"Assuming we can spot our "recipient" alone, delivering the message will be most easily done.
We do after all possess an item dedicated to delivering messages.
Should we be able to find a slightly higher elevation we may be able to spot the room and make sure that he is alone."
Who knows the area? Are there trees?
"I can deal with dogs. If we stop by a butcher shop on the way I can get something to bribe them with."
"It may not be necessary, though it is better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it.
Ideally, once he receives the message, he may be able to leave the confines of compound and meet us with no trouble at an opportune time."
Idril wrapped a scarf over her hair and stooped a little, as if she were older that she was.
Nio follows along quietly, trusting his magic to mask his identity while he keeps his eyes peeled for any useful bits of information.
With the initial scouting, you find the west gate to the estate (which faces the district border wall) is actually very well hidden from the rest of the district. Though patrol frequency appears to be close to doubled. You should have ample time to do whatever you decide to do to gain entry.
Unfortunately, (apart from the main gate on the East side) the hedges inside the estate walls are too thick to see the grounds. Only the second floor is visible.
Idril nods her agreement with Indio's proposed action.
Clouds roll in, and there is a light mid-morning rain. After trekking across Kintargo again.. paying your toll at Bleakbridge, you all enter the Greens District. Beyond that, you make you way around the estate toward the west gate.
Master of the shadows, Stricia is but a shade flitting over the cobblestones.
Idril changes her hair and rearranges her scarves, cloak and clothing to better 'belong' in the neighborhood.
You see the second floor, but not much else through the vine covered wrought iron fence, and the high and thick hedges lining the interior.
Looking for where Marquel's room might be, there are a couple windows that could match the crude map Captain Sargaeta gave to you.
After Indio releases the silver raven bearing the message, you see it fly to a second story window lightly flapping up against it until it opens. You wait in the light drizzle of rain for several minutes before the raven returns. This time it bears a response.
“Message received, but I cannot leave on my own. I shall
await your escort this midnight, and shall arrange to leave
the western gate unlocked for your convenience. Take care
to mind father’s devilish hound. My quarters, to which I am
confined, shall be lit by two red candles.”
"Hmmm, this gives us a scant few hours to prepare.
Let us retreat for now, I can see little use in remaining here needlessly and draw attention to ourselves."
A devil hound, and the second story. We will need to pacify or distract the outsider dog and then climb up and help him down.
"Ah. Not a 'dog,' then. We'll likely have to do something other than feed it some treats."
Though I am loathe to split the party, perhaps a distraction on one side of the manse to draw the hound while others retrieve Marquel?
"We should perhaps wait to discuss too much of our plan in public, curious ears might hear..."
...Hm. I do have Disguise self and Expeditious Retreat. Perhaps...I could assist with the distraction.
"Hmm. Like a loud domestic dispute in the middle of the street? Or a crashed wagon full of oil barrels on fire?" Idril speculated aloud.
You make your way across the city again... crossing Bleakbridge, and passing into Old Kintargo as the light rain ceases. There, in the southwest corner of the district, you come to the charred ruins of the Lucky Bones. There is little more than rubble, a tangle of timbers, and three partially collapsed brick fireplaces.
As Nio leads you toward one of the fireplaces (where the hidden entrance was told to be), you hear humming.. and see what appears to be a drunken sailor staggering in your direction from the opposite alleyway, singing an old Chelish sailor’s song in a terrible off-key voice as he stumbles along.
“She promised meeee!
To faithful beeeee!
But all that changed by 'hic' morning
I went a-deck
'Hic'
A drunken wreck!
Her new red smile, a waaaarning."
He rights his sailor's hat with the hand holding his open bottle.. it pours a shot's worth across his brim as he nods to you.. he then looks up to the clouds as he sees the dripping. His other hand rests on the pommel of his cutlass. The unshaven man smiles - more gaps than teeth....
"Good day good day.. heh.. the rain's returned, aye?" He looks around teetering with a sluggish gaze. "But no shelter here... t'would appear."
"Good afternoon, sir." Nio nods in the direction of the Lucky Bones' charred ruins. "You come here a lot?"
A suspicious sort, Stricia gives the drunken sailor a once over.
'Hic '... "Afternoon... can't say so truly, no. Just on a stroll for a spot to have a drink. What brings you lot out this way?" 'hic '
He is not drunk, he is assessing our capabilities Stricia hisses to the rest of the group. We may be ambushed.
"Oh, the same. Out for an afternoon constitutional. Taking in the sights." Nio nods at the ruins. "What happened here?"
Hardly unexpected, but we are a group rather large for a simple robbery, there MAY be more to this than meets the eye.
The sailor starts to grin as he hears Stricia, then wider as Nio tries "acting natural". He suddenly tosses his bottle in your direction, and reaches under his jacket... the action reveals a pistol on the hip opposite his cutlass.
Round 1
With a fading arpeggio, Idril casts Vanish and disappears from sight.
Idril moves directly North five squares as quietly as she can, her bladed scarf falling into her hands like an old friend.
The drunken sailor levels his pistol at Erodel, and fires into his chest. He immediately brings his cutlass around to hack at Erodel's side.
Stricia immediately moves forward to stand next to Erodel (and flank with Idril) and attempt to grapple the enemy.
Attacking the "sailor" seemed pointless, instead Indio drew his blade and began to look around for the "sailors" friends who were no doubt about to descend on the party.
"Get him, boy!" Hasta dashes forward, quick as lightning, sweeping past Erodel's right side to bite at the sailor's flank. Nio, meanwhile, takes a few steps past Bastargrae to get a clear shot then fires a flurry of arrows at the their target.
Why would one guy try to pick on all of us together? she wondered.
Idril almost reacted to the pistol shot, but she held her hands still (thus also keeping her Vanish invisibility for now).
... unless the shot was a signal?
She began to observe her surroundings, suspicious of other ambushers.
Why would one guy try to pick on all of us together? she wondered.
Idril almost reacted to the pistol shot, but she held her hands still (thus also keeping her Vanish invisibility for now).
... unless the shot was a signal?
She began to observe her surroundings, suspicious of other ambushers.
Huhn; guess we're clear...