Falina considered what Arani requested and then said, "Pretty but unassuming redhead? I don't know that I can manage the unassuming part but pretty I can certainly do." After a few moments of thought Falina finally said, "Given me a few minutes and then come up to my room and come in. That should be sufficient for me to change."
With that Falina kissed Sabrina's cheek lightly and said, "I'll be back in a few minutes." With that Falina slid from her seat and went upstairs to her room.
When Arani entered the room Falina looked different again, as usual, this time wearing a form that should hopefully suit what was needed. Falina was getting up off of the floor and was still largely concealed by the bed. "Come in Arani and close the door behind you."
Once the door was safely closed Falina rose, currently naked, and did a turn so Arani could see the form she had adopted. The form was more full figured than Falina's true form, her breasts bigger, hips wider, and her long hair was now a vibrant auburn color. Not exactly red but far more red than brown, "What do you think? Will this suffice?"
Arani can't quite help the smile that curls the corner of her mouth. Falina's shapeshifting abilities were truly incredible, and she did a pretty good job of nailing down her type on the first try. "Wow! That will definitely...suffice."
Leaning close, she whispers to her fellow Raven, "Felina has a surprise for you up in her room, something about testing out her new form" she whispers, giving her a conspiratorial grin.
"I'm off to get the appropriate clothing and a carriage for the ruse, I should be back before too long." she tells her companions.
THE GREENS (Desnus 8)
The party's various ruses and gambits work well, and by late afternoon all the Silver Ravens are inside the Whitegate and in the noble district called the Greens. Jessibel informs Dom and T'chazzar that she'll hang out in the shadows near the gate of her family's villa to let the Silver Ravens inside if things go south and they need an escape route; she also informs them that she's had a tall ladder readied in case the Ravens have to get over the city walls...should things go REALLY south.
"All right, Dom, how're we getting past the guard dogs?"
”I fear that violence may be our only answer.” Caldariel said. ”At least, such is the tool left to me. Does any here have any magical solution to this problem?”
Falina had entered the district in the form of the readeaded woman she had adopted wearing a nice red and white outfit that left her shoulders and most of her deculetage visible before snugging in at her waist and flaring into a long skirt. She was draped over Lady Arani's arm in a very friendly, even intimate, manner as they road through the gates in the carriage. She had a wicked smile on her lips and about her eyes that drew the longing gazes of the guards and most anyone else that the pair passed and got a glimpse of them.
Once they were near their destination Falina asked, "So how are we going to do this luv? Simply walk up to the door and ask to see the individual?"
AULORIAN VILLA (The Greens; Desnus 8)
As night deepens, the inhabitant of the large doghouse emerges and begins patrolling the grounds, complicating matters. It's no ordinary hound: this mighty mastiff's skin seems to have been flensed off its powerful body...which happens to be topped with three slavering heads! Fortunately, the wind this evening comes out of the northeast, placing your group (and its scent) upwind from the beast. If it were to pass close to the gate or hedge where your party is gathered, however, it would likely detect you.
With a bit of careful monitoring, you determine that the beast varies its patrol, passing beneath Marquel's window every 1 to 6 minutes. Though there are supposedly human guards at the estate as well, you've seen no sign of any.
The watch-beast is a cerberi, a LE outsider native to Hell. It has the Evil, Extraplanar, and Lawful subtypes. It's more intelligent than a normal dog but less so than an average human.
A cerberi's bite can curse the victim, preventing him from using teleport magic (as per the dimensional anchor spell). Its multiple heads are also capable of rending victims.
A cerberi's scent ability is unusual in that it even works against incorporeal beings and is particularly effecting in tracking the undead.
"Ah, my companions. Hold. Our dithering and delayance is well placed, even if it is rather embarrassing. This watch-beast is no mere hound. It is a cerberi, an outsider native to hell. While I have not seen one before in the flesh, so to speak, I have read that their bites hinder teleportation magic, and their scent can even track incorporeal beings and the undead. Taken as a whole, we can deduce that those within have fear of the outsider and the unnatural, far more so than the living. Once it leaves it's patrol, we shall enter that window and brave what is within. I shall go first, and we shall hope that it's scent does not alert it to us, and thus alert those within." The elf said this, and made ready to do just that.
