"For that amount of money, they can sleep in my bed." Clenchjaw tells.
"I want them dragged so they realize they are being idiots." Fhingle says matter of factly. Fhingle will lead whoever takes the offer back to Saul's office, taking the keys from him and then having the men dumped onto the floor. Fhingle then gets some water and dumps it on the two.
"WAKE UP!" Fhingle yells
Searching some bars, and asking around they find a clue. "Yeah, Saul and Logan got dragged away by a halfling and two guys he paid for it. I think he wanted to dorp them at Saul's home."
Zea enters behind Fhingle as he shouts at Saul. She looks sadly at the man, the leader, the visionary and hero, who was pouring his life out from a bottle.
Fhingle then drops the jug on Saul's head before he can move. "You got drunk, you told me when we first met to not let you do this again. So here I am stopping you from going further."
Zea stares sadly at Saul, her arms crossed. "What are you doing, Saul?"
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"A man is allowed a drink or two! Having a fun night on the town with my old buddy Logan here. Now here is a true friend! He props me up when I get dizzy and then pours the next one. But the two of you, you drag me here and throw water on my head! Next, I figure Jarithe and Cassius will walk in here to berate me as well!"
"Fine then we will leave you with your good friend, who almost got you killed on the only mission we really took him on." Fhingle says turning and walking away.
"Yeah, a drink! Do you have another one?" Logan chimes in.
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"Logan, for the final time, I don't leave booze in my office. What do you take me for, some pitiful drunk? I am social drinker only! Which I why I don't know why my team is getting all judgey-judgey on me. Listen, Zea, give me the night to clear my head and we will meet back at the hideout tomorrow. Plan our raid on the Holding House. And Logan, NO, you can't come."
And there was evening and there was morning, the next day. For some well rested, for some tired after a restless night, and for some with a murderous headache. The quality of the stuff at Clenchjaws was better before Thrune. But the day doesn't care and it is bright and shiny as if everything was in apple-pie-order.
Zea shakes her head at Saul but, as she is out of her depth, stays quiet. The next day, she meets back up at the hideout to plan the raid. "So, does anybody know of a noble family that might want to get someone out of the Holding House? Any rumors you've heard? We can pretend the nobles are sending the wine to try to get better treatment for their friend in the clink to get the guards to drink it. Then we jump them and maybe leave one witness alive so the Thrunes think that noble house tried to break their buddy out. It should be a house we want to cause trouble for too. Thoughts?"
"Thne we need booze and a poison." Fhingle says
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Saul massages his temple as he tries to coax a plan out of his alcohol laden brain.
"Okay here is my plan. It's a good plan, if Cassius is up to being the stooge. So listen carefully. You especially, Cassius. You are the one taking all the risks."
"We've got the poison. I can get a keg of ale easily enough. Cassius pretends to be a servant of Countess Urora Sarini. Why her? Because she is scum. She supports the Thrunes, is a worshipper of Asmodeus, and if rumors can be believed, has a thing for torture. A really nasty dame. As a servant of the Countess, Cassius presents our keg of poisoned ale to the guards in the Holding House. A gift for the Thrune's hard working men. Or maybe, Cassius goes as himself. A bartender. Hired by the Countess to serve them."
"Cassius invites himself in. Bluffs his way. Carries the ale in for them. Does something to get himself inside. Once everyone has a drink it will take ten minutes to work. Cassius talks up the guards. Everyone is having a good time. Cassius is fake drinking. Suddenly, the poison hits. Cassius acts like he is sick too. No one suspects. When the guards are weak, Cassius unlocks the door and the rest of us slip inside. "
Saul glances around at his team. "So. What did I miss?"
"That's all doable. Yeah. I'll wear a disguise, but I should be able to do the rest."
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"Anyone else, thoughts? I'm headed over to a little place on the other side of the street from the Holding House. Will stakeout the joint, figure out when there shift changes happen. We will want to hit them an hour before shift change. When the guards are tired, sick of the job for the day, and will be all too happy for a drink. We carry out the plan tomorrow."
Zea nods. "Sounds good. And we release or kill a few different prisoners to muddy the waters? I'm ready to go."
"Sounds like a good plan, it should go well if we stick to it." Fhingle says looking through his pack of things.
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"So everyone take the day to get anything else ready... I'll grab the ale... Deliver it to the house across the street from the holding house, and spend the day there watching the guards... Meet back here tomorrow morning?"
Saul heads back to the Tooth and Nail, and talks up Setrona. "So, gorgeous, remember how I said I had a little something special in the works for the guards at the Holding House? How about a small crate of some good brew for them? With lids that can be opened and resealed without any being the wiser?" The whole smell of the bar is making Saul's mouth water.
"Sure. Anything for the cause." Setrona answers and sends Saul to into the cellar to get one himself.
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Saul goes into the cellar, and it is like he has died and gone to heaven... or maybe hell.
Rack upon rack of wine and spirits...
Saul finds a small crate that he can carry easily with two hands, and loads up 3 large bottles of the finest brandy.
Better make sure the top can go on and off easily. He pops off the top, glances around to make sure no one is looking, and takes a big swig.
Ahhhh... That's the stuff. Okay, sealing it again... No problem.
