"What?" Allyph blinks at Baer's words. "I think I said I'd be gone for some time. I don't recall saying I'd never show up again?"
"And I'm not entirely human," she says, pointing at her pointy ears. "I'm partially elven. Half, to be precise."
As you suggested, you drop off the groceries at Blythe's place, and move over to the Three Rings Tavern.
Mavor enters the tavern with a human woman in her early thirties. The woman has half long black hair, which she wears in a low ponytail, and wears a simply green dress.
Theandra directly walks over to Mavor and the woman. "Ah, you must be Blythe!"
The woman smiles, and confirm this. "I am, nice to meet you."
After a quick exchange of pleasantries, Theandra pulls Blythe over to the kitchen. "I'll give you a quick tour now. That way you can directly help me prepare dinner later. Oh, you may want to meet Mavor's companions while here. Well, you can do that after the tour."
Blythe gives Mavor a surprised look as she's suddenly dragged along, leaving him alone in the door opening. Her mouth forms the words "see you" before she disappears into the kitchen.
Allyph was just about to ask an awful lot of nosy questions about Blythe and Mavor, but then Theandra showed up to claim Blythe.
Well that's a bummer...
She figures she can also ask questions to just Mavor, but figures this may be a better moment to discuss other matters. Looking at Denario, Allyph waits for him to retell his discoveries.
Mavor eyes Allyph sharply as he sees her withheld reaction about Blythe. He sits down at the table where the others sit and looks at her with a stern face.
"Don't. Just don't." he says shaking his head.
"There's nothing to see there, she's just a new friend I'm trying to help."
He then kicks his feet up on a free chair and looks at the others.
"I've been followed and observed today, some small fry I whacked on his head before I met up with you guys. He's not much trouble and got out of the way as soon as he recognized me, but somehow I think he was watching me for another reason. Got that feeling I can't quite shake off, you know. Also the old boss of Blythe is being extorted or something, someone is forcing him to retire and I have an idea as to whom it is. If anything I'd like to pay him a visit if I can find him."
Baer grunts at Blythe, but is happy to see Mavor again. She doesn't see the need to pester Blythe with pleasantries or questions, probably because they will never meet again. At least Mavor's still around.
"I've been followed..."
Baer nods as if she had heard it before. She looks at Denario.
"Denario, tell him about how you were followed today too? Who knew we were a bunch of leaders, huh?"
Baer slurps a bit more ale, having a hard time sipping from the cup around her tusks.
Denario repeats the story.
Mavor, read el spoiler :)
"So you've been followed too huh? By one of the old guards of Barvasi? Told ya all that we would get into trouble with it when we didn't kill him, but still mangle up all his guards."
Mavor sits back upright and puts a fist on the table, slightly hard.
"If they do come after us, we'll just have to show them we're not scared of a pack of thugs. It might be best to travel in pairs instead of alone, if they have a grudge they might take it out on us sooner or later."
Baer snorts, not afraid of the thugs, but not wanting to go around in pairs for the rest of her life.
"Maybe we should go back for a visit. Not at night...but in the early morning after they have gone to bed," Baer suggests. "We were on duty for the law on orders from the Queen, we shouldn't be attacked or harassed for doing our job. If they want to make it personal..."
Baer lets her voice trail off.
"What do you suggest, directly tomorrow morning?" Allyph asks Baer. "You're right there's sense in dealing with them early, before they get a chance to get to us."
Allyph's eyes trail off to Denario, and she grins. "Luckily we have someone who already has experience with preemptive strikes."
Denario didn't pay any attention to the remark at all.
"The new batch of guards must have been informed of how we look, going there would be a foolish thing to do. Going in the night however, could be a different story."
Baer looks at Denario.
"You want to go in night? Or the early morning?" Baer asks, trying to confirm. "If you go in the 'night'...say midnight or 1 bells, they are likely to still be awake, partying. Scoundrels like them aren't usually asleep til 3 or 4 bells. That's when I'd go...4 bells in the early morning."
Baer snorks more food.
"Allyph, maybe you could get some scrolls to put the guards to sleep...or black them out with colors. We don't need to kill them all, and a bit of magic might make it easier. Denario, can you read a few scrolls as well?" Baer brainstorms.
"I can, sure. You make a valid point with their game times."
"I can cast sleep at will, but I don't know how to use color spray. Buying some color spray scrolls would probably be best then?"
