Alistair ignores the monk and continues with his conversation with Garran.
You and I both know how things like this can be seen and I agree we need to take him alive. Not because of the coin but it is the only way we have of coming out of this with out more problems than we have at the moment. Are you up for this?
Alika nods in agreement and says, "I am generally amenable to finding peaceful solutions, where possible."
"The lady didn't say it had to be peaceful," Nicoleta says with a chuckle. "Just that she'd prefer we didn't kill the bastard." She cracks her knuckles.
"Of course, she's a woman. What could she possibly know about ruling a city," Nicoleta comments, the sarcasm dripping off her words. She shakes her head in annoyance.
She thinks for a moment. "Five hundred gold alive?" Nicoleta finally confirms with a raised eyebrow. "Alive it is, then."
"Any idea how many followers Verik has and if there's any reward for them?" she asks after another moment of thought.
"What she does or doesn't know doesn't concern me," Kroft replies coolly. "I need to protect this city and that means protecting the Guard. Vancaskerkin has half a dozen men following him now, but he's the only one that really matters. It's only been two days since the riots started. If he's left unchecked, who knows how many disgruntled guardsmen he could pull into his orbit."
When it seems like the party is coming around, the Field Marshall leans forward and grins. "I'm glad to hear it. How are your living arrangements, currently?" she asks. "I don't mean to be blunt, but I've worked with adventurers before and I understand most lead something of a temporary lifestyle. Currently, we've got some room in the eastern Barracks. I could put you up while we're working together."
"Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but how's the barracks set up for privacy?" Nicoleta asks. "I'm sure the Guard is all used to seeing everyone else as a member of the guard rather than a man or woman, but not all of us feel that way. Us ladies might prefer not to be gawked at." She winks. "Most of us, at least."
Danni's probably never been in a place as nice as the barracks. She does like a bit of privacy though, and this still feels kind of surreal to her. "I'm glad you didn't argue the 'alive' part, Nicoleta. We can do this." She nods to the Marshall and says, "I'm in."
Kroft chuckles at Nicoleta's question. "That's certainly reasonable. We separate men and women in the barracks as a rule, but if you need, I could arrange for some curtains."
"Wonderful," the monk responds with a wide smile. She turns to the others. "So shall we check out the butcher shop tonight? Maybe we can catch them asleep?"
Danni nods to Nicoleta. "Might as well tackle this before anyone has time to inform him of our presence."
"I think we could do so. If we catch them unaware, we can minimize bloodshed."
"Great!" Nicoleta says, her smile growing wider and showing some teeth. She cracks her knuckles. "Let's go bust us some heads - with authority."
"Only if we need to, of course," she amends with a glance at Garran.
Alika nods. "Very well then."
Danni nods to Nicoleta. "Might as well tackle this before anyone has time to inform him of our presence."
Alistair looks at Danni and nods approvingly.
Alika nods. "Very well then."
Nodding in agreement, Alistair looks to Garran.
"I think we could do so. If we catch them unaware, we can minimize bloodshed."
It is a risky venture to say the least...with the possibility of backlash. We do have an opportunity to bring some stability to the city and to help those in need. You ready for this?
It is a risky venture to say the least...with the possibility of backlash. We do have an opportunity to bring some stability to the city and to help those in need. You ready for this?
"Don't forget the part where we get paid," Nicoleta adds with a wink at the swashbuckler. "That's always a nice bonus."
As the party leaves Citadel Volshyenek, the sun hangs low against the horizon. By the time they reach All the World's Meat, located almost a mile away in the Northgate ward of North Point, it's mostly set.
Northgate, like much of North Point, is home to some of the oldest non-noble families in Korvosa, many of whom trace their lineage back the first descendants of the city's Chelish founders. Although it bears many markings of old money, many of the buildings here are notably in decline. Fleeing the growing poverty and desperation of the nearby Shingles slums, many of Northgate's elite moved to the more fashionable wards of the Heights. A slow but steady decline in property value brought in poorer Korvosans and non-native residents, giving the neighborhood a colorful atmosphere that seems in stark contrast to the almost antique variety of architecture.
