"I could spend the next few days brewing up something to foil scents. For instance, a Deodorizing Agent to block our scents. It could be useful for our approach to the warehouse. It wouldn't be cheap, though, and it wouldn't be very practical to make enough to coat all of our escaped prisoners with it. I think the real trick is to find an escape route through a smelly place that will throw off the dogs. That's something I could look into while we plan."
Considering what he can contribute, it takes some time before Boros speaks. When he does, he looks first to Varuzhan. "I'm not so bad myself at mixin' up handy little bits o' this and that, so I could spend a bit o' time on that with ya." Looking then at the map Rexus has spread out, Boros leans forward to rest his arms on the table's surface, eyes flicking across the simplified city layout. "Aside from that, I can give that warehouse and the guards a good, hard look. Between my soldierin' experience and my knowledge o' how to make and break all manner o' stuff, I should be able to get somethin' we can use in our plans."
Turning his attention to Laria, an expression of curiousity appears on Boros' face. "Glad to have ya with us, I am. Hope ya get what yer wantin' out o' this in exchange for the risk yer takin'. I don't suppose any o' your folk happen to have any experience at teachin' critters? Because we got that lizard down there, and I'm still set on turnin' it into a tamed guard animal." Boros takes a quick look at his compatriots, seeing their looks of doubt at this plan of his, before continuing. "There's an advantage to havin' that beast that I've only just now considered. If the dottari turn up dead with signs o' weapons and spells havin' done for them, that's a big hint for those in charge. But if they turn up half-eaten, or not at all? Well, then who's to say what they ran into, eh?"
When the map comes out Miranda stands up on her chair and leans in over the table to get a good view. Even if this place had the somewhat uncommon halfling customization it still felt good to do - if only out of habit. "Mhm. I was thinking of dressing up as a vagabond or rat-catcher and pretend to try and cash in on that bounty. Everyone know that 'warehouses' attracts lots of rats right?" the tiefling flashed a bright and toothy smile. "Besides - the first few times they try to shoo me away I can just claim they are keeping all the good critters to themselves! And maybe even throw a dead one at their feet and try to squeeze them for money."
"Scent masks aren't a bad idea. And I don't think having a stock of them would be a bad thing, given how our gracious new overlord likes his hounds. I know a spell that works similarly - but that would mostly be supplemental. Hmm ... Maybe we could see if we could have a wand or a few scrolls made too?"
"I'm not sure eating the dottari is the best plan - and I tried. There aren't too many places that hide man eating critters and I'm not sure we want them poking around in the sewers. On the other hand, might be better that they are accidentally looking for us rather then actively searching? Maybe?" Miranda shrugged, not certain either way.
"Honestly... I'm uncertain as to how I could delay pursuits, realistically. I've cut a great deal of my ties to the people in Kintargo." she says, chewing her lip, "And I don't feel comfortable asking anyone I love to get involved. Perhaps we could utilize the sewer systems? The dogs wouldn't like the smell to begin with, and would have difficulty navigating them if we set up a path that utilized ladders and the like. Multiple paths could also cause the Dottari problems in following us. Would one of you be interested in learning about the local sewer system?"
The first thing that Lily does is get to work on reading - quickly going over the ins and outs of training animals, she discovers that the books weren't really met with giant lizard monsters in mind. Despite that she couldn't really see how giant lizard monsters were all that different from puppies. Very large, very carnivorous, very blind puppies.
Despite the setbacks of not being properly trained in the venture, she goes into it with much gusto (and more fish from the docks; she wasn't sure giant lizard monsters ate fish, but if she were going to the docks she was more likely to get food there than elsewhere). Halfway through the first session, she gets a nose bleed, but that only seems to make the beast respond better. Once they know a good leatherworker, should the venture be successful, she intends to get him a Harness and a name tag.
Next, throughout the week when she isn't working with giant lizard monsters - she expresses the need to pick out a proper name for it, they couldn't keep calling it the giant lizard monster - she's down at the docks, near the warehouse. She sells leftover pastries and fresh fruity beverages while she watches the goings-on. She rapidly discovers during this sequence of events that at some point she discovers she's pretty much a Disney Princess™. During alone time, or times that she's particularly bored, she can commune with the tiny city creatures. The first time, she winds up with a bird's eye view of the warehouse. It doesn't last very long, and she has to be paying attention to the rock dove, but she's able to see the thing from above. The next time she focuses on a rat which moves in through a crack in the side of the building, far too small to be of notice to the long-legs, so on and so forth. She relays the information, focusing on discovering just what's happening inside the warehouse, but also on the locations of where those things are happening. She doesn't have a lot of time, but she does what she can.
Aldous pushes his glasses up on his nose, a sign that he's hard at thought - or about to be pedantic. Thankfully for the others, it is the former.
"I've been thinking something similar, Miranda. I will spend tomorrow looking through recent case files at my firm, and the day after poking around the Criminal Courts for clues. Surely, some of my colleagues have heard rumor of this dark site. Three days from today, I'll be going into the warehouse, with a-" Aldous casts his eyes towards the satchel he was recently gifted with "-meticulously forged and near comprehensible - to a guard anyway - writ of passage to see my client, one Ms. Kaylee Crissali. I am confident that I can talk my way in. Getting out however... I may need your assistance."
