"From what I recall of 17 Westpier..." Tristain relates the info in the spoiler above.
"But yeah, weird, huh? That Lamm would be hiding there?" Tristain says to the group as they walk out the door. Tristain looks at each of them in turn as if trying to learn their faces.
Durriken. Seems angry.
Caseri? No. Raseri? Yeah. Raseri. The bossy one.
Theron. He seems sad.
Fredo. I feel odd calling him that.
Tristain will lead the way to Westpier, stopping to coordinate with people from a few blocks away.
"I think I'd just like to walk by it a few times to see what I can see...then go back and rest up and prepare for the morrow. Not sure if we want to go in during the day or night."
In his mind, Tristain plans what he needs to do tomorrow.
This is it. This really might be it. Need to buy some weapons...and maybe write up some notes.
"Mmm .. I will remain on the perimeter. Being on the docks cuts the possible approaches in half. I will be close enough to assist if things go wrong, while trying to stay in a good vantage point."
"As far as when to strike .. I feel I am at my best at dusk, but willing to go when conditions are right for the group as a whole."
"In the morning I plan to do a little shopping, if there is anything required to do your part effectively .. let me know."
Theron's excitement and patriarchal nature starts to peek through .. They need some encouragement .. "We will do this .. and we be successful. Alone, we are merely drops of pure water in a bucket of filth. Together .. we will be a deluge. We will wash these rats out to sea!"
"What preparations do you need, that we must wait until tomorrow? Perhaps there is...another way to accomplish what you need? There's no way to be sure that things tomorrow will be as they are today."
Tristain regards Durriken while trying to sense how much he can trust the man.
Too soon.
"I've been waiting for his day for a long time...and I did not think it would happen tonight. There are things that I must do and buy before I can be of use to you in there. I've thought too much about this for too long to want to screw it up."
Durriken regards the artist carefully. Not sure he can trust me. Well, he's smarter than he puts on, in that case. How useful is he going to be to us, though, if he needs a day to prepare? Still, we're tied, somehow.
"Can't say I like waiting. But if you're unprepared for a confrontation, maybe it's best. I suggest we not get too close. Looking around right now is a big enough risk. If we're spotted, Lamm will move."
Tristain laughs.
"It's funny how little I worry about being seen...it's usually the opposite: I can't stop people from ignoring me and my sketches. Most people have no problem ignoring an artist or merchant as if they had better things to do with their money." Tristain smiles.
"I'm fairly sure I could walk by that place alone and no one would pay me notice...I have very little of value or seem likely to cause problems."
It's true. I suck and have little.
"I'm going to walk by twice then go back to Zellara's for some shut eye."
Perception w/low light
Tristain will wait about 5 minutes before returning.
Perception w/low light
"It is not so strange that he would hole up in an abandoned building. If nobody owns it anymore no official will come by to collect taxes. And abandoned buildings are common enough that it probably won't be re-sold for a long while, even if it is on the water.
"As for a plan, if people are having trouble making up their minds, allow me to remind you that there is a plan before you. We use this opportunity to take stock of the building, when few people are likely to notice us or obscure our vision. We stop by again in the morning to take stock of the people, when they will be transacting their business. I can bring changes of clothes if someone fears being recognized. Armed with this knowledge, we spend the afternoon deciding how to enter, if there is more than one entrance, and preparing to do so. We then enter under cover of darkness, bypass or silence Lamm's goons, rescue the children, and 'wash Lamm out to sea.'" Fredo seems confident in this course of action, and you can tell he deliberately left off asking whether that plan would work for everyone.
Theron nods. decisiveness .. good "Let us be off then."
The reek of brine and the stink of week-dead fish hang thickly in the air here. The old double doors in the side of this weathered building are tightly closed, with a drooping signpost hanging above. The sign it once displayed is long gone, leaving behind only a single short length of rusted chain.
After walking by the fishery twice and taking note of what he sees, Tristain will return to Zellara's to sleep.
* * *
Tristain will try to sleep from 10pm to 6am, rising with the dawn.
Tristain will dress and pack quietly and quickly, taking care not to wake the others. As usual, he will make his way a local Korvosan park and, well, sit in a tree like he does on most mornings.
As usual, Tristain will commune and thank the city that he loves...the same city that gives him both life and opportunity, the city that he feels a connection with.
Legs crossed, eyes closed, Tristain intones inwardly.
Korvosa, my city, my friend, my protector, my mother,
I am your son and I call to you.
