"And maybe we won't have to kill most of the guards like at the hospice."
The party trundles off to the Waydon orphanage.
On the way they continue to notice most folks avoiding them in the streets. The people of Old Korvosa are definitely keeping very much to themselves and living in isolation from people they do not know. The streets are quiet - well mostly quiet.
Then there is Olmere Bliversin. He addresses the largely empty street from a balcony above his bakery - demanding to know what the Queen’s going to do about the mob, when she is going to repair the bridges, and how long the quarantine will persist. The fact that Olmere does much of his ranting wearing his nightclothes and punctuates his rants with high pitched giggles certainly undermines his otherwise valid arguments.
Eventually you make your way to the Wayden orphanage. You find it closed up tightly just as the church had been. From the looks of it the Sable marines evacuated the orphans - likely into Korovosa proper, maybe as much as a week ago. There is some evidence that someone tried to break in to the large building, but were unsuccessful.
A Detect Magic will in fact reveal a Wizard Lock on the front and all other exterior doors. As with most Sable Marine buildings this one is much like a fortress. It would take some doing (or magic) to get to the smallish windows on the upper floors or the rooftop.
"Brov, how do those windows look to you?" Fondo looks confidently at his supreme climber pal.
"Well, let's have a closer look then, shall we?"
Barael grins, Vanishes, and climbs.
On the rooftop, Barael will look for a solid enough way into the fortress, less likely windows, more likely doors. Beggars can't be choosers, though, and he'll report his findings to Majenko.
Briar examines the walls.
Briar will Pearl back his Divine Favor.
The walls are made of stone, and a smooth stone at that. Not a lot to hang onto in a climb. There is just enough there though that Barael is able to make it to the top eventually. It's a large building - four stories so unless he's got fast climbing abilities, Barael is barely over the top before becoming visible again.
As he passes the windows in his climb, they look well barred and well maintained. It would be tough to break in that way. The few he looks through are shuttered or curtained from the inside.
The roof is fairly featureless. You can see a few raised platforms for heavy weapons and the whole roof is crenelated along the edges. There are two towers, small, likely little more than staircases, with doors and no windows. Both are locked securely - likely wizard locked as well, but Barael cannot determine that I think.
There is a large-ish wooden structure on the roof that you can access. Looks like a roost for a handful of hippogriffs. It's fairly clean, but hasn't been used in a week or more from the look of it. There is some feed and water and other minor accoutrements which makes it look like the Sable company might use it as a bolt hole if they had a need (injured bird, etc).
Majenko sits on the edge of the wall facing the party admiring the carvings in the stone - some of which are pseudodragons (a not uncommon choice for gargoyles and the like in Korovosa). He relays the information Barael is finding to the party below.
Barael rests his fists on his hips as he considers the wooden structure. That'll do nicely. Now we just need to get the others up here, on the quick.
"Maj, I think we found our roost for the day. Let's get them up here without too much traffic observing their ascent." Barael avoids the street line-of-sight, and with the help of Majenko, throws a rope down over the least conspicuous wall for the party's climb.
"Brov, if a quiet spot to roost is what we seek, I'm certain we can find easier options. Er, could you relay that, mighty dragon?" He considers. "If we were to leave a message for our friends in the Marines, what would it say?"
Briar watches as Barael climbs and explores.
Laori. I hardly knew ye...a spark of elvish light in this sad city.
Briar's gaze goes to the stone wall.
I wonder if I can get through that wall...I wonder....
Barael looks over the roof, down on the individuals below. He watches the Elf as he studies the wall. Takes in the Varisian, his face upturned in concern. Gives a once over to the Swordsman. Regards the Lady as she leans her head towards her shoulder. Observes the Healer as he hefts his wineskin. The Rook. The King. The Knight. The Queen. The Bishop. The Pieces still on the Board. No captures yet.
What has brought us together continues to bind us in cause. We've spilled blood together. There's more blood shall flow before this is done, should we live to see it through.
Why must we continue to struggle against the Queen?! We can't be the only Pieces on the board. Why can't others step up? Why can't you step up, Aroden? Your voice. I can't remember what is sounds like, if I ever heard it before. And now your church is empty. I... I grow tired.
Barael looks smaller. He secures the rope for others to climb.
"Majenko. Let the others know that I wait up here until dusk." After drinking a little water, Barael finds a hay stack, and burrows into it, until the light no longer furrows his brow.
Upon hearing the pseudodragon's iterations, Briar asks a question of his own.
"Would we prefer to wait inside, rather than atop?"