Alcohol in tow, Saul nods his thanks to Setrona and makes his way to the house across from the Holding House.
Like many weeks prior, he tips the old lady a gold and asks if he can sit by her front window and just watch the building across the street.
"For that coin ye can sit at the window the whole week!" the old lady tells and offers tea.
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Saul keeps an eye on the coming and goings of the Holding House. He is specifically interested at what times the guards change shifts, and if possible, he wants to count their numbers. How many going in, how many go out?
But the whole time, the fine brandy is just sitting at his feet.
Tempting him.
Saul runs his tongue along his lips. This tea isn't strong enough.
Be strong, Saul. Be strong.
Saul finds out that being a guard at the holding house is no fun. Sometimes during the day, one comes out and leaves. About an hour later the one comes back and another one leaves. It seems like they all live in the Holding House and only get to go away for an hour a day. Or maybe two. It's is hard to tell if it's always a different guy or if someone leaves twice.
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Saul watches the faces coming in and out...
That must be a terrible job. I bet they will leap at a chance to do something fun, like get a free drink. It's up to Cassius now.
Saul looks at the booze again.
In an amazing show of inner strength, he pushes back the thought. No..no! The booze is for the mission. I don't care how expensive it is... Argh. Such wonderful brandy, to be wasted on the Thrunes men. Now that makes me feel sick. Saul doesn't open them, though.
"Ma'am, will you take another gold if I leave this booze here until tomorrow morning? I'll be back with some friends. Oh, and 5 gold if you forget my face, and I was never here, and you have no idea what happened. That might not make a lick of sense right now, but...It will tomorrow. Okay?"
He puts 6 gold down on the table and looks at her.
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The woman takes the coins. "I guess I shall forget you after you retrieved the cask tomorrow? That is easy. With age you have a hard time remembering things all the time. But I could tell you some stories from my youth, ... I was such a pretty girl. All the men from the neighborhodd wanted to impress me and my mother to be allowed on a date with me. Can you imagine? Good old times. If you got time I can tell you all of it over some more tea."
Fhingle is painting more of their underground lair when Saul returns.
"Did you drink any of the booze while you were storing it?" Fhingle asks looking at Saul
Fhingle just looks at Saul, nodding to his assessment of sleeping before their big day.
And another day passes without heroics from the Silver Ravens. But House Thrune is planning on getting an ever stronger hold on Kintargo. Obviosly someone managed to anger the Mayor. A tenth proclamation is called out over town.
POSSESSION OF POETRY OR PROSE WRITTEN
BY THE FOLLOWING AUTHORS IS HEREBY
FORBIDDEN AND PUNISHABLE BY A FINE
OF 100 GOLD PIECES OR IMPRISONMENT :
BOSWYTH THE BARD, CHARLETTA D’ VANEP,
GHENRAIL OF VYRE, AND THE ANONYMOUS
MISCREANT WHO CALLS HIM - OR HERSELF
THE “POISON PEN OF KINTARGO.” ALL
DOCUMENTS BEARING THE WRITINGS OF
THESE MISCREANTS MUST BE TURNED
OVER TO THE DOTTARI FOR DESTRUCTION
BY SUNDOWN
Quite some people show up at the gates, or where ever the Dottari are seen and hand them books and scrolls with the forbidden lyircs. At the evening a large fire is made with everything turned in, in front of the opera house.
But as no direct threat to the lives of Kintargo's populace raises from that, the Silver Ravens continue with their plan to raid the Holding house. With all preparations done and the poisoned booze stored nearby, all go to bed. They rise for a new morning set on dealing House Thrune a big blow.
"There are more and more people opposing Thrune, we need to find all these people and bring them into our fold." Fhingle Tells those who are still at the Lair
Zea nods. "Good idea. Should we head to the holding house?"
The Holding House is a stone, one-story, bunkerlike building. One of the earliest constructions of Old Kintargo, it’s also one of the city’s strongest. The Holding House’s walls feature no windows and are made of reinforced masonry. The Holding House’s entrances feature strong wooden doors. There is one entrance for visitors and guards, and one where new prisoners are put in. No gueards are on the outside.
Zea looks relieved. Oh good... I was afraid he had been drinking more...
When Saul mentions the plan, the novice rebel nods. "Once Cassius has delivered the booze, I can try to sneak in there quietly if you think that's a good idea." She looks around uncertainly...
"You could be his assistant." Fhingle says sniffing at Saul.
Zea shakes her head. "Oh no... I'm terrible at lying... But I could sneak in as Cassius enters... Good idea."
"Just follow my lead, Jarithe. We can't contradict each other."
Zea turns herself invisible and sneaks in after the others, making sure no one sees her near the building.
Oh gosh this is crazy... I hope nobody hears me or bumps into me...
Fhingle waits with Saul
When Cassius arrives, he is unrecognizable, with a blonde wig and beard and slightly pointed ears. He knocks on the door.
After a while a dottari opens a small window in the door and asks "What's your business here?"
"Hello, sir! I represent Countess Urora Sarini, and my lady wishes to express her gratitude for the hard work all of you do. Thus, she has sent me here with a token of said gratitude. To wit: the elixir of happiness called ale!"