Teach me courage and kindness and how to love myself,
Help my heart be pure and my vision clear,
Show me how to live with compassion and with forgiveness,
Let me know nature which is always true,
Fill me with your silence as I learn the art of patience,
Teach me of my own power and purpose,
Send me your light as you guide me into your dark cave,
Help me to see there is no fault in the Universe, only life dancing,
Fill me with wonder as I touch once again the delicate magic that is life,
In my heart there is much longing,
I am ready to face whatever your Mystery may unveil.
When the prayer is completed, Tristain will stretch out and jump from the tree...excited for what he must do next.
* * *
As usual, Tristain will enter the marketplace...but this time as a buyer rather than a seller. Coins jingle in his purse, coins that he had been saving for some expensive colored chalks, but now are being bent to Tristain's new purpose in life: getting Lamm.
Today is a different day.
Tristain's first stop will be the gnomish weaponsmith where he had been eying a particular weapon for a long time: the switchscythe.
Tristain's second stop will be an unusual one for him: the magical inks and reagents shop. Tristain will look for the proper inks (and chalks) for the scribing of scrolls.
During this time, he will munch on the bread from last night.
Gotta keep my strength up.
* * *
Tristain returns to Zellara's and begins to scribe, writing words of divine power onto a scroll.
There...now I'm ready to go get Lamm. Tristain does a few practice swings with his scythe to get used to it while waiting for the others to be ready to discuss the plans for getting Lamm.
Raseri sleeps most of the night and the next morning. Hunger wakes the young woman around the time that Tristain comes back from the market. She notices the weapon in his hands with a curious expression not quite free of the last vestiges of sleep.
"So, what is that thing supposed to be."
After Tristain answers, she heads off to find out if she can help Zellara fix something for the noon meal. After she eats, she'll prepare for tonight: checking and donning her armor, testing her bow and its bowstring, and checking her sword's edge. She murmurs a quick prayer once she finishes.
"May the stars light my path,
May luck and fate grant me this one wish,
May this night see my hopes realized,
And may the Starsong make my dreams real."
Her icy gray eyes open and she waits like a hungry wolf for the others to come.
When Tristain makes his circuits past the dock, Durriken stays nearby, but out of sight of the place. The half-elf's eyes are better suited for the task, anyway. He'd not go by during the day.
The next day, Durriken spends the morning fletching and helping out around the shop. As evening nears, he stops to visit an alchemist shop, and purchases a small, round stone which he carefully tucks away in his cloak. Returning to his room, he draws out his bow and a quiver of arrows. He also pulls a small, empty flask out of his chest, fills it with water, and tucks it into a pocket on his cloak. Pausing to consider, he pulls out a crowbar. Finished, he closes the chest and returns to Zellara's to meet the others.
Fredo first examines the front doors from the safety of an alley across the street from the fishery. They look solid, if old. Opening them would be a chore, and it would be almost impossible to do quietly. Even if the hinges were oiled, and Fredo doubted they were, the chain would rattle against the doors if they were opened, and if it were not secured. Frowning, Fredo steps out into the street, walking briskly past the fishery as if on his way to an urgent appointment. He tries to take note of any other visible entrances. He notices that a narrow dock extends out from the shore to the far end of the building. The wood looks ill-maintained and Fredo doesn't know whether he should trust it. The fishery behind him, Fredo turns for home. The bridge should be empty of traffic by now.
Fredo gets up early, hoping to make it to Zellara's before the others leave. He didn't sleep there because he didn't want to impose on people in an already crowded space, but it would make meeting up again difficult. As promised, he brings along most of his wardrobe, excepting his father's old prefect's uniform. When he gets there, Tristain is gone and Raseri is still sleeping. Fredo, not wishing to wake her, sits down at the table, opens his spellbook, and begins to prepare for the evening. Judging from what he'd seen of the building, it wouldn't be safe for anyone to change size...
When everyone's assembled, Fredo talks a little about strategy. "I think we should not try to enter by the front door. It would take to long and alert Lamm too easily. Better to try and get in a side entrance or window."
Theron spends the rest of the evening scouting the perimeter of the fishery. Staying at least one block away at all times, he looks for good hiding spots in case things go poorly tomorrow night. This body is getting too old to run much further.
He returns home to sleep, and in the morning he goes shopping .. looking for a 4 pound bag of caltrops, a tanglefoot bag, and a lightweight black hooded cloak.