"Within'd be more pleasant than without, to be true. Ah, the stone. I have you, Brother Rose. Many a dwarf'd envy your magics." Laori having gone, Fondo relaxes his posture around the priest of Nethys.
He nudges Nikolay. "If only all the pretty things weren't hiding behind closed shutters, eh? I'm not quite ready for rest, but some recuperation'd be nice after all that." Then he looks at Dandi and winks. "Excepting yourself, of course, jell'inedra."
"Anybody able to re-instate the wizard lock? We could try to dispel the current one and then maybe have our lockmaster work on the mundane. Majenko could you ask Barael how long his arms are?"
Briar shakes his head at Charlie. Negative.
Briar takes the rope and bat man climbs to the roof.
Once atop, Briar will scan the 4, nay 8, directions for landmarks and points of interest, trying to get a better understanding of this urban terrain.
The orphanage is nearer the western side of Old Korvosa, and as such is not too far (less than 800') from Arkonas' mansion to the north. (Korvosa Map)
In fact, as it is on a slight hill, you can see it fairly clearly from here. It is surrounded by a wall, beyond which you can see a wonderful topiary with bushes and trees sculpted into various animals - elephants, tigers, giraffes, and the like. The building itself is not terribly tall (only two or three stories with a domed roof), but it is large - maybe 150' across.
From here you can also see across the narrows into Korovosa proper and the difference is obvious. Where Old Korvosa is quiet and withdrawn, the people in Korvosa are far more active and relaxing into routine. You see a lot more movement through the afternoon as people go about their daily lives in Korvosa.
Fondo shrugs and climbs up. He looks warily for imps as he goes. Once atop the orphanage, he gives a little whistle, happy to see Korvosa from a new angle. "For but a bridge, a wall and a blockade, look how much sorrier our people's lot is o'er here. Tis a pretty city though. Probably doesn't hold a candle to your Iadara, Brother Rose, but I'm glad to've traveled through her."
Nikolay climbs to the top and waits for the hours to pass.
It's a good plan. Nothing could go wrong. And if it does, Barael should be able to scurry out to us.
Briar grunts as he finally gets some landmarks and makes sense of the terrain.
Alright, ain't so big.
"Say, Barael, did you want in this place? I figure I can get inside if you want. Not sure we need to, but it can be done...with magic, of course."
If not, Briar will pass the time until dusk when he will cast Air Walk to help in the scouting process.
Barael lifts his head from the straw. "Nah, I'm good." He, too, will let sleep accelerate the time until dusk.
...
He'll don the Mantis Mask, activating See Invisibility, Darkvision, and Perception +5. Barael secures his potion of Invisibility in his belt pouch, drinks the other potion of Negate Aroma from Dandi, before accepting Briar's gift of Air Walk.
"Anything I should remember? Get close enough to get a feel for their security, not too close to get sensed?"
"Nik, can you hit me with that Invisibility of yours? Looks like we're ready now."
Nikolay casts invisibility on Barael and finds a good spot to watch for signs of trouble with Barael's scouting mission.
"Good luck. Don't get stabbed."
"Ayeah. Unless the Arkonas employ Mantis... uh, yeah. This should be easy. Yeah." Barael looks over the edge of the orphanage/fortress, then takes off.
Barael's paranoia kicks up a bit after Nik's cautioning. He considers it, looks down shortly after moving off the roof, and picks a quieter location to transform into Hybrid Form. Not wanting to look the nervous ninja, he'll move away from the Orphanage, making it less likely Nik will hear him change.
After resting for a few hours, Fondo arises and does what he can to prepare help for Barael from a distance. "Mayhap we ought climb down. If there's trouble, we'll want to move quickly to help brov here. 'Jenko, you mind keeping an eye out for him? Brov, be ready to open the clasp on the locket if you're in a bind."
"Brov, be ready to open the clasp on the locket if you're in a bind."
Barael nods. "That will work for me. Keep an eye out, will ya?"
Invisible, Unsmellable, Featherweighable, See Invisible, See Darkable, Highly Percept-able
Briar rests with Nikolay, taking a direction (or two) to watch.
Remember Laori? Was she the one?
I doubt it. She might have been *a* one.
Hmmm. So few elves here. Even fewer pretty ones.
Yeah. You serve a new mistress now...one of magic.
Can't I have another?
No.
"Anything I should remember? Get close enough to get a feel for their security, not too close to get sensed?"
So how close is too close? How far away is too far away? Do you land on the roof? Do you walk over the wall into the courtyard (~50' from the house on all sides)? How high are you in the air?