The barrister smiles ever so slightly at his grim joke, and pushes again on his glasses. "Another option occurs to me. If Varuzhan would like to put his hat to work, or allow another of us to use it..."
"We could always change one of us into a guard, and either accompany myself into the warehouse, or on a separate reconassaince, bring one of us as a 'prisoner.' I don't know how we'd get out, however."
"We could also use it to hide V.'s better nature when we come back to rescue the taken. We could be a whole legal team that way, and steamroll our way into the dark site with bluster."
Aldous looks to Boros. "And back out with blasters."
"As for pursuits, perhaps the best way to delay them is with multiple routes set with diversions. Carts easily toppled right after we pass, caltrops spread in roadways as we run, that sort of thing."
Alright, here's a more detailed plan including a third day.
First, on each of the days Nissim will find a secure location near the warehouse, ideally with someone accompanying him. He will cast Heighned Awareness followed by Ears of the City to do some remote information gathering. His focuses each time will be: Day 1 General information about the warehouse. Day 2 Prisoners, total number, condition, location, and trying to locate Aldus's friend. Day 3 Guards and security, number there, locations, patrols, routines.
He can do these checks fairly quickly. The total time involved would be 3 rounds spell duration. But during that time he is blind and deaf, thus why having someone with him is a good idea.
Also after Day 1 he will share what he's found out with the others and vice versa, which might cause him to adjust what he's focusing on in subsequent days.
Otherwise:
Day 1: After the remote check in the morning, (I"m assuming everyone is spending the night at the cafe?) he will go back home for the day. Shop work day.
Day 2: Return to under the cafe to help Rexus. Bring his portable alchemy lab with him and relocate it to under the cafe. Do the remote check some time in the middle of the day.
Day 3: Help Varuzhan with making Scent Cloak or other alchemical stuff. He can either make more himself or aid Varuzhan depending on what's best. Do the remote check in the evening.
I've never done any crafting before, and the rules are kind of dense. It seems to me, and who knows if I'm actually understanding the rules correctly, that making pretty much anything takes a week? Even for a single dose of Scent Cloak or a single flask of Alchemist Fire. Seems crazy. But whatever, I'll just follow rather than lead on the item creation.
After a bit of necessary preparation, Boros heads out into the city of Kintargo on his own, his destination the warehouse-turned-prison that is the current objective of their nascent rebellion. Finding a good spot--out of passing traffic, with a good view of the target and its guardians, and allowing him to remain as unobtrusive as possible--Boros intently studies the warehouse for much of the day. His examinations are broken up by periodic bouts of watching the guards as they patrol and change shifts, and every so often he changes to another vantage point that overlooks another portion of the warehouse and its defenses.
The soldier doesn't rush his examinations, knowing that lives depend on the detail and accuracy of what he's doing. To aid his efforts, he also invests a bit of his time, aided with some coin spent on inexpensive meals and minor bribes, on questioning those whose very survival depends on knowing exactly what's going on in the area while staying out of sight of authorities: the local street kids. Boros knows the sort quite well, having been one himself in his younger years, and knows that they have all sorts of useful information, far more--in both quantity and significance--than most folk would suspect.
During the day, he does make note of the presence of a number of his companions, but does little to acknowledge them beyond tossing a half-eaten bit of streetmeat on a stick to a short half-breed clutching a very dead rat to her chest. After leaving the warehouse, Boros decides to end his day by seeking out Gregory, the group's turned informant, for anything of interest. Luckily , today happens to be one of the days where Gregory will be available to speak with, so Boros makes his way to the bar the man mentioned.
As the party plans the warehouse assault, Varuzhan chimes in. "I'll go ahead and prepare a grab bag of alchemical items, so we'll have options if we start running into trouble. I'll be back at my store, stop by in the evenings if you need anything."
With a few days off, Varuzhan goes back to his more nocturnal sleep schedule, working at night and sleeping in the day.
Aldous leaves all but one of his volumes of Murstal's Complete at home, bringing - for today - only the most important tome: #37, a thick red-leather bound treatise on rendition and due process, prisoner's rights, and other related topics. Of course, this being Cheliax, such laws were well-weighted towards the state. Still, the barrister felt that he could bluster his way past the front door, at least - and he'd spent the last day crafting a document that would help him do so.
The barrister is dressed appropriately - that is to day conservatively, and officially. He carried only his nonmagical satchel, and left his dagger and crossbow at home. Aldous hoped there would be no need for weapons. And besides, if there was the need, a dagger and crossbow would be of little help.
Striding down the street, the barrister takes note of his surroundings, before knocking briskly three times on the door. Without even waiting for a question, Aldous reaches into his satchel and withdraws his forgery - a document, sealed with the insignia of the dottari.
"Hello. No, shut up. Listen. My name is Aldous Beaturne, Esquire, and I am here on the behalf of my client, Ms. Kaylee Crissali. You shall see, in the enclosed document, orders from Dottari Chief Inspector Johan Stonemont, allowing passage as per clause 1522 point 712 subsection D point 239 subclause WB of Cheliax's Specifications Pertaining To Prisoner Detainment and Pre-Trial Separation. Clearly, with retainer and Dottari approval - which again, you will find in the document - Ms. Crissali is allowed counsel. Hence, myself, darkening this already forboding doorway."
