"I would hate to accidentally break something inside it. We can bring it with us, but I guess we haven't found anything that tells us where Vencarlo might be. Why were these assassins here? Do we know who else in the area they might be associated with? Maybe they kidnapped him for some reason."
"Or I can disassemble the desk with less .... final means," Absinthe says in a stuffy tone, as she brings out her carpentry kit.
"Lets carry the lockbox with us until we run across the key."
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"I would be surprised if you can disassemble the lockbox, but anything is worth a try. I'm fine carrying the lockbox for now, but where are we going?"
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2 potion vials, 3 flasks of alchemist's fire, 3 sawtooth sabres, 2 leather armors, 8 daggers, 2 dark red cloaks and their mantis masks. The potions, armor, cloaks and masks radiate magic.
"Sorry, just making sure the water elemental doused everything," says Melianthe, appearing, noting the lockbox, and then puttering around the Red Mantis items while speaking to herself in arcane tongues. Her scorpion appears and crawls over her head and shoulders as she does.
Melianthe frowns and also scans about where the blood mist was. "What in the Nine Hells was their little death trick? I think they died, but why turn into mist? Maybe to prevent necromantic things, I suppose."
Melianthe spends some time with the Red Mantises' gear, carefully identifying their magical properties.
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So, where are we off to next? I must admit I had not thought our mission through beyond this point.
"We've the rest of this building to scout out yet. Let's move."
"This is troublesome.... We need clues. Let us focus on cracking open this lockbox. If we find nothing there, we should see if there are any people still living in the neighbourhood who might know where Vencarlo went."
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"I can give you the Fortune Hex, Abby, but that still may not do it." Melianthe gazes down at the box. "It could contain something delicate...perhaps Segang's expertise is best used elsewhere."
Jarha offers Absinthe his thieves tools, an unusual and very fine set in a small leather case with Osiriani markings. "These have gotten me into some pretty well secured places, although your tools also look very well made."
"One thanks you for the offer, anyway, Jarha," Absinthe says. "All help is appreciated."
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I am going on travel for work tomorrow through Thursday and then directly to Dragon Con for the weekend. I'll have my laptop and will try to keep up through Thursday but after that my time will likely be eaten by the con. Will be home late Monday September 4. Bot me as needed.
The wand's magic boosts Absinthe's dexterity just enough that she can master the tiny and complex lock. After a few minutes of focused effort, you are rewarded with a satisfying click as the lockbox opens.
Inside is a small leather bag that appears to be empty until you glance inside. Within is an extra-dimensional pocket, a bag of holding! Stored inside the magic bag is a footlocker of painted black metal. Happily, it is not locked (or trapped), and it holds a very specific set of equipment: a black hooded cloak, several black masks, a dozen masterwork daggers engraved with a stylized "B" on their pommels, an exquisite mithral rapier, a black suit of leather armor with matching boots and gloves, and a silver amulet. All but the masks and daggers radiate magic.
You recognize the armor and weapons of Blackjack immediately!
Jarha's eyes open wide at the discovery and he mutters quietly, "So Vencarlo is Blackjack?! I suppose that makes some sense." He gingerly fingers the items in the trunk and comments, "It's a good thing the Red Mantis folks did not find this trunk. Do you think they knew about Vencarlo? Have they kidnapped him? I don't see anything here that gives any clue where Vencarlo might be..."
"While one agrees this is .... interesting, and all, it is not useful," Absinthe sighs as she tucks everything back into the footlocker, pushes it into the bag of holding and puts that in her pack. "We will have to investigate the remains of those two assassins again, then if we cannot find any clues there, canvas the area."
"We will have to investigate the remains of those two assassins again..."
As you watch, the blood mist that surrounded the Red Mantis blooms, disintegrating the assassin's body and leaving behind only his equipment. You look back at the first dead assassin and see the same happened to him half a minute ago.
"Cherias would enjoy this news greatly," says Melianthe, her eyes twinkling at the sight of Blackjack's paraphernalia.
Melianthe examines each in turn, then startles. 'Oh, um, of course we are returning these to Vencarlo. I was merely curious."
The daggers seems to be as much calling cards as useful weapons. Segang muses. And white I agree that Vencarlo is Blackjack, or was blackjack, we now have everything we might need to have one of us become Blackjack, if we wanted to do that. And what better way to throw off any head directed at Vencarlo than to have Blackjack show up if he is captive somewhere or otherwise observed. I for one think the armor would fit Absinthe well.
"As long as we agree to give it back to Vencarlo, if he is alive and able to receive his items," says Melianthe, nodding. "Absinthe, you'd make a fine Blackjack for a spell."
The Tiefling hesitates for a moment, but then nods.
"Under these conditions, yes. One is willing to play the role. However, one would voice one's concern that any contacts of the real Blackjack might become hostile, should we encounter them and one fails to give the correct passwords. Moreover, those who seek Blackjack in the chaos of Old Korvosa may also become hostile, albeit more immediately...."
Absinthe shrugs. "Ah, well. Same old, same old. One shall change -- if given a moment of privacy."
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After a few moments in a side room -- provided she can find one -- Absinthe -- or rather, 'Blackjack' returns.
"I had to stuff the noses of these boots with rags," she says in a soft, velvet voice which sounds quite different from the usual. "Otherwise, these clothes are a reasonably decent fit. How do I look?"
The figure now resembling the hero of the people makes a slightly sarcastic twirl.
I hope we have the chance to give the gear back to Vencarlo, even though he is aging and might not want it back. But for now I think the city needs its Blackjack to give it hope.
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After Absinthe's transformation into Blackjack, you take another pass through Vencarlo's home but are unable to turn up any clues to his present whereabouts. Frustrated, you head back out into the Old Korvosa streets, considering where to go next.
Just after you exit the home, a shadow detaches from an adjacent alley and walks hurriedly towards you. He holds his hands up, non-threatening, and calls to you in a loud whisper. He is a young man, wearing a tatty cloak that only just hides the quality of his clothing and the fine dagger on his belt. Even these, however, are torn and dirty.
"My friends, I'm so happy it is you!" The mixture of relief and delight is clear on his face.