All the World's Meats is a two-story shop with its front door facing north, towards Stirge Street. A cartoon cow smiles from a sign above the door, and a placard hangs in the window displaying the word CLOSED in broad chalk letters. In front of the display is a sandwich board that reads LINE FOR FREE MEAT STARTS HERE.
A pair of muddy alleys, wide enough to allow a cart through, run the length of the building to the opposite street. The western side of the shop is ringed by a wooden stockade complete with gate, built tall enough to block potential hustlers from stealing livestock. The stink of manure, mud, and animal wafts from this area.
The place appears like a closed business, but yellow light can be seen through the second story windows. Somebody is home.
As Nicoleta looks over the building, the excitement that's building in her is clear to anyone that looks at her. She stands with her hands out, shaking off the excess energy and bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"So what next?" she asks turning to the others. Her face is lit up with anticipation. "Should we just knock on the door? Should I climb up to the window up there and surprise them? Do we go 'round back?"
She looks back up to the open window. "I'm ready to kick some ass."
Garran studies the shop. Just like casing a place back in the old days. Aloud, he said, "Someone should check around back and see if there's any other exits back there. We should make sure that the gate to the stockade can't be opened, either - we don't want anyone running and escaping. Maybe wedge a barrel scrape or something under it." Glancing at the eager Nicoleta, he said, "Don't climb up to the window and surprise whoever it is - we don't want them to panic before we're ready."
Danni wrinkles her nose at the smell of the place. "You sound like you've done this kind of thing before, Garran. I'll go check the back." Her hawk sits on her shoulder, eyes wide for trouble, as she casually walks down the side alley and around the back.
The monk closes her eyes and begins speaking quiet words. She seems to be trying to calm herself.
"I feel the wind pass by me. The water flows between my feet. I am still here unchanged. The stream changes, but I do not. The forest changes, but I do not. I will remain empty - unaffected by either. They may rise or fall, but I will be unchanged. I stand and I breath - nothing more." Her breathing slows and the nervous energy about her seems to lessen.
Her eyes open and she smiles and looks at Alistair. "Let's give her some time to check the back and then you and I will 'knock on the door'," she says, holding her fingers up in air quotes.
Alistair looks up at the light then at Garran.
Someone is home...We should move along and wait...Watch and wait. When it is time we can move in quietly and take our guest out. If we are lucky...maybe we can do this without alerting anyone else.
Nicoleta looks between Garran and Alistair. "So we wait and then ... yes, through the front door? Or are we going in through the window?"
She looks at Alika and waves her hand in front of the woman's face. "I am still here, right? I haven't magically become invisible and inaudible, right? I mean, that would be totally cool, but it would be nice to know how I did it."
Alika replies to Nicoleta, "Yes, still here. I think you're right, we watch first, then if no other better option arises, in we go. I'm already suspicious of this place." She wrinkles her nose slightly as she glances back at the FREE MEAT sign. "Danni should be back soon."
"Ok, I am still here. Nice to know," the dhampir responds with a glare towards the swashbuckler. She follows Alika's gaze towards the sign. "Yeah, 'Free Meat', that's not suspicious. These guys desert the city guard and then hide out in a place giving away free meat? Not suspicious at all."
She leans a little closer to the woman. "Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to be having nasty dreams about this place years from now?"
Alistair continues his conversation with Garran without any though of the monks words or her glares.
...stealth is the way to do this...until...well it is no longer needed.
He looks down towards the alley that Danni went down.
If she does not get back soon we should go and check on her. She may have found something.
Garran watches as Danni goes to check the back, then says, "Give her time. I'd rather she be thorough and we know our options than we rush her, assuming trouble. As for stealth, it's all well and good, but we don't need to be picked up by actual members of the watch for loitering and watching the place while a light's on. Once we know the exits, we may be better off going in. Still..."