Theron returns to Zellara's a little after noon, and meditates until the others are ready to discuss their strategies.
"I don't think that would work as well as you may think. We need to keep Lamm from escaping, and to do that, it'd be better to try and storm as many doors as we can." Raseri takes in a deep breath and sighs, "but I see your point about the front doors. "
Raseri scratches her head in puzzlement, as they ponder their options.
Too bad my clan was often trying to keep people out of our keep rather than trying to get into other's.
"Hi-YAH!" Tristain yells, swinging his switchscythe.
to hit the air
"HAD-o-ken!" Tristain again cuts the air, pretty pleased that he didn't hurt himself with either swing.
to hit the air
Tristain wipes his brow from the sweat, his hands tired from holding the 'scythe, but happy nonetheless with it.
Seeing Theron, Raseri, Durriken, and Fredo ready to talk, Tristain will take a bit of time to fold and reset the blade of the switchscythe.
When that is finished, he'll take his seat to discuss the plan.
Pulling out this chalkboard, he will sketch out the layout of the fishery as he recalls it and accepts feedback from others about what he say.
When he finishes, he presents it to the group as an aid to planning.
Fishery sketch
"Now, what do we want to do?"
Tristain, having no fighting nor military experience, will listen to those more inclined for how to approach things.
"Well, Raseri," says Fredo, "We operate under different assumptions. You assume that we know about all the entrances to the fishery, and can cover them all. I disagree. We are few, and a rogue as wily as Lamm is sure to have left himself a bolt hole somewhere. There might be a boat tied up at the end of the dock. The sewers might empty out under the fishery; it was certainly rank enough. We can't be sure we've covered all the entrances, and thus our best option is stealth. If Lamm doesn't hear us in time to escape, he will not be able to do so."
Satisfied with his argument, Fredo smiles an understanding smile. "I know you want to find your sisters before Lamm spirits them away. And I'll admit that among us all you have among the most to lose. But unsound strategy does not become sound through the virtue of its motivations."
Fredo sees Tristain's drawing, and taps the door on the east side. "We should enter through here, one at a time. We'll be quieter that way, and less likely to fall in the water."
Raseri bristles at Fredo's remark, but...
"Fine. We'll do it your way."
She listens to him as he points out his plan on the map.
"So who should we send in first?"
Tristain doesn't move at all for fear of that being taken as a sign of volunteering to go in first.
I like the side door plan.
"Durriken and Theron are probably best suited," says Fredo, pleased at having gotten his way. He realizes he's speaking mostly from ignorance regarding their actual capaibilities, but he doesn't want to seem less than self-assured in front of Raseri. "But a volunteer would probably do the job better than anyone pressed into the role."
"If Durriken is willing to lead, I will volunteer to follow him. I have these to help prevent them from escaping .. well, slow them down at least."
Theron sets down his goods, and removes his white cloak .. revealing his strange rosewood plate and leather strap armor he had kept covered until now. A wooden medallion with a relief of a lotus flower carved into it hangs from his neck.
He takes a razor and a jar of leeches from his satchel and excuses himself. "I must prepare myself."
Tristain blinks and looks from the leeches, then to the razor, then to the rosewoody armor then to Theron.
Tristain rubs his eyes as if to check he was seeing correctly.
That's different. What have I got myself into?
* * *
Relieved that others will be taking point, Tristain seems less anxious about the planned raid.
"I'll do what I can as well," Tristain adds hopefully.
Maybe I can sketch bad guys to death.
Durriken turns the plan over in his head. He hated to admit it, but Goffred had the right of it. "I will go in first. Theron, be careful when and where you throw those." No telling what the interior looks like. Until we all get inside, it'll be rough on the first two in.
"I'll check the door to make sure it's safe. If it's locked, I'll use this." He taps the crowbar. "It's not subtle, but it will get the job done." He pauses again to consider. "Theron can cover the door with his crossbow. Once I'm in, you three can cross and enter behind us. Chances are the only surprise we'll have will end with the door going down. Someone inside will make noise before we can ensure silence." Tonight, Lamm. It ends tonight.
"I should be next I guess. If things go bad on us we'll need all the strength we can muster."
Raseri looks at the others around the table. Her movements are calm, but there is an anxious fire behind her eyes.
"After that I should take the lead. I'm much tougher than I look, and I'll probably be better able to take anything they throw at us."
