Absinthe reaches out, grabs Melianthe's shoulder and freezes. In complete silence, she raises a finger to her lips and continues to hold position.
While she does not move a muscle, the tiefling feels a stirring in her blood and bones, as her ancestral magic responds to the potential need for flight.
Melianthe freezes as well, her ears still ringing with the clatter of the pitchfork and not hearing a thing.
,unless since time doesn't matter we can take 20?
Thinking the coast is clear, or at least reset, Seren secures himself quietly with rope and then sets to attempting to dislodge the lock and open the shutter just a crack so he can see in.
Melianthe points to herself and then to the ground as a 'staying put' sign, then to Absinthe and indicates she should continue. She shrugs an apology.
Absinthe nods, leans over and whispers two words in Melianthe's pointed ear: "Be careful."
The next moment, the tiefling creeps onward.
Melianthe nods, trying to look brave. She looks for a place to hide in the room, and listens carefully as Absinthe departs.
Segang, already impatient and growing worried, begins to move towards the front of the building.
"Not yet, Segang. Give them some more time. I'm as anxious as you are, but we don't want to mess this up for them. It may endanger them more. "
In silence, Absinthe brings out her tools and sets to work on the bar. She uses several thin rods of metal, slipping them through the crack between the two door panels. Maybe, with luck...
I worry that we are too far away should they need us Demitri. Perhaps we could stroll by...
"If we get too close, we might give them away. We have to trust them."
Frowning with displeasure, Absinthe ghosts back to Melianthe and gestures upwards, in Seren's general direction, then cocks her head as if to ask 'Want to try it?'
Seren will listen again and then very slowly inch the shutter open.
Melianthe shakes her head. She mimics the muscles of Segang and then mimes breaking down the front door.
As you creep the shutter open, you see a shadow shift in the room.
"Who is there? What do you think you're doing?" a man shouts.
"Well it looks like you get your wish. Let's go."
*sigh* "Hardly the elegant approach I was hoping for."
"It seems the stealthy aproach is out," Absinthe says with a sigh, and she draws her rapier. "Steel out, spells to mind..."
"Would you rather just stand out here with the two of us, Rosa?"
"I know when I'm whipped," Rosa responds, uncurling her whip and advancing towards the shop....
"I guess few people know better than you." Demitri follows her.
Segang chuckles at the banter but has a worried look on his face. He runs.
Quickly and quietly climb to the top of the roof. Ensure the rope is still secured to the roof top and hold it in one hand, rapier in the other. Hide and wait for the inside person's action before deciding to act.
Melianthe utters arcane words and makes a gesture.
Melianthe casts her spell while Absinthe draws her rapier and waits for trouble.
Segang runs towards the store front, Rosa and Demitri a dozen paces behind.
Atop the building, Seren quietly scales up to the second roof and hides atop the penthouse.
Demitri will just double move closer on his turn.
Can I see the others rushing the house. If there is a chance they can see me as well, ill hold up my hand to stall them.
Rosa is moving a bit more cautiously herself, deciding this might be bad enough to take out her dagger as well.
If Segang sees Seren he slows to a walk. If not me moves to the door and tries it.
As you back off and wait, the window Seren was poking around opens. A young, dark-haired man pokes his head out enough to scan the street. He then quickly secure the shutters and the window.
"Thieves, I think... trying to get at the meat," another responds from upstairs.
"Uh huh."
Silently cursing, Seren shimmies back down to Absinthe.
"Not gonna get thru the penthouse quietly. 1 man up there alone though. He whispers. He then moves to Segang and the others to tell them the same.
If required,
"Front door, then."
"One of them thinks us thieves, here to steal their merchandise," Absinthe says, a smile flickering across her face. "The other sentry he spoke to seems... unconvinced. But yes, the cat is out of the bag and the goat well and truly out of the stable."
"Well kicking down the door it is then. I'd be lying if I said I didn't prefer it that way."
Segang only smiles as he moves towards the front door.
"Bluff, Absinthe. Tell them we are health inspectors. They may pause for a moment."
"Actually, this may be my specialty." Rosa smiles sweetly. "Not that Absinthe is incapable..." She steps up to the door and knocks. When she speaks she raises the pitch of her voice a bit, sounding like (almost) a different person. "Royal Health Service! Open up in the name of His - er, I mean, Her Majesty!"
Seren looks at Absinthe. "What say we go work on that side door lock while she distracts them? Good chance to flank."
Either way, he melts into the shadows.
or not ... Really should Take 10 on these.