"Most of the sad bastards in this prison, of course, don't have the benefit of good counsel, but I'm afraid - for you, at any rate - that Ms. Crissali's family does. They are very well connected. Now, I have no illusion that you got to where you are today, working in jackboots in a black site, because you're capable of complex critical thinking or incapable of following orders, so..."
"Trust me when I say, you don't want to be the poor sod that refuses me access to my client. As you know, this is not the country to cross the powerful."
Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, Aldous clears his throat and stares. "Well then?"
Taking 20 means you are trying until you get it right, and it assumes that you fail many times before succeeding. Taking 20 takes 20 times as long as making a single check would take (usually 2 minutes for a skill that takes 1 round or less to perform).
Since taking 20 assumes that your character will fail many times before succeeding, your character would automatically incur any penalties for failure before he or she could complete the task (hence why it is generally not allowed with skills that carry such penalties). Common “take 20” skills include Disable Device (when used to open locks), Escape Artist, and Perception (when attempting to find traps).
** spoiler omitted **
Nissim will then continue on home.
Knowing that her excuse only would make her presence barely more tolerable then normal Miranda decided that she would have to prepare carefully for her stunt. Retries would probably not be received well and she had no desire to end up with an elusive inside view of the warehouse without a return ticket. So! she thought to herself as she got home from the meeting. "What do I need except more hours on the days?"
Well - for starters - a disguise. And a somewhat plausible way of hunting rats. A pointy stick maybe? Anyhow! The easiest and quickest way of gaining inspiration for both would probably be a case study. A trip down to the Nursery tomorrow then! Not perhaps the nicest place to plan a daytrip to, but it would certainly provide good insight in the latest fashion trends of the poor and downtrodden.
And she *had* said to herself that she should try and help out those less fortunate of her peoples and so before. Just hadn't come around to really do much. But maybe now that she was part of the Silver - Phoenixes was it? Damn! I should have taken notes. Then again ... I probably shouldn't be taking notes at all! Nope definitely not. - anyhow. Maybe it was time to do some good. And not only 'resisting the deranged Thrune' good.
Tomorrow evening then, once she had gotten a good idea of what she was supposed to act like, she would have to make a costume. Probably just tear and sew together some old clothes. she thought with a frown. She didn't really like throwing away her things, with all their memories, so she had an ample supply of old worn things (that some may say wouldn't actually need any modifications to turn into hobo wear - those mean people!). I have to sort trough and find the worst ones. I don't think I want them back inside my apartment after I'm done with them ...
Then on the next day she would have to sneak to the warehouse. It would probably be best to find a decent spot somewhere halfway-ish (maybe off to the side a bit just to avoid drawing a straight line?!) and switch to her disguise there. Hmm. Gotta be a good spot where I can change unnoticed and dispose of the disguise later. Hmmm... And if she used her Pass Without Trace spell to get the last hundred meters to and from that spot tracking her should be hard if it came to that. Yeah better do that - I got to be careful!
So! She should probably scout out a spot somewhere on her way back or to the Nursery. I should make a note! she started and looked around for her diary - "Wait no! No that's not what I should do..." Miranda sighed as she caught herself. Being a dissident wouldn't come easy clearly. Practice. It will get better. she reassured herself not wanting to consider the other option.
All-right. She stood up and started making her dinner just to clear her mind and go over the few details she already had in her mind. Tomorrow: Visit the Nursery, find changing spot and make disguise. Day after that: sneak to changing spot, change and then practice rat catching for a few hours before moving towards the warehouse. And then one day to report back and process the information. That'll work!
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There's nobody on the outside, but a non-marked cart stopped at the back entrance and unloaded a number of crates. Other than that, nobody seemed to come or go. Either the site had a hidden tunnel allowing outside access, or the personal was staying in the location, with sufficient people for rotating shifts. Considering the deliveries were made at the backdoor, Boros assumes the latter is true.
The building also has windows in the southwestern area(left on the map), but they have been boarded up from the inside.
When evening comes, Boros makes his way to meet Gregory. Indeed, the man sits in the bar. He definitely noticed Boros come in, but ignores him completely. Boros gets a feeling there might be a reason for that, as several other pairs of eyes glance in the direction of the man who just entered and stood still near the doorway.
The birds eye view of the compound reveals 2 trapdoor-covered holes in the otherwise flat roof, and a couple of empty drying racks near those..
For the ground surveillance, Lily first calls her spirit rat into being in what seems to be the back-side of the building. With the structure surprisingly massive, the rat manages to sneak in through a small hole in the door frame of the back entrance, regardless. Looking from the inside, Lily sees two guards next to the door, which itself is barred and locked. Anything larger than a rat would have trouble getting in or out that way without drawing attention. Other than that, the room seemed to mainly serve as a temporary storage chamber for goods to be transported in or out, with the path to both doors having seen heavy use in the past. The door to the side is barred and locked, as well, while the other one, straight ahead, is kept open by a wooden wedge. Beyond it seems to be a sort of lobby. Some tables and chairs are in the area, and the walls are decorated by paintings of various animals...mostly cattle, though some more exotic creatures are featured as well. Some of the paintings are rather crude and simple, as if done by a child, but they seem to progressively get better. Before the Spirit Rat manages to look much further, the spell fizzles out, but Lily manages to take note of a few more locked doors.