As you get closer to the estate the houses in the neighborhood thin and the hill which houses the mansion rises up before you. The wall surrounds the house on three sides with the fourth side open to the river with a small cliff acting as protection. There is a single gate in the wall and a short roadway to the house proper.
(from 60' away - the limit of your darkvision... and still outside the outer walls)
The house has many windows, some open to let in the cool night air. As mentioned before the house is a tall two stories or normal three stories with a domed portion to the roof. There is a main entrance to the house, a side entrance to the south, and two double doors into what may be an atrium of some sort in the north facing the river.
Barael approaches the wall directly, maintaining a sightline on the orphanage, and walking to a height of 30' above the wall. He's looking for sentinels, pseudodragons allied to Arkonas that can do the same thing Majenko can do to him- identify him as an invisible, and end his snooping before he's even begun.
As he identifies the windows, he looks for lights coming from within, signifying activity, and tries to position for a moment to observe comings and goings. Barring that, he turns his attentions to patrols and positions, weighing the strength of security. He'll move around to the river's side of the building, where he suspects there's less need for watchmen.
Depending on time, he'll debate crossing the wall's border, should he feel bold enough by remaining undetected up until this point.
Now that Barael is a little closer, he can see more of the detail. The grounds are generally open, decorated here and there with tiny copses of trees, exotic topiary animals (elephants, cobras, and tigers being the most common), beautiful flower gardens, and exquisite fountains. The palace is a breathtaking structure built in the Vudran style, with golden pillars, high windows that rise to tapered points, minarets, and domes decorated with slender spires.
Barael sees two guard-types walking the grounds and another two relaxing along the river cliff. You suspect they switch off, or maybe move around a little as well. You do not see any flying Majenko's (though even with your perception they might be hard to spot - Majenko is very good at hiding after all).
As you hover over the river cliff, you see a dinner through the windows at the back of the house. You can make out three... no four diners enjoying a relaxed late supper. This glimpse puts you ~15' from the guards on the ground so I presume it's a short glimpse.
Barael will observe the diners long enough to rule out familiar faces (i.e. Ileosa, Vencarlo, Cressida, Rolth...), then he'll retreat. He'll remember to consume the potion of Invisibility shortly before Nik's casting is due to end, during his expedition.
The patrols. They're kinda weak 'round here. The whole of Old Korvosa is falling into chaos, and the Arkonas are letting four guard do all the heavy lifting with regards to their safety. That is unlikely the case here. I'm proper nervous now.
If Barael can listen to conversations between either of the guard patrol duets, he'll try his best to glean any information he can before returning to the orphanage.
Briar yawns.
While Barael gets to know his new stalker family, Fondo cajoles his companions into making the trip by foot to the perimeter of the Arkona estate. He walks slowly, trusting his elf-blooded friends to guide through the darkness.
Barael remains too far away to see any real detail through the billowing curtains and shifting light. All you can say for sure is they're humanoid, well dressed, and they seem to be having a good time. You're pretty sure there are three males and one female.
Barael starts to get frustrated by the lack of sightlines from the curtains. He advances to at least 30' from the window.
Failing any true perceptions there, he advances to 20' from the open window.
As faces and voices reveal themselves, Barael strains to take note.
Barael gathers himself and closes to within striking distance of the house. He looks through the curtains at the folks inside.
You see two figures you recognize, Glorio Arkona and his lover Melyia Arkona - the two rulers of the Arkona family. The other two you do not recognize. As you gaze upon them and struggle to hear what they are talking about, Glorio casts a spell, seemingly as part of his conversation.
The other two do not react to his casting, so it was probably nothing. With your spellcraft you figure he might have just been renewing an Endure Elements or something... Either way, nothing seems to happen and their conversation continues unabated.
As you get closer, you hear them chatting about the news of the day. They seem concerned that Queen Ileosa has cut them, and indeed all of Old Korvosa, off. The talk about some of the things they're doing to help the people (providing food and medicine chief among these), but they express concern over how long such measure can last given their limited resources (access not cashflow).
A shudder of nervous excitement hits Barael. Watching someone without their knowledge, it's somehow different now. In the Midlands, watching people who didn't notice the dirt-covered street urchin, that was actually quite boring. Floating in midair, looking into the dining room of one of the most powerful families in all of Korvosa. Well, that's just a horse of another color now, isn't it? Still, trying to steal a cookie out of Mum's cookie jar was quite exciting, until you were being thrashed full force. For a cookie.
Barael walks around the building, looking into windows, listening for voices in agony or despair. He might even stick his head into one of the windows.
