Motioning for Twilight to go before her, Mirela and Whisper take up positions in the back watching for anyone who might be watching them going in or trying to sneak up behind while Artegall searches ahead.
Assuming she sees nothing concerning, If everyone else goes in, she will enter last, pulling the door shut behind her.
Artegall will move into the room and look down the hall.
He will listen at the northern door as well as check it. If he hears nothing and sees no traps, he will open it.
@GM, I opened the northern door in the post above.
Twilight entered the room at Mirella's urging. While Artegall investigated the mundane aspects of the house, she began examining the abode for magical phenomena.
Nargun lets the magic caster do their tricks.
If someone attacks, they would have to get throught him first.
Many have tried.
Not much had succeeded.
None has survived.
The group checks the rooms down the hallway. First, just off the foyer is a well-stocked workshop for decorating and repairing bladed weapons. Several partially repaired daggers and rapiers lie on the table. None are particularly valuable.
Next, the hallway door on the right by the stairs contains a freestanding bathtub and a toilet.
Across the hallway to the south is a study, where single leather chair sits at a desk, while two tall cabinets filled with books about sword fighting and philosophy stand to the east. The papers on the desk are mostly accounting documents and ledgers for Vencarlo’s academy. It appears that up until the death of King Eodred II, Vencarlo’s academy was doing rather well, but then business turned bad as students failed to show and Vencarlo took an increasing number of breaks from teaching.
Last across from the stairs and just before the living room is a room for food and water, although the small amount of perishable food has gone bad.
At the end of the hall, a pair of large, comfortable sofas face a cold brick fireplace.
Stairs lead up just past the bathroom.
Upstairs or do we search the desk and bookshelf for ‘idden notes?
Artegall searches the desk and bookshelf for hidden notes as Mirela suggests.
He continues to check the ground for footprints as he moves.
"Nargun, guard these stairs, would you?"
Once Nargun is in place, Artegall then moves to the living room to search it, including inside the chimney of the fireplace.
Nargun nods and walks toward the stairs, not yet eager for a fight... but waiting.
His big axe, of course, is ready to strike
The two tall cabinets in the study are filled with books about sword fighting and philosophy. The papers on the desk are mostly accounting documents and ledgers for Vencarlo’s academy. It appears that up until the death of King Eodred II, Vencarlo’s academy was doing rather well, but then business turned bad as students failed to show and Vencarlo took an increasing number of breaks from teaching.
As far as the investigator can tell, the home has been abandoned since around the time Kroft said she received Vencarlo's last letter. His sharp eye notices a few smears in the otherwise untouched dust and subtle scuffs in the woodwork that tell him someone has been in the house since then but he doesn't catch anyone hiding under a desk or up the chimney.
"Lets check upstairs then. Maybe there is a clue where he might have gone."
Twilight peered up the stairs before motioning Nargun to join her as she carefully ascended.
Mirela and Whisper watch the others backs. As they make thir way upstairs.
Artegall will follow Twilight and Nargun up the stairs.
The stairs lead up into an open room set up to train and practice sword fighting. Practice dummies stand in the western corners, to either side of a brick fireplace. The fireplace is cold and dark, as down below. The ceiling is 14 feet high, with exposed rafters giving the room an open feel.
The only door off the training room leads to a well lived-in bedroom. The bed is made and hasn’t been slept in recently. A desk and chair sit next to the bed, and a small clothes closet is to the north.
No signs of a struggle at least. Mirela says as she looks over the room.
Artegall will search the training room, the fireplace, and the bedroom for any clues, tracks, or hidden items.
Nothing seems out of place in the training area except for the same faint traces Artegall can see that someone has been in here since Vencarlo left. In the bedroom, though, the canny investigator finds a hidden panel in the east wall of the closet. The panel itself isn't locked and opening it reveals a small compartment containing a metal iron lockbox.
"I think I can open this when we have time. It would be much easier with my armor off, but I don't wish to take the risk at this time - someone has been here recently. They could be still watching the place."
"Let's see what's inside."
If Artegall can get Blessing of the Faithful and Guidance from Twilight, that is a net +16 Disable Device after counting ACP.
Twilight bestowed the Lady's blessings on Artegall, The faint yellow glow suffused the crafty constable. A smile crept across the corner of her mouth as the safe gave a satisfying click and popped open under Artegall's manipulations.
The curious priestess peered over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the safe's contents.
