Ophelia smiles at the guard, thank you, sir. Odd, this is a working butcher shop. I wonder what those two are ordering.
She'll make her way in, browsing for anything out of the ordinary while attempting to listen to what the others are ordering.
If you want that, take it and go. the guard says nodding to the last pieces of meat hanging in the window.
The woman who was waiting, hurries over and shoos away the flies before grabbing the cuts hanging in the window and departing.
That's all for today! the guard calls out, the implication, is clear that you are all expected to depart. Try again tomorrow. The last is said with a tone more of leave now than come back again.
This can't be the right place.
Ophelia flashes a smile to the guard, I was hoping to purchase some of that cheese.
She turns her attention to the butcher and tries to imitate pleading, I have a few coins.
Ophelia and Nik
Just two pinch [coppers] for such a pretty lass. The heavyset guard says, as he shifts in chainmail too small for his ample frame.
Trisane
You look down the narrow alleyway behind the butcher shop. It is crowded with crates and barrels and who knows what other trash. The buildings seem to merge together above the butcher shop. You can no longer distinguish the second floor of the butcher shop. Neighboring buildings and additions of the Shingles above, no doubt. At least the animals in the pens have seemed to settle down.
Rom lands on your should and looks up where you are staring. Again he says something in Varisian. He then pokes you with his beak and uses it to point up into the shingles where you were looking.
|
I think Rom is trying to tell me something...
Trisane whispers to Rom.
You trying to tell me to get on the roof, little guy?
Doesn't seem like there's anything down here but garbage. Maybe Rom knows of another way inside. I can't believe I'm taking orders from a bird... Here goes.
Trisane ducks into the alley and looks for a good concealed place to start climbing on the debris to get up into the Shingles near the butcher shop 2nd floor unnoticed.
Interesting, not just a guard then, if he's the one making deals
Ophelia smiles back at the guard, that is very kind of you. She drops two copper coins on the counter top, then turns back to the guard, I am Ophelia, and who may I thank for such generosity?
Trisane -
You start making your way up the crates, barrels and debris. The climb is surprisingly easy, and you are not making a sound, however, Rom hops up on a crate right in front of you and spreads his wings, all but blocking your view above. He hops back and forth squawking something in Varisian.
Nik -
Ophelia -
The guard smiles, the kind of smile that makes your skin crawl. Ophleia, that is a very pretty name. I am Malder. Haven't seen you here before. Are you new to Northpoint? I could show your around?
|
|
I should've known better... This bird is just a bird. Crazy.
Trisane whispers as he climbs.
Shush bird! Isn't this what you wanted? Go squawk at Nik if you need attention. I need to find out where these renegades are hiding.
He continues his ascent as quietly as he can and tries to ignore further distractions from Rom.
Nik must have seen enough, or Trisane's in trouble.
Ophelia looks to Nik, then back to the guard, I am new here and I'd love to take you up on the offer, but we must be going now. Will you be here later, if so, perhaps then?
After, she'll leave the shop and join Nik.
Ophelia leaves before Malder can reply, leaving him standing in the shop front with his jaw hanging open. She rushes after Nik. Nik is turning along the stockade fence.
Trisane continues to try and climb past Rom, but the raven is continually hopping in front of him keeping his wings open and squawking at Trisane. The climb would be easier without the bird blocking the way.
All - Perception checks.
Knowledge check to see what you know specifically.
Ophelia runs to catch up with Nik, then looks around face tu le vezi?
What you know about imps...
Generally, all of you would know they are annoying little devils, the students at the Academae summon them as a test and some get loose. A local population has grown. Fortunately, the local pseudodragons adapted and the offshoot known as House Drakes keeps the imp population in check. The two species have been known to engage in great aerial battles over the city.
Rom takes to the sky and quickly returns to land on Nik's shoulder for protection. Trisane hops down from the piled debris and draws a silvered light mace.
Ka taea e tatou e kite ia koutou, engari e kore koutou e kite i a matou .. ano! seems to echo in a squeakly little sing-songy voice.
Then the air grows still and time seems to freeze as you wait for the coming attack...then they are all around you, appearing as they strike.
There are two imps on each PC, Nik has a readied action to fire, so Nik is up, then the imps as they appear and then Ophelia and Trisane
Careful, they're invisible!
Ophelia takes out the wand of magic missles and points it at the closest imp, releasing its magic.
Nik sends a crossbow bolt into one of the tiny creatures as they appear. Leathery wings flap and barbed tails lash out at you.
Against Trisane
the barbed tails skid off of the armor and shield protecting Trisane.
Against Nik
Nik is struck twice.
Against Ophelia
Ophelia is struck one
Fortitude save DC 16 (poison) for each successful hit:
Ophelia uses her wand against the imp that hit her as it tries to dart away.
