Assuming that the party actually does break up for the day , Fondo considers going out on his own or with Charlie & Dandilion that afternoon, to reconnoiter the butcher shop. As he considers the option, he pays attention to how chaotic the streets seem to be.
As Nikolay, Briar and Barael make their intentions known to stay in the Citadel, Fondo suggests to Dandi and Charlie that they instead stay at Zellara's.
Briar declares that he needs some time to prepare himself, while Barael is excited to settle into his new quarters (and try his hand at creating toxins).
The group agrees to convene at the butcher shop later in the evening, after supping and preparing themselves. Fondo, Dandi and Charlie then depart for Zellara's, where Dandi spills acid all over the place and Fondo and Charlie banter with each other. Somewhere along the way, they search for some food and drink to stock Zellara's larder.
At the appointed hour, the group reconvenes at Zellara's, ready to walk onward to the butcher shop.
Briar nods at Fondo as they leave.
"See you then then."
* * *
After supping in the mess hall, Briar will leave his non-essential gear in the barracks, trusting the guards, and prepare for the raid on the butchery.
He will try to corral Nikolay and Barael as well.
"Is it time, then?" Dandi says as she comes out the backroom, dabbing at one hand and wincing.
"We'll have to make do with what we already have; that was less than successful"
Her pockets repacked, including Wraith's cage and her unused mutagen from this morning, she is ready to head out with the others.
Charlie has had enough anti-shaking medicine to to carry out our plan and fill Zellara's parlor with laughter. Evening seems a perfect time for recon. Maybe I should have a little more wine.
The mood on the streets is pensive. The rioting has settled down and there are fewer mobs wandering the lanes, but it's an uneasy peace. It is still not a place you want to travel alone if you can avoid it.
The party gathers at Zellara's after supper and does a quick 'walk by' of All the World's Meats.
Surprisingly, it looks like a thriving concern!! There are cattle and pigs in the pen on the side, and the storefront is packed with people coming empty handed and leaving with thick parcels of meat. A sign bearing the image of a fat, smiling cow hangs above the entrance.
Shortly after the party passes by (slowly I presume) folks start coming out empty handed and an announcement ripples through the crowd that they're out of meat for the day. A sigh, and a few complaints can be heard but the crowd disperses uneasily into the night.
Briar looks at the butchery during the heat of the busyness off the business.
Briar will try to walk around the building, trying to identify other exits/windows or other areas of interest.
* * *
After the crowds have departed, Briar looks to Nikolay or Barael to lead the assault.
Briar will string his short bow and looks ready.
As the group is walking to the butcher shop, he suggests, "We could break in, but perhaps it'd be better to give their door a knock. After all, whatever the hour, folk need meat. It's worked for us afore. Why not again?"
As he's preparing, he readies his new sap in its wrist sheath and magically adds a bit of schmutz to his clothes. He does his best to conceal his chakrams and buckler under his cloak, but keeps his rapier well displayed on his belt.
Briar sees a building that's quite defensible - no windows.
Fondo thinks he does a good job of hiding his gear as he knocks on the door. You hear a voice yell out from within - "We're out of meat for the day, come back tomorrow!!"
"I suggest we do as (s)he says." Barael listens intently to any movement that may arise as the voice calls out.
gets louder to the party if the party retreats. "We go in, with the rest of the city folk, get some meat, bacon's the tickle if you send me in, and we get a good look behind that door before we decide on siege." Barael eyes the city walls to the east.
"Do you think we could keep an eye on the folks who aren't customers from that wall? Or do you think that V's men patrol those walls?"
Fondo returns loudly as he reaches under his cloak for his shield, "I've a line on some fresh meat, if you've interest. Won't cost you more than the best prices plus a moment of your time."
HP: 17/17
Weapon Equipped = none
Conditions = none
Mutagen =in reserve, dex/wis
bombs = 4/4
Alchemist extracts Remaining:
1) shield, bomber’s eye, targeted bomb admixture
Dandilion cools her heels towards the back, wisely deciding that her silence is in everyone's best interest.
He's good. I'd hear him out, and I'm no butcher. Barael moves to the animal pens and surveys the doors at F/G-09. Then to the doors at P/Q-02. He has no reservations about bullying in. He lacks any information about the butcher's role in this, and any family within. He'll get someone who trusts him killed ere long, if he doesn't learn patience.