As Barael beings to make his circuit of the house, he sees another man in an upstairs window overlooking the front door. He seems to be watching the wall gate by the street for something.
As you pass by you see the man peering through a lens... but he doesn't seem to be paying attention to you and you move along.
(Arkona's Mansion) (the building looking thing outside the dining room on the map is actually a nicely appointed patio)
- - -
As you complete your rounds and get back to the dining area, you hear a loud voice call out into the night, "Come! Why don't you join us for a little supper? There's plenty of food and wine!"
It seems like such a reasonable offer, you find yourself walking toward the doors, which are opened by Glorio himself long before you arrive.
Barael goes inside and sits down and begins to eat and drink. The food is quite sumptuous and the wine sublime. The others seem to take little notice of you until your invisibility wears off in a few minutes. Then you see them start and lean back in their chairs a little at your were-rat form.
Like good hosts however, they cover their apprehension and join you in their conversation.
"So, welcome to my home. I am Glorio Arkona. This is my mate, Melyia. These are two close friends, Nudhalli and Vennashti, but unfortunately they were just about to leave."
The other two quickly, but politely, make their introductions and apologize for having to run off, but they then do so leaving the dining room and heading deeper into the house.
He smiles warmly and openly and speaks simply, "May I ask your name my friend?"
Barael looks down at the table, and takes it all in. It's so... good. The sauces, the steaks, the scallops, the after-dinner scones... where to start? This isn't right. Wait, because the rest are not here to enjoy this, or because I'm not supposed to be here in the first place?!
Barael doesn't slow his eating pace, cheeks quite distended, while he tries to answer Glorio. "You have every right to ask, as I have no permissions to be about your estate in such a manner. My name, then my apologies. I'm Barael de Gare. Please forgive my rudeness for traipsing about your grounds, invading your privacy." Barael swallows, but his cheeks seem to remain rotund. He reaches for a little wine, and swishes it before draining the glass. Something clicks as he reaches for the decanter a second time, and Barael realizes that a paw clasps it, not a hand.
"Ah, forgive my appearance if you're in the forgiving mood still. I expected to be well and gone before becoming visible again." Barael sighs at his folly, and his predicament.
"I hope you will allow me to explain my actions this night. I hadn't expected to be caught out in my offense. I was decked out plenty on magicks. I admire your ability to see through it." and fear it not a little.
"Ah yes, Barael de Gare, of the Harrowed yes? Your group is quite famous! I don't suppose the rest of you are on the grounds anywhere?" He looks out the wide windows to the manicured lawn.
"You should invite them, we have plenty of food... here, like some camembert?" he hands you a lovely cheese plate.
"Please, make no comment on your appearance. Many things are only skin deep, it's what's in your mind and soul that matters. No offense taken! You don't know us - how could you know?!"
"Please, be welcome! Invite your friends in and join us - we have plenty of space!" he sips some wine.
Barael continues for a short while longer eating, his stomach gaining the same distended quality as his cheeks loses its quality. The meal is finishing, I'm bringing it to its proper end.
Barael starts to wave off the plate, but takes it from Glorio nonetheless, setting it down three pieces lighter.
"I... yes, it's likely that they are not far behind. Famous, you say? Well I'll be..." Barael pushes away from the table, the strain on his lower gut producing a consequential belch.
"With your permission, I'll go fetch them." Barael stands, and tries to get a sense of the house. He remembers himself once again, and pauses.
He heads to the same doors he entered, and proceeds to the front gates to call out mentally to Majenko.
"Ahh, most wonderful. Please, bring them to the front door and we'll have coffee in the atrium. That would be quite excellent. I think we have much to discuss."
Glorio stands and walks Barael, now 'normal', through the house to the front door, and waves to him as he leaves and walks down the path to the main gate. The gate opens as you get close (magic!) and you walk out into the street.
What a nice young man... I hope he returns with his friends.
You see Glorio still standing in the doorway of his home and he gives you a fresh wave and a smile as you depart into the night.
??? Barael's hand raises in acknowledgement after Barael reasons with it regarding the politeness of return gestures.
Sending them to their deaths?! What was Salvatore playing at?! Barael hopes to connect quickly with the others.
Should Barael find the party outside the walls immediately, his task is done. If the party is not entirely there, he returns quickly to the orphanage to gather the rest, using Air Walk to avoid obstacles, letting it carry him to the rooftops, letting the rooftops obscure his travels.