"You want me to go buy a steak?" says T'chazzar wryly.
I have a single potion that will let me pass without leaving footprints or a scent trail for about an hour. If you create a distraction on the opposite side of the house, I can get in alone with less potential danger." Arani says quietly, having cahnted back into her armor on the way.
Just realized I've had a potion of Pass Without Trace forever
Falina conaidered their options and said, "Perhaps you and I should make use of our current disguises Arani. We might be able to get in to see him with out any fuss. We can deliver the message and then figure outhow to proceed from there."
"Worth a shot," says T'chazzar. "I worry about splitting our strength if something goes wrong, so we just have to hope that nothing goes wrong."
"Alright, so we try to gain entry legitimately first, just the two of us. One noble and her companion visiting another. Definitely worth a try." Arani says with a nod.
"Where do you want me to wait, and what's the signal if things get blown?" asks the dark elf.
AULORIAN VILLA (The Greens; Desnus 8)
While the party finalizes its plans, Arani checks the front gate and finds it locked--not particularly surprising given that a cerberi patrols the grounds. The lock is a good one but nothing she and her lockpicks can't overcome...given enough time.
Caldariel kept an eye out while the locks were handled. His skills were not going to be of much use until they could get inside.
Producing her lockpicking tools from a pocking within her gown, Arani gets to work on diligently trying to unlock the gates, while Falina stands watch, cursing to herself as her first few attempts fall short, her acute attention to detail gradually picking up on the little intricacies of the mechanism until she hears the satisfying click over the tense silence.
AULORIAN VILLA (The Greens; Desnus 8)
Working around the cerberi's semi-regular patrols, Arani pops the lock to the outer gate. Once the coast is clear, she and the disguised Falina enter and hurry up to the front door before knocking on it. After a long, anxious wait, the door is opened by a human guard wearing a chain shirt and armed with a guisarme; a sheathed longsword and a special quiver with several javelins complete the man's weaponry. A second guard stands just inside the doorway and two more look on from the top of a grand staircase. All seem shocked that the house has visitors.
The first guard whisks the ladies inside and closes the door behind them. "Lord Aulorian isn't taking visitors currently," one guard reports. The other near the door adds in an incredulous tone, "How did you get through the outer gate?"
Outside the gate and across the street, the rest of the party eventually sees the cerebi return as it makes its rounds. The frightful beast slows to a stop near the manor's front door, sniffing a bit, perhaps catching the scent of the two visitors.
"Oh it was already open! I thought it was odd, I just assumed Marquel was preoccupied with guests and it was left open. It seemed the perfect time for a visit." Arani says with a giggle stumbling slightly and holding in to Falina to steady herself, the very image of a noblewoman in her cups. "He did say to stop by anytime."
Falina watched as Arani picked the lock and when they were finally through clung to Arani like the lover she was supposed to be as they made tehir way tot he front door. When they were inside and the guards started demanding answers Falina played along with Arani while keeping her mouth shut. When Arani stumbled into her Falina reached out to steady her and accidentally grabbed one of her breasts and squeezed it before she got Arani starightened up again and winked at one of the guards.
AULORIAN VILLA (The Greens; Desnus 8)
"Well, times have changed!" the first guard growls. "Lord Auxis is receiving guests by appointment only. And Lord Marquel is to receive no guests at all!"
Another person appears at the top of the stairs. He's a handsome well-dressed man in his 20s; his right arm, however, is badly atrophied and hangs in a sling. From Captain Sargaeta's description, it's a safe bet this is Marquel, intended recipient of the letter you carry. Unfortunately, the guards at the top of the stairs won't let Marquel pass to meet with you, though the young lord calls out, "Who are you?"
"Oh it's Arani dear, we met a while back at one of parties, he speaks the world of you!" she calls up the stairs, hoping that Marquel would catch on to who she was referring to.
AULORIAN VILLA--INSIDE (The Greens; Desnus 8)
Marquel's eyes widen with hope upon hearing Cassius's name. With a sideways glance at the guards blocking his path, he shouts something in a harsh yet somehow elegant language.