Garran scans the nearby buildings, looking for somewhere they can hide while keeping an eye on the butcher's shop. As he does so, he glances between Nicoleta and Alistair and shakes his head. Alistair couldn't ignore her forever. Remembering the bag they got from the Sergeant, he takes it and says to Nicoleta and Alika, "I almost forgot. Here. These are from Sergeant Summerstride for rescuing his brother. Since the three of you helped, you should each get one, as well. I'll give Danni hers when we get back." He hands each of them one of the healing potions.
The monk looks at the proffered potion with an odd expression. "I ..." she begins, but then frowns. "Thank you," she says finally.
"I appreciate the thought," she continues in a softer voice. "But you probably should keep that. Potions like that and me don't really ..." She shrugs and her normal playful nature returns. "Unless you're into watching a pretty girl puke her guts out all over the floor. Which, I can sadly say, some people are into." She gives him a playful shove with her shoulder. "No judging what's between two consensual adults, though, right?"
"I have my own means for healing in my bag. And on that, don't ever try to use them yourself or on anyone else here. That sounds selfish, but unless your nature is a lot darker than you let on, they could kill you."
Danni moseys down and around the alley, moving as though she's heading somewhere important.
+3 'in light'
Garran watches as Danni goes to check the back, then says, "Give her time. I'd rather she be thorough and we know our options than we rush her, assuming trouble.
Alistair nods
Understood
As for stealth, it's all well and good, but we don't need to be picked up by actual members of the watch for loitering and watching the place while a light's on. Once we know the exits, we may be better off going in. Still..."
That is logical...but are we not "agents of the guard"? I would imagine that we are the only legitimate authority in these part right about now.
That is logical...but are we not "agents of the guard"? I would imagine that we are the only legitimate authority in these part right about now.
"Exactly," Nicoleta agrees with enthusiasm. "We have ... authority." She seems quite pleased with that.
Danni's quick inspection of the back of the building reveals no exits. It seems the only ways in or out of the butcher shop is the front door and a wooden gate set in the palisade.
"Only two ways in or out that we know of and they're probably not going to run unless it looks like they're getting their arses kicked and we really shouldn't be splitting up." She grins at Alistair. "So I say we go in the front. I'll knock and tell them Verik requested a little personal attention." She gives a suggestive wiggle of her hips and then reaches out and pulls Alika close to her side with a hand on her waist.
"They couldn't possibly say 'no' to us." She grins at the cleric. "Once they let us in the door, the rest of you follow in behind and we rush whoever is in the front of the building. Once we clear that, we'll move to the next stage."
She hands her temple sword to Garran. "Could you hold that for me until we're inside. It might look a little suspicious hanging from my hip." Looking around at the others, she adds, "And don't ask me what the next stage is because I haven't got a f!#+ing clue."
"Let's get the wooden gate wedged shut first so they can't escape that way. Then we'll go with Nicoleta's ruse to get the door open. Alistair, Danni, it's important that the three of us not be visible from the door - if they see us, they'll know something is up."
Garran looks about for a way to wedge the gate in the palisade shut so no one can escape that way.
Alistair quietly slips into the shadows and walks toward the wooden gate.
Once there he looks for items that are on ground and proceeds to jam up the gate. Placing rocks and sticks under the gate but also wedging them into the frame of the gate.
Once Alistair and Garran return, Nicoleta looks over Alika with an appraising eye. "Here, let's fix this," she says, reaching up and adjusting the priestesses top. "Need to show a little more skin and not that." She moves the woman's holy symbol around to hang down her back. She then reaches inside her own top and pulls her breasts up to display more prominently. "There we go."
The monk then approaches the door arm-in-arm with the other Varisian woman and after verifying that the others are out of direct vision, boldly knocks.
Danni waits quietly out of sight with the others. Her hawk perches on a chimney above with a view of the butcher's shop, ready to alert her should anything seem amiss.
Having a moment's pause, she wonders Why didn't Nicoleta pick me? Am I not pretty enough? She shakes her head to clear the silly distraction and focuses on the issue at hand.