Ow! damn, those barbs sting
Ophelia will level the wand at the fleeing imp and release another magic missile at it.
The imps swirl around you, pressing their attacks.
Two attack Trisane:
One of the creatures strikes a solid blow with the stinger of his tail, and one misses.
One attacks Nik:
The creature strikes a solid blow with the stinger of his tail.
One attacks Rom, but misses:
Two attack Ophelia:
One creature strikes a solid blow with the stinger of his tail, and one misses.
Fortitude save DC 16 (poison) for each successful hit:
Trisane swings the mace in an arc, missing the swirling imps, but perhaps keeping them at bay.
Nik continues to strike home with his crossbow bolts, and clearly the silvered bolt strikes truer than the cold iron. Rom takes flight and tries to get away from the menacing little creatures.
Ophelia hits the imp again with another magic missile blast.
Perception check DC 15
obstupefacio Ophelia casts a spell at one of the imps, then moves back with the rest of the group.
They're healing faster than we can hurt them!
You stagger out into the city street, brightly lit in the sunshine of the afternoon. It seems like the dark muddy alleyway full of the buzzing imps was from a completely different place. As far as you know the imps have not followed you here. There are people moving about, but none seem bothered by your appearance, or troubled by imps.
They're not following?
Trisane, I think we're safe now, but lets move back a block just to be safe.
Ophelia glances around to be sure no one's listening before saying, We didn't find our friend, but we did see two other men. One was the butcher and another the guard. The guard's name is Malder, are you familiar with that name? We saw an active shop, they had limited selections of meat and cheese, but I swear they were giving it away. The couple people I saw before us didn't pay a single coin. It doesn't seem to be the place we're looking for.
Ophelia looks to Nik, Did you notice anything else?
|
Nik teeters a bit as he catches his breath.
Filthy buggers. No wonder our people hate these places.
Nik brushes himself off a bit but still seems shaken. Then he tries to smile at Ophelia.
I saw nothing more than you while there. I suspect there is more to the place than what we saw, but I also think taking the front door may be the best option. I don't relish heading into the back again.
Nik reaches into his shirt and touches his holy symbols. He makes sure no one else is around and says a small prayer.
Elk Father, we ask for your guidance and aid. Our community is small, but we are growing closer.
Are you okay, Nik? You don't look so good.
The imps really got to him.
|
|
Phew.. that was close. I hate those things.
Trisane takes a moment to catch his breath and make sure the others are ok.
Nik, Ophelia, are you alright? I should've known we'd run into imps eventually, nasty little creatures. I think Nik is right. Let's stay away from the back.
Trisane looks around briefly then over to Ophelia.
I'm not ready to give on this place yet. Commander Kroft gave us this lead and we should investigate it fully before moving on. I noticed there was an unlocked door on the west side just beyond the animal pens. We should try that instead of going back in the front.
Ophelia nods to Trisane, Right, let's give that door a try then. We'll need to avoid that area where the imps came from, as best we can. Lead on.
You pull the doors open slightly and peek inside. This section of the palisade actually has a crude roof, which only seems to trap the dust and smell of animal waste and "meat" from beyond. Two doors exit to the animal pens and another set of doors leads, presumably to the back of the butcher shop.
Perception Check - DC 12
After Trisane opens the door Opehlia whisper, ugh, that is disgusting...see anything?
|
|
hmm... I wonder if there's any way to find out whether these men in the next room are innocent or with Verik's renegades. Shouldn't harm any innocents and we need to take the renegades alive in any case.
Trisane takes several moments of deep thought to come up with a plan then whispers to his friends closely.
Alright. Here's what we'll do: Seems there's some people behind those inner doors working. We need a good reason to barge in there...
Ophelia met a guard named Malder. If he's one of the defect guards Commander Kroft mentioned, I'll use that lead and pose as a possible recruit for Vancaskerkin's gang, asking him to join. A seemingly corrupt Sable Company Marine should be hard to pass up. I'm usually not picked for undercover missions but I think it's worth a try. Remember we need captives not corpses. Can you two back me up?
|
|
Nik nods simply.
Lies weigh less on the spirits than bodies, so I'll follow that plan. Blessed Dreamer, watch over us.
Nik smiles after his prayer. Then he looks up at Rom.
Speaking of watching... Stai aici și să păstreze un ochi pentru noi. Iar dacă aceste dracusori josnice se întoarcă, acoperi off și lăsați emoțiile tale să vină la mine.
Then after a moment of thought.
Da. Eu îți voi aduce ceva de mâncare când ne întoarcem.
Rom taps on the wood post with his claws.
Pazeste-ti spatele? Riscul de a fi singur cu dracusorilor? Mai bine să fie o sărbătoare.
I can't think of a better idea, sounds like it's worth a try.
I'm with you, be careful.