"Is Cassius in port now? Has he sent a message with you?"
"Hey now! Enough of that!" one guard growls when Marquel starts spouting words in a language he obviously doesn't comprehend. He and the other guard up on the second floor move toward the young noble, apparently intent upon escorting him back to his room, by force if necessary.
AULORIAN VILLA--OUTSIDE (The Greens; Desnus 8)
Those waiting outside see Arani and Falina get admitted to the manor. A minute later, the frightful cerberi makes its rounds, sniffing the air near the door and then making its way to the gate, forcing those waiting outside to make a hasty retreat. The beast remains silent, however, neither howling nor barking any sort of alarm.
Standing outside, Caldariel eyed the hound warily. He waited and watched the hound, trying to gauge how intelligent it was.
Caldariel looked at the beat, and deciding that it was worth a try, approached it. He kept his face neutral and walked with as much confidence as he could muster. Stopping at a respectful distance, he said:
"Hound. We are guests in this abode, summoned by the master of this residence. Continue your vigil, and know well that your contract does not involve removing or hindering us."
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Falina recognized the words Marquel spoke and responded in teh same tongue.
The taste of the langauge as she spoke was revolting in the way the words were said and sounded to her but Falina managed well enough. Falina made an unpleasant face as she wined, "I don't think I like that language honey, con we pleeeeaaase leave so we can get something better for me to taste."
Falina looked to the two guards and asked, "Could you please get us safely outside the fence again?" She gave them a suggestive smile and added, "I might be able to make it worth your time."
"Alright love, clearly this isn't the night for a visit." Arani says to Falina, giving her bottom a squeeze. "Looks like we'll have to find another party for tonight, perhaps the Aulamaxa estate, there's always a something fun happening there." she says with a giggle.
"I'm sorry you have to stay in, Marquel, it's a lovely night out! The moon is lovely."
She turns to the guards. "Gentlemen, if you'd escort us out." she says with a smile, and a touch of imperiousness.
AULORIAN VILLA--INSIDE (The Greens; Desnus 8)
Marquel blurts the location of his bedroom to Falina in Infernal while Arani otherwise occupies the downstairs guards. The upstairs ones escort Marquel back to his room, but not until he's passed his message to Falina. When the ladies ask to be escorted back outside, the men's faces betray fear of the cerberi stalking the grounds.
"Uh...you'll have to wait 'til we're sure Goregangs is on the other side of the manor," one says as the second moves toward a window to peer out to see if the cerberi is lurking on this side of the mansion.
AULORIAN VILLA--OUTSIDE (The Greens; Desnus 8)
Caldariel's bluff seems to work on the great three-headed dog-beast. The elf-tiefling can tell that the beast didn't buy his story 100%--it likely has orders to allow no one inside the compound--but perhaps Calariel's cool composure and mention of a contract were enough to fool it. The beast backs away from the gate but still watches the newcomers closely.
"Oh is there a guard dog? I love dogs, what breed is he?" Arani says with interest. "I should get you a puppy darling!" she says to Falina.
Once everyone was outside, Caldariel said "So if I have this right. The dog will likely let us through. Or at least won't be immediately hostile. We know the location of the young master's chambers and we know that the guards are keeping him locked up. So it seems most wise for us to break in at night. Who among us would be the most likely to pull this off, and what magical tricks do we have available?"
"We may not even need that. I can shoot an arrow with a note detailing Captain Sargaeta's message through his window from off the grounds. After giving him enough time to craft a response, I'll send the Siver Raven to retrieve it." Arani says.
"Clever. I like it," says T'chazzar.
AULORIAN VILLA--OUTSIDE (The Greens; Desnus 8)
Once the frightful cerberi has moved along to patrol the other side of the estate, the guards swiftly escort Arani and Falina to the gate (while the other Ravens presumably scatter); they lock it after them once the uninvited guests are outside.
It's an easy enough thing to send the silver raven wondrous figure up to Marquel's window bearing Capt. Sargaeta's message. A few minutes later, a reply comes back with the magical bird.