"So... uhm... four bells it is then?" Allyph asks slightly unsure.
She nods her head in agreement. "Good. That way we can still make our purchases this afternoon, moving together like Mavor suggested, and we can still rest before we head over to Eel's End."
Baer thinks it's a marvelous plan, considering it was hers. She looks at Mavor to assure that he agrees.
"I'll see you at 4 bells here. Let's be ready," Baer reminds as she prepares to leave.
She will speak to Theandra to arrange an early wake up call (3 bells or so) so that she might study up for what they will be doing.
Mavor nods at Baer's idea about later in the night.
"You're very right about that Baer, I remember that from my time as a new goon at Lamm's."
"I'll be ready to rumble after some sleep, luckily I don't cast spells. Wake me last." He grins as he looks at the others.
You immediately head out to make the required purchases, figuring you'll ask Theandra about the wake up call when she's not occupied dragging others along.
Once the purchases have been made, and you return to the tavern, you learn Blythe's meanwhile left. She left Theandra with a note for Mavor:
tavern later this week.
Theandra's given me the
job, meaning we'll get
to see each other more
regularly. Perhaps you
can introduce me to your
friends then? -Blythe
It's arranged with Theandra that she'll awake you at three bells past midnight. Theandra lets you know she'll treat it as a special service, which she directly places on the tab.
At exactly three bells past midnight, after everyone's had a good rest, Theandra wakes you up. She first enters the ladies' room, and throws the door that parts it from the men's room wide open. "Rise and shine, sleepyheads!" she announces loudly from the door opening, miraculously not waking up the tavern's other guests.
"I made you a quick breakfast, which you'll find in the kitchen. It may be a good idea to quickly eat something, before you go do whatever?"
Baer awakes and prepares. She meets the team at the meeting time and walks mostly in silence down to the docks. She assumes the scrolls have been bought and the group is ready for combat, should it come to that.
She stops a few 100 yards from the dock and boats again, her darkvision revealing more than that what others may see.
"I hope we don't have to kill too many of them...but if it happens, it happens. We were here on lawful business and if they seek revenge upon us for that, well...orc justice..." Baer nods at Mavor.
Baer hands the wand of Infernal Healing to Allyph, hoping she will carry it.
"If at all possible, i'd not press my luck by entering through the front door. Another way in would be ideal."
"We should head around the building just to be sure, we might find another way in if there is one."
Mavor says, his greataxe heaved on one shoulder, he's looking like his old brutish self again as he does that.
"I don't have a problem at all with some more orc justice myself, but that's something we resort to when needed not something to begin with."
He looks sideways to Denario, though not obviously for him to see.
Baer waits for Den or Mav to explain what to do.
Answering in orcish, to let on he understood the undertone.
"I don't care, as long as the job's done and we don't end up floating in the water."
He leaves it at that, giving space to Mavor to suggest an approach.
There are several torches placed on the various ships at the dock, and you're able to spot six enforcers spread out over the docks. Baer and Mavor, trusting their darkvision, take an extra careful look around. They don't see any other guards.
All enforcers carry wear masks, and scale mail armor. They each carry a light crossbow, and have a buckler attached to one of their hands. Sheathed longswords rest on their hips.
The enforcers look like they're on high alert. Approaching them without drawing their attention may prove challenging, but it's not impossible.
Allyph accepts the healing wand when Baer hands it over. She puts it in between her belt and body, next to her wand of shield. "Thanks. I'll try to stay back a bit, to ensure I can use it when it's needed."
"I can cast shield on all of you, before we head into battle. Or does anyone have ideas for a stealthy approach?"
Baer looks over at the enforcers, grunting.
I can take 2, maybe 3. Baer ticks off a few fingers.
Mavor can get his own share. Baer ticks off a few more fingers.
Denario? Hmm... Baer ticks off another finger.
Allyph? Baer ticks off two more fingers.
"I think we got them, by my count at least. It might be close, but not bad. What's the range on those sleepytime scrolls, Allyph? Denario? Maybe we can pick off those solo roofsitters with them."
"Sleep spell? Oh a good range, about 100feet, then within a 10ft radius from where you're aiming."
"I, uh, mean those who can use it may borrow my wand of shield quickly," Allyph corrects herself. "Before we head in."