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Alika lifts her arms and purses her lips as Nicoleta rearranges her attire. A slow blush works down from her cheeks to her décolletage as Nicoleta rummages around in her bodice.
"Now I feel a bit like all the world's meat," she says wryly as she follows the monk's lead.
As they stand waiting at the door, Nicoleta can't resist leaning over and whispering in Alika's ear.
Alistair and Garran jam the gate as best they can with what they find in the street while Danni stays out of sight.
Nicoletta's insistent knocking is met by a tall Chelaxian man with bushy eyebrows that merge into one just above his large, flat nose. He eyes the young women incredulously. "We're closed, ladies," he mutters.
A bald man in an ill-fitting suit of chainmail stands at the doorway behind the counter, wiping his hands on a dirty rag. Both men wear swords belted on their waists.
Nicoletta makes a show of looking the man up and down. She then licks her lips. "Are you Verik?" she asks, her tone suggesting that she hopes the answer's 'yes'. "If so, we're here just like you asked - ready for a good time. Although we have to insist on twenty-five percent up-front." She gives a broad wink. "You won't regret it though." Keeping her eyes on the armored man's, she leans over and nibbles on Alika's neck. "We promise."
Well she opened her mouth...i bet a gold that this goes south real quick.
Alistair says very quietly to Garran.
Garran shakes his head. Even whispers can be overheard by those with keen ears. While he suspected the man at the door wasn't too aware of his surroundings, there was always the chance of others overhearing, or a stray breeze blowing at the wrong time to carry the words. Phineas had gotten it that way from a warehouse guard, back in the day. Took a sword right through the gut.
The tall man steps aside to let Alika and Nicoleta through, scratching his head. "The boss ordered you, huh?"
"Why don't you go ask him, Baldrago?" the fat one standing by the backdoor asks. "And I'll check them for weapons." He grins lecherously.
Baldrago nods, matching his companion's leer. "I'll do that, Malder. Don't be gentle either, need to be certain about it. In fact, I think I'll double check when I get back down." The tall man turns to leave while the fat one approaches.
Nicoleta looks disappointed for just a moment. "So you're not Verik? Damn, we could have had fun." She raises her arms to be searched and watches as the tall man leaves. "Make sure you don't miss a spot," she says to the fat one as he approaches.
As the large man's hands grope across her body, Nicoleta grins at him. "Now this should be simple, Malder. You can decide if you want to leave in a bag or walking. Alika, call the others." She meets his surprised expression and shows her teeth. "We're taking Verik. Whether we take you as well is entirely up to you."
Realizing that her threat sounded pretty lame, even to her own ears, the monk rolls her eyes. "F$@* this!" she grunts to herself.
She sinks a fist into the prodigious stomach which fails to do anything, but follows it up with a knee to the groin.
Noting that Nicoleta seems to be having a bad time, Alika quickly casts divine favor in preparation for more violence.
Party Buffs:
Alika HP: 15/15 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Alistair HP: 17/17 - AC: 16/14/12 Status:
Danni HP: 18/18 - AC: 13/12/11 Status:
Garran HP: 26/26 - AC: 17 (19 w/shield)/11/16 (18) Status:
Nicoleta HP: 15/15 - AC: 17/17/12 Status:
________________________________
Order: Nicoleta (22), Alistair (18), Alika (10), Garran (6) Danni (4), Malder (3)
In the surprise round, Alika casts divine favor.
Alika unlocks the door and throws it open while hoping that Nicoleta can hold off the guards.
"How's it feeling have hands where they shouldn't be, Fatso?" Nicoleta snarls with a grin as she slaps and kicks at the man.
Danni's hawk sends her sort of a confused emotion as the door closes behind the two ladies. It's the hawk equivalent of 'uh-oh.' Danni moves as quickly as she can to the door, hoping that she'll be able to help when the time comes.
Once Alika throws the door open, Garran is moving as quickly as he can. Once inside, he moves to grab the guard and keep him from going up the stairs.
As he does, he says, ”Your best hope of getting out of this alive is to keep quiet and surrender.”