If either set of doors have pulls/handles, Barael produces his lock and chain, and secures the doors against easy retreat.
Barael returns to the front door as quickly as possible in stealth.
Briar follows behind Barael, also near the back, but keeping his eyes open for anyone looking to blow a hole through Barael's skull with a poisoned bolt.
Fondo thinks he hears a chuckle, but there is no further response.
Barael moves around the building, but there are animals in the tall-walled pens. Do you open the gates to the outer pens or just lock those? There are no animals in that section, and it does appear empty, but it's hard to see clearly through the tight fencing.
Nikolay also hangs to the back.
Even if I'm recognized, it won't likely alarm anyone, but just in case.
Fondo shrugs and mutters loudly, "Guess the sergeant was wrong. They don't appreciate a good deal when they see one. Come all this way with the herd... Guess there're plenty of butchers'll take 'em off our hands." He makes a silent gesture to the effect of picking a lock.
Barael works something out with the lock and chain on the fencing at P/Q-02. Returning to the front door, and seeing no further gain of entrance, he pulls out an old leather roll. Ok, Aroden. He left them for a reason, let it be for this.
Barael squats down to look more closely at the locked front door, and starts to ease wiry tools into the lock.
Barael listens for something to click.
Dandi tips her head to the side quizzically, then grins wide as she sees Barael's tools. She moves up, providing a third and fourth hand, should he need them.
The old rusty lock gives easily under your skill. The door is unlocked, but not yet open.
Barael stifles a chuckle, smiles at Dandi with an acknowledging nod, and quickly squirrels away his tools. He looks back at Fondo and the hangers-back, and pulls his rapier to proceed to open the door and enter quickly.
A long counter runs over half the room's width, beyond which a door stands closed. A low bench sits against the east wall, while to the north a black-marble topped table acts as a display (though it is now empty) before the wide grimy window. A few flies crawl and circle in the air above the table.
Do you move quietly into the room, or storm the next door?
Briar moves to support Barael, a small smile on his lips.
Being a guard is kind of fun. I was unaware such opportunities were available in this profession.
Nikolay follows Briar up to Barael looking to see if they've been noticed.
I hope Fondo is getting himself into too much trouble in there.
Barael waves to the last through the front door in a closing gesture. If the door appears in no way to be locked, he leans close to try and understand how many voices he's about to interrupt.
Unable to glean any useful information through the door, Barael barrels into the next room.
Fondo claps Barael on the shoulder as the lock clicks open. "You're in the wrong business, little brother."
He puts on his buckler, draws out his sap and sneaks up to the other door alongside Barael.
Alas, he bangs against the counter, his own noise making it hard to hear those of their quarry.
Briar switches to a blunt arrow, and indicates that Nikolay should go ahead, follows Nikolay.
Briar mouths the word "ALIVE", reminding the pair to not get too excited.
Barael barrels into the next room.
Barael finds himself in a hallway with two doors and a stairwell going up. There is no one here, and though you did make some noise barreling into the hall, there doesn't seem to be anybody rushing you.
You hear some noise to through the south door, but can't quite identify it from here.
"Alive. Yes."
We'll do what we can.
Fondo sneaks past Barael and listens at the south door.
He tries to get a sense of how many are on the other side of the door, and what's going on. He winks at Barael in the gloom.
You hear the sound of metal on metal, but you're not really sure what it is. It's quite loud however so it drowns out other sounds that might indicate just how many you face. There is some talking though, so there are at least two - or one really crazy one who's good at voices.
Fondo motions for others to advance. Once they've come forward he tries to open the door.
Barael nods to Fondo, listens up the stairs first, then joins Fondo at the south doors.
Barael examines the doors for locks, waits for the others to pass the second doorway, and moves through the doorway alongside Fondo, looking for sets of two legs, not four. Whichever way Fondo faces heading in, Barael's first look is off the other direction.
Briar pads into position, trying to be in a place where he can shoot, but not in front.
Stealth
Nikolay draws his sword and moves up behind Fondo.
stealth if needed
Dandilion takes a vial from one pocket and drains it , then pulls a couple of other vials from other pockets and nods, mouthing, "let's go," to the others.
Fondo puts his finger to his lips, then points up the stairs and other directions, urging that the group proceed quietly so as to not alert others in the building.
He tries to open the doors and steps in, ducking and weaving depending on what or whom he sees on the other side. He does not utter a word.
