"They're all places likely to stand up against the mayor and his Asmodean lackeys," Adun surmises. "No wonder they were targeted. If we go snooping around we're going to attract some attention from the dottari I suspect, but we might also draw the eye of people who we could persuade to join us."
"A critic of Thrune and the Milanites? It's almost impossible for that to be coincidence. It's practically brazen, no decoys either, just targets." The Fiend mused, upset.
Rexus lets out a tired laugh, "I know, right? They're not even trying. Just slapping Kintargo in the face as if no one will chanllenge them." The grin sinks into a scowl, then he shakes it off. "I assume you know where all these places are, but let me know if you need anything. I'll be here transcribing these documents you found in the old Silver Raven's hideout and waiting some word of discovery."
Agnes absently strokes Laika's fur. "Id say the Victocora estate is a good first place. Its the one we know most about."
She looks at Rexus. "If you can produce a layout, even a basic one, it can greatly aid us in our search. While it might have burned down, we can compare your layout to the foundations, see if there is a hint of rooms that shouldnt be there."
"Agnes is right," Adun agrees. "And you've done so much for us," he says to Rexus, "I hope we can help you in some small way. Is there anything you want us to look for? Anything that was precious to your or your family we could try to retrieve? I know what it's like to lose everything - even the smallest memento can mean a lot."
"If we're hoping to get some quality snooping done, we'd best go at night," Brianna suggests. Like Carl, she has revealed her social identity to the Fushi Sisters.
"The old Silver Star is south of the river in Jarvis End, so I think we should look there first. We can check out The Thrashing Badger in Yolubilis Harbor second on our way to the last place. Dottari patrols are probably most vigilant in the Greens, so I think we should go there third. The cover of darkness should give us the best opportunity to investigate the Victacora Estate."
"I am eager to check out the Badger. I had friends who frequented it. But if the Victocora estate makes more sense I am willing to go there first."
In agreement, you all wait for dusk before suiting up and heading out into the city. A light rain fell during the day, giving the air cool and cutting breeze. Making your way to the Victocora estate, the large iron gates still stand untouched around the mansion's grounds.
Within is a unsettling image that would seem more fitting in a larger of Hell. The charred ruins pierce into the cloudy night sky like hands grasping for help in desperation. The stained monoliths, half crumbled towers of brick and massive timber beams now covered in the scales of intense heat exposure, glisten slightly from the day's rain. Hiding in the shadows outside the gate, only the deep darkness of the collapsed structure lies between these shapes, undoubtedly the ashes of the once great mansion and those who perished with it.
"Let's allow those who can see in the dark get a thorough search in," the Blue Thorn suggests, watching the avenue as she speaks. "Anyone with less keen eyesight can keep watch for the dottari."
"Agreed," says Carl, his voice slightly deeper and more reverberating now that he is in his vigilante identity. He stays close to Blue Thorn and also keeps watch for danger.
Agnes nods. "While I cant see very well in the dark, Id like to take a pass see if I can get Laika to sniff anyting out."
"Good idea," Adun says at The Pack's suggestion. "She may sense things that we cannot." Adun moves a few yards from the group, looking around the area for any evidence that they are being watched.
"I can take a look. Knight, can you give me a boost?"[b] The Fiend asks. After a moment he adds, [b]"I've got a length of rope here, if you hear me call out about danger, be ready to grab the other side once I'm near the fence. I doubt the premises are being watched closely or well guarded, but best to be able to make a quick escape."
For the moment the streets are clear, the only sounds you hear are the dripping of water off roofs and the occasional indication of activity within some of the nearby homes.
The Fiend places his foot against the metal bars for leverage, pushing off and tumbling over the tops of the fence. The grounds are familiar, but the blaze has ruined any comfort of being in a familiar place. The Fiend gives a moment to any others seeking to scale the wall with him before he presses on.
Agnes and Laika give eachother a look. Then at the wall. Then back at eachother.
"Fiddlesticks."
The Beast follows the Fiend over the wall. "Should we open the gates for the rest before we go in?" he asks quietly, crouching next to he Beast.
"Yes? Please?"
Adun gives The Fiend a boost over the wall then returns to watching for trouble. With The Fiend and The Beast over the wall, he moves back towards the gate to join up with the others. "Let's try and get these open," he says, seeing The Pack stuck at the base of the wall. He pulls his crowbar from it's sheath on his belt and waits for the two on the other side to help him.
The pale Knight is easily able to snap the mediocre lock on the gate, everyone freezing for a moment as the snapping of metal sounds out in the damp street.