When Miranda produces her rat with a smile that has entirely too many teeth for comfort, the man leans against the wall:"Oh, that. Look, I didn't think to bring my purse.*fssss* Just come back to my station and I'll pay you"
Miranda's not entirely sure, but it would seem that the man did not FORGET his purse. It's quite possible that he did not bring it on purpose...either way, she is plenty certain the Dottari was called here, so there seems to be a way to communicate with them. She estimates that she had been sneaking around about 10 minutes before he arrived on scene...but she had no idea how long before he had been summoned, so that only served to proof that at most, they would have around 10 minutes if things got loud.
Of course, the question now was what to do...maybe the man simply tried to get her away from the warehouse, but maybe he meant to roll her up in a carpet with his buddies and deliver her TO the warehouse...decisions, decisions...
Owner was a merchant, former sailor, had settled down after barely escaping with his life from a pirate raid, and finding that a fling from a year ago had a child that looked remarkably like him. Used what remained of his valuables to build the place, and had been quite successfull. Married the woman and had another kid with her. But had some creative ideas regarding taxes. Currently imprisoned, Wife and Children fled, property was seized by state.
Soon after Thrune took over, there's been some activity at the place, but must have been a fluke, doesn't seem like it will open up again as a state-run place any time soon. But then, only a while ago, some delivery carts had moved here, probably construction materials judging by the number of carts. But they went right in through the cargo entrance, no idea what they brought.
At home, work seems fine. Your family is still not entirely convinced about your apprentice girl Kesin. Especially since you seem so busy recently. Why, just this morning, when they opened shop, they had found her sleeping curled up behind the counter! She had some late deliveries to run, but not too late to go back to whatever her home was now. So please talk that over with her!
After letting his eyes adjust to the light level of the bar's interior--time which, not coincidentally, he uses to check out the patrons as well--Boros finds an empty seat some distance from Gregory. His contact seems to have a reason for not calling the soldier over, or approaching himself, so Boros decides it might be wise to simply take his time and relax a bit. He has spent much of the day standing or walking, after all, and a bit of time spent off of his feet isn't unwelcome in the least. After a few moments, during which he looks around casually to see what's being served, Boros signals for service. "Bread, meat, cheese, ale," he responds shortly to the question of what he wants brought out. Wnile waiting on his order, the soldier turns his thoughts to how best to engage Gregory without drawing unwanted attention.
The latter was wasteful, as the mixture amounts for different results varied widely, and if one wanted to have things at hand fast, no fine-tuning was possible. But it would add a great deal of flexibility to the groups alchemical options.
As usual for him, he was working late at night. Considering some of the things he mixed up may not have been entirely explainable, and no customers were to be expected due to the curfew, the shops door next to the workshop was closed. But even with his well-adapted eyes, some light was necessary to work, and the candle provided sufficient illumination to be visible from the outside.
Suddenly, some hectic banging on the door can be heared, together with a muffled womans voice:"Please, are you open? It's an emergency!" The way it was said suggested the person wanted to shout out loud, and only with great self-control managed to keep the volume down. It WAS the middle of the night, and nobody wanted to be found out on the streets, so that was probably wise.
As those disappearances happened more or less simultaneously with a failed coup by various rebellion groups, the official answer was that not all of the rebels were in a state that allowed identification...but when you're already there, please do disclose the details of your professional relationship with a suspected and likely deceased rebel...digging for more information would meet with resistance, and probably put the insistent lawyer on a watchlist. As such, nobody seemed inclined to speculate too much about what COULD be.
The mans soothing voice reminds Aldous of a gentle old grandpa running a candy shop when he was still young...
Aldous smooths his shirt and smiles. "Yes. Exactly, Master Bester. I simply wish to retrieve my friend from what is no doubt a delicate situation. I don't really care for the others - how many others, I wonder - that are here. Ms. Crisalli is unfortunately just someone in the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope you understand."
Sipping from his own coffee, he looks up something in the file he brought. "You know, Miss Crisallis family is running a book store. No doubt her...father contacted you to try and look into her whereabouts? Books can be so dangerous to a child. They offer the wisdom and knowledge of generations past, but at times, young people can't really understand the true lesson, not look beyond what is on the surface. What do you think? Could she have gotten these ideas at home? I have no idea what kind of books her family trades in...I love to read, but there's so much work recently that I hardly get a chance to do so..."
Giving ample pauses to allow Aldous to answer
he then continues:"...the last book I got to read was in preparation for a trial. A heretic. Human sacrifice, cannibalism, demon summoning. We're out there, protecting the citizens from that kind of monster every day. Sometimes we may be a bit too eager, as I am sure is the case with your friend Kaylee, but we're doing all that to ensure safety and order for everybody. Certainly, in your line of work you also have to face the darkest sides of humanity? You ever had a case with an heretic? If so, didn't you wish the Inquisition would have managed to stop them before they managed to commit their vile crimes? Monsters, all of them..."
Once again, he lets Aldous answer, while offering to fetch more coffee - which is strong and of high quality.