"So, our little reconnaissance was poorly veiled it seems. Despite my best intents and quiet surveying, the surveillance in that place was enough to spot me out. Glorio would like to speak with us all. He's waiting, and there's quite the layout foodwise." Barael produces a breadroll as confirmation.
"I think next time, we should try the same magic Soth used when he came a calling at the Harrow House. Speaking of which, Glorio was quite aware of who we are. It's likely he knows our opposition to the Queen. I didn't have the time to chat him up with regards to where he stands on the matter. I was too busy getting myself outta that situation." Barael proceeds to tell the party of his initial encounter as best he can.
Charlie is curious about Barael's state of mind. He seems to be not at all miffed at being sussed out. He'll give him the old man stare for a bit to see what's what.
Charlie believes that Barael, while he may be a bit enamoured by the Arkona, is not actually under the influence of a mind-effecting spell. Certainly his behavior was odd however and he may have been under the influence earlier - it's impossible to say for sure.
"He didn't kill you and then wait for the rest of us to trickle in and be picked off. I'll take that as a good sign and I could use a good meal. Let's head in."
"I always wanted to see inside that place..." Dandi says, shaking herself awake as if from a dream.
Barael nods as the group resolves to attend another noble's dinner. "By comparison to our recent visit in the tenements, you'll find this a shock to your system. Steady yourselves. The camembert is quite rich." Barael actually looks nostalgic, before he rights himself.
"I didn't intend to intrude, but I had no choice. He brought me to do that. They have no strong guard presence, so I'm assuming the halls drip of magic, for all their wealth. A invisible floating wererat hardly startled Glorio. He seemed quite comfortable in his digs. Or maybe it was a web, I was simply discouraged from noticing the stickiness?"
As an aside, Barael muses to the elf. "Briar, you should take notes, for when we have time to polish up the Harrow House in similar defense."
Barael leads the group back to the front gates when the discussion settles.
Fondo frowns a bit and mutters a few familiar words before scanning Barael for magic residue. "Brov, how did he even know you were there? Normally a fine meal'd draw me in by my nose, but something smells rotten here."
Barael nods. Then shrugs, with a hint of shudder. "He simply called out to me as I circled the building. If he has magic similar to Majenko's sight of the unseen, then I was bested on that alone. I share your concern."
"Magic, you say? I could see such magics for myself," Briar says intrigued and in agreement with Nikolay, the other magic one. "Food is fine for the body, but magic feeds the soul."
Briar enjoins Nikolay on the way to the manor.
The party makes their way to the manor house on the hill through the dark quiet streets of Old Korvosa. As you approach the main outer gate, it opens as if to greet you. They see two guards not far off in the gardens. While they are walking your way, they are not doing so with any haste, and do not seem to be interested in you at all.
You, presumably, walk to the front door, as the outer gates close behind you. As you approach, you see a man in the upstairs window overlooking the door. You lock eyes with him a moment, and he curtly nods his head in greeting and you notice he has but one eye - the darkened socket of his left eye a strange scar on an otherwise handsome man.
As you approach the door, it is opened by Glorio Arkona himself. "Greetings my new friends! I am pleased you have taken me up on my offer for an evenings snack and coffee - or something stronger as you like! Please, come with me, we will rest in the garden."
He leads you through the sumptuous house on a wide velvety thick carpet to another set of double doors. He opens them wide and you look out onto a lovely enclosed garden.
This chamber hardly seems to be part of a palace - it seems more like a clearing at the heart of a vast jungle, teeming with life. The sky above is a deep, cloudless blue, while in the distance, hazy towers of distant structures rise above the verdant canopy. Exotic bird calls fill the air, the scent of dozens of unfamiliar flowers and plants assault the nose, and everywhere a riot of color demands the eye, be it the wing of a tropical bird, the petals of a brightly hued flower, or the glittering multicolored tiles that make up a round fountain to the north, its central plume a stone pillar around which entwine two cobra statues that clutch green gems in their fanged maws.
Opposite the fountain to the south stands an immense, life-sized jade statue of an elephant, a howdah perched on its back, its tusks and trunk raised high in greeting to the doors you enter - doors that, from inside the room, look more like gates set into a wrought iron fence that encircles the garden.
Other gates set in this fence doubtless lead to other parts of the palace, and after a bit more observation the somewhat static nature of the jungle and landscape becomes apparent - the walls of this garden are in fact an incredibly realistic and clever painting of a Vudran junglescape.
He leads you to a few benches and tables crowded with sweets, coffee, tea and other delectables. He gestures you to sit as he himself sits lightly on a bench. "Please, help yourself. Would you like anything else? I can have some nice after dinner wine brought as well if you like."