DM
Anton smiles gently, bringing her in for a comfoting hug. "Rest assured, my love, I would never dare risk losing you by being murdered." His arm slips away from her, grasping her arms, as he looks into her eyes. "Perhaps," he continues, "it would be best to stay with you, even should the inn reopen for guests. With you, I already feel a part of this town rather than a mere visitor. Of course," he pauses, "I would hate to inconvenience you any, and I'll be sure to help out in any way I can."
He pauses in thought. "I hear a performance troupe 'Ye Merrie Men' will be coming through town. Perhaps I can get a job with them, as a background performer, while they are here."
His eyes return their focus upon her. "But that is for later. Come, let us give the tavern guests a performance to bring them out of the darkness that these foul events have stained them with."
"But that is for later. Come, let us return home," he says, trying the word on for size.
Dane will continue his cautious pursuit of Captain Mott until the the sun begins to set. After which he returns to the inn and eats dinner separate from the others.
As the night wears on, Mordesel returns to his rooms early. There he waits for the inn to go quiet.
As the guards trickle back in Mordesel curses under his breath. He waits a bit longer to hear if the guards stay through the night.
Mordesel curses again, then makes his way back to bed. It would seem that tonight is not the night.
Dane attends to himself, quietly keeping tabs on others in the party, but not interacting with them. Once the night passes again, Dane decides to begin his search once more with perhaps a little more finesse than before. Wrapping up one of his furs in some paper and twine (which he purchases in the market) Dane takes on a new persona. Out of sight, Dane changes his persona to once more be that of a younger man, but now going more for a spry man just out of his adolescence. Wandering through town with his freshly wrapped package in tow, Dane plays the role of a lost delivery boy, with a package for "Kaitlyn Mott."
Anton stays with Yalana for the duration, continuing his work. During the day he'll gather information to see if reinforcements are coming or other changes to the castle routine. All the while he keeps his ears open for word on Ye Merrie Men, hoping they have not been diverted due to the recent situation.
Dane, having traced her as far as the castle, contentedly leaves the actual approach of the Balentyne Keep for another time. The package was a ruse to find her whereabouts, not to actually meet her.
Late at night, Dane approaches the room Mordesel was using before the fiasco, and knocks on the door.
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Durova is willing to wait another couple of nights to see if the guards go back to a more normal routine.
Mordesel comes to the door of his room, feigning groginess as he cracks the door. Yes? Seeing Dane in the disguise he'd been wearing, Mordesel's face quickly banishes all trace of sleep and he pets up and down the hall, making sure it is empty before quickly ushering the man in.
Stepping inside quickly, Dane's old, weathered face furrows and he speaks in a low voice. "So, I'm not sure what you've managed to hear about town, but let's catch you up to speed shall we?"
The old man stretches and moves in a way that suggests that he's not near as old as he looks. "Of the scouts who pursued me, I managed to slay eleven of them, including Captain Varning. Between the them and Eddarly's lot, I've defeated fifteen, two of them Captains. But now I need to get into the castle and make another strike. Plan to cause some havoc and kidnap Mott's wife, hopefully kill Mott while we're at it. If he survives though, it's another chance to destroy another scouting party in the wilderness. But I need help for the initial attack. When can you And the others be ready to strike?" The exposition comes out in a determined rush as Dane tries to close his dealings with the party swiftly.
"We are always ready to strike. I've had enough of this hiding these last few days. My sword aches for fresh blood."
"It's time to make our first foray, I think. First we need to decide exactly what we hope to accomplish tonight. Are we going for the rookery? I still have these five doses of arsenic, if we happen to find the kitchen along the way."
"I would say the rookery be our primary target and that we should forego all else until it is destroyed. Unless we are recognized or seen coming out of the tunnel. I would prefer the alarm not be sounded prior to completing that little task. Without communication, they would not be able to summon reinforcements."
"As for the arsenic, that would depend on its effects. If it affects them too swiftly and it is understood to be poison, they may become aware of it and take steps, meaning it would only affect small numbers. If it doesn't kill them, and we apply it too early, then they may be better by the time the assault is to occur."
Perception
Stealth
Durova also has his Invisibility spell he will save for possible discovery.
In reply to Sion, Dane lets out a low chuckle. "Yes, my blade sings to be slaked once more. It's a shame you couldn't join me earlier."
In reply to Durova, Dane offers a different suggestion. "If I understand correctly, Arsenic is a poison distributed for pest control because it has an extremely easy to detect bitter taste, making it difficult to poison something that isn't a stupid beast." Looking at the map, Dane taps his finger on it. "Here, any good fortification has a water source that can't be accessed from the outside, a well, or at the least, a river that flows from the back of the defenses. Elsewise it's too easy for the besiegers to block the water flow or poison it long before approach. I'm guessing that this is their source. Diluting the poison in the water is much less likely to raise suspicions, as slightly bitter water is nothing unusual for groundwater."
As Anton speaks, Dane nods, "If we do raise an alarm, we should change our disguises near every other room. Should make it hard for the guards to discern whom they're attacking, give disorder to the ranks. But we'll need a way to keep ourselves known as ourselves to each other, perhaps we all mimic that Mitra symbol we got off that sod Balin? Use that as a way to know ourselves as our own?"
"I wonder if they use that water regularly or save it for emergencies. Still, any effect caused by the poison that may be easily recognizable may prevent many from being affected, and if it doesn't last until the main event, it's meaningless."
He nods at Dane's suggestion. "Makes sense, but my hope is that no alarm is raised. An alarm means it may be difficult to return to or reuse our means of entry."
Sion follows but isn't too helpful.
Durova takes off for the tunnel.
Anton moves for the tunnel, hoping the group gets through and closes it before the innkeeper takes notice.
Dane follows along as quick as he can, following the group.
"Who has the map? Where do we go first?"
"We enter in the base of the tower, it's an armory and their forge, from there, it should be straight up to the rookery."
"I'm with you. To the rookery first. After we dispose of that, are we to immediately head back out? We don't need to get disorganized in there. Or is there another goal we could try and accomplish tonight?"
With a smirk, Dane replies. "I believe Ms. Mott is inside the castle at the moment. If we kidnap her and I go on another merry traipse through the countryside? We may be able to lure Mott into an ambush and rid the town of another Captain, if he doesn't pursue, then moral shall surely plummet as the town and its people realize how helpless to respond their Watchwall is."
Anton frowns back towards the entrance. "Let's hope the innkeeper believes he was hearing things and not that anyone entered his little tunnel."
"The rookery first. I care little for this Ms. Mott, but if she is easily accessible and will not expose us immediately, then by all means. Unless you plan to leave by another means, which may be necessary if the innkeeper has sounded some kind of alarm. We may want to consider alternate exits."
"As we are passing through the armory, we could always attempt some sabotage or theft of their forge and armaments."
"At least everyone will be sleeping. The quietest of us should go up the stairs first to check for guards."