Continuing with some small talk, Bester waits for Aldous to bring the topic of conversation back to Kaylee, smiling:"We are not in a hurry, my dear Barrister. I like to get to know the people I deal with a bit. In my line of work, it helps to be able to judge a persons character. I assure you, your friend is fine. In fact, I may just be inclined to fetch her so she can tell you herself that she is treated well, considering the circumstances. But I am afraid it's not that simple. Protocol is very specific about that. The guys at the top are paranoid. I mean, I know you are here as a legal aide, not to bust your friend out of here by force. But tell THAT to my superiors. If I don't follow protocol, I need to answer for it, even if there's no trouble. But I like you, I really do.
So I'll tell you something. We can't have people around here whisper rumors about a place like this. Bad publicity, even if its to root out the ferocious wolves wandering among them, to keep our herd of sheep save like the good shepherds we are. So those people who pass through here can't be simply released. I assure ou, those who walk out of here are safe. But obviously I can't tell you more than that. So we have two options here. You leave now, and await Kaylees safe return in due time, or you want to learn more, but will have to join her so not to compromise what we are trying to achieve here."
He grins:"What will it be, Mister Beaturne?"
Varuzhan was feeling wary, but he would not turn away a paying customer. Or, if it really came to it, a non-paying customer in true need.
Chances are, the woman is wearing armor, a thought all but confirmed moments later when Varuzhan catches a glimpse of steel reflecting the light from below her cloak, from a blade most likely.
"I...need medical attention. I think I lost them, there will be no trouble for you. I...I have some money. But I can bring more."
She nervously glances to the left and right as she speaks, making her claim of not being followed a vague guess, at best.
Assuming she complies and comes in, Varuzhan sits the half-orc down and begins treating her. But does not relent in his questions, born of concern for his own safety. "Hounds, were there hounds chasing you?"
He didn't ask the other question of why this woman was out at night. She could've been a thief or robber for all he knew. He didn't really want to ask more questions than was polite in these parts of the slums.
As for the other part of Bester's questions, the parts about Kaylee's culpability, Aldous frets, a scowl crossing his face. Lie you fool! Trusted friend or no, even friends talk! Your love's salvation depends on it!
Lying came easily to barristers, even to friends, for it was often a friend on the other side of a courtroom table. Aldous shakes his head.
"No, no, you misunderstand. Wrong place, wrong time. Ms. Crisalli has no revolutionary leanings. She was simply in the park for a stroll when the hells broke out. I'm glad you're agreeable to a solution, Master Bester. As I'm sure you know, regardless of one's legal status - or lack thereof - here, Ms. Crisalli was detained at the park. The point of contention, of course, is not that she is here, but rather whether she was taken here under legal means? And I contend that her detention was illegal. It happened on public grounds. There must be proof of wrongdoing on her part for detention. Hence, if you have no proof, her detention here is illegal."
Aldous cocks an eyebrow. Why, I was just thinking about demon summoning a minute or so ago - a tangental thought that led the man picturing the room below the apartment, in all its unholy horror. "Funny you should bring that up, Bester. Yes, I've dealt with heretics. Horrible folk, the lot of them. I fear there is a cult, or something worse, at work in Kintargo. Certainly, there are individuals of dubious moral character doing horrible things. I enthusiastically endorse you investigating those folks instead of young women in parks."
Frowning as his friend gives him an ultimatum, Aldous pushes his glasses up his nose. "Well, I assure you that I am not going to abuse attorney client privilege, or the goodwill of your colleagues, by putting yourselves or Ms. Crisalli in any danger of discovery. Still, I understand that your hands are tied in this situation. Very well, I accept your proposition. I will represent Ms. Crisalli from within 'here' until we are both released. Were you not such a good man, I'd fear for our safety, but..."
"I trust in your good nature to be honorable in your intentions. Show me my client, my good Master Bester."
"No hounds. At least I did not hear any. Didn't stop and take a look.", she answers. As Varuzhan takes a closer look at the bolt wound, she suddenly speaks up:"Axe."
Seeing the puzzled expression on the Strix face, she lifts up her hand and places an axe on the work table:"I wish I had a crossbow, but no, my axe will need to do."
The weapon doesn't really seem to be made for combat, and looks more like a well-used tool that got pressed into service as a weapon.
None of the other patrons particularily catch your eye, except for 3 very large, muscular man with numerous tattoos and a great thirst at a corner table. They are loud, but not rowdy, and draw most peoples attention.
The food that arrives in front of Boros is not particularily great, but it's all fine enough, the cheese and meat are seasoned, the bread not stale and the ale not watered down - which is, on the whole, about as much as one could reasonably hope for from such a locale. Looking around while eating, Boros searches for anything out of the ordinary, but nothing really stands out. A few people do make eye contact with Boros, but none of them seem particulary interested in him...which might be a good sign, considering the circumstances.
Hungry, thirsty, and more than a little foot-sore still, Boros applies himself to his meal with vigor. Afterward, he indulges in one more mug of ale--more for the sake of his feet than any particular liking for the drink itself--then pays his shot and exits for what serves as home for the time being. It seems Gregory has nothing of interest to pass along and, if Boros was correct in his estimation of the man's behavior and expressions, was not up to risking personal interaction. "Well then, guess I'll be learnin' soon enough if he's stayin' loyal to us or to his other masters," the soldier muses to himself in the privacy of his thoughts. As he walks along, he keeps a casual eye open for potential trouble heading his way, primarily in form of dottari looking to arrest a possible rebel; namely, himself.