HP: 17/17
Weapon Equipped = (bomb)
Conditions = none
Mutagen =in use, dex=18/wis=6
bombs = 4/4 5(1d6+2)
Alchemist extracts Remaining:
1) shield, bomber’s eye, targeted bomb admixture
Dandilion tries to stealth along behind Fondo.
AC 12 (10 +2 leather)
CMD 10
HP = 14
The spells/day listed will include the casting (if any) that I made this round
Orisons DC:14 (Create Water, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Stabilize, Mage Hand, Ghost Sound)
First Level: DC:15 (1/4 per day) (Bless, Ray of enfeeblement, Shield of Faith, Cure Light)
Oracle Revelation: Eldritch Bolt this casting will make it 7/7 times per day.
Sociable Trait2[/b]/4 rounds per day
Weapon equipped = Biting wit
Shield equipped =OMG please don't hurt me
stealth
The floor of this grim chamber is strewn with blood-stained straw, and the reek of slaughter is almost overpowering. The room itself is a killing floor. A metal track affixed to the ceiling dangles meat hooks here and there, allowing the hooks and their gory loads to be moved easily from the northwest where a large hammer sits on the floor amid a permanent bloodstain.
To the south, a bloodstained grill covers a wide hole in the floor. Just north of the grill sit two large vats of water, one boiling and one cold. Two large butcher blocks stand to the east next to barrels of salt, and in the southeastern corner sits a reeking vat of cast-off meat and bones.
There are also four town guards in here, two of them covered in blood from a recent killing. "Hey there, you're not allowed back here!"
Barael
Briar
Charlie
Dandilion
Fondo
Nikolay
City Guard (B&M)
City Guard (P&K)
Round 1, Init 20
"Ah ha! Then we have something in common, my friends. According to your field marshall, you're not supposed to be here either. Nice of you to feed folks, but it's time to get back to defending the people of Korvosa, and leave the meat to real butchers."
Fondo moves around to the other side of the front-most soldier and gives a little push toward the door.
Round 1, Init 22
Dandi keeps her silence, trusting in the others to explain things better than she could ever do. She will, however, move in and over to (k13), just in case.
Round 1, Init 12
Briar will move to J16, keeping his arrow notched and knocked as he moves.
"By order of Cressida and the Queen, you are ordered to turn over Verik Vancaskerkin. Then you can go back to your slaughtering of helpless animals. Which one of you is Verik?"
Many humans all look the same to me.
Round 1, Init 9
Barael takes Fondo's cue, and moves to M-17, gesturing with his open hand to follow him out the north doors, while menacing with his drawn rapier.
"We're to be your own personal escort back to the Citadel. Smells much better back there, crimson best worn on shouldered robes than spattered on work smocks."
Surprise round
Nikolay moves into the room (k-14) and looks around for Verik. He skips repeating what Fondo already said more eloquently than he would have.
DMPC Charlie moves just into the room and stands behind the huge vat of cold water.
The opposition seems distinctly hostile though they haven't had an opportunity to act as yet.
"That's right, we are in the guard, and it is you who should surrender to us by order of the Guard of Korvosa!"
Now up - Dandilion and Fondo!
"That's right, we are in the guard, and it is you who should surrender to us by order of the Guard of Korvosa!"
"Harrumph! If you were acting like "the Guard" then maybe we'd treat you like the guard! Abandoning your posts! Taking up with the innards of animals! Hah! Fondo's more a guard than you are! No offense, Fondo."
"None taken, jel'enedra. No doubt you've got your reasons for standing against Ileosa. But the people need you're protection. Come peacefully, or..."
Fondo prepares to tell his companions and the guards of what the Harrow portends, should the guards resist.
"Not just Kroft, but also the cards have spoken. You must return to your posts and protect the people. Ileosa's claim shall be judged in time. We need you now, and you will come with us."
They grunt , resigned to beating you down for the greater glory of the Guard, and advance/attack triggering both Dandilion & Fondo's readies. Dandilion hits B squarely with her bomb, and manages to not splash the party and Fondo begins to support the party with his speech.
A few hand gestures to each other and the guard swing into action! B advances to L-13 drawing his long sword as he does so and strikes at Dandilion. M 5' steps out of flank to N-16 drawing his long sword and attacks Fondo. Both swing wide and miss their targets.
Now up - Nikolay, Briar, Charlie, and Barael!