent indeed.
Never at a loss for words, Jasper was spellbound between plea and insult as the two left the building.
He will pay.
He gathered his basic possessions and stage weapons and strode angrily back to Keve's shop. That "cargo" is going to have to earn their freedom with a favor.
"Alright, where's the pair? We've got some cleaning to do."
Describing the further heinous actions by the caravan leader, Jasper attempted to motivate the group to act.