Aside from watching out for bothersome guards, the majority of Boros' mental efforts are devoted to considering what he's managed to learn today, which is unsatisfyingly little enough, in his opinion. "Not many ways in, and no obvious guards. But there's a pair loiterin' discretely on the roof, and probably replacements somewhere inside. No obvious defenses either, but who knows what they got put up where passin' eyes can't see. Oddly enough, barely anyone in or out the whole day, at least not that I saw. Just that one delivery, and nothin' else." Pondering this last point causes a frown to briefly mar the soldier's expression. "Likely means the guards are bunkin' inside, and isn't that a lovely little mess to consider?" Fighting an unknown number of foes, in close quarters, who further have the likely advantage of internal defensive works to aid their efforts. Not to mention the prospect of reinforcements arriving after someone--either a guard, or just some random, concerned Kintargan citizen--figures out what's happening and gets a message away. "And we still need to make good our escape after all o' that. I'm sure we'll no trouble at all with that, seein' as we're the heroes and what-all," he concludes with a soft snort of mingled disgust and bitter humor. "Eh, maybe the others got better information to share."
He did have some ideas for redirecting his efforts the next day though. This would especially be so if he could try when a delivery of crates was underway. If, that is they were still happening.
At the shop Nissim apologizes for his recent absences. Liliana is demanding of his time he admitted to his parents. But he certainly did not object, and the shop can operate unhindered without his constant presence.
"I will have a word with Kesin." He tells them. "I far as I know, only a couple of days back, she had no place of her own. It may be she is having trouble finding something. I will make it clear to her she must do so quickly."
Nissim integrates himself back into the routine of the shop. Preparing orders and mixing medicines. When an opportunity arises, he will also talk to Kesin.
"You are not trying to steal my rat are you?" she called out and took yet another step away. Adopting a thoughtful expression she quickly looked over the dottari and tried to gauge if he had any baubles approximatively worth one rat ...
... "That one! Gimmie that one and you can have the rat." she pointed to the bauble of her choice, probably a belt buckle or something. Then she quickly retracted her arm so that she remained out of grab reach.
Your family is completely understanding about the fact that your lover takes up a lot of your time. With the citys lockdown and a shortage of a few supplies, there was not so much work to be done as usually, anyway. So that's all good, go take good care of their future step-daughter and don't get into trouble!
An opportunity for talk arises on the afternoon. Nissim and his brother had been tending the apothecary, and his brother had to make a house visit, leaving Nissim alone to work behind the counter and mix medicines.
At the agreed time, Kesin shows up:"Hi, I'm..". Stopping to talk when she sees Nissim is still busy with a delicate procedure, she leaves him to his task.
Half a minute later, when Nissim is done and turns around, he finds her sitting on top of the counter behind him, letting her feet tangle off the side and playing with Lugo in absolute silence.
The man seems impatient, but not hostile, but jerks back a bit when Miranda's finger stabs forward towards his signal whistle, then returns as fast as it appeared.
"Look, you have a really beautiful rat there. Can't wait to place it on my bosses desk. But I can't give you part of my uniform as payment."
He's no longer wheezing, huffing and puffing by now:"You'll need to leave this area, regardless, because of the complaint - but if you want to hand that thing to someone else instead of coming with me, I definitely won't object!"
Varuzhan ensures that the half-orc is at least stable. .
He then asks a question. "How do you feel about infernal magics? I could close your wounds with such, though some would oppose using techniques based on such evil sources. If not, I have more mundane methods that should do fine, but will take time."
It occurs to Varuzhan as he's treating the half-orc that perhaps now that they had started a resistance, he would need to be a little more active in recruiting members. He decides to push past his usual instincts and start asking about this person. "What's your name, anyway? That is, if you don't mind me asking. And why'd you let yourself be seen skulking about at night?"
"Oh." Miranda deflated a bit. "Leave? But that warehouse is probably brimming with rats! I think I heard a big one just a few minutes ago..."
The tiefling did her best to look sad over the prospect of losing such a bountiful hunting ground. Luckily the rat, for whom she really shared most of the dottari's sentiments, helped add a bit of misery to the scene. "*Sniff*. I don't want to leave that ..."
She did her best to continue to look sad and dejected up until the dottari seemed to make a move and speak up. Then she perked up again and smiled. "I know! If you get me a good meal as well it would be as if I caught the other rat too. Right? That's good for both of us!"
"We'll...have a troop of exterminators handle the vermin in that warehouse. But a reward for bringing it to our attention is in order, of course." he sighs, considering, when suddenly Miranda perked up and smiled while talking.
"You want me to go buy you a meal? I am not sure if..."...he seems distracted for a moment, then nods: "Ok, fine, come with me, I know just the place."
"Fast is good. Whats not infernal or evil in this city, this country. No need to stop at the point where I get to benefit from it...", she responds to his question regarding magical healing.