"I didn't purchase sleep scrolls, because I can actually cast that spell. I bought color spray scrolls only. Anyway, I'd be able to reach even those in the back with my sleep spell. Shall I do that, and then pick the others off?"
Allyph points at the enforcers at the front of the dock. "They're close enough for any of us to reach them with a double move, or a charge straight from this alley we're hiding in."
Baer listens to Allyph's corrections to the plan, adjusting her own to meet them.
"Yeah, do what you think is best, Allyph," Baer agrees, looking at Mavor. "If you all are ready, let's do this. No talking and let's avoid killing if we can."
Baer spins her quarterstaff to get loose.
"We could probably take them indeed. However do we get up there blindly or do we try to outmaneuver them and take out a small group first. Though with all those torches that might be a hard thing to do. I'm not stealthy myself, so we might have to get close to them none the less. I'll take up the shield if we do so, gives me some more protection."
"Guess we don't have much choice except to fight. Let's get ready to for some rumbling, everybody want any preparations done?"
Mavor says as he unslings the shield from his back, stows his greataxe and draws his whip.
"We should be able to quickly finish the first two guards, if needed I could climb onto one of the roofs and take out one of the archers if we need. You ready Baer?"
After being shielded, Baer will move 60' up.
She's not talking nor moving overtly aggressively, but going to her spot on the pier.
No more talking. We were the law.
The enforcers recognize Baer when she casually walks up to them. However, there's clearly some hesitation on their part due to Baer's non-hostile behavior.
The blue enforcer turns around, and puts his hand to where his mouth is supposed to be behind the mask.
Allyph starts muttering the incantation of a sleep spell, hoping to take out the two enforcers in front of Eel's End's doors when the spell completes.
Mavor moves in after Baer, whip and shield in his hands.
Denario uses another scroll, aiming at the guards in the back.
Denario moves slightly closer, keeping a readied spell in case any of the enforcers decide to come closer.
Allyph finishes her sleep spell halfway her round, and both enforcers inside the spell's radius fall asleep.
Turn progression - round 1:
Allyph (Shield active for 7 rounds)
Denario (Shield active for 8 rounds)
Purple enforcer (Asleep for 10 rounds)
Yellow enforcer
Orange enforcer (Asleep for 10 rounds)
Red enforcer
Mavor
Blue enforcer
Baer (Shield active for 9 rounds)
Green enforcer
Allyph draws the wand of infernal healing, in case she has to move in and use it. She stays in the alley's shadows, hoping the enforcers on the roofs won't notice her while the others are out on the docks.
Denario aims his finger at enforcer 'red'.
Daze, DC13
Denario dazes the red enforcer.
The yellow enforcer releases a bolt at the nearest enemy, which is Baer. The bolt goes wide, and the yellow enforcer reloads his crossbow.
Turn progression - round 1:
Allyph (Shield active for 7 rounds)
Denario (Shield active for 8 rounds)
Purple enforcer (Asleep for 10 rounds)
Yellow enforcer
Orange enforcer (Asleep for 10 rounds)
Red enforcer (Dazed this round.)
Mavor
Blue enforcer
Baer (Shield active for 9 rounds)
Green enforcer
Mavor moves over towards the two enforcers, dropping his shield and whip where he stood and drawing his greataxe as he goes.
He grins, "Who's up first? You look like you're in for some pain. Let's dance shall we?"
He says at the blue enforcer.
Baer looks at Mavor with shock.
"Uh, Mavor...we don't need to kill these...so much," Baer says, trying to avoid the blood splatter.
Mavor drops both his shield and whip, drawing his greataxe as he goes. With a single swing of his weapon, Mavor obliterates all that stands before him. The greataxe splits the blue enforcer at his waist. When both halves of his comrade hit the dock, the red enforcer stumbles slightly backward. The man then drops his weapons, clasping at the gaping wound in his own belly. He then blacks out, hitting the dock as well.
The two enforcers on the roofs seem to freeze up. The men say nothing, but the party's almost able to smell the fear Mavor just caused the remaining enforcers to feel.
Turn progression - round 1:
Allyph (Shield active for 7 rounds)
Denario (Shield active for 8 rounds)
Purple enforcer (Asleep for 10 rounds)
Yellow enforcer
Orange enforcer (Asleep for 10 rounds)
Mavor
Baer (Shield active for 9 rounds)
Green enforcer