Artegall expertly opens the excellently crafted lock. Inside is a bag of holding (type I) that contains a black hooded cloak of elvenkind, several black masks, a dozen masterwork daggers with a stylized “B” engraved in their pommels, a black leather suit of +2 slick leather armor, a pair of black leather boots of elvenkind, an amulet of proof against detection and location, a pair of black leather gloves of swimming and climbing (with two fingers in the right hand containing fake, adjustable wooden fingers), and an exquisite +2 keen mithral rapier.
It proved what some of them already thought- Vencarlo Orsini really was the the famous folk hero Blackjack. Or had been, if his absence here meant he was dead.
Well that do be confirming this I guess... We knew 'e did be closely associated with With Trina being 'ere. But this seals the knowledge. Do we lock this back up until we do be knowing what 'appened to Vencarlo? I don't be thinking we want to take and use this now. The personality and outfit of blackjack could be very useful in the future if we need to be turning the city against the Queen.
"I think we should take the box with us. If he is alive, we can return these items to him. If he is dead, we can use these to continue the legacy of Blackjack. But leaving them here may mean some other curious person finds them.
And some of the items we can use. Maybe not the cloak and masks, but I don't think the boots, amulet, or gloves would be recognized as those of the Blackjack. There are many sets of black boots in the world. Maybe the rapier would be recognized, as it is quite distinctive. But it's not as if the Blackjack stood still among crowds and let spectators get a close look at his belongings. I certainly wouldn't look to try to sell them, but use them ourselves? Possibly.
Where to now, though? Do we go back to House Arkona, and see if they know anything about Vencarlo Orsini or Seneschal Kalepopolis? Or should we track down this 'Emperor' - I believe the Arkona guards said his name was 'Pilt'. He may have heard rumors if he has amassed a following.
Somebody had been here recently, somebody very stealthy. I only saw faint traces. Not sure what conclusions to draw from that - they could be in the employ of the Queen, the Arkonas, this Emperor, or Orsini himself."
I don't be all that excited to see this 'Emperor', so I would vote to talk to House Arkona. That seems like the most logical place to 'old up if you are in this area.
If nothing else it will be giving us a better idea what to expect if we do be going to see this Emperor.
Twilight's eyes sparkled, finding such secrets tantalized the Callistrian. "I agree, we should take these for now before anyone else finds them. In fact, Orsini's secret will be more secure since if we are caught with these items we will end up the ones linked to Blackjack."
"I am good with talking to House Arkona and seeing if they know anything more about Orsini's disappearance or who else might be looking for him. But we still need to be cautious. From what Artegall said they may have a veneer of civility and legitimacy, but they are still an organization of questionable repute underneath."
Then should we head out?
Mirela looks out the nearest window trying to see if there is anyone lurking around outside, or any guards in sight.
"Agreed. Let's be on our way."
He takes a look out another window.
Artegall notices someone furtively making their way across the street toward the house, looking both ways like he's worried about being spotted. He is a young man, in his mid-twenties, with short reddish hair, a few days stubble on his face, and in dirty and rumpled but expensive looking clothes.
"Someone out there. Doesn't seem to be all that accomplished at sneaking around if I could see him from this distance. Mid-twenties, red hair, dirty but fancy clothes. See him?
I suppose we should flank the doorway, surprise him when he comes in, and ask his business."
Artegall moves down to the ground floor and takes up a position beside the door.
Mirela heads to the top of the stairs but stays just out of view of the front door. Then she knocks an arrow so that she can step into view and be ready to support Artegall with her arrows if the needed.
After a few seconds there's a soft knocking at the door. Given then position of the door no one can see the man as he knocks. "Hello? Open, please? I saw you go in. Hello?"
Artegall will sheathe his sword and open the door.
"Who are you?"
"Amin Jalento." He nods inside Vencarlo's house. "I'm a student of the maestro." Amin looks nervously out at the street. "May I come in?"
Artegall tries to judge if the man is sincere.
Presuming that he detects no deception, he will nod. "Come in."
Nargun lowers his axe.
What do you do here?
The ragged looking nobleman ducks inside, closing the door behind him. He glances at Nargun and Mirela by the stairs. "I wasn't able to get home once they shut down the bridges. I was staying at the Academy but after it got burned down I started squatting in that house over there across the street."
"Are you looking for the maestro? He hasn't been here for a few days."
Mirela steps down the stairs with her bow pointed down at the ground.
Do you know where he went, or how the academy burned down?
Amin shakes his head. "I was hoping you knew where he was. He hasn't been here for days." He gestures back over his shoulder in the direction of the ruined Academy. "The people who burned down the Academy might have finally gotten him. They were wearing these strange suits of armor, red, with bug heads. But they moved like lightning. We fought them off and the maestro took one of them down but there were too many. We fled and the Academy burned that same night."