When he inquires more, Varuzhan can feel that her first intuition is defensive in nature, her features hardening, a glance at the axe, change in tone...but it passes quickly, before he has time to grow worried:"Name's Zagara. I moved into the city to be with my fiancee. About a year ago. He went missing a little while ago...I thought maybe he got caught up in that mess in Aria park...but that was not it...his body was found here in the slums, not a drop of blood left in him. First, I grieved. Then I decided to kill whoever or whatever took him from me. Been stalking the streets during the past couple nights. Got myself spotted by a patrol tonight, and was disinclined to explain my presence on the streets after curfew with what might pass for a weapon. I guess you can piece the rest together yourself-"
"Yay!" Miranda beams, too caught up in her act to notice anything strange. Also - free food! I just have to keep my eyes open so he don't lead me anywhere dangerous. Right!
Taking out a drop of devil's blood, Varuzhan offers the woman some healing. The wound stitches back up over the course of a minute.
"Whatever's doing this, I bet it's not going to be so easy to kill by yourself. That old axe isn't bad, but there's a good chance it won't get the job done. So here's the deal. I'm not charging you for that healing tonight. Because instead of gold, I want to know what that thing is that's stalking the streets. If you can do that, I can put you in touch with some friends who'd like to put a stop to it."
Nissim is a little startled to find the girl suddenly right behid him, but not very surprised. He knows he can be prone to blocking out the obvious around him when he's concentrating.
"Good Afternoon Kesin, how are you today? Have your first few days here been good ones? Found a place to live yet?"
The whole exchange does not take long, but one of them(the father) approaches Miranda and holds out his hand for the Rat with a forced smile, while the Dottari that lead Miranda here speaks up:"Aye, Lass, you want your silver piece now, or that meal? Either way, you can hand in that...prized possession of yours."
As he mentions the meal, he points towards a street stand selling what passes for hotdogs in Golarion.
"I will still be out there...if I think I can take it, whatever it is, I will avenge my husband. If I kill it, or it escapes, I will tell you. If it gets me first, well, if you pay a priest, I'll be willing to tell you, still.", she laughs the last part off with a certain...fatalism. Varuzhan feels that she is driven to do this, probably part of her mourning process.
"Plus, I could probably not afford your friends, anyway.", she shrugs, getting ready to leave, obviously thinking you mean to put her into contact with some muscle-for-hire. "And thanks a lot for your help, I won't forget it!"
"I'd like the silver first please." she chirped, nodded and then initiated the business contract by placing the rat in the dottaris hand.
A meal-to-go would be perfect actually! She noted and glanced briefly at the stand, while waiting for the dottari to complete their end of the bargain.
"Lore, come here." Varuzhan's owl companion makes his way off his perch and arrives by the Strix's side. Varuzhan peers out the door, and if it seems safe opens it a crack. "Is the way out clear?" He then lets his owl companion scout. Hopefully Lore would be able to tell if the coast is clear for Zagara to safely exit the store.
When their paths part, Albert is whistling a merry tune - amusingly, Aldous was just thinking about the same song...great minds must really think alike.
Aldous is then let to a room deeper in the complex...possible near the other side of the building, actually, and told to sit down and wait.
After what feels like an eternity, the door opens again, and in comes Miss Crissali, flanked by 2 security guards, and so busy talking to them that at first glance, she does not even realize Aldous sitting in the room:"...and that is why the proletariat masses inevitably have to...", but when she does realize that he is not an interrogator, but her tear friend, she is unable to talk properly, her mind busy trying to understand the situation:"Al..Aldous, is that you? Why are you here? What is going on?"
They lead her to a chair on the opposite side of Aldous, and one of them uses a little piece of chain to affix her manacles to the chair, before returning to the door and holding position there. The second guard leaves, having completed the transfer.
The dottari guards orders 2 normal ones, pays, then hands one of them to Miranda:"Lass, do try and find a different hunting spot. I mean it. If there's more complaints there, you'd be a repeat offender and I would need to bring you in. Neither of us wants that." - Having said his part, he seems a bit lost in thought and is staring straight at nowhere as he idly chews his meal.
Lore, from outside, lets you know it's safe, sending feelings of being safely in a nest. There's also some joy regarding the possibility of unhindered flight, and some excitement the moment he spots a small rat plundering some garbage.
Gathered for a meeting, Rexus addresses you:"Our dear barrister has failed to return. There's many reasons this could have, but at least half of those, I don't even want to consider. The question is: what should we do about it? He knew the risks going in, but if we start leaving people behind, we're no better than Thrune and his lackeys- "
Pausing his speech for a short while, he looks at each of you in turn before speaking up again:"If that was not clear, now's the time to speak up if you have any idea..."
At the food stand she waits patiently until the guardsman hands over her food. Then when she acquires it she digs in eagerly; gotta keep up appearances. Also if she ate normally he might notice her awkward chewing. [d]"Different?"[/b] she quizzed between the bites. "But no-one cared about me and that place before the bounty... Not enough to notice anyhow."
But she didn't push the issue. There really were no need - Miranda the street child wouldn't want to be "taken in" and Miranda the rebel wasn't really that interested in hunting more rats. And maybe there was a tiny feeling in the dottari that things had been better before Thrune. Maybe.