Tristain looks to his backpack (the one that has all his possessions) and begins to put separate the stuff he's likely to need tonight from stuff that would slow him down...taking only the essentials.
I won't be slowed down tonight...if things go wrong, I can run for it.
Tristain will leave the non-essential stuff (backpack, bedroll, chalkboard, wateskin, ink, pen) in the corner. Whe he is finished, he will tap his 'staff' on the ground. "I'm ready."
Theron has returned to the room with his head shaved, and dons his black hooded cloak. "These caltrops can be placed outside the front door. I will hold on to this just in case." He grabs the tanglefoot bag and puts it in his satchel. He removes his rations, tinderbox and empties the remainder of his waterskin. He checks the balance of his remaining gear.. "I am ready, as well."
Raseri adjusts her backpack to fit more comfortably on her shoulders.
"I have everything I need. If Durriken is ready I suggest we hurry."
The small woman looks about ready to storm the fishery herself if the group doesn't get moving soon.
Understanding the need for haste, Tristain follows Raseri out the door...or tries to.
Tristain's progress out the door is stopped with an audible thunk as Tristain gets bounced back by the wood of his staff. Tristain stops at the door confusedly, then laughs.
"Ha. Not used to this thing yet," Tristain turns his 'scythe straightwise to get it though the door.
Smooth Tristain, real smooth.
Fredo nods at Theron's idea. He stacks the gear he doesn't need, amounting to the extra clothing, in the corner, then goes to the door. "Yes, let's." He lifts the latch and steps out onto the street, holding in the door for the next person to follow.
"Zellara," he says by way of a parting, and by way of thanks for the use of her home.
Raseri tries to stifle a laugh at Tristain's antics, but can't quite hide the smile in her eyes. She turns Zellara.
"Thank you for your hospitality. I hope that we can meet again soon."
She turns and follows Tristain out the door. When she's on the street and beside Tristain she whispers to him.
"Don't worry, I heard that I have an uncle who was a demon in battle, but couldn't get through the door with any weapon longer than a foot to save his life."
Tristain abashes at Raseri's laughter.
"No one ever taught me how to fight...I survive by the good will of Korvosa. I've been running away for most of my life. In fact, this will be the first fight I've ever run *toward*." Tristain's eyes travel to Raseri's sword. Her big sword.
"You said you've been in this city for a while? Looking for your kin? Where'd you learn to fight? Or maybe I should ask if you can handle yourself with that thing?" Tristain asks carefully, hoping not to anger the woman into a demonstration of the sword.
Raseri smiles at Tristain.
"That makes you a braver, and wiser, man than most. I think you see the chance to do good and are taking it. Most would have run away when they got the card."
Seeing that it might be a few minutes before everyone was done saying their goodbyes, she looks off towards to fishery, but isn't really trying to spot anything.
"I worked as a barmaid for several years before my sisters were taken. I had to break up a lot of fights, but I learned swordplay from my poppa. You're carrying a scythe, right? Just remember the first rule of combat. Stick them with the pointy end."
She looks at Tristain to see his expression fall. She blushes as she realizes she had just accidentally insulted him.
"Sorry, that was supposed to be a joke."
Dammit, there I go putting my foot squarely in my mouth.
Durriken stands and picks up the crowbar, concealing it within the folds of his cloak. He considers his bow for a moment, and decides to stash it in the alley before approaching the wharf. "So we're ready? Good." His eyes widen, then narrow at the artist's obvious unfamiliarity with his weapon, and the exchange that follows. I don't know if I like how this is beginning. I cannot afford to have to watch him.
The old man, Theron, was proving to be a bit more savvy than he had anticipated, however. Exactly how I would use the caltrops. Though I'd prefer to have enough to cover the whole entrance...
He checks his weapons to make sure he'd be able to draw each one cleanly, if needed, as he passes out the door into the night air. He glances over at Raseri when she makes her joke. "Only works on weapons with a pointy end," he says, a slight smile dancing on his lips as he nods at her greatsword.
Tristain smiles at Raseri's jest.
As if I was fooling anyone.
"Durriken, Raseri, you know how to fight, right? Would you be willing to teach me more? I mean, *if* we live past tonight?"
Tristain holds his 'scythe in unsure hands.
"Of course, but I'm afraid that I don't know much about polearms. You can use magic, right? You can help us out by frying anyone that fights us tonight, or at least keep us from falling apart if we get too banged up."