Mirela tries to think if red armor with bug heads matches any cult or religion she knows.
It took a few moments before Twilight recognized the young man. She smiled warmly and got him a chair to sit down before the questions started.
Poking about for a drink to offer him she inquired "red armour with bug heads? That doesn't sound like the Grey Maidens. Could the queen have another private division of spies and assassins? Maidens for muscle work and bug heads for subtler missions?"
Finding a bottle she uncorked it and poured Amin a glass. "You escaped with the maestro that night. Why did you part ways? Did he mention where he was going or what he was going to do?"
Amin shrugged. "He said he only has the one bed." The ragged looking nobleman gestured at the door. "The house over there, the owners are either stuck on the other side of the bridge or got caught up in the riots. I'd much rather sleep on a bed than a couch."
"He didn't say where he was going but we talked and I saw him coming or going sometimes. One night at dinner he had a bandage on his neck and bruises on his face. He said he had to fight off a mugger, but what kind of mugger could have done that to the maestro?"
"I do know he was meeting with this painter, Salvator Scream. Scream visited at least three times since the bridges were closed. They must be friends. I have a friend who commissioned a Scream- he said the painter lives in the Old Dock. I was thinking about going there myself to check for the maestro but I don't think I'd make it through the Emperor's mobs."
Artegall recognizes the armor (and will share what he knows with the party so no need to spoiler).
"Thank you, Amin. We now have a lead - go to the Old Dock, through the Emperor's mobs if need be.
What about you? Do you think you will be able to find a safe place to hide?"
Amin nods. "I've been safe enough. The mobs don't come through here. The real trouble is finding food that isn't going bad. But I'll manage. The Emperor's people are crazy, though. You look tough but there are a lot of them. Be careful."
"Thank you Amin, you take care as well."
"So, about the Emperor's territory. I don't expect that there will be lamplighters still out under these circumstances, it might be worth the effort to head to the docks under cover of darkness." A look of concern crossed her face "That is if Mirela is fine with it" she added remembering that of the group, the huntress would have the most difficulty at night.
Twilight made a mental note to explore a way to share with Mirela the same nightvision or darkvision that the rest of the group enjoyed.
It will be dark, so I won’t be much ‘elp spotting things…. ‘Owever Whisper she will be able to be seeing just fine so she can guild me. And I do be ‘aving my Ioun Stone I can use if we get in a fight…. So I can be dealing with the darkness if you all think it do be best to go now.
Amin nodded and left, carefully checking up and down the street before heading back outside. Mobs or not, it still paid to be wary on this side of the bridges.
Artegall recognized the description of the armor as that of the nearly-legendary Red Mantis assassins, a group both feared and renowned among those in the know as the deadliest killers that can be hired to do one's dirty work. He knows they are both expensive and hard to contact, so whoever had sent them here must have serious resources. They are not the kind of people you would encounter at random.
Artegall shares what he knows about the Red Mantis Assassins.
"If they were after Orsini, and we are after him too, then we may cross paths with these assassins.
Let's not be cowed. They can't be all that good if they had to attack in overwhelming numbers. If they were as good as their reputation would lead you to think, one Red Mantis alone would have sufficed.
Generally, assassins prefer to strike from the shadows, or use poison.
Of course we will try to remain on our guard and be observant, as we always do, but we should also be very careful if offered any food or drink. Twilight, Mirela, can either of you prepare Detect Poison when we next have the opportunity? And use it liberally?
We can also think about how to bait the Red Mantis into moving against us before they are ready. Make them be hasty."
You're way more perceptive than I am, so find them and I'll kill them. But I agree than fighting them on our terms would be better. I guess it won't be easy. Maybe as long as they don't know we know they are around, we have some advantage. I guess assassin are used to quick fights, when they already have the upper hand. In a prolonged fight, they will be weaker.
They can't be all that good if they had to attack in overwhelming numbers. If they were as good as their reputation would lead you to think, one Red Mantis alone would have sufficed.
Twilight smiled mischievously "Let's not sell the maestro short now, maybe its his skill we are underestimating. But it is an unfortunate problem.
I wonder if they are watching this house even now, waiting to see if Amin was inclined to try and find his master and follow him?" The keen half elf paused for a moment in thought. "Could Whisper track Orsini? Maybe not from here to the docks considering the time, but we do have plenty of his stuff here for scent. Perhaps once we get to the docks we might be able to find a more recent trail to follow if he is still active there? Lets see if there is any unwashed laundry around and then head out at dusk."