When she finished her meal she looked up at him and smiled; committing his face to her memory. "Thanks for the food. Do you guard someplace else on different weeks or is shooing away halflings a permanent position?"
"That's bad." Miranda sighed and pulled up her legs to her chest. "Maybe we should start by quickly going over what we know - maybe that'll give us some ideas."
After a quick pause she continued. "I might as well start. I snuck around for about ten minutes before the dottari arrived. Well - one. So I'm guessing that's their pain threshold for single vagabonds lurking about. Anyhow! He wasn't in the best shape so if we cause a real mess reinforcements would probably come a bit quicker. And he was really eager to drag me away from there - I'm almost guessing the dottari are about as unnerved of that prison or whoever runs it as we should be."
The tiefling finishes her report with a small nod. "Also. I could backtrack his path maybe a bit and find out where the dottari actually waits. Then we could maybe create some obstacles on the way there to delay them."
edit:"Or ..." A thoughtful look came over her and she looked away at nothing in particular for a moment. Then, suddenly, she snapped back and grinned. "If we are quick enough and figure out how the guard are called we could just impersonate them and shoo the dottari away!"
Taking diligent notes, Aldous nods in concentration as Kaylee answers. When she is finished, Aldous begins the next string of questions. There was intel still to be gathered, after all. "And what of the conditions in your cell? Are you housed with others? Alone? If others, how many to your cell? Have you seen any inhumane treatment of the other prisoners? Have you seen, or are there, to your knowledge, areas set aside for forceful interrogation, torture, or other ethically murky acts? How is your food prepared? Who prepares it? Where? Have you seen anyone not a prisoner or a guard in this installation?..."
And on, and on, Aldous asks the questions, taking every answer down. The next trick would be, how to get this information out of the prison...
As the day goes on, a distressing thought occurs to the barrister. Asking the guard for water, Aldous takes a moment to sip his water and mull over an unpleasant possibility. "You know, your cousin Lyellen has taken your disappearance particularly hard. I've tried to console the girl, but she is particularly resistant to comfort. As a good Thrunite, she can't quite wrap her head around the idea that you're now considered - potentially - an enemy of the state."
Kaylee, of course, had no cousin Lyellen. It was simply a feint, to see if Kaylee was all that she appeared to be. Aldous looked closely at Kaylee's expression as he talked, trying to divine any sense of confusion on the girl's part.
Gathered with the others, and making note of the lone absence in their rank, Boros quickly shares what he has learned about the warehouse, little enough though that is. "Well, the buildin' doesn't have anythin' I can make out in the way o' defenses on the outside. Did spy a couple o' folk on the roof who were watchin' the streets real close, though they tried to be casual and discrete with it. Talked to some of the locals and street types, but didn't get much out o' them." Frowning in thought, the soldier unconsciously runs his fingers across a scar on his right wrist. After a brief time, he blinks and shakes his head.
"I didn't see any sort o' shift changes for guards, so they either use a hidden way o' enterin' and leavin', or they got quarters inside. Probably that last one, and that makes stormin' the place a right bad plan. So sneakin' is likely our best course o' action. Did see a delivery o' some sort though. Supplies, probably, and if that's a daily thin', it might be a way inside." Clearly frustrated by his inability to offer more, Boros falls silent with a faint scowl.
On the way home from his meeting, Boros keeps his eyes open, waiting at inconspicious places, or taking detours snaking back to his original path, but finds nobody showing specific interest in his movements.
"Uhm, my position depends on my assignment, as it does for all of us. And there is no job position shooing away halflings. You were at the wrong place at the wrong time, and I'm telling you there's no right time to be there. It's advice. Take it or leave it.", the Dottari shrugs, obviously not feeling comfortable talking about details regarding his job, or Miranda's hunting grounds.
"You are here as my barrister?" - for a moment, she seems to go on the defensive...cautious, considering if this could be a trap, but the feeling quickly passes.
"I was...treated fairly well. They...are surprisingly nice, considering they are holding me here against my will. I mean, I was angry at first, of course, but they are only doing their jobs as well. So I figured there's no use being angry at them when they try their best to be courteous and make our stay passable."
When Kaylee opts to answer Aldous second set of question, the guard who remained inside the room interrupts her with an expressionless face:"I am sorry, but your inquiry included questions regarding the cells, which are considered sensitive information. Since you are going to stay, however, you are going to see them yourself, soon enough."
Kaylee hesitates a moment, then looks at Aldous, shocked. It takes her a moment to get back on track: "I...I saw no inhumane treatment. Nor any areas like that, nothing ethically murky. But I haven't seen much outside my cell and these rooms during talks with the investigators who try to clear our names...I don't know about the food, we get served 3 meals a day, and they come with enough tablets for everybody in the cell at once." Kaylee winks - probably proud that she at least managed to pass information about their cells holding multiple prisoners along below the radar.
"I don't know if there's out-siders in the complex, either. Daily routine goes in a circle here. I mean, day in, day out, we always see the same dozen faces attending the cells."
The guard finally notices, then bellows:"Hey, watch it, or we're going back to the cell right away..."
...
...
When Aldous mentions Lyellen, Kaylee seems at a loss at first, but it only lasts a moment:"Why don't you have your brother Samuel talk to her. Lyellen always was pretty fond of him. She just never got around to tell him."