Raseri starts to walk off towards the fishery that Lamm's holed up in. She looks back and calls out to the group, "Are ya coming, or what?"
Fredo gets in on the fun, calling over his shoulder as he walks toward the fishery. "They won't get to weasel out of it by dying!" Then his face falls into its naturally serious expression. He shouldn't be so familiar. There was something about Raseri and Tristain; they talked like old friends. What right had he to act like that?
"We'll all make it through the night. There's no question."
Tristain follows behind Raseri on the way to Westpier.
"Magic? Nah...I know some tricks, but I doubt chalking my enemies will stop them much. That's about the only thing I'm good at right now."
Tristain practices swinging his 'scythe again...this time accidentally hitting a nearby wall.
"Oops, sorry!"
Tristain looks at Durriken again for pointers.
Raseri sighs as Tristain bangs the weapon against the wall.
"Mind if I see that for a moment?" she asks while pointing at the scythe.
Tristain hands over the weapon.
The blade is currently unswitched, so it is mostly staff right now.
Raseri gets a feel for the weight before stopping and talking to Tristain.
Better not extend the blade out in the open like this.
"I think you might have been better off getting a spear, but too late for that now. First thing is work with your weapon's strengths."
Raseri lifts the scythe up over her head before bringing it down hard. She stops the weapon just before hitting the ground..
"This has a heavy blade made to cut. Use the weight of the blade to add power to your swing, so bring it down on your opponent's head rather than trying to slash in from the side. The second thing is know your weapon's weaknesses. This is another reason why I said swing it down. In a narrow passage, or when you're next to some one is going to limit how well you can swing this from side to side."
She hands the weapon back to Tristain and turns to catch up with the group.
"That's not all there is to it, but that should get you further than trying to figure it out in the middle of a fight. Feeling better now?"
Durriken nods at Raseri's suggestions, as the group moves towards their target, speaking in his harsh whisper without looking back. "She's right. That weapon does have a...pointy end...as well, so if need be, you can thrust it straight forward." Why do you continue to act as if they will make it through this, to help? He's obviously doing his best to get himself killed. Why care if he does? If they all do?
He slows to walk next to the artist and reaches out to stay Tristain's arm from swinging. "However, I'd suggest you cease practicing for now. We're armed conspicuously enough without drawing attention to ourselves by play fighting." Because I must, if I am to survive. Nothing more. "You're nervous. We all are. Steady yourself as best you can. There will be plenty of time for learning after." He muffles a cough and lapses back into silence.
Theron, who had been silent - walking in a trance-like state - decides to help ease the street artists worry. "Tonight we deal death, we do not fear it. Should you fall, I will cleanse your tormented soul."
So you are currently in front of the old fishery once more and the door is still locked. However you realize that this is due to business being held at a side door (Areas 2 and 7).
Tristain thanks Durriken and Raseri for their help. He now grips the 'scythe with less white knuckles, an aspect of having slightly more confidence.
* * *
Cleanse my tormented soul?
Tristain looks at the old man as if about to say something, but instead goes back to watching the way to the pier.
Cleanse my soul? How? Is that a good thing? It doesn't sound good.
* * *
"Hold on a sec." Tristain says as they get close to 17 Westpier.
Tristain will pull out a piece of chalk and break it into 3 segments.
Holding his hand over the pieces he will ask Korvosa for aid in the upcoming battle.
"Okay. I'm ready."
Durriken grabs Tristain as he starts to head towards the west door, shaking his head. He looks at Goffred and points to the east door , confirming that's where he still wants to enter the building.
Tristain, confused by the east and west, trips over his right(or left, who knows?) foot as he hustles to catchup to Durriken.
Theron covers the area in front of the double doors with caltrops as quietly as he can.
He then joins Durriken, preparing to follow him in the east door.
Fredo looks back at Durriken and nods. "One at a time," he whispers, making a curlicue motion with his pointed finger to emphasize how important it is. "And quickly." Looking at the boardwalk again, it really doesn't seem safe. But they are committed now.
Fredo smiles approvingly at Tristain's obviously magical preparations. If that is a minor trick then I'm the Stirge King's bastard son, he thinks. It reminded him vaguely of a spell normally used on weapons, one he'd never learned. Shaking his head, Fredo removes a strip of leather from one of his pouches and touches it to his shoulders and chest. He mutters some words that are even more difficult to hear than his - or for that matter Durriken's - whispers. Then he unclips his crossbow from his belt and crouches down to cover the door.