"Great job with the lock," the Fiend whispers to the Pale Knight as he stays behind the inside wall.
Adun nods at the Fiend as he slips through the gate passes by him along the inside of the wall. "It'll be a bad job if someone heard us though," he whispers back.
With the sound of the lock snapping, Laika easily slinks into the shadows.
Agnes however catches her foot on a cobblestone, and stumbles for a moment.
Carl does his best to remain unnoticed in the shadows outside the gate.
Joined by the Silver Shadow, Blue Thorn then creeps further up the street, to relay a warning more quickly. Calling upon her powers of clandestinity as she moves.
The beast tries to slip behind some plants, hoping the rustling noises don't give him away.
After the sound of the lock breaking the streets echo with a few footsteps that trail off down the cobblestone.
As a group, the Silver Ravens are all on high alert with the pulse of the city close at hand tonight. Searching through the charred remains for a few minutes gives you all the impression that there is little here to be recovered. The rains have made the sunken site into a pit of mud mixed with ash. The majority of what is poked through is destroyed structural beams and underneath are fragments of singed and ruined furniture.
After five minutes of stealth-looting, the sound of foot steps return to the air. First softly, but steadily growing on the cobblestones and sounding like they're headed toward the old mansion grounds.
The pack will look around. Is there a likely place to hide? Bushes? A shed that survived?
In a whisper:
"Fiddlesticks. They are coming back. Take cover!"
The Beast hides in the bushes.
Hearing The Pack's warning The Knight drops into a crouch behind a pile of wet rubble, watching and listening for who might be approaching.
Agnes gives Laika the down command so that the wolf lies down behind some fallen over beams. In the dark and rain, the wolf looks pretty much like another pile of rubble.
Agnes herself jumps behind what is left of the chimney.
Darius takes cover behind a portion of the gates. He briefly considers casting a spell, but doesn't want to risk making noise.
Blue Thorn takes a slow and deep breath, ready to make a move on the interlopers if anyone is spotted.
Two civilians with the Chelish Citizen's Group insignia approach in the dark street. An obscured figure grumbles something inaudible to them, gesturing vaguely, and then scuffles off back the way they came.
The two Citizens then continue to approach, moving down the street towards the Mansion ruins. As they near, they peer through the fence bars after noticing the forced lock.
"HEY! I see you over there, by the chimney. Get out here!" one yells in the direction of Agnes.
"You're going to have to pay for this lock!" the other chimes in.
Carl backs away from the gate as the figures approach, keeping to the shadows.
Agnes quickly throws off her mask, and smears her face and clothes with ash and mud.
Drooping her shoulders, she does her best to look like a child.
Doing a few steps out of the shadows she cowers.
"P..please sir. It was like that when I got here. Please. I was just so hungy. I hoped there was just something that I could trade to get some bread. Please sir. I didnt mean no harm by it. Those men that broke the lock left anyway."
Uncertain of how Agnes' quick thinking will go, Adun tries to quietly position himself behind the wall near the open gate, ready to attack if things go awry.
The Dottari sputters, "I... I.." They look back and forth between each other then one takes a few steps forward, stopping at the gate. "Get out of there child, there must be somewhere better for you to stay. Come on, Scram."
"Thank you sir thank you thank you!"
Agnes makes a quick run for it, keeping her shoulders drooped and her face downcast.
She runs for a few blocks to keep the illusion complete.
The Knight lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding as the thugs let Agnes go and wander off. He keeps still for a few moments, listening for their footsteps disappearing down the street, before turning to whisper at The Shadow. "Let's hold here until Agnes gets back."
"Wise." the Beast says, nodding once.
After waiting for a while, agnes will carefully make her way back to the others.
As Agnes scampers off one of the Dottari grumbles not too quietly about the street vermin before the two turn heel and leave.
Agnes returns after a few minutes, safe and sound. Nothing seems to have survived the fire here and two more locations are on your list.
"Sounds like they're going to reseal the gate," Adun whispers as the guards wander off. "We should get out of here before they come back. Seeing as the Thrashing Badger is on this side of the river, I say we go there next."
"Pfew, that was a little bit too close for comfort."
Agnes pets Laika, who is very glad to see the halfling again.
"Badger sounds like a good plan."
Carl nods, still watching the retreating torches. "We can hope that the patrols are less frequent in that part of town, at least."
The Beast nods. "Let's see what we can see at the Badger."
"I know the way," Blue Thorn quietly announces. She slowly and stealthily leads the group of late night stalkers to an alley, where what remains of the Thrashing Badger can be seen.
"This is the place," she says. "Some of us should look while the others watch for dottari."