"Captain Sargaeta wants you to escort me to his ship. With my bad arm, climbing down may be an issue. I don't suppose any of you can grant me magical flight? Otherwise, send the bird back or use some other signal to let me know it's time and we can risk the guard-beast."
”That went well. He could jump so that we might catch him, if we don’t have magical means. Or we could throw him a rope that he might tie so that he can climb down.” The elf offered.
"With the arm issue, I don't think the rope will work too well," says T'chazzar. "Maybe we can get a magical scroll for flying, or a potion? Something temporary?"
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"We should see if any of the shops in the area have a potion or scroll that will allow flight, making it easier for him to get out since climbing might be a problem with that arm." Arani suggests. "Whitegate Market is here in the Greens, though it might be a bit more expensive, but there's also the Newt Market in Villegre just outside the gate if necessary."
Falina nodded in agreement and said, "I think you are right. I can go to the opposite side of the house and keep the cerberi's attention from outside the fence while someone gets him out." Falina's grin was almost evil as she added, "I haven't got to taunt a devil like that for some time, it should be fun."
"That works!" Arani replies with a smile. "Just make sure to pick a different guise incase any of the guards see you."
AULORIAN VILLA--OUTSIDE (The Greens; Desnus 8)
The plan works flawlessly, and things are timed well around the guard cerberi's patrols. You've got enough time to get Marquel out through the Greens' gate before curfew, but getting him across the Bleakbridge will be impossible in the minutes before martial law shuts down the city for the night.
KINTARGO (The Bleakbridge; Redroof; Old Kintargo; Desnus 9)
Your group escapes the Greens without incident; there's quite a flood of day workers departing the noble district shortly before the curfew. The plan is to find an inn to stay at overnight, but as your party heads south, one of the servants from Eradon Manor rushes up and speaks urgently with Dom. The half-orc tells the party that his services are required and that he'll catch up with the rest of the Silver Ravens as soon as he's able.
About half way between the Greens and the Bleakbridge, your party comes upon Halpert's Hearth, a clean-looking inn with some available rooms. You spend the night there.
In the morning, you refresh your disguises and try to cross the Bleakbridge. The dottari stationed there to collect the crossing tax seem more alert than usual, but Marquel's disguise easily fools them. It's a long but uneventful trek west across Argo Isle to the docks of Old Kintargo. When you reach the berth where the Scourge of Beial floats, Lieutenant Nones greets you with a grin and a flippant wave, inviting you aboard. She leads the party to the captain's quarters where the Silver Ravens witness a tender reunion between the Chelish naval captain and Kintargo's Poison Pen, Marquel. After a long embrace, Sargaeta tells Marquel that the political climate in the city has become too dangerous, offering him a place on his ship. Marquel graciously accepts.
Turning his attention back to your party, you note a major change in Captain Sargaeta's demeanor: He's not the no-nonsense, vaguely threatening man you first met. Instead, he seems genuinely happy and willing to trust your little group of 'rebels.' Finishing the cup of tea he was sipping, the captain hands the empty cup to Arani, telling her to drop it on the floor. When the archer does so, one of the man's halfling servants picks up the remains.
“The fragments of this cup represent the number of favors I owe you,” says Sargaeta once the shards are gathered. “Anything—short of outright public treason to the queen—I’ll do for you. Simply write your request on a scrap of paper and use it to wrap a shard of the teacup. Deliver it in person, or perhaps via one of your silver raven trinkets. And know that you have earned a friend tonight.”
The captain hands Arani the shards of the teacup; there are 9 in total.
Aranai accepts the shards of the teacup with a grateful nod. "We are both honored and greatful for the extension of friendship, the boon you have granted us, and the knowledge of Marquel's safety here with you."
Carefully putting away the shards, whose value far exceed thier material worth she smiles. "The Rebellion definitely has need of friends such as yourself. I'm sure you'll be hearing from us." she says clasping the Captains forearm.
Caldariel did not smile, but he looked on approvingly. The rebellion was proving to be resourceful, and they were apparently accomplished in solving problems without unneeded problems occurring. He did not regret his decision to join. Yet.